Solomon Williams, letter, to Rev. Samuel Wood, 1761 November 12

Author Williams, Solomon[pers0039.ocp]

12 November 1761[1761-11-12]

Call Number761662.1

[note (type: abstract): Williams writes a lengthy letter regarding news of his sister-in-law, events in Great Britain and in the colonies, and the desire of various tribes to receive missionaries. Mention is made of Samson Occom.][note (type: handwriting): Handwriting is very informal and extremely difficult to decipher. There is shorthand sprinkled throughout.][note (type: paper): Large sheet folded in half to make four pages is heavily reinforced, which renders it difficult to discern the condition of the paper. It appears to be in good condition, however, with light creasing, staining and wear. The preservation work is beginning to wear around the edges.][note (type: ink): Dark-brown ink is somewhat dimmed by reinforcement.][note (type: noteworthy): As noted in the trailer, this document is a copy. Due to the extreme difficulty of discerning Williams’ hand, the transcribers have used their discretion with regard to letter case, shorthand, and abbreviations.][note (type: signature): The signature is abbreviated.]

EventsOccom’s First Mission to the Oneidas

Persistent Identifier
[Opener]

[Hond | Honoured]HondHonoured [& | and]&and very dear Sir
your [Favr | favour]Favrfavour of 16 [Feb | February]FebFebruary [laſt | last]laſtlast[1761-02-16] I [Recd | received]Recdreceived [wth | with]wthwith Great [Plea
ſure | plea
sure]
Plea
ſure
plea
sure
[& | and]&and [Thankfulneſs | thankfulness]Thankfulneſsthankfulness in [Septr | September]SeptrSeptember[1761-09] I am the more obliged for your [Goodneſs | goodness]Goodneſsgoodness
in it as It came [illegible] from your [illegible] [Friendſhip | friendship]Friendſhipfriendship without any Motive of
My [Repeatd | repeated]Repeatdrepeated [Lrs | letters]Lrsletters to you [wch | which]wchwhich as you dont mention I conclude
you have not [Recd | received]Recdreceived. I Return My [warmeſt | warmest]warmeſtwarmest thanks for your kind [& | and]&and [moſt | most]moſtmost [deſira
ble | desira
ble]
deſira
ble
desira
ble
[Friendſhip | friendship]Friendſhipfriendship [& | and]&and at the Same [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): time]timebut [bluſh | blush]bluſhblush to See what Great Notice
you take of My [Reſpect | respect]Reſpectrespect [& | and]&and [Friendſhip | friendship]Friendſhipfriendship[above] affectionaffection for my Dear [Siſter | sister]Siſtersister[pers1142.ocp]; the
[beſt | best]beſtbest [& | and]&and one of the [moſt | most]moſtmost [deſervg | deserving]deſervgdeserving of women for [wm | whom]wmwhom If I had any Senti
ments of Piety virtue, or Even humanity, I could Not but have
the [moſt | most]moſtmost tender Affection [above] [Reſpect | respect]Reſpectrespect[Reſpect | respect]Reſpectrespect Since I have had the [happineſs | happiness]happineſshappiness of her ac‐
quaintance
for the Sincerity, Integrity, [Tenderneſs | tenderness]Tenderneſstenderness of her heart, the
[diſtinguſhing | distinguishing]diſtinguſhingdistinguishing [accompliſhments | accomplishments]accompliſhmentsaccomplishments of [Mnd | mind]Mndmind God has [bleſsed | blessed]bleſsedblessed her with, her
[undiſsembled | undissembled]undiſsembledundissembled piety, [Conſtant | constant]Conſtantconstant, [Friendſhip | friendship]Friendſhipfriendship [& | and]&and [undeſerved | undeserved]undeſervedundeserved [affectn | affection]affectnaffection [& | and]&and [alſo | also]alſoalso [Con
ſiderg | con
sidering]
Con
ſiderg
con
sidering

