Joseph Fish, letter, to Nathaniel Whitaker, 1766 July 30
ms-number766430
[note (type: abstract): Fish writes to Whitaker about his mission to the Narragansetts, and about the visit he and his wife made to Mrs. Whitaker.][note (type: handwriting): Handwriting is formal and clear, yet it has been dimmed by preservation work. The trailer appears to be in Whitaker's hand.][note (type: paper): Large sheet folded in half to make four pages has been heavily reinforced, which makes it difficult to gauge the condition of the paper. It appears to be in poor condition, with heavy staining, creasing and wear that results in some loss of text.][note (type: ink): Brown ink is faded, and dimmed by the reinforcement.][note (type: noteworthy): An unknown editor has written the letter X in spots on the document. These edits have not been included in the transcription.][note (type: signature): Fish signs the document three times: once in full, twice with initials.]EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain
[Opener]
Stonington[place0226.ocp]
July 30. 1766[1766-07-30]
[Revd | Rev.]RevdRev.
[& | and]&and Dear
Sir,
It was my [Unhappineſs | unhappiness]Unhappineſsunhappiness that I could not find a
[Lieſure | leisure]Lieſureleisure hour or two, for free [Converſation | conversation]Converſationconversation
[gap: hole][guess (h-dawnd): [wh | with]whwith][wh | with]whwith you, before you Em ‐barked for England[place0068.ocp]. your Departure [& | and]&and important [Deſign | design]Deſigndesign, lay wi[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): th]th
Weight upon my Mind, as it has done ever Since. And it was m[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): y]y fixed [purpoſe | purpose]purpoſepurpose to let you know my special Regard [& | and]&and Concern for you
[& | and]&and
[Cauſe | cause]Cauſecause, by earlier writing: but have been so p[gap: worn_edge][guess (h-dawnd): er]er ‐petually crowded with [Buſineſs | business]Buſineſsbusiness, chiefly of a public nature; that I cant say I have [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): had]had been at Liberty
to write you, when [Oppty | opportunity]Opptyopportunity
[preſented | presented]preſentedpresented, [till | 'til]till'til now I snatch a few minutes for that [purpoſe | purpose]purpoſepurpose.
The Situation of the [Indn | Indian]IndnIndian Charity School[org0098.ocp], Doings of [.y.e | the].y.ethe
Board[org0034.ocp], [Miſsions | missions]Miſsionsmissions
[&c | etc.]&cetc.: I leave to the hands that are [employd | employed]employdemployed in [thoſe | those]thoſethose public affairs; which, conclude, you will here‐ with, have
full [Acc.t | account]Acc.taccount of.— Only [Obſerve | observe]Obſerveobserve, That the day of the Dear [& | and]&and
[excillent | excellent]excillentexcellent
[Mr | Mr.]MrMr.
