Samson Occom, journal, 1784 May 8 to 1785 April 26
Date8 May 1784 to 26 April 1785
Call Number784308
abstractOccom details his travels and activities during the period of May 8, 1784, through April 26, 1785.
handwritingHandwriting is largely clear and legible. There are some uncrossed t's and crossed l's that have been corrected by the transcriber.
paperSmall sheets folded into a booklet and bound with thread or twine are in good-to-fair condition, with some staining, fading and wear that results in a minor loss of text. There is a large tear on the bottom outside corner of 12 recto/verso; this tear is apparently contemporary, as Occom has written around it.
inkBrown ink varies in intensity throughout.
noteworthyOn one verso, the identification of “New City” is uncertain, and so it has been left untagged. On four recto, Occom mistakenly notes the date as "Sabbath May 29," when the date is actually May 30; this error carries over into May 31. On six recto, it is uncertain whether “Mr. Maples” refers to John or Josiah Maples, and so it has been left untagged. For this reason, “his wife” has also been left untagged. On seven recto, Occom mistakenly writes “Febr 6” instead of March 6. There are occasional red pencil marks throughout. An editor, likely 19th-century, has overwritten Occom's hand in several places. These edits have not been transcribed. Where appropriate, the transcriber has used her discretion to judge what is original and what is not, guessing at some uncertain elements and leaving some completely obscurred elements untranscribed.
N [illegible][guess: 1]
Saturday May 8; 1784;
very early in the morning from
New London for Albany in Capt
Hayleys Sloop called Victory ther
was a number of Engliſh and
Indian Families; and we had
very Small wind, till towards
night, then the wind Sprung up
about South weſt, and we diret
ed our Courſe to Long Island, &
Dropt Anchor near the Shore
Some Time in the evening, —
Sabbath May 9:
Calm, and the People deſired
me to give a Diſcourſe; and I
Complied, I expounded Some
part of 25 Chapr of Matth: and
the People attended with good
attention — In the after noon
the wind Sprung up about South
and we puſhd on our way
and Some Time in the evening
we Anchored again —
Monday
May 10:
[gap: worn_edge]ut the wind roſe early, and
we went on, and about 6:0:c
in the after noon we got to N-
york, —
Tueſday May 11
9:0:c we hoiſted Sail again
and went into North River &
about 12: Jacob and I went a
Shore to wait upon Docr Leving
ſton and Docr Rodgers the
principle Miniſters in the City
and they gave us encouragement
that they woud try to get Some
thing for the Indian Families
that are going up to Onoyda
Country to Settle we Lodged
in the City this Night —
wedneſ
day
May 12:
of a Certain Sloop belonging to
Albany, one Mr Waters Maſter
of her, and there was a number of
Very agreable gentlemen there
were four Colon[illegible][guess: a]ls, and Esqr and
two Young agreable gentlemen
Theſe Colon[illegible][guess: a]ls and [illegible][guess: Esqr] were
members of New Yorks Asembly
and they were greatly Pleaſd
with our Indians moving up to
onoyda Country to Settle, and
all theſe gentlemen were very
Friend to us, I eat and Drank
with them every Day while we
were together — we got up a little
way up in the North River and
Dropt Anchor —
Thirdsday May 13
was Very Small and Contrary
Fryday May 14:
Slowly again Wind Small and
Contrary, —
Saturday May 15
Sabbath
may 16
a Shore a number of us and had
a meeting in a Dutchmans H
and I gave them a Short Diſcource
and they made me a Collection
gatherd about [illegible][guess: 3] D[illegible][guess: a]llars after
meeting we went aboard again
in the evening Saild a little way
the wind was Contrary and hard
