Joseph Johnson, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1774 May 2
2 May 1774[1774-05-02]
ms number774302
[note (type: abstract): Johnson writes of his doubt regarding his true Christian spirit, his work as a preacher and schoolmaster, the developments regarding settling in Oneida country, and his poverty.][note (type: handwriting): Handwriting is not Johnson's. It is formal and clear, though letter case is frequently difficult to discern.][note (type: paper): Large sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear.][note (type: signature): The letter is signed twice — once in full, once in intials after the postscript — but neither signature is in Johnson's hand.][note (type: noteworthy): As is noted in the trailer on two verso, the document is a copy.]
Persistent Identifier
[Opener]
[Framington | Farmington]FramingtonFarmington[place0074.ocp]
May [2d | 2nd]2d2nd AD 1774[1774-05-02]
To the [Rev.d | Rev.]Rev.dRev.
[Mr | Mr.]MrMr.
[Eleazer | Eleazar]EleazerEleazar Weelock[pers0036.ocp]. D.D.
My kind, and Honored Benefactor, with love and gratitude in my heart, and much
humility would I once more attempt to write to your worthy Person. O! the Wounds that
I have given to that pious Soul of thine, oft of late have I shed tears, when I [consdered | considered]consderedconsidered of my past Ingratitude and misconduct. Oft have I thought of your [unweared | unwearied]unwearedunwearied labours of love to unworthy me. — And O' that thy love, this very
time might truly cause me to praise God, who not only ruleth in the Armies of
heaven, but also doeth his will, and pleasure among the Inhabitants of this
lower world. Ah' what sorrow ought to flow from this once Savage Heart of mine that I
have not only grieved you, but that I have in times past crucified as it were, the
Lord of Glory, even the Son of God, afresh and put him to an open shame, Great
Wonder! even marve‐‐lous in my Eyes, or rather the admiration
of my soul that I, a hell deserving cursed Creature has been suff^[above] e^ered to live in this world so long Sinning, offending, and provoking the God
of [holineſs | holiness]holineſsholiness, and the God of justice, and the God of [vengance | vengeance]vengancevengeance, and what is the joy of my Soul the God of love, and the God of mercy,
through his dearly beloved and only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is
admired by all them that believe, and in whom I humbly hope, I have been enabled by
the Spirit of the living God, to put my whole trust [& | and]&and Confidence, for time and for Eternity. O! that I might see more and more of
my own [wret‐‐chedneſs | wret‐chedness]wret‐‐chedneſswret‐chedness, and insufficiency, that Jesus ^[above] Christ^Christ might be more and
more precious to my Soul, oh' I am nothing, should I have the [boldneſs | boldness]boldneſsboldness to tell you, that I am hopefully converted, I should tell a news ^[above] that^that I am not certain of. For since I first thought so myself,
I have often doub‐ted. I [percieve | perceive]percieveperceive Sin ^[above] to be^to be lurking within, sometimes, I greatly fear
that I am altogether in my Sins, even under the power and Dominion of of Sin, if
so I am wretched wretched poor miserable creature [sill | still]sillstill, not‐‐withstanding the world calls me [bleſsed | blessed]bleſsedblessed, notwithstanding I [paſs | pass]paſspass for a true Christian among all [setts | sets]settssets, and Denominations, as it were — I have but very poor Opinion of
myself, and I walk in fear always having these words, ever dwelling upon my mind.
