Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Dennys DeBerdt, 1762 December 18

AuthorWheelock, Eleazar

Date18 December, 1762

Call Number762668.1

abstractWheelock discusses, among other things, the states of various missions, and the progress of the Indian Charity School.

handwritingInformal handwriting is small, crowded and occasionally difficult to decipher.

paperLarge single sheet is in fair-to-poor condition, with moderate-to-heavy staining, creasing and wear that leads to a minor loss of text.

inkBlack.

noteworthyGiven the informality of the hand, the number of additions and deletions, and the lack of an address, this document is likely a draft.

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 very dear Sir.
Yours, of July 28. refreshed me much
I heartily regret the loss you have sustained the Death of your worthy
godly and Skillful pastor. may the Lord of the harvest
provide Guides for his people who Shall be zealous
and Skillful to promote and defend his Sinking Cause in the world.
Mr. Occom returned from his mission Some Time
ago, I haven't had opportunity to see him Since. he was
soon Sent by the Presbytery to preach to an English
Settlement on Hudsons River about 60 or 80 miles
above New York where God has of late in a very won‐
derful manner received his work. he returned from
his mission sooner than he intended, on account of the
present Ruffle which the Oneidas are in, being engaged in
a war with Some of the Nations back of them, and on
account of their extreme Poverty they having nothing to
live upon but what they get by fishing fowling and hunting
an untimely frost having cut of their Corn last year. he had no
way to come at them to preach to them but by
followed them from Place to Place in their Hunts, and by
poor living though they were as kind to him as they could be and especially by lying upon the wet ground his
old rheumatic disorders returned etc. # he designs (I hear)
to visit them again in the Spring.
Mr. Forbes who the Scottish Comissioners in Boston sent
missionary to Onaquaga, is also returned, I hear
after he had gathered a church there he left
the Indians in a great Ruffle, and the children which they had been
attempting to teach were all dispersed with their Pa[gap: hole][guess: r]ents in their
hunting Rambles. perhaps Dr. Chauncy will by little
and little receive conviction that he is too
confident of the success of his Plan, and too Sudden and
free in condemning others who have again and again made
trial of the very same Scheme, and the most they have got
to compensate their Toil and expense has been their
useful point of Knowledge viz that such a method will not
do yet. may God graciously direct in the Important Affair, and Save those
who are concerned in it from Falling into Parties and obstructing
and hinder one another.
My School is in a flourishing state at present. my number of Charity scholars
is 25. Mr. Charles Jeffery Smith of Long Island has lately refused
a Class at College for the sake of keeping this Indian School gratis
He designs to Devote himself and a plentiful Fortune to the ser‐
vice of his Redeemer as a missionary among the pagans. he has thoughts of Taking
an Interpreter for his use from the School, and support him with
himself at his own expense. I esteem him remarkably accomplished
and turned for such a Service. I expect but little real good to be
done among the savages by Gay, and inexperience youth, the Lord mercifully
prevent the mischiefs which Such threaten the cause. I informed you Some
# he found nothing more than this discouraging
and had reason to think he saw some good Effects of his Labours
among them the last year
Some Time ago of the Tour which Friend Ashpo had made to Chenango and
of the Religious concern Among the Indians there consequent thereon and that
a number were hopefully savingly converted. There was a very fierce
per[illegible]enting Spirit in the other party which arose to such a height against
(as I was credibly informed last week) the Christian Party were obliged
to withdraw from them and have settled in a Town by themselvess
about 60 miles below them on Susquehanna River. there they use with
out a Bible, and without any that could read it if they had one.
I have taken Friend Ashpo into this School, and esteem him a well
experienced and well established Christian, he is here by the advice of
an Ecclesiastical Council we convened last summer to examine and advise him. I expect we shall send him
to those Indians next Spring. And our dear Mr. Smith of Boston has
engaged £20 Sterling towards the support of his mission provided
it cant be otherwise done. there is also in this school a young mohawk, whom
we call Joseph Brant of a family of distinction in that Nation
who has been for some time under Religious impressions, and of
late almost persuades me to call him a real saint he seems to
breathe the very spirit of the Gospel. Mr. Smith is unwearied in his
Endeavors to promote Religion and learning in this school.
Mr. James Lesley a Scots Gentleman with whom you have had some
acquaintance went out of the school to make way for Mr. Smith to
keep it gratis and is now in the parish school. I expect when Mr. Smith
leaves it Mr. Lesley will take it again.
I have amidst a thousand avocations prepared for the press, a short
Narrative of this School, expect it will be [illegible][guess: b]ut in a little time
you and others may expect the Sight of it as soon as may be after
it is printed.
If there be anything in this that will gratify good Dr. Giffords
or Mr. Savage please to let them have the sight of it. I wrote
each of them some ago and hope my Letters haven't miscarried
you and they will easily see in what a Hurry I write
If Dr. Mr. Whitefield hasn't yet left England salute him
most heartily in my name. I expect by his to Mr. Smith to
see hi[gap: tear][guess: m] here in a short time.

I am Dear Sir, with the most sincere respect
 Yours in the dearest Bond,

Eleazar Wheelock
P.S. my School hues
Day by Day under God only
and the charities of Gods people
without any settled fund for
its support and God is my
only Refuge.

Mr. Dennys DeBerdt

Letter to Mr. DeBerdt.
 December 18. 1762.
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