Nathaniel Whitaker, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1765 December 18

Author Whitaker, Nathaniel

Date18 December, 1765

Call Number765668

abstractWhitaker details the reasons for Occom's and his delay in sailing, and notes that Andrew Oliver was compelled to give up his position as Stamp Master.

handwritingWhitaker's hand is formal and clear. It is occasionally difficult to differentiate between the letters “e” and “i” — in these instances the transcriber has used the correct spelling.

paperLarge single sheet is in good-to-fair condition, with light-to-moderate staining, creasing and wear. There is some light repair work on a particularly heavy crease.

inkBlack-brown.

signatureThe signature is abbreviated.

EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain

Persistent Identifier

My Revd & Dear Brother
You will doubtleſs wonder at the Date
of this Letter when you find I am Still in Boſton
But he that rules all things hath So ordered it. I have
been aſſured by Cap.t & owner too that next week,
& next week the Ship Should Sail but one thing & a­
nother has prevented, & chiefly, I believe, becauſe the
Cuſtom houſe was not open for clearances, wch yeſterday
was opened, but not on Stamps
We have had a pleaſant & odd farce here yeſterday
Night before laſt, notes were Set up about town requiring
mr Oliver to appear at ye tree of Liberty in order publick­
ly to renounce his Commiſſion of Stamp Maſter, which he
had recd [illegible]Since the former mob; on this the Secretary
Sent to the majeſtrates & principle merchants to waite on
him & protect him from inſult; accordingly they went
yeſterday in the rain to a certain houſe, where Governer
Mackentaſh
appointed, & there mr Oliver renounced
his commiſſn before the Majeſtrates & Merchts. to their
Satiſfaction, judging that his honour was Sufficient to
Satiſfy the world that he would not act — where on the writ­
ing in which he renounced his commiſſion was Sent into
another room to be approved by Gov.r Mackentaſh; & he Saw
fit to declare it would not do unleſs he would walk to the
tree of liberty & Sware to it under S.d tree before the people.
& his Sovereign Mandates was immediate [illegible]obeyed, & the Se­
cretary, Majeſtrates & Merch.ts walked in the Storm of
rain near half a mile [illegible]in Sobediance to his Excellency's
Com.d — So things Seem to be quiet — Cap.t Scot came
in 7 weeks from London laſt Sab: brings no letters from mr Smith
who wrote & sent by Cap.t Bruce a few days before. He
tells me that it Seems to be the general talk of genlle­
men at home, that it will never do to put the Stamp act
[left]From M.r Whitaker Dec.r 18. 1765
Boſton.
into execution — If the weather favours we Shall Sail to
morrow or Saturday — One mr John Williams of this town goes
withs us. [illegible]He is going home to Seek the Superintendency of In­
dian affairs in [illegible]Canady, & tis likely he will obtain it; & if he
does he Says he will give 5 or 600 per. An: yto your deſign
He is a lover of good things & a generous gentleman, I wiſh we
may help him in this affair — I can't but think he may be a
great bleſſing — his wife is a pious woman; & I hope he
is not void of religion —
What the deſign of providence is in detaining us here I
can't tell, but I believe & truſt that all is for the beſt —
Mr Occom is well, & I am hitherto much pleaſed with his conduct
he behaves with great modeſty & caution — he is [illegible][guess: noticed] not in­
vited to preach by any miniſter in town except mr Morehead
but he does not reſent it — I have preached 5. or 6 evenings
every week, or thereabouts, Since I have been here, & never
Saw people more attentive & ready to crowd to gather, except
in times of awakening — I have not preached in publick on a
week day except the thirſday lecture laſt week —
I hop[illegible]e you will endeavour to bare me on your heart
every day — The Eyes of all ye continent almoſt are on me;
& if I should miſcarry, what a wound would it give to religion
& to the cauſe I am on — o pray for me every day — &
for my family & people — mr Peck & wife Send love to
their Son & to you all, & mr Occom too — & how much, I
can't tell you, is Sent you all from
your brother in the beſt bonds
Nathl Whitaker
N.B. Yeſterday mr Peck recd from
mr Little 17 Pair of Shoes & a bun­
dle of Striped cloth &c in a bag
which he will Send to mrs Whitaker the firſt oppertunity
they were given laſt Spring by that people for your
School —
mr Wheelock
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