A Chronology of Temperance Movements
in Harpers Ferry, 1830-1850

The following chronology is based on information derived from local newspaper reports in the Virginia Free Press ("VFP") and the Spirit of Jefferson ("SOJ"), both of which were printed in Charleston. These newspapers are available on microfilm at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Archives.

The declining frequency of articles on the topics of temperance and abstinence movements in the early 1850's is in part due to gaps in these newspaper archives. Additional notices and articles from such time periods may be accessible in other collections of local newspapers.

The chronology presented here also ends before the Civil War, a period during which the activities of many temperance societies were largely suspended. However, such societies again gained momentum in the late 1800's, particularly through promotion targeted at members of the working middle classes (Mrozowski et al. 1996: 71-74). The newspapers covering Harpers Ferry contain many articles concerning temperance activities during those later time periods as well.

• September 1, 1831: The Harpers Ferry Temperance Society was formed, and a constitution printed for it. John H. Hall was president of this society. James B. Dodd was secretary. Officers, called counsellors, included Benjamin Moore, William Anderson, William Chambers, J. William Roper, and Thomas Hughes. Rev. Thomas J. Dorsey was invited to deliver an address to the society at the Harpers Ferry Methodist Meeting House (VFP, Sept. 1, 1831, p. 3, c. 3). At this time, only two churches had been built in Harpers Ferry: the Free Church, built in 1825, and the Methodist Episcopal, built in 1828.
  
  
• May 1833: St. Peter's Catholic Church built in Harpers Ferry.
  
  
• July 11, 1833: Rev. G.W. Humpreys delivered a speech to the Harpers Ferry Temperance Society. Approximately 80 new members subscribed to the society (VFP, July 11, 1833, p. 3, c. 2).
  
  
• October 31, 1833: Rev. James Sewall was scheduled to deliver a speech to the Harpers Ferry Temperance Society at the Methodist Meeting House on November 4, 1833 (VFP, Oct. 31, 1833, p. 3, c. 3).
  
  
• May 8, 1834: The Harpers Ferry Temperance Society scheduled a meeting to be held at the Methodist Meeting House on May 13, 1834. Members "both male and female" were encouraged to attend. John Hall was president (VFP, May 8, 1834, p. 3, c. 4).
  
  
• May 13, 1834: The Harpers Ferry Temperance Society held a meeting at the Methodist Episcopal Church and elected officers. John Hall was president, Joseph G. Hays was vice president, and F.W. Stephenson was elected secretary. Counsellors were Benjamin Moore, William Chambers, Charles G. Wintersmith, Adam Rhuleman, and Daniel Drew (VFP, May 22, 1834, p. 3, c. 1).
  
  
• June 12, 1834: Rev. Normal Wilson was scheduled to deliver a speech to the Harpers Ferry Temperance Society at the Methodist Meeting House on June 15, 1834 (VFP, June 12, 1834, p. 3, c. 3).
  
  
• July 2, 1835: Andrew Hunter was scheduled to deliver a speech at a meeting of the Harpers Ferry Temperance Society at the Methodist Church on July 4, 1835 (VFP, July 2, 1835, p. 3, c. 1).
  
  
• July 4, 1835: A convention of Temperance Societies of Jefferson County was held at Charles Town, and a new Temperance Union was established, with Charles Wintersmith as president (VFP, July 9, 1835, p. 3, c. 2).
  
  
• March 3, 1836: A meeting of the Jefferson County Temperance Union was held in Shepherdstown, but no delegates from Harpers Ferry attended. The next meeting of the Temperance Union was scheduled for May, 1836, in Harpers Ferry (VFP, Mar. 3, 1836, p. 3, c. 2).
  
  
• April 28, 1836: A meeting of the Jefferson County Temperance Union was scheduled to be held at the Harpers Ferry Free Church (VFP, April 28, 1836, p. 3, c. 2).
  
  
• May 12, 1836: An annual meeting of the Harpers Ferry Temperance Society was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church. Captain John Hall declined nomination for election as president for another term. Officers elected included: president William Chambers, vice president Adam Rhuleman, secretary James B. Dodd, and treasurer Dr. Joseph G. Hays. An executive committee included William Hall, Richard Johnson, Charles Wintersmith, F.W. Stephenson, and Edmund Chambers (VFP, May 12, 1836, p. 3, c. 4).
  
