Eleazar Wheelock, draft of will, 1768 April 14

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date14 April, 1768

Call Number768264

abstractA draft of Wheelock’s will.

handwritingThe first two-plus pages of the document are written in a hand that is other than Wheelock's. It is informal and crowded, yet largely clear and legible. Beginning with the second word of the ninth line on two recto, the hand is Wheelock's (there are also additions made in Wheelock's hand throughout). Wheelock's hand is informal, small and occasionally difficult to decipher.

paperDocument consists of one large single sheet and one large sheet folded in half to make four pages. The paper is in fair condition, with moderate-to-heavy staining, creasing and wear. A small tear at the top of two recto/verso results in a minor loss of text.

inkBrown-black.

noteworthyA tag reading "Part of the Frederick Chase Collection given by his heirs" is affixed to both two recto and three verso.

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

Persistent Identifier
Item. And whereas I have for many and weighty reasons more than thirteen years ago,
undertake, and have at my own risk and expense by the assistance and favour of god, founded a charity school for
the education of youths of the several tribes of Indians in this land, and also
of a competent number of English youths to accompany them, with a
single view to the spreading the gospel into the ignorant parts of this
Land, especially among the Indians. And by the smiles of heaven
upon every step that hath hitherto been taken in the Affair, the
design is now become respectable in Europe as well as America, inso‐
‐much that large donations have been made, whereby a number of
missionaries and schoolmasters have been, and are supported in the
wilderness, as well as a considerable number now in this school.
filling for the like service when they have finished their learning here
And very considerable additional Sums have been collected in great Britain, chiefly by
the endeavours of the Rev. Dr. Whitaker, whom I have authorized commissioned and sent, in com‐
‐pany with the Rev. Samson Occom, in my name, to solicit the charities
of gods people only for the use and support of said Design; And God
having amidst the numberless and signal favours, by which he has owned
this design, put it into the hearts of those noble worthy and generous
friends and benefactors the Right Honourable William Earl of Dartmouth Mr. Baron
Smythe
John Thornton Samuel Roffey Charles Hardy and Daniel West Esq.
Mr. Samuel Savage Mr. Josiah Robarts and Mr. Robert Keen all of, or near
the City of London to become Guarantees to the public for the
Security and due application of said Monies collected in great Britain for
promoting the great design aforesaid, and that this so important Affair
might not fail or be obstructed through my decease, and it being also necessary
for the safety wellbeing and success of the undertaking that there be also
a trust appointed on this side the water who may and shall receive
all gifts and grants subscriptions or donations any way made in
these Colonies for the use and support of said school or missionaries
and dispose of and improve the same according to the will of
the donors; and also to examine and judge of the qualifications of missionaries
and schoolmasters; the numbers from time to time expedient and their
fitness for the places they shall be respectively designed for and also of
their fidelity and skill in performing the truths respectively reposed
in them and accordingly to authorize and appoint them to their respective offices or displace
and remove them as they shall find occasion
I do therefore, after much deliberation and committing the
affair to god and waiting upon him for light and direction therein — nominate
and appoint my much honoured and worthy friends aforesaid viz the Right Honourable William Earl of Dartmouth, etc.
to be trustees of all the Donations that have been made or shall be made of any kind or in any manner of way whatever
through their hands for the use and benefit of the general design aforesaid and to them the said trustees I give and bequeath
said fund already made or any gifts grants or donations to be made as aforesaid to them and to their
successors to be by them disposed of and improved in the best manner only for the Uses aforesaid
and to do whatever they shall judge necessary to be done on that side the water for the safety well-being prosperity, success and increase
of the great design in view
under such regulations as shall be hereafter mentioned— and in case of the death or resignation
of any of the said 9 Gentleman such vacancy be declared and others chosen by the majority of the
remaining Trustees, to fill up such Vacancy or Vacancies
I do also nominate and appoint One mentioned on my aforesaid will
to be my successor in the immediate care oversight guidance and direction
of this whole Affair, so long and under such limitations and restrictions as shall be here
‐after mentioned in this will — I do also nominate and appoint my faithful and
trusty friends Col. William Pitkin Esq. of Hartford, the Rev. Benjamin Pomeroy of Hebron
the Rev. James Lockwood of Wethersfield, the Rev. Timothy Pitkin of Farmington, the Rev.
Nathaniel Whitaker DD of Norwich, the Rev. William Patten of Hartford and my son Ralph
Wheelock
all of the Colony of Connecticut and the Rev. Samuel Kirtland
Missionary to be Trustees of all the Donations that have been made or shall be
made in these American colonies for the Use support and benefit of the the School and missionaries as aforesaid
