Samson Occom, journal, 1786 December 11 to 1787 April 7

Author Occom, Samson

Date11 December, 1786

ms number786661

abstractOccom describes his travels as an itinerant preacher through Connecticut and New York. He also relates an episode involving a rumour that his son Aaron has been arrested for murder.

handwritingHandwriting is largely clear and legible. There are several uncrossed t's, crossed l's, undotted i's, and dotted e's, which the transcriber has corrected.

paperSeveral small sheets are folded into a booklet that was, at one time, bound with thread or twine. The paper is in good-to-fair condition, with light-to-heavy staining and wear.

inkBrown ink varies in intensity throughout.

noteworthyAn editor, likely 19th-century, has overwritten Occom's hand in black ink and pencil; these edits have not been transcribed. On seven recto, it is uncertain to whom Occom refers when he mentions the “Man of the house,” and so this person has been left untagged.

Persistent Identifier
[illegible][guess: Al]marck for Emanuel
1 Peter IV. 18. Heb IV. 11  1 Sam. XII. 24 XXXV. 10
Aandre Aandrew Mr William Albe^r^tſon
Blank page.

Monday Decr 11

About 12 I took leave of Esqr Woodwoths Family, and went on to Stephe^n^ Town, got to Mr Tobiass Juſt before Sun Sit and Taried there, and was very kindly intertaind, by the Family Lodged there. — — —

Tueſday Decr 12:

about 11 the People began to Collect and there was Company of People, for the Seaſon, it was very Cold, and much Sonow on the Ground, and it is a Scaterd Place,— we began the meeting, a little after 12 I Spoke from Matt, VI. 10 and the People attened with great and Solemn attention, many were much affected, — I Lodgd
here again, and had a Com fortable reſt. — —

Wedneſday Decr 13:

Got up early, and Sot of Soon, Sopt at Mr Robenſons a while took ˄ there, and Soon after Breakfast I went on ^a^gain, got to Esqr Skermehorns, abou^t^ 11: and took Dinner with them Soon after Dinner, went on to Mr Dimons, and found them well, and was kindly receivd, Eſpecially by Mrs Dimon, She is an old acquaintance, and Frie^n^d of mine, She came from Rhod Island State, Lodged there, and was very tenderly entertaind, Lodged Comfort ably by the Fire, accordg
to my deſire, — — —

Thirdsday Decr 14:

About 10 we went to Esqr Skermehor^ns^ to meeting, the People got together at 11, and I went into a Store Houſe, where the People Collected, and there was a Prodigious Concourſe of People. I Spoke from the Revels of John I: Chap X: 36 and there was a melting attention amongſt the People many Tears were Shed, and preſently after meeting I went home again with Mr Dimond and his Family in their Slay, and there I Lodgd again. — —

Fryday Decr 15.

got up very early, and the whole Family got up, alſo, and Breakfaſt was got ready Soon, and we ate
and Soon after eating Mr Dimond and his wife, and I went to Stephen Town in his Slay, it is about 10 miles diſtant we Stopt at Mr Jabez Spencers a little while, and So paſt on, and about 10 o. c we got to Mr Na- than Brockways and there we put up, he was not at Home, and towards Night, he got home and in the Evening, the People Col lected together for meeting, and there was a large Aſembly, and I Spoke from XXV Matt. 43: and the People attended with great Solemn ity, many were affected much, and after meeting, many Spoke to me with tenderneſs. after the People were gone, we Sung Several Hymns, and had agreable Conver ſation, Sot up very late, at laſt went to be[illegible]d quietely — —

Saturday Decr 16:

got up early and had Exerciſe in the Family
with my Cards, and the young P attend with gravity and Decincy and Some Time after Break faſt we Sot of again, to return to Philips-Town. got to Mr Dimonds Houſe, about 1: and there Stayd again. — —

Sabb Decr 17.

about 10 we went to meeting at Esqr John Scharmarhorn's and there was the bigeſt number of People, that ever was Seen in one meeting in this Wilderneſs Settlement, it was thought there was about 500 People, [illegible] We met in a large Barn, — I Spoke from Amos III. 4, and I think I had Some Senſe of Divine things, and there was an affectionate attention thro the Aſembly, the People were bowd under the word, they Sot like Crimenals. under a Sentance of Death — Soon after
meeting I returnd with Mr Dimond and his Family in a Slay;— In the evening a Compa ny Came together, at Mr Dimond for meeting, there was but few People, it was a Tedious Snowy and Rainey evening, I Spoke from John IX: [gap: omitted] and the People attended with great Solemnity Some were affected.—

Monday Decr 18.

