Darrow School - Shaker Post Yearbook (New Lebanon, NY)

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The Peg Board 1936 boundary line of the town, and night coming on, they said that all who belonged to N iska- yuna, might pass on, but those who belonged to New Lebanon, should go back. The Brethren, however, would not consent to this, but determined to cleave to Mother. After much wrangling, and some blows from the mob, they left the Believers, a few rods west of Ranny's, and near to Charles McCarthy's-a poor man, who lived in a little log-house, where the most of them retired, and took shelter for the night, Mother was very much ex- hausted, and passed the night under great distress and sufferingsl' Concerning Ranny, or Rany as the name is spelled elsewhere by the Shakers, no additional information seems obtainable. He may have been the bartender at Bigelow's Tavern, which stood on the Albany road not far from the Rensselaer County line. Charles McCarthy was doubtless a near relative of Patrick McCarty, the first settler in New Lebanon who is known by name, for the houses of the two men were situated in the same place or at least very close to each other, and the difference in the spelling of the name was clearly accidental. Some of the Believers slept on the floor of Charles McCarthy's log cabin, others in an old log barn. When morning came they held a religious meeting and then refreshed themselves with food brought to them by their friends. In the afternoon they went back as far as Nathan Far- rington's along the same road they had followed the day before: Mother and her persecuted little flock, passed the fore part of the day in serving God and comforting one another. In the afternoon they returned back to Nathan Farrington's where they spent the remainder of the day, and the following night. After they arrived there, Mother said, I feel now as though I could take some rest, and appeared in a measure, comfortable, considering the shocking scene of suffering and abuse which she had passed through the preceding day. But the enemies' of the work could never be at rest while Mother was within their reach. In the dusk of the evening, about thirty or forty heathenish creatures of the baser sort, collected around the house, in a mobbish manner. This collection consisted chiefly of a company of fellows from the town of Chatham, who, from the savageness of their manners, were styled the Indian Club. These ruH-ians demanded, in very rough and abusive language, to see the old woman. Nathan inquired what they wanted of her? They answered, She is an old witch, and she shall not stay here. Nathan replied, She is a woman of God, and you shall not see her in such a manner. On hearing the tumult, and perceiving that a mob had gathered, Mother wept, and said, This comes suddenly upon me, what shall I do? I do not feel as though I could endure any more! The mob threw clubs' and stones at the house, and threatened to break down the doors. Nathan boldly commanded them to desist, and threatened them with the penalty of the law if they attempted to break into the house. This, for a moment, seemed to check their rage, Nathan expostulated with them, and endeavored to show them the wickedness and folly of such conduct, and said, 'I have lived, as a neighbor with you a number of years, in peace, but now, because I have joined the people of God, according to my faith, and confessed my sins, as you ought to do, you come here to break into my house, and abuse my family. But the mob, being determined to break into the house, set reason and humanity at defiance, and with horrid oaths and blasphemies, continued to throw stones and clubs. The house being new, and unfinished, and one of the passages fastened up with loose boards they, at length, succeeded in forcing the boards down, and carried them into the street, but were still prevented from entering the house, by Brethren, who stood in the passage. Mother, who was at this time in the upper part of the house, sent for John Farrington, and said to him, John, can't you go and send these creatures off? Yea, Mother, repli- ed John. Go, said she, and shame them, tell them it is a shame for men to be around 16. From the 1888 edition of the Testimonies, pp. 149 ff. 17. Patrick McCarty is named and the position of his house is indicated in the original grant of August 4, 1743 through which Stesrhen Bayard und' others received part of the present territory of New Lebanon from George IV. See the Psp Buard Vol. 8, No. 2, April 19 5. 16

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19-36 The Peg Board V l ELEAZER GRANTS SIGNATURE This was taken from an old document in the possession of Mr. Austin D. H aight. Here Grant appears as one ofthe original subscribers to a fund, for the enelion ofa boy's school which was established in New Lebanon over a hundred years ago. The school is no longer in existence. . 15

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1936 The Peg Board NATHAN FARRlNGTON'S HOUSE after a woman in the night, but, if they will go off, and come peaceably, tomorrow, in the day-time, I will see themf' Accordingly, John went down in Mother's gift, and slipped out at another door, and was instantly seized, by two lusty ruffians. Love, said John. Love, replied the men, in a sneering tone of voice, and immediately gripped him between them with such violence that it seemed as though they intended to squeeze the breath out of his body. John held his breath, and, as they slackened their arms, he cried, More love, at which they renewed their hug, gripping him with all their strength. This was repeated a number of times till the men had wearied themselves in hugging and squeezing John, who received no hurt. Now, said John, if you have got through, I want to reason with you, as you are reasonable men, or ought to be. Why do you come here, in such a manner, in the night, after a woman? It is a shame, I am ashamed of you, that men should behave sol Do, for the honor of man, withdraw, peaceably, and if you will come again, in the morning, peaceably, when it is day-time, the woman is willing to see you. These words, spoken in the power and gift of God, completely vanquished their rage, and quelled their savage spirits, they immediately began to withdraw, and were soon all gone, so that Mother enjoyed the remainder of the night in peace. The next morning, only six or eight of them made their appearance. Mother, with john, and two or three of the Sisters, went out to see them. This is the woman that you pressed so hard to see last night, said John. What do you want of me? said Mother, I am a poor, weak woman, I do not hurt any body. The guilty wretches had no confidence to speak to her, nor to look her in the face, but hung down their heads, and began to sheer off. John then invited them to stay and take breakfast, but they declined, and soon went off. Thus did God frustrate the designs of the wicked, at this time. About ten o'clock in the morning, Mother took her leave of the Believers at Nathan Farrington's, and said she did not feel it to be best for any to follow her, excepting the Elders, and Richard Spier, because it would only tend to increase the enmity of the world. She then departed for Niskayunaf' 18 From the 1888 edition of the Testimonies pp. 158 ff. 17