Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Nathaniel Whitaker, 1767 November 28
28 November 1767[1767-11-28]
Call Number767628.1
[note (type: abstract): Wheelock writes of the serious trouble caused by Whitaker’s dealings with Nathaniel Eells. He also posits that Ralph Wheelock’s ability to manage Indians would make him his father's best successor.][note (type: handwriting): Informal handwriting is small, crowded and occasionally difficult to decipher.][note (type: paper): Single small sheet is in poor condition, with heavy creasing, staining and wear, which results in some loss of text. The paper has been heavily reinforced.][note (type: ink): Brown ink is faded.][note (type: noteworthy): The contents of this document are nearly identical to those of manuscript 767628.4, which is a copy of this original. The remnants of the seal cover some text; guesses as to the illegible text are based on the contents of the copy. The sons of Whitaker and Occom mentioned by Wheelock in the closing on one verso are James Whitaker[pers1765.ocp] and Aaron Occom[pers0026.ocp].]EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain
Persistent Identifier
[Opener]
Lebanon[place0122.ocp]
[Nov.r | November]Nov.rNovember
[28.th | 28th]28.th28th 1767.[1767-11-28]
My dear Brother
My dear Brother
How glad should I be to see you, but I patiently
wait ['till | 'til]'till'til God has done with you where you are.
The imprudent Letters which[illegible]
[above] were wrotewere wrote you by [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
[E[illegible]s | Eells]E[illegible]sEells[pers0178.ocp] have
[occaſioned | occasioned]occaſionedoccasioned me much Trouble. and seemed for a while as [tho' | though]tho'though
they would unhinge the whole Affair — I charitably. [beleive | believe]beleivebelieve
he [ment | meant]mentmeant no more than to [purſue | pursue]purſuepursue the Plan laid by our Board
of [Com̅iſsioners | Commissioners]Com̅iſsionersCommissioners[org0034.ocp] before you [Saild | sailed]Saildsailed, and to take that Advantage
of Trade which Somebody [muſt | must]muſtmust have upon that Plan, and
why not he as well as another? Yet the Letters as they [appeard | appeared]appeardappeared
were shocking indeed. I knew nothing of them ['till | 'til]'till'til I had the [Copie | copy]Copiecopy
of [above] themthem by [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Keen[pers0301.ocp], withan adviceillegible that my Bill in
Favour of
M.r Breed[pers0005.ocp] was [proteſted | protested]proteſtedprotested, on that [acco.t | account]acco.taccount — I had no other Refuge
but God alone. it [occaſioned | occasioned]occaſionedoccasioned me a long, tedious, [& | and]&and [fruitleſs | fruitless]fruitleſsfruitless,
Journey to Portsmouth[place0190.ocp], before I had recovered from a fit of
[sickneſs | sickness]sickneſssickness so as to be able to ride 20 miles in a Day. but God has
helped me through all, and the [Cauſe | cause]Cauſecause has not Suffered greatly
by it, on this [ſide | side]ſideside the Water —
But I [ſuſpect | suspect]ſuſpectsuspect there is yet Some [Jealouſies | jealousies]Jealouſiesjealousies remaining in
the Mind, [gap: hole][guess (h-dawnd): o]of the Gentlemen of the [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp] which it concerns you
fully to remove. [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. [E–s | Eells]E–sEells[pers0178.ocp] wrote [above] [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Whitefield[pers0038.ocp] that[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Whitefield[pers0038.ocp] that which I hoped would be Satis-
-factory [gap: hole][guess (h-dawnd): b]but have never heard [wheth.r | whether]wheth.rwhether[illegible] it reached him —
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. K[gap: hole][guess (h-dawnd): ee]een[pers0301.ocp] writes me that it is generally [underſtood | understood]underſtoodunderstood [& | and]&and that you
have declared that the [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp] have right to [above] pay orpay or protest Bills as they
Shall think [Adviſable | advisable]Adviſableadvisable; but I [preſume | presume]preſumepresume you [hant | haven't]hanthaven't well digested
that matter; [beſure | be sure]beſurebe sure you [ha'n't | haven't]ha'n'thaven't had the Experience which I have
very [timeouſly | timeously]timeouſlytimeously had of the Danger, and [Riſque | risk]Riſquerisk upon that Plan, nor
do I know who you will find willing to be an Agent on this [ſide | side]ſideside
the water, upon that Plan, so long as his own [Intereſt | interest]Intereſtinterest is [pawnd | pawned]pawndpawned
to defray all charges.
