Samson Occom, journal, 1787 September 20 to December 5
Author
Occom, Samson
DateSeptember 20 to December 5, 1787
ms number787520.1
abstractOccom describes his activities as an intinerant preacher and community
leader in the fall and early winter of 1787.
handwritingHandwriting is largely clear and legible. There are
uncrossed t's and crossed l's that have been corrected by the transcriber.
paperSmall sheets folded together into a booklet and bound with thread
or twine are in fair-to-poor condition, with moderate-to-heavy yellowing
and wear.
The outer pages are especially worn, resulting in some loss of text. Repair
work
has been done on these outer pages.
inkBrown ink varies in intensity throughout.
noteworthyAn editor, likely 19th-century, has overwritten Occom's hand
in spots, and added the note “ Sep. 20, 1787 Thursday to Dec. 5, 1787 Weday”
to
one recto. These edits have not been transcribed.
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Deletions removed; additions added in;
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Thursday
September 20. 1787
Just at Night had a meeting
at
widow
Fowlers, and there
was not many People, and
I gave them a few words
of
of Exhortation, from Luke
VI. 8 and the People attended
with great
Solemnity, and
Some affection — after meeting
I went to
Brother Davids and
Lodged there — —
Friday
September 21
Some Time
in the morning, went to
Stockbridge,
David Fowler Jr. went with me,
we got there about 2, Call
on
Mr.
Sargeant, and he ap
peared good conditioned, and
So to
Sir Peters, and
direct
[gap: tear] from there, we went to m
[gap: tear][guess: eet]
ing and there was conside
rable number of People,
and I Spoke from Mark V. 9
and there was very good
at
tention, This meeting was
designed, Chiefly for the young
People,— Soon after meeting
went back to
Sir Peter's, and
took Some refreshment, and
Soon after sunset, went
to meeting again, and there
was great Number of People
and
there was Several, that
related their
exercises of
mind; three men, three wo
men, relate their exercises, a
Young man, and a married
woman, manifested their de‐
sire of being
baptized, and
Some Children, were to be Bap
tized all also,—
Mr.
Sargeant
[gap: tear][guess: m]ade Some objection, against
two Being baptized, but
the Professors, gave their fel
lowship, to their desire, — and
So we broke up our meeting
Some late in the Evening, I
to
Peter's and there I lodged,
and had good rest — —
Saturday September 22
was all Day at the Place, — —
Sabbath
September 23:
about 10 we
went to meeting, and there was
a large number of People,
many
of our People from
Brothertown Came also, and
Some White were there, and
Mr.
Sargeant, read a discourse
to the Indians, in their Tongu
[gap: worn_edge][guess: e] and read it also in English,
he read his Prayer also in
Indian, and he prayed part
ly in English — — — —
In the afternoon I tried
to Preach, I Spoke from
Acts X. 34. 35 and there was
very
great Solemnity, Some
were much affected,— and
I Baptized, at this
Time
Eight persons two adults and
the rest Children; The Name
of the Young is
Solomon and the woman
[gap: omitted]
Soon after meeting I went
to
Sir Peters.
— In the evening
we had another meeting, one
of the men rehearsed, what
had delivered in the Day,
after meeting went back
with
Sir Peter and Lodged
there again — —
Tuesday
September 25:
our Place to help and Some of our men Came
also. — —
wednesday
I had help again 'til after Noon —
Thursday
September 27
in
the Evening, had meeting
at
Widow
Fowler's, there
was but few People, and I
Spoke from
[gap: omitted] and
there was a Solemn attention
after I had done
Speaking
two of our People Spoke a
words one after another. and
when they had done a white
man got up and Spoke, and
he Spoke
with a feeling sense
of Divine Concerns, he gave
an account of a
remarka
Saturday September 29
a Comfortable rest — —
Sabbath
September 30
got up very
Early and Prayed together
and then we set
off. we had
near four Miles to go and
it was extremely Bad riding
Dreadful miry,— we got
to the Place just as
Esq. White was about taking
breakfast, and we sat
down with them — and Soon
after breakfast, we went
to meeting to another house
and there was a large number
of People, and I Spoke from
Isaiah 43: 21: and there was
great attention in the As
sembly I believe they felt
the weight of the word,—
after meeting, I went home
with
Mr. Weatmore, and
took Dinner with them,
in the afternoon meeting
was removed to this house
on account of a funeral
that is to be attended in
this house, for an Infant
just Born died in this
house last Monday, it
lived about two Hours after
it was Born, and they
have kept the corpse to
this Day, for they expected
me here this Day, this
is the first Death that
happened in this Place.
