xt77h41jhn5m https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt77h41jhn5m/data/mets.xml Brown, Thomas, b. 1766. 1812  books b92-75-29578957 English Printed by Parker and Bliss. Sold at the Troy bookstore; by Websters and Skinners, Albany; and by S. Wood, New-York, : Troy : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Shakers. Account of the people called Shakers  : their faith, doctrines, and practice, exemplified in the life, conversations, and experience of the author during the time he belonged to the society : to which is affixed a history of their rise and progrogress to the present day / by Thomas Brown. text Account of the people called Shakers  : their faith, doctrines, and practice, exemplified in the life, conversations, and experience of the author during the time he belonged to the society : to which is affixed a history of their rise and progrogress to the present day / by Thomas Brown. 1812 2002 true xt77h41jhn5m section xt77h41jhn5m 


AN



       ACCOUNT OF THE PEOPLE

                   CALLED


           SHAKERS:

                    THEIR


FAITH, DOCTRINES, AND PRACTICE,

              EXEMPLiFIED IN THE

   LIFE, CONVERSATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE OF THE AUTHOR
   DURING 'THE TIME HE BELONGED TO THE SOCIETY.

            TO WHICH IS AFFIXED A

HISTORY OF THEIR RISE AND PROGRESS
             TO THE PRESENT DAY.



          BY THOMAS BROWN,
     Of Cornwall, Orange County, State of New-York.



 Prove all things, hold fall to that which is good. Apofle Paul.
 An hiftorian fhould not dare to tell a falfehood, or leave a
   truth untold.                       Cicero.



                   TROY
        PRINTED B2- PARKER AND BLISS.
 vein AT THE TROY BOOKSTORE; BY WEBSTERS AND SKINNERS-
         ALBANY; AND BY S. WOOD, NEW-YORK.

                    1812"
 














               DISTRICT OF NEW-YORK, ss.
   BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the third day of February, in the
 thirty-fixth year of the Independence of the United States of
 America, THOMAS BROWN, of the faid Diftrid, hath depofited ia
 this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as au-
 thor, in the words following, to wit:
   " An account of the People called Shakers: their Faith, Doc-
 trines, and Pradice, exemplified in the Life, Converfations, and
 experience of the author,4during the time he belonged to the fociety.
 To which is affixed a Hiftory of their Rife and Progrefs to the
 prefent day. BY' THOMAS BROWN, of Cornwall, Orange County,
 State of New-York. Prove all things, hold faft to that which is
_good-Ap9/le Paul.  An hiflorian fliould not dare to tell a falfe-
hood, or leave a truth untold-Cicero."
   In conformity to the Ad of the Congref3 of the United States,
 entitled " An Ad for the Encouragement of Learning, by fecuring
 the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and propri-
 etors of fuch copies, during the time therein mentioned." And
 alfo to an Ad, entitled " An Ad, fupplementary to an Ad, enti-
 t l an Ad for the Encouragement of Learning, by fecuring the
 copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors
 -of fuch copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending
 t he benefits thereof to the arts,of defigning, engraving, and etching
 baitorieca! and other prints."
                                  CHARLES CLINTON,
                            Clerk of the Diftrid of New-York.
 



                      PREFACE.


        As a full and impartial account of the people called
Shakers, has never yet been prefented to the publick, although
the attention and inquiry of a large portion of the community,
has been excited to an unufual degree, by their novel appear-
ance and unexpec1ed increafe, the author of the following work,
has been prevailed upon to give the world the refult of his ex-
perience and inveffigation among them. He is confident, that
their rife, tenets, and praitices are more fizigular (the prefent
Rate of the world, and gencral information of mankind being
taken into confideration) than thofe of any religious felt which
has taken its rife in the chriftian world fince the firft promulga-
tion of the gofpel.
  The following correfpondence which took, place between the
author and the church, when the enfuing publication was near-
ly finiffied, will, I doubt not, be accepted as being properly
adapted for a prefatory introduction.
                  To the Ckurcb called Stakers.
FRIENDS,
         I think proper to give you the following information,
viz. fince I withdrew from your fociety, I have written for pu-b.
lication, and have now nearly finifhed, an account of my life
and experience among you.; in which I have given a ftatement
of the many converfations we have had refpefing your faith.
dotrines, and practices, Nith the moft authentick account of
the rife of the church that can be obtained.
  I feel not, and therefore write not as an enemy; but merely
give an impartial flatement according to the beft of my ability
and knowledge; which knowledge, I have fpared no pains nor
expence to obtain from every credible fourcc of information.
I wifli to publifli nothing but what is firiatly the truth; and I
have fludioufly avoided ufing one word that would have a ten-
dency to mifreprefent, or convey a wrong idea.
  Notwithftanding, that there may be no room left for undue
animadverfions, I hereby make you the offer, if you pleafe to
axckt it.t of cxawining the work, in manufcript, prcvious to-
 


