New Israelites
Encyclopedia
The New Israelites were a radical sect founded by Nathaniel Wood
in Vermont
in the 1790s. Wood declared his followers "modern Israelites," and the group practiced a strict dietary code as they understood to be instructed in the Law of Moses
. Like most radical sects, the group displayed spiritual gifts and made prophecies. At one point the group begin building a temple, although the project was eventually abandoned.
formed the New Israelites in Middletown
, Rutland County, Vermont
at the end of the 1790s. Originally a Congregationalist, Wood was excommunicated in 1789, after which he began to preach to small meetings whose attendees were mostly family and relatives. The sect may have been influenced by the Newent Separates of Norwich, who believed in perfectionist immortalism and spiritual wifery
, and the preaching of Rev. Joel Benedict, who taught that Hebrew was the angelic tongue
.
The sect claimed literal descent from the Ten Lost Tribes
of Israel
, and they practiced divination
and polygamy
. After the sect was joined by a counterfeiter and treasure seer named "Winchell" (probably Justus Winchell) in the spring or early summer of 1800, the New Israelites began dowsing
to look for buried treasure in Middletown
and Rutland, Vermont. They also embarked on the construction of a temple. The group employed the divining rod for both treasure hunting
and other forms of revelation. It was suspected that these efforts masked a counterfeiting operation. Wood predicted the arrival of a "Destroying Angel" on 14 January 1802 that would bring down plagues and earthquakes upon the "gentiles."
On 14 January 1802, the day that Wood said would be the commencement of the Apocalypse
, as the sect gathered together to await the arrival of the "destroying angel", the locals were so alarmed that on the night in question the militia
was called out. The militia then fired their weapons to disperse this "Fraternity of Rodsmen". This event was subsequently known as the "Wood Scrape." After the Wood Scrape, Wood and his family moved to Ellisburg, New York
, and the sect became extinct.
, the father of the Mormon prophet, and William Cowdery, father of Book of Mormon
witness Oliver Cowdery
. The best case exists for connecting Cowdery family, as they are known to have lived near the Woods in the early 19th century, and later attended a Congregationalist church in Poultney, Vermont
after the Wood Scrape. Oliver Cowdery, who was not born at the time of the Wood Scrape, was later known as a dowser, and was the second highest ranking early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement
, next to Joseph Smith, Jr. Witnesses from Vermont connected William Cowdery to the sect, before these witnesses could have known from media reports that his son Oliver was a dowser.
Vermont residents who were interviewed by a local historian said that Joseph Smith, Sr.
was also part of the New Israelites, and was one of its "leading rods-men". However, there is no historical consensus linking Smith to the New Israelites because of the difficulty in placing Joseph Smith, Sr. in Rutland County, Vermont during that time period. Although residents said that he lived in Poultney, Vermont
"at the time of the Wood movement here", there are no other records placing Smith closer than about 50 miles away. On the other hand, Smith's involvement with the New Israelites would be consistent with his links to Congregationalism
and his admission in 1837 that he entered the money digging business "more than thirty years" ago.
Nathaniel Wood
Nathaniel Wood, Sr., was the leader of a sect called the New Israelites, which was formed in Middletown, Rutland County, Vermont at the end of the 1790s. Wood emigrated from Newent Parish in Norwich, Connecticut to Bennington, Vermont. From Bennington he moved to Rutland County in 1761...
in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
in the 1790s. Wood declared his followers "modern Israelites," and the group practiced a strict dietary code as they understood to be instructed in the Law of Moses
Law of Moses
The Law of Moses is a term first found in Joshua 8:31-32 where Joshua writes the words of "the Law of Moses" on the altar at Mount Ebal. The text continues "And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law."...
. Like most radical sects, the group displayed spiritual gifts and made prophecies. At one point the group begin building a temple, although the project was eventually abandoned.
History
Nathaniel WoodNathaniel Wood
Nathaniel Wood, Sr., was the leader of a sect called the New Israelites, which was formed in Middletown, Rutland County, Vermont at the end of the 1790s. Wood emigrated from Newent Parish in Norwich, Connecticut to Bennington, Vermont. From Bennington he moved to Rutland County in 1761...
formed the New Israelites in Middletown
Middletown Springs, Vermont
Middletown Springs is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 745 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.9 square miles , all land....
, Rutland County, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
at the end of the 1790s. Originally a Congregationalist, Wood was excommunicated in 1789, after which he began to preach to small meetings whose attendees were mostly family and relatives. The sect may have been influenced by the Newent Separates of Norwich, who believed in perfectionist immortalism and spiritual wifery
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
, and the preaching of Rev. Joel Benedict, who taught that Hebrew was the angelic tongue
Divine language
Divine language, the language of the gods, or, in monotheism, the language of God is the concept of a mystical or divine proto-language, which predates and supersedes human speech.-Abrahamic traditions:...