Since it has been Settled
it
has been Settling three
years, and it is now a
large settlement. this
afternoon I Spoke from
Isaiah 38: 1 and it was
a Solemn Time indeed
many were deeply affect
ted there was a Shower
of Tears, Soon after meet
ing we Carried
the little
corpse to the grave it was
but a few Rods from
the house, after Burying
returned to the house,—
in the Evening went to
Mr. L[illegible][guess: e]vingworth's and Spent the
evening there,— about 10
went
back to
Mr. Weatmores and
Lodged there —
Monday October 1
got up
early took breakfast
with Family, after break
fast went to
Esq. Whites, and
got ready, and about 9
we set off for Home,
Lt. White
and
Mr. Leavett went
to our Place,— as we passed
along, took Notice of the
Settlement, and it is a
fine Spot of Land,
and
a very large Spot too,
and the People has made
a rapid
progress in Cul
tivating the Land, if the
People were as engaged
in Religion as they are. in
their Temporal
Concerns.
this Settlement would be
very much like the
garden of
Eden, which was the gar
den of god. the Lord be
with
them and bless them
that they may indeed be
a Peculiar
People unto
god, that they may be
Lights in this Wilderness —
We stopped a While at
Clinton,— and we got
Home just as the Sun
was Setting. — —
Thursday
October 4:
in the
Evening had a meeting in
Widow Fowlers, and there
was but few People,
and
I Spoke from
[gap: omitted] and we had a Comforta
ble season —–
Sabbath
October 7:
and there was not many
People, and I Spoke from
[gap: omitted] and we had a
Solemn meeting; lodged
at
Brother Davids —
—
Tuesday
October 9:
about
1 in the afternoon, I set
off for
Clinton, got there
Some Time before Night
stopped a little while at
Mr.
Joness to See
his
wife had been Sick Some Time
and She was very poorly,
and went
from there to
Capt. Foot's and in the
Evening the People Collec
ted
together and I Spoke
to them from John XXI: 22
and there was great So
lemnity amongst the People
I believe Some felt the weight
of
the word,— the beginning
of last March there was
no house in this Place, a
perfect wild Wilderness,
Now there are 20 Families
and there were
Seventy odd
persons in the meeting this
evening. and have made
great apperance in
their
improvements. there are
Chiefly from
New
England and youngerly People — —
Wednesday
October 10
Stayed here 'til after Dinner, and then went to a Certain house between this Place, and
Whitesbourough about half
way, the mans
Name is
Blanchet, I got there Some
Time
before Night, and had
a meeting, and there was
a Considerable Number
of People, and I Spoke
from Psalm CVII. 31: and
the People
attended exceed
ing well, this was all a
wild Wilderness in the
beginning of last Spring and
now the People are Settling
all along from
Whitesbourgh to
Clinton — in few Years
this will be Settled thick
as any
part of the globe
the Land is so good, it draws
all Sorts of People and
Nations are flocking here Continually — —
Thursday
October 11
Some
Time breakfast I set
off
for home,-– stopped a while
at
Capt. Foots in
Clinton and took Dinner there.
and Soon after Dinner
went
on again, got to
my Daughters — and in
the evening we
had a meet
ing
Sister
Esther, and
was not many People,
and I Spoke from Psalms
CVII. 31 and there was an
uncommon attention, many
were deeply
affected. —
Friday
October 12
Some
Time in the morning I
set
off for
Stockbridge and had a meeting there
in the Evening, and I Spoke
from
[gap: omitted] and there was
good attention, lodged at
Sir Peters — — —
Saturday October 13:
About
2 in the afternoon I went
to
Deanville, got to the Place
about sunset
Peter went
with me found
Mrs. Dean exceedingly distressed
with uncommon Difficulties
in her Pregnancy, and
Peter and I went to
Mr.
