Trials of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment.

April, 10 1606 – Was the first charter of Virginia. That charter was clear, anyone who was not totally loyal to the Anglican Church was subject to the following penalties. They were to be arrested, and unless reformed, deported to England to receive punishment. In 1611 a further order was given to come before the minister and be questioned as to his religious beliefs. The penalty for the first refusal was whipping; the second, a double flogging, for the third, a daily whipping until the law was complied with. In 1643 a law was passed forbidding anyone to teach, or preach publicly or privately who was not a minister of the Church. In 1673 a law was passed that a Church was to be erected on every plantation and a heavy fine imposed on non-attenders. Also a heavy fine was placed on tobacco for the support of the minister. In memoriam are forty-five Baptist preachers who did not bow. John Alderson, Thomas Ammon, Joseph Anthony, Elijah Baker, Adam Banks, John Burrus, Thomas Chambers, James Chiles, Bartholomew Choning, John Clay, John Corbley, Elijah Craig, Lewis Craig, John Delaney, Augustin Eastin, James Goodrich, James Greenwood, Thomas Hargate, Samuel Harris, Edward Herndon, James Ireland, Ivison Lewis, William Lovall, William McClannahan, William Mash, Thomas Maxwell, Anderson Moffett, Jeremiah Moore, John Picket, James Pitman, James Reed, Nathaniel Saunders, John Shackelford, Joseph Spencer, Philip Spiller, John Tanner, David Tinsley, Jeremiah Walker, John Waller, James Ware, Robert Ware, John Weatherford, William Webber, Allen Wyley, and John Young. May we follow them.

Condensed by Greg J. Dixon from: This Day in Baptist History II: Cummins and Thompson, BJU Press: pp. 196-97. [CF: Lewis Peyton Little, Imprisoned Preachers and Religious Liberty in Virginia (Lynchburg, Va.: J.P. Bell Co., Inc., 1938) pp. 1-2.]