Person:William Hibbs (5)

  William Sr joined the Quakers and was persecuted for not attending the established church of England.
  WILLIAM HIBBS probably had something to do with iron mining since Dean Forest, England was almost exclusively an iron mining district. During the reign of CROMWELL (1649-1658), WILLIAM joined the Society of Friends(Quakers). Because of his religious convictions, he refused to pay tithes to the Church of England.
  By 1674, WILLIAM was a man of considerable wealth and influence in his community, and he stopped attending his parish services. Since he was quite open about his Quaker beliefs, WILLIAM kept getting fined by the Crown. He paid his fines regularly and skipped services with the same regularity. Since he was a persuasive man, it was feared that his actions, if tolerated by the King, would cause others in the Parish to openly dissent. WILLIAM was getting on King CHARLES II's nerves.
  In 1676, WILLIAM decided to get his younger son, WILLIAM, out of England. So, young WILLIAM was smuggled out of England with a bunch of Quakers in1677.
  Although WILLIAM HIBBS had managed to stave off any serious wrath fromCHARLES II (other than fines) , JAMES II was another story. It is interesting to note here that JAMES II became King of England in 1685,and WILLIAM wrote his will in January of 1686. In February of 1686, the men of King JAMES II came in the night and arrested him. WILLIAM HIBBS was imprisoned and beheaded on March 6, 1686. His oldest son, JONATHAN, was also executed.
  Executed by authorities of King James II of England for his Quaker beliefs.

  Mentioned in Sufferings of the Quaker, by Besse, as of Gloucestershire, Eng. in 1660.
   William Hibbs joined the Society of Friends,(Quakers). Because of his religious convictions, he refused to pay tithes to the Church of England. By 1674, William was a man of considerable wealth and influence in his community, and he stopped attending his parish services. Since he was quite open about his Quaker beliefs, William kept getting fined by the Crown. He paid his fines regularly and skipped services with the same regularity. Since he was a persuasive man, it was feared that his actions, if tolerated by the King, would cause others in the Parish to openly dissent. William was getting on King Charles ll's nerves. In 1676, William decided to get his younger son, William, out of England. So, young William was smuggled out of England with a bunch of Quakers in 1677. Although William Hibbs had managed to stave off any serious wrath from Charles ll (other than fines), James ll was another story. It is interesting to note here, that James ll became King of England in 1685, and William wrote his will in January of 1686. In February of 1686, the men of King James ll came in the night and arrested him. William Hibbs was imprisoned and beheaded on March 6, 1686. His oldest son, Jonathan, was also executed.

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   Death: 3 Mar 1685/1686 in Gloucestershire, England. Cause: Execution
   William's crime was that he did not:
   1. attend church services required by English law.
   2. pay the tithes as required. and,
   3.he said "The King can go to the Devil".
   William's refusal to goto the Church of England resulted in several fines which he paid. The fines were not a burden because he was well-to do and considered moderately wealthy. He sent his 12 year old son, William Jr. to America for his safety, and to help establish the Quaker Colony proposed by William Penn. William's son Jonathon was executed in 1698, 14 years after his father for similar resistance to forced religion, and support to the Quaker doctrines.