Shakers. Pleasant Hill Community (Pleasant Hill, Ky.). Records, 1815-1917

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator:  Shakers. Pleasant Hill Community (Pleasant Hill, Ky.).

Title:  Records, 1815-1917

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.

Size of Collection:  40 volumes

Location Number:  Mss. BA S527 1-40

Scope and Content Note

Journals, account books, a “mill book,” covenant book, hymnbooks, and a cookbook. Includes lists of members, records of removals of members from one family or society to another, and of deaths of members; proceedings of church meetings, family meetings, and union meetings; description of rites and some account of doctrines ; records of farming and building operations and other activities ; and weather records. Each volume cataloged separately.

Volume List

Volume 1: Journal, January 3, 1815 – August 17, 1816, 4 pp. 31-1/2 cm. Unbound. Journal kept by a member of the United Society of Believers records travels and removals of members from one family or society to another; admission and loss of members; suicide of Polly Hooser; the flood in March 1815; farm and building operations; industries; treatment of members of the society for cancer by Dr. Benjamin Dulany.

Volume 2: Maurice Thomas Journal, January 1, 1816 – December 31, 1817. 1 vol. 31-1/2 cm. Leather. Journal kept by M. Thomas, member of the United Society of Believers in four parts. Part 1: a general description of the weather; Part 2: Record of events in the colony, farming operations, travels, and removals of members from one family or society to another; Part 3: Record of clothing received by the author of the journal; Part 4: Entries that were not made in their proper place.

Volume 3: Extracts from Levi Ballance Journal, 1824-1830, 4 pp. 31 cm. Unbound.

Extracts from Levi’s Journal made by Benjamin B. Dunlavy , member of the United Society, May 20, 1824 to May 22, 1830. It records removals of members from one family to another; appointments of elders and eldresses, deacons and deaconesses; an order for keeping an account of shoes received by each member of the society.

Vols. 1-3 (1820-53) of journals kept by James Levi Ballance were destroyed by fire, January 11, 1855. There was also an irregular journal, beginning in 1811, that was destroyed by fire.

Volume 4: January 1, 1843 – October 19, 1871, Family Journal, Book A, kept by order of the Deaconess of the East House 1 vol. 31 cm. Leather. In two parts. Part one contains daily journal of important events of public nature pertaining to the whole society, including census, improvements, moves, changes, admissions and departures, journeys and deaths. Part 2: domestic concerns, sewing, weaving, accommodations, and produce for sale.

Volume 5: January 1, 1843 – February 19, 1884, Temporal Journal, Book B, kept by order of the Deacon of the East House 1 vol. 305 pp. 31 cm. Leather. Containing a account of family work, concerns and accommodations, produce for sale, Boughten Articles, brethren’s shoes, preserve, meat, wool, division of sugar, coffee, etc. Kept by the brethren.

Volume 6: November 3, 1846 – May 4, 1867, Journal (sort of a Spiritual journal) 1 vol. 440 pp. 32 cm. Leather. A list of Shakers and others whose deaths and funeral are recorded. Descriptions of meetings: union, family, church, singing. Holy Sinai’s Plain, special days, visitors, poetry by Samuel Hooser, Hortency Hooser, Harriet Chamberlain.

Volume 7: July 11, 1847 – December 31, 1867, Spiritual Journal 1 vol. ?? pp. 32 cm. Leather. Proceedings of church, union, and family meetings; some account of doctrines and rites, poetry by Samuel Hooser. In front and inscription and signature of George Bohon stating book was found in a closet at the East frame house occupied by Phil and Ann West on Sunday morning, Nov. 22, 1915.

Volume 8: January 6, 1851 – October 24, 1868, gathering journal? 1 vol. 167 pp. 31-1/2 cm. Journal kept by members of the United Society…. Records events, census, arrivals and departures, school activities, purchase of land, etc.

Volume 9: June 16, 1851 – September 12, 1884, A Journal Kept by the Deacon 1 vol. 273 pp. 31 cm. Leather. Farming activities, building, shopping and trading trips for supplies.

