Where did the Shakers settle in the US?
Shaker communities. After the Shakers arrived in the United States in 1774, they established numerous communities in the late-18th century through the entire 19th century. The first villages organized in Upstate New York and the New England states, and, through Shaker missionary efforts, Shaker communities appeared in the Midwestern states.
Where was the first Shaker settlement in Kentucky?
From 1805 to 1807, they founded Shaker societies at Union Village, Ohio; South Union, Logan County, Kentucky; and Pleasant Hill, Kentucky (in Mercer County, Kentucky ). In 1824, the Whitewater Shaker Settlement was established in southwestern Ohio.
Who are the Shakers?
The Shakers are a sect of Christianity which practices celibacy, communal living, confession of sin, egalitarianism, and pacifism. After starting in England, the Shakers left that country for the English colonies in North America in 1774.
What is the significance of Shaker culture?
They were the first to package and market seeds and were once the largest producers of medicinal herbs in the United States. Shaker dances and songs are a genuine folk art, and the simple beauty, functionalism, and honest craftsmanship of their meetinghouses, barns, and artifacts have had a lasting influence on American design.
How many Shakers are left 2021?
two membersSister Frances Carr (left) and Brother Arnold Hadd in 1995. Carr died this week, leaving just two members of the religious group known as the Shakers. There aren't many Shakers left. Sister Frances Carr, one of three remaining members of the religious group commonly known as the Shakers, died Monday at the age of 89.
Are Amish and Shakers the same?
Mission-style Amish furniture is still fairly simple, but it does look a little more elaborate than Shaker furniture. It is often made of oak or something similar, and it is usually stained very dark. This makes it look heavier and thicker than Shaker-style furniture.
Are there still Shakers in the United States?
By 1920, there were only 12 Shaker communities remaining in the United States. As of 2019, there is only one active Shaker village: Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, in Maine. Consequently, many of the other Shaker settlements are now museums.
Where did the Shakers settle?
The first Shaker community, established at New Lebanon, New York, in 1787, retained leadership of the movement as it spread through New England and westward into Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. By 1826, 18 Shaker villages had been set up in eight states.
Do the Amish marry their cousins?
Marrying a first cousin is not allowed among the Amish, but second-cousin relationships are allowed. Marriage to a "Schwartz" cousin (the first cousin once removed) is not permitted in Lancaster County. The onset of courtship is usually not openly discussed within the family or among friends.
What do the Shakers believe?
Shakers believed in communal ownership of property. The entire community held all property in common. They believed that men and women were equals. They also opposed marriage and were major proponents of celibacy.
Where do the last Shakers live?
Sabbathday Lake, MaineThe tiny village of Sabbathday Lake, Maine, is the world's last community of Shakers. They trace their roots back to Ann Lee, the daughter of a blacksmith born in Manchester, England, around 1736.
Are Shakers and Quakers the same thing?
The “Shaking Quakers,” or Shakers, split from mainstream Quakerism in 1747 after being heavily influenced by Camisard preaching. The Shakers developed along their own lines, forming into a society with Jane and James Wardley as their leaders.
Are there any Shakers alive?
Long ago, a small radical Christian sect left England in search of religious tolerance. They were people who abandoned their families and social lives to live together in a communal, equal setting marked by simplicity and celibacy.
Why is it called Shaker Village?
She joined a dissident sect who worshiped by giving themselves to being, quite literally, moved by the spirit of God. From these ecstatic, animated movements, they gained the title the “Shaking Quakers,” and then just “Shakers,” a name they ultimately used themselves.
Is Shaker furniture made by Amish?
Shaker Bedroom Furniture Sets are pieces are all Amish handmade to order.
Are the Shakers and Quakers the same?
The “Shaking Quakers,” or Shakers, split from mainstream Quakerism in 1747 after being heavily influenced by Camisard preaching. The Shakers developed along their own lines, forming into a society with Jane and James Wardley as their leaders.
What is a Shaker person?
