Samson Occom, journal, 1774 December 19 to 1775 February 9

Author Occom, Samson

Date21 December 1774 to 9 February 1775

ms number774672.3

abstractOccom's journal describes his travels as an itinerant preacher during the period from December 19, 1774, to February 9, 1775.

handwritingOccom's hand is small but consistently clear and legible. As is common with Occom, there are several uncrossed t's and crossed l's; these have been corrected by the transcriber.

paperSeveral small sheets folded into a booklet and bound with thread or twine are in good-to-fair condition, with light-to-moderate staining and wear. One recto/verso is heavily damaged, which results in a significant loss of text.

inkBrown ink varies in intensity throughout.

noteworthyAlthough the missing text on one recto/verso makes it difficult to tell for certain, the "Indian Town" mentioned on one recto is likely Farmington. On four recto, it is uncertain to where Occom refers when he mentions the "Indian Place." Illegible person and place names have not been tagged. An editor, likely 19th-century, has overwritten several letters, words and phrases, as well as punctuation. These edits have not been transcribed.

Persistent Identifier
[gap: tear] [gap: tear] River [gap: tear]Some Time: I reachd [gap: tear] [illegible] [gap: tear] kept Sabbath at this [gap: faded] Preachd at m[gap: faded] [gap: faded] to a tronged A[gap: faded] [gap: faded] very [gap: faded][guess: pleaſent] Day

Monday Decr 19:

left the place about 10 [gap: faded] and [illegible] my way, and it was a Dreadful Storm of Rain and [illegible] in it all [gap: faded] Farmingtown got [gap: faded] before Sun Set [gap: faded] very wet Lodged at E[gap: faded]h[gap: faded]

Dec.r 20

[gap: faded] at the Place [gap: faded] [gap: tear]
hig[gap: tear]od [gap: tear] a g[gap: tear]

Wedneſday Decr 21:

[gap: tear] Indian Town about [gap: tear] the morning, and it w[gap: tear] Cold; towards Night Stopt a[gap: tear][guess: t] one Mr Wiard's and the People were urg^ent^ to have me Stay till next Day and give them a Diſcourſe and I Complyd; that Night it Snowd very hard, all Night— —

Thirdſday Decr 22

it Snowd Still Yet a great Number of People Came together at the apointed Time after meeting went home with one Mr Weſt. Seven Day Baptiſt Preacher. a godly man I believe a very meek and humble man and well reported by his Neighbours, his wife is a Moravian woman by Profeſsion a Pious woman by [gap: tear] with
them, this Night

Fryday Dec[illegible][guess: r] 23

was with Mr weſt all Day Lodged with them again —

Saturday Decemr 24:

as this is their Sabbath So the People got together for meeting at their Uſual Hour and I preachd to them as Soon as I had done Mr green preachd, a Short Diſcourſe, and after meeting, I went back to Mr Wiards and Lodgd there—

Monday^Sabbath^ Decem 25:

People got together about 11: a great Numbr and I preachd to them twice in the evening went to M.r Mechams my good old Friend, he Came from Weſterly and Lodgd there I was very Poorly this Night I was Troubled with a Diſorder in my Bowels very much — —

Monday Decem 26:

was very Comfortable this morning my Diſorder was gone, about 10 went to Hering^‐ton^ Meeting Houſe Calld on one [illegible]
from there went to Mr Wooddroff[illegible][guess: 's], and there put up my Horſe at and went to meeting Preached to a large aſsemble, and the People attended with great Solemnity — in the evening went to See Mr Batholomew the old miniſter of the Place he has layd down Preaching by reaſon of Infirmities, he Seemed to be a good ſort of a man— Lodgd with Mr Wooddroff

Tueſday Decer 27

after Breakfast wen^t^ on my Journey, Stopt at Letchfield a few minutes Juſt to eat at a Tavern and then Sot off again, and directed my Courſe towards New Milford; reachd the Place Juſt before night. Calld on one Mr Balwin and Tarried there all night, and appointed a meeting 10 o:c for the next Day, this Night we had a Terrible Storm of Snow —

Wedneſday Decemr 28:

