Hannah Stranger (1600s – after 1679) was an English Quaker missionary and a supporter of

James Nayler James Nayler (or Naylor; 1618–1660) was an English Quaker leader. He was among the members of the Valiant Sixty, a group of early Quaker preachers and missionaries. In 1656, Nayler achieved national notoriety when he re-enacted Christ's Palm ...

who was found guilty of blasphemy when he was tried by the English parliament.

Life

All the details of her early life are unknown. She comes to notice in 1656 when she and

Martha Simmonds Martha Simmonds (or Simmons; ; baptized 1624 – 1665) was an English Quaker and author. She published a number of pamphlets after her conversion. She then obtained a release for James Naylor from Exeter jail. She then proceeded with him where he ...

began singing to interrupt

Francis Howgill Francis Howgill (1618 – 11 February 1669) was a prominent early member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in England. He preached and wrote on the teachings of the Friends and is considered one of the Valiant Sixty, men and women wh ...

and

Edward Hubberthorne Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...

at a Quaker meeting. Martha had published her ideas about Quakerism including "O England, Thy Time is Come". This included some text by Stranger. In October she went with a group that included her husband John to request the release of

from the jail in Exeter. They had an authorisation obtained by Martha. Nayler was released and they then set out for Bristol via the towns of Wells and Glastonbury. The three of them were accompanied by six others including Martha and Thomas Simmonds and

Dorcas Erbery Dorcas Erbery (fl. 1656–1659), was an English militant Quaker preacher. She was arrested with others in Bristol for blasphemy. James Nayler was convicted and he was sentenced by the English parliament to cruel and unusual punishment. Life Erbery ...

. They entered Bristol on 24 October with Nayler on a horse with to his left and right Hannah and Martha Simmonds. They were all imprisoned and the local magistrates interrogated them before Nayler was dispatched to London to face trial for blasphemy. The evidence included letters that Hannah had written to Nayler where she called him "only begotten son of God" and "Prince of Peace". On one of the letters was a postscript by her husband where he suggested that Nayler should not be "James" but "Jesus". Their "confessions" were gathered and they also included those of Timothy Wedlock according to a contemporary account that also included the Quakers "damnable opinions". Nayler was tried in December but parliament had an interest, and they got involved in Nayler's trial. On December 27, Nayler's vicious punishment was made. This included having his tongue pierced with a hot spike and a B branded on his forehead. Hannah, Martha Simmonds and Dorcas Erbury were at the base of his pillory mirroring the three Mary's who were at Jesus's crucifixion. She later recanted her actions in writing on 2 November 1669 when she joined a Quaker meeting in Bristol. By this time she had remarried to Thomas Salter and she had two children. In 1671 she went to lobby the King for the release of

Margaret Fell Margaret Fell or Margaret Fox ( Askew, formerly Fell; 1614 – 23 April 1702) was a founder and leading member of the Religious Society of Friends Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Prot ...

at the request of Fox. The details of her death are unknown. She was recorded to be in America in 1679 at Tokaney, Delaware.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stranger, Hannah 1600s births Year of birth uncertain Year of death unknown Quakers

Quaker missionaries Quakers, or the Religious Society of Friends, have been making missionary efforts for centuries. Men and women have made efforts from home and gone abroad to preach their religious message. Missionary efforts Quakerism has no ordained clergy. ...

Female Christian missionaries People from Delaware