Simple Gifts

"Simple Gifts" is a traditional Shaker song.

The Composer

The song was composed by Joseph Brackett, who was born in Cumberland, Maine, on May 6, 1797. He first joined the Shakers at Gorham, Maine when his father's farm helped to form the nucleus of a new Shaker settlement. In 1819, Joseph moved with the other Shakers to Poland Hill, Maine.

Related Topics:
Joseph Brackett - Cumberland, Maine - May 6 - 1797 - Shaker

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He later served as first minister of Maine Shaker societies, as well as Church Elder at New Gloucester, now known as Sabbathday Lake, the last remaining Shaker community.

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Joseph died on July 4, 1882.

Related Topics:
July 4 - 1882

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Another prominent Maine Shaker leader, Elder Otis Sawyer, wrote this about Elder Joseph Brackett:

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"He possessed a remarkable and natural gift to sing by which he would often fill a whole assembly with the quickening power of God with his inspiration of song."

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