Letter of Henry Jessey and John Tombes to the Churches of New England, 1645

Abstract

"ON 22nd June 1645, seven days before his baptism by Hanserd Knollys, Henry Jessey wrote to the churches of New England urging the reverend elders to be more tolerant of those persons within their congregations who dissented from the practice of infant baptism, and encouraging the New England divines to keep an open mind to what he believed was the truth of the antipedobaptist position. Toadd weight to 'his argument J essey requested the assistance of John Tombes, who was by the late 1640s, according to Richard Baxter, "reputed the most Learned and able Anabaptist in England"."