The Gentlemen of the [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp] [Shewed | showed]Shewedshowed a [laudible | laudable]laudiblelaudable, [& | and]&and truly [chriſtian | christian]chriſtianchristian
Integrity towards the Redeemers [cauſe | cause]cauſecause; as the matter appeared to
them. I never blamed them so much as in a Thought [tho' | though]tho'though I was
[myſelf | myself]myſelfmyself so [gap: hole][guess (h-dawnd): gr]great and the only Sufferer. But I can [aſsure | assure]aſsureassure you I did
not
not always [feal | feel]fealfeel as I should, while I was daily expecting the [proteſted | protested]proteſtedprotested
Bill, and [tho't | thought]tho'tthought on all the [Conſequences | consequences]Conſequencesconsequences which would likelyto
[enſue | ensue]enſueensue
[illegible]—
the support of the [Miſsionaries | missionaries]Miſsionariesmissionaries, who [aſk | ask]aſkask for no other Reward for their services, [muſt | must]muſtmust
be sure. I think that [leſs | less]leſsless than that can't be right, nor [pleaſing | pleasing]pleaſingpleasing to God; [unleſs | unless]unleſsunless
they were able and willing to Support [themſelves | themselves]themſelvesthemselves. And I dont see how
the Affair can be [accomodated | accommodated]accomodatedaccommodated without an Incorporation, or at [leaſt | least]leaſtleast a
[Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust here. — I have been turning my [Tho'ts | thoughts]Tho'tsthoughts and weighing every man
man within my Acquaintance, and [deſign | design]deſigndesign Soon to fix upon a number
and make a New Will and submit it to the [cenſures | censures]cenſurescensures of my [Hond | honoured]Hondhonoured Patrons
the Gentlemen of the [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp].
My son Ralph[pers0578.ocp] after [ſuch | such]ſuchsuch a long and dark Cloud as he has been under
with [reſpect | respect]reſpectrespect to his health, has now a [proſpect | prospect]proſpectprospect of enjoying that [Bleſsing | blessing]Bleſsingblessing
to a good Degree. He is in high Spirits for Indian Affairs, he [under‐
‐ſtands | under
stands]under‐
‐ſtandsunder
stands that [Buſineſs | business]Buſineſsbusiness, and has a [Tallent | talent]Tallenttalent at governing Indians beyond
any man I can [imploy | employ]imployemploy. I don't know what God intends for him, but
at [preſent | present]preſentpresent he is a Comfort [& | and]&and Help to me. it may be he will be the
man to conduct this Affair when I have done. Indeed I know of no
man at [preſent | present]preſentpresent who can do it better. but I wait upon God to dire[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): ct]ct
[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): and I]and I Love to wait, [& | and]&and hope and [truſt | trust]truſttrust in him alone.
[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Your and]Your and [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Occom[pers0030.ocp]s Sons with me are well Your Family were so n[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): ot long ago.]ot long ago.
give my Love to [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Occom[pers0030.ocp] I want to See him, [dos | does]dosdoes he k[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): eep]eep
[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): clear of]clear of that Indian [Diſtemper | distemper]Diſtemperdistemper, Pride. if you [ſee | see]ſeesee anything of it, ad[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): vise]vise
him that he had better have a [Rattle Snake | rattlesnake]Rattle Snakerattlesnake in his [Boſom | bosom]Boſombosom. I do[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): n't]n't
write this [becauſe | because]becauſebecause I suppose he is [worſe | worse]worſeworse than [myſelf | myself]myſelfmyself but becau[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): se]se
I have known So much of the [Miſchiefs | mischiefs]Miſchiefsmischiefs of that Evil [& | and]&and know his Temp-
-tations to be very great. oh! watch and pray.
My dear Brother, I love you right well. and [gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): a]am
wait ['till | 'til]'till'til God has done with you where you are.
