Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Messrs. Peck, Mason, and Austin, 1766 November 5

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date5 November, 1766

Call Number766605.2

abstractWheelock writes, for possible publication, to correct assertions made by the New England Company about its relationship to, and support of, Occom.

handwritingHandwriting is small and informal, yet mostly clear and legible. It is not Wheelock's.

paperLarge single sheet is in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear.

inkDark-brown.

noteworthyThe contents of this document are nearly identical to those of manuscript 766605.2.

signatureThe signature is not in Wheelock's hand.

EventsOccom’s First Mission to the Oneidas, Occom leaves his studies, Occom’s Mission to the Montauketts, Occom’s Ordination, Fundraising Tour of Great Britain

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

Persistent Identifier
Dear Messrs. Peck
Mason and Austin
 Sirs
Mr. Peck has favoured me with a Copy of Mr. Whita‐
ker
's Letter to you, and by that I have an account of Mr. Oliver's Letter to
Governor Mauduit, and it seems a little strange that the Honourable Board
in whose Name he wrote so long accounted Mr. Occom to be in
their Pay, and yet after all make so many mistakes in their histo
ry of him, and that too when it is the Result of a Meeting, and designed
as their Testimony of Facts, sent to the Honourable Society in London
to Certify them so circumstantially, as that they might not be
imposed upon by deceivers.
Some defects in their Narrative you may see by comparing
the following particulars with what they assert.
  • 1.Mr. Occom (as well as many others of that Tribe) was un
    doubtedly a Pagan 'til he was above Sixteen years old. And had never
    so much as heard that there was such a person as Jesus Christ.
  • 2.None ever said anything to me about taking Mr. Occom under
    my instruction, or was ever any way moving in that Matter, that I
    ever knew of, but his Mother, before he came to live with me upon Trial.
  • 3.Mr. Pomeroy never had any concern, but only as a Friend, when
    my Family were unable to bear the Burden of the School, by
    Reason of sickness, he did at my desire, take the School, with my
    son-in-law (Mr. Maltby) the Master of it to his House, where
    it continued, as I remember the better part of a year. But he depen‐
    ded upon me to Support Mr. Occom, and it was at my risk as
    much as ever.
  • 4.Mr. Occom had been long confined by sore sickness, before he
    came to me, and was then, and all the Time he was with me in a Low
    state of Health, though in the main mending, 'til he went from me
    to serve them as schoolmaster and public Teacher, at Mon
    tauk
    , on Long-Island. And he was in as good state of Health
    when he went away as I ever knew him to be. And it was
    by the Importunity of Mr. Horton missionary of the Honourable Society in
    Scotland
    that I was persuaded to let Mr. Occom go to take his place
    there.
  • 5.Mr. Occom after he had officiated some time as a preacher there,
    was ordained by the Presbytery of Suffolk County on Said Island, and
    still continues to be a Member of the Same:
  • 6.The ministers in this Government had no hand in Sending Mr. Occom on
    his first mission to the Six Nations. See the account of that in Mr.
    Bostwick's Letter to the praeses of directors and printed at the End of
    Mr. Randalls Sermon before the Society in Scotland January 3 176[illegible][guess: 3]
  • 7.Mr. Occom was as much in the Pay of the Boston Commissioners before
    the New York Commissioners sent him on this mission as he was afterwards
    so far as I ever knew. And his circumstances were as needy 'til
    he was relieved by that public Contribution at New York as ever I knew
    them to be. Nor did I ever understand that the New York Commissioners
    ever asked consent of the Boston Board to Send him
  • 8. The Boston Commissioners paid only part of his Debts, when application
    was made to them after his Return from that mission, and I believe only
    a lesser part of them.
  • 9.He could not have continued in their service nor in any other, if he
    had received no other Support but that which he had from them.
  • 10.As to the Report that he was a Mohawk etc., and that large Contri
    butions were made to me on that Account I have never yet heard that
    there has been such a Report in this Country but only what came
    from the aforesaid Commissioners — And how a Report that he was a
    Mohawk etc. came to be published in England, and transmitted here
    in the Public Prints, I can only guess.
As to their resigning him to me and putting him out of their hands
when they had him in their Service as well as pay, only on my telling
them I could employ him better, abundantly evidences their high esteem
of my good Judgement and Fidelity, at least before I so unhappily cracked my
Credit, by declaring publicly in the most populous Towns in that and the
Neighbouring Government that he was a Mohawk lately Emergent out
of gross paganism etc., in order to get large Contributions for this
School
.
These hints so far as I know are true, and I thought proper you should
have them and make such Improvement of them as your prudence shall
direct. And if you think it necessary you may publish them or
any part of them. Although I confess the entering into a public Quarrel
with those Gentlemen, is so unnatural and incongruous to the design
of building up, and enlarging the peaceable Kingdom of Christ which
we all profess to have in view, that I exceedingly dread it, if the
Glory of God and the interests of the Redeemers cause dont evidently
require it.
I herewith enclose a Letter to Mr. Oliver, a true Copy of which
I also enclose that you might know the Contents in which you will
see I desire a Copy of his aforesaid Letter to Governor Mauduit, and also that
you are desired to wait on him for that purpose please Sir to
favour me herein, and make return and advise me of your success as
soon as may be.
I have also desired Mr. Oliver to remit £10 of the annual allow
ance of that Board for the use of this School, which I have
reason to expect he will not refuse, Since he has made two Remit‐
tances without the Least objection since he wrote the aforesaid Letter
to the Honourable Society in London. If he should refuse that, or a
Copy of his Letter, or both, you will enquire and know his reasons
for it. And I hope agreeable to your wonted goodness, excuse the
Trouble herein given you, by, My dear Sirs
Your much obliged and very humble Servant
Eleazar Wheelock
Letter to Messrs. Peck
Mason and Austin
November 5. 1766.
Loading...