The Free Grace theological controversy caused the Massachusetts Bay Colony ministers in October 1636 to have a private conference with John Cotton, Anne Hutchinson, and John Wheelwright. They came away satisfied that their beliefs allowed that santification (a covenant of works) did help in finding God's grace. ¹

In December 1636, the ministers, again concerned about their free grace views, questioned them again, in private (important for Anne Hutchinson's later trial). Hutchinson accused the other colony ministers of preaching works, and not grace. ²

The General Court took up debate on who was causing this dissent and unrest in the Colony. They called for a day of fasting and preaching for January 19, 1637 to hopefully restore peace. ³

John Cotton preached for pacification and reconciliation. John Wheelwright preached, and appeared at first to be non-threatening views, but after inspecting the text, it was called incendiary by the orthodox Puritan clergy. ⁴

John Winthrop was made aware of this, and condemed his doctrine as being against a covenant of works. ⁵ The ministers lodged doctrinal charges against Wheelwright for his sermons, including the one on the fast day. The court brought the charge of "preaching on the Fast Day a Heretical and Seditious Sermon, tending to Mutiny and Disturbance". ⁶

John Wheelwright was declared guilty of "contempt & sedition" having "purposely set himself to kindle and increase" bitterness in the Colony, after giving him a chance to back down from his views, which he declined to do. Sentencing was deferred to the next court. ^{7, 8} This controversy thus became a political issue, and John Winthrop was elected governor in place of Henry Vane. ⁹

After several delays, Wheelwright, defiant in the face of sentencing, was sentenced to be disfranchised and banished from the colony. ¹⁰

Wheelwright first went to New Hampshire, purchased land from the Native Americans, and founded Exeter in 1638. ¹¹ When the Massachusetts Bay Colony planted a settlement at Hampton, which included in jurisdiction, Exeter. Wheelwright being banished from the colony, he needed to move on. In 1641 he was granted the right to populate land that became Wells, Maine. Many of his Exeter parishioners accompanied him, and a church was built at Wells, he as its pastor. [Wheelwright].

In 1642, an application for Wheelwright's reconciliation was made to the Massachusetts Bay Colony on his behalf. The ministers there seemed pleased with his recent conduct, and the General Court invited him to appear before it, and even John Winthrop wrote to him in support. Wheelwright refused to appear in person, however, and in 1644 the court pronounced the lifting of his banishment. [Wheelwright].

In 1645 Wheelwright published Mercurius Americanus, which was a defense of his character, largely in response to the 1644 publication A Short Story of the Rise, reign and ruin of the Antinomians, Familists & Libertines that infected the Churches of New England... ¹²

He was at Wells for over five years, and received an invitation from the church of Hampton, then in the jursidiction of Massachusetts. In 1647 he went there and was installed as the minister. This was a less frontier setting than Wells, more comfortable with his large family, and at a higher salary. [Wheelwright].

In 1654 his Hampton parisioners petitioned the legislature to vindicate Wheelwright. On May 3, 1654 the General Court issued such a declaration. This allowed him to mend relations with other New England clergy and parishioners. [Wheelwright].

In 1658 Wheelwright published A Brief and Plain Apology, which was his personal vindication.

Wheelwright moved in 1655 to Alford, England, which was the home town of his wife (Mary Hutchinson). Circumstances in England had allowed pulpits to be taken over by the Puritans, but in 1658 things changed, and in 1662 Wheelwright returned to New England. [Wheelwright].

He had been replaced as pastor at Hampton, but nearby Salisbury welcomed him and installed him as pastor there in 1662. He was 70 years old, and was pastor there for seventeen years. He died there at 87 in 1679. [Wheelwright].

Next up, Anne Hutchinson is called before the General Court.