Shakers

The South Union, Kentucky, Shaker Society was located in Logan County, Kentucky, southwest of Bowling Green.

From the description of South Union, Kentucky, Shaker Society records, 1769-1922 (1804-1916) [microform]. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 45232375

The United Society of Believers, also known as the Shakers, of South Union, Logan County, Ky., was established by missionaries from Ohio and Upper Kentucky who arrived in the Gaspar River area in 1807. They expanded in Logan County with the acquisition of lands and the early establishment of saw and grist mills, silk worm raising, and a brick kiln. Early members include John McComb, the Reverend John Rankin, Absolom Chisholm, and Samuel G. Whyte.

From the guide to the Shaker Records, ., 1769-1893, (bulk 1809-1843), (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)

The Shakers, officially known as the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, believed in dual Diety, Messiahship, confession, celibacy, sex equality, separation from the world, consecrated labor and common property. Founded by Ann Lee in 1774, the Shakers established a community at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky in 1805.

From the description of Shakertown at Pleasant Hill collection, 1805-1920 1815-1880. (University of Kentucky Libraries). WorldCat record id: 16016355

The United Believers, or Shakers, came from New York in 1805 arriving in South Union, Logan County, Kentucky, where they established a neat and attractive conservative religious community. Through their farming and livestock, the communal Shakers became completely self-supporting. Often despised by the neighboring community because of their successful economy, they always conducted themselves with dignity and honor. From a population peak of 349 in 1827, the life of the colony drew to a close in the first decades of the 20th century. The Shaker lifestyle, arts and crafts are preserved today in an authentic village on the original site, now called Shakertown, Kentucky.

From the description of Shaker papers, 1769-1893. (University of Kentucky Libraries). WorldCat record id: 15731502

Splintering from a Quaker community in Manchester, England, the United Society of Believers (Shakers) believed in a distinctly new version of the Second Coming and other beliefs contradicting mainstream Christian ideology. Their furniture designs, music and dancing, and self-published books not only provided income for the Shakers, but also served a form of recruiting and publicity. Industrialization, together with the Shakers' emphasis on celibacy and severe simplicity, led the group to become less attractive to new generations of believers and its communities to disband.

From the description of United Society of Believers (Shakers) Papers, 1808-1904. (Ohio Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 5932609

The New York State Education Dept. Office of State History did extensive collecting of Shaker artifacts, oral history and manuscripts. The office turned the material over to the New York State Library to make the material accessible for public research.

From the description of New York State, Office of State History, Shaker collection, 1821-1946. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145407318

Roxalana and Maria Fidelia Grosvenor brought suit to receive compensation after being expelled from the Harvard Shaker community. The Court denied compensation.

From the description of Harvard, Mass. diary, 1862-1875. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155494788

