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Mother Ann Lee’s arrival in America in 1774 to the gradual decline of the Shaker societies.
Mother Ann Lee’s arrival in America in 1774 to the gradual decline of the Shaker societies. -
As a result, after 13 years, the unhappy marriage ended in 1775. For the rest of that year, Ann lived in dire poverty.
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Eventually, by 1781, the mere struggle for existence had ended. Shakers began their widespread evangelistic venture, first in New England.
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Only a year after her trip to New England, Mother Ann died in 1784. Her mantle fell on her chief disciple, James Whittaker, or Father James, as he was known among the Shakers.
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Under his leadership the gathering of Shakers into formal communities began in 1787, first in New Lebanon, New York.
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By 1794, twelve such communities were formed: two in New York, four in Massachusetts, two in New Hampshire, one in Connecticut, and three in Maine.