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William Stubblebine (1798 - 1871)

William Stubblebine aka Stofelbine
Born in Pennsylvania, USAmap
Son of and
Brother of , , , , , and
Husband of — married 7 Mar 1824 in Warwick, Chester County, Pennsylvaniamap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , and
Died at age 73 in Pennsylvaniamap
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Profile last modified | Created 13 Feb 2014
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Contents

Biography

William was born on 6 February 1798 in Coventry Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He died on 20 April 1871.[1][2]

The 1821 and 1828 Pennsylvania Septennial Censuses recorded William Stubblebine as a weaver in Coventry, Chester County.[3][4]

William Stubblebine married Mary Garver of Chester County, Pennsylvania, on 7 December 1824 in St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church, Warwick (Chester County), Pennsylvania.[5] The couple had six children, of whom three were living as of 1900.[6] In the 1830 U.S. census, William Stofelbine was recorded in Union Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, as head of a household that included five free white persons: one male age 30 through 39 (William), one female age 20 through 29 (Mary Ann), and three males under age 5.[7] In the 1835 Pennsylvania Septennial Census, William Stubblebine was recorded as a farmer in Coventry, Chester County.[8]

Around 1840, William Stubblebine and his brothers(?) Daniel and David became involved with an unusual religious sect called the Battle Axes of the Lord. Under the leadership of Theophilus Ransom Gates, the Battle Axes advocated communal property and free love. A pamphlet that Gates sold on the streets in Philadelphia in 1837 entitled "Battle Axe" cited a quotation from the Jeremiah: "Thou art my battle-axe and weapon of war." Quoting from 1 Corinthians 7:31, "For the fashion of this world passeth away," Gates claimed that the bond of marriage was a mere fashion, and wrote: "No two persons, therefore, ought now to agree or promise to live any longer together than they live in mutual good will, peace and comfort with each other." he wrote. He said it would be better to change partners 20 times than remain bound with an incompatible mate "in strife and disagreement," and so "in the order of the devil, and in his dominions on the road to hell." He also advocated birth control and encouraged nudity.[9] Around 1840 he and his followers settled in North Coventry Township in Chester County. In a video entitled Battle Axe History, Jim Marks says that some believe that William Stubblebine may have been responsible for Gates choosing North Coventry Township, as William may have met Gates in Philadelphia while selling coffee grinders there.[10]

The three Stubblebine brothers took up with Battle Axe women. William Stubblebine abandoned his wife and children and moved the much younger Magdalena Snyder, one of the Battle Axes, into his home. Daniel and David Stubblebine both served jail terms for adultery or related crimes. A February 1843 indictment record from a Chester County court lists a charge of adultery for William Stubblebine and lists a charge of fornication for Lydia Williamson, with William Stubblebine named as victim.[11] The Shenkel Church area became notorious for the Battle Axe activity, and was called "Free Love Valley."[9][12]

The Battle Axe sect died out after Gates' death in 1846, but William Stubblebine lived with Magdalena Snyder until his death in 1871. In the 1850 U.S. Census, William Stubblebine, age 51, was recorded as head of a household in North Coventry Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, a laborer with $500 in real estate. Also in the household was Magdalen Snyder, age 34. The 1856 Pennsylvania Septennial Census recorded William Stubblebine as a laborer in West Coventry, Chester County[13] In the 1860 U.S. Census William Stubblebine was recorded as age 62 and a carpet-weaver with $2000 real estate and $350 personal estate. Also in the household was Magdalene Snider, age 43 and also born in Pennsylvania, described as housekeeper. In the 1870 U.S. Census, Wm. Stubblebine, age 72, was again recorded in North Coventry Township, living with Magdalen Snyder, age 54. He was described as a farmer with $1200 real estate and $700 personal estate; Magdalen was described as owning $1000 real estate and "keeping house."[14]

William Stubblebine died on 20 August 1871 and is buried in the Shenkel United Church of Christ Cemetery in North Coventry Township, Chester County.[15]

Census records and obituaries show that Mary Ann (Garver) Stubblebine resided with her daughter Anna for the last several decades of her life. After William's death, Magdalena Snyder tried to claim his estate; apparently William Stubblebine had left a will naming her as sole heir. The estate became the subject of legal action between Snyder and Mary Ann (Garver) Stubblebine, and Mary Ann prevailed.[10][16]

Research Notes

The Chester County Quarter Sessions Indictments index lists an indictment against William Stubblebine in February 1843 for Adultery. There are also indictments against his brothers David and Jacob in February 1843.

