LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OE ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAICN X 289.8 ^ M35r I. H. S. ^«^ ^a^.^alt. ■ THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT FKOM THE GARDEN OF EDEN, TO THE PRESENT DAY: WITH A DISCiiOSUKE 0F SliAKEKISM, EXHIBITING A GENERAL VIEW OF THEIR REAL CHARACTER AND CONDUCT FROM THE FIRST APPSARANCS OP ANN LEE. ALSO, THE LIFE AKD SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR, WHO WAS MARY M. DYER, BUT NOW IS MARY MARSHALL. CONCORD, N. H. PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR. 1847. 1 1 Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1847, By Mary Marshall, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of New Hampshire. Si, PREFACE. As the Shakers yet believe that Ann Lee was of pure character, and that she is now a Savior of the world, I feel it a solemn duty to lay before them and the public the following sheets. From my know- ledge that the Shaker spirit is Magnetism, mingled with sexueal passion, and absolutely opposed to the pure spirit of Christ, I could find no rest but in cx- losing this delusion, particularly as my dear family were under its influence, and the public liable to the ^ same. By unshaken testimony the reader will see . t'le origin of this delusion, and trace its progress. He Will see that it has caused falsehood, injustice and cruelty, which is utterly opposed to the consoling power of truth. The Shakers trust in Ann Lee as a Savior ; but they trust in a broken reed — for thouah we give all we have, and our bodies to be burned, without the spirit of Jesus, by which alone we can obtain salvation, we are none of his. This blessed peace never has, and never can, unite with the spirit of Ann Lee. The Shakers have an artful publica- tion, which attempts to blend Jesus of Nazareth and Ann Lee together, man and wife, male and female .^^ Saviors — which is an impious and blasphemous *^. fraud, and the very essence of Antichrist. AFFIDAVITS, ETC. Sarah Bean 21 Samuel Farrington 21 Stephen Farnam and Wife. . .22 Asa Cowles 24 Asa Pattee 27 Daniel Pattee 30 William Lee 30 Joseph Law 31 Gideon Martin 32, 33 David Chapin 33 Samuel Jones 34 William Spiers 35 Jonathan Symonds 36 Ethan Stanton 61 Eunice Stanton 62 Sarah Williams 63 Oliver Hildreth and Wile ... .65 Daniel Crouch 66 Jonathan Clark 67 Joseph Stanley 71 Moses Jones 73 John Heath 74 Joshua Stevens 75 Miriam Dickey 76, 79 Josiah Watson 80, 82 Ahce Beck 84, 105 Clement Beck 99 Israel Peaslee 107 Andrew Ward 1 08 Henry Beck 109 Steven Sutton 110 John O'Neill 113 Abijah Stanley 116 Zenas Delano 116 Peter Penfield 117 Moses Johnson ] 25 Letter from A. Van Vliet, . .129 Thomas C. Hoit ; 139 Sylvanus Barnard 141 Mary Cummings 141 William Sanborn 144 Eliza Page 161 Rebecca Morrison, &c 163 Robert Grain IBS Letter from Mary Grain.... 193 George W. Byrom 196 Sarah M. L. Sewell 106 Charles Glidden 199 Charles Hammond 201 Jere. Towle and Wife. .211, 213 Calvin Eaton : 214 Obadiah TiUotson 216 Betsy Tillotson 218 Moody Rich 222 Richard Currier 225 Rhoda Flood 234 Letter to Mr. Dyer 235 Mary Willis 238 Polly Clifford 239 Mary and Abigail Delano . .248 Jesse Cook 249 Gov. Eustis 258 Henry Hendrix 263 Abram Seward and others.. 265 John Williams 265 Lemuel and Tryphena Dow.266 James Willis and Wife 266 Jonathan Farnam and Wife. 266 Hannah and Lucia Lyscomb 267 Hannah and Sarah Stevens. 267 Benjamin Burge 268 John P. Gass and Wife . . . .268 John Gass and Wife 268 Mary Marshall 268 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT mm THE GAIIDEX OF EDEIV. CHAPTER I. ANCIENT AND MODERN IMPOSTORS. Deceivers, similar to Ann, have appeared in every age of the world. The angel who kept not his first estate, put himself" in the place of God, and fell by desiring man to obey him. He beguiled Eve, and caused her to disobey lier Maker. This spirit of imposture has continued down, as can be seen in sacred writ. When God made himself manifest inJVIoses, it appeared in the magicians in Egypt; again in the days of Daniel, when king and people depend- ed on the soothsayers and magicians ; again in Theudas and in Judas of Galilee, who deceived many. After Christ, arose Simon Magus, who bewitched the people of Samaria, and they exclaimed of him, as the Shakers do at the pre- sent day of Ann Lee, " This man is the great power of God." He assumed the character of a divine person, and was adored as God. After him came his disciple Corin- thus, a mighty pretender to inspirations and angelic visions. So true have proved the predictions of Jesus, our Savior, who said, " There shall arise false Christs and false pro- phets, who shall show great signs and wonders, and deceive many : Go ye not after them." Thus he warned us, and most fully have his sayings been fulfilled, even to the pre- sent time. There has been a continual succession of impostors. 8 RISE AND PROGKESS OF TUE SERPENT claiming to be the Messiah, from that time, among the most noted of which were, Barchobebus, in A. D. 123; Moses Cretensis, in 434, who promised his followers that he would divide the sea, so that they could march on dry ground to the Holy Land, in consequence of which many plunged into the sea from an eminence, and were drowned; Dunaan, in 520; one Julian, in 529 ; Mahomet, in 571, the delusions of whose impostures yet remain, and over- shadow a large part of the worl 1 ; Cyrenas, a Jew, in the eighth century ; a French impostor, in 1137, and another in S[)ain, in 1157; one in Flz, in 1167, and another who claimed to be a prophet sent from God. Being brought before the king, he was asked for a sign of his messiahship. " Cut off my head," said he, " and I shall come to life again." His head was cut off — but his prediction failed. In the same century, four other notable impostors appeared. In the twelfth century, two false Christs arose, and brought much calamity on the Jews. Shall I continue to name the impostors who have appear- ed .since the days of our Savior ? In 1222, one appeared in Germany, and anc ther in Spain : in 1443, David Lem- lem, an Austrian, who pretended to work miracles; in the fifteenth century, Ishmael Scphus, a Mahometan prince ; in 150y, one claimed the title of Messiah, and travelled into Poland with his twelve apostles ; in 1534, a false Christ was burned in Spain by Charles V. Another false Christ appeared in the East Indies, and was followed by the Jews. In 1624, Rabbi Solamo-Males declared he was the Savior. He arose in Amsterdam, and said he was of the family of David, of the tribe of Nathan. His fame was eclipsed in 1666, by one Sabbati S 'vi, who was from Aleppo, but set up in Smyrna, and declared himself the true Christ or Mes- siah, and promised the Jews deliverance. He preached repentance so effectually, that people gave up business, and applied themselves to de.vrtion and alms ; some fasted so long as to lose their lives. Sabbati selected princes to FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 9 gorern the Jews in their march to the Holy Land. He prevailed so greatly that his followers became numerous in some parts of France. They prophesied and fell into strange ecstacies, and were called " French Prophets," as will be seen in the sequel. Sabbati declared he was ap- pointed by heaven to visit Constantinople ; he went thither, and was cast into prison. The Grand Seignior ordered him to perform a miracle, which he failed in doing, and to save his life turned Turk. The Jews still believed in him, and said it was only his shadow that turned Turk. Thus you see the same power that crucified the Lord of life and glory, still continued among men, continually deceiving them, and made them worship the creature more than the Creator. In all these a plain exhibition of the Serpent is to be seen. The sect or denomination of professors, called Shakers, is of recent origin ; tliough their faith has, in many par- ticulars, a strong resemblance to that of a set of enthusiasts, who, more than a century ago, were numerous in some parts of France. These are what were called French Prophets. And that the reader may the more easily understand the resemblance and the origin of both denominations, a con- cise account of these Prophets is here inserted. They first appeared in Dauphiny and Vivarias. In the year 16S8, five or six hundred Protestants, of both sexes, gave themselves out to be prophets and inspired of the Holy Ghost. They soon became so numerous, that several thousand of them were inspired. They were people of all ages and sexes without distinction, though the greater part of them were boys and girls from six or seven, to five-and- twenty years of age. They had strange fits, which came upon them with tremblings and faintings as in a swoon, which made them stretch out their arms and legs, and stag- ger several times before they dropped down. They struck themselves with their hands, fell on their backs, shut their eyes, and heaved with their breasts. They remained awhile 10 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT in trances, and coming out of them with twitchings, uttered all wliich came into their minds. They said that they saw the heavens open, the angels, paradise, and all. Those who were just on tlie point of receiving the spirit of pro- phecy, dropped down, not only in the assemblies, crying out Merry, but in the fields and in their own houses. When the prophets had been for some time under agitations of body, they began to prophesy. The hills resounded with their loud cries for mercy, and imprecations against the priests, the church, &c. Their prophecies were heard with reverence and awe.* About the year 17C6, several of these misguided persons went to Engl;md, and preached and prophesied in and about London, causing so much excitement, that the French refu- gees, disgusted with the conduct of their countrymen, insti- gated the bishop of London to issue proceedings against them. But iiutwiihstnuding they were declared to be im- postors, they still continued their assemblies in some parts of London, under the patronage of several eminent persons, and denounced, in vehement strain, the severest judo ments against the city and the whole nation. t Three of the principal leaders of the Prophets, utterly disregarding all authority, were soon afterwards prosecuted as disturbers of the public peace, and sentenced to fine and public punishment. This, however, served rather to in- crease tha« diminish their numbers, and they held meet- ings about the skirts of the city, where was to be seen the prophet prostrate, sometimes as if expiring, and then sweat- ing, trembling, or raving with foam at his mouth, and ut- * See Buck's Tlieological Dictionary, art. French Prophets. t History furnishes a minute account of t)ie ludicrous pretensions of these Prophets to supernatural gifts ; their attempts to raise the dead, to hold converse with departed spirits, &c. See Dr. Edmund Calamy, Sir Richard Bulkley's Answer to the several Treatises on the subject of the new Prophets ; also, the Exercises of Dr. Strike, the Vindication of the ancient Prophets against the pretensions of the new ones, by Bishop Hoadley, &,c. &c. FROM THE GARDEN OP EDEN. 11 tering unintelligible expressions. There were many virtu- ous and good men, who, attracted by the novelty of their tenets, and looking with superstitious presage for the com- ing of the millennium, attached themselves to the society of the Prophets ; among whom was John Lacy, Esq. (chief of those English Prophets,) who has given a particular de- scription of them until the prophecy of the death and resur- rection of Dr. Eames, who states that " this very article they have made the grand test of the trial to prove their spirit, viz.* that spirit which in plain and express terms, with great pereniptoriness, and in the most absolute man- ner, predicts the coming to pass of any great and remarka- ble event within a certain limited time, and they come not to pass, cannot be of God. This is a criterion God him- self has given us in the Scriptures, to try the spirit of pro- phecy by : see Deut. xviii. 21, 22, ' And if thou say in thy heart. How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is, the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him.' Making this text a rule of judgment by Scripture, it being a text chosen by those Prophets to prove themselves true, I proceed. They, speaking of themselves, state, that this mission of his servants should be witnessed to, by signs and wonders from heaven, by a deluge of judgments on the wicked universally, as famine, pestilence, earthquakes, fire from heaven, darkness, tempests; that the exterminating ■tingels should root out the tares, and there should remain upon the earth only good corn, and these Prophets declare, there is that difference between them and other people, and that the burden and proof of their commission will take place over all the world, in a short space of time; yea, those great things will be manifest over the whole earth, within the short term of three years. And if nothing should * From John Lacy's Warnings. 12 RISE AND PROGRESS OP THE SERPENT appear visible of the predicted diffusions of gifts immedi- ately, they will acknowledge that they are in an error, and their sect will vanish of itself. Nay, John Lacy, Esq., one of the prime of these Prophets in England, finishes the preface of the third and last part of his Warnings with these remarkable words : — ' If within six months now to come, the mighty power of God doth not attest they were from him, I shall before all the world acknowledge my delusion : witness my hand, this 29th of October, 1707. JoH.v Lacv.' " Time soon contradicted those assertions. But the most remarkable failure was in the prediction of the resurrection of Dr. Eames, one of the new Prophets in London, who was taken ill about Dec. 4, 1707, and died Dec. 22, and was buried Dec. 25, in Bunhill Fields, London. As many are unacquainted with the history, and have not access to its details, it may be some gratification to my readers if I pre- sent them with an abstract of tlie prophecies of several of those Prophets, under the immediate inspiration of the spirit, relating to the resurrection of the Doctor's body from the grave. It is as follows : — Dec. 5, 1707, John Lacy, under the operation of the spirit, addressed himself to the Doctor at his own house, in these words : " If I command thy life away, yet I will re- store it again : here, even in this house, thou shalt return to thy dwelling again." Dec. 6, John Potter, under the inspiration of the spirit, speaks to the Doctor,* " If thou diest, I will raise thee ! I will fulfill all those promises made unto thee." Dec. 23, being the day after the Doctor's death, Anna Maria King, in a public assembly, under the operation of the spirit, said, " Here are some doubtful whether all will come to pass, as my servants have spoken, because of one thing ; but do you * I -will here remark that persons can be operated upon by mesmeric influence so as to distract them, or even to take their lives ; but itrequiret Almighty power to raise the dead. PROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 13 think that death can hinder ? for though my servant dies, as I have the power, I vi'ill raise the dead, by the hand of my servants. Perhaps you think my servants were in an error when they spake that; but I tell you they were not. More marvellous things than these shall come to pass in a little time, such as never yet have been." Dec. 25, being the day in which Dr. Eames was buried, J. Potter, under inspiration, delivered himself thus : — " Re* member, this day I will make an extraordinary beginning ; I will give now undeniable proof that this is my word. The restoring of the blind, healing the sick, raising the dead, shall decide it, after some months have elapsed. By the same power that I have raised Jesus, will I raise that body now asleep." Here the prophet fell back in his chair, and cried out, " O Lord ! God answered, What would you that I say unto you ? By another, Lord." Then he fell back- ward to the ground, and lay silent : whereupon Anna Maria King was instantly seized by the spirit, and said, " Rejoice greatly, O my children ! By the hands of my servant Lacy, 1 will raise the body of my servant that is now dead. He, I say, shall arise and fulfil my testimony." Dec. 28, J. Potter was for a long time under violent agi tations, and labored greatly, with great strugglings in his throat ox organs of speech, almost as if he were choking, and uttered some inarticulate sounds or unintelligible words; then said, " Did you understand, my children V The wprds were pronounced, " Even the day in which my ser- vant shall rise." Here the spirit threw him on the floor, where he lay stretched out as dead, without motion or breathing. After he had been in that manner for some time, the voice said, " The operation of my spirit upon his (Dr. Eames') body shall cause the earth over him to be loosened : you shall not break the ground — no, he shall rise without. By thy servant's (Lacy) mouth will I command, and thou shalt raise him." Dec. 28, J. P. and J. C, passmg accidentally by the place 2 14 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT where Dr. Eames was buried, J. C. was seized with the spirit, and said, " Thou my servant, who liest interred in this place, shaJt in a few months arise." Dec. 29, J. C, under the operation of the spirit, in an assembly, spake in French, thus in English, " My children, in a few natural months, you shall see greater miracles than were wrought upon Lazarus. You and the inhabit- ants of this city shall, in a few months, see my faithful ser- vant, (Dr. Eames,) who has been buried, raised in the pre- sence of men. He shall come out of his grave, without the earth being taken away that lies upon him ; he shall come forth in the presence of men, and he shall untie his shroud : it shall be in public." Jan. 1, J. Potter, under the operation of the spirit, in a great assembly, said, " I have that to declare by this mouth, see that it start you not — see that you believe it." Here he fell into a violent agitation, and labored exceedingly in his throat, as if he were choking ; and after having uttered several inarticulate sounds, said, " Know ye the day in which my servant (Dr. Eames) was interred ? Five months from that day, the twenty-fifth day of May, ye shall behold him rise again ; one month above the number of days that Lazarus was in his grave, the very hour he was put in the earth, he shall rise. Know ye the day, my children ? O, yes, well — the twenty-fifth day of May : Right — I say, ye shall see him rise, that is now dead. For thy part, (John Potter,) thou shalt not laugh until thou behold him. No, thou shalt not smile. Behold him : if you see any sign of joy on his visage, say then, the words were not the Lord's." Then John Potter, under inspiration, said to Mr. Lacy, " Fear not, my child ; I say, tliou shalt appear on the 25th day of May next, on that ground where my servant (Dr. Eames) lieth. Wait thou there with others of my children, from twelve at noon till six in the evening. 1 will surround you. Angelic hosts shall guard thee with thy companions; provide no clothing for my servant, for he shall rise pure. FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 15 Therefore no shame shall attend him ; neither shall it be esteemed indecency for him to walk naked into his habita- tion. Remember the day ; the time, observe it — from twelve to six. In that, ray glory shall appear. Know, the power of the devil never extended so far as to raise the dead." What more direct, express prophecy than this, of Dr. Eames' resurrection ? nor was it uttered by one of their prophets only, but by several ; not by innuendo, but in the fullest and most peremptory words. The circumstances are delivered, the time, the manner, the persons by whom, &c. Wherein therefore could there have been a greater instance of delusion than the total failure of this prediction ? This miracle of the Doctor's resurrection they published beforehand to the world, as the test of the truth of their pretences to divine inspiration. To this purpose are the words of Sir Richard Berkley, in his answer to several treatises on the subject of the Prophets, pages 27 and 28. He i:^ave this idea of a decisive prediction of the spirit of the Prophets :— " It is a thing well known, th it these pro- phecies of the Doctor's resurrection, delivered so often, and with such great particularity, and under the- agitations and inspiration of the spirit, made a very considerable noise in the nation ; nay, such was the alarm of this predicted mir- acle on the appointed day of its being wrought, the 25th of r\Iay, 1708, that the queen's guard, to prevent disorders, \''as posted in Bunhill Fields, where were assembled together no less than twenty thousand people, from different principles, no doubt, but multitudes in expectation of seeing the Doctor rise from the grave. But there he still lies, and will do so, till the voice of the archangel shall at the last day awake the dead, and summon them to judgment." He further states, " There are persons now living in New England, who appeared with the multitude at Bunhill Fields, on that noted 2.5th day of May, who can testify that nothing re- markable then happened, but such a woful disappointment to those Prophets as at once brought them into disgrace, 16 RISE AND PROGRESS OP THE SERPENT and gave such a check to their spirit, that there has been little or no appearance of it since." It appears by the History of the French Prophets, that many years after their fall, a few people arose in England, having a fascinating, seducing power. They were called a new sort of Q,uaker.s, or Shaking Quakers, who not onJy .^ung but danced for worship. See Dr. C. Mather in his Magnalia Christi Americana. They separated man and wife; called themselves Christ ; and called all devils that any way opposed them ; said their own parents were devils. In some of their ecstasies they would burn their clothes ; men and women strip naked and dance together. Speak- ing of Thomas Case, that author says, " It is well known that some of those whom this villain had led captive at his will, were so much under his influence, that if upon their coming where he was, he fastened his eye upon them,* they would presently tremble, stagger, fall and foam like epileptic persons, and roll about upon the ground, until they had rolled themselves to his feet — where he did to them as he pleased. I am well acquainted with a very devout gentleman, who assured me that he himself was thus epi- leptical, as often as this Elyinas would please, with his fasci- nating eye, to make him so ; but he was never affected in any such way before or after, or on any other or; -ision." This person, it was stated, attempted to raise the dead, but failed in his attempt. The author of the History of the French Prophets states that " Neither has New England been without instances of this same spirit of delusion ;" and from this germ we may trace the people called Shakers. * Was not this magnetism, Shakerism, or devilism? FROM THE GARnF.N OF EDEN. CHAPTER II. RISE AND PROGRESS OF SIIAKERISM. The Shakers, in their Bible, say that *' A kw of those French Prophets came to England about the year 1706, and numbers received their sjm-it." James and Jane Ward- let/ * about the year 1747, " received the spirit of the French Propliets, and continued for some time distinct from any religious fellowship with others. A few joined them yearly, and things continued thus until about the year 1770, when, in the extraordinary language of the Shakers, the "present testimony of salvation and eternal life was fully opened, according to the special gift and revelation of Ann Lee '" What this " testimony" was, and what was the character of the " special gift," will appear in the sequel. Ann Lcf^ in whose person the Shakers believe Christ to have made his second appearance, was born about the year 1736, in Manchester, (England,) where she was brought up. Her father, John Lee, was a blacksmith. She mar- ried Abraham Standley, also a blacksmith, by whom she had four children. Her husband beinor unkind and'criven to ebriety, she resolved to have no more intercourse with him, and accordingly joined the society of Wardley, in 1758. t In 1770, she professed to have received the " mani- festation," as the Shakers call it, of her being " the second heir in the covenant of life," that is, the second Christ ! She then commenced her declamations against marriage and all sexual intercourse. ! It appears from the Shakers' publication, that Ann Standley did not forsake her husband and call herself Ann Lee, from any religious motive ; and it is plain from good testimony that she made this the pretence to cover her own * The Wardlcys, by receiving their magic influence, were disowned by Friend Quakers, and were called a new sort of Quakers, or Shaking Qua- kers. See Cotton Mather's Magnalia, &c. ^ t The above dates are taken from Shaker publications. 2* 18 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT miscarriages. After she came to America, she made it her grand scheme to bre ik up ianiilies, in order to plunder their property. Ann Lee's great pretended prop' etic lights were dissolving mirriage and confessing sins, which she learned from the Catholics, in whose doctrines she was brought up. On these two selfish circumstance? the Sha- ker principle originated — not from any holy motive to glo- rify God, or to do go (1 to our fellow-man. It was a selfish deception, which run into abominable delusion and cruelty. The Shakers are rich and well able to treat people in a way to attract ; but as to their religion, they are certainly deceived — the spirit of Jesus is not in them. When Ann took the lead, she took the popedom on herself, declared she was greater than the pope ; and when she began in America, (as we were Protestants,) she declared that she was greater than Jesus; that he came to suffer and die, but she should never die : that she had passed through death and hell, and was now in the resurrection. See various testi- monies. Previous to this declaration of Mother Ann, as she was now styled, the Shakers held to marriage, and, as they had no dealings with the rest of the world, performed the ceremony of declaring in their assemblies such and such a one to be man and wife, after the manner of the primitive Quakers. After Ann was acknowledged to be the Shaker mother, or leader, the ceremonies of their worship were singing, dancing, shaking, and shouting, speaking with new tongues, prophesying, &c. See S/mkcrs' Testimony, pnge 28. Ann professed to have the gift of languages, the gift of healing, and power to discern the secrets of the heart, and to be actuated solely by the invincible power of God, and that she had attained to a state of sinless perfection. She pre- tended to have had immediate revelations from God, and to be the one spoken of in the twelfth chapter of Revelations. Her testimony, however, had no other effect, besides a pal- try accession of numbers, than to procure for her imprison- FROM THE GAUDEN OP EDfiN. 19 ment. The Shakers' statement says, " She was confined in a dungeon, and afterwards in a mad-house, [to starve or reform.] She was several weeks without any sustenance, except what was conveyed to her through the key-hole of the prison door." The Shakers made a bowl, put a stem to it, placed it through the key-hole, where Ann sucked through egg-nog and milk punch, and was thus supported for weeks"" The Shakers, in their statement, make a great display of this circumstance ; they pretend that she was in agony for holiness of heart. They say, " She con- tinued in watching and fasting, [not having food,] and in tears and cries for deliverance [from the prison.] By such sufferings her flesh wasted away, and she became like a skeleton, wholly incapable of helping herself, was fed and nourished like an infant [through the key-hole.] They further state that her agony was so great, the blood oozed through the pores of her skin. The fact was, she had been punished by being whipped until the blood ran. The Shakers in this show their true character ; setting darkness for light, they do not state truth. ■ In England, Ann supported herself at the expense of her character, and was banished, as can be seen by the follow- incr. Of the character and conduct of this sect while it existed in England, Col. Smith, an English gentleman, resi- dent in Manchester, and intimately acquainted with them, made, about fifty years ago, the following statement :— " This peculiar sect, if they belong to any known reli- gious denomination, are a species of the Roman Catholic. Like the papal church, they have their popes, their extra- ordinary saints, their auricular confessions, absolutions, exorcisms, and purgatories; like them, the decrees of their church are binding on the consciences of men ; their elders have power to forgive sins ; and like the papal church they forbid to marry, pretend to miraculous gifts, and hold to invocations of departed saints. The Shakers are sensible of their likeness to the Roman church, and say the papal 20 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT is the only true churcli on earth established on the gospel plan ; but that its spirit was lost, and hath revived in the Shakers — hence that they are now the only true church on earth." Of Ann Lee particularly he thus speaks : — " The first founder of this sect was one Ann Lee. She lived in the town of Manchester, England; was of low parentage, and procured her living at the expense of her character. She had the name of being a woman of ill fame in England. She assumed the name of Elect Lady ; but was more par- ticularly known by the name of Mother. She divulged her extraordinary pretensions first to a few of her intimates. About the year 1770, she set up her religious exercises. Her performances and rites were so gymnastic and subver- sive of the peace of families, and her spirit so intolerant, censorious and impudent, that the sect was deemed a pub- lic nuisance, and was suppressed by the civil authority. In the year 1773 or '4, this elect Lady, with five of her prin- cipal followers, with females, took shipping for America. The remains of this sect who were left in England soon lost their spirit after this elopement of their Mother." " Discouraging circumstances now induced Ann to cross the Atlantic ; she and some of her associates took passage at Liverpool, May, 1774, and landed in America in August following. The sect in England was immediately broken up, and Wardley and his wife [first leaders of Shaker- ism] died in an alms-house." Thus say the Shakers. After the Shakers came to America, they were, for a number of years, scattered for a living.* About the year 1774, they were in the vicinity of Concord, and the follow- ing affidavits of Sarah Bean, Samuel Farrington, Stephen Farnam, and others, exhibit their conduct while there. Other testimony to the same facts, by Mrs. Abigail Flood, and others, is omitted. * Shakers' Bible, page 30. FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 21 Affidavit of Sarah Bean. I, S\RAH Bean, of Hanover, x\. H., of lawful age, testify and say, that between forty-five and fifty years since, I lived in Hop- kinton, N. H., when there came along two men and two women, strangers : one of tlie women was called Ann Lee— stature short, thick set— came to my fatlier's house— proposed to tell my for- tune. Beino- young, and seeing in her countenance something that struck me with a degree of terror and awe, I refused, by sayincr mv fortune would come as fast as I was able to receive it. Theylill then went across the road to my aunt Eastman's, wife to William Eastman. There I hoard this Ann Lee tell my aunt's fortune, both what had been past, and what was to come. After she told what was past, my aunt said it was correct ; wlien she told what Was to come, it struck my aunt with a degree of terror. My aunt gave four pounds of pork to her fortune-teller. I under- stood afterwards that she made her rendezvous at Concord, N. H., for some time, and made difficulty in Concord, and duped one man, and involved him so that he was obliged to sell ti's Jarm. SARAH BEAN. Grafton, ss. Sworn before me, March 16, 1819. SILAS TENNEY Justice I eace. Affidavit of Samuel Farrington. I Samurl Farrington, of Hopkinton, N. H., do state, that I was formerly a resident of Concord ; and when a young man, I saw in that place a number of people who seemed to bo foreign- ers. They came there in 1774. I lived in the street when they came to our house to tell fortunes— there were two men and two women, who proved to be dissolute characters. The conductors were Ann and William Lee, who she said was her brother. They went to West Parish, in Concord, where they made a tarry of some months. Soon after they were established there, Ann left town, and it was said she went to the sea-ports. When she returned, she had a pack on her back. It was a day of general muster when she returned in this manner to town, and the report was that she had been among sailors— her appearance attracted the attention of the people. When the men gatliered around her, she was very talkative and flippant among them. She was a stout, thick-set woman. After the return of Ann, the attention of the people was drawn to the West Parish, to those strangers. The report was, they practised singing, fiddling, dancing, and whirlincT, telling fortunes, playing cards, drunkenness, with other conduct too bad to write. Ann professed to have knowledge of past, present, and future events. She seemed to enchant some of the people. Numbers suffered loss by her. But the more particular were, Samuel Farnam, Zephaniah Pattee, and Pompey, black man, belonging to Squire Bradley, of Concord ; said a a 22 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPEiXT Bradley was a relation and neighbor of mine. She made Far- nam and Pattee believe they had hid treasures, which she could assist them to find, if they would first grant her demands ; otlierwise she would not. By this intrigue, she caused tliose men such expense as to compel them both to sell their farms in conse- quence of poverty. Tliey searclied for hid treasures, but found none. Pompey had three hundred dollars loaned to Mr. Dimond, which lie called in, and gave to her, and she in return gave him such a disorder, that he rotted alive, as his master told me. It was said, she brought this from the sailors, wlien sJie returned from the shipping, and for which she was doctored in Concord. Their conduct was such, the inliabitants were enraged against them. They then took borrowed garments and otlier things, and absconded at night — this was in March. Pattee was dissatisfied, and followed them, as he said, to North river, where it crossed at Albany, in hopes of recompense — but got none. I afterwards made inquiry about those foreigners, when I heard they settled a few miles from Albany. Further saith not SAMUEL FARRINGTON. Merrimack, ss. Hopkinton, Jiug. 2, 1824. Solemnly attested before me, NATH. KNOWLTON, Jiist. Peace. I, Miriam Farrington, wife of the above-named Samuel Far- rington, do state, tliat the above-written testimony is tiue. MIRIAM FARRIiNGTON. The above-named Samuel Farrington and his wife Miriam are worthy members of the Congregational church in Hopkinton, N.H. N. KNOWLTON. AfiSdavit of Stephen Farnam and M'ife. We, the undersigned, do testify that between foi t3'^-seven and forty-eight years ago, a number of people, four or five, strangers and outlandish, came to Concord, N. H., and tarried a number of months. The names of those wlio appeared to be tlie head ones, were Ann Lee and William Lee. Their singularity caused many people to call and see them. Ann was short, and thick set; she wore a strap cap, and a large flat straw hat. William Lee was stout built, and of a sandy complexion. They proved tliem- selves to be a people of the most vulgar sort ; they lived near us, we often saw them, and were acquainted with much of tlieir con- duct. They pretended in telling fortunes — also, where stolen or lost goods were. They used ardent spirits to excess, frequented Samuel Farnam's house, a near neighbor, and at times staid all night ; the family united with them in drinking, and the report ftom the family was, that Ann Lee lodged witli Farnam, and William Lee with Farnam's wife. Their conduct left with Far- FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 23 nam and wife a dirty complaint. From many circumstances, it is an undeniable fact, that those strangers were afflicted with, and doctored while here, for the venereal disease. Those foreigners appeared destitute of furniture — their lodging was boards nailed together for a large stead, on which lay straw, with their wearing clotlies ; this was said to be the lodging for all of them. They practised singing, dancing, gambling with cards, gaming and lounginff about Ann told Samuel Farnam he had a pot of money hid under ground, and if he would give her and William each a suit of good clotlies, she would tell where tlie money was. Far- nam believed it, and got the clothes for them. Ann then pretend- ed to tell where the money was. Famam with others went to digging for tlie money, but found none. Ann found the inhabit- ants rouseu against tliem, borrowed some outside garments, pre- tending to go to a neiglibor's, and that night fled. They were followed towards the state of New York in hopes of recompense, but none was obtained. STEPHEN FARNAM. T, Martha Farnam, wife to the above, testify that the above- named persons were here, and that the foregoing is a true state- ment of tlieir character. MARTHA FARNAM. Sworn to also by Henry Martin, Esther Martin, Joseph Farnam, Ruth Farnam. State of JVeic Hampshire, } ROCKINGHAM, SS. $ Attested before me, ISAAC DOW, Concord, December 10, 1821. Justice Peace I hereby certify that the above-named persons are people of respectability and truth. ISAAC DOW. The Shakers state that Ann went from Albany in 1776, and fixed her residence at Niskeyuna, now Watervliet. But what says Gen. Lafayette? Mark the following : — In the summer of 182-5, when Lafayette was escorted from Alba- ny to New Lebanon, when the escort got to a road that led to the Shakers in that town, the escort stopped, and told Lafayette that the Shakers wished him to come to their vil- lage. He asked who the Shakers were, and was told " they were the followers of Ann Lee." " I shan't go," said Lafayette. " I knew their conduct in the time of the Re- volution. She was about our camps ; she was a vile wo- man, and they were troublesome tories." The following statement confirms that of Gen. Lafayette : — 24 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT Testimony of Asa Cowles. I, Asa Cowls, of New Lebanon, N. Y., do state, that in the time of the Revolution, I was a soldier, and I have seen Ann Lee at the camps amono; the soldiers ; and at mid-day she once dared the drum-major to beastly conduct, for which she was drummed out of our camps, and the drum-major, for accepting her chal- lenge, was displaced from his office. I further state, that after the Shakers were settled at Watenliet, Ann was a fortune teller, and many of my acquaintance went to see her for that purpose. I have seen her since slie preached Shakerism, and her conduct and drunkenness were shameful. This by me, ASA COWLES. J\av Lebanon, J^. Y., June 21, 1825. Mr. Cowles is aged ; but his abilities and piety are such, that he is a class-leader in the Methodist connection. CHAPTER III. THE RISE OF THE SHAKERS IN NEW LEBANON, N. T. " In 1779, the Shakers began to preach their peculiar doctrines. Ann and her " elders," so called, proclaimed around, that they had the power of full salvation from sin ; that she was the second appearing of Christ, to receive the confession of sin, and give eternal life. Their enchanting spirit revived; multitudes resorted to them, and they be- came a curious spectacle to the world. Ann Lee's person was so far from charming, that she was deemed ugly. She was wholly destitute of letters ; her character was lewd, her conversation vulgar, her language profane. She lived a most intemperate life ; her behavior was most outrage- ous and provoking in her scenes of intoxication ; yet with all this group of evils, this woman became the mighty power of God to the minds of this deluded people. The pretensions of Ann Lee, this bold impostor, were, that she was as really the Savior as Jesus of Nazareth was; that the divine nature as much dwelt in her, as it did in him. FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 25 and as the second coming of Christ was to he more glo- rious than the first, she was seven times more glorious than Jesus. " There was, at this time, a remarkable awakenincr in New Lebanon, N. Y. One Talmadge Bishop was a subject of this revival. He being at Niskeyuna at this crisis of reli- gion, became acquainted with Ann Lee ; and, like a sheaf fully dry, he immediately kindled into a flame ; filled with a zeal of this fanaticism,* he bore the tidings of a full sal- vation from sin, to his Christian friends. The effect was surprising. The road from thence was instantly crowded with those deluded people, in quest of more fatal delusion. Ann claimed power to minister the spirit to whom she pleased ; declared she had power to judge the world, and that she was now daily judging the dead of all nations, who were coming in vast crouds for that all-important purpose. She pretended to know the minds of men : those who visit- ed her were treated with the greatest degree of hospitality. She would walk around them, smile on them, lay her hand upon their hearts ; then take their hands, and press upon her own bosom ; she would stroke their heads, arms, bodies, dz-c, all the time singing and chanting forth a strano-e, be- witching sort of incantation, until the person was wrought into a perfect maze.t Their whole souls were borne away by its bewitching energy ; they were now called to a con- fession of their sins ; their confession was in public, and every sin of heart and life, though ever so abasing, must be disclosed, as in the presence of their eternal Judge ! — and they were taught that their salvation depended on a faithful discharge of this all-important duty. Here was an exhibition really humiliating to every sober mind, thus to behold multitudes of deluded mortals at once disgorgino- every abomination they had ever practised in their lives. Being thus metamorphosed, they might as well be Shakers, • Magic influence. t Is not this Antichrist, or the Serpent? 