Eleazar Wheelock, announcement, 1766 February 20

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date20 February, 1766

Call Number766170.1

abstractWheelock writes an announcement for publication stating that both the reports of Good Peter's providential arrival at Wheelock's home, and the narrative of Occom's life, are true.

handwritingInformal handwriting is mostly clear and legible; however, letter case, especially with regard to the letter “S,” is difficult to discern.

paperSingle sheet is in fair condition, with moderate staining, creasing and wear.

inkBrown-black.

noteworthyThis document is likely a draft.

signatureWheelock signs the document several times, once in Occom's name.

Persistent Identifier

Whereas there is a Report Spread abroad that the meeting of Gwedelhes
Agwirondongwas
(by the Engliſh called Peter) &c of Onohoquagee,
and M.r Eliſha Gun, Interpreter at the very Inſtant when the
Board of Corriſpondants were coming together, at my House
March 12. 1765. was by Some previous Notice or appointment
and not So providential, and remarkable as was repreſented
in the public Prints. I lake this Opportunity to inform the
Publick that the Repreſentation made of that matter was the
Truth; and in every Circumſtance as remarkable, to the full,
as was repreſented; nor did I ever know or hear of anyone
who had the leaſt thought or Expectation of such a Meeting, or
that there ever had been any Endeavors used to procure it. or
that any one of either Party had any Expectation of meeting the other at
that Time.
Certified by
Eleazar Wheelock
And where as it is reported that the world have been imposed
upon by the Repreſentation made that M.r Sampſon Occom an
Indian Miniſter, was bread a Heathen, ‘till he had arived near
or quite to the State of Manhood. I do now certify the publick
of the Truth of that Matter by giving you his own account of
it which he Sent to me from Boſton, on hearing the falſe [illegible][guess: Re‐]
‐ports made of that matter and injurious Reports made of that
of that matter juſt before his Embarkation for Europe, viz.
“I was born a Heathen in Mouayauhecunnak, alias Mohegan
in New London — my Parents were altogether Heathens —
and I was educated by them in their heatheniſh Notions —
and though there was a Sermon preachd to our Mohegan
Tribe
Some Times, yet many of the Indians regarded not the
Chriſtian Religion at all, but perſiſted in their heatheniſh
ways — and my Parents in particular, who were very Strong in the
Cuſtoms of their forefathers — They led a wandering Life up and
down
down in the Wilderneſs, [illegible][guess: for] as my Father was a great Hunter
— and thus I lived with them ‘till I was ſixteen years old —
[illegible]after thi[illegible]s there was a great religious Concern in those
parts, in which the Indians ſhared — at this Time y.s extraordy [illegible: [guess: Stories]] gaind my attention & I began to hear
and think about the chriſtian Religion, and was under
great Trouble in mind for Some Time — I thought that
the Religion which I heard at this Time was a new
thing among mankind; and that they never had
heard of ſuch a way of Salvation before so ignorant
was I — and when I was seventeen years old, I got
a Hope in Chriſt — and as my mind was affected with the
things of Religion, I began to learn to read, though I
went to no School ‘till I was in my 19th year, when I
went to the Rev.d M.r Wheelock’s and spent four years
there, and was moſt of the Time in a very low State of
Health. This is a True account of that part of my Life
and Education.
Sampſon Occom
Boſton Nov.r 28. 1765
and this account perfectly agrees with the account
what he has told me, and which I Suppose is well [illegible][guess: known]
to be true
[illegible][guess: Teſt.] Eleazar Wheelock
This ſhort account of himſelf perfectly agrees with what he
has told me more fully told me. and it is what, I ſuppose,
is well known to be true.
Teſt Eleazar Wheelock

[right]false Reports of Peters Coming
& of M.r Occom Rectified in the
public Prints — Feby. 1766.

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