Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Nathaniel Whitaker, 1766 April 5

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date5 April, 1766

ms number766255

abstractWheelock writes to update Whitaker -- in England on the fundraising tour of Great Britain -- on the progress of various students and missionaries, and on Whitaker’s family.

handwritingHandwriting is small and crowded, with several deletions and additions. Letter case is frequently difficult to decipher.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in fair condition, with moderate wear and creasing. Worn edges cause a minor loss of text.

inkDark black-brown ink appears to be iron gall, and has eaten through the paper in spots.

noteworthyThere are pencil marks in the lower margins on one recto and two verso.

EventsMason Land Case, Fundraising Tour of Great Britain

Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.

Persistent Identifier
Rev. and dear sir.
Hitherto we have heard nothing from you since your Embarkation — I now begin to expect news from you every Day — I have nothing new to [gap: faded][guess: communicate] excepting the Death of My dear Joseph Woolley — The account of which came to me 8 Days ago — He died of a consumption last November at Onaquaga — his Death is much lamented by the Indians — He had much Recommended Religion by a very exemplary con­versation — had exerted himself much to erect a School in a Tuscarora Town — where, and at Onaquaga, a few miles distance he had a prospect of two Schools consisting of near 50 children — He was well accomplished for usefulness — and I hoped in a few years might make an able Preacher to the Savages in their own Tongue —
When Mr. Smith came home and told me of his exceeding pru­dent discrete conduct, and his great Zeal and engagedness in the Redeemers cause — my Hopes concerning him were raise[gap: worn_edge][guess: d] very high — but God is teaching us that he did not need him at all — I trust he is now with the blessed —  The chiefs of that Tribe Met in Council to condole his Death, and wrote me a Letter to assure me, they had done all they could to Save his Life, and were heartily Sorry for his Death etc. —
Mr. Titus Smith has So far recovered that he has been with me 3. weeks, and left me 5. Days ago, but I much fear his Health is So broken, that he will never more be employed as a missionary — Mr. Kirtland is not yet returned — but by all I can hear our prospects are very Good — David's Winter School at Oneida consists of 27 children how many in Mr. Kirtlands I have not yet heard — I hope in my next to give you a more particular account of all affairs — I haven't yet called a meeting of our Board because I wait for Mr. Kirtland's arival, if it may be first — I expect we Shall employ 4 missionaries and 8 school­masters at least the ensuing season. viz. Messrs. Chamberlain Kirtland
From Mr. Wheelock April 5. 1766
Kirtland, Burritt, and Kinne, or Potter — and it may be all of them — But this matter, you know will be deter­­mined by the Board. The schoolmasters whom I expect will be employed are the 3. Collegians viz. Johnson, Avery, and McCluer, and with them three Indian associates viz Jacob, Joseph Johnson, and Samuel — and besides these David and Hezekiah in their last years [gap: hole][guess: Sc]hools — the 3. college lads are designed to go into Tribes where they may Likely be Sent as missionaries when they get through College, in order to learn the Languages of the respective Tribes, which they Expect to Serve — They are all well inured to their Blanket Bed, and seem to be in good Spirits for the undertaking — The Lord mercifully grant them his Special presence —  I have forgot whether, Johnson above mentioned was with me before you went away or not, he belongs to Durham and is in his 2nd year at College — I esteem him well turned for the business —
your dear spouse and Family were all well as usual a few Days ago — Mr. Woodward yet continuing in the school there, and resides in Your House to Comfort Mrs. Whitaker and your Family — Your people have been expecting Mr. Deming of Wethersfield to preach to them — but I haven't heard that he is come to them —.
My son Rodulphus yet continues in this School, and though in a poor State of Health, he gives me much Comfort —
Mr. Whitefield's undertaking to patronize the Cause which you are upon gives me much hope that God designs success to it — I hope God has inspired him for the very Purpose
I hope Mr. Occom will keep entirely clear of Masons affair you know the Temper of the Government and in whom alone their resentments will terminate if there should be the least occasion given — I perceive that Numbers Stand ready charged to Salute me with a whole volley if they can get any fair pretence for it — I am the only Rogue — the Commissioners would have no Hand in the Affair —
I herewith send you 3 of Mr. Allen's answers to Pilate
please to give one with my best Regards to Dr. Gifford and another to Mr. Whitefield — and please to let me know when you can what they think of Them —
I conclude our dear Mr. Smith will be on his Return before this reaches you — If he Should not Salute him most heartily in my name — I know you will not fail to write me by every opportunity, and direct me how and where to write you If an Incorporation Should be obtained which I hope in God for, if he sees it best, It will perhaps be best to transmit it to me with out any noise 'til it reaches me —
I am not at all Solicitous about present Supplies for The missionaries and schoolmasters if we Should fail of receiving any from you before they shall need them and [illegible]ely the prospect of Large Donations from Home will animate Numbers to contribute for the furtherance of it 'til they come —
Mr. Peck writes me that the Honourable Robert Hooper of Marblehead has received an animating Letter from sir William Johnson Recommending and encouraging my design — Which I hope will open his Heart and purse a good deal — I hope General Johnson's Son now, I suppose, in England, will greatly befriend the Cause —  you will excuse inaccuracies, and accept a packet of Love, from My dear sir, your Brother [gap: hole][guess: and] Fellow Servant in the Lords House —
From Mr. Wheelock from April 5 — etc.
April. 29. found yours to March. 3rd at your House about an hour after Mrs. Whitaker received it, and found it full of matter and much that is very Good. bless the Lord o My Soul and all that is within me — God has inspired Mr. Whitefield for the very Purposes — I Shall do everything in my Power for the furtherance of your design — The Board are to meet at Hartford next week — I find it difficult to determine where to fix the School —
Wyoming on Susquehanna if it were practicable I should on the whole prefer to any other place — by this Time you are acquainted with Gen. Lymans Affair and likely his prospect of success has occasioned you and Friends to think whether it will not do to carry the School with him if he obtains — My Friends are generally loathe to go so far — the Lord direct; to him I desire to commit the Affair — but you will hear further as soon as possible 30. received four Letters from Dr. Mr. Kirtland. which contain the substance of his Journal Since last fall which consists of four Sheets — in general the aspect is promising on the Sordid Senecas — I expect him here within three weeks and then I will endeavour to Serve you with his Journal —
I have none of the Indian Manufactures by me worth Sending to you — will write to the Boys in the wilderness to bring some when they come —
Mr. Chamberlai[gap: hole][guess: n] came down last week his prospects are Good. — hope we shall make him ready to return very Soon — have heard nothing yet from Mr. Moseley at Onaquaga Our greatest Difficulty will be for Suitable Interpreters till my Boys are fit for it — Moses and Johannes have Served Mr. Chamberlain hitherto but they are too young and not enough masters of their own Tongue to be ready and accurate in the business —
David bids fair to be a very useful man. He has got the Tribe at Oneida very much under his Thumb — they both Love and fear him — his School has consisted of 27. or 28. Children through the winter — they have made great Proficiency in Singing as well as the Children in reading. —
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