Letters & Documents

Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 1663

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

Rhode Island July 15, 1663 Under the leadership of Roger Williams, Rhode Island moved toward religious freedom before the other colonies. CHARLES THE SECOND, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., to all to whome these presents shall come, greeting: Whereas wee have been informed, by the humble petition of our trustie and well beloved subject, John Clarke, on the behalf of Benjamine Arnold, William Brenton, William Codington, Nicholas Easton,…

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Pennsylvania’s Charter of Libertie, 1682

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

Pennsylvania April 25, 1682 To ALL PEOPLE to whom these presents shall come WHEREAS King Charles the second by his Letters, Patents under the Great Seal of England for the Considerations therein mentioned hath been graciously pleased to give and grant unto me William Penn (By the name of William Penn Esq’r son and heir of Sr. William Penn deceased) and to my heirs and assigns forever ALL that tract of land or province called PENNSILVANIA in America with divers…

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Charter for the Province of Pennsylvania, 1681

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

Pennsylvania 1681 [Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland Defender of the Faith &c To our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Chancellor Heneage Lord Finch our Chancellor of England greeting Wee will and comand you that under our Great Seale of England remaining in your Custody you cause our Letters to be made Forth patents in form following] CHARLES the Second, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland,…

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North Carolina Constitution of 1776

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

North Carolina 1776 Declaration of RightsXIX. That all men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences. ConstitutionXXXI. That no clergyman, or preacher of the gospel, of any denomination, shall be capable of being a member of either the Senate, House of Commons, or Council of State, while he continues in the exercise of the pastoral function. XXXII. That no person, who shall deny the being of…

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New York Constitution of 1777

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

New York 1777 Declaring that “the bigotry and ambition of weak and wicked priests and princes have scourged mankind,” New York’s Constitution granted broad religious freedom for all faiths, though they included a fascinating clause reassuring the populace that religious freedom couldn’t be used to justify “licentiousness” or disorder. They further banned clergy from serving in public office, a way of preventing a denomination from exerting political control, though the drafters claimed this was to keep the clergy from becoming…

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Charter of the Colony of New Plymouth Granted to William Bradford and His Associates : 1629

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

New Plymouth 1629 To all to whom these presents shall come greetinge: Whereas our late sovereigns lord king James for the advancement of a collonie and plantacon in the cuntry called or knowne by the name of New Englande in America, by his highnes letters patients under the greate scale of Englande bearingedate att Westminster the third day of November in the eighteenth yeare of his highnes raigne of England, &c. did give graunte and confirms unto the right honoble…

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New Jersey Constitution of 1776

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

New Jersey 1776 Articles 18 and 19 outlawed a religious establishment, prohibiting the use of tax dollars to support any religion. However it limited public office to Protestants. XVIII. That no person shall ever, within this Colony, be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshipping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; nor, under any pretence whatever, be compelled to attend any place of worship, contrary to his own faith and judgment; nor shall…

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New Hampshire Constitution of 1784

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

New Hampshire 1784 The New Hampshire constitution provided broad religious rights for all Christians (not just Protestants). It allowed for and encouraged taxpayer support of religion but also said that no person should have to support a church with which they did not agree. IV. Among the natural rights, some are in their very nature unalienable, because no equivalent can be given or received for them. Of this kind are the RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE.V. Every individual has a natural and…

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Mayflower Compact, 1620

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Mayflower Passengers 1620 IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence…

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The Body of Liberties of the Massachusets Collonie in New England

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Masschusetts 1641 Excerpts of the early Puritan laws related to religion The free fruition of such liberties Immunities and priveledges as humanitie, Civilitie, and Christianitie call for as due to every man in his place and proportion without impeachment and Infringement hath ever bene and ever will be the tranquillitie and Stabilitie of Churches and Commonwealths. And the deniall or deprivall thereof, the disturbance if not the ruine of both.We hould it therefore our dutie and safetie whilst we…

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