3 26 RISE AND PROGRESS OP THE SERPENT as not ; and indeed they were ashamed to appear in any other society. " The Shakers say, that they are in the first resurrection, and in the present state, holy as the angels of God, and death could have no power of dominion over them ; that the Scriptures are of no use, and that they are to be guided wholly by the immediate influence of their teachers ; that many things, firrbidden to man in his carnal state, are alloicahk and innocent to the sjiiritually minded, for to the pure all things are pure. They said, sin made people ashamed, and to show their innocence they did conduct after every vulgar manner. This was done by the orders of the Mother and elders. They say the interdicted tree in the garden of Eden was Eve, the mother of mankind ; that all ties and obligations, both conjugal and filial, are of the flesh, the works of the devil, and are to be dissolved; that all common sense and conscience belong to carnal reason, and not to be attended to as our guide, but to be directed wholly by our leaders. The husband and father must give up their wife and children to the elders, and must hate them. They believe there is a probationary state, or purgatory, out of which sinners may be released by the intercession of the Mother ; that becoming a Shaker is regeneration ; that being born again is a progressive work, affected by their own work, or doings in extreme labor, or dancing, or chastisements for mortification, such as lying across chairs, on beds of cobs, split wood, and other conduct too indecent to name. The Shakers profess to be under the immediate influence and guidance of the unerring spirit of God, and confidently affirm that every scheme they adopt is the unalterable truth of Heaven. Yet they will very soon be found in a quite different and contradictory belief and practice, " as circumstances require." Reason would dictate that such inconsistencies could not fail to confound them : yet it appears to give them no uneasiness at all. They have one sovereign salvo, which is, those things which FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 27 were adopted, were proper for us then ; but we have ad- vanced beyond them now, and the things God directs us to now, will be laid aside in future. Armed with such a sword of the spirit as this, they cannot fail of victory. By this they cover themselves, and here the dispute must end ; for the great bulwark of Shakerism is the mighty influence they have in making their subjects believe that it is the word of God and his will, which the leaders teach."* The Shakers were so abusive among the inhabitants, that they were arrested by the authority. Ann Lee, with her principal disciples, were cast into prison at Albany.f One of the elders, who had abused a man in the street, was fined one hundred dollars. This is fully sustained by the follov.-- ing testimony : — Affidavit of Capt, Asa Pattee.t I, Asa Pattee, of Warner, N. H., testify and say, that for a number of years myself and family belonged to the people called Shakers. As I -ivas a flither confessor^ among them, and was much with the head ones, and have an intnnate knowledge of their character, I feel it an imperious duty to expose them to the world. When I joined the Shakers, I possessed twelve hundred acres of land in Enfield, on which was a good farm. As I was the most wealthy among them, I was much called upon for ex- pense money — and for spirituous liquors it was great. It v/as customary among the elders to drink to excess. The reason they alleged for it was, that it assisted them in bearing the burdens of others, in overcoming fallen nature, and subduing evil propensi- ties. I have seen the Mother (Ann Lee) and the elders drink to * Taken from a religious Magazine. t At this time, Friend Quakers used their influence in favoring the Shakers, — believing them honest. But since the Shakers published their Bible or creed, the Friends condemn them in strong terms. See a brief publication by a Friend Quaker, printed at Pouglikeepsie, N. Y. 1822 — addressed to Ebenezer Bishop, Calvin Green, Richard Bushnell (Shaker leaders) entitled, A brief Exposition of the Fanaticism, false Doctrine and Absurdities of the people called Shakers, contained in their own creed, as published by themselves, &c. X Some parts of this testimony are omitted, being unfit for publication. The original is in my possession. ^ The father con/es-sors are not only those to whom confeEsion of sins is made, but such as forgive sins, among Shakers. 28 RISE AND PROGUESS Or THE SERPENT great excess; and have myself, in obedience to the gift, drank to intoxication. I was dissatisfied, and told them, " You make me drink too much." They said, " The liquor does not make you drunk ; if you have faith, rum will not intoxicate you." Elder Chauncey said, if I should see one of the elders drink a quart of rum at a time, and fall down and vomit, I should not say rum made him drunk. When they drank so as to vomit badly, they would call it suffering for the shis of others. I have seen Mother, at Niskeyuna, in tlie state of New York, in times of her intoxica- tion, come into a room where many were gathered for a meeting, and were, by her own orders, stripped naked. I have seen her slap the men, rub her hands on all parts of their bodies, «fcc. All the time she would be humming, and making- an enchantino- noise.* We scarcely knew what we did. This was the woman whom we considered mediator between God and man. Once in a meeting in Petersham, Mass., the Mother came in, leading with her a na- ked man, whom she committed to another, named Aaron Wood, saying, "This man must go through the mill." Aaron was stout: he whirled him round, threw him on the floor, hauled him round by the hair of his head, calling out, " You bestial devil !" which caused the man to groan bitterly, and he appeared almost dead. After other indecent conduct, Mother told the women to dog him off, who clapped their hands, and cried out, Stu-boy ! stu-boy I The man crawled away as well as he could. His own wife looked on and saw the whole ceremony. Hannah Kendall (since Mother of Harvard and Shirley societies) took tJie lead in driving off the man. The next evening, some of the inhabitants came to mob the Shakers. The Motlier sent Aaron to drive tlie mob off; but it was too hard for him, and he was wounded. As soon as tlie Mother heard of it, she ran down stairs, put her fist in the face of the man, saying, " The churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and tlie wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood — and I will wring your nose for you." Her violence drove back the mob. A man named Shepard, constantly attended on Mother. This man, Elder Whittakcr said, was born a eunuch, had no sinful nature and therefore we could not be suspicious. Shepard afterwards left the Shakers, and became the father of several children. While I was with the Shakers, Elder Cooley (tlie head elder of the Enfield and Canterbury Societies in New Hampshire) together with several others, went to tlie church to receive orders from tlie Mother at Niskeyuna. Among other things, I heard Elder Cooley directed to see to it tliat ardent spirits were used freely, as it would assist in overcoming fallen nature. These orders, when carried into practice in Enfield and Canterbury, created disaffec- tion, and caused many to leave the Society. When Ann heard of it, she sent another elder, with orders to declare that Elder * Ardent spirits strengthened them in animal magnetism. FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 29 Cooley had taught heresy — that the practice of drinking ardent spirits must be entirely discontinued. It was common among the -^ Shakers to lie whole nights on chairs and beds of cobs, to mortify fallen nature ; and to whip themselves in a ridiculous manner, for the same purpose. Every thing was done by a gift from the Sha- ker god. I once saw Elder Cooley undertake to punish a man and woman in hell twenty-four hours. They screamed and wept all the time, apparently in the greatest anguish. After the expi- ration of the time, Elder Cooley came into the room wliere they - were, stamped on the floor, and in a grum voice bade them " live, I have found a ransom for you." Those wjio, a moment before, appeared in the keenest distress, now leaped for joy, and blessed Elder Cooley for his great mercy. The more I was promoted and had opportunity to become acquainted with the abominable prac- tices of the elders, the weaker my faith grew. One time, when at Niskeyuna, a circumstance occurred which completely opened my eyes. One of the elders, for abusing a man in Uie street, was confined in Albany jail, under one hundred dollar bonds. Mother wished me to advance tlie money for his release. I told her I expected some money on my return to Enfield — if I should not be disappointed, I would send it to her. I found myself unable to procure it, and sent her word, on my return, by James Jewett. The answer which I received from her was, " I always knew he was a little damn'd lying hypocrite." Do these words, thought I, proceed from tlie spirit of truth ! Does Christ, at his second appearing, use such language I My son, Asa Pattee, (now dead) informed me that while a man grown, he was at Niskeyuna. The Mother, Ann Leo, ordered the men, women and children to strip themselves naked, and go into a pond near the church, and wash. When in the water together. Elder Harlow and others guided the women by the hair of their heads, as you would hold a horse's head in riding through a river, saying. Sin makes people ashamed, this must be subdued. Ann Lee said she was the second appear- ing of Christ— that sinners could be saved only by her interces sion, as mediator between God and man — that she was constantly judging the spirits of the dead— that herself and followers were perfect as the angels in heaven — were in the resurrection, and should die no more— that ^.he Scriptures are a back dispensation— that Shakers only are in the new dispensation— that regeneration is a progressive work, effected by painful manual labor and pen- ance — that reason and conscience must be given up, and con- demned as carnal reason— that the forbidden tree was Eve ; but that amorous indulgence to the spiritually minded is innocent, be- cause to the pure all things are pure. They also hold, that every obligation, whether conjugal or filial, must be dissolved. I my- self "have heard Ann Lee say, " That she had seen Dr. Watts and Mr. Whitefield in purgatory, doing penance for their sins— and that tliey would soon be released." While I was with the 3* 30 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT Shakers, all intercourse between tlie lower order was strictly for- bidden. There was no unbosoming of troubles to one another ; nor dare any one give information to another of what had been taught them by an elder. All were positively forbid upon any occasion to speak against tliat way. I rejoice at an opportunity of giving my testimony to Mrs. Dyer — and as I have been provi- dentially so situated, as to become thoroughly acquainted witli what I once blindly considered the only way of God, I think it ought to have at least some weight in the public mind. JVarner, Oct. V2, 1818. ASA PATTEE. Hillsborough, ss. Sworn before me, BENJ. EVANS, Justice Peace. The following affidavit is given by a son of Capt. Asa Pattee : — I, Daniel Pattee, of Canaan, County of Grafton, State of New- Hampshire, do testify, that when I was nineteen years of age, I joined (with my father's family) a society of Shakers in Enfield, N. H. — continued witli them about two years, wlien I went to tlie State of New York, to visit the Elect Lady and tlie elders of the church. They assembled at tlieir liouse of worship, in which were about fifty persons ; there I saw Ann Lee locked in the arm of a naked man ; they placed tliemselves in the centre of the company. One man asked Ann Lee if he might strip oft' his clothes — answer, " Yes, you may all strip," and likewise all of the men stripped oft" their clotiies, and continued in tliat situation dancing and carousing for the space of three or four hours. I further state, this and other conduct ca\ised me to leave tliem, as tliis was the conduct of the church and leaders of tlie society. Canaan, May 27, 1818. DANIEL PATTEK Grafton, ss. Attested before me, JESSE J. FOGG, Justice Peace. The above-named Daniel Pattee is selectman, and major of tlie militia in town. The Shakers state, that in May, 1781, the Mother and her elders visited the various places where the people had received their testimony. They first stopped at New Leba- non, N. Y. This is shown by the following : — jYew Lebanon, M Y., March 22, 1826. I William Lee, of lawful age, do testify, that 1 was a resident in tliis town when the Shakers came first into tbis place — which was about tlie year 1781 — at this time there was continual con- fusion among the inhabitants, by the Shakers' conduct The authority thought it expedient to interfere — accordingly turned FROM THE GARDEN OP EDEN. 31 out and went — myself and others with an officer, went in pursuit of Ann Lee, the leader of the sect When we came to the house where she was, which was Georgfe Darrow's, it was with difficulty that we entered the room, being strongly guarded by tJie Shakers. When we entered tlie room, it was much besmeared with filth — which appeared to be in consequence of liquor, whicJi Ann Lee had drank, as she appeared drunken. As we were conveying her to Esq. Eleazer Grant's, for examination, her conduct was unbecoming any human being — immodest as a beast. She ex- pressed a wish to obey a call of nature, the wagon was stopped, she stepping one foot on the wheel, the driver reached up his hand to help her out, cum minxit ilia super faciem ejus, saying, I baptize you for your sins. After we arrived there, I, with many others, took her into a chamber of Esq. Grant's, where she drank spirit- ous liquor until her conduct was horrid, licentious and lecherous. She hugged and kissed the men, and to prove what sort of a character the Shakers' Savior was, we gave up to her obscenity, until we proved her to have no shame, and was ready to subject herself as a common prostitute. After this was known, she was condemned without jury, as "« worthless ivretch." The court ordered us to carry lier off, and if slie came back again, she should suffer for her conduct. I, with others, conveyed her out of town. Further the deponent saith not. WILLIAM LEK Canaan, Q2d day of March, 1826. The above is sworn to before me, JOSEPH LORD, Justice Peace. I, Joseph Law, of Canaan, County of Columbia, State of New York, of lawful age, do testify, that I was present at George Darrow's, and assisted in carrying Ann Lee to Esq. Grant's for her examination ; was present witli her and otliers in Esq. Grant's chamber, where her conduct was licentious in the extreme. I also assisted in conveying her away — and can testify, that the above statement of William Lee is just and true.* JOSEPH LAW. Mesl, ASBURY HIBBARD. Canaan, County of Columbia, JV*. Y., March 30, 1826. The above-named Maj. William Lee and Capt Joseph Law have not oidy served their country in public office, but were hon- ored by being chosen, and serving tlirough our Revolutionary war in the life-guard of our brave Washington. Their services * Upon the promise of the Shakers that Ann Lee should not return into that town, further proceedings against her were stayed. ISot long after, ■he died at Niskeyuna. 32 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT are on the files of the war department at Wasliington city. May the fair tree of religious and civil liberty (dearly bought) be cul- tivated, and no root of despotism be suffered to invade its rights, nor the canker-worm of tyranny be permitted to rest in its branch- es, and cause the verdure to fade, and the fruit to wither and be laid waste, to be devoured by tlie enemy. MARY M. DYER. A-cm; Ltbanon, JV. Y., March 31, 182G. Statement of Gideon Martin, Esq. I, Gideon Martin, of Hancock, in the State of Massachu- setts, and in the vicinity of New Lebanon, N. Y., have been ac- quainted witli the people called Shakers from their first coming to this place in 1781 until now. At that time their spirit and con- duct was outrageous ; those foreigners' language was vulgar and profane. I was at that time a professor of religion, was willing to live any way to be the best accepted of God. I fretjuented their meetings until I was convinced that they were deceivers and a corrupt people. They stated that they saw the spirits of tlie dead daily arising and coming to Ann Lee and the leaders to be judged ; and that tliey knew the secrets of men's hearts, and that they, the Shakers, should die no more. They pretended to work miracles, by which they attempted to convince me ; but I saw none performed, and found by substantial evidence their assertions to be false in their pretensions of healing. Their testimony was brought to this place first by some of our people, Talmadge Bish- op and others who went to see Ann Lee. Their statements were strange, but they spoke of a new dispensation beyond the Scrip- tures. I considered and hearkened, until some of these Euro- peans came, whose conduct soon convinced me of the greatest impositions and abuse on the people — and beyond any thing that can be imagined — not only corporeal afflictions — but the destruc- tion of every family where tlie head, or any one parent of a fami- ly joined them. If the father joined them, the chlTdren and property were placed among Shakers. Would it not be a mercy to the public to have an act passed, which should disarm the husband and parent of his authority, when he joins the Shakers, tlie same as a convict in the State prison ? allowing a space of time, after which a bill of divorce shall be granted to the husband or wife, who is not attached. Thus a husband or wife, so convict- ed, may have time to prove their faith, and if they find the decep- tion, and choose to leave tlie Shakers, they can again return to their family and property. In this way the Shakers could not impose upon the rights of men, women, nor children. This by me, GIDEON MARTIN. Hanoock, Mass. June 11th, 1825. FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 33 I hereby certify that I have for many years known Gideon Martin, Esq., the above signer — that for many years he exercised the office of justice of peace, and his reputation for truth and veracity has ever been good. LUTHER WASHBURN, Justice Peace. Pittsfidd, July 23, 1825. In 1826, Esq. Martin felt as though he had not given so full a statement about Ann Lee as he ought to have done, and then gave the following : — I, Gideon Martin, further state that I was present at a court at Esq. Grant's, where Ann Lee was to be tried for drunkenness. She that day drank so much brandy, that she was drunk to puking — she hugged the men, kissed them, and behaved the most obscene possible — when she was drunk to puking, she was placed where she vomited out of the chamber window, in the presence of many people — and when in her drunken state, the judges were called in to see her. They then pronounced her " a worthless wretch," without any further trial, and ordered her to be carried off, and told the Shakers there present, if she was not carried off, she should be punished according to law ; and if she was ever known to come there again, slie should be punished. She was carried off — and never came tliere again to my knowledge. Many left, tlie Shakers at this time. I further state that I think she was as bad a character as ever stept on American shore. ' This by me, GIDEON MARTIN. The following statement was handed forward by Mr. Chapin, saying, " I wrote this with my own hand." I, David Chapin, of Richmond, Mass., live near the Shakers in Hancock, and have had personal acquaintance with them from 1780, when they first came to this place, until now. Their con- duct in their first days was more vile than I ever thought human beings susceptible of, more particularly so, while Ann Lee and the European elders, so called, lived. There were many of my wife's relations (named Cooke) who were deluded by them, which caused the most severe afihctions. My wife's mother joined them, and by tlieir infatuation (or magic influence) she would whirl for the space of half an hour at a time ; then would mutter something which they called unknown tongues. A number of their children joined them. Their testimony was, that Christ had made his second appear- ance in Ann Lee, tliat tlie millennial day was come, and that none could be saved only such as confessed their sins to Ann or ber elders, and be in perfect obedience to them. They asserted that Shakers would die no more, and that the world's people would 84 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT be swept away in their sins, in a short time. This and their strange power which was manifest, and the destruction of our family, caused my wife's father such astonishment, that he went distracted, and died in a short time. One of my wife's brothers was also made crazy among them ; — and I, with my son, went to take him away. The Shakers seized my son, and pretending love, tlirew him on tlie bed. Two hugged him, until he hallooed for help — I beat them off. It appeared tliey intended his death, by squeezing him breatliless. Their conduct was such, people feared them as they did an enemy. Ann Lee and her elders made much use of spirituous liquors. I have seen them at various times worse for liquor, as I thought, and sometimes Ann was so drunk, as to vomit When this was the case, tlie elders would say. We must not believe our eyes nor ears — the mind in us, which was judging them, was tlie carnal mind ; and when the rum-bottle was by her, and she puking, the room strong with rum, the Shakers would say. She is puking up the sins of tlie people ; — and tliough this was manifest to all, still, many were subjected to believe in their pretensions. It has been their practice, from tlieir first days, for tliose who joined them, to give up their families and property. Some hold tliem for a time, but are considered in a back order until all is given to the Shakers. If those afterwards leave them, tliey go away destitute. After a number of years, the Shakers became more regular, and their appearance has become ratlier attracting. Ann Lee's person was shortish, thick-set, of an inflamed coun- tenance. William Lee was a etout-framed man, of a sandy com- plexion. This by me, DAVID CHAPIN Richmond, Mass. June 20, 1825. Statement of Samuel Jones, Esq. For the benefit of the rising generation, I, the undersigned, make the following statement, viz : that I have lived near, and have been acquainted witli tlie people called Shakers in tlie town of New Lebanon, N. Y., from their first rise. It commenced shortly after the New-light meetings were set up here. Ann Lee and her confederates at tliat time resided near Albany, N. Y., and hearing of those New-lights, some of their company took advan- tage of their minds, and quickly led them into their mystery of iniquity, and their increase for some time was very rapid. The consequence was, the destruction of many families. The ties of affection between husbands and wives, parents and children, must be dissolved, according to their creed, and, so far as their baneful influence extended, it was so. After some time Ann Lee came, and the most disorderly con- duct ensued, both by night and day, until they became such a nuisance, it was thought expedient to remove Ann Lee out of the FROM THE GARDEN OP EDEN. 35 place by public authority, — as she was considered the promoter of those disorders whicii tlien prevailed. I was present and aided in carrying her away. Her conduct was disgusting in the highest degree. Slie was drunk even to puking, her language profane and indecent — she was sent off with orders never to return, and she never visited this place again to my knowledge. The veil being rent off from this old deceiver, many of the Shakers soon left them, declaring the doings of that day had opened tlieir eyes. They had thougiit Ann more than human, and whoever would offer her violence would be struck dead ; — 'but they saw to the contrary. When I was justice of tlie peace some years after, many depositions were made before mc, by those who left them, showing their conduct to be cruel to their people under them, and vile and licentious among their leaders. I have lately seen a new publication by Mrs. Dyer, (The Portraiture of Shakerism,) and view the statements therein as agreeable to those made before me, and I think accords with what I have generally known of the people. In the time of the revo- lution, I commanded a company, and those Europeans were trou- blesome tories. SAMUEL JONES. JVew Lebanon, JV. K, May 30, 1825. The following testimony is from William Spiers, Esq. It being lengthy, I have abridged it somewhat : — I, William Spiers, do certify that I have been acquainted with the people called Shakers, ever since the year 1760. My mind was much affected with their doctrine, as I at that time felt in great anxiety after the pure religion of Jesus Christ. About the year 1781, I with my wife went to see them at a place called Niskeyuna, near Albany, N. Y. We both joined them. They appeared fair. It soon appeared they did not believe the Scriptures, which filled me with doubts concerning them, causing me to examine more particularly. I found their morals not good, as they would use hypocrisy and deceit to accomplish their wishes. I have seen tlie Mother here at New Lebanon, when her conduct was such, I was sure she was intoxi- cated. At Niskeyuna, while I was in bed at their own dwelling, and the Mother in a chamber over me, I was informed she was in great suffering* for the people. I lay awake, and heard some person vomit sundry times, in the course of the night- -which I supposed to be the Mother. I was filled with doubts. After this I witli my wife, went to see the Shakers once more. Soon after arriving there, tlicy inquired how I had prospered in that religion. I told them frankly, that I had no ftiith in them, but feared they were the people spoken of in the Bible, that " would come with power, signs and lying wonders." This I said in the hearing of • This WIS always pretended when she was drunk. 36 RISE AND PROGRESS OP THE SERPENT many. Soon after this, tliey got me into one of their figlits, as they called it, to kill the devil of unbelief in me. They hurt me very much before I got away from them. I then told them plainly what I thought of them, that they were the people set forth in the Scriptures, that should come in the latter day, with power, signs, and lying wonders. We got our horses ready to return home. James Shephard, one of their leaders, came to me and said, " Mother want<;d us to come in and see her before we went away." We went to the chamber where she was. She accused me of bestiality. Then two large girls fell upon me like tigers. There were many persons in tlie room, men and women. They first caught me by the hair of my head, twitched me around vio- lently, next they wrung my nose. They threatened to strip me naked, said they would kill me. They stripped off my coat, pinched me and struck me many times. The Mother said, " The churning of milk maketh butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth blood." Thentliey clinched my nose again. Thus they continued abusing me, alternately pinching, striking, and twitch- ing me around by the hair of my head, and otlierwise too inde- cent to write, until tliey appeared exhausted. In the time, I at- tempted to make my escape, once by the window, and once by the door, but was prevented by them. My wife was present at the time. We afterwards made our escape. I have endeavored to delineate the truth according to the best of my memory. Many may think it strange that I suffered such abuse ; but people cannot realize the situation we were in among the Shakers. I have seen a book entitled " A Portraiture of Shakerism," which I have reason to believe is true. The statement of Daniel Rothbun, therein contained, relates circumstances well known among the people here, in that day. This by me, WILLIAM SPIERS. Canaan, June 7, 1825. This may certify that I am well acquainted with Samuel Jones, Esq., and with William Spiers, Esq., and believe them to be men of the first respectability and worth. JOSEPH LORD, Justice Peace. Statement of Jonathan Symonds, Esq. I, Jonathan Symonds, make the following statement I have been acquainted witli a sect called Shakers for more than forty years. My first acquaintance was with Ann Lee, William Lee, James Whittaker and Partenton. I was resident in Harvard, Mass., when they first came to this town, and have been a resi- dent in it ever since. I had a wife and child, was well settled in biisiness, and was induced to believe in their false doctrines, and became very zealous in spreading the same. TROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. ST They promoted me to v/hat they called a laborer or minister, to persuade people to believe their doctrine. I was faithful, and was the means of some joining tiiera, which caused me many sorrow- ful hours after I found the deception. When I went out to pros- elyte tlie world, the Mother would give me orders to g-o and tell of great miracles, and that we heard tlie angels sing daily, and that it was all peace and happiness with us, and tliat we had pow- er ov&r all sins. I knew it was not so, and when I hesitated, they would say, " It is the gift of God you should — go and obey, and you will have heaven." I was nmch niLh Ann and her elders, wliere I found drunken- ness constantly, and many things whicli I thouglit was liypocrisy. I have given a barrel of rum at a time to those leaders. I was with them days and weeks, when she and her elders were frequently drunk by night and by day, vomiting to an awful degree. They would say, she was suiTering for the sins of tlie people, and must have rum or brandy to strengthen her to bear them. At times she would come to the men very lovingly, and endeavor to dupe them to adultery. I have been insulted in this way by her. When journeying with the elders, tliey have been so drunk they could not ride — and I have had to stay by them in the woods all night watching them. The next day, at the place of their meetings, their subjects would be ordered to labor more zealously to ov ; but the child cried _eo dreadfully, she returno 1, after going a few rods, and took it again. Tills was (luiiu to try Iier natural affections. 'I'hey held another child out of the chamber window, head downwards, until it was almost (lead. [H<;rein}t<:h of the affidavit is omitted, wJiich ^uvc uu account of hose ohscenit;/ in the conduct and talk of Ebenezer Cooley and Joseph Sanborn, two leading ministers.] I believe this con- duct was caused by their excessive drinking, as they and other of tlie Shakers commonly did. Abraham Blodget stated to me, that when he lived with the Shakers in the state of New York, where * All uniting with this, caused a great noise. \ The father of the child, for a time, had the care of a family of Shakers J The Shakers frequently call children little devils. 82 niSE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT first Mother lived, they had a place prepared for bathing, both men and women, and that he saw an elder go to a house not far from the bathing place, and lead the women naked, one by one, down to tlie batli — tlien lead tlxem back tlie same. I could writa much more, but I forbear. JOSIAH WATSON. Skdt of .Yew Havipskire, ? Canterbunj, Jan. 29, 1819. rtOCKKNGHAM, SS. ^ "^ Attested before me, Obadiah Moonet, Jiist. Peace. Second Statement of Josiah Watson. I, JosiAH Watson, would inform tiie public, that the Sliakera came to my house to make me give them some statement to con- tradict what I have stated above. They questioned ine to know if it was just as I worded it ; I told them, not exactly, but it was the same in essence. This I still say, only the worst was omit ted, because of immodesty. Tliey wrote their statement, and equivocated about some tilings like this, of the Bible not being read. Our leaders said, the Bible was of no more use thnn an old almanack, for it was an old back dispensation, and wislied there was not a Bible in the world. They have stated as thouph Dolly M'Horn was all the one that kneeled to Ann Lee, when at a distance. But I have heard Elder Joseph Meacham say in meet- ing, that he felt to kneel down before Mother and Elder William, and he kneeled down, and all the rest, which was near three years after their death. ^ Their third statement I deny. I told them that with all their professions, they did live in whoredom. Some of their improper conduct was done by orders, and some by gifts. The child being earned to the woods, another hung out of tlie chamber window, I was informed was by orders, and believe it to be true. The women nursing the men, was a gift of Edmund* and James T^ougee, which I saw. My deposition does not state the way I had my information Iiom' the minister attempted to heal a sick man ; but one of his own brothers told me. The girl avIiu was stripped and whipped so unmercifully, and then put out of tlie window, was so used by orders, as T hoard. I never said or stated to Mary M. Dyfr any thing contained in my deposition, for I wrote it myself, and this I also write. I liave now a pamphlet of sixty pages, which I wrote for my own satisfaction. Le' thtt truth reign. JOSIAH WATSON. JVorthJiehl, June 3, 1824. Josiah Watson is a member of tlie Baptist church. • Who died when an elder among them. FROM THi; GARDEN OF EDEN. 'SS The following statement is from Leavitt Clough, Esq., of Canterbury, N. H., as given by himself in September, 1819:— " I was once a member of the Shakers' society. I left the Baptists and joined them, believing them a more godly people. Their outward appearance always is fair. I con- tinued among them, until I found bad practices among the leaders. In this time I went to the State of New York to eee the first Mother and her elders. When I arrived there, the Shakers said she was under great sufferings, and could not be seen. I waited a number of days. At length I told them T should not leave until I had seen her, as it was a great distance I had come — they consented. I had much anxiety, with fears, concerning her. I had heard so much of her greatness and power, my apprehensions were, that the rays of God's glory shone so about her, that my eyes could not behold her for the dazzle. But alas, uhen I en- tered the room, my disappointment was great. She ap- peared like a drunken woman — the smell of her breath was like the smell of a rum-hogshead opened. She ordered me to sit bef )re her — she attempted to talk, but her sentences were broken. She appeared unable to walk. I believed her intoxicated — (this was Ann Lee.) " At another time there was a report in Canterbury of a mob arising against the Shakers. I went immediately to the elders' room to acquaint them — ran up stairs, and rushed in, without liberty. The first elder sat in a chair, to appearance so drunk, that he was unable to arise — a bottle of rum stood near, by his side, on the table. The assistant elder, with a woman, sprang from the bed, and appeared frightened — the man's clothes were not natural ; the woman had her cap off, and her hair was much tangled ; the bed had the like appearance. This elder, as soon as convenient, flew to the rum, and urged ms to drink. The elders' names were Ebenezer Cooley and Israel Chauncy.