  
• September 29, 1836: An meeting of the Harpers Ferry Temperance Society was held and delegates were elected to attend the Jefferson County Temperance Convention (VFP, Sept. 29, 1836, p. 3, c. 4).
  
  
• 1841: Presbyterian Church built in Harpers Ferry.
  
  
• Sept. 23, 1841: A letter to the editor emphasized the growing momentum of temperance movements in Harpers Ferry; one abstinence society was organized through the Methodist Church with supervision by Rev. Morgan; another through St. Peter's Catholic Church, with Rev. O'Brien, Dr. James Garry, and James A. Fitzsimmons (VFP, Sept. 23, 1841, p. 3, c. 2).
  
  
• Oct. 28, 1841: The Harpers Ferry Total Abstinence Society held a procession at Harpers Ferry. Rev. Stephen S. Roszell delivered an address. Thomas J. Dodd was Secretary of the society at that time (VFP, Oct. 14, 1841, p. 3, c. 2; Oct. 28, 1841, p. 3, c. 1).
  
  
• Oct. 28, 1841: More individuals took a "Total Abstinence" pledge at St. Peter's Catholic Church (VFP, Oct. 28, 1841, p. 2, c. 2).
  
  
• Nov. 4, 1841: The Total Abstinence Society of Harpers Ferry held a meeting. A report submitted at the meeting claimed that the amount of liquor purchased and consumed in Harpers Fery over a recent one year period included: 2,160 gallons of rum at an expense of $3,240; 28,182 gallons of whiskey at $42,273; 2,715 gallons of wine at $8,145; 615 gallons of J. Spirits at $1,845; 4,050 gallons of brandy at $12,150; 1,845 gallons of gin at $5,535; 10,000 gallons of beer; and 561 gallons of cider. The 2,500 inhabitants of Harpers Ferry thus would have consumed 39,567 gallons of liquor at a total expense of $73,188, averaging to 16 gallons and $28.50 per individual. The reporting committee included W. Chambers, Hugh Gilleece, Benjamin Stipes, J.H. King, and N.J.B. Morgan (VFP, Nov. 4, 1841, p. 1, c. 7).
  
  
• Nov. 4, 1841: The editors of the Virginia Free Press found the results of this study by the Total Abstinence Society reported in the same day's paper to be encouraging due to the relatively low figures given for the levels of alcohol consumption. The editors stated that most merchants in Harpers Ferry had ceased selling liquor (VFP, Nov. 4, 1841, p. 2, c. 3).
  
  
• Nov. 4, 1841: The Total Abstinence Society of Harpers Ferry called for a convention of area temperance societies to be held at Harpers Ferry on December 1, 1841. N.J.B. Morgan was chairman of the Society at that time (VFP, Nov. 4, 1841, p. 3, c. 2).
  
  
• Nov. 11, 1841: A temperance procession was held at Harpers Ferry, including: the Harpers Ferry Total Abstinence Society, the Methodist Juvenile Total Abstinence Society of Harpers Ferry, the Catholic Total Abstinence Society of Harpers Ferry, Captain Young's Harpers Ferry Guards, a Brass band, William J. Stephens, Dr. G.B. Stephenson, Edmund Chambers, W.S. Smith, Henry Andrews, Thomas Mulligan, John Little, Rev. Stephens, and Samuel Roszell. The procession route included the Arsenal yard (VFP, Nov. 11, 1841, p. 2, c. 2).
  
  
• Nov. 18, 1841: A letter to the paper reported that resolutions were passed at a recent meeting of the Harpers Ferry Total Abstinence Society held at the Methodist Church. One resolution was to request the County Court to discontinue licensing of any Harpers Ferry establishment which sold liquor, based on questions of false representations and lack of propriety in such conduct. Hugh Gilleece was the president pro tem at this meeting and James Fitzsimmons was secretary pro tem. The next meeting of the Society was to be held at the Free Church (VFP, Nov. 18, 1841, p. 2, c. 6).
  
