Theophilus Chamberlain, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1766 November 12
Date12 November, 1766
Call Number766612.1
abstractChamberlain writes of improvements in the mission among the Mohawks.
handwritingHandwriting is small, yet formal and clear. Letter case and punctuation, especially comma vs. period, is frequently difficult to discern. The trailer is in an unknown hand.
paperLarge sheet folded into four pages is in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear.
inkBrown-black.
Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Rev. and worthy
days ago. Hope my Letter of the Same Month will relieve you from
some of that Pain which I know you must have felt from the
Thoughts that all your Endeavours to instruct and reform the
mohawks would certainly Prove unsuccessful. In Addition
to what you will learn from that Letter I add with great pleasure
that the two Schools under the instruction of Mr. Johnson and
Jacob Fowler have increased to four or five and forty and since
Moses' arrival we set up a third which though small at present
will I hope when we have Time to collect the Children have
fifteen or Sixteen Children without any diminution of the other
school here which will still increase. Last Sabbath the house
where we now meet though the largest in the Castle, was so
crowded that some of the People were obliged to return outdoors,
and the Number of those who will attend is Daily increasing, except
that the Indians are now many of them on the Hunt and others
every day joining them. I know Sir that you are now
expecting me home. I know upon what Information you
came to a conclusion that it was best to leave the Mohawks, and
hope and expect that when you hear of the present State of
Affairs here you will say it is best by all Means to improve
the favorable Minute. And in confidence of this only, I have
some Weeks ago concluded not to return 'til Spring unless I
receive absolute Orders for it. I Long for success and however
I may have been thought to be cold, careless, and negligent
that I have spared no Pains and neglected no Step to make
the Affair succeed unless it is when I have thought that
making proposals or altering dispositions Made would be es‐
teemed affirming. I have Rev. sir ventured to give my
Judgment upon Mr. Johnsons desire with regard to his stay
‐ing at fort Hunter this Winter. He told me it was expect‐
ed that, if he came home this fall he should return next
Spring. It appeared to me that it would be more to his ad‐
vantage both in respect to his learning the Indian Language
and making proficiency in his other studies, to spend the whole
year here and the succeeding year there, than to divide the
two years into four Parts, and so leave the Indians just as he has
got a Little smattering of their Language which he says himself
he can retain only by staying longer amongst them. Then
I was fully persuaded that his continuing at fort Hunter this
Winter was the only way to maintain and establish a school
there. To put either of the Indian Lads (who by the way are
both wanted at this Castle) there where I cant be with them
more than once in three or four Weeks, and where the Indians
declare they will throw the whole up if the schoolmaster is
now changed, would be the means of ruining and that perhaps
beyond repair, a School upon which as much depends in
the Opinion of Gentlemen who are best acquainted with
the Indians in these Parts, as any school in the six Nation
Country. and the Indians are in all these Castles offended with
the proposal of keeping Schools only in the summer. —
expense. the Indians are allowed a blacksmith for the
next six Months. Mr. Spencer is appointed to serve in
that Place. Sir William was up this Week to settle that
and some other Affairs with the Indians. He was at my
Lodgings on Monday Evening and invited me to dine with him the next day.
I went and knowing his business (which I found out by the
little Indian I understand) took a favorable opportunity
and put in a Petition that in Spencers Service for the
Indians his Honour would please to include interpreting
which might be done without increase of cost to him,
or disadvantage to Mr. Spencer. The request was too
reasonable to be denied, and met with so favourable a
Reception that his honour promised to mention it in his
instructions to Spencer which he would give out the
next day.
Your Supply Reverend by Moses came very seasonably
as I had then less than two dollars and was in debt for myself
the schoolmasters and Interpreter near £30 lawful money, hav
‐ing made some provision for my own and Jacobs stay here over
the Winter. My Credit here will I fear be ruined by neglecting
the Christian Rule to owe no man anything but to Love.
If you judge Rev. Sir that my Conduct is such as merits appro
‐bation, cannot Doubt but you will support me here to
my satisfaction; and if you judge otherwise, I beg it
I misconduct, that I may have opportunity to clear
myself, to reform or to resign my commission.
In the meantime Sir, give my Duty to
Madam, my kindest Compliments to all
your family and Love to the School, and
be assured that unconscious of Neglect
I cheerfully subscribe myself
Rev. and Worthy Sir
Theophilus Chamberlain
Rev. Theophilus Chamberlain’s
Letter November 12th 1766