Who was Anne Hutchinson?

Anne Marbury Hutchinson (1591—1643) was a notable female theologian in early colonial America, widely regarded as a trailblazer for religious freedom. A controversial figure in Puritan New England, Hutchinson held strong spiritual convictions that differed from those of the Puritan clergy of her day. She is best known for initiating the Antinomian Controversy of 1636—1638. After being tried and found guilty of sedition, Anne Hutchinson was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Ultimately, she and most of her family were killed in 1643 during the Indian-Dutch War.

Anne Hutchinson was born in Alford, Lincolnshire, England, into a well-educated and devout family. Her father, Francis Marbury, was a minister with compelling opinions on church reform, which often put him at odds with the Anglican Church. From him, Anne acquired a love for learning and an independent spirit. Her spiritual development was also heavily influenced by the teachings of John Cotton, an outspoken Puritan vicar at her hometown church. Anne received an exceptional education for a woman of her time, and her knowledge of Scripture and theological insights shaped the course of her future.

In August 1612, Anne married William Hutchinson, a wealthy and highly respected merchant. Following John Cotton and many other Puritans seeking religious freedom, the couple emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in May 1634. They settled in Boston, where Anne served as a nurse and soon became a prominent figure in the burgeoning community. She maintained a friendship with Cotton and attended his Boston church, where he taught the doctrines of free grace and salvation by faith alone.

Soon, Anne Hutchinson began hosting meetings in her home, where she discussed Cotton’s sermons and other spiritual topics. Known for her intelligence, charisma, and ability to interpret Scripture, Anne attracted many followers, both men and women, who appreciated her biblical insights. She expressed her concerns that many New England Puritan ministers were focusing on external morality to the extent that she believed them to be guilty of preaching a gospel based on works. According to Hutchinson, only Cotton was faithfully proclaiming a “covenant of grace.”

Anne’s gatherings increasingly alarmed colonial authorities, who saw Hutchinson’s influence as a threat to their control. Her boldness in expressing her views was extraordinary, especially in a society that expected women to remain silent in matters of theology and governance.

One particular theological view placed Anne Hutchinson at the center of colonial America’s Antinomian Controversy. Antinomianism, meaning “against the law” or “without law,” denotes a theological position in which Christians are freed from any obligation to obey moral laws. Antinomianism takes biblical doctrines, such as justification by faith and salvation by grace alone, to extreme, unbiblical conclusions.

Anne Hutchinson advocated for a covenant of grace as opposed to a covenant of works. She emphasized that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned through works. Her interpretation challenged the orthodox Puritan leadership, who maintained that observable behavior and moral discipline were crucial evidence of faith.

At the heart of the debate was the question of the nature of the believer’s union with the Holy Spirit. Hutchinson held to the doctrine of the “inner light,” in which the Holy Spirit bears direct witness to the spirit of an individual Christian. Hutchinson was misunderstood to be teaching that the believer is so united to the Holy Spirit that no human influence (such as the requirements of the moral law) can any longer be applied to the believer. Hutchinson also refuted infant baptism.

Although Anne Hutchinson was never charged with any moral indiscretion, her growing influence and plainspoken dissent had become intolerable to the Puritan leadership. Her teachings were regarded as so dangerous to the church that, by 1637, Governor John Winthrop and other leaders accused her of heresy and sedition, leading to a trial. Anne displayed remarkable courage during the proceedings, defending her beliefs despite intense opposition.

The court ultimately found her guilty, and she was expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638. The trial exposed the limits of religious tolerance in the colony and underscored the challenges faced by women who dared to challenge societal norms.

Following her banishment, Anne and her family moved to Rhode Island, a haven for those seeking religious freedom. Under the leadership of Roger Williams, the colony embraced principles of tolerance and diversity. Anne continued her theological discussions and helped build a community that valued individual conscience and religious autonomy.

In 1642, after the death of her husband, Anne and her family relocated to New Netherland (modern-day New York) in search of greater peace and security. Tragically, in 1643, during a period of heightened tension with local indigenous groups, Anne and most of her children were killed in an attack. Her death marked the end of a tumultuous but profoundly impactful life.

Anne Hutchinson’s resilience, perseverance, and intellectual courage continue to inspire discussions on freedom of thought and the role of women in shaping history. Today, she is remembered as a champion of religious liberty and a woman who challenged the societal constraints imposed on her to protect the free expression of thought, speech, and belief.