*. * Thev both continued with the Shakers. €ft RISK AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT At another time, I saw Deacon Zaclock Wriirlit raTJniT with temper — he swore, and called some of the Shakers danmed devils and bitch whores, as a married man had seduced the girls to his will." Testimony of Alice Beck. I, Alice Beck, deliver this testimony as my last and dy- ing words : At an early age, I joiiied my hand in marriage with Henry Beck, who, to a character of respectability, added that of a kind husband. Soon, we moved to Con- cord. We were blessed with ten children — ourselves and two oldest daughters were afterwards happily united with the Baptist church — without, our little mansion was pros- perity ; within, it was happiness and love. But the fell de- stroyer soon entangled our brightest hcpes in its snares. Our society heard of a people who professed great holiness and miraculous gifts ; soon after, some of those people* came among us. The first house at which they stopped in Concord, was ours. One of them said, " his hand was stretched out toward the house, which was a algn for them to call." This man said, " they were the angels spoken of in the Revelations of St. John, flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth." A few more observations passed between us, in which I remarked, " I hoped my mind had been renewed." They told mo, " it had not — that I could receive the gospel by them only — that the gospel had been lost to man for several centuries ; but that Christ had now, the second time, appeared to a lost world, unto salvation." I treated them kindly, but told them I did not wish for their religion, and reminded t!iem of those who crept into houses and led captive silly women. They made oreat profession of holiness — kneeled to their food — groaned of- ten, but uttered no articulate sounds. I afterwards learnt that these pcdple were called Shakers. * Their names were James Jewctt, Asa Fattee and Ebenezer Cooley. PROM THE GARDEN OP EDEN. 85 I soon after heard that sixteen of our society had joined them ; this was afflicting news. The Shakers were fre- quently at our house — pretended to miraculous operations and powers, such as dancing, whirling, leaping, &c. Mv two eldest daughters became proselytes, and our family was now in serious trouble. The Shakers told us that we had come to the light of God — that we could have no peace un- til we joined them. After much solicitation, we consented. Not long after, we were rebuked for havincr too much inter- course with the world's people, as all out of their society were called ; and forbid our hiring of such help — also for- bid sending our children to school. My husband could not do his work without hiring, yet he was forbid, and we must obey. They ordered us to kill our calves, assuring us that the natural earth would stand but four years longer ; then there would be a new heaven and new earth, where we would need no food — where all the ancient saints would be gathered with the Shakers, to die no more, and the wicked would be hurled into hell. Next came orders fur my husband to sell his farm, or exchange it for some one near the 1 rethren in Canterbury, (as they had gathered there.) These orders, they said, were from God, and vire must obey. My husband replied, " I cannot comply with- out making a considerable sacrifice of property." " Yoti are then," said they, " like Ananias and Sapphira, who kept back part of the price — do it, or become reprobate.> attend meeting in order. This was a laborious task, yet I accomplished it, according to the orders. I now looked for a little prospect of our being made comfortable in our old age. Our anxious care grew less — I contemplated that we began to reap tlie happv rewards of our labors, as fiir as it extended to this world — we had Only the natural care of the family. A short time after we had got our buildings and family made comfortable, word PROM THE GAROKN OF EDEN. 91 came from Father and Mother that our buildings must be altered — must be set different ; for they looked so much like the world, Father and Mother could not bear to see them ;*" and there must be two men of God come to do the work, and govern the family ; and we must be willing to go any where. t Here we had expended our last proper- ty, and, to appearance, our last strength, in hopes to have some part of that blessing which they continued in prom- ising ; but all was vain, we found ourselves disappointed in all — my confidence was weakened in the god of the Sha- kers. I could not believe those orders were from the im- partial God — promise to-day, and lie to-morrow, to cross his subjects ; neither does he seek to distress them. But new, when we hvd sacrificed all, for the benefit of the Shakers' gospel, we find ourselves turned out of house and home, in our old age. I had lost my first confidence in the eternal God, and thought I had now been pending on a lying, sel- fish, deceivincr ood. It brought me to such wretchedness, it was mor-i than my natural mind could bear. I had been in this obediv-^nce so loner, I could get no confidence in the God of grace, and had no grace to protect me. The more I considered, the more I saw that we were injured. We had let them have much property — had worked to the ex- treme — now they will turn us out of doors. I ki^ew noth- inor what to do, or where to flee. One of the elders came to reconcile my mind to the orders, or gift of God, as they call it. He said, " Alice, you must take up the cross, and obey the gift " I manifested that I felt nmch injured and abused, thai I had been every way faithful, and we had done nmch for the society ; now, after our property was all gone, and had done to the utmost, we must be turned out of doors. The thought of it struck me with horror. * We had done all to tliem, according to the orders of tliis Father and Mot}ier ; but the devil will give no rest to his subjects. t One of those men was the one that was so prosperous among the sis- ters. 92 RISE AND PROGUESS OF THE SERfENT When the elder found my unreconciliation, he said to me, " Depart into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Now, in addition to my poverty, I was con- demned to hell. I had, according to the Shakers' faith, believed that they had power to damn or save the sonl. Now, though I had doubts of them as God, still my mind was so infatuated and in distress, these words had some weight on me. I thought if I could see Father Job, he would be more merciful. I waited for a gift from him, to know whether I should be finally lost or not. I attended the meeting as usual — had a mixed mind of hope, doubt and fear. When we stood in the ranks, the elder which ordered the meeting, said, " There is the woman which I have been trying to reconcile to the gift of God, but can- not, and have no more to say to her, only. Depart, ye curs- ed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his an- gels." I was confounded, and wss so shocked, that I could not stand on my feet. Now, though I had seen many contradictions and inconsistencies among them, still there was such a mist before my eyes, that I thought they had power to damn m*y soul ! ! I thought I must be lost — fell into despair — I went to the woods, and thought I would die alone. They followed me, and brought me to the house. I was removed to another house, where I was kept in a recluse room, with women to watch me. Once in this confinement, I heard my husband's voice, and went to the door to look after him. For this I was chastised — they said it was the fleslr, and contrary to the gift of God for a woman to look after her husband. Alas ! thought I, where shall I look for a friend ? In this distress, I sent to Father Job, to know what my fate was to be ; for I was sure I had done the best I could. My hope in him had kept my spirits in some measure, as I was catching at every hopeful circumstance. Father Job sent his second or waiter, with a gift to reprimand me, and said, " It is all the flesh that makes you doubt the way of God." He spake in severity. FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 93 My last hope was gone — I wandered frcm the house ; they confined me in a dark room, which increased my anguish ; new punishments were added, and I was distressed in body with wounds and pain, in adJitim to my distressed mind. I was chained and treated in the most cruel manner, until I was mangled to that degree, that I have large scars on me now, in consequence ; and I had sores on me for a number of years after I was relieved from the Shakers, where the chains galled me to the bone. One circumstance I will name, while it is clear to my mind : — In the time of my being confined in this cold house, where I suffered to extreme, I got loosed, and went to the house we finished, into a chamber, and laid down upon the bed. They soon found me, and ordered me away. I told them it was my home, and I should not go. They called the elder — he ordered me cut of the house — I did not so ; he then told them ti drag me away as they would a dog. Accordingly they dragged me head foremost down stairs, and drove me away. One of these men, (Ebenezer Kim- ball,) who was ordered to drag me away, was so wounded at this treatment, he lost his confiJence in the Shakers, and left the;n, as he has since stated. After I had suffered much in my lonely, destitute prison, two brothers abroad heard of my sufferings ; and from their benevolent hearts, and a perseverance against the Shakers, they came to my prison and relieved me. My husband a' so left them, after many disappointments and severe troubles. Renders can have but a faint idea of the distress I have experienced, in consequence of being de- ceived, and believing on the Shakers. Words cannot give a realizing sense of the anguish of both body and mind of the Shaker subjects. I think that all who fall into a belief that the Shakers are God and Christ, experience a measure of the same. I hope all will take warning what they do. My brothers assisted my husband in building a house one mile from the Shakers, when I was inoved into a house of. 94 RISE AND phogress of the serpent our own, with a small part of our family. At this house I have continued — was in a delirium for a time after I was moved home — all the time of my derangement was between seven and eight years, incapable of any business. Then, by the mercy of God, I was restored. I went regularly about my work, and the reader may realize something of my joys and the joy of my family, when they found me clothed in my right mind. God, in his mercy, has restored to me every faculty of mind, and my health as well as pow- ers of mind are better than is common for a person of my age. I speak of it as giving the glory to God. WHAT A PERSON MUST BELIEVE AND DO, TO BE A SHAKER. We must believe the Shakers are the only accepted peo- ple of God — must confess our sins to the elders as to God. They profess to have power to forgive, or retain sins. We must deny our faith in Christ, and believe our leaders are Christ in full — when they order us, we must believe it is the immediate revelation and command of God — must give up our reason and the Scriptures, as any rule of our prac- tice — must hate our own family, and believe our tenderness for them is flesh, which is called affections. They say we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven with natural affec- tions. We must work like slaves for nought, and worse than slaves, for a good master will not make his servants work when sick. Among the Shakers, sickness is called (Jevil — we must fi^fht and overcome it. Further, common slaves are net under fear that their master has power to damn their souls ; but among the Shakers, they are. It is through fear that they keep their subjects with them. No subject is allowed to speak their complaints, or trouble, or sickness to any but their elders, and receive relief accord- ing to their hardened mercy. Nothing is allowed to be said against the teachers, though they are ever so absurd ; we were forbid hearing any explain on the Scriptures but the Shaker leaders — must hear no other denomination speak FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEX. 95 on religion. When we prayed, our devotion must be to the elders. None were allowed to pray vocally — it would e.xpose our desires. It was a crime to say any thing against the way of the Shakers ; if they did, such were liable to a punishment. My husband was dissatisfied, because they wronged their subjects who left them, which he observed to the leaders — they said it was no matter how they cheated the devil's company. No wonder that the Shakers are rich, and have nice buildings. All that join the Shakers must give them their property, and families too, if they have any ; then, after a subject is deprived of every dependence for life, they are put under the most severe tasks. If un reconciled, they are reprimanded, and must help themselves the best way they can. If they go away, they will be poor vagabonds on earth, and go to hell when they die ! ! — as the Shakers say. They bias the minds of their subjects, that the more work they do, the more treasure they lay up in heaven, which caused them to work to the e.xtreme, until a few hours of their death. This has been frequent- ly the case — subjects are forbid indulging their feelings when tired or out of health. A number of years after I left the Shakers, a grievous trial ensued, in consequence of one of my daughters, who lived at the church. She continued there from a youth un- til she was upwards of thirty years old. She lost her health by hard work. One of the elders, with deacon Winkley, came to our house — desired me to take her and try to re- move her complaints. They said she was sick and de- ranged. I told them, that as I was an old woman, and our circumstances so indigent, we could not make her comfort- able; they had good buildings, and women enough to at- tend her ; meantime, if they would let one of my well daughters come and assist me, I would take her. They would not; but after much siid, they consented to pay for a girl's help four weeks, if I would take her for that space 96 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT of time. I thought they wished to get relieved from this burden, and throw it on us. They said, " We do not want to get rid of Hannah," (as that was her name) " she is a good sister, has been smart to work — has done two days' work in a day many a time." Yes, said I, and that is what has injured her. My feelings were such, we consented to take her home, and kept her four weeks — she appeared like a disconsolate creature; her wliole mind was bound in the Shakers ; she caused us wreat trouble, in being afraid of us, for fear of catching a world's spirit. They took her back, promising to let us know about her health ; we in quired ; they said her health was better, and able to work. My husband afterwards inquired of one of the common members, who said she was no better. My husband said he heard she was better, and able to work. He said, " Yea and I will tell you how she works — two sisters have the care of her — she is stripped to her under-clothes, then seated, and a wheel set before her — when she declines in work, they whip her until she will work." My husband ;believed it, and was minded to take her from the Shakers I had seen so much of their secret treachery, I thought this a secret plan to be rid of their care. I did not know of their abuse to her until since her death ; it wounds my heart to think of the poor sufferer. A number of weeks after they carried my daughter back, Job Bishop sent for my husband and myself to come to the church. We were admitted into a room with Bishop and others. Tliis was the man whom I once thought had power to damn or save a soul, but now he appeared weak as any other man. He asked after my health, also spake of the trials I had passed through. I told him how much I had depended on him for salvation, and how the man whom he said he had found, by the revelation of God, condemned me to despair. Father Job said, " He was a Judas." I said, " Did yen mean to lead us out of sin by a Judas? I have more hopes of Judas than I have of many in our FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 97 day. He repented and carried back the money ; but here I find no repentance nor giving up of the property. You have stated that you are the true shepherd ; but I read that the true shepherd, when he loses one of his sheep, leaves his ninety and nine, and searcheth until he finds the one that is lost ; but you never came to see me in my troubles." They observed, we wish you to relieve us of the care of your sick daughter ; she is so crazy, it is a trouble to us ; if you will take her, we will give her a bed and her clothes, which are worth seventy doll irs, and give enough more to make it a hundred dollars worth of property. I told them I was willing to take the child, but thought they ought to give more with her, for when my daughter came here, she was well clothed, had a good bed and bedding and forty dollars in money, and has worked for you fourteen or fif- teen years ; now the bed you offer is an old one, and a poorer sort of feathers — her health ruined ; now, in our old age, when I have but just escaped the grave, in conse- quence of your conduct, you would throw this burden and expense on us. Job Bishop said, " We cannot serve God with a crazy person among us ; if you are not willinor to take her upon the teims we have proposed, we shall turn her upon the town, or send her off, and she will run about the street as Abigail Bickford did."* I observed, the se- lectmen should be accjuainted with your intentions, and what peoj)le you have here, f Attested before me, Israel Peaslee, Just. Peace. Second Statement of Alice Beck. I, Alice Beck, of Canterl)ury, certify, tliat a few months since, two Shakers (Francis Winkley and John Whitcher) came to my house very plaus.i)iy. They handed forth a book,' (the Poit- :iture of Shakerism,) and began t ) read a statement published, w'lich I had given. As they read, they questioned me. I told them it was true — this again and again. They disputed me. I told them it was cer- tainly true. They shut the.r book, appeared in anger, and tried to bet me d ^wn, 1 1 t t was a lie. I felt to confirm it in such a way, they ceased their imposition on me for that time. After a few weeks, they sent for two of my sons, (Henry and Charles,) who live by me, to come and .see them. When they went, the Shakers had a writing drawn up for them to sign, which, if they would not, the Shakers threatened, saying, they could and would take the advantage of t'lem in sme land, in consequence of the bounds being lost. My sons read the writing and found it not according to truth, and calculated to cut some part of my statement, published in the Portraiture. Henry said he would not sign any such thing — he would lose all his land first. He returned home and related to me the above. The Shakers afterwards came with some of our townsmen. 100 UlSK AND rnOGUESS OF THE SEUl'KNT and a surveyor, and pretended they could take some of our land ; but if my sons would sign the writing, they would do nothing about it. Henry said it made his title no better by his signing their writing — if it was his then, it was now— that his father felt himself injured in the thing until his death — but he wished fc)r no quarrel, and would do nothing about it— if they wanted a quarrel, tliey might begin as Boon as they pleased. lie has since found a writing, show- inff the particulars, which were then mislaid. Thus they equivocate, to ctwer the truth. And my distressed son, at Weare, (Clement Beck,) lived with the Shakers until he was thirty-eight years old, and was entirely ignorant of law. In this condition, as I understood, they went to him to make him sign a st itement denying the truth as he had previoii ly ?-t aed it, and as it was pui)lished in the above- named book. I have been infc rmed, that when they could not make him deny it with fajr reasoning, they threatened him, saying, if he did not sign to satisfy them, they had power to take from hin> his property, and put him in the State Trson; and th.-st lawyer Webster t( Id tliem so. My eon, since he left them, had been very diligent, and accu- mulated some property. This s u)'s statement was written in my presence, and is the same published in the Portraiture of Shakerism. ALICE BECK Attest, Israel D.wis, Isaiah Chase. Slate of JVfir Hampshire, ) Loudon, Jnhj 14, 1824. Merrimack, s». ^ Personally appearing, the within named Alice Beck, and made Bolemn aflinnation that the within affidavit, by her subscribed, contains Uie truth. Before me, Thomas Brown, Jusl. Pence. We, the undersigners, have heard it suggested, that the Shakers have stated that Alice Beck is a per-son deranged in her mental faculties. We state that we have been ac-. FROM THE OARDKN OF F.DEN. 107 quainted with her f r years, and consider her of a sound mind and understanding, and a person of uncommon good abilities. Thomas Brown, Nancy Brown, Israel Davis, A. E. Thompson, Philip Brown, JOSIAH SAR(iENT. Tl 6 following Statement by Mrs. Clement Beck will show how the Shakers abused Mr. Beck, and by whut means they Obtained a pretended affidavit : — Francis Wi ley and J( liii Whitcher, two leading Sha- kers, came twice to our house, the h t time tliey staid un- til eleven o'clock at night. They would not let me be in the room with my husband. I steed at the deer and heard them Strive to make him deny his statement, as published in the Portraiture. My husband said it was truth. The Shakers did not deny it, but said, such things must not go to the world. They told him, that he ceuld not prove it, and unless he did, they could and would take his pre perty^ and put him into the State Prison, and that Lawyer Web- Fter told I hem so. " We want you to attest to a counter statement." My husband said what he had previously stat- ed was truth, and he would be drawn in quarters first " Well," said they, " let us have your name, and we will not hurt you." He consented. Is not such abuse equal to the former } Judg? ye. Statement of Israel Peaslee. This certifies, that September 14, 1818, Clement Beck came to my house, where I (jave him his oath to an nffidnvit which I have since seen in a book called " A Portraiture of Shakerism," pub- lished by Mary M. Dyer. As it was somethiiigr new to me, 1 criticised him on the subject: he was frank, and told me the par- ticulars. I further stite that T have seen much of it contradicted by a statement in the N. H. Patriot, April lit, 1894. Said Beck is a neighbor; I went to him, to know how he could pet along in denying it. lie said the Shakers said if he did not take some' of it back, tiiey would take all his property from him. He dcs not 108 RISE AND PROl.RESS OF THE ST-RPENT pretend to ilcny any sentence named in the statement g-iven before me. I feci clear in my mind, th:it the Sinkers, by threatening imposed on his ignorance. I consider Beck a civil, indnstriou? citizen, but his being b;ong!il up amono^ the Shakers, caused tliat lack of intormation which he had need of for protection. ISRAEL PEASLEE, Just. Peace. JFearc, Julyi), ISrli. Afliilavit of Andrew Ward. I, Anuufw Ward, of lawful aw, depose and say, I was a son of Thorn IS Ward, wlien a hd, my father joined the Shakers ;^my mother did not believe in all their piinciples. Some of the Sha- kers were jrathored into our family. My father and a S. akei woman, uiio wjs put in mistress, iroverned the family. My mother, wlieii in a feeble state, would have her orders fiom this mistress, to do such and such work. She must obey, or my fathei would he oHended, and treat her cruelly— she was ever aliaid of my f ither. 'J'hey oblii^-ed lier to stand to the wheel and spin, when Bo' ill she ouiiht to have been in bed. What this woman said, we must obey as tiie word of God. I observed that my n.other con- stantly shed tears. My father said he intended to overcome natu- ral affections, sometimes he said he had overcome tiieni, which caused tiie followino- conduct, and similar: I had a younjjer broth- er, who. for a trifling otfcnce, my fither culled to this mistress to hand him a strni Lebanon, Febmani 24, 1819. Grafton, ss. ^ Attested before me, Jesse J. Fogg, Just. Peace, FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 117 CHAPTER VII. A SKETCH OF MRS. EUNICE CHAPMAN's HISTORY. Eunice Chapman was the daughter of Elijah Hawley, Esq., of Bridgeport, Conn. She was married to James Chapman, a merchant in New Durham, Greene Co., N. Y., by whom slie had three children. He treated her kindly until he visited the Shakers ; after which, he showed him self barbarous to her, and neglected his family. He joined them at Niskeyuna, after which he went to Durham, where she lived, said the Shakers had a house prepared for her and her children to live in, where every thing necessary should be provided for them. . In October, 1814, she went to their village to see the place provided, but found none. Here the Serpent began to show himself to her more plain- ly. While Mrs. Chapman was at the Shakers', they, by falsehood, deceived her, and privately sent her husband to Durham, and got her children. When she returned, her children were gone, she knew not where. Her trouble was such, she was near to distraction. Chapman had told her friends, and the children, that she intended to stay with the Shakers, and that the children were going to their mother. She states, that soon as possible, she, with Mr. Penfield, and Mr. Spencer, her brothers, went to the Shakers at Niskeyuna, and, by chance, got sight of her children. Svatement of Peter Penfield. I, Peter Penfield, do solemnly swear, that on or about the 22d of Dec, 1814, I went with Eunice Chapman to the Shakers, to see her children, and persuade the Shakers to give them up, as I understood by them and the children, and tlieir father, that they were bound by indenture. The children appeared to be unhappy, and cried and took on in such a manner, ii.y heart ached for them. I told James and the Shakers that they ought to give them up to tlieir motiier ; tliat my brother Spencer and myself would seo that the children were provided for ; but the Shakers and James wholly refused. I tlien told them that if they did not let Mrs. Chapman have some of her children, or visit tliem when she 118 RISE AND PUOGRESS OF THE SERPENT pleased, I would try to get some law passed in the legislature for her relief. February 9th, 1815, T came to Albany ; took Doct. Payne, Mr. Shiner and Mrs. Chapman into my sleigh, and went to see tlie children, at the Shakers'. We retired into a private room with Mr. Chapman, in order to intercede with him, to give Mrs. Chap- man one of tiie daughters. James said he would as soon commit suicide. There was no prevailing on him to give up either of them. Mrs. Chapman begged to see tlie little boy. They said tlie doors would be fastened against her if she went to the house %vhere he lived. PETER PENFIELD, March 27, 1816. [.Ilderman of the City of .ilbany.'] After this, her friends entered a petition to the legisla- ture, at Albany, N. Y., where they passed a law of protec- tion for a wife and children in case a husband joined the Shakers, and gave Mrs. Chapman a bill of divorce, and power over her children, as can be seen by the following : — AN ACT FOR THE RELIEF OF EUNICE CHAFMAN, AND FOE OTHER PURPOSES, PASSED MARCH 14, 1818, Whereas Eunice Chapman, in the year one thousand eight hundred and four, was lawfully married to James Chapman, by whom she had three children, and with whom she lived until the year one thousand eight hundred and eleven, when tlie said James Chapman abandoned his said wife, without leaving her any means of support, and soon after joined the society of Shakers, in Niskeyuna, in the county of Albany: And whereas, the said James Chapman, since joining the society of Shakers, has taken from his wife her children, and now keeps them concealed from her, and insists that the marriage contract between him and his said wife is annulled, and that he is not bound to support her, and has publicly forbid all persons from harboring her, and declared tliat he would not be responsible for her debts : Therefore, Be it enncted bij the People of the State of ,Yew York, represented in Semite and ^isseinbly, That the marriage contract between the said Eunice Chapman and her said husband, James Chapman, be, and the same is hereby declared to be dissolved, and the said Eu- nice Chapman entirely freed from the same : Provided, That tlie dissolution of such marriage shall, in no wise, effect the legitima- cy of the children thereof. ^nd be it further enacted. That in all cases, where any husband or wife, having any child or children of the marriage, shaH- here- after separate tlie one from the other, and shall, or have attached him or herself to the said Shakers ; and shall also take, or have FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 119 taken, with him or her, such child or children, being under age, the chancellor, or any judge of the Supreme Court, for the time being, on the application of the husband or wife, not having join- ed the said Sliakers, and being an inhabitant of this State, may allow a habeas corpus to bring such child or children before him, and if, on the return tliereof, such cliild or ciiildren cannot be found, and it sliall appear that such child or children are conceal- ed or secreted, by and among any society of Shakers in this State, it shall be lawful for the chancellor or judge, as the case may be, in his discretion, to issue a warrant, directing the sheriff, or other proper officer of the county wliere tlie said society re- sides, in the day time, to search the dwelling houses and otiier buildings of the said society, or any members thereof, for any such child or children; and, on bringing such child or children before the chancellor or judge, he may, on due consideration, award tlie charge and custody of sucli child or ciiildren so brought before him, or any of them, to that parent who shall not have joined the said society of Shakers, for such time, and under such regu- lations and restrictions, and witli such provisions and directions, as to the said cliancellor or judge shall seem proper, and as the case may require ; and the chancellor, or any judge of the Supreme Court, shall, at all time hereafter, have power, on sufficient cause shown, to annul, vary or modify tlie order so to be made ; and such warrant of the chancellor or judge shall justify the sheriff or other officer, and tiiose, who, by their order, siiall come to their aid, in making sucli search as aforesaid ; and, if sued therefor, may plead the general issue, and give tliis act and the special mat- ter in evidence : Jlnd further. If any member of the said society of Shakers, or any other person, shall send or carry, or cause to be sent or carried, any such child or children out of this State, or shall secrete, or cause to be secreted, witiiin the same, any such child or children, so tliat the said writ of habeas corpus cannot be executed, such member of the society, and every other person concerned therein, shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemean- or ; and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined, not exceeding two hundred dollars, or imprisoned, not exceeding six months, or both, at the discretion of tlie court, before whom such conviction may be had Aaron Clark, Clerk of the Jlssembly. EXTRACTS FROM MRS. CHAPMAN's NARRATIVE. " After the above bill had become a law, and I could protect and defend myself, I resolved to go in pursuit of my chihlren. In a remarkable manner I was informed where they were carried when taken from Niskeyuna. I first sent my books to Enfield, and then dismissed my school. 15J0 RISE AND PUOGRESS OF THE SERPENT On the Dth of May, 1S19, I entered the stage, in a dis* mal thunder storm, under a fictitious name, to avoid being traced by the Shakers. After a perih)us j^Hlrney, caused by the state of the roads at that season, I arrived at Brat- tleboro', 76 miles from Albany, at 2 o'clock in the morn- inor, havino- been "24 hours in coming that distance. On the lOth, there fell torrents of rain, and with a crowded stage, which coming near upsetting, I fainted through fear. At evening, I arrived in Hanover. On the 13th, I took the stage to Enfield, and stopped at the stage house, two miles beyond the Shaker Village. "I complained of being unwell, and much fatigued, and unable to travel ; thus made an excuse to stop a few days to rest. I soon found I had landed in one of the best of families, wlio, suspecting my business, privately sent for Mary Dyer, who hastened to my apartment, and introduced herself by exclaiming, " Mrs. Chapman, can this be you?" We met like two unfortunate sisters. " I soon ascertained tliat my children were in that Sha- ker village, meanwhile I kept in close concealment, and it was necessary to make some confidants to secure the chil- dren. On the 24th, the Shakers got word that I was in town, and they were then in as much consternation as though they had heard the din of war against them. The inhabitants took a deep interest in my behalf, and much more so, because 1 had travelled such a distance, and had experienced so much trouble and fatigue. I was fearful that the Shakers would remove my children that night. The inhabitants came to my assistance, kept a guard around the Shaker village, and prepared a civd ofiicer to seize them, in case they attempted to carry them off. Meantime the Shakers were under fenrfid forebodings, and to appease the inhabitants, on the 25th, they sent word that I might see my children. A number accompanied me thither. After waiting some time, George, my eldest child, came in. I could recognize no appearance of ray son FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 121 He said, " Eunice, how do ye do?" I wept over him, but he appeared inflexible, undutiful, and unnatural, though I imagined that I saw the stifled tear startle in his eye. I showed him his little pocket-book, with a dollar in small specie, which he had collected before he was carried to the Shakers' ; and his last words were, ' I shall leave my mo- ney for my mother.' I told him how carefully I had kept that to remember him by ; but he laughed at me. My daughters, and some of Mrs. Dyer's children, were secured in one of their bastiles, which contained a large number of Sliakers. A town officer and a member of the legislature of that State, with their wives, were admitted with me and Mrs. Dyer to see them. Susan, (my next eldest, being now 12 years of age,) came into the room.. She appeared like a shadow, with a pale countenance, and emaciated features, while pining away under her confinement. She gently approached me, and said, ' Eunice, how do ye do?* I dropped my face upon her cheek, and involuntarily ex- claimed, ' Oh ! can this be my Susan, my dear Susan 1 !' I could discover none of that activity and sensibility which once made her the pride of her mother. Even her dialect was changed ! I tore oflt her ghostly cap, hoping to recog- nize the features of my Susan ; she was so much grieved that I hastened to put it on again. My Julia came next ; I gazed a moment upon her, in silence ; she also said, ' Eu- nice, how do ye do?' I fell upon her face, and while bathing her with tears, said, ' Oh ! my dear Julia, my long- lost babe ! have I once more clasped thee to these wishful arms?' but she had become a stranger to these endearing caresses, which were once the joy of my heart. I seated her in my lap, but she fled, and said, ' It is against order to sit in lap !' I handed her a fine-dressed doll ; she said, ' It is handsome, but I do not want it here,' though she eagerly gazed at it. Without my asking them any ques- tions, they, like two parrots, prattled over what the Shakers had previously told them to say to me, how much better 11 12S KISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT they were than with me. Mr, Chapman said, ' Eunice, don't make such a racket, you disturb the brethren and sisters,' — when such a scene called forth, and put to the tjst, every feeling of a parent, and even these gentlemen who accompanied me, wept. At the same time, there stood a Shaker elder, (like an emblem of Satan,) behind Mrs. Dyer's two children, pushing them forward, to abuse their ntother, until they tore her youngest chiW from her arms, and, with it, fled from her sight. As I was returning to my lodgings, James Chapman said that I must not trouble them by coming the next day to see my children, for the brethren and sisters had been in a perfect hell all that day, and wanted some rest. " The Shakers, under their shroud of sanctity, said that they had no control over the children, that they were not bound, that they would be glad to see me take them away, and if I would come in a peaceable manner, and ask for them, I could have them. " Accordingly, on the 27th, I took proper evidence, and went in a peaceable manner, and asked to see my children ; but they would not let us come even within their door- yards. A large number of the inhabitants, who were pre- pared to assist me, then came and demanded sight of the children, and an interview with Mr. Chapman, and said they were unwilling to protect a people, who would harbor a villain who had fled from the justice of the laws of his own State, &c., &.c. After several hours' solicitations and threats, he appeared. Proposals were made for him to give me all or a part of the children. Being counselled by the Shakers, he attempted to impeach my character, and that of my deponents in my book and the respectability of the family to which I belonged, and said he would sooner tie his children to a log and set them adrift in the river than to give them to a crazy woman, who was wandering from town to town, among strangers, and unprotected, &,c., d&c. The inhabitants told him that they believed my state- FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 123 ments, and that the depositions in my book were correct, and the legislature of the State of New York would not have been imposed upon by a woman, and in case they had not good cause to pass that law, it would not have been passed. I, with tears in my eyes, replied, ' Mr. Chapman, when I was married to you, you was respectable ; your re- lations are still so. I am now an unprotected wanderer, and expect to wander until I obtain my children, though I ought and might have been under the protection of a kind husband. Though you may have some claim to the son, can you withhold my daughters, my dearest self, from me?' It was the impression that some of my children were hid in a barn, half a mile distant, and my friends went in search. They there found my son in a rough Shaker dress buried in the hay. It was then 12 o'clock at night. They brought him to me, he trembled as though he had been taken captive by the savages. As I ttok my son into a carriage to carry him away, he sprang to leap out and run back to the Shakers. I had to hold him in the carriage as we travelled, and told him he must go with me and stay until he was fourteen, and he could choose for himself then. I went several miles, hid him, and returned back for my daughters ; but the situation of things was such, it was expedient for me to hasten out of the State with the one I had. For forty hours I was in constant agitation and fatigue, did not sleep, nor eat my regular meals. " To prevent the Shakers pursuing after me, and let them know what they might expect in case they should, I hired a man to go to the Shaker village and discharge a rifle for several nights successively. I hired another man to protect us, and a carriage, and travelled through private roads much out of my way, which cost me several dollars a day. On the 3d of June, we safely arrived in Albany, to the joyful surprise of all my friends, where we received congratulations from every class." 