David McClure, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1772 June 30

Author McClure, David

Date30 June, 1772

Call Number772380

abstractMcClure writes that he has asked Occom to join the mission, but that Occom states he is in ill health, has too many debts, and that he has been neglected since his return from Great Britain. McClure urges Wheelock to be generous with Occom.

handwritingFormal handwriting is small, but clear and legible.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good-to-fair condition, with light-to-moderate creasing, staining and wear.

inkBrown.

Persistent Identifier

Rev.d and Honor'd Sir/
Thro' divine Goodneſs M.r Frisbie
and I had a comfortable journey to this place, where
we arrived last Evening & found M.r Occom & famely
in usual health; we immediately laid open the
busineſs on which we came — It was all new to
M.r Occom — neither of your Letters, Sir, have
reached him, they have some where unfortunately
stopt. The Doctor's Letters to him by us con=
tain'd the first intimation he has had re=
specting this Miſsion. After conversing on the
Opnings & encouragments of our intended Miſ=
sion to the Southward, he manifested a desire
& willingneſs to join us, but urged his bodily
infirmities & involvements * against undertaking
it immediately — And indeed he has had so
short notice of it that it would be difficult if not im=
practicable for him to set out with us.
I have all along thought till now that he
[left]* he owes he says ₤50 or
[left]₤60 —
had a pension of ₤30 Sterl.gr An: from Esq.r Thornton
But he says he has had no pension or allowance from
him, or any other quarter since he came from England,
except two private donations from thence amount.g to ₤60 —. That before he
went to England he was under the pay of the Boston board
& since his return has been rejected by them & by
the School two. And considering what Indian Genius &
temper are, has there not, Sir, been too much occasion for
him to complain of neglect? he has had to encounter
many & great difficulties since his return & would it
not, Sir, been good policy if no more & will it not now be
good policy, to make him some small allowance & let
him enjoy in some measure the benefit of the monies he
was instrumental in obtaining for the use & benefit of
the design? So that he might be cut off from any oc=
sion to repeat what [illegible]he says M.r Whitefield told him
when he left England; "that they had made him a tool to
collect monies for them in England, but when he got to
America they would set him adrift." His Character, as
far as I can learn in these parts is now good, & the Crimes
of intemperance with which he has been charged, are
very much extenuated by the temptations he was under.
He appears calm & rational, more so than I expected to have
found him, respecting the Indian design. I am more &
more perswaded of the expediency & advantage of his un=
dertaking a Miſsion & ardently hope that God in his
providence will so order & direct that he may
join us in the miſsion before us. It would very
much strengthen our hands & encourage us.
In the freedom of Conversation with him
he said, many fair promises had been made him
but he found they would never fill his belly or
cover his back, & that as soon as he could see
a prospect & know for certain that [illegible]he could be
in a way to discharge his Debts & support his
family he would under his infirmity, go.
In the Doctor's behalf, [illegible]made an offer of ₤100
Sterl.g Annually & to giave an order on Cap.t Backus
for ₤50 LM.y of it to be p.d now & the remainder
at the close of the Year, if he would undertake
he seem'd to think it would not be sufficient to bear
his expences & maintain his numerous famely. I told
him should he undertake, I would engage the Doctor's
influence with Esq.r Thornton & had not the least
doubt but his debts would by that Gentleman be
generously discharged. He intimates a design of
visiting the Doctor, which hope he will. I have
wrote Rev.d Sir, with freedom & [illegible]which I have no
apprehension of your blaming me for. M.r Frisbie
has had several poor turns since we set out
he joins in [illegible]Duty & Affection to the Doctor
& famely, with Rev.d & Honor'd Patron

Your dutiful & obliged
 humble Servant

David Maccluer
[bottom]Rev.d D.r Wheelock
[left]P.S. I wrote the D.r ⅌.[illegible] M.rs Payne about 6 Days past —
As M.r Occom intends to write the D.r in the proposd Miſsion we must refer to
his Letter to know his mind more fully respecting it —
— have inclos'd a number of the latest papers from different parts.
from Rev.d M.r Maccluer
 June 30. 1772
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