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:Alfred, ME Source:census:3880Search: Full Last First
id 3880 firstname Mary A lastname Gillespie fullname Mary A Gillespie eventdate Census 1880-: birthdate 1829 cenurl https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFQ4-VQ1
Village:Alfred, ME Source:sqtrlyobits:269Search: Full Last First
ID 269 FULLNAME Gillespie, Mary A. ISSUE tm1706 DETAILS Death of a noted Shakeress. Eldress Mary A. Gillespie of the Shaker Society at Alfred,
died April 15th. of pneumonia. She was born in Portsmouth, N. H., June 9th, 1829. She
was taken to the Shakers in Canterbury when but a child. At an early age she manifested
those religious traits that marked her later years. When but little more than a youth
she was placed as assistant eldress in the Novitiate order. Twenty-seven years ago she
came to Maine to act as one of the ministry for the societies in Alfred and New
Gloucester. During all these years she has been an able minister of the truth, her life
emphasizing her teachings. A woman of uncommon ability. Her heart was so filled with
love for all humanity that the many friends outside of our society who became acquainted
with her will share in our bereavement and unite with us in mourning the departure of so
able a minister, so loving a sister, and so true a friend. J. B. N.
AGE 58 yrs DEATHDATE 1887-04-15 VILLAGE Alfred, ME FirstNAME Mary A. LastNAME Gillespie
Village:Sabbathday Lake, ME Source:whrsreel:005692Search: Full Last First