USA > Ohio > Shakers of Ohio; fugitive papers concerning the Shakers of Ohio, with unpublished manuscripts > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
-26th. Jane Martin Departed this life - After haveing suffered
SHAKERS OF EAGLE AND STRAIGHT CREEKS. 317
grievously of a kind of Pulmonary complaint - together with an In- flamation of the splene - She was the companion of John Martin that died on the 11th of October 1815 - Her age is not known - but she was near the middle stage of life-and a cleaver woman -
September 15th. Missoury France. A little girl departed this life. Age unknown -
October 1st. George Bush Departed this life - Aged 72. he had been a simple good believer for a few months -
Nothing very material took place after this to the end of the year 1819.
1820.
January 10th. The North family was broke up and moved to the . other houses and the first order of young believers established at the North house under the immediate care of Henry Miller -the day can be remembered by a storm of snow -
-31st. Samuel McClelland moved to the North house to live with Henry - During the month of January the weather was cold and frost hard -
February 9th. Robbery - in the night there was stolen - a rifle gun. Some Irons from the smiths shop - and 27 yards of linnen cut out of the loom -
- 11th. About 10 o. clock at night, there was fire found on the floor of the North house Kitchen - supposed to have been put there with the intention of burning the house -
April 17th. Elder Issachar and Mark Hinkly started for Union Vi' ge
May 23d. Elder Archabald, Daniel Rankin,48 with Eldress Martha and Eldress Saloma started for Union Village in the carriage -
June 28th. The Elders - all come home with David Cory in place of Daniel Rankins- On the 29th Harvest was begun -
July 17th. Mary Hopkins" moved to the North house and was con- stituted Elder Sister in that family -
Some time previous the water had broke under the dam at Ambau which now had to be repaired - for which purpose Samuel McClelland and James Mead with some other brethren went out to Ambrau and stayed, from six weeks to two months, during which time they went through a pritty heavy job of repareing at the Mills - part of which was an addition to the forebay, and a new water wheel for the grist mill - faceing and dressing the stones - new cogs in the spur wheel - new bolting reel and chest - and a number of other fixings - Also made a new breast for the sawmill and sank the wheel 22 inches -made a new pitmon - and many of the repairs -after which the mills done good business for a short time - till the river raised very high and the water broke round the abutment at the grist mill and the river soon took its course there and left the grist mill standing near the middle of
-
:318
SHAKERS OF OHIO.
the river -after which it was rented to Alva Beacher -and again to Colonal Heath of Ohio- And finally the Society lost - or nearly the whole possession - However there was but very little ever paid for it - after 5 or six years. trouble and disappointment Dureing some part of the time we were at ambrau - the come a young man to West Union by the name of William Porter - he was sick when he stoped - so he opened his mind and - Left the world in peace - Age unknown -
October 3d. Joseph Johnston,50 Betsy Murphy and Ruth Pegg51 set for Union Village in carriage
October 11th. Isabella Gill Departed this life - Aged about 51 years
October 31st. Joseph Johnston and Betsy Murphy returned from Union Village, with Henry Valentine,52 William Moor,53 and Ruth Edie -
During the summer and fall the brick for the new house was made .and burnt - The foundation was also dug out 50 feet long and 44 feet wide - and the cellar wall partly built - quarrying stone halling. and makeing preparations for cuting the underpining, door and window caps .and sills- &. c. To the end of the year 1820 -
1821.
January and February was cold weather - and the chief part of the business was cutting stone for the house. two courses of foundation stone. door sill and caps. window sill and caps, mantle peices Door ·steps &. c. -
Early in the spring the building was commenced, and went on with a good degree of vivacity - but the precise time of the different stages of the work was not kept, that I know of -
The washing Mill was built - along about this time - and the first motion it made it broke the two fore fingers of Peggy stewarts left hand - and finally rendered them useless. after suffering greatly for seven or eight days the forefinger was cut off close to the hand, and the middle one grew crooked and was never of any use to her - Also the frameing timber for the house was got - and the carpenter worke carried .on by James Mead -
· July 6th. James Jinkins Departed this life - Aged nearly 19.
October 23d. Aged, William Knox Departed this life, haveing been sick of a kind of cholic. five or six days - Aged near 60 years -
November 18th. Rebecca Boyls - Departed this life - Her age is not accurately known - but according to the account of some of her children she must have been 60 or upwards -
December 22nd. William Knox Junr Departed this life in the 31st year of his age - haveing suffered greatly of the Inflamatory sore throat accompanied with rageing fever -
After this there were no more deaths occurred to the end of the year.
