The Kingdom of Matthias

The "Kingdom" refers to the religious cult community Robert Matthews, aka the Prophet Matthias, established in Manhattan and later at an estate in Sing Sing, New York. Matthews preached his unique brand of religion to a small band of followers, and was treated in many respects like a god or king. Internal divisions and increasing public outcry caused the dissolution of the Kingdom.

Manhattan

Manhattan, as today, was a financial and trade center in the 1830s, and many young men came to find their fortunes by establishing merchant trades within the city. Matthews first established his Kingdom in the city after attracting Elijah Pierson to his cause.

Pearl Street

Elijah Pierson, like many other merchants, established an office on Pearl Street. Pearl Street merchants were a new generation of merchants, less dependent on transatlantic trade than to the market revolution in northeastern agriculture.

Mount Zion