Samson Occom, letter, to Susanna Wheatley, 1771 March 5

Author Occom, Samson

Date5 March, 1771

ms number771205.1

abstractOccom writes of the dire straits his family is under from lack of provisions, and of his trust in God. His eldest son has recently died. He requests a singing book for his children.

handwritingHandwriting is small and crowded, yet mostly clear and legible.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages has been heavily reinforced, which makes it difficult to gauge the condition of the paper. It appears to be in fair-to-poor condition, with moderate-to-heavy staining, creasing and wear. The reinforcement, which appears to be aging, is also beginning to tear at the central crease.

inkBrown ink is dimmed by the reinforcement.

noteworthyThere is an uncharacteristically emotional trailer written by Wheelock at the top of two verso. Several modern notations have been made by unknown editors, including red-wax pencil marks and the notation, likely 19th-century, “S. Occom 1771.” These edits have not been included in the transcription. An addition above the address appears to be contemporary to the letter, and is possibly a postage mark. A photocopy exists in Rauner Special Collections that appears to have been made before the paper was reinforced.

signatureThe letter is signed three times, once in full after body of letter, then abbreviated after each postscript.

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

Persistent Identifier
Most kind Madam,
Your most acceptable and very animating Favour of December 3rd –70 Came Safely to Hand a few Days a go, for which I return you ten thousand Thanks —  I am in great Hopes, Your Letter to Esq. Thornton will attract Bowels of compassion towards me and mine. And I pray the Lord to reward You and yours Bountifully in Both worlds, — I am in Greater straits and necessities than ever, we had but little Corn last year and consequently little meat. it was Dry season with us; I have no provisions now at all only what I buy, and I have no Money to buy with, I am obliged to Sell anything I have to get meat and Corn with, and my Family consists ten Souls constantly, and a great Number of visitors Continually from all quarters there has not been one Week, nor 3 Days as I [gap: worn_edge][guess: re‐] member in the Year past, but that we have had Some Stranger or other — My being acquainted with the World in Some measure, has made my house a Sort of an Asy‐ lum for Strangers both English and Indians, far and near, — I Labour under Bodily indisposition constantly near a Year, I have not been able to do much in hard Labour, which puts me back very much; under these Dif‐ ficulties, my unbelieving Heart brings me upon the Borders of discouragement at times, but my reason and better understand‐ing tells me, this is the Time to trust and Hope in god, and I believe God never made any Creature with a Mouth, but that he will provide for it, in his own way and Time — and when I Come to recollect what I have Seen in my Travels, and what I have Read also, I am Struck with amazement and Stand speechless; I am Sure if god should Deal with me according to my deserts I should have no‐ thing that is Comfortable in this World nor in that which is to Come — How many poor Creatures have I Seen in the World as good by Nature as I am, go almost Na ked in the severest weather, and have nowhere to Lay their Heads, and not one Mouthful of the meanest Bread, that they Can Command, but are obliged to go from house to house, and from Door to Door, with Tears Streaming Down their Dirty Cheeks begging a
a crumb of Bread, and when they have one mouthful giv en them, they know not who will give them the next, — when I Come to consider how much better God has Dealt with me, I am astonished at myself, that I have no more sense of the distinguishing goodness of God to me, and to mine — I have greatest reason to Call upon my Soul and all that is within me to bless and praise God Night and Day; and when I come to consider further, how many Holy Souls, I mean the Children of god, have suffered, in Times of persecution, all manner of Torments, and deprived of every Comfort in this World, Yet how full of praises and thanksgivings were they — Yea when I Come to trace the Son of the most High, from the Manger to his Cross, I am Struck Dumb, I am Con‐ founded, I am ashamed, I have no Room to open my Mouth in a way of Complaint, I pray god to learn me by these Small trials I meet with in the World to Hope and trust in god alone, and not in the Crea‐ ture — I Pray god to kill me to the world, and that he would kill the World to me — that I may be Dead to the World and the World to me — God has Seen fit to take away my eldest Son by Death a few weeks ago, the Lord Sanctify this afflictive dispensation to me and to mine — my wife is not well, but the rest of my Family are well through the goodness of god at pre‐sent — I Pray God these may find you and yours in Health of Body and Soul prosperity, — my wife Joins me in Christian Respects to you and Yours — I am, most kind madam
your most unworthy and most obliged Humble Servant Samson Occom
PS:  Please to remember me to Phillis and the rest of your Servants Pray madam, what harm would it be to Send Phillis to her Native Country as a Female Preacher to her kindred, you know Quaker women are allowed to preach, and why not others in an Extraordinary case — S: O
2 PS  Madam I have a favour to beg of you that is, to get me a Singing Book, I think it was Printed at Salem lately price, I was told S8 my Children are much inclined to Singing and I would Encourage them in Time, — and I will endeavour to Send you Money sometime or other Send by any Careful Hand to Mr. John Baker Brimmer at Norwich Landing yours etc. S: Occom
Received September 1772  why could he never write in this strain to me when he knew me sinking under labour and trial for his Nation.
[illegible][guess: NL] 2..16 To Mrs. Susanna Wheatley In State Street Boston [illegible][guess: Lebanon]
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