Image: Public domain; Source New York State Archives
Sometime people who were strong believers in God had a hard time practicing their faith even in the land of “freedom of religion.” Mary and John Tilton, my 9th great grandparents, constantly fought to practice their religion.
Salem, Massachusetts
The Tilton family’s first religious conflict in the Colonies occurred in 1642 when John Tilton, born about 1613 in England, and his wife Mary were living at Lynn, Massachusetts just outside Salem. Apparently, Mary, Lady Deborah Moody, and another woman stated that they did not believe in the baptizing of infants. Instead, they believed that people should only be baptized when they were old enough to confess their faith.
This was not in alignment with the views of the Puritans and the Church of Salem. Thus, the minister that lived next door to Lady Deborah Moody did not approve of their views. Despite coming to America for religious freedom, the minister and members of the Puritan community still wanted one and only one set of religious beliefs. They just wanted the accepted beliefs to be their beliefs.
Therefore, the women were charged in court. The minister saw Lady Moody as the leader in spreading dissenting religious beliefs. One of the Puritan leaders said that Lady Moody was “a dangerous woman.” Like others who beliefs were contrary to the Puritan beliefs, Lady Moody was told to change her beliefs or be excommunicated.
Well, being women of strong religious convictions, neither Mary or Lady Deborah Moody changed their beliefs. They did, however change their location.
Gravesend, Long Island, New York
As a result of trouble with the Puritans, John moved his family to New Netherland. The area later became New York. Lady Moody and others with similar beliefs made the same move. The location appeared to be a good option as the Netherlands tolerated different religious beliefs.
As a woman with money and influence, Lady Deborah Moody was the founder of the new area, which she named Gravesend. It was on Long Island and is in the area known today as Brooklyn.
Gravesend, with John Tilton as town clerk, prospered and so did Lady Moody’s influence, which became very beneficial to Mary and John Tilton, as well as others who shared their beliefs.
Arrival of the Friends
The Friends (a.k.a. Quakers) arrived in New York in the 1650s. However, before Friends arrived in America, some of the Colonies banned them. They were disliked for being outspoken about their views and preaching loudly anywhere and everywhere. Their views of equality for women, refusing to take oaths, etc. were disturbing to those who came before them. They were considered both too radical and too zealous. Yet, the Friends just viewed it as being free to practice their beliefs.
Originally, it seems that only Friends who were too open about their beliefs were persecuted; thus, public preaching by ministers that were unapproved or holding conventicles (illegal or unapproved religious meetings) were considered crimes. However, Governor Stuyvesant soon cracked down on Quakerism, making it illegal to house a Quaker. It also encouraged the residents to rat on Quaker activities. The penalties could be downright cruel, including fines, imprisonment, lashings, and hard labor. At one point, he even proclaimed a day of prayer as he was fearful of God’s judgement if the Quakers converted people to their beliefs.
This wasn’t a new approach for the governor as he strongly supported existing religious law. He, along with others thought that uniformity was important. Additionally, many believed that heresy and diversity of thought would result in the wrath of God. Thus, the governor had previously taken steps to prevent other groups from flourishing in New Amsterdam. It seems that Governor Stuyvesant, at least, did not live up to the reputation of the Dutch regarding religious tolerance.
More Religious Persecution
Harboring a Quaker
On January 8, 1658, John Tilton was arrested for harboring a female Quaker minister, who had been banished from New Netherland, along with some of her followers. Two days later, he was sentenced to a 12 pound Flemish fine plus legal fees. This was one-half the fine of attending a conventicle. The reason for leniency was that it was his first offense, he was an upstanding resident, and the fact that he claimed the Quaker minister and the others came to his house while he was absent.
The First Banishment
In January 1661, both Mary and John were charged with attending conventicles. Mary does not seem to have been prosecuted. However, John was called before the governor and council of New Amsterdam (New York City) because of his support of the Quakers. He was ordered banished from the area or receive corporal punishment.
However, the banishment never took place. It has been speculated that John’s standing in the community combined with efforts of a friend who was in good favor with the governor led to this relief.
The sentence of banishment did not deter John and Mary, who continued to align themselves with the Quakers.
The Arrest
On September 19, 1662, complaints were made against John and Mary Tilton, who had both attended and hosted Quaker meetings. They weren’t arrested, however, until October 5. At that time, they were imprisoned at Ft. Amsterdam.
John’s Crime
John was charged with continuing to attend the Quaker meetings and for harboring Quakers and permitting them to quake at his house. By quaking, they meant that the Friends would quiver and quake as they worshiped as a part of fearing God.
The complaint pointed out his earlier offenses, his continued support for the sect, and that he should be made an example since apparently the Quakers easily forgot. His sentence was a fine of 100 pounds Dutch money. Plus, he was to stay in prison until his fine and court costs were paid.
Mary’s Punishment
Mary, John’s wife, was charged with being a sorceress, luring and seducing people to join the Friends (Quakers). Worse, than seducing adults into the faith, they believed she tried to convert young girls.
They claimed that Mary had “dared not only to assist at all the meetings of that abominable sect who are named Quakers, but even has presumed to provide them with lodgings and victuals, and has endeavored to go from house to house, and from one place to the other, and to lure the people, yea, even young girls, to join the Quakers, and already with several succeeded, encouraging and supporting them.” (From the statement to the Director-General and Council of New Netherland.)
Again, it was believed that she should be made an example in order to prevent others from convincing colonists to move away from what they believed was the “true Church.” This was viewed as critical. Otherwise, they believed God would punish the entire colony. She was also fined 100 pounds plus costs. In addition, she was to be banished from New Netherland.
Mary’s punishment was harsher than John’s. It is believed that those in charge were especially harsh on female offenders of any law or rule. One article told of a woman where they recommended prison for her petticoat simply being too high to be respectable.
Banishment
Mary’s banishment was delayed until spring of the next year because of winter weather. An inventory of their belongings was taken and then they were removed from New Amsterdam.
During their banishment, they stayed with friends at Oyster Bay on the other side of Long Island. Although not far away, Oyster Bay was outside the jurisdiction of the governor of New Amsterdam.
New York
In 1664, the English gained control of the area and it became New York. Interestingly, the agreement included that the Dutch were guaranteed freedom of religion. The very people that had so harshly treated people of other religions now wanted freedom to worship as they chose given that someone else was in control.
Three years after the English took control, John and Mary were back at Gravesend and John returned to his position as town clerk, which he kept until 1681. John or his son John Jr. became Justice of the Peace. A bit of an issue occurred when he refused to take the oath of office because it was against his religion.
John and Mary continued to strongly support the Friends and practice their faith. John signed a letter to the Governor of New York explaining why he and other Quakers did not want to provide funds to repair a fort. The simple reason was that they were against war. Later, he gave land for what appears to have been a Friends burial ground.
Mary died in 1683 and John in 1688, both at Gravesend.
Future Generations
Although John and Mary mostly had trouble with their religion not fitting other people’s idea of an acceptable religion, other members of the family sometimes had trouble even following the rules of their own religion. They were very independent minded and that trait seems to have been passed down through the generations
For example, although their son John Jr. moved to New Jersey, that did not stop him from being arrested for “subscribing to a seditious paper.” Years later, their great-great granddaughter Patience was disowned (or faced being disowned) because she married out of unity. She wrote an apology to the Monthly Meeting condemning her actions and requesting to reconcile with the Friends. Her apology apparently was accepted.
Many others had issues of not doing exactly what the their faith required. Interestingly, what brought the family to the Quaker faith was differing beliefs. And, that was what caused them the most trouble with the Quaker faith.
And, this is not the only family in my tree that had a love-hate relationship with religion!