OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tidbits of Ohio -- Part 29C ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 April 6, 2005 ************************************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley Tid Bits - Part 29 D notes from S. Kelly +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Part 29 D. Cont. from 29 C An Expedition Against The Shakers As told by Benjamin Seth Youngs It was two o'clock, and, one hour was agreed upon to receive a positive answer. The committee arose, and we returned home. All the elder brethern and sisters present, were assembled together in an upper room of the house. We invited Judge Dunlavy, Squire Corwin, and General Schenck, all of this county. We stated in their presence the proposals and demands of the committee, and the answer we expected to return; observing, also, wherein we felt their requirements, & C., in the first instance, unreasonable and unjust, particularly in not allowing any persons present at the conference wo might serve as wittnesses against the unlawfulness or injustice of their demands; and also, of the unreasonableness of grandfathers demanding to be given up to them their grandchildren, who were among us under the care of their own parents. These judicious men, though they said nothing on the present occasion, appeared much affected, and feeling interested for the cause of justice. After we arose, Judge Dunlavy and General Schenck went out, and found Dr. Little, one of the committee, in the yard before the house, and talked to him in an affecting manner on the illegality and consequences of this day's concourse of people. At the expiration of time appointed, Benjamin informed Dr. Little that we were now ready to meet them. Accordingly, we again met te committee at the same place in the woods, before mentioned, and delivered the following answer, viz; -- + Respeting the children demanded to be given up, we observed, that we had already stated what we had to say on the subject; adding, that all adults among us were free, and that it was contrary to our principles and our practice to oppress any, or hold them in bondage. + Respecting our faith which we held in the gospel, we esteemed it dearer than our lives, and therefore meant to maintain it, whatever we might suffer as the consequence. And as to our leaving the country, we were on our own possessions which we had purchased with money obtained by our honest industry. It was our endeavor not to owe any man anything: we had not a cent of any man's money; we enjoyed our own peaceable possessions in a free country, and were entitled to those liberties ( including the liberty of our consciences ) which the laws of our country granted us. This was the answer. In the course of the first sitting of the committee, we had observed them. that things were misrepresented and wrongly reported of us; that there was no evidence of the existence of those things of which we were accused, and that they were only reported by prejudiced persons; that there was no need of all this concourse of people; if we had done wrong in any matter, we were willing that any judicious persons should make an examination, and the laws of our country made ample provisions for the redress of grievances. To which they replied by the chief speaker, that the means prescribed for redress would require too lengthy a process, and the people would not wait the issue of such measures, adding that they had evdence sufficient. It is here worthy of notice, that, although the committee had solemnly agreed not to admit or suffer any of the party near them while they conferred with us, yet before we closed with them, they had a number og false witnesses and accusers standing by, with charges, against us, particularly John Davis, the apostate before mentioned, who falsely, and in the most malicious spirit, brought accusations against the Believers; others, also, were standing round, in readiness to take their turns in accusation. In this state of things, we asked the committee again and again if they understood us. And again and again answered in the affirmative; and though we had pointedly delivered our answers, still they labored hard to urge us the propriety of our compliance to their demands; for how, said Wallace, could we withstand a thouand men? But not according to their terms, we left them, and it appeared very doubtful what would be the event. About the meeting-house, the school-house, the children's family, and the first family of young Beievers, there was a vast and promiscuous concourse of armed men and spectators, some disputing, some inquiring, others railing out against, and endeavoring to scatter falsehood, and urging the propriety of banishing us out of the country by violence. Women of the brasher sort, who were in fellowship with the riot, had placed themselves within sight of the buildings on the edge of the woods, waiting to see the destruction of the Shakers; others, of the same cast, were taking an active part in urging on parties of the mob to take away, by force, children of their connections, who believed, and such like acts of violence. Some men of talents and good principles, were engaged in contesting those violent measures agitated by the mob party, urging our right of citizenship from our peaceable deportment, and the unconstitionality of infringing upon our