The Journal is a first edition and is officially titled "A Journal of the Life and Gospel
Labors of that devoted Servant and Minister of Christ, Joseph Hoag" printed and sold by
David Heston in Sherwoods, N.Y. 1860. It contains lots of references to others in the
family and to friends. Please let me know what you think.
The Journal of Joseph Hoag
------> ------
Chapter 1
Page 1
The first family of Hoags which settled in America are supposed to have emigrated
from Wales.——They settled, and resided for a time, about Hampton. N.H. An estate
falling them in England, they all returned to possess it, except the youngest son John, but
soon after landing, all died. John, being bound apprentice to a leather dealer and glove
maker, was compelled to stay behind, in consequence of the person with whom he was
bound, refusing to give up his Indenture.
This young man was now left without friends in a strange land, under the direction of a
master who subjected him to many hardships; he however remained faithful to his
employer until he had completed his apprenticeship.
John was a man of talent, being blessed with an even temper, a penetrating
understanding, and a sound judgment. After arriving at manhood, and commencing
business for himself, he married an only child - an heiress of considerable estate, who was
a woman of high spirits and irritable temper, though possessed of good natural parts.
Notwithstanding the irritability of his wife, he governed his family with evenness and
discretion, being a man of such candor and integrity as to establish him in the confidence
of
page 2
the people. He was appointed to the office of first side Judge, which office he filled
honorably in the Court Assize, until the time of the Salem witchcraft, when, dissenting with
unyielding firmness from that deadly delusion, under which many innocent people were
condemned to suffer capitally, he lost the confidence of the people and was displaced.
John and his wife were both zealous Presbyterians, and educated their children in the
observance of that order.
page 2 continued
After their children had grown up, their son Joseph, while a young man, attended a
Friend's meeting, which proved a silent one, but he was there convinced, soon joined the
society, and became an acceptable Minister.
This occasioned great uneasiness and alarm in the family, none of them being able to
confute him on points of religion, which circumstance caused his brother Jonathan to go to
the priest, desiring him to converse and pray with Joseph, that he might be reclaimed. The
priest declined to do this. stating that it would do no good to try to talk him out of it - the
best way would be to laugh and jeer at him; and if this did not succeed, to take him to
frolics and make him dance; and if no change was then observed, to make him merry with
strong drink, till those feelings wore off. This counsel so displeased Jonathan, that he
concluded to go to meeting with Joseph, and see what he found among the Quakers. At
this meeting Lydia Nafton so unveiled the Presbyterian creed as to convince him. The
distress of the family was now increased, and Benjamin, a younger brother, a man of quick
apprehension and readiness of speech, exerted his ability, with an
page 3
earnest desire got their preservation; but finding himself unequal to the task, he gave up
with sorrow; yet observing their steady conduct, he concluded that he would attend a
meeting himself, to see what wrought so great a change in them. A woman Friend there
was favored in testimony to overturn all Benjamin's bulwarks and convince him so fully
that he likewise became a Friend.
This brought their religious parents into mourning, apparently without consolation,
they believing that unavoidable destruction was the doom of all their sons; but after a time
of severe trial, they comforted themselves with the reflection that they had done their duty,
and that God would be glorified in those who were lost, as well as those who would be
saved. Parental care was exerted to keep their three daughters from conversing with their
brothers on religious subjects; but being all young together, it was at times beyond the
power of the parents to hinder this kind of conversation. At length a Friend from England
attended a meeting in the neighborhood, under whose ministry Mary, the favorite daughter,
was convinced, and in a few years became herself an able minister, being sometimes large
in her gift. A younger sister soon after by convincement became a member, and the other
gradually left the Presbyterians, and towards the latter part other days, altogether attended
the meetings of Friends, though she never became a member. The parents continued to
cleave to their form of worship for a number of years. One time the priest condoled with
them on account of their "hard fortune
page 4
after raising so likely a family, to lose all their children, both body and soul. "To which the
aged father replied: "I do not know about my children being lost; I brought them up as well
as I knew how; I thought they behaved well as long as they kept to their education. I have
observed them a number of years, since they turned Quakers;" giving the latter to
understand that he thought their conduct much improved by the change, at which he
exclaimed, "I see you are gone," and never visited him any more. After this the father
became a member, and died piously in the principles of Friends; saying a short time before
his death, that he had obtained an assurance of happiness. His wife was very much
distressed during his lifetime, after he had joined Friends, expressing her apprehension, that
if he died ill this delusion, he would go to destruction; at seasons weeping bitterly. But
after his decease, she became satisfied that he had gone to rest and peace; and she
subsequently attended Friends meetings herself the remainder of her days.
My grandfather Stephen was the son of Jonathan, and about 80 years of age , I
believe, when he died; my parents were second cousins, both of the name of Hoag, a
connection quite near enough to admit to marriage; for I never knew of an instance of first
cousins marrying, where they raised a bright family of children throughout, which satisfies
me that such a union is not right.
I was born on the 22nd of 4th month, 1762— Very early in life, I was favored with
divine visitations, and well remember when the few Friends at the Creek were allowed to
hold a meeting, the first that
page 5
I have any knowledge of attending. There was no meeting previous to this, within ten
miles. In these little meetings I often felt my mind tendered, and my understanding
enlivened; and frequently covenanted that I would live a good life; but being of a quick,
irritable temper, I often fell short, thus bringing sorrow and keen conviction on my mind.