Kirtland[pers0315.ocp]s Ordination, [appeard | appeared]appeardappeared to me very glorious, [promiſing | promising]promiſingpromising great [& | and]&and good events. — Can[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): t]t but hope the [Iſsue | issue]Iſsueissue will be, The Advancement of the Re‐ deemers Kingdom. —
While Such important Steps are taken, to carry the Gospel
among the Savages, of far distant Tribes, it may, perhaps afford you
[& | and]&and
Friends; some additional [Pleaſure | pleasure]Pleaſurepleasure, to hear that Learning [& | and]&and Religion are hopefully, reviving, a‐ mong some of [y.e | the]y.ethe Indians near at hand
[Beſides | besides]Beſidesbesides the Indian School [& | and]&and Lectures, among [y.e | the]y.ethe
[Indns | Indians]IndnsIndians[org0101.ocp] of my own [Pariſh | parish]Pariſhparish, which I've had [ye | the]yethe Care of for Many years, At the earnest Request of the [Honle | Honourable]HonleHonourable
[Commiſrs | Commissioners]CommiſrsCommissioners Boston[org0095.ocp], I have for nine months Past, been much [engagd | engaged]engagdengaged for [y.e | the]y.ethe Indians of King [Ninnegrett | Ninigret]NinnegrettNinigret[pers0392.ocp]s Tribe, in Charlestown[place0031.ocp]
Rhode‐ ‐Island[place0196.ocp];
where there are above Seventy Indian Families [& | and]&and more than Three hundred Souls, pretty much in a Body together.— [Authorizd | Authorized]AuthorizdAuthorized as above, I appointed them an
[Engliſh | English]EngliſhEnglish Schoolmaster[pers0161.ocp], of good Capacity [& | and]&and well [dispoſd | disposed]dispoſddisposed, for
the [Buſineſs | business]Buſineſsbusiness, (to be Supported by the [Commiſs.rs | Commissioners]Commiſs.rsCommissioners[org0095.ocp],)— Set them up a [Commod.s | commodious]Commod.scommodious
[Schoolhouſe | schoolhouse]Schoolhouſeschoolhouse, in which, ([tho' | though]tho'though
[unfiniſhd | unfinished]unfiniſhdunfinished,) the Master lives [& | and]&and the School is Steadily kept. He had, [laſt | last]laſtlast winter, (in a private [houſe | house]houſehouse,) above [Fourſcore | fourscore]Fourſcorefourscore
[Indn | Indian]IndnIndian
[Schollars | scholars]Schollarsscholars in a day, and about 120 that came to [y.ethe | ]y.ethe School, at times, and their Proficiency at Reading [& | and]&and Writing was very [conſi ‐derable | consi‐ derable]conſi ‐derableconsi‐ derable. That [Laſt | last]Laſtlast being chiefly [calld | called]calldcalled off to [Buſineſs | business]Buſineſsbusiness, this Summer, he has, of a [Smaler | smaller]Smalersmaller
[Claſs | class]Claſsclass, about Thirty that generally attend his School [& | and]&and
[y.e | the]y.ethe number is [increaſing | increasing]increaſingincreasing.
I [Viſit | visit]Viſitvisit
[& | and]&and Preach to them about once a month — Have a [Conſiderable | considerable]Conſiderableconsiderable
[Aſsembly | assembly]Aſsemblyassembly of Serious, Attentive In‐ dian Hearers, who [profeſs | profess]profeſsprofess Satisfaction, [beyound | beyond]beyoundbeyond my Thought. For they have had Religion Among them [theſe | these]theſethese Twenty years, [& | and]&and an [Indn | Indian]IndnIndian
[Ordaind | ordained]Ordaindordained Minister[pers0391.ocp], for a number of years: but they are all of the [Seperate | separate]Seperateseparate Stamp,— Very Ignorant: scarce any of them able to read a
word,— unhappily [leaven'd | leavened]leaven'dleavened with, yea full of [Falſe | false]Falſefalse Religion, — tenacious of their ^[above] wild^wild Imaginations
[& | and]&and
[Viſionary | visionary]Viſionaryvisionary things, (which they cannot bear to hear [touchd | touched]touchdtouched, though they'll readily hear [y.e | the]y.ethe
[Opoſite | opposite]Opoſiteopposite Truths,) And, [till | 'til]till'til now, Set against, at [leaſt | least]leaſtleast, mortally afraid of [y.e | the]y.ethe
Standing Ministers.— So that I must think my self
highly [Favourd | favoured]Favourdfavoured, by [y.e | the]y.ethe Respect they [Shew | show]Shewshow to my [Perſon | person]Perſonperson
[& | and]&and Regard for my Labours among [ym | them]ymthem. Am in hopes they will, by little [& | and]&and little, come off from their wild notions, and have a [reliſh | relish]reliſhrelish for nothing but Truth.
Oh that I may have no other View but their best good, and the
Redeemers Intrest. —
I have been much in Journeying, Since you left us.
