Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to John Erskine, 1763 September 21

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date21 September, 1763

Call Number763521.2

abstractWheelock writes to update Erskine on the the missions of Occom and Ashpo, and relates the dangers of an impending war with the Indians.

handwritingHandwriting is informal and frequently difficult to decipher. There are many deletions and additions.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, with light creasing, staining and wear.

inkBrown-black.

noteworthyGiven the informal handwriting and the abundance of additions and deletions, this document is likely a draft.

EventsOccom’s Third Mission to the Oneidas

Persistent Identifier
Rev.d and Hond Sir
Yours of 8th April laſt came to hand July 17th
and the next Day I had unexpectedly an opportunity to make
an Anſwer it by Mr Blake which I hope you have or will ſoon
Receive — and I also incloſed a Narrative of the Riſe Progreſs &c of this School
with a proposal of a Plan proposed for the more Succeſsfully Proſecuting of the
I was glad grand Deſign. — I also inform'd you of ye
ordination & Miſsion of M.r Charles Jeffery Smith, who has in
­liſted in this the Warfare at his own Charges, deſigning by divine Leave
to devote himſelf and a plentiful Fortune to the Service of
the Redeemers Kingdom in that Capacity of a Miſsionary — and I am now
able to Inform you that he went near to the Oniyada
Lake
and preached in Several Places to the Indians who
appeared much affected; and well diſposed towards him, and Sincerely very
deſirous of his continu[illegible]ing Among them But the a Reports of
the Approach of the Enemy viz. an Army of the Nations who
are combining againſt the Engliſh, approaching near The apprehension of Danger,
and the great Ruffle & fright the Indians were put into de­
termined him it was his duty to return nor could they and they could not
adviſe him that it was Safe for him to continue with them, he left them
many Some of them in Tears, earneſtly deſiring his Return to them again
as ſoon as the war is ſhould be over — M.r Occom also, returned [illegible]
[illegible] apprehending it was by in no meaſure Safe for him to continue with them
also M.r Aſhpo from this School whom I informed You had been Examined & Approved
by a Comtee of Miniſters appointed by y.e Convention at our Gen.l Election in this
Government, went out on his proposed Miſsion to Jeningo
and Seſquaana River and continued with them 10 Dayswith them, and preachd
every Day they appeared much affected came with Eagerneſs to
hear him and appeared much affected and the Proſpect appear
­ed very Encouraging — but Such was the Ruffle, and fear they
were in, apprehending their ſelves Lives in Danger both from the Nations
back of them, and also from the Engliſh who would be put to it not be able
to Diſtinguiſh their Enemies from their Friends — and the more
afraid as the Engliſh had then lately kill'd three of their people
who were and have been (as they ſaid) all along faſt in the Engliſh Interest as they
were abroad on their [illegible] Deſign ſome of their RambleAſhpo apprehending the Danger
great Left them. (as had done also the Miſsrs among them from your Corriſpondts
at in Boſton
near two months before) — he returned about a fortni[illegible][guess: gh]t ago,
and Deſigns to go again next Spring. — The Proſpect of Succeſs is at
preſent is as incouraging in those parts as perhaps any where and in any part at all. — but by means of this
Rupture every thing [illegible] attempt both by Engliſh & Indian Miſsionaries
muſt be Suſpended for the Preſent — I hope it may be tho't ſafe
for the Indian Miſsionaries to go again next Spring. — eſpecially
if the Engliſh in the Several Governments ſhall be forehand Sutably notified of it
beforehand ſo as not to Eſteem them Enemies and Traytors if they Should be found among
thoſe who are our Enemies. I dont pretend attempt to give you acco.t of the
Hoſtilites and Butcheries they have committed of Late Supposing you to have
had public & authentic accots of it be thereof before now.
This Rupture has occaſioned raiſed Such a Spirit Temper in great numbers of our people
that they Seem Diſposed to contribute nothing but Powder & Ball to them
and there for it is tho't prudent that the Brief I Obtained of this Gov.t
in Fav.r of this School Should be ſuſpended for the present till the
minds of people ſhall be more Calm and better Diſposed towards them.
 Fearing my Letter reffer'd to will fail I ſhall also here add the Nomina
­tion of Gentlemen recommended I ſend You to be Commiſsioned for Indian Affairs if the Honle

Society which you inform me the Honle Society were ſo Good
as to grant, but the Completion of it prevented by M.r Roſs's
Death and the Loſs of the Papers &c which Nomination was
as I here give it only with this [illegible] addition of the Revd
David Jewett of New London in the Room of Comfort Starr Eſqr
Deceaſed, I Should be glad of a Return as ſoon as may be, and
cant but think the cause may be really Served by it
viz. Jonathan Huntington Esq.r of Windham
Eliſha Sheldon Esq.r of Litchfield
Sam.l Huntington Attorney at Law of Norwich
[left]The
Revd
Meſsrs

Solomon Williams of Lebanon
Joseph Fiſh of Stonington
William Gaylord of Norwalk
Sam.l Mosely of Windham
Eleazar wheelock of Lebanon
Benjamin Pomeroy of Hebron
David Jewett of New London
Richard Saltar of Manſfield
Nathl Whitaker of Norwich
all within the Coloney of Connecticut
I Should be glad of a Return as Soon as may be
and can't but think the general Deſign in view may
be much promoted by ſuch a Commiſsion.
Those Good Gentlemen you mention M.r Preſidt Clap and M.r Bellamy are ſo remote
that they cant with any convenience be Joyned attend
if they Should Be Joyned. M.r Bellamy lives in a remote
Corner of the Government towards 100 miles from hence
upon no direct Road from hence, and where I have very
Seldom an opportunity to ſee either of them
Since I wrote you or to know their minds but presume they
would not freely consent think proper to be joyned as their Diſtance woud forbid a freq.t attendance as their being Joyned would not
likely be of much Service. and and their being Joyned would make the Body more
unweildy
. † Pleaſe to Direct Yours to me to M.r John Smith
Merchant or M.r Moses Peck watchmaker in Boſton and
they will likely be well taken Care of.
beſides the Donations to this School mentioned in my laſt, M.r James Leſley a Scot
Gentleman graduated at New Jerſie College has made a Donation to
this School of all his indefatigable Labours for theſe Indian Youth
in the capacity of a School maſter the Laſt year. So that the
Inſtruction of this School has been given by M.r Smith & M.r Leſley
for near 14 months laſt paſt. but the preſent Rupture will likely
at preſent prevent Such an Increaſe of My Number this Fall from Remote Tribes as I
deſigned & hoped for by the aſsiſtance of the Miſsionaries before mentioned. but
the whole of which you will likely have opportunity to ſee before
long publiſhed as a continuation of my Narrative.
pleaſe to direct (vid. ſupra)
 The Preſent Rupture looks so much like a Deſperate Effort &
dying Struggle of the Grand adversary, that I am not at all diſ­
­couraged on acco.t of it, tho' the Progreſs of the Deſign may be for a while
retarded by it. I doubt not but God has great and glorious things yet to
[below]accompliſh in This Land & the preſent [illegible] #
[left]# of his work in this amg many other places at preſent dos not a little incourage
Hope † pleaſe to Direct &c

I have acknowledged as I did in my laſt Good M.r Dickſon's Liberality to this School
and pray God to requite it. and propose a Remittance of it to
M.r Dennys DeBerdt of London, which you will likely hear of
from him.

pleaſe, Sir, to remember in your neareſt approaches
to God yours with the moſt ſincere Duty & Affection

Eleazar Wheelock
Rev. Jn.o Erskine



Lettr to Rev.d John
Erskine
21. Sept.r 1763.
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