Life Margaret Fell

the title page of 1666 edition of fell s womens speaking justified, in advocated woman s ability preach.

in late june 1652, george fox visited swarthmoor hall. margaret fell met him, , later wrote opened book had never read in, nor indeed had never heard our duty read in (to wit) light of christ in our consciences, our minds never being turned towards before. day or 2 later lecture day @ parish church, invited fox attend them; came in after singing , asked liberty speak. on next weeks , many of household became convinced. on next 6 years, swarthmoor hall became centre of quaker activity; served unofficial secretary new movement, receiving , forwarding letters roving missionaries, , passing along admonitions them fox, richard hubberthorne, james nayler, , others. wrote many epistles herself , collected , disbursed funds on missions. after husband s death in 1658, retained control of swarthmoor hall, remained meeting place , haven persecution, though sometimes, in 1660s, raided government forces.

because 1 of few founding members of religious society of friends established member of gentry, margaret fell called upon intercede in cases of persecution or arrest of leaders such fox. after stuart restoration, travelled lancashire london petition king charles ii , parliament in 1660 , 1662 freedom of conscience in religious matters. submission signed george fox , other prominent (male) quakers made subsequently in november 1660. while structure , phraseology of these submissions quite different, import similar, arguing that, although friends wished see world changed, use persuasion rather violence towards regarded heavenly (i.e. spiritual) end.

in 1664 margaret fell arrested failing take oath , allowing quaker meetings held in home. defended herself saying long lord blessed home, worship him in . spent 6 months in lancaster gaol, whereafter sentenced life imprisonment , forfeiture of property. remained in prison until 1668, during time wrote religious pamphlets , epistles. perhaps famous work women s speaking justified , scripture-based argument women s ministry, , 1 of major texts on women s religious leadership in 17th century. in short pamphlet, fell bases argument equality of sexes on 1 of basic premises of quakerism, namely spiritual equality. belief god created human beings, therefore both men , women capable of not possessing inner light ability prophet.

having been released order of king , council, married george fox in 1669. on returning lancashire after marriage, again imprisoned year in lancaster breaking conventicle act. shortly after release, george fox departed on religious mission america, , imprisoned again on return in 1673. margaret again travelled london intercede on behalf, , freed in 1675. after this, spent year @ swarthmoor, collaborating on defending created organisational structure of separate women s meetings discipline against anti-fox opponents.

a plaque @ society of friends burial ground in sunbrick, urswick, margaret fox s resting place

george fox spent of rest of life thereafter abroad or in london until death in 1691, while margaret fell spent of rest of life @ swarthmoor. surviving both husbands number of years, continued take active part in affairs of society including changes in 1690s following partial legal tolerance of quakers, when eighties. in last decade of life, firmly opposed effort of fellow believers in lancashire maintain traditional quaker standards of conduct (for example, in matters of dress). died aged 87.