Not frequently at these seasons I retired into the woods alone and wept bitterly: promising
myself that I would do better. Thus I passed along several years, sometimes doing pretty
well, and at other times bemoaning myself in solitary places. But to return to the early
time of this little meeting, where I was taken steadily, and to which I soon loved to go. It
then consisted of five men and four women, heads of families. When about ten years of
age, I had the following dream:—I fancied that I went with my little brother to our mid-
week meeting held on Fourth day, and saw my father and the few Friends thereto
belonging, come in and sit down as usual together. Shortly after, I beheld three or four
coming from the south-east, riding very fast; with grave and appearance like Friends; they
came into the house with a quick movement and firm look, seating themselves near my
father. Shortly after my father arose and delivered a short testimony, and in a little time
one of the company stood up and condemned his testimony as a false preacher, adding
mat there was a false ministry coming forth among them, and if they were not well
guarded it would do much harm, at the same time pointing to my father with harsh
censures. When he sat down, another of the company rose, corroborating what he had
said. The
Page 6
meeting then soon ended, and all went out together, my father and his company turned to
the right with a moderate steady pace, and the others turned to the left with a quick hasty
movement. I thought I went the next meeting day as usual, and saw my father and his
little company sit down together, and soon after I beheld the other company come, in their
former appearance, saying they would not sit with Elijah, that he should sit on the bench,
and they would sit in the gallery. They fixed a seat over his head, and placed themselves
thereon. Not long after the meeting became quiet, my father delivered a short testimony,
and was followed by one of this company, who spoke hastily and quickly; after he sat
down, a second arose and spoke in like manner, and looked down apon my father, calling
him a deceiver, a false teacher, a cunning deviser of fables, working in the craft of the
, serpent, warning those who sat with him to make their escape before it was too late. On
taking his seat a third stood up, and united with him. I observed that my father sat very
still, looking solid, and did not reply. When the meeting closed they parted as before. On
the third meeting day, I thought I saw my father and the little band take their seats as
usual, and the others came in with their former appearance and quickness of movement,
more in number, and at a later period, and go to their gallery, as they called it. m my
view, my father's appearance in the meeting was followed in like manner as before, by
one of the company; then a second and a third spoke, and before they finished, I
discovered that they had gained the attention of two of my father's little company, a
brother and brother-in-law,—
page 7 (to be continued)
Page 7
They repeated their former censures and warnings, saying the Lord sent them to warn this
people. They broke their meeting first, and went out, turning to the left hand. My father
and his company closed their meeting, and on going out, proceeded to the right, and those
two uncles turned from him and followed the. first company. My father looked solid and
sorrowful and made no reply, neither did he show any resentment throughout all these
proceedings. As I came out of the meeting house. I saw a beautiful oval cloud, and a very
comely man standing upon it, who spoke to me querying, "Dost thou know what these
things mean?" I answered "no." He replied, "I am sent to tell thee." I mused in my mind
who this man could be, when he replied, "" I am an angel of the Lord;" then pointing to
the company which my uncles followed, he said. "That company are schemers; they have
a wanton spirit and shall come to nothing, but that dark man in the honesty of his heart,
shall be saved.—"Thou shall see thy uncles come to nothing;" then looking towards my
father, he said, Thy father is a true Minister; he will have an abundance of trouble from
these schemers, but if he keeps his place, they will not overthrow him, for the Lord will
keep him. from falling." I dreamed this previous to my father's appearance in the Ministry,
and before I saw any of the men who therein presented themselves to my view, except my
two uncles. Soon after, however, my father began to speak in meetings by way of
testimony, and these men, corresponding in appearance to those which I had seen in my
dream, came to our meeting. I heard the communication, and saw the con-
page 8
conduct, just as it then appeared to me. After meeting I learned their names, and who the
man was with the swarthy countenance, of small natural abilities, being influenced by
others. In a few months they came again to our little meeting in a company as before,
when I saw acted out, all that had previously appeared in my nocturnal vision, except
fixing a gallery .—In about a year after I went to Nine Partners to attend the Monthly
Meeting, the first which I remember attending, where I first saw a. gallery. Here, by the
party first described, my father was ordered from the front seat and ordered to sit lower in
the meeting, thought he had been invited by his friends at home to occupy a facing seat. I
again heard their censorious communications at large, and observed the still, solid quiet of
my father, who bore all without replying a word. In the space of two years, all was
fulfilled by these three men, which had before been shown me. My uncles had appeared
to be thoughtful and religiously inclined, but after this meeting, they turned against my
father, censuring him to his face, and continued in this bitter censorious state through life.
These were all young recommended Ministers when they began to oppose my father,
and one of them a smooth, oily tongued man, used all his influence to bear him clown; and
so far succeeded during fifteen years, as to get the greater part of the Elders, and some of
the Ministers, in the same spirit of opposition with themselves, who belonged to our
Quarterly Meeting; yet some aged Ministers and a few Elders were favorable to my father,