Persecution of the Quakers in Woodbridge

The Meeting House in Woodbridge was not built until 1678.  In a warrant issued in December of that year in connection with the Conventicle Act of 1670, it was described as "a spacious Meeting-house nigh (near) the church in your town, lately built and erected for that purpose".  This was some 6 years after Charles II had proclaimed an indulgence which enabled dissenting preachers and preaching places to be licensed and by then Parliament was incensed with Charles for exercising his prerogative.

In December of that year, the Justices of the Peace issued an order to the Constables of Woodbridge complaining of “this Meeting House newly built near the Church". Should there attempt to meet at it "five persons or more of, thee age of sixteen and upward, subjects of this realm over and besides those of the same house hold, where there is a family inhabiting at such time of their Meeting" the Constables were to “charge and command them peaceably to disperse and depart forthwith to their several homes and abodes, and not break His Majesty's peace by meeting in such an unlawful manner.”

In August 1683 the Parochial Officers of Woodbridge, incited by the parish priest Edward Broom, entered the Meeting House and violently seized William Bennett who was in the action of prayer. Bennett and others were sent to Melton jail and later committed to trial in Ipswich. Here Bennett refused to swear the Oath of Allegiance. He was further remanded in prison where his health declined and he died there in June 1684.