Jane Fenn Hoskens
Jane Fenn Hoskens was an influential minister and writer from the eighteenth century, known for her significant contributions to Quakerism and women's literature. Born in 1693 to Anglican parents in London, Hoskens experienced a life-changing illness at sixteen, which prompted her to promise dedication to God if she recovered. After failing to fulfill this promise, she sought peace through a radical life change, ultimately relocating to the American colonies in 1712.
In Pennsylvania, she integrated into the Quaker community, where she taught children and learned about their beliefs, eventually becoming a minister in 1722. Hoskens faced personal challenges, including the death of close friends, which prompted her to reevaluate her ministry. Her autobiography, *The Life and Spiritual Sufferings of That Faithful Servant of Christ, Jane Hoskens*, published posthumously in 1771, highlighted her unique experiences and served as a source of inspiration for women seeking nontraditional roles in society. Though she published only this single work, her life story is well-documented and has left a lasting impact on Quakerism and women's narratives in American history.
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Jane Fenn Hoskens
Writer
- Born: 1693
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: c. 1770
- Place of death: United States
Biography
Jane Fenn Hoskens was a greatly remembered minister from the eighteenth century. She authored only one publication, but it made such an impact that she was considered one of the best women writers of the 1700’s. Hoskens was born to Anglican parents in London in 1693. She received a strict education at home. At sixteen, she grew deathly ill and promised God her utter devotion if he would spare her life. After her recovery, however, Hoskens did not keep her part of the promise and was haunted day after day without peace. She finally ran away from her home in 1712, headed for the American colonies to pursue her religious obligation.
Once in America, Hoskens offered herself as a slave to Quaker families in Plymouth County, Pennsylvania. She moved into the Quaker community and taught the children to read and write; this experience allowed her to learn the Quaker way of life. In 1716, Hoskens moved to Haverford, Pennsylvania, to join the Welsh Quaker community. She made friends with Grace and David Lloyd and moved in with them in 1718, serving as their housekeeper. Hoskens became a minister in 1722, receiving a travel certificate from the Quakers which allowed her to attend meetings in several different states. The goal of the traveling Friends was to spread the word of the Quakers’ teachings. Hoskens was devastated by the loss of her close friend, David Lloyd, in 1731; she put a halt to her travels until 1740, when she attended meetings in Long Island, New York. The death of Grace Lloyd in 1760 caused Hoskens to reevaluate her life as a minister, since the Lloyds were such a great inspiration to her.
Hoskens continuously added to her autobiography, The Life and Spiritual Sufferings of That Faithful Servant of Christ, Jane Hoskens, a Public Preacher Among the People Called Quakers, although it was not published until after her death. Her life’s work portrayed a woman in the eighteenth century who was unlike any other. The publication of the narrative in 1771 allowed other women to realize that, in fact, there were numerous nontraditional roles for women in eighteenth century America. Hoskens’s autobiography was her only publication but there is evidence to back up the story of her life from the letters and journals of other Friends. Her life and accomplishments inspired other Quakers long after her death; Hoskens’s spiritual autobiography was the first of countless, now traditional, autobiographies of Friends.