Jacob Johnson, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1768 October 10

Author Johnson, Jacob

Date10 October, 1768

Call Number768560.2

abstractJohnson writes that a number of wealthy men have come to the congress and are enticing the Indians into selling their lands. Johnson has been going among the Indians trying to keep them from selling.

handwritingInformal handwriting is occasionally difficult to decipher.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good-to-fair condition, with moderate creasing, staining and wear.

inkBrown-black.

signatureThe signature is abbreviated.

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

Persistent Identifier

— Sir
I have been at Oneida Castle—nowhere—
—Have waited on Sir William and other gentlemen—
—of which I cannot now write— But only
assure you that things are in a most critical
situation yea wear a very threatening aspect
However speciously covered and concealed— the
Sum of the matter is—"that antecedent to ascer‐
taining the Boundaries and Lines between the Indian
and British claims a number of Great and wealthy
gentlemen from New York Pennsylvania Jersey and
Virginia Have brought a Great sum of Gold and
silver with numbers of Bat[illegible][guess: oas] of Blankets and
other goods in order to decoy and prevail with the
Oneida and other Indians to sell their Lands from
Fort Stanwix to the Lake Ontario etc. thence
in a Line down to the Allegheny Ohio so down
to or near to Fort Pitt etc. the which if they
accomplish as you sir must know the Principal
design or designs of this Project so must know what
will be the event as to your Schools and designs of propa‐
gation of the Gospel among the Indians— Being
sensible of this (though kept as a profound Secret by
the Projectors and managers of it) we have more
privately consulted the Two Castles of the Oneidas
in order to apprise them of this design and if possible to
fix them in an unchangeable resolution and determina‐
tion upon no consideration to part with their
Lands but Hold them as their Birth Rights the
great Parent of all things has given them withal
showing them the most dangerous consequences and
with many arguments from fact as well as reason
—But yet after all we are not without a
great deal of fear the Indians will be overcome
and made a sacrifice to the ambition and avarice of
these great Head plotters and Heart Haters of the
Spread of the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ—upon
a whole view of the case and state of things here
(a contract Specimen of which I have given) we
thought best to send an express to you sir that you
may know what is doing and politically moving
to be done that you may lay it before
the great counsellor as we have done in the best
manner we could and daily do— As also in such a
a weighty and most concerning affair that you would
if you think expedient Send your best advice
and that the Rev. Mr kirtland would come up if his
health will admit and you think advisable—all which
may possibly be done before the conclusion of
the congress which will not likely be dissolved
in 3 or 4 weeks from the date hereof—
I am Sir yours in all things for Christ's
sake this cause
Jacob Johnson

P. S. Joseph may stay with you (if you think
fit) 'til further advise
we may hereafter give you an account of the
whole series of things but now only
hint at them as they are as it were
in embryo—
I Shall continue to wait on the congress
and if opportunity presents send you further
In the mean since we do not Speak of these
things openly or let any one know but
friends [illegible] Jos. goes for New England—
 oh pray! pray! pray!
as Mr Eliot Apostle to the Indians said in a
Letter to–


Rev. Jacob Johnson's
 October 10th 1768.

To
the Rev. Dr.
 Eleazar Wheelock
 Lebanon—
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