In 1642 Anne Hutchinson removed to New Netherland, adjacent to New Amsterdam, with much of her family. They resided temporarily in an abandoned house while a house was built for them in what is now the Bronx in New York, near the landmark Split Rock which exists to this day. ¹

Willem Kieft, the Dutch director-general of New Amsterdam, had a policy of pushing Indians out of the area by force, if needed. It became known as Keift's War. In February 1643 two camps of native tribes were ambushed by Kieft's forces, in Pavonia, (now in New Jersey) and Corlear's Hook on Manhattan. They were vicious massacres. Needless to say, the native tribes were provoked to fight back with violence. ²

The Dutch in New Amsterdam warned Anne that the local Siwanoy Indians could be a danger to her and her family. But Anne had good relations with the natives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and discounted the warnings. ³ When her house was being built, the builder had been warned to leave by a visit of a number of Indians who gathered up his tools, put them in his hands, and made signs for him to leave. Even with these warnings, Anne apparently felt she was not at risk. ⁴

In July (accounts vary on which summer month) of 1643, a warring party of Siwanoy Indians with their chief Wampage came through the area, and were quite surprised to find settlers there: Anne, many of her children, family, and servants, They indicated for them to tie up their dogs, and then they murdered and scalped them. One child ran and nearly escaped, but was caught and beheaded. Their bodies were placed in the house, along with their cattle, and then the house was burned down. ⁵

Robinson enumerates the Hutchinson family victims: Anne, 52; Francis, 23; Anne (Hutchinson) Collins, 17 and her husband William Collins, 19; Mary, 16; Katherine, 14; William II, 12; and Zuriel, 7. In addition, there may have been other relatives, servants, and supporters there at the time. ⁶

One child, Susanna, 9, was out picking blueberries during the massacre. One account says that she hid in the crevice of Split Rock. When she was discovered they took her captive. It is said that her hair was red, and that feature just may be why she was spared. She was adopted by the Indian Chief, Wampage, who took the name "Ann-Hoeck". It was a custom for a warrior to take the name of their most famous victim. Some accounts say that Susanna was given the name "Autumn Leaf". After two to seven years (accounts vary) she was ransomed back to her remaining family in Boston. ⁷

John Winthrop wrote of her demise:

"Thus it had pleased the Lord to have compassion of his poor churches here, and to discover this great imposter, an instrument of Satan so fitted and trained to his service for interrupting the passage [of his] kingdom in this part of the world, and poisoning the churches here - as no story records the like of a woman since that mentioned in the Revelation." He was referring to Jezebel in the Bible book of Revelation. ⁸

When John Winthrop was writing his account of the Antinomian Controversy, he began a run-on one sentence paragraph about her with:

"This American Jezebel kept her strength and reputation, even among the people of God, till the hand of civil justice laid hold on her..." ⁹

The leaders of Boston rejoiced at the death of Anne Hutchinson, who had been banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Anne (Marbury) Hutchinson was only fifty-two when she was murdered, but she left quite a legacy. Next time, a few words about her legacy.