Celibate Millennialists Who Influenced American Culture The Shakers are a nearly-defunct religious organization whose formal name is the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing. The group grew out of a branch of Quakerism founded in England in 1747 by Jane and James Wardley.
What is the difference between Amish and Mennonite?
Unlike the Amish, Mennonites are not prohibited from using motorized vehicles. In addition, Mennonites are also allowed to use electricity and telephones in their homes. When it comes to their beliefs, the Amish and Mennonite faiths are very similar. The differences lie mainly in the outward practice of those beliefs.
Summer 2018: Darrow School Shaker Settlement, Mount Lebanon, New York
A project is in planning for summer 2018 at the site of the largest Shaker settlement in the United States, established in 1787. Our excavation at Mount Lebanon is supported by a grant from the National Geographic Society.
Related Press
National Geographic Society Board of Trustees Endorses More Than $3 Million in Latest Round of Grant Funding, National Geographic Society, April 5th 2018
What is the Shakers?
Shakers. The Shakers are a sect of Christianity which practices celibacy, communal living, confession of sin, egalitarianism, and pacifism. After starting in England, the Shakers left that country for the English colonies in North America in 1774. As they gained converts, the Shakers established numerous communities in the late-18th century ...
What are the Shaker communities?
Shaker communities were grouped into bishoprics, which were governing units. The leadership team, called a ministry, resided in the bishopric's primary community. This ministry consisted of two men known as Elders and two women known as Eldresses. The New Lebanon Bishopric, the primary bishopric unit, was located in New York and included the Mount Lebanon and Watervliet Shaker Villages, as well as, after 1859, Groveland Shaker Village. In addition to its own member communities, the ministry of New Lebanon Bishopric oversaw all other Shaker bishoprics and communes. After New Lebanon closed in 1947, this central Ministry relocated to Hancock Shaker Village, and after the closure of that community in 1960, to Canterbury Shaker Village. When Canterbury closed in 1992, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village remained as the last extant Shaker commune.
Why did the Shaker sisters sit on opposite sides of the room?
They sat on opposite sides of the room in worship, at meals, and in "union meetings" held to provide supervised socialization between the sexes. However, the daily business of a Shaker village required the brethren and sisters to interact, as did the dancing and other vigorous activity of their worship services.
How were Shaker villages divided?
A Shaker village was divided into groups or "families." The leading group in each village was the Church Family, and it was surrounded by satellite families that were often named for points on the compass rose. Managing each family was a leadership team consisting of two Elders and two Eldresses. Shakers lived together as brothers and sisters. Each house was divided so that men and women did most things separately. They used different staircases and doors. They sat on opposite sides of the room in worship, at meals, and in "union meetings" held to provide supervised socialization between the sexes. However, the daily business of a Shaker village required the brethren and sisters to interact, as did the dancing and other vigorous activity of their worship services. Though there was a division of labor between men and women, they also cooperated in carrying out many tasks, such as harvesting apples, food production, laundry, and gathering firewood. Every family was designed to be self-supporting with its own farm and businesses, but in times of hardship, other parts of the village, or even other Shaker villages, pitched in to help the afflicted.
What is the Shakers religion?
The Shakers are a sect of Christianity which practices celibacy, communal living, confession of sin, egalitarianism, and pacifism. After starting in England, the Shakers left that country for the English colonies in North America in 1774. As they gained converts, the Shakers established numerous communities in the late-18th century through ...
Where were the Shaker communities located?
The first Shaker societies. The first Shaker community was established north of Albany, and was first called "Niskayuna", a rendering of the Indian name for the land. Later the town they were in was officially named Watervliet.
Who were the Shakers children?
Some children, such as Isaac N. Youngs, came to the Shakers when their parents joined, then grew up to become faithful members as adults. As their communities grew, women and men shared leadership of the Shaker communities. Women preached and received revelations as the Spirit fell upon them.
What is the Shakers?
The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, more commonly known as the Shakers, are a millenarian nontrinitarian restorationist Christian sect founded circa 1747 in England and then organized in the United States in the 1780s.
