Author
Occom, Samson
Date30 May to 7 August 1761
ms number761330.1
abstractOccom records events on his journey to Oneida country.
handwritingHandwriting is clear and legible.
paperSmall sheets folded into a booklet and bound with thread or twine
are in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear. Pages 13 verso
through 16 recto, 18 verso through 19 recto, and 21 verso through 22 recto
are
uncut at the top and thus have not been scanned.
inkBrown ink is faded in spots.
noteworthyThere are red pencil marks throughtout. On one recto, an
editor, likely 19th-century, has added the note “Journey to oneida.” This
note has
not been included in the transcription. People and places whose names are
illegible have been left untagged.
EventsOccom’s First Mission to the Oneidas
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Sabbath June the 14
Tarried
at
Goldsmiths, we did not go
to
the
City to public
worship
for fear of the smallpox, being
Informed, very Brief there —
But I never Saw a Sabbath
Spent So by any Christian
People in my Life as some
Spent it here, Some were
Riding in Chairs Some upon
horseback
others
traveling
foot, passing and repassing
all Day long, and all Sorts
of Evil noises
carried on by them
Drunkards were reeling and
staggering in the Streets, others
tumbling off their Horses, there
were others at
work in their
farms, and ever any People,
under the Heavens Spoke Hells
Language, these People did, for
their Mouths were full of curs‐
ings, profaning gods Holy
Holy Name — I greatly
mistake if these are not the Sons
and Daughters of Belial,
O thou God of Heaven, thou that Hast all the Hearts of the Children
of men in thine Hands, Leave me not to practice the works of these People, but help me, o Lord, to take warning, and to
take heed to myself
according to thy Holy word, and have mercy
upon the Wicked Convince and Convert them to
thyself, for thine own glory
I have thought there was
no Heathen but the wild
Indians, but I
think now there
is Some English Heathen,
where they Enjoy the Gospel
of Jesus
Christ too, Yea I be‐
lieve they are worse than the
Savage Heathens of the wilder
wilderness, — I have thought
that I had
rather Go with the
meanest and most
despised Crea
ture on Earth to Heaven, than
to Go with the greatest Monarch
Down to Hell, after a Short
Enjoyment
of Sinful pleasures
with them in this World —
I am Glad there is one defect
in
the Indian Language and
I believe in all their
Languages,
i:e they Can't curse or swear
or take god's Name in vain
in their own Toungue —
Monday June the 15
to the
City, and were Conducted to
Mr. Well's at fresh waters
and were Very Kindly re
ceived by him and by all
his Family, I believe the
Fear of god in their house
and this was our Home as
long as we stayed in the pl
[illegible][guess: a][illegible]
The People of
the City were
extremely Kind to us, there
was not a Day scarcely, but
that I was Invited to Dine
with one Gentleman or other,
The ministers of all Sects
and Denominations were un‐
commonly Kind
to me — my
Friends increased Daily
while I stayed at
New York
Monday June the 29
left
the Place very Early, and
got to
Albany about 12 o'clock
and were Conducted to one
Mr.
Staats Van Santvoord
and
tarried there, and the People
in
Albany
were very kind
to us, I went to wait upon
his Excellency
Gen.
Amherst
the afternoon after we
got to
Albany, but he was
busy and I could not See him
one of his waiters Came out
to me, and told me I should
have
the Generals assistance
and I should make my Ap
pearance about 10 in the
Morning,
Tuesday June
the the 30 I made my appea
rance before
his Excellency at the Time
Apointed ac‐
cording to orders,
his
Excellence
Met me at the Door
and told me he had wrote
a pass for me, and he un
folded it and Read it to
me, and when he
had
Read it, he delivered
it to me, and gave me
good Advice and counsel
and wished me success in
my undertaking and I returned
unfeigned Thanks to him
and then
took my leave
of him etc. — The pass which
he gave me was very good one in
deed, which I will copy
Down here —
To All Whom it may
Concern
Whereas
the Correspondents of the
Society in Scotland for
for Propagating Christian Knowledge, have Acquainted
me that the Bearer hereof, the
Rev.
Mr. Occom, is Sent by
by them, as a missionary to
Reside amongst the Indians
about the
Oneida Lake, These
are to order and direct the
officers Commanding at the
Several
posts, to give him
any Aid or assistance he
may Stand in need of to
forward him on his Journey
And on his arrival at the
Oneida Lake, the officer
Commanding there will
Grant him all
the Protection
and Countenance he may
want, in the Execution
of his Duty etc.
Friday July the 3
went to
See
Sir William at his
Farm Seven Miles out off the
Road, in the wilderness,
Got there about 9 in the
Morning, and were very
Kindly entertained by his
his Honor, I Showed him
my Recommendatory
Let
ters, and a pass from
Gen.
Amherst, he promised
me his assistance as Need
should Require, he was ex‐
ceeding free with me in con
versation — But we stayed
there
but about two Hours, for
he was getting in readiness
to go on our way on the
Next Day towards
Detroit with five bateaux laden
with presents for the Indians
he Said he would overtake
us on the Morrow before Night
— we took Leave of
his Honor and went our way, after we had
got to the Main Road, we
called in at Certain house —
and there we were detained
one Night, by a Storm —
Tuesday July the 7
Sir William and the Chiefs of the
Oneida Indians Met at this Place, to
make up a Breach, which
[illegible][guess: ,] one of the
Indians made late
ly, by Killing a Dutch man
they talked about an Hour at
this Time, and then broke up
Towards Night they Met together
again, and talked together a
bout 3 quarters of an Hour. Then
finally
broke up, without be‐
ing fully satisfied on both Sides
for the Indians insisted upon
an old agreement that was
Settled between them and the
English formerly, that if any
Such accident
should ever hap
pen between them in Peacea‐
ble
Times, they should make
it up in an Amicable man‐
ner without shedding of Blood
But
Sir William told
them
it was the command of
general
Amherst, that the murderer should
be delivered up to justice — but
the Indians Said that murderer
was gone off nobody
Knows
where etc.
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