Samson Occom, narrative, 1765 November 28
Date28 November, 1765
ms number765628.1
abstractOccom writes a brief account of his life and education.
handwritingOccom's hand is clear and legible.
paperSingle small sheet is in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear.
inkBlack-brown.
Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Persistent Identifier
Since there is great misrepresentations by Some Con cerning my Life and Education; I take this
opportunity to
give the World in few words, the true account of my Edu cation — I was Born a Heathen in
Mmoyanheeunnuck
alias Mohegan in New London. North America, my Parents were altogether Heathens, and I was
Educated by them in their
heathenish Notions, though there was a Sermon preached to our Mohegan Tribe
sometimes, but our Indians regarded not the Christian Religion, they would
persist in their heathenish ways, and my Parents in particular were very Strong in the customs of their forefathers, and they had a wandering Life up and down in the wilderness, for my Father was a great Hunter, thus I lived with them, 'til I was Sixteen years old, and then there was a great Stir of Religion in these Parts of the World both amongst the Indians as well as the English, and about this Time I began to think about the Christian Religion, and was under great trouble of Mind for Some Time, I thought the
Religion which I heard at this Time was a new thing among man= kind,
Such as they never heard the like before, So Ignorant was I
— and when I was Seventeen years of Age I received a Hope, and as I began to think about Religion So I began
to learn to read, though I went to no School, 'til I was in my nineteenth year, and then I went to the
Rev.
Mr. Wheelocks to learn, and Spent four years there, and was very weakly most of the Time; this is the true account of my Education,
Boston
November 28. 1765
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