Strive to enter in at the [strait | straight]straitstraight Gate; for many I say unto you will seek to enter in. [& | and]&and shall not be able. But amidst all my doubts [& | and]&and Fears this verse is my consolation. All that the Fa[illegible]ther giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to
me. I will in no wise cast out. Then are the words of Jesus, whom I love, and whom I
adore, and whom I hope purpose to serve as I shall be enabled, by that
holy spirit by which I humbly hope I have been [quickned | quickened]quicknedquickened, and enlivened through the Sufferings and Death of this Jesus Christ,
who was once Crucified, and slain, and buried, also, who arose from the Grave
and [aſ | as]aſasscended up into Glory, and who is now intercedi^[above] n^ng for all his chosen in that upper world of Glory, I say through Jesus
Christ alone, I humbly hope for pardon, for all my Great, many, and exceedingly [aggrivated | aggravated]aggrivatedaggravated Sins, which are past. Which I have already committed, And for the sake of
this Jesus Christ alone, who
who came to save his peculiar people from
their Sins, I humbly hope for Grace sufficient for me. that I may hence forward [withsand | withstand]withsandwithstand all the Temptations that I have to encounter throughout my whole Life,
which may arise either from the world, flesh or from the D[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): ie]ievil. — O! my kind
and worthy Benefactor, I [percieve | perceive]percieveperceive that I am in a large Field, and see as it were, Enemies Malicious and [powerfull | powerful]powerfullpowerful, in a terrible array. Shall Sa‐‐tan be [conqured | conquered]conquredconquered? ah methinks, that he is already but a [conqured | conquered]conquredconquered King. shall sin be subdued, and shall vile affections and cursed Lusts be
mor‐‐tified, ah my Soul wait patiently, and you shall see
the great salvation of God. I [percieve | perceive]percieveperceive, that since I have listed under ^[above] the Banner^the Banner of Jesus
Christ, that I must not be idle, but go out and fight as it were the Battles of
the Lord, and O! that I could ^[above] ever^ever fight with true Love in
my heart, and O! that I ma^[above] i^ig^[above] ht^ht ever be inspired with Wisdom from [illegible]on
high, even from the glorious Captain of our Salvation that I might wisely undermine
the Kingdom of Satan. This is my ^[above] hearts^hearts desire that Satan's
Kingdom might be destroyed,
[& | and]&and that the Kingdom of the dear Redeemer be built upon the ruins thereof And
it is the full purpose of my heart, O! my Benevolent Benefactor, to devote all the
faculties of my Soul [& | and]&and Body to the Service of King Jesus. I have served Satan long enough, I have
been striving to build his cursed Kingdom, devoted to ruin long enough I have done
good service to that Prince of [Darkneſs | Darkness]DarkneſsDarkness. And since I have seen his treachery, his cursed de‐‐signs I must leave him. I flee away from him and he is welcome to all my
Wages, let him recieve the wrath of God, since no Saviour was ever found for him. But
as for me I'll [chearfully | cheerfully]chearfullycheerfully speak of a once crucified, once bleeding, ^[above] once
dying^once
dying once buried, but now risen, living and exalted Redeemer. Him I will
serve if he gives me grace while I live, faithfully. here on Earth I hope to glorify
God Honor Jesus Christ by the [aſsistance | assistance]aſsistanceassistance of the holy Ghost and hearafter enjoy Father, Son [& | and]&and holy Ghost which will [compleat | complete]compleatcomplete my [happineſs | happiness]happineſshappiness, and the [happineſs | happiness]happineſshappiness of all true Chil‐‐dren — But my kind
benefactor, having already wrote more than I expected when I ^[above] first^first sat down, [wilt | will you]wiltwill you though be [pleas'd | pleased]pleas'dpleased to wait with patience a little Longer, while I write, or make known
[illegible] to you, or while I speak of other things
— [Rev.d | Rev.]Rev.dRev. Sir I heartily thank you for your kind letter, dated [Feb.y | February]Feb.yFebruary 4 AD 1774[1774-02-04] and I ^[above] also^also hope, that Satan will at
Last be fully disappointed, and may the Lord's will be done concerning me. If
God sees fit to make me a [Veſsel | vessel]Veſselvessel for the Master's service Amen. If only a [veſsel | vessel]veſselvessel of mercy Glory be given to God, and I heartily rejoice that the Lord has [prospred | prospered]prospredprospered you, in your laudable Undertaking in that part of the World, And [Rev.d | Rev.]Rev.dRev. Sir methinks, that it is not for the want of Gratitude, or love, that I
have not visited you, my kind Benefactor. but to speak the truth it is Poverty. I
alway; have been poor, as all my Brethren are likewise, yet I have lived somehow
hitherto. And [Rev.d | Rev.]Rev.dRev. Sir perhaps I can give good reason for my Poverty, I would tell you in the
first place that I have kept School, here, at
Farmington[place0074.ocp] since [Nov.r | November]Nov.rNovember
[15.th | 15th]15.th15th 1772[1772-11-15]. first ten weeks, I had six pounds this ten weeks I was ^[above] as^as it were upon trial. afterwards I went to Boston[place0013.ocp] being well recommended by the [Rev.d | Rev.]Rev.dRev.
