Southwick: A Tale of Religious Persecution

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Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick (Sethwick) were imprisoned, fined, whipped, starved, and eventually banished from the Colony of Massachusetts in 1659 for their religious beliefs. They were exiled to Shelter Island, New York, where they soon perished due to deprivation and exposure. Their son Daniel and daughter Provided were sentenced to be sold into slavery, but could find no one to take them. Their son Josiah was also banished and later whipped for returning.

Ancestor Spotlight - my 10x Great Grandparents:

Lawrence Southwick
B. 1598 Lancashire, England
D. 1660 Shelter Island, New York
Cassandra Burnell
B. 1598 Worcestershire, England
D. 1660 Shelter Island, New York

Journey from England to Colonial America:

Family lore suggests that Lawrence came to America in 1627 on the 2nd voyage of the Mayflower.  He then went back to England and brought his wife Cassandra and son John, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630. Their daughter Mary was likely born the same year, so it's plausible Cassandra was pregnant during the journey across the Atlantic.  Lawrence’s name begins to appear in the public records of Salem in 1639.

As Quakers (or the Society of Friends), Lawrence and his family were likely escaping religious persecution in England.  Quakers believed in equality of the genders, opposed war, and believed salvation was available to all.  In England, as well as in some American colonies, Quakers were persecuted for deviating so far from orthodox Christianity.  From 1656 to 1661 in Massachusetts Colony, Quakers suffered the same treatment by the Puritans.  Ironically, the Puritans also left England to escape religious persecution.  It's disheartening to witness the recurrence of this narrative persisting throughout history and even today.

Lawrence and Cassandra’s Life in Salem, Massachusetts:

In 1639, Lawrence and Cassandra were admitted into the First Church of Salem.  Shortly after, Lawrence was granted 2 acres of land by the town of Salem.  He later bought 3 more acres.  On this land, he would farm and make glass and earthenware.  Family lore suggests he was one of the first to manufacture glass in the new world.

This land was part of what came to be known as Glass House Field.  In Salem today, it lies between Adorn Street and Boston Street, near Proctor’s Hill Memorial and Gallows Hills, where several individuals faced hanging during the notorious Salem Witch Trials of 1692.

Click hear for more history about glass making in Salem: Glass Making in Salem, MA

Also in 1639, Lawrence became a Freeman. Meaning he was not subject to servitude, was a full citizen of the colony, and could vote in town meetings.

According to my research, Lawrence and Cassandra had 6 children, one passing away as a small child. 

A sketch of Lawrence and Cassandra's home in Salem, Massachusetts (from A Study of Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick, by Janet Ireland Delorey)


The Tale of Persecution:

Official persecution of the Quakers in Massachusetts started in 1656 with a law that enacted strict punishments, seeking to prevent a growing Quaker population.  Those that defied the law were severely punished, including branding, ear cropping, whipping, and prolonged imprisonment.  Two years later, on October 20th, 1658, John Endecott, the governor of Massachusetts, passed an even stricter law that forbade Quakers from entering the state and violators would be punished by death.  

Cassandra Southwick was targeted by this law in 1656 when she was first arrested for absence from Puritan worship. By July 1658, both Lawrence and Cassandra, along with their son Josiah, were imprisoned in Boston under charges of being Quakers. In early 1659, their children Daniel and Provided, having not paid their fines, were sentenced to be sold into slavery, but the order was not executed.

In March, 1659, Lawrence, Cassandra, and Josiah were banished from Massachusetts, on sentence of death if they returned.  

Josiah left Massachusetts for Rhode Island, where he established a home for his family. He came back to Salem a short time later to check on his parents' property, and was whipped for returning. 

Final Resting Place:

Lawrence and Cassandra, very elderly by standards of that era, made the160 mile journey to Shelter Island, New York. I struggle to imagine how they even made it.  The couple was taken in at Shelter Island by Nathaniel and Grizzell Sylvester.  Several Quakers found refuge at Shelter Island by the Sylvester's.

Lawrence and Cassandra passed away from deprivation and exposure in the spring of 1660, passing just a few days apart from one another.

Just over two hundred years later, the community of Shelter Island erected a monument to Nathaniel Sylvester, Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick, and others that perished at the cruel hands of the Puritans.

Sylvester Manor Burial Ground

Find a Grave: Lawrence Southwick

Find a Grave: Cassandra Burnell-Southwick

Monument at Shelter Island (photo from Find a Grave)


My Ancestral Line:

  1. Lawrence & Cassandra Southwick

  2. Daniel Southwick

  3. Mercy Southwick (m. John Osborne)

  4. Ester Osborne (m. Jonathan Marsh)

  5. Samuel Marsh

  6. Joseph Clark Marsh

  7. Hiram Marsh

  8. Hiram Whitfield Marsh

  9. Phinnie Henry Marsh

  10. Roy Darious Marsh

  11. Mary Frances Marsh (m. Earl McElhany)

  12. Robert Roy McElhany

  13. Me

My Closing Thoughts:

Reflecting on my ancestors who suffered persecution for their beliefs, reminds me of the enduring power of love and the lengths in which individuals are willing to go to in upholding their convictions.  Their courage in the face of extreme adversity serves as a testament to the value of acceptance of all others.  As I honor their memory, I stand firm in supporting a future where everyone can thrive without fear of prosecution.  My ancestors' sacrifice should remind all of us that is our collective duty to protect the freedom of every life on earth.

To learn more, I encourage everyone to watch this 10 minute video about the Southwick's:  Voices from the Vault: Cassandra and Lawrence Southwick

Resources:

 

Disclaimer:  I am an amateur genealogist, and although I am committed to striving for accuracy in my research, I cannot provide a 100% guarantee of the accuracy of all the information I present. Genealogy involves piecing together historical records and documents, which can sometimes be incomplete, conflicting, or subject to errors. Therefore, I encourage readers to approach the information I provide as a valuable starting point for their own research, verify details independently, and seek professional guidance if needed.

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