John Thornton, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1771 April 26

Author Thornton, John

Date26 April, 1771

Call Number771276

abstractThornton writes that he is grieved at the troubles between Wheelock and Kirtland. He warns that there has been “almost an outcry” over a misuse of the funds raised for the Indian Charity School, and that Whitaker is not well-liked in England. He hopes that reports of Occom drinking are untrue.

handwritingFormal, stylized handwriting is curvy and bold yet clear and legible.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, but there is heavy creasing; the central vertical crease has been reinforced.

inkBrown-black.

EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain

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

Persistent Identifier

Dear and Rev Sir—
I have now to thank you for your favors of the
9th November and 3rd December As it is my sincere desire to alleviate
that load of anxieties and Care that you must necessarily
be under for I bear you much upon my heart and I do
believe I may safely assure you that my poor prayers
are not wanting, I trust that kind Lord that has upheld
you hitherto will long continue your valuable life and
direct and guide you through every intricacy, I was sorry
to hear of Mr. Kirtlands going over to the Boston Trust
which I did my utmost to prevent and with that view
offered to assist him with Money if his exigencies
required it, he had complained of your unkindness
on account of some disagreement with your Son
which also Mr. Whitefield mentioned to me as well
as himself, he is as you well know a valuable Man
much owned and blessed, his Zeal runs away with him
sometimes and consequently leads him into some mistakes
but I believe even then his intention is commendable
and all that will be set right by the Discipline of the

Spirit by a little more experience, you well know what
slow proficients the best of us are in the School of Christ
the great forbearance we require and will I dare say make
every possible allowance, manifesting the Law of kindness
is wrote upon your heart, I hope all breaches will be
made up and every mistake over looked, the Gentlemen of
the Boston Trust on this side are not in our Sentiments and
I wish that may not be a bar to a perfect union
for they have testified opposition hitherto and you would
be grieved to see, how much has been said about
the Trust being abused and the Moneys applied to very
different purposes from that for which it is collected
and there has been almost an outcry about it, that
you must let the benefactions on your side be em
ployed towards the Building of both School and College
as we really have not a power vested in us to apply
our Monies to any Building, if this should put you
to any difficulty I am ready to assist you with 4
to £500 out of my private fortune or the double thereof if you judge it needful but we must
let our yea be yea and our nay nay for whatever is more
then this cometh of evil, many things have been said
on this side maliciously to hurt the Cause but it matters

little for by our Master we stand or fall and the most that
speak against us is on account of the Cause we are engaged
in, however we must not only take heed that our end is
right, but also that it is rightly pursued and that we give
no just occasion to those that such occasion, it has
been surmised (but barely so) that you had changed your
religious Sentiments and was disposed to Sandimans senti
ments, I trust that like every other Calumny is believed
by few, that are acquainted with Jesus and those who do
pretend to believe it, don't know what it means, I
presume you know Dr. Whitaker was thought a double
minded Man and artful while on this side the Water
that his espousing your Cause can by no means help it
I really believe all the Gentlemen of the Trust have
a just opinion of your Conduct, and as far as they think
they consistently can they will go hand in hand with
you, but where they can not do it without Infring
ing on the Trust it can't be expected and they will
not depart one tittle therefrom—
 I was grieved at what I heard of Mr. Occom indeed
I Fear he had hard usage and that drove him into
the horrid Sin of drinking, pray my dear sir use
him tenderly for I am much mistaken if his heart

is not right with God, I apprehend the Trust can
have no objection to your assisting him occasionally
if you can not do it for them, pray do it for me and
draw the money as before
 I send you herewith a List of the Bills that
have appeared all which are taken care of and as
there will be a necessity of producing some accounts
I hope you will forward them as soon as possible
 I trust every blessing of Covenant love will be
vouchsafed and that your unwearied endeavors will
be crowned with abundant success which will
most sincerely rejoice

Dear sir—
Your much devoted affectionate Servant

John Thornton
If I mistake not the
Rev. Mr. John Todd is
your Neighbour and a valuable one
I saw an account from him in July 1768 when he was
bringing up some young Men for the Ministry and I liked
what I saw so well that I was glad to throw in my
Mite to forward the good Work — Dr. Whitherspoon
gives me a pleasing account of a great revival at his College
in New Jersey
, that the Lord has many witnesses far and near.

from Esq. Thornton April 26. 1771.
From John Thornton Esq. April 26. 1771.

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