[[above] knowgknowg | knowing][above] knowgknowgknowing that Tender Love [ſhe | she]ſheshe [Expreſsd | expressed]Expreſsdexpressed for my dear [Br | brother]Brbrother (Now no More)
[wch | which]wchwhich [Inducd | induced]Inducdinduced her [leve | leave]leveleave her Native Land her Dear [& | and]&and [moſt | most]moſtmost [deſervg | deserving]deſervgdeserving
Friends [& | and]&and come into a far [diſtant | distant]diſtantdistant Land[above] CountryCountry among [Perſons | persons]Perſonspersons Unknown to
her. [Alaſ | Alas]AlaſAlas [wt | what]wtwhat have I done for her? how little [Cd | could]Cdcould I do but [wiſh | wish]wiſhwish
It had been in My Power to Render her as happy as [ſhe | she]ſheshe [Cd | could]Cdcould [wiſh | wish]wiſhwish
to be. long before this Reaches you you will know that [ſhe | she]ſheshe has
changed her [Condn | condition]Condncondition [& | and]&and Situation [& | and]&and Married [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. [Wm | William]WmWilliam Smith[pers0504.ocp] of [N | New]NNew York[place0308.ocp]
a very worthy Gentleman [& | and]&and of high Character Among all virtues
People there [& | and]&and In this Colony[place0048.ocp] to whom he is known; a Gentleman
of ample Fortune [& | and]&and one of his [Majeſties | Majesty's]MajeſtiesMajesty's Council there. there
are [ſome | some]ſomesome [Circumſtances | circumstances]Circumſtancescircumstances [above] connectedconnected [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): which]which I was [illegible]afraid [wd | would]wdwould not be [Agreable | agreeable]Agreableagreeable to her
his Large Family, [& | and]&and the Place. however I own[above] [confeſs | confess]confeſsconfess[confeſs | confess]confeſsconfess upon the whole
I could not but [illegible]thought it [adviſable | advisable]adviſableadvisable for her to comply with the
[Propoſal | proposal]Propoſalproposal, as Providence [Seemd | seemed]Seemdseemed Evidently to Point out [& | and]&and lead the
way [& | and]&and to open a [Proſpect | prospect]Proſpectprospect for her more [Extenſive | extensive]Extenſiveextensive [uſefulneſs | usefulness]uſefulneſsusefulness, [& | and]&and
I hoped[above] [hopg | hoping]hopghoping [alſo | also]alſoalso it [wd | would]wdwould be a means to [diſsipate | dissipate]diſsipatedissipate [ye | the]yethe Gloom [& | and]&and [Melancholly | melancholy]Melanchollymelancholy [wch | which]wchwhich is too apt to Cloud her mind.[hopg | hoping]hopghoping [alſo | also]alſoalso it [wd | would]wdwould be a means to [diſsipate | dissipate]diſsipatedissipate [ye | the]yethe Gloom [& | and]&and [Melancholly | melancholy]Melanchollymelancholy [wch | which]wchwhich is too apt to Cloud her mind. [yt | that]ytthat the Troubles [illegible][above] [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [muſt | must]muſtmust attend][muſt | must]muſtmust attend[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [muſt | must]muſtmust attend][muſt | must]muſtmust attend her Situation [hd | had]hdhad not [illegible] [ye | the]yethe
the uncomfortable [Sollitude | solitude]Sollitudesolitude of her [widdowhood | widowhood]widdowhoodwidowhood. [illegible]Yet I own in [givg | giving]givggiving
that [adviceſg | advising]adviceſgadvising to her[above] her to a compliance [wth | with]wthwith [ye | the]yethe [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [propoſal | proposal]propoſalproposal][propoſal | proposal]propoſalproposalher to a compliance [wth | with]wthwith [ye | the]yethe [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [propoſal | proposal]propoſalproposal][propoſal | proposal]propoſalproposal I was [obligd | obliged]obligdobliged to [illegible][above] go Counter togo Counter to My own [moſt | most]moſtmost [Earneſt | earnest]Earneſtearnest[above] StrongStrong [de
ſires | de
sires]
de
ſires
de
sires
[above] [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [knowg | knowing]knowgknowing [yt | that]ytthat [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): by]by [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Remove]Remove I [muſt | must]muſtmust be][knowg | knowing]knowgknowing [yt | that]ytthat [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): by]by [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Remove]Remove I [muſt | must]muſtmust be[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [knowg | knowing]knowgknowing [yt | that]ytthat [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): by]by [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Remove]Remove I [muſt | must]muſtmust be][knowg | knowing]knowgknowing [yt | that]ytthat [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): by]by [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Remove]Remove I [muſt | must]muſtmust be Deprived My Self of [ſome | some]ſomesome of the [deareſt | dearest]deareſtdearest Comfort [& | and]&and [ſociety | society]ſocietysociety
of my life. [Partg | Parting]PartgParting with her was a Painful [& | and]&and bitter thing one of
the [hardeſt | hardest]hardeſthardest Partings of my Friends I have Ever Experienced. for [tho | though]thothough there
is no Sea [betwixt | between]betwixtbetween us yet I have Never had the Small Pox
[& | and]&and the fear of [illegible]g [ye | the]yethe Infection at New York[place0308.ocp] [whichis | which]whichiswhich is Seldom
Clear of it bars me from the hope of Seeing her. [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): however for]however for[above] butbut the
[Proſpect | prospect]Proſpectprospect of her Comfort [& | and]&and [uſefulneſs | usefulness]uſefulneſsusefulness I [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [wd | would]wdwould][wd | would]wdwould Patiently deny [my Self | myself]my Selfmyself[above] teaches Me [yt | that]ytthat tis my duty to bear Patientlyteaches Me [yt | that]ytthat tis my duty to bear Patiently
the Great [Satiſfaction | satisfaction]Satiſfactionsatisfaction[above] [ye | the]yethe [loſs | loss]loſsloss or want of [yt | that]ytthat [Pleaſure | pleasure]Pleaſurepleasure[ye | the]yethe [loſs | loss]loſsloss or want of [yt | that]ytthat [Pleaſure | pleasure]Pleaſurepleasure I [ſhd | should]ſhdshould [illegible][above] [illegible] have [Enjoyd | enjoyed]Enjoydenjoyed [illegible] life been[illegible] have [Enjoyd | enjoyed]Enjoydenjoyed [illegible] life been [Spndg | spending]Spndgspending [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): have Enjoy]have Enjoy in [ſeeg | seeing]ſeegseeing
her frequently at her own [houſe | house]houſehouse [& | and]&and [ſometimes | sometimes]ſometimessometimes at Mine. May Every
[Bleſsing | blessing]Bleſsingblessing of Life [& | and]&and [Godlineſs | godliness]Godlineſsgodliness Attend her.
It is a [Senſible | sensible]Senſiblesensible Grief Dear Sir that your bodily Infirmities
[ſhould | should]ſhouldshould Prevent the [Executn | execution]Executnexecution of any of the [wiſe | wise]wiſewise [& | and]&and Pious Plans
for [uſefulneſs | usefulness]uſefulneſsusefulness to mankind you are [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): framing]framing from time to time
[& | and]&and [amg | among]amgamong the [Reſt | rest]Reſtrest hinder me from [Recg | receiving]Recgreceiving your Kind [& | and]&and Edifying Letters
I doubt Not Sir but a [wiſe | wise]wiſewise [& | and]&and Good God Makes this one Means
of [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [Rendring | rendering]Rendringrendering][Rendring | rendering]Rendringrendering you more Active [& | and]&and [Servicable | serviceable]Servicableserviceable to the [Km | Kingdom]KmKingdom of [ye | the]yethe Great
Redeemer. to this End you [aſk | ask]aſkask My Poor Prayers [& | and]&and [illegible] a [moſt | most]moſtmost
forcible [& | and]&and delightful argument the [Intereſt | interest]Intereſtinterest I have in yours.
I [moſt | most]moſtmost [hartily | heartily]hartilyheartily thank you [Sr | Sir]SrSir for kind [& | and]&and [dayly | daily]daylydaily Remembrance of
Unworthy Me I beg Your Continuance of that [moſt | most]moſtmost [deſirable | desirable]deſirabledesirable
[Favr | favour]Favrfavour for her

