Joseph Johnson, letter, to John Rodgers, 1775 February 15

Author Johnson, Joseph[pers0288.ocp]

15 February 1775[1775-02-15]

ms number775165

[note (type: abstract): Johnson writes of his intention to move with several tribes to lands granted by the Oneidas, and that he has been in touch with Wheelock regarding a recommendation.][note (type: handwriting): Handwriting is small, crowded and frequently difficult to decipher, with many deletions and additions.][note (type: paper): Single large sheet is in fair condition, with moderate-to-heavy staining, creasing and wear. Wear at especially heavy creasing leads to some loss of text.][note (type: ink): Black-brown.][note (type: noteworthy): This document appears to be a draft. Some of the contents of this letter are similar to those of manuscript 775164. Sums appear upside-down at the bottom of one verso; the letter is written around these sums. The identity of “Avery” on one verso is uncertain, although it is likely David Avery[pers0064.ocp]. The identity of "Fitch" on one verso is uncertain, and so he has been left untagged.]
Persistent Identifier
[Opener]
To [Doctr | Dr.]DoctrDr.the [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. [Doctr | Dr.]DoctrDr. Rodgers[pers0640.ocp] at New York[place0308.ocp]
[Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. and kind Sir; with [illegible] humility, Gratitude and Love, I sit my self down to write to your worthy [Perſon | person]Perſonperson. through the [goodneſs | goodness]goodneſsgoodness of the great God of mercy I, and my little family are in health; and I hum bly hope that by the same [goodneſs | goodness]goodneſsgoodness you and yours have been, and Still are in health, and [proſperity | prosperity]proſperityprosperity. — kind Sir, I have ever retained your worthy [Perſon | Person]PerſonPerson in my mind with [pleaſure | pleasure]pleaſurepleasure, since, I have had the honour of being [aquainted | acquainted]aquaintedacquainted with you. and I [bleſs | bless]bleſsbless the Lord in whom I humbly hope, I have been enabled by his own divine grace, to put my ^[above] whole^whole Trust, that he [hath | has]hathhas ^[above] graciously^graciously given me such a Good ^[above] [& | and]&and real^[& | and]&and real Earthly friend ^[above] in time of need^in time of need as your worthy [Perſon | person]Perſonperson [hath | has]hathhas been, and I hope still will be. — if I was not [Satisfy [gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): d]d | satisfied]Satisfy [gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): d]dsatisfied in my Mind, of your good will ^[above] to me ward and to my poor [deſpiſed | despised]deſpiſeddespised Brethren^to me ward and to my poor [deſpiſed | despised]deſpiſeddespised Brethren I should not trouble you with my [Scribles | scribbles]Scriblesscribbles but now with [pleaſure | pleasure]pleaſurepleasure I write to you as unto the [beſt | best]beſtbest friend or Benefactor that I have in this world of ^[above] trial,^trial, Sorrow ^[above] and [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): wants]wants^and [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): wants]wants trialand various [viciſitudes | vicissitudes]viciſitudesvicissitudes. I heartily thank you for all your Tokens of Love, pity, and [reſpects | respects]reſpectsrespects that you [shewed | showed]shewedshowed [to me ^[above] ward,^ward, | toward me,]to me ^[above] ward,^ward,toward me, and to ^[above] ward^ward my poor brethren, when I was in ^[above] the city of^the city of New York[place0308.ocp] [illegible] and I daily [bleſs | bless]bleſsbless the Lord that he gave me favour in the Eyes and hearts of his People there, God full well knew my [neceſsituous | necessitous]neceſsituousnecessitous [Circumſtances | circumstances]Circumſtancescircumstances, and there he mercifully relieved me, and greatly encouraged me to go on still, in his Service, wherever he in his Providence should call me. and not to [ſtagger | stagger]ſtaggerstagger. — verily, verily, I have abundant [reaſon | reason]reaſonreason to rejoice in the [goodneſs | goodness]goodneſsgoodness of the Lord, who [regardeth | regards]regardethregards ^[above] the [cauſe | cause]cauſecause of^the [cauſe | cause]cauſecause of [thoſe | those]thoſethose that trust in his holy Name. — O that I might be enabled to live to his [praiſe | praise]praiſepraise all my Days, and afterward, be graciously [recieved | received]recievedreceived up into Glory, where I [illegible]shall [praiſe | praise]praiſepraise him throughout the [endleſs | endless]endleſsendless [illegible]Ages of Eternity without [inturruption | interruption]inturruptioninterruption, and without [ceaſing | ceasing]ceaſingceasing Amen. — [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. Sir, I got safely home by the [5th | 5th]5th5th of January[1775-01-05] [illegible]and found [gap: worn_edge][guess (h-dawnd): al]all well. I preached four times by the way. 3 times at New haven[place0162.ocp], [gap: worn_edge] once at [Eaſt | East]EaſtEast haven[place0402.ocp], but It is not the [Cuſtom | custom]Cuſtomcustom I [percieve | perceive]percieveperceive in these parts [gap: worn_edge] [conſider | consider]conſiderconsider of a traveling labourer, however, ^[above] I am [thankfull | thankful]thankfullthankful that^I am [thankfull | thankful]thankfullthankful that my mind is not chiefly set upon the things of time and Sense. ^[above] and so am not disappointed, nor in the [leaſt | least]leaſtleast disquieted.^and so am not disappointed, nor in the [leaſt | least]leaſtleast disquieted. I have been to several Towns of my Indian Brethren since I have been ^[above] at^at home, and have consulted with them, about worldly affairs, and I have ^[above] also^also preached to them [alſo | also]alſoalso the [Goſpel | Gospel]GoſpelGospel of our Lord [Jeſus | Jesus]JeſusJesus the Christ. — my Indian brethren seems to be really engaged to go [illegible]On in [proſecution | prosecution]proſecutionprosecution of the [Deſign | design]Deſigndesign which I made known to you when I was at your [Reſidence | residence]Reſidenceresidence — and we do fully [purpoſe | purpose]purpoſepurpose ^[above] if god willing^if god willing to set [of | off]ofoff from hence or from these Parts by the [13th | 13th]13th13th of March next[1775-03-13] [illegible]. ^[above] I take it for granted and^I take it for granted and I believe that there will be [illegible] ^[above] upwards of^upwards of [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): 5]560 young men from the several Tribes who will go with [Reſolution | resolution]Reſolutionresolution into the [weſtern | western]weſternwestern Country, as first Set ­tlers of the Land granted to us by the [Onoidas | Oneidas]OnoidasOneidas[org0075.ocp]. — however there is [illegible]58 able working men that [purpoſes | purposes]purpoſespurposes to go from the following Tribes. [gap: worn_edge][guess (h-dawnd): i]in [whoſe | whose]whoſewhose ^[above] words^words I believe we may rely. from Mohegan[org0063.ocp] 10. from [Naraganſet | Narragansett]NaraganſetNarragansett[org0066.ocp] 20. from [Montauk | Montaukett]MontaukMontaukett[org0061.ocp] on Long [Iſland | Island]IſlandIsland[place0129.ocp] 13, from [Nihantuck | Niantic]NihantuckNiantic[org0071.ocp] 5. from farm ington[org0044.ocp] 10. and there is two other Tribes who [confeſs | confess]confeſsconfess that they are So deeply involved in debt that they cannot go this [Seaſon | season]Seaſonseason, but fully [purpoſes | purposes]purpoſespurposes to go soon as [poſsible | possible]poſsiblepossible. that is [grotton | Groton]grottonGroton[org0148.ocp] and Stonington[org0101.ocp]. [illegible] — I was there last [thurſday | Thursday]thurſdayThursday[1775-02-09] and had conference with them ^[above] about the affair^about the affair and I [ſhall | shall]ſhallshall go [their | there]theirthere again next Saturday[1775-02-18], and tarry over the Sabbath with them. and I shall [propoſe | propose]propoſepropose conditions and I believe that there will be a small number from [thoſe | those]thoſethose two Tribes. the [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. [M.r | Mr.]M.rMr. Occom[pers0030.ocp] will Preach t[illegible]here next Sabbath. and he will [propoſe | propose]propoſepropose condition to them [illegible] and their Creditors so as they may go and take [Poſseſs | possess]Poſseſspossess [gap: worn_edge][guess (h-dawnd): i]ion with the [Reſt | rest]Reſtrest of us. I hope that [their | there]theirthere will be nigh seventy in the whole ^[above] [tho | though]thothough it is little uncertain Poverty hinders many^[tho | though]thothough it is little uncertain Poverty hinders many it is thought the [beſt | best]beſtbest way in the first Place for[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): Young]Young
men that are able to endure [hardſhips | hardships]hardſhipshardships to go and work or br[gap: worn_edge] the way through, or [prepear | prepare]prepearprepare a Sort of Shelter for [themſelves | themselves]themſelvesthemselves and the[gap: worn_edge] to live in, and to [raiſe | raise]raiſeraise little [Some wh[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): at]at | somewhat]Some wh[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): at]atsomewhat to eat for them and [gap: worn_edge] ^[above] and^and after w[illegible]foundation is laid [illegible] the aged men and women^[above] then we can with [leſs | less]leſsless difficulty^then we can with [leſs | less]leſsless difficulty and children [illegible] move up ^[above] with^with our families, and the[illegible] may the aged Men, and women go leaning upon their Sons as [An[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): cors]cors | anchors]An[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): cors]corsanchors I feel really engaged on my Part, and greatly encouraged. The [pro­ ­ſpects | prospects]pro­ ­ſpectsprospects of great future good to my poor brethren in these parts, and [alſo | also]alſoalso [thoſe | those]thoſethose that inhabit the [weſtern | western]weſternwestern [wilderneſs | wilderness]wilderneſswilderness animates my Soul to [preſs | press]preſspress forward. I greatly [deſire | desire]deſiredesire the [Proſperity | prosperity]Proſperityprosperity of my sinking Nation. — O that I might by the Grace of God, be beneficia[gap: worn_edge][guess (h-dawnd): l]l [gap: stain] to the bodies, but to the precious, exceeding precious Sou[gap: worn_edge][guess (h-dawnd): ls]ls of my [gap: stain][guess (h-dawnd): p]poor indian Brethren. — [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. and kind Sir. — I would further [enform | inform]enforminform you that I [recieved | received]recievedreceived a Letter from my [Hond | Honoured]HondHonoured Patron the [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. [Eleazer | Eleazar]EleazerEleazar Wheelock[pers0036.ocp] D. D and [Preſident | President]PreſidentPresident of Dartmouth College[org0037.ocp] the [13th | 13th]13th13th of this Instant[1775-02-13]. the Extract of which I send you with even every word. — Dartmouth College[org0037.ocp] [Jany | January]JanyJanuary 23. 1775[1775-01-23]. My dear [Joſeph | Joseph]JoſephJoseph [Johnſon | Johnson]JohnſonJohnson[pers0288.ocp] [&c | etc.]&cetc.: [&c | etc.]&cetc.: — — — I had a favoura ble [oppertunity | opportunity]oppertunityopportunity to return an [Anſwer | answer]Anſweranswer, the next Day. — I [illegible]acquainted him how the Lord had [proſpered | prospered]proſperedprospered me [illegible] New York[place0308.ocp] and had given me friends there. and [illegible] made Mention of your worthy [Perſon | person]Perſonperson ^[above] good will towards me, and [alſo | also]alſoalso to [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): wards]wards^good will towards me, and [alſo | also]alſoalso to [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): wards]wards and what you towards my Poor Brethren. — I [enformed | informed]enformedinformed him that you [deſigned | designed]deſigneddesigned to try to get [illegible] [ſome | some]ſomesome^[above] Thing^Thing for meMy [illegible]Support And for my Encouragements from