The imprudent Letters which
[occaſioned | occasioned]occaſionedoccasioned me much Trouble. and seemed for a while as [tho' | though]tho'though
they would unhinge the whole Affair — I charitably. [beleive | believe]beleivebelieve
he [ment | meant]mentmeant no more than to [purſue | pursue]purſuepursue the Plan laid by our Board
of [Com̅iſsioners | Commissioners]Com̅iſsionersCommissioners[org0034.ocp] before you [Saild | sailed]Saildsailed, and to take that Advantage
of Trade which Somebody [muſt | must]muſtmust have upon that Plan, and
why not he as well as another? Yet the Letters as they [appeard | appeared]appeardappeared
were shocking indeed. I knew nothing of them ['till | 'til]'till'til I had the [Copie | copy]Copiecopy
of [above] themthem by [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Keen[pers0301.ocp], with
M.r Breed[pers0005.ocp] was [proteſted | protested]proteſtedprotested, on that [acco.t | account]acco.taccount — I had no other Refuge
but God alone. it [occaſioned | occasioned]occaſionedoccasioned me a long, tedious, [& | and]&and [fruitleſs | fruitless]fruitleſsfruitless,
Journey to Portsmouth[place0190.ocp], before I had recovered from a fit of
[sickneſs | sickness]sickneſssickness so as to be able to ride 20 miles in a Day. but God has
helped me through all, and the [Cauſe | cause]Cauſecause has not Suffered greatly
by it, on this [ſide | side]ſideside the Water —
But I [ſuſpect | suspect]ſuſpectsuspect there is yet Some [Jealouſies | jealousies]Jealouſiesjealousies remaining in
the Mind, [gap: hole][guess (h-dawnd): o]of the Gentlemen of the [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp] which it concerns you
fully to remove. [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. [E–s | Eells]E–sEells[pers0178.ocp] wrote [above] [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Whitefield[pers0038.ocp] that[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Whitefield[pers0038.ocp] that which I hoped would be Satis-
-factory [gap: hole][guess (h-dawnd): b]but have never heard [wheth.r | whether]wheth.rwhether
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. K[gap: hole][guess (h-dawnd): ee]een[pers0301.ocp] writes me that it is generally [underſtood | understood]underſtoodunderstood [& | and]&and that you
have declared that the [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp] have right to [above] pay orpay or protest Bills as they
Shall think [Adviſable | advisable]Adviſableadvisable; but I [preſume | presume]preſumepresume you [hant | haven't]hanthaven't well digested
that matter; [beſure | be sure]beſurebe sure you [ha'n't | haven't]ha'n'thaven't had the Experience which I have
very [timeouſly | timeously]timeouſlytimeously had of the Danger, and [Riſque | risk]Riſquerisk upon that Plan, nor
do I know who you will find willing to be an Agent on this [ſide | side]ſideside
the water, upon that Plan, so long as his own [Intereſt | interest]Intereſtinterest is [pawnd | pawned]pawndpawned
to defray all charges.
The Gentlemen of the [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp] [Shewed | showed]Shewedshowed a [laudible | laudable]laudiblelaudable, [& | and]&and truly [chriſtian | christian]chriſtianchristian
Integrity towards the Redeemers [cauſe | cause]cauſecause; as the matter appeared to
them. I never blamed them so much as in a Thought [tho' | though]tho'though I was
[myſelf | myself]myſelfmyself so [gap: hole][guess (h-dawnd): gr]great and the only Sufferer. But I can [aſsure | assure]aſsureassure you I did
not
not always [feal | feel]fealfeel as I should, while I was daily expecting the [proteſted | protested]proteſtedprotested
Bill, and [tho't | thought]tho'tthought on all the [Conſequences | consequences]Conſequencesconsequences which would likely
the support of the [Miſsionaries | missionaries]Miſsionariesmissionaries, who [aſk | ask]aſkask for no other Reward for their services, [muſt | must]muſtmust
be sure. I think that [leſs | less]leſsless than that can't be right, nor [pleaſing | pleasing]pleaſingpleasing to God; [unleſs | unless]unleſsunless
they were able and willing to Support [themſelves | themselves]themſelvesthemselves. And I dont see how
the Affair can be [accomodated | accommodated]accomodatedaccommodated without an Incorporation, or at [leaſt | least]leaſtleast a
[Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust here. — I have been turning my [Tho'ts | thoughts]Tho'tsthoughts and weighing every man
man within my Acquaintance, and [deſign | design]deſigndesign Soon to fix upon a number
and make a New Will and submit it to the [cenſures | censures]cenſurescensures of my [Hond | honoured]Hondhonoured Patrons
the Gentlemen of the [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp].
