Robert Clelland, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1762 March 12
12 March 1762[1762-03-12]
ms number762212
[note (type: abstract): Clelland writes that Ben Uncas is given over to drunkeness and wants undesirables to settle on Mohegan land. He suggests that Wheelock should encourage Occom to use his influence with the Sachem.][note (type: handwriting): Formal handwriting is small and stylized, yet mostly clear and legible.][note (type: paper): Large sheet folded in half to make four pages is in fair condition, with light-to-moderate staining, creasing and wear that results in a minor loss of text.][note (type: ink): Black-brown.][note (type: noteworthy): There are several underlinings that appear to have been added at a later, likely 19th-century, date; these underlinings have not been included in the transcription. Clelland's intention with regard to the word "Guardines" is uncertain, and so it has been left unmodified in the modernized transcription.]
Persistent Identifier
[Opener]
[N | New]NNew London[place0164.ocp]
March [12th | 12th]12th12th 1762[1762-03-12]
[Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. Sir
Having [opertunety | opportunity]opertunetyopportunity of my good friendd [Aſpow | Ashpo]AſpowAshpo[pers0002.ocp], I could not be [restrain’d | restrained]restrain’drestrained from troubling you with a few lines, as to our present Circumstances in
Mohegan[place0143.ocp], Our truly good and worthy [Gentln | gentlemen]Gentlngentlemen Guardines to this [trible | tribe]tribletribe is about [Leaſing | leasing]Leaſingleasing some of Lands, all of them is determined that none shall be [tennants | tenants]tennantstenants here, but [thoſe | those]thoſethose that are men [freindly | friendly]freindlyfriendly to our ministry [& | and]&and willing to Support the [Gospell | Gospel]GospellGospel amongst us, men that will both by example and [Councill | council]Councillcouncil promote religion, virtue, Sobriety, [& | and]&and industry amongst our natives; —
Our [Sechem | sachem]Sechemsachem[pers0549.ocp] and 2 more of his [Councill | council]Councillcouncil are for men that are enemies to our worthy minister and would (in their
power) [strarve | starve]strarvestarve all the Godly ministers in the Land, men that Deny our Christian Sabbath; A
standing [Gospell | Gospel]GospellGospel ministry and the Christian Sabbath, seems to be the mark [& | and]&and Butt many of our Neighbours shoot at, I trust the Great King of ^[above] his^his Church, will protect [& | and]&and Defend and [Constent=ly | constantly]Constent=lyconstantly provide this Land with a Learned Converted [& | and]&and Converting ministry
I am [Sorrie | sorry]Sorriesorry to Say our [Sechem | sachem]Sechemsachem[pers0549.ocp] grows [worſe | worse]worſeworse
[& | and]&and
[worſe | worse]worſeworse, [illegible] Drinking very much [increaſes | increases]increaſesincreases upon him, [& | and]&and
[therby | thereby]therbythereby has got himself much out of [Creditt | credit]Credittcredit, He is told he is a free people, [& | and]&and none can restrain him from Drink [&c | etc.]&cetc. and indeed he goes on contrary to the repeated reproofs of [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Jewett[pers0023.ocp]’ [& | and]&and others and against warm [& | and]&and affecting Letters from 2 of his [overſeers | overseers]overſeersoverseers, But [Despiſes | despises]Despiſesdespises all admonition [& | and]&and regards neither the Laws of God or man. He is a Dead weight against every
thing that is good amongst us
King Ben[pers0549.ocp] is g about Sending over for
[mr | Mr.]mrMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] to [aſsist | assist]aſsistassist in [geting | getting]getinggetting Quakers [&c | etc.]&cetc. on the Land, I [perswade | persuade]perswadepersuade
[my Self | myself]my Selfmyself
[mr | Mr.]mrMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] is a man of better
[sence | sense]sencesense
[then | than]thenthan to join in such an affair, so says [mr | Mr.]mrMr. Jewett[pers0023.ocp], so says our good
