Ralph Wheelock, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1771 October 11
Date11 October, 1771
Call Number771561.1
abstractRalph Wheelock updates his father on his travels and his illness. He mentions his sorrow at Maltby's death and a meeting with Occom.
handwritingHandwriting is very clear and legible, though letter case—especially with regard to the letter S—is occasionally difficult to discern.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear.
inkBrown.
noteworthyOn one verso, it is uncertain to whom Wheelock refers when he mentions the Colonel, and so he has been left untagged.
maloncolly News of y.e death of My Dear de
=parted Brother Maltby, (tho' it was leſs heavy
yn it wo'd have been had I not have had y.t
agreeable interview, I was favd wth at my
hono.d Uncles at Long Meddow, on my way
to Connecticut) in whose Company & Fraternal
love I had promiſsed myself much delight
& satisfaction; But He is gone, & I believe
Sir, gone to his Father, therefore
him I cannot wish him back — Little did I
think wn we parted, und.r our respective States
of Bodey it w.d have been my part to have
carried wth me daily y.e Mourners Garbe,
but God still governs, & I think, Sir, I still
feel a glow of strength & vigour rising from
y.e tho't while I write.
You wn I have had strength of Bodey, as is y.e
case now, viz an oppertunity, tho' I hope for
one by White, wre I have been some time; &
found y.e Parent & y.e Friend.
shew'd a discouragm.t wn I first apply'd to him for
help, however would attempt it a close applicatn
of Medicens might be attended to, wh has been
my steady care till now — & und.r y.e bleſsing of my
divine Lord I find myself gaing, am able to
walk wthout fear as far as miſs Gagers &c —
yet find my Nervous System much decaed, &
spent wn y.e D.r says my Fitts wth all my
other disorders have lain from my Infancy,
wh he thinks may (after my late distreſs.g Sick
=neſs) be help'd, by a change of all — my Fitts are
lighter, my mind more my own, & my Nerves
stronger
Stronger, tho' I am but just able to keep abt, &
converse wth my Friends. y.e D.r daily longs to see
You, Sir, once more before he meets You in Heaven
down — All are well at Hebron, w.t M.r Pomeroy
thinks of a removal I can't yet learn
at y.e Colos one night, M.r Buckminster says he
really thinks, things have been wrongly represent
‐ed of y.e Col:o y.t his friendſhip for You Sir & Yos
are greater Yn is tho't — I have spent several days
in Norwich, bleſsed be God. I find Friends abroad
uncommonly kind & affectionate. I spent an after
noon wth Mr Occom, his mind has been filld, & from
abroad, tho' I did not see his Letters, wth many
th.gs wh to him he calls very hard, & appeard to
me to be easy whether he was still connected wth
y.e School or not, he means to justifie all his
conduct in his treatm.t of You, viz, y.t it has been wth
honesty as to a parent & greives y.t Y.r Heart as
a Fathers is gone; I attempted to mention some
things of his conduct to You but to little purpose,
He is, he says, at Y.r Service at all times wn
You call for him as for other Miſsarys &c —
as will Col.o Dyer & Col.o Conant = the Cause has
its friends, as well as its enemies in y.e Goverment
— I saw M.r Kirtland last week at Esq.r Grays
as he calld to see me, vastly kind affectionate & friendly
designs to see you on his way home —
its Inhabitants are y.e same, friends & enemies
tho'
tho' I am happy eno'f to keep out of y.ir Jars,
M.r Brock
leave 'em after two Sabbath, an agreeable
man, but an ungreatfull pp: —
my way from Norwich to Windham she was
well & in good Spirits —
y.e Neighbours, but has lived an unhappy
life wth M.r Loomiſs in y.e House, tho' I hope now
for better doings —
(who gives Duty) to Visit my friends & keep on
y.e move as y.e Doct.r says — I hope by Divine
leave to return before winter to You, Sir, &
be able to do someth.g to ease Yr burdens.
hono.d Mother, Love to y.e Brothers & Sister[below][illegible][guess: s]
& to all, M.r Woodward I w.d greatfully rememb
=er his kindneſs in his Letter, & w.d write but
have not strength now —
hono.d Sir, from
Ralph Wheelock