.
The sect claimed literal descent from the Ten Lost Tribes
Ten Lost Tribes
The Ten Lost Tribes of Israel refers to those tribes of ancient Israel that formed the Kingdom of Israel and which disappeared from Biblical and all other historical accounts after the kingdom was destroyed in about 720 BC by ancient Assyria...
of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and they practiced divination
Divination
Divination is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic standardized process or ritual...
and polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
. After the sect was joined by a counterfeiter and treasure seer named "Winchell" (probably Justus Winchell) in the spring or early summer of 1800, the New Israelites began dowsing
Dowsing
Dowsing is a type of divination employed in attempts to locate ground water, buried metals or ores, gemstones, oil, gravesites, and many other objects and materials, as well as so-called currents of earth radiation , without the use of scientific apparatus...
to look for buried treasure in Middletown
Middletown Springs, Vermont
Middletown Springs is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 745 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.9 square miles , all land....
and Rutland, Vermont. They also embarked on the construction of a temple. The group employed the divining rod for both treasure hunting
Treasure hunting
Treasure hunting is the physical search for treasure which has been a notable human activity for millennia. -In modern times:In recent times, the early stages of the development of archaeology included a significant aspect of treasure hunt; Heinrich Schliemann's excavations at Troy, and later at...
and other forms of revelation. It was suspected that these efforts masked a counterfeiting operation. Wood predicted the arrival of a "Destroying Angel" on 14 January 1802 that would bring down plagues and earthquakes upon the "gentiles."
On 14 January 1802, the day that Wood said would be the commencement of the Apocalypse
Apocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
, as the sect gathered together to await the arrival of the "destroying angel", the locals were so alarmed that on the night in question the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
was called out. The militia then fired their weapons to disperse this "Fraternity of Rodsmen". This event was subsequently known as the "Wood Scrape." After the Wood Scrape, Wood and his family moved to Ellisburg, New York
Ellisburg (town), New York
Ellisburg is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 3,474 at the 2010 census. The town is in the southwestern corner of the county and is south of Watertown. Ellisburg is named after early landowners...
, and the sect became extinct.
Possible connection to Mormonism
Members of the New Israelites may have included Joseph Smith, Sr.Joseph Smith, Sr.
Joseph Smith, Sr. was the father of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Joseph Sr. was also one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, which Mormons believe was translated by Joseph Jr. from the Golden Plates. In 1833 Joseph Sr...
, the father of the Mormon prophet, and William Cowdery, father of Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
witness Oliver Cowdery
Oliver Cowdery
Oliver H. P. Cowdery was, with Joseph Smith, Jr., an important participant in the formative period of the Latter Day Saint movement between 1829 and 1836, becoming one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon's golden plates, one of the first Latter Day Saint apostles, and the Second Elder of...
. The best case exists for connecting Cowdery family, as they are known to have lived near the Woods in the early 19th century, and later attended a Congregationalist church in Poultney, Vermont
Poultney, Vermont
Poultney is a village in Rutland County of the U.S. state of Vermont. The village is entirely within the town of Poultney. The population was 1,612 at the 2010 census...
after the Wood Scrape. Oliver Cowdery, who was not born at the time of the Wood Scrape, was later known as a dowser, and was the second highest ranking early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
, next to Joseph Smith, Jr. Witnesses from Vermont connected William Cowdery to the sect, before these witnesses could have known from media reports that his son Oliver was a dowser.
Vermont residents who were interviewed by a local historian said that Joseph Smith, Sr.
Joseph Smith, Sr.
Joseph Smith, Sr. was the father of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Joseph Sr. was also one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, which Mormons believe was translated by Joseph Jr. from the Golden Plates. In 1833 Joseph Sr...
was also part of the New Israelites, and was one of its "leading rods-men". However, there is no historical consensus linking Smith to the New Israelites because of the difficulty in placing Joseph Smith, Sr. in Rutland County, Vermont during that time period. Although residents said that he lived in Poultney, Vermont
Poultney, Vermont
Poultney is a village in Rutland County of the U.S. state of Vermont. The village is entirely within the town of Poultney. The population was 1,612 at the 2010 census...
"at the time of the Wood movement here", there are no other records placing Smith closer than about 50 miles away. On the other hand, Smith's involvement with the New Israelites would be consistent with his links to Congregationalism
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
and his admission in 1837 that he entered the money digging business "more than thirty years" ago.