Author
Wheelock, Eleazar
Date7 January, 1757
ms number757107
abstractWheelock notifies Occom of a communication with the Company for
Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America, in
which the
Commission recommends Occom for ordination. Wheelock feels it is more proper
for the local
presbytery to examine Occom for ordination, and requests that they provide testimonials
of
his character as soon as possible.
handwritingHandwriting is not Wheelock's; it is tidy, with a heavy
upward slant.
paperHeavy creasing, with wear along middle crease resulting in minor
loss of text.
inkInk is dark, and darker on the verso.
noteworthyLetter is marked as a copy.
signatureSigned "Eleazar Wheelock," but not by Wheelock.
EventsOccom’s Ordination
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Lebanon
January
the
7th 1757
Son Samson
Whereas
Samson Occom Who Some years Since was employed
at
Long Island in The
Government of New
york by some of The
Inhabitants there to Keep an Indian School and afterward, to Preach
the
Gospel to Them and who upon application Made to The
commissioners after he had
Engaged in said Service was allowed by Them Twenty Pound, per annum is
notwithstanding his Several allowances fallen in Debt and Thereby brought
Into Difficulties —
Voted as a further Encouragement To Said
Samson To Continue in The
Indian Service There be allowed him Twenty
Pounds in order To Enable him
To discharge his
[worn_edge: [guess: Debts]]; The
Commissioners Expecting That Those who originally
Employed him afford him their
assistance
likewise for This Purpose —
and in as much as Said
Samson is represented To be a person of a Virtuous
Life and useful as a Preacher To the Indians; The
Commissioners Would recommend
it to The
Rev.
Mr.
Wheelock
and
Mr. Pomeroy and other ministers
of The Same association to consider of the Expediency of his being ordained
To The pastoral office and to Proceed to Do it if They Shall Think Best.
and That there be
allowed To said
Samson a common Pace Book to the Bible
and Cruden’s
Concordence
you observe That They Direct
Mr. Pomeroy and myself To Call in other
ministers to Examine you and consult of The
[illegible: [guess: Expeeding]] of your being
Ordained We are in Doubt of The Propriety of our Doing it, Thinking it
Rather
The Right of
The Rev.
Presbytery on
The Island
unless you Should take the
Pastrol Charge of the Indians on The main but at this distance we are not
able to judge of That Matter not knowing either the Number or disposition
of Those Indians among whom you are, and have been Labouring, We have
understood that there is a considerable
Number on This Side The water
who Desire To have you for their
minister and we have considered The
Distance and Difficulty of crossing
the Sound
etc.,
and have Therefore agreed
[illegible] To advise, That you desire
some Neighbouring
minister To visit, and Try The Minds of your People and Send us a
[illegible: [guess: True]]
representation
of their number and disposition Towards you and then that you visit The
Rev.
ministers of
That presbytery
show This To Them and also Represent to
Them The State of The
indians at Montauk and desire
Said ministers to
manifest to us whether They approve of our proceeding according to The foregoing
Vote of
commissioners
etc., and if So That They Give us Proper Testimonials of your
Moral and Christian Character, And That you accomplish This as Soon as may
be. and you Must
Consider That it will be Some Time after your are Examined
before The Matter Can be
accomplished if we Shall have To visit The several
Tribes of Indians upon the Main in order To your ordination. The Lord be with
your spirit
direct your ways and keep you from falling into the Condemnation
of The Devil upon Such an occasion. Give Mine and
Mr. Pomeroys Love to
your Spouse. and accept The Same your Self From him, as well as, I
PS
Mr. Oliver in his To me has This passage which because
it Concerns you I Transcribe here viz “
Capt. Shaw of
New London has
usually
supplied
Samson and taken his orders upon me for it, and
were you
to send him Copy of what Relates To him would I Doubt
Not be Glad to Do it Still.”
Copy.