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November 4, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Finding a Bride

The Prudential Committee of the ABCFM announced that all overseas missionaries were required to have a wife before departure; their reason, the temptations for inappropriate relations were too great on the Polynesian islands.

Stories circulated about failed London Missionary Society stations where single male missionaries “went native” among South Sea islanders. (Brown)

Of the seven men in the Pioneer Company of missionaries to Hawai‘i, only Daniel Chamberlain was married; the other the six men had a little over a month to find brides before the October departure date.

Fortunately for the awkward seminarian men unaccustomed to courting women, the American Board kept an informal list of potential female candidates – all of them in their twenties – who expressed interest in missionary work in the past. (Brown)

At first, Hiram Bingham thought he had the hand of Sarah Shepard … but her father, the Rev Samuel Shepard, refused to allow his daughter to go to the Islands.

To which Sarah asked, “Is not this a plain intimation that providence desires to employ another and not me in the good work of Owhyhee?” (Shepard; Wagner)

Now, finding a wife was an unexpected obstacle.

A fellow missionary, Levi Parsons, had been engaged to a teacher – Miss Sybil Moseley … they were headed for a mission in Palestine.

However, at the last minute the ABCFM decided it was not safe for women there; so, Levi had to leave alone. Levi heard of Hiram’s dilemma and mentioned her to him.

On September 29, 1819, Hiram and Asa Thurston were ordained as missionary ministers. However, the occasion was more than just church protocol – as noted by Reverend Thompson, “there was a touch of romance. … … when Hiram met Sybil lingered most vividly in the recollections of the people in which they rightly regarded as a marked interposition of God’s good providence.”

He met Sybil there; “I gave her some account of myself, put into her hands a copy of my statement to the Prudential Committee in offering myself to the work, asked her to unite with me in it, and left her to consider till the next day whether she could give me encouragement, or not.”

Hiram then states, “the result you know”. Hiram and Sybil were married October 11.

“Asa Thurston’s early marital career, like his collegiate career, paralleled that of Hiram Bingham.” (Andrew) He thought he was to marry Miss Clapp … however, he notes in a September 7, 1819 letter to Rev Worcester of the ABCFM:

“In compliance with your request I send you a short statement of the business which called me to this place. I handed the letter which I brought with me to Mrs Clapp early on Wednesday morning & left her to reflect on the subject till afternoon when I had some further conversation with her on the question which was before her.”

“It appears, sir, that the good woman is decidedly opposed to have her daughter engage in the mission to Owhyhee. She seems to think it improper for females to go to the heathen as missionaries at all. No reasons however were offered except such as were stated in that letter which you read.”

“Mr Clapp was not at home though I inquired respecting his opinion on the subject, & Mrs Clapp observed that his opinion was if possible more decided that hers that females should not engage in missions to the heathen.”

“I did not this it proper to urge the matter. I found that the letter from yourself & Dr Woods had no influence to change her opinion on the subject. She seemed to think that if Dr Wocester or Dr Woods was placed in her situation, that they would decide as she had done. – I think, sir, I can cheerfully say respecting this whole affair, ‘The will of the Lord be done.’”

“PS I shall make proposals to no other on without some degree of certainty as to success.” (Asa Thurston to Rev Samuel Worcester, September 7, 1819)

Asa Thurston eventually married Lucy Goodale Thurston from Marlborough, Massachusetts, and graduate of Bradford Academy. Years later, Lucy remembered their first family-arranged meeting as a shy-yet-playful occasion, “Then one by one the family dispersed, leaving two of similar aspirations, introduced at sunset as strangers, to separate at midnight as interested friends.”

The Thurstons proved to be a devout couple that famously grew old and died together on the desolate missionary station of Kailua and were fondly remembered as the “grandparents” of the Hawai‘i mission by Americans and Hawaiians alike.

The marriages of the assistant missionaries were equally hasty, yet oddly fitting and felicitous. Samuel Ruggles found a bride in Nancy Wells Ruggles from East Windsor, Connecticut, while Dr. Holman, the physician, conveniently married Samuel’s attractive older sister, Lucia Ruggles Holman.

Samuel, who suffered a long bout of seasickness on the Thaddeus, thanked God for the pairing: “Dear girl she has been severely tried with her sick husband…I cannot forbear to mention how greatly the Lord has favored me in a companion. She is all and more than I could reasonably ask.”

Samuel Whitney joined in matrimony with Mercy Partridge Whitney from Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Halfway through the journey on the Thaddeus, Mercy pledged in her journal:

“He is worthy of my sincere and lasting attachment. It shall ever be my constant study to make his life pleasant and useful. And should I be a means of lightening his cares or contributing in any measure to his happiness, I shall be doubly compensated.”

The youngest Elisha Loomis found a bride in Maria Theresa Sartwell Loomis from Hartford, New York, who was three years older than the teenager. (Brown)

On October 23, 1819, the Pioneer Company of American Protestant missionaries from the northeast US set sail on the Thaddeus for Hawai‘i. With the missionaries were four Hawaiian students from the Foreign Mission School, Thomas Hopu, William Kanui, John Honoliʻi and Prince Humehume (son of Kauai’s King Kaumuali‘i.)

