Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Messrs. Peck, Mason, and Austin, 1766 November 5
5 November 1766[1766-11-05]
Call Number766605.2
[note (type: abstract): Wheelock writes, for possible publication, to correct assertions made by the New England Company about its relationship to, and support of, Occom. ][note (type: handwriting): Handwriting is small and informal, yet mostly clear and legible. It is not Wheelock's.][note (type: paper): Large single sheet is in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear.][note (type: ink): Dark-brown.][note (type: noteworthy): The contents of this document are nearly identical to those of manuscript 766605.2.][note (type: signature): The signature is not in Wheelock's hand.]EventsOccom’s First Mission to the Oneidas, Occom leaves his studies, Occom’s Mission to the Montauketts, Occom’s Ordination, Fundraising Tour of Great Britain
Persistent Identifier
[Opener]
Lebanon[place0122.ocp]
[5th | 5th]5th5th
[Nov.r | November]Nov.rNovember 1766[1766-11-05].
Dear [Meſsrs | Messrs.]MeſsrsMessrs. Peck[pers0032.ocp]
[Maſon | Mason]MaſonMason[pers0357.ocp] and [Auſtin | Austin]AuſtinAustin[pers0062.ocp]
Sirs
Dear [Meſsrs | Messrs.]MeſsrsMessrs. Peck[pers0032.ocp]
[Maſon | Mason]MaſonMason[pers0357.ocp] and [Auſtin | Austin]AuſtinAustin[pers0062.ocp]
Sirs
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Peck[pers0032.ocp] has favoured me with a Copy of [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Whita‐
ker[pers0037.ocp]'s Letter to you, [& | and]&and by that I have an [acco.t | account]acco.taccount of [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Oliver[pers0031.ocp]'s Letter to
[Gov.r | Governor]Gov.rGovernor Mauduit[pers0365.ocp], [& | and]&and it seems a little strange that the [Honble | Honourable]HonbleHonourable Board[org0095.ocp]
in whose Name he wrote so long accounted [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. [Occum | Occom]OccumOccom [pers0030.ocp] to be in
their Pay, and yet after all make so many [Miſtakes | mistakes]Miſtakesmistakes in their [Hiſto
ry | histo
ry]Hiſto
ryhisto
ry of him, and that too when it is the Result of a Meeting, [& | and]&and [deſignd | designed]deſignddesigned
as their Testimony of Facts, sent to the [Honble | Honourable]HonbleHonourable Society in London[org0095.ocp]
to Certify them so [circumſtantially | circumstantially]circumſtantiallycircumstantially, as that they might not be
[impoſs'd | imposed]impoſs'dimposed upon by deceivers.
ker[pers0037.ocp]'s Letter to you, [& | and]&and by that I have an [acco.t | account]acco.taccount of [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Oliver[pers0031.ocp]'s Letter to
[Gov.r | Governor]Gov.rGovernor Mauduit[pers0365.ocp], [& | and]&and it seems a little strange that the [Honble | Honourable]HonbleHonourable Board[org0095.ocp]
in whose Name he wrote so long accounted [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. [Occum | Occom]OccumOccom [pers0030.ocp] to be in
their Pay, and yet after all make so many [Miſtakes | mistakes]Miſtakesmistakes in their [Hiſto
ry | histo
ry]Hiſto
ryhisto
ry of him, and that too when it is the Result of a Meeting, [& | and]&and [deſignd | designed]deſignddesigned
as their Testimony of Facts, sent to the [Honble | Honourable]HonbleHonourable Society in London[org0095.ocp]
to Certify them so [circumſtantially | circumstantially]circumſtantiallycircumstantially, as that they might not be
[impoſs'd | imposed]impoſs'dimposed upon by deceivers.
Some defects in their Narrative you may see by comparing
the following particulars with what they [aſsert | assert]aſsertassert.
the following particulars with what they [aſsert | assert]aſsertassert.
