The Winterthur Library

Edward Deming Andrews Memorial Shaker Collection

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE  19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:         Deming, William.                               

Title:               Journal of William's travel to the state of Ohio.

Dates:             1810

Call No.:         ASC 818

Acc. No.:        SA 778

Quantity:        1 vol. (57 p.)

Location:        29 C 5

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

William Deming was a Shaker who lived in the Hancock, Massachusetts, community.  He was born around 1779 and died at Hancock on September 21, 1849.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

William Deming's trip took place between May 5 (although entries do not begin until May 21) and October 4, 1810.  He started and ended in Hancock, Massachusetts, although he recorded mileage and expenses from New Lebanon, New York.  Eliab traveled with him at least from New Lebanon, if not from Hancock, although his name rarely appears in the diary.  The accounts of his travels between New Lebanon and the Shaker community at Turtle Creek in Warren County, Ohio, are very sparse.  He lists towns through which they traveled, how many miles were covered per day (traveling on horseback), and how much was spent each day (but not what was purchased).  Very little else is recorded for this part of the journey.

 

However, he gives a little more information about the Shaker communities in Ohio and Kentucky, both Pleasant Hill and Gasper, although these entries are also short.   He mentions the building of a meeting house at Turtle Creek, the harvest of crops, helping in the stone quarry, planing timber for a loom, fishing, meeting with different Shaker families, viewing Indian mounds, etc.  He also describes opossums, the cliffs of the Kentucky River near Pleasant Hill, and large trees.   The entry for August 27 contains a transcription of Benjamin Seth Youngs’ pamphlet entitled "Transactions of the Ohio mob, called in the public papers an expedition against the Shakers."  This describes a mob coming to the Turtle Creek community, making demands on the community, and the community’s responses to the demands.

 

It is possible that this volume is a fair copy of Deming’s original travel journal.   Pages 1-33 are numbered in the original; the remaining page numbers have been added. 

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

Entries are in chronological order.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The diary is in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

 

PROVENANCE

           

Gift of Mrs. Edward D. Andrews.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

People:

           

            Harlow, Eliab.

 

Topics:

            United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing.

Shakers.

Shakers - Ohio

Shakers - Kentucky.

Shakers - Buildings, structures, etc.

Religious communities - Ohio.

Religious communities - Kentucky.

Mounds - Ohio.

Mounds - Kentucky.

Travel.

Travel costs.

Trees.

Men - Diaries.

Travelers - United States - 19th century.

Kentucky - Description and travel.

Ohio - Description and travel.

Diaries.           

 

            Additional author:

Youngs, Benjamin Seth.

 

TRANSCRIPTION OF THE DIARY

 

Note: punctuation has been added to enhance readability.  Original spelling retained, with the exception of the use of extraneous capital letters.

 

 

[p.1]

From the 5th to[?] the 20th of May 1810, travelled 104 miles                         104

 

From July 15 to August 20th besides journeys travelled about in different parts of Kentucky miles

                                                                                                                        70

 

Travelled in the state of Ohio besides my journey miles                                155

 

My expence while at Turtle Creek was           $4.36 cts

 

 

[p.2]

Journal of William’s Travel to the State of Ohio

            [note: surname Deming added in pencil by another hand]

 

Monday morning May 21st 1810

Set out from New Lebanon for the State of Ohio in company with Brother Eliab.  At night we put up at Stockings in Hudson, having come on horseback

Miles 28

Our expences for 24 hours were $2.75

 

May 22

Crossed the North River at Catskill & lodged at Feltons in Kingston.

Travelled 31 [miles]

Expences $2.92

 

May 23

Traveled 34 miles & lodged at John McClean’s in Montgomery.

[miles] 34

[expenses] $2.74

 

May 24

Travelled by Goshen Court House & lodged at John Spittull’s[?] in Burlingsbrooktown [place not identified].

[miles] 27

[expenses] $2.90

 

May 25

Crossed N. York line into N. Jersey.  Lodged at John Coursen’s in Hardwick.

[miles] 32

[expenses] $2.28

 

[p.3]

May 26

Left N. Jersey, passed into Pensylvania & put up at Easton Hotel after crossing toll bridge.

[miles] 34

[expenses] $3.2[0]

 

May 27

Passed through Moravian town [Bethlehem], crossed the Lahie [Lehigh] River twice & lodged at George Fister’s in Kutestown [Kutztown].

[miles] 36

[expenses] $2.81

 

May 28

Passed through Reading & lodged at Godfrey Kanur’s [?] in Mayor’s town [Myerstown].

[miles] 39

[expenses] $3.15

 

May 29

Road to Jeremiah Rees’s in Harrisburg, a place of good entertainment.

[miles] 32

[expenses] $3.58

 

May 30

Crossed Susquehanah [Susquehanna] River and lodged at Candells in Shippingsburg [Shippensburg].

[miles] 40

[expenses] $3.6[0]

 

May 31 Crossed the Blue [Ridge – erased] Mountains [sic, Blue Mountain is the proper name] & lodged at David Field’s.

[miles] 31

[expenses] $2.28

 

June 1 

Crossed Sideling & Race[?] hills, passed through Bedford & lodged at R. Whittaker’s, foot of Dry Ridge.

[miles] 37

[expenses] $2.37

 

June 2

Crossed Dry Ridge & the Allegany mountain & lodged at Bhroo’s[?] – perhaps more properly Brooks.

[miles] 37

[expenses] $2.88

 

 

[p.4]

June 3

Crossed Laurel Hill & Chestnut Ridge, passed on by Mount Pleasant.  Killed a rattlesnake.  At night put up at John Robertson’s in South Huntington township [Westmoreland County, Penn.].

[miles] 35

[expenses] $2.49

 

June 4

Crossed Youghiogeny [Youghiogheny] River and Monongahela.  Very wet and mudy travelling.  Lodged at Wm. McComment’s in Washington.

[miles] 32

[expenses] $2.78

 

June 5

Travelled sixteen & half miles to the Virginia line, thence through a part of Virginia to the Ohio River, which we crossed & put up at Thomas Thomspson’s in the state of Ohio at the ferry.

[miles] 33

[expenses] $2.64

 

June 6

Passed through Newellstown [not identified, but not the Newellstown which is now Tarlton] and Morristown & put up at John Bradshaw’s in Kirkwood township [Belmont County], where we had some of our cloths [clothes] washed.

[miles] 30

[expenses] $2.43

 

June 7

Passed through Cambridge, thence over the toll bridge.  Met a silly man who said he was going to Lebanon & came from Lebanon; at night we staid at Geo. Heap’s in Union township [Muskingum County].

[miles] 37

[expenses] $2.43

 

 

[p.5]

June 8

Passed through Zanesville, crossed Muskingum River & put up at Jer. Conaway’s in Beding [place not identified].

[miles] 36

[expenses] $2.40

 

June 9

Passed on through Lancaster, thence to Pickaway Plains & lodged at Col. Pratruff’s[?] in Pickaway township.

[miles] 36

[expenses] $2.70

 

June 10

Crossed Scioto River, passed through old Chillicothe, crossed Paint Creek [i.e. Painted Creek] twice & lodged at Charles Clifton’s in Fairfield County [this is a mistake, as Lancaster is in Fairfield County, and they had already passed through there before reaching Chillicothe; probably Fayette County was meant].

