Samson Occom, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1767 February 12
Date12 February, 1767
Call Number767162.2
abstractOccom writes from England of his sorrow regarding the misconduct of Wheelock’s Indian pupils and the problems in caring for his family. He asks that Wheelock instruct Occom’s son Aaron according to the boy’s inclinations.
handwritingHandwriting is largely clear, neat, and legible.
paperThe paper is generally in good condition, but the edges appear to have been trimmed and torn, which results in a significant disruption of text. This trimming of edges has separated the two sides of the paper, resulting in a separation of text on one recto, line 11 — the word “to” added to the left can be seen on two recto.
inkBrown.
noteworthyThere is a red pencil mark near the bottom of one recto.
EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain
long time to have Sorrow of Heart, I have had Burden
upon Burden, Trial upon Trial, Both without and within
far and Near,
for my Poor Bretheren According to the Fleſh, Both for their Bodies
and Souls; my Relations Cauſes Heavyer Sorrow; Every ob
ſtruction and Diſcouragement to Your School, and every Miſs
Contuct and behaviour of Your Indian Scholars, Touches
me to the quick; More than all theſe, the Conſiderations of my
poor Family,
[left]to Say, I am a Cruel Huſband and Father, God had given me
a large Family, but they have no enjoyment of me, nor I
them for Some
a Large Family of Children, lies upon my poor Wife; what
adds to my Sorrowful Heart is this, that whilest I am a Teacher
to others, I have neglected my own Children, by my Perigrena
tions, and now my Children are growing, up, and are growing
wild; and the Devil has been Angry, yea he has & is Devil
iſh Mad with me, and if he can, he will Drag all my Chil
dren into all Manner Sins and Down to Hell; But bleſsed
be God he has provided an almighty Saviour, and all my
Hope is in him
not fully Perſwaded and Aſure'd that this work was
of god, and I had an undoubted Call of god to Come over
into this Country, I wou'd not have Come over, like a fool
as I did, without any Countenance from our Board,
but I am will. Still to be a fool for Chriſt Sake — this Eleviats
my Heart amidſt all my Burdens, and Balances
all my Sorrows at Times, or enables me to bear my
Trials, that I am in the way of my Duty, and the
Lord uſes me in any Shape to promote his
kingdom in the World, — I am Glad, and am thankful
that you have taken my wild Son, if You Can make
any thing of him, I Shall be happy in him, if he Inclines
to Book Learning, give him Good Engliſh Education, but
if not, le
Trade, he Inclines to that, and if that won't do, Send
him over to me, and I will give him a way to Some
gentleman here — I return you Hearty thanks for the
Care you have taken of my Family, — Sir, let it ſuf
fiſe you, to hear of me by Mr Whitakers Letters, there is no
need of my writing often, Since Mr Whitaker writes So often,
Whitefield is well as he has been theſe 7 Years; but Mrs Whitefield is
in low State of Health, Mr John Smith is well as uſual, and hope
theſe may find you and yours in good Health. Dutiful and
grateful Reſpects to you and your Spouſe, and Love to the reſt
of the Family and Scholars, and Chriſtian reſpects to all
Enquiring Friends,
I am Sir,
your moſt obligd and
Humble Servant
Samſon Occom
To
the Revd Mr Wheelock
I have receiv'd Chifely Mournful Letters from my Wife, yet I have
not forgot the Tender Mercies of god to me and mine — —
backward to do for m[gap: tear][guess: y]
family, I wiſh he had
his Due, that won[gap: tear]
be even, if you Ca[gap: tear]
Saliſfy him I Shou[gap: tear][guess: ld be]
Eaſy in my m[gap: tear][guess: ind]