Joseph Fish, letter, to Nathaniel Whitaker, 1766 July 30
Date30 July, 1766
Call Number766430
abstractFish writes to Whitaker about his mission to the Narragansetts, and about the visit he and his wife made to Mrs. Whitaker.
handwritingHandwriting is formal and clear, yet it has been dimmed by preservation work. The trailer appears to be in Whitaker's hand.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages has been heavily reinforced, which makes it difficult to gauge the condition of the paper. It appears to be in poor condition, with heavy staining, creasing and wear that results in some loss of text.
inkBrown ink is faded, and dimmed by the reinforcement.
noteworthyAn unknown editor has written the letter X in spots on the document. These edits have not been included in the transcription.
signatureFish signs the document three times: once in full, twice with initials.
EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain
Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Rev. and Dear
Sir,
leisure hour or two, for free conversation [gap: hole][guess: with] you, before you Em
‐barked for England. your Departure and important design, lay wi[gap: tear][guess: th]
Weight upon my Mind, as it has done ever Since. And it was m[gap: tear][guess: y]
fixed purpose to let you know my special Regard and Concern
for you and cause, by earlier writing: but have been so p[gap: worn_edge][guess: er]
‐petually crowded with business, chiefly of a public nature;
that I cant say I have been at Liberty to write you,
when opportunity presented, 'til now I snatch a few minutes
for that purpose.
The Situation of the Indian Charity School, Doings of the
Board, missions etc.: I leave to the hands that are employed
in those public affairs; which, conclude, you will here‐
with, have full account of.— Only observe, That the day of
the Dear and excellent Mr. Kirtlands Ordination, appeared
to me very glorious, promising great and good events. — Can[gap: tear][guess: t]
but hope the issue will be, The Advancement of the Re‐
deemers Kingdom. —
While Such important Steps are taken, to carry the
Gospel among the Savages, of far distant Tribes, it may,
perhaps afford you and Friends; some additional pleasure,
to hear that Learning and Religion are hopefully, reviving, a‐
mong some of the Indians near at hand
besides the Indian School and Lectures, among the Indians
of my own parish, which I've had the Care of for Many years,
At the earnest Request of the Honourable Commissioners Boston,
I have for nine months Past, been much engaged for the
Indians of King Ninigrets Tribe, in Charlestown Rhode‐
‐Island; where there are above Seventy Indian Families and
more than Three hundred Souls, pretty much in a Body
together.— Authorized as above, I appointed them an
English Schoolmaster, of good Capacity and well disposed, for
up a commodious schoolhouse, in which, (though unfinished,)
the Master lives and the School is Steadily kept. He had, last
winter, (in a private house,) above fourscore Indian scholars
in a day, and about 120 that came to School, at times,
and their Proficiency at Reading and Writing was very consi‐
derable. That last being chiefly called off to business, this
Summer, he has, of a smaller class, about Thirty that
generally attend his School and the number is increasing.
I visit and Preach to them about once a month —
Have a considerable assembly of Serious, Attentive In‐
dian Hearers, who profess Satisfaction, beyond my Thought.
For they have had Religion Among them these Twenty
years, and an Indian ordained Minister, for a number of years:
but they are all of the separate Stamp,— Very Ignorant:
scarce any of them able to read a word,— unhappily leavened with,
yea full of false Religion, — tenacious of their wild Imaginations
and visionary things, (which they cannot bear to hear touched,
though they'll readily hear the opposite Truths,) And, 'til now,
Set against, at least, mortally afraid of the Standing Ministers.—
So that I must think my self highly favoured, by the Respect
they show to my person and Regard for my Labours among them.
Am in hopes they will, by little and little, come off from their
wild notions, and have a relish for nothing but Truth.
Oh that I may have no other View but their best good,
and the Redeemers Intrest. —
I have been much in Journeying, Since you left us.
Last Week, returning, with my Wife, from visiting our children
New Haven, we Spent an hour at your house, Chelsea. And
had the pleasure of Dining and conversing with your Dear
Wife: It afforded us real Satisfaction, to See Mrs. Whitaker,
with her Little ones all about her, [illegible] not only in perfect
Health, but more especially, to find her cheerful, Sociable
and entertaining, (as usual,) — Evidence that She has happily
She Seems really to enjoy herself as well as your absence can
admit, — your very desirable Children appear with that
Decorum that be[illegible][guess: comes] a well ordered Family. It is rare to See So
fine, So lovely a Child, as that of yours, which you never Saw.
Mr. Woodward, ('til now unknown to me,) appears to be Sui‐
tably attentive to the good of the Family. — I thought him
quite an agreeable, Obliging young gentleman. — On the Whole,
was well pleased with the economy of your house.—
May you, in due season, return successful, and happ[gap: tear][guess: ily]
find your Tabernacle in peace. —
My Time is Out— Have only to wish you much [gap: tear][guess: of]
the Divine presence, The smiles of Heaven on your Im‐
portant undertaking,— The Hearts and Hands of all
Britain for new full supplies.— That you may, in all res‐
pects, conduct with the utmost prudence and Fidelity, — Be
kept unspotted from the Vanities of the World, And return
to us richly laden with the virtues, the Rarities of our
mother Country, And am, Dear Sir, with high Esteem,
Joseph Fish
Mr. Occom — am really glad
to hear that he Stands firm, — be‐
haves so well, and meets with so
much Respect. — The Lord keep
him from Pride, Self-Exaltation,
and the Vices of the Place and Times.—
Yours and his J. F.—
or Europe, except the Rev. Mr. Whitefield: Am very glad and thank‐
ful that he takes proper Notice of you, and So much befriends the
cause. Let my k[gap: tear] Love and Service be acceptable to him. J. F.—