Ann (auch Anne) Newby wurde als Tochter von Richard Newby
1627 in Kendal (Westmorland) geboren. Mit dreizehn Jahren wurde sie von ihren
Eltern zu ihrer Tante nach London geschickt, wo sie eine erstklassige
schulische und erzieherische Ausbildung erhielt. Dort zählte sie sich zu den
Puritanern. Nach sieben Jahren kehrte sie nach Kendal zurück und hielt sich nun
zu den Seekern, einer temporären Inspiriertengruppe Englands.
In Kendal lernte sie John
Audland (1630-1663/4) kennen, den sie 1650 heiratete. Sie hatten zwei Söhne,
deren einer John genannt wurde. Im Jahre 1652 traf Ann Camm bei Sedbergh auf
George Fox (1624-1691) und schloss sich der entstehenden Quäkerbewegung an. Seit
1653 dienten sie und ihr Mann unter den Quäkern als Ministers. Beide zählen zu
den sog. „Valiant Sixty“, den 60 ersten bedeutendsten Quäkern, die in England
für ihren Glauben einstanden, öffentlich Zeugnis ablegten und Verfolgungen zu
erleiden hatten. 1654 besuchte sie gemeinsam mit Mabel Camm Yorkshire,
Derbyshire, Leicestershire und Oxfordshire. In Banbury und Oxford richtete sie
die ersten Quäkerversammlungen ein. Sie durchreiste auch die Grafschaft Durham
und wurde kurzzeitig in Aukland in Haft gehalten. Aus dem vergitterten Fenster
predigte sie den Vorbeigehenden. In Banbury wurde sie mit Sarah Tims und Jane
Waugh von der tobenden Menge misshandelt und fast zu Tode gesteinigt. Die Frauen
wurden vom Bürgermeister John Austine 1655 wegen Blasphemie angeklagt. Bei dem
Prozess wurden sie von Richard Farnworth (gest. 1666) verteidigt. Acht Monate
lang wurde sie mit Waugh in einem nassen Erdloch gefangen gehalten. Ihre
Freilassung durch ein Versprechen der „Besserung“, also den Verzicht
öffentlichen Predigens, zu erkaufen, lehnte sie ab. Ihr Predigtamt stellte sie
selbst über die Ehe und sie verließ ihren Ehemann mehrmals, um sich auf
Missionsreisen zu begeben. Nach dem Tod ihres ersten Mannes ging sie 1666 eine
Ehe mit Thomas Camm (1641-1707/8) aus Camsgill ein, mit dem sie eine Tochter
(Mary) hatte. Von ihrer Heimatgemeinde Preston Patrick aus unternahmen sie
weitere Reisen nach London und Bristol. Sie verstarb am 30. November 1705 in
Newby.
Camm wird zu den wortgewaltigsten und bedeutendsten
Predigerinnen der frühen Quäkerkirche gerechnet. Sie tat sich jedoch niemals
künstlich hervor; wenn sie sich zu Wort meldete, war es begründet und
gewichtig. Frauen, die sich zu schnell ein Urteil bildeten, bezeichnete sie als
„too hasty, forward, or unseasonable in their appearing“ (Piety Promoted, III,
1721, 357). Sie war eine enge Vertraute von George Fox, dem sie bedingungslos
folgte und der sie in seelsorgerlichen wie in weltlichen Angelegenheit beriet.
Werke: A
true declaration of the suffering of the innocent, who is hated and persecuted
without a cause. Wherein is discovered the zeale of the magistrates and people
of Banbury, persecuting and imprisoning them that are sent of the Lord in love
to their souls to warn them of the evill of their ways. Declared in a letter
sent to William Allen, called Justice of Peace, with an answer to the false
accusations charged upon the innocent. Also their proceedings laid open, and
proved to be contrary to the Scriptures. London 1655; The saints' testimony finishing through sufferings.
Or, the proceedings of the court against the servants of Jesus, who were called
before them to be tryed at the late assizes (or sessions) held in Banbury in
the county of Oxon, the 26 day of the seventh moneth, 1655. Also a relation of
Margret Vivers, going to the steeple-house in Banbury (...). And a testimony
against false prophets, and false doctrine, with an answer to the objection
about the woman forbidden to speak in the church. And some passages about the
Lords former sending of his servants (...). And who are no Jesuits, fugitives,
nor vagabonds. And the manner of Richard Farnsworth imprisonment (...) with a
short examination and answer (...). Also, a warning from the spirit of the Lord
(in his hand-maid Anne Audland) to the persecuting priest and people, (...).
