From the onset of the Puritan colony of Massachusetts, Quakers were beaten and branded with an “H” for being a heretic. When that did not dissuade them from preaching that Jesus could be known intimately without church rituals, some were hanged. On March 14, 1661, William Leddra (pictured) was the last to hang as punishment for returning to the colony after banishment. His last words were, “for bearing my testimony for the Lord against deceivers and the deceived, I am brought here to suffer. Lord Jesus receive my spirit.”
