Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to John Thornton, 1772 September 23
ms-number772523
abstractWheelock writes to Thornton about his failures with the Six Nations.
Six days later, he writes again about improving prospects, as several boys are
coming to
the School, and Occom’s former haughtiness is softening. He also writes that
the charges
against his son Ralph are false.
handwritingHandwriting is very formal and neat; it is not Wheelock’s
hand.
paperExact condition of the large, separate sheets is difficult to
determine due to heavy preservation work; however, the paper appears to sustain
light-to-moderate staining and wear.
inkBlack-brown.
signatureThe signature is not in Wheelock's hand.
noteworthyThis document is likely a personal copy for Wheelock's
records. A non-contemporary editor had made notes on two verso. The contents
regarding Ralph are similar to those in 772323.
EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Hanover in New Hampshire
September
23rd 1772.
Much honoured and very dear Sir.
I endeavour to give you (though by small sketches as I have opportunity) some view of the progress of my affairs here.
Mr. Avery returned from his eleven Months mission at
Oneida last month, and gives but a melancholy
account of the state of Indian
Affairs there and among the six Nations — he says
the aspect has been growing more and more gloomy for eighteen Months past, and is wholly disinclined to return
to them again, and thinks there is some probability that Mr. Kirtland will be drove away from among them. on the whole it
appears to me not improbable that the Indians in that Quarter are nigh unto
cursing. They have of late openly in a large meeting of several Tribes manifested
their entire disincli =nation to encourage or receive
another missionary or Schoo[gap: tear][guess: l] =master among them.
Two days ago Mr. Ripley returned from his Missio[gap: tear][guess: n] to
Canada with Lt. Taylor his Companion and Interpret[gap: tear][guess: er]
and brought with him ten Indian Boys from those Tribes to receive an Education in this School — the
hand of God appears conspicuous in the Affair — There was the greatest opposition
made by their Priest to their coming — the most of them are Children of their
Chief Men, and two of them Children of English Captives each about 8 year old
— a Council of their head men (to which the Father of one and grandfather of the other of these two Boys belong) were called together upon this
occasion, and were to a Man fixed in their purpose to send them, and so
continued finally against the remonstrances of their Priest who denied their Right to
do it; and claimed a right to dispose of them
himself upon this Ground that he baptized them. but I have yet by me a short narra =tive of my Affairs I have just prepared for the press, to which I shall add some short account of this mission, which you and the Honourable Trust may expect as soon as it gets
through the press — Mr. Ripley found occasion to make use of a bill of exchange which I gave him to be improved in case any
emergency should make it necessary
[gap: worn_edge] in favor of Mr. Mier which was endorsed by Capt.
Depeyster which I pray you to honor. Please Sir in my name to make
such expressions of Chri= =stian Affection, Duty and Respect to my honoured Patrons as shall be acceptable to them. and accept the same Yourself,
from
Your often and
much obliged Brother
and very humble Servant
Eleazar
Wheelock
John Thornton
Esq.
P. S. Now the scene that has been so long dark has entirely changed its Aspect. I bless God that I am fairly broke off from my Connections with the six Nations — they were at war with these a few
Years ago, and the break I find is not yet wholly healed, and would have likely
been an ob= =jection against their coming hither if any of
the six Nations had been here — but you
will hear more of this as soon as I can.
September
29th 1772.
Much honoured Sir.
By being disappointed of the opportu= =nity of Conveyance
of the foregoing, I have opportunity on the same paper thankfully to acknowledge the
receipt of the favour of the Honourable Trust of May 1st 1772
and of yours of May 15th
etc.
June 10th
and with the enclosed. I am much refreshed that my honoured Patrons are satisfied with my doings
Mr. Occom since his recovery from his last Fall appears with a
much better Temper than he has ever done since he came from London —
the agreeable Letters you transmit for my perusal speak the
same I am glad you have dealt so plainly with him, and wish you had done it earlier — He has appeared exceeding proud
and haughty — his Sail was too high for him in London. I feared he would be wholly useless, and nothing better than a Thorn to me
and
this School — he has appeared rather as a
Dictator and Supervisor to me and my Affairs than a Brother, Companion,
and Helper in them — And I have thought him cruel, uncharitable
and something bitter in his Surmises, Censures and Threats in Cases and about that which he knew nothing of, nor
used any proper means to be informed in. And has said (I have been told) that he
was desired to inspect my conduct before he came from England — and this kind of treatment I have had from him without
the least expression of Brotherly Sympathy Care pity and
compassion towards me or my Family, while I was struggling under Floods of Sorrow
and an insupportable weight of Labour Care and Fatigue and all with a single view to save his poor perishing Brethren
— How wounding such things have been to me you cant conceive
unless you had experience of the like. But I have lately had a Letter from him of
another savor, and accounts which have much refreshed me. I hope he will
be
be my Helper in Christ Jesus. though God sees it best for me that I should have nothing below himself to lean at all upon
blessed be his holy name. I shall rejoice to encourage Mr. Occom.
I perceive you have given Ear to Representations which appear to me to be groundless cruel and vile Slanders, respect= =ing my Government of my
Son, and my having been in fluenced by him and his false Friends etc. — By the grace of God I think I have known neither wife, nor Son,
nor Nephew in these Affairs for many Years, nor may I know them. I never was quite blind to my Sons
Imperfections, but on the contrary my Government of him has been much too
severe, and I continued it 'til too late his Physicians advised me that if I did not alter my hand it would
kill him. and yet he neither has, nor ever had that I knew or heard of, any blot
of moral Scandal upon him. He has long been sorely broken under Gods holy hand. and his case is now looked upon as incurable — he lives in Connecticut
and I am credibly
told is exemplary for patience and a humble
submission to God under Trials — If he were as much concerned to vindicate his
Character (whatever may be the slander you have received of him) as his
Slanderer has been to blacken it, I make no doubt it would stand
in another Light whatever the consequences
would be to others; but he seems fully content to refer
these matters to the decision of the great day. on the whole it gives me much uneasiness that I know not what you mean, nor what I have to amend or mourn for, more than I have done.
You are also my honoured Sir much mistaken as to my being influenced by Dr. Whitaker. I have no connection with him. it is above two years
since I saw him, but I must in Justice say that I suppose his Characters moral
and ministerial are good among good people in New
England— and what his offence in England was I never knew — Mr. Occom would have told me I suppose, but I perceived that his mind was prejudiced and
soured against him, and therefore dis= =qualified to give the Relation. By accounts
and hints from Mr. Avery of plotting and Machi= =nations in the Country where he has been against me
and this Cause, you may possibly (when all matters are ripened) hear something as
shocking as anything you have yet heard — in which it is said there is a Combination.
but God is my Refuge — I ask your pardon for this
unprofitable Scrawl — I take this opportunity to renew my thanks to you for the
repeated
John Thorton
Esq.
repeated expressions of your kindness towards my support[gap: worn_edge] I hope you have received my
letter and the Bill which you was so kind as to invite me to draw upon you
— I am with great duty affection and esteem
Your much obliged and very humble Servant
Eleazar Wheelock
To John Thornton
Esq.
September 23. 1772.