I can with Equal Sincerity, [& | and]&and [honſty | honesty]honſtyhonesty [aſsure | assure]aſsureassure you that no day [[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Brks]Brks | breaks][illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Brks]Brksbreaks
in which I do Not Remember my dear [& | and]&and Good Friend [Dr | Dr.]DrDr. wood[pers0608.ocp]
[& | and]&and Recommend him, [& | and]&and his [deepeſt | deepest]deepeſtdeepest [Intereſts | interests]Intereſtsinterests [& | and]&and life his Precious Life
[& | and]&and [uſefulneſs | usefulness]uſefulneſsusefulness to the Father of Mercies — Dear [ſir | sir]ſirsir may our [Hly | Holy]HlyHoly Father
help us to Continue this Friendly [Chriſtian | Christian]ChriſtianChristian [Intercourſe | intercourse]Intercourſeintercourse [& | and]&and [Correſpondence | correspondence]Correſpondencecorrespondence
by the way of [Hn | Heaven]HnHeaven [& | and]&and [dayly | daily]daylydaily [Meetg | meeting]Meetgmeeting there [ſo | so]ſoso long as we are on
this Side of it. this [favr | favour]favrfavour this [Bleſsing | blessing]Bleſsingblessing of your Kind, [& | and]&and [illegible]
[illegible] Remembrance of Me I Rank Among many others [owg | owing]owgowing to
that [wiſe | wise]wiſewise [& | and]&and Good Providence which [brot | brought]brotbrought my dear [Siſter | sister]Siſtersister[pers1142.ocp] from
her Native Land to this Country. [& | and]&and while She thinks her Life is
[above] [almoſt | almost]almoſtalmost[almoſt | almost]almoſtalmost [uſeleſs | useless]uſeleſsuseless [& | and]&and Spent in vain I [illegible] [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Such]Such Great May [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): bring]bring kind [& | and]&and merciful [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Events]Events
of Providence [Iſsuing | issuing]Iſsuingissuing from it in a very [Extenſive | Extensive]ExtenſiveExtensive Manner, [& | and]&and may God Ren
der her More [& | and]&and More [uſeful | useful]uſefuluseful in proportion to the [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): truest]truest [& | and]&and [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [Enlargd | enlarged]Enlargdenlarged][Enlargd | enlarged]Enlargdenlarged
[deſires | desires]deſiresdesires of his heart. I was [Senſibly | sensibly]Senſiblysensibly [touchd | touched]touchdtouched with the Intima
tion you gave of an [uneaſineſs | uneasiness]uneaſineſsuneasiness [& | and]&and Clamour [Existg | existing]Existgexisting in the Nation
by [ye | the]yethe Tax or Additional Duty on beer or ale, I have not heard
how the [Iſsue | issue]Iſsueissue of it was or [wt | what]wtwhat Influence it had on the Election
of Members of [Parliamt | Parliament]ParliamtParliament but hope the [beſt | best]beſtbest [& | and]&and that the Kind Pro
vidence which has for So long[above] Such aSuch a time [paſt | past]paſtpast [overuld | overruled]overuldoverruled the [Publick | public]Publickpublic
Affairs in [ſuch | such]ſuchsuch a [wiſe | wise]wiſewise, Steady, [& | and]&and kind manner has Given you a
[wiſe | wise]wiſewise [& | and]&and Good [Parliamt | Parliament]ParliamtParliament. we In [theſe | these]theſethese [above] [Diſtant | distant]Diſtantdistant[Diſtant | distant]Diſtantdistant Regions of the [Brittiſh | British]BrittiſhBritish Empire
Share [illegible][above] [ye | the]yethe [Genl | general]Genlgeneral[ye | the]yethe [Genl | general]Genlgeneral [illegible] in the Happy [Occaſion | occasion]Occaſionoccasion of So Good a King[pers0305.ocp] [ſo | so]ſoso
[Excellt | excellent]Excelltexcellent [& | and]&and amiable a Man [above] to [ye | the]yethe [illegible] of his [illegible]to [ye | the]yethe [illegible] of his [illegible] we feel the [Pleaſure | pleasure]Pleaſurepleasure of the Delight
ful [Proſpect | prospect]Proſpectprospect of his Long [& | and]&and happy Reign [& | and]&and [dayly | daily]daylydaily Send up our
ardent vows to heaven for the [beſt | best]beſtbest [bleſsings | blessings]bleſsingsblessings upon him the Queen[pers0818.ocp]
[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): his Amiable]his Amiable [Conſort | Consort]ConſortConsort [& | and]&and that the Nation [& | and]&and all its [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): dependences]dependences
may in him [& | and]&and his Royal [houſe | house]houſehouse Enjoy the [moſt | most]moſtmost [diſtinguiſhing | distinguishing]diſtinguiſhingdistinguishing [Proſ