iV



pubilication; and if it can be clearly pointed out to me, wherein I
have not given a correct accounts I fliall be willing to alter and
correcct, as it is only my intention to aft the part of a faithful
hiftorian.
  Having once had a privilege among you, and being now wbt
you term a backflider, you may therefore confider me as an in-
dividual. bencath attention; but you will pay fome deference
to mankind in general, and as what I offer for your examination
is of a publick nature, I conclude you may think it worthy your
attention.
  Deference to you as a religious focitty, together with the ad-
vice of fome of your members, and feveral other people, has
induced me to make you this offer: if it fhould meet with your
approbation, I will thank you to let me know it in due feafon.
   I fhall at prefent add no more, but that I remain, with fenti-
 ments of efteem, Your Friend,
                                     THOMAS BROWN.
  LvcY WRIGHT and ABIATHAR BABBOT,
          Firft in the Miniftration.
  Cornwall, November, i8o8.

  A thort time after, I received from the Church, the following
  anfwer:
                      To Tkomas Brown.
 " PROFESSED FRIEND,
         "A letter with thy fubfcription, has been put into my
 ! hlands, direcded to I; Abiathar Babbot," purporting, that thou
 " art about publifhing thy Life, Experience, c. with a full ac-
   count of our Faith, Doctrines, c. prop6fing to offer the man-
   ufcript for our examination, previous to publication. So far
 ".from wifhing to offend thee with a reply incongruous with thy
 " feelings, it is with much regret that we have any thing to fay
 4" or do in the matter; but fince we are c:dled upon in a cir-
 "' cumfiance like this, we deem it expedient to reply, That we
 Ad have no defire to examine thy writings. It is fufficient that we
 "4 know thee, Thomas; and be thy opinion whatever it may
 is concerning thy own abilities, we muft candidly tell thee. that
 "we are far from confidering thee competent to the task thet
 


SI



haft undertaiken relat-i've t the fubjfet of our faith, either a!
"it refpets thy knowledge of the work of God among us, or
"thy underftanding of our docrines; and we think we may
"add with propriety and candour, that thy letter prefents no
"very favourable fpecimen of literary talents; therefore, we
"explicitly declare our difapprobation of thy undertaking: yet
"be affured, that this declaration is not made from any appre-
"henfion of harm that may accrue to us from thy publication;
"but a regard to truth, and refpet to the world- of mankind,
"who are unacqainted with us or thee, and who are liable to
"be led into error by ignorant pretenders to a knowledge of
"our dodrines, urge us to withhold our fancaion from publi;
"cations of that defcription emanating from fuch authors.
    We hope there plain reafon3 will be fufficint to induce thee
"to relinquiffi thy defign without any further trouble; for we
"don't wiflin to be urged to the difagrecable neceflity of expof-
"ing this correfpondence to the publick, in order to prevent feri-
"ous inquirers from being-impofed upon byfuch-like publications-
  " RefpecSting the publication of thy own life, abilradlcdly
" confidered, we have nothing to do. In that thou haft an un-
"doubted right to adt thy pleafure; charity, however, induces
'us to fuggeff to thee, as our candid opinion,. that it would be
"much more to thy credit to lay afide thy pen, and turn thy
" attention to fome better employment than to expofe thy life
"to the world by thy writings.
  "We hope the plainnefs of this reply to the fubje of thy
"letter, will not be imputed to any defire in us to give offence;
" but to the privilege we claim of expreffing our Sentiments free-
"ly on that fubje.
             "In behalf of the Church, Signed,
                                       "DAVID OSBORN.
  W atervliet, December zIX, I808."