[overſeers | overseers]overſeersoverseers, if he [interpoſes | interposes]interpoſesinterposes it will be very affecting to many of [mr | Mr.]mrMr. Jewetts[pers0023.ocp] Godly
[parishoners | parishioners]parishonersparishioners who has given in a Memorial against such men to our guar=:dines,
as to further particulars, the Bearer can fully inform you —
It is the expectation of [Esqr | Esq.]EsqrEsq. Adam’s[pers0046.ocp] (and [mr | Mr.]mrMr. Jewett[pers0023.ocp] who has wrote you) and who both desired me to write [alſo | also]alſoalso, and had not the Bearer been going Directly to you should waited on you [my Self | myself]my Selfmyself, I say it is their expectation that you should write [mr | Mr.]mrMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] to [uſe | use]uſeuse his [intrest | interest]intrestinterest with Ben[pers0549.ocp]
[&c | etc.]&cetc. not to contradict the [overſeers | overseers]overſeersoverseers, for their Heart is [sett | set]settset for the Good of the tribe, [Theſe | these]Theſethese men the [Sechem | sachem]Sechemsachem[pers0549.ocp] is for, has [sett | set]settset him against [mr | Mr.]mrMr. Jewett[pers0023.ocp]
[& | and]&and I and his [over‐ſeers | over‐seers]over‐ſeersover‐seers
[alſo | also]alſoalso, I trust you will see it proper to write a Letter for [mr | Mr.]mrMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp]
[& | and]&and the [illegible: [guess (h-dawnd): >[reathar | rather]reatharrather] >[reathar | rather]reatharrather] that [mr | Mr.]mrMr. Jewett[pers0023.ocp] will be at Boston[place0013.ocp], when [mr | Mr.]mrMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] comes to
Mohegan[place0143.ocp] — as to our [freind | friend]freindfriend
[Aſpow | Ashpo]AſpowAshpo[pers0002.ocp]
[tho | though]thothough he [Differd | differed]Differddiffered as ^[above] to^to church Government for==merly, yet
I [lov’d | loved]lov’dloved him, as a man of solid [sence | sense]sencesense, and often [converſed | conversed]converſedconversed with him and [uſed | used]uſedused to say he had so much reason [& | and]&and sound Judgement, that he would see his mistake, [& | and]&and I believe he no sooner [seed | saw]seedsaw it but he acknowledged, in [opp[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd):
oſi]
oſi:tion | opposition]opp[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd):
oſi]
oſi:tionopposition to all the clamour [& | and]&and reflections that has been [unjuſtly | unjustly]unjuſtlyunjustly cast on him, He — with the greatest [Sedateneſs | sedateness]Sedateneſssedateness Answered all the calumny [& | and]&and accusations, his — people or [accuſers | accusers]accuſersaccusers laid against him, He with an [undanted | undaunted]undantedundaunted, Christian, meek, spirit, not only bears patiently, But even [liek | like]lieklike a Hero [Despiſed | despised]Despiſeddespised
[& | and]&and
[Despiſes | despises]Despiſesdespises their bitter and severe [& | and]&and unchristian reflections — turn over
[Aſpow | Ashpo]AſpowAshpo[pers0002.ocp] is a man the most [examplary | exemplary]examplaryexemplary of any in the [feilds | fields]feildsfields
[illegible]none in it such a head of a family for
reading Gods word before them His Knowledge in Scripture is
[Conciderable | considerable]Conciderableconsiderable and I trust he will be of great Service amongst his Brethren Acc==ording to ^[above] the^the flesh, may God be [pleaſed | pleased]pleaſedpleased to open a Door for his [uſefullneſs | usefulness]uſefullneſsusefulness, He as well as [mr | Mr.]mrMr. Jewett[pers0023.ocp]
[& | and]&and I suffers the [displeaſure | displeasure]displeaſuredispleasure of the [Sechem | sachem]Sechemsachem[pers0549.ocp], But he is [impoſed | imposed]impoſedimposed upon
I could be of great Service here if [duely | duly]duelyduly encouraged by the Children’s regular attendance, I am a
poor imperfected Creature, But I can [truely | truly]truelytruly say to the utmost of my
[abilitys | abilities]abilitysabilities skill and prudence have I exerted [my Self | myself]my Selfmyself amongst them, as doth the [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev.
