As we approach the end of 2021, I thought it appropriate to write about some interesting religious discoveries I have made in my paternal line. Most of my Sutton line who lived in East Tennessee were members of the Baptist church with memberships found in the Thompson Settlement Church in Lee County, Virginia; Rob Camp Baptist Church in Claiborne County, Tennessee; the United Church of Christ at Providence in Grainger County, Tennessee; and the Baptist Church at Big Creek in Hancock County, Tennessee. However, there were some extended family members that joined the Methodist Church. I recently began to look over my paternal grandmother’s line (Trentie Alice Leonard) because of a DNA connection to my sister. I had forgotten that there were some very interesting stories in Grandma Trentie’s tree.
My grandma’s paternal grandmother along with her siblings and parents hail from Kentucky. Her name was Mahala Patillo, born June 16, 1849, in Warren County, Kentucky to Davis J. Patillo and Mahala Duke Smith. Davis met his bride when he was hired to brick the home of William Smith – Mahala’s father. In fact, family researchers say Davis was raised in the South Union Shaker Community in Logan County, Kentucky where he learned the trade of a brick mason. The Shaker community called him Servateus and possibly Veet.
Apparently, his parents joined the Shaker community sometime after 1809 when the family was going through some hardships. A religious movement known as the Second Great Awakening was happening in Kentucky and other parts of the United States. According to Wikipedia, Camp meetings became part of the frontier ministries of the Methodists, Baptists, Shakers, Disciples and Cumberland Presbyterians. The Shakers began attending the camp meetings most likely in hopes of attracting new members. When they felt the Holy Spirit they would quiver and shake and speak in tongues. Their members lived a communal lifestyle in that all property was shared. In addition, men and women were considered equals, they opposed marriage, and practiced celibacy. According to the Smithsonianmag.com, there are only two Shakers left in the world (hmmm…I wonder why?).
It is said his parents’ names were William Patillo and Sarah Davis and had supposedly divorced before joining the Shakers but I have not found a record of the divorce. I also can't definitely say these were his parents but it is definitely possible. I decided to investigate the connection to the Shakers in hopes of validating the stories from previous research.
William Patillo was a Revolutionary War soldier who filed his pension paperwork in Logan County, Kentucky on September 2nd, 1833. He stated he was born in Charlotte County, Virginia in May 1760 and enlisted in this county in the summer of 1780. His character witnesses were Thomas Porter and John Rankin. In researching John Rankin, I discovered he was a presbyterian minister who became dissatisfied with Presbyterian orthodoxy and became a member of the South Shaker Union Community (Source: Black, William R, “Went off to the Shakers: The first Converts of the South Union” (2013), Masters Theses & Specialist Projects, Paper 1243). The 1840 census of Logan County, Kentucky lists William Patillo as an 80-year-old blind Revolutionary War pensioner in the household of Eli McLean and U.E. Johns, trustees for the South Union (Shakers).
Back to Davis and Mahala Patillo, they are located in district 2, Warren County, Kentucky, in 1850 and his occupation on the census does indicate that he was a brick mason and farmer. There were nine offspring in the household named William B., Martha J., John D., Harriet, Thomas J., Elizabeth, Lannes, Trenton A., and baby Mahala Patillo (my 2x’s great-grandmother). Researchers also state that Davis became a lawyer, and by 1860 the census would reflect this occupation in Warren County. The couple had been blessed with another daughter named Alice. Checking the location of Warren County shows it borders Logan County, so they probably didn’t live far from the South Union Shakers.
Another decade passes and the country has gone through many turbulent years due to the Civil War. Davis is enumerated in Warren County, Kentucky once again and he is still a lawyer; however, he is no longer with his family. In fact, he is listed in the household of Zachariah Keel and his family who is a Black lawyer. Zachariah is blind. Davis’ wife, Mahala, is enumerated in Fannin County, Texas along with their sons Thomas and Trenton. What has happened? Luckily, a family member in Fannin County, Texas (Mrs. John Welch) tucked away a couple of letters that her husband had inherited and shared the information with family researcher Patricia Edwards. Luckily for descendants of this family, Patricia shared the information on Ancestry.com.
