Joseph Besse facts for kids
Joseph Besse (born around 1683, died 1757) was an English writer and a member of the Quaker faith. He is best known for carefully recording the unfair treatment and difficulties that Quakers faced. He wrote about how they were persecuted for their beliefs.
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Joseph Besse's Life Story
Joseph Besse was born around the year 1683. He lived in a town called Colchester in England. There, he worked as a writing teacher.
In 1716, he married Hannah Dehorne. She later passed away in Chelmsford. After that, Joseph Besse moved to Ratcliff, which is now part of east London.
Joseph Besse died on November 25, 1757. He was buried in the Friends' burial ground, which is a special cemetery for Quakers. His son, who had the same name, moved to America, settling in Pennsylvania.
Joseph Besse did not start out as a Quaker. He converted to the Quaker faith from the Anglican Church. He even turned down a church job that would have paid him a lot of money because of his new beliefs.
Joseph Besse's Writings
Joseph Besse was a strong writer who often debated ideas. He wrote many books and articles. Some of his works were edited by other important Quaker figures.
His most important work is called A Collection of the Sufferings of the People called Quakers. This huge book, published in two volumes in 1753, was a detailed record. It listed many cases where Quakers were persecuted. This persecution happened because they stood up for their beliefs.
What Was the Sufferings of the Quakers About?
The Sufferings of the Quakers was a very detailed collection. It described how Quakers were treated badly from 1650 to 1689. Joseph Besse organized these stories by location. He included places in England, like different counties. He also wrote about Quakers in other parts of the world. These included places like New England, Barbados, and various countries in Europe and Asia.
In 1746, Joseph Besse also helped publish a book by another writer named Isaac Penington. This book was titled The Doctrine of the People called Quakers, in relation to bearing arms and fighting. This work explained the Quaker belief in pacifism. Pacifism means believing that all war and violence are wrong. This book helped defend the Quaker view that they should not fight in wars.
