Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Messrs. Peck, Mason, and Austin, 1766 November 5

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date5 November, 1766

Call Number766605.2

abstractWheelock writes, for possible publication, to correct assertions made by the New England Company about its relationship to, and support of, Occom.

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

paperLarge single sheet is in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear.

inkDark-brown.

noteworthyThe contents of this document are nearly identical to those of manuscript 766605.2.

signatureThe signature is not in Wheelock's hand.

EventsOccom’s First Mission to the Oneidas, Occom leaves his studies, Occom’s Mission to the Montauketts, Occom’s Ordination, Fundraising Tour of Great Britain

Persistent Identifier
Dear Meſsrs Peck
Maſon and Auſtin
 Sirs
M.r Peck has favoured me with a Copy of M.r Whita‐
ker
's Letter to you, & by that I have an acco.t of M.r Oliver's Letter to
Gov.r Mauduit, & it seems a little strange that the Honble Board
in whose Name he wrote so long accounted M.r Occum to be in
their Pay, and yet after all make so many Miſtakes in their Hiſto
ry of him, and that too when it is the Result of a Meeting, & deſignd
as their Testimony of Facts, sent to the Honble Society in London
to Certify them so circumſtantially, as that they might not be
impoſs'd upon by deceivers.
Some defects in their Narrative you may see by comparing
the following particulars with what they aſsert.
  • 1. M.r Occum (as well as many others of that Tribe) was un=
    doubtedly a Pagan till he was above Sixteen years old. And had never
    so much as heard that there was such a Perſon as Jesus Christ.
  • 2.None ever said any thing to me about taking M.r Occum under
    my Inſtruction, or was ever any way moving in that Matter, that I
    ever knew of, but his [illegible][guess: Bro]Mother, before he came to live with me upon Trial.
  • 3.M.r Pomroy never had any concern, but only as a Friend, when
    my Family were unable to bear the Burden of the School, by
    Reason of Sickneſs, he did at my desire, take the School, with my
    Son in Law (M.r Maltby) the Maſter of it to his House, where
    it continued, as I remember the better part of a year. But he depen‐
    ded upon me to Support M.r Occum, & it was at my Riſque as
    much as ever.
  • 4.M.r Occum had been long confined by sore Sickneſs, before he
    came to me, & was then, & all the Time he was with me in a Low
    state of Health, tho' in the main mending, till he went from me
    to serve them as School maſter &[illegible] Teacher public Teacher, at Mon
    tauk
    , on Long-Island. And he was in as good state of Health as
    when he went away as I ever have knewn him to be. And it was
    by the Importunity of M.r Horton Miſsy of the Honble Society in
    Scotland
    that I was perſwaded to let M.r Occum go to take his place
    there.
  • 5.M.r Occum after he had officiated some time as a preacher there,
    was ordain'd by the Presbytery of Suffolk County on Said Island, &
    still continues to be a Member of the Same:
  • 6.The Miniſters in this Gov.t had no hand in Sending M.r Occum on
    his firſt Miſsion to the Six Nations. See the acc.t of that in M.r
    Boſtwick's Letter to the Praſes of directors &c printed at the End of
    M.r Randalls Sermon before the Society in Scotland Jany 3 176[illegible][guess: 3]
  • 7.M.r Occum was as much in the Pay of the Boſton Commiſsrs before
    the N. York Commiſsrs sent him on this Miſsion as he was afterwards
    so far as I ever illegible knew. And his Cirumſtances were as needy till that
    he was relieved by that public Contribution at N. York as ever I knew
    them to be. Nor did I ever underſtand that the N. York Commiſsrs
    ever ask'd conſent of the Boston Board to Send him
  • 8. The Boſton Commiſsrs paid only part of his Debts, when application
    was made to them after his Return from that Miſsion, & I believe only
    a leſser part of them.
  • 9.He could not have continued in their Sevice nor in any other, if he
    had rec.d no other Support but that which he had from them.
  • 10.As to the Report that he was a Mohawk &c, & that large Contri
    butions were made to me on that Acc.t I have never yet heard that
    there has been such a Report in this Country but only what came
    from the afores.d Commiſsrs — And how a Report that he was a
    Mohawk &c came to be publiſh'd in England, & transmitted here
    in the Public Prints, I can only gueſs.
As to their reſigning him to me & putting him out of their hands
when they had him in their Service as well as pay, only on my telling
them I could employ him better, abundantly evidences their high eſteem
of my good Judg.t & Fidelity, at least before I so unhappily crack'd my
Credit, by declaring publickly in the moſt populous Towns in that & the
Neighbouring Govt that he was a Mohawk lately Emergent out
of groſs paganiſism &c, in order to get large Contributions for this
School
.
These hints so far as I know are true, & I tho't proper you should
have them & make such Improvement of them as your prudence shall
direct. And if you think it neceſsary you may publiſh them or
any part of them. Tho' I confeſs the Entring into a public Quarrel
with thoſe Gentlemen, is so unnatural & incongruous to the design
of building up, & enlarging the peaceable Kingdom of Christ which
we all profeſs to have in view, that I exceedingly dread it, if the
Glory of God & the Intereſts of the Redeemers Cauſe dont evidently
require it.
I herewith encloſe a Letter to M.r Oliver, a true Copy of which
I alſo encloſe that you might know the Contents in which you will
see I desire a Copy of his afores.d Letter to Gov.r Manduit, & alſo that
you are deſired to wait on him for that purpoſe please Sir to
favour me herein, & make return & advise me of your Succeſs as
soon as may be.
I have alſo deſired M.r Oliver to remitt £10 of the annual allow
ance made of that Board for the use of this School, which I have
Reaſon to expect he will not refuse, Since he has made two Remit‐
tances without the Least objection since he wrote the afores.d Letter
to the Honble Society in London. If he should refuse that, or a
Copy of his Letter, or both, you will enquire & know his Reaſsons
for it. And I hope agreeable to your wonted Goodneſs, excuſe the
Trouble herein given you, by, My dear Sirs
Your much obligd & very humble Serv.t
Eleazar Wheelock
Letter to Meſsrs Peck
Maſon & Auſtin
Nov.r 5. 1766.
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