Note 63 — Chapter II · First Visit to New England

Mary G. Swift, of Millbrook, N.Y., who has made considerable study of Hooton printed literature, suggests that Elizabeth Hooton and Jane Brocksopp were the “two Friends,” mentioned in a letter from George Rofe to Richard Hubberthorne (quoted in Bowden’s Hist. i. 230), and that they accompanied him a part of the journey from Va. to N. E. in his “small boat,” and on arrival united with him in appointing the first General Meeting in America, at Newport, R.I., in 1661. He writes: “We appointed a general meeting,” etc., the antecedent to we being the writer and his two Friends. In her own account of this visit to New England (see p. 32), E. Hooton states: “We did come to Rhod Jland where was appointed by freinds a generall meeting for New England.” Bishop tells us of the two women that “the Lord afforded them an opportunity by a Catch, which carried them part of the way” (New England Judged, p. 404). Whiting relates that they “got to Rhode Island, where was a General Meeting” (Truth and Innocency, p. 109). It would be very interesting if it could be stated with certainty that E. Hooton was concerned in the calling of the first Y.M. in America. See p. 32, n. 2.