1638-1699: Women, Religion, and Society in the New Hampshire Colony
Introduction
An Examination of Religious Influence, Settler Origins, and Women's Roles
Founded in 1638 by English settlers seeking religious and economic opportunity, the New Hampshire Colony developed within the broader Puritan influence of New England. This influence shaped New Hampshire’s social and religious structures, though the colony also exhibited distinct characteristics due to its geography, economic pursuits, and governance under various proprietors. Between 1638 and 1699, New Hampshire’s religious environment was primarily Puritan, and the colony maintained patriarchal structures that limited women’s roles in both religious and public life. This essay examines the dominant religion in New Hampshire during this period, the colony’s settler origins, the religious expectations placed on women, and their roles in governance.
Dominant Religion in New Hampshire (1638-1699)
Puritanism dominated New Hampshire between 1638 and 1699, as it did in much of New England, where settlers prioritized creating a religiously “pure” society that adhered closely to Biblical teachings. The Congregational Church, rooted in Puritan doctrine, became the central religious institution, emphasizing a strict moral code and community oversight of individual behavior. Church membership was exclusive, requiring public testimony and moral purity, which underscored the community’s emphasis on accountability.
Although Puritanism was the dominant faith, New Hampshire experienced tensions within its religious environment due to its diverse settlers and governance changes. The colony was divided into multiple settlements with various proprietors, which occasionally led to differences in religious enforcement. Despite these distinctions, Puritan beliefs were pervasive, shaping both personal conduct and civic responsibilities. Attendance at church was expected, and the church played an influential role in daily life, reinforcing the values of piety, discipline, and social order. The community held ministers in high regard, seeing them as moral and spiritual leaders, with sermons addressing both spiritual guidance and communal matters.
Origins of the Settlers
The settlers of New Hampshire were primarily English, originating from Puritan communities in Massachusetts Bay and surrounding New England colonies. These settlers often migrated north seeking economic opportunities, particularly in fishing, lumbering, and agriculture, which were well-suited to New Hampshire’s natural resources. Some settlers sought to escape the stricter religious and political controls of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, desiring a balance between religious principles and greater personal autonomy.
New Hampshire also attracted English landholders and businessmen, such as John Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who saw economic potential in the area and invested in its development. Mason and Gorges were granted land in New England and established some of the early settlements, with Mason focusing on the Piscataqua region. However, despite this focus on economic opportunity, Puritan ideals and values permeated the colony’s cultural foundation. Over time, New Hampshire’s population grew as more families, laborers, and small landholders arrived, shaping a community grounded in Puritan morality and values but oriented towards practical economic pursuits.
Religious Expectations of Women (1638-1699)
In New Hampshire, as in much of Puritan New England, religious beliefs shaped specific expectations for women, emphasizing their roles as submissive, pious, and morally responsible figures within the family and community. Puritan doctrine upheld the belief that women were spiritually equal to men but subordinate in social and religious roles. Women were expected to support their husbands, manage household affairs, and raise their children according to Christian teachings.
The household was seen as a “little commonwealth,” with women responsible for instilling moral and religious values in their children, creating a foundation for community virtue. Although women regularly attended church services, they were barred from church leadership roles. The Puritan belief in male headship and female submission reinforced a patriarchal hierarchy that saw women as essential to the moral fabric of society but limited in their public expression of faith.
However, women were not entirely without influence in the religious sphere. They engaged in prayer meetings, Bible study, and charitable work, which provided them with spaces to foster communal bonds and strengthen their faith. Widows and wealthy women occasionally exercised a degree of authority within their households, especially in property management, but the broader expectations of religious obedience and submission remained constant across the colony.
Women's Roles in Governance (1638-1699)
In New Hampshire, women held no formal roles in governance, reflecting the Puritan and English patriarchal norms that excluded them from civic and political life. The colony’s governance structure consisted of town meetings and assemblies, where only male landowners and church members had the right to vote and participate. Although New Hampshire underwent several changes in political control—falling under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts Bay, proprietary governance, and briefly a royal charter—women remained excluded from political participation.
The legal system, heavily influenced by Puritan principles, maintained that women’s primary duties were within the domestic sphere, and English common law dictated that married women’s legal identities were subsumed under their husbands’ through the doctrine of coverture. This restricted married women’s property rights and limited their ability to conduct business or engage in public matters independently.
Despite these restrictions, women exerted indirect influence within their communities through family networks and economic activities. Widows or women from prominent families occasionally managed family estates and businesses, which granted them a measure of respect within the community. However, any influence they wielded was informal, lacking the official power or status held by men in governance roles.
Conclusion
Between 1638 and 1699, New Hampshire’s society was shaped by the dominant influence of Puritan values, a homogeneous settler population with strong ties to English and Puritan cultural norms, and a patriarchal structure that emphasized traditional gender roles. Puritan beliefs reinforced the expectation that women would serve as moral guides within their households, while governance and church leadership remained firmly in male hands. Although women occasionally exercised informal influence, the colony’s legal and social systems reflected the broader New England commitment to upholding male authority in both public and private life. The intersection of religion, gender, and governance in New Hampshire reveals a society that valued religious uniformity and discipline, shaping the lives of women within a strictly ordered and patriarchal framework.
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