Revised 04/15/2003
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The History of the Shinn Family in Europe and America by Josiah H. Shinn, A. M. JONATHAN SHINN (4) --CLEMENT (3), JAMES (2) JOHN (1) (More information on this family can be found at A Migration to Virginia) Jonathan Shinn was born in New Jersey, and married Mary Clark, in that State. On 5/7/1787 he produced a certificate at Hopewell, Va., from Burlington Monthly Meeting, dated 8/7/1786. His wife appears to have been dead at that time. On 12/1/1788 he was disowned at Hopewell for marrying out of meeting. He never made acknowledgments, but his wife, Mary, on 6/2/1792, sent a very touching paper to Hopewell Meeting, which is here produced, that the reader may form an estimate of the woman who reared, as stepmother, Asa Shinn, one of the greatest preachers that Methodism has produced, and a thinker worthy of any age or clime. The following is Mary (Edwards) Shinn's acknowledgment: "Whereas I have had my birthright and education among Friends, but for want of due regard to the manifestation of truth in my heart hath so given way to the temptation of the enemy, as to bring sorrow to myself and disgrace on the society, and for which I was justly disowned; and from my--sense of sorrow do desire that Friends may pass by my misconduct and--receive me under their Christian care as my future conduct may deserve. (Signed.) MARY SHINN." The stepmother has been derided in all climes and in every age, but the woman who could pen such an acknowledgment merits universal praise. Jonathan Shinn made a wise selection, and his children, whether by the first or by the second marriage, had a wise and safe counselor in Mary Shinn. The stepmother had two of her husband's first children to foster and educate. These two boys, Levi and Asa, inherited religious inclinations, and Mary Shinn was a proper person to foster the inheritance. Much sport has also been made of the backwoods, but in this little Harrison County cabin there was the refinement that comes from subdued desires, and its occupants were models in purity of life and elevated thought. From this rude hut went the man--Asa Shinn--who was to charm vast audiences in Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Philadelphia and Baltimore with his charming manners and polished oratory, and who was to chain the thought of churchmen everywhere with his profound sermons and published reasoning. Jonathan had moved to Harrison County prior to his disownment and purchased a farm where Shinnston now stands. Although disowned by Friends, he was a God-fearing man, and his wife was an earnest Friend. His house was open to traveling preachers at all times, and the Bible was an open book in his house. Two of his sons, Levi and Asa, became Methodists at a very early age, and both became preachers. Levi lacked the ability of Asa, but was a great pioneer preacher in Virginia and Ohio. Asa became a famous man and belonged to the world. Children of Jonathan and Mary (Clark) Shinn. Children of Jonathan and Mary (Edwards) Shinn. The Backwoods Why has the United States taken a leading position in inventive genius? May not this bent of mind owe its existence to our backwoods life? Doddridge has truly said: "Every family was under the necessity of doing everything for itself." Did they need mills? They invented the hominy block and hand mill. When the toil of pounding the grain became excessive they invented the sweep. And in Greenbrier County these sweeps were soon turned into pounding saltpeter into gunpowder. And what better utensil was ever made for soft corn than the backwoods grater? Then came their tub mills, with sifters of deer skin stretched over a hoop and perforated with a hot wire. They made their own looms, and were always improving them. They were tanners, and the substitutes they were compelled to use for the regular tanning formula quickened their inventive power. They were tailors and shoemakers, and the shifts they were put to when a lack of materials or tools presented itself kept their minds |
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Revised 04/15/2003 |