Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to George Whitefield, 1764 August 7

AuthorWheelock, Eleazar

Date7 August, 1764

Call Number764457

abstractWheelock writes that Occom is to be sent on a mission to the distant tribes, but that money is needed to finance the trip. He also updates Whitefield on various new students.

handwritingHandwriting is not Wheelock's. It is formal, clear and legible; however, letter case is occasionally difficult to decipher.

paperSingle sheet is in good-to-fair condition, with light-to-moderate staining, creasing and wear. Light repairs have been made to the central crease.

inkBrown.

noteworthyThis document is likely a copy.

EventsBuilding of Occom’s house

Persistent Identifier

My dear Sir,

I have loſt no Time ſince I received our Commiſsion
to prepare for M.r Occom's Miſsion. Last Friday Evening I received
the Vote of the London Commiſsioners in Boſton diſcharging M.r Occom
from their Service. On Saturday Morning I ſent out to deſire the
Committee & M.r Occom to meet on Monday (i.e Yeſterday) when in
Compliance with my Propoſal they unanimously agreed to ſend M.r Occom
as ſoon as may be into the Mohawk Country to teach & preach as he ſhall
have Opportunity as he purſues his Journey to Lake Ontario or further
till he meets General Johnſon on his Return from Detroit, and before
the Indians with him from diſtant Tribes ſhall diſperſe, in order to
make them an Offer of Miſsionaries & School Maſters in the moſt
ſtriking convincing & inviting Manner, for we apprehend that the
Countenance of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Tuſcaroraes, & ſuch as are more
knowing & accquainted with the Affair together with Genl Johnſon's
Approbation & Recommendation will be the moſt likely means to invite
& move others to make it the Object of their Attention. I alſo propoſe
he ſhall there recommend this School & the Deſign of it, & procure
a Number of likely Boys & Girls from Tribes as remote as may be for it.
We have alſo concluded to ſend David Fowler the ſenior Youth
in this School to accompany him in this Journey.
And if M.r C. J. Smith were within our Reach we ſhould preſs him
hard to take the Journey with them. And we yet hope he is not
ſo far on his deſigned Tour to the Southward, but that he may ſeaſo‐
nably hear of it & be inclined to go.
And this we have done only on the Credit of the great Redeemer
without a Farthing in our Hands to ſupport it, not doubting but by
your Means, or ſome other Way it will be ſupported if he ſees it
to be beſt. they will need about £20. lawful Money.
And as M.r Occom has received Nothing for his Support ſince
he came to Mohegan, & could not attend on this Miſsion without
ſecuring Labour about his Building & ingathering for the Winter,
I have this Day given Bonds to pay the neceſsary Labourers
which he ſhall employ in his Abſences.
I have lately admitted to this School in order to be fitted
for a Miſsion with others next Spring, M.r Titus Smith of Hadley
of about 30 Years old who has finiſhed his Learning at Yale
College
, & expects the Honours of it next Month. He is a Man
of eminent Piety, a good Scholar, & conſiderably uſed to Indians, having
been in ſeveral Campaigns to the Northward.
I have alſo another (one Chamberlain of the ſame Town) in
my Eye, who is about 26 Years old, and of the ſame Character.
He is juſt entring his laſt Year at Yale College. He was taken
Captive by the Indians when Fort William Henry was taken
& continued a Year in Captivity.
My Proſpects are daily increaſing. It looks as tho' God had been
laying out for this Deſign for many Years paſt. and I truſt in him
that he will not forſake it.
I han't yet obtained a Blackſmith to my Mind, but have
one in View who I hope will anſwer my Purpoſe. And I am
more & more perſwaded of the Expediency of ſuch a Device, and
that Nothing will likely more recommend our Miſsionaries and
School Maſters to remote Nations than this Trade —
The Succeſs of Sir William's Tour hitherto marvellously in‐
creaſes our Proſpects. How ſweet it is, my dear Sir, to live upon
God, & ſee him performing all to our Hand while we are Nothing
& have Nothing that is good of our own. How ſweets the Doctrine
of God's Grace. I long to be a Chriſtian.
You have my beſt wiſhes & Prayers that your Health may
be reſtored, & your Life & usefulneſs long continued.
pray, pray for
Your poor Brother & Fellow Servant

PS Love to Mr Wright
I have ordered the Bearer, my Pupil, M.r Kirtland to follow you
as far as Philadelphia if he don't overtake you ſooner. By him you
may be informed of the ſtate of my School Family &c — No Time
muſt be loſt in fitting Mr Occom for his journey — And by Mr Kirtland
you muſt ſend directly back to me if there ſhall be Occaſion for it
& no other Opportunity preſenting.
Give my Love to the Friends in Philadelphia &c (and if you
think beſt) tell them I earneſtly beg of them an Alms for Chriſt
He is hungry, ſick, in Priſon, naked & barefoot; or rather his Neceſs‐
ities are greater than theſe, for his Heart is infinitely ſet upon
accompliſhing a Deſign which has already coſt him his Life, than
which nothing can more loudly call for their Liberality.
Yours ut ante EW.

Revd George Whitefield
To M.r Whitefield August 7th
1764.
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