[miles] 38

[expenses] $1.81

 

June 11

Very wet & mudy.  Travelled twenty miles by the worst road that ever any man would desire to see.  Lodged at Aaron Sewel’s in Vernon township [Clinton  County].

[miles] 20

[expenses] $1.80

 

June 12

Crossed Todd’s Fork & the Little Miami River.  Passed through Lebanon and arrived safe & in good health at Elder David’s – were received with a kind & hearty welcome & once more enjoyed the refreshing feelings of breathing the free & wholesome air of our own & well beloved brethren & sisters, whose thankful hearts were replenished with a new cause of gratitude on our arrival.

Traveled this day miles: 20

Whole distance from N. Lebanon, N.Y., to Turtle Creek township, Ohio: 755 miles.

 

[p.6]

 

Turtle Creek Township, Near Lebanon, State of Ohio

 

June 13

This day I went to see the meeting house & the frame of a new dwelling house & saw 30 boys at work.

 

June 14

Went out with Peter to see the farm, the saw mill, & the tan yard.  The next day went with Nathan Sharp into the woods for a load of butternut bark & the next day went to sawing at the mill.

 

June 17

Went to [the – erased] meeting & heard Benjamin & Richard speak to the world.

 

June 18

Went in a waggon with Peter, Hortence, and Molly to Cincinnati & returned the third day.

 

June 21

Went to the week meeting, and Elder David delivered Mother’s love to the Believers, and the love of all the elders & brethren & sisters in the East, & an hymn was sung which Richard had composed on the occasion of our coming & which he afterwards sent to Mother.

 

June 22

Robert Gill & John Slover arrived here from Bussero [Busro, Indiana].  John had several times been taken prisoner by the Indians, suffered a great deal

[p.7]

among them; the last time they had him a prisoner, they had him bound to be burnt, & under guard, but he strangely escaped out of their hands & saved his life.  He informed me of the Big Bone Lick.  He saw one tooth which [was nine feet long – crossed out] weighed nine pounds & was dug out of the earth 18 feet below the surface.

 

June 23

Went with Peter to Lebanon & the next day being Sabbath, I went to meeting.

 

June 25

Drew a draught [draft] of the meeting house & the next day helped the brethren in laying the sills on the wall of the new house.

 

June 27

Visited the families of Jonathan Davis, John Wallace & Samuel Serring.  At John Wallace, we saw about 35 children.

 

June 28

Went with Peter & helped in drawing stone for the new house.

 

June 29

We went to John Houston’s, David Spinning’s, Stephen Spinning’s & John Woods, visiting the brethren and sisters of those families; in the last place we saw about 53 children.

 

June 30

Visited the brethren & sisters in Amos Vallantine’s family near the meeting house.  P. M.: Joseph & Constant came here from Kentucky, also Issachar & John Rankin.

 

 

[p.8]

July 1

Sabbath, went to meeting & heard Benj. & John Rankins speak to the spectators.

 

July 2d

Worked in the joiners shop, plaining timber for a loom.  The brothers began to harvest their grain and grass.

 

July 3

Went with Archabald to where the brethren were putting up a log house for a man of the world, and the next day worked at the loom & was helped some by Archabald and Joseph.

 

July 5

Went with Benjamin to Lebanon Printing Office.  On returning, saw the log on which Richard tried to kill the little quail & about which he made the little hymn.  I saw also the place with the robbers cut their clubs & hitched their horses.

 

In the afternoon I went to turning [flax – crossed out] hay with the brethren.  Issachar showed me some peocon[?  i.e. pecan?] trees he had planted.

 

July 6

We went with Archabald to Joseph Lockwood’s[?] & David Smith’s & saw their wives Phebe & Mary.  P.M.: worked with the brethren at making hay.

 

 

[p.9]

July 7

Helped the brethren bring the bents[?] on the new house.  Benjamin & John Rankin set out to fulfill an appointment for a meeting on the banks of the Great Miami [river] 22 miles off & returned next day evening.

 

July 8

Sabbath, went to meeting & heard Issachar & Richard speak to the spectators.

 

July 9

The brethren, about 80 in number, raised the body of the new house.  The next day I helped six of them put up the rafters. 

Leave Turtle Creek.

 

July 11

Set out with Joseph Allen for Kentucky.  Crossed the Ohio River at Cincinnati & put up at Kenada’s at the mouth of Licking River in Kentucky [Licking River enters the Ohio River across from Cincinnati; it divides Covington and Newport, Kentucky].

Rode miles 30

 

July 12

Passed through Bank Lick Creek & thence on to Jones[?] on the Dry Ridge in Pendleton County.

Miles:  49

 

July 13

Crossed Race Creek & forded Big Eagle, midside to the horses, thence on & passed thro Georgetown & thence to Lexington & put up at Shidalls.

[miles] 41

 

July 14

Went from Lexington & crossed Kentucky River at the mother of Dicks [i.e. Dix] River,

[p.10]

which comes from the wilderness, & thence to the Believers at Shawanee [i.e. Shawnee] Run & were gladly received & kindly treated by Elder John & all the elders, brethren & sisters & the young Believers of their family. 

At Shawanee Run.

 

July 15

Went to meeting & heard Matthew Howston [i.e. Houston] speak to the spectators.  This day saw all the young brethren & sisters of Elder John’s family and many others who live in other families.

 

July 16

Went with Samuel & visited several families, viz John Briant’s & George Sailor’s, who had believed in the course of last summer & winter.  Afterwards I went with Matthew Howston to the stone quarry.

 

July 17

Visited the brethren & sisters in the family of Willias Ballancer.  Saw Nancy Hemley[?], who on account of her faith had made her escape from her relations in Shelly [i.e. Shelby] County, 50 miles  off.  She came here yesterday.  She has a sister younger than she who continued, sending her word to keep her faith & that she means to come likewise as soon as she is of age.

 

[p.11]

July 18

Joseph & I went to the Kentucky River to see if the water was low enough for catching fish.  After we returned, we went to meeting & elder John spoke to the Believers.  The next day I went with Samuel to get timber for a washing mill.

 

July 20

Went about with Cornstalk[? i.e. Comstock] to see the farm.  The land on which the Believers are here settled is very excellent but rather uneven, stony in some places & every where a solid body of rock underneath.

 

July 21

Eight of the brethren went to Salt River a fishing, besides Joseph & myself; they waded in the water about six hours & caught 48 little fishes with a sean [seine].  The fish were bullheads, perch & flat side.  Returned home and found Elder David, Elderess Ruth, Eliab, Peter & Matha [probably means Martha] were arrived from Ohio.

 

July 22

Set down at the table on the Sabbath with fourteen of the elder brethren and sisters, viz Elder David, Elder John, Samuel, Comstock, Peter, Eliab, Joseph & Constant & Elderess Ruth, Elderess Lucy, Anna, Hopewell, Matha and Mary.

 

 

[p.12]

July 23

I worked with Samuel Hooser at the meeting house.  P.M.: went with Elder David, Eliab, Samuel & Peter to the stone quarry & thence to Tobias Wilhoit’s. 