the Honorable Board at Philadelphia, or New York[org0102.ocp], I was not certain, — [gap: worn_edge]ever I [deſired | desired]deſireddesired him to write soon as [poſsible | possible]poſsiblepossible to your worthy [Perſon | person]Perſonperson on my behalf, and recommend me to notice, and regard if I was [deſerving | deserving]deſervingdeserving. [illegible] I [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): wrote to]wrote to [enformed | informed]enformedinformed him, ^[above] that^that the BHonorable Board[org0102.ocp] would meet by the first of April[1775-04-01]. — and I doubt not, but that he will write to you[illegible] ^[below] But let [illegible]^But let [illegible] The Lords will be done concerning that Matter. ^[above] I doubt not but that you will do your [uttermoſt | uttermost]uttermoſtuttermost to get me a Support. ^[below] while I shall be in the service of our Lord.^while I shall be in the service of our Lord.^I doubt not but that you will do your [uttermoſt | uttermost]uttermoſtuttermost to get me a Support. ^[below] while I shall be in the service of our Lord.^while I shall be in the service of our Lord. If I have encouragement from that Honorable Board[org0102.ocp] I will [bleſs | bless]bleſsbless the Lord, and rejoice in his [goodneſs | goodness]goodneſsgoodness, if not I will still love, and trust in his holy Name, and service him with all my might. and not be discouraged, nor repine. for he will do the thing, that is [illegible]right with me and for me. — my ^[above] [Purpoſes | purposes]Purpoſespurposes and^[Purpoſes | purposes]Purpoſespurposes and [neceſsituous | necessitous]neceſsituousnecessitous [Circumſtances | circumstances]Circumſtancescircumstances I'll write on other Paper by itself. — O kind Sir, ever Pray for me, that the God of Love, would give me Grace Sufficient for me. give my Thanks, and becoming [Reſpects | Respects]ReſpectsRespects to your honoured, Beloved, and kind [Conſort | Consort]ConſortConsort[pers0993.ocp] and great regards to all your family. and love to all [enquiring | inquiring]enquiringinquiring friends
[Closer]
I am, kind Sir your [well wiſher | well-wisher]well wiſherwell-wisher, and humble Servant and humble Pupil as it were. [Joſeph | Joseph]JoſephJoseph [Johnſon | Johnson]JohnſonJohnson[pers0288.ocp] an Indian of the Mohegan Tribe[org0063.ocp]. ^[bottom] 36/0 7/6^36/0 7/6 ^[bottom] 17.6 5/ 24/10^17.6 5/ 24/10 ^[bottom] 18:6 5^18:6 5 ^[bottom] 17:6 3/0^ 17:6 3/0 ^[bottom] 48/0 2/6^48/0 2/6 ^[bottom] 37/9 1/3 27.10^37/9 1/3 27.10 ^[bottom] 10:3 2/6 12/5^10:3 2/6 12/5 ^[bottom] 48:0 6:3^48:0 6:3 ^[bottom] 18:6 Averys debt^18:6 Averys debt ^[bottom] 10:38:Fitches D.t 19:6 30/4^10:38:Fitches D.t 19:6 30/4 ^[bottom] £1:8:9 6/ 12^£1:8:9 6/ 12 ^[bottom] £1:11:9 1.6^ £1:11:9 1.6 ^[bottom] 6 13.6^ 6 13.6 ^[bottom] £1 17:9^ £1 17:9
[Postscript]
P.S. there was some Gentlemen that gave encourage ment, that they would try to get Bibles and [Pſalm | Psalm]PſalmPsalm books if any was want- -ing by [thoſe | those]thoſethose that go Next march[1775-03]. and I have acquainted my Indian friends of the good will of Gentlemen at New York[place0308.ocp]. — and They ^[above] Indians^Indians rejoice at such glad [illegible]tidings. if there is any so well [diſpoſed | disposed]diſpoſeddisposed as to give us [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): [shuch | such]shuchsuch][shuch | such]shuchsuch [beſt | best]beſtbest of gifts we will greatly rejoice, and try to make good [uſe | use]uſeuse of them. [moſt | Most]moſtMost of us are so poor that we cant [purchaſe | purchase]purchaſepurchase Bibles and [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] to come 60 [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): of Each I]of Each I believe will be [illegible][guess (h-dawnd): wanting]wanting Send them to [illegible] I and [illegible]
[Trailer]
^[left] to Dr. Rogers.[pers0640.ocp]^to Dr. Rogers.[pers0640.ocp]
To the [Revd | Rev.]RevdRev. [Mr | Mr.]MrMr. Rodgers[pers0640.ocp] D.D. in the City of New York[place0308.ocp].—
Document Summary

