Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to George Whitefield, 1766 July 24
Date24 July, 1766
Call Number766424
abstractWheelock writes to update Whitefield on the missions of Kirkland and others.
handwritingHandwriting is informal, with several deletions and additions.
paperPaper is heavily damaged, with tearing and wear that results in a significant loss of text. It is heavily reinforced.
inkBrown-black.
noteworthyThis letter follows up on one that Wheelock writes the previous month (766314). On one verso, in the first paragraph, the name of the Indian settlement that is partially illegible but we guess to be “Willkeske,” likely refers refers to modern-day Oriskany, NY. The contents of one recto are in a large bracket drawn on the left margin. Two recto bears several smaller brackets. The document appears to be a draft or personal copy.
thing now to write but to y.e Same Purpose.
Accompanied by Tekanande the cheif Warior of that Tribe, and one
Whose Influence in that Tribe is great. He appears to be of pregnant
Genius, an Affable Temper, benevolent, Steady, judicious, manly,
and has always been friendly to the Engliſh. a Protector and Steady
Friend to dear Mr Kirtland amidſt Perils, & Dangers too many & great
to relate & Deſcribe in a Letter. They came to Hartford, While the Genl
Aſsembly were Setting; The Govern.r & Company Shewed him great
Reſpect, made a handſome Entertainment for him. The Govern.r
Delivered him a Speach, and received his Anſwer, Mr Kirtl[gap: worn_edge][guess: and] bein[gap: worn_edge][guess: g]
their Interpreter, much to the Satiſfaction and Admiration of the
Whole Aſsembly. After this they made them a Preſent of £20.
The black General was much affected with their Kindneſs & Reſpect,
and marveled much to find the Country So peopled. He was lame with
a Gout or Rhumatiſm, or he would have gone to Boſton.
& miſerable Condition of his Nation &c. And gave in to it, (I beleive
heartily) that we were the people Whom God Loves; & that they ha
been caſt off by him, of a long Time.
his Nation What I had Said, and What he beleived; but, Said he
[gap: worn_edge] againſt me, When I [gap: worn_edge] So we cloathed him [gap: worn_edge]
[gap: worn_edge] on a [gap: worn_edge][guess: Sprightly] H[gap: worn_edge][guess: Horſe] (inſtead [gap: worn_edge]
one which he bro.t with him). He was [gap: worn_edge][guess: greatly pleaſed] [gap: worn_edge]
my School; and was often So affected with the Igno[gap: worn_edge][guess: rance] [gap: worn_edge]
of his own people that he would ſometimes talk with Mr Kir[gap: worn_edge][guess: tland and]
weep a great part of y.e night; and Sometimes Seemd almoſt o[gap: worn_edge][guess: ver]
whelmd with Sorrow. Now, Said he, 'I find all the things Which M[gap: worn_edge][guess: .r]
Kirtland had told
Spake of the Corruption of Manners among the Indians, Since their
acquaintance with our Traders & Soldiars. And indeed it Seems, these
have made them Sevenfold worſe than the Devil could make them.
neſs, returned from Onoyada, 27.th ult. in company [gap: worn_edge][guess: with]
Moses one who kept a School among the Mohocks laſt
year, and William one of his Own Schollars. and would
have been also accompanied by one of the Cheif men of y.t
Tribe, had he not been detaind
ye Cheif Warior of That Nation,
mitted by the Engliſh, which Sir William Johnſon feard would
baffle all his Endeavours for peace, as he writes me by
David,
[gap: worn_edge][guess: accompa]nied by Meſsrs Chamberlain, Kirtland, [gap: worn_edge] Miſsionaries.
[gap: worn_edge] Sam.l Johnſon, and McCluer. (engliſh Youths) Hez. Calvin, Jacob
Fowler, and Joseph Johnſon (Indians) appointed to the reſpective
Services & Places following, unleſs Gen.l Johnſon & Mr Pomroy Should
See occaſsion to make a Different Diſposal of them viz. Mr
Kirtland to preach to the Indians at Canawarohare in Onoyada.
Mr Kenne at Old Onoyada about 6 miles Diſtant. McCluer to
Continue with M.r Kirtland to learn the Language & Aſsiſt Joſeph
Johnſon in keeping Davids School, s.d Johnſon to take sd
School under M.r Kirtlands Direction 'till David returns,
and then to Officiate as Usher under David; as the School
will likely conſiſt of 40 Children, and be imployment [gap: worn_edge][guess: enough]
for them both — Mr Chamberlain to preach at Canajohare
and Fort Hunter — Hezekiah to keep his Old School at Fort
Hunter — Sam.l Johnſon & Jacob Fowler to teach the two ſchools
which the two Abrahams kept laſt year. & little Abraham
to go to Will[illegible][guess: keſke] a new Settlement of Indians about 8. or 10
miles below Fort Stanwix, who have invited him to teach
their Children. M.r Pomroy is appointed to inſpect & conduct
the Affair of Settling these Schools — and particularly lay a Found
dation for Hezekiah's Settlement and continuance with the
[gap: worn_edge] which [gap: tear][guess: he is] deſtined.
[gap: worn_edge] ſeem[gap: worn_edge][guess: s] to think that this Diſposal of them is much
[gap: worn_edge] to have Sent a number [gap: worn_edge]
[gap: worn_edge] was proposed if y.e Way had not been Thus, as [gap: worn_edge][guess: that] would
likely [illegible][guess: having] been improved as an Occaſion to Strengthen their Jeaſouſies
that we have their Lands in View; whereas they have it not to
Say now, y.t Parties are Neglected who have no Lands. —
Home from thence againſt my Plan; but what they had wrote I
could not learn; I have Since been informd that it has been repre
ſented that I am acting in Opposition to the Commiſsioners there.
I Should be glad to be informd of the Truth of that Report if
you are able to do it,
been made I am perſwaded the Man, Whoever he be, will not
be able to gain credit for Such a Report among any Who have
been Acquainted with my Conduct from firſt to laſt in this Affair.
nor do I fear what Such can do againſt a cauſe that is God's.
Bleſsed be God, I have a hiding Place, a Safe, a Sweat, a bleſsed
Retreat. in Which I can Sometimes bid Defiance to all y.e Powers of Darkneſs.
My dear Sir, pray that I may live upon
Strength, and my Salvation, every Day.— Bleſsed be his Name!
my Situation has been Such, as has conſtraind me to live upon him,
nor can I live any other Way. but I fear leſt my Heart be unhinged
from Such Dependance, and myſelf of Courſe deprived of the Bleſsedneſs
of tr[gap: worn_edge][guess: u]ſting in God alone, When I See any other Fund Provided for the
been Some time [gap: worn_edge][guess: so]licitous What Return of Gratitude to Ma[gap: worn_edge]
to,
with the Lord; "who is not unrighteous to forget your Works & Labo[gap: worn_edge][guess: urs]
of Love Which you have ſhewed towards his Name" —
+ I know Who I am Writing to, and if Some Expreſions I have dropd
above ſeem too free; and Savour of Oſtentation, I truſt you have a
manlle large enough to cover, and Love & Faithfulneſs enough to
point out, reprove or correct what ever may require it, in
him Who is. with much Affection. + I am Rev.d & dear Sir,
[left]
[left]
inſtant
Proſpects are encouraging to
tarry there a Year.+