right, which had never been forfeited by any misconduct. About three o'clock, a public speaker of the party, standing in the street before the meeting-house door, proclaimed liberty, that all who had any charges against the Shakers might come foreward and enter them. A number of charges were produced; but no charge, whatever, was regularly entered and taken up, except a charge of murder against Amos Valentine, upon deposition of John and Robert Wilson, two of the before mentioned apostates, who deposed, that when they lived among the Shakers, the said Amos had a boy that had fits -- that he whipped said boy unmercifully; also, that the said boy was whipped by Daniel Moseley, and that the said Amos and Daniel both wished that he was dad; that the boy for some time past had been missing, and tat the said deponents believed that the said boy was murdered, and put out of the way. A habeas corpus was immediatey served on Amos, and he put under guard, until the said boy be produced. The boy was immediately sent for, being at Moses Easton's, about two miles off. About this period of transactions, the committee were sitting the second time, with the three brethren before mentioned. Judge Dunlavy, who understood the proceedings of the committee before, followed them to the edge of the woods, and there sat upon a log, about five rods distant from where the committee were sitting, and there waited to see the issue. Immediately after the brethren left te committee, he mounted his horse in the midst of the assembly, and, with a loud voice calling attention, he delivered a solemn injunction, that no one violate the laws of Ohio, and required all civil officers present to take cognizance of any conduct of any who should violate them. Soon after this, the aforesaid boy arrived, very corpulent and hearty. This was about four o'clock. Dunlavy understanding the case, gave public information of the boy's arrival, and the satisfaction which was given of the innocence of the party accused, ordered the prisoner to be released, and the people to disperse, as nothing remained as any matter of investigation. Nevertheless, Capt. Kilbreath refused to comply, with Dunlavy's order to release the prisoner, alleging thet he was as high in office as the judge. Upon which, Dunlavy ordered him to be apprehended, and put in prison; but Kilbreath being armed with a sword and pistol, and refusing to be taken, they left it to be determined some otherway which of them should be greatest. The prisoner, however, was released; but some of the party treated the judge with great contempt, and uttered the most bitter invictives against him, for his interference. At this stage of the proceedings, the committee having returned and mingled among the multitude, and Dunlavy having given his order, the mob party were somewhat irritated, and thrown into confusion. But the word of command being given, and the party mounted, they moved down the street in a violent career, amidst clouds of dust, and halted in a vast crowd, facing the dwellinghouse of the Elders; and, after a little pause, Major Robinson, with a loud voice, demanded of those in the house whether we would comply with the proposals of the committee, Yea, or Nay. This was repeated a nunber of times, crying aloud, Give us an answer, Yea, or Nay! but no one answered a word. Then all the people in the house, men and women, old and young, were commanded to come out of the house, and to place themselves in a circle on the green before them. But none offered to move. Then Robinson continued his harangue to this effect; that we should comply immediately with the proposals of the committee, and accede to remove out of the country by the first of December next, or suffer the consequences; and then cried, is not this the voice of the people? Which was instantly answered by the mob with uplifted hands, and a general loud and hideous yell, in the most exasperated manner. But as none appeared or answered, they ordered the gates to be thrown open, which, after some considerable hesitation, some of the concourse ventured to perform. The doors of the house were now instantly shut and was immediately surrounded by a promiscuous multitude of armed men and spectators, but the main body of the corps remained on their horses in the street. After some consultation in the mob-party, they proposed a committee from among them, whom they wished to enter and search every apartment of the house, to see whether there were some who were held in bondage, and such other like instances of crueltry and injustice as were reported. The committee proposed came forward, consisting of Major William Robinson, Capt John Robinson, Capt John Clark, and Capt Cornelius Thomas, and one or two more. They entered on the conditions of behaving civilly, and began their search and examinations with the young sisters, and asked them, one by one, if they wished to leave the Shakers. Betsey Seward replied, that she was satisfied with the people, and her present place of abode --- that she liked it better than among her natural relations; becase they treated her more kindly than ever her natural relations did, and that she did not wish to see any of them any more, while they remained so wicked. The committee then said, Let her stay. Prudence Morrell being interrogated, replied, that all the world would be no inducement to her to go away; that