Monday May 17:
and went up the River faſt &
got to Albany before night, —
Capt Hayley and Capt Billings
Juſt got up there — and we found
them all well, — And we made
applications to the Chief men of
the City for aſsiſtance, and there
was no Proviſions to be had for
Indians, which uſed to be allowd,
in Times paſt; — however, our
in the Hespital, and the People
of the City were very kind to us
and were very much taken
with our Indians, —
Wedneſday, May 19:
vited to preach to the Priſoners
and I complied, —
Thirdsday
preachd in Mr Weſterlos Church
and the People made a Collection
for our People, — we got about
9 pounds —
Saturday May 22
Sabbath may 23:
twice in the Pr[illegible][guess: i]ſb[illegible][guess: i]teryan
Meeting Houſe, and they a
Collection for our Folks; they
Collected 8: pound, —
Monday
May 24:
Tueſday May 25
Anthony Paul and his Family
and his Mother and I went up
together in a waggon to the the
New City, in the afternoon
I preach in the Place to a large
Congregation, and the[illegible][guess: y] made
a Small Collection, [illegible][guess: i]n the
evening I returnd back 3 mile[below]s
towards Albany on the other Side
of the River, where I left my
Daughter Chriſtiana and her
Family and her Mother in Law
from this Place Athony went up
to S[illegible][guess: err]atoga for a Horſe to help
up his Family there, where
my Daughter and Children
intends to Stay this Summer
and in the Fall they will proceed
to onoyda —
Wedneſday May 26
Thirdsday May 27:
I went of a Sloop Capt Bogat
and a number of gentlemen
alſo went in the Same Veſel, and
they were very agreable &
great Docr Young was one
of the Company and we went
down the River about 20: Miles &
Dropt Anchor, — Fryday we had
very Small wind, and Slow way
down, Yet we down Some diſtance
that Day and the Night following,
Saturday May 2:9:
wind and as much as we wanted
and we got down to new York,
about 6: o:c: in the after noon
and I immediately went a Shore
and went home with Mr John
Haggerman, a good Friend
we found when we Stopt here
the other Day going up — I Sot
down but few minutes, and then
went to See Docr Levingſton and
Docr Rodgers Docr Levingſton
was at home but Collected no
thing for us; and Docr Rodgers
was not at Home and his People
had Collected nothing, and I was
good Deal diſappointed, for I
had given my Note of Hand
for 36 Dollars for the Paſage
of our People from New London
to Albany, —
Sabbath May 29
hear Mr Gano in the morning
and at noon he invited me to
go home with him to take din
ner — and Deſired me to preach
to his People on Monday eveng
in the afternoon I went to hear
Mr Maſon the Cece[illegible][guess: e]der of the
Church of Scotland but he did
not Preach, So I went to my
Lodgings I was fatigued walk
ing, and went to no meeting in
the afternoon, —
Monday M:2 30
MaJune 4:
the evening at eight o:c I
preach in a Me
meeting and it midling
ful and they Collected 3
Dollars and Seven Shillings
in York Currency —
June 5 Saturday,
Monday June 7:
Sun riſe we got to
Houſe, and
faſt with him, after Breakt
I Bought a mare of him, and
So I went on directly home
ward, — I got Home about 11 &
found all my Family in
good State of Health, But
Taby, She had been very
Sick with Swelling in her
Throat but thro' Mercy She
was now much better, Bleſs
ed be god for his goodneſs to us
Since I have been gone from
Home. —
Mohegan Janr 23: 1785
Janr 28
and there were many People
both Indians and Engliſh and
there was good attention —
Janr 30
Henrys Houſe to a Crouded Aſsem
bly, and I had Som freedom to
he[illegible][guess: a]rd with flow of Tears from
their Eyes — in the Evening
we met at Henrys and we gave
encouragements to one another
and I believe the Lord was
preſent with us —
Febr 6: 1785.
