A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Judson, Anne Hasseltine

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4120644A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography — Judson, Anne Hasseltine

JUDSON, ANNE HASSELTINE,

Was born in 1789, in Bradford, Massachusetts. She was carefully educated, and became early distinguished for her deep and earnest religious character. In February, 1812, she married Adoniram Judson; and in the same month sailed for Calcutta, her husband being appointed missionary in India. Soon after they reached Calcutta, they were ordered by the East India Company, who were opposed to all missionary labour among the natives, to quit the country. While waiting for an opportunity of leaving, Mr. and Mrs. Judson employed their time in investigating the subject of baptism; and being convinced that their previous opinions had been erroneous, they joined the Baptist Church at Calcutta. In July, 1813, Mr. and Mrs. Judson arrived at Rangoon, in Burmah, where for many years they laboured successfully and diligently in the cause of religion. In 1821, in consequence of protracted ill health, Mrs. Judson returned alone to America, where she remained till 1823, when she rejoined her husband in Rangoon. Difficulties now arose between the government of Bengal and the Burman empire, and the taking of Rangoon by the British, in 1824, caused the imprisonment of Mr. Judson and several other foreigners, who were at Ava, the capital of that empire. For two years the inexpressible sufferings endured by these prisoners, were alleviated by the constant care and exertions of Mrs. Judson; and ft was owing in a great measure to her efforts that they were at last released.

In 1826, the missionary establishment was removed from Rangoon to Amherst; and in October, of that year, Mrs. Judson died of a fever during her husband's absence. The physician attributed the fatal termination of the disease to the injury her constitution bad received from her long-protracted sufferings and severe privations at Ava.