- 1.[ M.r | Mr.] M.rMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] (as well as many others of that
Tribe[org0063.ocp]) was [un=
doubtedly | un
doubtedly]un=
doubtedlyun
doubtedly a Pagan [till | 'til]till'til he was above Sixteen years old. And [above] hadhad never
so much as heard that there was such a [Perſon | person]Perſonperson as Jesus Christ. - 2.None ever said [any thing | anything]any thinganything to me about taking [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] under
my [Inſtruction | instruction]Inſtructioninstruction, or was [above] everever any way moving in that Matter, that I
ever knew of, but his[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Bro]BroMother[pers0395.ocp], before he came to live with me upon Trial. - 3.[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
[Pomroy | Pomeroy]PomroyPomeroy[pers0432.ocp] never had any concern, but only as a Friend, when
my Family were unable to bear the Burden of the School[org0098.ocp], by
Reason of [Sickneſs | sickness]Sickneſssickness, he did at my desire, take the School[org0098.ocp], with my
[Son in Law | son-in-law]Son in Law son-in-law ([M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Maltby)[pers0352.ocp] the [Maſter | Master]MaſterMaster of it to his House, where
it continued, as I remember the better part of a year. But he depen‐
ded upon me to Support [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. [Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp], [& | and]&and it was at my [Riſque | risk]Riſquerisk as
much as ever. - 4.[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] had been long confined by sore [Sickneſs | sickness]Sickneſssickness, before he
came to me, [& | and]&and was then, [& | and]&and all the Time he was with me in a Low
state of Health, [tho' | though]tho'though in the main mending, [till | 'til]till'til he went from me
to serve them as [School maſter | schoolmaster]School maſterschoolmaster [& | and]&and[illegible]Teacherpublic Teacher, at Mon
tauk[place0144.ocp], on Long-Island[place0129.ocp]. And he was in as good state of Healthas
when he went away as I everhaveknewnhim to be. And it was
by the Importunity of [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Horton[pers0262.ocp] [Miſsy | missionary]Miſsymissionary of the [Honble | Honourable]HonbleHonourable Society in
Scotland[org0096.ocp] that I was [perſwaded | persuaded]perſwadedpersuaded to let [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. [Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] go to take his place
there. - 5.[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] after he had officiated some time as [above] aa
preacher there,
was [ordain'd | ordained]ordain'dordained by the Presbytery of Suffolk County[org0085.ocp] on Said Island[place0129.ocp], [& | and]&and
still continues to be a Member of the Same: - 6.[above] TheThe
[Miniſters | ministers]Miniſtersministers in this [Gov.t | Government]Gov.tGovernment
[org0027.ocp] had no hand in Sending [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] on
his [firſt | first]firſtfirst [Miſsion | mission]Miſsionmission to the Six Nations[org0090.ocp]. See the [acc.t | account]acc.taccount of that in [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
[Boſtwick | Bostwick]BoſtwickBostwick[pers0089.ocp]'s Letter to the [Praſes | praeses]Praſespraeses of directors [&c | and]&cand printed at the End of
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Randall[pers0439.ocp]s Sermon before the Society in Scotland[org0096.ocp] [Jany | January]JanyJanuary 3 176[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): 3]3[1766-01-03]— - 7.[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] was as much in the Pay of the [Boſton | Boston]BoſtonBoston
[Commiſsrs | Commissioners]CommiſsrsCommissioners[org0095.ocp] before
the [N. | New]N.New York [Commiſsrs | Commissioners]CommiſsrsCommissioners[org0069.ocp] sent him on this [Miſsion | mission]Miſsionmission as he was afterwards
so far as [above] II everillegibleknew. And his [Cirumſtances | circumstances]Cirumſtancescircumstances were as needy [till | 'til]till'tilthat
he was relieved by that public Contribution at [N. | New]N.New York[place0308.ocp] as ever I knew
them to be. Nor did I ever [underſtand | understand]underſtandunderstand that the [N. | New]N.New York [Commiſsrs | Commissioners]CommiſsrsCommissioners[org0069.ocp]
ever [ask'd | asked]ask'dasked [conſent | consent]conſentconsent of the Boston Board[org0095.ocp] to Send him
- 8.
