Hutchinsonians

Hutchinsonians refers to the followers of Anne Hutchinson, a prominent religious leader in colonial Massachusetts. Hutchinson arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634 and quickly gained a following for her theological views, which differed from the prevailing Puritan orthodoxy. She emphasized the importance of inner spiritual experience and the direct relationship between the individual and God, rather than reliance on good works or the guidance of ministers.

Her teachings, often referred to as antinomianism, suggested that believers were free from the obligation of obeying the moral law of God, as their salvation was already assured through God's grace. This stance was viewed as heretical and dangerous by the colony's leaders, who feared it would lead to moral decay and undermine their authority. Hutchinson also challenged the authority of the clergy and engaged in theological discussions with women, which was uncommon at the time.

The controversy surrounding Hutchinson and her followers, known as the Antinomian Controversy, intensified in 1637. Hutchinson was put on trial by the colonial court and banished from Massachusetts in 1638. She and a group of her supporters then relocated to the island of Aquidneck, which later became Rhode Island, where they established a new settlement based on principles of religious freedom and tolerance. The term "Hutchinsonians" is thus associated with those who supported her religious views and her advocacy for individual conscience and religious liberty in early America.