Sabbath
Heart Adgates and there was a
bundence of People, both Eng
liſh and Indians, and I believe
I had Some help from above
to Speak to the People and there
was great Solemnity, and Some
affection among the People —
in the Evening we had a meet
ing in Deacon Henrys and
our Hearts were melted down
before the Lord in Some mea
ſure, glory be to god —
Febr 10: 1785
there was a great many People
and attention becoming Ratio
nal Creatures, till I had done
Speaking, and then was Som
Levity among the Young People
but Mr John Maples was So
good as to give them a reprof
and they Soon deſiſted, — and I
lodgd at the Houſe that night
by the Deſire of Mr Maples and
his wife, and we had very a
greable Evening, they were
very free of their own acord
to relate to me their Spiritual
exerciſes, and I believe the Ld
will manifeſt himſefe to them
more and more —
Febr 11 in the eveng
a few People —
Febr 13: on Sab —
was a great Number of People
tho' it was uncomfortable walk
ing, and I kink I had Some
Senſe of Divine things, there
was great Solemnity among
the People —
Febr 20 on Sab
Houſe, to a large number of
People the Houſe was Crouded
Chiefly white People and I be
lieve there was a moving of
the Spirit of god in the Aſsem‐
bly for I took notice of many
Tears —
Febr 24:
Mrs Fitches and it was amaz
ing to See how many People
Collected together, and we had
a Solemn meeting; I believe
the Lord aſsiſted both the Speaker
and the Hearer and we parted
in Peace and Love for I think
I felt Calmneſs and Love —
Febr 27: Sab
ed Audiance and well behav'd
People, and Some were effected
with the word, —
March 4: 1785
in the Pariſh, to a great many
People, and many were much
affected, with the word, —
Febr 6 on Sab
Henrys, and there was many
People and I believe the Lord
was preſent with us by his
Divine Spirit — D: Henry R Aſh
and went
March 12: ˄ Evening
at one Sherrys Houſe a negro
man, there was not more
than an Hours Notice given
of the meeting, and the People
Crouded in Directly and I
preachd to the word of god to
them and they attended with
great Eagerneſs and affection
they Seemed to have a Taſte
for the Word of god — and when
the People were diſpercing
one Capt Troope invited me
to go Home with him, but I
did not love to go out after
Exerciſe. — Lodged at Sherrys
March 13: on Sab —
to Mr Downer's about a mile
and half, before Breakfaſt
and were received with all
kindneſs and Brotherly affec
teon and took Breakfaſt,
with them — and it was a
Snowy uncomfortable Day
Yet the People began to flock
together preſently and there
was great Multitude of
People got together more than
the Houſe Could Contain, they
Crouded in every Corner even
up in the Chambers — and I
preachd to them the word of
the Lord, and it fell heavy
upon the People it produced
many Tears and deep Sigghs
tho' there was one man mani
feſted a Diſpleaſure at my
Saying Some thing about
Univerſal Scheem, he Spoke
out in the meeting, but he
did not Say much neithe did
he Diſturb the People any —
in the after noon we removed
the meeting to another Houſe a
few Rods off, which was very
Large, and the People increaſd
and they Crouded that Houſe
alſo, and they attended with
uncommon Solmenity and af
fection Tears flowed Down from
many Eyes freely; I cant help
thinking, that god is about
to work amongſt this People,
in the Evening, we had a
a meeting again in Brother
Downers and there was a great
number of People again
and I preach again, and
we had a Comfortable meet
ing the Lord refreſhed the Chil
dren, and they manifeſted
Love to one another; I Lodgd
here this Night, went to bed
late in the Evening. the
Lord be praiſed for his good
neſs to us thus far —
March 14: monday
Veſters began about 11 oc &
there was good many People
tho' it was a Snowy Day and
extreamly bad riding or wal
king, and there was great atten
tion, and I believe Some felt
the Power of god, the man of
the Houſe gave me a Text and
I
never Spoke from before, it
is writen in the firſt Epeſtle
of John 5:5: after meeting we
Stayd Some Time, took Dinner
with them, and we Sot off for
Home, about 3:o:c we got home juſt in the
Duſk of the Evening, found my Fam
in Health Thanks be to god
for his goodneſs to me —
March 20 on Sabb —
North Pariſh of New London
and there was a large Congregat
tion of People, and they attended
with great Solemnity and Affecti
on, the Lord was preſent with
his word, I believe in Some
meaſure — Took Dinner with
them after meeting, and then I went
Home — The week paſt has
been very remarkable for Cold
and Snow deep and Cruſty &
it has layn Steady almoſt all
winter ex
it went off then, and Come on
again, directly and it has not been
off Since and it has been very
Steady Cold all winter, very
Spe[illegible]ding for Creatures of all
kinds, — but the Lord takes
Care of the World, and he doe[illegible]s
all things well, if we dont
See it, it muſt be all right —
March 23.
