14 Facts About Margaret Fell

Margaret Fell or Margaret Fox was a founder of the Religious Society of Friends.

Margaret Fell was born Margaret Askew at the family seat of Marsh Grange in the parish of Kirkby Ireleth, Lancashire.

Margaret Fell married Thomas Fell, a barrister, in 1632, and became the lady of Swarthmoor Hall.

Margaret Fell ceased to be a member from 1647 to 1649, disapproving of Oliver Cromwell's assumption of authority.

Margaret Fell wrote many epistles herself and collected and disbursed funds for those on missions.

In 1664 Margaret Fell was arrested for failing to take an oath and for allowing Quaker Meetings to be held in her home.

Margaret Fell defended herself by saying that "as long as the Lord blessed her with a home, she would worship him in it".

Margaret Fell spent six months in Lancaster Gaol, whereafter she was sentenced to life imprisonment and forfeiture of her property.

Margaret Fell remained in prison until 1668, during which time she wrote religious pamphlets and epistles.

Margaret Fell's belief was that God created all human beings, therefore both men and women were capable of not only possessing the Inner Light but the ability to be a prophet.

Margaret Fell again travelled to London to intercede on his behalf, and he was eventually freed in 1675.

George Fox spent most of the rest of his life thereafter abroad or in London until his death in 1691, while Margaret Fell spent most of the rest of her life at Swarthmoor.

Margaret Fell was buried in an unmarked grave in the Society of Friends' burial ground at Sunbrick, to the south of Birkrigg Common.

Margaret Fell was the author of at least 23 works in total, mostly in the form of short pamphlets including, False Prophets, Antichrists, Deceivers.