Mary Dyer is one of the only women in American history executed for religious reasons. Born in England, she immigrated to Massachusetts shortly after Puritans established the colony. Her and her family practiced Puritanism, but soon questioned the principles of the religion. Dyer was good friends with Anne Hutchinson and followed her views on religion. When the government banished Hutchinson, the Dyer family moved to Rhode Island with her. Roger Williams formed Rhode Island as a safe place for people of differing religions. After returning to England, the Dyer family converted to Quakerism then returned to New England.

While the family was in England, the American colonies took harsh measures against Quakers. As early as 1656, colonial governments took action against Quakers entering the colonies. Massachusetts was one of the biggest advocates against Quaker ideas. Many felt that the ideas of Quakers threatened the Puritan way of life. Puritans also disagreed with Quakers allowing women to be missionaries. Initially, the courts enacted laws to imprison, torture, and banish any Quaker entering the colonies. In addition to the people entering, the courts also created laws fining captains bringing them into the colonies and any person that harbored a Quaker. The punishments varied, but at times would be gruesome. Many times Quakers had one of their ears cut off. Not long after these laws, the death sentence was issued to any Quaker returning to Massachusetts after being banished from the colony.

When the Dyer family returned to the New World, Mary defied the colonial authority time after time. First, she traveled to Boston to visit imprisoned Quakers. She herself was banished, but she quickly returned. She was then imprisoned and sentenced to death along with two other Quaker men. Instead of hanging her, the court banished her again. Unfortunately, Mary did not listen to the pleas of her family and returned to Boston. The people hung her on June 1, 1660 on Boston Common.  

By: Jessica McKenzie 

Credits and Sources:

National Women’s History Museum. “Mary Dyer (?-1660).” National Women’s History Museum. Accessed September 13, 2016. https://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/mary-dyer/

O’Connor, Thomas H. Boston: A to Z. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2000.

Rothbard, Murray N. Conceived in Liberty. Auburn, AL: Mises Institute, 1999. https://mises.org/library/first-execution-religion-american-soil