The [Boſton | Boston]BoſtonBoston
[Commiſsrs | Commissioners]CommiſsrsCommissioners[org0095.ocp] paid only part of his Debts, when application
was made to them after his Return from that [Miſsion | mission]Miſsionmission, [& | and]&and I believe only
a [leſser | lesser]leſserlesser part of them. - 9.He could not have continued in their [Sevice | service]Seviceservice nor [above] inin any other, if he
had [rec.d | received]rec.dreceived no other Support but that which he had from them. - 10.As to the Report [above] thatthat he was a Mohawk[org0062.ocp]
[&c | etc.]&cetc., [& | and]&and that large Contri
butions were made to me on that [Acc.t | Account]Acc.tAccount I have never yet heard that
there has been such a Report in this Country but [above] onlyonly what came
from the [afores.d | aforesaid]afores.daforesaid [Co[above] mmmiſsrs | Commissioners]Co[above] mmmiſsrsCommissioners [org0069.ocp] — And how a Report that he was a
Mohawk[org0062.ocp] [&c | etc.]&cetc. came to be [publiſh'd | published]publiſh'dpublished in England[place0068.ocp], [& | and]&and transmitted here
in the Public Prints, I can only [gueſs | guess]gueſsguess.
As to their [reſigning | resigning]reſigningresigning him to me [& | and]&and putting him out of their hands
when they had him in their Service as well as pay, only on my telling
them I could employ him better, abundantly evidences their high [eſteem | esteem]eſteemesteem
of my good [Judg.t | Judgement]Judg.tJudgement [& | and]&and Fidelity, at least before I [above] soso unhappily [crack'd | cracked]crack'dcracked my
Credit, by declaring [publickly | publicly]publicklypublicly in the [above] [moſt | most]moſtmost[moſt | most]moſtmost populous Towns in that [& | and]&and the
Neighbouring [Govt | Government]GovtGovernment that he was a Mohawk[org0062.ocp] lately Emergent out
of [groſs | gross]groſsgross [paganiſism | paganism]paganiſismpaganism [&c | etc.]&cetc., in order to get large Contributions for this
School[org0098.ocp].
when they had him in their Service as well as pay, only on my telling
them I could employ him better, abundantly evidences their high [eſteem | esteem]eſteemesteem
of my good [Judg.t | Judgement]Judg.tJudgement [& | and]&and Fidelity, at least before I [above] soso unhappily [crack'd | cracked]crack'dcracked my
Credit, by declaring [publickly | publicly]publicklypublicly in the [above] [moſt | most]moſtmost[moſt | most]moſtmost populous Towns in that [& | and]&and the
Neighbouring [Govt | Government]GovtGovernment that he was a Mohawk[org0062.ocp] lately Emergent out
of [groſs | gross]groſsgross [paganiſism | paganism]paganiſismpaganism [&c | etc.]&cetc., in order to get large Contributions for this
School[org0098.ocp].
These hints so far as I know are true, [& | and]&and I [tho't | thought]tho'tthought proper you should
have them [& | and]&and make such Improvement [above] of themof them as your prudence shall
direct. And if you think it [neceſsary | necessary]neceſsarynecessary you may [publiſh | publish]publiſhpublish them or
any part of them. [Tho' | Although]Tho'Although I [confeſs | confess]confeſsconfess the [Entring | entering]Entringentering into [above] aa public Quarrel
with [thoſe | those]thoſethose Gentlemen, is so unnatural [& | and]&and incongruous to the design
of building up, [& | and]&and enlarging the peaceable Kingdom of Christ which
we all [profeſs | profess]profeſsprofess to have in view, that I exceedingly dread it, if the
Glory of God [& | and]&and the [Intereſts | interests]Intereſtsinterests of the Redeemers [Cauſe | cause]Cauſecause dont evidently
require it.
