Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Nathaniel Whitaker, 1767 April 11
Date11 April, 1767
Call Number767261.4
abstractWheelock writes of Kirkland’s visit and of his progress on his mission among the Oneidas. He also relates news of Whitaker's and Occom’s wives, as well as other business related to the Charity School.
handwritingInformal handwriting is small and crowded, yet mostly clear and legible. Letter case is frequently difficult to decipher.
paperTwo large sheets each folded in half to make four pages are in good-to-fair condition; moderate staining, creasing and wear — including old tape gum — has been much improved by recent preservation work.
noteworthyIt is uncertain to where Wheelock refers, in reference to Kirkland's mission, when he mentions "that Town," and so it has been left untagged. However, it is possibly Kanawalohale. An unknown hand has added a note in pencil after the trailer on four recto. This note has not been included in the transcription. This document is possibly a draft.
Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Rev. and dear Sir.
His State of Health is better than it was — he seems
at last fully convinced that he must, for a while, abate
of his Labours and Fatigues, or soon quit the whole
Service.
that the Indians of that Town are almost universally
attached to him — can't bear a word of his leaving
them — they have made great Proficiency in the
Schools in [illegible] Reading and Singing — of the
latter he Says, I cant Speak too well — it is quite beyond
what any will conceive, unless they could hear them —
he Says, he hears no Such Singing in the Country. —
they carry three parts with great exactness — And
many of them yet eager to improve further in the
Art — This is all New, and beyond what was ever yet
known among Indians — many of them Say, they never
knew Such pleasure before — that it is worthwhile to
be Christians, if they had nothing more by it, than the
pleasure of Singing praises to God — And to assist
them further Mr. Kirtland has already begun, and designs
to go on, to translate Psalms and Sacred Hymns into their
Language, and fit them to Tunes — This is surprising and
affecting to Some, that come among them, from foreign
Tribes — At present there is a great Reformation among
them as to their Morals#— there have been no more than
two drunk belonging to that Town, Since December 15th and
one of them was the only one of that Town, who op
posed Mr. Kirtlands measures — on that Day Mr. Kirtlan[gap: worn_edge][guess: d]
( after
(after many unsuccessful attempts to put a Stop to that
vice) called the Town together, and told them, if they would
all of them, men and women, Old and Young, agree, and solemnly
engage to leave of their drunkenness, and enable him,
to put Such Determination in Execution, by appointing
6 or 8. of their chief men to be with, and assist him
therein, with full power to Seize all intoxicating Liquor,
and destroy it, or dispose of it as he should think proper,
he would tarry with them; otherwise, he would leave
them. Hereupon after 4 Days consideration, they
unanimously appointed 8, whom Mr. Kirtland No‐
minated, who have been very Officious, and faithful
in the affair. And the success of this Step has been
Such, that, notwithstanding about 80 kegs or casks
of Rum have Since that Time been carried through that
Town, and offered to Sale, and in a number of instances
offered freely, as a present, and their Acceptance Strongly
urged, yet they have Never in one instance been pre‐
vailed upon to Accept it: Steadily replying, when urged
to it, "It is contrary to the minister's word, and our
agreement with him." A Number have publicly
made confession of their past drunkenness, and other Vices.
— And to two in particular, above the rest, Mr. Kirtland
Hopes, God has granted Repentance unto Life.
of Old Oneida, where Mr. Kinne was Sent last spring
but left them for want of Health (as I informed you)
Two of the principal men of that Town have removed
to live under Mr. Kirtlands instruction. the rest of the
Town are generally in opposition to the Reformation begun, and
to
Mr. Kirtland as the instrument of it — The Enmity is So great, that
near Relations as Brothers and sisters have not visited one another, since
the aforesaid Agreement. — a Number of that Town have been
trying every Artifice to overthrow, and prevent the progress of, the
Reformation; on which account Mr. Kirtland designs, after a
very Short visit to return himself, and not Trust the Affair
to a Stranger/ I take this account from his own mouth.
