Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Isaac Dakayenensere and Adam Waonwanoron, 1765 August 19
Date19 August, 1765
Call Number765469
abstractWheelock notes that he is pleased to hear the Indians want to build a mill and practice husbandry. He also recommends Jospeh Woolley as a schoolmaster.
handwritingHandwriting is informal, small and tightly spaced, with several deletions and additions.
paperLarge sheet folded in half like a book is in good condition, with light wear and staining.
inkDark black-brown, the ink bleeds through to opposite sides.
noteworthyGiven the amount of deletions and additons, this is likely a draft. There is a partly illegible note added after the trailer in a different, likely 19th-century, hand; this note has not been transcribed. The identities of "David" and "Peter" are uncertain and so they have been left untagged; however, it is likely that they are David Fowler and Gwedelhes Agwirondongwas (Good Peter).
very glad to underſtand that the Indians
cultivate their Lands, and that they deſire to have mills & to be helpd in ſetting
up Huſbandry. but am Sorry to hear of your Diſa
pointment, and of the Miſunderſtanding that occaſi
oned it. — which was by means of an unſkilful
Interpreter — I underſtood by Joseph Woolley
that the Reaſon why he had no more Boys to teach
laſt winter was becauſe the chief man did not
favour it
liſh and I had underſtood before that the Indians
ſeem to be much diſposed to practiſe Huſbandry. —
and when
to Peter and David the great importance
if they wod I told them I would do all I could to help them & that I did not Doubt but the Engliſh would
aſsiſt them in Building Mills, getting Tools, and
set up a Blackſmith Among them &c. I See
they liked it well but I did not know that
the Reſt of the Indians would. And I expected
thing about it for that I have waited forever since — I sent for the Men
workman who is a very good man is
health, and not likely to be well enough very ſoon
and also his Son is not well & is juſt going to ſea for his
health. If
would likely have been with you about y.e [illegible] before now.
however the chief workman deſires M.r Smith & M.r Gun would
look out
find suitable
me word. Whether they can find a good Place
also where the Irons may be had whether nearer to you than Albany
And they both will be ready to come to you as Soon
allow of it. provided that M.r Smith and M.r Gun
ſhall write me that which is incouraging, reſpecting the Place that
the Indians
#If you like him
and will build him a House and fence him a Lott of
Lands ſo that he may keep a cow or two which may
give milk in the Spring, that will help these men to
live while they are about your work. —
#Joseph Woolley is accounted a very Honeſt Young man, and
is well accompliſshed to teach Young Children I hope
the Indians will be very kind to him —
I am Glad to hear of your kind Reception of
M.r Smith I hope y.e Indians will Love him much
him as Gods Meſsenger to you.
the Indians Who Love our Lord Jesus Chriſt
Your Brother
Eleazar Wheelock
ſereDakayenen
sere. and Adam
Waoonwanoron
at Onohoquagee—
Aug.t 19. 1765—