Read Part One HERE
In this story I will continue to focus on Evangelical women born in 1600, this time focusing on a woman named Anne Waldegrave Dowcra. She lived from 1624 - 1710. Anne was born in Bures, Essex, England. Her father was William Waldegrave, who was a Justice of the Peace. Anne received a very good education, including, very unusally for women, the study of law.
Anne married James Dowcra, of an old landed family who by 1665 had become a supporter of the Quaker movement. After her husband died in 1672, Anne moved to Cambridge where she welcomed Quakers, local or travelling, into her home.
Quakers were teaching in Cambridge from as early as 1653, when two women were condemned to a public whipping after discussing their religious views with some students. George Fox, the founder, himself visited Cambridge in 1655 and was heckled and harrassed by students, but managed to hold a meeting with Friends.
Anne wrote several tracts on the subject of religious tolerance as from 1682. She also strongly upheld the role of women in the Friends, to be one of active support. As a final gift to the Quakers of Cambridge, she bequeathed her property in Jesus Lane on a thousand year lease with other property and money, to fund a graveyeard.
Anne died in 1710.
Read Part Four HERE
No comments:
Post a Comment