Soon after Breakfaſt Mr Dimond got his Slay ready. and went Mr Samulel Wheeler's to meeting about 5 miles, we got there about 11, and the People Juſt began to Collect, and ther^e^ Conſiderable of People got toge ther, I Spoke from Matt V. 5 and it was a Solemn meeting, Soon after meeting, we went
went back, got home before Sun Sit, and Lodgd there —

Tueſday Decr 19:

Got up very early, and they got Breakfaſt directly, before Sunriſe I took leave of the Family, and went on my to Stephen-Town; Calld at Mr Spencers, at Mr Joness, and So on to Mr Joſhua Gardners and there was a prodigious Number of People Collected together, and I begun the Exerciſe directly, I Spoke from Ecles I: 15: and there was very deep and Solemn at tention thro the Aſembly, mayny Tears were Shed,— Soon af[illegible][illegible]ter [illegible]took Dinner and then went with one
Mr Ezekiel Shelden, and had an Evening meeting there and there was a Conſiderable of People I Spoke from Matt ^V. 5^ the People Seemed to attend with Some feeling of the word after I had done two or three Spoke with Some affection, I was Tenderly treated, Lodgd at the Same Houſe, and reſt ed Comfortably. about

Wedneſday Decr 20.

About 10 we went to one Hammond to meeting, and there was a large number of People, and I Spoke from John VII. 37 and there good attention Soon after meeting, I we went back with Mr Shelden a gain in his Slay took Dinner with them, and directly after eating, we wen^t^ [illegible]to one Mr Haywards and ther^e^ we had another meeting, I
I Spoke from Mark V: 4 and the People attended well, one or two Spoke after I had, here I Lodgd, — —

Thirdsday Decr 21,

After Bt Mr Rufus Price and I wen^t^ to Mr Brockway's and Mr Price went back, and Mr Brockway took me in his Slay, with his Family, to a meet ing about 3. miles nothward got there [illegible][guess: a] 12: and a large Number of People had Col lected together, and I began the exerciſe directly, I Spoke from John VI 36: and there wa^s^ undCommon attention among^st^ the People, there was a flow of Tears, I believe the Lord was preſent with his word,— as Soon as ever the meeting was done, I went back with Mr Brockway, — and in the
evening we had meeting again and there was Conſi derable number of People & I Spoke from 1 Peter [gap: omitted] and the People attended with great Solemnity, Lodgd at the Same Houſe — — —

Fryday Decr 22,

Soon after Breakfaſt, I leave of the F and went on to one Mr DGard ners, upon the borders of Handcock, and there was a meeting to be, the People began to Collect when I got there, and there was large Number of People — I bega^n^ about half after 11: I Spoke from Acts VIII. [gap: omitted] and the P were greatly attentive and Some manifeſted affection
Soon after meeting I went Home with Mrs Goodrich and her Son in a Slay, got there Some Time before night the Place where they live is Calld Jaricho; tooke Dinner with them, the Man of the Houſe is helpleſs as a Child, he is troubled with a [illegible]Num Palſey, in the Evening, we went in the Slay again to meeting at the Houſe of one Mr Hammond, and there was great many People, I Spoke from [gap: omitted] and the People appeared very Serious and Some were aff[illegible]ected — Soon after meeting ˄ we[illegible]nt back with Mr Goodrich and there I Lodgd, and was kindly Treated, — —

Saturday Decr 23:

Soon af ter eating, took leave of the Family, and went on to wards New Lebanon; Stopt a while at Mr Patchins his wife has been Sick a long while, I had Some Con verſation with her, She Com plains of much Darkneſs but I believe She is a real Christian; about 11: I went on, a man went with me, and he Conducted to the Pool and it is a remarkable Spring, and a Clump of Houſe are on and [guess: rund], was there but few minutes and I went on to the meeting Houſe, and I put up at Capt Joness Cloſe by the Mee^t^
ing Houſe, and he and his Wife were not at Home,— in the evening they Came home and they are agreable Couple — Lodged there and was kindly entertaind. — — —

