SHAI(IN G THE FAITH ELIZABETH A. DE WOLFE WOMEN, FAMILY, AND MARY MARSHALL DYER'S ANTI-SHAKER CAMPAIGN,

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1 SHAKING THE FAITH

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3 SHAI(IN G THE FAITH WOMEN, FAMILY, AND MARY MARSHALL DYER'S ANTI-SHAKER CAMPAIGN, ELIZABETH A. DE WOLFE

4 SHAKING THE FAITlI Elizabeth De Wolfe, 2002 Softeover reprint of the hardcover 1 st edition All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. First published 2002 by PALGRAVP", 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y and Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Companies and representatives throughout the world. PALGRAVE is the new global publishing imprint of St. Martin's Press LLC Scholarly and Reference Division and Palgrave Publishers Ltd (formerly Macmillan Press Ltd). ISBN ISBN (ebook) DOI / Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data can be found at the Library of Congress. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Composition by autobookcomp. First edition: June

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7 CONTENTS Permissions... ix Illustrations... xi Acknowledgments... xiii Introduction: Shakers and Anti-Shakers... 1 Chapter One: Conversion, Deconversion and Apostasy Chapter Two: The Sympathy and Malice of Mankind Chapter Three: The World Worked Up to Some Purpose Chapter Four: A Spectacle for Remark Chapter Five: In Deep Affliction Chapter Six: Notorious Against Them Notes Selected Bibliography Index

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9 PERMISSIONS The author and publisher gratefully acknowledge permission for use of the following material: Excerpts from original Shaker manuscripts. Used with the permission of the Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio. Excerpts from the Francis Jackson Papers and from the correspondence of William Barrett Shedd. Used with the permission of the Massachusetts Historical Society. The discussion of the mob at Enfield in chapter three is adapted from Elizabeth A. De Wolfe, "The Mob at Enfield: Community, Gender and Violence Against the Shakers." Reprinted by permission from Intentional Community: An Anthropological Perspective by Susan Love Brown, ed., the State University of New York Press State University of New York. All rights reserved. Chapter four is adapted from Elizabeth A. De Wolfe, "Mary Marshall Dyer, Gender, and A Portraiture of Shakerism," 1998 by the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture. Reprinted from Religion and American Culture, Volume 8, Number 2, by permission of the University of California Press. Excerpts from original Shaker Manuscripts are used courtesy of The Winterthur Library: The Edward Deming Andrews Memorial Shaker Collection. Excerpts from the Papers of the History of Enfield, New Hampshire, and from the correspondence of Mills Olcott are used with the permission of the Dartmouth College Library. Excerpts from the papers of the Yandell and Waller families are used courtesy of The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky. Excerpts from the Journal of Miner Kilbourne Kellogg are used with the permission of the Cincinnati Historical Society Library, Cincinnati Museum Center.

10 x PERMISSIONS Illustration of Joseph Dyer's advertisement is used with the permission of the New Hampshire Department of State, Division of Records Management and Archives. Illustration of Mary Dyer's handbill, "Free Lecture to the Ladies," is used courtesy of the American Antiquarian Society.

11 ILLUSTRATIONS 1. Advertisement, Dartmouth Gazette, February 18, Title page, A Brief Statement of the Sufferings of Mary Dyer, Title page, A Compendious Narrative, Advertisement, The Observer, April 17, "The Whirling Gift," Two Years Among the Shakers, Advertising Handbill, "Free Lecture To The Ladies," Carte de Visite, Caleb Dyer 8. Carte de Visite, Orville Dyer

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13 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This book began as a dissertation for the American and New England Studies program at Boston University. I remain grateful for the financial support provided by the program, and by the Boston University Women's Guild. Additional generous funding came in the form of research fellowships from the Winterthur Museum and Library, the Pew Program in Religion and American Culture, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The University of New England has provided ongoing support in the form of faculty research grants. Mary Dyer's story was quilted together from bits and pieces found in libraries, historical societies, and research centers spread across New England and beyond. Some are well endowed, well staffed, and well known, others are lightly staffed, lightly funded, and little known. All provided invaluable assistance with letters, newspapers, town records, apostate accounts, and soot-covered court documents, and to each I owe my sincere thanks. They include: Ann Gilbert and Gay Marks at the Sabbathday Lake (Maine) Shaker Library; Renee Fox, Canterbury (N.H.) Shaker Village; Jerry Grant, Emma B. King Library (Old Chatham, N. Y.); Richard McKinstry and Iris Snyder, Winterthur Library; Ralph Stenstrom, Hamilton College; Marjorie Carr at the Enfield Public Library; and the staff at the New Hampshire Department of State, Division of Records Management and Archives. Staff, archivists, and librarians at numerous institutions offered welcome assistance in this research project. They include: the New Hampshire Historical Society; New Hampshire State Library; Warren County (Ohio) Historical Society; Cincinnati Public Library; Cincinnati Historical Society; Boston Public Library; Boston Atheneum; Massachusetts Historical Society; New York State Library; Connecticut State Library; American Antiquarian Society; Holy Cross College; Worcester PolyTech; the Filson Historical Society; Enfield Shaker Museum; the Fruitlands Museums;

14 XIV SHAKING THE FAITH Rauner Special Collections Library at Dartmouth College; the Orford (N.H.) Public Library; and the Orford Social Library. One letter here, an old map there-all were important pieces in the big picture and I'm grateful for the knowledgeable and enthusiastic assistance received in my travels. Parts of the puzzle fell into place with the generous sharing of resources, scarce imprints, and ideas. I'm grateful for the generosity of David Newell, Jerry Grant, the Milton Sherman Collection, the late Wendell Hess, Frank P. Wood, Scott De Wolfe, Barbara Roberts, Richard Candee, Daniel Cohen, and the late John Shea. As the endnotes will attest, Mary Ann Haagen's copious knowledge, meticulous research, and generosity of spirit (and references) filled in gaps in my own research, suggested new avenues to follow, and enhanced my own understanding of life among the Enfield Shakers. At the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community I found food for thought in the archives, and food for the body at noontime meals. I am grateful for the sustenance both provided. Lawrence Foster was an early and steadfast supporter for my work, from first glimmer of idea, to critiquing the present tome. My dissertation committee, Nina Silber, Dana L. Robert, Stephen Marini, Richard Candee, and Richard W. Fox provided helpful suggestions that initiated the transition from dissertation to book. Colleagues and friends were pressed into service to look at copies of Mary Dyer's A Portraiture of Shakerism in far-flung libraries as they completed their own research, and others read multiple versions of various chapters and offered their insightful critiques. Thank you Joan Sullivan, Cheryl Boots, Candace Kanes, Rebecca Noel, Magda Hotchkiss, David Richards, and David Shawn. Mark DeFazio lent his honest eyes and read the entire manuscript, as did Shirley Theresa Wajda, whose careful reading and astute comments helped sharpen my argument. At Palgrave, Jennifer Stais provided gentle reminders and helpful answers. Editor Deborah Gershenowitz understood the project from our first meeting; her skillful guidance and perceptive questions strengthened the manuscript in its journey from draft to monograph. A special thanks to Allie Lee, who was there when the work commenced, and Pearl Lynn, who was there when it was completed. Before this book was a dissertation, it was an idea for a term paper and for that idea, I thank Scott De Wolfe, best friend, best critic, and best supporter. With Scott, I have found myself in the place just right.