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:         Pleasant Hill, Ky. Community.                                              

Title:               [Letters and true copies of letters sent to the New Lebanon, N.Y., community].

Dates:             1820-1831.

Call No.:         ASC 1044

Acc. No.:        SA 1215

Quantity:        10 items

Location:        29 E 4

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

The Shakers established a community at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, in 1805.  Three Shaker missionaries, John Meacham, Issachar Bates and Benjamin Seth Youngs, left Mount Lebanon,

New York on New Year’s Day in 1805, and traveled on foot to Kentucky. In August of that year, they found three Kentuckians who were willing to listen to their testimony. These men, Elisha Thomas, Samuel Banta and Henry Banta, became the first Kentucky Shaker converts.  The converts moved to Thomas’ farm in Mercer County.  Over the years, the Shakers acquired more land, around 4500 acres in all, including fields, orchards, and pastures.  At its height, there were over 400 members at any one time.  However, by 1912, the community ceased to be active, and the last Shaker at Pleasant Hill died in 1923.   Part of the property is now preserved as a museum.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

Among the topics covered in this group of ten letters are the growth of the Shaker community at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, and its persecution by "the world." Many letters relate the addition of new residents--individuals who decide to convert as well as those who simply live in the community.  Deaths are also recorded.  One resident, William Runyon, is singled out to emphasize how the power of God can cure sickness in Believers. Some mention is made regarding the addition of land to the community and the construction and use of the meetinghouse, as well as other buildings.  One letter is about a violent attack that occurred on June 6, 1825, when a mob tried to "rescue" Lucy Bryant from the Shakers; and two others are about the legal maneuvers of apostates. One of the 1825 letters discusses Mary Dyer's anti-Shaker writings. A number of the letters in this group read like an abbreviated annual report from an outlying community, in this instance Pleasant Hill, to the home ministry at New Lebanon, N.Y.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

The letters are in chronological order.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

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

           

 

PROVENANCE

           

Gift of Mrs. Edward D. Andrews.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing.

Shakers - Kentucky - Pleasant Hill.

Shakers – Hymns.

Religious communities - Kentucky - Pleasant Hill.

Persecution.    

Building - Kentucky - Pleasant Hill.

Church buildings - Shaker.

                        Mortality - Kentucky - Pleasant Hill.

                        House construction - Kentucky - Pleasant Hill.

                        African Americans-  Kentucky - Pleasant Hill.

                        Apostasy - Shakers.

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location:  29 E 4

 

 

SA 1215.1a-b             “A copy of a letter from Pleasant Hill Ky., February 23, 1820.”  From Mother’s little children at Pleasant Hill, written by Samuel, to beloved and much respected elders. 

Reporting on the work at Pleasant Hill.  Much economic distress in their area, leading some of the world’s people to suicide.  Economic distress also means that the world has not always been able to pay their debts to the Shakers.  In previous October, William Runyon (age 21, son of Joseph Runyon) had a seizure, which he did not think was the power of God.  [Letter goes into detail about his treatment, sudden cure, and his religious experiences afterwards.]  But others also had seizures, and they were afflicted with the power of God.  [A great deal of the letter describes other visions and instances of members, including children, being filled with God, and talks of the work of God being done in the community.]  Includes an anthem, beginning “Since Christ and mother we can see, o how joyful should we be….”  [The anthem is written straight out, not in verse form, and is found starting in the middle of the 6th page.]  The anthem was taught to them by Nancy Bomon [sic], whose relatives had tried to kidnap her from the Shakers.

Note: a later hand wrote in pencil at the end of the letter; Pleasant Hill, 1802, but the letter is plainly dated 1820.

 

 

SA 1215.2       endorsed: copy of a letter from Pleasant Hill to Rufus Bishop, New Lebanon. 

                        Letter, Samuel, Pleasant Hill, Mercer Co., Ky., to brother Rufus, March 5, 1821.

 

                        Thanks for sending communications about the gospel.  Recommends that letters be addressed to Francis Varis [mentions some other men to whom letters could be addressed].  Work and health of John Dunlavy.  Building of new meetinghouse; mentions other buildings as well.  Had visited Union village in July; mentions some of God’s work there.  Closes with the words to a hymn “from the poor little children that live in the meeting House.”  [The hymn begins “Kind brethren and sisters and friends in the Lord, with heart rending sorrow the tidings we heard….”]

 

 

SA 1215.3       endorsed: a copy of a letter from Pleasant Hill to the ministry and elders at New Lebanon. 

                        Letter, from Mother’s little children in the M.H., Pleasant Hill, Mercer County, Ky., to ministry and elders, April 1, 1821.

 

                        The letters announcing the death of their blessed mother [Lucy Wright] caused much grief.  [Describes some visions that members have had.]

