Kneeland, Abner, 1774-1844

Abner Kneeland was a pioneer evangelist and Baptist minister who converted to Universalism. As a Universalist preacher he served several congregations before he embraced the skeptical religious ideas of utopian industrialist Robert Owen. In the years that followed his free thinking ideas offended the Universalists and in 1833 he was accused of being an atheist and charged with blasphemy. He served 60 days in a Boston jail for the blasphemy offense, the last man in the United States for be jailed for blasphemy. After leaving jail Kneeland moved to Iowa to found a small utopian community called Salubria which ceased to exist shortly after his death.

From the description of Abner Kneeland papers, 1812-1920. (State Historical Society of Iowa, Library). WorldCat record id: 70192312

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