David Avery, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1771 June 6
6 June 1771[1771-06-06]
ms number771356
[note (type: abstract): Avery writes about his upcoming ordination and possible mission. He relates news of Occom and David Fowler, with brief excerpts of a letter from Fowler.][note (type: handwriting): Handwriting is formal, clear and legible.][note (type: paper): Four large sheets of paper have each been folded in half to make four pages. The address is on a separate, single sheet. The paper is in good condition, with mostly light creasing, staining and wear.][note (type: ink): Dark-brown.]
Persistent Identifier
[Opener]
[Bridge Hampton | Bridgehampton]Bridge HamptonBridgehampton[place0018.ocp]
June 6. 1771[1771-06-06]
[Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev.
[& | and]&and
[hon,d | honoured]hon,dhonoured Sir,
About three weeks past I received
Doctor Wheelock[pers0036.ocp]'s letter, dated 22 of april[1771-04-22]; for which I return a ^[above] [gratful | grateful]gratfulgrateful^[gratful | grateful]gratfulgrateful tribute of Thanks. — This was very timely, and gave me to understand a little, [tho' | though]tho'though not fully, the [Doctr[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): ^[inline] e^e]^[inline] e^e'rs | Doctor's]Doctr[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): ^[inline] e^e]^[inline] e^e'rsDoctor's[pers0036.ocp]'s mind [& | and]&and pleasure respecting my Des‐tiny. His other Letter, [refered | referred]referedreferred to in this which I have, is yet on the way. — It gave me the
most sensible sorrow to hear that all of my letters to [Dartm.o | Dartmouth]Dartm.oDartmouth[org0037.ocp] have fell short. — What is the mean‐‐ing
‐ing of Providence in this I can't
tell. — Have wrote again and again, representing the State of affairs in
these parts, giving an account of God's ^[above] work^work in a particular
Parish, and [expreſsing | expressing]expreſsingexpressing the earnest desire of that poor, needy, desti‐‐tute People that I tarry longer with them a little while longer,
that I may know what my [Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev. Patron would advise and direct to. — I have been, and am still,
exceeding loath to do any the least thing contrary to his Pleasure to whom am
under the most inviolable obligations, next to Almighty God. — The [Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev.
[M,r | Mr.]M,rMr.
Buell[pers0006.ocp] being in New
England[place0158.ocp] I could not consult him ['till | 'til]'till'til this week. Now
I have laid before him my affairs
and taken his Advice in this case, which is, That I tarry about two months on the
Island[place0129.ocp] and then return to [N..w | New]N..wNew Hampshire[place0160.ocp]. This advice I have concluded to follow.
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
Buell[pers0006.ocp] informs me he saw [Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev.
[M,r | Mr.]M,rMr.
Patten[pers0408.ocp] and [M,r | Mr.]M,rMr.
Woodward[pers0610.ocp], whom he
[discourſed | discoursed]discourſeddiscoursed on the point, and they were of opinion that it would not, likely, be
displeasing to the [Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev. Doctor[pers0036.ocp] if I should tarry for such reasons as he gave them
— (viz) My not being ^[above] in^in a con‐firmed
state of health sufficient to go upon an Indian [Miſsion | mission]Miſsionmission in the
heat of summer. — And the late
happy revival of Religion in Ketehebonack[place0294.ocp],
which appears to be a particular Call to labor with them a little longer.
—
([Bleſsed | Blessed]BleſsedBlessed be God the Work still goes on and there is a prospect of ingathering of
souls.) If I should go ^[above] to^to
Dartmouth[org0037.ocp] now, by what I can learn, my ordination could not conveni‐‐ently be
attended before Commencement, and without that I should not
be prevailed upon to take a [miſsion | mission]miſsionmission.— Perhaps it may be thought best this ordinance should be
so‐lemnized at that time when the Corporati‐on[org0161.ocp] shall be together; which I most
earnestly request 1
1 request may be done; for I am
much ex‐‐ercised about preaching barely by virtue of a
Licence.
With respect to my going under
Boston Board[org0095.ocp], I know not
what to say— I should, by all means, [chuse | choose]chusechoose to con‐‐sult the
Corporation[org0161.ocp] on the head.— As it is a very delicate point, so I shall
[indeavour | endeavour]indeavourendeavour to manage it.— That Letter not having come to hand in which the
Proposal was made, [Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev.
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
Buell[pers0006.ocp] did not know what advice to give.
If by going under that Board[org0095.ocp] I must in the least
break [connexions | connections]connexionsconnections with him, whom it is my honor to call my [Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev.
