The Occom Circle

Samson Occom, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1764 September 8

Manuscript Number764508.3

Date8 September 1764

Author

Recipient

AbstractOccom is determined to set out on his long journey despite a scarcity of funding, and leaves his house and other business to be done upon Wheelock’s credit. He informs Wheelock that he has hired Mr. Peabody of Norwich Landing to get the materials that his house requires, and to hire hands and pay them. He notes that his family needs clothing and provisions.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to George Whitefield, 1764 September 26

Manuscript Number764526.2

Date26 September 1764

Author

Recipient

AbstractWheelock addresses the various conflicts regarding Occom and his employers, would-be and otherwise.

John Smith and Moses Peck, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1764 December 22

Manuscript Number764672

Date22 December 1764

Authors;

Recipient

AbstractSmith and Peck write regarding the prospective trip to Great Britain.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Solomon Williams, 1764 December 31

Manuscript Number764681

Date31 December 1764

Author

Recipient

AbstractWheelock writes to suggest gathering the Board of Correspondents in order to discuss sending Brainerd to England with Occom.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Solomon Williams, 1765 January 7

Manuscript Number765107.1

Date7 January 1765

Author

Recipient

AbstractWheelock writes to Williams urging that plans be laid for a fundraising trip to England. He also reports on the arrival of Theophilus Chamberlain, and possible plans for a mission.

Eleazar Wheelock, letter to the The New York/New Jersey Board of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, and William Peartree Smith, 1765 January 14

Manuscript Number765114.1

Date14 January 1765

Author

Recipients;

AbstractWheelock writes to the The New York/New Jersey Board of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge about the missionaries and school masters he has educated at his Indian Charity school, and asks them to allow John Brainerd to solicit funds in Europe to support it. Also included is a note to William Peartree Smith asking him to respond with the Board's decision as soon as possible.

Connecticut Board of Correspondents for the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, minutes, 1765 February 25

Manuscript Number765175

Date25 February 1765

Author

AbstractMinutes of "some things to be acted on" at a meeting of the Connecticut Board of Correspondents. These include the prospective fundraising trip to England, as well as an article of complaint against Occom.

Minutes of the meeting of the Board of Correspondents, 1765 May 10

Manuscript Number765310.1

Date10 May 1765

Author

AbstractThe Board votes to send C.J. Smith to Europe to collect funds, to ask General Gage for help, to increase Occom’s pension to relieve his poverty, and to employ him as a missionary to the Six Nations if he doesn’t go to Europe.

Samuel Finley, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1765 June 3

Manuscript Number765353

Date3 June 1765

Author

Recipient

AbstractFinley writes that Ralph Wheelock has been working steadily for the school, and that Occom should have more polishing before traveling to Great Britain.

Nathaniel Whitaker, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1765 June 24

Manuscript Number765374.3

Date24 June 1765

Author

Recipient

AbstractWhitaker informs Wheelock that he has convinced David Jewett to attend a meeting of the Connecticut Board of Correspondents to address the conflict with Occom. He instructs Wheelock to prepare a testimonial.