Sabb. Decr 24:

It was very Cold Day, I went into the meet ing Houſe, about 11: and there was a Conſiderable number of People for the Cold Seaſon, I Spok from the words there is at Jeruſam a Pool, &c — and there was a good attention. after meeting went to Capt Joness again[illegible]. in the evening, went to one Mr Abots and there we had a meetg and there was a great numbr of People, and I Spoke from 1 Corin VII: [gap: omitted] and there was a Solemn attention many I be- lieve were much affected —
after meeting I went back to Capt Joness and Lodgd there a gain, — — — —

Monday Decr 25:

got up, very early, and took Breakt and Sot a way, and got to Richmound, about 9: Calld on Mr Pery a miniſter of the Place, and he and ano- ther man, were very urgent to have me Stop and preach in the evening, and I Conſented and I went to Mr Millers and there I put up, in the evenin^[below]g^ we went to meeting to Mr Collin, and there was a Conſiderable number of People, and I Spok from 1 Kings XIX: and the People attened well, I Lodgd at the Same Houſe and they were exceed kind to me. —

Tueſday Decr 26,

got up ^v^ery early, and they got Breakfaſt Soon, and we had Exerciſe with my Cards and it was very agreable to them; about 9 I Sot off, a young carried me ^in^ a Slay to Mr Millers, and about 10, I Sot away again got to Stockbridge, before 12: took Dinner with Mr Sar gant, and then went Capt Youks, and he was not at Home, and so I went back to one Lucreſhas and in the evening went back to Capt Yokes: and Lodged there, they being very glad to See me, — —

Wedneſday Decr 27:

got up very early, and a little af ter Sunriſe I went on my
way, got to Mr Babcocks in Canaan, and Lodgd there, — — — —
Thirdſday Decr 28. got up quite early Sot away, and Stopt at Several Houſes; got to Mr Enos before Sun Set, and put up there —

Fryday Decr 29:

got up very early and got Break faſt, and Sot of Soon, got to Mr Wallins before noon and they deſired me to Stay over the Sabbath, and I Con ceſnted, and Lodgd there —

Sabb. Decr 31:

about 10 the People began to Collect, and there was Conſiderable [illegible]num ber of People, and I began about 11: Spoke from Amos 3:3
and the People attended very well, bu[illegible]tt not So Solemn as I have Seen in other Places.— took Dinner after meeting; and Some Time in the after noon I Sot of and got to Esqr Roberts in the evening, and he deſired me to tary all night with 'em and I accepted of his kind offer. and I went to bed Soon, and reſted Comfortably — Thus I have Ended one year more, and have experienced much of the goodneſs of god to me in many reſpects, tho' I have been greatly and Sham^e^ fully wanting in my Duty to myſelf, to my fellow Creatures, and to my Maker,— O god Almighty freely parden all my Sin^s^

Janr 1: 1787

 In the morning, we had Exerciſe, in the Family and it was very agreable to them, they were very Solem^n^ and I prayd in the Family. Some Time in the Morning Mr Walcut Came, to the Hou^ſe^ w[illegible]here I was, invited to his Houſe, he is the Miniſter of tthe Place, and the People had Concluded, to have me Preach on the next Day; and Some Time paſt Noon I left Esqr Roberts's and went to See Mr Samuel Eno I Calld by the way at Mr Felleys they were exceeding glad to See me, and they Sent for Deacon Manley
and he Soon Came he is an old Diſciple, appears to be an Isr[illegible]alte indeed, and we had agreable interview after a while, I went on and Saw Mr Eno, he and his wife were glad to See me,— Juſt at Night I went to Mr Wolcotts and was kindly receivd receev^d^, Thus I began a New Year The Lord enable me to Live a New Life more than ever I did, that I might Live as a Dying and acountable Creature unto god. The Lord enable me to do what ever work I have [illegible]before me; and that I might reſign myſelf, into the Hands of god —

Tueſday Janr 2:

Near 110 Mr Wolcott and I went to meeting, and we found bu^t^ few People at the meeting H Sot a while in a Houſe, and a little paſt 11: went into the meeting Houſe and there was Conſiderable Number of People got together, and I Spo[illegible]ke from Daniel V:25 and there was deep attention many were much affected, Soon after meeting, I went into an Houſe, and took Din ner, and then I went on, and Call on Mr LRowland at old Windſor, Sot but few minutes and paſt on, got over the River well, and went to my Daughter [illegible] tOlives, got ther^e^ in the Duſk of the evening and found them all well,
Lodged there; Sot up late —

Wedneſday Janr 3:

got up early, and took few mouth fulls of Victuals, and So wen^t^ on my way; Call on Mr BColton at Bolton, a miniſter of the Place, and he was exceeding Glad to hear of the Work of god in the wilder neſs amongſt the Indians, took Dinner, and Soon after eating, I paſt on again, & I got So far as Mr Lomiss in Lebanon, a Tavern keeper went to Bed prety Soon, and reſted Comfortably — —

Thirdsday Janr 4:

got up early, and Sot of directly and it was very bad ride ing, it had been thawing ever ſince laſt Saturday
Stopt at Capt Hide's and there took Breakfaſt, and Soon after eating I went on my way Stop^t^ a little while at Mr Champions and there I heard a Surprizing News, that one of my Sons had been guilty of murder near Boſton, and was Sen- tancd to be hang'd, and my wife was Seen there about three weeks ago, and was mourning and weeping her ſelf almost to Death. and I was Some what Surprizd. & began to thingk many things but when I got in Town, I found there was nothing in it; about 2 in the after noon, I got home, and found my poor Family all in good State of Health Bleſsed be the Name of the  Lord

Sabb Janr 7:

went to meeting to Deacon Henry Quaquaquids but there was but very few People, and I only gave them the relation of my Jou^r^ ney, and Prayed, — — —

Thirdsday Janr 11:

my wife was robd by a Molatto —

Fryday Janr 19

The above mentiond Mallato was tried before two Juſtices, and was found guilty — — —

Saturday Janr 20:

went to lower part of Groton, went over the River at New London got to Capt Robert Latham's a little before Sun Sit, and found them all well, and was kindly receivd, and Lodged there, and went to bed Soon and Reſted Comfortably —

Sabb Janr 21:

It was [illegible]a Stormy Day and was all laſt Night about 10 went Meeting at Mr gidion Saunderss, and there was but a little number of People, and I Spoke to them from James II. 26 in the evening went to Mr abel Babcocks and had a meeting there, and there was a large number of P. and I Spoke from James IV: 4 and the People attended with great attention; I Lodgd at the Same Houſe, — — —

Monday Janr 22:

Soon after Breakfaſt went back to Mr Saunderss: and was there but a little while, and then went to See Mrs Latham, Sot a little while, and So went on
to Mr Street's, Calld at Mr Woods was there a while & then went to Mr Streets, and was kindly receivd by the Fam ily, about 1 began the Mg and there was Conſiderable Number of People, tho' it was a Snowy Day, and I Spoke from Rom. II. 28: 19 and the People attended well after meeting took dinner at the Same Houſe, — and in the Evening went to Mr Leſters and had another meeting, and there was a great number of Peop^le^ tho the Storm Continued, & I Spoke from James ^[below]I^V. 7 and the People attended with great Seriousneſs,—I Lodgd at the Same Houſe — — —

Tueſday Janr 23:

Some Time after Breakfaſt, I took leav of the Family; and went to Capt Robert Lathams, & took leave of them, and then went down to the Ferry, and went over to New London and was there Some Hours and So paſt on, and got Home Some Time before Night, and found all my Family well, thro the goodneſs of god. — —

[illegible]Saturd Janr 27:

About 10. Sot of from Home, and went to a Place Calld Jewet City got there Some Time before Sun Sit, put up at Mr Elea Jewet and was kindly red Sot up Some what late and reſted Comfortably —

Sabb Janr 28.,

A little paſt 11 went into the meet ing, and there was a grea^t^ Number of People, and I Spoke from Rom. II: 28: 29 and there was a Solemn at tention in the Aſembly, after Service went to Mr Jewe^t^ and took Dinner there, and Soon after Dinner took leav^e^ of the Family, and went to Deacon Tracy's, and there had a meeting again and there was a great Number of People, I Spoke from 1 Sam. XII: 24: and there was a Solemn attention, many Shed Tears, — Lodgd at the Same Houſe, and reſted Comfortably —