124 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT The following extract from the Dartmouth (Hanover) Gazette, will show the manner in which Mrs. Chapman ob- tained the remainder of her children : — " Mrs. Eunice Chapman has lately succeeded in rescu- ing from the society of Shakers, in Enfield, in this State, and in restoring to the world, two more of her children, who have been consigned to, and detained by them, with- out her consent. It is rather singular that these people should latterly have met with so much and such effectual opposition from the ladies, and from them only ; and, whether it be that the ruling elders have deported them- selves in an ungallant manner to the members of the sis- terhood, or that the feelings of natural affection predomi- nates more strongly in the maternal bosom, we shall not undertake to determine. Mrs. Dyer, in this State, and Mrs. Chapman in New York, have been much the subjects of conversation, and by their representatio.ns, directed the attention of the legislatures of these States to the socie- ties of Shakers, and it was by one of its provisions that Mrs. Chapman succeeded in establishing her claim to the guardianship of her children. A letter from one of the so- ciety to Mr. Chapman (who, it appears, was in league with them) furnished the immediate occasion for preferring the claim; but this letter falling into tlie hands of Mrs. Chap- man, she set off immediately for New Hampshire, and, by her agent, demanded her children. At first, as is stated by the agent, the society refused to surrender them ; but upon producing a letter from distinguished counsel, he was al- lowed to carry them to their anxious and expecting mother. We know not what may be the public sentiment with re- spect to these associations of people, called Shakers, or their dark proceedings ; but, as individuals, we cannot but express our abhorrence of a system of education, which keeps those who are trained up in it, in worse than the ig- norance and superstition of the papal ages, and of a mode FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN 125 of living that cuts them oIT from a participation in all * the sweet and tender charities of life.' " Statement of Moses Johnson. This may certify that I, Moses Johnson, of Enfield, County of Grafton, State of New Hampshire, was present, and assisted Mrs. Eunice Chapman in obtaining her son George, and was one, with others, who found him in dead of night, hid in a barn, a distance from any family ; and that I was also the officer who took James Chapman, his father, with a criminal writ, for his abuse to Mrs. Mary M. Dyer, and am witness that the statement of Mrs. Chapman, in recrard to her obtaining her children, is true. I further state that I am well acquainted with Mary M. Dyer, and was present when the attention of the selectmen of this town was called upon by her, to assist her in a compromise with her husband Joseph Dyer and the Shakers, to provide for her a home, or give to her some of her children, and also know that she has had severe afflictions, as may be seen by the statements of others. And further state, with my wife, Lavina, that from the time she first made herself acquainted in this town, we have never seen, heard or known any thing against her character. Moses Johnson, i^ /: , , . .jna 1Q4K La VINA Johnson. Enfield, April 26, 1S45. CHAPTER Vm. RISE OF THE SHAKERS IN KENTUCKY AND OHIO. [Abridged from a work of Col. James Smith ] Three Shakers, viz. Issachar Bates, John Meacham, and Benjamin Young, came to Kentucky, where Col. Smith resided, and in his absence, his son, James Smith, Jr., with whom he lived, joined them. Soon after, he went 11* 126 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT himself and lived with them, in order to learn what sort of people they were. He says they artfully conceal their real views and principles from those they wish to proselyte to their scheme. To stop the progress of Shakerism is, for mankind to know what it is. He therefore relates matters of fact, and is ready to prove what he asserts. First, of their doctrines : — Mother Eve is what is meant by the forbidden fruit ; the woman being prohibited fiom all animals, save Adam only, and that she, contr ry t.) the command, had knowledge of the Serpent. [I ask the Shakers if Adam had knowledge of the Serpent when he partook of the same fruit ?] They hold Aon Lee t > be Christ's second coming, without sin unto salv-ition, and that she is much superior to Jesus. They deny the resurrection of the body of Jesus, and also of our bodies. They hold that David Darrow is inspired and infallible; t'lut the priests and people under him nmst believe his commands, which they call believing and obey- ing God ; and that all who have died, even martyrs for Christianity, have gone to hell ; and that all of those who come to the Shakers, and confess their sins, shall be de- livered out of hell, except such as have, in this life, been Shakers, and afterwards left them, and spread abroad what they had seen and heard while among them ; further hold that the Scriptures are true and foretell of them, yet they are no rule for them to fellow ; that they are in a new dis- pensation, &c. The following is the practice of the Shakers : — A man who had been three years with the Shakers, but had left them, said he had formerly been a member of the Methodist Society, and was then happy in the enjoyment of vital piety, but was not so while with the Shakers ; and when he left them, he brought away all his family except one daughter, who was concealed from him. Afterwards, .his son attended the Shaker meeting, and seeing his sister, took her by the hand to lead her away. The Shakers at- FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 127 tempted, by violence, to take her from him. Some specta- tors assisted liim, and a violent struggle ensued. The par- ties collared each other, tore each others' clothes, &c. The Shakers, being most numerous, prevailed, and prose- cuted the other party for a riot, in which they failed. I lately conversed with the aforesaid girl, who says, that while her father was threatening the Shakers with the civil law, she was brought before a magistrate, and compelled to swear falsely, i. e., " that they had not concealed her, but that she had concealed herself." She further said, that when the Shakers saw this scheme would not answer their purpose, they told her she must be married to a young Shaker, and Richard McNemar, who had been anordiined minister, was to perform the ceremony, and that she must be bedded with this man ; otherwise, it would not be a legal marriage. She told them this was contrary to what they had tauglit her; and would she not go to hell if she did so? They said, that in this extraordinary case, it would be right ; that they must use every means to subdue the devil, the world, and the flesh, and support the kingdom of God. She said she did not like the man, and rather than be com- pelled to marry a mun she did not like, she made her es- cape, and came to her father. Elder David has overseers appointed over the different societies throughout the States of Ohio, Kentucky, and the Indian Territory. Three men who left the Shakers, state, that they were told by their leaders, that if they bore the cross, and ab- stained from women fur some time, they would become so holy, that it would be no sin for them to connect with their most holy women, but not to have children, as it would be a bad example to the world. The Shakers charged these men, when about to leave them, that if they told of these things, they Vvfould sink forever to the lowest hell ! The men who gave the foregoing statement, were willing to confirm it by oath. 128 RISE AND PROGUESS OF THE SERPENT I shall here mention some circumstances relative to my son James. After he joined the Shakers, he seemed di- vested of natural affection towards his wife, Polly, and other connections, and sold his plantation in Kentucky, and removed to the Shakers', on Turtle Creek, in Ohio. Be- fore he removed, he promised, if she would go with him, he would not take her among the Shakers, but would pur- chase a place three miles from them. Upon these terms, she consented to go, rather than to be separated from her children. Notwithstanding this, he took her directly to the Shakers. She afterwards went to visit her friends, ex- pecting to return. The day she left, he advertised her in the public print, and they kept her children from her. Her friends went with her, and entreated the Shakers to let her see them ; they at length consented, but nothing must be said to them only in the presence of the Shakers. When she was about to leave her children, her eldest son laid hold on his dear mamma, and wept bitterly. O mournful scene ! I there beheld the tender child forcibly wrested, by the iron hand of a despotic Shaker, from the arms of an affectionate and weeping mother ! The feel- ings of my heart, I cannot describe. To see my kind daughter treated with savage barbarity, and her heart-rend- ing sorrows made a subject of mock and exultation ; my dear grandchildren forced into despotic bondage, which tends to ruin both soul and body, was too much for human nature to bear. These are the fruits of Shakerism. Lit- tle can be known of them from their publications. Their system is a despotic monarchy, and a money-making scheme. I am an old man, my time of service in this world is near an end. I have fought for liberty in the American war. I have been an advocate for it in conventions and legislative assemblies, and now, when I see a snake in the grass, or a poisonous worm gnawing at the ro(.t of the tree of liberty, shall I not, at least, cry out, " Take care ?" James Smith. FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 129 Col. Smith published another pamphlet containing forty- four octavo pages, in which he has inserted a number of the foregoing statements, with proof of the same, with other illegal and irrational proceedings of the Shakers, CHAPTER IX. MISCELLANEOUS. A Letter from Mr. Van Vliet. Madam, Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio, July 8, 1818. I reside four miles from the Shaker Village (called Un- ion Village) in this State. Until last summer, I paid but little attention to the reports respecting the conduct of those people. Some time in June, 1857, a lad made his escape from them ; he was three or four days in this town, with his cousin, who took him one morning to the woods, about a mile from town ; the Shakers got knowledge of the boy being there at work, and five of them placed them- selves in ambush, and suddenly sallied out, and three, with clubs and a sword cane, kept the man, who was with the lad, from assisting the boy, while the other two caught him and bore him off. The man came before me (a justice of the peace) immediately, and made oath to the facts. The five Shakers were arrested and bound over to court to answer, «&6C. From the testimony, and various other in- formation, I conceived it my duty to arouse the attention of the public, that some measures should be taken to check, if possible, the abominable practices which appear to exist in the society. Being an editor of a public newspaper, (the Western Star,) I collected a number of affidavits, made by those who had been members of the society, and published them. In February last, John Wallace, one of the chief men in the society, and one of the five held to bail, absconded from the society with six or seven thousand 130 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT dollars. Since the middle of last May, about fifteen young persons have left them. The citizens protect and assist all who make their escape. I am anxious for some infor- mation from you. Wishing you success in the event, and christian fortitude to bear the adversity in which you are hurled, I subscribe myself your well-wisher, ABRAM VAN VLIET. To Mrs. Mary M. Dyer. A friend has put into the hands of the author of this work the (Rochester, N. Y.) " Voice of Truth," of April 7, 1847, which contains a communication entitled " The Corruptions of Shakerism," which is deemed of sufficient interest to be inserted in this work. From the Voice of Truth. "Corruptions of Shakerism. " Mr. Editor, — Having a knowledge of the fact that the Shakers have commenced publishing a paper at Union Vil- lage, Ohio, in which I read ihiit justice, jniriti/, and perfect equality reign among the inmates of their holy Zion — can we, who have been brought up by them and lived with them more than twenty-five, and others more than thirty years, can we feel that we shall stand justified at the bar of God if we keep silent while we see the most glaring falsehoods imposed upon all around us who read their papers ? Cer- tainly not. Their practice has ever been to charge all who leave them to say m thing against them ; but their fair promises of rewards to us, if we will keep still and say nothing about them, will do no longer. Their fair promi- ses will neither feed nor clothe us who have served them as slaves from infancy, until our locks are white with the frost of many winters. Their promises of, ' We will give you something after a while if you will keep still and say noth- ing about us,' could not justify us for concealing the truth from public investigation. FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 131 " We believe it to be a duty we owe to God and man, to draw aside the curtain which covers their whited sepulchre, full of rottenness and dead men's bones. We know from personal observation, that among the ministers and elders of the disciples of Ann Lee, there have been crimes com- mitted, which, if known, would have consigned them to the State Prison, and we are fully prepared to give the names and the particulars of the matters referred to, if required to do so. These are the individuals who assume to stand as mediators between God and man ! who assume to stand in judgment and settle our final destiny, both here and in the eternal world. " My readers no doubt will say, how could any one in their right mind believe such trash 1 I will explain as well as I can. We were taken to the Shakers before we were ca- pable of judging between right and wrong. We heard this doctrine, and nothing else. We never heard a man read a chapter in the Bible, or take a text and preach a gospel sermon, during the many years we resided witli them, and we were never allowed to go to any other meeting. We were never allowed to read the writings of any other de- nomination, but if such books were found among us, they were burned : and instead of reading the Bible in meeting as the Christian denominations do, the Shakers read some writings of their own denomination, giving the orders and commands laid down by Ann Lee or some of her disciples, and such like things. " One Sabbath, when the hour of worship arrived, one of our ministers came before us with a paper in his hand, for the purpose of reading a vision — and what was it 1 It was the wild fruits of the imaginations of a drunken negro, who had been to Lebanon with a load of things for market, and had got brandy and concealed it in the stable, and drank too much. He was not drunk enough to be stupid, but to make him raving all night. In the morning the brandy had lost its power — he thought the best plan to conceal his drunk- 132 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT enness was, to say he had a vision, and did not know what lie had done — for his soul was in the world of spirits con- versintT with Jesus Christ and Mother Ann. He said the people in eternity were not idle ; they were busy at some- thinor. He said he saw Jesus Christ sorting broom-corn ! and such like blasphemy, too absurd to be written for any one to read. But such wicked blasphemy often engrossed our whole attention during our meeting on the Sabbath. " It would be impossible for me, in my limited space, to give more than a brief hint of the scenes of idolatry I have witnessed, and can be abundantly proved. It would also be impossible to explain on one sheet the means they have resorted to, to crush down every thing like liberty of con- science, and to compel the ignorant young people they have raised to fall down and worship the image they have set up. I will here relate one circumstance out of many : A young woman who was raised from infancy at Union Village, was not well, and thought she would not go to meeting that night, for she did not feel like dancing. After the family had assembled, about fifty in number, the elder looked over the assembly and asked, " Is Polly Hollaway in?" The answer was, Nay. He then told Nancy Serring to go and tell Polly to come in. Nancy obeyed the tyrant, and after an interview with Polly came in, and said, Polly does not wish to come to meeting. The elder then told two of the men to o-o and bring her in. Ashbel Kitchel and others went and dragged her down stairs and compelled her into the room in presence of the waiting assembly. Polly was exhausted, and she sit down. The elder, Samuel Rollins, told her to stand up. She answered. How can I stand when you have nearly broke my legs 1 Her mother saw it, and with a bleeding heart stepped up to her and said, Polly, Btand on your feet to keep them from abusing you any more. Elder Rollins saw Mrs. Hollaway speak to her daughter, and he, with the voice of a tyrant, told the moth- er to let her be : for we do not want the flesh to interfere, FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 133 said he ! The prints of Kitchel's fingers could be seen for more than a week on her arms where the flesh was bruised and the blood settled, and not only her arms, but her whole body was bruised. Her brother saw the wretched abuse, but dared not say a word. Her sister was present, and many others, who will witness to what I have stated, if any one disputes the facts I have revealed. I feel certain that if all the facts could be known, they would stand no high- er in the public mind than a band of highway robbers, or a gang of the lowest horse-thieves that ever infested our country. " I, that now hold this pen, have been sent by the leading Shakers at Union Village to a secret place in the woods, to hide children from their father who was searching for them ; and after dark they were taken and conveyed out of the State to another society, and their names changed so that their father never knew what had become of them for years ! His wife, too, was taken out of the State by a deacon of the church ; the deacon was ordered by Father David to do so, and her name was changed. I was told by the leaders of the society on another occasion to dress in men's clothes, and go in company with another woman dressed in men's clothes, and convey a girl to some hiding place so that her father could not find her ! We did as we were told, for I thought I must not disobey. I have always been taught by them that Christ has appeared the second time, and that that appearing was made in the person of Ann Lee ! that she was the bride, the Lamb's wife ! and that her succes- sors, in the line of eldership, were mediators between God and man ! that the iudorment dav had come — that these JO 1 mediators were judging the world ! and as I believed my final destiny was to be settled by them, how could I diso- bey their command 1 In this ignorant condition I obeyed them twenty-seven years, and no doubt I should have been yet a servant to them and to their idolatry, had I remained ignorant of one fact, and that was, 1 found to a certainty 12 134 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT that some of these mediators were liars : and being con- ▼inced beyond a doubt of that fact, I be^an to reason and compare one thing with another, and at length began to thi:ik for myself, although we had been taught that to rea- son was a dancrerous thincr, and that we should not even think for ourselves, but should be obedient, and that was all we had to do : but as soon as those would-be mediators had destroyed all the c nfi icnce I had in them by immoral conduct, lying and deceit, I stopped my mad career and took a review of my wretched life. I became convinced I had all my life been believing a lie, and how was I to bet- ter my condition 1 I had never been taught to look to God for help; but through these disciples of Ann Lee, those mediators, I was to receive all that kind Providence had in store for me — and if I shj^uld foro-et their counsel and care, I must be eternally damned. " I had never been taught how to pray ! I never heard but one prayer in that place, or in my life, and that was addressed to Mother Ann for the restoration of a sister that was sick ; and on another occa-ion two of the Shakers who were stirring hay in the meadow, left their company who were cutting and stirring hay, and told theui to keep at work, for it should not rain ! They came home, went up stairs, and on t ; the roof of the house, and at the top of their voices commanded the ch uds to disperse in the name of Jesus Christ and Mother Ann 1 but the more they blas- phemed, the harder it rained. " It was their practice to make derision of the manner in which other denominations offered up their prayers to God. In confirmation of what I have stated, I will relate one circumstance: Three of iheir ministers were travellinor in the Wabash country — they were out of provisions — had lost their way in a wilderness place, and were on the point of starving. Young proposed to Bates and McNemer that they had better kneel down and pray. Bates, wishing to cheer the gloomy countenance of Young, for that pur- FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 135 pose made a vocal prayer. I will relate the prayer as I had it from the mouth of Bates : — ' O Lord God, here we are, all-sufficient, self-dependent creatures, going up and down the universal world, ding-split, devil-like: — if we had our just deserts, we should not be here, nor there, nor no where else !' " Dear sir, I have given you but a little of what I know about the Shakers and their idolatry. May God open the eyes of the people to see that the sheep-skin they have put on does not cover the whole wolf. Yours truly, Joanna Hollaway. FraaUin, O., March 8, 1847." In reply to inquiry on the subject, the author has received the two following letters from Buffalo, relatino; to the kill- ing of a boy at Canterbury, about four years since. The tirritovo '^Y-a po».oonc wrho liuorl iiritli t]ni> Shakers at that time, and are personally knowing to the facts they narrate ; their names are withheld, but will be given, if called for by the proper authority. Buffalo, N. Y., April, 1847. I this morning saw a letter from you, requesting some facts in the case of the boy George A. Emery, late of Sha- ker Village, Canterbury, N. H. What I am about to state are facts, and nothing else. I was requested by Ephraim Dennett to visit the boy George A. Emery. I went and found him on a bed in the back room of the shoemaker's shop, and nearly dead. I told Dennett I would go for medicines, and returned within five minutes, and found the boy dead ! I told Dennett that he was deid. He replied, "Then I have killed him — what shall I do?" He said he had taken him to the woods, and whipped him to break his will, but did not mean to kill him. I told him he must go to the elders, tell them the story, and settle it. I went to the elders' shop with him, and left him 136 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT with them. Soon after, the elder brother, James Johnson, called me and said, " Keep this matter still ; and when it is dark, take the body to the house, and prepare it for the coffin, and I will speak to the family in the evening meet- ing; for it would be an awful thing to get out to the world's people." James Johnson went to the meeting and tuld the family that it was caused by a fall, and they must not be talking about it, but let it go, &c. Thomas Ccrbett (the Shaker physician) and I took the body to the house, and stripped it. From the middle of the back to the knees, it was covered with bruises enough to kill two such children : so that there is no mistake about the death or its cause. The Shakers might as well deny, after cutting a man's head off, that decapitation killed him, as to deny the cause of G. A. Emery's death. Thomas Corbett would be a good witness in the case, as he has since said, should he be called upon to tpstify, he slinnlrl Kc roivipolicri +.» -nj- it ^^..^o tUa chastisement he received from Dennett which killed him. There are now many in the same family, who, if called upon, would testify to the same. The mother of the child, then living in Lowell, was sent for in the night, and arrived just in time to attend the fune- ral ceremonies, and was tc^ld that the child's death was caused by a fall ! ! The plain, unvarnished truth being kept from her, she departed under the impression they had imposed upon her. These are facts, which can and will be substantiated by living witnesses, if required. Buffalo, N. r., April, 1847. I received your letter requesting some facts relative to the death of George A. Emery, which occurred, as near as my memory serves, (having no dates at hand,) about four years since, and has been kept smothered until this time, although the Shakers have long feared, and expressed the same, that it would eventually get out to the world's peo- FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 137 pie, &,c. As to the cause of his death, it was perfectly understood to be a murder by every person in the church family, and I am as positive that the child was whipped to death, as 1 am that I am now Kving — for I knew E. Den- nett, who had the immediate care of the child, to be cruel to him and others whom he had the care of. I often spake to the elders about his cruelty, and their answer would be, they knew he had no discretion or governing qualities; but they had no other one to take care of the children, without neoflectinor other work. On the day of the death, I saw the child under punishment in the shop, and on hear- ing of his death, I felt assured what the cause was, and went to the shop where he was, and on examination, the marks upon the child's head, neck and face convinced me beyond a doubt of the cause of his death. I have heard it expressed by many that Ephraim Dennett killed the boy. Eliza Johnson and Huldah Garland saw the child naked, and gave it as their opinion th;it the child was whipped to death. They have told me so repeatedly, and several others have stated the same, whose names I could mention, and who are ready to testify, if necessary, and also to many more particulars of abuse to children and adults, which would disgrace a barbarian. Even in their consecrated meeting-room, where meetings are frequently held all night, were recently seen the marks on the plastering which was broken by forcibly pushing the head of a man upwards of seventy years of age through the same, for no other crime than that he could not unite in believinor their visions and pretended revelations. Such cruelty to him and others for the same cause, would disgrace the heatlien ; it \\\\< done by those chosen by the ministry for th:it purpose ; they were countenanced and supported in it by that authority, and should they dare to disobey, they would be considered out of union, and liable to have their heads thrust through the plastering, or something worse. Such were the comuiou occurrences when they had a gift to fight the unbelieving 12* 136 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT devil in the aged or young. There are now living in this place those who are ready to testify that Dorothy Durgin, who had the immediate care of the girls, has made a child eat its own excrements for punishment, and other females treated too horrid to mention. What religion ! Likewise, Abigail Garland, an old lady, was pushed, pounded, whirl- ed, and rolled about on the floor in the spinning house, until she vomited ; — this was done by those chosen for that purpose, and sanctioned by the leading authority. Lydia Garland, mother of the last-mentioned, aged ninety years, yi'as driven out of bed at nine o'clock, in a stormy evening in winter, and driven up to another house through the snow ! Of their kicking, striking, and abusing until black and blue, Catharine Lyon, Clarissa Foster, Huldah Garland, and many others, I need not mention : and yet these poor mortals are still made to believe that this is the will of God, and they must submit themselves to it, and perhaps be com- pelled to lie and deny it. O, what religion ! This is the religion and the ignorance they are brought up and in- structed in. They are bred in ignorance for the sole pur- pose of confining them to Shakerism. The whole tenor of their laws and rules of government tends to shut out all fellowship with those out of their society, to prevent any rays of light from striking the darkened minds of their subjects, and more especially their youth, that they may be the better able to inculcate in them their abominable doctrines. I Many have recently left the Shakers, and many more would, were it not for the manner in which they treat them at the time of their departure. They say, and pretend it it is by inspiration, that all who leave them go to hell — their fate beincr sealed ; and to make their declaration effective, they do their part, by not giving any who depart scarcely sufiicient to get out of sight of their village, where many have spent a life of usefulness and severe servitude to the society. All those who have left them can testify to this. I will relate one instance of a woman now residing in Con- FROM THE, GARDEN OF EDEN. l^iQ cord. Tills woman left them at the age of thirty-five years, having resided with them twenty-three years. She had always been well, and was allowed to have been a useful member ; it having been her lot to do much of the hard work in a family of one hundred and fifty. When she left, she had the generous sum of fifteen dollars and her clothinor. Can the Shakers dispute this? If so, let them. The per- son referred to, can" testify to this, and the memorandum in their own writing, handed her at her departure, confirms the same. There are many similar cases of valuable mem- bers, who have spent the best part of their life there as slaves, and because they choose to leave them, it is con- strued into a crime, and they treated as above stated. No discriniinatinti is made between those who have been of real and lasting benefit to them, and those who have resided with them but a short time. , The above is but one among many of the cases where persons have chcsen to leave, and for so doing have been treated with contempt and reproach. We who have lived with them, do not ask or expect full wages; but from a christian people, professedly the most so of any other on earth, we da expect — and justly too — a just and equal re- muneration, equal to that which would be bestowed by a moral people professing no Christianity. If this is the light which they let shine to the world's people, it must be con- sidered dark light, which, I hope, no vwrhPs proph will pattern. As we were taught by the Shakers that every tree is known by its fruit, even so let us judge them in their kind settlement with us when we left their Societv. Affidavit of Thomas C. Iloit. This certifies, thit I, Thomas C. Hoit, worked in hew- ing stone for the Shakers in Enfield, N. H., six or seven years ago. One time, aft?r supper, I walked out with ano- ther man into the garden, and went to the side of the pond, 140 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT and there heard the distressed screaches of a child at a distance. I went toward the sound, met two leading Sha^ kers, and told them they were killing a child down yonder. They paid no attention to what I said. I then ran to the place, and there found a Shaker man beating a child with a cudgel. It was a boy about ten years old. His shirt was turned over his head, confining his arms and head, his body bare, mangled and bloody. He -was bowed down to the crround, and I am sure could have lived but a short time. I stripped off my coat to flog the barbarian. He said, " Stop, and hear what I whipped him for." He said they were at work in the garden, and the boy tied a string around a bit of shingle, hauled it along, and called it his plough. While he was telling the case, one of the leading Shakers came in haste, and carried the boy off. I exam- ined the place, and found green withes, bloody, broken and scattered about ; but when I first came in sight, he was beating the boy with a piece of split board. I went the next day to see the boy. The Shakers were unwilling I should see him ; but I insisted on it, and at last they con- sented, on condition I would not ask him any question. I saw him ; he was in bed, and his flesh was awfully lacera- ted. His mother heard of the case, and went to the Sha- kers to know if the report was true. They told her, they did not whip the boy. She came to me to know about it, and I told her I saw a Shaker whip the child. A leading Shaker said, he would rather have given five hundred dol- lars than have this thing get into the world. I am well acquainted with the Shakers, and know they will state falsehood to favor themselves. This by me, THOMAS C. HOIT. State of A'ew Hampshire, ? Enfield, JVov. 12, 1844. Grafton, ss. ) Personally appeared the above-named Thomas C. Hoit, and made solemn oath that the above declaration by him subscribed, is truth. . Joseph Merrill, Just. Peace. FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 141 Affidavit of Sylvanus Barnard. This certifies that I, Sylvanus Barnard, of Enfield, N. H., do state that about the first of the Shakers coming to this town, Mr. John Mills joined them. Said Mills had a wife and children, and a farm of three hundred acres of land, in this town at that time. His joining them caused his wife such trouble that she became deranged, and con tinued so until her death. Mr. Mills was a very substan- tial man ; he became convinced of the Shakers' delusion, and renounced their principles; afterwards became a de- voted christian. Mr. Mills did not give his farm to the Shakers ; but died and left it to his heirs. Before his death, he gave me the charge of his business, and for thir- ty years I had the care of his farm. After the death of all Mr. Mills' children, one orphan granddaughter was mar- ried to Capt. John Coffin, of Newburyport, Mass., and in c1 — opv;r.(j of lR-i-1. she. with liPi- ImeKnnrl, oaine U> En field to claim her property. The Shakers owned laiid ad- joining he Mills farm, and in course of time, from Mr. Mills' death, until now, the Shakers had got their division line run on to the Mills' land so far that it took six or sev- en hundred dollars' worth of the orphan's property. The case was left out to arbitrators, who gave the orphan her right, and made the Shakers pay all the cost. I was a wit- ness in the case. SYLVANUS BARNARD. Attest, SvLVANus Barnard, Jr., Abigail G. Barnard. Enfie.ld, August 17, 1844. Affidavit of Mary Cumtnings I, Mary Cummings, of Hebron, County of Grafton, State of N. H., of lawful age, depose and say, that I was lawfully married to Edward Cummings, in the year 1827, and had, by him, eight children, five of which are now living — three sons and two daughters. We lived in peace and prosperity until 1841. He then began to neglect me 142 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT and his business. We tlien owned a good farm, of (I think) 175 acres of land, witli a good stock, and every thing we had need of for our comfort. He first became unsteady by embracing the Miller doctrine, and, at times, exclaimed against the marriage covenant and sexual inter- course. He travelled from town to town, in a wild zeal, while I, by industry and economy, kept the property good, and took care of my family. He continued in this way un- til the spring of 1844, when he visited the Shakers in En- field, N. H., and his mind appeared strangely attached to them. Then our friends thought our property and family were in danger, and advised to have a guardian put over Mr. Cummings ; but my feelings were pitiful towards him, and I could not consent, hoping he would reform ; but he continued to visit the Shakers until the October followinsr, when, to my sorrow, he declared he would go to the Shakers and livo. A number of the Shakers visited our house, and tried to persuade me to beiieve meir uocirnies. i told them and my husband that I wanted nothing to do with Shakerism ; but if my husband was determined to go, he might go, I could take care of my family, if they would let me and the property alone. To this, he would not con- sent, but insisted that the family should also go. I rea- soned against it in deep sorrow. He said if I would go with him to the Shakers, he would provide for me a home, and I should have the care of my children, separate from the Shakers ; but if I refused to go, he would take the children, sell the property, and leave me destitute, and ad- vertise me in the public print. I was filled with grief, and knew no relief, and thought I had better go with him than to be separated from my dear children. I believed, and hoped, and went with him to the Shakers, at said Enfield ; but as soon as I got there, my sons were given to the Sha- kers' care. I had the care of my daughters, my dear babes, about three months, but was in the Shaker family I often begged of my husband, to get a room or house, and PROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 143 let me have the care of my ftimily ; but he would not, and when my babe was ten months old, and my other dauorhter three years old, the Shakers took them from my care. I entreated uitli the Shakers to let me have my dear babes, my dear little girls; but no, they s: id it was my husband's choice to have the Shakers take the care of them. My disappointment and sorrow cannot be expressed. I staid about four weeks longer, and found my trouble would over- come my reason if I continued there any longer, and thought I would go to my relations. In this time, my hus- band sold his farm, and drove his stock, and carried all our property to the Shakers. They wanted me to sign the deed for the farm ; but I was not willing, and reasoned with my husband and tlie Shakers against signing; but Lyon, the leader of tliat family, said, " my signing was for my safety, and the only way I could have my thirds secured." (My thirds they called six hundred dollars.) I was doubtful of his word, and continued to reason against them for hours, my heart big v.'ith grief, feeling as thousfh they intended to make me destitute. They stood over me, threatened and flattered until 1 seemed to lose the power of my mind. I took the pen and signed my christian name, and felt so, I laid down the pen, and threw the deed upon the floor, and said, " I know it ain't right for me to sign ; it is the devil that is deceiving me." My husband picked up the deed, and they continued to u'-ge me until I had no power of mind only to do as they said, and signed the deed. My trouble was great, and I soon went to my relations. When I got there, my children were gone, my home was gone, all was gone. My distress was such, I could not attend to any business ; but my dear friends encouraged me that by some means. I should yet have my children. I gained some hope, and am now more composed in believing that the authority of the State will give me a bill of divorce, my children and property. For this I pray. Mary Cummings. 144 RISE AND PROGRESS OK THE SERPENT State of J\/'ew Hampshire, ) r^ . n -.a.- Grakto.n, ss I O"^- 3. 