Tann Family History
Honoring our Ancestors
History of the Shaker's
The Shakers, officially known as the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, originated in 18th-century England.
In 1747, James and Jane Wardley led a group that separated from the Quakers, forming the Wardley Society.
This group earned the nickname "Shaking Quakers," or "Shakers," due to their ecstatic worship practices involving shaking and dancing.
Ann Lee, born in 1736 in Manchester, England, joined this society in 1758. She later emerged as a prominent leader, advocating for celibacy and communal living.
In 1774, following a revelation, Ann Lee and a small group of followers emigrated to America, establishing the first Shaker community in Watervliet, New York. (1)
​
Anthony Tann and his wife Margaret (Sweat) Tann.
Anthony Tann was born in 1697 in Surry County, Virginia, to parents John and Margaret (Sweat) Tann. He married Susannah Jefferies, daughter of John Jefferies.
Their son, also named Anthony Tann, was born in 1743 in Virginia and married Margaret (Peggy) Sweat. Their children included Jacob, Barney, Austin, William, Polly, Charlotte, and George Tann.
Note: Ann Tann, who lived in Charleston, South Carolina is possibly Anthony and Margaret (Sweat) Tann's daughter.
​On June 22, 1875, Charlotte Tann wrote this song for the Shakers:​
Lyrics:
I give ear oh my children, Draw near unto me. The all Mother's children are simple and free. all Bondage, Ill hate in true freedom I'll grow To gain a rich treasure in heaven alone.
​
I will be more harmless more loving and Kind. And to every order I will be recognized.
In Love, and obedience. I ever will go. To gain Mother's blessing which traveling below.
​
Charlotte Tann June 22, 1875
​
O how joyful, joyful we do feel. To see you all united together. O. How Joyful.
More About the History of the Shakers
​
Ann Lee, commonly known as Mother Ann, was born on February 29, 1736, in Manchester, England. She was the daughter of a blacksmith and worked in a textile mill. In 1758, seeking a more personal and expressive form of worship, she joined the Wardley Society, a group that had separated from the Quakers. This group practiced ecstatic worship involving shaking and dancing, leading to their nickname, the "Shaking Quakers," or "Shakers." (1)
In 1770, while imprisoned for her religious activities, Ann Lee experienced a vision that emphasized the importance of celibacy and communal living as paths to salvation. Following this revelation, she assumed leadership of the Shakers. Facing persecution in England, she led a small group of followers to America in 1774, arriving in New York City on August 6. By 1776, they had leased land in the Van Rensselaer Manor near Albany, New York, establishing a community in what is now Watervliet. (2)
The Watervliet community was founded on principles of communal ownership, celibacy, gender equality, pacifism, and hard work. Their distinct worship practices and beliefs attracted both interest and suspicion from outsiders. During the American Revolution, the Shakers maintained a stance of neutrality, which, along with their unique practices, sometimes led to hostility and persecution. Despite these challenges, the Watervliet community thrived and became a model of Shaker life, influencing the establishment of other Shaker villages in the United States. (3)
Mother Ann Lee continued to lead and expand the Shaker movement until her death on September 8, 1784, in Watervliet, New York. She is buried in the Shaker Cemetery there. Her leadership and vision laid the foundation for the growth of the Shaker communities, which became known for their industriousness, craftsmanship, and unique contributions to American religious and cultural history. (4)