Storm Continued very Hard Yet we went to meeting and there was a Conſiderable Number of People, went to Mr Tallors the miniſter of the Place and was very
kindly and tenderly entertaind —

Thirdsday Decr 29:

went with M.r Tallor to attend upon a Lecture which Mr Ta^[illegible][guess: y]^llor had appointed Some Days before a bout 7 miles South from the Town, I preachd, and there was a Number of People got toge‐ther, Conſidering the Deep Snow; after Service, the people were very urgen[gap: faded][guess: t] to have another meeting in the evening, and I Conſented, and So preachd again; and we had very Solemn meeting, the people in general were greatly affected — after mee^t^ [illegible][guess: ing] went home with one Mr Hitchcoc^k^ and Lodgd there, I believe the man and his wife were true Chriſtians, Sot up till late and then went to Bed qui^e^tly Mr Ta^[illegible][guess: y]^llor went home this evening and I deſird ^him^ to Send word to New Preſton, that I woud be there on the next Day and give them a Short Diſcourſe towards evening,

Fryday Janr ^Decr^ 29:

after Breakfast returnd to N. Milford got about 12 and found Mr Tayl[illegible][guess: a]r had not Sent word to N Preſton, and I Past by as Soon as Coud, one Deacon Hogekins accompanyd me, and we got there a little before Sun Set, and they gave notice to the People, and begun our Meeting in the evening and there was a great Number of People, and they attended well, as Soon as the meeting was done we went back again to New Milford This Night Lodged with one Mr Camble a Seperate Miniſter and a very man I believe, — — —

Saturday Decr 31

had a meeting at one Deacon Balwins, among the Seperates, had a Comfortable meeting, after meeting went into Town, Lodgd at Mr Taylor, —

Sabb Decemr ^Janr^ 31

Preach at the Place all Day to amazing Number of People —
Lodgd at Mr Hynds whoſe wife is a very good woman, was very kindly entertaind, this evening two young women Came to me under great Concern of Soul and I gave them a word of advice and Coun[illegible][guess: c]el

Monday Janr 2

left New Milford early in the morning and went on to New fairfield got there about 10 o:c Call in at Mr Sills the Miniſter of the Place a few minue^tes^ and then went to meeting, preachd to a large Number of People, after meeting went to Mr Sills and Dind and Soon after Dinner left the Place and went on towards Kint Mr Sill went with me, went thro Pe[illegible]ſ[illegible]ttokook, Stopt a few Minutes at the Indian Place but there was no Indians at home Scarſely, and So we paſt on, got to Mr Bodwell about 7 in the eveng and they Sent word all round that Night to have a meeting next
Day about 10 in the morning

Tueſday Janr 3:

went to meetg about 10 and had a great Number of People to Preach to and the People attended with great Solemnity and affection, after meeting went to Mr Bodwells and Din'd there, and Soon after Dinner went on my towards 9 Partners and got to Esqr Hopkinss about 7 in the evening and Lodgd there —

Wedneſday Jan.r 4:

preachd at the red meeting Houſe, —

Thirdsday Janr 5:

preachd at a priv[illegible][guess: a]tt Houſe, in the Place — —

Fryday Janr 6:

went to Mr Knibloes in Esqr Hopkinss Slay, got there before noon about 1 went to meeting
and it was extre[illegible][guess: am] Cold, I deliverd a Short Diſcourſe, after meeting went to mr Plat's and Dind there, and than went on our way Home to Esqr Hopkins, got there Juſt after Sun Set — — —

Saturday Janr 7:

was at Esqr Hopkins all Day —

Sabb Janr 8:

preachd here all Day, jut at night left the Place and went over the Mountain to Mr Wood's Weeting Houſe, and preachd there, and it was extre[illegible][guess: eam] Cold, went home with Mr Fowler in his Slay and Lodgd there — — — —

Monday Jan r 9:

left Mr Fowlers early in the morning and went on towards Pleaſent Vally, Got to mr Caſe's before Night, Mr Caſe was not at Home
in the evening he Came Home and we had a Joyful meeting he and his Family were very well, and his People Lodgd there —