Volume 10: September 17, 1853 to October 7, 1864, a Temporal Journal 1 vol. 595 pp. 29 cm. Activities and work of members, deaths, events, impact of Civil War, weather. Mutilated volume. (Appears to have been kept by Zachariah Burnett, a volume subsequent to his journal in collection Harrodsburg Historical Society.)

Volume 11: April 1, 1854 – March 31, 1860, Kept by James L. (Levi) Ballance 1 vol. 320 pp. 31 cm. Marble paper. Record of events, deaths, removals, leavings, important business, farming and weather. Particularly, names and ages of the Society when they joined, and dates they “believed”, sometimes, dates and place of birth. Also census with names for May 1854. Ballance notes that this is his fourth volume, that 1-3 were destroyed by fire in 1855, along with an irregular journal beginning in 1811.

Volume 12: April 1, 1860 – December 31, 1866, kept by James L. (Levi) Ballance. 1 vol. 240 pp. 31 cm. Marble paper. This is Ballance’s fifth volume. A record of event, removals, departures, arrivals, important business, all farming operations, with accounts of beef, grain, potatoes, apples raised, etc. Weather, journeys, visitors, building, repairs and improvements, etc. Click here for transcript (PDF)

Volume 13: January 1, 1867 – October 31, 1871, by James L. (Levi) Ballance. 1 vol. 169 pp. 31 cm. Marble paper. This is Ballance’s sixth volume. A daily journal of events, crops, buildings and improvements, moves, changes, admissions and departures. A yearly census, deaths, journeys, visitors and weather.

Volume 14: November 23, 1871 – July 31, 1880, Kept by James L. (Levi) Ballance 1 vol. 272 pp. 31 cm. Marble paper. Record of events, deaths, censuses, removals, leavings, business and farming operations, grains and fruit raised. Names and ages of the Society, dates they joined, deaths of neighbors, weather. This is Ballance’s 7th volume, the first three lost in fire in 1855.

Volume 15: January 29, 1860 – March 22, 1884, Temporal Journal, kept by order of the Deaconess (family ?) 1 vol. 31 cm. Leather. Records daily events and work of the sisters, housekeeping, gardening, preserving, weaving, sewing, etc. in addition to moves, admissions, departures, journeys, deaths and visitors.

Volume 16: October 24, 1868 – September 30, 1880, Ministerial Journal 1 vol. 424 pp. 35-1/2 cm. Leather. Kept by the Ministry. Records names and birthdates of members, annual census, appointments, ministerial orders, for Pleasant Hill and South Union, some weather, deaths, arrival of Swedes. Labelled: Record H. L. Eades, 1869.

Volume 17: A Ministerial Journal, October 1, 1880 – December 25, 1890 1 vol. 314 pp., 34-1/2 cm. Leather. Kept, probably by B. B. Dunlavy from Oct. 1, 1880 to August 9, 1886 and continued to December 25, 1890 by other members of the ministry of the United Society. Records weather, events, census, admission and loss of members, trips, land transactions, farming, disbandment of West Lot, August 12, 1884, and disbandment of North Family October 1890, etc.

Volume 18: January 1, 1881 – February 18, 1884 1 vol. 106 pp. 30 cm. Marble paper. Kept, probably by B. B. Dunlavy. Ministerial journal. Record of census, weather, events, admissions, losses, business and real estate transactions, etc. In the reverse some accounts of wheat transactions Dec. 1863 and Jan 1864. This journal was incorporated in the Ministerial journal for Oct. 1, 1880 to December 25, 1890 (Vol 17)

Volume 20: Journal: March 1, 1881 – April 30, 1885; February 16, 1864 – March 21, 1864: 16 pp. loose insert 1 vol. 481 pp. 34-1/2 cm. Leather. 1st of 3 volumes kept by Henry N. Daily of Centre Family. Record of his work, events in colony, taxes, farming operations, deaths, and weather. Inserted in front is 16 page loose section containing activities of one month period in 1864.

