Joseph Fish, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1771 January 30. John
Shattock, letter, to Joseph Fish, 1770 December 30. Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to
Alexander Moubray, 1771 October 15.
Author
Fish, Joseph
Author
Shattock, John
Author
Wheelock, Eleazar
Date30 January, 1771
ms number771130
abstractMulti-sectioned letter: Fish, writing to Wheelock, encloses a copy of
a letter written by Shattock about his son John’s death, and asks Wheelock to
pass on the
news to people in Scotland and England. Wheelock writes to Alexander Moubray
in
Edinburgh.
handwritingThe first two sections of the letters, written by Fish, are
formal and clear. The third section, authored by Wheelock, is not in Wheelock's
hand; it is also formal and clear. The trailer is in Wheelock's hand. Several
uncrossed t’s have been corrected by the transcriber.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in fair
condition, with light-to-moderate creasing, staining and wear. Tearing leads
to
some loss of text.
inkBrown-black.
signatureThere are three different signatures; however, the only one
presumably in the hand of the actual author is that of Fish.
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
A few days after the Date of
John Shattocks Letter to me, (on this Sheet, the Other Side,) I re
ceived it; with a postscript, earnestly requesting me to
Send a
Copy corrected, to the Rev.
Dr.
Wheelock, with a view
that, if it came in the Doctors
way, he might communicate an account of
Johns
Death
to
Mr.
Moubray in
Edinburgh
and to
Mr.
Cummin in
London. — Accordingly, to Oblige my Friend
x
[illegible][guess: Mr.
Shattock]/
John
x, I have transcribed his Letter, Verbatim, except
ing a very few
words, to help the
sense a little. —
This young Man whose death we Speak of, was a ve
ry Serious, honest, faithful man, as I have reason to think.
I employed him 4 months a Schoolmaster to the Indian
Children at
Stonington,
in the
Honourable
Commission's Ser
vice: and he greatly recommended himself, as a
master, to me and the Indians. But he began to lan
guish, with the consumption, (of which he died,) before
he left us. — As to his religious
Sentiments, touch
ing the
[illegible][guess: outward] Form of worship, I suppose they were
Something of the
Separate way: but his
life was very
Short, after his public, profession — He might have
seen cause to correct Somethings, had he lived: but as
above, I verily believe him to be Sincere and honest hearted.
His Dying Exhortation to his
Father,"To be faithful to "Souls," may need Explanation; in that, by it, Strangers might
think his Father a minister of the Gospel, or, at least, a public Teacher: whereas he is only one that takes Liberty, in the
Indian way, to exhort frequently, and has sometimes gone out to hold meetings etc.: when it might be much better, and more proper, for him and many others, if they were more Swift to hear and Slow to Speak.
But My Dear Sir,
Which way shall these Lines reach
you? Where will they find you? How is it with you and
your Dear wife
and Children, in your new world? Can I hope
ever to See you again, while traveling
through this weary
land? I ardently long for an Interview. Pray write me,
if tis but Six Lines — Twill be
as
good news from a far
Country. — I have neither Time nor room now to Say
more, than that my only Child,
daughter Noyes
and her 3 Sons
all she has living, are with us This winter — In a measure of Health—
My Dear Love to you and your Dear Ones— Sincerely yours
Joseph
Fish
I now acquaint you, that on the
21st Instant,
my Son
John departed this Life, about 4 o'Clock in the
morning.— A heavy Stroke from the Divine hand! how
ever, I have consolation mingled with my Sorrow,— I'm
not left to mourn as one that mourns
without hope.
He departed in the Triumphs of faith. So that I
have
no reason but to think, that my loss is his gain. —
He was buried decently on
the
22nd —
His last words were as follows — After inquiring the time of Night, he Said, "I have but a few minutes "to Stay with
you. Death has lost its Sting, and the Grave "its Victory — Father, hold out to the end — Be faithful "to Souls — be faithful unto Death." — His Speech by this time failed, So that I understood no more he Said. —
In his sickness he often expressed great kindness for
his Instructors, and held himself under the Strongest Obli
gations of Gratitude, to
the Divine hand, as the efficient
cause, and to the Rev.
Dr.
Wheelock, as the
prin
cipal Instrument of his acquaintance with Gods
word
and was very desirous to See him, in the time of his ill
ness, and I should have sent for the Doctor, had not the
Distance been too
great.—
God has blessed me with Twelve Children, and has called
Nine of them out of the world. I have no reason to
think but they are all at rest,— Six of them dying in
their Infancy.— My son
Peter was 25 years old, — a pro
fessor, and, in a judgement of Charity,
[gap: hole][guess: a real] Saint.
Tobias was 26 years of age,
when he departed this Life. He
was educated at Doctor
Wheelocks
School, and was a
man
remarkable for piety.—
John, whom we
have
just parted with, was in his 24th year. —
A few days ago I received a Letter from the Rev.
Mr.
Fish of
Stonington dated
January 30. 1771. informing me of the Death
of
John Shattock
the Indian who was sick and was doubtless saving
ly converted to Christ at your house. But by what
means
Mr. Fish'es Letter was so long delayed I cant tell. I haven't time to
give you the full account he appeared to be a real and
a growing Saint
I have often heard him speak of your kindness with a Grati
tude remarkable for one of that Nation,
before I removed
here into this wilderness which is about 200 miles from the Indian town
where he died. And as
Mr. Fish informs me his father expressed a
desire that I should
send you the account of his Son's Death, I will
transcribe the Letter in which he
gives the account of it, to the
Rev.
Mr. Fish. — see the Letter on foregoing page —
//
The foregoing is a true Copy, excepting
Mr. Fish says
he altered a few words only to mend the grammar. The expression
to his father,
be faithful to Souls, may need
explanation. viz. his
father is not a minister as a stranger may naturally think from
that expression, but a zealous Christian who is forward to labor
[gap: tear] the good of Souls in a more private way. I esteem the loss to
[gap: tear] tribe to be very great, and it seems to spread a melancholy
gloom upon the general design that so man
[gap: hole][guess: y] of the most
likely and promising which I have educated are
[gap: tear][guess: re]moved. But
God's way is in the Sea. I ordered a narrative to be enclosed
to you some months ago but fearing it has failed I have
ordered the bearer of this to enclose another at
Hartford in
Connecticut
and direct them to the care of
Mr.
Jonathan Mason of
Boston.
to
whose care you may also direct yours to me. I am here in
the wilderness continually crowded with business. my prospects
are very encouraging. God has been with us of a truth. And
has caused
much of his goodness to pass before us. I have
a sweet nest of Christians I trust in this nursery, which is
and has been the sovereign solace God has afforded to balance
the melancholy things you will read in my narrative.
I write now in utmost haste, have detained the Bearer
while I do it.
please accept sincere
respects to your=self and
Lady from Dear sir,
Your unknown but assured
Friend and humble servant
Eleazar Wheelock
From Rev.
Joseph
Fish
January 30. 1771.
received
October 8. 1771.