Tueſday Janr 10:

towards evening went to the Hollow and Mr Caſe went with me I preachd at the Houſe of one Mr Struit, a Young Dutchman who is under great Conviction of Soul we had a great Number of People and very Solemn meeting we had, — —

Wedneſday Janr 11:

we went 8: or 9 miles Northweſt ward to one Mr Saml Smiths and preachd there in the eveg to a Crowd of People, and they attended e[illegible][guess: c]eeding well — Lodgd in the Same Houſe one Mr ward brought heither in his Slay from mr Caſe's —

Thirdsday Janr 12:

went off very early in the Morning towards Statesbourough got there about 10 in the morning put up at Mr Struits young Mr Struit brought ^us^ here, mr Ham Came with us in the after noon about 1 began a meeting, there was not a grea^t^ Number of People at this time they
Came by miſtake the meeting was appointed at evening, — in the evening a great Number Came together, and I gave them another Diſcource, the People here are Chiefly Dutch, and I found Some excellent Chriſtians amongſt Lodg'd at Mr Struits [illegible][guess: T]

Fryday Janr 13:

Sot off very early in the morning towards Pleaſent Valley, for we had appointed meeting there at 1 o'c this Day, got there juſt about meeting Time, and there was a great Number of People I preachd, — after meeting I went with one Mr Newcom a Baptiſt Brother, a man of great Riches was very kindly entertaind, Lodgd here, with much Satiſfaction —

Saturday Janr 14:

this morning I made uſe of my Printed Notes or Christian Cards — [illegible] about
11 I walkd Down to Mr Caſe's Mr Newcom went with me, Spent [illegible] the reſt of the Day with Mr Caſe, he is quite a Clever Sort of a man —

Sab: Janr 15:

preachd at the place again to a vaſt Crowd of People, and we had a very Solemn meeting many were brought to Floods of Tears [illegible][illegible] it was a Sacrament with the People and I Join the People it was a Comfortable Seaſon, — as Soon as the service was over we went to a Place Calld Oswago about 6 miles off, got there in the Duſk of the evening found a prodigious Number of People, preachd to them, Mr Caſe made the last Prayer I Lodgd with one Mr Plat

: Monday Janr 16:

went to another part of Oswago about 7 miles off, to a Baptist meeting Houſe, meeting began abot 1 in the afternoon, and there was a great multitude of People of all Sorts and Denominations, the greater part of the People Cou'd not get in to the Houſe, and we had a Solemn meeting — as Soon as the meeting was done we went towards Poughkeepsy, and had a meeting in the evening at one Capt Hagmans and had a prodigious great Number of People and the People attended with much affection —

Monday Tueſday Janr 17:

early in the morning went on to Poughkeepſy and Stopt a Little while at a publick Houſe, and So paſt by
and went on towards the Ferry about four miles Down the River Mr Caſe and Mr Ward went with me about a mile out the Town and there took leave of me each other in Friendſhip — and I wen^t^ to the Ferry, there met with mag major Durgee of Norwich in his return Home from Suſquehanah, got over before Sun Set & went Down to Mr Debois's and Lodgd there Found them all well except his wife, they were very glad to See me, and receivd with all kindneſs — —

Wedneſday Janr 18:

after Breakfaſt went Down to New Windſor Calld on Mr Luml Co[illegible]ling and alſo one Mr Cl[illegible][guess: ea]rk my old friends and acquaintances they were extree[illegible][guess: m]ly glad to See me and Stopt no more till I got Butter Hill where one
Mr Joſeph Wood Lives he is an old Diſciple indeed, we had a joy‐ful meeting, we had not Seen each other in Ten Years I felt as if I was in my Fathers Houſe S[illegible][guess: o]t up till good bed Time and then took our Repoſe for the Night

Thirdſday Janr 19:

was at Mr Woods till towards Night, then went to meeting at mr Cl[illegible][guess: ea]rks there were So many People they Coud not all get in, and we had a Comfortable meeting after meeting returnd Home with Mr Wood again and S[illegible][guess: o]t up Some Time after we got Home