[Laſt | Last]LaſtLast Week, returning, with my Wife[pers1809.ocp], from [Viſiting | visiting]Viſitingvisiting our [Childn | children]Childnchildren
New Haven[place0162.ocp], we Spent
an hour at your [Houſe | house]Houſehouse, [Chelſea | Chelsea]ChelſeaChelsea[place0035.ocp]. And had the [Pleaſure | pleasure]Pleaſurepleasure of Dining [& | and]&and
[Converſing | conversing]Converſingconversing with your Dear
Wife[pers0583.ocp]: It afforded us
real Satisfaction, to See [Mrs | Mrs.]MrsMrs. Whitaker[pers0583.ocp], with her Little ones all about her, [illegible] not only in [⅌fect | perfect]⅌fectperfect Health, but more especially, to find her [Chearfull | cheerful]Chearfullcheerful, Sociable
[& | and]&and entertaining, (as [uſual | usual]uſualusual,) — Evidence that She has happily
overcome the late Severe Trials of parting with her [beſt | best]beſtbest Friend. She Seems really to enjoy [her Self | herself]her Selfherself as well as your [Abſence | absence]Abſenceabsence can admit, — your very [deſirable | desirable]deſirabledesirable Children appear with that Decorum [y.t | that]y.tthat be[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): comes]comes a
well [orderd | ordered]orderdordered Family. [Tis | It is]TisIt is rare to See So fine, So lovely a Child, as that
of yours, [wh | which]whwhich
you never Saw.
[Mr | Mr.]MrMr.
Woodward[pers0610.ocp], ([till | 'til]till'til now unknown to me,) appears to be Sui‐ tably attentive to [y.e | the]y.ethe good of the Family. — I thought him quite an [agreable | agreeable]agreableagreeable, Obliging young [Gentn | gentleman]Gentngentleman. — On [y.e | the]y.ethe Whole, was well [pleaſd | pleased]pleaſdpleased with the [Oeconomy | economy]Oeconomyeconomy of your [Houſe | house]Houſehouse.— May you, in due [Seaſon | season]Seaſonseason, return [Succeſsfull | successful]Succeſsfullsuccessful, and happ[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): ily]ily
find your Tabernacle in peace. —
My Time is Out— Have only to wish you much [gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): of]of the Divine [Preſence | presence]Preſencepresence, The [Smils | smiles]Smilssmiles of Heaven on your Im‐ portant undertaking,— The
Hearts [& | and]&and Hands of all
Brittain
Britain[place0090.ocp] for [newfull | new full]newfullnew full
[Supplys | supplies]Supplyssupplies.— That you may, in all res‐ pects, conduct with [y.e | the]y.ethe utmost prudence [& | and]&and Fidelity, — Be kept [unſpotted | unspotted]unſpottedunspotted from [y.e | the]y.ethe Vanities of [y.e | the]y.ethe World, And return to us richly laden with the [Vertues | virtues]Vertuesvirtues, the Rarities of our mother Country, And
am, [Dr | Dear]DrDear Sir, [illegible]with high Esteem,
[Closer]
your very Sincere Friend [& | and]&and unworthy Brother,
Joseph [Fiſh | Fish]FiſhFish[pers0015.ocp]
[Postscript]
P.S. My hearty Regards to the [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev.
[Mr | Mr.]MrMr.
[Occum | Occom]OccumOccom[pers0030.ocp] — am really glad to hear [y.t | that]y.tthat he Stands firm, — be‐ haves so well, [& | and]&and meets with so much Respect. — The Lord keep him from Pride,
Self-Exaltation, and the Vices of [y.e | the]y.ethe Place [& | and]&and Times.—
[yrs | Yours]yrsYours
[& | and]&and
his
J. F.[pers0015.ocp]—
I know not of any Other Man, that I am acquainted with in [Londn | London]LondnLondon[place0128.ocp] or Europe, except the [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev.
[Mr | Mr.]MrMr.
