Ann Lee was born in Toad Lane (now Todd Street), the daughter of a blacksmith / handyman / ironworker. She had very little or no schooling, but worked in various occupations - as a cook in the infirmary, in a factory, making fur hats, in a cotton mill and as a velvet cutter.
In she 1762 married, Abraham Stanley, and in four years produced four babies, all of which died at birth. She decided this was a punishment from God, that conceiving babies was the wrong thing to have done and she turned against her husband.
She came under the influence of a tailor called Wardley from Bolton. An extreme Quaker, Wardley and his wife formed a splinter group. Ann joined this group which had two main beliefs, first the imminence of the second coming of Christ and they became so frightened when they thought about this during the services they stood up and trembled and became known as the 'Shaking Quakers'.
The second thing she believed in was celibacy. On this point she and her husband differed. She became known as Mother Ann and preached. She said that Christ had appeared to her whilst in prison for Sabbath-breaking. She went into the Collegiate Church and issued the same views there and was fined £20.
Ann Lee with her followers decided to emigrate to America and her husband went with them. They left in 1774 as things were getting too hot for them in Manchester. They had a very bad voyage and the ship nearly sank. They settled in 'Water Vleit', New York State.
Soon after they arrived, the Americans decided to object to paying taxes to an English king, bringing about the Boston Tea Party and the War of Independence.
The Shaking Quakers, being pacifists, refused to take up arms and were imprisoned. Ann Lee had visions whilst there, seeing a colony of chosen people in New England.
They gave themselves a new name calling the sect, the 'United Society of Believer of the second coming of Christ'. They believed in dual deity, 'Jesus' the male element, 'Mother Ann' the female element.
They also believed in celibacy, Messiahship, confession, sex-equality, living separately from the world in colonies of their own, sanctity of labour, common property.
They were perfectionists. In the 19th century the movement spread, firstly to Ohio, Montana and Indiana. They increased their numbers by taking in widows and children who were prepared to accept their beliefs. They made very good furniture in a plain simple style which has become highly collectable. Some of their original furniture can be seen at Claverton Manor, Bath.
The Shaking Quakers were also good farmers, taking well to using machinery and growing their own food. In 1966 they decided not to take in any new members.
The hymn, the "Lord of the Dance" was sung a lot by them. They liked the melody and the words suited their philosophy - they could dance with fervour and excitement at the coming of the ‘Lord’.