perity | pros
perity]
Proſ
perity
pros
perity
[& | and]&and future [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Ages]Ages Call him [bleſsd | blessed]bleſsdblessed. God has Truly done Great
Things for the Nation [& | and]&and for us in America[place0003.ocp], things which [tho | though]thothough we
long [& | and]&and ardently [wiſhed | wished]wiſhedwished yet Scarce dare we hope to [ſee | see]ſeesee. The [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [Redemtion | redemption]Redemtionredemption][Redemtion | redemption]Redemtionredemption
of Canada [deliverence | deliverance]deliverencedeliverance from [ye | the]yethe [moſt | most]moſtmost [falſe | false]falſefalse Cruel Perfidious Enemies
that Ever were let [looſe | loose]looſeloose upon Mankind. how wonderful a mercy if
God [Pleaſe | Please]PleaſePlease to Incline [ye | the]yethe [ht | heart]htheart of the King[pers0305.ocp] [& | and]&and his [Miniſters | ministers]Miniſtersministers to keep
North America[place0170.ocp] [& | and]&and never let His [Aquiſns | acquisitions]Aquiſnsacquisitions [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): made by [ye | the]yethe King[pers0305.ocp]s own]made by [ye | the]yethe King[pers0305.ocp]s own here
Return to [ſuch | such]ſuchsuch bloody [& | and]&and deceitful Men as have been [ye | the]yethe Scourge of
this Country in all [Paſt | past]Paſtpast times [& | and]&and [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [Aſ | as]Aſas soon][Aſ | as]Aſas soon as [tis | it is]tisit is in [y[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [r][r | their]y[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [r][rtheir Power
will Extirpate [& | and]&and Ruin the [Engliſh | English]EngliſhEnglish here. The Lord has done Great
Things for us whereof we are Glad. I [wiſh | wish]wiſhwish I could [ſay | say]ſaysay for which
we are thankful; [& | and]&and that the [Goodneſs | goodness]Goodneſsgoodness of [G | God]GGod had led us to Repentance.
what can I Say here? but take up your Lamentation [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): our]our [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [Brittains | Brittons]BrittainsBrittons][Brittains | Brittons]BrittainsBrittons
Still we are a very [wickd | wicked]wickdwicked People vice abounds [ye | the]yethe Power of [Godlineſs | Godliness]GodlineſsGodliness
is much [loſt | lost]loſtlost from Among us. we Sadly feel one of [ye | the]yethe [Diſmal | dismal]Diſmaldismal [Con
ſequences | con
sequences]
Con
ſequences
con
sequences
of war the Corruption of our Morals. the unhappy Ex
ample Exhibited to us [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [ſoon | soon]ſoonsoon][ſoon | soon]ſoonsoon to be [ye | the]yethe [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Means of]Means of [Increaſg | increasing]Increaſgincreasing [illegible]of
Extravagance, Luxury, [& | and]&and love of Show, vanity [& | and]&and [Senſual | sensual]Senſualsensual [Pleaſure | pleasure]Pleaſurepleasure
[& | and]&and much [Profaneſs | profaneness]Profaneſsprofaneness. [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Sad]Sad Returns are [theſe | these]theſethese to the divine [& | and]&and Glori‐
ous [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Author]Author of [ye | the]yethe [diſtinguiſhg | distinguishing]diſtinguiſhgdistinguishing [Favrs | favours]Favrsfavours [Pourd | poured]Pourdpoured upon us. I [Muſt | must]Muſtmust
[Intreat | entreat]Intreatentreat your Fervent Prayers for us [& | and]&and [thoſe | those]thoſethose of All your Praying
Friends. there Seem to appear Some hopeful [Glimmergſ | glimmerings]Glimmergſglimmerings among
[ye | the]yethe Indians in [Sevl | several]Sevlseveral [diſtant | distant]diſtantdistant Parts. The [Comiſssioners | Commissioners]ComiſssionersCommissioners at [N | New]NNew York[org0069.ocp]
last [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Supmmer]Supmmer upon a motion made to y[illegible] sent up one [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. [Samſon | Samson]SamſonSamson
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp]
a Mohegan Indian Educated [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): here]here [Chiefy | chiefly]Chiefychiefly [udr | under]udrunder [ye | the]yethe [Inſtructi[below] onon | instruction]Inſtructi[below] ononinstruction

