USA > Ohio > Shakers of Ohio; fugitive papers concerning the Shakers of Ohio, with unpublished manuscripts > Part 29
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encamped near a Baptist meeting house made of logs. We immediately set about building fires. in this matter but few succeeded. Only one fire was kept burning all night. ' The rain gradually increased till mid- night, and the people drenched with one continuous pour, without a shelter except a few of the Sisters who had crawled into the little cabin of a meeting house. To get supper in this situation was out of the question. So that both it and sleeping was laid aside for the night.
In the night while the rain was descending in floods someone came and told Calvin that the sisters had crowded into the house, and was treading on the children. every now and then, that they feared some of their arms or legs would be broken and requested him to come and entreat them to go out. This was a bitter pill for Calvin. But on viewing the scene for awhile, there appeared no other way. And the sisters kindly withdrew and took the storm again. About two oclock the rain ceased suddenly. The fires were all kindled up. The people all dryed and warmed themselves and appeared exceeding thankful. And by day light the sisters had a fine warm breakfast which we all eat full of gratitude. And in a short time the whole camp was on the road But oh the mud! As soon as the daylight appeared Matthew Houston made his escape for the Village ahead where he had been tarrying for some. months. This day a team met us from our good brethren at South Union loaded with provisions which was very acceptable. We soon cleared the wagon and loaded it with about twenty children who were wading through the mud. The next day we arrived at the Village of South Union. Which seemed to be paved with love. The spirit of love that was manifested and felt on this occasion cannot be expressed by words, neither can any of this generation have any conception thereof.
The people had moved out of their good houses into cabins and sheds to make room for us. The same was also done at the School to- make room for our children. * * We feel unwilling to discuss the subject, without saying a thing or two in relation to General Hop- kins and the army under his command, from the state of Kentucky, which things we have a desire to record as an everlasting Stigma on the spirit of War & Carnage. The army under the command of this noble Kentuckian crossed the Ohio river at the Red Bank about the same time we crossed four miles above. They encamped on the shore opposite where we lay. From this place they sent over a party of armed men and plundered our camp of about thirty Blankets and Coverlids. In which act they discovered a savage cruelty which we believed, that they were going to destroy us. Contrary to the law of humanity in an un- feeling manner they violently forced the coverings from several of the Sisters then laying in the fever and on the ground without shelter, and what was still worse, from some they pulled away even the blanket they were laying on and left them sick as they were to the naked ground. After they had satisfied their desires, and accomplished their nefarious purpose they returned to camp. The general rendezvous (for this army).
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destined for the destruction of a peaceable people was at Shakerstown on the great P. Here they assembled and fared sumptuously. Yea even riotted on the spoils of an innocent industrious people. The beasts were turned into the cornfields. Cattle and hogs butchered. Bee hives stolen, and every waste that folly and envy could invent was made of property. the believers several times petitioning Congress, received no remuneration.
27. After plundering the Shaker camp, and making havoc of the Shaker plunder at Busro, the army of Hopkins marched to Ft. Harrison, but finding no Indians there, then for four days it marched through the great prairie, when falling short of provisions and suspecting treachery in the guides, and frightened by the fires which the Indians had kindled, this army of Kentucky horsemen, was seized with a sudden panic, turned about and retreated to Vincennes. Gov. Edwards had advanced up the Illinois River with 400 men to co-operate with Hopkins, and he succeeded in destroying several Indian towns above Peoria.
28. "Our hearts were saddened when we realized how we had been cast out from our beautiful home at Busro, from our fruitful fields and well tilled gardens, to make a weary pilgrimage of hundreds of miles, which could only be through great anxiety of spirit and severe toil of body." Manifesto, July, 1885.
29. The route from Busro to Union Village, as pursued by the. pilgrims, covers a distance of 522 miles. Why they should have been sent out of their way to South Union, instead of going direct to Pleas- ant Hill, from Red Bank, does not appear on the records. The authori- ties at Union Village so willed it, and there was no questioning their “gift."