                        The winter has been very cold, and many members have had bad colds.  Reports on John Dunlavy’s mission trip to the Clinch River in Virginia.  Some news from Union Village, South Union, and West Union. 

 

 

SA 1215.4       letter, from the ministry, Pleasant Hill, Ky., to Comstock betts, Jr., Pittsfield, Mass., in care of John Wright, August 5, 1821.  [postmarked Georgetown, Ky.]

 

                        Gladly received his letter and the news that all is well in the East.  Reports on new members [some names given], and John Dunlavy hopes to soon return to the Clinch River, where he has been doing some missionary work.  Lists deaths from April-June, 1821.  Writes a bit about the new meetinghouse, new shop, new horse shed, and a new house for the aged. 

 

 

SA 1215.5       letter, Ministry, Pleasant Hill, Mercer Co., Ky., to the ministry, May 1, 1823.

 

                        New members in community, but don’t expect all to stay.  [Gives numbers of members.]  Hope that some of the people from Clinch River will join them in the summer.  Some news from Union Village, South Union, and West Union.  Illnesses among the members; names several expected to die soon.  Lists deaths April 1821-March 1823.  Lists the elders of the different families.  Have purchased property, erected buildings (a fulling mill, a house), and made bricks.  Hope to start a Center House this season.  The area had poor crops last season, and there is scarcity because of that.

 

                       

 

SA 1215.6       letter, ministry [“from you poor old Kentucky friends living in the meeting house”], Pleasant Hill, Mercer Co., Keny., to the ministry, May 1, 1824.

 

                        Received their letter last fall, the new books from Dr. Brown of Lexington, the mulberry seeds, and the poppy seeds.  Have been reading the books ever since received.  Brief news from Union Village and South Union; have not heard from West Union.  Leonard Jones, a member of the world, recently came to visit one of their meetings, and forced another visitor, who was unruly, to leave the meeting.  Jones is still visiting the village and may join them.  List of deaths May-August 1823.  Have started building a dwelling house opposite the meeting house, and have built several smaller buildings. 

 

                        Written in pencil on a blank page: Pleasant Hill 1824.

 

 

SA 1215.7       endorsed: a copy of a letter from P. Hill dated April 12, 1825, received the 19th of May following.

                        Written in pencil under this: Pleasant Hill 1825

                       

Letter, from the ministry, Pleasant Hill, Mercer County, Kentucky, to ministry and elders [of New Lebanon], April 12, 1825.

 

Their letters were most welcomed.  Pleased to hear that their new meetinghouse is fulfilling their needs and that they were able to successfully move the old one.  Lists deaths May 1824-March 1825 (the latter death being that of Clarry Bata, a black woman).   Several people from Pleasant Hill [names them] made a visit to South Union, including Union Village and Watervliet.  Father David of Union Village is quite weak in body.  Still working on the new center dwelling house.  Includes part of a letter from Elder Issachar of Watervliet, Ohio.  Mary Dyer’s books are unknown in these parts, but other pamphlets against the Shakers are in circulation. 

 

 

 

SA 1215.8       letter, Lucy, Pleasant Hill, to Elderess Ruth, August 12, 1825.

 

                        Great joy in receiving letters from her and the others.  Tell Elder Ebenezer that the hymn he sent has been sung and is well liked.  Describes the assault on the community on the evening of June 6, 1825.  The attackers had come to “release” Lucy Bryant “from bondage,” but she declared she wished to stay.  They left that night, but encouraged by Lucy’s mother Sally, the mob continued to threaten them for several days.  They attacked again on the Sabbath and took Lucy with them.  They have had a suffering time since then, and the letters from Zion have helped them “a heep.”

 

 

SA 1215.9       copy of a letter from Kentucky.  John R. Bryant, Pleasant Hill, Mercer County, Ky., to brother Stephen Munson, September 12, 1831. 

 

                        The depositions were exactly what were needed.  The lawsuit was dismissed at the plaintiff’s cost, but they have appealed.  The apostates are taking away the church’s property and using it as their own.  [Quotes at length from a law brief, dealing with people who have entered the Shaker covenant.] 

 

 

SA 1215.10     copy of a letter from Kentucky.  The ministry, Pleasant Hill, to the ministry at New Lebanon, [N.Y.], September 13, 1831. 

 

                        Have been troubled by apostates spreading lies about the community.  One apostate, James Gass, lives nearby and is stealing their livestock, but they have not sought justice because of the other lawsuit in which the community is involved.  The other lawsuit involved apostates (men who had signed the covenant) seeking to have their property returned to them and to be paid for their time, but the judge dismissed their suit.  The plaintiffs have appealed.  In other news, the ministry of Union Village has recently visited Pleasant Hill and South Union.  Most of the crops seem good.  Deaths from Dec. 1830-Sept. 1831.  The Northeast family is building a new dwelling.