Samson Occom's Journal, 1761 September 15-October 22
ms-number761515.1
abstractOccom details his travels over the course of September and October of
1761.
handwritingThe legibility of Occom’s usually clear handwriting is
heavily mitigated by the poor condition of the paper.
paperSmall sheets folded into a booklet and sewn together with
thread/twine are in poor condition, with heavy staining, yellowing, fading
and
wear. There is a hole in the bottom of one recto/verso.
inkBrown ink is heavily faded.
noteworthyThere are several uncrossed t's and crossed l's that have
been corrected by the transcriber. An editor, likely 19th-century, has overwritten
Occom’s hand in black ink; these edits have not been transcribed. On one
recto, in
the second line, the word beginning "Conn…" likely refers to an Oneida or
Onondaga
town. The town could possibly be: 1) Gannentaha, the site of a Jesuit mission
among the Onondagas; 2) Kaunehsuntahkeh, a Tuscarora village east of Oneida
creek;
3) Canasaraga, in the Onondaga territory near present-day Syracuse; or 4)
Kauhanauka, a Tuscarora town. In several instances, it is uncertain as to
whether
a name refers to a person or place; these names have been left untagged.
It is
possible, however, that these uncertain names refer to inns or taverns and
the
names of their owners. Starting on the bottom of five verso and finishing
on one
verso, the phrase "Samson Occom of Mohegan" is written upside-down in large
letters, indicating that Occom was reusing paper for the pages of this
journal.
EventsOccom’s First Mission to the Oneidas
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
September
the 15
I set out from Conn[illegible]oo[illegible]ah
by way of Tuscarora and took my Leave of them about 10 o'clock Several of the Indians went with me to Oneida got there about 1 in the
afternoon — was kindly
received by the Oneidas
Sabbath September
the 20
Preached at Oneida a great Num ber of the Indians Came to gether from all of the Castle to hear the word of god. I
baptized 3 persons — at Night Several made a public
confes[illegible][guess: te]on
three of the [gap: tear]Heads of the 3 Castles
[gap: tear][guess: ma]de a public confession and returned thanks by a Belt of Wampum etc. —
Monday September
the 21
I Left Oneida and Several accompanied me to fort Herkimer. my mare got away from me at Night, and did not
find her 'til
Friday
just Night,
Saturday September
the 26
we set away from
Fort Herkimers — got about 4 miles below
Sir William Johnsons
Sabbath
September
the 27
set out very Early, and got to Schenectady a bout 10. went Meeting with the
People
om of Mohegan
heard
Mr. Vroman Preach, but I could not underst[illegible][guess: d] went to
See the priest in the Evening and the Next morning, he treated very Kindly gave me a Moha[illegible: [guess: q]]ue Book —
Set
out about 9 got to Albany at
12 and Several insisted upon my
staying at Albany the week out, and to
Preach on the Sabbath, and I at Length I complied with their desire
Sabbath
October
the 4
I preached in the morning in the City
Hall, to Presbyterian Con‐ gregation, and in the af ternoon I preached in the English Church— Monday. Married a
couple in Albany, had 3 dollars Marrying. —
set out in the after Noon towards Home, got So far as Coeymans. —
Tuesday. October
the 6
Set out very Early in the Morning, and reached to Kings Bridge at
Night
october the 7
we set out from the Kings Bridge
very Early in the Morning, and about the middle of the after Noon my mare was about Sli[illegible][guess: nk]ing her fold and we
were obliged to Put up at [gap: omitted]
set out very early in the Morning forward and [illegible] Stop at Poughkeepsie to [illegible] Preach in the Evening.
and about Candle Light we began our exercise in
the State House and there was a great Number of People to attend, and
at tended very seriously — and they gathered
£1: 7: 0. for me —; and they were very solicitous to have me Stay the Sabbath over but I could not to be my Duty to Comply —
Friday
October
the 9
we set out from Poughkeepsie Towards York. and
got So far as Rogers at Nig
and so far as Roger's at Night, and there turned in.
Saturday October
the 10
we set out very Early in the Morning on our Jour‐ ney, and
got So far as Browns by Dobbs ferry, and there turned in, but met with very disagreeable Company,—
Sabbath October
the 11
about 2 o'C in the after we set out for New York and by way of Whitestone Ferry and
lodged by the Ferry —
Monday October
the 12
about 9 we got over upon Long
Island, and from there set away for New York and got into the City about
set
went to M wells and were very Kindly
received, found them all well and — Next Day went to visiting my Friends was kindly received by all —
Friday October ye 16
to‐ wards Night we went over to Long Island
[gap: faded] and to
Jamaica at Night, and
Saturday October
the 17
set Early in the Morning, and got to Huntington at Nig[gap: stain] and kept Sabbath there
Monday October
the 18
we set away homeward Got So far as Mulfords at Night T
Tuesday
October 19
set out very Early in the Morning.
and got Shinnecock at Night found the Indians well. they were very
glad to See me once more, —
Wednesday
October 20
we went off very Early in the morning got to Bridgehampton
be‐ fore Night lodged at Mr. Browns, my Friends were Exceeding glad to See me
Thursday
October 21
we went on our Journey, got to Mr. Buell's at Easthampton Some Time in the after Noon, we were very
Kindly received by all my Friends,
Friday
October 22
went on towards home, visited my Friends and Neighbours all the way,
were
extremely well received by them all, got home at Night found my Poor Family well except our
youngest Child. it had been very Sick but it was getting well, — Thanks be to Almighty god for goodness to us.
Blank page.
Samson Occ
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