30. Matthew Houston was a prominent figure in the Kentucky re- vival; born Dec. 25, 1769; became a Shaker in Feb. 1806, and died Mar. 20, 1853. He lived at Union Village, and at the North Family his vest is still preserved. He was short and became corpulent.
31. Peter Pease, born June 12, 1767, arrived at Union Village from Mt. Lebanon, N. Y., May 31, 1806, and returned May 2, 1822. He lived at Union Village.
32. Those who took up their permanent homes at South Union were, "John Miller & family 8, John Slover Jr & family 3, Wm. Legier, John Johnson, Matthew N. Houston and Justis Davis 4. Benj. Price & family 3 white & 5 black 8. Leonard McReynolds & family 9. Adam Kirkindall & family 5. Robt. Houston & family 5. Joseph Shaw & family 5. Total souls remaining here 47." Leonard McReynolds finally became wormwood to the South Union Believers.
33. Now Maysville, Ky.
34. John Wallace, born in 1779; admitted in 1805; long a trustee at Union Village and well trusted; he decamped with $8,000, Feb. 14, 1818; went down the Ohio; built a mill, which was carried away by a flood; returned to Ohio, and made trouble for his former friends.
35. Nathan Sharp, born Oct. 20, 1786; admitted 1806, decamped 22
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Sept. 9, 1835, with about $10,000. He was a trustee of the Society. Afterwards he kept an inn, called "The Green Tree," about a mile from the North Family of Union Village.
36. Daniel Redmon, born Feb. 20, 1779; admitted 1805, and died Dec. 26, 1846.
37. I judge these four Sisters were original members of the Busro Society.
Issachar Bates says he was sent "to provide some shelter for the people, because the property at Busro had been taken from us by fraud, while we were gone. I will mention in this place that five or six brethren were left on the ground, when the move took place, to protect all they could and in the time of war I was sent to Busro with other brethren to help them settle affairs and bring them home, which was in 1813."
38. John Dunlavy was one of the most prominent actors in the Kentucky revival, besides being an able theologian. He was the author of "The Manifesto," a theological work of 520 pp., first published in 1818. He was long the preacher at Pleasant Hill, and, as will be seen, died at West Union.
39. Eldress Martha Sanford, who died at West Union, was born May 15, 1769 ; arrived at Union Village May 31, 1806.
40. David Darrow was among the first Believers in America, and also suffered with the early Shakers, for opinions sake, and even incar- cerated in the Albany, N. Y. jail without trial; was born June 21, 1750; an officer in the American Revolution; arrived at Union Village June 29, 1805, to take "the lead" in building up Shakerism in the West, and as such continued until his death, June 27, 1825.
41. Ruth Farrington born Apr. 27, 1763; arrived at Union Village May 31, 1806, to become first in the Ministry, in the Sisters' Lot, and so continued until her death, Oct. 26, 1821.
42. Hortense Goodrich arrived from Mt. Lebanon May 26, 1809, to stand second in the Sisters' Lot at Union Village. She died at Pleas- ant Hill, Ky. I have no farther particulars, save her devotedness to the cause she had espoused.
43. These people were Separatists from the established church of Germany ; migrated to this country in 1803-4; removed to New Harmony, Ind. in 1814, having purchased 30,000 acres of land; in 1824, to avoid malaria and bad neighbors, sold their property to Robert Owen, and established themselves at Economy, Pa., on the Ohio, 20 miles north of Pittsburgh.
44. Father and Mother were terms of endearment bestowed upon David Darrow and Ruth Farrington. It was given first to Ann Lee and then Lucy Wright, but after the death of the latter, the then existing Ministry, abolished the custom.
45. James Davis, born Jan. 3, 1791; admitted 1805, died Nov. 19, 1833. .
46. The early Shakers were much given to what they called "mor-
SHAKERS OF EAGLE AND STRAIGHT CREEKS. 339
tifying the flesh." This is often referred to in the Church Records of Union Village, but no descriptions occur. I have conversed with the older members about them, and while the scenes were harmless, yet the later Shakers have very wisely discontinued the practice.
