Margaret Fell Fox (1614-1702)
"The Mother of Quakerism" (Margaret Olofson Thickstun, Writing the Spirit)
About Margaret Fell Fox
Margaret Fell Fox was born as Margaret Askew in Lancashire, England.
Her first marriage was to Judge Thomas Fell in 1632, whom she had nine children with.
Margaret Fell joined the Quaker religion in 1652 after meeting with George Fox, the founder of Quakerism.
Thomas Fell did not identify himself with the Quaker religion or the Society of Friends, as they were called, yet he did what he could to help and protect Margaret Fell and the Quaker religion (Margaret Askew Fell Fox).
Judge Thomas Fell died in 1658, resulting in the loss of Margaret's political protection.
Margaret Fell became Margaret Fox in 1669 when she married George Fox, who was ten years younger than her.
Although George Fox was the founder of Quakerism, Margaret Fox contributed a large amount to this religion. She contributed her fortune, publicly defended the religion, visited meetings and took care of correspondence. (Margaret Askew Fell Fox)
Margaret Fox was a very accomplished woman. She was a missionary, preacher, teacher and also wrote sixteen books and twenty-seven pamphlets.
In 1664, Margaret Fox was arrested and imprisoned for her refusal to stop promoting Quakerism.
Margaret Fox spent four years in prison, where she wrote several pamphlets, including Women's Speaking Justified.
George and Margaret Fox spent the entirety of their lives working to organize and promote Quakerism.
