In 1821, William Hall pulled up stakes in England and immigrated to the United States with his family. The journal of his travels and experiences at the so-called “English Settlement” in Edwards County, Illinois, includes an account of what he called the “confused” state of religion in America. Hall’s brief journal entry indicates that the jerks persisted among certain groups of evangelical Protestants long after the Great Revival abated. Contextual notes appear in square brackets.
Sept. 7 to 14th [1823]
Heavy rain on Thursday the first day of the camp meeting which lasted till Monday Mr. & Mrs. Clark stayed with us during its continuance & as well as ourselves were much gratified in hearing the discourses delivered by the three Preachers, Messrs. Poole, Wasson & Rote. Their doctrine was truly Christian & the language & delivery perfectly adapted to ye audience to whom it was addressed. Many extravagances prevailed during the intervals of the preaching, particularly among the Females: called here jerking, it appears to be similar to hysteric affection. Several were so much exhausted by these exertions as to fall to the ground apparently lifeless & were conveyed to the shade by the bystanders. It was a most confused scene of praying, singing jumping, & shouting, & shaking hands, & I think can answer no good purpose except collecting a larger Congregation to hear the Preachers.
Source
Jay Monaghan, ed., “From England to Illinois in 1821: The Journal of William Hall,” Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 39 (1946): 225.
