Joseph Woolley, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1765 February 9
Date9 February, 1765
Call Number765159.1
abstractWoolley gives an account of his progress at Onaquaga, and writes that Good Peter is ready to bring four boys to the school now that peace among the Nations is settled.
handwritingFormal handwriting is small, yet clear and legible.
paperSingle sheet is in good condition, with light-to-moderate staining, creasing and wear.
inkBlack-brown.
noteworthyWoolley writes a follow-up letter on the same day (manuscript 765159.2), alluding to a change in plans. The identity of the Sachem to whom Woolley refers is uncertain, and so he has been left untagged. The identity of the Master to whom Woolley refers is uncertain, and so he has been left untagged.
‐land with four Boys, two Mohawks Boys & two Tuſkarora Boys, and he is
afraid you are moſt out of Patience in waiting this long. He has made
all poſsible Haſte for their March, soon after we heard, that Peace is ſettled
among the Nations; & hardly had a Time to smoak a Pipe, as he calls it.
is in Albany and about thoſe Towns where I know must ne
ſeeing, they can lie out better than I.
a cair for me, Inaſmuch, as I am not yet well ſeaſon'd to it.
yet a little Knowlede of their Language:
to another Family by his Concent, for ſeveral Diſadvantages, which,
I cannot now Number.
to teach their Children to read and write in Enliſh, as long as I
tarry
and write in their own Language already, which is the ſame, but not
the Same Tongue; and there is no Neceſsity of ſuch Pains to be
taken with us: Therefore he is not willing they should be taught any o‐
‐ther Tongue beſides their own.
which is half a Mohawk, theſe are deſirous to underſtand the Engliſh
Bible, and they have made a good Proficiency.
I lived in Lebanon.— I have ran in Debt, att Cherry-Vally, one
Blankit one Pair of Engliſh Shoes and a little Soap, and three Dollers
in this Place, as I believe, I would have periſhed if I had not done thus,
and I knew you love me more tha
Sir I have no more to ſay worthy of your Attention, but that
Pleaſe Sir, to give my Duty to Mrs Wheelock, to my kind Master, and Love
to the Reſt of the Family &c.—
‐look the Errors into which the
exit of my Pen has run, conſider
it is my natural Infirmity.
J.W