| bio | Brackett, William Charles (1807-1887), of the Church F., Watervliet, NY, was born in Fairfax, ME. He came to the
West F. Shakers in August, 1820, and moved to the Church F. in May, 1821. He signed the covenant in 1828. In
1836 he gave up caring for the hogs and took up shoemaking. In 1854-1857 period he was in charge of the boys,
and some children were indentured to him. He kept a journal of a trip to the Eastern societies in 1862. In May, 1864,
he was appointed assistant elder to David Buckingham at the Church F. Between 1865 and 1869 he was busy with
converting the "shoe shed" into a place to accomodate delirious persons, in charge of the herb business, and
continued making shoes. In 1866 he helped Elder David to prepare a new list of hymns and anthems for public
worship. In 1870 he was one of the singing performers in Albany, and in 1871 he was singing master conducting
meetings for all the Watervliet Shakers. He became elder in 1885, when Elder David died. He himself died from
catching cold while shoveling snow, aged 80. The MANIFESTO obituary noted "He had been a resident of the
Society from early youth, and consecrated time, talent and strength to his gospel home."
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