Rev. Helen Russegue

Rev. Helen Lane Palmer Russegue has been one of the most interesting women I have researched so far. Her name kept appearing in tons of various documents, that I’d been going over, and as I slowly pieced together what I’ve found a more and more amazing character started to form.

Like many of Rochester’s Spiritualists I’ve learned most about her from her obituary, she passed into spirit in 1920. She was born in Syracuse in 1839.

Russegue was described as a gifted trance medium, stating that she had her first mediumistic experience Christmas Day in 1857 where she fell into trance, however she dismissed the phenomena as a seizure as she was not familiar with Spiritualist teachings and had been raised Presbyterian.

She was invited to attend a seance where she fell into trance and her guide explained to the sitters her purpose as a medium, when she regained consciousness her fellow sitters explained to her what had happened.

She remained very hesitant to accept the possibility that she was a medium, but slowly through her own research and development into Spiritualism fully embraced her spiritual calling.

Her obituary states: “Her trance lecturing took her into many states, but at the outbreak of the Civil War she went to the front, serving throughout as bearer of dispatches and as a nurse.”

In an entry in the Encyclopedia of Connecticut Biography 1917, a further description of her nursing service is listed saying “A woman who for over four years gave her services to her country during the War of the Rebellion, who was at the battle of Bull Run and nurse and on special occasions as a bearer of dispatches.”

Russegue’s first Husband was a lawyer by the name of Joshua Palmer, recorded in the 1880 federal census. After his passing she eventually met Dr. Henry E. Russegue, a homeopathic doctor and Spiritualist Minister (I will eventually write a post for him)

Russegue’s gifts of mediumship were fairly diverse, described in her obituary as: “Inspirational Speaking, Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, Independent writing on her arms; and Psychometry of unusual keenness”

Her fame as a medium brought her around the world, she visited South America and may have been the first American woman to travel the Suriname River. She also assisted archeologists in Egypt in locating pieces of art.

She lent her talents to many American geologists in locating mineral deposits and sources of other natural things. She assisted geologists in Maryland find sauces of mica, and also discovered that there were amethysts in the ground despite the scientists disbelieving that was possible at first. She located various salt deposits in Kansas through psychometry, and also located sources of oil and gas in California, as well as springs of water.

Eventually retiring from traveling Helen and Henry Russegue settled in Rochester, NY permanently so that they could be near Plymouth Spiritualist Church. Her obituary states: “Mrs. Russegue and her husband Dr. Russegue moved to Rochester to be near the Church they both loved, Plymouth Church”

In an article in the Sunflower from 1907 Russegue is mentioned as an active participant in the Rochester Spiritualist community during the Church’s first anniversary: “Mrs. Helen L. P. Russegue, of Hartford, Conn, accompanied by her amiable husband, Dr. Russegue, was there also and gave some masterful addresses. Some of them appear in the Sunflower later on. Prof. William Lockwood, the distinguished scientist, gave scholarly and impressive addresses,” in another article by the same publication she is listed as “Mrs. Helen P. Russegue, the inspired orator and noted psychometrist.”

To break for a moment, from her biography, I would like to happily say that in researching Mrs. Russegue, I’ve discovered I need to revise my timeline I’ve been constructing. It turns out, that after Rev. Austen retired, Mrs. Russegue assumed the mantle of head Pastor for Plymouth Spiritualist Church, becoming the second Pastor of Plymouth, and the first woman Pastor of Plymouth.

A Democrat and Chronicle Article from July 8, 1913 states: “Spiritualists in Quest of Pastor: Rev. B.F Austin will not return to city. Took a leave of absence and does not expect to return” this referring to Rev. Austin being called to minister in California. The article continues: “Mrs. Helen Russegue, who was associate Pastor of the Church while Dr. Austin was absent filled the pulpit for a year.”

An article from the Buffalo Times Sat, June 7, 1913 states: “Rev. Helen L. Russegue of Rochester, one of the most Prominent Spiritualists in the state.

As I mentioned above, after years of dedicated service to her community and country Rev. Helen Russegue passed away in the year 1928. However, this would not be the end of her influence on the Rochester Spiritualist Community.

A Democrat and Chronicle article from September 8, 1923 states: “Plymouth Spiritualist Church has been presented a valuable library by Dr. Henry E. Russegue of Pearl Street in memory of his late wife, Mrs. Helen Russegue, once minister of the Church. In addition to some 1,000 books, Dr. Russegue has given the Church four elaborate cases of woods and designs, which he made years ago. The Library includes many reference works. Dates of publications of the volumes range from the early Victorian period to the present century.”

While, unfortunately many of these works have most likely been lost as Plymouth has changed it’s location over the years, the church still does contain several of these antique books that are beloved and treasured, and the Church library continues to be one of the most unique aspects of Plymouth, containing quite possibly the largest private collection of spiritualist and spiritual books in the city.