[mr | Mr.]mrMr. Jewett[pers0023.ocp], they are a people exalted to Heaven in point of [priveledges | privileges]priveledgesprivileges, but most of them [tredd | tread]treddtread them under foot, They many of them [Isay | [guess (): essay]essay]Isay[guess (): essay]essay after the example of their poor [Sechem | sachem]Sechemsachem[pers0549.ocp] think [them=^[above] =selves^=selves | themselves]them=^[above] =selves^=selvesthemselves Free to Serve their [appitite | appetite]appititeappetite
[& | and]&and wont be [controll’d | controlled]controll’dcontrolled I have only one word further to trouble you with leaving you to further
Particu=lars to the Bearer, and that is that our [Gentlm | Gentlemen]GentlmGentlemen Guardines are determined to [sett | set]settset apart a Small [Lott | lot]Lottlot for the School:master. which Ben[pers0549.ocp]
[& | and]&and the forementioned 2 [Counſe=lors | counsellors]Counſe=lorscounsellors
[oppoſes | opposes]oppoſesopposes, But I [suppoſe | suppose]suppoſesuppose they will [doe | do]doedo it as they are all [spiritted | spirited]spirittedspirited for the thing
[I | If]IIf you think it proper to mention it to [mr | Mr.]mrMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] (if you write) I shall be [thank==full | thankful]thank==fullthankful. It is melancholy to see the Life King
Ben[pers0549.ocp] lives, God Change him
May God be [pleaſed | pleased]pleaſedpleased to Lengthen out your valuable [& | and]&and precious Life to see further of the good fruits of your indefatigable [& | and]&and
[unweared | unwearied]unwearedunwearied Labours for christianizing the [Saveges | savages]Savegessavages in the Land, I Believe you will have a high Seat in the [Houſe | house]Houſehouse not made with hands, a great Degree of Glory, you are now acting your part
so well that at your exit [& | and]&and leaving this Stage of action the Spectator’s will clap their hands,
you will have a [generall | general]generallgeneral, [applauſe | applause]applauſeapplause, [amaſsy | a massy]amaſsya massy weight of Glory is reserved for you, I Beg an [intrest | interest]intrestinterest in your prayers that I may be
[faithfull | faithful]faithfullfaithful, and my desire is to be [uſefull | useful]uſefulluseful,
[Closer]
I am [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev.
[& | and]&and
[Dr | Dear]DrDear Sir
[yr | your]yryour most [oblidged | obliged]oblidgedobliged
[Humle | humble]Humlehumble
[ſervt | servant]ſervtservant
Robert Clelland[pers0011.ocp]
[Postscript]
PS prudence will say [tho | though]thothough the [Sechem | sachem]Sechemsachem[pers0549.ocp]
[ſhould | should]ſhouldshould know nothing as to this Letter
[Trailer]
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. S. Clelland’s[pers0011.ocp]
[B. | Ben]B.Ben Uncas’[pers0549.ocp] poor drunken Creature, [wod | would]wodwould
[hda | have]hdahave me write [m.r | Mr.]m.rMr.
[Occim | Occom]OccimOccom[pers0030.ocp] not to Suffer bad folks to [ſettle | settle]ſettlesettle
Mohegan[place0143.ocp]
March 1762[1762-03-12]
To The [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev.
[Mr | Mr.]MrMr.
[Eliazar | Eleazar]EliazarEleazar Wheelock[pers0036.ocp]
Lebanon[place0122.ocp]
Document Summary
People identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Role in header | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|---|
pers0002.ocp | Aſpow Ashpo | mentioned | Ashpo, Samuel |
pers0549.ocp | Our Sechem sachem | mentioned | Uncas, Ben III |
pers0549.ocp | our Sechem sachem | mentioned | Uncas, Ben III |
pers0023.ocp | M r Mr. Jewett | mentioned | Jewett, David |
pers0549.ocp | King Ben | mentioned | Uncas, Ben III |
pers0030.ocp | mr Mr. Occum Occom | mentioned | Occom, Samson |
pers0030.ocp | mr Mr. Occum Occom | mentioned | Occom, Samson |
pers0023.ocp | mr Mr. Jewett | mentioned | Jewett, David |
pers0023.ocp | mr Mr. Jewetts | mentioned | Jewett, David |
pers0046.ocp | Esqr Esq. Adam’s | mentioned | Adam |
pers0549.ocp | Ben | mentioned | Uncas, Ben III |
pers0549.ocp | the Sechem sachem | mentioned | Uncas, Ben III |
pers0549.ocp | Sechem sachem | mentioned | Uncas, Ben III |
pers0549.ocp | King Ben | mentioned | Uncas, Ben III |
pers0011.ocp | Robert Clelland | writer | Clelland, Robert |
pers0011.ocp | M. r Mr. S. Clelland’s | writer | Clelland, Robert |
pers0549.ocp | B. Ben Uncas’ | mentioned | Uncas, Ben III |
pers0030.ocp | m. r Mr. Occim Occom | mentioned | Occom, Samson |
pers0036.ocp | Eliazar Eleazar Wheelock | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
Places identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
place0164.ocp | N New London | New London |
place0143.ocp | Mohegan | Mohegan |
place0013.ocp | Boston | Boston |
place0122.ocp | Lebanon | Lebanon |
This document does not contain any tagged organizations.
