Author
Wheelock, Eleazar
Date24 September, 1764
ms number764526.2
abstractWheelock addresses the various conflicts regarding Occom and his
employers, would-be and otherwise.
handwritingThe majority of the document appears to be in a hand other
than Wheelock's. It is relatively clear, with few additions and deletions.
The
postcript added to the bottom of two recto is clearly in Wheelock's hand.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to form four pages is in fair
condition, with moderate staining and wear. There is a significant separation
caused by wear on the lower crease.
inkInk on most of the document is medium brown; the postscript is in
black ink.
noteworthyThe letter is likely in response to Whitefield's letter of
September 5, 1764; this document is likely a draft or copy.
signatureThe full signature is possibly not that of Wheelock; the
postscript is signed with initials, and those are Wheelock's.
EventsJewett Controversy, Building of Occom’s house, Occom returns to Mohegan, Fundraising Tour of Great Britain, Occom’s inoculation
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
My dear and Honoured Sir
Lebanon
26th
September 1764.
Yours by
Mr. Occom came while I was on a Journey.
And I now take the earliest Opportunity to acknowledge the Favour,
and inform you that when I heard
that
Gen. Johnson was returned,
I was sorry that
Mr. Occom
and
David were set out on their Journey,
as the principal Ends of their Journey could not
likely be accomplished,
viz. their seeing Parties from remote Tribes together, in Order to
recommend the design, and prepare the Way for school
masters
and
missiona
ries among them, and also procure a Number of likely youth
from distant Parts for
this school, which the
commissioners appre-
hended he might have a more favorable
Opportunity for by such
a Meeting with the
General than we have reason
otherwise
to expect soon. Nor can I in conscience
say it was an imprudent
scheme
'til I have some other reason than I have heard or thought
of to convince me of it. It is true we were
misinformed of the
Time of
Gen. Johnson’s Return from
Niagara, but I don’t know
that we were to blame for that
Misinformation.
The
commissioners in Boston had a principal View to
Niantic (though
Mohegan
was mentioned) in
Mr. Occom’s Appointment, but as
he was not a Proprietor at
Niantic, he was obliged to build
and
settle at
Mohegan, which interferes with
Mr. Jewett’s appoint-
ment; and a controversy was commenced and began to rise high
and
threatened much mischief.
Mr. Oliver (though he did not fully
know how bad the case was) expressed his Concern about it to me
at
Concord, which though not agreeable to write was a consideration
of Weight in my Mind in taking him out of the Hands of those
commissioners
and employing him in the mission he was designed for.
I mentioned to the
commissioners when they were together their
writing to you on the Affair of supporting
Mr. Occom’s mission;
but a Lecture appointed by our praeses obliged us to dispatch the
business with such Precipitancy that it was not considered as it
should have been. But there was nothing said, nor do I suspect there
was a Thought among them, of your having taken
Mr. Occom under
your Patronage, or that you looked upon him under
more Obligations
to you as his Patron than any other Man for
whom you have done
a kindness, or that you had any more reason to expect to be
consulted in that Affair than in any other Affair of equal Importance, in
in which you have shown your friendship
and Concern. Nor did I
ever understand the case
'til this very Day, or what you meant
by ill Treatment by our taking
Mr. Occom into our Hands with-
out consulting you therein. Had I understood the case as I now do
I should by no Means have moved or consented therein —
The
commissioners (as I understand them) were of Opinion that
his circumstances which were publicly known, viz, his being so much
in Debt, and nothing like to be done, (that they knew of) to free him,
His Expence in
moving, and
loss of Goods and
provisions in his passage, and
nothing done to repair his loss, or to assist him in supporting his
Family, or provide a house for them, he not having received a Farthing
from the
commissioners
at Boston and they at such a distance from him, and so out
of the Way of acquaintance with his circumstances
etc., were sufficient
to justify his desire to be under our Care, and us in receiving him.
Had
the commissioners viewed the case in the Light which you did, or had
they only had the least Intimations, which they could rely upon, that you
designed to help him under his necessities, though they might likely
have represented to you the greatness of them, it would have
been the farthest from their thoughts to take him out of your Hands.
Mr. Occom tells me, “He told me something of it before.” But I
never understood it. It was my compassion to him, not knowing
what else to do with him that
moved me to act at all in the Affair.
I entirely agree with you, that we must be agreed in the Plan, and that it is reasonable
and
necessary, that you should approve of it, as we expect the Benefit of your Friendship and Influence.
And what we have proposed is, to send among godly well
accomplished youth, in the Capacity of ministers
and School masters
to the several Tribes as we can obtain and find means to support. I have
now 10 Indians in
this school well accomplished for school
masters,
excepting that some of them want Age. I have also 4 English youth
who are very promising
and would do well to go with the missionaries
to learn the Indian Languages, and while they are doing that, may,
under the Conduct of the missionaries, be useful as school
masters, and
after that return with such likely Boys as they can find to finish
their Learning here.
Please
Sir to write me on what I have written, and make
what proposals you please, and I will endeavour to have a
Meeting of the
commissioners, and lay what you shall write before
them as soon as may be. The consequence of which you shall hear
by the post. I hope you will have goodness enough to overlook
a thousand Blunders, and Patience enough to correct such as
you shall think material.
I am now sick with a dysentery, have wrote in
great Pain and
confusion interrupted often by my distemper
Things are in great confusion at
Mohegan. I wish
Mr. Occom could be quite unconcerned in them, The case is
too long to write. They have had several Meetings to give
in their reasons why they reject
Mr. Clelland as their school
master, and are this Day to meet to give their reasons
why they will not hear
Mr. Jewett preach etc.
Please to direct yours to the Care of
Mr. Graves of
New London. I have put Money in his Hands to
pay the postage of my Letters — My dear Brother,
pray for a poor Creature, who is
with much
Affection,
Ps. The
Commissioners in Boston will allow
Mr. Occom
the £30 which they voted
for the Current Year. but seem not sensible
that his necessities are in any
measure
so great as they are.
I went to
Norwich
myself and with
Mr. Whitakers assistance
procured 40 Days Labour gratis towards his House. but expence for
materials and for what he has, and will have, occasion to Hire
I understand will be considerable and much beyond what I expec
ted.
please to write whether it will, or not, be expedient that
Mr. Occom ſh
[stain: oul]d be inoculated, in order to his going with you to
England and whether you would take either of the Boys of this school with
you — If you should think of taking one of the
Mohawks, it may be best
he should make a visit to his Friends this fall. —
Salutation: I am
yours etc.
EW