319
SHAKERS OF EAGLE AND STRAIGHT CREEKS.
December 25th. On Christmas day the whole number of the people was 152-65 Males great and small - Old and young - 87 Females. great and small -old and young -
Thus the year 1821 was about closed - Without any great degree of sickness -
1822.
The principal business, was working at the house and finishing it off, for which purpose, Samuel Harris and James Voris came from Pleas- ent Hill - And Robert Johns came from South Union, and the work was kept a going all winter, tho' the weather was pritty cold sometimes.
January 28th. Adamı Gallagher Departed this life in the 40th year of his age after suffering extreemly of fever and debility - He was the second one of the three first Trustees that died - and a cleaver fellow too -
Note. on the 23d of April. Elder Benjamin arrive from South Union in company with Eldress Molly,5+ Eldress Mercy,55 and Nathaniel Rankin in a two horse carriage - Also Ely McLean on horse back - The waters are very high - they stayed 15 days at West Union and set off for home again on the 9th of May -
During the winter and spring the house was finished and on the May 23d the family moved into it, and Elder Archabald handed out the rules and regulations to be observed therein -
July 1st. Father David, Elder Solomon, Eldress Rachel and Sister Eunice Serin" arived from Union Village in the carriage
August 3d. William Douglas Departed this life. Aged 57 years. He was born in Iarland June 1765, and died on the Big Prairy at Busro of the Dropsy - he was the last one of the three first Trustees and as cleaver a soul as ever blood warmed -
The timber for the meeting house was got and framed and raised during the summer and fall - but of the precise days or months when it was begun, or finished I have no account in the original -
December 26th. William James Departed this life, being just 46 years and 4 days old - Father of nine children, six of whome he left with Betsy among the believers at West Union -
We have no further accounts in the original for this year 1822.
1823.
February 8th. Chester Fowler Departed this life - He was a young believer and had been confined to the room and bed about one year with Pulmonary Consumption before he died - his age is not accurately known, but supposed to be something about 22 or 24 -
May 5th. Eldress Martha, Polly Worthington, Daniel Boyd57 and Samuel McClelland, started for Union Village in a carriage, and returned home on the 14th of July - Soon after which Eldress Martha began to be sick. She suffered much with the cancer on her breast - which to-
320
SHAKERS OF OHIO.
gather with the Asthmetic affection of her lungs finally terminated her existence in this world - and on
September 19th. She Departed this life- Aged 54 years, the loss of this kind and Motherly woman was truly great, but like that of Eldress Ruth we are obliged to sustain it without redress ---
The following is her Funeral Hymn composed, by Elder Issachar
1 Our dear beloved Elderess Martha's fled To worlds beyond the regions of the dead To join her order in the relms of light Where there's no sickness death or gloomy night
2 But everlasting day with her's begun She's closed her work, on earth, her race is run And with her kindred souls that's gone before She shares her just reward forever more
3 Methinks I hear the shout, come Mother come Your work is done on Earth you'r welcom home You've suffer'd just enough to try your soul Now fly to Mother's arms she'll make you whole
4 Her tortured body of material clay In which we've seen her suffer night and day She fully has discharged with its disease And left for us to treat just as we please
5 In honour now to her beloved Soul We'll sing a solem song and each condole Then lay this body safe beneath the ground But Eldress Martha's prais we'll ever sound. Issachar Bates September 20th 1823 -
No more deaths occurred during the remainder of this year - nor have we any more remarkable Events on record -
1824.
January 24th. Charles Boyls Departed this life - Aged 64. He came fron Iarland - a soldier in the British Service at the time of the Revolu- tionary War. Was taken prisoner at Little York and never returned again to his own country - He had suffered extreemly with the Dropsy for about two years before he died.
Dureing the winter and spring business went on about as usual, and no particular accounts were kept-of every day, or every weeks procedure -
June 27th. Aley France Departed this life Aged 14 years She suffered much of that distressin complaint called Palpitation.
321
SHAKERS OF EAGLE AND STRAIGHT CREEKS.
We have no further accounts for this year - but it is certain that there was but two died during the season -
Quite pleasent were the days of yore In Eighteen hundred twenty four -
1825.
