Isaac N. Youngs

Isaac Newton Youngs (July 4, 1793 – August 7, 1865) was a member of the Shakers. He was a prolific scribe, correspondent, and diarist who documented the history of the New Lebanon, New York Church Family of Shakers from 1815 to 1865.

Isaac Newton Youngs was born in Johnstown, New York on July 4, 1793, the youngest child of Martha (Farley) and Seth Youngs, Jr. He was christened in the Methodist church there.

Seth Youngs decided to join the Shakers when Isaac was about six months old, and took Isaac and his other young children into the Shaker society at Watervliet, New York, where Isaac's aunt and uncle, Molly (Van Epps) and Benjamin Youngs, lived. Isaac's mother chose not to join, so the infant Isaac was fostered by Benjamin and Molly Youngs at first.

Youngs lived with them for several years in an arrangement that was not unusual at the time. Many children, Shaker or not, were separated from their parents at young ages. Being “put out” or sent to live with another family was an old custom meant to keep children from being spoiled. Children were indentured to learn trades, as well, and that often meant living as an apprentice with the family of a master craftsman, rather than with kin.

Benjamin Youngs was a clockmaker, and his nephew Isaac was fascinated by machinery. He learned to tell time before he could talk, and enjoyed watching his uncle work on clocks.

At age thirteen, Youngs was sent from Watervliet to the New Lebanon, New York Shaker village, where he became an apprentice to tailors David Slosson and Rufus Bishop. He spent most of his life at New Lebanon. Due to his work ethic and intelligence he was allowed to branch out into additional trades, including clockmaking.

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