Benson Lossing - An Artist's Visit with the Shakers

 I recently came across a video posted in 2018 of a talk and slideshow given by Rob Emlen, University Curator and Senior Lecturer in American Studies at Brown University (retired). Emlen gives a fascinating talk that covers many things Shaker but most interestingly to me is his description of historian and artist Benson Lossing's sketches and watercolors done during his visit to the Mount Lebanon, New York community in August 1856.

A watercolor depicting a Shaker worship service in 1856, by artist Benson Lossing, from his visit to the Mount Lebanon, New York community in August of that year.

Lossing's sketches were published in black and white but viewing the watercolors gives us a glimpse into the paint colors used on the Shaker buildings, and more.

Internet Archive hosts An Early view of the Shakers : Benson John Lossing and the Harper's article of July 1857, with reproductions of the original sketches and watercolors, published by Hancock Shaker Village in 1989 that includes Lossing's sketches, colorized drawings, and his account of his visit among the Shakers.

Lossing sketches from 1856

The Water House at Pleasant Hill

 Pleasant Hill produced this short and informative video on preservation at Pleasant Hill, with a focus on the water house.

The Library of Congress has archival material on the water house.

A Mysterious Visitor

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.

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)

On This Date in 1838 ...

Visit__The Ministry from Pleasant Hill arrived here on a visit. Viz. E. James Rankin, E. Ann Cole, & Sis Sarah Jenkins.__ They were accompanied by William Runyon. All of whom we are glad & thankful to see.

~journal of the Shaker community at South Union, KY, 1836 - 1840