Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to George Whitefield, 1761 November 25

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date25 November, 1761

Call Number761625.1

abstractWheelock writes on the progress of the school and various missions, describes some of his Indian students, notes the support of William Johnson, and touches on Occom’s recent mission to the Oneidas.

handwritingInformal handwriting is small and crowded, with several deletions and additions that interfere with legibility. There are some uncrossed t’s that have been corrected by the transcriber.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good-to-fair condition, with moderate creasing, staining and wear. The worn outside edge of one recto results in a minor loss of text.

inkDark-brown ink varies in intensity.

noteworthyThis document is likely a draft. The contents of this document are very similar to those of manuscript 761616. The identity of the "Farmington Boy" is uncertain, and so he had been left untagged. Wheelock makes reference to Occom’s journal from his mission to the Oneidas. Two journals in Rauner Special Collections at Dartmouth, and included in the Occom Circle, chronicle this mission: 761330.1, and 761515.1. An edtior, likely 19th-century, has added the note “Nov.r 1761," after the trailer on two verso. This note has not been included in the transcription.

signatureThe letter is signed twice; both signatures are abbreviated.

EventsOccom’s First Mission to the Oneidas

Persistent Identifier

Rev.d and dear Sir
Laſt week, I was inform'd by a Letter
from Miſs. Smith of Boston that You have
rec.d of M.r Hardy, a Donation to this Indian School of £25. Sterling
for this Indian School. The Lord return a thouſand
fold into his generous Booſom, And reward this Liberality with his everlaſting Loving kindneſs. It comes
at a time when it is much wanted, and I truſt in anſ-
-wer to Prayer. I beleive there is Much Peace, and
Quietneſs, in Truſting in, and living upon God. but I
am ſo dull a Schollar, ſo heedleſs, forgetful and So open to a
Thouſand Allurements, that I [illegible][guess: make but poor Proficiency in the]
Art of living by Faith keep the Road but a little [illegible][illegible][guess: while] togathe[gap: worn_edge][guess: r]
and make but poor Proficiency in the Art of living by faith.
It is good for me to be often tried croſsed and diſopointed, and there by taug[gap: worn_edge][guess: ht]
to make but little acco.t of my own Plans, and Devices. and know yt The Council of
the Lord that Shall ſtand. 'Tis enough [illegible]that I ſee my way Step by Step,
and [illegible]know that Providence will Steers a better Courſe than I can deviſe, tho'
often quite out of My Sight till the End be accompliſhed. And when I
ſee the Courſe of Divine Providence from time to time in Many Inſtances in many Inſt
-ances In favour of the great Deſign I am purſuing and [illegible] notwithſtanding
all the Oppoſition of My unbelief, diſtruſt and carnal ſelf, I am [illegible][guess: cant]
[illegible][guess: be]Senſibly encouraged to think y.t it is really of God, and that he deſigns to
own and bleſs it.
when I came home from Boſton this Fall, I found one of my Mo-
-hawke Boys in a low State of Health, which I ſupposed was occaſiond
by his eating three Times a Day and too much at a Time, togather
with his Inactivity. The common Road in which, I ſuppose, Num
-bers have loſt their Lives ſoon after they have been devoted to
Learning. And it was peculiarly difficult to reſtrain him
by Reaſon of his Jealous Temper [illegible][guess: Make], and his Ignorance of our Language & our not being able to Under-
-ſtand a word of Engliſh when he came. [illegible] and [illegible][guess: we] could find
none any body who could diſcourſe him ſo freely as Enough to make him under
ſtand the Reaſons of [illegible][illegible][illegible] of ourany Conduct towards him if we had tried[below]which ſhould be at all out of ye usual courſe it was peculiarly Difficult
to reſtrain him. Doct.r Huntington adviſed me to ſend him
Home ſoon, while he was able to ride. & Accordingly I ſent
him away Oct.r 13. with another of My Mohawke Boys to ac-
-company him. And on the 3.d Inſtant I ſent Young Kirt-
-land
an Engliſh Charity Schollar, [illegible]of whom I wrote you in my laſt acco-
-mpanied by the other Mohawke Youth, with deſign that [illegible]when
these two have made their viſit to their Friends he Sh[illegible][guess: ould]all [illegible] accompany y.m back to this School with four
more of those Nations if Gen.l Johnſon, according to his
hope & Expectation had found Such as are likely and willing
to come. And I expect theymwill return asvery ſoon as those [illegible][guess: two] Boys who
went from hence have made their viſit to their Friends. I have also
ordered Kirtland to bring the Farmington Boy with him, when
he returns.
My black Son M.r Occom, has lately returnd from his Miſsion to
the Onoyadas [illegible][guess: there]

