Joseph Johnson, letter, to John Rodgers, 1775 February 15
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.
To
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
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]
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
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
endleſs
Amen. — Revd Sir, I got safely home by the 5th of January
[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
Jeſus the Christ. — my Indian brethren seems to be really engaged to go
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
I take it for granted and I believe that there will be
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
[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.
— 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.
small number from thoſe two Tribes. the Revd M.r Occom will
Preach t
[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
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
23. 1775. My dear Joſeph Johnſon &c: &c: — — — I had a favoura
ble oppertunity to return an Anſwer, the next Day. — I
how the Lord had proſpered me
there. and [illegible] made Mention of your
towards my Poor Brethren. — I enformed him that you deſigned to try
to get
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.
meet by the first of April. — and I doubt not, but that he will
write to you
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
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
your well wiſher,
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
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 The
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
[illegible]
[illegible] to come
60 [illegible][guess: of Each I] believe will be [illegible][guess: wanting] Send them to [illegible] I and [illegible]