Where did the Shakers come from?
The Shakers were one of a few religious groups which were formed during the 18th century in the Northwest of England; originating out of the Wardley Society. James and Jane Wardley and others broke off from the Quakers in 1747 at a time when the Quakers were weaning themselves away from frenetic spiritual expression.
How many members were there in the Shaker movement in 1840?
Turnover was high; the group reached maximum size of about 5,000 full members in 1840, and 6,000 believers at the peak of the Shaker movement. The Shaker communities continued to lose members, partly through attrition, since believers did not give birth to children, and also due to economics; hand-made products by Shakers were not as competitive as mass-produced products and individuals moved to the cities for better livelihoods. There were only 12 Shaker communities left by 1920. : 337–370
What did the Shakers do during the Civil War?
Both Union and Confederate soldiers found their way to the Shaker communities. Shakers tended to sympathize with the Union but they did feed and care for both Union and Confederate soldiers. President Lincoln exempted Shaker males from military service, and they became some of the first conscientious objectors in American history.
How old were the Shakers when they left?
When Shaker youngsters, girls and boys, reached the age of 21, they were free to leave or to remain with the Shakers. Unwilling to remain celibate, many chose to leave; today there are thousands of descendants of Shaker-raised seceders.
What is the Shakers movement?
The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, more commonly known as the Shakers, are a millenarian nontrinitarian restorationist Christian sect founded circa 1747 in England and then organized in the United States in the 1780s. They were initially known as "Shaking Quakers " because of their ecstatic behavior during worship services. Espousing egalitarian ideals, women took on spiritual leadership roles alongside men, including founding leaders such as Jane Wardley, Mother Ann Lee, and Mother Lucy Wright. The Shakers emigrated from England and settled in Revolutionary colonial America, with an initial settlement at Watervliet, New York (present-day Colonie ), in 1774. They practice a celibate and communal utopian lifestyle, pacifism, uniform charismatic worship, and their model of equality of the sexes, which they institutionalized in their society in the 1780s. They are also known for their simple living, architecture, technological innovation, music, and furniture.
When did Shakers develop covenants?
Shakers developed written covenants in the 1790s. Those who signed the covenant had to confess their sins, consecrate their property and their labor to the society, and live as celibates. If they were married before joining the society, their marriages ended when they joined.
Where did the Shakers settle in 1776?
There were eight others in the group including Ann’s brother, William. These early Shakers found a suitable site — land eight miles northwest of Albany and, accompanied by four others who had come from England, settled there in 1776. Early Years in Albany, NY. In the first years, the Shakers settled in an area called “Niskayuna” (later Watervliet).
Where did the Shakers originate?
Origins of the Shakers. The founder of the Shakers, Ann Lee, was a blacksmith’s daughter and a mill hand in Manchester, England. Looking for a more personal and emotional religion than the official Church of England, in 1758 she joined a group called the Wardley Society that had left the Quakers. Because the Wardley’s version ...
How many buildings were there in the Watervliet Church family?
All the Shaker settlements launched overwhelming building programs during this 1790-1850 period. At the Watervliet Church Family, this amounted to 27 buildings by 1858, including the new dwelling house already mentioned, the Brick Shop in 1822, the Ministry Shop in 1825, the Brick Office in 1830, the stone Sisters’ Shop in 1840, and a Laundry in 1858. All of these buildings are still standing except the Stone Sisters’ Shop which, along with most of the wooden buildings on the site except for the 1848 Meeting House, was razed by the County in 1927.
How many settlements were there in the Watervliet community?
Several other communities had been founded and in 1793 there were 12 settlements across New York and New England. By 1800 the Watervliet community numbered 87 .
What did the Shakers eat?
Their principal food was rice and milk and sometimes they went to the river to get fish.
Where did the Shakers live in the early years?
Early Years in Albany, NY. In the first years, the Shakers settled in an area called “Niskayuna” (later Watervliet). The first years were difficult, and the small band lived in primitive conditions. The land proved to be both swampy and covered with dense brush.
