20 Facts About Francis Marbury

Francis Marbury was a Cambridge-educated English cleric, schoolmaster and playwright.

Francis Marbury is best known for being the father of Anne Hutchinson, considered the most famous English woman in colonial America, and Katherine Marbury Scott, the first known woman to convert to Quakerism in the United States.

Francis Marbury was given a ministry position in Northampton and almost immediately came into conflict with the bishop.

Francis Marbury was given a second parish in 1608, which was exchanged for another closer to home a year later.

Francis Marbury died unexpectedly in 1611 at the age of 55.

Francis Marbury's mother was Agnes, the daughter of John Lenton of Old Wynkill, Staffordshire according to historian John Champlin, but genealogist Meredith Colket suggests that Lenton was from Aldwinkle in Northamptonshire, which is much closer to where the Marburys lived.

Francis Marbury was likely educated in London, perhaps at St Paul's School, and he became well grounded in Latin as well as learning some Greek.

Francis Marbury matriculated at Christ's College, Cambridge in 1571, but is not known to have graduated.

The most vocal of these critics were the Puritans, and Francis Marbury was among the most radical of the non-conforming Puritans, the Presbyterians.

Francis Marbury spent time preaching at Northampton, but soon came into conflict with the bishop's chancellor, Dr James Ellis, who was on a mission to suppress any nonconforming clergy.

Francis Marbury made a transcript of this trial from memory and used it to educate and amuse his children, he being the hero, and the Bishop being portrayed as somewhat of a buffoon, and the transcript can be found in Benjamin Brook's study of notable Puritans.

Francis Marbury was appointed curate of St Wilfrid's Church, Alford.

Francis Marbury is thought to have been the teacher or tutor of young John Smith, who became an early explorer and leader in the Jamestown Colony in Virginia.

In 1590 Francis Marbury felt emboldened to speak out against his superiors, denouncing the Church of England for selecting poorly educated bishops and poorly trained ministers.

Whichever the case, by 1594 he was preaching, and from this point forward, Francis Marbury resolved to curb his tongue and not openly question those in positions of authority.

Francis Marbury took on additional work in 1608, preaching in the parish of St Pancras, Soper Lane, travelling there by horse twice a week.

Francis Marbury's most noted work, The Contract of Marriage between Wit and Wisdom was written in 1579 while he was in prison.

Francis Marbury helped write the preface to the works of other religious writers.

Sir Francis Marbury Bacon called him "The Preacher," and recognised him as such in his 1624 work Apothegm.

Francis Marbury was said to have 20 children, but only 18 have been identified, three with his first wife, Elizabeth Moore, and 15 with his second wife, Bridget Dryden.