1845. Then the above-named Mary Cummings came before me, and made oatli tx) tlie above, by her subscribed. Samuel Andrews, Just. Peace, The following statement was made and written by Wil- liam Sanborn, a Sliaker, who said he was personidly know- ing to the facts : — " Between the dates of 1826 and 1830, great cruelty was inflicted on a boy by the name of John Eaton, while living with the Shakers in Enfield, N. H. This boy was BO unfortunate as to snore in his sleep ; and for this he was whipped by night and by day, in the house and out of the house ; red pepper was put in his mouth during the night, after he went to bed, that he might know whether he was asleep or awake; his own excrements were rubbed in his mouth ; and at times he was taken out of bed, and made to stand in the cold in winter with only his shirt on, for hours — and all this because he snored; there was no other reason given for this abuse. Some of their treatment, worse than the heathen, modesty forbids me to mention." Mr. Sanborn wrote the above in 1845, and said he was ready to attest it, if the Shakers denied it. Afterwards, he was sick, was visited in his lonely place by a world's viinistcr, (so called by the Shakers,) and in 1846, he w^as found one morning dead and alone in a room, Ivino- on the floor by the stove ; one hand was on the stove hearth. So paid some of the Shakers. Could the truth be known, many similar cases of death among the Shakers would be exhibited ; while, at the same time, some among them have the most special care taken of them. FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 145 [The following is a Jf'animg, written by tJie Hon. fFUliam Spiers, of jYew Lebanon^ jV F.] ** To all persons who profess to believe in the doctrine propagated by Ann Lee and her confederates. " I have seen enough to convince any person that pays any regard to truth or humanity, that you are not the people you profess to be, I do not say that your general conduct, now, is as indecent as it was in Ann Lee's dayj but since you put such confidence in her lead and doctrine, in be- lieving her to be a Savior, you are partakers of the sin and disgrace attached to her character. Her treatment of me was such as no rational person can justify.* It appeared to arise from a spirit of revenge on account of telling my opinion of them ; and there now appears to be a spirit of malice stirred up in James Farnham, one of the Shaker leaders, exhibited in a circular letter to the public, which looks like war or duelling. He charges the public with beinor " a multitude of malicious slanderers, spreading their calumnies against the Shakers." Such aspersions must proceed from a corrupt heart, a spirit of enmity and not of grace. This spirit appears to be aroused by a Mr. Hen- drix stating that he saw said Farnham on tho^ shore, and Shaker women naked in the water in his presence. Is it not strange that a Shaker priest should be enraged at and implicate the whole vicinity in such a base manner, for his barely being exposed in this one act, when it u as much practised in Ann Lee's day ? Stripping and going into the water, men and women together, was considered by her the most salutary means of destroying evil propensities, mani- festincr they had victory over all sin. This exhibition of James Farnham's character is nothing different from what every man must show who drinks at a Shaker fountain. Indecent and guilty as he is, it is but a mild comparison of those anti-christian principles on which Shakerism is founded. How can we expect morality or truth from such * See page 36. 13 liG RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERt'ENT a system of false and vile tenets as they propagate ? a sys- tem at war with all that is most valuable and sacred : a sys- tem that withholds all voluntary consent to all government, divine or legal; a system, the grand aim of which is the accumulation of wealth, and this by the unremitted toil of a population darkened by ignorance, and fettered in slave- ry ; a system which avowedly annihilates the sacred obliga- tions of the marriage compact, and thus sweeps from the earth the very basis of good society ; a system which sets at nought the tender and heaven-ordained relations of parent and child. Thus they harden the soul against the most amiable and lovely features of human nature. It has, in a multitude of instances, extended its baneful influence into the bosom of peaceful and happy families, overturning the fair order of things, and placed tumult and malignant pas- sions where love and tranquillity before reigned. " The leaders of this nefarious system hold- forth to the public, that among them there is an equality and a com- nmnity of goods, by means of which they deceive the un- suspecting. It has been manifest that those leaders, under their iniquitous and lawless power of a covenant, which they make their subjects sign, withhold from faithful laborers who leave them, all reward for years of hardship and toil ; per- mitting the victims of this abominable treachery to go into the wide world, poor, unpitied, and forlorn. And where is the man or woman, who has left the Shaker society, whose character those leaders would not wish to blast, and in whose wretchedness they do not rejoice, though this wretchedness is caused by the Shaker leaders? Oh ! their hearts are re- lentless as the grave, and their consciences are like ada- mant. Were it not so, those victims who prefer to wander destitute, rather than wear their galling yoke, would receive some recompense for their toil. " I have called the power of that detestable scrip, which the Shakers dignify with the title of Covenant, as iniqui- tous and lawless. If the hypocritical mask of this noted tnOM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 147 scrip were torn off, no court of equity would reOise those faithful laborers a fair compensation for their services. But if there is no remedy for those defrauded laborers, at our human tribunals, it does not lessen the turpitude of that avarice which is deaf to the loudest claims of justice. Is there any feature in this Shaker system which partakes of the benign influence of the gospel of Jesus Christ ? One of the objects of that blessed gospel is to enlighten the un- derstanding, and proclaim liberty to the captive, civil and spiritual. But this Shaker system is a combination of paganism, atheism, and a spurious gospel, by means of which every member of their community is made a lanced spy upon the rest. This fills the mind with fear, casts a gloom over the soul, seals the tongue with silence, though they endure wretched suffering ; hope lessens, thus paralyzing the energies of man, takes from the mind the last remnant of its inherent right, degrading its victim to the level of a slave. The subordinate members are taught that it is a duty to keep within the bounds of those revelations which their leaders blasphemously pretend to receive from Deity. No room is left for the exercise of the noble faculties of the soul, and thus man, by this system, is sunk to the level of a machine. Here their subjects are exposed to any ini- quity proposed, in all its direful forms. To expatiate upon this point, would require volumes to point out half the evils attendant upon it. When such principles prevail, can we expect any regard to be paid to the common feelings of humanity, or the ordinary dictates of justice? Why had man a soul implanted in him, if it was designed by the great Creator that its powers should thus be cramped by the relentless tyranny of his fellow-man ? " Shakerism is diametrically opposed to the spirit of the christian religion. If I can comprehend the language of that publication which professedly exhibits the doctrine of the Shaker faith, denominated " The Millennial Church," it contains an avowal of sentiment which constitutes the 1 8 RISK AND PROGRESS OF TUC SERPENT blasphemy against the Holy Ghost ; for it represents the Spirit of God and his gracious operations in the church, in the salvation of sinners, since the days of the apostles, as being the spirit of Antichrist. What is this less than the unpardonable sin? And what less could rationally be ex- pected from the worshippers of Ann Lee ? Their effects are in strict accordance with their false and vile principles which I have hinted at. They are designed, even on the holy sabbath, to bring into ridicule the exertions of the be- nevolent christian public throughout the world. They ca- lumniate and hold up for derision the best of men and the best works of the age, and it is my firm persuasion that they liberally foster and patronize those vile productions, in dif- ferent parts of our country, the great objects of which are to check the progress of missionary exertion,' to paralyze the efforts of every benign religious institution, to sow dis- cord among brethren, and by exciting unjust suspicion against the almoners of individual bounty, to lessen the great and glorious work of christian charity throughout the nation. " Here I would gladly relinquish any further demand upon the patience of the reader ; but justice to the names of many worthy individuals compels me to notice that slan- derous production addressed by James Farnham to the pub- lic, in which he charges the following individuals with be- ing ' first in baseness and malignity.' Those persons are, Gideon Martin, Esq., Samuel Jones, Esq., Williams Spiers, Jun., Capt. Stocking, Esq. Whiting, David Chapin, Levi Crittenden, and many others. Is it true that these men are the ' first in baseness and malignity ?' When the principles of common justice, rea.son, and the holy maxims of the gospel are applied in estimating those individuals, they are pronounced emphatically among the first in respectability, if property, if talents, if integrity and true piety, render men suitable subjects for the appellation. They are rnen of years and experience, and have had ample opportunity FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 149 of being eye and ear-witnesses of that degradation of the human character, which has been so often exhibited in the nameless indecencies, the blind fanaticism, and heart-chill- ing blasphemies of the devoted worshippers of Ann Lee. The palpable falsehood and baseness contained in the de- claration of James Farnham in relation to men of such un- blemished worth and acknowledged excellence, may serve to the world as a clue to the principle of moral action in Shaker elders. No matter how pure and irreproachable a character may be, the moment he makes an allegation that sheds light upon the origin of the abhorrent fountain of this false religion, what is done by those elders ? Do they, like men of integrity, honestly wish to know the truth, and willing to have the facts come to light 1 Do they truly ap- preciate character 1 Are the most solemn of all possible asseverations justly regarded by them? No, no. I appeal to the knowledge of every member of the community, and assert, that, instead of this only upright course of proceed- ing, they invariably outrage alL decency, and insult the common sense of mankind by an unblushing and reiterated denial of facts as clear as the light, and as immovable as the earth. " I have thus presented the special feature in the charac- ter of the Shaker leaders. To think of their enormities, excites, on the one hand, indignant feelings, and on the other, the kindly sensibilities of our nature for those who particularly suffer under that baseness, fill the heart with disgust. Repulsive as it is to delineate those facts, I am called to it as a duty. Divine Providence has enabled me to do it ; and by his grace I will endeavor to expose the residue of that mask which has been so long suffered to be. May its hideous visage be torn off! Then many a heart, that is now withered by this fanaticism, will expand with its rightful liberty. Then many a conscience, now weakened and sickened by this moral pestilence, shall rise in its vigor, and clearly distinguish between the pollution, the wretch- la* 150 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT edness and despair of this false religion, and the rational and holy joys of the true ; and the period is rapidly ap>- proaching when many, who are now stupified by a wicked indifference to the cause of truth, and whose tongues are now fastened, and whose co-operating efforts are withered by the influence of an unholy policy and self-interest, will become freed from the control of such unworthy motives, and will both speak and act for the suppressing this fanati- cism, and advancing the cause of truth as it is in Jesus. WILLIAM SPIERS." The following statement, taken from " The Voice of Truth," was made by one who had lived with the ministers oi" the Shakers at Whitewater Village, Ohio. From the Voice of Truth. Much respected Friend — I have directed one sheet to you, but feel dissatisiicd with my efforts. I have told so little of what has been done by those wolves dressed in sheep- skins, that J must try it again. I have told you that one deacon by orders from the king, called Father David, took another man's wife, and conveyed her out of the State. I will now tell you what was done by another church deacon ; his name was Daniel B. He was a married man when he joined the Shakers, and his wife was still living; and though his wife was there, he placed his inordinate affections upon a girl who had been raised there from infancy. Her name was Rhoda H. He seduced her, and after her condition was discovered, they compelled her to go away from Union Village. She went to live with her sister ; but after she had been there a short time, the Shaker elders grew very uneasy for fear her relatives would sue or persuade her to .sue, and recover something for llic maintenance of her child. To prevent that, something must be done quickly. Ac- cordingly, Daniel B. went to her sister's, and told Rhoda he had come to take care of her as he had promised. He put her clothes into his wagon, and told her to get in ; she FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 151 did so. He travelled some distance, and she knew not where he was going until he got within two miles of a Shaker village on Whitewater. He then told Rhoda that he was not going to marry her, nor do any thing else he had promised ; but she must get out of his wagon, and find her way alone to the Shakers at Whitewater. He put her out of his wagon at the road-side, a stranger in a strange place, without a friend to show her the way. This plot had been contrived between her seducer and the ministry at Union Village, in order to get her in among the Shakers at White- water, so that her relatives would have no chance to per- suade her to sue. She was received at Whitewater. " When her child was some five months old, her brother John came down from Union Village to see her. The ministry there had some fears lest her brother should per- suade her to sue. They drew up an article — I cannot re- collect all its contents, but the substance was, she was never to bring debt, blame or damage against any person residing at Union Village. The ministers, those who stand as medi- ators between God and man, told me to go down and tell Rhoda to come up into the meeting-house. I went and told her ; she followed me up stairs. Calvin Morrill read the quit-claim in her hearing. They told her to put her name to it. She said nothing. They told her again ; but she still kept her seat. They told her the third time to come to the stand and sign that paper, or she should leave that place, and look out for herself and child. She then walked to the stand, wiped the tears from her eyes, and put her name to the paper as she was ordered. A few weeks afi;er, there was a letter for Rhoda taken out of the post office, and instead of being given to her, it was opened and exam- ined by the elders ; but finding nothing in the letter but what they were willing she should read, they closed the letter again, warmed the seal, and pressed it together. After this was all done, they told me to go out and tell Rhoda to come up to their room. I did so, and she presented 152 KISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SERPENT. herself. The elders gave her the letter, telling her to open and read it, so that we might hear what was in it. I was horror struck at such conduct and such deception, but I durst not say one word, for I was a stranger to liberty of conscience, — a mere dupe under a man-fearing spirit — a slave to idolatry, and crushed down by a despotism set up in Warren county. It is no strange thing for those disci- ples of Ann Lee, or Standley, to break and destroy letters sent to their subjects— yet they talk of the good fruits they show forth ! Could our fellow-citizens have a fair state- ment of facts concerning the way they have treated their children, such an institution would not be permitted to exist. Yours with respect, J. Hollaway. Franklin, O., March 22, 1847. Thus may be seen the windings of the Serpent ; he lies, deceives, and leads astray the world of mankind. Not so with Jesus ; in him is righteousness and peace ; in him is justice, truth, mercy, and holiness. LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR, CONFIRMED BY TESTIMONY. ALSO THE DEATH OF TWO OF HER CHILDREN AMONG THE SHAKERS. The following history was written when the Author's grief was such that the sheets were stained with tears. The peculiar trials of the Author have, in some measure, attracted the public attention, which makes it necessary to introduce this history by certificates, that the reader may have access to the character of the author. Every considerate reader will remember, that in all his- tory, both sacred and profane, where a person is called to contend against evil, they must meet with all the opposi- tion that evil-doers dare attempt. It is therefore necessary for the author to bear in mind the words of the Apostle Peter, iv. 12 — 14, " Beloved, think it not strange concern- ing the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you : but rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy." The following testimonies are from respectable persons, taken when I was striving for a law of redress. The Sha- kers, by my Shaker husband, at this time, were trying to reproach me. 154 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. This may certify tliat I, the subscriber, have been acquainted •with Mrs. Mary M. Dyer from her infancy, and that I liave not known or heard of any immoral or irregular conduct or behavior of her. Joseph Peverly, Town Clerk* JVorthuniberland, JV. H., Sept. 4,18 17. I, Jeremiah Eames, of Northumberland, have been a neighbor and personally acquainted with Mrs. Mary M. Dyer ever since she was born, and in all the time, never heard or knew of her any im- moral conduct or bad economy. Jeremiah Eames, Justice of the Peace through tlte Stale of JVew Hampshire. I, Susannah, wife to the above Jeremiah Eames, do testify the same. Susannah Eames. September 6, 1817. I, James Lucas, Justice Peace of Northumberland, N. H., and Nancy, wife to the above James, do testify that we have been personally acquainted with Mrs. Mary M. Dyer, from lier child- hood until she was moved to the Shakers, and never heard an in- Btance against her character. James Lucas, Nancy Lucas. I, Jeremiah Eames, Jr., do testify, that I lived in Northumber- land, a near neighbor to Miss Mary Marshall, (now Jlrs. Mary M. Dyer, about twenty years,) afterwards in Stewartstown about sev- en years, until her husband moved her to the Shalvers ; and ever considered her a person of good character, of strict truth, a faith- ful wife, economical and industrious in her family, until she waa moved to the Shakers. Jeremiah Eames, Jr., Justice Peace of Steivarlsiown, JV. H. I, Betsy Tillotson, of Northumberland, do testify that I have been personally acquainted with Mrs. Mary M. Dyer the twenty-four last years previous to her husband's moving her to the Shakers, and can witness to the foregoing testimonies. Betsy Tillotson. I, Elisha Dyer, Town Clerk of Stewartstown, was acquainted with Mrs. Mary M. Dyer twenty years last, previous to her hus- band's moving her to the Shakers, and can witness to the fore- going certificates, Elisha Dyer. The above-named Betsy Tillotson is sister to Elisha Dyer, who are all the blood relations of Joseph Dyer in the Coos country. Joseph Peverly, Town Clerk of Northumberland, is the father of Joseph Dyer's first wife. She was brought up a near neiglibor, and was a schoolmate with the author, LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE ACTIIOR, 155 I, Eliphalet Day, have been acquainted witli Mrs. Mary M. Dyer ever since she was born, and also with her father's family. They were all respectable, and I never heard or knew tlie least thing against Mrs. Dyer's character, and can witness to the fore- going testimonies. Eliphalet Day. I, Thirza Day, wife to tlie above-named Eliphalet Day, do testify, tliat I nursed Mary Marshall when an infant, and have ever been acquainted with her, while she lived in the Coos country, and never knew or heard the least thing against her. She and all her father's family are respectable. After she was married to Joseph Dyer, she lived near me. Her Imsband was a drinking, unsteady man. After she talked of going to the Shakers, I saw her, and told her slie had better keep away from them ; if her husband would go, let him go. Thirza Day, Several gentlemen from the upper towns in Vermont, hearing that I was soon to appear before the General Court, from their charitable hearts, unknown to me, sent the fol- lowing : — Essex, May, 1818. We, the undersigned, have, for a number of years, been well acquainted with Mrs. Mary M. Dyer, wife of Joseph Dyer, and believe her reputation for truth and veracity is irreproachable, and her character, in every respect, fair and unspotted. We therefore, with pleasure, recommend her to that support, counte- nance and encouragement which a virtuous and unfortunate wo- man merits from a just, humane and enlightened community. 0. Ingham, Chief Judge. S. Gates, Side Judge. M. Rich, Side Judge. W. Gates, Clerk C. Court. J. Berry, State's Attor- ney. John Dean, High She?-!^. J. Cushman, Judge Probate. S. Cushman, Esq. Z. Perkins, Just. Peace. R. Cutler, Just. Peace. The length of the foregoing certificates, perhaps, has al- ready become wearisome to the reader — bear with me a little. The anxiety of the author for her sex, lest they should be hurled into the furnace of affliction, through which I have been passing, and my dear children, (two of whom have died in it,) shows a necessity of having my life and character established beyond a doubt, that truth may have ' its proper weight. Many certificates are omitted. 1, Mary Marshall, once Mary M. Dyer, was born Au- gust 7, 1780, in Northumberland, N. H. In time of the Revolutionary W ar, at tut chaos of trouble, when our 156 T.IFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOU. country was clothed with a robe of mourning, I was usher- ed into the world, and by certain scenes, in Providence, the most of my days have been veiled with sackcloth. My parentage was, first, Benjamin Marshall, from Scot- land, settled in Essex, Mass. — had four children, John, Edmund, Benjamin and Ezekiel. The sons of Benjamin were Joseph, William and Moses. William settled in Hampstead, N. H. Caleb, my father, was eldest son of William. My grandmother Marshall was Sarah Busvvell, of Salisbury, Mass. My mother's parentage by the Harrimans was, three brothers, from Scotland, Matthew, Leonard and Jonathan, settled in Rowley, Mass. Zeruiah, my mother, descended from Matthew. My grandmother Harriman was Mehitable Putnam, from Danvers, Mass. First from England was John, who came to this country with the Pilgrims ; escort- ed thereto by the self-denying and worthy Endicott. Gen. Israel Putnam,, of Revolutionary memory, was brother to my grandmother Harriman, hence uncle to my mother. The children of Caleb Marshall and Zeruiah Harriman, my parents, were Benjamin, Sarah, Abigail, Mary, Wil- liam, Caleb, Betsy, Susannah, Rhoda, Nancy, Fanny and Silas. Thus you see I am one of twelve children. Our kind parents were careful to procure a good education for us, thoutrh in a wilderness land. Ten out of the twelve have been school teachers, and all were favored with re- spect. From seven years old to sixteen, I possessed a poor state of health, which caused great anxiety and attention from my dear parents. When nine years old, I was brought to serious reflections on a future state. I had ever been taught to be honest and speak the truth. I continued un- der solemn reflections for a number of years, and endeav- ored to guard myself against all evil, and felt a quiet peace attend me. We lived where we seldom heard preaching, but had good instruction from our parents, and lived hap- pily together, under their protection. My ill health was LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 157 my only trouble. When sixteen years old, I went to rnjr friends near the sea-board, for my health, which soon recov- ered, and the busy world caught my attention ; my serious reflections seemed to leave me, and I sought for happiness in amusements — had much favor among the circle of youth, and had nothing to mar my happiness, only being far from my father's Himily. I was now at my grandfather Mar- shall's, in Hampstead, N. H. He had been much of a business man. Previous to the Revolution, he had been a commanding officer in the king's regiment. He was also a wealthy merchiiit. He had al r^e firm where he lived, and owned rights of land in a number of towns. While in this situation, the Americans began to be dissatisfied with the British oppression. The Stamp Act began to arouse the inhabitants. He soon exclaimel, " We can be an in- dependent nation." He renounced his gold-laced coat and hat ; he would wear nothing but home manufacture, and abolished all costly ornaments in his family, of apparel or furniture, and declared himself independent of foreign powers. His influence had a good eflect. In the time of the Revolution, he, w.th my fat ler, d.d much for the soldiers and the suffering inhabitants in the Goes country. My grandfather continued an unflinching patriot through life. He was large and robust, had large features, and much was said about him, becauss he wore his gray-cloth clothes. He had a str: nr, persevering mind. He lived ninety-six years, four months and ten days. , His last counsel, when he parted with his friends, was, " You must be honest and always speak the truth, let your circumstances be as they will. Truth and justice will carry you through all difficulty." This he enjoined on me after the Shikers had taken my children from me. I waa then in much tr uble. I felt thankf il to the dear oid father, though it was an old counsel renewed. At the time T went to Hampstead for my health, I staid two years, and mi Mu hive been well settled fi;!- lile in that 14 158 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. town with a young man, who was much approbated. He owned a handsome situation in the centre of the town; but I was anxious to see my father's family, and in February, 1798, I returned to Northumberland. I was thankful to see my native hills and home. The young gentleman was to make me a visit the next fall. Soon after I returne 1, Joseph Dyer, a widower, came to my father's, and offered himself to me. Mr. Dyer was from one of the first families in Canterbury, Conn., both in wealth and respectability. His father was dead, and Jo- seph received of his father's property a handsome sum. Repurchased a farm and settled himself in the Coos coun- try. I knew nothing against Mr. Dyer, but I did not want a widower, and I felt partially engaged to the gentleman at Hampstead. Whenever I saw Mr. Dyer, he appeared so- licitous, and made many flattering proposals. He spoke of having a good property and every thing ready for a house-keeper, and nothiiis: to prevent future prosperity and happiness, only my refusal to be his companion for life. He spoke of an attachment to me previous to his former marriage. I considered it mere talk for pastime, though I did not expect he was lying to deceive me. He frequently came, and was as often refused. At length, he said, " Un- less you will be married to me, I am undone ; my affec- tions were fi.xed on you before I was married, and they are still, and unless you will consent to be my wife, I will sell my property, and rove the country during my life." He appeared in much trouble, and my heart was aroused to pity. I thought he stood respectable, and possessed a good home, and if his affections were permanent, he would treat me kindly ; and a female, when she is married, and leaves her father's home, has need of a kind companion ; further, I thought he was capable of doing well, and if it was in my power to make him happy, it was my duty, and perhaps this was the way to make us both happy. Accordingly, I wrote a letter to the gentleman at Hampstead, to know if 1 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 159 could be released, and that I thought it would be more pleasant living in the country of my nativity, &-c. I gave the letter to Mr. Dyer to be mailed. I afterwards learned that he kept my letter, and wrote one to answer his own mind. I soon received a letter back, requesting to know whether I wrote the one sent. I wrote another, informing the gentleman that I did, and gave my reasons again why. This letter I also handed to Mr. Dyer, in the greatest con- fidence, expecting it put into the mail, and, to my sorrow, this letter was kept back, and another sent, which, I think, was a base one, from the answer I received. I was young, and did not understand these things ; I had no intention of treating the gentleman improperly, and did not know what to do. My bashful heart was too timid to go to my parents, and tell them the whole story. I was in trouble, and can say, from this act of treachery, I can trace, through my life, continual sorrow and troubles, and have only found rest in Jesus, my Savior. I afterwards learnt that the gentleman at Hampstead, by this deception, received a lasting wound. The reader can see, in the sequel, that I have paid tenfold in sorrow for my ignorance and folly in this, my greatest sin I ever committed. I was married to Joseph Dyer, October 11 , 1799, by Rev. Selden Church, of Northumberland. I was moved to Stratford, at my husband's home. I soon found he had de- ceived me in every statement he had made. He had no- thing provided for a living, and had a cold, unfinished house. I soon found he was a drinker — he would have rum, if he hud neither bread nor meat ; and as the weather grew cold, I found our condition miserable. He had spent his property and could not pay his debts, and we were con- stantly harrassed by sheriffs. He had commanded a troop a number of years, and made large treats ; by such means he made himself popular, at the same time, sinking himself to poverty and ruin. 1 think it would have been better for }iim to have been a vagabond, than to have had a family to ICO LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. destroy. It wrings my heart to retrace the sorrowful scenes I have experienced in consequence of being Joseph Dyer's wife. The winter after I was married, Mr. Dyer went to Port- land to market, with a load for a span of horses, and had drove for him a yoke of fut oxen. He was to be gone ten or twelve days; he was gone twenty-six days, then came home horse;)ack with a borrowed horse of my brother's. He had tired out both of his horses, broke his sleigh, and spent his load. I felt sorrowful and wept, for I saw that rum was his ruin, but I felt that I was married, and must make the best of it. The ne'ct summer, Mr. Fyer, with Jennison, our hired man, went four miles to a rum-shop. I was left alone through the night. I was not easy to be in the room where his first wife died. The next morning Jennison said, " Dyer got so drunk I could tv t get him home, and I put him in Mr. Piatt's barn." Mr. Dyer came home sick, he could not swallow the lightest s^nel without iiukinT ; he said he thought he should die. I fed him and tended upon him a; I would upon a child. C;in any one realize my anguish, when seeing wh it I had to depend upon '? In about six weeks from this time, the 24th of August, 1800, my father, Caleb Marshall, was buried, and Caleb Marshall Dyer, my eldest son, was born the next day. Mr. Dyer sometimes rebuked me for not stopping him when he was going to the rum-shops, and said, " You know when I get drinking, I get so crazy I don't know what I do." He did pay bills of expense for the company, rr do any thing they wished him. I have assisted him in paying hundreds of dollars of such debts, and have strove to cover his faults, knowing that the good character of a husband, was an honor to his wife; but all is gone ! ! the truth may now be declared. After he got over his sickness, for a few weeks, he at- tended to his farming business; he was smart in work, and LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 161 could do well if he would. His old companions soon came again for him ; I saw he was going, and called him to ano- ther room. I asked him if he rememhered what he had requested of me about his going with those men. He said, " O, you are afraid 1 shall get drunk, are you?" turned short about, and went off. After this, in the fall of ISOl, a number of men came to our house in the evening. I Wcis sick, and retired to bed. After supper, Mr. Dyer sent our girl, Eliza Page, to bed with me. This company became so rummy, that they be- gan to break things ; they stove pans, platters, and dishes of all sorts ; they made such noises, that I became terrified and faint, and could not speak. Eliza was frightened, and screamed ; some of them came in ; she said she thought I was dying. Mr. Dyer came to the bed, saw my condition, and said, "This is too bad — I had great difficulty in get- ting this wife, and I ought to treat her better." Oh ! I thought, what a miserable condition ! On the 6th of January following, I was confined with my second child, (Betsy,) my dear and only daughter. The following is a statement from the above-named Eliza Page. She is a member of the Methodist society. " I, Eliza Page, of Lancaster, N. H., do testify, that I was acquainted with Mrs. Mary M. Dyer in her father's family ; they were respectable, and her character ever vir- tuous. The most of the time, for the first two years after her marriage, I lived in Mr. Dyer's family. I know Mrs, Dyer wns an industrious, faithful wife, mild and patient in her disposition, and always pleasant to her husband, and treated him with respect. I never knew or heard the least thing against her character. I have often heard Mr. Dyer say, she was one of the best of wives ; and after he went to the Shakers, I heard him speak greatly in her praise — said she was pious, and much esteemed among them. Mr. Dyer is a man naturally void of tender care for his family ; was formerly given to dissipated habits, which caused him 162 LIKE AND SUFFERINGS OF fUK AUTHOR. to neglect them. lie freciuently spent bis time in carous- ing, leaving his family in indigence, and sometimes his wife sick. He ran to great expense on account of his career. I once observed to Mrs. Dyer, that unless she resented such things, I would not assist her. She replied, ' You do not know what you would do, unless you was in my situation.' She ever ai)peared blind to his faults, and I have reason to believe that innocence is injured when the Shakers attempt to defame her. Eli/a Paoe." Lancaster, Coos, ss. May 25, 1819. Sworn before me, William Lovejoy, Just. Peace. In April, 1803, I with my two babes being exposed to the small pox, was obliged to go thirteen miles to a pest- house, at an obscure place in the woods, at a time [ was very feeble, had no nurse, and my children very sick. I was in doubts of my son's recovery. After all hud retired, a sick child on each of my arms, I was left to my contem- plations. I was in agt ny, and entreated Gcd to have mercy on me, and if consistent with his will, to spare my child. God in his character appeared my friend. The rage of the disorder soon abated, and in a few days we were able to leave the pest-house. I now felt it duty to check my hus- band, if possible ; my mind was solenm, and every thing that tended to a gay life was disgusting, I had a desire to attend meetings. My husband was opposed to a serious life, and strove to have me attend parties and balls with him. I could not unite in such mirth. They went to great ex- cess in c< nsequence of drinking ardent spirit. Once we were invited to jro tliree miles to eit apples rnd have some new cider, as they had brought some from the lower towns. This was a cheat to deceive mc. We went, had some ap- ples and cider, and was t icn persuaded to oo to another house a short distance. When we g(.t there, I found a party With rum aul a hddler. I retired t • an adjoining room wita Sv me aged people, for which they called me proud and LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OP THE ACTHOR. 163 Bcornful. Mr. Dyer got so crazy, it was with difficulty we got liiin home. He never got nie among them ug.in. The following will show some of the atHictinjr scenes I passed through in consequence of Mr. Dyer's neglect in his business. Soon after we were married, he was sued for a debt he owed. He went fifty miles, and settled with the creditor, by giving him a new note, enlarged. Soon after, he was sued again, and this course continued until I found he did not pretend to pay a debt, unless it was on a writ or an ex- ecution. I complained not, but was in continual trouble to know myself introducing a family into the world under -6uch circumstances, and had it not been for the disgrace of parting from a husband, I should have left him and gone to my father's. One case I will mention, as a specimen. The sheriff came to the house, and I soon learned that Mr. Dyer was sued for a wooden bottle, which he had borrowed to get rum in, and he paid five dollars to settle it. Things continued thus, and I saw nothing but poverty and destruction before me, and that we must suffer unless I entered into his business, which was unpleasant for me to do. My husband was not willing to work in the field alone, and kept hired help. His manner of life kept him from home much of the time; he would leave home only for a few hours, to settle some sheriff business, but would get into company, and stay three or four days, and I was obliged to see to the business out doors and in the house. Mr. Dyer, when he came home, would bring the marks of his doings, sometimes by having bruises on himself, and sometimes with his clothes badly torn. Once when he came home, he had his great coat torn down the back, and in separate parts. Another time he got so rummy, he fell from his horse, and tore his pantaloons ; when he got to the tavern, he burned them, and came home with only his under-clothes. I kept a hired girl to do my heavy work. I could make 164 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. all sorts of garments for men or women, and thus pay the girl for her work, and pay much toward our men's labor. After I got accustomed to Mr. Dyer's absence, his being from home was not so much trouble ; but my fears were that he was running into debt, or that he was in jail. Did you, reader, ever experience any such afflictions I In June, 1804, my second son was born, who was named Orville. I now reasoned with my husband that we ought to avoid every thing that was disgraceful, be prudent in ex- penses, and we should soon be able to pay cur debts. He appeared to have a desire to be steady. We had an oppor- tunity to exchange our farm for one in Stewartstown, with near three hundred dollars in balance. We moved in the spring of 1805. It was a good farm, but near theCanadas. The balance money assisted in paying our debts. Most of our neighbors were steady ; but my husband kept spirituous liquors for sale, and the inhabitants in Canada, for fear of arrests (as they fled for debt) sometimes chose the sabbath to visit our house for the purpose of solacing themselves with liquors, when drunkenness and contention often ensu- ed. Mv husband sometimes united with them in drinkins, until he would be incapable of making charge of their bills, or of governing the company. I was obliged to go into the room, and settle his business, which made me feel as solemn as death. The rummers would soon leave me. At this time there was a law past imposing a large fine on any man who had gambling in his house. Some Cana- dians, with others, came for gambling — at first, out doors, and came in for liquor ; next time, they played cards in the house. I desired Mr. Dyer to stop them, who said he could not, as they plainly told him to mind his own business, when he had asked them to stop. I told him I would step them, and though he was fearful they would rage against me, yet he consented. I watched my opportunity, caught the cards, threw them in the fire, and left the room. In April, 1306, I was the mother of my third son, Jerrub LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 165 Dyer. I contemplated great happiness, if my husband would reform, and for this, I frequently asked the Lord's mercv. Mr. Dyer continued in this way until he had a remarka- ble dream — he was terrified, and awoke me. He said he thought it was a warning for him to prepare for death, and that his life was to be short. I told him it was a warninc for him to forsake sin. He replied, " I know I have wasted much of my time and property in vain company, and novr see I am a sinner ; for the future, I shall do it no more." I felt thankful to hear this. Soon after this dream. Elder Quimby, a Baptist mission- ary, came to town, and I was requested a privilege for him to preach at our house. I hesitated, fearing my husband would be offended, as he had been very rigid in debarring me from attending meetings ; but on second thought I con- sented. Mr. Dyer was absent, but came home in sermon time. He appeared pleased, invited the minister to tarry over night. On Mr. Dyer's invitation, the minister preach- ed again at our house to a large congregation, when Mr. D. was so sensible of his sins, that he shook with agitation. He arose from his seat, and said, " I must get up or fall to the floor." He acknowledged what a sinner he had been, and that his intent now was to live a better life and seek for pardon. This had a powerful effect on the people, and I felt as though I could praise God for it. This was in October, 1S06. Our home and company were now changed from drinking and swearing to reading and praying; our house was a home for ministers and christians. 