Bathsheba Fox

Agitators for Their Faith

"Sometimes, though, the persecution was unmerited, especially in the early years of the sect. In 1695 the New London Congregationalist meetinghouse was burned, and the Stonington meetinghouse was damaged by “daubing it with filth.” Bathsheba (Rogers) Fox, John Rogers Jr., and William Wright, an Indian servant of John Rogers Sr., were all convicted in varying degrees of committing these acts, although the evidence would seem to contemporary observers to be nonexistent. Fox and Rogers were eventually freed. Wright remained in jail with John Rogers Sr. until Rogers was “set at liberty in open court” without conditions put upon his release. Wright was asked to swear that he would “behave himself civilly and peaceably,” including refraining from work on the Sabbath. When he would not so swear, he was transported out of the colony."

https://connecticuthistory.org/the-rogerenes-leave-their-mark-on-co...

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Bathsheba (Bathshua) Rogers was born in 1650 at Milford, Connecticut, daughter of James Rogers, "the wealthiest man in the colony of New London after Governor Winthrop."

"The troubles and differences which Samuel2 Fox had with his neighbors appear to have resulted from his marriage with Bathsheba. Her father, James Rogers, and his children also, as early as 1676, attracted attention by their declared opposition to infant baptism, and Samuel evidently was a convert to their views." FYI they were Rogerene Quakers.

notes

From http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/i/c/Donald-R-Dickenson...

By 1693, Samuel Fox, a member of the Congregational church in New London, Connecticut and one of the most prosperous business men of the place, had married the widow Bathsheba Smith (daughter of John (sic: James) Rogers, head of the Rogerene Society) and adopted her faith. He was seen as being very influential in gaining more such followers, unless deterrent measures were soon taken. How long could the Congregational church be maintained, on its then present footing, if such a new birth as this man describes should be required before admission; aye, if any conversion other than turning from, or avoidance of, immoral practices be generally insisted upon?

On Sunday, February 25, 1694, Rev. John Rogers, head of the Rogerenes, was arrested in New London, Connecticut for "carting boards," and Samuel Fox "for catching eels on that holy day." Both were arraigned before the County Court then in session. It was the first arraignment of this kind since 1685. During these nine years, John Rogers and all of his Rogerene Society had been working upon the first day of the week.

In 1693 Bathsheba (Rogers) Fox moved to the North Parish, to a place called Fox's Mills, from the mills owned and carried on by her husband, Samuel Fox.

The esteem and affection in which Bathsheba was held by her husband, Samuel Fox, may be estimated by the fact that he not only gave valuable lands to her sons by Richard Smith in her lifetime, but, although he had married again, left by will, sixteen years after her death, to her sons by the name of Smith, yet living (James and John), £40 each, and to her three daughters by Richard Smith, £10 each.

• http://cybergata.com/roots/7758.htm