Alice Curwen facts for kids

Alice Curwen (born around 1619, died 1679) was an amazing English woman who traveled far to share her beliefs. She was a Quaker missionary, which means she helped spread the ideas of the Quaker faith. She wrote her own story, which was published in a book called A Relation of the Labour, Travail and Suffering of that Faithful Servant of the Lord, Alice Curwen in 1680. Alice came from a place called Baycliff in Lancashire, England. She spent part of her life traveling to places like New England (in America) and the Caribbean islands to help people and share her faith.

Joining the Quakers

Around 1641, Alice married Thomas Curwen, who was also from Baycliff. They both joined the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, in about 1652. This happened after a famous Quaker leader named George Fox visited their area.

Challenges for Quakers

Thomas Curwen and many other Quakers faced difficulties for their beliefs. They were sometimes punished for speaking during church services. Thomas was even put in Lancaster Castle prison in 1659 because he would not pay church taxes called tithes. He said he spent a total of eleven years in prison because of his faith.

Adventures in New England and the Caribbean

Alice Curwen also became a Quaker preacher. In 1676, after her children were grown, she felt called to travel to New England. She had heard that Quakers there were being treated very badly, even facing the death penalty in places like Boston.

A Journey of Faith

At first, her husband Thomas wasn't sure if this was a good idea, but he eventually agreed to go with her. For the next two years, the Curwens were busy in places like Rhode Island and New Jersey.

Helping Enslaved People

From March to October 1677, they traveled to Barbados in the Caribbean. There, Alice Curwen strongly believed that enslaved black people should be allowed to attend Quaker meetings, no matter what their owners thought.

Quakers in Nevis

The Curwens also visited the nearby island of Nevis. Years later, in 1817, there were still groups of people among the enslaved population who followed Quaker-like ways. They were called Naohites. They used the Quaker term "first-day" for Sunday, did not pay preachers, avoided fancy clothes, debt, stealing, lying, and swearing. They believed that God's Spirit would guide people's actions.

Returning Home

The Curwens eventually returned to England. They continued to preach in London and other parts of the country. They also stayed connected to their home area in Furness, especially at Swarthmoor Hall, an important Quaker meeting place.

Alice's Legacy

Alice Curwen died suddenly in London on June 7, 1679, when she was about sixty years old. Her husband, Thomas, put together the book A Relation... to honor her life. It included his own story of her life and a tribute from another Quaker writer, Rebecca Travers. One of their children, also named Thomas, became a glover (someone who makes gloves) in London. Thomas Curwen the elder was imprisoned again in Newgate in 1679 and died in Blackfriars, London, on August 1, 1680.

External resource

• Alice Curwen's autobiography appears in David Booy (ed.): Autobiographical Writings by Early Quaker Women (Aldershot, England: Ashgate, 2004, "Alice Curwen", pp. 108 ff.) Retrieved 17 November 2015.