David Jewett, letter, to Andrew Oliver, 1765 June 27

AuthorJewett, David

Date27 June, 1765

ms number765376.2

abstractJewett writes that his dispute with Occom has been resolved. He excerpts a letter from Occom.

handwritingInformal handwriting is small and occasionally difficult to decipher, yet mostly clear and legible.

paperSingle sheet is in fair condition, with moderate staining, creasing and wear that leads to minor dimming of text.

noteworthyGiven that both the Connecticut Board of Correspondents of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge and the Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America (NEC) are involved in the Jewett Controversy, it is uncertain to which organization Jewett refers when he mentions the "Hon.ble Com̅iſs.rs" and "the Commiſsioners" (one recto, lines 23 and 25-26, respectively), and so these references have been left untagged. However, they are likely the NEC. As is marked, this document is a copy.

EventsJewett Controversy

Persistent Identifier
To the Hon.ble And.w Oliver Esq.r,
Sir,
I'm blam'd, extreemly blam'd, for Writting to you againſt M.r Occom; And I blame myſelf for Saying any^thing^ y.t was needleſs for me to say about him. I tho't, and do ſtill think, that it was my proper Buſineſs to inform you what part he Acted in the Differences, & Dificulties which have ariſen at Mohegan, reſpecting both the School; & Lectures; nor am I conſcious of knowingly mis‐ repreſenting any thing to you in his Conduct; tho' I've reaſon to ſuſpect myſelf in what is Matter of Judgement upon it; as I cant clear myſelf of having been prejudiced againſt him: And therefore hope that Nothing will be layd up againſt him meerly from ^my^ Opinion of him. Beſides, Sir, I muſt in faithfulneſs relate what has occurd ſince I wrote to you. At a meeting of the Correspondents, in Lebanon last March, many things which had been publickly reported of M.r Occom were diſcoursed of by the Gent.n of that Board; and ſome things which they apprehended he was to blame in were pointed out to him. He ſubmitted to their Judgm.t, and promiſed a ſtrict regard to their Counſel. More particularly, those things which had been grievous to me in his Con‐ duct at Mohegan, were debated before them. He Acknowledged his Mis‐ conduct in the Manner of rejecting their School Master; declared his In‐ nocency as to any Intention of promoting the Separation at Mohegan; or elſwhere; That it was his deſire, and ſhould be his endeavour to pro‐ mote my Uſefulneſs among the Indians; That he never underſtood the Pleaſure of the Hon.ble Com̅iſs.rs to be otherwiſe than that he ſhould Settle his family upon his own Lands at Mohegan; Nor was it with any vew of making Overtures [illegible] contrary the appointment of the Com‐ miſsioners, that he came there. And as to his Saying "that he would turn Church-man and be above y.e Miniſters around, or the like, as was reported, he declard it was ſpoke only in Jest, & in a way of Banter ariſing from the preſent Diſensſions: had two who were pre‐ sent w.n he ſpoke it, teſtified that they underſtood him in no other Light Upon the whole M.r Occom, & I renewed our Friendſhip, and in the Preſence of the Board, burnt the Papers of Controversy. As I had layd before you what dash'd my Hopes concerning him, I purpoſed to offer you what had now revivd 'em; and promiſed to write you aſsoon as I could. I Accordingly wrote the next Week, and went to [illegible]^[illegible]^ Norwich in hopes of Conveyance, but was disappointed. I had no other Intention but to imbrace y.e first Opportunity to send it; but before any preſented, (being loth to send by ye Post) I took notice that M.r Occom ſtill forſook my Lectures, which I promiſed myſelf he would Attend, for as I said, I had his promiſe "That to his best Diſcretion, he would endeavour to promote my Services [illegible] among the Indians: and I had inſstanc'd [illegible] that to him as a Proof I ſhould look for; and w.t I was ready to think, would have the happiest In‐ fluence. This hath occaſioned the long delay; nor has he once attended my Lectures ſince, 'till To Day, when I rec.d the follg Letter.
Mohegan June 26 1765. Rev.d Sir,
You are very ſenſable of the difficult Cituation of our Indians , Old Prejudices are not dead, but rather revive of late, and new bias have ſprung up, And it is very difficult to deal ^[below]with them.^
with them. There needs a great deal of Chriſtian Polacy (If I may so expreſs myself) And this is one Reaſon why I have not as yet attended Your Lecture; And indeed I ſhould before now, if you did not delay Writting to the Hon.ble Com̅iſs.rs of Boston. And it is my purpoſe to attend your Lecture, as Buſineſs, & Peregrinations will permit. And will by degrees, endeavour to conciliate the Indians; only let me not be drove, & Urgd to it to hard, And I ſhall not be wanting in your Service — only let me be Aſsured of a Friend, if not, I must defend myself as I can. This is from
Y.r ſincere & very humble Sert
To the Rev.d David Jewett. PS. You may Com̅unicate w.t you please of this to the Hon.ble Com̅iſs.rs of Boston
I ſhall add but this, That I hope his future Conduct will Witneſs for him to your Hon.ble Board, to this Gov.t, and to the World. Pray forgive my tediouſneſs, and ſtill give me leave as Occaſion ſhall call for, to ſpread my Complaints before you. I'm not only heartily wearied, but almost diſtracted, with Con‐ tentions; But when I am myself,
I'm  With dutifull Reſpect to ye Hon.ble Board  y.r ready Serv.t David Jewett
[right]Mr Jewet's Letter to the Honble Andrew Oliver Eſqr June 26th 1765
about occom ^[bottom]A Copy.^
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