Shaker Slave

Author: Issachar Bates

Issachar Bates was born in 1758 in Hingham, Massachusetts. He was a fifer in the Revolutionary War, When he returned to Massachusetts after the war, he became acquainted with the teaching of Ann Lee and her Shaker followers. In the late 1780's he moved his family to Hartford, New York. He converted to Christianity in 1795 and became licensed to preach in Baptist churches in the area. He also started to write poetry. He was still drawn to the Shakers and joined them in 1801. The Shakers recognized his gift for preaching and Bates became a missionary to Vermont, New Hampshire, other areas of New York state, Kentucky and Ohio. He became a prominent Shaker leader, primarily in Watervliet, Ohio. As a poet and musician he wrote many Shaker hymns.… Go to person page >