Fryday Janr 20:

was at Mr Woods again till toward Nig^ht^ again and went to New Windſor for Meeting had a meeting in one of Elders Houſe, returnd home again with Mr Woods —

Saturday Janr 21:

left Mr woods early in the Morning and on towards Malborough. Stopt at New Windſor Breakfaſted with Mr Cloſe, after Breakfaſt wen^t^ on my way got to Malborough before Night Stopt at Mr Cl[illegible][guess: ea]r^k^s Mr Caſe the general Postmas‐ter Brought me here in his Slay from Newborough he is one of my good old Friends here I ^went^Lodgd and mr Caſe wen^t^ home, and Lodgd with him —

Sab Janr 22:

about 10 went to the meeting Houſe and a Multitude of People Came to meeting, and we had a Solemn meeting in the evening went to Mr Deboiss Houſe and had a meeting there and a great Number of People were toge‐ther again I Baptized two
Children we had the power of god with us many were brought to floods of Tears — I Lodgd here,

Monday Janr 23:

in the morning went back again to Newborough and preachd there in the Church of England to a great Number of People as Soon as the meeting was over I went up to Malborough & preachd in the School Houſe to a Crowded People and they attended with affection — after meetg —went back to mr Cl[illegible][guess: ea]rks and Lodgd there — —

Tueſday Janr 24:

went away early in the morning Mr Cl[illegible][guess: ea]rk went with me. and Mr Dayton alſo went to wards Wall Hill got to Mr Tolton's about 11 where we were to have a meeting, about 12 [illegible] we begun Meeting & there was a Multitude of People I had Some freedom in Speaking
this Night Stayd with Mr Tolton

Wedneſday Janr 25:

Held a meeting not far from MrTolton's in a Dutch mans H a great number of People came together again — — in the evening had another meeting not far the Place where had a meeting in the Day and I believe the Lord was with us of a Truth there was great Trembling in the Congregation This night Lodgd with one Mr Norton had a long Converſation with them, the were Baptiſts

Thirdsday Janr 26:

in the morning went away to anothe^r^ place, about 6 miles off, g where we had apointed a meeting at a Dutch mans Houſe, we got there about 11
about 12 went to meeting in a Barn, the Peopl Crouded like Bees and we had a Solem meeting, after meeting I went with a gentleman 2 or 3 miles Norward, in the evening a Numr of Neighbours Came in to meeting tho we did not men‐tion any meeting, and I gav^e^ a word of HExhortation Lodgd here — —

Fryday Janr 27:

Sot off in the morning and to Blooming grove, about 20 miles off got there about 5 in the after Noon was kindly entertaind by one Mr Brewster Lodgd there — —

Saturday Janr 28:

was at Mr Brewsters all Day in the evening one Hoseah Came to See me he is a multoe man
Reckend a Christian man we had Some Converſation together in Prodigious matters — —

Sab: Janr 29:

preachd at the Place to a vast Croud of People and I had but little Senſe of Divine things, ho[illegible]e however, the People attended with great attention — — towards Night went Oxford about 4 miles off there we had an evening meeting to a Crouded Audience and I had Some Senſe of Divene things & the People were much affected I believe Lord was with us of Truth,— Lodgd at Deacon Little's

Monday Janr 30:

in the morning quite early I Sot off for Smiths Clove Deacon Little accompanied me, got the there about 10 a
bout 12 we began Div[illegible][guess: e] Service and there was a great multitude of People, and I had much freedom in Mind and Speech and many People were melted into floods of Tears, as Soon as the Meeting was done I went Down to Murtherers Ch Creek got there before night went to Mr Woods found them all well, in the evening went meet ing towards the Creek, and had Some what Solemn meeting, after meeting went to the Creek and Lodgd there with one [illegible][guess: Mr –]

Tueſday Febru Janr 31:

went off early in the morning in order to get over the River, Stopt a little while with Mr Cloſe at New Windſor there was no paſsing there, and So I went to Newborough, Breakfaſted at Mr [gap: omitted] and then went to the ferry, about 11 went over
to Fiſhkills Side, and went one to the Center of the Place, got to the Preſbyterians Meeting Houſe about 3 in the after-Noon, the People Stopt me to have a meetng on the next Day, and I went to one [gap: omitted] and Lodgd there, and was very kindly treated and entertaind, —

