Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Samson Occom, 1764 August 25

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date25 August, 1764

Call Number764475.4

abstractWheelock writes to Occom enclosing the commission from Scotland for his mission to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), and advises him to find a donor to supply him with money.

handwritingHandwriting is largely clear and legible, yet letter case is frequently difficult to decipher.

paperSingle sheet is in fair condition with light-to-moderate staining, creasing and wear. Some disintegration has resulted in a minor loss of text. Repair work has been done.

inkBrown-black.

noteworthyAddress is written in a different hand. At the top of one verso, above the address, is written in a third, likely 19th-century hand: “wheelock 1764” and “EW” is written in lighter ink at the bottom. Manuscript 764475.3 is a copy of this letter.

Persistent Identifier
M.r Occom
 Sir.
Your Time is So ſhort, and your Buſineſs so crowd­
­ing, that I can't [illegible]deſire Such an addition to your Burden, as your
coming hither again would be: I therefore take this way to writ
to you what I would Say more fully if you were here.
and in the firſt place, I Suſpect you will miſs of Seing M.r Kirtland
on his Return from M.r Whitefield. and also of Seeing M.r Whitefield,
who I hear preachd Some weeks ago at Phyladelphia, and conſe
­quently you will miſs of receiving any Supplys which he may have
got for your Journey, and if So, I adviſe you to repreſent the
Caſe to Some able Friends at New York, and if you can get
Supply no other way, hire the money of Some good Friend 'till
you return.
I herewith Send you a Copy of our Commiſsion from Scotland, in order
that you may Shew it, if you Shall have Occaſion, to Gen.l Gage, Gen.l
Johnſon
, or others.
I would have you Obtain 15. or 20. youth, if you can procure those
which are likely, of remote Tribes of Indians. and if you hear that which
is encouraging of good Peter at Onohoquagee, and those two Boys there
who were offer'd to y.e Com̅iſsrs at Boſton, Let them be of the number.
There was alſo an Engliſh Ladd with the Mohocks to learn their
Tongue, before this war, who I hear is very likely; if you can Obtain
Such an one, do it. I ſhall leave the Proportion of Girls, to you, & gen.l Johnſon,
whoſe advice I would have you take in every thing, when it maybe had.
and deſire, you let all the Children, whom you bring, know that they dont
come here to be without Government, nor to live a lazey, Sordid Life. but
to be fitted for Buſineſs, & usefulneſs in the world. and I am not afraid
that you Should boaſt of my mohack Boys' Proficiency in very ſtrong Terms.
and dont fail to write to me of your Progreſs, Succeſs, and any Occurrance that
may be entertaining, by every Opportunity, as you know Friends at Home will be
glad to hear.
Send me an Acco.t of what Labour you have or Shall hire upon my Credit
at Mohegan. and what you deſire me to do for your Family while you are gone.
and may the God of all Grace be with you, & David in all the way
whither you goe, and inſpire you with Wiſdom, Prudence, Zeal, Courage,
and holy fortitude, and honour you to be the Inſtrument to Spread the
Savour of his Name, and the Knowledge of the great Salvation,
far among the Pagans.
Remember me Reſpectfully to Friends in y[gap: tear][guess: ou]r way, eſpecially
at N. York.— which with Love &c is the n[gap: tear][guess: ee]dful from
Yours Affectionately
Eleazar Wheelock.
Aug.t 27:th
P.S. M.r Kirtland returnd
laſt Evening, has got no money.
M.r Whitefield is at N. York. talks of
going to Albany this week. if he can
he will Serve you if he cant, acquaint M.r
Whitaker
— do the beſt you can—
Rev.d M.r Occom.
 To
The Rev.d M:r Samſon Occom
 at
 Mohegan
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