Peter Jillard, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1767 March 2

Author Jillard, Peter

Date2 March, 1767

ms number767202

abstractJillard writes to express his admiration for Occom, and notes that his opinion is shared by many in Great Britain. He proposes that provision should be made for Occom and his family out of the funds collected.

handwritingHandwriting is loose though mostly legible; it is occasionally difficult to decipher letter case.

paperTwo sheets are in good condition, with moderate wear and creasing; tear around remnants of seal results in no loss of text.

noteworthyThe “Narrative” referred to on two recto was written by Wheelock and contained the credentials and recommendations of Whitaker and Occom, as well as an abbreviated account of the Indian Charity School and its mission. A note reading "Man 2. 1767 --" has been added in pencil to one verso.

layoutSecond page of letter is on two recto not one verso.The second page of the letter is written in landscape orientation.

Persistent Identifier
Rev.d Sr /
I rejoyce in the Goodneſs of God that directed your thots to So excellent a Plan for propagating the Gosple among the Indians— It is I apprehend, in the General, ap­prov'd. meſs.rs Whitaker & occum have (in the places known to me) had for the most part ^had^ great Succeſs.. It was a Right to send over m.r occum , as a Specimen of the benefitt of y.e School— As far as I hear he pleases in every Town & city— So much Simplicity appears in the man: So honest, guileſs a Temper, with Seriousneſs in his publick Service., So well he speaks in publick, & So well he acts in private, among his friends & mankind, that he engages their hearts— may you be as suceſsfull in training others to the ministry as you have been in him!— By virtue of the Power given to m.r Whitaker, Such Gentlemen of Fortune & Character are are now chosen on this side the Water, Trustees for the Money yt may be raised, that I doubt not the Collection in Great-Britain & Ireland will be exceeding Great. From the many Thousand Pounds in Capital, & the many hundred, the yearly Interest of the same, w.ch will be advanced, permitt me to be a Petitioner for ye worthy m.r occum . Tis naturel to enquire into his family & worldly Circumstances. His Children are, I apprehend, many, & Substance Small— yet the Good man seems to expreſs full Contentment if he can have a Sufficiency to Improve his little Estate. Undesired, & entirely without his knowledge I write this in his favour; but tho' I write in my own name only, I'm persuaded, I might easily gett many hundred Persons to join in the Same Petition— Shall I entreat, that you, Dear Sr, will make use of all y.E Interest for Effecting it— It must be supposed that the Great acceptance he meets with among mankind, adds considerably to the Collections, "This Preacher was born & bred an Indian He left his family— He risqued his life on the Sea, for the good Cause. He is ready to Preach when desired— And behaves w.th ^a^ decency. that seems to give universal Satisfaction ^[below]^
Blank page.
In the Narrative P 27, I am much pleas'd with the words, Father, we are very glad you have come among us with the Good word of God, or God is news— we will by ye help of God, Endeavour to keep the Fire w.ch you kindled among us; and, will take our Old Customs, "ways, & Sins, and putt them behind our backs & never look on them again; but will look strait "forward & run after the Christian Religion— May The Indian People be renewe'd' in the Spirit of their minds (may they be turn'd from ye error of their ways & built up in their most Holy Faith). 'o, that, the Power of Godlineſs, the Love of God producing a Conformity to his moral attributes, all that is Pious, Right, & Good, may prevail among them! May their minds be enlightend, well-inform'd, & healthy; rightly disposed; poſseſing the Xtian Temper! may duly regulated wills & affections, w.th a Behaviour corresponding, be the happy Effects of the Schools, & the Ministe­rial Services!— — As I have the Satisfaction of contributing my best Endeavours to the Increase of the Collections, it will be greatly promoted, by frequent acc.ts of the Succeſs w.ch may attend the additional Schools in the Wilderneſs— That God maywill bleſs the Endeavors & Reward your Pious zeal in time & to all Eternity Prays
your Sincere Friend & Brother in the Gosple of Christ  Peter Jillard Bristol march 2d 1767/
I shall esteem it a favour, if by one or other of the Ships, yt sail from ye Country to Bristol, I may at certain Seasons, receive a Letters from you—
From Rev.d Peter Jillard Bristol March 2.d 1767
Brſh 3:8 To The Rev.d M.r Whelock at Lebanon In Connecticut America/ pd Mr Walker [illegible: [guess: 1/2]]
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