World’s People and the Shakers
From about 1776, when the Shakers first settled in Niskayuna (now Watervliet), New York, they attracted the attention of those whom they called the “World’s people”. The Shakers welcomed visitors and took pleasure in showing their beautifully maintained villages, gardens, and livestock. Naturally, they hoped for converts to their new religion and many did eventually come. Along with the converts came both admirers (from all over the world) and also critics (sometimes very severe critics). At Enfield, there were both admirers and critics.
Examples of newspaper articles about the Enfield Shakers while Nathaniel Draper was a trustee:
September 2, 1808, page 1, Part I
September 2, 1808, page 1, Part II
September 2, 1808, page 1, Part III
June 21, 1811, page 3.
“Burlington Weekly Free Press”, Burlington, Vermont
February 26, 1903, page 2.
June 17, 1824, page 2.
October 23, 1826, page 1.
May 10, 1828, page 3.
June 28, 1828, page 4.
January 5, 1829, page 2.
October 7, 1835, page 2.
July 18, 1836, page 2.