| A DOCUMENTED HERETIC AND ALLEGED MARTYR |
Thomas HUBBARD was 'run out of town' for his religious beliefs according to John Foxe's 1563 Book of Martyrs, as follows :
| These here vnder were persecuted out of the towne of Mendelsam, in the countye of Suffolke by Syr Ihon Tirrell of Gipping hal.
Symon Harlstoun and Katherine hys wyfe with his fyue children.
VVilliam VVhiting and Katherin his wife.
Thomas Dobson and his wife.
Thomas Hubbard and his wyfe.
Iohn Doncon and his wife and his mayde.
VVilliam Doncon.
Thomas VVodward the elder.
One Konnoldes wyfe.
And a pore wydowe.
And also one mother Semons mayde.
Besides those that he constrayned and enforced to do against theire conscience, by the helpe of the parishe priest, whose name is Syr Iohn Brodishe.
These be the chefest causes why those aboue named were persecuted.
1. The fayth and doctrin of these confessours, FIrst, they dyd hold & beleue the holy worde of God, to be the fufficient doctrine vnto theyr saluacion.
2. Secondly, they denyed the Popes vsurped authority, and dyd hold al that church of Antichrist to be Christes aduersaryes, further refused the abused sacramentes, defied the masse and al Popish seruice and Ceremonies, saing they robbed God of his honnor, and Christ of his death and glory, and would not come at church, without it wer to the defacing of that they dyd there.
3. Thyrdly, they did hold, that the ministers of the church, by Godes worde might laufully marry.
4. Fourthly, they held the Quene as cheife head: and wicked rulers a great plague sente of God for sinne. &c.
5. Fiftly, they denyed mans free will, and that the Popes church did erre, and many other in that pointe with them, rebukinge their false confidence in workes, and their false trust in mannes righteousnes. Also when any rebuked those persecuted for going so openly, and talking so frely, their answer was: they knowledge, confesse and beleue, and therfore they must speake. And their tribulacion that it was Gods good wil and prouidence, and that hys iudgmentes were righte, to punish th? with other for their sinnes. And that of very faythfullnes and mercy God had caused them to be troubled. So that one heare of theyr heades shoulde not perishe before the tyme: but all thinges should worke vnto the beast, to them that loue God. And that Christ Iesus was their life and onely righteousnes: and that onely by fayth in him, and for his sake al good thinges were freely geuen them: also forgiuenes of sinnes, and lyfe euerlasting.
Many of these foresayd persecuted, were of greate substance, and hadde possessions of their owne.
Geue God the prayse.
(from http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/johnfoxe/main/11_1563_1522.jsp). Click
HERE to go to the page.
|
Unfortunately, Thomas Hubbard has long been identified in various family histories as a different 'Martyr' who was burned at the stake in 1555 during Queen Mary's 'reign of terror' and its many protestant persecutions (starting with the ill-fated 16 year-old Lady Jane Grey, 'illegally' crowned Queen of England for 4 days and summarily executed once Queen Mary claimed her 'rightful' crown).
But the identification of Thomas Hubbard as a murdered 'martyr' is mistaken. Instead, others have confused him with a gentleman known variously as Thomas Higbe or Thomas Higbed, a person indeed burned at the stake and listed in Foxe's book (see page 1104, Volume 11, of his 1563 'Actes and Monumentes of the church', available online at http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/johnfoxe/main/11_1563_1104.jsp). Click
HERE to go to the page.
The following rootsweb post by Beth Katona (see rootsweb archives http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/SDB/2001-06/0993315446), makes this clear.
"As promised, here is a synopsis of the information contained in the article "A Genealogist's Dilemma" by Don A. Sanford, Historian for the Seventh Day Baptist Historical Society. It was published in the Sabbath Recorder, April 1997. A BIG THANK YOU to Kathy Severance for sending me a copy of the article!
"Basically, Mr. Sanford discusses several secondary sources/family histories that cite a story about Thomas Hubbard, ancestor of Samuel Hubbard (one of the founders of the first SDB church in America in Newport. According to these sources, he was burned at the stake in 1555 in Essex County, England for refusing to recant his protestantism. Many of these sources cite Fox's "Book of Martyrs", but also acknowledge that the name in that book associated with this event is Thomas Higbed (Higbee).
"The suspect sources discussed in the article include: "Seventh Day Baptists in Europe and America" (FIRST VOLUME), The Descendants of Robert Burdick of Rhode Island by Nellie Johnson, "The Burdick Family Chronology" by Frank Meuller, "Davis, The Settlers of Salem, West Virginia" by Susie Davis Nicholson (1979). "Langfitt and Davis British and Colonial Ancestry" by Margaret Parks Ewing, "The Langworthy Family" by William S. Langworthy.
"Because of date discrepancies between these sources, Mr. Sanford looked directly at the 1684 copy of "The Book of Martyrs" as well as Samuel Hubbard's journal. There is actually an entry for Thomas Hubbard in the Book of Martyrs. He and his wife were "persecuted and driven out of the Town of Mendelsam in the County of Suffolk in 1556." So, he reasons that these early researchers took a reference by Samuel Hubbard in his journal to his father being in the Book of Martyrs, saw the Higbed entry, and assumed it was Thomas Hubbard. But, the dates and locations don't support such a reading. The burning at the stake of Thomas Higbed took place in Essex in 1555 and Thomas Hubbard was driven out of Mendalsam in 1556. So, Mr. Sanford concludes that these are two separate people, not the same person.
"Apparently, this error is being corrected in newer sources and in revisions of older sources. However, I have personally seen this story crop up in a few places. I think Mr. Sanford's final admonition is worthwhile for us all:
| Genealogist's take note: Ideas which have been believed for generations are not always accurate, even though they may be tempting fruit on your family tree. As far as possible, search out the primary records. They may surprise you. |
"I know we have had a few such surprises in our own search!"
Happy Hunting,
From: "Beth Katona"
Subject: [SDB] The Alleged Martyrdom of Thomas Hubbard
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001 10:03:29 -0700