Over the course of a little over 40-years (1820-1863) (the “Missionary Period”,) about 184-men and women in twelve Companies served in Hawaiʻi to carry out the mission of the ABCFM in the Hawaiian Islands.

This is just a summary; click HERE for more information.

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Hiram_and_Sybil_Moseley_Bingham,_1819-head of Pioneer Company
Hiram_and_Sybil_Moseley_Bingham,_1819-head of Pioneer Company

Filed Under: Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings Tagged With: Samuel Whitney, Hawaii, Nancy Ruggles, Sybil Bingham, Mercy Whitney, Missionaries, Maria Loomis, Samuel Ruggles, Asa Thurston, Elisha Loomis, Lucy Thurston, Harry Bingham, Lucia Ruggles Holman, Thomas Holman

July 22, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Ruggles’ Quilt

“The making of tapa was a time-consuming and labor intensive process. The outer bark was stripped away and the inner bark was soaked in water to make it soft.”

“Artistically carved round wooden mallets were used to pound the strips of the inner bark into meshed fiber to form sheets of various sizes, thicknesses, and textures. Then, the tapa was colored by native dyes and decorated with block prints.”

“New England missionaries arrived in 1820 and taught high-ranking Hawaiian women to make American-style patchwork quilts. On April 3, 1820, seven young New England missionary women held the first ‘Sewing Circle’ aboard the brig Thaddeus.” (Cao and Park)

“The high-ranking Hawaiian women were Kalakua, mother of King Liholiho, her sister Namahana, and two wives of Chief Kalanimoku. The missionary wives were Lucy Thurston, Lucia Holman, Sybil Bingham, Nancy Ruggles, Mercy Whitney, Jerusha Chamberlin, and Elisha Loomis.”

“The missionaries supplied the scissors and furnished the native women with calico patchwork to sew. Sewing calico piecework was new to the ranked Hawaiian women, but the geometric and symmetrical patterns associated with quilting were not.”

“The Hawaiian women were taught both types of quilt making. The pieced variety technique was used to make geometric repeated blocks, and the appliqué style used the ‘snowflakes’ method.” (Cao and Park)

Lucy Thurston, the wife of one of the first missionaries, recorded in her journal (1882): “Monday morning, April 3rd [1820], the first sewing circle was formed that the sun ever looked down upon in his Hawaiian realm.”

“Kalakua, queen-dowager was directress. She requested all the seven white ladies to take seats with them on mats, on the deck of the Thaddeus. Mrs. Holman and Mrs. Ruggles were executive officers to ply the scissors and prepare the work. … The four native women of distinction were furnished with calico patchwork to sew-a new employment to them.” (Thurston)

“For the first few years the missionary wives spent a great deal of time sewing for the upper class Hawaiians.”

“These ladies preferred to spend their time instructing the Hawaiians in spiritual matters and when regular supplies of fabric and patterns arrived from the mainland, the missionary wives began teaching Hawaiians to sew”.

“According to Wild, the missionaries’ instructional program included other domestic arts in addition to sewing lessons, and both sexes were welcomed into the domestic arts classes.”

“Leftover scraps of fabrics from the lessons were used to teach patchwork quilting. As they began learning to quilt, Hawaiian women incorporated traditional and familiar kapa designs into their quilts.”

“As part of the assimilation and acculturation processes, western fabric, fashions and quiltmaking were integrated into Hawaiian material culture. As this happened, the making of kapa began to decline, and by the end of the nineteenth century, kapa production waned.”

“To the Hawaiian seamstresses, it probably seemed illogical to cut new materials into small pieces only to be sewn together to make a patchwork quilt.”

“It was quite natural, therefore, that the Hawaiian women would move toward individual designs as they were accustomed to producing original designs with their own kapa beater and wood-blocks from which they made kapa designs of their own.”

“It is not known exactly when, or even how the appliquéd Hawaiian quilt evolved. What is most striking about the Hawaiian quilt is the appliqué technique in which a large sheet of fabric is folded, cut into a design, then stitched onto a contrasting background, followed by contour quilting around the motif.”

“Both in technique and style, Hawaiian appliqué reminds us of paper snowflakes made by schoolchildren, a contemporary remnant of cut paper work that was popular in the northeastern United States during the early decades of the nineteenth century.” (Arthur)

In addition, 9-year-old Huldah, daughter of missionary Samuel Ruggles made her own patchwork quilt, it is featured in the image. It was recently on display at Hawaiian Mission Houses. It is made from scraps; images of other clothing are also included in the album (from which Huldah Ruggles used scraps to finish her quilt).

