In 1632, the Reverend Joseph Hull voluntarily resigned his rectorship at Northleigh. Coincident, or perhaps not so coincident, was the death of ths wife, Joanna, following the birth of their seventh child, Dorothy.

There is much speculation about the reasons for his departure from his place of service in Northleigh. Some accounts indicate that at the end of that period he found himself out of accord with those in ecclesiastical authority over himself - keeping in mind that his Northleigh ministry was located in Devonshire significantly populated by those in the Puritan movement many of whom were leaving monthly for New England. There are other compelling reasons why Joseph Hull left the pulpit temporarily - he had just experienced an overwelming personal tragedy - the death of his beloved wife, Joanna, who, for at least eleven years , served with him as his partner in their ministry to the parishoners at Northleigh; she was his devoted first wife; and she was the mother of their seven young children. What was the Reverend Hull to do faced with the difficult choices facing him? I think he made the only decision available to him in the crisis at hand - place his professional career of Christian service on hold and attend to the responsibilities of caring for seven motherless children at home.

So we find the Reverend Joseph Hull, a well educated 40 year old, ordained clergyman, committed to a lifetime of Christian service - having served in a positions of responsibility within two churches for sixteen years during a tumultuous period of religious reformation - experiencing great personal loss and the responsibility for seven young children.

In 1635, Joseph Hull married his second wife, Agnes.

It must be concluded that Joseph Hull needed a new place of service and a congregation with whom he could share his own religious beliefs. That place was New England where others like him had sought a new start in a new land of religious freedom. The circumstances were such and the opportunity afforded to Joseph Hull to immigrate to America where he could serve as full-time minister and founder of Mariner Quaker Churches in New England.

So Joseph Hull, his wife, their seven children, and several servants make the momentous decision which lead them to America.

Historical records indicate that Joseph Hull was born in March 3, 1594, in Crewkerne, Somersetshire, England where he lived for 16 and one-half years.

He was admitted to St. Mary's Hall, Oxford University. where he received a B.A. Degree upon graduation on November 14, 1614.

During the five years immediately following his graduation, he studied theology, serving meantime as a teacher and curate under his elder brother William Hull, Vicar of Colyton in the Parish Church, Colyton, Devonshire.

On April 14, 1621, having been ordained a clergyman of the Church of England, he was duly instituted Rector of Northleigh, Diocese of Exeter, Northleigh, Devonshire, which was the scene of his labors for over eleven years.

Joseph Hull's first wife Joanna Coffin, and mother of seven children, died in 1632, presumably upon giving birth to their daughter Dorothy Hull, leaving Joseph Hull widowed and responsible for the care of his seven young children..

During the period 1632 and 1635, Joseph Hull married his second wife, Agnes.

Some accounts indicate that during this period he found himself out of accord with those in ecclesiastical authority over himself. For whatever the reason(s), the Reverend Joseph Hull voluntarily resigned his rectorship.

History records that many residents in the Devonshire area were sympathetic to the Puritan cause and it was from this geographical area that the Pilgrims and Puritans gathered and departed the shores of England for New England.

So we have a scenario in which a well educated, 40 year old, ordained clergyman, having served in a position of responsibility within the church for a period of over eleven years during a tumultuous period of religious reformation, suddenly out of favor with his own church yet committed to a lifetime of Christian service.

Further, the Reverend Joseph Hull was widowed, the father of seven children, and recently remarried to his second wife.

It must be concluded that Joseph Hull needed a new place of service and a congregation with whom he could share his own religious beliefs. That place was New England where others like him had sought a new start in a new land of religious freedom. The circumstances were such and the opportunity afforded to Joseph Hull to immigrate to America where he could serve as full-time minister.

So Joseph Hull, his wife, their large family and several servants made the momentous decision which lead them to America.Crewkerne."

Sources: LDS Records; http://www.josephhull.com/ANCEST.HTM