The Occom Circle

Eleazar Wheelock, letters, to Andrew Oliver and Gideon Hawley, 1761 June 10

Manuscript Number761360.1

Date10 June 1761

Author

Recipients;

AbstractWheelock informs Oliver that the Onaquaga chiefs are planning a visit to Boston, and encloses a letter for Gideon Hawley that encourages Hawley to make a visit to Onaquaga, and to oversee Samuel Ashpo as a missionary. He mentions that Occom and David Fowler have set out on their mission to the Six Nations.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to George Whitefield, 1761 July 4

Manuscript Number761404

Date4 July 1761

Author

Recipient

AbstractWheelock writes to Whitefield about first Occom's mission to the Oneidas, and about the difficulties of teaching Indian students. He mentions the idea of appealing to the Earl of Dartmouth for charity.

Samuel Hopkins, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1761 September 30

Manuscript Number761530

Date30 September 1761

Author

Recipient

AbstractHopkins writes Wheelock about reports that Occom lacks tact in his dealings with the Oneidas, and that he is instructing them to leave off their Indian ways. He suggests that Occom may not be right for an Indian mission.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Dennys DeBerdt, 1761 November 16

Manuscript Number761616

Date16 November 1761

Author

Recipient

AbstractWheelock reports on the progress of the school and various missions.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Dennys DeBerdt, 1762 December 18

Manuscript Number762668.1

Date18 December 1762

Author

Recipient

AbstractWheelock discusses, among other things, the states of various missions, and the progress of the Indian Charity School.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to, Samson Occom, 1764 August 25

Manuscript Number764475.3

Date25 August 1764

Author

Recipients;

AbstractCopy of a letter in which Wheelock encloses the commission from Scotland for Occom's mission to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), and advises him to find a donor to supply him with money.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Samson Occom, 1764 August 25

Manuscript Number764475.4

Date25 August 1764

Author

Recipient

AbstractWheelock writes to Occom enclosing the commission from Scotland for his mission to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), and advises him to find a donor to supply him with money.

Theophilus Chamberlain, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1765 July 29

Manuscript Number765429.1

Date29 July 1765

Author

Recipient

AbstractChamberlain writes from his mission with an account of work among the Indians, occurrences of problem drinking, a funeral, and weddings.

Nathaniel Whitaker, narrative, 1766

Manuscript Number766900.11

Date1766

Author

AbstractWhitaker gives a brief history of Indian conversion in America and why it has thus far been relatively unsuccessful. Occom’s story is used as an argument for promoting Wheelock’s School and its focus on educating Indians, rather than English, as missionaries. A plan for an expanded school is put forth.

Eleazar Wheelock, announcement, 1766 February 20

Manuscript Number766170.1

Date20 February 1766

Author

AbstractWheelock writes an announcement for publication stating that both the reports of Good Peter's providential arrival at Wheelock's home, and the narrative of Occom's life, are true.