Wedneſday: Febr 1: 1775

about 11 O:C went to meeting and there was a great multitude of People, and had a Solemn meeting, As Soon as the meeting was over, I went on towards the mountains, Lodgd with one Mr Judge — and was very kindly entertaind and he Sayd, yt ever I Shoud Come there again I Shoud make his Houſe my Home

Thirdsday: Febr 2:

went off very early in the morning, to a Place
Calld the Mills, there I had a meeting, begun about 12: preachd in a Barn to a vast great Concorſ^e^ of People, and the Power of God was manifeſt amongſt us, there was great trebling among the People after meeting went with one Mr Lawrence a Baptiſt Minister he lives in the mountains, and I Lodgd at his Houſe, —

Fryday: Febr 3:

about 12 went to meeting, preachd to Amazing Number of People in the woods, and we ^had^ very good meeting the Spirit of god moved upon the people, after meeting went Home with Mr Lawrence, in the Evening Mr Lawrence and I went to Capt Champlins, and we had long and Friendly Converſation together in Religious Matters, Lodgd here this Night, and was extre[illegible][guess: am]ly we[illegible][guess: ell] uſ'd and entertain —

Saturday Morning Febr 4:

left the Place and went over to Dover Mr Miller went with me we got to Mr Waldos about 10: he is a Baptiſt Miniſter of the Place, and he receivd me with Brotherly kindneſs and Love Lodgd here —

Sabb Febr 5

about 10 went to meeting, and there was grea^t^ Number of People Got toge‐ther, and I preachd with much freedom the People were affected many of 'em, after meeting, went Down to New Fairfield, got to Mr Sills be‐fore Night, the meeting was appointed at his Houſe, and the People Came in So thick there was not half Room ^enough^ for
them, and juſt as we were about to begin Divine Service a Meſsenger Came from the meeting Houſe which ^is^ a mile off and Said there was great Number of People got together there, and we were obligd to remove to the ^meetg^ Houſe and when we got there we found a great Number of People, the meetig Houſe was Crouded, and the Lord gave me freedome in Speaking, after meeting went back with Mr Sill and Lodged there —

Monday: Febr 6:

in the morn- ing went Down to a Town Houſe of Fairfield and there Preac^hd;^ began about 12 and there was a great Number of People got together and we had a Comfortable
meeting, as Soon as the metetg was over I went towards New Milford, got there towards Nig^ht^ Stopt at Mr Hindss: and there were very urgent to have me Stay and have a meeting they Pled So hard it was very hard for ^me^ to paſs by the them, there was one Young Convert in particular Intreated with Tears in her Eyes to have me Stay they pul'd very hard upon my very Heart Strings and it Hard work to get a way from them, however I did get a way, and went on towards New Preſton, got there Some Time in the eveng put up at Mr Cogswells a Tarvern and he gave me my Entertainment —

Tueſday Febr 7:

Sot of very early in the morning, and reachd to Farmington Some Time in the Evening, put up at Elijah Wympy's found them all well — —

Wedneſday Febr 8,

went off very early in the morning and Got So far as Mr Cornwells East Side of the Connecticut River a bout 10 miles, I intended to have gone further, but the Land Lord Cornwell u^r^gd to have me Stay, and I Conſented at laſt, and preſently it was Noiſed about I was there, and they had a Notio^[below]n^ of haveing a meeting, and at last I Conſented, this
was about half an hour after Sun Set, and in about more the Houſe was Crouded with People. and I preached and I had Some Freedom— and after meeting went to Reſt quietly, —

Thirdsday Febr 9:

took leave of [illegible][guess: 'em] very early in the morning, and on my way, made but little Stops by the way, arriv'd to my Houſe Juſt before Night, and found all my family in good State of Health, — Bleſsed be the Lord god of Heaven & Earth for his goodneſs to me and to my Family, that he has carried me out and brought
Loading...