and bluſtring laſt Night, and it Con
tinues all this Day, it is remark
able Windy Cold Day and a Cruſty
hard Snow is now above a foot
Deep in many Places — —
March 26; 1785 on Saturday
one Mr Averys about 5 miles north
weſt from the City of New London
Snow Continues to ly upon the ground
and it is hard Cruſty, and it has
been Cold all this week, Stopt at
Mr Darts, and the old Folks were
not at Home, and So I went to Mr
Ames's and was very kindly enter
taind, took Supper with them, after
Sun Set went back to Mr Darts and
Lodged there, and was moſt kindly
and Friendly treated,
m 27
Sot out with me to meeting, about
three miles, got there before 11
and the People began to Come to
meeting, and there was a vaſt
Concourſe of People, there were
near as many out Doors as in,
and Preachd to them the Word of
the Lord, and the People behavd
Decently, and heard with great
Solemnity, a many with affection
in the after noon Preachd again
and Sufferd greatly with Cold
was much Chil'd before I had done
the People attendid with great
Solemnity — after meeting took
Dinner with Mr Duglas he lived
one end of the Houſe, — juſt be
fore Sun Set, took leave of the
People of the Houſe and went to
Mr Robert Douglas's about half
a mile eaſtward, found him
very ill with a bad Cough and
Shortneſs of Breath, he Set up
in a great Chair moſt all the
Times, Night and Day, he is
very old nearly ninety, and I be‐
lieve an old Diſciple his wife
is not so old, very agreable.
old People the were very kind
to me, Lodged there,
March 28:
the Family, had free & agree Converſation
with them laſt Night and this morn
ing about the great Concerns,
after Breakfaſt took my leave
of them in Peace and Friendſhip
and Sot off for New London, got
to the City about 10: Call upon
Mrs Shaw, found her little
Complaining of her Health, be
ing troubled with Cold, — Sot a
while, then went to the Ferry, Calld
at Mr Baileys a Tavern, and
Sot down to write, and while I
was writing, Mr Rathbond
Came in I Suppoſe to See me
he was put in Jail Some Time
back, it is Said for Deffamition
in his Preaching, he is one of
thoſe that are Stiled Shaking Qua‐
kers, and we had a long diſ
couſe together — He is a yound man
of good Senſe, but in my opinion
he is altogther Caried away with
very St[illegible]ng Enthuſiasm and I am
afraid a bad one there is good
Enthuſiasm and there is a bad
one, he Says they go by imme
diate opperation of the Spirit
of god, their Bodies are great
ly agitated very often when
they are in Divine Exerciſe
in variouſ ways their arms
are Stretchd Strait Some Times
which they Call a Sign, they
muſt go that way that their
hands point to, — and they Say
they have new Tongue [illegible][guess: giv]
[illegible][guess: en] many Times, tho I perceve
they dont retain them, and he
Says they have gifts of Healing
but I cant find out, that they
have done any remarkable
mer[illegible][guess: i]cle, — and they dont allow
their Bretheren and Siſters that
were married before they Came
into this way, to uſe the means
for Propagation of their
Species, — and the unma
ried not to marry,
yet he Says he forbids
none to marry — he
Calls this way that
he is in, a New Diſ
penſation, which
will defuſe thro the
the World; — and he has a Noti
on too, they atain to Sinleſs
Perfection in this Life —
In the whole I believe he
has got into another goſpel
if it is right to Call it goſpel
I can not See it to be the goſpel
of Jeſus Chriſt, which his Apoſ
tles preachd, — and the Lord
have mercy upon them and
bring them to the Knowledge
of the Truth as it is in Jeſus —
Toward Night, went out of the
the City, Stopt a while at
Capt wheeler's, and then went
to old Maſter Jonathan Smith's
and Lodged there and was
kindly receivd, he is
troubled with many
Infirmities beſides
old age —
Tueſday
march 29:
of them early and
Sot off forr Home
and it was prodigious bad rid
ing noth Side of the Hills glaſe[gap: worn_edge][guess: d]
with Ice, and South Sides horſe
break thro' the Ice, I was obliged
to go a foot Some Times, and be
ing lame I made Slow progreſs
I got home near noon, found my
Family well thro' the goodneſs of
a mercyful god, — The Night
following, provd very Stormy
of Snow Hail and Rain, and
it froſe, as it fell, and it Con
tinued very Severe next Day
like a winter Storm —
This winter paſt and the Spring
thus far, is Judged by the oldeſt
men we have, to be the Hardeſt
in their memory, the moſt Spend
ing, for no Creature that is kept
by man Can get nothing to eat
only what is given them. —
(April 1 1785 on Fryday
from my Houſe a foot down to Mr
J: H: Adgate's, and got his Mare
Sot off from there for New London
Stopt a while at Capt Wheelers)
Sab: April 3: 1785.