[M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Pitkin[pers0430.ocp], who is my kind and
wise [Overſeer | overseer]Overſeeroverseer, and when I was at Boston[place0013.ocp] the
Gentlem[illegible]^[above] e^en[org0095.ocp], was
[pleas'd | pleased]pleas'dpleased to give or offer £20 [⅌ | per]⅌per Annum for my Encouragement. I thought it too little wages. but I concluded,
saying, I would go to Farmington[place0074.ocp] and see
what more the Indians would give, and if they give me proper Encouragement, I would
continue keeping the School. the Indians after I saw them offered four pounds
more which made 24 £ [⅌ | per]⅌per Annum So I have kept and so keep still, well I believe I could Live very
comfortably with £24 [⅌ | per]⅌per Annum if I spent my Money only for [my self | myself]my selfmyself. but now I am going to the you the Reason of my Poverty. I have been
seeking the good of my poor Indian Brethren, for this some time, for the good of
the Indians in particular that Live in these seven Towns — Farmington[place0074.ocp], [Nihantauck | Niantic]NihantauckNiantic[place0168.ocp], Mohegan[place0143.ocp], Pequt[place0300.ocp] or [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [Gretton | Groton]GrettonGroton[place0092.ocp]][Gretton | Groton]GrettonGroton[place0092.ocp] —
Stonington[place0226.ocp], [Narraganset | Narragansett]NarragansetNarragansett[place0150.ocp]
[& | and]&and
Montauck[place0144.ocp] and notwithstanding I
am Master of a School yet I have traveled much in the run of one year I have ever
hired another Master in my room whilst I was absent I have been the foremost all
along even to this Day. I have been to the [Hon.e | Honourable]Hon.eHonourable
Sir [wm | William]wmWilliam Johnson[pers0292.ocp] twice. once in [Oct.r | October]Oct.rOctober 1773[1773-10] and again in [Jan.y | January]Jan.yJanuary 1774[1774-01] at that time I went, even to the [Onoida | Oneida]OnoidaOneida
[illegible]Village[place0114.ocp] where the [Rev.d | Rev.]Rev.dRev.
[Mr | Mr.]MrMr.
[Kirtland | Kirkland]KirtlandKirkland[pers0315.ocp] preaches — And I have the pleasure to tell you that his
Honor Sir [wm | William]wmWilliam[pers0292.ocp] is well [pleas'd | pleased]pleas'dpleased with the grand design which I have in my view, and his Ho‐‐nor Sir [w.m | William]w.mWilliam[pers0292.ocp] has [favor'd | favoured]favor'dfavoured us New England Indians[org0118.ocp] very high‐‐ly and he has done us much good, we have as much Land as we
shall want, given to us New England Indians[org0118.ocp] by the
[Onoidas | Oneidas]OnoidasOneidas[org0075.ocp] and we have had invitations from Nations 600 Miles back of
[S.r | Sir]S.rSir
[W.m | William]W.mWilliam[pers0292.ocp] it is strange to me that we meet with such ^[above] good^good
[succeſs | success]succeſssuccess I humbly hope there is Providence in this, and O! what a pleasing
prospect, sometimes opens to my View, who knows what is in the Womb of Providence.