47. Calvin Morrell writes: "In the year 1818 word having been sent to Union Village that nearly all the people were laying with the fever. Calvin and William Davis was sent to render some assistance. in this trying time. When we arrived the sickness had began to abate, but it seemed as the visage of death had spread its gloomy mantle on every countenance. Such a set of ghostly looking skeletons, did not fail to excite in Calvin the strongest of sympathy. For the people liere were his beloved friends. Few had died but nearly all had been sick. The report of Arsenath Edy, who was at that time the principal Nurse. that for several weeks she did not pretend to undress, or go to bed, being steadily employed by night and day. from house to house. and naping of it as necessity required. In this condition of affairs the regular business of the kitchen was set aside. Very few being able to attend their meals. And such was the affliction for awhile, that it was difficult to find as many that were able to move about to care for those confined. In many cases the sick suffered for want of suitable help. Elder Archibald was among the suffering throng, and barely escaped with his life. Elder Isachar kept on his feet through the whole scene. In about two months from this time health was in a great measure restored to the people." Church Record of Whitewater. As Calvin Morrel had been a physician, it was perhaps on this account he was sent to Busro.
I am favored with another letter of Issachar Bates, furnished by Elder Hollister. It is to the Mt. Lebanon Ministry, and dated Union Village, Ohio, Jan. 29, 1819. "I left West Union, Dec. 31st, in com- pany with Bro. Calvin Morrell, who was sent to help us in an time of affliction. We arrived at Union Village, Jan. 8. The Elders, brethren & sisters there were in a comfortable state of health, with some ex- ceptions. By this time ye have found out where I am, & how & when I came here. For some cause it has been our lot at West Union, to burden our beloved friends in the East with our calamities, either by the distress of war, or sickness, or some other work of the Devil, so that it becomes irksonie to write. But from fears that this originates more from pride than good faith, I believe it as well to be honest and Jet our afflictions be known. We got along with our. affairs the season past, tolerably well, and the Society was more healthy than it ever was in this place before, till about the middle of August, and then the fever came on us with fury. The first attack was on a number of our best members. Elder Archibald was also taken down. They were taken with such violence that in a few hours their breath would stop, and no medicine had any effect. Then we betook ourselves to pray, and obtained help from God, so that we made war with the Destroyer. When any
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were violently seized, we assembled in the meeting-house, and labored until they were released, which frequently took place, till finally we obtained a confident promise from God, that we should have our lives for a prey, although we should all be sick. After this, confidence was gained, and medicine operated well. Six or eight were taken in a day, till a hundred were down at once. Finally all who escaped the fury of this cruel enemy were as follows: James Bromfield, our first farmer Deacon ; myself, who never got into bed for four weeks; Eldress Martha, who was a warrior indeed, and treated her bed much the same; Lucy Houston, who had the care of the children; and Ascenath Edie, our chief nurse, who acted a noble part through the sickness, and was blest in her labors. I do not think she had one regular nights sleep in 2 months.
"Elder Archibald lay 17 days, before alteration for the better, while prayers & labors were made for him without ceasing. He was the sickest person in the Society, but he was held fast, and hath recov- ered his health, although it is reported in the world that he is dead."
48. Daniel Rankin was born in 1798 and withdrew about 1829.
49. Mary Hopkins, born Sept. 29, 1784; admitted Mar. 1808, and died May 22, 1855.
50. Joseph Johnston, born Sept. 4, 1776; admitted 1805, and died Mar. 21, 1849.
51. Ruth Pegg, born Apr. 7, 1798; admitted 1812, and withdrew Oct. 28, 1836.
52. Henry Valentine, born Nov. 6, 1799; admitted 1805, and died Dec. 24, 1841.
53. Willianı Moore, born Jan. 15, 1789; admitted 1805, and died June 6, 1867.
54. Eldress Molly Goodrich, born Dec. 14, 1779; arrived at Union Village Mar. 31, 1806; arrived at South Union, Oct. 6, 1811, as first in the Ministry, in Sister's Lot, and so continued until her death, Dec. 9, 1835. She was a strong character and firm in the rules of her faith.