And the laſt week I had the Pleaſure to ſee him with one of
theat OnoyadasNation (who deſigns to winter with him and learn
the Engliſh TongueLanguage & teach M.r Occom Mohawke) and I
was agreably entertained with M.r Occom's Journal. only a few
things moſt material [illegible][guess: in which I] it I can only ſuggeſt to you a few things
moſt material in it. And to begin where I left off. in my Laſt
when we firſt came among them they ſeemd ſhy of him thro'
a Jealoſie that there was ſomething waſ deſigned by the Engliſh againſt
them. but when Gen.l Johnſon had read his Letters Recomenda-
-tory, they appeared well Satiſfied & much pleaſed. and as a
Teſtimony of it the Kings of the Onoydas, and Tuſcarar[illegible]as, &
many others of their Cheifs came a ſhook hands with him
and bid him wellcome among them. their Cheifs then held a
council to fix upon the beſt methods to accomodate him with
that which was neceſsary for his comforta[illegible]ble Subſiſtance among
them. and You would not wonder that their Cheifs held a councel
upon this Head if You knew how extreamly poor they are, having
Scarſe any thing that may be calld Bread or any thing else except-
-ing what they get by Hunting to ſubſiſt upon, they proposed
to M.r Occom to [illegible]Chuſe where to Live, and whether to live in a
houſe already Built. he choſe the Place and let them know y.t
he choſe to live with David (my Indian Schollar) and to live
by themſelves. they im̅ediately built him a Houſe the Structure
where of which could the Form, & workmanſhip thereof be truly
repreſented, might gratify not a little the Curioſity of a[illegible][guess: would doubtleſs by] [illegible][guess: Brittons], be eſteemed rare, & enter-
-taining, though there was nothing in it y.t reſembled the Temple
of old ſave this that there was not the Noiſe of Axes or Hammers
in the Building of it. The Materials were the ſimple Product
of Nature. the Remains of The Oakes & Cheſtnuts, fell many Years
ago by the violence of wind, comp[illegible][guess: act] togather without the Em-
-beliſhments of Art.
— many of them attended his Miniſtry
& appeared attentive Numbers from diſtant Nations came to hear him. And ſome
Seemd really deſirous to underſtand and know the truths which
moſt nearly concernd them. And when he was about to leave
them their Cheifs held another Council. The conſequence of which
was, that Old Connoquies (who had been King among the
onoydas but had now reſignd by Reaſon of Age) The King of the Tuscar-
-rars
and other Cheifs, preſented him a Belt of wampum to
be delivered to thoſe Gentlemen who ſent [illegible] him with
these Inſtructions which he received from Old Connoquies. viz.
1. we are glad from the inſide of our Hearts that You are come
hear to teach us the right way of God. we are also thankful to
those who ſent you. and above all to God.
2. We intend by the help of God to repent of all our ſins and all
our heatheniſh ways & Cuſtoms. we will put them all behind
our Backs, and will never look on them again but will look
ſtrait forward, and run after Chriſtianity.
3. if we ſhall try to ſet up a School we beg the Aſsiſtance of
the Engliſh, if they ſee fit.
4. we deſire that ſtrong Drink may be prohibited, that it may
not be brought Among us, for we find it kills our Bodies
and souls; and we will try to hinder ait here.
5. we deſire to be protected on our Lands, that none may mo-
-leſt, or incroach upon, us.
6 This Belt of Wampum ſhall bind us faſt togather in perpetual
Love, and Friendſhip.
M.r Occom delivered it to those Gentlemen to whom it
was directed, but obtaind their Leave to bring it hither.
to gratify my Curioſity, and a Curious Girdle it is M.r
occom
ſays it could not be made for leſs than £15. ſterlg

