John Thornton, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1772 May 12
Date12 May, 1772
Call Number772312.1
abstractThornton sends a copy of a letter from the Trustees in England to Occom (dated May 5, 1772), granting him 50 pounds, then 25 pounds a year to Christianize Indians. Thornton also exhorts Wheelock to be more charitable in his judgment towards Kirkland and Occom, both of whom he admires.
handwritingDocument is written in two different hands, both clear and legible.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is heavily silked, which results in a significant dimming of text.
inkThere are two different inks used on this document, a medium brown and a dark brown.
noteworthyOne recto and the first half of one verso is a copy of a letter from the Trustees to Occom. It appears that Thornton has also included a copy of a letter to Thornton from Occom, though this copy does not remain.
signatureThere are several signatures, including copies of the signatures of several members of the Trust in England.
layoutOne recto and verso are in portrait orientation (aside from a note written in landscape orientation); but two recto and verso are in landscape orientation.
Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Stipend out of the monies entrusted with us for christianizing the Indians
and as we [gap: tear][guess: do] think it will be a means of enabling you to employ yourself still
more fully in that arduous work you are engaged in and we have had Experience
of your desire to promote the glory of God we very cheerfully acquiesce
therein.
sent us from Norwich we trust we have no just ground to fear any abuse of
our Confidence and we expect you will not only attend duty to the five places
of Indians you now preach at but also continue to go to Long Island and get
even among the Onondagas if your health permits it.
and the heavy charge of your family that we come to a resolution to allow you
Fifty Pounds immediately which you may give a Bill on the Treasurer
for, and you have our permission further to draw every Six Months for Twenty
five Pounds if you hear nothing from us to the contrary.
be a means of strengthening your heart and hands to go on cheerfully preaching
the Gospel of Jesus Christ and adorning it in Life and Conversation.
therefore rely on your improving these advantages which will be ever a
very great satisfaction to
Your assured Fr[gap: tear][guess: ie]nds etc.
Signed — Dartmouth
S.S. Smythe
John Thornton
Charles Hardy
Dan: West
Samuel Savage
Robert Keene
I received from Mr. Occom as thereby
you may see his present skill
and manner of writing which has
always been such as I can’t
but approve and what I now
send is the answer to it
the Trust to the Revd Mr Occom as also Copy of
what I wrote him therewith and I must freely tell
you I think you have bore hard on him through
the influence of that Mischief maker Dr. Whitaker
and some others who I can not think so well of As
I do of this poor Man; your Eyes are now opened
respecting dear Mr. Kirkland who was Also traduced
To The Rev. Mr. Samson Occom at Mohegan.
Mr. Kirkland of Mr. Occom and let me pray you to put to my
account every offence of his, I will willingly bear it for him
he is deserving of your tender compassion, he is worthy of
your utmost kindness and love, put yourself in his case but for
a minute and you can’t surely but see he has been severely tried
and yet he complained of no particular person that I have heard
of, but bore all with more resignation and patience then most
would have done, he was deceitfully used and manifestly misrepre
sented by Dr. Whitaker, unassisted by all; (very near if not
quite) excepting myself; distressed in his Family; by disuse
while labouring for the public rendered incapable of the Labour
his situation required — his poor situation rendered more
penurious by means of Indian Visitors; his eldest Son like yours
hurt by not being under proper control with this difference
that he did not save appearances — and what is the worst of
all the Enemy was permitted to fall upon him and lead him into
the horrid [gap: tear] drunkenness and this twice and pray is it not a sa[gap: tear][guess: d]
sorry to be in the Case of these sorry Whisperers and Backbiters, may
it be returned to them in this World that they perish not everlastingly
I am convinced Mr. Occom never received a penny from the
Money collected in Scotland as those would make you believe
spurn such venomous Tongues from you and let your heart and
hand be with such as Mr. Kirkland and Mr. Occom who are
Israelites indeed in whom you’ll find no guile and if they are
clouded for a Season they will rise bright at the last.
Nothing but the glorious cause we are engaged in, would have
led me to add in any measure to your Grief, but I do hope
to know neither Father Son Wife nor any one where the
Lord my God is concerned, let not then my dear Sir your
Sons false Friends delude you as they have done, by misrepre
sentation; and be ready to believe good but not evil of any.
May every Covenant blessing attend you and yours is the sincere
and fervent prayer of