Shaker Pedia Difference between revisions of "Mother Ann Lee"
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(Created page with "Ann Lee (originally Lees) was born on 29 February 1736, the second of the eight children of John Lees, a blacksmith, and his wife. They lived in Toad Lane, Manchester, Engla...") |
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Ann Lee (originally Lees) was born on 29 February 1736, the second | Ann Lee (originally Lees) was born on 29 February 1736, the second | ||
of the eight children of John Lees, a blacksmith, and his wife. They lived | of the eight children of John Lees, a blacksmith, and his wife. They lived | ||
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an asylum for the insane, she began to attend meetings led by James and | an asylum for the insane, she began to attend meetings led by James and | ||
Jane Wardley. | Jane Wardley. | ||
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| + | The Wardleys, former Quakers, were tailors and were from Bolton-on- | ||
the-Moors. Though they had separated from the Friends in 1747, they | the-Moors. Though they had separated from the Friends in 1747, they | ||
retained the belief in pacifism. They added the practice of ecstatic worship | retained the belief in pacifism. They added the practice of ecstatic worship | ||
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shouting, singing and shaking. They were called shaking Quakers or just | shouting, singing and shaking. They were called shaking Quakers or just | ||
Shakers. Ann and other members of her family became active members. | Shakers. Ann and other members of her family became active members. | ||
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| + | In spite of her reluctance, Ann married Abraham Standerin or Stanley | ||
on 5 January 1762. They had four children. Three of them died while still | on 5 January 1762. They had four children. Three of them died while still | ||
infants. One child, a daughter named Elizabeth, lived a few years and died | infants. One child, a daughter named Elizabeth, lived a few years and died | ||
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drove humanity out of Paradise, celibacy became an essential part of living | drove humanity out of Paradise, celibacy became an essential part of living | ||
the Christlife. | the Christlife. | ||
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| + | From this point onward, Ann was known as Mother Ann and served as | ||
the focal point of the movement. The intensity of the testimony increased | the focal point of the movement. The intensity of the testimony increased | ||
and accusations of heresy and fanaticism followed an incident in July | and accusations of heresy and fanaticism followed an incident in July | ||
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brought up, saved her by providing her with liquids through a pipe whose | brought up, saved her by providing her with liquids through a pipe whose | ||
stem was inserted into the cell. | stem was inserted into the cell. | ||
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| + | Her fame grew among her band, and she was regarded as the first to | ||
receive the fullness of the Spirit of Christ. Instead of the second coming of | receive the fullness of the Spirit of Christ. Instead of the second coming of | ||
Christ being heralded by fanfare and notoriety, it had happened in relative | Christ being heralded by fanfare and notoriety, it had happened in relative | ||
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and Nancy Lee left England for New York. After a perilous trip that almost | and Nancy Lee left England for New York. After a perilous trip that almost | ||
ended in disaster, they arrived in America on 6 August 1774. | ended in disaster, they arrived in America on 6 August 1774. | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | For the first year, Mother lived with her husband with the Cunningham | ||
family of Queen Street. She did laundry work while he found a job as a | family of Queen Street. She did laundry work while he found a job as a | ||
blacksmith. When he fell ill, she nursed him back to health. He decided that | blacksmith. When he fell ill, she nursed him back to health. He decided that | ||
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In 1776, the group moved to Niskeyuna, later known as Watervliet, New | In 1776, the group moved to Niskeyuna, later known as Watervliet, New | ||
York. | York. | ||
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| + | As they cleared the land, planted crops, and built cabins, they anticipated | ||
the arrival of converts. In March 1780, Rueben Wright and Talmadge | the arrival of converts. In March 1780, Rueben Wright and Talmadge | ||
Bishop visited them. They had heard about the Shakers and came to | Bishop visited them. They had heard about the Shakers and came to | ||
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until December 1780, she was imprisoned, first in Albany and later in | until December 1780, she was imprisoned, first in Albany and later in | ||
Poughkeepsie. | Poughkeepsie. | ||
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| + | Hoping to strengthen the faith of her new converts, in May 1781, she | ||
and five companions-William Lee, James Whittaker, Samuel Fitch, | and five companions-William Lee, James Whittaker, Samuel Fitch, | ||
Margaret Leland, and Mary Partington-embarked on a long missionary | Margaret Leland, and Mary Partington-embarked on a long missionary | ||
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course of the long missionary tour. As she was dying, she had a vision of | course of the long missionary tour. As she was dying, she had a vision of | ||
Father William returning for her in a chariot to take her to Heaven. . | Father William returning for her in a chariot to take her to Heaven. . | ||
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| + | As thousands of Shakers have proudly asserted, what distinguished | ||
Mother Ann from the other women who lived at Manchester was that | Mother Ann from the other women who lived at Manchester was that | ||
when God spoke to her, she unreservedly followed the call. Her life is | when God spoke to her, she unreservedly followed the call. Her life is | ||
the pattern others might think about as they make their own way through | the pattern others might think about as they make their own way through | ||
the Christlife. | the Christlife. | ||
| + | --> | ||
| + | [https://books.google.com/books?id=oQhY03JJvTAC&pg=PA125&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false Mother Ann biography from Shaker Dictionary] page 125 | ||
| − | + | [[Paterwic Dictionary| More about Dictionary of Shakers by Steven Paterwic]] | |