Eleazar Wheelock, draft of will, 1768 April 14
Date14 April, 1768
Call Number768264
abstractA draft of Wheelock’s will.
handwritingThe first two-plus pages of the document are written in a hand that is other than Wheelock's. It is informal and crowded, yet largely clear and legible. Beginning with the second word of the ninth line on two recto, the hand is Wheelock's (there are also additions made in Wheelock's hand throughout). Wheelock's hand is informal, small and occasionally difficult to decipher.
paperDocument consists of one large single sheet and one large sheet folded in half to make four pages. The paper is in fair condition, with moderate-to-heavy staining, creasing and wear. A small tear at the top of two recto/verso results in a minor loss of text.
inkBrown-black.
noteworthyA tag reading "Part of the Frederick Chase Collection given by his heirs" is affixed to both two recto and three verso.
undertake, & have at my own Riſque & Expence by the aſsistance & favour of god, founded a charity school for
the education of youths of the several tribes of Indians in this land, and alſo
of a competent number of English youths to accompany them, with a
single view to the spreading the gospel into the ignorant parts of this
Land, eſpecially among the Indians. And by the smiles of heaven
upon every step that hath hitherto been taken in the Affair, the
design is now become respectable in Europe as well as America, inso‐
‐much that large donations have been made, whereby a number of
Miſsionaries & schoolmasters have been, and are supported in the
Wilderneſs, as well as a considerable number now in this school.
filling for the like service when they have finished their learning here
And
the endeavours of the Rev.d Doct.r Whitaker, whom I have Authorised commiſsioned and sent, in com‐
‐pany with the Rev.d Sampson Occom, in my name, to solicit the charities
of gods people only for the use & support of s.d Design; And God
having amidst the numberleſs & signal favours, by which he has own'd
this design, put it into the hearts of thoſe
friends & benefactors the Right hon.ble W..m Earl of Dartmouth M.r Baron
Smythe John Thornton Samuel Roffey Charles Hardey & Daniel West Esqr
M.r Samuel Savage M.r Josiah Robarts & Mr Robart Keen all of, or near
the City of London to become Guarantees to the publick for the
promoting the great design afores.d, & that this so important Affair
for the safety wellbeing & succeſs of ye undertaking that there be also
a trust appointed on this side the water who may & shall receive
all gifts & grants subscriptions or donations any way made in
these Colonies for the use & support of s.d school or miſsionaries
and
ye doners; and also to examine & judge of the qualifications of Miſſsys
& school-masters; the numbers from time to time expedient & their
fitneſs for the places they shall be respectively designed for and also of
their fidelity & skill in performing the truths respectively reposed
in them & accordingly to authorize & appoint them to yr respective offices or displace
& remove them as they shall find occasion
affair to god & waiting upon him for light & direction therein — nominate
& appoint my much hon.d & worthy friends afores.d viz the Right hon.ble W.m Earl of Dartmouth, &c
to be trustees of all ye Donations yt have been made or shall be made of any kind or in any manner of way wtever
thro' yr hands for ye use & benefit of ye genl design afores.d & to them ye s.d trustees I give & bequeath
sd fund allready made or any gifts grants or donations to be made as afores.d to ym & to yr
succeſsors to be by them disposed of & improved in ye best manner only for ye Uses aforesd
& to do wtever yy shall judge necessary to be done on yt side ye water for ye safety welbeing prosperity, succeſs & increaſe
[left]of ye great design in view
under such regulations as shall be hereafter mentioned—
[left]of any of ye s.d
remaining Trustees, to fill up such Vacancy or Vacancies
to be my succeſsor in ye immediate care oversight guidance & direction
of this whole Affair, so long & under such limitations & restrictions as shall be here
‐after mentioned in this will — I do also nominate & appoint my faithful &
trusty friends Col: W.m Pitkin Esq.r of Hartford, the Rev.d Benjamin Pomroy of Hebron
the Rev.d James Lockwood of Wethersfield, the Rev.d
Nath.l Whitaker DD of Norwich, the Revd W.m Patten of Hartford & my son Ralph
Wheelock all of the Colony of Connecticut & the Rev.d Saml Kirtland
