Have you heard of Mary Dyer? I must admit that I hadn’t until I was wandering through the pages of history.
It was today, 1st June back in 1660 that she was hanged in Boston, Massachusetts for repeatedly breaking a Puritan law that banned Quakers from the colony.
Mary (née Barrett) was born in England about 1611and married William Dyer in 1633. They were Puritans and, as King Charles I was none too keen on this religious group, they left for America. However, they returned to England in 1651 and, whilst here, converted to being Quakers. Her big mistake was to then return to Massachusetts, where Quakers were regarded as being the most dangerous of heretics by the Puritans, who had made several laws against them.
First, Mary was imprisoned as soon as she set foot on the colony, but was released and ordered out, never to return. However, Mary ignored this and returned to Boston in 1659, where she was sent to the gallows. But… she was reprieved. This did not stop her and, the following year returned again… and was hanged, becoming one of the “Boston Martyrs”.
It was today, 1st June back in 1660 that she was hanged in Boston, Massachusetts for repeatedly breaking a Puritan law that banned Quakers from the colony.
Mary (née Barrett) was born in England about 1611and married William Dyer in 1633. They were Puritans and, as King Charles I was none too keen on this religious group, they left for America. However, they returned to England in 1651 and, whilst here, converted to being Quakers. Her big mistake was to then return to Massachusetts, where Quakers were regarded as being the most dangerous of heretics by the Puritans, who had made several laws against them.
First, Mary was imprisoned as soon as she set foot on the colony, but was released and ordered out, never to return. However, Mary ignored this and returned to Boston in 1659, where she was sent to the gallows. But… she was reprieved. This did not stop her and, the following year returned again… and was hanged, becoming one of the “Boston Martyrs”.
