Samuel Kirkland, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1766 March 6 Kirkland, Samuel Text Markup Unit, Dartmouth College Library Conversion to TEI P5 encoding Occom Circle Project Transcribed from the original manuscript Dartmouth College National Endowment for the Humanities Schweitzer, Ivy. Dartmouth College Department of English and Women's Studies The Occom Circle A digital edition Trustees of Dartmouth College
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766206 10.1349/ddlp.887

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 Letter Kirkland writes a lengthy letter describing his work among the Senecas, and touching upon, among other things, his concerns regarding Chamberlain and his mission. USA New Hampshire Hanover Rauner Special Collections Library, Dartmouth College. DC History MSS Samuel Kirkland, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1766 March 6 Kirkland, Samuel

Informal handwriting is small and frequently difficult to decipher. Kirkland frequently does not pick up his pen between words. Letter case is frequently difficult to discern, and there are several uncrossed t’s and crossed l’s. Due to the length and difficulty of the letter, instances of questionable letters, letter case, and deletions were transcribed as the writer likely intended. Two large sheets each folded in half to make four pages are in fair condition, with moderate staining, creasing and wear. There is repair work along particularly heavy creases. Brown ink is faded in spots, and dimmed by the condition of the paper. On two recto, the identity of the Gentlemen Correspondents is uncertain, and so they have been left untagged. On four recto, the identity of the Onaquaga Sachem is uncertain and so he has been left untagged. This document appears to be a serial letter written over the course of more than one sitting; and there appears to be some text/paper missing between two verso and three recto. If Kirkland's intention regarding a word or abbreviation is uncertain, that word or abbreviation has been left unmodified in the modernized transcription. The letter is signed twice, both times abbreviated.

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The Occom Circle Project is a digital edition of letters from and to Samson Occom (1727-1792), with other of his works. The documents in question are all housed in Dartmouth College's Rauner Special Collections Library. Occom was a Mohegan Indian, intertribal leader, public intellectual, and the most important Indian writer in North America in the 18th century.

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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) Occom Circle Project keywords and controlled vocabulary 6 March 1766 English To be added. To be added. January 2012 Emma Vance January 2014 K.G. Kidd January 2014 K.G. Kidd August 2014 K.G. Kidd Pre-publication TEI review Maninder Rakhra Pre-publication TEI review Kaunandausagea Kanadasaga 6th 6th March 1766 Rev.d Rev. & and Hond honoured Sir.

I've receivd received no Letter from you since last July— nor any particular acct account of your Welfare & and ye the State of your School;— wch which in eccesence essence is my main support in this gloomy wilderneſs wilderness .— I've been feeding myself for sometime wh with a fond hope yt that Mr Mr. Chamberlain has letters for me, only waits a safe opportunity of Conveyance.— tis it is now so long since his return, I quite despair,— have had no word at all from him— accidentally heard of his safe Arrival here.— I'm afraid my dear Fellow‐ Labourers. M Revd Rev. Meſsrs Messrs. Smith & and Chamberlain. will cast me quite out all Society,— because I'm settled among so bad a people, I being but little better my self myself . I can aſsure assure them, I'm doing my utmost to reform 'em them both.—

Revd Rev. S.r Sir I woud would now give you a short Acct account of my Situation.— My Prospects of succeſs success were so dark & and discouraging, last fall & and begining beginning of winter,— yt that I was ready sometimes to think I must give up ye the point,— yt that there was no such Thing as getting interest among this people at present. tho' though very neceſsary necessary & and important for ye the progreſs progress of your Design, by Their superiour superior Number & and great Influence over Other Nations.— I cou'd could not feel willing to give up ye the Cause whout without farther trial. I tho't thought it my duty to still use my utmost ( tho though very feeble) Endeavours, & and spare no pains, till 'til I should acquire yr their language. language