Dates identified in this document:
Standard Form | Text |
---|---|
1762-03-12 | March 12th12th 1762 |
1762-03-12 | March 1762 |
Regularized text:
Type | Original | Regularized |
---|---|---|
modernization | 12th | 12th |
modernization | Revd | Rev. |
variation | opertunety | opportunity |
variation | Aſpow | Ashpo |
modernization | Leaſing | leasing |
variation | tennants | tenants |
modernization | thoſe | those |
variation | freindly | friendly |
variation | Gospell | Gospel |
variation | Councill | council |
variation | Sechem | sachem |
variation | Constent=ly | constantly |
variation | Sorrie | sorry |
modernization | worſe | worse |
modernization | increaſes | increases |
variation | therby | thereby |
variation | Creditt | credit |
modernization | &c | etc. |
modernization | Mr | Mr. |
modernization | overſeers | overseers |
modernization | Despiſes | despises |
variation | mr | Mr. |
variation | Occum | Occom |
modernization | aſsist | assist |
variation | geting | getting |
variation | perswade | persuade |
variation | my Self | myself |
variation | sence | sense |
modernization | interpoſes | interposes |
variation | parishoners | parishioners |
modernization | Esqr | Esq. |
modernization | alſo | also |
modernization | uſe | use |
variation | intrest | interest |
variation | sett | set |
modernization | Theſe | these |
modernization | over‐ſeers | over‐seers |
variation | reathar | rather |
variation | freind | friend |
variation | tho | though |
variation | Differd | differed |
modernization | converſed | conversed |
modernization | uſed | used |
modernization | opp[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): oſi] oſi:tion | opposition |
modernization | unjuſtly | unjustly |
modernization | Sedateneſs | sedateness |
modernization | accuſers | accusers |
variation | undanted | undaunted |
modernization | Despiſed | despised |
variation | examplary | exemplary |
variation | feilds | fields |
variation | Conciderable | considerable |
modernization | pleaſed | pleased |
variation | uſefullneſs | usefulness |
modernization | displeaſure | displeasure |
modernization | impoſed | imposed |
variation | duely | duly |
variation | truely | truly |
variation | abilitys | abilities |
variation | priveledges | privileges |
variation | tredd | tread |
variation | Isay | [guess (): essay]essay |
variation | them=^[above] =selves^=selves | themselves |
variation | appitite | appetite |
variation | Lott | lot |
modernization | Counſe=lors | counsellors |
modernization | oppoſes | opposes |
modernization | suppoſe | suppose |
variation | doe | do |
variation | spiritted | spirited |
variation | thank==full | thankful |
variation | unweared | unwearied |
variation | Saveges | savages |
modernization | Houſe | house |
variation | generall | general |
modernization | applauſe | applause |
modernization | amaſsy | a massy |
variation | faithfull | faithful |
modernization | uſefull | useful |
variation | oblidged | obliged |
modernization | ſhould | should |
modernization | M.r | Mr. |
modernization | m.r | Mr. |
variation | Occim | Occom |
modernization | ſettle | settle |
variation | Eliazar | Eleazar |
Expanded abbreviations:
Abbreviation | Expansion |
---|---|
N | New |
restrain’d | restrained |
Gentln | gentlemen |
& | and |
lov’d | loved |
controll’d | controlled |
Gentlm | Gentlemen |
Dr | Dear |
yr | your |
Humle | humble |
ſervt | servant |
B. | Ben |
wod | would |
hda | have |
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 21) |
Number of people/places/organizations with unknown keys: | 0 (out of 39) |
Number of "add" tags with unknown 'place' attributes: | 0 (out of 4) |
Mixed case attribute values in header (potential error): | 0 (out of 118) |