Samuel Niles and Edward Deake, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1767 January 15
Date15 January, 1767
Call Number767115.1
abstractNiles and Deake write to thank Wheelock for admitting Niles’s (spiritual) son, Toby, to his school and for his educational efforts.
handwritingClear and formal handwriting is the same as on 765566.1, 767552, 767559, 767562.2, 767630.2, 767660.2, and possibly 767231 and 767251. It is likely that of Edward Deake, schoolmaster at Charlestown.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, with light creasing, yellowing and wear.
inkBlack-brown.
noteworthyWhen Niles, a preacher, refers to Toby as his son, he is speaking in the spiritual sense; Tobias Shattock's actual father was John Shattock, Sr. On two verso, in the address, the word “Indus” is Latin for “within."
Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
ing this token of love, (being a poor Native:) Your
Christian care in promoting religious knowledge
among the poor Indians, has Greatly won my
Heart. My prayer to GOD, is that you may be
assisted from above, and persevere in your lauda
ble Design, to the advancement of the Redeem
ers Kingdom.
acquaintance with You, (and all other Good
Men;) especially those that are concerned for
the welfare of My Nation.— I am thank
ful that you have gratefully allowed My Son
Toby to receive instruction in Your School. I
hope it will be for his Good, and his fellow
tures.
way to Niantic, and have some conver
sation with you; if you please.
My Joy, in that You have admitted Toby Shat
tock into Your School, to receive instruction.
His Moral character is Good. His Behavi
our has been such for a course of years, that
He's won the Hearts of both English, and
Indians. He appears to be a Person Devoted
to do Good among mankind in General:
In particular among the Narragansett In
dians. He's Just in his Dealings with all Men
in domestic affairs; (considering the disad
vantage He labours under on account of E
ducation) in matters of Religion inferior to
none that ever I Saw in that Nation.— if
You acquaint yourself with him, You'll
find him to be a Person aiming to answer
the end of his Creation. —I make no Doubt You'll
take pleasure in instructing Him in the most
fundamental principles of Religion. —
I should esteemed it a happiness to had him in
My School, if his chance would been equal with
what it may be now; which I'm sensible would
not, if I was as capable of teaching as your Son,
by reason my School is So crowded with Chil
dren. —