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Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH
Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH
Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH
Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH
Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH
Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH
Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH and Garment-Huldah Ruggles used scarps of material for quilt
Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH and Garment-Huldah Ruggles used scarps of material for quilt
Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH
Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH
Garment-Huldah Ruggles used scarps of material for quilt
Garment-Huldah Ruggles used scarps of material for quilt
Garment-Huldah Ruggles used scarps of material for quilt
Garment-Huldah Ruggles used scarps of material for quilt
IMG_7970

Filed Under: Economy, General, Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance, Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings, Hawaiian Traditions Tagged With: Nancy Ruggles, Huldah Ruggles, Quilt, Hawaii, Samuel Ruggles

June 15, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Samuel and Nancy Ruggles Getting Acquainted with Kauai

Samuel and Nancy Ruggles were part of the Pioneer Company of missionaries to Hawai‘i, he was a teacher. On May 3, 1820, Ruggles and Samuel Whitney brought Humehume home to Kauai.

Later, they moved to Kauai and set up a mission station there. The following is from the journal of Samuel and Nancy Ruggles.

June 15th. – I must commence writing in my Jour, with an apology for past neglect though I am persuaded that my dear mother would think I had an ample excuse if but one half were told here.

In addition to our own personal concerns after so long a voyage, we have been employed a considerable part of the time in making garments for the chiefs and nobility and in teaching them to read. Besides we have a little flock of children which we instruct daily.

We met with a very favorable reception at this Island found the chiefs and people friendly and desirous to receive instruction. We found several American people residents here, who have been of very material service to us. Every day we receive some testimonies of their kindness.

A black man who has been on the Island several years, and collected some property has been our constant friend. I believe scarcely a day has passed over our heads but what he has sent us something, either milk or provisions of some kind. — N. W. R

Sat. 17th. – The week past I have spent principally in visiting the different parts of Wimai; believe there is scarcely a house that I have not entered and my friendly Aloha.

The more I visit and become acquainted with this people, the more I feel interested in them, and the more I desire to spend my strength and life in endeavoring to secure to them the eternal welfare of their souls.

I sometimes feel almost impatient to know the language that I may explain to them the way of life and salvation. What’ little I can say they will listen to with the greatest attention, but their answer will be, “I want to know more, by and by I shall understand”.

One said yesterday, “the God of America is good but the Gods of Attooi are good for nothing; we throw them all away; by and by the American God will be the God of Attooi”.

The King appears more & more desirous for instruction; complains that he cannot spend time enough with his book, but says it is & time of unusual hurry at present, and he is soon to give his- mind more thoroughly to it.

He with his Queen and several servants are able to read in words of four letters. Neither of them knew the alphabet when we arrived.

Says the King at one time when I visited him, “Hoomehoome says you no tell lie like some white men, now you must not tell lie when you go Woahoo, but you must come back and live with me”.

The week past has been a busy time with the natives. The King’s rent has been brought in from all parts of the Island and from Onehow (Niihau) a small Island about 15 miles to the westward.

It consisted of hogs, dogs, mats, tappers, feathers, pearl fishhooks, calabashes and paddles. This rent is to go to Owhyhee (Hawaii) as a present to the young King.

It was interesting to see the natives come, sometimes more than a hundred at a time, with their loads on their backs and lay down their offerings at the feet of their great and good Chief as they call him.

When will the time, arrive that they shall come and bow down to Jehovah, and give themselves living sacrifices to Him who has purchased them -with His blood. I trust the day is at hand. — S. R.

20th. – Mr. Ruggles was called in the Providence of God about two weeks after we landed to accompany George P. Tamoree to his native Isle. When he will have an opportunity to return is very uncertain. His absence so soon after landing has rendered my situation trying, but by the friendly assistance of the brethren, I have been able to accomplish all my washing and other work.

I have also done sister Holman’s, and sent her clothes to Owhyhee (Hawaii). I hope that which to me is now a trial, will be the means of great good to that poor people -who are destitute of the knowledge of God, and of his son Jesus Christ.

22nd. – We still experience the continual kindness of both white and tawny friends. The King has ordered the chiefs of this island to build three houses for our use, and enclose them in a yard of about 5 acres.

He has also given us a tarro patch, and says when we have eat out all the tarro he will give us another. Hanoore lives in our family, is a dear brother to us; he has had a piece of good land given him, with three houses upon it! We cannot help enjoying ourselves when the Lord is doing so much for us. —- Nancy.

June 27th. – This morning I arrived from Attooi (Kauai) having been absent eight weeks found my dear companion and friends in health and prosperity, busily engaged in the work of the Lord …

… found the Levant from Boston which will sail for A. in a few days, and offers to carry our letters and Journals. I must therefore improve my time in writing. I shall here transcribe some part of my Journal kept during my absence from Woahoo (Oahu). — S. R. (All is from the Ruggles journal.)

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Samuel and Nancy Ruggles
Samuel and Nancy Ruggles

Filed Under: Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings, Place Names Tagged With: Hawaii, Missionaries, Kauai, Samuel Ruggles, American Protestant Missionaries, Nancy Ruggles

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