                         ANSWER.
RESPECTED FRIENDS,
            Your letter of December 2r, I8o8, purporting to
be an anfwer to mine of November laft, was lately received;
and had you barely expreffied in your reply, that you had " no
                        A 2
 




   defire to exanvine ay wri'ings,5' you vrold probably fiave
 heard no more from me in this way; but you have chofen, it
 reems. to fit ill judgment on me and my abilities, and to ditate
 for me. It was my wifl that you might fee the work X had
 Written, before you would undertake to condemn it. If you
 had feen it, you would then have been able to judge whether
 ! wa3 competent to the tafk or not, and you would have had
 it in your power to point out to me any errours it. might con-
 tain; but no, you wait not for that, but at once, and in terms
 not altogether pleafing, fay, " That he my opinion 'hbatever it mlay
 is of my own abilitiesyou mwrf candidly tell me, that you arefarfrom coriwd-
 " eringme competent to the taJk Ibave undertaken." You likewife preface
 this with an expreffion, which, by its ambiguity and vulgar ufe,
 is an infinuation either of immorality in my condut, infinceri-
 ty in my heart, or ignorance in my head. To which of thefe, or
 whether to all, you have not thought fit to confine yourfelves.
 Your expreffion is  We have no defre to examine thy writings: it is
 Cc "sufiieint that ewe know thee, Thomas." It obvioufly appears by
 this expreffion (as I intimated above) that you mean to imply
 fomething prejudicial to my characlIer, fomething too bad to
 mention, as there is no evil condudt but what is implied in that
 exprefion. And from the opinion I entertained of your civility,
 I could not have believed you would have fo imitated the vul-
 gar part of mankind; and that when they are difpleafed, as it
 is then common for them to fay, " Ah, I know you; I know
 what you have done." Why, my friends, what do you know
 of me  Speak out, for fuchifarcafims and dark implications are
 unkind and ungenerous, and do not belong to a people making
 the profeffion which you do, of mildnefs and plainnefs of fpeech.
 But you know in truth, you cannot alledge any thing prejudi-
 cial to my charaer; and therefore you would imply every
 thing bad in a laconic, farcaffical fentence. And I could not
have believed you would have treated me thus for the kind-
nefs of may offer.
  You obferve, that " my letter prefints no lvery fa'vruralle fpecimen
  of literary talents." I confefs it does not: I have no pretenfions
to fiuch talents. But though I boaft not of Iitcrary talents, nor
 

                              vi

  of fplendid abilitiesbI fIll truft I am eapable of relating in
  writing fuch matters of fa as my eyes have feen and my ears
  have heard. You have altfo blended my want of literary tal-
  ents, with inability as to the fubje of your faith, " undeeJi'anding
  "your dorinnes, or having any Inowledge of the wvork of God among
  you.". This is what I did not expe, in as much as I hoped
  that a facred regard to truth would have been adhered to in
  all your correfponrdence. As to the work of God among you,
  I Thall leave the reader to judge for himfelf.
  You explicitly declare your difapprobation of my work even
  before you have examined it. This mode of deftroying the au-
  thenticity of a book, will be accepted by thofe only who pin their
  faith on your flecves: and I truft you cannot have the bokinefe
  to publifh to the world, that it is impoffible for a man to ob-
  tain a knowledge of your faith and doctrines, who has been a
member of your Church upwards of fix years, and who has
fpcnt much of his time in difcourfes with the Elders and others
who had an underflanding of the faith, in order to procure that
knowledge. But I perceive you have not written particularly
for me, but hereafter for the publick, in order to rebut or in-
validate my publication whenever it may make its appearance;
and therefore you widfi to make people believe, I have not an
underfianding of your faith and doarines, and.am not competent to tZe
t'!/v I have undertaien; but the underfianding reader will then
fee, that I have a thorough knowledge thereof; likewife, a
competent knowledge of the Hiftory of the Church from the
earlieft time to the period in which my work ends, and will be
able to judge whether or not I have written with candour.
  As to the world of mankind being ignorant of -me, as you
mention, it concerns me little-: where I am known, however, I
have the fatisfadion to think I fhall be believed.
  I hall adhere frirkIly to truth in my reprefentations of you,
your faith and prafice; and I am confcious to myfelf of hav-
ing conducted this undertaking with upright intentions. And
though you, in part of your letter, feem apprehenlive that my
"writings may impofie on ferious inguirers," yet in another part you.
.faure me " there is no appranehenjm of harm to you from my pubica.
 

