The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-13
The Wakemanites Of New Haven
Correspondents Of the New Haven Palladium
THANKFUL r. HERSEY, ABBY BRADFORD AND SAMuE


THANKFUL r. HERsEY, ABBY BRADFORD AND SAMUEL
SLY.
Permit through your columns, to state Few acts
concerning the above named persons. and also one
My first interview with Thankful and Abby was on
the 18th of January, 1860 They then occupied very
small house in Elm street. between Orange and Church
street These two persons were the only oowerso OF Abel
Merrill Butler the Prophet they called him, who
Q second Adventist, and dweit under the roof
Every thing soout the house ndisaSed extreme poverty
The fr niture consisted OF chsr
boxes NO beds ana no food, except few potatoes
They slept the floor with nothing but few blankets
to wrap Prophet in one part Of the attic
and and sister Abbey in the other Some .It
ces OF food sere them and also fuel 10 make them
comfortable Thankful said that che and sister Abbey
felt be duty 70 leave their homes and friends In
Massachusetts and follow the Prophet and minister
his wants. for they believed tho Lord preparing him
tor great and glorious work ns ne nsa ssseasa
languages, apd cop she exclaimed, :. II Is 40 beautiful
and delightful to hear him converse in them"
sBut Isaid, s'do you understand what he sayss 'Oh,
but he explains II TO me, Al it is SO meotous and
charming She believed IL they were faithful they
take his home to glory asked If deceitfnl
heart had not led them astray She said "No, that il
impossible" She believed it wouli be more than
three four years before the second advent Of
Saviour.
said, II do not doubt your sincerity, but believe
self deceived and willing that l. should be so. The
conversation lasted an hour but apparently with no
fpeaker--Abby said but little. l often called to see
hem, and advised them to return to their friends
VI Butler could say mucn, Dut AZ ne mas Oeen nesu
two years more 1t viii be sufficient say he belle we'd
tue Lord through his instrum ntality, would convert
multituces; that He was preparing him for the
work. and had revealed TO him the place where be would
first proclaim salvation vi2-on the steps in front of
Court House. He said thai there would be vast
number assembled to hear him. and all that heard
would be converted But he died without realizing what
bis deluded and diseased mind fondly anticipated.
Butler and his followers, Thankful aud Abby, re-
moved TO Park street and bsve met with the
frequently since. Their aith however, died with heir
lescer and hey have become firm believers and fol-
lowers OF Rhoda Waterman, the Prophetess-acknow-
lodging they deceived in Butler yet nothing, at
present can shake their confidence in Mrs Wakepau,
whom they consider prophecies and insllble Thank
full has mind above mediocry, and very well Gull
tivsted, and has besides rather pleasing address
How account for her fleeing from dslusion
to another religious subjects, unless it be owing
the fact Of bending her MIND entirely upon that poins
1t has lost its balance and she is really blind aud insane
that subject perhaps willingly for it would appear
that some persons may bring themselves to believe almost
thing, matter how absurd, If they have very
strong desire to believe it.
Sly have known for several years. and considered hi
"A simple hearted honest man. whose mind IL feeble sad
centered religion. lie alwss carried sMason's
Crumbs" in his pocket aud It's appearance bore testimo
ny to its constant perusa He Is the last eh oud
suspect Of committing such deed. The " man
OF sin he and they express themselves, must have
wrought powerfully upon his mind to lead him to perpe
trate such awful act II is painful to reAe:t these
things and apprehend it will alarm aniong
citizens for each liable to be- considered the
siman of sin, and dc understand their belief ought
10 be destroyed If the evil spirit within cannot be
orcised in any other way.