History of Lebanon, (Orange County) New York United States of America

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Frederick William Evans, communist, was born in Leominster, Worcestershire, England, June 9, 1808; son of George and Sarah (White) Evans. His boyhood was passed upon a farm and he received no regular instruction until after he immigrated to the United States, with his father, and brother George H. Evans, in 1820, making his home in Binghamton, N.Y. At this time he barely knew the alphabet, but he taught himself to read from the "Life of Nelson," next attended the school of an Episcopal minister at Ithaca, N.Y., and then apprenticed himself to a hatter at Sherburne Four Corners, N.Y., where he had access to a library and continued his self education. About 1828 he became a convert to communism and to the socialistic theories of Robert Dale Owen, and walked eight hundred miles from New York to join the community at Masslion, Ohio. He spent the year 1829 in England, returning to New York in January, 1830, to assist in planning a new community. Being deputed by his associates to travel for information and to find a suitable location, he visited the Shaker community at Mount Lebanon, N.Y., June 3, 1830, and remained there three months. He then went back to New York city, related his experiences to his friends, and finally returned to Mount Lebanon to join the Shakers. In 1838 he was chosen elder of the North family and in 1858 first elder of the Novitiate order of the community. He was a lecturer and writer and led the opposition to the Sunday closing of the World's Columbian exposition. His published works include: Compendium of Principles, Rules, Doctrines, and Government of Shakers (1859); Autobiography of a Shaker (1869); Test of Divine Revelation (1869); Shaker Communism (1871); Religious Communism, a lecture delivered in London, England (1872); and Second Appearing of Christ (1873). With Antoinette Doelittle he edited and published The Shaker and Shakeress, 1873-75. He died at Lebanon, N.Y., March 6, 1893.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Lebanon, (Orange County) New York

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