Who built the Shaker meeting house?
The 1791 Meeting House was built under the leadership of Moses Johnson, who framed ten such meeting houses for different Shaker communities between 1785 and 1794. He began work on this gambrel-roofed structure at Watervliet in March 1791, with Moses Mixer, Stephen Markham and John Bruce as helpers.
How many acres are there in Shaker Village?
Welcome to Shaker Village. Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is a landmark destination that shares 3,000 acres of discovery in the spirit of the Kentucky Shakers.
What is the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill?
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is a landmark destination that shares 3,000 acres of discovery in the spirit of the Kentucky Shakers. Home to the third largest Shaker community in the United States between 1805 and 1910, the vibrant site offers experiences designed to ignite curiosity, expand imaginations and inspire generations.
Is the Shaker Village a hotel?
Named a top hidden travel destination by BBC News, The Inn is much more than a traditional hotel. Guest rooms, suites and private cottages—each offering distinct character—are located in 13 restored Shaker buildings. Rooms are comfortably appointed with Shaker reproduction furniture, original hardwood floors and spectacular countryside views.
What is the Shaker?
Shaker, member of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, a celibate millenarian group that established communal settlements in the United States in the 18th century. Based on the revelations of Ann Lee and her vision of the heavenly kingdom to come, Shaker teaching emphasized simplicity, celibacy, and work.
What is the Shaker movement?
Shaker, member of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, a celibate millenarian group that established communal settlements in the United Statesin the 18th century. Based on the revelations of Ann Leeand her vision of the heavenly kingdom to come, Shaker teaching emphasized simplicity, celibacy, and work. Shaker communitiesflourished in the mid-19th century and contributed a distinctive style of architecture, furniture, and handicraft to American culture. The communities declined in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
How many members were there in the Shaker movement?
The Shaker movement reached its height during the 1840s, when about 6,000 members were enrolled in the church. It later declined, however, because of changes in spiritual needs and the church’s insistence on celibacy and its opposition to childbearing. In 1874 the society was advertising for members, emphasizing physical comfort as well as spiritual values. By 1905 there were only 1,000 members. At the turn of the 21st century there was one working Shaker village, Sabbathday Lake, near New Gloucester, Maine; it had fewer than 10 members.
Where was the Shaker village in Maine?
At the turn of the 21st century there was one working Shaker village, Sabbathday Lake, near New Gloucester, Maine; it had fewer than 10 members. This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn, Managing Editor, Reference Content.
Where did the Shaker movement start?
The first Shaker community, established at New Lebanon, New York, in 1787, retained leadership of the movement as it spread through New England and westward into Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. By 1826, 18 Shaker villages had been set up in eight states.
Who is Checkerboard Film Foundation?
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Which sect was disapproving of dance?
…disapproval of dance was the Shaker sect, which, while prospering in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries, developed choreographed dances as part of its worship service. The dances often represented quite complex religious themes. One figure, the wheel within a wheel, which was made up of circles…
Overview
Settlement growth
The Shakers built more than 20 settlements that attracted at least 20,000 converts over the next century. Strict believers in celibacy, Shakers acquired their members through conversion, indenturing children, and adoption of orphans. Some children, such as Isaac N. Youngs, came to the Shakers when their parents joined, then grew up to become faithful members as adults.
