History

Uriah Adams and Fanaticism in Avon Township

Born into a farming family of 7 children in East Bloomfield, New York in 1807, Uriah Adams and his family moved to the Michigan Territory in 1826.  Uriah's father, Mark Adams, was remembered as a man of above average intelligence but eccentric in religious matters.  Mark was given to dreams and visions and claimed to be able to rid his barn and land of rats simply by speaking to them.  Uriah took on some of his father's unorthodox views while at the same time becoming actively involved in the development of Avon Township.  He served as commissioner of schools, justice of the peace, inspector of schools, and overseer of highways.
 
During the 1840s, the "Millerite Movement" was sweeping through the United States.  William Miller, a New York farmer, had little formal education but was an avid reader, especially of the Bible. He soon began constructing a biblical chronology fixing the creation of the world, the birth of Jesus, and the subsequent return of the Messiah.  Miller's initial prediction fixed the end of the world sometime in March 1843.  Later, the date was changed to October 22, 1844.  By the early 1840s, the Movement found its way to Avon Township when Uriah Adams began to gather a cult following after espousing Miller's message. After being dismissed from the First Congregational Church of Rochester in 1843, Uriah secluded himself and his family on his farm and awaited the end of days.  As doomsday approached, Millerites - as his followers were called - abandoned their farms, paid off debts, and gave away their possessions. Contrary to Miller's predictions, the world awoke to a new day.  His followers called it, "The Great Disappointment."
  
Following, "The Great Disappointment," Uriah became so saddened that he confined himself to bed.  His followers, in order to escape the harsh criticism from their fellow Avon Township residents, moved to Adams' home (located on the corner of Walton and Livernois – where Rochester High School is located today) in 1845.  The families all lived under Uriah's roof, worked the farm, and shared the produce. The new commune consisted of Uriah, his wife Mary and their children, his unmarried sister Elizabeth, his brother Julius along with his wife and 4 children, and Jacob and Jane Gillett and their 5 children. 
 
Shortly thereafter, Uriah believed he died and Jesus Christ's spirit took his body as a vessel to walk the earth.  He also believed that his followers had died, each of their bodies becoming vessels for disciples.  Uriah dissolved all marriages and reformed them, with Julius Adams taking Jane Gillett as wife and Jacob Gillett taking Elizabeth Adams.  His followers accepted this and worshipped Uriah as the Christ.  He told his followers that as long as they remained on the farm, they would be guaranteed everlasting life, leaving the farm meant certain death. 
 
In June 1846, Uriah and Julius were ordered to appear before the Oakland County Probate Court when their father Mark and brother Leonard petitioned Judge Lamont Bagy for custody of Elizabeth.  Uriah's 12-year-old daughter, father, and brother testified that he was a "religious maniac" who believed that he would never die.  Uriah and Julius were judged to be insane and Leonard Adams gained custody of Elizabeth.  Two years later, she went back to Uriah's farm.  In 1851, Elizabeth Adams died at the age of 27.  Uriah's cult became frightened upon her death but Uriah explained that she died because she doubted his transfiguration.  The seeds of doubt, however, were planted.  Jacob Gillett, unable to convince his family to come with him, left alone.  One month later, he came back for his family but Jane returned to the cult after only a few months.  In the latter part of 1864 just before she died, Mary Adams was said to have made the "horrible and disgusting confession" that her husband had been "living in crime with the 5 or 6 women who had formed his household."  A new woman, Eliza Warner, joined the cult and became Uriah's wife upon the death of Mary Adams.  Jane Gillett became jealous of the new woman's position and began making her own disclosures concerning the cult. 

Jane's story of "promiscuous and illicit intercourse" included claims that members of the cult committed adultery and incest.  Before these revelations, the community had looked upon the cult as harmless "deep-seated fanatics," which did not justify the interference of the law.  Afterwards, "public measures were at once instituted to purge the community of the foul disgrace." Uriah's children were removed and he was arrested.  On March 3, 1865, Uriah was found guilty of adultery and was sentenced to 1 year of hard labor in Jackson State Prison.  In 1866, a warrant was issued against Uriah for incest with his sister Elizabeth.  The year of hard labor had taken its toll on Uriah, however, and Dr. J.E. Wilson testified in 1867 that Uriah was too ill to appear and the case was dropped.  Uriah returned to his farm and remained unrepentant.  In January 1879, at the age of 71, Uriah Adams died and was buried in Mt. Avon Cemetery.