This is part of a series about my New England colonial ancestors who arrived by during the Great Migration. If you have early Massachusetts ancestry, be sure to check out AmericanAncestors, as the Great Migration Study Project can be viewed there with a membership to the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

Richard Scott & Katherine Marbury, two of my 9X great grandparents, have produced some of the most interesting family history.

Richard Scott was baptized on 9 September 1605, Glemsford, Suffolk, England, the son of Edward Scott and possibly Sarah Carter, as an Edward Scott married Sarah Carter on 18 December 1599 in Glemsford.

Edward was a clothier; Richard was a shoemaker.

Edward left a wife Marie (MNU), named in his 1642 will, so if Sarah was his first wife and mother of his first set of children, she died c1633 or earlier. Edward and Mary’s daughter, Mary, was baptized on 29 June 1634, and son Charles was baptized on 20 August 1637, both in Glemsford.

Richard Scott and Katherine Marbury married 7 June 1632, Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England.

This family experienced several religious conversions during their lifetimes. Katherine’s father was a devout Anglican minister, yet they migrated to Massachusetts because of Katherine’s unorthodox beliefs. Next, they took up antinomianism for a short while, followed by Baptist beliefs with Roger Williams, followed by several years of Quakerism.

Here are a few of the details:

Katherine Marbury was the sister of Anne (Marbury) Hutchinson, who was involved in the Antinomian Controversy of 1637-1638, which was religious and political in nature.

Rev. John Cotton was the leader of this religious Free Grace movement, defined on Wikipedia as teaching that anyone can receive eternal life the moment they believe that Jesus is . . . the One who guarantees eternal salvation to the believer. Good works are not the condition to merit, maintain, or to prove eternal life, but are part of discipleship and the basis for receiving eternal rewards.

The Puritans settled in New England to enjoy religious freedom, but were not tolerant of others who didn’t adhere to their beliefs.

As you might correctly infer, the Scott family was not the most popular family in Massachusetts. By 1638, they had removed to Providence, Rhode Island, aligning themselves with Roger Williams’ Baptist beliefs for a short time.

Not only were the Antinomians not to be tolerated by the Puritans, even lower in their esteem were Quakers. In addition to the Scotts aligning themselves with Rev. John Cotton’s teachings, various family members also became . . .  Quakers!

In 1658, Katherine (Marbury) Scott traveled to Boston to support Christopher Holder and several other men who received the punishment of having their ears chopped off for their Quaker activities. Katherine was not only jailed, but whipped ten strokes because of her belief. Daughter Patience, aged 11 years, was also jailed.

Apparently, by 1660, Katherine had become disinterested in Quakerism, too.

One thing is quite obvious – Anne and Katherine Marbury had strong personalities and beliefs, which were at least tolerated by their husbands. Based on Patience Scott’s jailing, they raised their daughters to be strong young ladies, too.

Richard Scott died by 1 July 1679 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island. Katherine survived her husband by 9 years, passing away in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island on 2 May 1687.

Children:

1. James, baptized 23 March 1633/34, Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England; died after 1650.
2. John, born c1637; died 1677, Pawtucket, Providence, Rhode Island.
3. Mary, born c1640; died 7 January 1664, Newport, Newport, Rhode Island; married Christopher Holder, 12 August 1660, Olveston, Gloucestershire, England. they apparently traveled back to England with her mother and married there.
4. Joseph, born c1642; died after 1667, possibly London, England, where he was last living.
5. Hannah, born c1646; died 24 July 1681, Newport, Newport, Rhode Island; married Walter Clarke, February 1666, place uncertain.
6. Patience, born c1644; died 12 September 1715, Newport, Newport, Rhode Island; married Henry Beere, 20 September 1663, Newport, Newport, Rhode Island.
7. Deliverance, born c1650; died 1676, place uncertain; married William Richardson, 30 August 1670, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, as his second wife.

My line of descent:

1. Richard Scott & Katherine Marbury
2. John Scott & Rebecca (MNU)
3. Sylvanus Scott & Joanna Jenckes
4. John Wilkinson & Rebecca Scott
5. Israel Thornton & Joanna Wilkinson
6. Ira Hicks & Sarah Thornton
7. Israel Hicks & Abigail Carlisle
8. Charles Stewart/Stuart & Elida Ann Hicks
9. Charles Edwin Adams & Annie Maude Stuart
10. Vernon Tarbox Adams & Hazel Ethel Coleman
11. George Michael Sabo & Doris Priscilla Adams
12. Linda Anne (Sabo) Stufflebean – Me!