Joseph Johnson, letter, to John Rodgers, 1775 February 15

Author Johnson, Joseph

Date15 February, 1775

Call Number775165

abstractJohnson writes of his intention to move with several tribes to lands granted by the Oneidas, and that he has been in touch with Wheelock regarding a recommendation.

handwritingHandwriting is small, crowded and frequently difficult to decipher, with many deletions and additions.

paperSingle large sheet is in fair condition, with moderate-to-heavy staining, creasing and wear. Wear at especially heavy creasing leads to some loss of text.

inkBlack-brown.

noteworthyThis document appears to be a draft. Some of the contents of this letter are similar to those of manuscript 775164. Sums appear upside-down at the bottom of one verso; the letter is written around these sums. The identity of “Avery” on one verso is uncertain, although it is likely David Avery. The identity of "Fitch" on one verso is uncertain, and so he has been left untagged.

Persistent Identifier

To Doctrthe Revd Doctr Rodgers at New York
Revd and kind Sir; with [illegible] humility, Gratitude and Love, I sit my
self down to write to your worthy Perſon. through the goodneſs
of the great God of mercy I, and my little family are in health; and I hum
bly hope that by the same goodneſs you and yours have been, and Still are
in health, and proſperity. — kind Sir, I have ever retained your worthy Perſon
in my mind with pleaſure, since, I have had the honour of being aquainted with
you. and I bleſs the Lord in whom I humbly hope, I have been enabled by his own
divine grace, to put my whole Trust, that he hath graciously given me such a Good & real Earthly friend
in time of need as your worthy Perſon hath been, and I hope still will be. — if I was not Satisfy
[gap: tear][guess: d] in my Mind, of your good will to me ward and to my poor deſpiſed Brethren I should not trouble you with my Scribles
but now with pleaſure I write to you as unto the beſt friend or Benefactor that I
have in this world of trial, Sorrow and [illegible][guess: wants] trialand various viciſitudes. I heartily thank you
for all your Tokens of Love, pity, and reſpects that you shewed to me ward, and to
ward my poor brethren, when I was in the city of New York [illegible] and I daily bleſs the Lord
that he gave me favour in the Eyes and hearts of his People there, God full
well knew my neceſsituous Circumſtances, and there he mercifully
relieved me, and greatly encouraged me to go on still, in his Service,
wherever he in his Providence should call me. and not to ſtagger. —
verily, verily, I have abundant reaſon to rejoice in the goodneſs of the
Lord, who regardeth the cauſe of thoſe that trust in his holy Name. — O that I might
be enabled to live to his praiſe all my Days, and afterward, be graciously
recieved up into Glory, where I [illegible]shall praiſe him throughout the
endleſs [illegible]Ages of Eternity without inturruption, and without ceaſing
Amen. — Revd Sir, I got safely home by the 5th of January [illegible]and found
[gap: worn_edge][guess: al]l well. I preached four times by the way. 3 times at New haven, [gap: worn_edge]
once at Eaſt haven, but It is not the Cuſtom I percieve in these parts [gap: worn_edge]
conſider of a traveling labourer, however, I am thankfull that my mind is not chiefly set upon
the things of time and Sense. and so am not disappointed, nor in the leaſt disquieted. I have been to several Towns of my Indian
Brethren since I have been at home, and have consulted with them, about
worldly affairs, and I have also preached to them alſo the Goſpel of our Lord
Jeſus the Christ. — my Indian brethren seems to be really engaged to go
[illegible]On in proſecution of the Deſign which I made known to you when I
was at your Reſidence — and we do fully purpoſe if god willing to set of from hence
or from these Parts by the 13th of March next [illegible].
I take it for granted and I believe that there will be [illegible] upwards of [illegible][guess: 5]60 young men from the several Tribes
who will go with Reſolution into the weſtern Country, as first Set
­tlers of the Land granted to us by the Onoidas. — however there
is [illegible]58 able working men that purpoſes to go from the following Tribes.
[gap: worn_edge][guess: i]n whoſe words I believe we may rely. from Mohegan 10. from Naraganſet
20. from Montauk on Long Iſland 13, from Nihantuck 5. from farm
ington
10. and there is two other Tribes who confeſs that they are So
deeply involved in debt that they cannot go this Seaſon, but fully
purpoſes to go soon as poſsible. that is grotton and Stonington. [illegible]
— I was there last thurſday and had conference with them about the affair and I ſhall
go their again next Saturday, and tarry over the Sabbath with them.
and I shall propoſe conditions and I believe that there will be a
small number from thoſe two Tribes. the Revd M.r Occom will
Preach t[illegible]here next Sabbath. and he will propoſe condition to them
[illegible] and their Creditors so as they may go and take Poſseſs
[gap: worn_edge][guess: i]on with the Reſt of us. I hope that their will be nigh seventy in
the whole tho it is little uncertain Poverty hinders many it is thought the beſt way in the first Place for[illegible][guess: Young]