But thro' through a kind Providence Things now appear wh with another aspect,— somewhat encouraging.— I have lately spoke to the Chiefs & and head Warriours warriors of this, & and several other small adjacent Castles.— The substance of wch which , & and their Answer shall only mention to save you needleſs needless trouble.— I a'cquainted them more fully wt with my Design, Disposition, &c etc. — requiring of 'em them wt what was their real inclination wh with regard to my settling among them.— whether they were desirous, woud would recive receive & and embracing Christianity.— offer'd offered them several Argu‐ments to enforce ye the Matter, ſhew show its Consequence, & and desir'd desired 'em them to give it due conside‐ration.— In Their Answer, said. They had considerd considered the whole. of my Speech,— were intirely entirely satisfied wh with my Design, & and was certainly well disposd disposed ,— had their real good at heart.— yt that they believ'd believed ye the Ministers in N– New England were very good men, tho't thought of nothing but God & and heavenly Things.— woud would have me proceed in learning ye the Language,— yt that they wou'd would recve receive me & and embrace ye the Word of God.— When I shoud should think myself sufficiently acquainted wh with yr their Tongue to speak in public, they woud would be ready to hear me.— They desir'd desired me to cleave fast to this Town ( call'd called Kaunan‐dausagea Kana‐dasaga ) & and keep as good Orders as poſsible possible , by private advice & and admonitions, 'till 'til I shou'd should be able to ſpeak speak in public. — This was deliverd delivered to me in presence of eight persons (Chief & and head‐ warriours warriors ) who said ye the greatest part were thus minded,— & and yt that they woud would use their Influence yt that every one everyone shoud should give me good treatment & and listen to wt what I might say.—

I desir desire to be Thankful to the Father of Mercies for any hopeful prospects of succeſs success .— The agreeable Alteration in yr their Behaviour towards me adds much to ye the peace & and comfort of my life.— I'm yet encouraged to hope yt that thro' through ye the Graicious gracious Bleſsing blessing of God, I may be of Some some service to this people.— Their present Situation & and condition appears to me most miserable & and deplorable, I can scarcely find one who is in ye the least degree sensible of it,— or thinks wh with any Concern wt what will become of their Children after them.—

There are numbers of their most sensible Men, who now often visit me, & and enquire inquire wt what I think concerning them.— here & and there one I hope begins a little to see ye the Case & and are Affected wh with it always expreſs express a desire of my being able to speak in public.— Tho' Though They in general are strongly enclind inclined to think ye the God has two distinct ways of Goverment government for white people & and Indians,— yt that there are two Roads, wch which lead to Heaven.— imagine it wont be accepttable acceptable or well pleasing to God yt that these shoud should interfer interfere wh with each other.— They bring the English & and Canadian Mohawks for an expample,— whom they look apon as ye the worst & and most miserable of all Indians, ( tho' though they are mistaken as to ye the former) wch which is wholley wholly owing to their learning to pray as they call it.—

I have found out all yr their Traditions,— dont apprehend they will be any great obstruction to their receivg receiving ye the Goſpel Gospel .— The greatist greatest & and almost insurmountable difficulty is their being givin given ſo so much to strong drink. Their being a people whout without any proper form or kind of goverment government make Things appear something dark.— They exercise no kind of Au‐thority, nor have any kind of punishment for ye the highest Crime wtever whatever .— Every Town is like a little Republic,— & and again, every Family in some sence sense , & and still farther, every individual individual .

Houever However Notwithstanding these Discouragements, the Gospel of Jesus X Christ shoud should be offerd offered them.— The work is Gods— poor feeble Man can only be found in ye the Uſe use of Appointed Means,— must leave ye the Bleſsing blessing wh with him, who has ye the Sole wright right & and prerogative to give it,— who orders all Things, according to his own divine Counsel. — May the ever bleſsed blessed God grant his holy Spirit to accompany ye the means & and endeavours his People are now using for this purpose,— whout without wch which all will be in vain.—

Revd Rev. S.r Sir I hope soon to get so much influence as to procure several of their Youths for your School.— wch which when once accomplish'd accomplished , opens ye the way for farther improvement & and instruction here among them.— I have ye the promise of one wch which I trust wont fail & and partly of two more.— There are Numbers who are yet jealous of ye the English & and have reacd reached such deep rooted predjudcies prejudices against them, y.t that affairs of this kind must be managed wh with some tenderneſs tenderness & and moderation for ye the present.— I'm extreamly extremely sorry my great distance prevents frequent Communication, that I'm obligd obliged to act whout without your Knowledge & and advice. It gives me great purplexity perplexity & and exercise of mind.— Oh: that I might have divine wisdom & and prudence to conduct suitably in so great an affair,. He kept in ye the fear of ye the Lord.—

