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

Author Occom, Samson

Date26 December, 1791

ms 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 Balls­Town, 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 Tuſ­c[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 Joy­fully 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 our­Selves one of the leaſt Branches of the Religious Family of the Preſbyterians in America — — We are try^ing^ 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 S^t^eady 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 meet^ing^ 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 Sabbath — 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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