of [ye | the]yethe [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Wheelock[pers0036.ocp] one of the [miniſters | ministers]miniſtersministers in this Town[place0122.ocp]) [& | and]&and was [ordaind | ordained]ordaindordained
by a [Preſbitery | Presbytery]PreſbiteryPresbytery on Long [Iſland | Island]IſlandIsland[place0129.ocp]. a Pious Man [& | and]&and [Zelous | zealous]Zelouszealous to [ſerve | serve]ſerveserve his Country
men [& | and]&and promote the knowledge of [Xy | Christianity ]Xy Christianity [amng | among]amngamong them. he has been here [ſince | since]ſincesince
his Return; [& | and]&and Informs me that he has been [Amng | among]Amngamong the Oneida Indians[org0075.ocp]
[& | and]&and [Tuſcarora[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): es]es | Tuscaroras]Tuſcarora[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): es]esTuscaroras[org0104.ocp] who border upon them [& | and]&and are much [Intermxd | intermixed]Intermxdintermixed with
them. was very kindly [Recd | received]Recdreceived by them [& | and]&and he thinks [firſt | first]firſtfirst [& | and]&and [laſt | last]laſtlast he
had above 500 [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): hearers]hearers [& | and]&and there are Many who appear very [deſi
rous | desi
rous]
deſi
rous
desi
rous
to be Acquainted with [ye | the]yethe [Chriſtian | Christian]ChriſtianChristian [Relign | religion]Relignreligion [& | and]&and have Sendt by him
to [deſire | desire]deſiredesire the [Commiſsidoners | Commissioners]CommiſsidonersCommissioners[org0069.ocp] to Send Among them Some [above] aa [Miſsionary | missionary]Miſsionarymissionary
who can Inform them the [illegible] [above] whatwhat the [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): bible]bible [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [iſ | is]iſis][iſ | is]iſis [& | and]&and [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): lead]lead them to [ye | the]yethe [above] [illegible][illegible] [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [ye | the]yethe Great [ſav.r | Saviour]ſav.rSaviour][ye | the]yethe Great [ſav.r | Saviour]ſav.rSaviour
[knowledg | knowledge]knowledgknowledge of [ye | the]yethe Great Saviour. they [deſire | desire]deſiredesire him to tell the [Commſsrs | Commissioners]CommſsrsCommissioners[org0069.ocp]
[yt | that]ytthat they have [turnd | turned]turndturned their backs upon their former Idolatry [& | and]&and devil
[worſship | worship]worſshipworship [& | and]&and Never Intend to look that way [Agn | again]Agnagain but their Faces are
now [turnd | turned]turndturned towards [Chriſt | Christ]ChriſtChrist the [Savr | Saviour]SavrSaviour [& | and]&and they are [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): very [Deſirous | desirous]Deſirousdesirous]very [Deſirous | desirous]Deſirousdesirous [above] [lookg | looking]lookglooking for him [& | and]&and Greatly [deſire | desire]deſiredesire[lookg | looking]lookglooking for him [& | and]&and Greatly [deſire | desire]deſiredesire to
find him [& | and]&and his Religion. we are [Alſo | also]Alſoalso [Informd | informed]Informdinformed that there
are [ſome | some]ſomesome of [ye | the]yethe [Suſquehanna | Susquehannock]SuſquehannaSusquehannock Indians[org0162.ocp] who are [diſpoſd | disposed]diſpoſddisposed to [illegible][illegible][guess (h-dawnd): live]live
[above] [illegible] to[illegible] to the [Goſpel | Gospel]GoſpelGospel. May God open a Great door [& | and]&and Effectual to let in the
knowledge of his [ſon | son]ſonson [Jeſus | Jesus]JeſusJesus [Chriſt | Christ]ChriſtChrist into [ye | the]yethe hearts of the Poor [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): bereft]bereft
[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Savages]Savages. [& | and]&and oh that our [abuſe | abuse]abuſeabuse of the [Goſpel | Gospel]GoſpelGospel May not pro‐
voke him to lure us to a Dull formality nor to a depar
ture from [illegible] the doctrines of Grace or the Main Principals of
[Calviniſm | Calvinism]CalviniſmCalvinism for [illegible] [above] [illegible][illegible] [illegible] [illegible] that in Proportion to
[ſuch | such]ſuchsuch a departure we [ſink | sink]ſinksink, [& | and]&and are gone. I [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [Joyn | join]Joynjoin][Joyn | join]Joynjoin My [Earneſt | earnest]Earneſtearnest prayers
that God May Return to you [illegible] [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [deepg | deepening]deepgdeepening][deepg | deepening]deepgdeepening Religion in the
Congregations of the [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [Deſenters | Dissenters]DeſentersDissenters][Deſenters | Dissenters]DeſentersDissenters Multiply the [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Seed Sown]Seed Sown [& | and]&and [Increaſe | increase]Increaſeincrease
all [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): hints]hints of [Righteouſneſs | righteousness]Righteouſneſsrighteousness among you.
our hearts [illegible] [above] Since I began [ye | the]yethe [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [writg | writing]writgwriting of [yſ | yours]yſyours][writg | writing]writgwriting of [yſ | yours]yſyoursSince I began [ye | the]yethe [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [writg | writing]writgwriting of [yſ | yours]yſyours][writg | writing]writgwriting of [yſ | yours]yſyours have Made [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Sad]Sad by [ye | the]yethe News [brot | brought]brotbrought by the Packet
boat [laſt | last]laſtlast week to [N | New]NNew York[place0308.ocp] that [above] [ye | the]yethe Great[ye | the]yethe Great [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Pitt[pers1661.ocp] has [Reſignd | resigned]Reſigndresigned his offices
New England[place0158.ocp], [& | and]&and America[place0003.ocp] will be [filld | filled]filldfilled with Trembling on this
