After encountering the jerks for the first time in North Carolina, Methodist minister Thomas Mann was appointed to the Orange Circuit in Virginia in 1807. Later entries from his journal include a few brief references to the jerking exercise. Conjectural readings and textual defects appear in square brackets.
Thursday [May] 21 [1807]. I preached at Rows Meeting Hous from Solomans Song 5:7. Brother Bell Exhorted. A feeling time. Som had the Jurks and [liping] exercise all at one tim. I never Saw the like before. Slap th[e]re hands and knock there arms agai[n]st aney thing that came in the way. My soul Happy and others was happy. I belive we Stad all night at Brother Andersons….
Thursday [June] 25. Preached at Rows Meeting House from Revelation 2:10. Brother Nathan Anderson Exhorted and we meet Class. Four Women had the Jurks. I Stay with Anderson….
Lords day [September] 20. Preached at [Milekuls] Meeting House from 1 [Chronicles] 10:1, 2. The Lord give me light and librity glory to god. Brother Buller conclude. Then we had lords Supper. Dr. Hambleton had the Jurks took last Sunday. I baptized Som children. Then we Rode home with Brother Hambleton.
Source
Thomas Mann, Journal, 1805–1808, [130, 136, 150], David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
