Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Nathaniel Whitaker, 1766 October 13

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date13 October, 1766

Call Number766563

abstractWheelock writes to Whitaker about the New England Company sending Mr. Mosley as missionary to Onaquaga at the same time as the Windham Association sent Mr. Smith. Wheelock criticizes the NEC and faults them for not supporting Occom in his mission to the Montauks on Long Island.

handwritingHandwriting is small and somewhat cramped, which occasionally hinders legibility.

paperSingle sheet folded in half to make four pages is in fair condition. There is a large tear from top to bottom on two recto/verso, resulting in a significant loss of text.

inkDark black-brown ink bleeds front to back.

signatureThe signature is missing due to the tear.

EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain, Occom’s Mission to the Montauketts

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

Persistent Identifier
My dear Mr. Whitaker.

Yours via New York and by Marshall and one Since
of July 23rd have much refreshed me, and caused my Heart to
rejoice in God, who hath not left off his loving kindness to
you and Mr. Occom, nor his Favours toward the great design
on which you are Serving him.
I enclose Letters from Messrs. Saltar, and Smith, and also capt
Shaws account if there be need that their attestations be Authen
-ticated by Authority, only advise me of it, and it Shall be done.
As to what I myself know relative to their Sending Mr. Mosely
to Onaquaga, when they fully knew that we had supplied that
party of Indians according to the desire of good Peter who
was their messenger, and came on that very Errand. you, as
well as I, and all our Country, know, what abusive and Injurious
representations they made of the narrative of that remarkable
meeting of the three Parties, from So great a distance, and
without the least knowledge of each others design; and they
fully know by the Same Narrative that Mr. Smith was appointed
to Serve them, and had accepted of it. And you also know that
when we were together at Boston in the beginning of June Mr.
Oliver
told us, they had no missionary about to go out, nor any that
he knew of Whom they had their Eyes
upon. I asked Mr. Eliot a few Days after in the Town House (but
am not certain that you was present) Whether they had any
missionary to employ this year? he told me they had none. I told
him that we had agreed to employ Mr. Gunn as Interpreter
provided they did not employ him. He told me he did not
know of any Service they Should have for him. you also
know how importunate Mr. Forbes was that I would relay
Mr. Smith to be employed in their Service, and how repeated-
-ly he urged it when we were at Boston. and once in parti-
-cular at Mr. Smiths.
Sometime after I came Home, and after the missionaries
were gone on their mission I heard that Mr. Mosely had been
invited, and was gone to Boston, to accept of that mission
after he had accepted it he came to my House, and showed me
the votes of that Board. viz. £100 Sterling for his Service a
year, and, if I dont forget £30. Sterling for Mr. Hawley to
accompany and introduce him. I asked him if he did not know
that Mr. Smith was gone to the Same Place he said he did, I
asked how then did he expect to be introduced there. he replied
that Mr. Hawley was appointed to introduce him. and they supposed
that Mr. Hawleys long Acquaintance with, and interest in
the Indians there, was Such that there would be no Difficulty
in removing Mr. Smith. However the commissioners had ordered them
not to make an open Breach in the Sight of the Indians. I
Supposed by his Reply that he did not understand so much of the
affair
Affair as I did, which I wondered at, Since there had been So much
talk in the Country about their Appearing in Opposition to me etc.
after Mr. Smith's return he told me he believed Mr. Mosely had
been greatly imposed upon. that he expected two or three hundred
Sterling instead of one, and Mr. Smith thought, if He (Mr. Mosely)
had discoursed with the commissioners before he had manifested
to Mr. Forbes, his willingness to accept, he neverwould have
accepted, of the mission. I have entertained no uncharitable thoughts
of Mr. Hawley in this Affair; he acted in the dark as a Servant to
his employers; and I have good reason to think that he has re-
-flected with much regret, that he was instrumental to remove
so pious learned and well accomplished a man as Mr. Smith from his Service among that
poor people, for whom he had conceived a great Affection, and likely
he may regret the needless Expence of So much of Christ's money,
not only in his needless Journey but in keeping Mr. Bowman
and Mr. Rice So long in half pay. If the Indians had not been
So long without any Teacher among them, excepting my
Woolley in the Capacity of School master (Which if I remember
right, was towards three years after Mr. Bowman left them,
and they also had not known that the Indians were well supplied,
before they moved at all to get a missionary, their Zeal in this matter
might have gained the Charity of all, and escaped the censures which
they have suffered by it —
This imperfect account is according to the best of my remembrance
in too much haste.
I am not able with any Certainty to come at what I received
of the Boston Commissioners towards Mr. Occoms Support while he
was with me, as my Book of accounts at that Day was Small, and
I thought nothing of any future use for it when the accounts
were all Settled — however I believe the commissioners paid all the
accounts which I Sent them. 'til I was perfectly tired of applying to
them, and was fully convinced that I could easier get a Support
for him by begging of a few well disposed persons than by such
a Tedious dependance upon them, and So I found it by exper
ience when I made the Trial.
Mr. Occom was never looked upon as their scholar nor under
their control — perhaps if he had So been they might have made
him more their Care. Their Approbation was not sought, nor
did I ever understand, they ever desired or expected it, when
he went from me to take Mr. Hortons place on the Island
After the commissioners had done what they did for him, (which
was the greater part of his Support for Several years) I applied
to our association, who made a Collection among themselves
for my assistance therein — but as our association are Appointed
to meet at Mr. Williams's this week, I will mention the
Affair to them, and transmit to you what light they
can give. It may be they have Some Records of Facts, as it
was by their advice that I first made Application to the commissioners
And I think it w[gap: tear]
the Ministry — [illegible][gap: tear]
that the commissioners m[gap: tear]
the Island — The [gap: tear]
Island I never tho[gap: tear]
the Extraordinary Ex[gap: tear]
there, as he was far[illegible][gap: tear]
to Entertain all forig[gap: tear]
and many White people [gap: tear]
him and his School, and m[gap: tear]
not yet been wont to show [gap: tear]
His Labours there were gr[gap: tear]
want of a Support, and I [gap: tear]
not in the Power of my Han[gap: tear][guess: d]
Honour Which God put upon [gap: tear]
useful among those poor Crea[gap: tear][guess: tures]
-sate all, and quiet his mind un[gap: tear]
I have wrote you as honest Acc[gap: tear]
will make none but a good [gap: tear]
to hasten as the Bearer is just[gap: tear]
my dear Sir.

Your brother etc.

P.S. I will write Mr. Peck and des[gap: tear]
long it was after Mr. Bowman left [gap: tear]
Sent Mr. Smith — I have yet had no [gap: tear]
Oliver Wrote but that which you gave me[gap: tear]
I Shall Send to Mr. Peck for it by this [gap: tear]
Capt. Lanson

Blank page.
Loading...