[& | and]&and Worthy Patron
I could not [indure | endure]indureendure the thought of it— but if it shall be thought best, on the whole, to
an‐swer the general Design in view — it is likely I
shall be willing to comply with the [propo‐‐ſal | propo‐sal]propo‐‐ſalpropo‐sal.— It has given me much of the [Heart‐‐ach | heart‐ache]Heart‐‐achheart‐ache that [somethings | some things]somethingssome things are as they are,— but God's Government is over all, according to
In‐finite Wisdom — the [iſsue | issue]iſsueissue therefore must, and can't but, be for his Glory; yea, for a greater
Display of Divine Glory than other‐wise there would be if it were
not for some
dark
Scenes.. This consideration bears my Spirits up, or it
seems, I could not, at times, sub‐‐sist — Let ^[above] Zion^Zion and her Sons, rejoice in their King/ — The [Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev.
Doctor[pers0036.ocp] mentioned a pro‐‐posal
‐posal lately made to him of my
taking a tour to [S.t | Saint]S.tSaint John's River[place0298.ocp] this summer,— and asked me what I
think of it? — If I knew what prospects there are ^[inline] o^ofor doing good there were, — the situation
of the Indians — the air — [accomoda‐‐tions | accommoda‐tions]accomoda‐‐tionsaccommoda‐tions, [&c | etc.]&cetc. I should be better able to form a judgment.— But as my health is
but tlow, being attended with a constant Fever,
much exposed to take Cold, and unable to undergo much hard ser‐‐vice by reason of a weakening Disorder which has long [afficted | affected]affictedaffected me— And also as I have no companion to go as a preacher with me,
as I know of, or
could likely be obtained this season, it
does not appear Duty for me to undertake the journey at present.— My heart
says 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do'?— Wherever Providence gives the
Lead, I am willing to follow — but, alas! I know so
little, or no‐thing, how to read divine Providences or get an
answer to prayer that am afraid, many times, I am not in the way of Duty —
It appears to me I should be the happiest of ^[above] many^many mortals if
I only knew what God's Plea‐‐sure is respecting my situation [& | and]&and Destiny in the world.— At present He is laying out a great
variety of work for me, the least of all his servants, is it not Duty to perform
it? 2
2
[Thro' | Through]Thro'Through Divine Favor, my health is in some measure recovered — am able to
preach every sabbath and several Lectures.— The awakenings in Ketehebonack[place0294.ocp] still continue in several instances,
[tho' | though]tho'though perhaps not so great as some time past.... As I presume the Doctor[pers0036.ocp] has before this time received my Letters
I need give no farther account of God's Work in these parts, save that there is,
of late, a very great revival in
Southold‐Town[place0217.ocp],
under [Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev.
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
Storrs[pers1335.ocp]' ministry.— I expect to go there
next week, God willing— I find it a very great
advantage to me to live here in this Day
of the Outpouring of God's [bleſsed | blessed]bleſsedblessed Spirit. — When People's Ears are open it is
easy Preaching to them. — It has rejoiced the hearts of many that God has
revived his work in the College[org0037.ocp] last
Winter— O, what an happy omen for good! —
After I received the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]'s
Letter, I sent a line to David Fowler[pers0155.ocp] with a
Desire that he would give me an honest, faithful [acco.t | account]acco.taccount of the late State [& | and]&and Character of [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
Occom[pers0030.ocp] — and he wrote me the following
— —"I can't tell you any bad thing of him. — He is, as it
were, crying out to Sinners in a
private manner — he don't
preach as yet, but I hope he will. He seems to [injoy | enjoy]injoyenjoy a [newneſs | newness]newneſsnewness of life again.— He goes from ^[above] one^one
Place to another ex‐‐horting the People, that is, among
the Indians. — He has entirely aban‐‐doned spirituous
liquors — he [uſes | uses]uſesuses none, nor keeps any in the house.= I shall likely give you a better
Nar‐‐rative of his Character at my return from the main
shore."
I know nothing, Sir, but what this account is entirely just —
But nothing has been done to wash
away his Stain in these parts, or in any
other that we have [hear'd | heard]hear'dheard of.— [Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev.
[M,r | Mr.]M,rMr.
Buell[pers0006.ocp] heard little if anything about him
when on the main. — Perhaps [M:r | Mr.]M:rMr.
Woodward[pers0610.ocp] is able to give a more particular
account of
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
Occom[pers0030.ocp] than I can, and better able to judge
whether it will be for the Good and honor of the Cause to improve him as a
[miſsionary | missionary]miſsionarymissionary — it seems to be a very great frown of heaven that his [usefulneſs | usefulness]usefulneſsusefulness has been prevented.—
David Fowler[pers0155.ocp] appears much as [uſual | usual]uſualusual— with respect to his being deeply humbled [&c | etc.]&cetc. I am not able to say — he manifests a very great regard for the
Indian Cause — and has some bitter [reflexions | reflections ]reflexionsreflections on his rash conduct in 3
3 in the [Wilderneſs | wilderness]Wilderneſswilderness.— I have not said much to him about his conduct, because am very
ignorant of what the Foundation or pretentded
foundation of it was. If he was to see and converse the [Re[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): vr]vr'end | Rev.]Re[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): vr]vr'endRev.
