Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Nathaniel Whitaker, 1767 September 2

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date2 September, 1767

Call Number767502.1

abstractWheelock writes that he is attempting to get a copy of the letter sent to England by the New England Company, and updates Whitkater on the progress of various missions.

handwritingInformal handwriting is small, crowded and occasionaly difficult to decipher.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in fair condition, with moderate staining, creasing and wear. There is repair work done to particularly worn edges. A tear in the central crease appears to be contemporary, as Wheelock has written around it.

inkBlack-brown ink is somewhat blotchy.

noteworthyIn the third- and second-to-last lines of the first paragraph of two recto, it is uncertain whether, by the phrase "to y.et
Board which they refers to," Wheelock means that a letter from Oliver makes a reference to a certain board, or that a board within Oliver's letter refers to a letter written by Wheelock, and so "y.et Board" has been left untagged. However, it is likely the Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America. In the last and second-to-last lines of the first paragraph of two recto (within a deletion), the "two Shattocks" to whom Wheelock refers are Tobias Shattock and John Shattock, Jr. On two verso, Wheelock has overwritten several lines of closing with a continuation of the letter that is itself deleted. These closing lines have been transcribed as being added below the text of the letter proper. This document appears to be a draft.

signatureThe signature is abbreviated.

EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain

Persistent Identifier

Revd and very dear Brother
About a fortnit ago I returned from my
Journey to Portsmouth, in my Journey and Since I have
been in a poor State of health, I found on Trial I had underta
‐ken y.e long Journey before I had Sufficiently recovered from the Sickneſs
with which I had been confind for near a month — but God
has helped me hitherto, I this Day enjoy feal more like more Health than
I I have had for 3. months past —
 I viſited M.r Oliver and deſired to See the Letter of that
Board to M.r Mauduit of Oct.r 2. before you [illegible] ſaild
he read it to me I found it was So far as I could remember
the Same in every material article as you gave [illegible]
he declared that there was no Expreſsion in it unfavou
‐rable to me, or you or M.r Occom, or to the Deſign
wc you are upon I aſked him for a Copy he conſented I Should have one
if the Board were willing. he Said it was not drawn by
him but by a Clergy man — I waited on M.r Pemberto[gap: worn_edge][guess: n]
and he readily confiſsed that he drew it and Said he
deſigned no hurt to any man's Character, nor any
thing unfavourable to your the Deſign. which You are upon. I aſked him if
I might have a Copy he Said he was willing but would
not undertake to procure me one. he aſked me if there
was any thing in it that was not true I told him
I tho't there was one or two miſtakes but I choſe not
to Speak of them as material for fear it would [illegible]
prevent my having a Copy — M.r Oliver being then now gon[gap: worn_edge][guess: e]
out of Town I left a Letter for him and the Board wth
Mr Peck deſiring that favour of a copy with M.r Peck [illegible] has ſince
in[illegible]formed me he had delivered it to M.r Oliver but I
have no Copy yet — I am truly Surprized at thier
Solomn declaration that there was nothing it it that
tending to hurt the Character of any one or unfriendly
to your deſign is very remarkable.
 I wrote M.r Keen from Boſton & inclosd an abſtract
of a letter I there rec.d by David Fowler, from M.r Kirt‐
‐land
informing me of the Diſtreſs he [illegible]and his Indians
were in by reaſon of a great Scarſ[illegible][guess: e]ty of proviſions or Famine Among
them — the [illegible][guess: two] proceeding Crops of Corn having been cut of by the
froſt & by Virmen [illegible] — and also (which I Sho.d have added
[left]Letter to M.r Whitaker
[left]Sept.r 2. 1767
by y.e Pigeons [illegible][guess: leaving them] on which they had been w.c have been their cheif Dependance at y[illegible][guess: t] ſeaſon of ye Year
wont to depend for their Principal Support at that almoſt wholly leaving those parts.