but what I am after to tell you, that in all my travels up and down the Country, I
have be[illegible]en at my own Expense, which is owing
to the great po‐‐verty of the Indians, I have [Rec.d | received]Rec.dreceived only 3 Dollars ^[above] from the Indians^from the Indians since I have been
in this service. But I blame them not, for Indians are truly poor, I have been at
great [Expence | expense]Expenceexpense sometimes, espe‐‐cially last winter I was gone six
Weeks hired a Master all the Time, and when I came down from [Onoida | Oneida]OnoidaOneida[place0179.ocp], after I had tarried there Eight days there was several of
the great men, Lords, [& | and]&and warriors came down to Sir William[pers0292.ocp]'s with
me, in order to confirm their words at [Sr | Sir]SrSir
[W.ms | William's]W.msWilliam's[pers0292.ocp] for said they there is the only place to have all things done
well, strong [& | and]&and sure. there was [illegible] twelve that came
down with me, and I bore all their [Expences | expenses]Expencesexpenses even to Sir William[pers0292.ocp]'s or [till | 'til]till'til we got to Sir William[pers0292.ocp]'s and I believe
it is about 100 Miles. So have I spent my Money and this is it what makes me now
so poor, that I have not one penny Clear. no, I am now in debt, for provision and
little [Cloaths | clothes]Cloathsclothes, and I can't come up to you very soon, or at least [till | 'til]till'til I can get money to pay my debts, and bear my [expences | expenses]expencesexpenses to your Residence. I want to see you very much
much once more. I must go up to Sir William[pers0292.ocp]'s again in September[1774-09] the first part I dont know how I shall go through all what
is before me, [unleſs | unless]unleſsunless kind Providence doth provide for my [neceſsities | necessities]neceſsitiesnecessities un‐expectedly, I know not where to go for help if you my
kind Benefator was nigh I [veryly | verily]verylyverily believe you would relieve me greatly [& | and]&and even Encourage me but I end leaning upon the Lord
[Closer]
I am your well wisher [& | and]&and Pupil
Joseph John^[above] son^son[pers0288.ocp]
[Postscript]
P.S. I began this Letter I believe it was about ten o'Clock this
evening, and I am in such a great hurry that I can't write over again I am
pre‐‐paring a little [peice | piece]peicepiece of poor [Stonny | stony]Stonnystony Ground for to plant little Corn for me [& | and]&and mine to eat, if we live. I work upon this piece between Schools I try to
turn every way to get a living, and when I have done my utter‐‐most I hardly live. [Rev.d | Rev.]Rev.dRev. Sir if things so work or rather if it be the will of God, I purpose to
try to come and see you by the latter end of
August next[1774-08] and wait to get [Licence | license]Licencelicense then if shall be thought proper for I never had any other [Licence | license]Licencelicense than the [earneſ | earnes]earneſearnes[illegible]t desire of People and a [willingneſs | willingness]willingneſswillingness in my heart to speak I pray you to write to me [& | and]&and let me know whether it will be proper for me to come in August[1774-08] or before or after I am [Jos[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): h]h | Joseph]Jos[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): h]hJoseph[pers0288.ocp] I have not seen Jacob[pers0018.ocp] nor David[pers0155.ocp] since I [rec.d | received]rec.dreceived your kind Letter
[Trailer]
From [Joſeph | Joseph]JoſephJoseph
[Johnſon | Johnson]JohnſonJohnson[pers0288.ocp]
May [2,d | 2nd]2,d2nd 1774[1774-05-02] true Copy —
Document Summary
People identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Role in header | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|---|
pers0036.ocp | Eleazer Eleazar Weelock | recipient | Wheelock, Eleazar |
pers0430.ocp | Rev. d Rev. M. r Mr. Pitkin | mentioned | Pitkin, Timothy |
pers0292.ocp | Sir w m William Johnson | mentioned | Johnson, William |
pers0315.ocp | Kirtland Kirkland | mentioned | Kirkland, Samuel |
pers0292.ocp | Sir w m William | mentioned | Johnson, William |
pers0292.ocp | Sir w. m William | mentioned | Johnson, William |