Readers, please keep an open mind as you read the following letters because they discuss race as and the War’s impact on this family’s way of life.
Nov. 6th, 1869
Bowling Green
Warren County, Kentucky
To my family in Texas,
I now write to inform you that I am as well as common & all. The children & grand children & the neighbors are generally well at present—but chilling [ ] sickness has been common here this year. I have no news of importance to state at present--. As to John D____ we hear nothing from him. I think it best to be at rest about him—so as to let prejudice dye away to some extent—all parties appear to be & perfectly still concerning [ ] at present…but if I were to make a move in his favor all the fat would be in the fire…for his enemies have their eyes on me & by my being perfectly still all things are going peacibly. I intend [ ] visit him at the proper time—but I shall do nothing unlawfull about him.
We have had a very cold spell of weather here for 10 days in the latter part of October…it killed all the oak mast & injured the sweet potatoes. Among the others Dr. Dorhorty had in 12 acres in sweet potatoes. He lost all of his. He has turned his hogs on them. The corn crop in that country was cut very short by the drouth this season…
W.W. Johnson did not make more than 5 bu. To the sale but that was as much as the neighbors made generally—corn is worth one dollar per bu prk 9 & 10 Cts. Gross. Other things in proportion except wheat—it is [ ] per bu. The most of people here have not ½ enough to do them. John L. Thomas & Billy Johnson will fall very short of supplies. I don’t know what will become of them—but it won’t do to let them starve—as to John S. Thomas he keeps up pretty high & has the Missouri fever on him very high—it rises & falls with his steam—no satisfaction with him nor where he is. He is trying to manage to force me to sell the land on which he lives & let him have the money to pay for land in Missouri as he [ ] but I say the money would [ ] for whiskey. He would soon have nothing & then Patsey & her children will have no home at all. But I think I will see to that-----
I stated in a former letter that I would send you some tobacco…a sewing machine… The Wel… (torn copy)….the tobacco sewing machine, brass kettle and some other little tricks ready for shiping but [ ] I have tried the Shakers & their factory here but can’t get them.
Now as to shiping the articles at present… I saw Charles Vanmeter the other day & he stated that if I shipped any thing to go up Red River when said river is low, that the articles would stay in the werehouse at New Orleans 4 weeks and then be sold for charges. He says he knows that to be the werehouse laws & then the articles would be lost en… [ ] he also stated that to ship them when Red River is full navigation then the articles would go safe.
June 22, 1873
P.O. Box 164
Bowling Green, Kentucky
To Cousin Henry Philips, Hannah Philips, & to all inquiring
friends,
Dear Cousins and friends,
This is the second letter I have written to you since I have been here – the first one was returned to me from the dead letter office long since. I hope you get this one.
I am not well but I am able to sit up and get around a little & go to see my sick daughter, Harriet Johnson, occasionally. She is mending well except Harriet. All my grandchildren are well – I hope this will find you all well. As I came to town I stopt in at your Aunt Prudie Smiths & took dinner – peas & snaps for dinner. She & her family wished to send their best respects to you all – would be glad to see you. Her family consists of herself – her youngest son Jonathan & her oldest son John & his wife & three children & her son William his wife & children all well & doing well – her daughters all married – the oldest one Elizabeth first husband Pond died – she then married a man by the name of Tye Pock. They are gone to parts unknown – her daughter Artimesa married Henry Cotton – they have two children – her youngest daughter named Mary married Basel Edwards – they have three children. Henry Cotton & Basel Edwards are living in this neighborhood on homes of their own & doing well…. There has been so much wet weather here for the last six weeks that the farmers are very much in the grass & weeds, corn is yellow which is very bad.