                             V11
                             Vtill

"L on." If you are of God, and led by him as you profefs to be,
my publication cannot hurt you, but will (agreeable to the
Scriptures) work for your good.
  Towards the clofe of your letter, you allow that " I have an
"undoubted right to publlij an account of my own life, and with that abt
" stracedly cot:!dered, you fay you bave nothing to do."  Thefe ex-
preffions are fo vague that I am at a lofs to know what you
really intend by them. If you mean to fay, that in the publi-
cation of my life, I have no right to treat of my experience and
connetion with you, of your faith, c. I candidly think you
are miftaken. Almoft all authors, whofe lives I have read,
have given the religious opinions, c. of the fed or fets they
have been conneed with, and I prefume it will not be thought
arrogance in me to follow their fleps. I would further obferve,
that the propofition I made to you to examine my book, was in
order that you might have an opportunity to point out to me
your objeions, and feafonably teftify againfi whatever might
be found amifs.; and likewife, that you might have lefs plaifi-
bility to cenfure me in future of fpeaking untruths, as you have
others who have feparated from your fociety.
  I fill remain, with fentiments of refpeat,
                               Your Friend,
                                       THOMAS BROWN.
 Cornwall, May IX, I809.

 To this letter I received no reply. A few obfervations will
 conclude this prefatory introducdion.
 In relating the converfations I had with the Elders and oth-
 ers of the fociety, and the difcourfes I heard both in public and
 private, I have given them in their own words, except where
 their remarks were thort, or not fufficiently explicit: to give
 the reader a juft idea of their meaning I have enlarged, and
 wherein they were too prolix, I have abridged them; in every
 particular taking the utmoft care not to mifreprefent their real
 fentiments. if the reader fhould find any feeming contradiafions
 in the feveral difcourfes and explanations of their doatrines and
 faith, given in the enfuing publication, I am not chargeable
with them, having only fcrupuloufly related matters of fat.
 

ix



   tn the Hiifory annexed to this work, to avoid repetitions, f
 have omitted feveral things which are inferted in the narration
 of my life; and I have been careful not to record any thing but
 what has been procured from authentick fources, and the truth
 of which has been well fubftantiated. Though this fociety may
 deem feveral of the tranfadiions related, prejudicial to their
 caufe, and on this accout will condemn both the work and its
 author, yet this, however, has not in the leaft deterred me from
 my undertaking, and particularly from keeping clofe to well
 authenticated fad2s, exclufive of every other confideration; and
 I feel perfuaded that the unprejudiced reader will obferve that
 candour'pervades the whole. I am far from thinking I have
 made no miftakes, notwithftanding I have ufed all the care and
 precaution that I could. If any fuch be pointed out to me, I fall
 be thankful for the intimation, efpecially if there fhould be a
 demand for a fecond edition. I might add more, but nothing
 more is neceffary to enable thofe to judge of this work, who
 judge with underflanding, impartiality, and candour. I there-
 fore conclude by expreffing my gratitude to God for his contin-
 ued kindnefs and mercy through every period of my life, and
 for his gracious aid and benediction in enabling me to bring
 this arduous undertaking to a clofe.





                          ERRATA.
        N. B. (b) fignifies from the bottom of the page.
  Page 6i, line 3, for wzve, read I-p. 71 L. 6 (b) f. Matt. r, Luo-.-
page 99, line 22, for cannot, read can-p. 134, L I0 (b) f. in, r.
into-p. 139, l. 7 (b) f. mortal, r. immortal-p. 140, 1. 4 (b) pound; thou,
r. though-p. i58, 1. 2o f. and, r. that is-p. 169, 1. 8 (b) f. 1803,
r. I8oz-p. 230, l. X (b) f. pales, r. pale-p. 2Z7, 1. 9, f. March,
r. anauary-p. 266, 1. 7 (b) f. hat, r. that-p. 319, l. z, f. compan-
ions, r. companion-p. 34S5 1. 9, dele that-p. 346, 1. I8 (b) f. that,
r. his-p. 347, 1. I3 (b) f. barked, r. aded-p. 34 7,l. 14, f. lie, r. lay
p. .347, 1. 17 (b) r. with after accompanied, and by after fucceeded.
  For Nefkauna, wherever it occurs, read XN7emna.
  There are feveral ocher typographical errors, but not of fuffi-
cient importance to be noted here.
 



SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.



   Cornwall, Orange Co.
   WM. A. CLARK, Efq
      2 4 COpics,
  Dr. Elihu Hedges,
  David Sands,
  Samuel Sayre, Efq.
  Obadiah Smith, Efq.
  William Jackfon,
  Wim. Townfend,
  Noah Townfend
  Samuel H. Purdy,
  Richard B. Williams,
  Wim. Vail, jun.
  John Coffey, Efq.
  Edward Coffey,
  Wm. Brown, 6 cop.
  Nathaniel Brown,
  Jarvis R. Brown,
  Charles Southerland,
  Margaret Mills,
  3Mary Brown,
  Martin Hallock,
  Mary Willet,
  Samuel Sayre, jun.
  Wmn. Dennifton,
  John Arthur,
  James Roe,
  Henry Clark,
Cornelius H. Clark,
Reuben Clark,
Nathan Clark,
David Clark,
Francis Clark,
J0otua Clark,
Rev. J. Robertfon,
Rev. William Jewitt,
Elijah Horton,
Nathaniel Palmer,
Nathaniel Sacket,
Nathaniel S. Sacket,
Sylvanus Wood,
Capt R. Reynolds,
Durell Williams,
Capt. Nath, Ring,
+nuel 8a'vge,



  Wyatt Carr,
  Stephen Criffey,
  John Criffey,
  Amos Whitmore,
  Jabefh Green,
  John Green,
  Bartholomew Miller,
  Nathaniel Barton,
  rhos. Carpenter, jS.
  J amcs Smith,
  John JRetchum,
  Samuel Reynolds,
  Thos. Coleman,
  Lewis Barret,
  John Buckley,
  Thos. Walton
  Jofiah Tompkins
  Samuel Allen
  Cornelius Travis
  Wmn. Southerland
  Horace S. Belden
  0. Cunningham
  Thomas Willis
  Gilbert Dean
  Gilbert Webb
  Jofeph Southerland
  Nathaniel Fuller
  Elias Hand
  Oliver Farrington
  Mfaac Vanduzer
JYin Hamrmond-
John Brundage
Jofeph Wood
Andrcw J. Caldwell
Abraham Finch
Shadrach Cooper
     Alonroe.
Abraham Lett, Efq.
John L. O'Grady
A. Southerland
Wmn. Moffitt, Efq.
  Blooming- Gro've,
Capt. J. M'Laughlin
Samuel.- Moffitt
bcnjanin I rewler



  J. Horton, Ef.
        Goex.
  Thomas Thorne
  Nath. H. White, Efq.
  ReubenHopkins,Efq.
  Bcnj. Strong, Efq.
  Thomas Waters
  Edward Ely, Efqb
  James G. Horton'
  David Weftcott
  John G. Hurton.
  Steph. Jackfon, Epound;1
  Michael A. Jones
  Dr. Thos. Wickham
  Dr. Daniel Seward
  George Moore
  Wm. Thompfon,Efq.
  James Everitt, Efq.
  E. N. James, Efq.
  Archibald Smith
  Jofiah Ketchum
  Charles F. Snover
  Sidney A. Knownton
      Min!/nA.
 Jofeph Smith, Efq.
 Nathan Arthur
 P. E. Gumaer, Efq.
     We/- Point.
Lieut. R. E. Danfy
Lieut. A. Larrabee
Wim. F. Hobart
Thomas North
     Warwicl.
Samuel Ketchum
James Burt, Efq.
     Newvurgh.
Selah Reeve
David Mubois
Gilbert H. Clement
J. Filk, Efq.
Benj. S. Reeves, Efq.
J. Cooley, Efq.
Wm. Rois, Ef4.
Charlts Bundfa`l
Jofeph Robertfon
 
