Samson Occom, letter, to a Minister of Albany, 1791 December 26

Author Occom, Samson

Date26 December, 1791

Call Number791676

abstractOccom writes that he cannot attend an ordination due to ill health, that he has moved to Munhegunnack (or New Stockbridge), and that many Indians are coming to New Stockbridge to hear preaching.

handwritingHandwriting is small, but mostly clear and legible. The letter “a” is frequently unclosed at the top, which causes it to look like the letter “u.”

paperSingle large sheet is in poor condition, with heavy creasing, staining and wear that results in some loss of text. Repairs have been made on particularly heavy creases.

inkBrown ink is faded.

noteworthyThe identity of the minister to whom Occom writes is unknown.

Persistent Identifier

Revd and much eſteemed Sir,
I dont think I Can be at the ordination, in Balls­
Town
, it is a long way, and I am old, and Lame, and I muſt be
at the Preſbytery next March at Albany if live, and Shall be
well; I want to be at the ord[illegible][guess: e]rnation; and one or two of our men
with me but it Cant be so now — I am now moving my Family to
Munhegunnack or New-Stockbridge, I told you it was Calld Tuſ­
c[illegible][guess: a]rora, but that is not the Proper name of it, — Capt Hindrick who
will deliver this to You, is one of our Church; he is juſt Come
from the weſtward, amongſt the Indians, and he has a large Tract
of [gap: tear][guess: land] offerd him if he and his people would move there — I think
it woud be [gap: tear][guess: a fine open]ing for the Goſpel, — Our Church have
willingly and Cheerfully adopted the Confeſsion of Faith of the
Preſbyterian Church of the United States in America. They Joy­
fully put themſelves under the Care and inſpection of Albany
Preſbytery
— And thankfully receive the Goſpel Fellowſhip
open'd for them — And from This Time, we Shall look upon our­
Selves one of the leaſt Branches of the Religious Family of the
Preſbyterians in America — — We are trying to inſtruct our Children
in Letters, but we are very weak, we want a little help — one Jo–
Quinney
keeps the School, without any Proſpect of Reward,
and he [gap: hole][guess: is] our Singing Maſter too, and he is Inſtructing the People
in Sin[gap: hole][guess: ging] Conſta[gap: hole][guess: ntl]y, two or three Evenings every week and
he demands no pay — and he and his Family, are very deſtitute
of Cloathing, — Our Profiſsers keep on Steady in Religion, and
our Church and Society rather increaſes, — our Singers are
in want of Psalm Books — what harm woud it be, if You wou'd
try to beg a few, amongſt Your Friends and Neighbours in
Albany, we uſe Dr Watts's Psalms altogether — I have no
more to Say at this Time, — Pray for us — This with much
Esteem is from
your most unworthy fellow Labourer
in the Goſpel of Jeſus —
Samson Occom
PS.
 Capt Hindrick is our Elder, and Joſeph Qunney
is our Deacon; We have but very little Buſineſs
[gap: worn_edge]Elder and Deacon, and think, one of each is enough for the
[gap: worn_edge]

Janr 8
Sir
 The fore going was Sent by Capt Hindreck, but was
oblidged, to return back, and forgot to give it, to Samuel
Littleman
, who, I Conclude Call'd upon You, in his way to
New-Jerſey — There Seems to be a Strange inclination among
the Indians, to hear the word of God preach'd, the Come to our
meets from Tuſcarora, most all of them, which they nev[gap: worn_edge][guess: er]
did before, and Mr Kirklands People come very thick too
and they deſire, that I might Spend Some Sabbaths, — great
many Come to our meeting to Day, tho Mr Kirkland went there
this morning, and they know of his Coming, — Mr Kirkland is
going away again, and I Shall go to his People next Sab
bath — Several of them, have [gap: hole][guess: a] great Deſire to Join us in
full — and Some of Mr Sargeant's people are Coming to us alſo, and
they will Join us in full, — I have an Evening School for the
young People, and a Number comes, I am Inſtructing to read &
to Speak Engliſh proper, and Come on well —

I am &c —
Samſon Occom
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