Katherine Marbury Scott facts for kids

Katherine Marbury Scott (born around 1607-1610, died 1687) was a brave woman who stood up for her beliefs. She was a Quaker supporter and one of the early settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Like her older sister, Anne Hutchinson, Katherine faced challenges from the Puritans. The Puritans were a group of people who had very strict rules about religion and how society should be run. Katherine's open disagreement with their leaders upset the traditional way things were done in the colony.

Early Life and Family

Katherine Marbury was born in London, England, sometime between 1607 and 1610. She was one of at least 15 children born to Bridget Dryden and Francis Marbury. Her father, Francis Marbury, was a teacher, a church leader, and someone who often disagreed with the government. He passed away in 1611 when Katherine was still a baby.

It was unusual for girls at that time, but the Marbury daughters were taught to read and write. Katherine was probably taught by one of her older brothers or sisters.

Moving to America

In 1632, Katherine married Richard Scott. Two years later, in 1634, they decided to join Katherine's sister Anne and her husband William Hutchinson. They all followed a religious leader named Rev. John Cotton to the eastern part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This land was originally home to the Wampanoag, Narragansett, and Massachusett Native American tribes.

The Scotts first settled in Salem. Later, they followed another religious leader, Roger Williams, to Providence, Rhode Island.

Standing Up for Beliefs

In 1636, Katherine's sister, Anne Hutchinson, began sharing her religious ideas publicly. This led to a big disagreement with the authorities, known as the Antinomian Controversy. In 1637, Anne was accused of going against the official church teachings. During her trial, she bravely told the authorities that they had no power over her. She said she was protected by God. Because she was so defiant, Anne was put in prison and then forced to leave the colony. The leaders said she was "not fit for our society."

In 1638, the governor, John Winthrop, noted that Katherine Scott, Anne Hutchinson's sister, had also adopted different religious views. In the 1650s, Katherine and her husband became Quakers. They are believed to be the first Quaker converts in New England. After her sister was banished, Katherine knew it was risky to challenge the Puritan rules. Even so, she asked Governor Winthrop to stop the harsh treatment of Quakers in the colony. She specifically mentioned three prisoners, one of whom was Christopher Holder, who was engaged to her daughter, Mary Scott.

Facing Challenges

Katherine and her daughters were very brave. They protested against the treatment of Quakers, and Katherine even spoke directly to Governor Endecott. For her actions, Katherine was put in prison for three weeks. She was also publicly punished with a whip. Her daughters, Mary (who was 16) and Patience (who was 11), were also imprisoned for a month because they supported the Quakers. It's thought that they might have hidden a Quaker named Mary Dyer, who later faced severe consequences in 1660.

In 1660, Katherine traveled to England with her daughter Mary and Christopher so they could get married safely, away from the persecution. Katherine returned to Providence the same year. She lived there until her husband passed away in 1679. Katherine then moved to Newport to live with her daughter Patience, whose married name was Patience Scott Beere. Katherine lived in Newport until she died on May 2, 1687.