Well cousins I have seen two people from Fannin County Texas, who stayed all night with me lately – though they left Texas six or eight months since – they gave me much information from that section – some of which is too bad for me to speak of at present. It is all concerning my wife -- & myself. I will not at present say anything about my wife & her friend Mr. _______. But I will speak of myself in as truthful as God rules the universe. When the war began – I left all my land here as well as other property & went to Texas -- & when the war was over – at the request of my wife I returned to Kentucky -- & as I was old & sick & not able to work – all of the family thought it best for me to come here & try to save some of the earnings of ourselves made before the war – well when I got here I found that all my property was claimed by grabers & rong doers – nothing left for myself or children – of course I had to go to law for my rights -- & that was what I came for – to save something for my children. Well now for what I have done since I have been here – first I have paid upwards of sixteen hundred dollars as security for me son W.B. $1600.00 (2) also for John D. Thomas upwards of $500 (3) also for W.W. Johnson the rise of $300.00 (4) also for fees – clerks, sheriffs -- & witness $872.00 besides current expenses for I have to eat $794.00 making the sum of $4166.00.
Besides all that, I expected to die this spring with my sickness & made a will disposing of what property I had left as follows 00 to wit I gave to my daughter Patsey the farm on which she lives worth $6000.00 also a house and lot in town worth $3000.00 & to my daughter Harriet Johnson a home worth $6000.00 besides the mill I gave to them & to my daughter Betsey’s children 376 acres of land in this county below Gaspar River – say $20 per acre & to the children of J.D. Patillo a house and lot in Bowling Green & 200 acres of land in Goshen in this county & to the children of W.B. Patillo town property $7000.00. Besides this I have sold land to A. Hayes on time with interest from date to the amount of $3500. But a part of this I am hindered from collecting – because – Williams’s widow goes among the Negroes & tells them that at my death she & the children will take their homes from them so they refuse to pay – the negroes are so ignorant they know no better – but the lots stand good for pay….
I have not stated all the items in my will. But all I have stated I have saved by coming here. Also I have land yet in law worth $4000.00 & if I keep able to attend to the cases I will gain them & if not may loose them….
Now I think it my duty to stand & attend to winding up this business that is what I came to do … if I had not come back all of my children & grandchildren here would be renters or worse.
Now I think it pretty tough to have so many hard things said of me by the mother of the children I am at work for – I have made myself a slave for her & the children ever since the 10th of January 1828 -- & have never received nothing but hard & bad words for my services.
P.S. Now as the report that I won’t let her come here – or that I am not willing for her to come – that is all false, for I have frequently written to her to come – and especially when I finished my framed house in Bowling Green. I then wrote to my wife to come & stay with me until I was ready to go back to Texas – I stated to her that I had finished the house 3 rooms the front room & middle room had good carpets on the floor – good stove in front room & the other rooms had good fireplaces – that if she should had choice of rooms either in the brick house or framed house – stay in town or in the country – or first one place then the other, as suited her best – that she need not wash nor cook, nor do any work of any kind – that I would get a nice buggy for her to ride in – that she might go to the store & get anything she wanted. I would pay for it & give her money to put in her pocket to spend, & that I would furnish her a good servant to wait on her – that she should not lack for anything she wanted as far as I was able, & she answered she was coming. I waited 2 years & she never came. I now have taken up the carpets – rented out the rooms to negroes – they are now in said rooms.
Well Cousin Henry, I will say something about my late sickness – on the first of last February I was taken with the colic & a chill & went to throwing up & it took the doctor 3 days to stop the puking. I was nearly dead when it stopt & I have had several very bad spells of it for two months – then I got better. I was in town then, & got a woman to wait on me there until the first of April, then she went to Shaker Town to live & I went to the country & was again attacted with colic & had 3 or 4 more severe spells of it. I went to your Aunt Prudy Smiths & she & Patsey waited on me but I have missed them for 4 weeks & hope to get clear of it – but if I get sick again I will try to get to Prudy Smiths to be taken care of. I am in town again & have no person to wait on me there but Negroes & they don’t understand nursing bad cases of sicknesses & when I am sick, I am sick all over. I live in the parlor of the brick house – Negroes in all the other rooms, but they pay slowly. I will close for this time. Write to me & let me know how this world trouble serves you, then I will answer.