My son Ralph[pers0578.ocp] after [ſuch | such]ſuchsuch a long and dark Cloud as he has been under
with [reſpect | respect]reſpectrespect to his health, has now a [proſpect | prospect]proſpectprospect of enjoying that [Bleſsing | blessing]Bleſsingblessing
to a good Degree. He is in high Spirits for Indian Affairs, he [under‐
‐ſtands | under
stands]under‐
‐ſtandsunder
stands that [Buſineſs | business]Buſineſsbusiness, and has a [Tallent | talent]Tallenttalent at governing Indians beyond
any man I can [imploy | employ]imployemploy. I don't know what God intends for him, but
at [preſent | present]preſentpresent he is a Comfort [& | and]&and Help to me. it may be he will be the
man to conduct this Affair when I have done. Indeed I know of no
man at [preſent | present]preſentpresent who can do it better. but I wait upon God to dire[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): ct]ct
[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): and I]and I Love to wait, [& | and]&and hope and [truſt | trust]truſttrust in him alone.
[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Your and]Your and [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Occom[pers0030.ocp]s Sons with me are well Your Family were so n[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): ot long ago.]ot long ago.
give my Love to [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Occom[pers0030.ocp] I want to See him, [dos | does]dosdoes he k[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): eep]eep
[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): clear of]clear of that Indian [Diſtemper | distemper]Diſtemperdistemper, Pride. if you [ſee | see]ſeesee anything of it, ad[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): vise]vise
him that he had better have a [Rattle Snake | rattlesnake]Rattle Snakerattlesnake in his [Boſom | bosom]Boſombosom. I do[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): n't]n't
write this [becauſe | because]becauſebecause I suppose he is [worſe | worse]worſeworse than [myſelf | myself]myſelfmyself but becau[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): se]se
I have known So much of the [Miſchiefs | mischiefs]Miſchiefsmischiefs of that Evil [& | and]&and know his Temp-
-tations to be very great. oh! watch and pray.
My dear Brother, I love you right well. and [gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): a]am
[Closer]
Yours in the dear Jesus
Eleazar W[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): he]heelock[pers0036.ocp]
Eleazar W[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): he]heelock[pers0036.ocp]
[Postscript]
P.S. I [truſt | trust]truſttrust you will See my Letters
herewith [tranſmitted | transmitted]tranſmittedtransmitted to the [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp] [& | and]&and to
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Whitefield[pers0038.ocp]. to which I [referr | refer]referrrefer you
for Intelligence. My [Phyſician | physician]Phyſicianphysician Say I [muſt | must]muſtmust Soon [quitt | quit]quittquit all [unleſs | unless]unleſsunless I will
abate of my continual Labour but what Shall I do? I [im[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): p]ploy | employ]im[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): p]ployemploy one
pen [beſides | besides]beſidesbesides my own continually and Sometimes two, and have Done [ſo | so]ſoso
for many months.
herewith [tranſmitted | transmitted]tranſmittedtransmitted to the [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp] [& | and]&and to
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Whitefield[pers0038.ocp]. to which I [referr | refer]referrrefer you
for Intelligence. My [Phyſician | physician]Phyſicianphysician Say I [muſt | must]muſtmust Soon [quitt | quit]quittquit all [unleſs | unless]unleſsunless I will
abate of my continual Labour but what Shall I do? I [im[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): p]ploy | employ]im[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): p]ployemploy one
pen [beſides | besides]beſidesbesides my own continually and Sometimes two, and have Done [ſo | so]ſoso
for many months.
[Rev.d | Rev.]Rev.dRev.
[Doctr | Dr.]DoctrDr. Whitaker[pers0037.ocp].
