13
As time went on, the Shakers tried to become more selective in
whom they admitted to their Gathering Order. Remember Horace
Holloway? In September 1836, the Ministry Journal records that
Horace, who had left Sodus the previous week, came to the office
"in a state of mental derangement, ...which we believe is about
all the fault they find with him. Two days later he "appeared
more deranged" so the poormaster was asked to take care of him.
However Horace agreed to return to Great Harrington where he had
been working and left.

On March 29, 1838, Elizabeth Hanford of the 2d Family at retiring
time left her room and then was absent from meeting. She was
searched for, all over, until about midnight when she was found
hanging from an apple tree in the dooryard. "According to testi-
mony at the coroner's jury, she had been tempted several times to
commit suicide and at least once, before she joined the Shakers,
had been cut down by an aunt." She was buried but with "no
funeral honors" such as singing and preaching.

On August 14, 1851, Elder Amos Stewart writes that "H. Youngs is
deranged which was not his first time though he was never so much
deprived of reason before."

On December 18, 1857 it is recorded that Lockwood Reynolds of the
East Family "went to breakfast as usual and not long afterward
was found dead in the barn, hanging by the neck. No one seemed
to know the cause." Aged 53 at his death, he had come to the
Shakers in 1815 with other family members when he was 11 years
old.

On March 29, 1858, the Elder Brother of the 2d Family went to the
Ministry to tell them about Jesse Street "who seems to be in a
state of derangement." Brother Daniel Boler went to see him and
then went to get Dr. Wright who came and "pronounced him insane
and counseled as well as anyone could." Jesse went to the 2nd
Order "to stay a spell."

On December 23, 1858 Elizabeth Taylor died and now they were
considering "the way and manner poor Billy Taylor (her son) was
to be cared for and concluded that if the 2d Family would take
that burden the Church Family was willing to give their equal
share of the expense which is generally thought will amount to
about $200 yearly considering the whole expense of time and
attention etc, as he is at present almost entirely helpless and
but little sense remaining." Billy died only three months later.

In the morning of July 9, 1859 the Ministry was informed that Amy