Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to William Livingston 1765 May 13

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date13 May, 1765

Call Number765313.2

abstractWheelock updates Livingston about the resolution of charges against Occom, and requests assistance in securing passes for missionaries going among the Indians.

handwritingHandwriting is informal, yet mostly clear and legible. There are, however, several additions and deletions, and letter case is frequently difficult to decipher.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, with light creasing, staining and wear.

inkBlack-brown.

noteworthyThis document is likely a draft.

EventsMason Land Case, Jewett Controversy

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

Persistent Identifier

My dear Sir.
Some time Since the Date of my last, Yours of 6th
March
came to hand; in which you breathe forth that same
spirit of friendship towards the Sinking cause of Zion
which has hitherto animated all your Endeavours for
her prosperity.
 I am truly affected that Party Spirit and Bigotry
So Sadly distemper your City. and am ready to say
Strange it Should be so in Such a quarter and at Such a
Time o’ Day. but alas! well were it for the Nation if
that Evil was confined to You! but so far from that,
is the case that by all accounts, you have but faintly deciphered the
true Spirit and Genius of the Leading part of the Kingdom
at the present day. and So it is (which is enough forever to quiet
us) that Zions King, and Head, on and by
whom She has lived and will live through all Storms, has
seen it necessary and best for her all along that she
should be more or less under pressures. and blessed be
his Name her Tribulations and trials are for glorious
Purposes, and but for a Limited Time. —
 Mr. Occom has been slandered in this Government, to a
great Degree, insomuch that a public process against
him before our Board of Commissioners was thought necessary,
on which trial he made defense much to his Honour
and appeared clear in all the Articles alleged against
him. Excepting that he was blamed (only on account of
his ministerial Character) that he had wrote and Signed as a witness,
with his Tribe, to the Truth of, a representation
of Some things relative to the Mason Affair. which he
fully
fully and freely confessed as being rash and unadvised,
imprudent and sinful / as it needlessly exposed him to the displeasure of the
public and thereby injure his usefulness — He now
stands in a good Light before this Board. Yet it seems
they will not let him above.
 I enclose Several votes of this Board by one of
which You may See the Amount of the subscriptions
in Hebron And this Place.
 But that sir which more especially occasions you this
Trouble is the necessity we stand in of a renewed in‐
stance of your friendship and kindness towards our Indian
design. We Suppose it to be in the Power of Gen. Gage
to grant to our missioners and schoolmasters such a pass, or commission, or whatever
it may be called as may not only warrant them
in the performance of their ministerial work; and much
Serve for their Protection therein where they are going. but, also without
injustice or Injury to the Crown, be of Service towards their sup‐
port, when they are within reach of the Kings Stores.
This Favour was readily granted to Mr. Occom by Gen.
Amherst
and he found great Benefit by it in his mission
the Rev. Mr. Williams of this Town has at the desire of our Board
wrote Gen. Gage Soliciting this Favour for these and has desired
Honourable William Smith Esq. to join with You to enforce the Same. and
if your Endeavours Should be successful please to make
Return by the post as soon as may be.
The Names of the n[illegible][guess: e]w ordained missioners are Titus Smith. and Theophilus
Chamberlain
. and of the Indian schoolmasters. David
Fowler
, Joseph Woolley and Hezekiah Calvin. and of the
Boys appointed to Serve as ushers under the Conduct
of the missionaries. are Abraham Primus
Abraham Secundus. Moses. Johannes. Peter. and Jacob Fowler.
We have also appointed Mr. Occom to a mission a‐
‐mong the 6 Nations provided he shall not accompa
‐ny Mr. Whitefield, or Mr. Charles Jeffery Smith; or some
other appointed by us to Europe.

 I have understood that you are very full
of business, and am afraid being So free a Beggar
as to be burden You, if that be the case please
to hint it to me. without reserve and be assured that
 I am dear Sir with much Respect and Esteem.

Your Obliged and
very Humble Servant

Eleazar Wheelock


To William Livingston Esq.
May 13. 1765. —
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