1 here ob* serve, that among all the foregoing train of evils, (and but few of them have been named,) Mr. Dyer treated me r**- epectfully when he was sober ; there never was an angry sentence passed between us until he joined the Shakers. Why then ? I answer, because the first work of Shakerism ia for a hu.sband to hate his wife and children ; this, of course, brings trouble. 166 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AfTHOR. After Mr. Dyer became more steady, we were both en- gaged in paying our debts. We sold our old farm for six- teen hundred dollars, bought a new one of two hundred acres, to which we moved in 1808. In February, 1809, I was the mother of my fourth son, named Joseph, being my fifth child. By selling our farm we settled our debts, lived on a good farm with a good stock of cattle, and had besides four hun- dred acres of land in the centre of the town, intended for farms for our sons. Mr. Dyer ceased in his drinking, and appeared much engaged in the religious cause ; but his unstable mind was not changed. He said he thought he was called to preach to the world of sinners, and indulged his natural propensity for roving. I did not oppose this, as I hoped he would be the means of reforming his old com- panions. My little sons now as-listed me in my cares — the eldest, when nine years old, took more care of our family than his fatlier did. As Mr. Dyer thought he was called to preach, he said he would no moreencumber himself with a family, as it was a sin for ministers so to encumber them- selves, and that he should yet see a people who had all things in common. This he named to his brethren. In Autrust, 1809, he invited me to go and hear Elder Putnam preach, saying he was a good minister. I attended, imd can bless the day I heard his voice. His discourse contained much instruction, which strengthened my faith. The same day, Mr. Dyer, myself, Mrs. Frizzle, and twt) Miss Dennetts, were baptized. As there w;;s no church established near us, we stood single characters. Mr. Dyer officiated as our teacher except when the Methodists preached. After a time, my husband informed ine that Elder Put- nam and Elder Moulton were in Canaan, an adjoining town, and would preach on Sunday — invited me to go and hear them — we went. The third meeting was at .si( ^es Mor- rill's, Esq. After service. Elder Putn im proposed to have all who felt a determination to be faithful in the cause of LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 107 Christ, and were wiUing to watch over each other as the Scriptures direct, to rise up. Mr. Dyer was first up, th3n Moses Morrill, Mary, his wife. Join James, Elizabeth James, Rebecca Morrison, Rebecca Dennett, Hannah Weeks, Abigail Weeks, Mary M. Dyer, and two young Miss Dennetts, (since dead.) We to sk hold of hinds; Elder Putnam counted us, and said, " Here are twelve, the same number Jesus had for iiis disciples ; or.e of his was a traitor. I hope there is no Judas here." [Joseph Dyer has been a Judis.] Eider Pu n m wis now twenty-one years of age, yet he seemed like a father. I think a certain pas- sage of Scripture was fullilled in him, where it siys, " Wis- dom is gray hairs unto men, and an unspotted life is old age." He began to preach when fourteen years old. He appeared solemn as eternity, and conviction folbwed his preaching. Oi5r names were placed on paper, and the paper given to Ml. Dyer, who had the watch care of us. At length my husband's mind urew dissatisfied with having the c ire of a family, and he wanted to give himself up to travelling and preaching. He was, many time , anxious to have nie go witli him on his tours ; but my business was at home. Once, he said so much that I could go, and he had prom- ised some of his acquaintances t'lit I should come, that I went with him thirty miles into Ca.iadi, where he had an appointment. None went with us. I was dissatisfied at leaving my family so lon^, and offered to come home alone, before his tour was out. He shortened his time, and came home with me. I never went ao-ain on such an occasion. Mr. Dyer was anxious to have tl'e professors put their properly in one jiint interet, then ministers' f milies would be provided for, while they, themselves, were called out to preach. I told him I had rather take care of my own fam- ily. My denr children were every thing to me. Mr. Dyer kept this scheme the subject among our friends, which soon brought us into a furnace of atllictions. I thought 168 LIFE AND SUFFEltlNGS OF THE AUTHOR. tnys.lf y happy while my husband was any ways regu- lar, but now, this common-stock scheme introduced Sha- kerism, which brought our family into awful ruin. I think Adam and Eve found no greater change when they were driven from the garden of Eden, into a land of briars and thorns, than I did, when I found myself and family entan- gled with Shakerism. I kept my trials as much hid as possible, in hopes of a reconciliation. The next and last time I saw Elder Putnam was now. He heard of our trou- ble with the Shakers, and had come to help us out of the snare ; but in vain. He manifested much anxiety for our welfare. He left the place, and I never saw him more. Hfe is since dead. The Shakers, under my husband's name, have endeavored to throw stigma on Elder Putnam, enforcing on their subjects that there are no good ministers but their own. The judgment day^will declare the truth, and condemn all liars. The following statement is made because the Shakers have published some falsehoods, calculated to deceive those who have read them : — ^ * We, the undersigned, testify and say. that we were neighbors to Joseph and Mary Dyer during the r residence in Stewartstown, N. H. They were tn'o of the first five persons baptized in the reformation in 1SC9. They were united with us in christian fellowship, under the adminis- tration of Elder Benjamin Putnam, a worthy brother, and faithful laborer in the gospel while here. Joseph and Mary walked worthy of their vocation wherewith they were called, and in rea' harmony together, i nt 1 the circum- stance of the introduction of the Shakers' doctrine, which was as follows : — " We consider Mr. Dyer the first cause of t'lrt doctrine being introduced in this place. For years, he was anxious to have the professors put their property in one joint inter- est. After Mr. Crocker, a mini.ster, came here, he united with Mr. Dyer in this scheme. He went to the State of LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR, 169 New York for his family, and then went to the Shakers at New Lebanon, as he afterwards stated, and made inquiry how to lay a foundation for a church in this place, when the Shakers induced him to believe they were right. In stead of fetching his family, as we expected, he brought some Shaker books, and a writing from them, encouraging others to go to them. He said he had joined them, and that they had got a church established in gospel order, therefore it would be unnecessary to establish again. We were much disappointed, and could not fellowship his doctrine. We had highly esteemed him. He had been but a short time in the place — came a stranger, but was much favored as a preacher. He baptized upwards of thir- ty persons while here ; and the only offence he gave while among us was, joining the Shakers. This brought a grief on us, which was enlarged by the said Dyer's uniting with him in those principles. Shortly after, Mr. Crooker left the place, and has not since returned. After a few months, we received a letter from him in New York, stating that he hiid lived with the Shakers until he had found them de- ceivers, and had found himself in Babylon's darkness, and under the bondage of Egypt, and that the Lord had again delivered him, for which he was thankful ; then desired us to overlook his missteps in goin^r to the Sliakers; also, that he was again living with his family. " We have seen Dyer's narrative, which appears to be written with an intent to injure the innocent. We consider it without foundation. From a constant acquaintance with the family, we know much of it is false, and believe it all libellous. We never heard the least intimation of any kind against Mrs. Dyer's character, while she lived in this coun- try. She was from a respectable family. We ever con- sidered her a virtuous neighbor, a faithful wife, and a ten- der mother. She never journeyed with a minister, only her own husband, who sometimes preached. Mr. Dyer ever appeared to respect her ; and after he became religious, 15 170 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. it was considered that they lived in as great union and harmony as ever persons did, until he joined the Shakers, which, we think, caused her great trouble. We have, since Mr. Dyer moved his family to the Shakers, heard him say, * Mary was very pious.' We consider her worthy to be commended into any family, or Christian society. Elder Putnam is a man with whom we have had some acquaint- ance and information ; his character is irreproachable. Rebecca Morrison, John James, Rebecc.\ Dennett, Elizabeth James, Mary Morrill, Hannah Weeks, Abigail Weeks." Sworn before me, ' Moses Morrill, Just. Peace. I, the subscriber, do testify that the above declaration is true. Moses Morrill. The foregoing subscribers are the only remaining ones in Canaan, who were first banded together, Lord, help the truth, that people may be prepared to meet and avoid those deceivers. In my deepest and most severe trials, I have never lost confidence in God as my friend — knowing he has the pre-eminence, and will render a just reward. A meeting was appointed at our house, at the time Mr. Crooker came from New York, where Mr. Dyer spoke to the people, and, to the astonishment of all present, he read the Shakers' letter, and said he should go immediately to see them. Some of our Christian friends present had previously lived near a Shaker village, at Canterbury, N, H. They warned Mr. Dyer of the calamity attending it, and cautioned him to keep from them, saying, " Every man joining them with a family and property, would be ruin- ed in both." This was the first information I ever had of the Shakers. I reasoned that we were happy as we were, and saw no cause for going to the Shakers to be better. But all had no effect on Mr. Dyer ; go he would, and was anxious to have me go, saying, "If there is deception among them, you will sooner see it than I can." Accord- LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 171 ingly, we went, but not without my fears. My mind was so gloomy when going, I persuaded one of my sisters to go with me. When we arrived in sight of the Shaker village at En- field, N. H., Mr. Dyer said he wanted no farther evidence than sight of their village to prove to him that the Sha- kers were right. We got to Enfield on Friday. My sister and I were shown into a room by ourselves, and were not con- sulted on the subject of religion. I scarcely saw Mr. Dyer while there. Sunday, we went to meeting. I felt so bad, I went out. 1 then told my sister that the Shakers had a hard spirit — it was not the spirit of Jesus. Sunday after- noon, my sister and I were requested to go to another build- ing. When we got there, men and women were standing in a room singing. Soon they began to dance, when, of a sudden, Mr. Dyer came from another room, and mingled in the dance with the rest. The Shaker women attempted to crowd me in among them. I told them. No — I should not — it would be sin for me. This was the first knowledge I had of Mr. Dyer's joining them. I had been in some of their dwellings, and seen children, but saw no mother tak- ing care of them. I never knew, until then, but what the Shakers had families of children, and took care of them as other people did. When we were called to tea, I went, and was seated, but my heart was full. I ate not a mouth- ful of food, and slept not a minute for the night. I ate nothing in the morning. I saw my trouble, and wept. My sister said to me, " Don't grieve so, you will be crazy." Mr. Dyer came in, and asked me why I felt so bad. I told him he little thought what he was going into ; that I saw no mothers taking care of their children ; that I was not will- ing any should have care of my children but myself, and that I thought it an unfit pi ice for people to go that had families. He went out. Soon I was sent for to go into a room where the leading men were. They then told me they did not want my children ; that they had as many as 172 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. they wanted the care of, and as to property, they had enough. It was their choice I should take the care of my own children. This statement was only to pacify me for the present. The Shakers treated us well as visitors; but I told them that I wanted to know their foundation as Christians, before I could believe on them : but this was kept concealed. Mr. Dyer, on our return, intended to set up a society in Stewartstown. He set up their ceremonies and dances in our house. I did not join in their dance, and could not believe with him, and was distressed at the thought of a separation in religious opinion. I endeavored to convince him of their errors, by the Scriptures ; but my reasonings were in vain. He said unless I would be a Shaker, he would carry the children to the Shakers, and leave me. My sorrows were great. It was the first time I ever knew him dissatisfied with me. I offered to live with him as a slave, if he would let me live with my children. But no. He left me weeping, and went half a mile to a field to work. Oh ! my sorrows at the thoughts of being sepa- rated from my family. I wept for hours. He returned — asked Polly, our girl,* how I was ; she said she did not know as there was any alteration. He afterwards said that when he was coming to the house, he did not dare look out at the sides of the path into the woods, fearing that he should see me dead, and that my trouble was so great that I had hung myself, and that he felt so bad he could not work. I was so sick that I did not sit up a day for six weeks. I heard him talking, and came into the room. He asked me how my mind was. I told him I had concluded to stay at home ; if he saw fit to go to the Shakers, I could not avoid it ; if I went, I could not have his care and pro- tection unless the ler.ders should see fit, and perhaps be separated from my children, and if I was not contented to * Mr. Dyer said he would send our girl to the Shakers, unbeknown to her parents. I sent her father word, and he came and took her home< LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OP THE AUTHOR. 173 Stay, my friends would reject me, on account of going to the Shakers ; and I should be left destitute, without protec- tion and childless, without home or friend ; my grief was almost insupportable. He then said if I would go to the Shakers, he would ever provide for and protect me, and I should have the care of our children ; and in case either of us were discontented, he would have three children, and I two. To this, with his riglit hand raised, he called God and angels to witness. This removed my fears. I had confidence in him as a Christian, and believed what he said. I thought I had rather go to the Shakers, and live with my family, than to have my children carried from me. After this, I strove to gain every favorable idea of the Shakers, that I might be contented when there. I gave up my fears of being separated from my family, which removed the greatest sorrow. As to the Shaker principles and conduct, I knew nothing of them, and could only look at their ap- pearance. I did not know they relied on another Savior than Jesus Christ. After my fears were taken away, I became quiet in my feelings, and had a more favorable opinion of them. I told my husband they might be right ; that they appeared neat and plain, as Christians ought. I thought people without families might be Shakers, but those who had families ought to take care of their children themselves. When Mr. Dyer found there was a possibility of my believing on them, he appeared displeased, and left reading the Shaker bible. Until now, probably, he had not realized the loss of his wife, but thought it in his power to live with his family or be a Shaker, at pleasure. He confessed he had never been so strong in the faith as he had pretended, and that he had threatened to carry the children away merely to try my fViith. I told him 1 was relieved in my mind, and it might be the relief was by believing on the Shakers. He replied, the Lord had delivered my mind — that I possessed the spirit of Christ, and not the Shaker spirit ; for he had 15* 174 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR, not felt happy since he joined them. I was amazed, and told him he was so changeable, I could not depend upon him, and he had owned he had talked contrary to his own belief; it now appeared it was the Shakers' cross that thus enraged him. I begged iiini to be mild until we knew more about them, fearing if he should leave their faith, and afterwards return to th^m, their malignity would be severe. He grew more enraged, and said if I did not give up my belief in the Shakers, I should go out of the family. I knew it was not the will of God to leave my children ; and in the last of August we mutually gave up the idea of being Shakers, and become harmonious. Though we had become harmonious in our family, still that evil was lurking in Air. Dyer's mind. In February, 1811, he went to Portsmouth ou business; from there he went out of his way to make a visit to the Shakers in Al- fred, Me. He returned home a Shaker. The changes had been such, I contended no more, and by his request we wrote them a friendly letter. This letter was written on a single sheet of paper — Mr. Dyer wrote on one side of the sheet, and I on the other, as he directed me. We wrote to Edmund Longer and John Lyon, two leaders of Enfield Shakers, and superscribed to Nathaniel Draper, one of their business men. This letter, with the superscription and what Mr. Dyer wrote, torn off, was brought before the le- gislature at Concord to convict me that I was in favor of the Shakers. Such were the windings of the Serpent at this time. I then knew nothincr atrainst the Shakers ; but afterwards by sad experience I learned their deception. In the fall of 1811, two Shakers, John Lyon and Moses Jewett, came to our house. Their errand was kept a secret from me, whereby I was deceived as follows : — In the fol- lowing November there was sleighing, and my husband seemed anxious to visit his mother and friends in Connecti- cut, and said he could carry two of our children — Betsy, nine years old, and Orville seven. They could visit our LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 175 friends on the way, then leave them at the Shakers until he returned, then bring them home ; perhaps they would learn something unpleasant, which might satisfy him not to move from home. But when he returned, instead of bringing the children back, as I expected, he had left them, and brought orders for me to come down immediately with the other^children. This was sad news, and I found it was a plan laid by those visiting Shakers, thus to get some of my children, and then they could draw me and the others into their snare. He brought word, further assuring me that we should have a comfortable habitation, and other necessaries for the femily, separate from the Shakers. Mr. Dyer was directed to stay at Stewartstown, while our hired man was to go with me and the remaining children. I saw the craft, and was in much trouble about our absent children, and entreated my husband to go and fetch them back. This he would not do, but said he should certainly move down as soon as he could settle his business. I was unwilling to go, unless he would promise, in case I was dissatisfied, I might return with all my children. To this he consented. I had fears, and persuaded another sister at Oiford to go with me. My sisters know some of my afflictions ; but I don't give their names — it is enough for the Shakers to persecute me, without smiting my dear sisters. When we arrived at Enfield, I found my little son Orville sick, though not confined — he was desirous to return with me. While he was telling his complaints to me and my sister, Lucy Lyon overheard us, laid hold of him and drag- ged him out of the room. My sister shed tears. I had expected he would have returned with me. I can tell wives and mothers never to believe a Shaker husband, for they will lie. I found no house prepared for us, or any thing else. The Shakers would not let me have the two children that had been left, but said, as their father had left them, I should not take them. I then asked for the outside gar- ments for my other children, that I could send them back 176 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. to Orford witli my sister. I thought I could then get the others, but, to my astonishment, was refused, and told I might go home without my children, and, if I was not con- tented to live without them, I might come back and live with the Shakers. I told them I thought it was sufficient time for the children to be there when we came to take care of them. Their rulers talked harshly to me They wondered why I came there with my natural and carnal affections, thinking to carry my children back. I was the most abominable creature on earth. Edmund Looger, a leader, stamped his foot, and told me not to presume it aofain. I told him I should not ; for I thought if I could once get my children at home, they would not get me there again. He continued in such harsh terms, that 1 wept bitterly. The .'cene was so distressing, my adult sister wept like a child. I saw that my husband was confederate in the scheme to thus confine my children, and thereby induce me to move to the Shakers. [They had told Mr. Dyer that he had a gift to preach the gospel, and had out-travelled his brethren in faith ; and if he could get his family there, the Shakers would take care of them, and he might travel and preach. This flattered his vanity.] They saw I was determined to send back, by my sister, those children which I had carried there. They called me up stairs, and were more pleasant, and said, " Mary, you shail hu\e your children, we don't blame you for loving thetu ; Lut it is very cold to-day, wait until it is more plea- sant, and you shall have all your children, and carry them Lome, and if your sister wishes to go home, she can." I told her I was to have all my children, and carry them home, when it was more pleasant. The Shakers fitted out our waiter, and he carried my sister to Orford. I thought it was better to part in friendship than to have disaffection, and I had no idea that such a professedly pure people were lying to nie ; Lut this was a bright cloud before destruction. LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OP THE AUTHOR. 177 While Taylor, our man, was gone with my sister, I was in- rited to go to another family, for a visit. We staid in the evening. In the morning, my two little ones were not to be found. When I looked for them in bed, they were not there, they were gone, I knew not where. O Lord, deal with the Shakers. They had seen that I was determined to have my children. The next thing was to lie and deceive me, then conceal them from me. The more I saw of the Shakers, the worse I felt. My heart was full of grief My dear babes were gone. What could I do? I saw no way for relief All I could say was in vain. They had accomplished their purpose, and glo- ried in their victory. They must be called to an account at the judgment. The Psalmist says, speaking of the Lord, " Thou hast a mighty arm : Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgment are the hab- itations of thy throne : Mercy and truth shall go before thy face." Such is tlie character of the true God — not false- hood. Many mothers have suffered by such conduct. When I was about to leave, the leaders told me not to expose their treatment about my children — if I did, I should fare the worse. My fears were, that they would carry them where I should never again see them. I returned to Stewarts- town with a heavy heart, and saw no relief for me, nor for my children. My trouble became insupportable. I was sick, and delirious at times. I did not know our house nor family. I well remember how things seemed to me one evening. Mr. Dyer came to the bed, and commanded me to tell what troubled me. He said he had seen, for many days past, that I was in trouble. He raised me up. I told him I dare not tell him, for he would tell the Shakers, and I should be undone forever. He stamped his foot, and commanded me to tell, or I was a ruined woman. I wrung my hands, and said, My two little ones are gone, I know not where. The Shakers lied to me, and stole them when 178 LIF^ AND SUFFERINGS OP THE AUTHOR. I thought they were in bed. They had promised I should have them, and fetch them home ; but they carried them off, and told me if I said any thing to you about it, they would make it worse for me. I told him I could not live without my children, and I could not live with the Shakers, and be treated so abusively. They called me a mean creature to make such ado about the children. If they abuse me, they will abuse my children. I cannot live so. Mr. Dyer affectionately said that he would go with me to the Shakers, and I should have the charge of my children ; he would talk to the Shakers, and they should treat me better, and as soon as he could settle his business, and change some of our property, for a farm near them, he would provide for the family, and help me take care of them as usual. I was glad of this encouragement. He wished me not to tell of my trials to the neighbors, for it micrht displease the Shakers if they should hear of it. With anxiety I had my things packed, and felt to hasten forward to my children. We arrived at Enfield, the last of Jan., 1813. I was placed in a family of Shakers, and they pretended to be fixing a house for our family, in Leba- non. They treated me kindly for a few months, and, in April, brought my children to me. They had been sick. They apologized for their conduct, and said that they pos- sessed the same religion that I did. I could not understand about Ann Lee. They said she was only a founder of a denomination, the same as Wesley or Penn, and others. They siid the only difference between them and other Christians was, that they had come out from a wicked world, and were separate from sin and sinners. They be- haved with such propriety, I really thought they were a good people. They requested me to bear testimony of the way of grace. They said, as I had been accustomed to converse upon the subject of religion, I could speak better to the understanding of unbelievers than they could. While I was in the family, my desire was to please them, LIFE AND SUFFEniNGS OF THE AUTHOR. 179 and thereby obtain my children ; but I hesitated about com- plying with this request, saying, Your females do not speak in meeting. They said, Yea, they do sometimes. Obedi- ence was required of me while there ; accordingly, when in meeting, they beckoned for me to speak, which I did for two Sabbaths, and that appeared to please our leaders. My mind soon became darkened, and when they beckoned for me to speak again, I told my feelings, and that I did not enjoy that peace I did formerly. After we returned from meeting, I was admonished for not speaking strength. I gave them to understand that I should speak what I felt was truth. They beckoned again for me to speak ; but I said nothing again in meeting. After this, a woman who had once been a Shaker, came to see me ; she was at this time a member of the Baptist church. She said she believed I was a Christian, but I v/as not like the Shakers ; and if I continued with them, I should be obliged to renounce every thing I thought to be ffrace. This, with other circuaist; nces which occurred, caused me to examine with more care than I had hitherto done, the doctrines and practice of the Shakers, that I might become better acquainted with their system. I had now been there three or four months ; I read their books, and reasoned with them, applying the Scriptures. At length, Molly Mills said I had a better understanding of their prin- ciples than Nelly Goodale, who had lived with them more than thirty years. Nelly was a capable, dexterous woman, but was a rigid believer ; she told me she had not the least concern about her salvation, if she could only please the elder sister, (Molly Mills.) This same elder sister, after she had stood in a place to forgive sins and save souls about twenty years, lost her power, was placed among the lower class, and remained there until she died. I asked a Shaker what she was put down f r ; he said, because she was so cross, the young sisters could not live with her. I knew she was a wicked woman, and stated falsehood; I was con- 180 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. vinced by her that the religion of Jesus was not practised among the Shaker leaders. The leaders said, the Scrip- tures had been fulfilled, only some prophecies in regard to Ann Lee. They told me they were not necessary as a rule of our practice, as all that the elders said was the word of God. They became bold in their obscenity, and such things were conducted between the sexes, as I never sup- posed was in the power of fallen man — which, I think, must have been caused by the passion being inflamed by electric fluid, mingled with animal magnetism. The ignorant souls think this is the power of the gospel, purging them from the corruption of their nature. The male and female, thus connected, are in gross wickedness — the delicate constitu- tion is consumed by this flame by the robust lecher, who carries a bloated face, red eyes, and a heart full of sin. I saw those things, and was anxious for my husband's return, that we might both be convinced, and make our escape with our family — a house was preparing for us, three miles from the Shakers, as they said. Mr. Dyer arrived, November, 1813, to take up his abode near the Shakers, and, according to my expectation, I was preparing my fur- niture to move, when to my astonishment, the evening pre- vious to my expected removal, we were all called into a room to hear orders from Father Job and Mother Hannah. These were, " Joseph, with Daniel Taylor's family, and some of the Curtis' children, Moses Atwood, and others, were to go to the house at Lebanon ; Mary must stay here ; some of her children are to live in this family, and other? at the church. Now this is the feeling of father and mo- ther — if you feel reconciled to the gift, you may say so." Edmund Longer administered the gift. Mr. Dyer said, " I feel with father and mother in the gift, and am thankful for the privilege." I was speechless ; my expectations and hopes all vanished. Thus my family and furniture were scattered. Meantime I was not allowed to converse with my husband on the subject. I was severely disappointed LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 181 in having my family separated. Until now, we had lived as boarders in the family, expecting to move soon. Now all was gone, and no way for escape. I knew not how to con- tain myself under the anguish of my heart, as I was a hun- dred miles from my friends, and knew not a family in town, and none to depend on save those whom I found to be great deceivers ; and as we were not allowed to disclose our griefs to any, I separated myself from the family, and wept for hours, and then appeared in silence. Soon after my husband came to live in the family where I was, the Shaker leaders called us into their room, and gave us the following orders : — First, the gospel had sepa- rated me from my husband, and we must not speak to each other, nor look on each other as man and wife; if I wanted any assistance in care, I must go to the other brethren, and if he wanted a favor, he must go to sister Lucy. Mr. Dyer had previously informed me that the father and mother had promised him, if he would be faithful, he should have this sister Lucy for his crown of glory ; he called the promise a cake in his bosom. It would not have been in the power of the Shakers to have made Mr. Dyer treat me with such abuse as he has, if the leaders had not made him believe that Lucy Lyon was his spiritual wife. To the pure all things are pure, say the Shakers. I was not willing to change my husband for a Shaker. You are called by the most degrading names if you are not willing to give up your husband, and accept such as they present to you. The Bi- ble says, Let every man have his own wife, and every woman her own husband. The following observations were made to me at various times by the leaders. None were married except such as were united by orders from the head ; that the gift of God would tiiid the man and woman who were created for each other in the new creation ; that the man was the head of the woman, and the woman was the crown of glory man 16 182 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AITHOR. was to receive in his redemption, but that none were able to unite agreeably to the will of God only by the medium of Ann Lee ; and that a man could not be a real Shaker without a woman. Very soon, a Shaker man, who appear- ed to be filled with an earthly spirit, would be placed in situations to meet or see me. I pretended ignorance, and kept at a proper distance. Reflections on these things filled my mind with grief and despair. I was called upon at various times to confess my sins ; they were dissatisfied that I had no m >re to confess, and said, " Mary, you have not committed sins enough to humble yourself before us — we had rather have thirty of the wickedest persons you can name, than one like you, to make a Shaker of You must be separated from that spirit you call God, and be filled with our spirit, then you will be willing to comply." They attributed my unwillingness to my conscience, and said, " It is Satan trying to keep you out of our kingdom." They strive to induce people to comply with scenes of sin, which are common among those on the second step of their kingdom. It was with difficulty that I understood the mystery ; and, O ! the astonishment I felt to find myself among such a spirit of debauchery, with a people professing the most rigid abstinence. I soon saw that the leaders were annexing my husband with his Lucy. They were frequently in a room by themselves. She had previously he'd t'l s connexion with Menses Jewett ; but now, she would not even look at him. Moses grew downcast and sick. He had lost his girl, and saw her attached to ano- ther. He stood and sat about the door-yard for days. He coughed, vomited, and frothed for hours together. I thought liow 1 vr-sick he was. I asked him what was the matter. He said he had to travel over bitter weeds. O, I thought if I could have my children. Miss Lucy might have my husband, as I had lost all confidence in his h(nior or Teracity. The Shakers believe that this spirit of adultery is Holy Ghost power. The leaders told me that unless I LIEE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 183 Strove for this power, and come into this union, I should be sorry, and that great suffering would come upon me. I told them that my fears were that I should do wrong. They said, " Mary, you are not a judge of right or wrong — you must throw aside your fears, and obey us. The world's people think we are afraid of each other — but they don't know the liberties we take. Whatever liberties we give, you may do, and it is no sin : we think it is a privileo-e for the brethren to love the sisters, and the sisters to love the brethren." I told them I was willing to love Christians from my heart ; but I wanted no union in such a spirit as they were of, and that I thought they worshipped that spirit which was the devil, or that brought death into the world. Looger said, " It was what all other professors but believers think to be the devil ; but they are deceived, and you are deceived. You think God is the devil, and the devil to be God." I thought experience had taught me otherwise — I was then a woman thirty years old, had lived a single and innocent life, as also a married life and a christian life ; it was hard for them to deceive me in those things. They told me that our marriage was nothing ; it was one of the devil's ministers which married us, and Joseph was nothing to me. I knew the leaders intended to promote me in their queendom ; but their power is the spirit of adultery, which I named to them, and condemned it, and told Elder Looger I should be more willing to live with them if they would annul it. Looger said, " Mary, you have struck at the foundation of the work — you must be reconciled to it." When they attempt to seduce a person, they strive to im- pose on them this power, and by various means. One afternoon, Lucy Lyon said to me, " Come and look out." I went, and saw eight persons walking towards the house. First, were Job Bishop and Hannah Goodrich walking hand in hand ; next, Benjamin Whitcher and Esr ther Ferrin, side by side. These