Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-01-25
THE STORY OF JENNA WILKlN.
SON

WHILE soiourning In Western New
York a few weeks since, my attention
was directed TO the history of a very
strange parsonage, who resided in that
country during the latter part of the past
century and former part of the present.
Her name was Jemima Wilkinson She
was born Nov. 90, 1852, in Cumberland,
R. l. There is but little noticeable in her
early life, except her insane desire for
dress and display, and her consequent
aversion to all manner of labor. Her
mother having died when Jemima was
but thirteen, and her father paying but
little attention to his family, she was al
lowed her own way in everything. Much
of her time was spent in visiting in the
neighborhood, and reading the few novels
in circulation at that day. Sunday found
her on dress parade at the meetings of
the vicinity, much more elegantly clad
than any one present. This life of idle
ness, show and gadding about continued
till 1776, when she CHANGED to hear the
distinguished George Whitefeld preach
in AttlebOro., His sermon made deep
impression on her mind, and she resolved
to lead better life. Her desire for dis
play and nOvel-reading soon became
changed TO readings of the Scriptures and
her system could not bear, and in the fall
of 1776 she was taken sick and obliged to
keep her bed. Week after week she grew
paler and seemingly nearer death. Night
ly attendants watched her, expecting ev-
cry evening to be her last. On the last
Wednesday in October she went into a
trance, and for thirty-siX hours lay pale and
motionless. The physician gave the opin-
ion that she was laboring under some men
tai delusion, rather than any bodily COM
plant, for she had entertained the watch
ers nightly for over a week with stories
of visions and visitatiens from heaven
At last, on Thursday night the last one in
October, 1776, as the clock struck twelve,
and the few present were making prepare
tions to dress the body for the tomb,
thinking life extinct, they were Mortified
by the patient arising up in bed and
authoritatively demanding her clothes. In
vain did they demonstrate with her and
try to keep her quiet. Her father made
his appearance from an adjoining room
and babe her go back to bed but she gave
him to understand in no mild terms that
she owed her allegiance to no man, say
ing: q | am no more Jemima Wilkinson,
but the Universal Friend of Mankind |
was dead, and my soul is yet in Heaven.
Tonight an inquiry was made in
Heaven, asking: who will go and preach
to dying worlds? | replied: Here am
|, send me- and Immediately / left the
realms of light and glory to pass through
many trials, temptations and tribulatiOns
for the happiness of the human family"
She dressed herself, and from that day till
1S19-over forty years-she went about in
perfect health! Many of her friends
called during the remainder of the week
To ,1nfo En,. !, 4
cry; and, with well-feigned indignation,
she repealed every idea that it was a re-
covery, repeating to them what she said
to her father, recorded above.
The Sunday following was one of those
fine New England October days, and a
large concourse OF people were present at
the meeting. Among them was Jemima,
pale, solemn and beautiful. She paid
marked attention to every syllable the
minister uttered, and, when service was
dismissed, repaired to shade tree near
the door, and preached her first sermon.
Those who heard it described it years
after to their children, who are now very
old men, as one of the finest discourseS to
which they ever listened She was a
beautiful woman, and her recent illness
had added to her beauty. Her pale face
and splendid black eyes; her graceful
gestures and soft, persuasive tone and the
fact of her sudden recovery, and the nov
city of the scene before them, rendered
her audience eager and attentive to every
word she said She spoke for about half
an hour, descanting upon the beauty of
virtue and morality, and the Nervousness
OF sin and vice, quoting largely from the
Scriptures for her proofs. 1t is said she
knew almost the whole Bible by heart,
and could repeat mere of it than any
other person of her time.
Other sermons followed this from time
to time, as opportunities offered, and she
converted few and conceived the plan of
organizing a society of her own Her
reputation as an eloquent and impressive
speaker soon became known for miles
around her country home in Rhode
Island, and she received invitations daily
to visit the different villages. These she
was very willing to accept, and the spring
time found her speaking to crowded
houses in Providence, North and South
kingsland, Newport, Seconnet, Taunton,
New Bedford, and other places, in all, OF
nearly all, of which she was we'll received
She was an energetic worker, and seemed
fearfully in earnest, and she met with fair
success, organizing two societies of Uni
versal Friends. Some of her followers
were among the weathiest citizens, who
rode beside her from place to place, neg
Letting their own business and families
to do their leaders, service. The Quakers
and all other churches considered her as
their enemy, and her support was almost
entirely made up of new converts and dis
senters from other denominations who had
left the church on personal grounds.
After few years work in New En-
gland she went to Worcester, Pa, where
a
1890 the whole three societies moved to
Ontario County, New York. Here she
purchased several thousand acres of land,
then in the woods, and remained till her
death, In 1919 Her followers did what
ever she bade them, cultivating her fields,
filling her table when their own were neg
lected, and never expecting or receiving
cent for it. She preached to them on
Saturday, which was her Sabbath, in her
own house, which was a large frame,
built by her society for the accommoda-
ton of their leader and disciples. Of
these disciples Sarah Richards was the
oldest and best, and in her name all deeds
to property fJr Jemima, or, as she was
called, the Universal Friend, were made.
The Friend herself claimed to paw no
attention to her vast property, being
wholly engaged in spiritual matters, so
deeds, contracts and all articles pertain
ing to worldly concerns were made out to
her agents, all of whom were women.
Marriage was not allowed in the society.
so her company of over 200 persons at
one time was principally made up of
bachelors, maids, widowers and widows.
Some who had Joined her after marriage
lived apart from each other.
At Taunton the report spread abroad
thafS Ia oil ,,oI r. Il