Author
Clelland, Robert
Date12 March, 1762
ms number762212
abstractClelland writes that Ben Uncas is given over to drunkeness and wants
undesirables to settle on Mohegan land. He suggests that Wheelock should encourage
Occom
to use his influence with the Sachem.
handwritingFormal handwriting is small and stylized, yet mostly clear
and legible.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in fair
condition, with light-to-moderate staining, creasing and wear that results
in a
minor loss of text.
inkBlack-brown.
noteworthyThere are several underlinings that appear to have been
added at a later, likely 19th-century, date; these underlinings have not
been
included in the transcription. Clelland's intention with regard to the word
"Guardines" is uncertain, and so it has been left unmodified in the modernized
transcription.
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Having opportunity of my good friend
Ashpo, I
could not be restrained from troubling you with a few lines, as to our present
Circumstances in
Mohegan, Our truly good and worthy gentlemen Guardines to
this tribe is about leasing some of Lands, all of them is determined that none
shall be tenants here, but those that are men friendly to our ministry and willing
to Support the Gospel amongst us, men that will both by example and council
promote religion, virtue, Sobriety, and industry amongst our natives; —
Our sachem and 2 more of his council are for men that are enemies to our
worthy minister and would (in their
power) starve all the Godly ministers in the
Land, men that Deny our Christian Sabbath; A
standing Gospel ministry
and the Christian Sabbath, seems to be the mark and Butt many of our Neighbours
shoot at, I trust the Great King of his Church, will protect and Defend and constant
ly provide this Land with a Learned Converted and Converting ministry
I am sorry to Say
our sachem grows worse
and
worse, Drinking very
much increases upon him, and
thereby has got himself much out of credit, He
is told he is a free people, and none can restrain him from Drink etc. and
indeed he goes on contrary to the repeated reproofs of
Mr. Jewett’ and others
and against warm and affecting Letters from 2 of his overseers, But despises
all admonition and regards neither the Laws of God or man. He is a Dead
weight against every
thing that is good amongst us
King Ben is about Sending over for
Mr.
Occom to assist in getting
Quakers etc. on the Land, I persuade
myself
Mr.
Occom is a man of better
sense
than to join in such an affair, so says
Mr. Jewett, so says our good
overseers, if he interposes it will be very affecting to many of
Mr. Jewetts Godly
parishioners who has given in a Memorial against such men to our guar=
:dines,
as to further particulars, the Bearer can fully inform you —
It is the expectation of
Esq. Adam’s (and
Mr. Jewett who has wrote you)
and who both desired me to write also, and had not the Bearer been going
Directly to you should waited on you myself, I say it is their expectation
that you should write
Mr.
Occom to use his interest with
Ben
etc. not to
contradict the overseers, for their Heart is set for the Good of the tribe, these
men
the sachem is for, has set him against
Mr. Jewett
and I and his over‐
seers
also, I trust you will see it proper to write a Letter for
Mr.
Occom
and the
[illegible: [guess: >rather]] that
Mr. Jewett will be at
Boston, when
Mr.
Occom comes to
Mohegan — as to our friend
Ashpo
though he differed as to church Government for=
=merly, yet
I loved him, as a man of solid sense, and often conversed with him
and used to say he had so much reason and sound Judgement, that he would see
his mistake, and I believe he no sooner saw it but he acknowledged, in opposi
tion to all the clamour and reflections that has been unjustly cast on him, He —
with the greatest sedateness Answered all the calumny and accusations, his —
people or accusers laid against him, He with an undaunted, Christian, meek,
spirit, not only bears patiently, But even like a Hero despised
and
despises
their bitter and severe and unchristian reflections — turn over
Ashpo is a man the most exemplary of any in the fields
none in it such a
head of a family for
reading Gods word before them His Knowledge in Scripture is
considerable and I trust he will be of great Service amongst his Brethren Acc=
=ording to the flesh, may God be pleased to open a Door for his usefulness, He as
well as
Mr. Jewett
and I suffers the displeasure of the
sachem, But he is imposed upon
I could be of great Service here if duly encouraged by the Children’s regular atten
dance, I am a
poor imperfected Creature, But I can truly say to the utmost of my
abilities skill and prudence have I exerted myself amongst them, as doth the Rev.
Mr. Jewett, they are a people exalted to Heaven in point of privileges, but most
of them tread them under foot, They many of them
[guess: essay] after the example of their
poor
sachem think themselves Free to Serve their appetite
and wont be controlled
I have only one word further to trouble you with leaving you to further
Particu
=lars to the Bearer, and that is that our Gentlemen Guardines are determined to set
apart a Small lot for the School:master. which
Ben
and the forementioned 2 counse
llors
opposes, But I suppose they will do it as they are all spirited for the thing
If you think it proper to mention it to
Mr.
Occom (if you write) I shall be thank
ful. It is melancholy to see the Life
King
Ben lives, God Change him
May God be pleased to Lengthen out your valuable and precious Life to see further of the good fruits of your indefatigable and
unwearied Labours for christianizing the savages in the Land, I Believe you will have a high Seat in the house not made with hands, a great Degree of Glory, you are now acting your part
so well that at your exit and leaving this Stage of action the Spectator’s will clap their hands,
you will have a general, applause, a massy weight of Glory is reserved for you, I Beg an interest in your prayers that I may be
faithful, and my desire is to be useful,
PS prudence will say though
the
sachem
should know nothing
as to this Letter
Blank page.