[Trailer]
[bottom] [gap: tear]
[illegible]
Wheelo[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): ck]ck[pers0036.ocp]
[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): 17]1767 concerning the
[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): co]conduct of the [ye | the]yethe [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp] in
[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): ac]acquiring a deed of [truſt | trust]truſttrust
[gap: tear]
[illegible]
Wheelo[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): ck]ck[pers0036.ocp][gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): 17]1767 concerning the
[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): co]conduct of the [ye | the]yethe [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp] in
[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): ac]acquiring a deed of [truſt | trust]truſttrust
[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): 17]1767 concerning the
[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): co]conduct of the [ye | the]yethe [Truſt | Trust]TruſtTrust[org0103.ocp] in
[gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): ac]acquiring a deed of [truſt | trust]truſttrust
Document Summary
People identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Role in header | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|---|
pers0178.ocp | M. r Mr. E s Eells | mentioned | Eells, Nathaniel |
pers0301.ocp | M. r Mr. Keen | mentioned | Keen, Robert |
pers0005.ocp | M. r Breed | mentioned | Breed, Gershom |
pers0178.ocp | M. r Mr. E–s Eells | mentioned | Eells, Nathaniel |
pers0038.ocp | M. r Mr. Whitefield | mentioned | Whitefield, George |
pers0578.ocp | Ralph | mentioned | Wheelock, Rodulphus |
pers0030.ocp | M. r Mr. Occom | mentioned | Occom, Samson |
pers0036.ocp | Eleazar W he elock | writer | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0037.ocp | Doct r Dr. Whitaker | recipient | Whitaker, Nathaniel |
pers0036.ocp | Wheelo ck | writer | Wheelock, Eleazar |
Places identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
place0122.ocp | Lebanon | Lebanon |
place0190.ocp | Portsmouth | Portsmouth |
Organizations identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
org0034.ocp | Board of Com̅iſsionersCommissioners | Connecticut Board of Correspondents of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge |
org0103.ocp | Gentlemen of the TruſtTrust | Trust in England |
org0103.ocp | the TruſtTrust | Trust in England |
org0103.ocp | The Gentlemen of the TruſtTrust | Trust in England |
org0103.ocp | Hondhonoured Patrons the Gentlemen of the TruſtTrust | Trust in England |
org0103.ocp | yethe TruſtTrust | Trust in England |
Dates identified in this document:
Standard Form | Text |
---|---|
1767-11-28 | Nov.rNovember 28.th28th 1767. |
Regularized text:
Type | Original | Regularized |
---|---|---|
modernization | 28.th | 28th |
variation | 'till | 'til |
modernization | M.r | Mr. |
modernization | occaſioned | occasioned |
variation | beleive | believe |
variation | ment | meant |
modernization | purſue | pursue |
modernization | Com̅iſsioners | Commissioners |
variation | Saild | sailed |
modernization | muſt | must |
variation | appeard | appeared |
variation | Copie | copy |
modernization | proteſted | protested |
modernization | fruitleſs | fruitless |
modernization | sickneſs | sickness |
modernization | Cauſe | cause |
modernization | ſide | side |
modernization | ſuſpect | suspect |
modernization | Jealouſies | jealousies |
modernization | Truſt | Trust |
modernization | underſtood | understood |
modernization | Adviſable | advisable |
modernization | preſume | presume |
variation | hant | haven't |
variation | beſure | be sure |
variation | ha'n't | haven't |
modernization | timeouſly | timeously |
variation | Riſque | risk |
modernization | Intereſt | interest |
variation | pawnd | pawned |
variation | Shewed | showed |
variation | laudible | laudable |
modernization | chriſtian | christian |
modernization | cauſe | cause |
modernization | myſelf | myself |
modernization | aſsure | assure |
variation | feal | feel |
modernization | Conſequences | consequences |
modernization | enſue | ensue |
modernization | Miſsionaries | missionaries |
modernization | aſk | ask |
modernization | leſs | less |
modernization | pleaſing | pleasing |
modernization | unleſs | unless |
modernization | themſelves | themselves |
variation | accomodated | accommodated |
modernization | leaſt | least |
variation | Tho'ts | thoughts |
modernization | deſign | design |
modernization | cenſures | censures |
modernization | ſuch | such |
modernization | reſpect | respect |
modernization | proſpect | prospect |
modernization | Bleſsing | blessing |
modernization | under‐ ‐ſtands |
under stands |
modernization | Buſineſs | business |
variation | Tallent | talent |
variation | imploy | employ |
modernization | preſent | present |
modernization | truſt | trust |
variation | dos | does |
modernization | Diſtemper | distemper |
modernization | ſee | see |
variation | Rattle Snake | rattlesnake |
modernization | Boſom | bosom |
modernization | becauſe | because |
modernization | worſe | worse |
modernization | Miſchiefs | mischiefs |
modernization | tranſmitted | transmitted |
variation | referr | refer |
modernization | Phyſician | physician |
variation | quitt | quit |
modernization | beſides | besides |
modernization | ſo | so |
modernization | Rev.d | Rev. |
modernization | Doctr | Dr. |
modernization | ye | the |
Expanded abbreviations:
Abbreviation | Expansion |
---|---|
Nov.r | November |
E |
Eells |
tho' | though |
acco.t | account |
& | and |
E–s | Eells |
wheth.r | whether |
tho't | thought |
Hond | honoured |
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 23) |
Number of people/places/organizations with unknown keys: | 0 (out of 22) |
Number of "add" tags with unknown 'place' attributes: | 0 (out of 5) |
Mixed case attribute values in header (potential error): | 0 (out of 118) |