 

July 24

Went with Joseph to Col. Thompson’s.  Saw his deer park with five elk & 40 deer.  Saw also 20 acres of tobacco belonging to Thompson.  Thence we went to Harrodsburg & thence to the new place which the Believers here have lately purchased; it is a very beautiful rich level tract of land and hansomly situated & well timber’d.

 

July 25

Went to the school house to meeting.   Elder John gave Mother’s love to the Believers & the love of all the elders, brethren & sisters & all the Believers in the East.  And they all kneeled down in token of their thankfulness.

 

July 26

Elder David, Elder John & Elderess Ruth & nine of the old Believers went to Willis Balance’s to dinner & thence to John Briant’s to supper & returned home.

 

July 27

Visited the families of Joseph McCarver and George Sailor.

 

 

[p.13]

July 28

Elder David, Elder John & Elderess Ruth & all the elder brethren & sisters, except Hopewell, went to the family of Frances Whyte’s (lastly Elisha Thomas), where we sat down at a very full table of everything comfortable and necessary.

 

July 29

Went to meeting & heard Matthew speak to the spectators in a very effecting manner.  Saw the old Rev. Col. James Smith’s pamphlet against the Believers. 

Leave Shawanee Run.

 

July 30

Set out with Comstock & Isaac Price for Gasper.  Forded the Rolling Fork of Salt River & put up at John Mulden near the fork.

Travelled miles: 44.

Had some new cyder.

 

July 31

Forded Green River & Little Barren River & put at Joseph Martin’s at Preweth Knob.

Miles: 50

 

August 1 day, 1810.

We went into two caves, went into one of them about ten rods and it was a beautiful sight.  Forded Big Barren River, arrived at Elisha Thomas’s at Gasper.

[miles:] 41

 

 

[p.14]

 

At Gasper

 

Aug. 2

We went with Elisha to the head of the Clear Fork of Gasper River; the Clear Fork is a large, beautiful spring near which the Believers have settled.  After this we visited Elisha’s family.  Next we went to John Rankin’s house & visited the family of Samuel Edes.

 

Aug. 3

We went with Samuel Whyte to the saw mill, about 4 miles off.  Passed by John Rankin’s meeting house in which he formerly preached.  Went to a cave which was 40 feet deep & water enough running through it at the bottom to turn any kind of mill.

 

Aug. 4

Went with Wm. Pittillo to cut a bee tree.  He informed me that he helped removed the stone from one of the mounds which are so numerous & unaccountable throughout this western country.  This mound was in the form of a cole [i.e. coal?] pit, arched over with earth.  The human bones found in the inside were innumerable, the size of some of the jaw bones would extend over William Pittello’s above two inches.

[p.15]

Robt. Briant informed me of a cave 16 miles from here at which he had been, that it was 50 feet deep.  The inside was in the common form of mounds above ground, i.e. the cave was small at the top & grew larger & larger to the bottom.  And in it 50 feet below the surface of the earth were great & small human bones, without number.

 

Aug. 5

We went to meeting.  The spectators behaved very rude, & indeed, some of them danced with the Believers out of derision.  A man from S. Carolina by the name of Ebenr. Morehead went home with us and disputed with Comstock & Elisha, but finally acknowledged that it was the truth.

 

Aug. 6

Went to Saml. Robertson’s.  Here they informed me that a number of the world came the day before & carried off Robert Briant’s wife & three children to the world.  She had been the week before to her father’s, & the Believers here thought that she then contrived the plot with the world, to have them come & take away herself & children from among the Believers.

 

[p.16]

 

Leave Gasper

 

Aug. 7

Early this morning, we set our faces for our native land, the sky clear & the weather exceeding hot.  Saw a very pleasing sight today, a mound that had been uncovered.  It was arched all over with stone, and among the trees growing on it was a maple tree about 2 ½ feet over, & we thought it must be at least 20 years old.  The trees growing on these mounds appear generally as old as any of the trees of the woods which surround them.  These mounds generally stand on some level plain & many of them are surrounded with artificial banks and trenches of various extent & forms, which appear to have been calculated for defence in war.  Some of the mounds are 30 feet high & 40 or 50 rods in circumference at the bottom & covered with trees which look as antient as the rest of the woods.

            Passed on through Bowling Green, a town on the bank of Big Barren River.  Forded the river & rode on over the Barrens to the Dripping Spring, & thence on to Joseph Martin’s at Preweth Knob.

Miles: 41

 

Aug. 8

Left Prewitts Knob.  Crossed Little Barren & Green River & put up at Benjamin Gibbs.

Miles: 51.

 

 

[p.17]

August 9th, 1810

Passed through Harrodsburg, & from thence to Shawanee Run.  Last night the brethren here caught two possums.  They are some in the shape of a young pig & covered with a kind of hog hair & about the size of a pig of 6 or 8 weeks old.  They were the first I ever saw.

Miles: 43

 

At Shawanee Run

 

Aug. 10

Went and worked with Joseph Allen at the stone quarry.  In the evening we went to Andrew Cooney’s to see a sick child which had been rode over purposely by a wicked man on horseback.  The child died in a few days.

 

Aug. 11

Went with Comstock & Samuel to the cliffs of rocks on Kentucky River.  The cliffs here were 300 feet high from the bed of the river.  We rolled down several stones from the top of the cliffs into the river.  The waters of this river sometimes rises 40 feet & upwards & never overflows it banks because of the high cliffs of rock which are almost every where on its sides.  Through its whole length, it runs through the middle of the state & the Kentuckians esteem it very highly as a water portage

[p.18]

for carrying their produce into the Ohio & so down the Mississippi to Orleans.

            We also saw a whitewood tree which measure a little above the ground 16 feet in diameter; two feet above ground it was 12 feet in diameter & 8 feet from the ground it was 8 feet in diameter & continued about this size & very straight for about 90 or 100 feet, growing a little less towards the limbs.  It was the largest I ever saw.

            At night the brethren had their blacksmith’s shop broke open & a saddle, bridle, sursingle, handsaw, drawing knife, hammer, all the files, and a shirt stolen.

 

Aug. 12

Last night the brethren here watched all night; two theives came and tryed to get into the shop again.  But as they could not get in, they went towards Wyllis Ballance’s.  James Guest & Lewis Wilhoit followed them till the thieves discovered them and sett out to return.  James bid them stop; they did so and one that had a gun swore that if he did not hold his tongue, he would shoot them.  Lewis told the thief to crack away then – upon this,

[p.19]

James pointed his gun at one of the thieves & they run with all their might.

            How hard it was for a bold Kentuckian to watch with a gun and not use it.  Went to meeting; the Believers had a powerful meeting.  Matthew Houston spoke to the spectators.

 

Aug. 13

Went with Saml. to Harrodsburg & then 1 mile beyond Salt River to get some pipe clay.  Saw a lame bear of about 19 months old.

 

Aug. 14

The brethren began to raise the upper part of their meeting house, at which I helped.  The next day the rafters were put on.  The latter part of the day I stayed in the house, being unwell.

 

Aug. 16

We went with Comstock, Elderess Lucy & Hopewell to Isaac Prices’s.  Susannah Price got us an excelent dinner.

