Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to George Whitefield, 1764 October 10

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date10 October, 1764

Call Number764560.2

abstractWheelock writes to update Whitefield on potential Indian students, and the progress of various plans for mission work. He also discusses the trouble between Occom and Jewett.

handwritingHandwriting is informal, yet clear and legible. It is not Wheelock's.

paperLarge single sheet is in good-to-fair condition, with light staining and wear, and moderate creasing. The central horizontal crease is separating.

inkDark-brown.

noteworthyThis document is likely a copy. An unknown editor has bracketed the second paragraph on one recto in pencil.

signatureWheelock's signature is not in his hand.

EventsBuilding of Occom’s house, Jewett Controversy, Mason Land Case

Persistent Identifier

My very dear & Hond Friend

On your mentioning M.r Pemberton's Donation in
Yours of Septr 5th & a very broken Acco.t given of it by M.r Occom,
The Poſts Office at New London was ſearched twice on Suſpicion that ſome
Letter might be there in which I might have ſome Intelligence in the
Affair, but none could be had till very accidentally I heard there was
a Letter for me in that Office. I ſent a Man immediately the Day
before yeſterday on purpoſe to examine that office again, and yeſterday
I received your refreſhing animating Letter of Sepr 2d with an Acco.t
of a new Proſpect in Favour of this School. Bleſsed be God who diſpoſes
the Hearts of Men & their Subſtance too as he pleaſes to ſerve his own
glorious Purpoſes. I have wrote M.r Pemberton ſome what parti
cularly in that which you desire —
I have conſulted my Brethren in the Miniſtry and others near
me who ſeem generally agreed that it will be beſt to ſend Kirtland and
Joſeph Woolley among the 6 Nations this Winter not as Miſsionaries
but as Members of this School to learn the Mohawk & Seneca Languages
& keep School in ſome of their Caſtles, or where it may beſt ſuit the Deſign.
General Johnſon has promiſed his Friendſhip. I hear of ſeveral likely
Indians, and one or two promiſing Engliſh Youth (who have been Captives
among Indians) who may likely be obtained for this School, and whom
I hope may be ſent to it this Fall. And likely they may bring a Number
with them next Spring if they ſhall find Encouragement to tarry through
the Winter.
M.r Occom's Houſe is covered and likely to be made comfortable for his
Family this Winter: The expence of which is much more than I expected. I han't
yet got a full Accot of it, 'tis likely it will not be leſs than £100 Lawf money
I hope Providence will provide for the Payment of it, but I don't
yet know how. I hope you have received mine to you of Septr 26.th
which I wrote when ſick of a Dyſsentery, of which thro' the pure
Mercy of God I am now comfortably recovered.
The Breach between Mr Jewett & Mr Occom grows wider. M.r
Jewett's People and a great Number from other neighbouring Pariſhes
flock to hear M.r Occom on Lord's Days at Mohegan &c the Effect of which
you may eaſily gueſs. And Mr Jewett is like to loſe all his Land in
his Pariſh, if the Indians there ſhould gain their point in their ſuit
againſt the Government in an old affair called Maſon's Caſe lately
revived. And Mr Occom can't avoid being conſidered as a Party while
he continues there. The Affair is too long (if I were enough accquainted

accquainted with it) to give you ſuch a particular Acco.t as perhaps will
be beſt you ſhould have if you ſhould take M.r Occom to England with
you. This together with their Controverſy with their School Maſter has
made a great Ferment among them. And Mr Occom is blamed by ſome
that he will adviſe the Indians, that he will ſuffer the Engliſh to flock
to hear him &c &c
My Hope is in God alone— he has helped hitherto, & I truſt
in him that he will ſtill help us. I take Notice that Numbers
ſeem to be plotting to help Mr OccomMr Little adviſed to ſend
him on a preaching Journey to Newbury &c Dear Sir ſtill pray
for
Yours in the deareſt Bonds
Eleazar Wheelock

To M.r Whitefield
October 10th 1764.
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