Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to George Whitefield, 1762 September 16
Date16 September, 1762
Call Number762516
abstractWheelock writes of his difficulty in securing pupils, and relays news from Occom about the bad conditions among the Oneidas. Ashpo is being trained for mission work. The future of a grant from the Massachusetts assembly and other monies are in question.
handwritingInformal handwriting is small and crowded, with several additions and deletions, which affects legibility.
paperLarge single sheet is in good condition, with light staining and wear, and moderate creasing.
inkBlack-brown
noteworthyThis document is likely a draft. Manuscript 762516.1 is a copy of this letter.
signatureThe signature is abbreviated.
EventsOccom’s Second Mission to the Oneidas
from the Mohawk Country, where I informed you in my
laſt, I
wre detained by their Parents on acco.t of a Rumour, & Suſpicion, of a war just com̅encing
between them and the Nations back of them
Children at ſuch a Diſtance from them, but perhaps they were
they ſhould be obliged to Joyn those Nations againſt the
Engliſh. The engliſh youth of which I informed you,
who has been a Captive with the Senecas till he is Maſter
of their Language, and which I ſent for with a view to
fit him for Interpreter to that Nation, was under ſuch
ingagements to a Trader at Black Fort as that he could
not get releaſed for the Preſent, I have again wrote to
Genl Johnſon who was not at Home when David was there
till the Night before David came away
him likely
that by an untimely Froſt laſt fall their Indian Corn was all
cut off – y.t the Onoyadas are almoſt Starved havg nothing
to live upon but what they get by Hunting — that they had
then just come in from their Pigeon Hunt — and were going a
fiſhing — as Soon as they return
after Deer. that he followed them, but found it very Difficult
to get a Number of them together to preach to them — that
by hard living (tho.’ they were as kind as they could be) and
eſpecially lying upon the wet ground his old Diſorders (viz Rhumatic)
returnd, and he was apprehenſive he muſt return befor the
Time appointed
promiſed him
under a Sufficient Guard, down as far as the Engliſh Settlements
were
year, & eſpecially a Reformation among them as to their Drinking.
of God, I have 19. in Number viz 15 males and 4 females. and ye moſt of ym appr quite likely & hope
I Shall have Several well fitted for Interpreters and Miſsionaries in due Time
I have been favoured with the beſt of Maſters ſucceſsively for
Some years.
decenlly
decently hung on the House which I have devoted to
the Service. and we now feal the Benefit of it. we
can now keep hours with but little Trouble. I hope
in Gods Time it will be used to call together a little
black Aſsembly to hear you preach Chriſt. —
to examine Saml Aſhpo. an Indian of whom I once
wrote you, and they were So far Satiſfied & pleaſed with
him as that they adviſed to his being fitted as fast as
may be for a Miſsion. and accordingly I expect him to ye School this
week
and my Hope for their Support is only in him whoſe
the Earth is and the fullneſs thereof, and who has the
hearts of all in his Hands.
voted me the use of a Legacy of ſir Peter Warren
of about £750. Sterling, w.c he left in their Hands for the
Education of the Youth of the Six Nations. but
I underſtand by Doct.r Chauncy that the new form’d Society in, & about Bos‐
-ton deſign if they can to get it into their Hands as ſoon
as my year’s improvement of it is Expired.
[inline]also His Majesties Councel and House of Repreſentatives
in the Province of New Hamſheir. have voted to
the use of this School £50. Sterling pr annum for
five years Succeſsively. but there was not Time for the
Governour to Conſider of the act before he prorogued
the aſsembly and So it is not yet Signed.
and deſpicable Begin[illegible][guess: in]gs, and what Glory may redown to
the great Redeemer thereby. to God alone be all the Glory.
-ing a Library for y.e use of
his people to promote that Deſign. Is there not a Society in
England lately formed with a Special view to the Printing and
diſperſing useful Books? I wiſh I could be informed perticularly of it. and
if you think fit introduced to a Corriſpondance with ſome mem‐
-ber of it. Miſs. Williams before She left Wethersfield Sent me
a Number of valuable and useful Books to be diſperſed as I
judged beſt among Children &c, which I now suppoſe might likely
come to her from that Society.
but through the pure mercy of God am now able to do ſome
Buſineſs. pray for your unworthy B.r &c