Jonathan Deans and Lodged there,
and 2. o'clock in the Night
I was called up, to the other
house, and Bleed
Mrs. Dean and I went directly, and
found her much distressed
and took Blood from her
foot, and Bled exceeding
well,— and
her distresses
begun to mitigate direct
ly, and I stayed the rest
of the Night and She was
Some what Comfortable —
I was called up again be‐
fore Day to write to doctor for
them, for they were Sending
to
Albany for one, and were
Sending for
Mr. Dean too
for he had been gone Some
Time to
Spencertown — —
Sabbath
October 14:
about 10 the People got together, and there was a large number of People,
many white
People from other Places
and many Indians from
Both our Towns, I Spoke
from Matthew V. 20: and 5 and
there was a Solemn attention
all Day. Soon after meet
ing
Peter and I went to
Clinton got there a little after sun
set, we put up at
Capt. Foots
and the People Collected
directly and there was
quite
a large number, and I Spoke
from
[gap: omitted] we lodged
at the Same, house
and
had Comfortable rest —
Monday October 15:
Soon after breakfast went to mill, and was there Some Time, before we
we could get grinding —
we got to our Place about
1: and
Sir Peter
passed on
to his Place —
Thursday
October 18:
Went to
Stockbridge to a
wedding just before sun
set, attended upon Marriage
the young man was, one
the Sachem's Son and
the
young woman was of noted
Family, and there was
a vast concourse of People
of many Nations, it was
Said, there were ten different
Languages among the people
and the People behaved de
cently, but
the Oneidas be
gan to behave unseemly,
and in the Night the had
a terrible
frolic even all
Night — — —
Friday
was all Day
at the Place,— in the e
vening we
Collected together
at
Capt.
Hendricks I Spoke
from Matthew 6: 22:23 and there
was a Solemn attention, after
I had done
Capt.
Hendrick
rehearsed the Same, lodged
at the Same house — —
Sabbath. October 21:
about 10 the People got together and was a large Number of People Some white People and I Spoke from
John XIII 17
[gap: omitted] and the People were very Solemn and many were affected,
Lodged at the Same house — —
Monday October 22,
in the
evening had a meeting in
Sister Fowlers, and there
was not many People and
I Spoke from
[gap: omitted] and the People attended well
lodged at the Same house
Tuesday
October 23.
People
from
Stockbridge Came to
help me. they were 5 of them
and they
worked two Days
Thursday
October 24:
we
were called
suddenly to
appear before the Chiefs
of
the Oneida, that had just
Come to our Place, — and
we eat our breakfast in
haste, and went directly to
widow Fowlers, and there
the chiefs meet with us,
and it was about our Lands
But there was Such Confu
sion, I would not Say a
word about it, it was a
party scheme, contrived by
a few of our People, they
been agreeing with the
the Oneidas for a Piece
of Land; without the know
ledge of the
Headmen
of the Place, Some of the
Contrivers of this mischief
were much intoxicated
and they drove on the
business with all fury in
no order, it was like
Whirlwind, Sometime
towards Night we broke
up and every one went his
way: in great confusion
of mind,— I went to
Brother Davids and there lodged
with a Sorrowful mind. — —
Friday
October 25
was at our Places all Day
Sabbath
October 27
about
half after 10 we began
the exercise, and there was
a large Number of People
Some from other Places, and
Several
Stockbridgers were
with us, and there was very
great
attention, both be‐
fore noon and after noon
I Spoke from John,
I know
you that the Love of god is
not in you, in the
after
noon from Mark VIII. 36.37
as Soon as the meeting was
done, I went
off to
Brothertown,
the Stockbridgers went
with me, we got there a
bout sunset, we eat a
few mouthfuls and went
to meeting. at
Sister
Esthers
and there was not much
moving there Seemed to
be
Some party Spirit in
the meeting.—
Sabbath
November 4
and there was very Serious attention all Day
Sabbath
November 11:
Preached
at
Brothertown once more
and Baptized
Brother David Fowler's Children
Six of them, and we had
a
Solemn Day of it, in
the evening we had a
nother meeting, and it
was a
Comfortable meet
ing — —
Monday November 12
this
Day intended to Set out
for home but it began
in the morning, and So
stopped for the Day —
Wednesday
November 14
got up
very early and went on
stopped a little while at
Esq. Franks, and So passed
on, and stopped at
Andrews Field and there we
took
Dinner, and passed on, and
we got to
Mr. Thomas Chreppens
just before sunset and we
Lodged there, and we had
a meeting this evening, and
there
was a consideralble
number
of People,— and it was a
refreshing Time I Spoke
from these words, Love is
the fulfilling of the Law,—
Thursday
November 15:
we
were at the Place all
Day we went to See Some
friends — Lodged at
Mr. waulrods — —
Friday
November 16:
Some
Time in the afternoon
had a meeting in
Mr. Pickards
and there was a large number
of People, and I Spoke from
Matthew,
[gap: omitted] he doeth the will
of my Father the Same is
my
Brother etc.: and the
People attended well. — —
Saturday November 17:
was
at the Place, Towards night
went to
Brother
Nicholas Pickards, and in the even
ing a few People Came
to
gether to sing, and we
Lodged there. — —
Sabbath. November 18
had a
meeting at
Mr. Dyks and
there were So many People
we were obliged to
meet out
in the Field, and it very
warm, I Spoke from Psalm
cxix. o how
Love I thy Law etc.