Yours as ever,
D.J. Patillo
Reading those letters just makes me sad that Davis no longer had the companionship of his wife. Moving forward with the research, I discovered Survetus in records through the Library Special Collections at Western Kentucky University. The following is a transcript of the South Union Shaker Minutes that mention him:
Thursday, 6 Jun 1822: Stone cutting The stone cutters began to cut stone for the cellar story of Center House - viz: Jesse McComb, Matthew Houston, Herban(?) E. Johns, Robt Wittiston(?), Davis Barnett & Survateus Patillo.
Tuesday, 8 Feb 1825: Shingle making Taken from the South Union Shaker Community minutes: Shingle making: Brethren went to Mill Point Camp to make shingles for the new office. Viz: John McComb, William Rice, David Barnett, Aaron Nash, Wm Small, Survateus Patillo, Milton H Robinson, Solomon Rankin & Casey Barnett. Cooks David Smith, Magy Naylor & Fanny Lacy went up on the 11th to cook for them.
Wednesday, 22 Jun 1825: Backsliding Survetus Patillow runs off.
Tuesday, 19 July 1825: Brot him back -- Samuel Whyte went in a Dearborn yesterday for Survateus Patillow who is lying very sick about 40 miles distant -- brot him back today.
Monday, 12 Sep 1825: Backsliding -- Surveteus cured of his sickness goes off again.
10 May 1866: Re-Admitted, Some two or 3 weeks since, Survetus Patillo was admitted. He left here when about 16 years old - has raised a family is worth in property & money about $20,000.
Listed on the membership list: Jan 1867, Jan 1868, Jan 1869, Jan 1870, Jan 1873, Jan 1875, Jan 1876, Jan 1877.
19 Oct 1874: Returned home - Survateus Patillo who returned on the 15th instant -- has been some years trying to get all his wordly business settled -- went up to see to some matters in Bow Green -- got him this morning. We hope he may, as he wishes to do -- spend the remnant of his days inside the fold. He left here when he was a boy -- was considered one of the best boys of the whole flock -- I think he helped to lay the brick walls of the centre house before leaving has some property he wants now to the cause.
According to the family bible, Davis Jackson Servetus Patillo died November 4th, 1877, and his estate was inventoried in Warren County, Kentucky in 1878. If he was buried in the South Union Shaker cemetery then his remains were desecrated along with the 425 people buried there between 1810 and 1921 when the 4,000-acre farm was auctioned off to a new owner in 1922. This individual destroyed years of the South Union Community history by razing several of the buildings including the 1818 Meeting House. He then removed the fence to the cemetery and had the stone markers ground into lime for use on the fields and built barns over much of the cemetery. The rest was used for crops. A non-profit named South Union Shaker Village purchased the property in 1997 and removed the barns. In 2009 the cemetery was surveyed by archaeologists at the University of Kentucky that revealed the original perimeter and used ground penetrating radar to identify individual grave shafts. A new fence has been erected and a single grave marker erected to honor the individual buried there (Source: South Union’s Shaker Cemetery Grave Marker to be Dedicated, Kaelin Veron, The Logan Journal, April 2011).
Mrs. Mahala Smith Patillo died on August 7th, 1889 and is buried in the Fairview Cemetery located in Savoy, Fannin County, Texas along with her son Trenton Patillo and his family.
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| Find a Grave image by Gary Hancharik |
He did not think when sowing those wild oats in his youth how uncomfortable the gritty oatmeal would prove to be for his aged teeth.
Source: Shaker Sayings for Shaker Stories by Ann H. Gabhart, October 21, 2018.