I'm daily gaining Ground, tho' though but slowly,— Im inclin'd inclined to think my poverty slavery, & and drudgery I've been oblig'd obliged to undergo, has been no disadvantage to ye the Cause. Neither am I sensible of any Injury to my Constitution by ye the hunggry hungry Spell & and peculiar hardships I underwent last Summer.— Bleſsed Blessed be God I have been hitherto enabled to endure ye the hardſhips hardships of an Indian Life.—

Revd Rev. Sir. I dont apprehend it will be best for ye the Interest of ye the Cause yt that I return this spring.— I'm just now as it were begining to get in to into yr their favour & and good esteem,— am able to liſt list a few Things of Gods holy word,— in a fair way for soon acquiring a tole‐rable knowledge of their Languge language , wch which I find very difficult.— Several of their Caſtles castles begin to have a favourable opinion of my deſign design .— But ye the Chief Town (calld Ch) is not so well disposd to it.— I want to convince ym them if poſsible possible of ye the ſincerity sincerity & and goodneſs goodness of ye the Design, before my return. I purpose God willing to Visit them next summer. You will please to write me your advice,— wh with wch which I shall comply.—

I have labour'd laboured under somany so many Discouragements & and some peculiar Trials ( wch which I dont think proper to mention here) yt that I have not made yt that proficiency in ye the Language wch which I might otherwise have done.— I've been apt often to think it woud would add much to my com‐fort & and happineſs happiness , if I was able to support my self myself in this affair, or coud could poſsibly possibly live live w.hout without any charge or expence expense .— My obligations are so many both from without & and whin within ,— my unequalneſs unequalness & and unfitneſs unfitness for ye the Busineſs business , make things very dark on my side.— The Thoughts of turning out nothing else but an unprofitable servant & and ungrateful wretch, are very hard disagreeable Thoughts.— But I hope I begin to beleive believe yt that Godlineſs Godliness wh with Contentment is great gain.— I'm shure sure tis it is most fit & and wright right yt that I shoud intirely entirely acquiesce in ye the Dispensation of Gods righteous Pro‐vidence.— He shurly surely knows wt what is best for me.— my proud corrupt heart some‐times, tho' though very seldom, lets me rejoice in his alwis all-wise goverment government .— would to God I might be always be resign'd resigned to his holy & and perfect Will.—

I have not enlarged Things, lest your Expectations shoud should be to too high. you will doubtleſs doubtless acquaint ye the Revd Rev. , & and hon.ble honourable Gentlemen Correſpon.des Correspondents wh with my Situation. & and please to present them my most dutiful Rgards regards .— Tho' Though I'm not immediately under their Care, I trust I'm not whout without their Remembrances Their pious Zeal & and unfeigned Sincerity in this great Affair, shou'd should shurely surely be taken as an argument of encouragement & and Comfort to the poor Miſs. missionaries twa's it was said of Old ye the Prayers of the Rightous righteous avail.— may they live to see ye the fruits of their Labour & and answer of their prayers their abundant Satisfaction.—

Revd Rev. Sir, I return most sincere Thanks for your kind Endeavours to procure me ye the Honours of College. which I suppose coud not be obtain'd obtained .

My humble Duty to Madam— proper Salutation to your family. & and my most humble Regards to Revd Rev. Mr Mr. Pomrey Pomeroy &c. etc. — I conclude, begging a near Remembrance it in your Addreſses addresses of ye the Throne of Grace.— wiſhing wishing you ye the light higheſt highest of Heavens Bleſsings blessings ,— & and yt that your unwearied Labours may be crowned wh which honour & and succeſs success , is the humble prayer, of,

Revd Rev. Sir, Your most obedt obedient & and ever obligd obliged hum.l humble Sert servant Samel Samuel Kirtland The Revd Rev. Mr Mr. Wheelock

