26 Facts About Ann Lee

Ann Lee, commonly known as Mother Ann Lee, was the founding leader of the Shakers, later changed to United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing following her death.

Ann Lee was born during a time of the Evangelical revival in England, and became a figure that greatly influenced religion at this time, especially in the Americas.

Ann Lee preached to the public and led the Shaker church at a time when few women were religious leaders.

Ann Lee was often referred to, and considered, the female representation of God.

Ann Lee was born in Manchester, England, the second child of eight belonging to her parents.

Ann Lee's parents were members of a distinct branch of the Society of Friends and too poor to afford their children even the rudiments of education.

Ann Lee received no formal education, and remained illiterate throughout her life.

Ann Lee's father, John Lees, was a blacksmith during the day and a tailor at night.

Ann Lee was this woman, and later received her title of Mother due to this belief.

Ann Lee became pregnant four times, but all of her children died during infancy.

Ann Lee developed radical religious convictions that advocated celibacy and the abandonment of marriage, as well as the importance of pursuing perfection in every facet of life.

In England, Ann Lee rose to prominence by urging other believers to preach more publicly concerning the imminent second coming, and to attack sin more boldly and unconventionally.

Ann Lee spoke of visions and messages from God, claiming that she had received in a vision from God the message that celibacy and confession of sin are the only true road to salvation and the only way in which the Kingdom of God could be established on the earth.

Ann Lee was frequently imprisoned for breaking the Sabbath by dancing and shouting, and for blasphemy.

Ann Lee claimed to have had many miraculous escapes from death.

Ann Lee told of being examined by four clergymen of the Established Church, claiming that she spoke to them for four hours in 72 tongues.

Ann Lee saw that she would be the second appearance of Christ.

Ann Lee saw the religious Awakening in the Americas and was called to share her beliefs and religion.

Ann Lee was accompanied by her husband, who soon afterwards deserted her.

Also following her to America were her brother, William Lee ; Nancy Lee, her niece; James Whittaker, who had been brought up by Mother Ann and was probably related to her; John Hocknell, who provided the funds for the trip; his son, Richard; James Shepherd; and Mary Partington.

Not long after they arrived, Ann Lee's husband left her and she never saw him again.

Ann Lee soon recruited a number of followers who had joined the New Light revival at New Lebanon, New York, in 1779, including Lucy Wright.

The Shakers were sometimes met by violent mobs, such as in Shirley, Massachusetts, and Ann Lee suffered violence at their hands more than once.

Ann Lee died at Watervliet and both William and Ann are buried in the Shaker cemetery located in the Watervliet Shaker Historic District.

The followers of Mother Ann Lee came to believe that she embodied all the perfections of God in female form and was revealed as the "second coming" of Christ.

The fact that Ann Lee was considered to be Christ's female counterpart was at the time unique, although several women since then have claimed to be Jesus, and have been accepted as such by their followers.