—
— Mr. Kirtland Says that the Charge of transporting pro‐
visions, besides his own Fatigues about it, has been fully equal
to the first cost of them. I have used the utmost caution and Prudence
as to expenses. and the Same Frugality in my own family as I used
when you was acquainted with it. The missionaries and schoolmasters
have also, So far as I can find, been prudent. dear Mr. Kirtland, I
think, has, to a fault, been cautious of Expending Christ's money for
his own comfort. he has also provided for David and his wife, and
Joseph Johnson all this year in that Savage Country; and finds
himself often obliged to do Something for the poor Starved wret
‐ches, when they come to See him. And blessed be God, he is now
animated with the Hopes of a glorious harvest among them by
and by. may divine Grace and mercy to the poor Creatures, exceed
his most Sanguine Expectations.
you went away, I used to take Goods for the School upon my
own Credit, and charge them to the School as it wanted . by
this means my public accounts appeared as they did. but this year
I have taken Goods, in part of pay, for the Bills I have drawn, and
have also paid those arrears with them, by which means my Debt
is become due to the School, So that my next public accounts
will appear in a view which I should not choose . viz. a consi‐
derable balance due to the School, while I Shall have nothing
in my Hands, I am not anxious in the Affair, I trust all will come
right by, and by. — The conduct of Divine Providence
towards this whole affair, appears to be a continued Series of
wisdom, and goodness. oh! how great the Depth! how large the
Vol[illegible][guess: ume][illegible][guess: Is]! how Sweet! how Safe! how blessed to trust in him.
April. 18. I herewith enclose Letters from Messrs. Smiths and Scott
that Friends may know a little how Friends think and
talk on this Side the water. and what they devise. those
Gentlemen I understand have large Tracts of unsettled Land,
near the Place they Speak of, and it is supposed they would
make a large grant to the School, — I have Sent you a Copy
of my answer to them, that you might be better able to
form a Judgement on what they write. —
April. 23rd Yours of January 20. came to hand 19th instant with
a Bill of Exchange for £20 sterling from Robert Hodgson apothecary on
John Prince of Salem and another of £5..5..0 from Samuel
Parmiter in your favour endorsed to Henry Sherburn Esq..
yours of February 12. came to hand. 20th instant. — In which
you have furnished me with many Arguments of praise to our
great Benefactor. — I have heard nothing of any other
orders you mention —
taking the most prudent and Effectual Care of any Such
interests as come into my Hands. but perhaps you
are not aware how great the necessary expenses of
this Year have been, and I think when you come
fully to understand what has been done you will have
no cause to regret them. money is not squandered away
for Nothing here I look upon my Obligations in the matter to be most
Sacred and [illegible][guess: teach] all concerned to look upon and treat them as being Such — as Soon as the accounts can be Settled I Shall transmit
them —
This afternoon Mr. Kirtland set out on his Return to Oneida he appears
to be much [illegible][guess: worn], to that degree that I thought it prudent he should preach but once in this visit
as I chose he should reserve his Strength for the Service of the Indians.
however he finds he has recruited a little Since he left the Indians. He is comm‐
issioned to open the Affair of a Settlement for this School
and if he meets with anything worthy to be transmitted you will
have it. }he designs if possible to Introduce Joseph Johnson into a School at old Oneida, and take Moses Mohawk who has been in a
School at Canajoharie to be with him. as he is not yet fully perfect in the Oneida Language
who [illegible][guess: may][illegible][guess: also] assist David in the School
you suspect never was So in thought word or Deed that I ever knew or had
the least reason to suspect — If your suspicions arise from any
hint in my Letter — you misunderstood it, for it respected no
man on that Side the water — and the Tables are all Since turned and
it is of no Importance now whether ever you think of the right man.
however; I Supposed you would readily guess who he was. —
was living Some months ago, but in a low State of health. I
conclude he has no considerable interest of his own to leave
with any.
moral Character has been much Traduced of late in this Country
He is represented as a Debaucher — that he is married in England and devoted to
pleasure etc. It would be very friendly if you would wipe off that Reproach by
a Line —
Ardour of affection towards those great and worthy Gentlemen
who compose the Trust, which you informed [illegible][guess: me]
ha[illegible][guess: s] been lately formed — I bless the Lord that by his Love he has press them and
their estates and all their Influence into his service —
how precious will their Names be to ages yet
unborn who may Eternally reap the Benefit of that which the world
may [illegible] Term their great condescension —
Home. Since Mr. DeBerdts of October 10. before these from you. but you encourage
one to Expect one from Mr. Whitefield and answer from Mr. Keen very soon
Mrs. Whitaker lodged here two nights this week, in as Good Health
as usual, Your Little Son rode home with her — She informed
me that Mrs. Occom was also well and Family — give my Love
to Son Occom and tell him that Aaron behaves exceeding well —
a Little Bundle of Something for his wife came to my Hand
yesterday which I Shall carefully forward —
old fashioned Love in Abundance from, My Dear Sir
Eleazar Wheelock