Volume 21: Journal: May 1, 1885 – May 15, 1889 1 vol. 405 pp. 32-1/2 cm. Leather. 2nd of 3 volumes kept by Henry N. Daily of Centre Family. Record of weather, farming operations, moves, changes, journeys, deaths, visitors, business and weather.

Volume 22: Journal: May 16, 1889 – Dec. 2, 1890 174 pp. 32 cm. Leather. 3rd of 3 volumes kept by Henry N. Daily of Centre Family at Pleasant Hill, Mercer Co., Ky. Record of weather, farming operation, admissions, departures, journeys, deaths, visitors and business. Breeding records of horses 1896, March to May.

Volume 23: January 1, 1884 – October 27, 1917 1 vol. 91 pp 31-1/2 cm. Marble paper. Journal kept by member of the United Society. Pleasant Hill. Record of events, weather, moves, changes, admission, business, visitors, some of crops and gardens. Lawsuit Watson and Souther result in indebtedness of $30,000. Barkley opens hotel at east Family. March 1898 sale of excess farming implements. Post office closed. Sept. 18, 1910, George Bohon takes over PH. Death Geo. Bohon, May 8, 1916.

Volume 24: Account Book: October 5, 1826 – July 2, 1830 1 vol. 256 pp. 32 cm. Account book kept by member of United Society…Pleasant Hill. Accounts with individuals, the Sisters, Centre, East, West and Mill families. The expense of moving the West Union believers was recorded April 14, 1827. appended is “Amt of Current Expenses pd from Book No. 1”

Volume 25: Account Book: April 1, 1839 – December 28, 1871; June 30, 1903 – August 24, 1910 1 vol. 157 pp. 33 cm. Leather. Account book kept by members of United Society Pleasant Hill. Contains accounts of money received and paid out.

Volume 26: Account Book: February 11, 1842 – January 29, 1849 1 vol. 147 pp. plus 17 pp. 32 cm. Account book kept by members of the United Society Pleasant Hill. Contains record of receipts and expenditures, accounts of farming, garden accounts, contracts with individuals for tanning hides and growing broomcorn.

Volume 27: Account Book: January 1, 1874 – April 19, 1897 1 vol. 128 pp. 30 cm. Marble paper. Account book kept by members of the United Society Pleasant Hill. Contains records of “Preserves Sold” Jan 1874 to Jan. 22, 1886; account of the Mercer National Bank with Boisseau and Brown, Feb 1897 – Jan 1891; account of Mercer National Bank with Boisseau and Shelton, Jan 1891 – May 1892, etc. bank accounts; “Brooms Sold” 1874-1886. Herd records in 1874.

Volume 28: Account Book: January 9, 1874 – July 5, 1886 1 vol. 115 pp. 31 cm. Marble paper. (many blank pages) Ledger kept by members of the United Society Pleasant Hill. Contains record of receipt of rentals, payments made to Nathaniel Gaither as attorney, 1874- 1886; law business, accounts of Centre, East and West Families.

Volume 29: Account Book: July 26, 1884 – March 13, 1897 1 vol. 120 pp. 32 cm. Ledger kept by members of the United Society Pleasant Hill. Contains account of the Shakers’ Mill, the grinding of wheat and corn, the sale of flour, etc.; the North Family’s Broom Shop account; accounts of the East, North, and West families; account with Pennebaker Bros, etc. Inclusive of dates July 26, 1884 to March 13, 1897.

Volume 30: Account Book: June 1, 1883 – December 3, 1883; other records through 1897 1 vol. 104 pp. 32 cm. 12 loose pages. Account book kept by Shakers at Pleasant Hill, Ky. Contains account of building of Cottage No. 3, 1882-1883; account of work on sugar-cane 1882; cash paid out and received 1883; potato crop of 1882; record of horses bred to Royal Volunteer, 1892- 1897. Loose contracts and leases, 1884-1894. Mutilated. pp missing.

Volume 31: Mill Book: January 1, 1887 – August 18, 1896 1 vol. 77 pp. 24-1/2 cm. cloth. Mill Book of Shakers at Pleasant Hill, Ky. for the above dates. Contains names, individuals and Shaker families, who received wheat, flour, cornmeal bran.

