Nathaniel Whitaker, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1764 August 11
Date11 August, 1764
ms number764461
abstractA somewhat testy (partial) letter from Nathaniel Whitaker to Eleazar Wheelock details the controversy brewing between Occom and David Jewett.
handwritingLargely clear and tidy with several abbreviations.
paperGood condition with light wear around edges.
noteworthyLetter is not complete; there is a fragment of note added on back, in different ink/hand.
EventsBuilding of Occom’s house, Jewett Controversy
Persistent Identifier
I juſt now am informed by mr Lyman
yt you Sent me a letter yeſterday by a direct conveyance which is never like to arive
yt I know of — M.r
Jewet
&
Occum were here on thirſday, & waited till night almoſt — but no Wheelock I happened
to have a fine line of Lamb well dreſſed for your Dinner, which I Shall charge to you — tho'
mr
Jewet
&c eat it — Mr
Occum, in hopes to find you, came up again
yeſterday morning — you are So ſtingy of your Schemes
yt I know nothing — why you called mrJewet, &c is it in or der to Send either of us on a miſſion to the Turks? for it
ſeems you can mend all yt others do amiſs, or leave undone.
It may be you wo'd have mr
Occum an houſe built — I ſho'd be glad to have it done — am diſpoſed to do everything in my Power to promote it — believe I can do but
little among my people to get help by labour or otherwiſe, indeed I can hardly
deſire
ym, ya are So poor — It may be Something might be done
grati^s^ſe by Some in town But the great difficulty lies in the
diſaffection
wh
ariſes from, his neglect of mr
Jewet, & his lec tures — my dear brother, I really fear
that mr
Occum does not do well in this — I wiſh you could See Br
Jewet — he told me
thurſday evening, yt
Occum had not only broke up ye School So yt there were but 3 children yt attended — but his lectures
alſo So yt but 3 or 4 attended ym — &
yt he behaves haughtily towards him (inter
nos) but he can inform you better himſelf I have adviſed
mr
Occum to treat mr
Jewet with freedom, & go to his houſe as he had invited him; & if he could not be free pub lickly, yet yt privately he might confer — but he looks on mr
Jewet as having injured ye indians — & improved ſome of yr land
& is, I fear, too credulous of Indian ſtories —You may be Sure of my friendſhip to Occum, but I muſt be juſt, & I really believe
yt
mr
Jewet acts with ye
greateſt
tenderneſs
poſſible — Mr
Jewet
muſt write ye
Commiſ.rs of ye State of ye School, but I perſwaded
These are
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