ſeaſon of ye Year[illegible] laſt week received a Letter from
M.r Kirtland informing me him adviſing that David Fowler had arived
ſafe with the money I ſent him — he also informd
me that he had lately been with Sir William Johnſon
who informd him that M.r Forbes of Brookfield had
been with him in the name of the board at Boſton
deſiring his Aſsiſtance in Setting up a School upon
my Plan Sir William told him that one School was
enough [illegible] for these parts — and that he perceived it
was a party deſign [illegible][guess: and] therefore he ſho.d ſhew
it no countenance, nor aſsiſt him in getting
Boys from Onohoquage as they deſired — nor
nor would he ſo much as write them an anſwr
to thier Letter.— M.r Kirtland proposes to Me his coming down this Fall ſoon
with two of the cheifs of that Tribe this fall and that to make Applic[gap: tear]n
to Our Gen.l Aſsembly for their aſsiſta[illegible]nce — in Setting up farming Huſbandry among
them, by providing them Teams, Carts, plows &c. I have incou‐
‐raged the proposal and hope we ſhall find the Temper of the
Government Such that we Shall not pray in vain. So far
as I can learn the credit of the Deſign is yet riſing in this and
the Neighbouring Colonies. I have had many Teſtimonials of it
of late from Several leadg Gentlemen in N. York, and Several of our Aſsembby
have told me they thought I might could obtain my fav.r that I could
reaſonably aſk for of them— this is all y.e Lords doings my dear Br
[illegible] frequent Reports from the Indian Country laſt winter
and Spring that a Number of Miſsionaries & School Maſters
were Soon Expected from home viz. in the March April and may Pacquett,
to Supply all the vacancies among the 6 Nations. And various Several
accots in the public Prints to the ſame purpose eg. that nine
were ordained at Chappel Royal for that Purpoſe. togather
with many inſinuations that ſir William was not cordial towards
the Deſign of Supplying them from hence, determined me that it
was not beſt not to send any more 'till make any addition to those
who were then in that country (viz M.r Kirtland & 3 ſchoolMrs
and an Interpreter) 'till I cod know further of y.e Truth of those
Reports &c. — About 6 weeks ago Col.o Phelps told me he ſent
one of those Nine Gentn who were ordaind at [illegible]Chappel Royal who was
come as Miſsionry.to ye in Weſtern p.t of this Government I have forgotten his name who aſsured
him yt he heard nothing of their [illegible] Miſsion to ye Indians, and be‐
‐leived there was no truth in ye Report — I therefore tho't it neceſsary
to Send my Son to diſcourſe Sir William fully upon the head and
and know the Bottom of his Heart, and ingage & Secure his Friendſhip to
& patronage of of the Affair if poſſible and accordingly to conduct himſelf in collecting
and Setting up the Schools which have been neglected ye laſt ſeaſon
and endeavour to penetrate further among the Savages than
any Schools have yet been Set up. Accordingly my Son ſat out Yeſterday
accompanied by Aguſtine Hebard one of my Engliſh Pupils. & whom
I have thoughts of Imploying with Several Indian Youths, if Schools if [illegible]
Shall be opened for them the [illegible]Enſuing [illegible]Winter &c — as Soon as
may be after my Son) he returns you will hear further of the Affair — The Report of Your
great Succeſs in England renders it an unfavourable Time to beg
hearre 'till it can be known what is wanted. and I have heard
Nothing from Home England Since March 23.d however I expect ſoon
to be adviſed what I may Send for and then I Shall be better able to fix
[illegible]upon a Plan — the Affair I think looks in general very incouraging
— I have a proſpect of obtaining the Rev.d Eben.r Cleveland of
Cape Ann to accompany M.r Brainerd to the Ohio next Spring
I diſcourſed him on that Head in my Journey he manifeſted great
Inclination to it, and I expect to be determined as Soon as he
Returns from the preſent Tour which he was determined upon had thots of making ſoon to the Indians at S.t John's
whereat they informd me at Newbury, there is great Appearance
of Religious Concern in Numbers of themM.r Cleveland has
a Daughter married lately married atto a man who [illegible][guess: Coaſts] from Cape Ann to Philadelphia to a [illegible][guess: Capt] Man who
Sails from Philadelphia to cape ann which is a favourable, Circum‐
‐ſtance in M.r Clevelands undertaking as it may Save much Expence