 

Aug. 17

Edward Fry from Bullitt County removed to Shawanne Run with all his family.  He lived on Crooked Creek.  His family consist of 6 blacks.  Two he sold before he came away.  They would rather be slaves than be made free.  Edward is a

[p.20]

considerable wealthy man, a widower.  Crooked Creek is a place where a number of Believers have moved from.  Some call the place Long Lick.  It is about 70 miles off.

 

Aug. 18

Issachar & John Rankin arrived here from Bussero [i.e. Busro] in company with nine brethren & sisters from that place, viz Benjamin & Peggy Price, David & Fanny Price, John Slover Jr. & Nelly, William & Rebecca Pierce, William Boyles and James Price. 

Issachar left Turtle Creek July 18th.  Arrived at Bussero the 24th and again left that on the 11th of August. 

This day we visited the young Believers here for the last time.  This afternoon Molly & Lucy arrived here from Ohio in company with Malchum [probably Malcolm] Worley, Calvin Morrell, Polly Thomas & Rosanna Shields.  The [sic, i.e. they] left Turtle Creek the 14th.

 

Aug. 19

Went to meeting & heard John Rankin speak to the spectators.  He spoke well & with power.

 

Aug. 20

Prepared our things for our journey, took our leave of many of the young brethren & sisters.  They expressed great thankfulness for our coming to this country and

[p.21]

anxiously desired us to come again, and with much feeling, but this we could not grant.  Mathew Houston’s brother from Tennessee came to see him.

 

Aug. 21

We took our leave of Elder John & all the elder brethren & sisters in the family and of all the young Believers with them, and set out for Ohio, in company with Matthew Houston; forded Kentucky River, passed on through Lexington and put up at Michael Robinson’s.

Miles: 32

 

Aug. 22

Passed thro’ Georgetown, crossed North Elkhorn on a bridge, forded Big Eagle and went to Theobald’s on the Dry Ridge.

[miles:] 44

 

Aug. 23

Crossed the Ohio River at Cincinnati and then lodged at the Columbian Inn & the next day we arrived at Elder David’s at Turtle Creek.

[miles:]  36

[miles:]  30

 

Traveled in all our journey from Ohio to Kentucky and back again, miles: 558.

Expences for the time: $7.48 cents.

 

Aug. 24

James Smith took his children to Lebanon and gave up himself & them to the authority

[p.22]

for protection from the mob which is daily expected.  James had been taken by the sheriff & a suit commenced against him by his wife.

At Turtle Creek.

 

Aug. 25

In the afternoon a young man from near Hamilton came and gave information of a Mob who were preparing to come against the Believers on Monday next.  This young man’s name was Wade Loofbourrow[?].

 

Aug. 26

Went to meeting and heard Benjamin, Richard, & Matthew speak to a very large number of spectators. They spoke very lengthy and suitable to the occasion of opposition & the spirit of injustice against the gospel, & on the nature of the gospel in opposition to the spirit of the world.

 

Aug. 27

Transactions of the Ohio Mob called in the Public Papers an Expedition against the Shakers.

 

[note: this is copied, not entirely accurately, from Benjamin Seth Youngs’ pamphlet of the same title.  See ASC 466 in the Andrews Memorial Shaker Collection.]

 

Monday August 27th, 1810.

This day occurred in the County of Warren, near Lebanon in the State of Ohio, one of the most extraordinary

[p.23]

instances of unconstitutional proceedings & the most formidable appearance of infringement on the rights of conscience that ever transpired of the kind since America was first peopled by a civilized nation. A body of 500 armed men, equipped in uniform & in military order, with their officers, appeared on the ground before the meeting house and by a committee of about 12 men appointed for the purpose, demanded of us that we should renounce our faith & practice, our public preaching & mode of worship, or quit the country.

This very extraordinary accurrence began to be principly agitated through the instrumentality of John Davis, John & Robert Wilson, & John Bedle, who had apostatized from the faith of the Gospel and became bold in wickedness & false accusations against the Believers; whereby those who had long waited for false witness to accuse the Believers of something criminal were at length furnished with sufficient matter to answer their purpose. Accordingly, about the first of June, a piece appeared in the public papers signed by Col. James Smith, stating as matter of fact what he had been

[p.24]

informed by the aforesaid apostates, viz that the education of children among the Shakers is chiefly a pretense, that they whip their underlings severely and also their children, that they count it no sin to have carnal knowledge of their own women, that all surplus money and property is given up to Elder David, that he keeps the whole treasury of the Society in his own hands, and that he, like the Pope, exercises unlimited authority over all under his controule, and that he, with his council, lives sumptuously on the labors of others, with many things more of a like nature. With remark made to exasperate the public with the hottest indignation against the Society as being a poisonous nest and enemys to the cause of American liberty, but what seemed to be intended as the weightiest charges in this publication were certain things therein alleged against James Smith Jr. who was among the Believers & for which their was some plausible pretense. James' wife Polly having left him on a count of his faith, and he refusing to give up his children to her, furnished the old man with matter for many heavy charges as oppression and cruelty.

[p.25]

This piece was publicly answered in a spirited manner by Richard McNemar, the falsity of it exposed, and the author sited to prove what he had alleged or bear the character of a slanderer.  Not withstanding as many wished to receive accusations on any ground whatever, the answer was little regarded by such, nor did it appear that Smith, or any of his associates, had any intention of prosecuing the matter in any lawfull manner.  About the middle of July, we were secretly informed that a subscription paper was handing about for the purpose of raising a mob against us, & that John Davis & the two Wilsons were active in it, but they being openly taxed with it, denied that there was any such thing in agitation.   And so it remained in the dark untill August 23rd.   There was a small hint dropped to some of the Believers at meeting that Col. Smith with a number of men from Kentucky were over and engaged in collecting others to assist in taking off his grandchildren. The next day being Friday we heard from credible authority that five hundred men were to assemble the next Monday morning

[p.26]

at Capt. Killbreath’s, about 3 miles off, and intended to come as a mob and take off James Smiths' children & other acts of outrage.  The next day the news became still more flagrant, and in the afternoon we were informed by Wade Loofbourrow, a young man from Butler County near Hamilton, that he had seen written instrument which the designing party had signed, but did not read it; that it was in the hands of Major Potter at Hamilton Court the day before; that the Mob was common subject of conversation on that occasion; that he heard Major Potter say that 500 were subscribed, also that Matthew G. Wallace was forward and active in the business; that Major Potter would be 2d in command; that the Springfield Light Horse would be on the ground, & many more of the baser sort from Springfield, the big hill & from around Hamilton & from the vicinity N.W. of us; that we might expect the party to appear on Monday without all doubt; & that he came on purpose to inform us of the plott and wished to tarry and see the event.

 

[p.27]

The same evening news came in from different quarters of their preparations and threats of the abuse; that they meant to tar and feather Richard McNemar, drive the old Shakers out of the country, and restore the rest back to their former faith and manner of living.  The next day, being the first day of the week, some of the party came to our meeting, particularly Capt. Robinson, who avowed the fact they would be on the Ground the next day for the purpose of violence, but what, he did not fully specify.  The State Attorney Joshua Collett and the Sheriff of the county, Saml. McCrary, both of Lebanon, finding out their place of rendevoes [i.e. rendezvous], went for the purpose of giving them a lecture on the unlawfulness of their intention, which we understood they delivered.  The thing had now become generally known, & a number of sensible & influential men, being at our meeting, determined to return the next day and see the event.  Among these were Doctor Budd & Doctor Blatchley from New Jersey, Col. Stanley from Cincinnati, and Davis Corneal, a noted young man from Kentucky.