The winter was not very cold but rather open and moderate - the waters midling high - And on the 7th of February John Fredric Wiss- mon was drownded in the ditch of the Cross-way his Age is not accur- ately known, but supposed to have been something near 50 or upwards - He had been' among believers a number of years but had left them a few months previous to his death - We took him from his watery grave, dressed him, made a coffin- and buried him with as much deacency and honour as the nature of the case demanded - he was a very in- dustrious man - A dutch man and he said he was of the royal family too -
February 25th. Claricy France Departed this life in the 19th year of her age. After haveing suffered extreemly of Pulmonary Consump- tion and Palpitation -
-26th. Doctor Robert Ford Departed this life - Aged near 30. he had suffered much for a number of years with the Pulmonary Con- sumption -
March 6th. Amelia Shermon Departed this life, in the 15th year of her age - The 7th she was buried, and the day was so wet, cold and snowey that the sisters could not go to the grave-yard -
May 7th. Fanny Price Departed this life - Age She had suffered much from weakness and disease - and had been afflicted with a breast complaint for some years - She was one cleaver kind hearted woman - in a general sence -
No deaths occurred dureing the months of June and July but on the 31st of August, a coloured man by the name of Oremsted Page Departed this life. Aged something about he had come from South Union K. y. some time in the winter -
The spring and fore part of the summer was quite seasonable till about the first of July, after which the drouth set in and continued till near the last of August, which Injured the crops very much - partic- ularly the corn -
From the 8th of May to the 7th of September, there was 13 mem- bers left the Society and went to the world - eight men and five women -- all young people -
November 15th. Samuel McClelland and James Mead started for Union Village and after staying ther about two weeks, they started for Pleasent. Hill on the 15th of December where they arived on the 22nd - And after a few days it was concluded on for James to stay all winter -
21
322
SHAKERS OF OHIO.
This year was closed with a considerable degree of general health - Nor was there any more died after the 31 of August - And so ended the year 1825 -
1826.
January 19th. John Dunlavy and Samuel McClelland arive from Pleasent Hill, about 10 o. clock at night
-22nd. Henry Miller set off for Eagle creek to gather some people who were anxious to come and take up The Cross -
The winter was cold and dry. The spring quite irregular - by which means we had heavy rains and high waters -
April 15th. James Mead and Robert Barnet arived from P. H.
- 17th. John Daily Departed this life. After haveing suffered severly for the space of 17 days, with his old complaint (Pulmonary Con- sumption) which he said had afflicted him for about 8 years - his age is not accurately known - but supposed to be near about 40.
-24th. Henry Miller returned from his tour to Eagle Creek and two sisters come home with him, leaveing the main company at Evans- ville
-27th. John Dunlavy and Robert Barnet started for home to Pleasent Hill - Three waggons started to Evansville to help the new comers, that had come with Henry to move out to Busro -
May 6th and 7th. They all arived safe at West Union - Seven familyes, consisting of 34 persons, great and small. Male and Female - -29th. A Keel Boat started to Evansville for their property - June 3d. John Dunlavy Arived at Busro the second time -
-5th. The Keel Boat was loaded at Evansville - and on the
-6th it started for Wabash loaded down to the screws -
-8th. Elder Archabald and John Hutcheson, with Eldress Salloma and Rachel Dennis" started to Union Village - The sickness began among the young believers pritty soon after they landed on the Prairy -21st. The Keel Boat landed at McCortyes landing with all safe, after a tedious trip of allmost 16 days, the river was very low and the weather very warm -
- 23d. Harvest finished -
Just about these days the newcomers began to get into deep tribu- lation - the fever fell on them like a monster - and before the scene was closed they were all sick but two- and four of them died - before all was over - Indeed the suffrings on both sides was very considerable but the newcomers had the heavyest part of the sickness to bear -
July 21st. . Nancy Hall Departed this life. She was the first of them her age is not accurately known-but probably was between 50 and 60 -
August 1st. Sally Laycocks child died being just six weeks old - 4th. Elder Issachar and Joshua Worley,5% with Elderess Salloma and Eunice Bedle Arived in the carrige just from Union Village, and
323
SHAKERS OF EAGLE AND STRAIGHT CREEKS.