As their communities grew, women and men shared leadership of the Shaker communities. Wo…
The first Shaker societies
The first Shaker community was established north of Albany, and was first called "Niskayuna", a rendering of the Indian name for the land. Later the town they were in was officially named Watervliet. That part of the town of Watervliet is now in the town of Colonie (since 1895), and the name Watervliet is now limited to the city of Watervliet (1896). In addition, Niskayuna is now the name of a town to the northwest. This has led to some confusion, because many historical acco…
Village organization
Shaker communities were grouped into bishoprics, which were governing units. The leadership team, called a ministry, resided in the bishopric's primary community. This ministry consisted of two men known as Elders and two women known as Eldresses. The New Lebanon Bishopric, the primary bishopric unit, was located in New York and included the Mount Lebanon and Watervliet Shaker Villages, as well as, after 1859, Groveland Shaker Village. In addition to its own member c…
Communities
Some organized In addition to the organized communities, other small and very short-lived communities emerged during the history of the Shakers, as well as various missions. These included:
• Numerous communities throughout New England: Cheshire, Ashfield, Richmond, Shelburne Falls, Turners Falls, Norton, Petersham, Grafton, Upton, and Rehoboth in Massachusetts; Windham, Preston
Shaker village tourism
In the 19th century, hundreds of tourists visited Shaker villages, and many of them later wrote about their experiences there. Outsiders were invariably impressed by Shaker cleanliness, prosperity, and agriculture. Shaker food was delicious, and they were hospitable to outsiders. Shakers had a reputation for honesty and their products were the best of their kind.
Museums
• Alfred Shaker Museum, Alfred, Maine
• Canterbury Shaker Village, Canterbury, New Hampshire
• Enfield Shaker Museum, Enfield, New Hampshire
• Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, Massachusetts
Further reading
• Bishop, Rufus. Elder Rufus Bishop’s Journals. 2 vols. Peter H. Van Demark, ed. Clinton, N.Y.: Richard W. Couper Press, 2018.
• Brewer, Priscilla. Shaker Communities, Shaker Lives. Hanover, N.H.: University Press of New England, 1986.
• Brewer, Priscilla. "The Shakers of Mother Ann Lee," in America's Communal Utopias ed. by Donald E. Pitzer. (1997) pp. 37–56.
Overview
The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, more commonly known as the Shakers, are a millenarian restorationist Christian sect founded circa 1747 in England and then organized in the United States in the 1780s. They were initially known as "Shaking Quakers" because of their ecstatic behavior during worship services. Espousing egalitarian ideals, women took on spiritual leaders…
History
The Shakers were one of a few religious groups which were formed during the 18th century in the Northwest of England; originating out of the Wardley Society. James and Jane Wardley and others broke off from the Quakers in 1747 at a time when the Quakers were weaning themselves away from frenetic spiritual expression. The Wardleys formed the Wardley Society, which was also known …
Leadership
Four Shakers led the society from 1772 until 1821.
1. Mother Ann Lee (1772–1784)
2. Father James Whittaker (1784–1787)
3. Father Joseph Meacham (1787–1796)
Theology
Shaker theology is based on the idea of the dualism of God as male and female: "So God created him; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27). This passage was interpreted as showing the dual nature of the Creator.
Shakers believed that Jesus, born of a woman, the son of a Jewish carpenter, was the male manifestation of Christ and the first Christian Church; and that M…
Shaker communities
The Shakers built more than twenty communities in the United States. Women and men shared leadership of the Shaker communities. Women preached and received revelations as the Spirit fell upon them. Thriving on the religious enthusiasm of the first and second Great Awakenings, the Shakers declared their messianic, communitarian message with significant response. One early convert observed: "The wisdom of their instructions, the purity of their doctrine, their Christ-like d…
Economics
The communality of the Believers was an economic success, and their cleanliness, honesty and frugality received the highest praise. All Shaker villages ran farms, using the latest scientific methods in agriculture. They raised most of their own food, so farming, and preserving the produce required to feed them through the winter, had to be priorities. Their livestock were fat and healthy, an…
Architecture and furnishings
The Shakers' dedication to hard work and perfection has resulted in a unique range of architecture, furniture and handicraft styles. They designed their furniture with care, believing that making something well was in itself, "an act of prayer". Before the late 18th century, they rarely fashioned items with elaborate details or extra decoration, but only made things for their intended uses. The la…
Culture
By the middle of the 20th century, as the Shaker communities themselves were disappearing, some American collectors whose visual tastes were formed by the stark aspects of the modernist movement found themselves drawn to the spare artifacts of Shaker culture, in which "form follows function" was also clearly expressed. Kaare Klint, an architect and furniture designer, used styles f…