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See An Old Thing Project Luptakova

Mary Dyer was hanged in 1660 in Boston for her Quaker religious beliefs. As a Quaker missionary, she was arrested multiple times under anti-Quaker laws before being banished. After her death, she began to be seen as a martyr, which led to the easing of anti-Quaker laws. In 1959 a statue was erected outside the Massachusetts State House to honor Dyer and depict her praying peacefully, symbolizing her defiance of unjust laws. The statue serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for religious freedom and the progress of government over time.

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41 views2 pages

See An Old Thing Project Luptakova

Mary Dyer was hanged in 1660 in Boston for her Quaker religious beliefs. As a Quaker missionary, she was arrested multiple times under anti-Quaker laws before being banished. After her death, she began to be seen as a martyr, which led to the easing of anti-Quaker laws. In 1959 a statue was erected outside the Massachusetts State House to honor Dyer and depict her praying peacefully, symbolizing her defiance of unjust laws. The statue serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for religious freedom and the progress of government over time.

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Suzanna Luptakova

Mary Dyer Statue

Born in the early 1600s, Mary Barrett Dyer was hanged in the Boston Common on June
1st, 1660 due to her religious beliefs. A member of the Quakers, Mary Dyer was arrested
multiple times while doing missionary work because of anti-Quaker laws before being banished.
After her death, she began to be viewed as a martyr and her legacy caused anti-Quaker laws to
ease up. A statue in her honor was created on July 3rd, 1959 by Sylvia Shaw Judson. This statue,
located outside the Massachusetts state house, depicts Mary Dyer praying on a seat peacefully,
symbolizing her defiance and resilience against unjust laws. The placement of her statue serves
as a reminder of the sacrifices it took for the government to reach where it is today.
During the time of my visit to Mary Dyer's statue, the State House was under
construction, meaning that the statue itself was unapproachable. Apart from that, the statue in
person had a lonely feel to it and didn’t attract much attention. Not many people spared it a
second glance while walking along the busy sidewalk. Only once I started drawing the statue did
people stop to observe it and read what is written beneath it. The only information provided by
the statue about Mary Dyer was her death and a quote of hers. “My life not availeth me in
comparison to the liberty of truth.” This statement shows that she did not regret dying for her
beliefs. While doing my secondary research, I noticed that Mary Dyer was frequently idolized
and seen as a strong female figure who stood for what she believed in. However, before her
death, she was not seen the same way she is now. She was frequently overshadowed by her more
well known friend, Anne Hutichson. If possible, I would have liked to learn more about their
friendship and things they managed to accomplish while they were alive, not about their legacy.
Bibliography

“Mary Barrett Dyer.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Accessed


September 9, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Barrett-Dyer.

Myles, Anne G. “From Monster to Martyr: Re-Presenting Mary Dyer.” Early American
Literature 36, no. 1 (2001): 1–30. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25057215.

Winsser, Johan. “Quieting Mary Dyer: Edward Burrough and Dyer’s Letter to the
Massachusetts General Court, 26 October 1659.” Quaker History 105, no. 1 (2016): 22–47.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/24896279.

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