John Sergeant, letter, to Peter Thacher, 1788 May 19

Author Sergeant, John

Date19 May, 1788

Call Number788319

abstractSergeant writes of a division within the Stockbridge Tribe regarding his position as minister, as opposed to Occom's. He reports that Occom has been resorting to unkind means to support his own position.

handwritingHandwriting is small, but largely clear and legible.

paperSingle large sheet folded in half to make four pages in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear.

inkBlack-brown.

noteworthyThe last words of lines 28 and 29 on one recto spill over onto the page behind it (two recto).

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

Persistent Identifier

Reverend and Dear Sir
I received yours enclosing the Bills last Friday
thank you kindly for your attention to the business
I thought it might be agreeable to you and the Com
missioners
in general to be informed that in com=
=pliance with their direction; I have made application
to the neighbouring ministers for Ordination. enclosed
I send copies which will give you the full infor=
mation of the business. conclude it is perfectly agree=
able to the wish of the Board, who command the line
of my conduct in the business of my mission —
It was thought best I should be ordained at large
for several reasons. There could be but few of my people
present. Mr. Kirkland has told me that he informed
the Board of some disputes and divisions that had taken
place among my people last summer before my new
appointment. dont fully know in what light he
represented the matter. Think he could know but
little of their present situation and feelings to=
=wards me, in a view of my new appointment having
had no opportunity with them since last fall and the
beginning of winter before they had knowledge of my
being again put into the mission. I have not time
Sir to relate to you the particulars of their disputes
will only mention, the dispute began upon this
question, whether they had better take Mr. Occom
or myself for their minister, as he was about to
settle in a neighbouring Town, expecting to have
him part of the time and could support him easier
than myself — in their division of the Tribe on the question, there
were 30 for Mr. Occom — 50 for myself. Since my new ap=
=pointment about half of the 30 have openly left Mr.
Occom— I haven't time Sir to mention some unkind mea
sures Mr. Occom — has taken to support his wish — but
only mention that the bigger half of my people are
so prejudiced against Mr. Occom — that I sincerely believe
if I was to leave them, they would be the most un=
happy people in the world — in short the Tribe broken
up, and come to ruin. Having these views
of their situation induced me to say what I did
to the Commissioners concerning the importance of
my mission.
The Chief, and only supporter of Mr. Occoms interest
made that speech to me which you find in my Journal
This view of the situation of my people which is well known
to the gentlemen here, has been another reason why my
ordination has been in the manner it is.
in the division of the old professors of religion belonging
to the stockbridge church there were 10 Mr. Occom. 16 for myself.
I have written this Sir in some haste you will please to
excuse it — my time very much taken up. I expect to set
out for the wilderness god willing tomorrow. hope I
may be the means of union and happiness among my
people I know they have all a strong affection for me
I remain Rev. Sir your most obliged friend
and Brother

John Sergeant
Rev. Mr. Thacher
Mr Sargeant's
Letter 1788
The Reverend Peter Thacher
Boston
Favoured by
Honourable Mr. Sedgweck
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