were the ministry, who roomed in the meeting-house. The next were John Beck 184 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THK AtJTilOR. and Mercy Elkins; then Joseph Johnson and Eliza Jewett, elders of the church family — each man and woman side by side. Their common practice was for the men to walk forward, and the women behind. They went up stairs with the four rulers of that family. After candle-licrhtincr, I was sent into the room with those twelve ruling Shakers, all filled with magic power. They sung, and went skipping about, and got hold of me, striving to immerse me into their power. A rank, deathly smell filled the room, and made me sick, and I raised a window to get breath. Their spirit seemed like a ball of heat go- ing into the stomach with the breath. Previous to this, they had used electricity among their members. I would not be electrized, and asked them why they used it. They said, " To wake up old nature." I was told that Job Bish- op (the head elder) was shocked from eighty to a hundred shocks a day, for a number of days. This increased their Holy Ghost power, (as they called it,) or truth would call it, increasing the sexual passion. When they think a per- son is filled with this spirit, by orders they are placed where a person of the different sex is presented ; then they must not be afraid, &-c. By faith and humble prayer, God gave me strength to resist their power. They often said, I was not willing to bear their fire. A person of mature age, with common observation, can judge of those things ; but when children are trained under the influence of those whose very principles and practice deny the God of truth, what can they know but believe as they are taught, and sink into perdition ? Lord, help the honest souls to understand ! The Shakers did use much art in binding the minds of their youth. The males and females were placed in the ranks f .cing each other, giving them opportunity to converse together, so as to cause their affections to be fi.xed on each other. Every emotion of the heart must be disclosed to their leaders ; then, when the youth become much attach- ed, the leaders condemn those tender affections as they were LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 185 placed, and say, You must have your union with the elders, love God in them. They are then let into the Shakers' purgatory — they appeared heart broken, in addition to the Shaker torment which attends them. I have seen some tampered with in this way until they appeared to have no mind but to be submissive to every requirement. Under this infatuation, or some other means, many of those sub- jects are kept under a state of debilitation until they are consumed. Lord, give wisdom, and enable the honest souls to escape from this delusion, and trust in that God who sustains the universe. He will take care of you, and ena- ble you to inherit an eternity of bliss. There are different grades among Shakers of their hea- venly states, as they call them, as may be seen by the fol- lowing. The first step is, to confess your sins, be justified in obeying the orders, and the more work you do, the more treasure you will lay up in heaven, (the Shaker church.) The second class is composed of men and women who over- see the various branches of laborers. They have their fa- vored privileges, as they call it — it is sexual passion mingled with magnetism, which produces a carnal intercourse be- tween the sexes beyond what I ever supposed dwelt in mor- tals. After that, the perfect union, the highest step in their queendom. These have their high and secret departments, and to the pure all things are pure; they visit and are wor- shipped by the various societies, and live upon the best the earth can afford. Such is their highest heaven. Amidst all this, they are not happy. Better for the Shakers to be married, have their own dear children, speak the truth, be honest, and worship the true God ; thus they would be happy. My children are deceived by this magic power, believing it is the Holy Ghost power. Many, after living years in this united scheme, when old age comes on, lose their paradise, resign their station to others, sigh and say, " I am old and good for nothing." This was the speech , of Benjamm Merrill to me, after he had been father cojw 16* 186 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF tMC At'THOtt. fessor for years ; Sarah Edson, another man's wife, was his companion. Merrill had a wife and children among the Shakers ; but they must be hated by him for the love of Sarah, the female part of his manhood ; now old age had spoiled him. Old age never weakens a person in heavenly grace, if he is a true follower of Jesus, like the aged Sim- eon and John the Ilevelator. The above are the outlines of the Shakers' secret privi- leges, which the world was never to know ; and Looger, before I left, gave me charge that if I divulged these things, they would make me suffer. I told him I had promised the Lord that if he would continue my life, I would tell the world what the Shakers were. Those of the Shakers who are strong in this magic power, can and do fix spells or charms on their subjects, causing them to be yerked about, whirl and fall as lifeless, greatly to the astonishment of those affected, causing them verily to believe it to be the mighty power of God. Thus they are deceived by the Serpent. Though the Shakers had threatened me witli injury if I exposed them, I knew it was out of their power to obtain any true statement against me ; nevertheless, they have strove to slander me, and have made an instrument of my husband to cruel ize me, which reminds me of the words of our Savior, when he was comforting his disciples against persecution. He said, " These things will they do unto you, because they have not known my Father nor me." John xvi. 3, I questioned some of the young females about this spirit, and condemned it, seeing the leaders were striving to draw them into it. I was called to an account by the leaders, who said, Mary, did you tell such a one so and so? I owned I had. They said. You have done wrong. I told them that I only used the words of the apostle describing the difference between the good and wicked power. We were then all called together, and forbidden telling what we .were taught of our troubles or sicknesses to any but the LIFE AND SUFFKRINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 187 leaders ; and if any one broke the orders, the one that was spoken to, must go immediately to the elders, and let it be known. Looger said it was of great consequence that this secrecy should be attended to ; because, were the family to know the trouble of each other, we should not hold lose- ther a month ; " now though all are in trouble, none knows of any but their own." My health was fast declining. I spent nights in tears and groans about my children and the situation of my fam- ily ; my grief was too great to be concealed, and without doubt the leaders suspected I was intending to leave them, and take with me some of my children. They called me into a room where were my husband and a number of Sha- kers, and showed me a writing which they intended should debar me or my husband from taking our children away. For many reasons I refused to sign the writing, and stated to them the consequences with all the persuasion natural for a wounded mother. The leaders gave back. My hus- band then arose and' said in harsh terms, " You are never willing to obey the gifts ; no wonder you have trouble. It will make no difference whether you sign it or not; the power lies in my breast. I shall sign it." Down he sat, and signed it, and compelled me to sign also. The leaders then artfully said, " Mary, this is not done to take the chil- dren from you, but to try your faith ; we believe you the most fit person to take the care of them ;" and then prom- ised again that I should have the care of my children. The writing bound us to give them up entirely to the disposal of the leaders, and in no case to interfere, however cruelly they might be treated. My husband said he was willing to put this confidence in those leaders ; my fears were, that they were treacherous, and intended falsehood, or they would not want them bound. I saw no relief, but wept bitterly. 188 LIFE AND SUFFF.niNGS OF THE AUTHOR. Affidavit of Robert Crain. " I, Robert Grain, of lawful age, depose and say, that in the year 1812, I became acquainted with the Shakers in Enfield, and considered theui an honest, christian people. I visited tliein, and inquired concerning their manner of receiving people into their society, that if I found them to be a people in the service of God, as they professed to be, I would join them. They plausibly said, ' We have found the gospel which saves us from all sin.' I observed that I had heard that a person, to join the Shakers, must give them their children and property. ' Nay, Robert, we do not de- pire you nor any other to give up their children or property. We have property enough, and as many children as we wish to take care of, and we consider you able and capable to take care of your own family. We have taken some poor children out of pity, where their parents were not able to provide for them; but never unless their parents were will- ing to give them to us. Now if Robert thinks he has lived in sin long enough, and wants to take up his cross against the world, the flesh and the devil, and follow Christ in the regeneration, we are willing to receive you, and will give you a privilege with us. You may have the use of as much of a farm and house and other buildings as are necessary for your fmiily, until you can sell your farm and help your- self I considered it a great privilege to live near them, and attend their meetings : my confidence in them was great. I joined them so far as to confess my sins, which is called the Jirst step. In the fall of the same year, I moved my family into an out house in their village. " The January following, Joseph Dyer moved his family into the same village, with a family of old believers : his wife was much esteemed by the Shakers for her good sense and faculties ; they said her temper of mind was such, that she was profitable to gather the people together If a per- son was in trouble, her disposition was such as to make us cheerful ; when we had sickness, the elders would send her to advise us. She was excellent in sickness ; she was once sent to assist in laying out one of our children, as we sup- posed it was dying. She made use of means which restored it to health ; and this after a series of doctoring and nursing by the Shakers and others. She was always pleasant, kind, LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 189 and tender-hearted. I never heard the least accusation brought against her, until after she was unwilling to give up her children. I often heard her husband speak in her praise ; that she was an excellent wife ; had a good disposi- tion ; that she took the best care of her fanuiy ; that she would make them comfortable with small expense : he ap- peared to esteem her highly. I often heard him speak of iier particular di.-!position to chastifi/, and that it would be easy for her to take up the great cross of the Shakers ; but her attachment was such to her children, it would be hard for her to give them up. After a space of time, Mrs. Dyer's countenance became fallen and dejected ; she ap- peared to be in trouble. " I think in the spring of the year 1814, 1 was passing the Shaker north house family, where Joseph Dyer and Mary his wife lived. I was called in and escorted into a room, where said Dyer and wife were with elders and others of the Shakers. When 1 learnt the occasion, I was surprised. All those people were trying to make Mrs. Dyer sign a writing to bind her children to the Shakers. She was unwilling, and reasoned much against it, and wept ! They said to her, ' It is the gift, and you must be in union ; no wonder you feel trouble, you always will, unless you obey the gift.' She arcjiied that she could not believe that it was the will of God for her to give up her children, and none could take better care of them than she could. They then said, she must have the same fuith that Abraham had to give up Isaac, and they would be restored to her again, when she had shown her submission. Her husband was hard against her, said the power lay in his breast, and he should sign it whether she did or not, and that she would have no peace until she signed. He signed his name ; she took the pen and attempted to sign. She burst out crying, and laid the pen down and said, ' I can't sign, I am sure it is not my duty, or I should not feel so bad' Then the elders and Mr. Dyer said, the children should not be taken from her, and if she would sign, she would feel better. After much more being said, she signed the writing. They desired me to witness the same, which I did. " I said nothing, but sat with amazement. I pitied the woman ; she was then out of health, and to have her so borne down with oppression, and no friend to relieve her. 190 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. was cruel. My thoughts were, thiit perhaps there will be a gift soon for me to give up my children. It continued to bear on my mind, that many vvere abused, and it is in the orders for all the subjects to open their trials to the elders. I opened this to John Lyon, (who was one that pressed her to sign ;) he said, ' Robert, you must not think strange that Mary was not willing to sign that indenture — she is not willing to obey any of the gifts ; her faith is to do as her reason tells her is right. She has not got a right man- ner of faith; she is not willing to receive any of the gifts that are felt for her ; if she don't get faith to believe and obey the gifts, she will leave the people.' Soon after this, she appeared in a swift decline, but I heard no complaint. " In December or January following, she left them ; in a few weeks after, I heard she had returned to have her hus- band make provision for her. I learned by the family that ehe was kept alone. I saw her a few times through a win- dow, but dared not speak to her, for fear of offending the Shakers — it looked cruel to see a woman at such a distance from her friends, and confined. Now there was nothing too vile for them to say about her. Previously, every thing was spoken in her favor. " I have often heard them boast how faithful brother Jo- seph Dyer was in hating his wife, and heard them tell how he dragged her down the steps, when she came to visit her children, and I believe he slanders her without a cause, in obedience to his orders. Afterwards the elders required to have me give up my family and property to them, which brought me into a melancholy state. Mr. Dyer said, ' Now, Robert, you have come to a full cross to give up all. I suppose vou think it is more than you are able to bear ; but you don't know how much you can bear, until you begin to take up your rros^. I have known what it was to give up my wife and children, which were as dear to me as yours are to you, and signed the covenant, and sacrificed all to God ; and one thincr more I have done, harder than all the rest, and which you will never have to pass through, and that was divulging the secrets of Masonry. This I have done, and have lived through it ; and you will, if you try to take up your cross.' " In our conversation, he repeated a circumstance of Hiram the widow's son, whom, he said, ' the Masons mur- LIFE AND SUFFKRINGS OF THE AUTHOR, 191 dered because he would not disclose a superior art which he had obtained in Free Masonry ; also that he was buried where none knew except such as had attained to that de- gree, and said he had attained that knowledge, and that he was buried in the sea, a cable's length from low-water mark. Then he repeated a health, which he said was customary to be drank in remembrance of him at certain periods when the lodge met, which went thus : — ' Here's to him that lived and died upon the square, And is buried none knows where, But those that Master Masons are.' " I am ignorant as to Masonry ; yet I consider it a mat- ter of serious consequence that a power should reign under the name of religion to cause a person to violate the most sacred oaths, such as the Free Masons are under. We had more similar conversation. "In the spring of 1815, the elders had a gift for me to let my oldest daughter, Juliana, go to the first family on a visit, and stay a short space. Not long after, the elders came to my house, and Mclly Mills spoke first, as follows: 'Well, Robert, do you mean to be a good believer?' I answered. Yea. ' Well, Robert, if you mean to be a good believer, you must do as good believers have done, and break every band. We want to kn(nv if V( u have nrt got tired of }our fleshly bands; if you have, there is a gift for you to bind Juliana to the first fimily of elders : if yru are not tired of taking care of children, you may give up yours, and we will let you have seme < thers to take care of 1 observed, Let nie see those yru speak oi", if I like them better than I do mine, perhips I may trade. Jchn Lyon then said, ' We have not got hold right — we will dr( p it.' " Shortly after, John Lyon came to my house, and said, * he had got a special gift from Mother, and he wanted me to receive it from him, as irom God himself; not consider or think of it as though it came from man, for it is not so; it is the same as though God Almisfhty spoke or Jesus Christ his Son.' Then he added, ' Mother felt a special gift for you to bind your two oldest children to the first family of elders.' I cbserved, ' that when I came here, you said I might take the care of my children myself, and you further 6aid, none bound their children here, unless it was their will 192 LIFE AND SUFFEltlNGS OF THE AUTHOR. and choice ; and I hud rather take care of my own children.' ' Well, Robert, that was the gift then ; but there is an in- crea.se in the work of God ; you was all natural ; when yon were weak, we fed vou with nulk ; now you have got a growth, you must take up a. fit It cross, and obey rvvry gift ; by this you will find an increase in the work of Gt.d. Now there is an increasing gift — if you obey it, all is well ; if not, the union will be withdrawn from you — you must be cut off from the people of God.' *' At this time I had strong confidence in them. I ob- iserved, that I chose to have Juliana come home and see how she liked. He answered, 'If you take her away, there never will be another privilege for her.' I was anxious, and contrary to orders I took her home. The elders soon came, and desired me not to come to their meetings. I had foi a number of years and until now, believed that my salvation depended on tellowship with those perple. Now I must give up my confidence, and seek for Christ some other way. They continued in condemning me, because 1 would hear to my reason, and laid on me the avvfu! denunciations of poverty, wretchedness, and hell at last. "I sought to make new arrangements for a living, but my mind continued to follow the Shakers to that degree, I l)ecame bewildered. I gave up to go to hell, or obey every gift. In this dejected state, I went to the elders and gave myself up to obey every order, deny all reason and nntural affection. Soon John Lyon administered a gift as ftliows : for me to go to the first family of elders, and tell them it was my own will and choice to bind my children to them, and give them up according to the order. I did this, and our children were scattered.* My wife and I were soon moved to the nortii house, among the old believers. My wife was distressed about her children; I was fcrbidden to speak to lier, or she to me, or even to look towards her. They said I must take up my cross as Joseph (meaning J(>sepli Dyer) liad taken up his cross against his wife and children : he Iiad given \\\> his prt^perty, obeyed every gift, and has lived through it, imd it won't kill me. I Cdusidcred if 1 gave up my proi)erty, that my wife would soon be turned away as • Jnlimn. at ulxiul sixteen years of age, died very suddenly. She waa a beautiful ffii!. — ,\ut» LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 198 Others had been, for she, through this trouble and disappoint- ment, had lost her reison, and was incapable of work. I considered myself obliged to see that she was made com- t"ortal)le. The Shakers' treatment to me, on this account, convinced me that they were neither just nor humane, and also th it they spoke falsely. I desired to go to the room where my wife was, to know about her health ; they refused me, and said she was well. Contrary to orders, I went to her apartment, and with much difficulty saw her situation; I give her to understand that I should leave the Shakers, and she might go with me if she chose. She concluded to go. I requested my children ; but ' Nay' was the answer. Out e true. She answered, ' Yes, it was.' I then pro ceeded and read the remainder of the afildavit; and ac- cording to the best of my recollection, 1 think the affidavit in said hook, the same which she gave oath to, beft^re me, Charles Glidden, Ju>t. Piaii ." " This may certify that I was present when Enquire Glid- den read the above-named affidavit to Sarah M. L. Sevvell, and saw her sign her name, and give her oath, and can witness to the above rec( llection stated ; and that Mrs. Dyer WuS not present at the time of taking said affidavit. John I^yford, Ju^t. J*tun of God. You have never been willing to give yourself up to the gospel, st^ul and body." 1 told them I was willing to do any thing that was right. They said, " You are n( t a judge c f right or wrong, licither do you understand the Scriptures. You must be t .u.'l.t the way of God — believe, when we s-peak, it is the word of God, and obey, as such. What lib- erty we give, you may improve, and it is no sin," (fcc. &lc. When 1 was leaving the ro( rn, the Mother said, " if any one ollendsyou, s ly n thing l;> that person, but go to the elder sister." I pretended ignorance — but O, J th< ught her intentions were vile. As I returned to my r(-( m, I thought it a new gift indeed that 1 must give up soul and body, and the only resistance is, to go to my eldrcss. I treml)led at the tlnu rht, believing it a wicked design. I knew they were a hid pe' pie, unless they chose to make themselves manifest. I here remark, that soon after this, I was ordered to a house ah ne to work. Soon, a Shaker man came softly behind nie. As I turned my head to see who it was, he stepped away, and said n(;thiiig. He soon LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OP THE AUTHOR. 201 entered the room again. I looked at him, expecting him to say something. He did not, but his evil-looking eyes were fixed on me. He came near. I stepped back, for I was much friglitened. He left me. Shortly, he returned, and with all the looks of a demon, came towards me — said not a word, but his gestures were such, I was not only frightened, but vexed. In haste, I fled where this eldress was. I was filled with perplexity and fear. I said to her, Eldress Molly, 1 have something to say to you. "What is the matter, Mary V said she. I said, I never came here to be consumed by your baseness, neither will I live in such practices. She said, " Be quiet, Mary, and you will do well enough." I s:iw it was a combined pi in, and was the more vexed. I told her I never would live in such wicked- ness, and as sure as any man again attempted to insult me, I would expose him to the family. I showed temper, and was earnest. She gave back, and said, " We can do nothing with you, Miry." I then left the chamber. The same man afterwards came to me, and began to speak. I told him in positive terms, I would be let alone. His coun- tenance fell, and he left me. Moses Jewett was the man. Statement of Charles Hammond. "I, Charlks Hammond, do state that I was carried to the Shakers by my father, when I was six years old. \ staid with them until I was 2'2 years old. I left ,hem in 1815. While I was with them, we were ordered to thd strictest obedience, and for the smallest offence in disobey- ing, we were punished. A young woman, a tailoress, waa sent for by the elder, to come and sing to him. She de- clined, and sent another girl, saying she was in a hurry cutting out garments. For this, the family was ordered to reject her ; when she went weeks, and none spoke to her only the one that ordered her work. I have been rejected in this way three months at a time ; no one spoke to me only the man that ordered my work. During this time my mind was continually perplexed. " Again, this elder sent for another girl to come and ging to him. She was about fourteen years old. A fter 202 LIFE AND StTFFERINGS OP THE AUTHOR. the was shut in the room with him, one of the brethren, by the name of Bishop, got sight through the crack of the door, where he saw this old elder in unlawful conduct with the girl. Alter this was known, the elder was sent to Watervliet for a visit, and it was found that the family would net be reconciled to him, and he was put down, but not punished as the lower order are for trifling offences. I had a brother with them, who had an excellent head of hair, and the Shakers were about to cut it eft'. When he was unwillmg, they said he was proud of his hair. They tied him up by his arms until they were black. lie was kept at wc rk at the shoe-maker's bench until he had a pain in his stomach. They said it was his unrecv^nciled mind that m;;de him com|)l;iin. They kept him at this work un- til three vr four days of his death. " The Shakers h ive a covenant wliich they make their Bubjects sign, which prevents them from getting any prop- erty which they carried there, cr any renumeratun ii r their w( rk. 1 had to sign their covenant by orders from the el- ders. I lived with them in New Lebanon, N. Y., most of the time I was with tlieni. After I left them, I went to see my fither, and he told me never to come near him again. He was a Shaker. Charles Hammonu." Alttst, Charles Chadwick. Lee, .Mass., ^'iugust r24, lS-5. Amrnor al! their intimations, I never let them know but what I would comply with every order from the Father and Mother — feeliuir a determination that Shakers should man- ifest their inten : ns so plain, they could not screen them- telves by saying, they intended no such thing. Ncthins but the danger of mv fellow-mortals would in- duce me to appear thus publicly. This resistance of mine oflended the leaders. They then used every art in their conjuration to distress me — many things so strange, that were I i- nnme them, tl ey would be thought incredible. These afllictions .ire called the judgments of Gcd fir our disobedience. I told M( lly Mills that I considered her the cause of my distress. " Yea," said she, " God is in us for judgment or mercy." I was ordered to renounce all be» LIFE AXD SUFFEItlNGS OF THE AUTHOR. 203 lief in any Gjd or Christ, but in this eldress, and beiicve that the power which I believed in u<:s Aiiiichrist, and stamp it under my feet, and that this elder sister was Christ for my salvation — would I do this, I should soon be com- fortable. I replied that 1 would sooner have my linil)s t( rn asunder, and that I was sure I believed in that God who supported my life. 1 spoke of leaving the Sh dcers. The elders said, " God will not suffer you to go away. None ever left this people who had the knowledge of us tint you have, and these things are never g<'ing to the world." I was in a fist decline, and redly thought, and n- w bi-iieve, they intended my de ith. 1 c nst sntly went to G( d tor strength. At times, they would mock, and s ly, " M :ry, how did you feel when you was kneeled down to your G( d ? I don't believe in any God b .t the God in the eKK rs." John Lyon once said thus to me, before many of the y(. nth. He was a leader. I WIS so ill in hedlh, the leaders said there was no cure for me. I had requested to tike a jourr ey for •!i\ he dth. They refused me, an 1 s aid it w.>uld shorten my life. They would n u let me se.id a letter nor receive one unless they examined it first. They would not allow me any medical aid, lur necessaries frd, to know what my case would be if I died under the Shaker power. I saw myself and the Shakers I'lrlher 1< st from God than those who were in a natural state, and by obeying a deceiv- ing power, I had no conscience of right or wiong. The spirit of the Lord had left me, and I was in agony and LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 205 darkness. In this situation, I cried to the Lord to forgive me for the sin of obedience to the Shakers, and restore me to his favor. I continued until there came to my mind a command, with a promise, which was for me to renounce all confidence in the Shakers, bear testimony of their ini- quities as I had s^een and learned among them — would I do this, I should be healed in body and mind. I answered in an audible voice, I will. Peace came to my mind, and I fell into a quiet sleep. "When I awoke, I was anxious to know why the Lord suffered me to go there, as he knew I sought to be faithful in his cause. It came to my mind as follows : — I was called for this very purpose, knowing I was faithful, and that I could not feel for those suHferers unless I also suffered. I felt that I was the Lord's by cre- ation and by preservation, and, if saved in glory, I was his by salvation. I felt willing to sufftr, cr do all for the cause he enabled me to do. I soon told the leaders I should again be restored to health. They said, " N :y, Mary, you cannot ; it is out of the power of medicine to cure you." I said. It is in the power of the Lord to heal me, and I had that promise, and was sure he would, if I obeyed him. Looger said, " I believe he will, you have such faith." My mind was to leave them. My health improved. 1 here notice one circumstance. There was no family near which I knew, and knew not where to flee for refuge. My anxious prayer was that some person would come for my relief Soon after, I saw a person ridii g towards the house whom I thought I knew. I went to the door, and he came near and stopped. It was Friend Williams, from Hanover. He inquired for my health. It w;is ill. He asked me how I enjoyed my mind. I told him it hid been dark and fallen. He said, " I should not call it f illen to fall from this people." He locked at me as with intention, then said, " Don't thee stay here because thou thinkest thee has no friends to go to." He passed on, and I entered the house with gladness, 18 2D6 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. Two Sabbaths before I left the Shakers, I attended meet- ing with them. After their ordinary service, the order was for all to kneel. I would not, for I felt forbid to worship with them. While they were upon their kne s, I felt strongly inclined to declare before the Shakers and spectators (as many were present) how I had been deceived ; also, what falsehood and intrigue the Shakers used to gain proselytes ; but my feelings about my children were such, I feared, if I declared this truth, the Shakers would be so offended, they would not let me have any of them, when I left the society. By this fear, I disobeyed this manifestation, and again fell under their power. The bands of their power were strong on me from then until the next Sabbath, when, early in the morning, I went to a spin-shop, where there was no person present. I kneeled, and in agony and tears, supplicated the Lord to break those bands which bound me down to death. In this supplicating posture, I continued near an hour. The Lord again relieved me. I felt a calm peace, but was feeble. I raised myself up, but could net stand for some minutes. I here pause and praise that Almighty power which is superior to the power of the Shakers. Man fell under a mighty power, (the Serpent,) but the Almighty is superior and able to restore. But remember we are ser- vants to whom we obey, the mighty unto death, or the Almighty unto life. As s )on as 1 was able, I went to the house where James Jewett had the care of my youngest child. The family was at mecti.sg. Amos Carter, a Sha- ker, who was sick, was present. I said to him, " You look better in health." He said he cared not'for the health of the body if he could have that pe ice in the soul he once enjoyed. He was a Christian previous to his going to the Shakers ; but after he went there, he ujade a mock of his former ministers, calling them superstitious bigots, &c. This pleased the Shakers. But now, Amos was sick, and had lost his peace with God, nnd said to me that he must go to hell. He said he wished he could see some ministers LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 207 whom he used to hear preach, as he was sure they were good men. I said to Amos, My greatest concern is, not to offend God. James Jewett then said, " You have offended God to-day, by breaking from the body of Christ," mean- ing the body of Shakers. I said nothing, but rejoiced in heart, that God had power over the adversary of souls. I found by the conversation of others, that when I was in prayer, and those bands were broken, all the leading ones of the family felt the shock, and were uncomfortably affect- ed. They afterwards told me there was not power in the gospel to subject me. I had proved that nothing but faith in the Almighty was able to resist them. I never saw Amos again. He attempted to leave the Shakers, as I heard ; but being weak, they followed, and took him back. He died there. The last time I had any conversation with my youngest child before I left the Shakers, two children were with me. I was mending their mittens. I'Ucy I^yon came into the room with violence, raved at my child, called him mean names, attempted to drag him out, and ordered the other child out. My child screamed in affright. I plead with her not to treat him so. "I will," said she; " he is none of your child — he is mine ;" and dragged him along. I knew she had claimed his father, but did not know until now, that she claimed the child. Oh, thought I, this is enough. I found I could render my children no relief, and such trials were hastening me to death. In this situation I was, when I made up my mind to leave the Shakers immediately. Friday evening, the child was dragged out of the room ; Saturday, I took no part of work with the family. I was ordered to the leaders' room ; when I felt sufficiently com- posed, I went. They threatened and flattered me, but in vain ; I told them freely, I was going away. They gave me liberty to write a letter to some friend to come after me. I desired to see my husband, which was permitted in the presence of the four leaders, I said, my health is so bad, 2C8 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF TliK AUTHOR. I cannot continue here and live, neither can I be justified in obeying the leaders. Mr. Dyer said he was willing I should leave ; that he could not desire any one to stay, in tl:e trouble he thought I had been for si.\ months. I reminded him of his promise to me before I consented to go to the Shakers. He said he was under no obligation to take care of me, more than of any other w-oman — the gos- pel had separated us, and I was not his wife ; and as for the children, they were out of his power, he had given them to the elders, otherwise he would give me one. Then I turned to the elders, and entreated them to let me have my babe or youngest. " Nay." I further said. As I must be alone in the world, I was willing to come on my knees and re- ceive it as a favor, if they would grant it me. They ap- peared hardened to all humanity, and told me, I should have none. Oh! what heart could endure? Until now, I had expected some of my children — I found every promise br ken. My case was desperate — to go any farther from my children was dreadful ; to stay was death. Years have rolled by ; yet the scene is still fresh — my tears still flow. Who can sympathize with me ? Mothers can — but they cannot remedy such evils. I appeal to these in authority, to have pity and help distressed mothers. May a curse fall on all who assist the Shakers in retaining children among them ! I now pause with anguish, when I reflect on the misery I have suffered by the Shakers. Looger said, 1 should not live so long to leave them, as I should to stay. I told them, all I asked of the Lord was, to let me live until I could let people know what people the Shakers were. Looger said, " You caimot make people understand these things — they are secret privileges for the people of God ; and if you tell the world, we shall deny it, and make you a liar." I replied, I never was called a liar, and believed I could make people understand what Shaker- ism was ; and that if he had let me known at first what wculd have been required of me, they would never have got LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 209 me there alive. He said, " None would be Shakers, if they knew at first what would be required of them." The peo- ple are drawn in, step by step, blindfold. I then warned them of their wickedness, and that it was no wonder deaths were so frequent among them — nature could not endure so much, and they were perishing under the corruptions of Shakerism. They again attempted to flatter me not to ex- pose them, and promised me their friendship. I told them, I had proved their friendship ; but this was no object — I had promised my God I would tell the truth about them. They said, if I did, I should find them my enemies, and they should make me suffer. I said. You cannot make me suffer more than I have ; I had needed their friendship, but did not find it ; I was now going where I should net need it ; all the favor I asked of them was to have my child, and that was denied me. My husband was then sent to the place of my nativity to prejudice the people against me by falsehood. He told my mother and friends that I had left the Shakers, when I might have had a good home there with him and the chil- dren. I had to encounter this false impression. Such are the hypocrisy and deceit of this people. I will now narrate the manner of my escape from the Shakers. I wrote my letter on Saturday, and on Sabbath morning, after the fnmily was gone to meeting, I went to the man who had the care of my youngest child, for a wafer — thus saw that the child was there. Two girls had been left in the care, and as watch. One of them followed me from room to room, and I observed to her that she seemed to keep pretty close. " I mean to," said she. At the usual time, I told the girl she had better prepare victuals for the family, as they would soon be at home from meeting. This gave her a start, and she went to the dining room. While left alone, I saw a man with two women approaching in a sleigh. I went out and asked him if he would carry a let- 18* 210 LIFK AND SUFFERINGS OP THE ACTMOK. ter for me. " Yes." Will you carry me, as I wish to leave the Shakers ? " Yes." I went to the Shaker that guarded my child, told him there \v,;s a man at the door who would carry my letter, and I wished he might have a little cider. He hasted to the cellar fir cider ; I had not a moment to lose — I took my child, and went out. The man drove ua in great haste, eight miles, to Mr. Towle's, in Hanover. I supposed it was Friend Williams' house at which I had slopped, but was mistaken. This was in January, 1815. Here was the first deception I used while with the Sha- kers. I had the pleasure of riding eight miles w ith my dear boy under my cloak. If the cloak parted so as to let in the light, he would draw it together, and say, " The Shakers will see me, if we don't keep the cloak together. Will you take care of me, Mary 1" Yes, I said. " 1 had as lief you would take care of me as any body — the elders said you was tired of me, and did not wish to take care of me." Think of such a statement to the child, when I was pleading on my knees for him ! The Serpent spirit will lie. Soon the alarm was given that I was gone. The man that went for the cider, as 1 was afterwards iuft. rmed, went to the meeting-house, and let the Shakers know the case. Mr. Dyer was placed upon a horse, with orders to follow me — this when he hid promised, if it was in his power, he Would give this child to me. Four Shakers followed in a double sleigh. Mr. Dyer came staving in at Mr. Towle's, And seized the child. I held on, and begged of him not to carry it away. He pulled it out of my arms ; the child screamed, but was ordered to shut his mouth. I then stood against the door, and begged of him with tears to let me have my child. My husband was raving ; he held the child With one hand, and with the other thrust me from the door, and went out It was so cold, the horse was white with frost ; yet he took this child back, without any covering for his head or body. Poor boy ! he is since dead. LIFE AND StJIFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 21 J Aindavit of Jeremiah Towle and Wife. " This rii:iy certify, that sometime about t!ie first of Jan- uary, 1615, Mary Dyer came to our house in il mover, with a chiJd, and said she had been living with the Shakers, and their conduct and oppression were such, and her health so bad, she could not stay, and that they toi;k her children from her. While she was talking on the subject of her dis- tress, Joseph Dyer came in and tore the cliild from her. She begged him to let her have it, and told iiim he h id prom- ised, before she went there, in case she was not contented, she should h ive two chddren, and he three, and she wanted that one, as it was her babe. He refused her request, treated her violently, and went out. Her trouble appeared great, as she was from her friends, and said he refused to take care of her. We thought her case hard, and that she was much abused. Jeremiah Towle, Deborah Towle." Attested before me, Silas Tenxey, Hanover, June 11, 1817. •^««^- ^e«ce. The same day I went to Friend Williams, who was re- lated to Mr. Dyer, which had caused a previous acquaint- ance. When I told him how far I had brought my child, he said, " I wish thee had brought him here — Joseph would not have taken him. We neither of us believe ui fghting. I should not have let the child gone. I have no child — I would have made an heir of him." He walked the floor with agitation, but spoke very comforting to me; he said, I should be welcome to his house until my health was bet- ter, and the Shakers should not trouble me. This seemed like the spirit of the Samaritan, who took pity on the man that was robbed and left in the highway half killed. Mrs. Williams was like a mother. My fears and bondage being taken away, and my trouble removed, I began to regain my health. I felt anxious to know where was a society of true Christians. The Shakers' regular appearance, their neat- ness, their nicety in their work, all spake in their favor; then to find to my misery, falsehood, treachery, and every evil, made me doubtful of professors. Many called to sea 212 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. me. I was still anxious to find the true people who were owned and blessed of the Lord. In about six weeks, three Friend Quakers came there, two of whom were ministers. They held a meeting. The witness I had at this visit caused me to be anxious to know whether they were of God or not. I was alone in a room, in serious meditation, and began to receive and drink into a fountain of love and joy, more than I can express. I desired no greater happiness. 