Joseph Johnson, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1773 August 30

AuthorJohnson, Joseph[pers0288.ocp]

30 August 1773[1773-08-30]

ms number773480

[note (type: abstract): Joseph Johnson writes to ask for help funding a trip into the wilderness for the purpose of Brothertown business. There is also a brief narrative of Johnson’s life.][note (type: handwriting): Handwriting is small and cramped. Letters case is difficult to decipher, as is the difference between commas and periods.][note (type: paper): Small half sheet is in fair condition, with moderate-to-heavy wear, especially along central vertical crease; that, and some repair work results in a minor loss of text.][note (type: ink): Dark brown.][note (type: layout): The narrative of Joseph Johnson's life is upside-down at the bottom of one verso.][note (type: noteworthy): On the top of one verso, another hand, likely 19th-century, has written "Joseph Johnson" in a different ink. This has not been transcribed.]
Persistent Identifier
[Opener]
[Revd. | Rev.]Revd.Rev. [& | and]&and much [Reſpected | respected]Reſpectedrespected Sir.
With much humility, I undertake to Write to your worthy Person. and I would [Enform | inform]Enforminform you that I ever have a [gratefull | grateful]gratefullgrateful Sense of your favours in time past. for which I [deſire | desire]deſiredesire at this time renewedly to [expreſs | express]expreſsexpress my thanks. if I was an Englishman, [& | and]&and was thus [Reſpected | respected]Reſpectedrespected by you. I should be very [thankfull | thankful]thankfullthankful. but much more doth it now, become me being an Indian, to be humble. [& | and]&and very [thankfull | thankful]thankfullthankful in very [illegible][guess (maggiec): deed]deed Me thinks the more I am [Reſp ected | respected]Reſp ectedrespected the more humble it makes me. but to conclude this my Indian introduction let me [aſsure | assure]aſsureassure you. that a law of gratitude is wrote as it were upon the table of my Once savage heart. for all your Remarkable favours in times Past. [& | and]&and I [illegible][guess (maggiec): ever]ever think of your worthy [perſon | person]perſonperson with love, ^[above] [& | and]&and Reverence^[& | and]&and Reverence in my heart. But [whot | what]whotwhat I would more [perticularly | particularly]perticularlyparticularly [enform | inform]enforminform ^[above] you^you of this time is what may follow. [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. Sir. by leave of kind Providence. I [purpoſe | purpose]purpoſepurpose to [illegible]leave this Place next monday being the time appointed that I .[& | and]&and the [reſt | rest]reſtrest of the [Choſen | chosen]Choſenchosen men. should go into the [Wilderneſs | wilderness]Wilderneſswilderness. to [vizit | visit]vizitvisit our savage Brethren. and to [Con­­verſe | converse]Con­­verſeconverse with them Concerning our [Propoſals | proposals]Propoſalsproposals. [&c | etc.]&cetc.: and as the time is drawing nigh. I find I am Obliged to solicit your favour this once more. for which I am very sorry. I am Sorry to try your good Nature so soon. But still I would humbly. [& | and]&and [Earneſtly | earnestly]Earneſtlyearnestly solicit your favour at this time. I was [Conſiderably | considerably]Conſiderablyconsiderably [disoppointed | disappointed]disoppointeddisappointed down Country, not seing [Mr. | Mr.]Mr.Mr. Occom[pers0030.ocp] whose note I have with me still. [illegible][guess (maggiec): [alſo | also]alſoalso][alſo | also]alſoalso 2 English friends added [Diſoppo­intments | disappointments]Diſoppo­intmentsdisappointments to me. not [leting | letting]letingletting me have my [Reaſonable | reasonable]Reaſonablereasonable due their Plea was this that they Did not expect I [ſhould | should]ſhouldshould return [till | 'til]till'til next Winter or in spring. so they thought it best to lay out the money. intending to allow for [uſe | use]uſeuse. but not to be further tedious. my [Earneſt | earnest]Earneſtearnest [deſir | desire]deſirdesire is that you would help me to some Money. I know not who [elſe | else]elſeelse Can. I am a stranger. but as for my Indian friends. if I lean upon them at [preſent | present]preſentpresent they are like a broken [illegible]staff. but I have nothing again my Brethren. they have a will. had they but ability and if you [pleaſe | please]pleaſeplease to pity. [& | and]&and to help me at this time you have no [reaſon | reason]reaſonreason to fear but that you shall have your own. again in due time. if I return well. perhaps. I shall [illegible][guess (maggiec): [rcieve | receive]rcievereceive][rcieve | receive]rcievereceive, money from down Country by last of October. then I will pay you your [reaſonable | reasonable]reaſonablereasonable due. but if any Accident happen. to me so as that I [ſhall | shall]ſhallshall never return. still you need not fear. as [doubt leſs | doubtless]doubt leſsdoubtless you know. that my reward from [Boſton | Boston]BoſtonBoston[place0013.ocp] will Come into your hands. so you then can take your Money again. [Pleaſe | Please]PleaſePlease