she had much rather lay her head down on the floor, and have it chopped off, than she should be taken from the Believers. Caly Robert also made a firm reply, to the same amount; and so did Jenny McNemar, and all the rest--each declaring that they were free to go away, if they chose, at any time, and that nothing among them but their faith and love. All whom they interrogated, whether brethren or sisters, made simular replies. The committee having searched every apartment of the house, declared themselves satisfied. Capt Thomas ( who was a man, of considerable feeling, ) in particular, said he saw a decent house, and decent people in it. They then drank generously of cold coffee, went out, and reported-- Well satisfied. After this, they went back again to their former ground at the meeting-house, and the committee proceeded to examine the house and family of the young Believers. ll were interogated, made firm replies, that they were free, and might go away whenever they chose, but would not; some said they would rather die, than abandon their faith, or forsake the people of God. By this time the committee were under mortification, and their zeal began to abate, having been disappointed in all their researches and some persuations had to be used to get them into the school-house. Matthew being present at their examinations, wished them to go, especially, as they had reported that we would not suffer and youth to read the scriptures. When they went into the school, they found Testaments plenty. Matthew observed , they might see at least one lie had been told them. They looked at the children's writings, which they acknowledged far surpassed their expectations. Matthew then wished them to ask the chidren questions, whether they had enough to eat, etc., observing, that he had children among them, and had long been absent, and knew not at present how it might be with them. When they were asked , First--- have you enough to eat ? they answered. Yea!yea!'yea! as much as we want, ran all through the school. Second --- are you whipped more than you deserve? They answered. Nay! nay! nay all through; and many said, Not whipped at all. Third --- do you want to go from these people? If you do, continued they, fear not, we will protect you. Nay!nay!nay! ran all through the school. They were then wished to hear the children read, but they would not, declareing themelves fully satisfied. Then they were requested to go to John Wood's; perhaps they might find that enslaved woman, of whom they had spoken, and about whom the party were so much agitated, ( for it was reported that some certain woman was enslaved by the Shakers; those in sarch had not yet found her, for another select number of the party had search the meetinghouse for her a little while before, and the children's order, at John Wood's bed also been searched and examined.) But the committee would ot go any further, declaring themselves, again and again, fully satisfied; and so they departed. No ground of accusation beng found or reported to the party, and the generality being wearied and perplexed with the same, and under a mortifying disappointment, were dismissed; the last of them disappeared as the darkness of night began to creep over the horizon, without leaving behind them any visible marks of cruelty. No disturbance or confusion appeared among the Believers through the whole occasion. The generality kept busy at their usual employments, took dinner in their usual manner, and entertaind such as they could with convenience. They answered those mildly who spoke to them, whether peaceably, or in taunt. Such as wished to enter the rooms from the noise or clamor, did so, and spent their time in conversation. Perhaps a scene like this, has not transpired since the rights of conscience have been esteemed sacred by man. That no evil or cruelty was transacted after such formidable preparations of design, can be assigned to no other cause than the interposing hand of Divine Providence--- that invisible Power of God which turneth the hearts of men whithersoever He will, and saith unto the mighty waters, hitherto shalt thou come, and no further. +++N.B. The foregoing transactions are stated according to the best recollection, and information of the circumstances, immediately after the event transpired. It is not to be understood, that every individual of this vast body were persons of malicious designs. Some even of those under arms, appeared not to know in reality for what purpose they were come together, only as they had been ordered out by officers. There were some, also, who had been influenced to evil designs by the malicious and evil reports in circulation, who, when they received true information, and were induced to consider the impropriety of such illegal conduct, they manifested no disposition to do any injury. Some of this description left the mob, and returned back, after Doctor Bladgley went to know their intentions. There were numbers, also, who were men of good information and just principles, some of whose names have been mentioned, whose only endeavors were to inculcate reason into the minds of as many as were accessible, and to maintain a spirit of peace and freedom. Benjamin Seth Youngs. Miami County, State of Ohio. August 31, 1810. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Continued in Tid Bits Part 30 Shaker Heights.