And a letter of Robert Rich to the magistrates of Banbury, and to Iohn
Griffith, deputy recorder (...). Likewise a letter of Tho. Curtis to the
professed minister called Samuel Wells (...). And a certificate wherein is
manifested the diligence that was used to know the causes of the prisoners commitments
(...) (Anne Audland, Iane Waugh, Sarah Tims, and Nathaniel Weston) as wel as
Robert Rich (...), with a paper relating the sufferings of the innocent. London
1655; The testimony of Ann Camm concerning John Audland her
late Husband deceased. In: Camm, Thomas; Marshal, Charles: The memory of the
righteous revived. Being a brief collection of the books and written epistles
of John Camm and John Audland (...). Together with several testimonies relating
to those two faithful labourers. Published for the service of truth and
friends. London 1689, 16-17; The substance of a farewell to some Friends in
England, by Anne Camm, when on her death bed. In: The
Friend. A Religious and Literary Journal, XXXIX, 1865, 356.
Lit. (Auswahl): Camm, Thomas: The Admirable and Glorious Appearance of the Eternal God, in his
Glorious Power, in and through a Child, of the Age of betwixt Eight and Nine
Years, upon her Dying Bed, Opening her Mouth to Speak forth his Praise, and
Extol his Reverent Holy Name and Power. A short relation whereof, together with
her exercise throughout her sickness, is hereafter collected, or so much
thereof as was by us certainly remembered. London 1684; - Camm, Thomas: A Testimony to the
Fulfilling the Promise of God Relating to such Women who through the Pouring
out of Gods Spirit upon Them are Become Prophetesses, Daughters, and
Handmaidens. And their prophecying, teaching, preaching, and praying through
the operation of the spirit of Christ, in the church proved lawfully by several
plain scripture testimonies and examples, out of both the Old and New
Testaments, both under the time of the law and also in the Gospel despensation,
and the common objection alleged against the same from the apostle Pauls words
in I Cor. 14, 34 and I Tim. 2, 12 &c. clearly answered. Recommended to the
consciences of all that value the testimony of Holy Scripture. By one who hath
diligently searched the Scripture, and hath had an high esteem thereof from his
youth. London 1689; - Camm,
Thomas; Marshal, Charles: The Memory of the Righteous Revived. Being a Brief
Collection of the Books and Written Epistles of John Camm and John Audland
(...). Together with several testimonies relating to those two faithful
labourers. Published for the service of truth and friends. London 1689; - Ann
Camm. In: Tomkins, John; Field, John: Piety Promoted. Being a collection of the
dying sayings of many of the people called Quakers. With some memorials of
their virtuous lives and patient sufferings. In five parts. Dublin 1721,
351-364; -
Besse, Joseph: A Collection of the Sufferings of the People called
Quakers, for the Testimony of a Good Conscience, from the Time of Their Being
First Distinguished by that Name in the Year 1650 to the Time of the Act,
Commonly Called the Act of Toleration, Granted to Protestant Dissenters in the
First Year of the Reign of King William the Third and Queen Mary, in the Year
1689. Taken from original records and other authentick accounts. Bde. II. London 1753; - Anne Camm. In: Kendal, John (Hrsg.): Piety Promoted. In brief
memorials, of the virtuous lives, services, and dying sayings, of some of the
people called Quakers, formerly published in eight parts, by John Tomkins, and
others. II. London 1789, 51-62; - Ann Camm. In: The Friend. A
Religious and Literary Journal. II, 24, 189-190; - A Short account of the Life of Anne Camm, a
Minister of the Gospel, in the Society of Friends. In: Evans,
William; Evans, Thomas (Hrsg.): The Friend's Library. Comprising journals,
doctrinal treaties, and other writings of members of the Religious Society of
Friends. III. Philadelphia 1837, 473-479; - Anne Camm. In: Backhouse, Edward; Backhouse,
Thomas; Mounsey, Thomas: Biographical Memoirs. Being a record of the Christian
lives, experiences, and deaths of members of the Religious Society of Friends
from its rise to 1653. London 1854, 219-226; - S.:
Ann Camm. In: The Friend. A Religious and Literary
Journal, LXXX, 49, 1907, 397; - Bickley, Augustus Charles: Camm, Anne. In: DNB,
III, 1885. ND 1921/22, 755-756; - Harris, Barbara J.: Camm (or Audland), Anne. In: Greaves, Richard; Zaller, Robert (Hrsg.):
Biographical Dictionary of British Radicals in the Seventeenth Century. I.
Hassocks 1982, 120-121; - Trevett, Christine (Hrsg.): Womens
Speaking Justified. And other seventeenth-century Quaker writings about women.
London 1989; - Trevett, Christine: Women and Quakerism in the Seventeenth
Century. Diss. York 1991; - Mack,
Phyllis: Visionary Women. Ecstatic prophecy in seventeenth century England.
Berkeley 1992; - Trevett, Christine: Anne Camm and the Vanishing Quaker
Prophets. In: Quaker Studies, III, 2, 1998, 82-110.
(Erstveröffentlichung BBKL, Bd. 20, 2002, Sp. 287-290)