Mondady Janr 29;

got up early, and had my horſe got ready Soon, and wen^t^ on my way, Stopt at one Mr Reeds and took Breakfaſt there, and af ter eating, had Some Con verſation with an old woman, 92: Years of age or near, and had a little exerciſe with a ^Card in the^ Family and another Family Came to the Houſe,— and then went on, got Home abou^t^ 2 o'c: and found my Fa well as Common —

Sabb Februr 4:

About 11 Sot of from Home. and to Mrs Fitchs and it was etreem Cold, wind Blew very hard
at North weſt, and Snow flew like fog, — got ^to^ the P Soon, and there were Some People, more than Coud be [illegible] expected for the Severity of the weather, I began the Exerciſe about 12. or paſ^t^ I Spoke from Ecleſi. III: 12 and there was a Solemn at tention — after Service took Dinner, and and towards went home and Soon godt Home — — —

Wedneſday Februr 7: 1787

Left home early in the mor ning, and to one Mr Smith in Newent, Stopt a while at Doc.r Maſh's. in[illegible] Norwich and took Breakfaſt there and Soon after went on, and to Mr Smith's about 10 and
they were glad to See me. the old gentleman is quite helpleſs, with Num. Palſy and about half after 1: o. c I began the meeting and there was but few People, I Spoke from Job: XXXV. 10 and the People attended with great Solemnity: Soon after meeting I went back, and got home in the Duſk of the even-g, and was Somewhat t[illegible]ired and went to Bed. Soon — —

Saturday Februr 10:

About 12 Sot off from my Houſe, and to groton Indian Town— got there about Sun Sit, and pu^t^ at Widow Pauhquunnup's found them all well, and we were glad to See each other
again once more this Side of the grave, went to bed in good Seaſon, and had a Com- fortable reſt, — —

Sabb: Febr 11:

we began the Meeting near 12: and there was Conſiderable Number of People, and I Spoke from, 1 Peter IV. 8 and the People at tended well,— in the evening we had another meeting, and Conſiderable number of People for it was a Rainy evening, and I Spoke from 1 Kings XXI. 29 and I had but a little Senſe of Divine things. Yet the People at tend well, — we Sot up a long while and Sung, Mr Silus Spicer Lodgd there, and many of the Indians, went to bed at laſt & I reſted well, — — —

Monday Februr 12:

got up
and attended on Family Pray and then Sot of soon, Satopt a while at Mr John Williams, and took Breakfaſt there, and Soo'n after eating went on my way, got home, a little paſ^t^ Noon and found my Family all well as Uſual — —

Fryday Febrr 16:

Towards N went to Mr Chappel's and a m–g there, bur few People got toge ther, and I Spoke to them from Psalm 146: 5: and the People at tended Soberly, Stayd at the Houſe all Night, we Sot up late yet had Comfortable Reſt by Sleep in the Silent watches —

Monday Febr 17:

got up early, and they Breakfaſt Soon, and I eat with them and Soon after went Home and Stopt a while at Mr T. Averys, got home about 11—

Saturday Febry 24

Sun a bout an Hour high, Sot of from home and went to Canterbury Calld on Docr Marſh, and Sot a while and paſt on, and got Brother Clarkes Some Time in the afternoon, and found them all well, and was kindly receivd; and Lodgd there, — —

Sabb. Feburr 25:

Soon after Breakfaſt, went to meet ing, in Scotland, Mr Palm^er^s meeting Houſe; — and there was but a little number of People, — I Spoke to them from Prov: IV: 13: and in the afternoon from Psalm ^146: 5^ Directly after meeting I went back to M.r Isaac Wms and had a meeting there in the evening and there
was a large Number of People, and I Spoke from Luke XXIII: 40 and there was good attention, and So there in the Day, Lodgd at the Same Houſe, and kindly en tertain'd, went to bed Some what late and had Com fortable reſt — —

Monday Febr 26:

Sot of very early, Stopt a few minutes at Mr Lions and So paſt on, Stopt at Mr Joſeph Smiths, and there took Breakfaſt, and Soon after eating went on and got home about 12: and found my Family well Thanks to the Father of all mercies — —

Sabb: March 4:

Some Time in the Morning Sot of from Home and went over to groton, and it was very bad riding, Snow was Some what deep, and drif ted, and it [illegible]Snowd, again got to Mr Chapman, about 11, and the People began to gather, and there was Condſi derable number of People and we began the meeting about 12: and I Spoke from James IV. 14: and there was Solemn attention,— after M– took Dinner with the Family and Soon after eating, Sot of for Home. got home before Sun down — — —

Sabb. March 11.

