Elijah Pierson (30 August 1786 - 6 August 1834 [1]) was a successful American businessman and preacher who is best known for his later involvement with the religious leader Robert Matthews ( sometimes called "The Prophet Matthias").
Pierson was born in Morristown, New Jersey and was raised as a religious perfectionist Presbyterian, believing in God's direct interaction in the world in correlation to individual or collective sins. Around 1800, he moved to New York City and began to work as a clerk and later as a merchant. He remained unmarried, working on Pearl Street as a merchant, until 1822 when he met Sarah Stanford. The two were married and became heavily involved in mission work on Bowery Hill and Five Points, rejecting Yankee Presbyterian in favor of egalitarianism and retrenchment. After eight years of marriage, Sarah died from what was reported as overwork, causing major her husband's mental health. During her funeral, Pierson attempted to raise her from the dead, declaring himself "Elijah the Tishbite". His distress over the will of God helped Robert Matthews persuade him to help fund his "Kingdom" in 1832.
On July 28, 1834 in Sing Sing, New York, after eating several plates of blackberries, Pierson died of what was reported as poisoning. Robert Matthews was accused of poisoning Pierson and the case became extremely popular in the local penny presses.[2]
In 1835 Matthews, along with his housekeeper Isabella (later known as Sojourner Truth), was accused of murdering Pierson, but was acquitted due to lack of evidence, and Truth's presentation of several letters verifying her trustworthiness as a servant. The trial then focused on the reported beating of his daughter which he was found guilty of. The trial which lasted four days, resulted in a sentencing of three months and thirty additional days for contempt of court.[3]
