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In 1721, Benjamin Franklin and his brothers were critical of variolation, a technique used to inoculate a person against smallpox. Variolation differs from vaccination because during variolation, material was taken directly from an ill person’s smallpox pustule and inoculated into a small cut in a susceptible person.

When smallpox came to Philadelphia in 1736, infecting and eventually killing his son, Ben Franklin appeared to have a change of heart about smallpox inoculation when he wrote in his autobiography,

“In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by the smallpox taken in the common way. I long regretted bitterly and still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation. This I mention for the sake of the parents who omit that operation, on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died under it; my example showing that the regret may be the same either way, and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen.”

In 1662, King Charles 2nd, gave freedom of worship to all except Quakers. Of them, he wrote, “We cannot be understood to direct or wish than any indulgence should be granted to those persons commonly called Quakers, whose principles being inconsistent with any kind of government. We have found it necessary by the advice of our parliament here to make a sharp law against them, and all are contented that you do alike”.

That same year, three ladies of the Friends came to Dover, N.H. and they received very harsh treatment there.

A following order was issued: “To Constables of several towns, you all are required to take these vagabond Quakers that are out of your jurisdiction, place them in a cart, drive them through your towns and whip them on the naked backs not exceeding 10 stripes each until they are out of this jurisdiction.” Dated December 22, 1662, Dover, N.H.

This harsh order was executed in many towns, however, religious zeal has never been silenced by persecution.

The Quaker preachers returned and renewed their religion. Their most violent persecutors became supporters of the Society of Friends. The first Quakers found refuge for a time at the home of Nicholas Shapleigh that was in the vicinity of Sturgeon Creek.

Quakers were persecuted for their religious beliefs
Quakers believed that each individual had an inner light. They held services in which members of the congregation spoke and participated in periods of silence. They advocated pacifism and refused to remove their hats in the presence of government officials.

Because of their beliefs, Quakers were persecuted and forbidden to worship freely. They thus became early advocates for the religious freedoms that were to be embedded in the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Quakers advocated for First Amendment religious freedom, other civil liberties

Quakers immigrated to the American colonies in part because of the persecution they faced in England. When they arrived in Massachusetts, they discovered that the Puritans, who controlled the colony, favored religious freedom for themselves while persecuting others.

Quakers eventually made their way to Rhode Island, where the government was sympathetic to religious toleration. When William Penn, a Quaker leader, founded the colony of Pennsylvania in 1682, under a grant from the king, the Quakers were able to establish a government built around the concept of freedom of religion. In 1701 Penn signed his Charter of Privileges, which gave all Pennsylvania residents certain basic rights, including freedom of worship.

The charter was the earliest prototype for the Bill of Rights.

Quaker beliefs later expanded into concern for civil liberties and civil rights beyond those guaranteed in the First Amendment. In 1673 they obtained passage of legislation protecting individual freedom of conscience in Rhode Island.