Important Event [fearg | fearing]feargfearing the French will [Agn | again]Agnagain Gain the [Poſseſsn | possession]Poſseſsnpossession
of [yt | that]ytthat Country [& | and]&and be in A Capacity to be the Scourge [& | and]&and Plague
of the [Brittiſh | British]BrittiſhBritish [Settle ments | settlements]Settle mentssettlements here. May that divinely [wiſe | wise]wiſewise [& | and]&and
all Powerful being who Rules the world Guide, [& | and]&and direct the
King[pers0305.ocp], [& | and]&and [Govt | Government]GovtGovernment [& | and]&and [Preſerve | preserve]Preſervepreserve the Nation from [Agn | again]Agnagain [beg | being]begbeing [above] [agn | again]agnagain[agn | again]agnagain the
dupes of French Craft, [& | and]&and Perfidy, [& | and]&and [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [looſing | losing]looſinglosing][looſing | losing]looſinglosing the blood, [& | and]&and [Treaſure | treasure]Treaſuretreasure
Spent to humble [yt | that]ytthat [illegible][above] [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Haughty]Haughty[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Haughty]Haughty [& | and]&and Ambitious Nation o May we not
Throw away what God has given us you Cant Conceive the
[diſtreſs | distress]diſtreſsdistress [yt | that]ytthat Such [illegible] would bring upon Poor [N | New]NNew England[place0158.ocp].
but if God [ſhd | should]ſhdshould So order it we [muſt | must]muſtmust Say the Lord is Right[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): e]e
ous our Sins [& | and]&and Ingratitude [deſerve | deserve]deſervedeserve it. ‡
[left] ‡ if after all our [Raiſd | raised]Raiſdraised hopes [G | God]GGod [pleaſes | pleases]pleaſespleases to [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): let us]let us [ſink | sink]ſinksink [agn | again]agnagain [under | under]underunder [ye | the]yethe dark [Proſpects | prospects]Proſpectsprospects of [illegible] of trouble like [ye | the]yethe former [illegible] [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [diſmal | dismal]diſmaldismal][diſmal | dismal]diſmaldismal
I beg [yr | your]yryour Prayers [yt | that]ytthat [G[illegible] | God]G[illegible]God [wd | would]wdwould to [illegible] our [Poſterity | posterity]Poſterityposterity [wth | with]wthwith him [& | and]&and be content [yt | that]ytthat he [ſhd | should]ſhdshould [illegible] as he [gap: hole] [& | and]&and [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): taken in]taken in to [him [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): ſelf]ſelf | himself]him [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): ſelf]ſelfhimself [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): from]from
[ye | the]yethe [illegible] to Come
‡ if after all our [Raiſd | raised]Raiſdraised hopes [G | God]GGod [pleaſes | pleases]pleaſespleases to [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): let us]let us [ſink | sink]ſinksink [agn | again]agnagain [under | under]underunder [ye | the]yethe dark [Proſpects | prospects]Proſpectsprospects of [illegible] of trouble like [ye | the]yethe former [illegible] [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [diſmal | dismal]diſmaldismal][diſmal | dismal]diſmaldismal
I beg [yr | your]yryour Prayers [yt | that]ytthat [G[illegible] | God]G[illegible]God [wd | would]wdwould to [illegible] our [Poſterity | posterity]Poſterityposterity [wth | with]wthwith him [& | and]&and be content [yt | that]ytthat he [ſhd | should]ſhdshould [illegible] as he [gap: hole] [& | and]&and [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): taken in]taken in to [him [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): ſelf]ſelf | himself]him [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): ſelf]ſelfhimself [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): from]from
[ye | the]yethe [illegible] to Come
you will Never
[Ceaſe | cease]Ceaſecease [yr | your]yryour Prayers to the God of our [Saln | salvation]Salnsalvation [illegible] to be with [& | and]&and with [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): yours]yours
if after all our [Raiſd | raised]Raiſdraised hopes God lets us Sink [Agn | again]Agnagain under [ye | the]yethe Dark
[Proſpects | prospects]Proſpectsprospects of [illegible]g [illegible] [ye | the]yethe [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): former]former may God help us
to [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Leave]Leave our [illegible] with him [& | and]&and take us to [himſelf | himself]himſelfhimself [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): before]before
[illegible] [illegible] [above] the divine [Spt | Spirit]SptSpirit [illegible] [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): me to]me to [illegible] together with you in My Prayersthe divine [Spt | Spirit]SptSpirit [illegible] [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): me to]me to [illegible] together with you in My Prayers
[above] [yt | that]ytthat we may be[yt | that]ytthat we may be [Dayly | daily]Daylydaily [illegible] [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): more [& | and]&and more]more [& | and]&and more to Go to [Jeſus | Jesus]JeſusJesus [& | and]&and [ye | the]yethe Spirit of [ye | the]yethe [Fleſh | flesh]Fleſhflesh
made [⅌fect | perfect]⅌fectperfect [& | and]&and meet together in the Joy [& | and]&and Peace of heaven. My
wife[pers1763.ocp] [& | and]&and [childn | children]childnchildren [Joyn | join]Joynjoin in [Moſt | Most]MoſtMost [Reſpectful | Respectful]ReſpectfulRespectful Salutations to you [& | and]&and
dear [Mrſ | Mrs.]MrſMrs. wood[pers0659.ocp], [& | and]&and your dear dr[pers0654.ocp] [& | and]&and her [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. [Conſort | Consort]ConſortConsort[pers0653.ocp] [whoſe | whose]whoſewhose Name
you dont mention.

