Holly Wood, Music Program Specialist
Born January 7, 1791 in Rockingham County, North Carolina, Patsy Roberts or Patsy Roberts Williamson began her life enslaved to the Roberts family. She moved, with the Roberts, first to Madison County, Kentucky in 1808 and later that year to Pleasant Hill. In 1809, Patsy believed and signed the covenant, or officially joined the society of Shakers at Pleasant Hill. This makes her one of the earliest Shaker converts in Kentucky!
Though Patsy originally came to Pleasant Hill and converted with her enslavers, the Roberts renounced their faith and “returned to the world” in 1815. Before leaving, the offered Patsy to the Shakers, who purchased her legal freedom so that she could remain in the community as a Believer.
Patsy lived 51 years as a Believer experiencing the strong bonds of sisterhood as she worked and worshiped at Pleasant Hill. Her faith was reflected in her songs that she composed with references to Mother Ann Lee, the joy she experienced in the dance and childlike simplicity and freedom she felt in worship.
On August 28, 1860, Patsy passed away in the East Family Dwelling after an undisclosed illness of four or five years. The writer of the journal described Patsy as being “zealous in the cause.”