have them [& | and]&and make such Improvement [above] of themof them as your prudence shall
direct. And if you think it [neceſsary | necessary]neceſsarynecessary you may [publiſh | publish]publiſhpublish them or
any part of them. [Tho' | Although]Tho'Although I [confeſs | confess]confeſsconfess the [Entring | entering]Entringentering into [above] aa public Quarrel
with [thoſe | those]thoſethose Gentlemen, is so unnatural [& | and]&and incongruous to the design
of building up, [& | and]&and enlarging the peaceable Kingdom of Christ which
we all [profeſs | profess]profeſsprofess to have in view, that I exceedingly dread it, if the
Glory of God [& | and]&and the [Intereſts | interests]Intereſtsinterests of the Redeemers [Cauſe | cause]Cauſecause dont evidently
require it.
I herewith [encloſe | enclose]encloſeenclose a Letter to [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Oliver[pers0031.ocp], a true Copy of which
I [alſo | also]alſoalso [encloſe | enclose]encloſeenclose that you might know the Contents in which you will
see I desire a Copy of his [afores.d | aforesaid]afores.daforesaid Letter to [Gov.r | Governor]Gov.rGovernor [Manduit | Mauduit]ManduitMauduit[pers0365.ocp], [& | and]&and [alſo | also]alſoalso that
you are [deſired | desired]deſireddesired to wait on him for that [purpoſe | purpose]purpoſepurpose please Sir to
favour me herein, [& | and]&and make return [& | and]&and advise me of your [Succeſs | success]Succeſssuccess as
soon as may be.
I [alſo | also]alſoalso [encloſe | enclose]encloſeenclose that you might know the Contents in which you will
see I desire a Copy of his [afores.d | aforesaid]afores.daforesaid Letter to [Gov.r | Governor]Gov.rGovernor [Manduit | Mauduit]ManduitMauduit[pers0365.ocp], [& | and]&and [alſo | also]alſoalso that
you are [deſired | desired]deſireddesired to wait on him for that [purpoſe | purpose]purpoſepurpose please Sir to
favour me herein, [& | and]&and make return [& | and]&and advise me of your [Succeſs | success]Succeſssuccess as
soon as may be.
I have [alſo | also]alſoalso
[deſired | desired]deſireddesired
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Oliver[pers0031.ocp] to [remitt | remit]remittremit £10 of the annual allow
ancemade of that Board[org0095.ocp] for the use of this
School[org0098.ocp], which I have
[Reaſon | reason]Reaſonreason to expect he will not refuse, Since he has made two Remit‐
tances without the Least objection since he wrote the [afores.d | aforesaid]afores.daforesaid Letter
to the [Honble | Honourable]HonbleHonourable Society in London[org0095.ocp]. If he should refuse that, or a
Copy of his Letter, or both, you will enquire [& | and]&and know his [Reaſsons | reasons]Reaſsonsreasons
for it. And I hope agreeable to your wonted [Goodneſs | goodness]Goodneſsgoodness, [excuſe | excuse]excuſeexcuse the
Trouble herein given you, by, My dear Sirs
ance
[Reaſon | reason]Reaſonreason to expect he will not refuse, Since he has made two Remit‐
tances without the Least objection since he wrote the [afores.d | aforesaid]afores.daforesaid Letter
to the [Honble | Honourable]HonbleHonourable Society in London[org0095.ocp]. If he should refuse that, or a
Copy of his Letter, or both, you will enquire [& | and]&and know his [Reaſsons | reasons]Reaſsonsreasons
for it. And I hope agreeable to your wonted [Goodneſs | goodness]Goodneſsgoodness, [excuſe | excuse]excuſeexcuse the
Trouble herein given you, by, My dear Sirs
[Closer]
Your much [obligd | obliged]obligdobliged
[& | and]&and very humble [Serv.t | Servant]Serv.tServant
Eleazar Wheelock[pers0036.ocp]
Eleazar Wheelock[pers0036.ocp]
[Trailer]
Letter to [Meſsrs | Messrs.]MeſsrsMessrs.
