In early August of 1847, Brother Zachariah Burnett wrote in his journal that "Visitor Tuntstill West from Monticello, Ky came to see his relations viz Runyons, Suttons, & Ryons."
I have not yet been able to discover the connection between Tunstal West and the Runyons but the year of his visit, Jane Runyon (who with her husband and children were the first of the Runyons to join the Shakers) would have turned 80 years old. Her husband Joseph had been dead for two years. Her son Vincent, a devout Shaker, had died the previous year.
Zachariah mentions Runyons, Ryans, and Suttons, but not Badgetts, Baxters, or Burtons, so unless the connection goes farther back to Phineas and Charity (who are both long dead by this visit), the relation does seem to be with Joseph's line.
Pleasant Hill is about an 80 mile wagon ride from Wayne County where Tunstal Quarles (T.Q.) West lived, so it would have been a significant trip, especially for a farmer during the growing season. According to his Find a Grave memorial, Tunstal Quarles "T.Q." West was born Jan 10, 1806 to Isaac West and Margaret Russell.
Tunstal's first wife was Sarah Elizabeth Wray West. The two had several children together before Sarah's death in November 1841. Less than a year after his 1847 visit to Pleasant Hill, Tunstal married a second time. On March 31, 1848 in Wayne County, Kentucky, he wed Sophia Wilson, 13 years his junior. Sophia may have been a widow, and her maiden name was possibly Wright.
Shaker records tell us that Jane "Ginny" Runyon was born in Fairfax County, Virginia. Isaac West's father Soloman was reportedly born in Virginia and migrated to North Carolina.
Margaret Russell's parentage is a bit fuzzier but they are in South Carolina or North Carolina, before Margaret ends up in Wayne County, Kentucky.
Joseph Runyon migrated from New Jersey to Rowan County, North Carolina with his parents. There, he marries Jane about 1784, and their first four children are born there before they migrate to Fayette County, Kentucky.
Could Shaker Jane, wife of Joseph, have been a sister of either Isaac West or his wife Margaret Russell?
If so, Tunstal would have been able to visit his Aunt Jane, cousins Charlotte, Vincent, George, William, and Matilda Runyon, cousin Nancy Runyon Ryan, and his cousin Polly's children, Jane and James Sutton.
................... Our Shaker Heritage ~ research on the Runyon family at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky ... and more!
Showing posts with label Ryan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryan. Show all posts
3/07/2018
3/03/2018
Divorce, Shaker Style
I recently finished reading The Great Divorce : A Nineteenth-Century Mother's Extraordinary Fight against Her Husband, the Shakers, and Her Times by Ilyon Woo and it made me more curious about the life of Nancy Runyon Ryan.
Nancy, at age 20, had married Thomas Ryan in 1807. Within a few years the majority of her family had joined the Society at Pleasant Hill and Nancy and Thomas were busy with twin boys Lawson and Wesley, born in 1808. An interview conducted in 1835 reveals what happened next.
"Mr. Crouch had a sister that married a Ryan. That sister's son, living in Mercer [County, Kentucky] married into a family of Runyons. Runyons lived on this side of the Kentucky River, between there and Lexington. The whole family joined the Shakers, and younger Ryan's wife thought she must go too. She left twins lying in the cradle and went. This brought Ryan into conflict with one, whom he beats himself severely. Another one, that came to his house, he beat nearly to death. The man thought to go to the law but the magistrate advised him to keep away and let Ryan alone."
The interview certainly paints Nancy as a woman who has abandoned her babies but the Shaker journals help explain. They tell us that Nancy became a Believer in 1810, so Thomas' run-in with the brethren must have happened in 1810 when the twins were still quite young. Perhaps they had visited Thomas to proselytize, hoping to persuade him to try the Shaker way of life. The journals also tell us it was another five years before Nancy was able to live among the faithful at Pleasant Hill.
Having given birth to a daughter (Nancy Jr., born in 1812) during those years we can speculate that she soon returned to Thomas' household. Was she trying to convince her husband to join with her? Did the Church leadership offer Nancy help or advice based on similar experiences in other communities? Did Thomas die during this time? We know only that she arrived in the Spring of 1815, and that her children joined her there in May of that year. Who brought the children?
We will likely never know the specifics but, like the protagonist in The Great Divorce, it seems Thomas was vehemently opposed to the idea of joining a celibate commune.
While Nancy's saga was taking place in Kentucky, Mother Lucy Wright was consulting with the Elders at the community of Watervliet outside Albany. There, James Chapman had left his family to become a Believer. He soon returned home for his children against his wife's wishes. Eunice Chapman, had no legal rights to their children but was not going to give them up without a fight. This is the subject of The Great Divorce. In the NPR clip below, the author explains how women of this period, upon marriage, became "civilly dead."