David has made good Proficiency in their Language which
is ſome compenſation for riding a thouſand miles, and
more among them. it is thot that under ſuch advan-
-tages he might become a Maſter of their Language in
one year more & I am more and more ſatiſfied of
the Expediency of fitting their youth, who live among
the Engliſh both for Interpreters & Miſsionaries.
M.r Occom is now [illegible][guess: Envyed] at home but not among
them
one of ye Girls which M.r Brainerd ſent was taken
ſick at E[illegible] Harbour, before ſhe went on board the
veſsel and returned. the other is come and is a pritty
little black Chriſtian I think ſhe walks in ye fear of
God and in the Comfort of the Holy Ghoſt. the Fruit
of dear Mr Brainerds Labour among them.
There is moſt certainly a very general and un-
-uſual concern among the Indians. and a great
deſire to be fully Informd of that which by the
Report of one and another they underſtand
concerns their future and Eternal ſtate. I long to
have my Boys fit for y.r Miſsion among them.
who knows my dear Sir, but God deſigns to honour
you to be a principle Inſtrument of Supporting &
carrying on this great Deſign. bleſsed be his
Name for the ſucceſs of your Endeavours already
used.
The Rev.d M.r Graves Epi[illegible]scopal Miſs y at New
London has Sent me word y.t if I will procure
him a likely Indian Boy he will Educate him at
his own Expence. and I have by Kirtland informed
Gen.l Johnſon of the generous proposal, and deſired
him to find and ſend ſuch a Boy to him.
A thouſand things more I would communicate
and you would Love to hear which muſt be omittd
my dear Sir,
pray for


Yours in ye Deareſt Bonds

Eleaz.r Wheelock

The Rev.d M.r Whitefield

P.S. Nov.r 26. laſt Evening My Kirtland Returned and informs me y.t
he left the Mohawke Youth who went up with with two
more Boys of y.e Six Nations at albany on their way
hither and that he left y.e other who accompanied him
y.t was Sick, at Mount Johnſon in order to accompany
four more as Soon as they return from their Hunting perhaps
within four or 5 weeks he Says that Gen.l Johnſon is [illegible]greatly pleaſed with the
Deſign and promiſes to use his Influence with a
Number of Gentlemen of his Acquaintance (I ſuppose
In Ireland) in favour of it & the genl writes me very Frendly indeed to y.e
Same purpoſe The Indians also ſeem well pleaſed & willing to let their Children come
Nov.r 27. The Three Mohawke Lads Boys are now come, and
you would laugh to ſee how pleaſed the poor little
Naked Creatures look they cant ſpeak a word of Engliſh
nor any way to communicate but by Joseph ye
Youth before mentioned. I [illegible]
the Farmington Boy will be here within a few Days.
by all accots he is a real Chriſtian, and a very promiſing
Youth indeed.
Gen.l Johnſon Deſigns to Send an Indian Boy to M.r Graves
I have wrote M.r DeBerdt y.t we much want a Bell y.t
may be well heard a Mile (not for Ornament for we are all
in the [illegible][guess: R]ough but for the Benefit of the School. and it wo.d
indeed be very useful, the Maſters complain y.t It is often difficult
to get ye Boys togather at their Proper Hours. And 'tis likely
it would make us more regular in all our Exerciſes. &c—
pleaſe to let our Good M.r Smith have the Sight of this if he
be yet in England. I am My Hon.d and Dear Sir,
yours moſt heartily
Eleaz.r Wheelock

[left]Letter to M.r Whitefield.
1761. M.r Hardy.s Donation
Bell. =


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