Elizabeth Robinson

Harvard Shaker (1740-1819)
by Roben Campbell, Shaker researcher

Published in 2016

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Elizabeth Robinson, with her sons John and Oliver, was one of a significant number of Harvard Shakers from Petersham, and who were witness to the abuse Mother Ann and the Elders suffered there.

Elizabeth Robinson, with her sons John and Oliver, was one of a significant number of Harvard Shakers from Petersham, and who were witness to the abuse Mother Ann and the Elders suffered there.[1] Her son John untied with the Shirley Shakers, while her son Oliver served in second place as a Harvard Church family elder, and later as first elder North family until his death in 1838.[2]

The following is an example of the healing gift that was possessed by Mother Ann and the Elders:

“Mother laid her hand on Elizabeth’s throat , and the swelling went away, and her throat was healed. Mother said, “When you are bitten by the flying serpent, you must look upon the brazen serpent to be healed; and let your words be few, and seasoned with grace.“[3]

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[1] Vital Statistic, Petersham. Need to re-find page number.

[2] September 1802December 27, 1818, Harvard Record Book, Museum and Library at Old Chatham, New York; and December 29, 1838, Church Sisters Day Journal, FM 4.2, Shaker Manuscript Collection, Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, Mass.

[3] Testimonies of the Life, Character, and Doctrines of Mother Ann Lee, by Shakers, p.202, Second edition, Albany New York, 1888.

 

All rights reserved. © Roben Campbell, 2016.