Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to George Whitefield, 1762 September 16

AuthorWheelock, Eleazar

Date16 September, 1762

Call Number762516.1

abstractCopy of a letter in which Wheelock discusses Occom's mission, those affected by Indian wars, the growth of the School, grants of money, and the donation of books.

handwritingInformal handwriting is small and occasionally difficult to decipher; it is not Wheelock’s.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is heavily reinforced, which makes it difficult to gauge the condition of the paper.

inkBlack-brown ink is somewhat dimmed by reinforcement.

noteworthyThis letter is a copy of manuscript 762516. It is uncertain to whom Wheelock refers when he mentions the "English Youth" in the second paragraph of one recto, and so he has been left untagged. The number 814 is circled in blue pencil at the top of one recto; it is likely a cataloguing number, possibly of a private collector. An editor, likely 19th-century, has added the note "To Whitefield" after the trailer on two verso. This note has not been included in the transcription.

signatureThe signature is not in Wheelock’s hand.

EventsOccom’s Second Mission to the Oneidas

Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.

Persistent Identifier

My dear and honoured Sir
David my indian Scholar, returned july 18th from
the Mohawk country, where I informed you in my last
I sent him, and brought with him four indian boys. 3
Mohawks and one of the Farmington tribe, the boys and girls
I expected from Oneida, were detained by their Parents, on
account of a Rumour and suspicion of a war full com‐
mencing between them and the Nation on the Back of them and in
Such a case they did not choose to have their Children
at such a distance from them, But perhaps they were
suspicious that they should be obliged to join these Nations
against the English —
The English Youth of which I have informed you
who has been a Captive with the Senecas until he is master of
their Language. and which I sent for with a view to fit him
for an Interpreter to that Nation. was under such engagements
to a Trader at Black Fort, as that he could not get [illegible]cleared
for the present, I have again wrote to General Johnson, who was
not at Home when David was there 'til the night before he came
away, and desired him to procure and send the youth, if he esteems him
likely to answer the design — Mr. Occom writes me a very Me‐
‐lancholy Letter. viz that, by an Untimely frost last fall,
their Indian Corn was all Cut off, that the Oneidas are almost
starved having nothing to live upon but what they get by
Hunting that they had just come in from their pigeon
— and were going a fishing, as soon as they return
from that they will go after Deer, That he followed them
but found it very difficult to get a number of them together
to preach to them, that by hard living (although they were as kind
 to
to him as they Could be) and especially by lying on the wet
Ground his old disorders (viz rheumatic) returned and he was
apprehensive he must return before the time appointed, That he
lived in fear of being killed. Although the Indians had promised
him in case a war should break out, they would send
him under sufficient guard down as far as the English
Settlements
But there was something very good in his Letter
viz that there were visibly good Effects of his Labours
among them last Year, and especially a Reformation among
them as to their Drinking
My School is in a flourishing State through the
Great Mercy of God, I have 19. in Number. viz 15 Males and
4. females, and the most of them appearing quite likely, I hope
I shall have several well fitted for Interpreters and missionaries
in due time. I have been favoured with the best of
of masters successfully for some Years — I have received
the Bell you sent and it is decently hung on the house Which
is devoted to the service. and we now feel the Benefit of it
we can keep Hours with little Trouble and I hope in Gods
Time it will be used to call together a little black assemby
to hear you Preach Christ.
A small Counsel of Ministers has been lately called to
examine Samuel Ashpo. an Indian of whom I once wrote you
and they were so far satisfied and pleased with him as that
they advised to his being fitted as fast as may be for a
mission. and accordingly I Expect Him to this School this
week. several others I expect here soon and my hope for
their support is only in Him what the Earth is, and the fullness thereof
The general assembly of the province of the Massachusetts Bay,
last fall, voted me the use of a Legacy of Sir Peter
Warren
. of about £750 sterling which he left in their hands
for the Education of the Youth of the Six Nations, but I Understood
by Dr. Chauncy that the new formed Society in and about Boston
design if they can to get it into their hands, as soon as my
years improvement of it is Expired — Also his Majesty Counsel
and house of Representatives in the province of New Hampshire

have voted to the use of this School £50 sterling per annum
for five years successively, but there was not time for the
Governor to Consider of the Act before he prorogued the
assembly and so it is not yet signed — and who knows to what
a Height this School may arise from low and despicable Beginnings
and what Glory may redound to the great Redeemer thereby
to God alone be all the Glory!
Mr. Smith informed me that there was some talk in England
of collecting a Library for the use of this School, may God
incline the Hearts of his people to promote that design
is there not a society in England lately formed with a special
view to the printing and dispersing useful Books? I wish I
could be informed particularly about it and if you think fit
introduced to a correspondence with some members of it. Miss
Williams
before she left Wethersfield, sent me a Number of
valuable and useful to be dispersed as I judged but among
Children etc. which I now suppose might likely come to her from
that Society. I have lately been sick and brought low with
a dysentery but through the mercy of God am now able to do some
business
pray for Your Unworthy brother etc.
Eleazar Wheelock
Rev. Mr. Wheelock
 September 1762.
 America
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