[gap: tear] to help me if [Poſsible | possible]Poſsiblepossible. I know not [gap: tear][guess (maggiec): ex]exactly how much I stand in need of. but I should be glad to have little to [illegible][guess (maggiec): spar[gap: tear][guess (maggiec): e]e]spar[gap: tear][guess (maggiec): e]e not knowing what may befall me by the way. I [illegible][illegible][guess (maggiec): [ſhall | shall]ſhallshall][ſhall | shall]ſhallshall in d some [meaſure | measure]meaſuremeasure be [expoſ | expos]expoſexpos[gap: tear][guess (maggiec): ed]ed to smallpox. by the way, [& | and]&and how many more accident. I know not. I view my [gap: tear][guess (maggiec): [ſelf | self]ſelfself][ſelf | self]ſelfself to be [feble | feeble]feblefeeble Creature. if I should have the sm all-Pox. I should at least want 8 or 5 Pounds of money. but hoping I shall [Eſcape | escape]Eſcapeescape that danger ous [Diſtemper | distemper]Diſtemperdistemper. I Should be glad to have Six Pounds if [Poſsible | possible]Poſsiblepossible. [doubtleſs | doubtless]doubtleſsdoubtless we shall be obliged to lay out some money. [beſides | besides]beſidesbesides our bare expences, by the way.
[bottom] To [illegible] Enquiring friends, or to Strangers. would you know kind Sir, who the [compoſer | composer]compoſercomposer of this Discourse is. Be [pleaſed | pleased]pleaſedpleased to read the following. I am an Indian of the mohegan Tribe[org0063.ocp], known by the Name of [Joſeph | Joseph]JoſephJoseph [Johnſon | Johnson]JohnſonJohnson. Educated by the [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. [Eleazer | Eleazar]EleazerEleazar Wheel[pers0036.ocp] ­ock D. D. whose School I left when I was 14 years of age. and in the [3d. | 3rd]3d.3rd month of my [15th. | 15th]15th.15th year, I was sent [amongſt | amongst]amongſtamongst the Six nations[org0090.ocp], and I [ſpent | spent]ſpentspent about 2 years in [thoſe | those]thoſethose Parts. keeping school. afterwards I left the school [in--tirely | entirely]in--tirelyentirely [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. [Eleazer | Eleazar]EleazerEleazar Wheelock[pers0036.ocp] D. D. [intirely | entirely]intirelyentirely. and from that time, I have been wandering up, and down, in this [Deluſive | delusive]Deluſivedelusive World. some of my time I spent at Providence Town[place0292.ocp]. keeping a school. some of my time, I have spent upon the Ocean wide. I have been down [Eaſtward | Eastward]EaſtwardEastward, as far as to the [Weſtern | Western]WeſternWestern [Iſlands | Islands]IſlandsIslands[place0466.ocp] ^[above] twice^twice. [illegible][guess (maggiec): Curvo]Curvo, [& | and]&and [illegible][guess (maggiec): florus]florus, I have seen. and to the southward I have been as far, as to [granades | Grenadines]granadesGrenadines[place0393.ocp] ^[above] to the [weſt | West]weſtWest Indies[place0386.ocp]^to the [weſt | West]weſtWest Indies[place0386.ocp]. Seen [aſlo | also]aſloalso the [Iſlands | islands]Iſlandsislands between An[illegible]tigua[place0388.ocp] and [granades | Grenadines]granadesGrenadines[place0393.ocp]. and again from antigua[place0388.ocp] [illegible]I have [illegible]sailed down leward sailed by the virgin [Iſlands | Islands]IſlandsIslands[place0398.ocp], [alſo | also]alſoalso by [sandy cruize | Santa Cruz]sandy cruizeSanta Cruz[place0397.ocp], [Portireco | Puerto Rico]PortirecoPuerto Rico[place0396.ocp]. ^[above] down^down as far ias to mo[illegible][guess (maggiec): ria]ria. and after so long time Even in my [21st. | 21st]21st.21st year I safely arrived to my Native place. their I spent one year in working upon my farm.
To [illegible] Enquiring friends, or to Strangers. would you know kind Sir, who the [compoſer | composer]compoſercomposer of this Discourse is. Be [pleaſed | pleased]pleaſedpleased to read the following. I am an Indian of the mohegan Tribe[org0063.ocp], known by the Name of [Joſeph | Joseph]JoſephJoseph [Johnſon | Johnson]JohnſonJohnson. Educated by the [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. [Eleazer | Eleazar]EleazerEleazar Wheel[pers0036.ocp] ­ock D. D. whose School I left when I was 14 years of age. and in the [3d. | 3rd]3d.3rd month of my [15th. | 15th]15th.15th year, I was sent [amongſt | amongst]amongſtamongst the Six nations[org0090.ocp], and I [ſpent | spent]ſpentspent about 2 years in [thoſe | those]thoſethose Parts. keeping school. afterwards I left the school [in--tirely | entirely]in--tirelyentirely [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. [Eleazer | Eleazar]EleazerEleazar Wheelock[pers0036.ocp] D. D. [intirely | entirely]intirelyentirely. and from that time, I have been wandering up, and down, in this [Deluſive | delusive]Deluſivedelusive World. some of my time I spent at Providence Town[place0292.ocp]. keeping a school. some of my time, I have spent upon the Ocean wide. I have been down [Eaſtward | Eastward]EaſtwardEastward, as far as to the [Weſtern | Western]WeſternWestern [Iſlands | Islands]IſlandsIslands[place0466.ocp] ^[above] twice^twice. [illegible][guess (maggiec): Curvo]Curvo, [& | and]&and [illegible][guess (maggiec): florus]florus, I have seen. and to the southward I have been as far, as to [granades | Grenadines]granadesGrenadines[place0393.ocp] ^[above] to the [weſt | West]weſtWest Indies[place0386.ocp]^to the [weſt | West]weſtWest Indies[place0386.ocp]. Seen [aſlo | also]aſloalso the [Iſlands | islands]Iſlandsislands between An[illegible]tigua[place0388.ocp] and [granades | Grenadines]granadesGrenadines[place0393.ocp]. and again from antigua[place0388.ocp] [illegible]I have [illegible]sailed down leward sailed by the virgin [Iſlands | Islands]IſlandsIslands[place0398.ocp], [alſo | also]alſoalso by [sandy cruize | Santa Cruz]sandy cruizeSanta Cruz[place0397.ocp], [Portireco | Puerto Rico]PortirecoPuerto Rico[place0396.ocp]. ^[above] down^down as far ias to mo[illegible][guess (maggiec): ria]ria. and after so long time Even in my [21st. | 21st]21st.21st year I safely arrived to my Native place. their I spent one year in working upon my farm.
Document Summary

