Evans, Frederick William

Evans, Frederick William (1808–93) reformer, editor, Shaker elder; born in Leominster, Worcestershire, England. Having been influenced by the Owenites and a group of freethinkers and reformers in England, he sailed to America (1820) with family members. He edited with his brother several publications devoted to radical reform. After visiting a Shaker community in Lebanon, N.Y., he joined it, spending 57 of his last 63 years with the community as elder. A born leader and natural orator, he became one of the nation's most influential Shaker leaders and published much on this topic.