55. Mercy Pickett arrived at Union Village, from Mt. Lebanon, May 26, 1809, and Oct. 6, 1811, stood second in the Ministry to Molly Goodrich. In 1834 she returned to Mt. Lebanon.
56. Eunice Sering, born July 11, 1795; admitted 1806; was in the Ministry order with Rachel Johnston at Union Village, and seceded Jan. 29, 1847.
57. Daniel Boyd, born Oct. 16, 1783; united in Feb. 1807, and died June 25, 1845.
58. Rachel Dennis, born Nov. 20, 1789; united 1805, and died Aug. 9, 1859.
59. Joshua Worley, once prominent at Union Village; born Aug. 12, 1800, and seceded May 24, 1839.
60. David Price, born Oct. 29, 1773; admitted 1808, died Jan. 24, 1855.
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61. Richard McNemar was given the name of Eleazer Wright by Lucy Wright. He was one of the leaders of the great "Kentucky Revival," born Nov. 20, 1770; became a Shaker, Apr. 24, 1805, and died Sept. 15, 1839. Archibald Meacham was off on a junket, and John Dunlavy was in temporary charge, and on the death of Dunlavy, Richard McNemar acted as first head.
62. Lucinda Miller, born June 13, 1804; taken to Believers in 1805; died Dec. 29, 1869.
63. The following list gives the names of the West Union Be- lievers. that found their homes at South Union, with ages and the time, so far as known: Samuel S. McClelland, 41; Jesse Legier ; Benjamin Knox, 35; John Hancock; Samuel Worthington; David Lathom, 35; William Roberts, 42; William Roberts, Jr., 16; Elijah Roberts, 4; John Ford, 11; Robert Ford, 8; Charles Ford, 5; Henry M. Ford, 3; Frederic W. Royce, 36; Joseph Roberts, 14; Elizabeth McComb, 65; Sally Mc- Comb, 32; Betsy McComb, 24; Nancy McComb, 20; Rebecca Boyles, 26; Ruth Edie, 24; Hortency Bedell, 31; Peggy Ford, 34; Mary Ann
Ford, 6; Martha Roberts, 37; Peggy Roberts, 9; Salome Roberts, 1; Catharine Latham, 30; Julia Latham, 16; Betsy Jenkins, 26; Olive Jenkins, 5. Soon after (Aug. 5) Jessie Legier went to Pleasant Hill; Benjamin Knox seceded Dec. 20, 1835; William Roberts withdrew Jan. 30, 1836; his son William had previously left. There appears to be no record at Pleasant Hill of the Believers that went there. The older and those in authority went to Union Village, but no record is now there. The recent converts (called by Shakers "Young Believers") went to Whitewater. There is no record there of their names, but Eldress Adaline Wells recalled the following for me, who settled with the North Family: Ezra Sherman, Jr., Ezra Sherman, Sr., Manly and Anna Sherman, Rachel and Ann Hall, Louisiana, Indiana, Betsy and Reece Stroud.
At the time of the. dissolution of the West Union Society it num- bered about 100, most of whom were females. Nearly all the older members had succumbed to malaria.
In Richard McNemar's "Selection of Hymns and Poems for the Use of Believers," in the appendix he has a caustic poem on some of the Believers at West Union, written in 1827. He also furnishes the following :
"The dissolution of this once flourishing Society, may serve as a warning and as a ground serious examination to all concerned, as to the real and radical causes which produced such a lamentable effect: and to pass over such things with a covering spirit, is giving the enemy great advantage to keep the same causes in operation, for like causes will pro- duce like effects. Sed verbum sapientibus sufficet.
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"A LAMENTATION FOR WEST UNION. "TUNE - THE DEAD MARCH.
"What language shall we borro, to paint the grief & sorro That ev'ry cheek might furro, with tears of pious grief, When West Union's whole foundation, her beautiful plantation, Is doomed to desolation without relief.
