Stuff You Missed in History Class SYMHC Classics: Public Universal Friend
Nov 29, 2025
Explore the fascinating life of the Public Universal Friend, a genderless spirit who took over the body of Jemima Wilkinson. Discover her unique preaching style that blended Quaker and New Light beliefs, and the controversy surrounding her movement. Learn about her loyal followers, legal battles, and the challenges faced by her community in New York. Delve into the claims of illness that led to the Friend's emergence and the legacy that continued long after her death in 1819.
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Religious Conflict And Disownment
- Jemima diverged from her Quaker meeting by attending New Light Baptist revivals and using non-Quaker speech.
- Those choices led to her disownment from the Smithfield Friends in August 1776.
The Illness That Changed Everything
- On October 4, 1776, Jemima fell gravely ill and had a fever that worsened over several days.
- Dr. Mann later reported she claimed to have been dead and raised for extraordinary purposes.
Androgynous Presentation And Pronoun Avoidance
- After recovering, the Friend adopted the name Public Universal Friend and blended masculine, feminine, and clerical dress.
- Adherents avoided gendered pronouns, while outsiders varied widely in how they referred to the Friend.