Elder Issachar was quite unwell, and remained so (less or more) till lie started away again -
- 19th. Elder Issachar and Joshua set off for Pleasent Hill, in the cariage - And we afterwards heared that he was quite sick the greater part of the way and several days after they arived at P, H,
-27th. Martha Shreeves Departed this life, haveing been sick of the Billious fever only nine days - Her age is not propperly known, but must have been upward's of 50-a New comer -
September. The New comers are now in the deep waters of tribu- lation - and many of them are suffering almost unto death -
-8th. John Dunlavy began to get sick, and took the first portion of Tarter Emetic which opperated well -
- 10th. James Newlin Departed this life leaveing Polly with five children among believers - his age is not accurately known, but sup- posed to be something near 30-a New comer -
The fever now rages with violence in almost every quarter of the Village - three of the New comers are already dead and a number more appear to be dangerously ill.
John Dunlavy was taken sick on friday the 8th and after the Oppera- tion of the first portion of Tarter, he was closely attended with all the medical aid that he (being himself a Physition) or any of the nurses could think of - A great quantity of Billious looking matter evecuated his sistem almost every day - and still his external symptoms was not very alarming till near the last. He was able to set up and walk about the room every day but the very last - which was Satturday and even then he set up a Short time on a chair in the morning - His feelings appeared to be more than usually sunk tho' he spoke strong and de- sisive - but when going from the chair to the bed he was taken with a kind of fainting fit in which he exhibited very alarming symptoms. however it was over in a few minutes and he seemed to be quite com- posed - The warm bath was prepared as soon as possible and after he got into the water he seemed to revive and washed his hands and arms a little - but when going from the tub to the bed, he was taken with another fit, and the green billious looking liquid gushed out of his mouth in a stream - he came too again in a few minutes - And so it was every time he got up till towards the last he grew so weak that he could rise no more !! And about 3 o. clock in the afternoon he De- parted this life on the
- 16th of September 1826. Much lemented by all who was ac- quainted with him
-17th. David Price60 started to Union Village for the express purpose of conveying the information of Johns death -
18th. William Redmond started to Pleasent Hill for the same purpose -
October 6th. Elder Elezar,61 Henry Miller, and William Redmond all arived safe just from Pleasent Hill -
.
324
SHAKERS OF OHIO.
-21st. David Price, James Mead, Eunice Slover, and Rebecca Brazelton, set off for Pleasent Hill, in the Deerburn -
November 5th. Peter Laycock (one of the New comers) started with his family to move back to the old place on red-oak - his father- in-law and brother had come after them with a waggon -
-9th. David Price returned from his trip to Pleasent Hill and all that went with him found their home and stayed -
-19th. Elder Elezar gathered all the people and after speaking a few sentences, he proceeded to read a letter that he had received from Elder Archabald, which contained the result of all his Labours and journey to the East, together with the conclusion of the Ministry at all the Societyes in the west, concerning all matters and things at Busro - The substance of which (In short order) was this - That it was universally thought and felt best, for all the people to rise once more and move away from Busro, and so abandon the place forever ! - -21st. Robert Houston, and Robert Gill, Arived just from South Union
-22d. Jesse Legier and John Hutcheson, with Polly Newlin and her five children started for Union Village in a two horse waggon - Also Jonah Shreeves (her father) went along in a Deerburn -
-22d. Also Henry Miller, and Lucinda Miller,62 with John Fowler and Nancy (and their two children) started to Pleasent Hill - in a light waggon
Saturday 25th. The great removal took place - of which it would be useless to state the particulars - However a great part of the family in the Brick House was changed and exchanged from room to room - up stairs, and down stairs - The Elders moved up to the garret, and part of them were dismissed and others nominated in their stead -
December 5th. Robert Houston and Robert Gill started home to South Union - and Elder Elezar went with them as far as Harmony - - -7th. Pheby Murphy Departed this life, in the 22nd year of her age of the Pulmonary Consumption - she had been under weakness, (more or less) for about five years - And. endured her sufferings with remarkable fortitude (for a youth) She was set up with only two whole nights near the last -and she sat up on a chair and spoke senceable, not more than half an hour before Death chilled the last spark of life -
December 18th. Peggy Stewart Departed this life in the 42nd year of her Age after haveing suffered extreemly of a confirmed Pleuricy for the space of 26 days. On the 7th and 9th days of her sickness, her Pulse was not preceivable at the wrists her extrimityes were cold and every hour seemed as tho it would be the last - but life continued. and on the 10th and 11th the violence of the symptoms abated a little, and her sufferings was not so very extreem till on the 21st after which she grew weaker very fast till on Monday eavening she died - The 18th of the month and 26th of her illness -
19th. Henry Miller and Francis Vores arived from Pleasent Hill -
325
SHAKERS OF EAGLE AND STRAIGHT CREEKS.