At Pleasant Hill, Nancy Runyon Ryan lived to age 65 and died a Believer. Her three children were raised among the Shakers, presumably with no further objection from their father. Each left Pleasant Hill separately while in their teens.
I'll leave it for you to discover whether James Champman and his children remain Shakers or "go to the world."
Listen to a 6-minute NPR interview with the author here:
Nancy, at age 20, had married Thomas Ryan in 1807. Within a few years the majority of her family had joined the Society at Pleasant Hill and Nancy and Thomas were busy with twin boys Lawson and Wesley, born in 1808. An interview conducted in 1835 reveals what happened next.
"Mr. Crouch had a sister that married a Ryan. That sister's son, living in Mercer [County, Kentucky] married into a family of Runyons. Runyons lived on this side of the Kentucky River, between there and Lexington. The whole family joined the Shakers, and younger Ryan's wife thought she must go too. She left twins lying in the cradle and went. This brought Ryan into conflict with one, whom he beats himself severely. Another one, that came to his house, he beat nearly to death. The man thought to go to the law but the magistrate advised him to keep away and let Ryan alone."
The interview certainly paints Nancy as a woman who has abandoned her babies but the Shaker journals help explain. They tell us that Nancy became a Believer in 1810, so Thomas' run-in with the brethren must have happened in 1810 when the twins were still quite young. Perhaps they had visited Thomas to proselytize, hoping to persuade him to try the Shaker way of life. The journals also tell us it was another five years before Nancy was able to live among the faithful at Pleasant Hill.
Having given birth to a daughter (Nancy Jr., born in 1812) during those years we can speculate that she soon returned to Thomas' household. Was she trying to convince her husband to join with her? Did the Church leadership offer Nancy help or advice based on similar experiences in other communities? Did Thomas die during this time? We know only that she arrived in the Spring of 1815, and that her children joined her there in May of that year. Who brought the children?
We will likely never know the specifics but, like the protagonist in The Great Divorce, it seems Thomas was vehemently opposed to the idea of joining a celibate commune.
While Nancy's saga was taking place in Kentucky, Mother Lucy Wright was consulting with the Elders at the community of Watervliet outside Albany. There, James Chapman had left his family to become a Believer. He soon returned home for his children against his wife's wishes. Eunice Chapman, had no legal rights to their children but was not going to give them up without a fight. This is the subject of The Great Divorce. In the NPR clip below, the author explains how women of this period, upon marriage, became "civilly dead."
At Pleasant Hill, Nancy Runyon Ryan lived to age 65 and died a Believer. Her three children were raised among the Shakers, presumably with no further objection from their father. Each left Pleasant Hill separately while in their teens.
I'll leave it for you to discover whether James Champman and his children remain Shakers or "go to the world."
Listen to a 6-minute NPR interview with the author here:
5/13/2016
Shaker records on Find a Grave
I've been working to make sure all of the Runyon relations who were Pleasant Hill Shakers are available and accurate on Find a Grave. While now part of Ancestry.com Find a Grave assures its members that its data will remain free and available to all.
To look up any Runyon, Badgett, Ryan, Sutton, etc. enter the last name below and click on search.
Many links to Phineas and Charity's non-Shaker descendants are starting to appear as well so that connections can easily be understood.
Remember that markers for individual Shakers were usually not placed in the graveyard (none exists for the Runyon family members) so requesting a photo will not result in a gravestone photo.
To look up any Runyon, Badgett, Ryan, Sutton, etc. enter the last name below and click on search.
Many links to Phineas and Charity's non-Shaker descendants are starting to appear as well so that connections can easily be understood.
Remember that markers for individual Shakers were usually not placed in the graveyard (none exists for the Runyon family members) so requesting a photo will not result in a gravestone photo.
8/03/2014
This Month in 1847 ...
Visitor Tuntstill West from Monticello, Ky came to see his relations viz Runyons, Suttons, & Ryons.
- from Zachariah
Burnett's Journal (Zachariah Burnett came with his parents and siblings, including Micajah Burnett, to Pleasant Hill in 1808)
7/20/2014
On This Date in 1825 ...
Wesley Ryan [age 16] departs Pleasant Hill.
Wesley was the son of Nancy Runyon Ryan. Nancy brought him to Pleasant Hill at age seven. His twin brother Lawson Ryan stayed with the Shakers three more years before departing.
Wesley was the son of Nancy Runyon Ryan. Nancy brought him to Pleasant Hill at age seven. His twin brother Lawson Ryan stayed with the Shakers three more years before departing.
7/08/2014
On This Date in 1852 ...
At 3:30 p.m. Nancy Runyon Ryan "died of epileptic fits" at age 65. She "had been subject to fits...was not able to take care of herself, had but little if any sense left, it was a great releasement to the family and a blessing to her no doubt." ~ Amos Stewart Journal
4/27/2014
The Runyon Shaker Genealogy
Joseph. Mercy, Martin, and Emley were the four adult children of Phineas and Charity Runyon who, along with their 30 children, joined the Shakers at Pleasant Hill in the early 19th century. Members who remained with the Shakers are shown in red; those who departed (or, “went to the world”) are shown in blue.
