Ann Judson

Early Life

Ann Judson was born to the Hasseltine family in Bradford, Massachusetts on December 22, 1789. The youngest of five children, she grew up carefree and happy, living a life of vanity and comfort since her family largely ignored the importance of religion. As the Second Great Awakening swept through New England in 1805-1806, Ann was convicted of her sinful nature and resolved to live a godly life. She quickly realized the futility of her own willpower as she broke her resolutions over and over. After her pious aunt urged her toward repentance, Ann finally acknowledged the beauty of salvation and her utter need of Christ, and she made a public profession of faith in 1806 when she joined the Congregationalist Church. Even as a young believer, her journals revealed her passion for mission work and her desire for God to be glorified through the saving of the nations. 

Marriage and Call to Missions

Ann met her future husband when Adoniram traveled to Bradford, pleading with the Congregationalists to establish a mission agency. His efforts were eventually successful, and soon after, Adoniram penned a letter to Ann’s father, detailing the hardships he anticipated as a missionary but also asking to marry Ann. Even knowing the dangers and the likelihood of an early death, Ann agreed, and the two were married in 1812. Weeks later, they set sail for India. 

On their long voyage, Ann and Adoniram became convicted of believer’s baptism, which opposed the infant baptism beliefs held by their missionary traveling companions and the Congregationalist church which supported them. Recognizing that this conviction would have pertinent effects on their work, the Judsons transferred their mission labors to Burma (now Myanmar), a land known for its cruelty, harsh laws, and ever-present danger for outsiders. Further, the Buddhist Burmese people had no concept of an eternal God and no language to express many foundational Christian beliefs. Ann and Adoniram threw themselves into intense language study and faithfully sought to engage with Burmese culture and seek out spiritual discussions, despite a painfully small number of converts. 

Trials and Tribulations 

In 1815, Ann gave birth to a son, Roger, but the boy died at a young age from a tropical disease. The Judsons’ first child had been stillborn. Despite these hardships, the couple pressed on, unwavering in their commitment to God’s work through them. They took up the enormous task of translating the Bible into the Burmese language, and Ann wrote a Burmese catechism. Ann also sought to establish a school for girls. In 1822, Ann was forced to return to England and America for medical treatment due to her failing health. By the time she returned in 1824, Adoniram had completed a translation of the New Testament. 

However, tensions between England and Burma had increased during her absence, and Adoniram was soon arrested and imprisoned for nearly two years in a Burmese Death Prison under torturous conditions. Ann made the four-mile trip daily to bring him food and water and worked tirelessly for his release, trying to persuade the Burmese that they were not English. In 1825, eight months after Adoniram’s arrest, Ann gave birth to a daughter named Maria. 

When British soldiers drew closer to Ava, Adoniram was moved to a more remote region. Expecting the violent death of her husband, Ann followed behind and managed to find lodging with the jailer’s family for herself, her baby, two Burmese girls in her care, and a faithful Burmese helper. Though Adoniram was eventually released, Ann became ill with cerebral meningitis, and her body–worn out from years of suffering–was too weak to sustain her. In 1826, Ann died alone at age thirty-seven, and Maria soon followed her in death. 

Legacy

Though Ann’s life was marked by extreme trial and suffering, her work was not in vain. She and Adoniram were successful in establishing a lasting Burmese church, and Adoniram continued their mission work for many fruitful years after her death. Ann’s catechism was influential in instructing many converts, she preserved Adoniram’s translation work while he was in prison, and her writings continue to encourage many today. Her book “An Account of the American Baptist Mission to the Burmese Empire” inspired an interest in missions for many in America and England. She is remembered for her unwavering belief in God’s goodness and sovereignty and for her utter submission to God’s will in her life and commitment to living for His glory. 

‍“I rejoice, that I am in his hands – that he is everywhere present, and can protect me in one place as well as in another. He has my heart in his hands, and when I am called to face danger, to pass through scenes of terror and distress, he can inspire me with fortitude, and enable me to trust in him. Jesus is faithful; his promises are precious.” –Ann Judson