Author
McClure, David
Date30 June, 1772
ms number772380
abstractMcClure writes that he has asked Occom to join the mission, but that
Occom states he is in ill health, has too many debts, and that he has been neglected
since
his return from Great Britain. McClure urges Wheelock to be generous with Occom.
handwritingFormal handwriting is small, but clear and legible.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good-to-fair
condition, with light-to-moderate creasing, staining and wear.
inkBrown.
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Mohegan
June 30 1772 —
Rev. and Honored Sir/
Through divine goodness
Mr. Frisbie and I had a comfortable journey to this place,
where
we arrived last Evening and found
Mr. Occom
and
family
in usual health; we immediately laid open the
business on which we came — It was all new to
Mr. Occom — neither of your Letters, Sir, have
reached him,
they have somewhere unfortunately
stopped. The Doctor's Letter to him by us con
tained the first intimation he has had re=
specting this mission. After conversing on the
openings
and
encouragements of our intended mis
sion to the Southward, he manifested a desire
and
willingness to join us, but urged his bodily
infirmities and involvements * against undertaking
it immediately
— And indeed he has had so
short notice of it that it would be difficult if not
im=
practicable for him to set out with us.
I have all along thought 'til now that he
* he owes he says ₤50 or
₤60 —
had a pension of ₤30 sterling
per annum from
Esq. Thornton —
But he says he has had no pension or
allowance from
him, or any other quarter since he came from
England,
except two private donations from thence
amounting to ₤60 —. That before he
went to
England he was under the pay of the
Boston board
and since his return has been rejected by them and by
the School
too. And considering what Indian Genius and
temper are, has there not, Sir, been too much occasion for
him to
complain of neglect? he has had to encounter
many and great difficulties since his return and would it
not, Sir, been good policy if no more and will it not now be
good policy, to make him some
small allowance and let
him enjoy in some measure the benefit of the monies he
was
instrumental in obtaining for the use and benefit of
the design? So that he might be cut off from any occa
sion to repeat what he says
Mr. Whitefield told him
when he left
England; "that they had made him a tool to
collect monies for them in
England, but when he got to
America they would set him
adrift." His Character, as
far as I can learn in these parts is now good, and the Crimes
of intemperance with which he has been charged, are
very
much extenuated by the temptations he was under.
He appears calm and rational, more so than I expected to have
found him, respecting the Indian
design. I am more and
more persuaded of the expediency and advantage of his un=
dertaking a mission
and ardently hope that God in his
providence will so order and direct that he may
join us in the mission before us. It would very
much strengthen our hands and encourage us.
In the freedom of Conversation with him
he said, many fair promises
had been made him
but he found they would never fill his belly or
cover his
back, and that as soon as he could see
a prospect and know for certain that he could be
in a way to discharge his Debts and support his
family he would under his infirmity, go.
In the Doctor's
behalf, made an offer of ₤100
sterling Annually and to gave an order on
Capt. Backus for ₤50 lawful money of it to be paid now and the remainder
at the close of the Year, if he would undertake
he seemed to think it would not be sufficient to bear
his expenses
and maintain his numerous family. I told
him should he undertake, I would engage the Doctor's
influence
with
Esq. Thornton
and had not the least
doubt but his debts would by that Gentleman be
generously discharged. He intimates a design of
visiting the Doctor, which hope he
will. I have
wrote Rev. Sir, with freedom which I have no
apprehension of your blaming me
for.
Mr. Frisbie has had several poor turns since we set out
he
joins in Duty and Affection to the Doctor
and
family, with Rev.
and
Honored Patron
Rev.
Dr. Wheelock —
P.S. I wrote the Dr.
per.
[illegible]
Mrs. Payne about 6 Days past —
As
Mr. Occom intends to write the Dr. in the proposed
mission we must refer to
his Letter to know his mind more fully respecting it
—
— have enclosed a number of the latest papers from different parts.