1 believed this was the bliss which happyfied the saints in glory; it, was perfect and pure, and a healing balm to the wounded soul. I could plainly discern the difference be- tween the Shaker spirit and this. I asked, how does God convey this to me in such a wonderful manner ? It came to my mud, This is treasured up in earthen vessels; but the excellency is of God, and not of man. I then thought those Friends were the earthen vessels which God was pleased to dwell in. I felt thankful for this manifestation. I went to the room where these Friends were, and found they were clothed with this spirit, and felt sure they were the beloved ones of the Lord. Those Friends left, but I continued happy for two weeks. Mrs. Williams, after the death of her only child, was rather dejected. I was so happy that every thing appeared to shine with beauty and glory. I said to her. You are more happy to-day than common. She said. No. As I looked in her face, it seemed to shine. I drew near her, laid my hand upon her lap. looked earnestly at her, and said, You are more happy to-day than common — are you not? She said, " No ; why ?" I moved back, and thought, Can it be possible that I am so happy, and so near her, and she not enjoy any ? Such is the case. I then learned it was not any particular place we were in, that made us hap- py — it was God being in us, and we in him. Sure, if God blesses, I am blest, Though all should frown besides, And in his smiles of love may rest, Whatever else betides. LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR, 213 Yes, if he blesses, venomed tongues Their poison spend in vain ; A healing balm for all earth's wrongs, His favor doth contain. Yes, if he blesses, let e'en friends Suspect the heart they love, Approving Heaven will commend— Wy record is above. My health was now restored. In February, 1815, my husband advertised me as his lawful wife — he had previously denied me as his wife. I thought this would compel him to provide for me a home, and demanded his care and protection as follows :— " Whereas we, the subscribers, have, this sixth day of March, 1815, c irried ALiry Dyer, by her request, to the people cilled Shakers, in Enfield, N. H., there iieard her make a lawful request of her husband, Joseph Dyer, for that privilege whicli he stated by his advertisement, dated February I, 1815, thtt she had left, viz. a place for her res- idence, and likewise his care and protection as a husband; this she desires with liberty of conscience, free from the bondage of the Shakers' faith. After many objecticms, he consented, and said he would take kind care of her. She desired to send a line back by us to the place where she had befen. He refused her sending it or any other wo well supported, clothed :ind cdiic ited; whicli they (ihsofutrli/ refused. Since thit time, I h:ive freq lently seen and con- versed with s;iid Dyer, and ende ivored to persuade him to grant his wife a sui)j)()rt ; hut he persisted in dechirin^ that ' he considers the m uriage contract hetween them dissol- ved in consequence of his union with the Shakers, and that he did not consider himself bound to grant her any support whatever." S.iid Dyer, previous to his joining the Shakers, wis in easy circumstances, and p assessed of a handsome property, to which she had contributed her full share of labor, industry and economy to acquire. MaUslonc, June 7, 1817. ^l^"'^^' ^'<^"-" Attested before ine, Ti.mothic Fairchitd, Just. Pcftce, After this, T was counselled to apply to the legislature for a law of redress, and in June, IS 17, my friends assisted me, and my brother Sil is attended with me at the session in Concord. When I came bef-re the House of Representa- tives, it seemed to me like beinor arraigned before the eler- nal Judge. My desire was for the Lord to assist me. After I made my statement, my husband said, " It does no good for me to tell a!)out our going to the Shakers — Mary has told the truth abtnit it;" then, to justify himself, began to tell his pretended -surmisings. The Speaker stopped him, and said, " You are taking up time in relating that which is nothing to the case," and twice ordered him to sit down. A motion was made to ascertain the mind of the House, whether they considered the petitioner had been treated with awful and horrible conduct, and whether there should be a law passed to remedy such evils. They voted in my favor, and the Shakers instantly left the House. Some of the members called on me, and said the House felt interested in my behalf, and would pass an act for a divorce. I told them, if I could have my children, I should be glad of a divorce, so as to have power to take care of 224 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. them. The committee was divided about forming a bill, and there was no law passed. I returned with my brother to Northumberland. In the February following, Mr. Dyer came to Coos, and passed my mother's house, where I re- sided, but left no word concerning my children, and left the place — all without my knowledge. I felt that this was cruel, as I had not seen them for two years. I desired my friends to assist me in going to Enfield — it had become my residence, and I would apply to the authority to procure a home for me near my children. In March, 1818, I arrived at Enfield, and put up at Mr. James Wil- lis' inn. Though all were strangers here, they were hos- pitable. I acquainted them with my business, and was in- troduced to Joseph Merrill, Esq. He was a justice of the peace and selectman of Enfield. I submitted my case to him as follows : — " That my children were secluded among the Shakers in this town — that I had been in the country with my friends, and had not seen my children for more than two years, and cculd not be contented to stay any longer from them. My husband had refused me any sup- port — that he had resided in town the space of time requir- ed to gain a residence, therefore it was my home." I thus desired the assistance of the authority in this, my neglected case. Esquire Merrill said he would see Mr. Dyer and the Shakers, and, if possible, cause them to be more reasona- ble. He further stated, " The Shakers have abused other women in the same manner. Enfield is now under a tax for one woman's support, Moses Johnson's wife, he is now with the Shakers; he carried with him a good property, which is deposited among them, and we cannot obtain a cent of it." He stated cases of their wronging their sub- jects out of their just rights, who left the Shakers. Through the Esquire's influence, Mr. Dyer, with others of the Sha- kers, met the selectmen at Mr. W.'s, on my account. Many were present when I made my statement. Mr. Dyer said i»f. ;ras under no obligation to support me, and had no way LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 225 to assist me ; that I was as capable and able to provide for myself as he was. As he would make no provision for me, I said if he would give me some of my children, I would go to my friends and provide for myself To this, he positive- ly refused, and went out. I withdrew to a bed-chamber, to vent my grief unobserved. In our conversation, my husband owned that I was not willing to sign the pretended bond, as also the ill treatment I received when I visited my children in October, 1815. The people appeared convinced that my husband, with the Shakers, had dealt very oppressively with me. They at- tacked the Shakers violently, said they should give me some of my children, and that they would not be allowed to con- duct in such a manner. Affidavit of Richard Carrier. "I, Richard Currier, of Enfield, N. H., testify and state, that in the month of April, 1818, Joseph Merrill, Esq., being first selectm:in in town aforesaid, called on me, (I was also selectman,) to consult me concerning the dis- tressed situation of M iry Dyer, in consequence of her hus- band belonging to the Shakers. We thought her case suf- ficient cause to be noticed. For this reason, I, with the other selectmen, met Mr. Dyer, and some of the Shakers, at Mr. Willis', and endeavored to have said Dyer show cause why his wife was in this situation, and cause him to treat her better. In the course of the conversation, I learned he had treated her very bad. He showed no cause for this, only his being a Shaker. His wife requested him to take care of her. ' He said he had no property, only some wild land, and he could not assist her in a support ; that she must take care of her«elf; that she was as able to take care of herself, as he was to take care of her. His wife said if he would give her some or all of her children, she would settle with him, and take care of herself; otherwise, she was alone in the world, and was depending on some family to board in. He refused her any of the children, said he had given them to the Shakers, and that he and his wife had signed the bond. Mrs. Dyer said, ' Now, Mr. Dyer, tell the truth, was I willing to sign any thing of the kind V 226 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. He owned she was not. He made no provision for her. His treatment was such that it would have affected a hard heart. She complained that he had taken her children from her, and would not let her see them, and converse with them, and that he had refused her any support. He prom- ised that she should see her children, and converse with tiiem as ^Ilc jjlcayed. I afterwards heard she went to see tl.em, and tli it the Shakers took her youngest child from her after the child consented to go with her. The Shakers have treated others very bad. " I, with others, considered it just that there should be a law to protect mothers and children from the Shakers' op- pressive power, when the husband and father joins the Sha- kers. Accordingly, there was a petition drawn up and sent to the legislature, in June, 1818. Richard Currier." Attested before the Superior Court, at Haverhill, N. H. Nathaniel Draper said, " Mary may come and see her children, and if they are willing to go with her, they may." He then invited a number to go also. Accordingly, Es- quire Merrill and wife. Esquire Fogg and wife, with others, accompanied me to the Shakers. They appeared inflexible to my entreaties for an hour; they then, with reluctance, said I might go to such a house and see my daughter ; presently, my sons were conducted in. After passing a few words with my eldest, I placed the youngest by me, and, after asking if he knew me, and other questions, to form some acquaintance, I said, " Would you not like to have me take the care of you as well as any one, if it was the gift?"* He looked up with a smile, and said, "Yea." The instant the child consented. Draper shut the outer door, ordered the child to be taken out of my arms, then he, with other of the children, were surrounded by Shakers, and conveyed out of the room by a back door. Horrid sight ! I would not have asked the child to have gone with me, had not Draper made the previous promise. This was the first time I had ever asked either of my children to go with * Had the anxiety of the child been ever so great to go with me, h« would not have dared to own it o»ly in a gift. LIEE AND SUFFKRIiVCS OF THE AUTHOR. 227 me, knowing I had no power to take them ; and, in case he consented, and did not escape, they were sure to be pun- ished. My mind was much agitated. I walked the room, observing to Draper that I thought it enough for him to tor- ment his own child, without aggravating mine. The outline of Draper is,* he took his only child from his wife when an infant, and gave it to the Shakers. When she was of awe, she left them. While I was with the Sha- kers, she visited her father at Enfield. She came a hun- dred miles for that purpose, and with tears in her eyes would entreat him to treat her as a child. He neglected her, and would rise from his seat and leave her. Accord- ingly, she returned in the stage. I returned to my board- ing house and retired, but could not sleep. I was distressed about my children. I am impatient, and cannot bear it. I am willing to risk my life to liberate them. For more than a week, I would have been willing to have rescued them at the point of the bayonet. I cried to the Lord to assist my mind, and give me patience to endure my sufferings. Soon after this. I obtained a composure of mind, as follows : — Is this unpleasant cup now given By thee, my Father, Lord of heaven? O let nie then in silence stand, And take it meekly at thy hand. Thou know'st I am but feeble dust, Too apt thy goodness to distrust ; But let not darkness veil my mind, Let me not think my God unkind. This was the third time the Shakers had taken this child from my arms by violence. Mrs. Chapman, from Albany, N. Y., was now with me, in pursuit of her children. The authority of New York had made a law favorable to her case, which gave her more power. Chapman, her husband, was seized with a criminal writ, for abuse to me while un- der keepers ; the inhabitants searched for the children, * See Jonathan Clark's testimony, page 67. ^8 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THK AITIIOR. found . _ of tlieni, and assisted her in conveying it awar If june, 1818, the selectmen of Enfield drew up another petition, seeking redress for my case, and a remedy against apparent evils. This was signed by many respectable gen- tlemen, and presented before the House of Representatives ; and 1 once more was arraigned before mine enemies, the Shakers and their assistants. Amoncr other advocates was Judge Evans, aJthoush, previously, he had told me (know- ing some of my sufferings) that I had been cruelly treated, and that he would do all to assist me that he would for his own child. He was now advocating for the Shakers. I cast my eyes around with astonishment. It occurred to me that money had a strange influence over men, and that the innocent had previously suffered by the strong arm of the wicked, and tliat God will reward, according to the intent of the heart, those men, who, for filthy lucre, will strength- en the walls of separation between a wounded mother and her children. I could say — Judges, who rule the world by laws, Will ye despise the righteous cause. When the injured poor before you stand? Dare you condemn the righteous poor, .•\nd let ricli sinners 'scape secure, While gold and greatness bribe your hand? Have ye forgot, or never knew, That God will judge the judges too? The Almighty thunders from the sky — Their grandeur melts, their titles die —Watts. In two years, Judge Evans was arraigned before the same House of Representatives, for wronging the widows. (He was judge of probate.) His character was said to be the blackest ever exposed to the legislature. He had been a Methodist preacher in Enfield, and was much esteemed. His influence was double against me, of any other man. His taking up for them, and against his own conviction, * See Moses Johnson's testimony, page 125. LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OP THE AUTHOR. 229 was the cause of his fall. The Almighty smote him. The judge abused the confidence of the people ; he left the place. The calamity followed him, until his family was blasted, and all in ruin. The following is some of the testimony given before the committee : — A child, seven years old, was taken one morning, by a Shaker down to the pond, a rope tied round him, and he was hung up from the ground on the limb of a tree ; tell- ing him he should stay there all night, he left him in this situation, and when he thought pr )per, went and took the child down. After that, they concluded they could not subject him to their minds, so they sent for his father, who was a Shaker, to take him out of the family. After retir- ing, he was taken from his bed and conveyed away. This boy was kept in a shop two weeks, night and day alone, except when they carried him food ; his bed was a coarse couch on the floor, with some old rufjs to cover hiin He was afterwards bound out. He had such impressions about the torments of the world, that when they told him about going, he was unwilling to leave his prison, preferring this confinement to the supposed torments of the world. The child's father joined the Shakers, and took fnm hi3 wife seven children, which, with his interest, he carried to the Shakers ; he left his wife with a nursing child. The trouble which this circumstance caused his wife, threw her into a decline. She was under the care of a physician, and finally became a town charge. She afterwards regain- ed her health. When the babe was three years old, it was si::k with the whooping cough, and the authority of the town called on the father to support the child. The Shakers sent for the child. The mother, not being willing to part with her sick child, requested the sheriff to carry her with it, as she was willing to stay in any place and nurse her child. The sheriff carried her with the child to the house where her 20 239 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR^ husband dwelt. The child was immediately taken from tho mother, by the father, who said he should carry it to the Canterbury society, about forty miles distant. Then tho woman was taken by a Shaker in a sleigh, and carried out of the society to the sheriff that brought her ; ordering him to take her back where he brought her from, or take care of her himself. The woman appeared to be overwhelmed with grief. Esquire Fogg was the sheriff who brought Mrs. Allard and her child ; he was also representative for Enfield, and entered my petition in Court, in 1818, and be- fore the committee he made the above statement. He also attested another circumstance, viz : — A man of his acquaintance had a servant boy, who was allured away by the Shakers. The master, hearing where the boy was, came to Esquire Fogg far assistance, and he went with the man to the Sliakers. The Shakers promised them the lad the next day, saying they wished to fix his clothes. The next day, Esquire Fog^, with the man, went for the boy. The boy was not to be found, and the Shakers said they knew nothing abo t bun ; and the man was obliged to go away without him. A lady also stated that when she was a child, her parents gave her to a married couple, as an adopted child. Her adopted father joined the Shakers — the mother did not — her father would order her to dance; as her mother did not, she was unwilling, for which, he placed her feet upon live coals with embers, until she was so burned that she could not walk. Because she was unwilling to kneel to her food, but chose to stand with her mother, her father would strip hf r naked, make her knsel, and whip her severely. John Johnson, of Concord, testified as follows : — " Some time in the winter of 1809 or 1810, I went to the Shakers' society in Canterbury, to purchase a woollen wheel. I en- tered the office, a house for trading, where there were three men, but I saw no women. After I made my business known, one of the men went with me to another building, LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 231 where I made choice of one. I then returned alone to the office to pay for it. My having soft-bottomed socks on, I was unheard until I entered into a room, where the first ob- ject presented to my view was one of those men with his arms round the neck of a woman ! I turned myself, and cast a look to another part of the room, there I saw the other man with a woman in the same position. " Qnrsfinii by the committee. — ' Perhaps they vi^ere not Shakers V "Answer. — • They had Shaker clothes on.' " While the case was in hearing, a large number of the members, with some medical gentlemen, were invited by the Shikers to visit their establishment, and make personal inquiry into the general health of the society. One of them, (Dr. Russell, of Concord,) said, "We had a fine time, and were treated sumptuously by the Shakers ; but as to the examination, there was none, except of such as were brought forward by the Shakers. They said there was none sick among them." Those persons who went, had no authority from the legislature to go on this pretend- ed examination, as may be seen by the following : — " To the Public. " Whereas a number of gentlemen of the faculty, and some other gentlemen, during the present session of the legislature, visited the pec^ple at Canterbury, called Shakers, as a self-constituted, inquisitorial committee, for certain purposes, to themselves best known ; We, the undersigned, do decl ire th it s lid committee had neither authority nor re- quest by the committee on the petition vi Mary Dyer, Josh- ua Stevens, and others, from the town of Enfield, to go on said inquisitr( dignlity ought to be publish(d. John Dean, Esq. sl.eriff' « f the county of Essex, in ci nsequence of reading your Narra- tive, otfered to give n;e a depc sitirn shewing that since you was a Shaker, you was a liar and a knaie. " Many of ( ur former acquiiintance have sent to me, stating that they would give me affidavits showing your bad conduct in the tiire of our livingr together. I refused it, and am ashinied th it I ever had a husband, and the parent of my children, th u should be as unwise as yru are. If there were no sin in rendering railing for railing, the re- spect 1 bear to your friends, and the love I bear for my LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 23T children, and the relation I stand in to you, would debai me from seeking to injure you. It is not you that no\r abuses me — it is your obedience to the Shaker principles, which require you not only to deny all conjugal affections, but also to lie ! When I consider the treacherous power you are governed by, it causes the greater anxiety about my children. " Mr. Dyer, you have stated that I wish to be rid of mj children. How could you? You have repeatedly said thnt my children were my idols ; and since I have left the Shakers, you have told me that my attachment to them was so great, that the separation was my misery here, and would be my hell hereafter. You h ive told of carrying the chil- dren abaut in the night, and I in bed ! Once, when our oldest child was an infant, I was suddenly and violently seized with sickness, and you did not dare leave me to go for assistance. At that time, for a few hours, you took care of me and the child. You cannot name another time, and have truth for your witness. " You also speak of my whipping our son Orville, en- deavoring to show my cruelty. You never knew of my whipping a child but once ; then you brought the rod, and comin mded me to whip the child, and said I should spoil my children by indulging them. I sorrow in my heart that I ever saw you. " You represent me as having desired a separation — this to prejudice people against me. You know there never was any such thing. Contrary to your own mind, you have the same reason now to say that I reject you, that you ever had. What can I do? I scorn to complain. Give me my children — I ask no more. "Mr. Dyer, was it in your power to persecute me to death, it would not diminish my future joy — it would only add sill to your sorrow. What have I dcme? Whom have I offended? Show me the person that knows me guilty of any of those accusations. I defy it. You and the Shakers can write as you please, and while I am your wife, I have no remedy or defence. My grief prevents my writing — I pause! Never, until now, have I been willing to dis- grace our family by a divorce ; but now I find my husband'* falsehood to injure more than a separation could do. " When I look back on the days of my freedom, I caa* 23S LIFE And sufferings of the author. dot but lament that I forsook a life of ease and pleasure, and becime b )und to your instability ; thus reducing my- self to a homely condition. I have exerted myself every way to hide your faults; but the Lord knows yiuir conduct towards me. What shall I say ? I sought to honor you ; it was my delight. The respectability of a husband exalts his wife ; the h;nor of parents commends their children. In this is centered every blessing that pertains to this world's happiness. I hud the vanity to believe you esteem- ed me, and would treat ir.e well. Oh, mistaken woman that 1 was, to put cf)iifidence in that man ! 1 can say with Job, ' 1 speak in the bitterness of my scul.' Through affection 1 was blinded, having confidence in your promises, until I was led to the brink of ruin ! " My thoughts frighten me, when I consider that by you I am robbed of my support, my home, my he ilth, my dear children, and my character traduced ! Can this be a re- ward of love? 1 look again at Dyer's Narrative — scanda- lous infimy, horrid demon ! Under this power are my chil- dren. I walk the room with astonishment; my eyes are fountains of tears. " Let others trust what names they please. Their siints and angels boast ; I've no such advocates as these, ]\'or pr.iy the heavenly host. " Jesus, alone, shall bear my cries ■^ Up to his Father's throne ; He, de irest Lord, perfumes my sighs, And sweetens every groan. Mary M. Dyer." While boarding at Mrs. Flood's, I went to Mrs. Willis* to do some seving for her to pay for some clothes I had previously received. See the following : — AfHdavit of Mary Willis. " I, Mary Wilt, is, of lawful age, depose and say, that about the last of May or first of June, 1819, Mrs. Mary M. Dyer came to our house in Enfield ; a few days afterwards, her husband came also, and said, ' Mary, now I have come to carry yu home with me, and am goin^ to take care of you myself, as you have requested.' Mrs. Dyer said, ' I am afraid you will carry me to the Shakers?' lie said. LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 239 ' Nay, you s!i ili hive a house separate from them, where I will live with and take care of you myself.' She asked if fihe might go to meeting among her christian friends ; visit and receive visits from them. He said, ' Yea, and I will find for you a horse to ride.' She asked if she might cook her own f > )d, lad in in i Je her own work unmolested. He said, ' Ye i, you m ly.' She said, ' Could this be the case, I should b3 th uikf.il.' She appeared pie ised, and seemed to consent. At this instant, another Shiker appeared; Mrs. Dyer appsired alarmed, and said, ' You pretend in taking tha vv.i )le cire of me yourself, and dare not go with me to iha pi ice without another Shiker with you! You hive trei-^lijry at heart. D) not pat me among the Shakers, I hil r ithar you would put me into the (ire, I am afraid of my life am )ng them.' She was in trouble, and full of fe irs. Tha o'her Shiker spoke, s lyiag he did not blame her f >r ii >t w uitin r to live among tlie Shakers ; for he knew th it n me c >uld live there unless they believed with the pi )ple. Mr. Dyer promised if his wife would go peaceably, she shoalJ not be troubled with the Shakers, but have every privila re lie had promised. Mrs. Dyer went to another p irt of tlie h mse, and afterwards went with her husband, is tha f un.ly stated. "The n ^xt m)rning, a young woman of our family, (Polly ClilTir 1,) c una to me, and said she went the evening before with Mrs. Dyar to the Shakers, and that they had confined her. The ^n-] w is much terrified. I afterwards saw and sp )k8 to Mrs. Dyer twice in her confinement, as she looked o it at t!ia ch i!nl)er window. Most of the time for the 1 ist t v'> ye irs she h is made it a home at our house, when at E i laid, except the time she was confined among the Shakers, an 1 ler conduct has been such, that I esteem her a virtuous an 1 pious woman. Mary Willis." EnJieU, Aio: 23, 1820. Sworn to before me, Joseph Merrill, Just. Peace. Affidavit of Polly Clifford. " I, PoT.i.Y Ci-TFr-ORo, of lawful age, testify and say, that on or about t!ie 1 ist of May or first of June, 1819, Joseph Dyer came t' M". J rnes VVillis', in Enfield, where he told bis wife th a ha h id provided a home for her. Mrs. Dyer 240 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. Baid she was afraid logo alone with them, (a Shaker man was with Mr. Dyer,) and requested me to go with them, that I should know their conduct. She said she was afraid they intended her death, or to confine her until she perish- ed. The family was alarmed on her account, and advised her ncjt to go with them ; but she said he had never before offered to take care of her, and if she now refused, the blame would fall on her; perhiips he would treat her better, if so, shti should be glad. The family consented to my at- tending her until the next day. Mr. Dyer opp(;sed my go- ing, saying none should go with her. It was now nine o'clock at night ; Mrs. Dyer's fears increased ; she said she dare not go alone, and would not go, unless 1 went with her. After saying much, he consented to my going. " When we arrived at the place appointed, we i'ound no house prepared for Mrs. Dyer. We slept in a dwelling house < f the Shakers, where a number of them slept. In the morning, Mr. Dyer came to the chamber door where we slept, and said we had better go down to a fire, (as the morning was chilly,) Mrs. Dyer asked him where tlie house was f>r her to live in. He said, ' I have none fixed yet.' We went down st:iirs into a room where there was a num- ber of Shakers. Presently, Mrs. Dyer attempted to go out of the door with me ; as we attempted to pass the inner door, a number of Shakers crowded into it, so that we could not piss. We saw the outer door was locked, and she asked wliat the outer door was locked for. He said she was not o()iii2 out, and crowded her back : he desired me to go out ; she was frightened, screamed, and urged me not to leave her. She ran to the window and attempted to get out ; her husband clinched her, thurst her into a chair, and held her there. I was so fri(j-htened I could scarce stand on my feet. She saw my condition, and said I might go, as I could net help her. I was C( nveved through to the other part of the house, and let out. Being much terrified, I thought they would destroy her. In a few days after, I, with two other females, went to see where she was ; the Shakers refused us entrance into the house, or of seeing her. The Shaker women said, ' We have get Mary, and we can take care of her.' Polly Ciifford." Enjidfl, Aug. 2(3, 1820. Sworn before me, Joseph Merrill, Just. Peace, LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 241 Before I left Mr. Willis', I engaged a lad to go in speed five miles, where I had been boardino- to caution the wo- man to keep my papers until I came. I concealed the emotion of my heart as much as possible, considering that if I went quietly, relying on his word, he would have no ex- cuse to treat me ill. When we arrived, it was late at night. I, with my female friend, was shown into a lodging room, in a building occupied by Shakers. In the morning, my trials were severe. After a few hours, my husband came to me, saying he had a place prep red for me, and I might go in peaceably, or he would carry me by force. I had rather go than contend, and followed him in. There were two outer doors to the house ; one was nailed up with three large nails, and the other was locked. There was no fire- place or chimney. There were two small chambers, snug to the roof, one of those was my residence. I observed weapons in different parts of the house, to deter persons from assisting me to escape. I questioned the Shakers about these weipons, and observed, the Scriptures said, " He that sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed ;" they said, " We have a right to fi^ht dogs and sor- cerers, and all without the gates we consider as such." I artfully sent word to the inh ibit mts to be cautious in try- ing to relieve me, and if they attempted it by force, their lives were in danger. Two Sh deer women lodged in the opposite chamber, and two Sh iker men slept in the room beneath mine, so as to preve:it my escape by the chamber windows by night. They took care always to lock me in at night, and sometimes in the day time. My husband re- mained in a lower room, the more effectually to prevent my escape. At times, he would come, bringing one or two more with him. A Shaker woman, (Louisa Childs,) came three times a diy, and brought our food, and six times a day kneeled with my husband in my prison. I tried many ways for escape, but in vain. My husband forbid my speaking to any friendly female out of his pr^ 21 242 LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. H»ence. I have been informed that the first morning I 'was liliut up, the Shakers sent, by my husband, an order to the woman where I had been boarding, with my name to it, requesting her to send by the bearer all that was mine.* The woman refused. They sent again, offering her as much money as she should say, and clear her from all i rm, if she would give up the trunk and effects. The woman, like a faithful heart, held her integrity, and kept the arti- cles ; she had not forgot the errand of the boy. Here was a stratagem of the enemy to conceal truth by destroying the testimonies which I had collected. The manuscripts were in that woman's custody. Had they been destroyed, the task and expense of again collecting them, would probably have prevented me from publishing my bo( k ; but Provi- dence has so ordered it that my papers and mysjlf have been protected. I have learned that they turned off some of those who came to inquire after me, telling them I was living plea- santly with my husband. For five weeks, I had no change of clothes, and was confined under a hot ro( f through the heat of summer. They brought in woollen rolls, which my husband said I must spin. I told him I considered it a sin for me to work, profiting them, and stren:Tthening their hands to enslave me. I had much rather suffer, than en- courage their hypocrisy. The treatment I received brought my troubles up afresh. I dared not eat or drink until Mr. Dyer had partaken of part of the same, suspecting they intended my death. In rea- "sonino- with Mr. Dyer, I told him he had filsified his word in every promise, as far as related to the Shakers ; and "that he, in confirming to them, had done all in his power ■to wound and injure me. In fact, it appeared they were Bot satisfied with any thing short of my life. See Joshua Stevens' testimony, page 75. My situation, with grief, overcame me, destroyed my ap- * This was a deception to get my papers. LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AUTHOR. 243 petite, and I was in a fast decline. On luy fi;st being coik- fined, I was anxious to see iny children, but was refused. ^j^H After I had been shut up four weeks, they asked me if I ^^B did not wish to see my children. I said, not in such a dirtj ^ habit as I was then in ; my forlorn situation was as much as I could bear, without seeing my helpless children, knowing they were also prisoners. Soon after, an elder, with my children, came suddenly into the room ! The wretched thought of seeing us all prisoners was distressing. I told my children, '• I was always glad to see them, but was sorry to know that both they and myself were prisoners ; and that I had requested to see them when I was in a condition more proper, as respected cleanliness, which the Shakers would not grant. Now, wheii my clothes are dirty and worn, and myself alniost disheartened, they cause you to come. This they do that they may afterwards say to you, ' There, see your dirty world's mother, full of trouble ; that is because she has left the gospel, and if you go away, you will be ju?t so;' thus to sour your minds against me. The Shakers are the c luse of my being in this abused state ; they are not contented in sepa-ating you from me, but have falsely slanderod nie, and . ow have confined m^, perhaps to perish." Until now, the children did not know I was confined, but had been ttld t!iat I, of choice, was liv- ing with the Sh ikers. My husband said, " Now I am will- ing the children should know you are confined." The el- der said, " We do not tdk rgiiust y