Photos:Mt Lebanon Hancock Hamilton Richmond
Village:Canterbury, NH Source:bios:122Search: Full Last First
id 122 firstname Mary Ann lastname Gillespie birthyr 1829 deathyr 1887 bio Gillespie, Mary Ann (1829-1887), was born in Portsmouth, NH. When she was three her mother died and she was adopted by a woman named Akerman. As she was dying, Mrs. Akerman placed Mary Ann with the Canterbury, NH, Shakers, May 10, 1841. At the age of 16 she was sent to the 2nd F., as caretaker of the children; six years later she was transferred to the nursing department and became 2nd eldress in the Novitiate Order, in 1852. In the same year, she was appointed eldress of the North F. and served in that capacity until 1860, when she was appointed 2nd Ministry eldress for societies of Alfred and Sabbathday Lake (New Gloucester), ME, and served in that position until 1886. In 1880, together with Polly J. Reed, she delivered an address "to every Individual member of the Shaker Fraternity Wherever located," during the visit of the Shakers to the Spiritualists' Campmeeting, at Lake Pleasant, MA (Richmond, VoLl, 1977). She was a receiver of hundreds of songs, many of which are still in use today.
Village:Canterbury, NH Source:whrsreel:005693Search: Full Last First