Doctor[pers0036.ocp], am quite inclined to think he would
make gospel satisfaction.— His natural Temper is well known to be violent
and sometimes his [Paſsion | passion]Paſsionpassion blinds his reason. — respecting [him‐self | him‐self]him‐selfhim‐self he writes me,
"If I can pay off my Creditors this year I [deſign | design]deſigndesign to go off this Island[place0129.ocp] next year,
either to Mohegan[place0143.ocp] or the [Wil‐‐derneſs | wil‐derness]Wil‐‐derneſswil‐derness: I don't think of going any where this year."
East-Hampton[place0062.ocp] judge he is very
un‐steady and fickle, roving and wandering
But by converse with David[pers0155.ocp], am of opinion his
[unsteadyneſs | unsteadiness]unsteadyneſsunsteadiness was much owing to his too small salary and the Indians living a good deal
upon him. — He does not keep the School at Montauk[place0144.ocp]; he thinks,"if he did, it would be to none effect —
The Indians seem to be [curſt | cursed]curſtcursed — they don't ad‐‐mire [any thing | anything]any thinganything that would be beneficial to them, either temporal or
temporal^[above] spiritual^spiritual."—
Imagine ^[above] if^if he should visit the Doctor[pers0036.ocp] it might answer some valuable Purpose —
accordingly shall recommend it to him.— I can't but think he means to act
honestly — He is now somewhat involved in Debt; but he follows Fishery [& | and]&and hopes to raise something on the land to defray his charges this
sea‐‐son.— Thus, Sir, I have given the best
account respecting him am able to do.—
If it shall be judged best to ordain me
at Commencement, would not the Doctor[pers0036.ocp]
think proper to appoint some of the
[Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev.
Corporation[org0161.ocp] the ordination ser‐‐mon? — Would it please him to pitch upon the [Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev.
[M,r | Mr.]M,rMr.
[Pomroy | Pomeroy]PomroyPomeroy[pers0432.ocp]? But I mean not to dictate — shall be
perfectly well suited with Doctor Whee‐lock[pers0036.ocp]'s appointments.— If this Plan should be [agreable | agreeable]agreableagreeable to him, it would lay me under farther obligations of Gratitude, if by
any means, I might have intelligence of it — but am afraid these Letters
will suffer the same misfortune as the other.— It gives me unspeakable Joy
to hear [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
Ripley[pers0444.ocp] is hopefully religious! If this is the
case, What extensive service may ^[above] the^the Man of his rare
abilities do for God, if God goes with him!
We hear the work of God is powerful in
several Places upon the Continent...
People are liberal and very kind to me in [theſe | these]theſethese parts — O, how good is the Lord to the evil and unthankful!
— Oh! for an humble heart! a meek and lowly spirit!— the Benevolence,
^[inline] [ye | the]yethe^[ye | the]yethe Love, ^[inline] [ye | the]yethe^[ye | the]yethe Pity and [Compaſsion | compassion]Compaſsioncompassion of Jesus Christ to‐‐wards dying men! — my Soul
burns with ardor to do something for my Maker and Redeemer.—
The Reverend [M,r | Mr.]M,rMr. Brown[pers0102.ocp] gives very kind and affectionate Salutations to the
Reverend Doctor Wheelock[pers0036.ocp] — He is a
Father to me — Please, Sir, present Duty to Honored Madam[pers0577.ocp], and continue daily to pray for,
[Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev.
[& | and]&and
[hon,d | honoured]hon,dhonoured Sir,
[Closer]
Your very dutiful and most obedient humble servant
David Avery[pers0064.ocp]
[Postscript]
[Rev,d | Rev.]Rev,dRev.
[D,,r | Dr.]D,,rDr.
Wheelock[pers0036.ocp]
[Trailer]
From [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr.
David Avery[pers0064.ocp]
June 6. 1771[1771-06-06].
To The [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev.
[Eleazer | Eleazar]EleazerEleazar Wheelock[pers0036.ocp] D:D.
