Margaret Fell

Margaret Fell (* 1614 in Marsh Grange, † April 23, 1702 in Swarthmore ) the "mother of Quakerism " ( I. Ross), was the most important female figure in early Quakerism.

She was the daughter of John Askew and Margaret Pyper and wife of Thomas Fell (1598-1658) whom she married in 1632. Her husband was a judge and was one of the " Long Parliament" under Oliver Cromwell ( 1599-1658 ) on. The most of her life she spent at the estate of her husband Swarthmore Hall, near the town of Ulverston. Fell had eight children ( Margaret * to 1633 * 1635 Bridget, Isabel * 1637, * 1638 George, Sarah * 1642-1714, Mary * 1647, * 1650, Susanna, Rachel * 1653) with Thomas Fell.

The House of Fells was open to visiting religious figures. They came mostly from among the Independents, to which they belonged. In this way, she met the Quaker itinerant preacher George Fox, who preached to winter from June 1652 in the weekly home church. After the first sermon converted all fur coat except George and Thomas Fell, who was not on the property at this time, to Quakerism. Her husband remained rest of his life Independenter, but allowed his wife to Swarthmore center of early Quakerism to make. From here, measures against the persecution of the Quakers now been taken Missonsreisen planned and coordinated the relief work for ( by tracing ) organized the needy.

She herself did not occur too often as a preacher, but in her writings she campaigned for the ministry of women. In a petition to the Rump Parliament, which against the bars of oaths opposition has been made, it is even as the first signatory alongside 7,000 other Quakers. In the mitformulierten of her letter, which should enter into a so-called " peace testimony " in June 1660 in the story, she herself but not signed ( but only eight men). At this time, coat held more often in London, which was the political center of power to be in person or in writing to use again and again for captured Quakers.

From May to August 1663 the journey took place with her ​​daughter, who became known as the " Thousand Miles Journey" in the English Quäkergeschichte. Here she traveled preaching the north and south-west England. That same year, she was imprisoned for the first time even from the contentious Judge Daniel Fleming for refusing the oath. A second time she was sentenced to imprisonment in Lancaster in the local dungeon. Here are their most important works, "Women's Speaking Justified " ( 1666) and " Touch Stone" ( 1667) emerged. From the years 1654-1670 ( the violent persecution ) submitted 500 letters that were addressed to them and have been preserved. In June 1668 she came again. Richard Lower the brother of Thomas Lower, who in turn was married to a daughter of Margaret Fell, had campaigned for the release in the highest aristocratic circles.

On October 27, 1669 Margaret Fell, George Fox married in Bristol. After just a week she already left her new husband and returned to Swarthmore. For marriage Claus writes Bernt:

In spring 1670 the son (George) of fur now made ​​sure that his mother was in prison until April 1671. Background were family disputes over inheritance.

From February 1675 George Fox held for 21 months in Swarthmore on the case of skin to recover from one of his stays in prison. During this time, about 1676, he dictated his retrospective diary.

From the 1680s it was a little quieter, and work on structural things came to the fore. Thus, the creation of monthly and quarterly "Women's Meetings" ( central business meetings of the Quakers ), along with their daughters Sarah and Rachel.

Until 1684 was followed again and again shorter prison stays, because they refused to see local services.

After the death of George Fox on 13 January 1691 where she stood by in the last hours, she withdrew from public life. The Women's Yearly Meeting in London but was further attended by her.

Of great importance is the autobiography "A brief collection of remarkable passages ", which was published posthumously. Among the Quakers was literally celebrated as a saint and revered.

For the technical terms used in the article see article "Glossary Quakerism ".