A Puritan was a member of the religious group in the 16th and 17th centuries that advocated "purity" of worship and doctrine who believed in personal and group piety. Puritans were persecuted in England and came to America so they would be free to practice their religion.
Hannah Fry Rawlins was born between 1591 and 1595 in England.
She married William Rawlins and emigrated to America.
Fry Family Table of Contents
Alternate spellings of Fry: Ffrey, Frie, Frey, Frye
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
A Puritan woman's clothing consisted of underpants, stockings, linen, shift, petticoat, chemise (underblouse), bolster (a padded roll tied around the hips under the skirt), bodice, skirt, apron, coif (cap), outer gown and shoes.
A woman might wear a ruff or bow and an apron. Cloaks were worn instead of coats. Women carried a small cloth draw-string bag or reticule and perhaps wore a chatelaine.
The New England Meetinghouse was the only municipal building in a town. Both worship and civil meetings were held there. It was customary for men and women to sit separately and the town chose a committee once a year to assign seats according to what was paid, age, and dignity.
Records of Families of the Name Rawlins or Rollins, in the United States by Henry Benjamin Meigs
Thomas Rawlins (carpenter), (whose mother was a sister of William Fry, who died at Weymouth, October 26, 1642,) was residing at Dorchester, 1634, and removed to Weymouth. He was admitted freeman March 3, 1635-6; removed to Boston, where he died about 1670. His widow, Anna, brought into court the inventory of his estate, 28th 3d month, 1670, and was appointed administratrix, the three oldest sons consenting thereto. July 25, 1677, in consideration of a certain sum to be paid to her annually during her natural life, she conveyed to her son, Joshua, land near the North End Meeting House (Mather's 2d Congregational). She died in Boston, about 1691; will proved April 29, 1692.
1677 Map of New England
click to enlarge
Boston was founded in 1630 by Puritan settlers from England.
