"We make you kindly welcome."

Canterbury Shaker Village Meeting House

Miriam Tyler (1764-1840) and Moses Hastings (1762-1815)

Generation Five Family 596

MIRIAM TYLER (Mary Abbott Tyler4, James3, William2, George1), b. at Henniker, 22 Mar 1764 daughter Adonijah and Mary (Abbott) Tyler; d. at Hopkinton, Jun 1840; m. 11 May 1790, MOSES HASTINGS, b. 12 Sep 1762 son of James and Mary (Foster) Hastings; Moses d. at Hopkinton, 25 Jan 1815.

Miriam Tyler and Moses Hastings lived in the Clement Hill area of Hopkinton, New Hampshire. They were parents of ten children, nine of whom lived to adulthood. Three daughters in the family lived out their adult lives in Shaker communities, two of them (Harriet and Marcia) at the Shaker village in Canterbury, New Hampshire, and one daughter (Betsey) at the community in Alfred, Maine.

Shakers originated in 18th century England forming from dissidents from other religious groups including French Camisards and Quakers. These dissidents came together as The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing in 1747. (1) Early leaders of this group were Jane and James Wardley. Ann Lee and her parents were also members of this group. In 1774, Ann Lee and her husband Abraham Standerin and seven other members of this sect left for America. Ann Lee and her husband separated along the way, but Ann Lee went on to found what became the American Shakers. Eventually, twenty-four communities were formed in America most of them closing by the early 20th century. One community remains at Sabbathday Lake, Maine. At their height around 1850, there were about 4,000 persons living in Shaker communities. It is estimated that about 200,000 persons spent at least part of their lives in these Utopian settlements. (2)

Shaker beliefs were in sharp contrast to other established religions in that they believed in communal living, equality of the sexes, pacifism, and celibacy. The dancing and whirling introduced into the worship of the Shakers went against practices of most Protestant sects of the day. Due to the maintenance of celibacy, the growth of the communities depended on recruiting new members or adoption.

Shakers were known for their craftsmanship and quality of the products they produced. The furniture and other craft items produced in Shaker communities are highly valued.

The Shaker village in Alfred was founded around 1793. The Shaker song “Simple Gifts” was composed there in 1848 by Joseph Brackett. The community farmed, maintained orchards, and had craft shops. The community at Alfred continued until 1931 when the remaining members merged with the community at Sabbathday.

Canterbury Shaker Village was founded in 1792 and continued until 1992 when the last resident of the village, Ethel Hudson, died. At its height in the 1850’s, there were 300 members of the community living on about 3,000 acres.

The children of Miriam Tyler and Moses Hastings:

1. MARY ABBOTT HASTINGS, b. 17 Apr 1791; d. at Sabula, IA, 14 Oct 1865; m. 28 Feb 1816, ENOCH LONG, b. at Hopkinton, 16 Oct 1790 son of Moses and Lucy (Harriman) Long; Enoch d. at Sabula, 19 Jul 1881. (3)

2. JEREMIAH HASTINGS, b. 26 Jul 1793; d. 12 Mar 1795.

3. LAURA HASTINGS, b. 5 May 1796; d. at Watertown, NY, 1 Aug 1836; m. 13 Feb 1826, JOEL BLOOD, b. about 1797 likely the son of Jacob and Rachel (Jones) Blood; Joel d. at Watertown, Jul 1888. After Laura’s death, Joel married 27 Jan 1840, IRENA EATON TYLER, b. at Hopkinton, 15 Jan 1809 daughter of Simeon and Hannah (Rowell) Tyler; Irena d. at Watertown, 1 Feb 1852. Joel married a third time to Susan, as yet not identified.

4. EDNAH HASTINGS, b. 30 May 1798; d. at Boston, 12 Jan 1892; m. 16 Dec 1825, ABIEL SILVER, b. at Hopkinton, 3 Apr 1797 son of John and Mary (-) Silver; (4, 5) Abiel d. at Boston, 27 Mar 1881.

5. MARIA HASTINGS, b. 21 Jun 1800; d. at Ontwa, MI, 2 Feb 1875; m. at Hopkinton, 6 Oct 1829, JOSEPH W. LEE, b. about 1807 son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Webster) Lee; Joseph d. at Ontwa, 2 Feb 1875. (6)

6. MOSES TYLER HASTINGS, b. 7 Oct 1802; d. at Quincy, IL, 4 Sep 1826 (probate 25 Sep 1826). The probate states there are no relatives in the state to assume administration which is assumed by John Wood.

7. BETSEY MCCONNELL HASTINGS, b. 3 Nov 1804; d. at Alfred, ME, after 1870. Betsey did not marry. She was a member of the Shaker community at Alfred.

8. HARRIET HASTINGS, b. 5 May 1807; d. at Canterbury, NH, 22 Feb 1898. Harriet was a member of the Shaker community at Canterbury.

9. CHARLOTTE HASTINGS, b. 5 Jun 1809; d. at Philadelphia, 8 Feb 1839. (7) Charlotte does not seem to have married. It is unclear what Charlotte was doing in Philadelphia, but she may have gone there with her sister Ednah and her husband who were for a time in Philadelphia.

10. MARCIA ELIZA HASTINGS, b. 1 Dec 1811; d. at Canterbury, 29 Oct 1891. Marcia was a member of the Shaker community at Canterbury.

Photo credits:

http://www.alfredshakermuseum.com/

http://www.shakers.org/

https://www.nps.gov/articles/history-of-the-shakers.htm

Sources:

1) National Park Service, History of the Shakers

2) Paul, Catherine A. Shakers: A Utopian Community, VCU Libraries Social Welfare History Project

3) Reid, Biographical Sketch of Enoch Long: An Illinois Pioneer, volume 2

4) Abiel’s parents are given as John and Mary on his death record.

5) Lord, Life and Times in Hopkinton, p 467-468

6) Michigan, Deaths and Burials Index, 1867-1995.