Issachar Bates

Issachar Bates
Born	(1758-01-29)29 January 1758 Hingham, Massachusetts
Died	17 March 1837(1837-03-17) (aged 79) Mount Lebanon Shaker Society, New Lebanon, New York
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, fifer, missionary, Shaker Elder, preacher
Spouse	Lovina Maynard (married 1778, separated 1801)
Children	9, including Sarah Bates
Parent(s)	William and Mercy Bates
Title	Elder
Personal
Religion	Christianity
Denomination	Shaker
Senior posting
Based in	Union Shaker Village (1805-1812) West Union Shaker Village (1812-1822) Watervliet Shaker Village (Ohio) (1824-1832)
Period in office	1805–1835
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Branch	Massachusetts militia
Years of service	1775-1780
Rank	Fife Major
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War Battle of Bunker Hill Siege of Boston Fortification of Dorchester Heights New York and New Jersey campaign Battle of Long Island Battle of Harlem Heights Battle of White Plains Battle of Bound Brook Saratoga campaign

Issachar Bates (January 29, 1758 – March 17, 1837) was among the most prolific poets and songwriters among the early 19th century Shakers. Several of his songs, poems, and ballads are known outside of the Shaker movement, including "Rights of Conscience", written around 1808 and included in the Shakers' first printed hymnbook, Millennial Praises, and "Come Life, Shaker Life", written between 1835 and 1837.^[1]