men that are able to endure hardſhips to go and work or br[gap: worn_edge]
the way through, or prepear a Sort of Shelter for themſelves and the[gap: worn_edge]
to live in, and to raiſe little Some wh[illegible][guess: at] to eat for them and [gap: worn_edge]
and after w[illegible]foundation is laid [illegible] the aged men and womenthen we can with leſs difficulty
and children [illegible] move up with our families, and the[illegible] may the
aged Men, and women go leaning upon their Sons as An[illegible][guess: cors]
I feel really engaged on my Part, and greatly encouraged. The pro­
­ſpects of great future good to my poor brethren in these parts,
and alſo thoſe that inhabit the weſtern wilderneſs animates
my Soul to preſs forward. I greatly deſire the Proſperity of my
sinking Nation. — O that I might by the Grace of God, be beneficia[gap: worn_edge][guess: l]
[gap: stain] to the bodies, but to the precious, exceeding precious Sou[gap: worn_edge][guess: ls]
of my [gap: stain][guess: p]oor indian Brethren. —
Revd and kind Sir. — I would further enform you that I recieved a
Letter from my Hond Patron the Revd Eleazer Wheelock D. D and
Preſident of Dartmouth College the 13th of this Instant. the Extract
of which I send you with even every word. — Dartmouth College Jany
23. 1775
. My dear Joſeph Johnſon &c: &c: — — — I had a favoura
ble oppertunity to return an Anſwer, the next Day. — I [illegible]acquainted him
how the Lord had proſpered me [illegible] New York and had given me friends
there. and [illegible] made Mention of your worthy Perſon good will towards me, and alſo to [illegible][guess: wards] and what you
towards my Poor Brethren. — I enformed him that you deſigned to try
to get [illegible] ſomeThing for meMy [illegible]Support And for my Encouragements from the
Honorable Board at Philadelphia, or New York, I was not certain, —
[gap: worn_edge]ever I deſired him to write soon as poſsible to your worthy Perſon
on my behalf, and recommend me to notice, and regard if I was
deſerving. [illegible] I [illegible][guess: wrote to] enformed him, that the BHonorable Board would
meet by the first of April. — and I doubt not, but that he will
write to you[illegible] [below]But let [illegible] The Lords will be done concerning that Matter. I doubt not but that you will do your uttermoſt to get me a Support. [below]while I shall be in the service of our Lord.
If I have encouragement from that Honorable Board I will bleſs the
Lord, and rejoice in his goodneſs, if not I will still love, and
trust in his holy Name, and service him with all my might. and not
be discouraged, nor repine. for he will do the thing, that is [illegible]right
with me and for me. — my Purpoſes and neceſsituous Circumſtances I'll write
on other Paper by itself. — O kind Sir, ever Pray for me, that the God
of Love, would give me Grace Sufficient for me. give my Thanks, and becoming
Reſpects to your honoured, Beloved, and kind Conſort and great regards to all
your family. and love to all enquiring friends

I am, kind Sir
your well wiſher, and humble Servant and humble Pupil
as it were.
Joſeph Johnſon an Indian of the
Mohegan Tribe.

[bottom]36/0 7/6
[bottom]17.6 5/ 24/10
[bottom]18:6 5
[bottom] 17:6 3/0
[bottom]48/0 2/6
[bottom]37/9 1/3 27.10
[bottom]10:3 2/6 12/5
[bottom]48:0 6:3
[bottom]18:6 Averys debt
[bottom]10:38:Fitches D.t 19:6 30/4
[bottom]£1:8:9 6/ 12
[bottom] £1:11:9 1.6
[bottom] 6 13.6
[bottom] £1 17:9

P.S. there was some Gentlemen that gave encourage
ment, that they would try to get Bibles and Pſalm books
if any was want- -ing by thoſe that go Next march. and
I have acquainted my Indian friends of the good will of Gentlemen
at New York. — and They Indians rejoice at such glad [illegible]tidings.
if there is any so well diſpoſed as to give us [illegible][guess: shuch] beſt
of gifts we will greatly rejoice, and try to make good uſe
of them. moſt of us are so poor that we cant purchaſe Bibles and [illegible] [illegible]
[illegible]
[illegible] to come
60 [illegible][guess: of Each I] believe will be [illegible][guess: wanting] Send them to [illegible] I and [illegible]

[left]to Dr. Rogers.

To the Revd Mr Rodgers D.D.
in the City of New York.—
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