George Whitehead (Quaker leader)

George Whitehead (1636 – 1723) was one of the founders of the Quaker movement, commonly referred to as the Religious Society of Friends, as well as a grocer, preacher, author and lobbyist during the second half of the seventeenth century and the beginning of the eighteenth century.

Early life

Whitehead was born in Westmorland, England in 1636, under the reign of Charles I. He grew up on an estate by the name of Sun-rigg, in Westmorland, where he was educated and became convinced of Quaker principles by the time he reached the age of 14. Ellwood, Thomas (1906). "The History of the Life of Thomas Ellwood". London. Headly Brothers] In 1652, Whitehead left his home at the age of 16, under the belief that Christ had commanded him to preach the correct gospel and began wandering southern England to preach.Barbour, Hugh. Roberts, Arthur (ed).(1973). "Early Quaker Writings" Wallingford. Pendle Hill Publications.] After only a year of preaching, Whitehead became a member of the Valiant Sixty, a group of ordinary men and women traveling through England and acting as Quaker preachers, during a time of heavy religious persecution in England. Whitehead, James Parnell and Edward Burrough were the only teenagers among the band of more than sixty individuals. [http://www.hallvworthington.com/Whitehead/ChristianProgress.html Hall V. Worthington: The Christian Progress of George Whitehead] ] Because of the religious intolerance of England, Whitehead found himself jailed frequently, which is seen by many as a sign of his incredible devotion.

Time in jail

The first of several incidents of incarceration occurred in 1654 while visiting Peter's Church in Norwich. Whitehead addressed a gathering upon the conclusion the service and was sent to jail by the mayor for a conflicting opinion about baptism. When Whitehead appeared in court, he was sent back to jail for failing to remove his hat in the presence of the judge. Whitehead was arrested again on May 30th, 1655 after associating with a man that posted religious scripture on the door of the church in Bures, Suffolk. Regarding the incident, Whitehead writes:

In the following year of 1656, George Whitehead was publicly whipped for vagrancy in London, and jailed in both Norwich and East Anglia. After returning to London in 1657, Whitehead married a women of similar religious views by the name of Ann Dower. Shortly after his marriage he was sent back to jail in London.

Act of Uniformity

By 1660, Whitehead had settled down, was staying out of jail, publicly preaching less and had taken up a job as a grocer in London to support his family. In 1661, he was persuaded to join a group of Friends in appearing before the House of Commons to argue against the passing of the Act of Uniformity. The group was unsuccessful in their attempt and the act was signed into effect the following year, resulting in the departure of nearly 2,000 clergymen from the English church. Whitehead remained in London throughout the difficult times that followed.

Tragedy in London

In 1665, he was praying at the bedsides of dying Quakers as the plague claimed the lives of close to 100,000 throughout England that year. The following year brought great tragedy in the form of the Great Fire of London, and again Whitehead remained in London to pray with victims. Whitehead found himself jailed once more in 1668 after a meeting with several Friends which would serve as inspiration for his next mission for social justice.

Reign of King Charles II

In an effort to seek justice for individuals persecuted for their religion, Whitehead lead a group of Friends in obtaining a pardon directly from King Charles II. Signed into effect in January 1672, the pardon was known as the Royal Declaration of Indulgence and called for the release of 490 persons from English jails. Among the released was John Bunyan who would go on to be one of Whiteheads greatest public critics. Possibly Whitehead's greatest contribution to society, the resolution was the first of several major steps toward the modern concept of freedom of religious worship in England.

Reign of King James II

Whitehead found himself again in the presence of a King in May 1685. Accompanied by Alexander Parker and Gilbert Latey, the group appealed to King James II to honor the previous agreement that they had made with King Charles II. The plea was successful and the King blamed the Presbyterians in Parliament for voiding the declaration. Again, a declaration was issued that pardoned more prisoners of religious persecution.

Reign of King William III

In 1689, Whitehead returned to the presence of a King for the final time in his life. He led a group of men before King William III to plea for a continuation of pardons and rights for the religiously persecuted. The meeting was successful and would influence the king during the creation of the Bill of Rights of 1689. Of the meeting, Whitehead said:

George Whitehead passed away in 1723 and was laid to rest in the Quaker ground at Bunhill Fields, next to another of the Quaker movement founders, George Fox.

Legacy

Viewed as instrumental in the establishment of the Quakers during a time of heavy persecussion, George Whitehead is predominately remembered for two things: his representative work on behalf of Quakers to three kings of England and his writings. He lobbying in defense of the right to practice the Quaker religion was influential on Act of Uniformity, Bill of Rights of 1689 and the Royal Declaration of Indulgence. His writings are both biographical and ideological in nature, examining the Quaker way of life.

Notes

References

*Beck, William, "The Friends: Who They Are- What They Have Done." (Edward Hicks, London, 1893)
*Whitehead, George, "Christian Doctrine" (William Sewel, London, 1722)
*Whitehead, George, "The Memoirs Of George Whitehead V1: A Minister Of the Gospel In The Society of Friends" (Kessington Publishing Company, 2007 reissue, ISBN: 9781430461500)

External links

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