Solomon Williams, letter, to Andrew Oliver, 1750 April 16
Author
Williams, Solomon
Date16 April, 1750
ms number750266
abstractWilliams writes to Oliver that he has advised Occom, who has been
successfully teaching the Indians at Montauk for the last six months, to remain
with them
and await orders from the Commissioners. He includes an extract of a letter from
Azariah
Horton asking for an extension of Occom's services.
handwritingFormal handwriting is very neat and clear; it is not
Williams's. The trailer, however, is in Williams's hand.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good-to-fair
condition, with light-to-moderate creasing, staining and wear. Repair work
has
been done to particularly heavy creases. The watermark is visible on two
recto.
inkBlack-brown ink has corroded the paper near the top of one
recto.
noteworthyAs is noted on one recto and two verso, this document is a
copy.
EventsOccom’s Mission to the Montauketts
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Lebanon
16 April 1750.
Honoured
Sir
This waits on you to inform
[gap: hole][guess: ] the
honourable
Commissioners that
Samson
Occom the Indian under your care was with
me on Saturday last from
Long Island, where he has been
keeping
school among the
Indians at
Montauk for
6 months past. He tells me he has had
about 40 Children
who have steadily attended his school and made good profici=
‐ency, and
the
Indians have given him his board and about £10 York money, and some English People have con=tributed 40[illegible][guess: s] more. The Indians are very desirous of his
continuance in
the School 6 months longer
and offer him £13 York money; I am informed from
Mr. Horton the
Gentleman who has the care of
those Indians that
Samson has been serviceable to them on religious accounts and very
much helped them against some wild enthusiastical Notions
they had been led into by
some foolish Indian Exhorters, and
given them more just thoughts of the nature of Religion.
I am told by
Samson that
Mr. Pemberton
and
Burr are
desirous to have him in
the Jersies. His eyes have been at
times something
better but are not so well as that He ca
[gap: tear][guess: n] pursue his Studies. I have advised him to go back to
the
Indians at
Montauk, but not to engage for any
certain time 'til the pleasure of
the Commissioners be known —
with due respects I am
"Understanding that
the Commissioners had referred
Samson"
Occom to your care and advice, and
his half years agree="ment with
my People being almost expired I now use
"the freedom to advise you by a Line with respect to his
"continuance among them ––
I most humbly and
"importunately beg your countenance
and leave in the
"Affair.
Upon this
the Commissioners on
14 November following voted That
Samson Occom be
permitted to keep the School at
Mon=tauk for 6 months
longer.
And on
5 May 1751. Consented to his going to
the Jersies
and from thence to
Susquehanna,
Mr. Williams having
first mentioned the thing, if not approving, yet
expressing no dislike to the Proposal, since which
I do not remember ever to have received a Line from
Mr. Williams about it, and verily believe I never did as I
am always careful to file all Letters which concern
the Commissioners
Blank page.