Volume 32: Covenant Book: December 28, 1876 – July 11, 1905 Black leather volume, 25-1/2 cm. Inside front cover: To B.B. Dunlavy, Pleasant Hill, Ky. From H.L. Eades, South Union, Ky. Covenant Book signed by probationary members of the United Society of Shakers at Pleasant Hill, Ky. Dec. 28, 1876 – July 11, 1905. Printed forms filled in, signed by members with two witnesses for each one.

Volume 33: The Covenant: revised by H. L. Eads, June 30, 1882 Manuscript in several hands. 45 pp. 27 cm. Copy for Pleasant Hill. Covenant or constitution of the United Society of Believers as revised by H. L. Eads of South Union, Ky., the ministry at Mt. Lebanon, NY and others. 1882. Inscribed on cover: To P. Hill, Ky. To Eld. B. B. Dunlavy covenant written June 1882. H. L. Eads. In pocket: Letter from Eads to B. B. Dunlavy dated South Union, Ky., April 5, 1882, describing the manuscript and identifying the several hands.

Volume 34: Phebe Harris’s Hymn Book: April 1833 – April 1847 248 pp. 1 vol. Hymn book with hymns by various individuals at Pleasant Hill and other Shaker communities, including Samuel Hooser, Hortency Hooser, Paulina Bryant, Catherine McCollough. Phebe Harris was a Pleasant Hill Shaker. Title page: Phebe Harris’s Hymn Book, Received April 1833 / Bound by Jacob Claar Pleasant Hill Ky.

Volume 35: Hymn Book: July 13, 1851 – December 25, 1854 285 pp. and index of first lines. 19-1/2 cm. Leather. Labelled on cover: Hymn Book 1851. Hymns accompanied by musical score. Contains hymns by Paulina Bryant, Julia Carpenter, Harriet Chamberlain, James Coony, Henry N. Daily, Barbara Deats, Benjamin B. Dunlavy, H. L. Eads,,, Elder Ebenezer, Virgilla Gains, Marquis Gregory, Sophia Gregory, Nancy Harris, Elizabeth Downing, Keturah Harrison, Samuel Hooser, Thomas Kulp, Elizabeth Long, Lucy S. McBride, Sarah A. Markham, Tryphena Moke, Sarah Pool, Amy Runyon, Elder George Runyon, William Runyon, Polly M. Rupe, Barnett Rupe, Jane Ryan, E. W. Scott, Lucinda Shain, Betsy Spaulding, Caroline Taylor, Ibby Varner, Ruth Voris and John Wroten.

Volume 36: Hymn Book: 1851 – 1870 254 pp. 20 cm. Leather. Contains hymns. No index in back. Loose paper: “An Ode to the Prince of Reform.” Loose name plate in book CYNTHIA SHAIN

Volume 37: John Shain Discourses: March 1854 and July 1856 1 vol. 26 pp. 22 cm. Leather. Contains John Shain’s discourses on health, food, drugs, medicine. Pleasant Hill, Ky. Inside cover inscribed: This book was bound 17 Mar 1853 by Jno. Shain.

Volume 38: Minute Book: September 27, 1886 – November 7, 1895 1 vol. 33 pp. 31 cm. Title: “Notes and Proceedings of Meetings convened on matter of Business — August 1886.” Contains meetings at Pleasant Hill re: business matters, finances, sale of land. Sometimes attended by the Ministry of Union Village, OH, in addition to the Elders and Trustees at Pleasant Hill: Elders M. Carter, O. C. Hampton, N. Brown, and F. Pennebaker, as well as Stephen Boisseau, Henry Daily, William Pennebaker, Abram Kulp, Lars Erickson, James Shelton.

Volume 39: Manuscript on Religion 68 pp. 15 cm. Incomplete, no date. Manuscript on religion addressed to “the reader,” was found with Shaker manuscripts at Pleasant Hill, Ky.

Volume 40: Loose papers of cooking recipes 5 loose papers. No date. Scrawled on both sides. Poor condition, difficult to read.