Whitefield[pers0038.ocp]: Am very glad [& | and]&and
[thank‐ full | thank‐ ful]thank‐ fullthank‐ ful that he takes proper Notice of you, [& | and]&and So much befriends the
[Cauſe | cause]Cauſecause. Let my k[gap: tear] Love [& | and]&and Service be acceptable to him. J.
F.[pers0015.ocp]—
[Revd | Rev.]RevdRev.
N[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): [athanl | athaniel]athanlathaniel
[Whitakar | Whitaker]WhitakarWhitaker][athanl | athaniel]athanlathaniel
[Whitakar | Whitaker]WhitakarWhitaker[pers0037.ocp]
[Trailer]
From [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev.
[mr | Mr.]mrMr.
[Joſeph | Joseph]JoſephJoseph
[Fiſh | Fish]FiſhFish[pers0015.ocp]
Stonington[place0226.ocp]
July 30 1766[1766-07-30]
Fish[pers0015.ocp] To The [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev.
[Mr | Mr.]MrMr.
Nathaniel [Whitakar | Whitaker]WhitakarWhitaker[pers0037.ocp] In
London[place0128.ocp] To be left at the New England Coffee [Houſe | House]HouſeHouse[place0159.ocp]
Document Summary
People identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Role in header | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|---|
pers0315.ocp | M r Mr. Kirtland | mentioned | Kirkland, Samuel |
pers0392.ocp | King Ninnegrett Ninigret | mentioned | Ninigret, Thomas |
pers0161.ocp | Engliſh English Schoolmaster | mentioned | Deake, Edward |
pers0391.ocp | Ind n Indian Ordaind ordained Minister | mentioned | Niles, Samuel |
pers1809.ocp | my Wife | mentioned | Fish, Rebecca (née Pabodie) |
pers0583.ocp | Wife | mentioned | Whitaker, Sarah (née Smith) |
pers0583.ocp | M rs Mrs. Whitaker | mentioned | Whitaker, Sarah (née Smith) |
pers0610.ocp | M r Mr. Woodward | mentioned | Woodward, Bezaleel |
pers0015.ocp | Joseph Fiſh Fish | writer | Fish, Joseph |
pers0030.ocp | M r Mr. Occum Occom | mentioned | Occom, Samson |
pers0015.ocp | J. F. | writer | Fish, Joseph |
pers0038.ocp | M r Mr. Whitefield | mentioned | Whitefield, George |
pers0015.ocp | J. F. | writer | Fish, Joseph |
pers0037.ocp | N athan l athaniel Whitakar Whitaker | recipient | Whitaker, Nathaniel |
pers0015.ocp | Joſeph Joseph Fiſh Fish | writer | Fish, Joseph |
pers0015.ocp | Fish | writer | Fish, Joseph |
pers0037.ocp | Nathaniel Whitakar Whitaker | recipient | Whitaker, Nathaniel |
Places identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
place0226.ocp | Stonington | Stonington |
place0068.ocp | England | England |
place0031.ocp | Charlestown | Charlestown |
place0196.ocp | Rhode‐ ‐Island | Rhode Island |
place0162.ocp | New Haven | New Haven |
place0035.ocp | Chelſea Chelsea | Chelsea Landing |
place0090.ocp | Britain | Great Britain |
place0128.ocp | Lond n London | London |
place0128.ocp | London | London |
place0159.ocp | New England Coffee Houſe House | New England Coffee House |
Organizations identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
org0098.ocp | IndnIndian Charity School | Moor’s Indian Charity School |
org0034.ocp | Board | Connecticut Board of Correspondents of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge |
org0101.ocp | IndnsIndians | Stonington Pequots |
org0095.ocp | HonleHonourable CommiſrsCommissioners Boston | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
org0095.ocp | the Commiſs.rsCommissioners | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
Dates identified in this document:
Standard Form | Text |
---|---|
1766-07-30 | July 30. 1766 |
1766-07-30 | July 30 1766 |
Regularized text:
Type | Original | Regularized |
---|---|---|
modernization | Revd | Rev. |
modernization | Unhappineſs | unhappiness |
variation | Lieſure | leisure |
modernization | Converſation | conversation |