 

[p.28]

Monday morning, the Believers went about their ordinary business, and about 8 o'clock, the people began to collect from different quarters, as spectators of the scene which they expected shortly to commence. The first Circuit Judge of the State, Francis Dunlavy, was early on the ground, intending if anything unlawful should be attempted, to countermand the proceedings.  News came from every quarter that the troops were assembled at Killbreath’s, and would certainly appear.  Doctor Blatchley, with some company, concluded to meet them, which he accordingly did, and about 12 o'clock returned and informed us that they had mounted & were moving on & would be on the spot in less than an hour.  According [sic, i.e. accordingly], about 1 o'clock the troops appeared, entered in by the Dayton Road from the North, and marched in order till the front came within a few poles of the meeting house, and called a halt.  A number of the officers were in uniform & the troops armed and generally equiped in regimental order.  The whole body of people now collected on the ground consisted

[p.29]

of about 1500 or 2000, some supposed upward of 2000, besides the 500 troops in military order.  Many scattering ones who came with the multitude were also armed but undisciplined persons, old gray headed men, boys & others, who exhibited a very mean & mob like appearance.  Some of the undisciplined multitude were armed with guns, some with poles or sticks on which were fixed bayonets, and others with stones & hatchets & knives & clubs.  The exhibition presented a scene of horror, the intention of which was still covered with duplicity.  It is very probable that thro the influence of some of those peace designing men before mentioned, the mob had agreed upon the expedient of choosing a Committee to state to us proposals in the name of the party, & to receive & return our answers.  After a few minutes halt at the meeting house, the Committee came forward & faced the yard before the Dwelling house of the Old Believers.  They requested three of the original men (meaning of the Old Shakers), viz John Meacham, Benjm. S. Youngs, and Issachar Bates, to come forward in order to confer with them on the occasion of the peoples assembling,

[p.30]

observing that a committee was chosen for that purpose consisting of 12 men, those present, among whom one was Chief Speaker. 

 

They were told that two of the men they called for were not here, only one of them viz Benjamin Young [sic] was present.  Then they said two others (in the place of those absent) would answer.

 

Several respectable characters stood present in the yard before them, and we concluded to take with us three or four of those who were not of our society, viz Judge Dunleavy, Gen. Schenk, Esq., Ichobad Burren & Aaron Haerlin[?], allowing that six at least were not too many to be present with the committee, whom they said consisted of 12 in number.  This we propose but they objected, allowing none to be present but those of the Society & of those only there.  Judge Dunleavy asked, Have you any objections to be standers?  They answered, yes.  We proposed to meet with them in a room in the house; to this they also objected and insisted upon going into the woods.

 

Unreasonable as this request was that

[p.31]

none who were not of our society should be present in the conference proposed, so that no one could be witness for us of the proceedings!  Yet we consented.  Three of the society, viz Benjamin Youngs, Peter Pease, and Matthew Houston, withdrew with the committee into a piece of woods beyond the garden, about 60 poles South of the dwelling house & half a mile South of the Meeting house. 

 

The leading characters of the Committee were: Matthew G. Wallace, a noted Presbyterian Preacher & Chief Speaker; Doctor Squire Little, a New Light; Capt. John Clark; & John Fisher; the names of the rest we did not ascertain. 

 

Wallace began in the name of the people, by stating their grievances, observing, that our principles & our practice had caused great disturbances in the mind, of the people & led to the extinction of Civil & Religious Society, which they were determined to uphold; that our system was a pecuniary system and led mankind into bondage & oppression & that the people were determined to bear it no longer, insinuating that they (the Committee) were in a capacity to prevent evil being done and perhaps prevent much blood being shed, as the people were determined on a redress, provided we would comply with the terms they had to propose as the voice of the people.

 

[p.32]

After speaking awhile in this manner, they stated the following proposals as the only terms on which the people would be satisfied & prevented from forcing a compliance by violent measures., viz 1th That we should deliver up the children of James Watts, deceased, to their grandfather, alleging that the said James at his desease [i.e. decease] gave the children to his father, & also asked us if we did not see the propriety?  We answered, we had not seen the Propriety hitherto, as we supposed that the mother, under whose care the children now were, had the greatest right to them, & asked them if it was recorded that the said James gave his children to their grandfather?  They answered, It was not.  We told them that we could not give up that which was not in our possession.  The children were with their mother and under her care, and we exercised no authority over them.  We were sure that the mother and children might be seen by any two or three civil men, if the parent was willing & the children wished to go.  It was not our wish to have them retained, nor, if any demanded them & chose to force them away, should any violence be used to prevent them.

 

[p.33]

2d.  That old William Bedle be permitted to see his grandchild, a son of Elijah Davis, alleging that the said child came away & was forcibly brought back contrary to his inclination.  To this we also replied that the child was under the care of his own parents, that we had not any controls over him, that we did not usurp the parents’ right over their children, but that we doubted not the child might be seen, &c, &c, similar to the above. 

 

3d.  That we should give up the children of James Smith, observing that we were doubtless well acquainted with the circumstances relative to these children.  To this we also answered that the children were under the care of their father, that they were now in the hands of the authority, & that a suit had commenced in Court respecting them.  This, therefore, they concluded to drop for the present. 

 

4dly.  The Chief Speaker here observed that the next thing might probably seem some hard to us, and then proceeded to state the weightiest proposal as the sense

[p.34]

of the party, viz That we cease publicly to inculcate our principles & that we cease from our practice, that we cease to dance on the Sabbath Day, and on the week days, observing that such practices were reverse from the gospel, or depart out of the country by the first Monday of December next.  The amount of which was that we should relinquish our faith & practice, our manner of living, preaching, and mode of worship, or depart out the Country.  

 

These were the terms proposed in the name of the party collected, whom they called the People.  If we acceded to the terms, well, and if not, the people were fully determined to enforce their designs by violence.  We requested them to state their proposals in writing, but this they pointedly refused. 

 

It was now 2 o'clock, and one hour was agreed upon to return a positive answer.

 

The committee arose and we returned home. All the elder brethren & sisters present were assembled together in an upper room of the house.  We invited in Judge Dunlavy, Esquire Currun & Gen. Schenck all

[p.35]

of this county.  We stated in their presence the proposals of the committee, and the answer we expected to return, observing also wherein we felt their requirements unreasonable and unjust, particularly in their not allowing any who were not of us to be present at the time of the conference so that no witnesses could be produced in our favor, or against the unlawfulness or injustice of their demands, and also of the unreasonableness of grandfathers demanding to be given up to them their grandchildren who were among us under the care of their own parents.  These judicious men appeared much affected on the occasion & to be feelingly interested for the cause of justice, tho they said nothing. 

 

After we arose, Judge Dunlavy and Gen. Schenck went out & found Doctor Little, one of the Committee, in the yard before the house, and talked to him in an effecting manner on the illegality & the consequences of this day’s concourse of people.

 

At the expiration of the time appointed, Benjamin informed Dotr. Little, that we

[p.36]

were now ready to meet them.

 

Accordingly, we again meet the committee at the same place in the woods, & delivered our answer:

 

1st.  Respecting the children: we observed that we had already stated what we had to say on that subject, adding that all adults among us were free & that it was contrary to our principles & our practice to oppress any or to hold any in bondage.

 

2dly.  Respecting our faith, which we held in the Gospel: we esteem it dearer to us than our lives & therefore meant to maintain it, whatever we might suffer as the consequences.  And as to our leaving the country, we were on our own profession [sic, i.e. possessions], which we had purchased with money obtained by our own honest industry.  It was our endeavor not to owe any man anything, we had not a cent of any man’s money, & enjoyed our own peaceable possessions in a free country & were entitled to those liberties (including the liberty of our conscience) which the law of our country granted us.  This was the sum of the answer.

 

In the course of the first setting of the committee, we had observed to them that

[p.37]

things were misrepresented & wrongly reported of us; that there was no evidence of the things of which we were accused, being only reported by prejudicial persons; and that there was no need of all this concourse of people.  If we had done wrong in any matter, we were willing that any judicious persons should make examination, and the laws of our country made ample provisions for the redress of grievances;  to which they replied (by the Chief Speaker) that the means prescribed for redress, would require too lengthy a process, and the people would not wait the issue of such measures, adding that they had witness sufficient. 

 

It is here worthy of notice that altho the Committee had solemnly agreed not to admit any of the party while they conferred with us, yet before we closed with them, they had a number of witnesses & accusers standing by with charges against us, particularly John Davis who accused us falsely & in the most malicious spirit.  Others also were standing round, ready to take their turns.

 

[p.38]

We asked the Committee again & again if they had understood us?  And they again & again answered in the affirmative.   And though we had pointedly delivered our answers, still they labored hard to urge upon us the propriety of our compliance, for how, observed Wallace, could we withstand a 1000 men?  But not according to their terms we left them, and it appeared very doubtful what would be the event. 

 

Above the Meeting house, the school house, the children's family, and the first family of young Believers, there was a vast, a promiscuous concourse of armed men and spectators, some disputing, some enquiring, others railing out against, endeavoring to scatter falshood and urging the propriety of banishing us out of the country by violence.  Some men of talents were engaged in contesting such measures, urging our right of citizenship from our peaceable deportment & the unconstitutionally of infringing upon our right, which had never been forfeited by any misconduct. 

 

About three o'clock, a public speaker of the party standing in

[p.39]

the street before the meeting house door proclaimed that all who had any charge against the Shakers should come forward and enter it.  A number of charges were produced, but no charge however, was regardedly entered and taken up, except a charge of murder against Amos Vallantine, upon the deposition of John & Robert Wilson, who disposed that when they lived among the Shakers, the said Amos had a boy that had fits, that he whipt the said boy unmercifully, also that the said boy was whipped by Daniel Moseley, & that the said Amos and Daniel both wished that he was dead; that the said boy had for some time past been missing and that they, the said deponents, believed that the said boy was murdered & put out of the way.  A Habeas Corpus was immediately served on Amos, & he was put under guard untill the said boy should be produced.  The boy was immediately sent for, being at Moses Eason's, about 4 miles off. 

 

About this period, the Committee were setting the second time, with the three Brethren before mentioned.  Judge Dunlavy, who understood

[p.40]

the proceedings of the Committee before, followed them to the edge of the woods, & there sat down on a log about 5 rods off, waiting to see the issue.  Immediately after the Brethren left the committee, he mounted his horse & rode up to the concourse at the meeting house, & setting on his horse in the midst of the assembly, & with a loud voice calling attention, he delivered a solemn injunction that no one violate the laws of Ohio; and required all civil officers present to take cognizance of the conduct of any who should violate them. 

 

Soon after, the aforesaid the boy arrived, which was about 4 o'clock, & Dunleavy understanding the case, gave information of his arrival, & the satisfaction which was given of the innocence of the party accused, ordered the prisoners to be released, & the people to disperse as nothing remained as any matter of investigation. 

 

Nevertheless Capt. Killbreath refused to comply, alleging, that he was as high in office as the Judge, upon which Dunlavy ordered him to be apprehended & put in prison; but Killbreath, being armed with a sword & pistol

[p.41]

& refusing to be taken, they left it to be determined in some other way which of them should be the greatest.  The prisoner, however, was released.  But some of the party treated the Judge with great contempt and uttered the most bitter invectives against him for his interference. 

 

At this stage of the proceedings, the Committee having returning [sic] and mingled among the multitude, & Dunleavy having given his orders, the party were somewhat irritated & thrown into confusion; but the word of command being given & the party mounted, they moved down the street in a violent carreer & clouds of dust, and halted in a vast crowd facing the dwelling house of the elders; & after a little pause, Major William Robinson, with a loud voice, demanded of those in the house whether they would comply with the proposals of the Committee, Yea, or Nay.  This was repeated a number of times, crying, give us an answer, Yea or Nay, but none answered a word. 

 

Then all the people of the house, old and young, were commanded to come out of the house and to place themselves in

[p.42]

a circle on the green before them, but none appeared.  Then Robinson continued his speech to this effect: that we should comply immediately with the proposals of the committee and accede to remove out of the country by the first of December or suffer the consequences, & then cried aloud, is not this the voice of the people?  Which was instantly answered by the Mob, with uplifted hands & a general loud & hideous yell in most exasperated manner. 

 

But as none yet appeared, nor answered, they ordered the gates to be thrown open, which after some hesitations, some of the concourse ventured to perform.  The doors of the house were now shut and fastened, as hitherto they had been left open.  The main body of the corps remained on their horses in the street, but after the gates were opened, the house was soon surrounded by a promiscuous multitude. 

 

After some consultation they proposed a committee from among them, whom they wished to enter & search every apartment to see whether there were not some such as was reported.  The Committee came forward, consisting of Major William

[p.43]

Robinson, Captain John Robinson, Capt. John Clark, Capt. Corneleus Thomas, and one or two more.  They entered upon conditions of behaving civilly, & began their search & examination with the young sisters and asked them one by one, if they wished to leave the Shakers? 

 

Betsy Seward replied that she was satisfied with the people & her present place of abode, that she liked it better than among her natural relation because they treated her more kindly than ever her natural relation did, & that she did not wish to see any of them any more while they remained so wicked.  The committee then said, Let her stay.

 

Prudence Morrell being interrogated, replyed that all the world would be no inducement to her to go away, that she had much rather lay her head down upon the floor & have it chopped off than that she should be taken from among the Believers.  Caty Rubart also made a very firm reply to the same amount, and so did Jenny Minemas, & all the rest, each declaring that they were free to go away if they chose at any time, & that nothing bound them but their faith and love.  All whom they interrogated, whether brethren or sisters, made similar replies.

 

[p.44]

The committee, having searched every apartment of the house, declared themselves satisfied.  Capt. Thomas, who was a man of considerable feeling in particular, said he saw a decent house and decent people in it.  They then drank generously of cold coffee,  went out and reported well satisfied.

