Joseph Johnson, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1774 December 4
Date4 December, 1774
Call Number774654
abstractJohnson humbly requests money to pay his debts, as well as an answer to a letter he sent to Wheelock through Jacob Fowler. He notes that soon he must go take possession of land granted to the New England Indians.
handwritingHand is mostly clear and legible, although occasional overwrites make it difficult to differentiate between original words and corrections. The transcriber has used her discretion.
paperTwo separate pieces of paper of unequal size and shape are in good-to-fair condition, with light-to-moderate creasing, staining and wear.
noteworthyWhen Johnson refers to "your Seminary" it is uncertain whether he refers to Moor's Indian Charity School or Dartmouth College. The postscript is contained within a large, parenthesis-like bracket, which has been indicated in the transcription by a closed parenthesis at the end of each line. Unexplained numbers are written upside-down under the trailer.
gratitude do I undertake to write to your worthy Perſon
this once more. — I have the pleasure to enform you,
my honoured Patron, that through Divine favour,
I, and my little family are in health, and it is the
desire of my heart, to hear that your valuable health
is still continued. my honoured Patron, I hope will
not take it ill, from his dejected Pupil, to add a petition
still. I humbly acknowledge that your worthy Perſon, hath
in a very wonderfull manner multiplied your favours —
towa
past forever deſpaired of ever recieving any Tokens of
reſpects from you, or from any of my honoured Ac-
-quaintance that Surround you. but I greatly rejoice
that I have a reason to hope, that you, my honoured Patron,
and your Reſpectable Houſehold, is in part reconciled, and
I humbly hope th
-titude, and abominable Pride, had made in times paſt
between me, and you my Honoured Patron, with the
reſt of my worthy, and loving friends, is in some
meaſure repaired, and may the God of all grace, Who
I humbly hope hath quickened me, be my conſtant Sup-
-porter, that I dishonour Him no more, neither wound
the hearts of his Dear Children anymore. — and I
thank you, my Compaſionate Patron, for all your
kindneſses to me w[illegible][guess: a]rd, even from my Childhood,
and I would thank you, in a perticular manner for your
Reſpects, and kindneſs to me, when I was
of your Reſidence. and I thank all your honoured
family, and the loving members of your dear Seminary,
which may long flourish gloriously, for all the Reſpects
and Tokens of Love, and Friendſhip shewn to such a
Deſpicable Lump of polluted Clay, as is incloſed in
—
-tain in my mind, with pleaſure, and reſpects, Dart
mouth and Her Sons. — But as for my adding
a petition still, methinks there is no need, you, my Honour-
-ed Patron, is well acquainted with my Circumſtances,
my Situation is w
Perſon knows that I am poor, needy, and almoſt dis-
-treſsed Creature. and I believe that it is not owing to
my Lazineſs, neither can it be reaſonably computed
to my Extravagance, that I am thus reduced. —
methinks that no one can think hard of me, if they
would duly Conſider, the neceſsary Charge that I have
been at, from time to time since I have voluntari
-ly devoted myſelf, for the good of my poor Brethren
that live scattered about in these parts. — all I deſire
from you my Honoured Patron, is that you would be pleaſed
to give me an Anſwer to the full,
to you by Jacob Fowler. — so as I might know
what to depend upon. — now I am betwixt hope, and
Deſpair. — and I know not which way to turn, the
time is very short before I must be obliged to go
to take Poſseſsion of the Land granted to us New
England Indians. — there are some going out of every
Town, to whom the Land is granted. — that is out of
Seven Towns. — there is nine from Mohegan that is
going next spring to take Poſseſsion. — things look
very Encouraging. — my Debts remain unpaid. and
I do not know how I shall get along this winter. I have
nothing to live upon, hardly. and I am in no way to
perſue a Study of Divine Truth as I purpoſed if I had
the chiefest of my Enquiry is what shall I eat. &c: —
but my trust is fixed on the mighty god of Jacob, who
knows what is beſt for me.
or Inteligence from you)
my Honoured Patron)
Since I wrote to you by friend)
Jacob Fowler. — I am your)
humble well wiſher Joſeph Johnſon.)