xI



Wm. H. Smith
Chauncy Grifwold
Ward M Gazlay
Daniel Belknap
William Pike
Afa Rutzer
Chefcer Clark
David Wolf, Efq.
WVm. W. Sacket
Hiram Wells
Jas. Hamilton, Efq.
Chauncy Woodin
B. F. Lewis, z cop.
John H. Walfh
Leonard Smith
   New-Windfor.
A. Shultys, Efq.
Jos. Morrice, Efq.
Jeffie Hulfe
Mofes Ely
Daniel B. Moore
   Montgomery.
John Blake, Efq.
David Mafon,;Efq.
David Ruggles, Efq.
Wm. M. Wells
J. H. Jackfon, Efq.
Cornelius H. -Dirker
     Wallkill.
Thos. Brunfon
John Morrell
IHorace Swezy
Thos. M. Clark
Ifaac Seely
    New-rrol.
William Bufh
Sam. Wood, So-cep.
Mary Hazard
Wm. T. Robertfon
Rev. John Boyd
John Hammond, jun.
J. H. Shyres, 6 cop.
G. Hodgfon,  cop.
William Elliot
     Raway.
Andrew Alfion
Azel Roe
Elizabeth Edgar
iEamuel Moore



Dr. Lewis Morgan
Ifaac Moore
Edward Moore
    Long-VIjand.
John Everitt
Mary Everitt
   Mount-Pleafant.
Solomon Underhill
John Hubbart
   Cortland- Town.
John Green
Caleb Sutten
John Conklin
     Peehlill.
Charles Dufenbury
Caleb Brown
    Poughleep/tie.
Hallock Patten
James Sands
lfaac Everitt
James Reynolds
Jacob Noble
     .Rhineech.
Ebenezer Wood
     Hudfon.
A. Woodworth, jun.
Benj. Cooper
Abner Auftin
Alanfon Carpenter
Alpheus Adams
Wm. I. Ofterhout
Edward Hulbert
Oliver H. Allen
Wm. E. Norman
Enoch Barnard
Oliver Wifwall
Daniel R. Waldo
Jared Plumb
W. Aylefworth
John Munfon
lenry Ludlow
G. Van Volkenburgh
     Claverac.
1. Ten Broeck
Julia S. Ludlow
Phineas Freeland
Daniel B. Stow
Abm. Jordan, Efq.
James Barnes



Wm. D. Miller
John Thompfoii
Charles Price
Charles Smith
Wm. P. Snyder
Timothy Turner
John Martin
     Hillfdale.
Samuel Bryan
Aaron Reed
Jonathan Turner
Apollo Robertfon
Gaius Stebbens
Benjamin Dakain
      Athens.
Thomas Howe
Nathan Clark, iz c,
Thos. Lawrence
Alexander Frazer
Ruffel Leffingwell
John T. Nutterwell
Aaron Reed
Wm. Dobfon
A. G. Barnard
Timothy Witherelt
Samuel Doxey
John W. Hays
David Shaw
Eben. Thornton
Matthias Van Loon
John Colefon
Zacheus Roache
Nich. I. Van Loon
Samuel Hamilton
Calvin Balis
Henry White
John Hull, jun.
John Williams
Benj. A. Howland
Wm. Hallenbeck
    Loonenburgb.
Henry Wells, jun.
     Coxfakie.
Richard M'Carty
Wm. Murry
J.  C. Cock
    Kinderhook.
Caleb Finch
Wm. S. Oardenla
 
X1



     SeAodaci.
Wm. 1. Van Aflfine
Jacob Baurhyte
Charles C. Frink
R. B. Springfted
John Johnfon
Roclof Johnfon
S. Tompkins, Efq.
James Van Derpoel
Samuel Hitchcock
Wmi Jacobee
Abm. C. Huyck
Howai d A Simmons
     Coeymans.
Jacob Parifh
     Cafileton.
Jameo M'Claikey
      Albany.
Michael Flack
James Daniel
James Thorne
Jo3fph P. Barney
Samuel P. Penny
Philip Barnop
John Taylor
Weeden Lincoln
Juflus Cafe
Jacob -Eaton
Levi ferry
Caleb Mathews
Levi -Page
Seth Watkins
Ephraim Mandell
Henry Carpenter
Alfred Parker
V. Auftin
Henry Dickinfon
Ifaac Van Bufkirk
Wm. M'Harg
Philip ralbot
Nathaniel Niles
Jofeph Golden
Wm. G Taylor



