Excerpt from William Henry Foote’s Sketches of North Carolina (ca. 1804)

Excerpt from William Henry Foote’s Sketches of North Carolina (ca. 1804)

“A venerable clergyman now living…was affected by the jerks a few times…. Suddenly he began leaping about, first forward, then sideways, and sometimes, standing still, would swing backward and forward ‘see-saw fashion.’ This motion of his body was both involuntary and irresistible at the commencement….”

Excerpt from the Biography of Eld. Barton W. Stone (ca. 1804)

Excerpt from the Biography of Eld. Barton W. Stone (ca. 1804)

“The jerks cannot be so easily described…. When the whole system was affected, I have seen the person stand in one place, and jerk backward and forward in quick succession, their head nearly touching the floor behind and before…..”

Letter from John Meacham, Issachar Bates, and Benjamin Seth Youngs to David Osborn (April 27, 1805)

Letter from John Meacham, Issachar Bates, and Benjamin Seth Youngs to David Osborn (April 27, 1805)

“Soon after they began to sing several were taken with the Jerks, while sitting on their seats. Their heads, & shoulders were Jerked back & forth, with such increasing violence, that in a few seconds their hats, & bonnets, & even hankerchiefs which were tied close to their heads would fly off. Some would soon be Jerked flat on the floor, in a manner very mortifying to all delicate feelings….”

Excerpts from the Journal of Benjamin Seth Youngs (May 30, 1805–January 14, 1806)

Excerpts from the Journal of Benjamin Seth Youngs (May 30, 1805–January 14, 1806)

“Charity M. came about 10 A.M. with the Jerks & in trouble & opened her mind to B. She said She received the Jerks to be a compelling power from God….”