Elder Israel Damon and our family connection to the 7th Day Adventist Church

 

Many on my grandmother Buzzell’s side are probably not aware of our family’s connection to the early founders of the 7^th Day Adventist Church.  I also never knew of any connection outside of growing up in Gorham and hearing that Ellen HarmonWhite had been born there.  It was talking to my cousin, Nancy Battick, about our Damon ancestry that she mentioned that a writer had contacted her family about our ancestor, Rebecca (Damon) Woodward’s brother, Israel Damon while researching their church’s history.  They were surprised that no one knew of his early connection and a little disappointed our family had not placed the importance on him with the 7^th Day Church founding as they felt he deserved.

(Israel Damon on the right)

Israel Damon was born in 1811 in Sebec, Maine, the son of Seth and Margaret (Douglass) Damon.  He was the younger brother to our ancestor Rebecca Damon (1805-1868).  He was raised in Sebec, Maine where his parents lived between 1806-1840.  Little is known of his early life until he married Lydia Rich on June 4,1838 in Exeter, Maine, the daughter of John Rich and Betsey Dearborn.

(Sidenote: My Skinner cousins also have a connection to Israel Damon through his wife, Lydia Rich who had a sister, Eliza Ann Rich.  Eliza married Albana Pease and had a son, John Lawson Pease who was the adopted father of our ancestor, Edna (Southard) Skinner.  This makes Israel and Lydia Damon the great uncle and aunt of Edna.)

Israel and his wife, Lydia had three children: Mary, Elizabeth and Allen Damon in Exeter between 1840-1845.  It was in 1845, that Israel a former Millerite Adventist became associated with Ellen Harmon, a 17-year-old girl from Portland who had religious visions; her future husband, James Springer White; and chaperone, Dorinda Baker of Orrington, Maine.

(Rev. William Miller on the left)

Millerites or Millerism was the term for the belief that Jesus was to return to Earth on October 22, 1844, as predicted by Rev. William Miller who claimed to have worked out the date of the 2^nd advent or return of Jesus by using dates he felt were reflected in the bible and ancient calendars.  Miller had predicted it before but claimed to have erred with his calculations.  As the day came and went without Jesus’ return, it became known as the “Great Disappointment” to his followers which Israel had been.

Ellen White’s family had also been Millerite and her travels took her to central Maine where the trio traveled around to towns, like Garland and Exeter and meeting Israel who came to believe in the truth of Ellen’s visions.  On February 17^th and 18^th, Israel oversaw a worship meeting at James Ayer’s house in Atkinson, Maine with about 50-60 Millerite Adventists.  Ellen Harmon was joined by Dorinda Baker, James White, Simeon Hall and Elder Wood.

Someone complained to the authorities about the meeting and the Sheriff Deputy, Joseph Moulton and 3 others arrived at the Ayer house, but were not allowed to enter.  Moulton and his men broke down the door and entered the house to arrest Israel.  But several women according to court records jumped on him and his men and stopped him from arresting Damon.  Moulton then sent for more help and eventually Israel Damon was arrested and taken to jail in Dover, Maine.  Where according to testimony, he stayed up all night singing and preaching and saying prayers.  Israel was charged as a “vagabond and idle person” going to the town of Atkinson, place to place begging and “being a common railer or brawler.”

In March, a courthouse trial began which was covered in detail by the Piscataquis Farmer, in the March 7, 1845, issue.  It seems to be the only record found covering Israel “Dammon’s” trial.  There were 38 witnesses called on both sides which gave details of the meeting.  It was said to be loud and boisterous.  There were trances and visions, shouting, crawling and rolling on the floor, washing and kissing of feet as well as spiritual or holy kissing.  Some of those in attendance were told they were going to hell unless baptized which was done in a nearby frigid stream.  Dorinda Baker was said to have gone into another room alone with men, but nothing was said to gave occurred between them.  One witness who arrived said that so much commotion was occurring it was worse than a drunken Brawl. 

                                Drawing of the Atkinson Meeting with Israel Damon

In the end, Israel Damon was found guilty and sentenced to 10 days in prison.  His attorney appealed the decision, and the case was later dropped and Israel never served anytime for his participation in the event.  A year later, Ellen Harmon married James White, and she went on to have more than 2000 visions and founded with her husband the 7^th Day Adventist Church.

James and Ellen (Harmon) White in 1864

Israel remained a minister and Elder Advent preacher.  In 1850, he and his wife, and children were living Corinna, Maine where he was a laborer (1850 census, p. 65a).  By 1860, he had moved to Sangerville, Maine where his occupation was listed as carriage builder (1860 census, p. 175).  In 1870 he had returned to Corinna, Maine where he was listed as a clergyman (census, p. 284).  He was living in Corinna as late as 1878 when the Portland, Maine paper covered an advent meeting in Alton, New Hampshire and named Elder Israel Damon as one of the preachers and who did a baptism at the meeting (Portland Daily Press, issue of August 27. 1878). 

By 1880, Israel and his wife had settled in Newburg, Maine where he was called an “advent minister.” (1880 census, p. 337C).  Israel died on 27 October 1886, probably in Newburg, Maine.  He was buried at Morse’s Corner Cemetery in Corinna, Maine. His widow, Lydia then moved to live with their son, Allen Damon in New Bedford, Massachusetts.  Allen had followed in his father’s footsteps and was an Advent Christian minister.  Lydia died on July 5, 1893 in New Bedford, Massachusetts where the death records state she was buried in Corinna, Maine, likely next to her late husband.  Only the gravestone for Elder Israel Damon is found today if the family even purchased her a monument.

Although, the beginning of the 7^th Day Church did not begin in February 1845, our relative, Israel was affiliated with the founders of the Church early on.  Online, sources such as Wikipedia cover the event and debates on the role it played early in the Church’s history as well as possibly the fairness of the press coverage in the local newspaper. 

Israel was a deeply regilous man throughout his life and his trial is still mentioned in the Adventist Church history.