Organizational History

• 1774: Manchester, England) Manchester City and Borough of Manchester Liverpool, England Liverpool City and Borough of Liverpool New York New York Niskeyuna Watervliet), N.Y. Watervliet Ann Lee (born 1736, Manchester, England), leader of the Shakers, sailed from Liverpool, England, to New York with eight companions, eventually settling at Niskeyuna (later called Watervliet), N.Y.
• 1781: Shaker community (City of Union) founded at Enfield, Conn.
• 1781 - 1783 : Massachusetts Massachusetts Connecticut Connecticut Ann Lee and other Shakers traveled in Massachusetts and Connecticut spreading Shaker doctrine
• 1784: Death of Ann Lee James Whittaker assumed leadership (died 1787)
• 1787: New (Mount) Lebanon, N.Y. Shaker community established at New (Mount) Lebanon, N.Y.; became the leading Shaker community and continued its traditions until 1947 Joseph Meacham became Shaker leader (died circa 1796)
• 1790: Shaker community (City of Peace) organized at Hancock, Mass.
• 1792: Canterbury, N.H. Canterbury Tyringham, Mass. Tyringham Shaker communities (Holy Ground and City of Love) founded at Canterbury, N.H., and Tyringham, Mass.
• 1793: Enfield, N.H. Enfield Shirley Shirley Shirley Municipal Building Shirley Volunteer Fire Department Shirley Post Office (historical) Shirley-Edsall Industrial Park Shirley Cemetery Whirley Estates Shirley Lake Shirley Branch Shirley Creek Bol’shiye Khirlepy Fort Shirley (historical) Shirley Lake Shirley Creek Shirley B Foster Elementary School Borough of Shirleysburg Shirley Shirley Creek Shirley Spring Shirley Shirley Place Cemetery Lower Shirley Corner Shirley Phillips Mead Lake Harvard, Mass. Harvard Alfred, Maine Alfred Shaker communities founded at Enfield, N.H.;Shirley and Harvard, Mass.; and Alfred, Maine
• circa 1796: Lucy Wright became Shaker leader (died 1821)
• 1806: Turtle Creek Turtle Creek North Branch Turtle Creek First United Presbyterian Church of Turtle Creek Turtle Creek Lake Dam Little Turtle Creek Turtle Creek School (historical) Turtle Creek Turtle Creek Turtle Creek Plaza Shopping Center Turtle Creek Elementary School Turtle Creek Turtle Hole Creek Turtle Creek Turtle Neck Creek Turtle Creek Lake Turtle Creek Turtle Creek Turtlecreek Township Fire and Emergency Medical Services Station 33 Turtle Creek Turtle Creek Turtle Creek Turtle Creek Shopping Center Turtle Creek Union Villagev Union Village Union Village Historic District National Telecommunications Institute, Smart Village Facility Junior Village Union Village Dam Recreation Area Village of Uniopolis Village of Unionville Center Union Union Village Union Village Cemetery Gateway Community Services - The Players Championship Village Addiction Facility Unionville Center Village Hall Village of Union Village of Union Hill Village of Unionville Village Woods Junior High School Union Village Union Village Covered Bridge Native Village of Eyak / Chugachmiut Tribal Organization - Ilanka Community Health Center Union Village Shopping Center Village of Union Union Village Church Village of Unionville Watervliet, Ohio Watervliet Watervliet Fish and Game Club Watervliet Fire Department Watervliet Station Watervliet Civic Center Township of Watervliet City of Watervliet Sewage Treatment Plant Watervliet Community Hospital Watervliet Library Watervliet Clinicare Watervliet Post Office Watervliet Reservoir Watervliet City Hall Watervliet Elementary School Watervliet Police Department Watervliet Junior-Senior High School Watervliet City Fire Department Watervliet First Methodist Church City of Watervliet Watervliet Cemetery Watervliet Watervliet City Hall Watervliet High School Shaker communities founded at Turtle Creek (later called Union Villagev and Watervliet, Ohio
• 1806 - 1811 : Pleasant Hill Pleasant Hill Pleasant Hill Church Pleasant Hill Cemetery Pleasant Hill Church Pleasant Hill Pleasant Hill School (historical) Pleasant Hill Church Pleasant Hill Church Pleasant Hill Cemetery Pleasant Hill Pleasant Hill School (historical) Pleasant Hill Church Pleasant Hill Church Pleasant Hill School (historical) Pleasant Hills Golf Course Pleasant Hill Church Pleasant Hill Church Pleasant Hill Church Pleasant Hill Cemetery Pleasant Hill Church (historical) Pleasant Hill School (historical) Pleasant Hill Lutheran Church Pleasant Hill School (historical) South Union, Ky. South Union Busro West Union, Ind. West Union Shaker communities founded at Pleasant Hill and South Union, Ky., and Busro, or West Union, Ind.
• circa 1813: Shaker community founded at Canaan, N.Y.
• 1822: Shaker community founded at North Union, Ohio
• 1824 - 1825 : Shaker community founded at Whitewater, Ohio
• 1850: New York New York New England New England New England Settlement Military Museum of Southern New England New England Power Number 4 Dam Phoenix House of New England - Phoenix Academy Maine New England College of Optometry New England Rehabilitation Hospital Stat Ambulance Service of New England New England New England Executive Park New England Quilt Museum New England Building HVDC Quebec-New England - Des Cantons Grounding Electrode HVDC Quebec-New England - Nicolet Static Inverter Plant New England Creek New England Park Best Western New England Inn New England Mine New England Hall Primary Colors Childrens Centre of New England Best Western New Englander HVDC Quebec-New England - James Bay Static Inverter Plant Naval Health Clinic New England Middle West Middle West Bay Weston Middle School Library Julius West Middle School Wayzata West Middle School Portage West Middle School West Fork Middle School Middle Spunk Lake West Bound Rest Area West Middle School Northwest Middle School Pioneer Westfield Middle School Southwest Alternative Middle School West Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department West Middle School Middle Fork West Creek Weston Middle School West Fork Middle Creek West Ridge Middle School West Fork Middle Blue Creek Charles I West Middle School West Hernando Middle School Northwestern Middle School Doniphan West Middle School West Milwaukee Middle School Kentucky Kentucky Shaker membership rose to about six thousand including adults in New York,New England, the Middle West, and Kentucky
• 1875: Shaker membership declined to about 2400, with less than 1000 members by 1905

From the guide to the Shaker collection of records concerning the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, 1676-1937, (bulk 1792-1937), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)