Peck[pers0032.ocp]
[Maſon | Mason]MaſonMason[pers0357.ocp] [& | and]&and [Auſtin | Austin]AuſtinAustin[pers0062.ocp]
[Nov.r | November]Nov.rNovember 5. 1766[1766-11-05].
[Maſon | Mason]MaſonMason[pers0357.ocp] [& | and]&and [Auſtin | Austin]AuſtinAustin[pers0062.ocp]
[Nov.r | November]Nov.rNovember 5. 1766[1766-11-05].
Document Summary
People identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Role in header | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|---|
pers0032.ocp | Peck | recipient | Peck, Moses |
pers0357.ocp | Maſon Mason | recipient | Mason |
pers0062.ocp | Auſtin Austin | recipient | Austin |
pers0032.ocp | M. r Mr. Peck | recipient | Peck, Moses |
pers0037.ocp | M. r Mr. Whita‐ ker | mentioned | Whitaker, Nathaniel |
pers0031.ocp | M. r Mr. Oliver | mentioned | Oliver, Andrew |
pers0365.ocp | Gov. r Governor Mauduit | mentioned | Mauduit, Jasper |
pers0030.ocp | M. r Mr. Occum Occom | mentioned | Occom, Samson |
pers0030.ocp | M. r Mr. Occum Occom | mentioned | Occom, Samson |
pers0030.ocp | M. r Mr. Occum Occom | mentioned | Occom, Samson |
pers0395.ocp | Mother | mentioned | Occom, Sarah |
pers0432.ocp | M. r Mr. Pomroy Pomeroy | mentioned | Pomeroy, Benjamin |
pers0352.ocp | M. r Mr. Maltby) | mentioned | Maltby |
pers0262.ocp | M. r Mr. Horton | mentioned | Horton, Azariah |
pers0089.ocp | Boſtwick Bostwick | mentioned | Bostwick, David |
pers0439.ocp | M. r Mr. Randall | mentioned | Randall |
pers0365.ocp | Gov. r Governor Manduit Mauduit | mentioned | Mauduit, Jasper |
pers0036.ocp | Eleazar Wheelock | writer | Wheelock, Eleazar |
Places identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
place0122.ocp | Lebanon | Lebanon |
place0144.ocp | Mon tauk | Montauk |
place0129.ocp | Long-Island | Long Island |
place0129.ocp | Said Island | Long Island |
place0308.ocp | N. New York | New York City |
place0068.ocp | England | England |
Organizations identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
org0095.ocp | HonbleHonourable Board | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
org0095.ocp | HonbleHonourable Society in London | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
org0063.ocp | that Tribe | Mohegan Tribe |
org0098.ocp | the School | Moor’s Indian Charity School |
org0096.ocp | HonbleHonourable Society in Scotland | Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge |
org0085.ocp | Presbytery of Suffolk County | Presbytery of Suffolk County |
org0027.ocp | this Gov.tGovernment | Colony of Connecticut |
org0090.ocp | Six Nations | Six Nations |
org0096.ocp | Society in Scotland | Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge |
org0095.ocp | BoſtonBoston CommiſsrsCommissioners | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
org0069.ocp | N.New York CommiſsrsCommissioners | The New York/New Jersey Board of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge |
org0095.ocp | Boston Board | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
org0095.ocp | The BoſtonBoston CommiſsrsCommissioners | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
org0062.ocp | Mohawk | Mohawk Nation |
org0069.ocp | CommiſsrsCommissioners | The New York/New Jersey Board of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge |
org0098.ocp | this School | Moor’s Indian Charity School |
org0095.ocp | that Board | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
org0095.ocp | the HonbleHonourable Society in London | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
Dates identified in this document:
Standard Form | Text |
