September 5, 1651 - Obadiah Holmes Publicly Beaten in Boston

Despite the promise of religious freedom in the New World, the early Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts was anything but tolerant. Only the approved and established Puritan Church was recognized, and a group of settlers (mostly Baptists) were moving toward Rhode Island. One of those Baptist believers who remained in Plymouth was Reverend Obadiah Holmes, and he was later convicted of secretly teaching Baptist beliefs. In addition to being issued a fine, he was publicly beaten in Boston on September 5, 1651.