Holder, determined to return to New England,…

Holder, determined to return to New England, had gone to George Fox, one of the leaders of the Friends, for help in securing passage on another ship.

Holder and John Copeland had traveled back to Massachusetts together.

This time around, Holder has actually been able to preach to people, and many have responded favorably.

In the town of Sandwich, several people had become convinced of the truth of the Quaker message and adopted those beliefs and practices themselves.

A small band of Friends had already been meeting for a few months when Holder arrived, under the ministry of Nicholas Upsall, a new Friend who was in exile from Boston.

Holder and Copeland had been jailed for their activities in Sandwich, and the Friends had begun meeting secretly in a place that was called “Christopher’s Hollow” in Holder’s honor. (The hollow is still known by that name.)