 

After this, they went back again to their former ground at the meeting house & the same committee proceeded to examine the house and family of the young Believers.  All who were interrogated made a very firm reply, that they were free and might go but would not.  Several said they had rather die than abandon their faith or forsake the people of God. 

 

By this time, the committee was under considerable mortification & their zeal began to abate, having been disappointed in their researches.  Some persuasion had to be used to get them into the school house.  Matthew, being present at their examinations, wished them to go, especially as they had it reported that we would not suffer our children & youth to read the scriptures.  

 

When they went in, they found testaments plenty.  Matthew told them that they might

[p.45]

see that at least one lie had been told them. 

 

They looked at the children writings, which they acknowledged far surpassed their expectations.  Matthew then wished them to ask the children questions, whether they had enough to eat, &c., observing that he had children among them & had been long absent and knew not how it might be with them.  When they were asked 1st, Have you enough to eat? They answered, Yea, yea, yea,  as much as we want, ran all through the school.

2d.  Are you whipped more than you deserve? They answered, Nay, nay, nay, all through, and many said Not whipped at all.

3d.  Do you want to go from these people; if you do, we will protect you, fear not.  Nay, nay, nay, ran all through the school.  They were then wished to hear the children read, but they would not, but declared themselves fully satisfied. 

 

Then they were requested to go down to John Woods; perhaps they might find there that enslaved woman of whom they had spoken & about whom the party were so much agitated (for it was reported that some certain woman was enslaved by the Shakers & they had not yet found her, thou another select number of the party had searched the

[p.46]

meeting house for her a little before this, & the children's order at John Woods had also been examined).   But the committee would go no further, declaring themselves fully satisfied, and so they departed. 

 

No ground of accusation being found or reported to the party, and the generality being fatigued with the scene and under a mortifying disappointment were dismissed, the last of whom disappeared as the darkness of the night began to creep over the horizon, without leaving behind them any visible marks of cruelty.

 

No disturbances or confusion appeared among the Believers, through the whole occasion; the generality kept busy at their usual employments, took dinner in their usual manner and entertained such as they could with convenience.  They answered those mildly who spoke to them, whether peaceable or in a taunt.  Such as wished to enter into their rooms from the noise did so & spent the time in conversation.

 

Perhaps a scene entirely like this has never transpired since the rights of conscience have been esteemed sacred by man. That no evil or cruelty was transacted after such formidable preparations

[p.47]

of design can be assigned to no other causes, than the interposing hand of Divine Providence, that invisible power of God which turneth the heart of men whether soever he will & say to the mighty waters, Hitherto shall thou come and no further.

 

N.B. The foregoing transactions are stated according to the best recollection & information of the circumstances after the event had transpired.  It is not to be understood that every individual of this vast crowd were persons of malicious design.  Many even of those who were under arms appeared not to know in reallity what they were come together for, only as they had been ordered out by their officers.   Many also had been influenced to evil designs by the evil reports, & when they received true information & were induced to consider the impropriety of such illegal proceedings, they manifested no disposition to do the least injury or act of injustice.  Some of this description (we were informed) left the mob & returned back after Doctor Blatchley went to know their intentions.  There were numbers also, who were men of good information & just

[p.48]

 Principles, some of whom have been mentioned whose only endeavors were to inculcate reason into the minds of as many as were accessable & to maintain a spirit of peace & the cause of freedom.  

 

The End 

 

August 28

Went to view the Meeting house, which is now all finished, except the plastering & doors of the upper rooms.

 

August 29

Went with Peter to Lebanon; saw James Smith & his children, who had for some days past been kept in the Debtors Room of the prison on account of the threatening of mobs.  Went also beyond Lebanon to a pump maker’s in order to get a pump.  On our return we found James & his children going home.  Cold evenings and mornings.

 

Aug. 30

John and Cassia Dunlavy came here from Eagle Creek.  The Believers there were all well.  Frost at nit [night].

 

Aug. 31

Went with Peter to Murphey’s & James Norris to agree for some appels [apples].

 

September 1

Went with Daniel round the fields.  Went to the burying ground; saw Prudence grave & the grave of John Wallace’s child, the only ones who have deceased from among all the

[p.49]

Believers on Turtle Creek since the Gospel came here.

 

Sept. 2

Went to meeting & heard John Dunlavy and Matthew Houston speak to the world.  The people generally behaved civilly, except one old woman openly told John he was a liar because he made no distinction between the professor & non-professors.

 

Sept. 4

The Believers from Bussero [Busro] set out for home & all desired their love to be taken to the East.  Molly and Lucy returned from Kentucky with Constant.  They left all well there.

 

Sept. 6

Went with Archabald & visited Moses Eason’s, John Miller’s, John Gee’s, John Slater’s, John Huston’s, & from thence to John Dennis’s a the tan yard for the first and the last time.

 

Sept. 8

Got my horse shod for my journey home.  Went with Peter to Lebanon & saw a very extraordinary piece of stocking machinery.

 

Here insert the current prices of some principal articles as sold in this country, viz

salt per bushel or 50 lb wt. from $1.25 [p.50] to $3

iron per hundred wt.               $10

blistered steel per lb.               50 cents

cracoley[?] do.                        37 ½ cents

castings per lb.                        6 1/4 cents

cotton per lb.                           25 cents

bohea tea per lb.                      75 cents

best kinds of tea, lb.                $2

country sugar per lb.               12 ½ cents to 25 cents

Orleans or West India sugar per lb.  31 cents to 37 ½ cents

Pepper & coffee per lb.           50 cents

Allspice & ginger per lb.         50 cents

Wheat per bushel                    50 cents

Corn per bushel                       25 cents

Fresh corn-fed pork per cwt.  $2.50

Fresh beef per cwt.                 $2.50

 

Sept. 9, 1810

An account of a remarkable tree growing in the state of Ohio taken from a Cincinnati Almanack of this year.

 

On the land of Abraham Miller in the township of Seal & county of Scioto in this state, there is growing a forked hollow

[p.51]

Sycamore tree which measures on the inside 21 feet in diameter & more than 60 in circumference, tapering from the base upwards, so that at the height of 5 feet it only measured 42 feet.  The opening of the cavity at the bottom is 10 feet wide & 7 at the height of 5 feet, terminating at the height of 9 ½ feet.  The fork is about 8 feet from the ground.  One of the branches is dead & broken off about 20 feet high, the other green & thrifty.  The specimen’s cavity attracted the attention of the neighbourhood, 14 of whom assembled on the 5th of June 1808 on the spot, and 13 of them advanced on horseback into the trunk and at the same time sat there with perfect ease.  The other being a skittish horse did not venture in, but there was room for two more to be perfectly secure from a falling shower of rain. 

 

Sept. 9

Went to meeting.  Heard Richard speak to the world in the first meeting.  In the last meeting, the Believers labored in great power.

 

Sept. 10

Went with Constant to Saml. Lerring’s, John Wallace’s, & Jonathan Davis’s.  They were all very felling & particular in sending their love to the Believers in the East.

 

[p.52]

Sept. 11

Went to John Houston’s & John Woods.  They sent much love & many thanks for our coming to this country to visit them.

 

Sept. 12

This day went to the first family of the young Believers & took our leave of them.  They were exceeding hearty & feeling in their expressions of love & their thankfulness.  Now prepare for our journey home.  Archabald & Benjamin also prepare for a journal to the Wabash.  All to start tomorrow morning.

