Author
Wheelock, Eleazar
Date20 February, 1766
ms number766170.1
abstractWheelock writes an announcement for publication stating that both the
reports of Good Peter's providential arrival at Wheelock's home, and the narrative
of
Occom's life, are true.
handwritingInformal handwriting is mostly clear and legible; however,
letter case, especially with regard to the letter “S,” is difficult to
discern.
paperSingle sheet is in fair condition, with moderate staining,
creasing and wear.
inkBrown-black.
noteworthyThis document is likely a draft.
signatureWheelock signs the document several times, once in Occom's
name.
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Whereas there is a Report Spread abroad that the meeting of
Gwedelhes Agwirondongwas (by the English called
Peter) etc. of
Onaquaga,
and
Mr.
Elisha
Gunn, Interpreter at the very instant when the
Board of Correspondents were coming together, at my House
March 12. 1765. was by Some previous Notice or
appointment
and not So providential, and remarkable as was represented
in the public Prints. I take this Opportunity to inform the
public that the representation made of that matter was the
Truth; and in every circumstance as remarkable, to the full,
as was represented; nor did I ever know or hear of anyone
who had the least thought or Expectation of such a Meeting, or
that there ever had been any endeavours used to procure it. or
that anyone of either Party had any Expectation of meeting the other at
that
Time.
And whereas it is reported that the world have been imposed
upon by the representation made that
Mr.
Samson Occom an
Indian minister, was bred a Heathen, 'til he had arrived near
or quite to the State of Manhood. I do now certify the public
of the Truth of that Matter by giving you his own account of
it which
he Sent to me from
Boston, on hearing the false
and injurious
Reports made
of that matter just before his Embarkation for
Europe,
viz.
“I was born a Heathen in
Mouayauhecunnak, alias
Mohegan in
New London —
my Parents were altogether Heathens —
and I was educated by them in their heathenish Notions —
and though there was a Sermon preached to our
Mohegan Tribe Some Times, yet
many of the Indians regarded not the
Christian Religion at all, but persisted in their heathenish
ways — and my Parents in particular, who
were very Strong in the
customs of their forefathers — They led a wandering Life up and
down
down in the wilderness,
as my Father was a great Hunter
— and thus I lived
with them until I was sixteen years old —
after this
there was a great religious Concern in those
parts, in which the Indians shared —
[guess: these]
extraordinary
[illegible: [guess: Stories]]
gained my attention and I began to hear
and think about the Christian Religion, and was under
great Trouble in mind for Some Time — I
thought that
the Religion which I heard at this Time was a new
thing among
mankind; and that they never had
heard of such a way of Salvation before so ignorant
was I — and when I was
seventeen years old, I got
a Hope in Christ — and as my mind was affected with the
things of Religion, I began to
learn to read, though I
went to no School 'til I was in my 19th year, when I
went to the
Rev.
Mr. Wheelock’s and spent four years
there, and was most of the Time in a very low State of
Health. This is a True account of that
part of my Life
and Education.
Samson Occom
This short account of himself perfectly agrees with what he
has more fully told me.
and it is what, I suppose,
is well known to be true.
Test
Eleazar Wheelock —
false Reports of
Peters Coming
and of
Mr. Occom Rectified in the
public Prints —
February 1766.