-
A Brief Statement of the sufferings of Mary Dyer, occasioned by the society called Shakers (1818)
- University of Massachusetts Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
A Brief Statement of the SUFFERINGS of mary Dyer, occasioned by the society called ShakerS. written by herself. to which is added, AFFIDAVITS AND CERTIFICATES; also, a declaration from their own publication. [copy right secured.] BoSton : Published by WilliAm s. sPeAr. 1818.¬ 29 ¬ [3.227.239.160] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 16:38 GMT) ¬ 31 ¬ To the Honorable the Senate, and House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire, in General Court convened—The great confidence i repose in your candor and wisdom, causes me to lay before you my situation; earnestly entreating you, by all the affections of a mother, that i may again be restored to my long lost children. This i humbly pray. mary dyer, Enfield, June 6, 1818.1¬ A Brief stAtement, &c. I, Mary Dyer, was lawfully married to Joseph dyer, in the year 1799; We resided in stewartstown, in the county of Coos, and state of Newhampshire . We lived quietly together eleven years, though there had been some disagreeables by my husband’s being unsteady, and given sometimes to intoxication. We had five children, and were in good circumstances . We were united in a hope of salvation, through Christ. We were of the baptist profession; yet as there was no church established we stood single characters. The people thought it expedient there should be a church established in those parts. Accordingly, in June 1811, the people assisted the preacher to go to the state of New-york, to move his family among us. When he returned, instead of bringing his family, he brought some shaker books, and a recommendation from the shakers in the state of New-york, to those in enfield, in New-hampshire, and said he had joined the shaker’s society.2 This was astonishing and disappointing ; and the first information i ever had of the shakers. strange as it was, mr. dyer was induced to go and see them. i had strong impressions that their belief was contrary to the gospel. mr. dyer was anxious i should go with him to make the shaker’s a visit. in July we went—mr. dyer was pleased with them at the first sight, and said he wanted no farther evidence to convince him they were right. it caused me grief to see him so enraptured with new imaginations. mr. dyer joined them, in- 32 ¬ a brief statement tending to set up a society in stewartstown. We returned after a tedious visit. i could not believe with him, and it was distressing to have that union broke which we had hitherto supported. i endeavored to convince him of their errors by scripture—(i believed him to be pious,) my reasoning appeared in vain. he said, unless i would be a shaker he would carry the children to the shakers and leave me. my sorrow was great—it was the first time i ever knew him discontented with me. i offered to live with him as a slave if he would let me live with my children; but no. Oh! the sorrow at the thought of being separated from my family .3 i endeavoured to reason with him again. i observed, in case i should go i could not have his care and protection, unless the elders4 should see proper, and perhaps be separated from my children; and if i was not contented to stay, my friends would reject me on the account of going to the shakers; and i should be left destitute without protection, and childless , without home or friends. my grief was almost insupportable. he made this reply: in case i would go he would ever provide for and protect me. i should have the care of my children; and in case either of us was discontented, he would have three children, and i should have two. To this he called God to witness. This removed my fears. Then i strove to gain every favorable idea of the shakers: so that in case i should go i might be contented. After i began to gain so many favorable ideas of them, i observed i thought they might be right. When mr. dyer learnt that there was a possibility of my believing in them, and my mind gathered towards them, he appeared displeased. he left reading the shaker’s bible. immediately , he turned against me and said i should go out of his family, if i did not renounce my belief in the shakers. he threatened me severely: i told him i...