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History of the Jerks: Bodily Exercises and the Great Revival (1803–1967)
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Excerpts from the Journal of Richard Green Waterhouse (June–December 1804)

Excerpts from the Journal of Richard Green Waterhouse (June–December 1804)

1802-1804, Diaries & Journals, Other/Unknown, University of Tennessee

“A strange and unknown Nervous Affection, or Disease, made its appearance, in a variety of forms, in different parts of the Counties of Knox and Blount…. [It] was termed; ‘the Jerks.'”

Excerpts from Lorenzo Dow’s History of Cosmopolite (October 1–19, 1804)

Excerpts from Lorenzo Dow’s History of Cosmopolite (October 1–19, 1804)

1802-1804, American Antiquarian Society, Diaries & Journals, Methodists

Camp-meeting commenced at Liberty: here I saw the jerks; and some danced: a strange exercise indeed….

Published Letter from James Robinson to Ashbel Green (November 10–December 10, 1804)

1802-1804, Correspondence, Dancing Exercise, Other Bodily Exercises & General References, Presbyterians

“In Greenbriar, the first subjects of these strange exercises were two firm and steady professors of religion, men of firm nervous systems…. These strange appearances have crossed the Allegany [Mountains] and seem to be progressing pretty fast eastward….”

Excerpt from the “Concise Sketch of the Life and Experience of Isachar Bates” (January 31, 1805)

Excerpt from the “Concise Sketch of the Life and Experience of Isachar Bates” (January 31, 1805)

1805-1809, Autobiographies & Biographies, Dayton Metro Library

“We called and saw them have the jirks and asked them qustions and went on….”

Letter from John Meacham, Issachar Bates, and Benjamin Seth Youngs to the Shaker Ministry (January 31, 1805)

Letter from John Meacham, Issachar Bates, and Benjamin Seth Youngs to the Shaker Ministry (January 31, 1805)

1805-1809, Correspondence, Western Reserve Historical Society

“I took the Jerks, & was the first person that had it in these parts. Sometimes I have had it in meditating on serious things when alone, sometimes by seeing the situation of the wicked, sometimes by reading, or hearing some striking expressions, sometimes in going about my common employment, & sometimes while in bed….”

Excerpts from the Journal of Benjamin Seth Youngs (March 23–May 23 1805)

Excerpts from the Journal of Benjamin Seth Youngs (March 23–May 23 1805)

1805-1809, Dancing Exercise, Diaries & Journals, Winterthur Library

“[T]he exercises by the invisible power of God went pointedly to the destruction of all antichristian forms, and inventions of men by such exercises as Jerking…& the restitution of, the true worship of God by such as dancing….”

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