[Preſident | President]PreſidentPresident of Dartmouth [Colledge | College]ColledgeCollege[org0037.ocp] In
Hanover[place0095.ocp]
Document Summary
People identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Role in header | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|---|
pers0036.ocp | Doctor Wheelock | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0036.ocp | Doctr e 'rs Doctor's | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0006.ocp | Buell | mentioned | Buell, Samuel |
pers0408.ocp | Patten | mentioned | Patten, William |
pers0610.ocp | Woodward | mentioned | Woodward, Bezaleel |
pers0036.ocp | Rev, d Rev. Doctor | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0036.ocp | Doctor | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers1335.ocp | Storrs | mentioned | Storrs, John |
pers0155.ocp | David Fowler | mentioned | Fowler, David |
pers0030.ocp | Occom | mentioned | Occom, Samson |
pers0155.ocp | David | mentioned | Fowler, David |
pers0432.ocp | Pomroy Pomeroy | mentioned | Pomeroy, Benjamin |
pers0036.ocp | Whee‐ lock | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0444.ocp | Ripley | mentioned | Ripley, Sylvanus |
pers0102.ocp | Reverend M, r Mr. Brown | mentioned | Brown |
pers0036.ocp | Wheelock | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0577.ocp | Madam | mentioned | Wheelock, Mary (née Brinsmead) |
pers0064.ocp | David Avery | writer | Avery, David |
pers0036.ocp | Eleazer Eleazar Wheelock | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
Places identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
place0018.ocp | Bridge Hampton Bridgehampton | Bridgehampton |
place0158.ocp | New England | New England |
place0129.ocp | Island | Long Island |
place0160.ocp | N.. w New Hampshire | New Hampshire |
place0294.ocp | Ketehebonack | Ketehebonack |
place0298.ocp | S. t Saint John's River | Saint John River |
place0217.ocp | Southold ‐Town | Southold |
place0143.ocp | Mohegan | Mohegan |
place0062.ocp | East-Hampton | East Hampton |
place0144.ocp | Montauk | Montauk |
place0095.ocp | Hanover | Hanover |
Organizations identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
org0037.ocp | Dartm.oDartmouth | Dartmouth College |
org0037.ocp | Dartmouth | Dartmouth College |
org0161.ocp | Corporati‐on | Yale Corporation |
org0095.ocp | Boston Board | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
org0161.ocp | the Corporation | Yale Corporation |
org0095.ocp | Board | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
org0037.ocp | College | Dartmouth College |
org0161.ocp | Corporation | Yale Corporation |
org0037.ocp | Dartmouth ColledgeCollege | Dartmouth College |
Dates identified in this document:
Standard Form | Text |
---|---|
1771-06-06 | June 6. 1771 |
1771-04-22 | 22 of april |
Regularized text:
Type | Original | Regularized |
---|---|---|
variation | Bridge Hampton | Bridgehampton |
modernization | Rev,d | Rev. |
variation | gratful | grateful |
variation | Doctr[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): ^[inline] e^e]^[inline] e^e'rs | Doctor's |
variation | refered | referred |
modernization | expreſsing | expressing |
modernization | M,r | Mr. |
variation | 'till | 'til |
modernization | M.r | Mr. |
modernization | discourſed | discoursed |
modernization | Miſsion | mission |
modernization | Bleſsed | Blessed |
modernization | miſsion | mission |
variation | chuse | choose |
variation | indeavour | endeavour |
variation | connexions | connections |
variation | indure | endure |
modernization | propo‐‐ſal | propo‐sal |
variation | Heart‐‐ach | heart‐ache |
variation | somethings | some things |
modernization | iſsue | issue |
variation | accomoda‐‐tions | accommoda‐tions |
modernization | &c | etc. |
variation | afficted | affected |
modernization | bleſsed | blessed |
variation | injoy | enjoy |
modernization | newneſs | newness |
modernization | uſes | uses |
variation | hear'd | heard |
modernization | M:r | Mr. |
modernization | miſsionary | missionary |
modernization | usefulneſs | usefulness |
modernization | uſual | usual |
variation | reflexions | reflections |
modernization | Wilderneſs | wilderness |
modernization | Re[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): vr]vr'end | Rev. |
modernization | Paſsion | passion |
variation | him‐self | him‐self |
modernization | deſign | design |
modernization | Wil‐‐derneſs | wil‐derness |
modernization | unsteadyneſs | unsteadiness |
variation | curſt | cursed |
variation | any thing | anything |
variation | Pomroy | Pomeroy |
variation | agreable | agreeable |
modernization | theſe | these |
modernization | ye | the |
modernization | Compaſsion | compassion |
modernization | D,,r | Dr. |
modernization | Revd | Rev. |
variation | Eleazer | Eleazar |
modernization | Preſident | President |
variation | Colledge | College |
Expanded abbreviations:
Abbreviation | Expansion |
---|---|
& | and |
hon,d | honoured |
tho' | though |
Dartm.o | Dartmouth |
N..w | New |
S.t | Saint |
Thro' | Through |
acco.t | account |
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 64) |
Number of people/places/organizations with unknown keys: | 0 (out of 54) |
Number of "add" tags with unknown 'place' attributes: | 0 (out of 14) |
Mixed case attribute values in header (potential error): | 0 (out of 137) |