modernization | Deſign | design |
modernization | purpoſe | purpose |
modernization | Cauſe | cause |
modernization | Buſineſs | business |
modernization | preſented | presented |
variation | till | 'til |
modernization | .y.e | the |
modernization | Miſsions | missions |
modernization | &c | etc. |
variation | employd | employed |
modernization | thoſe | those |
modernization | Obſerve | observe |
variation | excillent | excellent |
modernization | Mr | Mr. |
variation | appeard | appeared |
modernization | promiſing | promising |
modernization | Iſsue | issue |
modernization | Pleaſure | pleasure |
modernization | y.e | the |
modernization | Beſides | besides |
modernization | Pariſh | parish |
modernization | ye | the |
variation | engagd | engaged |
variation | Ninnegrett | Ninigret |
variation | Authorizd | Authorized |
modernization | Engliſh | English |
variation | dispoſd | disposed |
modernization | Schoolhouſe | schoolhouse |
variation | unfiniſhd | unfinished |
modernization | laſt | last |
modernization | houſe | house |
modernization | Fourſcore | fourscore |
variation | Schollars | scholars |
modernization | conſi ‐derable | consi‐ derable |
modernization | Laſt | last |
variation | calld | called |
variation | Smaler | smaller |
modernization | Claſs | class |
modernization | increaſing | increasing |
modernization | Viſit | visit |
modernization | Conſiderable | considerable |
modernization | Aſsembly | assembly |
modernization | profeſs | profess |
variation | beyound | beyond |
modernization | theſe | these |
variation | Ordaind | ordained |
variation | Seperate | separate |
modernization | Falſe | false |
modernization | Viſionary | visionary |
variation | touchd | touched |
variation | Opoſite | opposite |
modernization | leaſt | least |
variation | Favourd | favoured |
modernization | Perſon | person |
modernization | ym | them |
modernization | reliſh | relish |
modernization | Laſt | Last |
modernization | Viſiting | visiting |
modernization | Houſe | house |
modernization | Chelſea | Chelsea |
modernization | Converſing | conversing |
modernization | Mrs | Mrs. |
variation | Chearfull | cheerful |
modernization | uſual | usual |
modernization | beſt | best |
variation | her Self | herself |
modernization | Abſence | absence |
modernization | deſirable | desirable |
modernization | y.t | that |
variation | orderd | ordered |
variation | agreable | agreeable |
variation | pleaſd | pleased |
variation | Oeconomy | economy |
modernization | Seaſon | season |
variation | Succeſsfull | successful |
modernization | Preſence | presence |
variation | Smils | smiles |
variation | Supplys | supplies |
modernization | unſpotted | unspotted |
variation | Vertues | virtues |
modernization | Fiſh | Fish |
variation | Occum | Occom |
variation | thank‐ full | thank‐ ful |
variation | Whitakar | Whitaker |
modernization | mr | Mr. |
modernization | Joſeph | Joseph |
modernization | Houſe | House |
Expanded abbreviations:
Abbreviation | Expansion |
---|---|
& | and |
wh | with |
Oppty | opportunity |
Indn | Indian |
Acc.t | account |
Indns | Indians |
Honle | Honourable |
Commiſrs | Commissioners |
Commiſs.rs | Commissioners |
Commod.s | commodious |
tho' | though |
leaven'd | leavened |
Childn | children |
⅌fect | perfect |
Tis | It is |
wh | which |
Gentn | gentleman |
Dr | Dear |
yrs | Yours |
Londn | London |
athanl | athaniel |
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 89) |
Number of people/places/organizations with unknown keys: | 0 (out of 33) |
Number of "add" tags with unknown 'place' attributes: | 0 (out of 1) |
Mixed case attribute values in header (potential error): | 0 (out of 142) |