People identified in this document:

id Text in document Role in header Authorized Name
pers0640.ocp Rev d Rev. Doct r Dr. Rodgers recipient Rodgers
pers0030.ocp M. r Mr. Occom mentioned Occom, Samson
pers0036.ocp Eleazer Eleazar Wheelock mentioned Wheelock, Eleazar
pers0288.ocp Joſeph Joseph Johnſon Johnson writer Johnson, Joseph
pers0993.ocp Conſort Consort mentioned Rodgers
pers0288.ocp Joſeph Joseph Johnſon Johnson writer Johnson, Joseph
pers0640.ocp Dr. Rogers. recipient Rodgers
pers0640.ocp M r Mr. Rodgers recipient Rodgers

Places identified in this document:

id Text in document Authorized Name
place0143.ocp Mohegan Mohegan
place0308.ocp New York New York City
place0308.ocp New York New York City
place0162.ocp New haven New Haven
place0402.ocp Eaſt East haven East Haven
place0129.ocp Long Iſland Island Long Island
place0308.ocp New York New York City

Organizations identified in this document:

id Text in document Authorized Name
org0075.ocp OnoidasOneidas Oneida Nation
org0063.ocp Mohegan Mohegan Tribe
org0066.ocp NaraganſetNarragansett Narragansett Tribe
org0061.ocp MontaukMontaukett Montaukett Tribe
org0071.ocp NihantuckNiantic Niantic Tribe
org0044.ocp farm ington Farmington Tribe
org0148.ocp grottonGroton Groton Pequots
org0101.ocp Stonington Stonington Pequots
org0037.ocp Dartmouth College Dartmouth College
org0102.ocp Honorable Board at Philadelphia, or New York Synod of New York and Philadelphia
org0102.ocp Honorable Board Synod of New York and Philadelphia
org0063.ocp Mohegan Tribe Mohegan Tribe

Dates identified in this document:

Standard Form Text
1775-02-15 February 15th.15th. AD 1775
1775-01-05 5th5th of January
1775-03-13 13th13th of March next
1775-02-09 last thurſdayThursday
1775-02-18 next Saturday
1775-02-13 13th13th of this Instant
1775-01-23 JanyJanuary 23. 1775
1775-04-01 first of April
1775-03 Next march

Regularized text:

Type Original Regularized
modernization 15th. 15th.
modernization Wedneſday Wednesday
modernization Doctr Dr.
modernization Revd Rev.
modernization Perſon person
modernization goodneſs goodness
modernization proſperity prosperity
modernization Perſon Person
modernization pleaſure pleasure
variation aquainted acquainted
modernization bleſs bless
variation hath has
variation Satisfy [gap: tear][guess (h-dawnd): d]d satisfied
modernization deſpiſed despised
variation Scribles scribbles
modernization beſt best
variation viciſitudes vicissitudes
modernization reſpects respects
variation shewed showed
variation to me ^[above] ward,^ward, toward me,
variation neceſsituous necessitous
modernization Circumſtances circumstances
modernization ſtagger stagger
modernization reaſon reason
variation regardeth regards
modernization cauſe cause
modernization thoſe those
modernization praiſe praise
variation recieved received
modernization endleſs endless
variation inturruption interruption
modernization ceaſing ceasing
modernization 5th 5th
modernization Eaſt East
modernization Cuſtom custom
variation percieve perceive
modernization conſider consider
variation thankfull thankful
modernization leaſt least
modernization alſo also
modernization Goſpel Gospel
modernization Jeſus Jesus
modernization proſecution prosecution
modernization Deſign design
modernization Reſidence residence
modernization purpoſe purpose
variation of off
modernization 13th 13th
modernization Reſolution resolution
modernization weſtern western
variation Onoidas Oneidas
modernization purpoſes purposes
modernization whoſe whose
variation Naraganſet Narragansett
variation Montauk Montaukett
modernization Iſland Island
variation Nihantuck Niantic
modernization confeſs confess
modernization Seaſon season
modernization poſsible possible
variation grotton Groton
modernization thurſday Thursday
modernization ſhall shall
variation their there
modernization propoſe propose
modernization M.r Mr.
modernization Poſseſs possess
modernization Reſt rest
variation tho though
modernization hardſhips hardships
variation prepear prepare
modernization themſelves themselves
modernization raiſe raise
variation Some wh[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): at]at somewhat
modernization leſs less
variation An[illegible][guess (h-dawnd): cors]cors anchors
modernization pro­ ­ſpects prospects
modernization wilderneſs wilderness
modernization preſs press
modernization deſire desire
modernization Proſperity prosperity
variation enform inform
variation Eleazer Eleazar
modernization Preſident President
modernization Joſeph Joseph
modernization Johnſon Johnson
modernization &c etc.
variation oppertunity opportunity
modernization Anſwer answer
modernization proſpered prospered
variation enformed informed
modernization deſigned designed
modernization ſome some
modernization deſired desired
modernization deſerving deserving
modernization uttermoſt uttermost
modernization Purpoſes purposes
modernization Reſpects Respects
modernization Conſort Consort
variation enquiring inquiring
variation well wiſher well-wisher
modernization Pſalm Psalm
modernization diſpoſed disposed
variation shuch such
modernization uſe use
modernization moſt Most
modernization purchaſe purchase
modernization Mr Mr.

Expanded abbreviations:

Abbreviation Expansion
& and
Hond Honoured
Jany January

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