An emigrant to Massachusetts Bay, Hutchinson acquired a following for her brilliant mind and kindness. She discussed puritan intellects, but her strong belief in the covenant of grace as opposed to the covenant of works, the widely held view at the time, led to her to be banished from Massachusetts Bay by the General Court.

Hutchinson then founded Portsmouth, RI with William Coddington. After arguing with him in 1692, Hutchinson eventually left Portsmouth for Long Island, where her and her family were murdered by Native Americans. A memorial placed near the site of her murder reads: “Banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638 because of her devotion to religious liberty”