Phineas Runyon b: February 13, 1744 + Charity Coates b: December 23, 1744
and their children and grandchildren...
Joseph Runyon b: January 24, 1765 +Jane (aka Ginny) b: December 12, 1766
and their children...
Charlotte (aka Sally C.) Runyon b: July 25, 1785
Nancy Runyon b: May 27, 1787 + Ryan (left husband to live at PH)
-Lawson Ryan b: November 24, 1808 (twin), arrived PH May 1815
-Wesley Ryan b: November 24, 1808 (twin), arrived PH May 1815
-Nancy Ryan b: January 12, 1812, arrived PH May 1815
Vincent Runyon b: August 16, 1789
Marcy Runyon b: August 21, 1792
George Runyon b: September 13, 1795
William Runyon b: July 12, 1799
Guilford D. Runyon b: January 8, 1802 (departed, returned, was expelled)-read more
Matilda Runyon b: July 27, 1804
Polly Runyon b: August 4, 1807 m. Sutton
-Jane Sutton b: February 14, 1832 brought by her mother to PH June 7, 1834
-James Sutton b: February 14, 1830 in Fayette Co., KY, brought by his mother to PH May 1834, departed Shakertown December 1849 and returned October 29, 1850
Benjamin Runyon b: May 16, 1809
Mercy Runyon b: December 23, 1768 + John Badgett b. Nov. 23, 1766and their children...
Charity Badgett b: October 15, 1791
Prudence (aka Sally) Badgett b: October 14, 1794
William Badgett b: November 15, 1795+Janie Hover
Salome Badgett b: January 14, 1798
John R. Badgett, Jr. b: April 3, 1800 + America Bosley
Ginny (aka Jinny or Jane) Badgett b: September 13, 1802 +James C. Hutton
Polly Badgett b: November 16, 1805
Hardin Badgett b: January 19, 1808
Katherine (aka Kitty) Badgett b: June 11, 1811
Martin Runyon b: April 20, 1778 +Patience Baxter b: September 17, 1782and their children...
John Runyon b: May 7, 1800
Betsy (aka Elizabeth?) Runyon b: October 12, 1801
Matilda (aka Rebecca) Runyon b: June 24, 1803 +Lewis Gillespie
Asa G. Runyon b: June 20, 1805 +Mary F. Arthur
Silas Baxter Runyon b: November 22, 1807 + Rebecca Tye + Cynthia Ann (aka Sintha) Cornelius
Charity C. Runyon b: August 2, 1809 +Isaac N. Hawkins
Peggy Runyon b: June 11, 1810
Sally Runyon b: August 22, 1813 +? Philips died Aug 24, 1876, age 63 in Garrard County, KY; listed in Vital statistics of Garrard as a "female, married, housekeeper, daughter of Martin & Patience Runyon, died of unknown causes.
Emley (aka Embly) Runyon b: September 22, 1784 + Lydia Burton b: September 12, 1788and their children...
Lawson Runyon b: October 10, 1807 +Emily Ross
Amy Runyon b: August 25, 1809
Robert (Comstock) Runyon b: February 4, 1812 + Betsy Thompson
4/09/2014
179 Years Ago ...
1835 - "Mr. Crouch had a sister that married a Ryan. That sister's son, living in Mercer married into a family of Runyons. Runyons lived on this side of the Kentucky River, between there and Lexington. The whole family (of Runyons?) joined the Shakers, and younger Ryan's wife thought she must go too. She left twins lying in the cradle and went. This brought Ryan into conflict with one, whom he beats himself severely. Another one, that came to his house, he beat nearly to death. The man thought to go to the law but the magistrate advised him to keep away and let Ryan alone. For the more minute details in this account I am indebted to Mrs. Crouch. Little things are erased from men's minds, while they are retained by women." (David Crouch Interview c. 1835 [portion], Draper Collection Manuscripts Vol 12CC225-29)
3/31/2014
On This Date in 1829 ...
Nancy Ryan [age 17], granddaughter of Joseph and Jane Runyon] departs Pleasant Hill
11/24/2013
3/31/2013
On This Date in 1829 ...
Nancy Ryan [age 17] departs Pleasant Hill
At age three, Nancy and her twin brothers were brought to Pleasant Hill in May 1815 by their mother who arrived without her husband. Her grandparents, Joseph and Jane Runyon, had joined the Shakers two years earlier.
At age three, Nancy and her twin brothers were brought to Pleasant Hill in May 1815 by their mother who arrived without her husband. Her grandparents, Joseph and Jane Runyon, had joined the Shakers two years earlier.
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