"This pleasant situation was view'd with admiration, And with much animation, we lived at Busro, Till the bugs and the river, brought on the chill & fever, To ev'ry good Believer, the first grand foe.
"When war and desolation invaded our plantation, And we had found relation, where we could be at rest, When by troubles so repeated, our hopes had been defeated We're sorry we retreated back to the west.
"When we were reinstated, and troubles new created, What numbers really hated upon the ground to stay ; We cannot but be pained, to think we were detained, Until so few remained, to move away.
"When order must be gained, and faithfully maintained, What burdens those sustained, who stood as first in care; When by manifold transgression, & little true confession, More evil got possession than they could bear.
"With sorrowful sensation we view their situation, When their best ministration could but create distress - Disorders still increasing and faithful ones deceasing The number still decreasing, and growing less,
"The rising generation, deserting from their station, Was truly a vexation - the sorest grief of all, This dreadful complication, of death and desolation, For some grand alteration, did loudly call.
"When matters were preparing, to get a final hearing - Our minister preparing for counsel from the east, Our lack of resignation has been the sad occasion, By which our tribulation has been increas'd.
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"When father Jno .* appeared, our spirits were so cheered, We thought him well prepared to man the steering oar But our very souls are grieved to think we were deceived And of this gift bereaved, we ask no more.
"To part with such a brother, our grief we cannot smother And to accuse each other, can but augment our wo, Yea truly we are pained, to think he was detained, And such a loss sustained from the grand foe.
"But now the scene is closed, our souls are now composed, And since it is proposed to seek a better place, We accept the invitation, and 'tis a consolation, That our past tribulation is no disgrace.
"THE RESPONSE - TO THE QUEEN OF HEARTS. "Arise! Arise ye valiant band ! Prepare to quit this wretched land, For here the gospel cannot stand, The trial is completed ; Surrounded by a savage brood, Oppos'd to ev'ry thing that's good, Believers here too long have stood, "To be despis'd and hated, Reliqua caret."
A hymn of welcome of forty-eight lines was composed, inscribed "to the West Union Believers in the year 1827." Where and by whom it was composed I know not. I find it in McNemar's "Selection of Hymns and Poems." I judge, however, from the first verse, herewith inserted, it was the product of a member at Watervleit:
"Come Mount-Zion's lovely children ! Come and welcome to these plains ! Welcome to each spread pavilion ! Rest from all your toil and pains. We do feel a tender spirit To our kindred from the west, And their tried faith does merit Love and Union of the best."
ADDITIONAL NOTES.
Eldress Jane Cowan, of South Union has furnished me the addi- tional particulars concerning certain individuals mentioned in the text :
* John Dunlavy.
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Samuel G. Whyte was trustee at South Union; born in Maryland in 1774, and died in 1833. Francis Whyte was born in Maryland in 1768; was an elder in the Gasper church at the time of the Kentucky revival ; died in 1830. Samuel Whyte was a nephew of the trustee, but left South Union when young. Robert Gray was a Believer a number of years, but afterwards left South Union. Eli McLean, a trustee, was born in N. C. in 1793 and died in 1870. George Waddle left South Union in 1849. Both the Redmons died at Union Village. Nathaniel Rankin, born in N. C., in 1794; was minister many years at South Union; died in 1890. Benjamin Price, born in 1771; came from Busro in 1812, and became the most successful business manager ever at South Union ; died in 1833. William and David were brothers of Benjamin Price, both went to Union Village and died there. Luanna Slover, who went to South Union in 1812, died there in 1864. Eldress Hortency, was a sister of Eldress Molly Goodrich. She died at Pleasant Hill.
All other persons, whose deathis are recorded in these notes, un- less otherwise specified, died at Union Village.