pers0292.ocp | S. r Sir W. m William | mentioned | Johnson, William |
pers0292.ocp | Sir William | mentioned | Johnson, William |
pers0292.ocp | S r Sir W. ms William's | mentioned | Johnson, William |
pers0288.ocp | Joseph John son | writer | Johnson, Joseph |
pers0288.ocp | Jos h Joseph | writer | Johnson, Joseph |
pers0018.ocp | Jacob | mentioned | Fowler, Jacob |
pers0155.ocp | David | mentioned | Fowler, David |
pers0288.ocp | Joſeph Joseph Johnſon Johnson | writer | Johnson, Joseph |
Places identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
place0074.ocp | Framington Farmington | Farmington |
place0074.ocp | Farmington | Farmington |
place0013.ocp | Boston | Boston |
place0168.ocp | Nihantauck Niantic | Niantic |
place0143.ocp | Mohegan | Mohegan |
place0300.ocp | Pequt | Pequt |
place0092.ocp | Gretton Groton | Groton |
place0226.ocp | Stonington | Stonington |
place0150.ocp | Narraganset Narragansett | Narragansett |
place0144.ocp | Montau c k | Montauk |
place0114.ocp | Onoida Oneida Village | Kanawalohale |
place0179.ocp | Onoida Oneida | Oneida |
Organizations identified in this document:
id | Text in document | Authorized Name |
---|---|---|
org0095.ocp | Gentlemen | The Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America |
org0118.ocp | New England Indians | Brothertown Tribe |
org0075.ocp | OnoidasOneidas | Oneida Nation |
Dates identified in this document:
Standard Form | Text |
---|---|
1774-05-02 | May 2d2nd AD 1774 |
1774-02-04 | Feb.yFebruary 4 AD 1774 |
1772-11-15 | Nov.rNovember 15.th15th 1772 |
1773-10 | Oct.rOctober 1773 |
1774-01 | Jan.yJanuary 1774 |
1774-09 | September |
1774-08 | August next |
1774-08 | August |
1774-05-02 | May 2,d2nd 1774 |
Regularized text:
Type | Original | Regularized |
---|---|---|
modernization | 2d | 2nd |
modernization | Rev.d | Rev. |
modernization | Mr | Mr. |
variation | Eleazer | Eleazar |
modernization | holineſs | holiness |
variation | vengance | vengeance |
modernization | wret‐‐chedneſs | wret‐chedness |
modernization | boldneſs | boldness |
variation | percieve | perceive |
modernization | bleſsed | blessed |
modernization | paſs | pass |
variation | setts | sets |
variation | strait | straight |
variation | quickned | quickened |
modernization | aſ | as |
variation | aggrivated | aggravated |
variation | powerfull | powerful |
modernization | Darkneſs | Darkness |
variation | chearfully | cheerfully |
modernization | aſsistance | assistance |
variation | compleat | complete |
modernization | happineſs | happiness |
variation | wilt | will you |
modernization | Veſsel | vessel |
modernization | veſsel | vessel |
modernization | 15.th | 15th |
modernization | M.r | Mr. |
modernization | Overſeer | overseer |
variation | my self | myself |
variation | Nihantauck | Niantic |
variation | Gretton | Groton |
variation | Narraganset | Narragansett |
variation | Onoida | Oneida |
variation | Kirtland | Kirkland |
variation | Onoidas | Oneidas |
modernization | succeſs | success |
variation | Expence | expense |
variation | Expences | expenses |
variation | till | 'til |
variation | Cloaths | clothes |
variation | expences | expenses |
modernization | unleſs | unless |
modernization | neceſsities | necessities |
variation | veryly | verily |
variation | peice | piece |
variation | Licence | license |
modernization | earneſ | earnes |
modernization | willingneſs | willingness |
modernization | Joſeph | Joseph |
modernization | Johnſon | Johnson |
modernization | 2,d | 2nd |
Expanded abbreviations:
Abbreviation | Expansion |
---|---|
& | and |
pleas'd | pleased |
Feb.y | February |
Nov.r | November |
⅌ | per |
Hon.e | Honourable |
wm | William |
Oct.r | October |
Jan.y | January |
w.m | William |
favor'd | favoured |
S.r | Sir |
W.m | William |
Rec.d | received |
Sr | Sir |
W.ms | William's |
Jos[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): h]h | Joseph |
rec.d | received |
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 29) |
Number of people/places/organizations with unknown keys: | 0 (out of 36) |
Number of "add" tags with unknown 'place' attributes: | 0 (out of 18) |
Mixed case attribute values in header (potential error): | 0 (out of 121) |