            Farewell, loving brethren, farewell, farewell. 

May the blessings of Heaven with you ever dwell.  B.

 

Sept. 13

In the morning we took our leave of Elder David, Elderess Ruth & all the elder brethren, sisters.  They all told us to remember their love to Mother in particular, also to all the ministers, elders, brethren, and sisters in the East, & to thank them all kindly for sending us to see them & for all things else that we have received from them.

            Likewise all the young Believers in Elder David’s family in the same manner as above.

[p.53]

            We then set out on our journey from Turtle Creek in company with Benjamin & Archibald who were going to Bussero [Busro]; came with them a few rods and parted, they to the west and we to the East.  We came thro Lebanon to the Little Miammia [Miami], forded it, then thro an old fort about 80 rods wide from one wall to the other.  These wall [sic] are about 15 feet high, on which there is tall white wood trees 4 or 5 feet in diameter.  Then on between 2 mounds which were about 6 rods apart and between 20 and 30 rods from the mouth of the fort [they were probably passing through what is now Fort Ancient State park], then to Morgan Vanmeter’s and put up in Highland county.

Miles: 34

[expenses] $2.12 ½

 

Sept. 14

To Bee Creek, crossed it 3 times, then crossed Rattlesnake and Walnut Creeks, then thro Geenfield [sic, i.e. Greenfield] to William Clark’s in Ross County & put up, in all

[miles] 33

[expenses] $1.60

 

Sept. 15

To the Scioto, forded it, then thro the Pickaway plain, then thro the priary [i.e. prairie?], then thro Hockhocking Creek [possibly means Hocking River] to Jacob Caster’s in new Lancasters [i.e. Lancaster] & put up, in all

[miles] 37

[expenses] $2.66 ½

 

Sept. 16

Thro Jonathans Creek to the Muskingum, forded it, then to Richard Reave’s in Zanesville & put up, in all

[miles] 36

[expenses] $3

 

Sept. 17

To Cambridge, then to Wills Creek, then to A. Clements in Washington, Gorenza [Guernsey] County, & put up, in all

[miles] 36

[expenses] $3.6[0]

 

[p.54]

Sept. 18

Thro Smith’s town and Morristown to John Thompson’s in Newelstown and put up, in all

Miles:  35

[expenses] $3.20 ¾

[Smith’s town has not been identified; Newelstown, Ohio, is now Tarlton, but is in the wrong place for it to have been the town meant for this day’s travel.]

 

Sept. 19

To the Ohio River, crossed the ferry at Wheeling in Virginia, then crossed Wheeling Creek 15 times & left Virginia & went on thro Alexandra [i.e. West Alexander] to John Craken’s in the State of Pennsylvania, township of Denagord [probably means Donegal], in all

[miles] 33

[expenses] $3.66 ½

 

Sept. 20

To Washington, very wet & mudy, to Edward Todd’s, in all

[miles] 19

[expenses] $2.94

 

Sept. 21

To Williamsport on the Monongahela River, crossed the ferry, then to the Yohogany [Youghiogheny] River, crossed the ferry, then thro Mount Pleasant to the foot of Chestnut Ridge and put up at John Lovinger’s.  Verry wet and mudy.  In all

[miles] 35

[expenses] $3.40

[Williamsport on the Monongahela has not been identified; Allenport was probably meant]

 

Sept. 22

Over Chesnut [Chestnut] Ridge & Laurel Hill, then thro Summerset [i.e. Somerset] and put up at Sabast[? perhaps Sebastian] Groff’s in Summerset [Somerset] County, in all

[miles] 35 ½

[expenses] $3.62 ½

 

Sept. 23

Sabbath day.  We crossed the Allegany & the Dry Ridge, then crossed the Juniette [Juniata] River 5 times, thro Bedford to Bloody Run [now Everett].  Put up at Samuel Tate’s, Bedford County, in all

[miles] 38

[expenses] $4.13

 

Sept. 24

To the Juniette [Juniata], forded it, then up Rase Hill, then down Sidling Hill [i.e. Sideling Hill], then by Fort Littleton, then over the

[p.55]

Tuskarora [Tuscarora] Mountain & Middle Mountain to Geroge Skinner’s, put up, in all

[miles] 37

[expenses] $3.11

 

Sept. 25

Over the Blue Mountain, then thro Straws Burge [probably meant Upper Strasburg], then thro Shipingsburge [Shippensburg] & Carlisle to Thomas Williamson’s in Cumberland County, put up, in all

[miles] 40

[expenses] $3.54 ½

 

Sept. 26

To the Susquehannah River, crossed the ferry at Harrisburge, then thro Humblestown [probably Hummelstown] and Pohnyrerestown [not identified] to Jacob Greenawall’s in Lebanon & put up, in all

[miles] 38

[expenses] $3.73

 

Sept. 27

Thro Mayerstown [Myerstown], Wommelsdoff [Womelsdorf], then to the Skuylkill [Schuylkill], forded it; then thro Reading to Thomas Zweyer’s in Richmond township, Berks County, and put up.

[miles] 42

[expenses] $3.20

 

Sept. 28

Thro Kutztown, then by the Big Springs, then to Allenstown [Allentown], then to the Leehigh [Lehigh River], forded it, then to N. Gulick in Eastown [Easton] and put up, in all

[miles] 39

[expenses] $5.25

 

Sept. 29

Over the Delaware on the toll bridge, into New Jersey state, then over West Peak and Bever Creeks, thro the old Moravain [sic] town [Hope, Warren County, N.J. is probably the old Moravian town] by the old log jail, to John Cowson’s in Hardwick township, county of Sussex, and put up, in all

[miles] 36

[expenses] $3.64 ½

 

[p.56]

Sept. 30

By Sussex Court House, then thro Hambury [probably means Hamburg] village, then to Florida in Orange county, York state, put up at Daniel Gilbert’s.

[miles] 36

[expenses] $4.88

 

Oct. 1st

Thro Goshen & Montgomery, then over the toll bridge, thro Turtletown to Ezekiel Low’s in New Poltz [New Paltz], county of Ulster & put up.

[miles] 37

[expenses] $3.73 ¼

 

Oct. 2

Over the Rosendolph River, thro Kingston, then to Kaatskill [Catskill], then to Athens and crossed the ferry at Hudson and put up at Stockings in Hudson.

[miles] 43 ½

[expenses] $5.53 ½

 

Oct. 3

We reached Lebanon about 2 ½ o’clock.

[miles] 28

[expenses] $1.83 ¾

 

All in health, viz Eliab Harlow, Constant Mosely, & Wm. Deming reached his home at Hancock on the 4th in the morning.

 

Where all made him welcome, having been gone 137 days.

 

[p.57]

The whole distance from Turtle Creek township, state of Ohio, to New Lebanon in the state of New York is miles: 752

 

From May 5th 1810 to the 20th, I travelled 104 miles.

 

May 21, 1810

I set out my journey to the westward to the state [sic] of Ohio and Kentucky, and returned home October 4th, having travelled miles: 2287.

 

The whole expense of my journey to the westward and back again is $65. 43 1/2.

 

[remaining 3 pages in booklet are blank]