Of the orders we get but a slight glimpse in the McClelland MS. Of the Ministry, Archibald Meacham stood first, with Ruth Darrow first and Martha Sanford second, in the Sisters' Lot. After the death of these two Eldresses, Saloma Dennis and Patience Naylor were sent to take their places, from Union Village. No trustees are mentioned except Samuel Johnston, Adam Gallagher and William Douglas, all of whom died in office. James Hopkins was a trustee at the time prepa- rations were made for dissolving the Society. Only Henry Miller and Mary Hopkins, both at the North Family, are mentioned as family elders or eldresses. George Legier was the farmer, or land deacon.
All the land at West Union was bought by John Grider, who also purchased the lands on the Kankakee, owned by the Shakers of Union Village,- but purchasing price not stated. The Church Record of Union Village has this memorandum: "1832. June. The West Union prem- ises are sold to a Virginian, by Nathan Sharp."
On May 23, 1827, Samuel McClelland, Benjamin Knox and Samuel Fisher left South Union for Yellow Banks for the West Union property and returned on 31.
Oct. 31, 1831, Ezra Sherman and Edward Burnham left White- water with a wagon and yoke of oxen for the Wabash for a pair of mill-stones left there by the Busro people. They were gone a month.
So ends the records of the Eagle and Straight Creek and West Union Shakers as separate bodies.
FRAKNLIN, OHIO, June 18, 1903.
More recently the following facts have come to hand :
Aug. 27, 1903, I found at Union Village an interesting document relating to West Union. It contains the Covenant of Feb. 25, 1815, and to this document are appended the following names :
SHAKERS OF EAGLE AND STRAIGHT CREEKS.
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NAMES OF BRETHREN.
Henry Miller,
Robert McGill,
James Hodge,
. Joseph Johnston,
John McComb,
John Knox,
John · Johnston,
John Martin,
Alexander. McKeehan,
Benjamin Knox,
John Youngman,
John Hancock,
William Douglas,
Frederick Wisman,
Wm. Price,
William McComb,
David Bornan,
Samuel Johnson,
James Brownfield,
Jesse McKeehan,
Wm. Price, Jr.,
Geo. Legier,
Adam Galagar,
Wm. Knox,
William Boyls,
James Price,
David Price,
Samuel McClelland,
Abraham Jones,
Benjamin Miller.
NAMES OF SISTERS.
Sarah Jenkins,
Peggy Steward,
Jeney Martin,
Prudence Redmon,
Elizabeth Legier,
Peggy Boyls,
Betsey Mayall,
Elizabeth Martin,
Mary Hopkins,
Elizabeth Gallagar,
Rebecca Boyle,
Peggy Knox,
Betsy Worthington,
Olive Green,
Aney Brownfield,
Hannah Davis,
Elizabeth Jenkins,
Susannah Lanill,
Rebecah Price,
Peggy Knox,
Sally Johns,
Isabell Gill,
Saly Houston,
Peggy Naylor,
Rebekah Brasilton,
Elizabeth McComb,
Betsy Murphy,
Poly Tann,
Nansy Knox,
Nansy Jenkins,
Any Hancock,
Catey Boyle,
Saly McComb,
Nancy McReynolds,
Poly Edie,
Barbary Evins,
Jeney Galagar,
Poly Price,
Nansy Galagar,
Rebecca Gill,
Jiney Slover,
Tinsey Bedle.
Fanny Price,
Nancy Boyls,
The leading characters who first received the gospel were Robert Houston, Robert Gill and William Brazilton. In the spring of 1809, John McComb, John Hancock, Joseph Worthington, &c., moved from Kentucky with their families and joined the society. The principal men from Eagle Creek were Henry Miller, John Knox, John Johnson, Joseph Johnson, Daniel Redmon, Wm. Douglas, Alex McCechen, Geo. Legier, Wm. Gallagher, David Edie, John Edgington, John Martin, James Brown- field, Wm. Knox. At first the Believers numbered about 300, distributed into three localities, - one at Price's settlement, one at Robert" Gill's, and the other at Robert Houston's. Geo. Legier founded the Center Family which consisted of 72 members. James Hodge stood second to Archibald Meacham.
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