Mr John Brown's about 3 miles
and it was very uncomfortable
riding I ever known for the Time
of the Year, Snow is now above
foot Deep and very hard, the roads
are bare on the Suny Side of the
Hills and very mi
Houſe, before 10: the People had not
began to Collect, but preſently after
they did, and large Company got
together preſently, tho it was very
ba
12 I began the Divine Exerciſe
and I not not much Light and free
dom, Yet the People were greatly
attentive after meeting Sot in
the Houſe with Mr Wm Comſtock
a Preacher and the man of the
Houſe, had friendly Converſation
took a Comfortable Dinner with
them juſt at Night Night I Sot
off for Home, and as I was going
out Mr Brown gave me a pair
of Shoes, and I excepted of them
thankfully, in the Duſk of the
Evening I got Home
April 7: 1785
after Sun riſe I Sot off from my
Houſe afoot to Mr J: H: Adgates, got
his mare and took breakfaſt with
them, and then went down to New‐
London, got to the City a bout 10:o:c
and went over to groton, and got
to Mr Jabez Smiths about 1 in the
after-noon, to Dinner there, and
about half after 2: went back
towards the Ferry, and I turnd to
the Northward from the meeting
Houſe, to one Capt Robert Latham
got there Some Time before Sun
Set, — and had a meeting in this
Houſe, and there was a great Num
ber People, Conſidering the extream
bad traviling
Horſeback, and I preachd to them
the word of god, and I had Some Senſe
of Divine things, and the People
attend with Solemnity and Some
afection, I belive the Lord was
preſent with us in Some meaſure
Thanks be to his name — After meet
ing, took Comfortable Supper with
the Capt, his wife looks quite
young, and they are very agreable
Diſcreet Couple, — after Supper
we had little exerciſe, with my
Printed, verſified Notes or Chri
tian Cards, and it was very a
greable Exerciſe, I hope it may
do them Some Benefit, — went to
be
fortable, — got up very early &
they all got up took breakfaſt
with them; and Soon after eating
took Friendly leave of them, &
the Capt Sent a Preſent of Tea t to
my Wife, went to the Ferry and
So over to the City of New London
went to See alderman Thomas Shaw
but he was not at Home, and I
Sot off for Home, S
at Capt Wheelers, and then went
to Mr J Smith's, Calld for Dinner
there, and after I had eat, I Sot
off again, and it began to rain
and it was a Terrable Storm,
Stopt a good while at Mr Haugh‐tons
Dried me, and after a while
went on gain, and it raind
very hard and it was windy &
Cold, got Home Some Time
before Night, and I was much
wet, and Cold, found my Family
well thro the godneſs of god —
April 10: 1785: on Sab:
Saturday [illegible][guess: March]April 16: 1785
ton, got there at Deacon Avery's
about Sun Set, and found the
well, and was affectionately re‐
civd by them, lodgd there. —
Sabbath [illegible][guess: march]April 17:
ing with them, Repreſented Some
thing of my paſt Tryals and
Troubles, and alſo my miſs Steps
and aſked their forgiveneſs, and
was accepeted, and I preachd
all Day, and I believe had Some
aſsiſtance, and the People attend
ed with great Solemnity and with
many Tears — and when I had done
Mr Park the Miniſter of the Churc[illegible][guess: h]
adminiſterd the Sacred Ordernance
of the Lords Supper, and it was
a Solemn Seaſon, and it revivin[gap: worn_edge][guess: g]
and refreſhing Time with my Soul
[gap: faded][guess: a]fter participation of the Holy Sup
per, Several Chriſtians broke out
in Praiſes and adorations to God