and it was a Solemn meet
ing, — towards Night I marri
ed a couple, and it was a
Solemn wedding, conducted
very agreeable, Supped
with them — and Soon after
Supper,
we went to old
Mr.
Stansels, and there we
had a meeting, and there
was a large
Collection of
People, and I Spoke from
[gap: omitted] and they attended
well we lodged at the Same
house — — —
Monday November 19:
took
leave of Some of my Friends
and So went out of the
Place, the girls
rode along
with me a little ways and
took leave of them, They
went on with Tears, and
I went on my way stopped
at
Brother Swans and
took breakfast with
them, and Soon after
eating I went on. and
was going on, but
was obliged
to wait Some Time for a girl
that was going with me, but
they could not find the horse
that She was to ride, and so
I took her behind me, and
went a
Little way, and a
young man overtook us
and I desired him to take
her behind him, and he
readily
took her and we
went on, and Soon got to
Bowmans Creek, where I
was to preach, and
the People
had been waiting Some Time
and So I began the worship
of god directly, and there
was but few People, I Spoke
from
[gap: omitted] I Lodged
at
Mr. Whites, — —
Tuesday
November 20:
got me
up early, and went to
Esq.
Kimballs and there took
breakfast,— Towards Night
I went to
Esq. Younglove's
and just in the evening
People began to Come in
and there was a large number
Collected, and I Spoke to
them
from, Matthew 6: 33:
and there was a Solemn at
tention. I lodged at the Same
house but lay uncomforta
ble all Night. — —
Wednesday
November 21:
got up
very early, and had my
horse brought, and I went
to
Cherry
Valley, and it was
rainy, and I on fast
and Soon got to the Place
called on
Col.
Camble, and
there took breakfast, and
about 10 went to meeting
at
[illegible]one
Mr. Rechee's and
there was a considerable
of People, and I Spoke
from Psalm CVII and the
People attended well, and
Soon
after meeting went
to
Col.
Cambles again
and there Dined; and was
detained by a blacksmith
he was shoeing my horse,
and I could not get away
'til the Sun was going down
and then I went to
Bowmans Creek got there Some Time
in
the evening, it was very
bad riding, and Some few
People got together, at
Mr. Whites. and I Baptized a
Child for one
Mr.
Griswool by the Name of
Joenna,
and Lodge at the Same
house and rest well.—
Thursday
November 22
got up
early, and went over to
to
Esq.
Kimball, and took
breakfast, and Soon after
eating, went off and, got
to
Mr. Romines Some Time
in the afternoon, and stopped
there awhile and took Some
Victuals, and Soon after went
on again, got to one Mr.
[gap: omitted] and Lodged there
here I met with a woman
that was much
in exercise
of mind and had Some Con
versation with her, and
found under great Concern
of Soul, and I gave her
advice and counsel — —
Friday
November 23:
got up early
in the morning, and went
on, got to
Capt.
Greggs
about breakfast Time
and took breakfast with
him, and Soon after went
on again, and got to
Mr. Vedders before 10: and went
over
the River, and stopped
at
Mr. Bartlet's and there took
Dinner and Soon after got
up my horse. and went to
Yankee Hill, and Lodged
at
Mr. Mudges the People
got together directly, and
I obliged to preach to them
before I went to Bed, and it
was a Solemn Time, the
Christians got quite warm
Some Spoke. — —
Saturday November 24:
Rose very
early, and I went to
Esq. Harper's
Mr. Mudge went
with me, Soon got there and
found them all well, there
took
Breakfast, and stayed
'til after Dinner, and then
went back to
Mr. Mudges and
was there but few minutes and
I passed by and went to Mr.
