Kentucky lawyer Peter L. Maxey measures the Methodists’ drift away from the charismata of the Great Revival in this 1845 letter to his brother. Maxey describes a recent encounter with his uncle, a noted jerker from Highland County, Ohio, named Peter Ayers. He was a “thorough Methodist,” Maxey explains, who “believes in all of the religious exercises after the straightest of the sect.” To Maxey, Ayers’s abiding interest in the spasms of “over excitement” and “genuine jerks” seemed a quaint remnant of a bygone era in Methodist history.
Russelville Ky. November 26th 1845
Dear Brother
I have postponed writing to you much longer than I intended when I wrote last owing partly to my natural laziness but principally to the session of our circuit court. I had some bussiness but listening was what imployed most of my time. Our docket was not vary large. We convicted one criminal for passing Counterfeit money. There were four Indictments against him proof positive on all. He agreed that he would plead guilty to two and agree to serve in the Penitentiary of the state for twelve years if they would dismiss the other two. The court in the exuberince of its mercy consented to a Compromise of that sort and he will accordingly be started to Frankfort in a few days and as he is a “vary athletic desperate and determined man” the Courageous of the County had to be selected for guards. In such an emergency you know that one possessed of my natural qualifications Could and would not be dispensed with. Therefore by Chicanery & the plea of relationship I have been selected. I desire to go for the purpose of seeing the Country my relations and also for the purpose of recreation. Not that I am such a hard student but situated as I am here too much Cramped by penury to keep a horse, too proud to borrow and too lazy to walk. I hardly ever get out of town so you see that I am actuated by prudence, philosophy & that natural affection that cements Kindred of blood in accepting or soliciting the exalted station of Guard of a felon. When I return I will give you all the news of (them) parts. I would now, but I fear that you might think that I was Clairvoyant and could learn the situation of things in Illinois as you seem to think already from the way you act. I shall propably be gone three or four weeks. Since I wrote last I have heard from mother but once. Uncle Peter Ayres & John Wat Came down some 3 weeks since. They stated that her health was as good as usual. Her fine flow of spirits had returned but she was still very feeble. Uncle Peter is quite a small man vary plain in his dress and manners but there is a piety and devotion in his whole conduct that is vary imposing and elevates the dwarf magnitude that demands and imperceptably enlist your regard and admiration. He is a thorough Methodist believes in all of the religious exercises after the straightest of the sect. I hope before I saw him that he was possessed of too much acumen too much astuteness of perception to take the spasms of over excitement for that elevating principle that elevates humanity above the beast and stamps upon man the seal of deity but as I do not know practically the effects I shall not fall out with him for advocating the genuine Jerks, or the modern process of sanctification. He is far from being healthy. He has had the dyspepsia for some years. His family men [were] all well when he left home. Cousin Sandy died some time last summer. I went with him to Uncle [Fuqual]. The meeting was vary joyous between the old folks and they talked of all the old Virginians from the time of Noah. He requested me to give you all his love and to write to him direct to Hillsborough, Highland County Ohio. All are well here. We have been looking for you for some time. I hope you will not fail to come this winter. We are all anxious to see you and doubt not that it will be of great advantage to you by refining and divesting you of the eccentricities engendered by an Illinois life, energize your matrimonial [business] and be the means of inducting you into the blisses of the hymenial state. With such prospects awaiting you in Ky. you will Certainly dispel that obduracy of heart that is inimical to all the pleasant dreams of the imagination, though I must acknowledge that I cannot find by actual intercourse with the dear Creatures one half of the purity Beauty and foreshadowing of & loveliness that I can think about when away from them but still there are some 3 or 4 living in [Town] who [are] worth 15 or 16000 dollars and I must acknowledge that it does not distroy their personal charms or the desires of Claiming one as my property. Write soon. Give my love to all and accept the love of your Brother
P. L. Maxey
[Addressed:] Mr. O. A. Maxcey Shoal Creek Illinois
Source
Peter Leake Maxey to Oliver Hazard Perry Maxey, November 26, 1845, Rowlett-Maxey Family Papers, 1825–1942, Mss. C R, Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Ky.
Images courtesy of the Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky.
