Connecticut Board of Correspondents of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, minutes, 1765 March 12

AuthorConnecticut Board of Correspondents of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge

Date12 March, 1765

Call Number765212.7

abstractMinutes of a meeting of the Connecticut Board of Correspondents relates the board's decision to dismiss various charges brought against Occom, except those regarding his involvement in the Mason Land Case.

handwritingUnknown hand is clear and legible.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear. One recto has a note attached to it, reading: "Keep the Letters of this date in this order." Given the type and condition of the paper, it is likely that this note is not contemporary.

inkBlack-brown.

signatureThere are no signatures.

noteworthyThis document is likely a copy.

EventsJewett Controversy, Mason Land Case

Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.

Persistent Identifier
Image with note affixed.
At a Meeting of the Board of Correspondents in the Colony
of Connecticut
, on the 12th day of March, A. D. 1765, at the Rev.
Mr. Wheelock’s House in Lebanon

Upon a public and loud Clamour of the Rev. Mr.
Samson Occom’s misconduct in a Number of instances
relative to the Separations in and about Mohegan, and ill
Conduct towards the overseers in the Affair of leasing the
Indian Lands, and some proud and haughty threatenings to turn
Episcopalian, and unsettledness respecting the constitution of
our Churches and Infant Baptism, and disrespectful Treatment
of the Rev. Mr. Jewett, and illegal proceedings against the
schoolmaster at Mohegan, and engaging in the Mason Controversy (so called) against the Government:
And the Glory of God, Mr. Occom’s Character and usefulness,
and particularly, the Reputation of Indian Affairs, requiring
that these Reports should be publicly looked into, that his
Innocence or Guilt therein might thereby publicly appear:
Wherefore, the Rev. Mr. Jewett, at the desire of some
of this Board, exhibited a Charge, consisting of a Number of
Articles, against the said Mr. Occom: which were deliberately
heard with Evidences and Pleas on both Sides. And
upon most carefully weighing the whole controversy, Mr.
Occom was not found guilty of any of the Charges laid
against him, excepting that of the Mason Controversy;
in which he was blamed only agreeable to the
Tenor of what follows.
“Although, as a Member of the Mohegan Tribe,
and, for many Years, one of their Council, I thought
I had not only a natural and civil Right, but that
it was my Duty, to acquaint myself with their temporal
Affairs

Affairs; Yet I am, upon serious and close reflection, con‐
vinced, that as there was no absolute necessity for it, it
was very imprudent in me, and offensive to the Public, that
I should so far engage, as, of late, I have done, in the
Mason Controversy: which has injured my Ministerial Charac‐
ter, hurt my usefulness, and brought dishonour upon Mr.
Wheelock’s School and the Correspondents. For this
imprudent, rash, and offensive Conduct of mine, I am
heartily sorry, and beg forgiveness of God — of this honou‐
rable Board of Correspondents, of whom I ought to have
asked farther Advice— and of the Public; determining,
that I will not for the future act in that Affair, unless
called thereto and obliged by lawful Authority.”
This submission, being offered to this Board, by the
Rev. Mr. Occom, was accepted.
Moreover, Mr. Occom deſired, that a Copy of the
Letter which the Rev. Mr. Jewett wrote to the Commissioners
at Boston
sometime last Fall, in which he thinks there
are several Things injurious to his Character, might be
laid before this Board. Which being read and considered,
the Board are of Opinion, that it is Mr. Jewett’s Duty,
in justice to Mr. Occom’s Character, to write said Commissioners
of the Satisfaction which he now professes to have received
from Mr. Occom’s defense; and that a Copy of said
Writing should be laid before this Board at their next
Meeting for their Approbation. Which Mr. Jewett agreed to do.
Blank page.
The doing of the Board etc.
March.12.1765.
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