with floods of Tears of Joy, and
having Sung two or three Times
in Divine Love and Fillowſhip
we parted in Peace and Love —
went to the Deacons, took Dinner wh
them, after Dinner took my leave
of them, and parted in Love — I
went to one Mr Winter, an old
Diſciple, and was kindly entertaind
in the Evening, had agreable exer
ciſe with my Chriſtian Cards, with
the whole Family — about 9 oc went
to be
Some meaſure, the Lord be Praiſed
for the mercies, Favours and the
Privilledges of the Day paſt —
Monday marchApril
18:
early, Prayd with the Family,
and then went of for Home, got
Home about 10: found my Fa
mi
rectly to Mr Haughtons to meet
our Honorable overſeers, and
did our Tribe buſineſs, before
Night, and got back to my H
Little after Sun Set —
Wedneſsday April 20: 1785
ticut, I preachd at Widow Fitchs
and there was a goodly number
of People, tho it was very bad
riding, and going Foot, by re
ſon of the Dreadful Storm the
Day before, both of Rain and
Hail, Hail was two or three
Inches Deep this Morning, and
it was Cold, — the People attended
with great attention, — after meet
ing, I Sot a while in the Houſe
took Dinner, — and then went
to Mr Joſiah Mapless and Preachd
there to Conſiderable number of
well behaved People — about
Sun Set went Home, Thus far
hath the Lord lead me on, and
thanks be to his Holy Name —
Thirdsday April 21:
Sot off for Lebanon, went via
Norwich Landing, got to Capt
Troop's about Sun Set and a
meeting there, and there was
Conſiderable number of People
and they attended well, — Lodged
at the Same Houſe, and was kindly
entertaind[illegible]
Fryday April 22:
very early, and took Breakfaſt
and then went to See Colonl Wm
Williams, found him at Home
and did Buſineſs with him in
an Inſtant — and went back
to Capt Troops, and in the after
Noon about 3: o: c we
nother meeting, and a Number
of People and they Heard with
great attention and Solemnity
I Lodged there again,
Saturday April 23:
very early but I did not Set
out till about 8:o:c: got down
to Norwich Landing about 12
and So went on my way, went
by my Houſe down to Mr Haug[illegible][guess: h]
tons got there about 2: and
was there a Little while &
then went back to my Houſe
got Home Some Time be
fore Night
April 24: on Sabbath morning
got up very early and went Long
Society, and Preachd there at one
Mr Nathan Standiſhs, and there was
a great number of People, and
there was great attention, the
word fell with great weight, and
there was flow of tears from many
Faces, the Lord gave me Some
Senſe of Divine Things and freedom
of Speech — Soon after meeting
had Dinner, and then Sot off for
Home, Calld at a Certain Houſe
near Norwich Landing, and
were five or Six women, and an
old woman of the Houſe deſired
to have a meeting there as Soon
as I Coud, and I to
we had a little Excerciſe with my
Chriſtian Cards, and there was
Solemnity and affection amongſt
Especially two Young women —
were much affected, — and about
Sun down left them and went
on my way, got home about
Day Light in — found my Ho[gap: faded][guess: uſe]
almoſt emty, my Folks were
all gone to fiſhing, and I went
to be
for his goodneſs to us thus far
Tueſday April 26: 1785
Mr Haughtons, upon aplication
of a Number of Merchants of the
City of Norwich, to purchace a
Pice of Land near o
to make a Landing Place, but
none Came from Norwich but
Mr Howland, in behalf of the
reſt, — but we Coud not agree
at this Time, and So we parted