in journeying &c. beſides the comfort & aſsiſtance he may have from ſuch
ſituation of his Children ſo near him —
 I inclose a Copy of M.r Olivers Letter to me, [illegible] and one of mine to y.et
Board which they refers to in his. the two Shattocks which mine reſpects
are very promiſing young Men—
M.r Kirtland in a Letter lately rec.d dated at fort Stanwix
June 17. laſt writes "I came here yesterday by ye deſire
of y.e Commander Leiu.t Aylmer who is about leaving this
Poſt, which he enforms me is to be abandoned — this Officer
has been exceeding kind to me — as has also the Cap.t of y.e
artilery — The abandoning of this [illegible]Poſt I ſuspect will be of
bad conſequence — the Indians will inſiſt upon ye Carrying
place, & allow no white perſon [gap: stain]to reſide upon ye Ground. You
may eaſily gueſs how the [illegible][guess: salloe] men &c will agree with them wn
there is rum plenty I dont Expect any will remove here but ye
of [illegible][guess: scouring] of the onoida oriska Indians — None unacquainted
with my Situation can conceive the Expence y.t will be neceſsary
to a moderate of any ways comfortabl Living here — it is very
Seldom that a wild foul or Beaſt is killd under 70. miles —
good
good fishing [illegible][guess: at] not under 70. or 80. — Tranſportation of Proviſions from
the Settlements very changeable —. no water carriage nearer than
20 miles unleſs I croſs this carrying place enter wood Creek & then 60 or 70
miles bring me within 5 of y.e Indian Village. if it coſt M.r Moſeley
£100 Sterlg at Onohoquaguee a £150. wont Support me here for ye
firſt two or three years and adds "y.t he is almoſt worn out wth Lab.r & fatigue & find his Conſtitn. demands a fuller ſupper [right]yn he has had yt y.e Indians are too poor to
do any thing for him — and beſides it wo.d hurt the Cauſe at preſent
to deſire it — as they are just waking up to cultivate their Lands for
y.r ow[illegible]n Support &c Some of ye Neighbg Towns Come to attend his preachg &c &c they Stand to their Agreement — Some of y.e
Neighbouring Town come to attend his [illegible]preaching —&c &c He finds his
Fatigues are too great for his Conſtitution &c &c"
Your Son & M.r Occom's with me are well & behave to my good Satiſfaction
Your Family & pp. in Statû quô. when I have a Thouſand thing [below]which are too long to write to impart when
god Shall grant us ye Favourable Interview. The Lord be with you[illegible][guess: r Spirit]
my dear Br & dear m.r Love to M.r Occom. &c and believe [illegible][guess: me to be] his Family were well the
laſt I heard from them. his Father Fowler has loſt his Sight. & Jacob is with him
I have sent for David to come and take care of him. and deſign to Send Jacob [below]yours in the Deareſt Bonds
up into a School if one Shall be agreably opened for him. Davids wife
is not well contented with y.e hard living in the Wilderneſs. — it may [below]Eleazar Wheelock
be David may get into a School on long Island while his father needs
his Care of him [below]I continue writing tho'
 Y.r Son & M.rOccoms with me are well, and behave to my good
Satiſfaction, y.r Families are both well as usual, your pp. in ſtatuû quo
[illegible][guess: have] a thouſand things to impart wn G. Shall mercifully grant us the
favourable Interviedw, w.c are too long to write. the Ld be wth y.o my
D.r Br. & D.r M.r Occom. I hope yo. both live upon G. & find [illegible][guess: him] to be
y.r Sweet hidg & reſting place amidſt a thouſd Temptations. Miſerable
indeed wo.d my caſe be, if I had not ſuch a place of Retreat. Oh!
bleſsed Shelter in a Stormy world, M.r Occoms Fath.r Fowler has
near loſt his Eyeſight, Jacob has been with him Sometime. I
have Sent for David to come and take care of him, & deſign
to ſend Jacob up [illegible] his, or anoth.r School, as Shall app.r beſt
wn my ſon returns. D—ds wife is not well content with ye
hardſhips of ye Wilderneſs. it may be David may get a School
in Long Island while his Father needs his care of him. You are
both always upon my Heart, and I have peace & quietneſs in
Leaving you, & ye grt Affair y[illegible]ou are ingagd in, wth ye gr.t Gov.r
of all thing, w.o dos all things well, quite well—

with much Affen to y.o both I Subſcribe. My D.r ſirs
Y.r B.r &c &c &c

Eleaz.r Wheelock
Rev.d Nathl Whitaker
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