Miſs.y to be Trustees of all the Donations that have been made or shall be
made in these
& to them ye s.d Trustees last mentioned I give & bequeath the Lot of Land
or tenement in this s.d Society in Lebanon aforeſ.d given oreginally by M.r Joshua Moore of
Mansfield & since confirmed to me by a deed from his widdow
for the Use & support of sd school togather w.th ye subscriptions made by divers
well disposed persons for ye support & benefit of ye school, & any & all
other or real or personal estate that has been or shall be given or
any way convey'd or made over to this school and Miſsionaries or to me for
the Use & benefit of ye same To them & to their Successors to have
& to hold or alienate & dispose of as yy shall judge best only for
ye uses afores.d — And that they or any five of them ye
whole being duely notified (by letters or otherways of ye Time & place of
meeting) shall have full power to chuse another Trustee if they shall
think fit & then to to confirm ye appointment I have made of
& that the same so chosen to be my succeſsor be approved by the R.t honble
noble & worthy Gentlemen of ye Trust in England otherwise that
a new nomination be made by
in which all may unite & that the one appointed by ye Trust on this
my succeſsor[inline]s be Succeſsively appointed by will with the Advice
both of the Trustees here & in England forever or untill a legal incorporation
shall be obtained and that he be approved by both Setts of Truſtees or else yt another be by them Chosen as aforeſaid And in case
‐ſor or Succeſsors shall die with out such will that one be choſen by both ſetts of Truſtees as aforeſ.d, & y.t he
Who ſhall be appointed by the Truſtees on this the water officiate till that matter be ſettled as aforeſ.d &
by ye death or
b
Trustees —& it shall be ye duty of theſe Trustees to examine & authorize
Miſsionaries & school masters & appoint them to their respective
services and judg of their Skill & Fidelity in performing the Same and accord‐
ingly continue or diſplace and remove them as they Shall jidge fit. and do any
thing for the help and aſsiſtance of my S.d Succeſsor in the vigorous Proſecution of
the Sd great Deſign, [inline]and to appoint
[below]Edification Decency, & Good Economy of the Whole affair as they Shall from time to time find neceſs.y
money, in, this whole affair and tranſmitt the Same twice a year, with an accot
of all Succeſses and remarkable Occurrances to the Truſt in England — and that
here Shall think fit to come in
as Soon as there is opportunity for it, and if it may be before he enters
upon the Execution of it, in order for the
and the Accots being thus kept and tranſmitted, the Truſt in England ſhall
not have right to proteſt any Bills or Draughts made upon their Treaſurer
of their Diſapprobation of the Meaſures he is purſuing. The Same I expect
for my Self So long as I do to the beſt of my Ability proceed according
to the foregoing proposals. and I hope in God who has hitherto So mar
=vellouſly appeard to maintain and promote this Cauſe
is his own that he will yet take care of it and perform the higheſt
wiſhes and Hopes of his Saints concerning it, and particularly that
he will open the Hearts of Such as he has Endowed with Ability
to provide a laſting Fund for the Support not only of the School but of the Preſident, Inſtructors and
[left]officers neceſsary for
Wherefore know Ye that I do by these preſents Give Grant Convey and make over
to my much Hond & Worthy Friends before named viz the R.t Honle William Earl of Dartmouth
M.r Baron Smythe &c and to their Succeſsors Choſen as before mentioned, forever
money already collected which is now in their Hands, and all the Gifts Grants or Donations
of any kind that shall hereafter be made thro' their Hands only for the uses & purpoſes
that the Plan aforeſaid Shall remain and be the form and manner of
this School, only reſerving to my Self the Liberty to change my Succeſ.r
or to nominate another in Stead of him who is now named in my
Will and also to add two
remove either of these and put another or others in Stead thereof if I
Shall think it Expedient.
Know Ye y.t Whereas I Eleazar Wheelock of Lebanon in the
County of Windham and coloney of Connecticut in N. England
([illegible]) have by my laſt will and Teſtament, Dated this 14th
Day of April 1768. regulated, moddled, ordered and diſposed of
my Indian Charity School in the manner and form and words following
viz. "Item. and Where as I