Edward Hunter
Wm. Lamb
Dennis Allen
Henry Vifher
Eliakim Ford
Wm. W. Manfill
      Troy.
Parker  Blifs, So c.
Hcnry Townfend
George Lent
John Nafew
Aaron Rider, jun.
Benjamin Vail
Nathaniel Hazard
Rev. David Butler
E. Oftrander, M. D.
Job Collins
Joliah Chapman
Samuel Scobey
Caleb Curtis
Mary Campbell
lewis Richards
Afa Sheldon
James Wallace
Henry Fero
Jonathan Warren
Abner Fofter
Abijah lFowler
C. J. Newcomb, 6 c.
Abraham Eager,E z c.
Nathan Eaftman
      Bayl on.
James Clark
John Kelley
Daniel Rathbone
Reuben rhurfton
Adonijah Skinner
Beriah Palmer
   La;fingburgh.
Levinus R. Winne
     GreenbuA.
Jere. Clark, jun.
Jacob Wood, Efq.



      Canaan.
Mehitable Bramhal
Clinton, Ditchefi Co.
Capt. Ifaac Ruffell
Jacob Noble
Camden, Oneida Co.
Allen Sperry
   New-Rochell.
Rev. Eben. Smitl
    Schenea1ady.
John B. Clute, jun.
    Water- Pliet.
E. Van Denburgh
Daniel Fort
Win. James
Aaron D. Barrows
Abraham Males
'Henry Mansfield
John Gaddes
John Truefdell
Ifaac Van Dcnburgh
Jacob Lanfing, jun.
John Mafcraft
Win. Kane
Jofeph Whittaker
lfaac Fowler
     Nikeuna.
Rev. Thos. Romaine
Ierick Groat
Nicholas Groat
John G. Clute
Thomas Slats
Michael Freligh
Tobias Putman
Philip Uinderbecker
Eldan F. Goodin
Seth Veeder
   Coventry, Conn.
Leon. Handee, zo c.
   Hebron. Conti.
Benj. Davenport
  Kingfton, Canada,
John Hodgfon



  N. B. The names of many fubfcribers in feveral of the above
mentioned and other places have not yet come to hand; but as in
printing the work it has amounted to abovc forty pageMi mon. that
was expedied, the deficiency in this lift of fubfcribers, it is preo
fumed, will be readily excufed.

 





AN



            ACCOUNT, - c.


                     PART I.

From the time of the Autthor's acquaintance with the people
  called Shakers, and joining ikeir Society, until he began to
  doubt; and more minutely examine into the propriety of their
  Faith, Docrines, and Prafice.

        A FEW iketches of my life, previoufly to my
becoming acquainted with the people who are the fub.
jeaq of this hj/lory, may, perhaps, be acceptable to my
readers.
  I was born the 26th day of May, 1766, of reputable
parents, who then refided in the city of New-York. Soon
after my father joined the Society of the people called
Quakers; and with an acquaintance and fome connec-
tion with this people I was brought up. In my juvenile
years, I was much difpofed to ferious inquiry and re-
fleion; and thought if I lived to be a man, I would
not be wicked as I faw many were. But when I attain-
ed the age of fourteen years, I became immoral and
wicked, and continued fo until, my -eighteenth year..
Then I became thoughtful and ferious, which produced a
reformation in my life and praaice; and at length I was
brought to experience what I had been an utter ftranger
to before, and which was what is believed by Chriftians
in general to be that converfion which entitles the foul
to the kingdom of heaven. But lofing a feeling fenfe
of what I had enjoyed, I again had my trials, as I could
not red in any thing fhort of true peace of mind  About
three years after I had become fetioufly difipofed it mus
                     B
 