  
• Dec. 23, 1841: The Total Abstinence Society of Harpers Ferry held a meeting and called for a Temperance Convention to be held in town. Persons attending this meeting included: Rev. N.J.B. Morgan, Dr. Marlow, Dr. G.B. Stephenson, Rev. William Evans, Dr. J. Garry, E.H. Chambers, David Carr, A. Kalb, Isaac Hinkle, Rev. E.P. Phelps, James Fitzsimmons, T.N. Davidson, Rev. M.G. Hamilton, Rev. S.S. Roszell, Rev. N.L. Fish, and Rev. William Hamilton (VFP, Dec. 23, 1841, p. 3, c. 1).
  
  
• Jan. 4, 1842: The first meeting of the Union of Total Abstinence Societies of Jefferson County was held at William Chambers' residence in Harpers Ferry. Hugh Gilleece was chairman and John Ridenour was secretary at this meeting. Officers were elected for a one-year term starting on January 1, 1842, and included George B. Stephenson and G. Ridenour as secretaries and Isaac Hinkle as treasurer (VFP, Jan. 20, 1842, p. 2, c. 7).
  
  
• Feb. 3, 1842: The Total Abstinence Society Convention appointed James Fitzsimmons to give a lecture on temperance in Charles Town on February 5, 1842 (VFP, Feb. 3, 1842, p. 3, c. 2).
  
  
• March 3, 1842: One person drowned in a boating accident on the Potomac River near Harpers Ferry while "boating ice," and another was rescued. The man rescued was a member of the Harpers Ferry Catholic Total Abstinence Society, and was praised for having resisted any temptations of consuming alcohol (VFP, Mar. 3, 1842, p. 2, c. 1).
  
  
• March 10, 1842: The Total Abstinence Society of Harpers Ferry and the Catholic Total Abstinence Society of Harpers Ferry participated in a procession in Winchester. James Fitzsimmons was named secretary of the convention (VFP, Mar. 10, 1842, p. 1, c. 3).
  
  
• March 17, 1842: A special meeting of the delegates who established the Union of Total Abstinence Societies of Jefferson County was held at William Chambers' residence in Harpers Ferry. The next meeting location was scheduled to be held in Charles Town on April 1, 1842. G.B. Stephenson served as president and A. Holland and J.G. Ridenour served as secretaries (VFP, Mar. 17, 1842, p. 3, c. 1).
  
  
• April 7, 1842: The Union of Temperance Societies of Jefferson County met in Charles Town. Local societies reported their membership counts: the Harpers Ferry Total Abstinence Society had 600 members; the Harpers Ferry Juvenile Total Abstinence Society and Catholic Total Abstinence Society had 300 members; remaining societies in the County had a total of 533 members (VFP, April 7, 1842, p. 2, c. 6).
  
  
• June 16, 1842: The Total Abstinence Societies of Harpers Ferry scheduled a procession to be conducted in Harpers Ferry during Independence Day celebrations that year, with speakers Rev. John N. Maffitt and R.W. Thompson. A committee for making these arrangements consisted of George B. Stephenson, William S. Elgin, E.H. Chambers, William S. Smith, Asaph Wilson, Joab Holt, John M. Barns, and Michael Foley (VFP, June 16, 1842, p. 3, c. 3).
  
  
• July 21, 1842: The Second Quarterly Convention of the Union of Total Abstinence Societies of Jefferson County was held in Shepherdstown. Dr. G.B. Stephenson served as president. Harpers Ferry Total Abstinence Society reported that it had 740 members, and the Harpers Ferry Juvenile Total Abstinence Society reported that it had 212 members (VFP, July 21, 1842, p. 3, c. 3).
  
  
• October 20, 1842: The Third Quarterly Convention of the Union of Total Abstinence Societies of Jefferson County was held in Smithfield. Dr. G.B. Stephenson served as president and Isaac Hinkle and H.N. Gallaher served as vice presidents. Harpers Ferry Total Abstinence Society reported that it had 768 members, and the Harpers Ferry Juvenile Total Abstinence Society reported that it had 252 members (VFP, Oct. 20, 1842, p. 2, c. 7).
  
  
• 1843: Methodist Protestant Church built in Harpers Ferry.
  