and to them the said Trustees last mentioned I give and bequeath the Lot of Land
or tenement in this said Society in Lebanon aforesaid given originally by Mr. Joshua Moore of
Mansfield and since confirmed to me by a deed from his widow
for the Use and support of said school together with the subscriptions made by diverse
well disposed persons for the support and benefit of the school, and any and all
other or real or personal estate that has been or shall be given or
any way conveyed or made over to this school and missionaries or to me for
the Use and benefit of the same To them and to their Successors to have
and to hold or alienate and dispose of as they shall judge best only for
the uses aforesaid — And that they or any five of them the
whole being duly notified (by letters or otherways of the Time and place of
meeting) shall have full power to choose another Trustee if they shall
think fit and then to to confirm the appointment I have made of
my successor or to choose another of their number in his stead —
and that the same so chosen to be my successor be approved by the Right Honourable
noble and worthy Gentlemen of the Trust in England otherwise that
a new nomination be made by either set of Trustees 'til one be found
in which all may unite and that the one appointed by the Trust on this
si[gap: tear][guess: de the] water shall officiate 'til that matter be settled and it is my will that
my successors be successively appointed by will with the Advice and or approbation
both of the Trustees here and in England forever or until a legal incorporation
shall be obtained and that he be approved by both sets of Trustees or else that another be by them Chosen as aforesaid And in case My succe
ssor or successors shall die without such will that one be chosen by both sets of Trustees as aforesaid, and that he
Who shall be appointed by the Trustees on this the water officiate 'til that matter be settled as aforesaid and in case of a vacancy
by the death or resignation of any of the Trustees that such vacancy or vacancies
be supplied by others chosen by the major part of the surviving
Trustees —and it shall be the duty of these Trustees to examine and authorize
missionaries and schoolmasters and appoint them to their respective
services and judge of their Skill and Fidelity in performing the Same and accord‐
ingly continue or displace and remove them as they Shall judge fit. and do any
thing for the help and assistance of my said successor in the vigorous prosecution of
the said great design, and to appoint determine and fix upon laws rules and orders for the
Edification Decency, and Good Economy of the Whole affair as they Shall from time to time find necessary
Also that my successor keep a faithful and fair account of all expenses for, and disbursements of
money, in, this whole affair and transmit the Same twice a year, with an account
of all successes and remarkable occurrences to the Trust in England — and that
he Shall do the Same, with respect to my New Plan which he or the trust
here Shall think fit to come into, in the prosecution of this design, when and
as Soon as there is opportunity for it, and if it may be before he enters
upon the Execution of it, in order for the approbation of the Trust in England
and the accounts being thus kept and transmitted, the Trust in England shall
not have right to protest any Bills or Draughts made upon their treasurer
to pay any Expenses made before my successor Shall have received the Notice
of their disapprobation of the measures he is pursuing. The Same I expect
for myself So long as I do to the best of my Ability proceed according
to the foregoing proposals. and I hope in God who has hitherto So mar
velously appeared to maintain and promote this cause which
is his own that he will yet take care of it and perform the highest
wishes and Hopes of his Saints concerning it, and particularly that
he will open the Hearts of Such as he has Endowed with Ability
to provide a lasting Fund for the Support not only of the School but of the president, instructors and other
officers necessary for the Same.
Wherefore know thee that I do by these presents Give Grant Convey and make over
to my much honoured and Worthy Friends before named viz the Right Honourable William Earl of Dartmouth
Mr. Baron Smythe etc. and to their successors chosen as before mentioned, forever the
money already collected which is now in their Hands, and all the Gifts Grants or Donations
of any kind that shall hereafter be made through their Hands only for the uses and purposes
and in the manner aforesaid and I do by these presents bind and oblige myself
that the Plan aforesaid Shall remain and be the form and manner of
this School, only reserving to myself the Liberty to change my successor
or to nominate another in Stead of him who is now named in my
Will and also to add two Trustees more than are now named or
remove either of these and put another or others in Stead thereof if I
Shall think it Expedient.
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To all people to whom these presents Shall come Greeting
Know thee that Whereas I Eleazar Wheelock of Lebanon in the
County of Windham and Colony of Connecticut in New England
([illegible]) have by my last will and testament, Dated this 14th
Day of April 1768
. regulated, modeled, ordered and disposed of
my Indian Charity School in the manner and form and words following
viz. "Item. and Where as I did[illegible] for many etc.
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