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

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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.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Dennys DeBerdt, 1761 September 22

Manuscript Number761522

Date22 September 1761

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Recipient

AbstractWheelock describes the progress of Occom's mission to the Oneidas, mentions a land dispute in Pennsylvania, and reports on the progress of his school. Mention is made of Kirtland's missionary training.

Robert Clelland, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1763 February 17

Manuscript Number763167

Date17 February 1763

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Recipient

AbstractClelland writes an informal letter discussing the poor state of local Indian affairs.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Benjamin Forfitt, 1763 September 8

Manuscript Number763508.1

Date8 September 1763

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Recipient

AbstractWheelock writes to Forfitt thanking him for sending a chest of books for the School, and detailing troubles with the Indians that have prevented the missions of Charles Jeffrey Smith, Occom and Ashpo.

Robert Clelland, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1764 January 21

Manuscript Number764121

Date21 January 1764

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Recipient

AbstractClelland writes an indignant letter complaining that the Mohegan sachem has denigrated Clelland's teaching. Clelland believes certain parties are angling to replace him with Occom.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to George Whitefield, 1764 May 18

Manuscript Number764318.1

Date18 May 1764

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Recipient

AbstractWheelock requests Whitefield’s help in drawing up a memorial to the Assembly. He comments on Occom’s work, which received good acceptance from Indians at Mohegan and Niantic, and discusses dissatisfaction with the Boston Board of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge.

John Smith, letter, to his friend, 1764 May 18

Manuscript Number764318.2

Date18 May 1764

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Recipient

AbstractSmith gives an account of his visit to Wheelock’s school, and to the Mohegan country, where he saw Occom.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to John Brainerd, 1765 January 14

Manuscript Number765114.3

Date14 January 1765

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Recipient

AbstractWheelock writes to Brainerd about setting up a meeting with the Connecticut Board of Commissioners, and the proposed fundraising trip to England, which is complicated by a renewal of the Mason Land Case.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to William Livingston, 1765 February 19

Manuscript Number765169.2

Date19 February 1765

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Recipient

AbstractWheelock writes that Occom has had to return home from his mission, that the petition for incorporation has been postponed, and that the king would like the school to be moved to the Illinois River and put under Episcopal management.