Joseph Woolley, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1765 July 6

AuthorWoolley, Joseph

Date6 July, 1765

Call Number765406.2

abstractJoseph Woolley writes to Wheelock with news from his mission to Onaquaga. He mentions the smallpox epidemic, the Shawnees' and Delawares' confirmation of the Covenant Chain, his cousin Jacob Woolley, and David Fowler’s abuse of his Indian students.

handwritingHandwriting is largely clear and legible.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good-to-fair condition, with moderate staining, creasing and wear.

inkBrown.

noteworthyWoolley makes unusual use of quotations to indicate asides placed in the left margin.

Persistent Identifier

Rev.d S.r
We have awaited for the M.eſsurs Smith &
Chamberlain, four Days, and I dont think it is best for
me to wait any longer. then next Monday, I think
Providence calls me to go away from here ſoon.
The epidemical Small pox Diſtemper is here, & proves very
mortal among the Indians — The Squash Cutter
died with it about ten Days ago; another died
last evening & was buried this afternoon here.
This poor Man was left destitute by all his Friends
& Relations, had nobody to tend him, "I felt So con‐
cillegibleearned for him I like to gone there myself."
I illegibleam ſorry & greaved to ſee in the Indians ſo much Brutallyity, that
they caired no not more for each other than the Beaſts do
"(tho I believe if a Horſe knew there was ſomething of a Mat‐
ter with his Mate, he would come and leap over him)
but there appeared no ſuch Affection among them;"
however, ſome of them made out to go and aſsiſt in bury‐
ing him. — — —
The Shawanees & Dellawars came here the Day
before yesterday the in order to confirm the Covenant
Chain, which Captain Kill-Buck Chief of the Dellawares has been upon
ever ſince last Spring — to whom, I had the Honour
[left]
a Head Warrier
of the Delawares
who has done ſo much
miſchief & exercſed
ſo much Inhumanity
to the Engliſh

[left]
This man with the
Squash Cutter
were there as Hoſtages
from that Tribe

of Interpreting thoſe Letters & the Parchment in which the
Covenant was written; & to his greatest Satiſfaction.
This Man Kill-Buck would feaign have me go to
Allegany with him to his own Home, & to Spend my
Life amongſt them There — But I have Diſcourige‐
‐ments from thoſe that have been there."
As we was paſing thrō Sheffield, one a Man
call'd out to me, and ask'd me whether I was
not the ſame Man that lay ſick there laſt Fall."
and enqured asked into my Name — But I told him not
who I was & what I was, that I might have the better
Chance to know what he had to ſay about him — well, hereupon
he biegan to tell what he did after he got well with
the Pluriſie — That he taught young Men & Chilren
to Sing read and write & cypher; That he had his Learn‐
‐ing from Mr Wheelock, and went to the Jerſey College, and in his
Laſt Year went back again to Mr Wheelocks. and after‐
ward ran away from him & went into the Service. i.e of the War
Moreover, he told me what that young Man ſaid — The
Reaſon why he ran away, that he was affraid Mr Wheelock
would make him Preach; Therefore now he determins ne‐
ver to ſee you.— But I could get no Intelligence which
Way he went, whether he is alive or no. he told it to
me in ſuch a light I could not help but thinking it was
Couſin Jacob Wooley."
I have not heard about of your the Dutch Horſe I am affraid
he is loſt, and if itſo [illegible]it ſois [illegible]a great Loſs.
I have been out of Health ever ſince I arrived
here, a Sharp Pain in my Breaſt and ſo thrō on
the other Side, continues bad.
"I have heard of Fowler to Day that he is yet
alive and well, begins to beat his Schollers
very much, ſ makes their Hands to Swell very much
which the Indians dont like very well; They
ſay, he ought to have ſuppreſsed it longer, & not be‐
gin ſo ſoon — " I have no more Special to ſay, you
know I was never a good News Monger. —
Pray Pleſe S.r to accept my DHumble Duty, to you & Mrs
Wheelock
, and tell her I hope her unwearied Pains
for me wont be qute Loſt, but that I shall improve the
beſt of my Ability to my People — among my poor Brethren & alſo Duty to kind Ma‐
ster Lathrop
— I remain
your Dutiful,
 & very Humble Servt

Joseph Wooley

from Joſeph Woolley
July 1765
To
The Rev.d M.r Eleazer Wheelock
 Connecticut.
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