P.S. I wrote ye the above in such hast haste , have omitted several Things,— as ye the Opportunity delays will now mention 'em them .— I purpose to visit Revd Rev. Mr Mr. Chamberlain sometime in ye the Spring, & and inform him of my Situation, advising wt what him respecting my Return &c etc. — Shall— doutbleſs doubtless _ Verte doubtleſs doubtless go as far as Capt Capt. Butlers— I beleive believe I must run you in debt for a few neceſsaries necessaries . I have scarcely linen to cover my back, & and to make it last as long as poſsible possible , I have not slept in a shirt for Nine Months past. As to Provisions, I hope wh with ye the Bleſsing blessing of health, shall be able to endure ye the ensuing Summer. I have afew a few Bisquet biscuit & and a little flower flour yet left, I have actually learnt learned to be content wh with leſs less Victuals, Than ever I was wont to before.— we very often here postpone Breakfast & and Dinner 'till 'til four 'o Clock in ye the After Noon afternoon . & and sometimes until ye the next Day.— This new faſhion fashion was very disagreeable to me for a long time. nor am I yet perfectly reconciled to it.— Thro' Through a kind Providence I enjoy a very comfortable state of health. I have during ye the Winter, excepting a bad cold, catched caught last fall by going w.hout without shoes—

I have wrote a few Letters in these several Days past,— You will please to forward them.— If I shant shall not have time, I humbly beg ye the Favour of your writing my kind Friends in Boston, former Benefactors I hope I have not given em them occasion of offence offense by not writing for so long a time.— I have scarcely wrote my own Father,— & and all my letters to you were wrote in such hast haste , & and wh with so much inconsideration, imprudence, & and ten‐ Thousand Blunders, yt that I trust you can easily excuse me.— I'm conscious to my self myself yt that I feel some small Emotions of Gratitude towards them as well as towards my Revd Rev. Pattron.— 'Tis It is my Sincere & and constant Prayer that I may be enabled so to conduct & and behave myself as yt that each shalyl have occasion to rejoice, in having open'd opened their Hearts & and hands for my releif relief .—

The Honbl Honourable S.r Sir W.m William Johnson is a very Kind Patron to me in these distant Parts,— The hopeful prospects of succeſs success here I must subscribe chiefly to underſed undersed .

All His Honrs Honour's Letters to me are wrote wrote in ye the most freindly friendly manner imagenable imaginable , & and wh with uncommon Condesention condescension ,— giving ye the strongest Evidence of His Approbation, & and good will towards my design. which adds much to my comfort & and encouragement in ye the Gloomy Wilderneſs wilderness . I know not how to requite such unmerited Kindneſs kindness .— I hope I may have suitable acknow‐ledgements of Gratitude, & and above all be thankful to the Father of Mercies for His special Friendſhip friendship to ye the Design.—

I shoud be glad to hear if Mr Mr. J.h John Smith of Boston be returnd returned from England.— wt what he may bring in favour of your Design.— No more at present Tuus ut ante— K Kirtland

Rec.d Received April. 29. 1766.

if otherwise, I beleive believe I shall visit you notwithstanding ye the many difficulties wch which attend ye the journey. you may expect me by ye the 14 or 16 of May extraordinaries excepted. His Honour Sr Sir William, thinks it best & and necaſsary necessary yt that I return, unleſs unless by way of writing I can give you sufficient Knowledge & and accquaintance acquaintance wh with ye the present state & and Disposition of ye the Indians wh with regard to receng receiving ye the Gospel. tho' Though yt that woud would be difficult, & and not so well as if I were present.

Time woud would fail me, shoud should I attempt a plain & and full acct account of Affairs, & and nothing else will answer in a Case of such importance.— if Things are represented in a superficial in‐explicit manner, 'twill it will be of no service to you.—

In case of Sickneſs sickness , or any thing anything yt that may fall out wch which shall prevent my return, at ye the time mention'd mentioned , you will proceed to execute ye the plan you have laid out, but not in its full extent.— As to Schoolmasters among ye the Senecas & and Onondages Onondagas — wt what I've wrote in ye the fore part of this Letter must answer for ye the present, having not time to enlarge— I find it exactly agreeable to His Honrs Honour's Opinion of ye the Matter.— therefore need say no more.— perhaps it may be thought well for a young Miſsry missionary to go there in order to learn their Language, open ye the way & and lay some foundation for future improvement. of wch which I can likely give you sufficient informa‐tion when I return.— 'Twill It will be neceſsary necessary yt that you sapply supply ye the Mohawks, Onidas Oneidas & and Ohquages Onaquagas wh with Miſsirys missionaries & and Schoolmasters as before Mentioned. & and shoud should be constan‐tly if you really expect & and hope to see any fruits of your unwearied Labour & and pains.— if these small beginings beginnings at these several places are fnot perfec‐ted, I imageine there is little hope of succeſs success ,— but if suitably improved, I can't but think & and do really beleive believe a Bleſsing blessing may be hoped for whout without presumption.—

I hope you may be able to find Such Miſsrys missionaries who shall be willing to tarry wh with ye the Indians long enough for a proper trial, notwithſtanding notwithstanding ye the Many discourag‐ments, hardſhip hardship , & and enconveniencies inconveniences of Life yt that must at present accompany ye the Busineſs business .

If I have any right View of ye the Case, I think ye the very Life & and progreſs progress of ye the Design depends upon ye the Miſsrs missionaries — Tho though gettings Indian Boys to your School is encouraging & and opens a door for future improvment.—

The often changing of Miſsrs missionaries will do more hurt than good. & and their tarrying but a little while among them (or just looking upon them as they call it) does not forward ye the Design, but discourages ye the Indians & and gives occasion of umbrage to such as are not well dispos'd disposed .— which unfortunately happin‐ing wh with ye the Mohawks & and Onida's Oneidas has given ye the Onondages Onondagas , Cayugwa's Cayugas & and Seneca's a mean opinion of ye the Desiggn, & and a some suspicion of iNs Sincerity insincerity .— Neither do I apprehend Things are now so forward wh with ye the for former, as they were last spring of or fall, excepting Davids fall School, wch which thro' through a kind providence has been preserved thro' through many discouragments discouragements , & and now appears very hopefull hopeful , & and promises great succeſs success , if other proper Means are seasonably applied for its support & and future improvments. Viz, A Miſsry missionary constantly residing there, for in‐structing ye the old people & and encouraging ye the Young. No one can reasonably expect any great Succeſs success from such a School, under such Circumstances, whout without a Miſsry missionary to accompany ye the Schoolmaster.— I dont Mention this as if I thought Mr Mr. Chamberlain worthy of blame, far from it,— for I suppose he acted from principles of conscience & and sound Judgment in leaving Onida Oneida . the Neceſsity necessity of his continuing there ought not appear so great as it really was fwas, for want of farther Knolegdge knowledge of their Situation & and diſposition disposition .— his long delay in coming to them & and sudden leaving them, has given some disgust & and greatly discouraged em them .— from my small acquaintance & and view of Affairs, their Situation, was such last fall, & and ye the Neceſsity necessity so great for ye the general interest of ye the Cause, as required ye the utmost endeavours to improve & and embrace so favourable an Opportunity.— a proper or improper Support in such a case I suppose if is quite out of ye the question,— if it be true wt what old experienced Divines say, yt that in a like case if a person shoud should give a year or two' two's service to ye the Lord, without any immediate pay, he will be no looser loser , find a good pay master & and large interest,— at least a hundred persent per cent .— I wish I might be able to take this for my present portion, twoud it would doubtleſs doubtless give me much ease, & and prevent many bitter complaints.— I'm very sorry Mr Mr. Chamberlain has concluded it not worth his while to learn an Indian Langugage. I much fear he will give up his Commiſsion commission .— his faith, or rathr rather Expectans expectations were so very high last Summer when I first saw him, as made me fear they shoud should soon come as low. he told me, he tho't thought hardly worth his while to learn any Language of ye the confederateNations, but proceed to those more remote, for he sometimes thought he shoud should live to see ye the west fear he really beleived believed God was going to bring all ye the Indians to ye the Knowledg knowledge of ye the Gospel, & and yt that in a Natural way, by ye the use of appointed Means. he alſo also came fortified against all discouragments discouragements , he expected nothing but ye the most vile iungrateful, inhuman & and unkind treatment from ye the Savages, he knew Indians & and wt what he must receve receive from em them .— he never so much as asked me wt what I tho't thought or Indians or Indians or of Indians or indian Affairs in one single particular. & and I had so much damnable cursed pride if heart, yt that I did not open my self myself so freely to him as I ought to have done, (The Lord forgive me for my iniquity). tho' Though I gave him ye the Charac‐ters of several persons at onida Oneida , whose influence was great,— yr their favour & and esteem might be well to procure. for wch which he Thank'd thanked me kindly.— not yt that I blame him So much as my self myself . for a proud haughty Miſsry missionary is little Better than ye the Devil.— Oh, yt that I may obtain Mercy of God thro' through Jesus Christ, for my insincerity & and pride of heart. perhaps it may be well yt that you use some care in seeking Miſsrs missionaries for so important a Busineſs business .(or poſsibly possibly they may cause you sorrow & and trouble as I have done.) for I sincerely beleive believe you nothing but ye the interest of ye the Redeemers Kingdom at heart. If a persons Eye be single ( ye the Scriptures say) his whole Body shall be full of light If they are true, one may know whether ye the Glory of God, self his upermost uppermost .

But wt what Im Isaying saying ! Revd Rev. S.r Sir forgive me this rong wrong . surely such things are quite improper, unbecoming a youth.— discouver discover too much Arrogancy arrogance & and Aſsurance assurance . would to God I might know my self myself . & and act accordingly. I want your Instruction & and Discipline. bear wh with my folly, I mean will well .— I really fel feel your indian Cause ly lie near my heart. I'm greeved grieved to think how matters have gon gone on here, when your daily Labour & and travel travail of soul is so great for its succeſs success . but this again discou‐vers disco‐vers dambnable pride of heart, wt what can I say! May ye the Lord be mercefully merciful to me: but surely I have no Reasion to boost boast , rathr rather to lie in ye the dust of humiliation. for you know as well as my self myself , yt that I'm under infinite obligation, both from within & and without, to give my life & and service to promote this Indian Cause, while it shall appear agreeable to his will. but alas, how far short have I fell. yt that I dont deserve even so much praise as is due to a Man for attempting to do his duty.— oh, yt that I may be kept in ye the fear & and love of God. from Pride & and in‐gratitude on ye the one hand, & and Despair on ye the latter other.—

dont I pray you wont expose this page to my hurt.

The Bearer is now waiting to go, quite unexpected to me.— must omit many things.— please God to spare my Life & and health you may expect me about ye the time mentioned before.— I can only say this, yt that several Thing have happened lately which may delay ye the progreſs progress of your Design. Yesterday heard at S.r Sir Williams ye the Ohquage Onaquaga Sachem, deliver an acct account & and complaint of an Indian Man being killd killed near Minisinks or in ye the County. belonging to Onida Oneida . ye The Indian was butcherd butchered in ye the most cruel ihnhuman Manner.— Also five of ye the Senecas killed in some parts of pensilvania Pennsylvania , wch which came in a Letter from Gover.r Governor Pen Penn to His Honr Honour S.r Sir Williams. tis It is said one of ye the Onondages Onondagas have also shared ye the Same fate.— S.r Sir Willm William is much afraid wt what ye the Consequences will be.— four of ye the Seneca's, I suppose belong'd belonged to ye the Castle where I reside. who went last summer to war against ye the Cherokeess Cherokees . & and have been gone two Months longer than ye the time they set.— I have been these three Days past wh with His Hon.r Honour Sr Sir Williams for advice In my affairs &c. etc. &c. etc. — had many things of Consequence to inform you, since ye the last page was wrote.— The Bearer is impatient to go must leave all, till 'til I see you God Willing earnestly beg a near Remembrance in you Prayer Revd Rev. S.r Sir in hast haste Your ever obed obedient & and tho though unworthy Servt servant S Samuel Kirtland Kirkland

PS. as I have wrote in great hast haste I have no Coppy copy nor time for any Correction. if any Thing anything shall appear dark unintelligible thro' through too Great Brevity, I beg your Candour till 'til I return, when I will endeavour to clear such thing as shall be superficial & and inexplicit.. Capt Butler & and Lady give Compliment.— I set off immediately for ye the Senecas. shall return as quick as poſsible possible in suitabl suitable prudence & and Moderation in such fatiguing Journeys. tuus ut ante, SK Samuel Kirkland .

The Revd Rev. Mr Mr. Wheelock.

Rec.d received April 29. 1766. From M.r Mr. Sam.el Samuel Kirtland Kirkland March 6. 1766—