[Closer]

[Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. [Hond | Honoured]HondHonoured dear [Sr | Sir]SrSir I am Your [Moſt | Most]MoſtMost [Affecte | Affectionate]AffecteAffectionate Friend [Br | Brother ]BrBrother [& | and]&and
humble [Servt | Servant]ServtServant

[Solon | Solomon]SolonSolomon [W.ms | Williams]W.msWilliams[pers0039.ocp].

[Trailer]
[der | December]derDecember 12 1761[1761-12-12]
Copy of My [Lr | letter]Lrletter to [Dr | Dr.]DrDr. Wood[pers0608.ocp]
of Norwich[place0276.ocp] in [Anſwer | answer]Anſweranswer to his
of [Feb: | February]Feb:February 16 [laſt | last]laſtlast[1761-02-16].

Document Summary

People identified in this document:

id Text in document Role in header Authorized Name
pers1142.ocp Siſter sister mentioned Smith, Elizabeth (née Scott)
pers0504.ocp W m William Smith mentioned Smith, William Sr.
pers0608.ocp D r Dr. wood recipient Wood, Samuel
pers0305.ocp King mentioned Frederick, George William
pers0818.ocp the Queen mentioned Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
pers0305.ocp the King mentioned Frederick, George William
pers0030.ocp Samſon Samson Occum Occom mentioned Occom, Samson
pers0036.ocp M r Mr. Wheelock mentioned Wheelock, Eleazar
pers1661.ocp M r Mr. Pitt mentioned Pitt
pers1763.ocp wife mentioned Williams, Mary (née Porter)
pers0659.ocp Mr ſ Mrs. wood mentioned Wood
pers0654.ocp your dear d r mentioned Newton, Mary (née Wood)
pers0653.ocp Rev d Rev. Conſort Consort mentioned Newton, Samuel
pers0039.ocp Solo n Solomon W. ms Williams writer Williams, Solomon
pers0608.ocp D r Dr. Wood recipient Wood, Samuel

Places identified in this document:

id Text in document Authorized Name
place0122.ocp Leb Lebanon Lebanon
place0308.ocp N New York New York City
place0048.ocp this Colony Connecticut
place0308.ocp New York New York City
place0003.ocp America America
place0170.ocp North America North America
place0122.ocp this Town Lebanon
place0129.ocp Long Iſland Island Long Island
place0158.ocp New England New England
place0158.ocp N New England New England
place0276.ocp Norwich Norwich

Organizations identified in this document:

id Text in document Authorized Name
org0069.ocp ComiſssionersCommissioners at NNew York The New York/New Jersey Board of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge
org0075.ocp Oneida Indians Oneida Nation
org0104.ocp TuſcaroraesTuscaroras Tuscarora Nation
org0069.ocp the CommiſsidonersCommissioners The New York/New Jersey Board of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge
org0069.ocp the CommſsrsCommissioners The New York/New Jersey Board of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge
org0162.ocp SuſquehannaSusquehannock Indians Susquehannock Indians

Dates identified in this document:

Standard Form Text
1761-12-12 DecrDecember 12. 1761
1761-02-16 16 FebFebruary laſtlast
1761-09 SeptrSeptember
1761-12-12 derDecember 12 1761
1761-02-16 Feb:February 16 laſtlast

Regularized text:

Type Original Regularized
modernization laſt last
modernization Plea
ſure
plea
sure
modernization Thankfulneſs thankfulness
modernization Goodneſs goodness
modernization Friendſhip friendship
modernization warmeſt warmest
modernization moſt most
modernization deſira
ble
desira
ble
modernization bluſh blush
modernization Reſpect respect
modernization Siſter sister
modernization beſt best
modernization happineſs happiness
modernization Tenderneſs tenderness
variation diſtinguſhing distinguishing
modernization accompliſhments accomplishments
modernization bleſsed blessed
modernization undiſsembled undissembled
modernization Conſtant constant
modernization undeſerved undeserved
modernization alſo also
modernization ſhe she
variation Inducd induced
variation leve leave
modernization diſtant distant
modernization Perſons persons
modernization Alaſ Alas
modernization wiſh wish
modernization Mr Mr.
variation Majeſties Majesty's
modernization ſome some
modernization Circumſtances circumstances
variation Agreable agreeable
modernization confeſs confess
modernization adviſable advisable
modernization Propoſal proposal
variation Seemd seemed
modernization Proſpect prospect
modernization Extenſive extensive
modernization uſefulneſs usefulness
modernization diſsipate dissipate
modernization ye the
variation Melancholly melancholy
modernization yt that
modernization muſt must
variation Sollitude solitude
variation widdowhood widowhood
modernization propoſal proposal
variation obligd obliged
modernization Earneſt earnest
modernization de
ſires
de
sires
modernization deareſt dearest
modernization ſociety society
modernization hardeſt hardest
variation tho though
variation betwixt between
variation my Self myself
modernization Satiſfaction satisfaction
modernization loſs loss
modernization Pleaſure pleasure
modernization houſe house
modernization ſometimes sometimes
modernization Bleſsing blessing
modernization Godlineſs godliness
modernization Senſible sensible
modernization ſhould should
modernization wiſe wise
modernization Reſt rest
variation Rendring rendering
variation Servicable serviceable
modernization aſk ask
modernization Intereſt interest
variation hartily heartily
variation dayly daily
modernization deſirable desirable
variation honſty honesty
modernization aſsure assure
modernization Dr Dr.
modernization deepeſt deepest
modernization Intereſts interests
modernization ſir sir
modernization Chriſtian Christian
modernization Intercourſe intercourse
modernization Correſpondence correspondence
modernization ſo so
variation brot brought
modernization almoſt almost
modernization uſeleſs useless
modernization Iſsuing issuing
modernization Extenſive Extensive
modernization uſeful useful
variation Enlargd enlarged
modernization deſires desires
modernization Senſibly sensibly
variation touchd touched
modernization uneaſineſs uneasiness
modernization Iſsue issue
modernization paſt past
variation overuld overruled
variation Publick public
modernization ſuch such
modernization theſe these
modernization Diſtant distant
variation Brittiſh British
modernization Occaſion occasion
modernization bleſsings blessings
modernization Conſort Consort
modernization diſtinguiſhing distinguishing
modernization Proſ
perity
pros
perity
variation bleſsd blessed
modernization wiſhed wished
modernization ſee see
variation Redemtion redemption
variation deliverence deliverance
modernization falſe false
modernization looſe loose
modernization Pleaſe Please
modernization Miniſters ministers
modernization Paſt past
modernization Aſ as
variation tis it is
modernization y[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [r][r their
modernization Engliſh English
modernization ſay say
variation Brittains Brittons
variation wickd wicked
modernization Godlineſs Godliness
modernization loſt lost
modernization Diſmal dismal
modernization Con
ſequences
con
sequences
modernization ſoon soon
modernization Senſual sensual
variation Profaneſs profaneness
variation Pourd poured
modernization Muſt must
variation Intreat entreat
modernization thoſe those
modernization Samſon Samson
variation Occum Occom
modernization Inſtructi[below] onon instruction
modernization Revd Rev.
modernization miniſters ministers
variation ordaind ordained
variation Preſbitery Presbytery
modernization Iſland Island
variation Zelous zealous
modernization ſerve serve
modernization ſince since
variation Tuſcarora[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): es]es Tuscaroras
variation Intermxd intermixed
modernization firſt first
modernization deſi
rous
desi
rous
modernization deſire desire
modernization Commiſsidoners Commissioners
modernization Miſsionary missionary
modernization iſ is
variation turnd turned
variation worſship worship
modernization Chriſt Christ
modernization Deſirous desirous
modernization Alſo also
variation Suſquehanna Susquehannock
variation diſpoſd disposed
modernization Goſpel Gospel
modernization ſon son
modernization Jeſus Jesus
modernization abuſe abuse
modernization Calviniſm Calvinism
modernization ſink sink
variation Joyn join
variation Deſenters Dissenters
modernization Increaſe increase
modernization Righteouſneſs righteousness
variation filld filled
variation Settle ments settlements
modernization Preſerve preserve
variation looſing losing
modernization Treaſure treasure
modernization diſtreſs distress
modernization deſerve deserve
variation Raiſd raised
modernization pleaſes pleases
modernization under under
modernization Proſpects prospects
modernization diſmal dismal
modernization Poſterity posterity
variation him [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): ſelf]ſelf himself
modernization Ceaſe cease
modernization himſelf himself
variation Dayly daily
modernization Fleſh flesh
modernization Moſt Most
modernization Reſpectful Respectful
modernization Mrſ Mrs.
modernization whoſe whose
modernization Anſwer answer

Expanded abbreviations:

Abbreviation Expansion
Leb Lebanon
Decr December
Hond Honoured
& and
Favr favour
Feb February
Recd received
wth with
Septr September
Repeatd repeated
Lrs letters
wch which
deſervg deserving
wm whom
Mnd mind
affectn affection
Con
ſiderg
con
sidering
[above] knowgknowg knowing
Expreſsd expressed
Br brother
wt what
Cd could
Condn condition
Wm William
N New
wd would
hopg hoping
hd had
givg giving
adviceſg advising
Partg Parting
ſhd should
Enjoyd enjoyed
Spndg spending
ſeeg seeing
Executn execution
amg among
Recg receiving
Km Kingdom
Sr Sir
[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Brks]Brks breaks
Hly Holy
Hn Heaven
Meetg meeting
favr favour
owg owing
Existg existing
Parliamt Parliament
Genl general
Excellt excellent
ht heart
Aquiſns acquisitions
G God
Increaſg increasing
diſtinguiſhg distinguishing
Favrs favours
Glimmergſ glimmerings
Sevl several
Chiefy chiefly
udr under
Xy Christianity
amng among
Amng among
Relign religion
ſav.r Saviour
knowledg knowledge
Commſsrs Commissioners
Agn again
Savr Saviour
lookg looking
Informd informed
deepg deepening
writg writing
yſ yours
Reſignd resigned
fearg fearing
Poſseſsn possession
Govt Government
beg being
agn again
yr your
Saln salvation
Spt Spirit
⅌fect perfect
childn children
Affecte Affectionate
Br Brother
Servt Servant
Solon Solomon
W.ms Williams
der December
Lr letter
Feb: February

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 167)
Number of people/places/organizations with unknown keys: 0 (out of 37)
Number of "add" tags with unknown 'place' attributes: 0 (out of 35)
Mixed case attribute values in header (potential error): 0 (out of 140)