Shadrack Ireland

Shadrach (sometimes spelled Shadrack) Ireland arrived in Harvard around 1753. Originally a pipe maker, Ireland soon declared himself a prophet of a new sect he named “Perfectionism” and claimed that he was, in fact, immortal. Ireland built the Square House for his small community of followers; it would later become the base for Shaker leader, Mother Ann Lee.

Ireland declared that members of his community should be celibate, and he would even separate those already married. Despite being married himself and having children while promoting celibacy among his followers, Ireland would go on to marry another woman, Abigail Lougee. Ireland’s immortality would be throughly disproved in 1780 when Ireland died and failed to resurrect. Although the community waited around two years after his death in 1778, the “Perfectionism” saga finally came to an end with Ireland being buried discreetly under a cornfield. While many of Ireland’s followers drew scorn from the Shakers, some became members of Mother Ann’s community.

Source, Walett, Francis G. “Shadrack Ireland and The “Immortals” of Colonial New England.” In Publications of The Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Volume 59. Colonial Society of Massachusetts, 1982. https://www.colonialsociety.org/node/1257.