People identified in this document:

id Text in document Role in header Authorized Name
pers0030.ocp M r. Mr. Occom mentioned Occom, Samson
pers0036.ocp Rev d Rev. Eleazer Eleazar Wheel recipient Wheelock, Eleazar
pers0036.ocp Rev d Rev. Eleazer Eleazar Wheelock recipient Wheelock, Eleazar

Places identified in this document:

id Text in document Authorized Name
place0074.ocp Farmington Farmington
place0013.ocp Boſton Boston Boston
place0292.ocp Providence Town Providence
place0466.ocp Weſtern Western Iſlands Islands Western Islands
place0393.ocp granades Grenadines Grenadine Islands
place0386.ocp weſt West Indies West Indies
place0388.ocp An tigua Antigua
place0388.ocp antigua Antigua
place0398.ocp virgin Iſlands Islands Virgin Islands
place0397.ocp sandy cruize Santa Cruz Santa Cruz
place0396.ocp Portireco Puerto Rico Puerto Rico

Organizations identified in this document:

id Text in document Authorized Name
org0063.ocp mohegan Tribe Mohegan Tribe
org0090.ocp Six nations Six Nations

Dates identified in this document:

Standard Form Text
1773-08-30 30th.30th of August. AD 1773.

Regularized text:

Type Original Regularized
modernization 30th. 30th
modernization Revd. Rev.
modernization Reſpected respected
variation Enform inform
variation gratefull grateful
modernization deſire desire
modernization expreſs express
variation thankfull thankful
modernization Reſp ected respected
modernization aſsure assure
modernization perſon person
variation whot what
variation perticularly particularly
variation enform inform
modernization Revd Rev.
modernization purpoſe purpose
modernization reſt rest
modernization Choſen chosen
modernization Wilderneſs wilderness
variation vizit visit
modernization Con­­verſe converse
modernization Propoſals proposals
modernization &c etc.
modernization Earneſtly earnestly
modernization Conſiderably considerably
variation disoppointed disappointed
modernization Mr. Mr.
modernization alſo also
variation Diſoppo­intments disappointments
variation leting letting
modernization Reaſonable reasonable
modernization ſhould should
variation till 'til
modernization uſe use
modernization Earneſt earnest
variation deſir desire
modernization elſe else
modernization preſent present
modernization pleaſe please
modernization reaſon reason
variation rcieve receive
modernization reaſonable reasonable
modernization ſhall shall
modernization doubt leſs doubtless
modernization Boſton Boston
modernization Pleaſe Please
modernization Poſsible possible
modernization meaſure measure
modernization expoſ expos
modernization ſelf self
variation feble feeble
modernization Eſcape escape
modernization Diſtemper distemper
modernization doubtleſs doubtless
modernization beſides besides
modernization compoſer composer
modernization pleaſed pleased
modernization Joſeph Joseph
modernization Johnſon Johnson
variation Eleazer Eleazar
modernization 3d. 3rd
modernization 15th. 15th
modernization amongſt amongst
modernization ſpent spent
modernization thoſe those
variation in--tirely entirely
variation intirely entirely
modernization Deluſive delusive
modernization Eaſtward Eastward
modernization Weſtern Western
modernization Iſlands Islands
variation granades Grenadines
modernization weſt West
modernization Iſlands islands
variation sandy cruize Santa Cruz
variation Portireco Puerto Rico
modernization 21st. 21st

Expanded abbreviations:

Abbreviation Expansion
& and

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Summary of errors found in this document:

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Number of nested "hi" tags: (consider merging the @rend attributes, or using other tags) 0
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