LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to City Island upon the occasion
of hosting its Annual Women's Herstory Month Celebration and commemorat-
ing "The Anne Hutchinson Year"

WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of certain
extraordinary individuals of remarkable courage and strength of charac-
ter who risked their own lives for others, and stood with fortitude for
religious freedom and humanity; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to pay tribute to City
Island upon the occasion of hosting its Annual Women's Herstory Month
Celebration and to commemorate "The Anne Hutchinson Year", in honor of
this Bronx/American historic figure in recognition of her 420th Birthday
Anniversary (1591-1643); and
WHEREAS, This auspicious event will be held Sunday, March 13, 2011, at
City Island Community Center; numerous activities have been planned
including a group discussion on "How has Anne Hutchinson's challenging
spirit influenced us?"; and Linda Russell, a national performer, will be
singing and playing 1600s ballads; and
WHEREAS, Anne Marbury Hutchinson was born into Elizabethan England in
1591; from her mother, Bridget Dryden, she learned the skills she would
use all her life, midwifery and herbalism; from her minister father,
Francis Marbury, she received a solid theological education as well as
an understanding of the meaning of religious dissent; and
WHEREAS, In 1612, Anne married William Hutchinson, a prosperous
merchant from their Alford hometown; throughout their marriage, he
continually supported her religious and community activities; she
managed their household, including the care of over a dozen children,
and continued her interest in theology and the church; and
WHEREAS, She studied scripture and followed the sermons of John
Cotton, a Protestant minister and early Puritan leader; in 1634, the
family followed him to the Puritan colony in Boston, Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, While in Boston, in addition to household duties, Anne Hutch-
inson cared for her sick and childbearing neighbors; when she was criti-
cized for not attending a local women's teaching group, she started one
in her own home, which grew in size to as many as 80 members, including
men; and
WHEREAS, Her views and her popularity were too much of a threat to the
colony's leaders; charged as a heretic, 46 years old and pregnant, Anne
Hutchinson was brought before the Massachusetts General Court in Novem-
ber of 1637; for two days, she defended herself skillfully, matching
biblical references and wits with Winthrop and other accusers; and
WHEREAS, The civil court ordered her banished, after which she was
excommunicated by the church at a second trial; along with her family
and a small number of followers, Anne Hutchinson was exiled to the reli-
giously tolerant colony of Rhode Island, where they founded a settlement
in present day Portsmouth; and
WHEREAS, After William's death in 1642, Anne Hutchinson and her party
of 16 moved again, settling in the northeast corner of present-day
Bronx, near where the parkway and river that bear her name are located;
and
WHEREAS, Anne Hutchinson's death was the result of conflicting land
claims between the Dutch under Governor Kieft and the local Siwanoys;
and
WHEREAS, Considered America's first feminist, Anne Hutchinson has made
her place in history/herstory, standing for religious freedom, religious
tolerance, separation of religion and government, the right to dissent,
freedom of assembly, free speech, women's rights, and for the courage to

stand up for her beliefs, even when personal consequences were drastic;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to City Island upon the occasion of hosting its Annual Women's
Herstory Month Celebration and to commemorate "The Anne Hutchinson
Year"; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Toby Z. Liederman, Director, Women's Herstory Association;
Coordinator, "The Anne Hutchinson Year"; and co-Founder, Hutchinson
River Restoration Project (HRRP), City Island, New York.