---|---|
1766-11-05 | 5th5th Nov.rNovember 1766 |
1766-01-03 | JanyJanuary 3 1763 |
1766-11-05 | Nov.rNovember 5. 1766 |
Regularized text:
Type | Original | Regularized |
---|---|---|
modernization | 5th | 5th |
modernization | Meſsrs | Messrs. |
modernization | Maſon | Mason |
modernization | Auſtin | Austin |
modernization | M.r | Mr. |
variation | Occum | Occom |
modernization | Miſtakes | mistakes |
modernization | Hiſto ry |
histo ry |
modernization | deſignd | designed |
modernization | circumſtantially | circumstantially |
modernization | impoſs'd | imposed |
modernization | aſsert | assert |
modernization | M.r | Mr. |
variation | un= doubtedly |
un doubtedly |
variation | till | 'til |
modernization | Perſon | person |
variation | any thing | anything |
modernization | Inſtruction | instruction |
variation | Pomroy | Pomeroy |
modernization | Sickneſs | sickness |
variation | Son in Law | son-in-law |
modernization | Maſter | Master |
modernization | Riſque | risk |
modernization | School maſter | schoolmaster |
modernization | perſwaded | persuaded |
modernization | Miniſters | ministers |
modernization | firſt | first |
modernization | Miſsion | mission |
modernization | Boſtwick | Bostwick |
modernization | Praſes | praeses |
modernization | &c | and |
modernization | Boſton | Boston |
modernization | Commiſsrs | Commissioners |
modernization | Cirumſtances | circumstances |
modernization | underſtand | understand |
modernization | conſent | consent |
modernization | leſser | lesser |
variation | Sevice | service |
modernization | &c | etc. |
modernization | publiſh'd | published |
modernization | gueſs | guess |
modernization | reſigning | resigning |
modernization | eſteem | esteem |
variation | publickly | publicly |
modernization | moſt | most |
modernization | groſs | gross |
modernization | paganiſism | paganism |
modernization | neceſsary | necessary |
modernization | publiſh | publish |
modernization | confeſs | confess |
variation | Entring | entering |
modernization | thoſe | those |
modernization | profeſs | profess |
modernization | Intereſts | interests |
modernization | Cauſe | cause |
modernization | encloſe | enclose |
modernization | alſo | also |
modernization | deſired | desired |
modernization | purpoſe | purpose |
modernization | Succeſs | success |
variation | remitt | remit |
modernization | Reaſon | reason |
modernization | Reaſsons | reasons |
modernization | Goodneſs | goodness |
modernization | excuſe | excuse |
Expanded abbreviations:
Abbreviation | Expansion |
---|---|
Nov.r | November |
& | and |
acco.t | account |
Gov.r | Governor |
Honble | Honourable |
tho' | though |
Miſsy | missionary |
ordain'd | ordained |
Gov.t | Government |
acc.t | account |
Jany | January |
N. | New |
ask'd | asked |
rec.d | received |
Acc.t | Account |
afores.d | aforesaid |
Co[above] mmmiſsrs | Commissioners |
Judg.t | Judgement |
crack'd | cracked |
Govt | Government |
tho't | thought |
Tho' | Although |
obligd | obliged |
Serv.t | Servant |
This document's header does not contain any mixed case attribute values.
Summary of errors found in this document:
Number of dates with invalid 'when' attributes: | 0 |
Number of nested "hi" tags: (consider merging the @rend attributes, or using other tags) | 0 |
Number of tags with invalid 'rend' attributes: | 0 (out of 51) |
Number of people/places/organizations with unknown keys: | 0 (out of 58) |
Number of "add" tags with unknown 'place' attributes: | 0 (out of 13) |
Mixed case attribute values in header (potential error): | 0 (out of 169) |