Got up Some Time before Day bra^ke^ and was geting to go up to Canterbury, Sot of a little after sun riſe, Stopt a few minutes at Docr Marſhes
and So paſt on, Calld ant Mr Smith's alſo, and took Some victuals, and Soon got to Elder Lyon's near 12: and he directly Sent out among the Neighbours to give notice of my be- ing in the Place, and the People Collected Soon and about 1: we began the Service of god, — and I Spoke from Matt V. 5. and the People attended with great Solemnity — after meeting took Dinner with Brother Lyon, Juſt before Night, we went to Mr Dyer Brewſters and there we had another meeting, and there was Conſiderable number of People; and I Spoke from
Matt VI: 9: and the Lord I believe was preſent with us; the Hearts of Some Chris tians were warmd with the Fire of Love. Some deliver^d^ few words after I had done I Lodgd at the Same Houſe and was entertain'd with Brotherly kindneſs, reſted Comfortably; — —

Monday March 12:

after Breakfaſt, I went to See Brother Sunſummon, found all well, about 10 went back, and Soon to Mr Clark^s^ took Dinner with them, from thence we went to Brother Lyon's to meeting about 2 began the meeting and there was a great Numr of People; and I Spoke from 1 Corin VII[illegible] 29. 30 and I believe the Lord was preſent with his
word, many of the People were Mov'd Some rejoiced and others were bowd under the word many Trears wer Shed. Brother Lyon was So ful he quite Boild over, and he kiſs'd us all with a kiſs of Charity not with his mouth, but with his Heart, — Stayd at the Same Houſe all Night, ——

Tueſday March, 13:

It was a stormy Morning, it Raind very hard, and So Stayd qui- etly, had agreable entertain ment both with victuals and Drink and Converſation, took Dinner with them, and the rain Slacked, and So I Sot of, for home, Stopt a while at Mr Joſeph Smith's, Prayd with them, and went on again, got home Juſt after Sun Set. — —

Fryday March 16:

went to New London on the Tribes
Buſineſs to See the De[illegible]eds of Mr John Raymond, and Mr Ebenezer Smith Jur I found Smiths, but Coud not find Ray got home again Some Time in the evening. — —

Sabb March 18:

Went to Mr John Browns, Calld on Docr Rogers, and Sot there a while and then went on,— got to the Place, about 10. and we be- gan the meeting near 12: and there was Conſiderable numr of People, for a wet Day and I Spoke from Hosea IV. 1 and the People were very atten tive.— after meeting took Din ner with the Family, and Soon after went homward got home Juſt before Sun Sit, found my wife quite poorly. —

Sabb March 25

went over to Esqr [illegible]Aſa Averys and there was a large Nr of People, and I Spoke from Mark VI. 6: and the People attended well [illegible]took [illegible]Dinner with the Family, after [illegible]Meeting — in the evening went home again —

Thirsday and Fryday March ^29.30^

attended on Tribe affairs with our Overſeers, went on our Buſineſs with out much Difficulty — —

Fryday. April 6:

got up very early and Sot of for New- London. got there ther about 8 o: c and found a paſage going Directly to Sag harb about 10 we Sot Sail
the veſel is Calld Starling Packet, William Booth ^M^ and we had Contr[illegible]ary w and Small, and Contrary Tide alſo and we were obligd to return back to New London, got a Shore again before Sun ſit, and I went over to gro ton and Lodgd at Mr Leſters and was kindly receivd.— had a Comfort able reſt — —

Saturday April 7:

got up very early and went down to the Fery, Calld on Esqr Leadyard and he deſired me to take Breakfaſt there, but I was in hast and the woman gave me a good [illegible][guess: hunc^k^]
of Bread and maeat and went directly over, and a bout 8 we Sot Sail again and had Small and Contra ry, and we were obliged to run into Sea Brook & there we Spent the Night and I lodged a board — —
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