[gap: omitted] and just in the evening
People began to come in and
the house Soon filled, and
I was obliged to preach to
them, I spoke from the
words Set thy
house
etc.
and there was great Solemni
ty, and affection amongst
the People, I lodged at the
Same house, and rested
Comfortably. — —
Sabbath
November 25
about 9
to the Place of meeting and
there was a prodigious number
of People and I Spoke from
Job: XXIII. 8: 1 John 1: 6: and there
was great Solemnity amongst
Soon after meeting I took dinner
with
Mr. Frank, and then went
to
Mr. Bartlet's by
the River,
and
had another meeting there. and
there was a large Number of
People. and
attend well, but
just as the last Singing was
began,
Mr. Bartlets Daughter fainted, and we desisted
singing
and I Lodged not at the Same
house, but I went over to
Mr. Vedder's east Side of the
River, and rested well.— —
Monday November 26:
got up
early, and after Break
fast, went over the other Side
of
the
River, and just
called
at
Mr. Bartlets and got my
up and took leave of them
called on
Mr. Keenys a few
Minutes, and passed on, — in
the evening had a meeting
at
Mr. Andrew Eliots and
was great many People.
and I Spoke from
[gap: omitted]
visited a Young woman
that was very Sick, pray
with her,. — —
—
Tuesday
November 27:
got up early and to visit the young woman again, and She was
somewhat better, and then took leave of them and other Families, and
to one
Mr.
[gap: omitted] and there was many People, and Lodged there —
—
wednesday
November 28:
towards
Night went over
the River
to one
Mr. Groot and Preached
there in the Evening, and
there was great many people
and Lodged there, —
Thursday
November 29:
went back
to west Side of
the River, and
got up my horse at
Mr. Mertin Vanolendas; and
took leave of them, and just
as I got on my horse, I heard Some
one halloo and I looked to
the River, and behold I Saw
my Saw my Son
Anthony and his Family, and they
went Down
the
River they
a canoe. and I went on
to
Schenectady, I got there
Some Time in the afternoon
and put up at
Mr. John Posts
just before night
Anthony got there also: I visited Some
few Friends, Lodged at
old
Mr.
Post's my good old
Friend. — — —
Friday
November 30
got up
early and
Mr. John Posts
and got up my horse
and
went down
the river a
little
and went over. and so on
Downwards, to a Place called
put at Mr.
[gap: omitted] here Lives
Mr.
Jonathan Mudge a Baptist Preacher, in the
afternoon
Preached, and
there was great many people
Spoke from what is thy Name
in the evening had another
meeting there was a large number
again. Lodge at the house where
the meeting was, — — —
Sabbath: December 2:
after break
fast, went with the Family
in a large canoe to Church
over to
Niskayuna. and there
was large gathering of people
and I Spoke to them from
[gap: omitted]
and as Soon as the meeting
was
over, I went back to
Mr.
Fishers and took Dinner with
them, and Soon after, went to
back
in the woods, and preached
Twice, and lodged at the last
house I Preached in — —
Monday December 3
went to
new Town and preached at Mr.
[gap: omitted]
spoke from
[gap: omitted] and Soon after meeting went
to the
Southward, and stopped
at
Mr. Conell, and took Dinner
there, and then went to
another house and Preached
there, and Soon after meeting
went back to
Mr. Conells and
Lodged there — — —
Tuesday
December 4:
got up
early and went to one old
schoolmasters and there took
breakfast, and Soon aft
[gap: tear][guess: er] went to
half Moon Church,
[gap: tear]
stopped at one
Mr.
Clutes a
[gap: tear][guess: nd] from thence to Colo
[gap: omitted] and to
Capt.
Compstocks
[gap: tear]
[gap: tear][guess: w]as there a while, and
[gap: tear][guess: J]ust as I was going away
Brother Peter Pauquunnuppeet Came to me, and was glad
to See him, and then Came
also
Mr. John Venderwarker and we went with him to
his house, and Lodged there
Wednesday, December 5
in the afternoon
went to the Church and preached
there, but there was not man
[gap: tear][guess: y] People, I Spoke from
[gap: omitted] Soon
after meeting went ba
[gap: tear][guess: ck]
with
Mr. Venderwarker a
[gap: tear][guess: nd] Lodged there —
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