Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Dennys DeBerdt, 1761 November 16

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date16 November, 1761

Call Number761616

abstractWheelock reports on the progress of the school and various missions.

handwritingInformal handwriting is small, crowded and occasionally difficult to decipher.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good-to-fair condition, with light-to-moderate staining, creasing and wear. The central crease has been reinforced.

inkBlack.

noteworthyAs noted on two verso, this document is a copy. The contents are similar to those of manuscript 761625.1.

EventsOccom’s First Mission to the Oneidas

Persistent Identifier

My dear Sir.
By a Letter from Miſs. Smith of Boſton
laſt week I'm Inform'd that M.r Whitefield has de­
­posited in your Hands £25 Sterling the generous
Bequſt of M.r Hardy to this Indian School (the
Lord return a Thouſand fold in better Good into
that generous Booſom) pleaſe to pay the Money
to M.r John Smith of Boſton or his order, perhaps
he is yet in London. I have received part and ſhall
as ſoon as She has opportunity to tranſmit, y.e whole
from his Lady in Boſton.
one of the Mohawke Lads, of whom I imformd
you in my laſt, when I returnd from Boſton, about
Six weeks ago, was in a declining State of Health,
and Doctr Huntington an able Physician adviſed
me that his Blood was So Spoiled &c that it was
not Likely he would continue long in the world,
and that it was beſt to Send him ſoon while
he was able to ride accordingly I ſent him away Octr
13.th
accompanied by Negyes another Mohawke Lad, and
School Mate, to the Mohawke Country. And on y.e 3.d [illegible]
Inſt.t I Sent young Kirtland with the Other Mohawke
youth., in order, when these two have made their viſit
to their Friend to accompany them. and 4 or 5 more
of the Six Nations, if general Johnſon, agreable to
his Expectations has found Such as are likely and will­
­ing to come; I have heard nothing from them ſince they
went away. I expect they will return, Some time next month.
M.r Brainerd Sent me two Girls but one of them
before ſhe had got on Board the veſsel was taken ill
and returnd Home, I ſhall expect her when ſhe ſhall
be able to come, as ſhe & her Parents are deſirous
of it. The other arived here the beginning of laſt month
ſhe is about 13. years old, and is an amiable little,
black Savage Chriſtian, and I think loves chriſt much
The Fruit of dear M.r Brainerds Labour & Pains among
them.
If I had it by me I would ſend you a Speciman of
The writing of the Indian Girl who came to me laſt ſpring
and then byut juſt knew her Litters. I intend to ſend you
ſoon.
By a Letter from M.r Eiſha Gunn who lives with
the Indians at Onohoquagke. I am lately informd
that there is a general Reformation among the
Indians as to their Drinking, that there is a general
religious concern among them in those parts, and
that a Number appear hearty in Religion. but what

will the poor Creatures do, they have no Bible nor
any Spiritual Guide Among them. I hope a Stop will
now be put to our traders carrying Rhum among them.
Sam.l Aſhpo An Indian which I baptized ſome years
ago, and received him into this Ch-h. of whom I think
Errors which he had run into; And Talks like an underſtanding
experienced & judicious chriſtian, and by whose Endeavors
in his late Rambles in those parts The Retigious concern a­
­mong the Indians was much increaſed. informs me that they
were as wild as ever they were at Corinth, or Galatia, and
need a faithful & ſkillful Guide as much.
perhaps the Hon.le Com̅iſsrs at Boston will think it expedient
to ſend him at preſent among them
You cant dear Sir conceive the Difficulty y.t attends
this affair. Their Temper and Manner of living is Savage
almoſt as ye [illegible]al Creatures. they are Jealous forever
ag.t ye Engliſh have a Deſign againſt them & will take
the Opportunity to requite the wrongs they have received
— and the Dutch Dutch Traders especially dont a little increaſe their
ill opinion of us. There are No Interpreters who
are they have as many Languages as illegible they have Tribes
and there are few or none capable & faithful enough
to be truſted as Interpreters. and it cant be accompl­
­ſhed without great Expence. &c I long to have my
Boys fit to go forth amonth them.
David my Indian Schollar who accompanied M.r Occom
in his Miſsion to the Oneida Indians laſt ſummer re­
turnd y.e Latter End of ſeptemb.r he ſays theyr liveg is exceeding
poor have ſcarſe any thing but what they got by Hunting
y.t M.r Occom was rec.d and treated with great Reſpect
by Gen.l Johnſon. and yt the Indians were as kind to
him as they could be, and Seemd to be affected with
his preaching. and have ſent [illegible][guess: one] down to N. York
deſiring y.t he may be ſent to them next ſpring. where
D.V. he deſigns to return & Spend ye next Summer
with them.
Our Measſures for an Incorporation are yet Embarraſsd
and yet my School flouriſhes and gains credit, eſpecially
among the more Judicious & underſtanding part of mankind.
and who knows what methods God intends to take to accompliſh
the Deſign. I have lately Nominated a Number of worthy
Gentlemen of Civil & Sacred Characters and Expect the
Scottiſh Com̅iſsrs in Boston
will recommend them to
ye Hon le Society for Such Comm̅iſs.n as they can give to
help us in this Affair.
We had a Diſtreſsing Drought Laſt Summer but a
very growing Autumn. Proviſions are very Deer
yet among us.
pleaſe to accept moſt ſincere Reſpect
(& I do love you heartily) from my illegible Hond and very dear ſir
 Yours moſt heartily Sincerely

Eleazr Wheelock



P.S. The Schoolmaſter Complains of the want of a Bell that [illegible][guess: Cou'd]
may be well heard about a mile these Boys thro' long uſe are adicted and inclined to ramble [illegible][guess: abt] & Their Health of the Boys
Requires that they be indulged in it in play time Suffered to ramble about more than
Engliſh Children incline to in play Time, and it is often Difficult to
get them together at ye proper Hours without ſuch a
publick Signal. & I apprehend y.e advantage of it in one
year would likely be Equal to the Expence of one for It would likely
make us more regular in all our [illegible] Exercises &c
Copy of Letter to
M.r DeBerdt 1761.
Nov.r Bell.

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