Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Noyes, John Humphrey 1811-1886

Clergyman; born in Brattleboro, Vt., Sept. 6, 1811; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1830; licensed to preach in 1833, and in the following year declared he had experienced a “second conversion.” Hefounded a new sect called Perfectionists in Putnam county, Vt. After twelve years he imbibed some of the teachings of Fourier and persuaded his disciples to live in communities. In 1848 he went with his followers to Oneida, N. Y., where he established the Oneida Community. He taught that God had a dual body— male and female. The only successful communities, those founded at Oneida, N. Y., and Wallingford, Conn., adopted what was named “complex marriage,” and lived in a “unity house.” Subsequently they were compelled to abandon “complex marriage” and their number soon diminished. Noyes published The second coming of Christ; History of American socialism, etc. He died in Niagara Falls, Canada, April 13, 1886.