14



inprefiied on my mind as a duty, to appoint meetings
and to fpeak by way of exhortation to thofe who alfem-
bled to hear me. In the year 1787, I joined the people
called Quakers, and was admitted as a member of their
fociety: with them I continued about three years, and
fpoke feveral times in their meetings. Then I left that
fociety, fo far as related to particular memberfhip; but
fill continued to hold meetings occafionally in a feparate
flanding, arid often preached among the Methodifts. In
the year 1793, 1 was received a member of that fociety.
Soon after they gave me a certificate to officiate in pub.
lic, by way of exhortation. Accordingly I travelled, in
conneaion with that iociety, about two years; in which
time I became fo much reduced in my circurftances,
that I was neceffitated to engage in fome bufinefs to fip-
port my family. Notwithilanding, I did not wholly neg-
lea that which I conceived to be my duty in the minif-
terial line.
  For about two years previously to my joining the peo.
ple who are the fubjet of the enfuing publication, I was
not, in a ftri fenfe, a member of any fea, and thought
I would never again join any, unlefs I could find a foci.
ety whofe praCtices, in my view, were more conformable
with the precepts of Chriftianity. In fhort, for the fpace
of a year before I became acquainted with the people
called Shakers, I entertained an opinion, that the millen-
nium was near at hand, and that I fhould live to fee it:
and I wilhed to find a people prepared, according to the
fcripture account, to meet Chrift at his fecond coming.
  I had often heard of the people called Shakers, by ver-
bal accounts, as a ftrange people; but on the i3th of
April, 1798, (on a journey to Philadelphia) I faw a
finall pamphlet, written by V. Rathbone, which gave an
account of them, which furpaffed every thing I had heard
or read before refpeting any people profefling reli-
gion. I thought it not poffible, that any fet in this en-
lightened age of the world, efpecially in this country,
could anfwer that description. I thought that they might
be very different from what they were represented, as
truly religious people have always been mifreprefented.
I had andetftood they held to fome dodrines, which ap-
 
I5



peared to me more pure than profelled by others. I was
therefore determined, (if God pleafed) to go and fee
them, and examine for myfelf. Accordingly, fome time
in Auguft, (the fame year) I was at ,A.Jany, and the fira
Sabbath after I arrived in the city, I went to fee them ;
a number of whom refided at Watervijt, commonly call-
ed Nejkauna, (eight miles north-weft from zAlbany.) I
attended their meeting: they fat filent a few minutes,
then arofe and fhood in their order, and fung a tune with-
out words; after which, four or five fang a more lively
tuie, Eo which the others danced. After dancing about
half an hour, they all kneeled in filence a few minutes;
as foon as they arofe, their leader fpoke of an intermif-
fion. During which, they retired to a dwelling-houfe
on theother fide of the road, oppofite to the meeting-
hooufe, and left me ruminating what kind of a people and
religion this could be; for they appeared to nme very
folemn, and I'thought they were a fincere people. At
the conclufion of the afternoon meeting, I wilhed to cone
verfe with fome of them; as I began, from their folemu
appearance, to conceive a favourable opinion of them.
But as no one fpoke to me, I hardly knew how to intro-
duce myfelf. However, I was determined not to leave
them, without farther information refpe.ting their faith,
c. I faw I was lofing an opportunity to fpeak to them,
(as they were filently returning to their places of abode.)
I therefore immediately fpoke to a young man, and faid,
I have often heard of thefe people, and believe I have
heard many things which aie fajfe; I have nowv come-
fome difiance to fee them, and cannot feel fatisfied to re-
turn without having fome converfation, in order tAa
better underflanding of their religious principles, tliaxtj
have hitherto had from hearfay and flying reports, aixd
I would thank you to inform me where, and of whom
lmay gain this information He pleafantly replied,
" Your requeft can be granted: go with me to myfa-
ther's, and he will give you whatever information you
defire."
  I gladly accepted of his invitation, and went home
with him. I was kindly received, and foon invited to
dine. After which, I had an agreeable converfation
 
i6



with the young man's father, (Benjamin Youngs.) To.
wvards evening he invited me to tarry all night. I did
fo; and we converfed till two o'clock in the morning,
on various points of their faith; of which, for the fake
of brevity, I think beft to give now only the - fubftance,
-as thefe fubjedts will be treated of hereafter. I fhall
Rate our diicourfes by way of queftions (for many I alk.
ed) and anfwers, which muay ferve as the contents of all
that follows to be treated of in the courfe of this work,
tefpeding their docarines; for he poffeffed as much in-
formation as any one 1 ever converfed with among them,
and was as able to communicate his ideas.  And I the
more willingly infert the flibilance of our difcourfes here,
as the account I received from him, corresponded with
what I heard from the Elders, and others in their faith,
--for near two years afterwards. At which tine, they be.
gan to hold torth to me the real dodtrines and pracice
of the church; which appeared to me (and will hereaf-
ter to the reader) foinewhat different, particularly