  
• January 2, 1843: The Second Annual Convention of the Union of Total Abstinence Societies of Jefferson County was held at the Harpers Ferry Methodist Episcopal Church. Harpers Ferry Total Abstinence Society reported that it had 688 members; the Harpers Ferry Juvenile Total Abstinence Society had 240 members; the Harpers Ferry Catholic Total Abstinence Society had 383 members; and the Elk Branch Total Abstinence Society had 136 members (VFP, Jan. 19, 1843, p. 3, c. 1).
  
  
• March 30, 1943: The Harpers Ferry Total Abstinence Society, Harpers Ferry Juvenile Total Abstinence Society, and Harpers Ferry Catholic Total Abstinence Society were scheduled to participate in a procession to be held in Charles Town (VFP, Mar. 30, 1843, p. 3, c. 2).
  
  
• April 13, 1843: The First Quarterly Convention of the Union of Total Abstinence Societies of Jefferson County was held in Charles Town. Dr. James Garry of Harpers Ferry was chosen as second vice president pro tem. William S. Smith was replaced as secretary. Dr. G.B. Stephenson was appointed to committees. Harpers Ferry Total Abstinence Society reported that it had 800 members; the Harpers Ferry Juvenile Total Abstinence Society had 254 members; the Harpers Ferry Catholic Total Abstinence Society had 303 members; and the Elk Branch and Zion Church Total Abstinence Society had 185 members (VFP, April 13, 1843, p. 1, c. 2).
  
  
• June 8, 1943: The Harpers Ferry Total Abstinence Society, Harpers Ferry Juvenile Total Abstinence Society, and Harpers Ferry Catholic Total Abstinence Society were scheduled to participate in a procession to be held in Shepherdstown (VFP, June 8, 1843, p. 3, c. 1).
  
  
• July 4, 1843: The Independence Day celebrations at Harpers Ferry included a procession by the Harpers Ferry Total Abstincence Societies (VFP, July 13, 1843, p. 2, c. 4).
  
  
• August 31, 1843: A temperance festival was scheduled to be held on September 9, 1843 at the Elk Branch. Participants included the Harpers Ferry Total Abstinence Society, Harpers Ferry Juvenile Total Abstinence Society, Harpers Ferry Catholic Total Abstinence Society, and the Elk Branch and Zion Church Total Abstinence Society (VFP, Aug. 31, 1843, p. 3, c. 1).
  
  
• January 11, 1844: The Annual Convention of the Union of Total Abstinence Societies of Jefferson County was held at the Harpers Ferry. A report was submitted at the convention stating that there existed in Harpers Ferry 11 establishments which sold liquor, including 2 hotels, 2 retail stores, and 7 "places of mean resort or dogeries." Two taverns were believed to have sold in a recent period 396 gallons of whiskey, 120 gallons of brandy, and 100 gallons of wine. Two retail stores sold 5,214 gallons of whiskey, 364 gallons of brandy, and 200 gallons of wine. The seven "dogeries" sold 990 gallons of whiskey, 132 gallons of brandy, and 66 gallons of wine. Total sales and consumption were believed to be 7,582 gallons of liquor, at an expense of approximately $7,582 (VFP, Jan. 11, 1844, p. 3, c. 1).
  
  
• June 4, 1846: The Harpers Ferry Total Abstinence Society and Sons of Temperance were scheduled to meet on June 6, 1846, in front of the Virginia Hotel in Harpers Ferry, with addresses to be delivered by Rev. Nelson Head and Talbot S. Duke (VFP, June 4, 1846, p. 3, c. 2).
  
  
• April 4, 1848: The "Cadets of Temperance" organization was formed in Harpers Ferry, Winchester, Martinsburg, and Charles Town, composed of individuals under 18 years of age who promised total abstinence from intoxicating drinks (SOJ, April, 4, 1848, p. 2, c. 2).
  
  
• 1850: Lutheran Church built in Harpers Ferry.
  
  
• 1852: St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church built on site of old Free Church, which was destroyed by fire in 1845, in Harpers Ferry.
  

© 2000 Copyright and All Rights Reserved
by Christopher Fennell
Last Modified: May 8, 2003