I remember learning about the Pilgrims and Puritans in elementary school. These early settlers of what would become Massachusetts were willing to risk the dangers of a sea voyage and wilderness for their religious beliefs and the freedom to practice them. As I learned more of the history of early colonial Massachusetts, I was struck by the irony of the banishment of Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson to Rhode Island because of their disagreements with some of the teachings of the religious leaders. Then there was the hanging of Mary Dyer on Boston Common for expressing the teachings of her Quaker religion.
All early towns, Rochester among them, were religious organizations where all householders were taxed to support the Church. One of the conditions the Rochester grant had to meet was that worship be established within 4 years. By 1684, a law was passed in Rochester that all landowners would be taxed 10 shillings in “support of the ministry.” Church taxation continued in Massachusetts until 1836, when it became illegal.
In the book, The Colonial Times of Buzzards Bay, written by William Root Bliss in 1888, he writes that the early records of Rochester’s early settlers and the settlers of other areas show none of the “religious bigotry” that was common. They did not believe strongly in witchcraft and were a safe place to stop for “Witchcraft” Mark Haskell who earned that addition to his name by leaving Salem before he could be forced to participate in the trials of accused witches.
There also seems to have been no problems with allowing Quakers the freedom to practice their religion. Rochester residents, John Wing and Clifton Savery, began the town’s Quaker movement. As early as 1709, the town voted to excuse Quakers from having to pay ministry dues. Later, Baptists were included in this exemption.
An Old Rochester Burying Ground was created on County Road in what is Marion today. Like many early graves there are no markers for John Wing and many others buried there. However, there is a small tablet on a stone in a clear area of the enclosure. It has this engraving: ” Within this enclosure lie the Remains of 326 Friends: 200 x 67 ft.
I like knowing that the early founders and residents of our town truly honored religious freedom for all beliefs and respected those who held ones that differed from their own.
By Connie Eshbach