William Dorrell

Biography

Dorrell was born in Yorkshire. He became a soldier and went abroad to fight in the American Revolutionary War in 1775 under John Burgoyne. He escaped after being taken prisoner at Saratoga. In 1777 he married Polly Chase and resided in Vermont. Members were forbidden to wear leather shoes or the skins of animals for any domestic purpose. Dorrell taught that people not need to pray, they must abide by God's laws and not any man-made law of the church or state. This caused rumours outside of the sect that Dorrell and his followers engaged in wild sexual activity. By 1798 some members left the community.

Dorrell's wooden shoes are located at the Memorial Hall Museum in Deerfield.

Religious views

Dorrell believed he was a prophet sent to supersede the Christian dispensation and introduce a new one. He did not believe in the resurrection of Jesus or last judgement. He held the view that no prayer or worship is necessary; there is no law but that of nature. Zadock Thompson noted that because of this incident, Dorrell renounced his religious doctrines.

Historian John Warner Barber suggested that Dorrell "did not believe in the Bible" and was "in the habit of occasionally drinking too much".