The Chester County Prison Docket, 1840-1857, lists William Stubblebine, committed for adultery in 1843. Reference is to page 42. Also listed in 1843 are David Stubblebine, age 55, adultery, page 41, and Jacob Stubblebine, fornication, page 42. There are listings in 1856 for Capias Cases for Daniel Stubbline (page 332) and David Stubblebine (page 333).

Sources

  1. ↑ Historical Society Of Pennsylvania, Births & Baptisms, William Stubblebine, 1798. Accessed on FindMyPast. Note: In spite of the database title, this is a cemetery list.
  2. ↑ Shenkel's Burials, page 10, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Deaths & Burials. Accessed at FindMyPast.com.
  3. ↑ Chester County, Pennsylvania, Septennial Census Returns Index, 1821, accessed at FindMyPast.com.
  4. ↑ Chester County, Pennsylvania, Septennial Census Returns Index, 1828, accessed at FindMyPast.com.
  5. ↑ Records of St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church, Warwick, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1806-1890. Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, vol. 342. Philadelphia, 1916. Page 89. Text: Dec. 7, 1824 - William Stubblebine to Mary Garver, both of Chester County. Same item on FindMyPast.
  6. ↑ United States Census record for Mary Stubblebine, 1900
  7. ↑ United States Census, 1830, Enumeration sheet for Union Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. 1830; Census Place: Union, Berks, Pennsylvania; Series: M19; Roll: 143; Page: 516; Family History Library Film: 0020617.
  8. ↑ Chester County, Pennsylvania, Septennial Census Returns Index, 1835, accessed at FindMyPast.com.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Stubblebine Family website
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Battle Axe History (video), by Jim Marks, posted on YouTube in about 2019 by North Coventry Historical Commission; link posted on North Coventry Township website at https://northcoventrytownship.com/bos/historical-commission/history-of-north-coventry-township/ . Accessed 10 June 2021.
  11. ↑ Chester County, Pennsylvania, Quarter Sessions Indictment Papers Index, 1681-1870 (transcriptions only), William Stubblebine, February 1843, Adultery, Lydia Williamson, February 1843, Fornication, accessed at FindMyPast.com.
  12. ↑ The History of North Coventry Township, North Coventry Township Historical Commission, North Coventry Township website. Accessed 19 May 2016. "Another event of historic proportions occurred in the township in Shenkel Valley between the years 1837 and 1857. A rebellious religious group, never more than 35 members, took hold of a few farm families, including the Stubblebines, in the valley. These were the Battles Axes. So notorious was the sect’s moral code, favoring nudity and cohabitation, that the name Free Love Valley has become synonymous with this area of the township. In 1855 one of the group’s members, Hannah Shingle (aka Shenkel), was murdered in the second floor bedroom of her farmhouse by her own axe. The perpetrator was never found. Soon after, the group died out. Its leader, Theophilus Gates, died in 1846 and his successor, the self styled prophet, Hannah Williamson, ‘moved west’ in 1857."
  13. ↑ Chester County, Pennsylvania, Septennial Census Returns Index, 1856, accessed at FindMyPast.com.
  14. ↑ United States Census, 1870, Enumeration sheet for North Coventry Township (Pottstown post office), Chester County, Pennsylvania.
  15. ↑ Find-A-Grave, William Stubblebine, Memorial #33050205
  16. ↑ Futhey, J. Smith, and Gilbert Cope. History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with Genealogical and Biographical Sketches. Philadelphia: Lewis H. Everts, 1881. Page 301.

Acknowledgements

  • This profile was created by Janis Tomko, Wednesday, February 12, 2014.




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Categories: Chester County, Pennsylvania | Shenkel United Church of Christ Cemetery, North Coventry Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania