Samuel Hopkins, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1761 September 30
Date30 September, 1761
ms number761530
abstractHopkins writes Wheelock about reports that Occom lacks tact in his dealings with the Oneidas, and that he is instructing them to leave off their Indian ways. He suggests that Occom may not be right for an Indian mission.
paperSlight wear, tearing around edges.
noteworthyMargin note “Occom?” added in different ink and hand, likely 19th-century. The opening salutation “R.D.S.” is likely an abbreviation of “Reverend and Dear Sir.
Persistent Identifier
I received your two Favours which you wrote last Spring, which I read
with no small satisfaction: and was at the pains of transcribing a considerable
part of them to M.r Hawley. I should have wrote you long before this; but have
found no Opportunity to send to you, as I live quite out of any direct and
frequented Road to Lebanon. I hoped, all
the Summer post, to have the pleaſure of an Interview with you at New
Haven
^on^ the Commencement, but was disappointed
in that.
M.r Hawley is now at Onohoquage, as you will learn by the letter from him, which I transmit
to you with this, which he sent open to me. I expect he will
return in about three Weeks. M.r Toppan, the young Gentleman who is gone with him, appears
to me very promising for an Indian
Miſsionary.
M.r Hawley in a letter to me of the 20th
inſt. desires me to inform you of the following
particulars, which I will give you in his own words.
"Since I wrote my letter to M.r Wheelock, I am "advised that M.r
Accom is not quite so acceptable "to the Indians there" (at
Oneida) "as I heard at first. "He tells
them, they muſt not cut their hair, but let it "grow as the Engliſh do; that they muſt not wear their
^[below]Indian^
"Indian ornaments, as wampum and the like; but "put them off, and burn them in the
fire — That "they muſt not feaſt at Weddings, [illegible][guess: at] as at the Birth "and Baptism of their Children &c
&c These are [illegible][guess: .—.] "points that he inſists greatly upon; which are "are points too unpopular for
them."
I am sorry to hear this of M.r
Accom, which if true, I think [illegible][guess: great]
ſhews him greatly deficient in that Prudence which is Neceſsary for an Indian miſsionary; and render him unfit to go among indians, at leaſt alone.
We ſhall be inform'd of more particulars when M.r Hawley returns, when I hope he will make you a visit.
We have nothing remarkable here, except it be, the universal and
uncommon degree of Health which at present prevails among us. I have nothing to
say about any new religious appearance. I have got a particular account from
M.r Kent of the remarkable revival among his people, in order to
transmit it to
M.r Gillies in Scotland.
Am ſorry to hear of your ill State of Health. May God restore and and
confirm it, and make you greatly useful to Indian and English for a long time to
come!
in the earneſt prayer of your obliged friend and unworthy Brother,
Samuel Hopkins
Rev. M.r Wheelock.
^[right]S. Hopkins
1761.^
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