-29th. Nathan Sharp arived from Union Village And so ended the year 1826 -
1827.
January 1st. The Society was gathered, in the brick house at one o. clock - and after Elder Elezar had made a few remarks. on times and circumstances - He' proceeded to read an Instrument of writing, which the greater part of the Society signed. as a conveyance of all their Possessions to the care of Nathan Sharp and Frances Vores, as Trustees - &. c.
-2nd. Anny Handcock Departed this life, Aged about 58 - have- ing been afflicted less or more for about five years with the Breast com- plaint -
- 7th. Alija Hill, Arived just from Union Village -
-8th. Jesse Legier, Returned from his trip with Jonah Shreeves and Polly Newlin -
-10th. Henry Miller and Daniel Rankin started to Watervliete, Ohio
-12th. Samuel G. Whyte and Jesse McComb arived just from South Union K. Y.
- 13th. Jonathan Douglass started to Watervliete, Ohio
- 25th. Jesse McComb and Samuel Whyte with Betsy McComb and Nancy McComb started home to South Union - Also the same day -25th. Elder Archabald and James Mead Arived just from Pleas- ent Hill - This was the first time that Elder Archabald returned from the journey that he had started on the 8th of June 1826 -
- 30th. Abija Hill started home to Union Village, with Brittanna France, Margary McKeen and Lovina Davis. In a two horse carriage. and George Legier on horseback -
February 1st. Daniel Rankins and Johnathan Douglass returned from Watervliete, Ohio -
-10th. Benjamin Knox and Jesse Legier started for South Union on horse back -
-. 16th. Samuel Whyte Arived from South Union the second time-
March 1st. Francis Vores and Daniel Rankin started for Pleasent Hill -
3d. Francis Whyte, George Waddle, Samuel Fisher, and a little boy arived with two waggons -
Packing up and makeing preparations for moveing is the prin- ciple business at preasant
-10th. Four Waggons started for South Union63- with seven of the old believers and three familyes of young believers on board, In all makeing 24 in number besides the 4 that came with the two waggons from South Union -28, In company -
As the society was now partially devided into three companies - viz - The first for Union Village, the second for Pleasent Hill, and the
326
SHAKERS OF OHIO.
third for South Union - The principle business from the 10th to 15th was gathering up the plunder, devideing it out, makeing boxes and pack- ing up - Every hand was busy and every mind full of anxiety -
The weather is good and warm, and the waggons are in motion. tho' the road is very disagreeable for boath teems and drivers -
From the Mill to the little Prairy (nearly half a mile) the water and mud is up to the waggon beds a good part of the way - and even the balance of the road is much cut up with the waggons and quite muddy -
The property was stored in McCartyes warehouse -
- 16th. James Guess, and Francis Vores arived from Pleasant Hill -- They had imployed the steamboat Lawrence Daniel F. Reeder - Master - bound for Terrehote on the Wabash. and was to return as soon as possible - Packing and halling is still going on Industriously, and every preparation makeing to leave the ground when the boat returns -
- 17th. Packing and halling - &. c.
-18th. Packing and halling through the water and mud, the weather still good -
- 19th. Loading and halling with all speed - The boat waiting at the landing
-20th. The waggons were kept a going till about three O. clock in the afternoon - When the last load of property and people were de- livered at the landing - During the cours of the day the property had nearly all been tumbled into the boat by the sailors, and altho each partyes share was pilled by itself they mixed all together, which caused a difficulty in unloading at different places - The Captain soon ordered all to come on board as soon as possible - the steem was already up - The lines were loosed - And just 35 minutes after 5 o. clock we pushed off from McCartyes landing, and bid a final Adieu to all our hard earned and dear-bought Possessions on Busro Prairy - The pen, even of the learned, would fail should it undertake to discribe the ieelings of this unfortunate people comment would therefore be useless, as every one concerned can' think of, or forget it, for themselves, just as you please -
The boat run well, and stoped at Vincennes a few minutes after 7 - seven o. clock and lay too for the night -
Many of the citizens being acquainted with us, and sorry for our departure gathered on the bank and strove to entertain us with music boath Instrumental and vocal - with many good wishes for our welfare - And one of them spoke aloud in the following words - Farewell to the Shakers, a people whom we shall ever esteem, and ever wish well - Smith - This sleepless night was mostly spent in solem meditation -
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.