your Excellency, whose direction and advice I esteem infinitely preferable to my own; also for whose former undeserved kindness and condesention, I desire to renew most humble thanks. That Success & Prosperity may crown all your Excellency's undertakings. is ye sincere wish of him.-who is with greatest esteem Your Excellencys most obedient & His Excellency Sr Wm Johnson. obliged humble servant S. KIRTLAND. P. S. I shall go down by water, with one or two Indians who have invited me to go with them for sake of learning ye Language. I have not, nor shall I acquaint them yt I have any thoughts of getting Provision up here. REVD MR WHEELOCK TO SIR WM JOHNSON. Sir, May it please your Excellency. Lebanon 21st Oct 1765. The Bearer a Narraganset Indian with a number of that Tribe desire me to write you in their Favour. I am not acquainted with their Case only by common Fame and it has been often said that a number of that Tribe appear more spirited to cultivate their Lands, and live by the Produce of them, than heretofore they have been, but that they are like to be prevented therein by a drunken Sachem who has got in Debt, and is selling their Lands fast to the English, Your Excellency no doubt knows their Case much better than I do, and will be ready to prevent the Evil they fear if it be in your power. Sir. I am ordered by the Board of Corrispondents in the Colony of Connecticut to return your Excellency their grateful acknowledgment of your favourable recommendation of this Indian School &c. and for all the Expressions of your Favour and Friendship towards the Important Design of Inlarging & advancing the kingdom of the Redeemer among the Savages, and to Express their best Wishes for your temporal and eternal Felicity. We rely upon your Friendship, and would by no means justly merit the Contrary. I am obliged to write in utmost Hurry & Confusion or not embrace this Favourable opportunity of Conveyance which your Goodness will readily enough consider as an Excuse for what is so unfashionably offered by Hond Sir. Your Excellency's much obliged and most Obedt Humble Servant Sir Willm Johnson. ELEAZAR WHEELOCK. SIR W. JOHNSON TO REV. THOMAS BARTON. Johnson Hall Noyr 7th, 1765. Sir I have had the favor of yours, and I am much obliged to you for the trouble you have given yourself about the Electrical Aparatus &c and for your polite & friendly offers of Service of which I may now & then avail myself. The Interest I have in the Welfare of the Indians, & my sincere regard for their happiness has induced me at all times to give proper Introductions & Assistance to the Missionarys sent amongst them, and if my becoming a Member of the Society will increase my power to forward so good an undertaking I shall not hesitate to agree to Mr Auchmutys kind proposal, to whose civility I am much obliged and must beg the favor of you to transmit him my hearty thanks for his intentions relative to me, assuring him that I can have no Objection to becoming a member of so Venerable a body. I shall be Extremely glad to hear of your Welfare, or to serve whenever in my power as I am. The Revd Mr Barton. *Revd Thomas_Barton, was born in Ireland in 1730. He was a graduate of Trinity Coll., Dublin. In 1754, the Society for the Prop. of the Gospel, erected a Mission for the counties of York and Cumberland, Pa, and appointed Mr. Barton to it, he having brought over with him, and laid before the Society a certificate from the Trustees and Professors of the Philadelphia Coll., that he had been more than two years employed as an assistant in that Institution, and discharged his duty to their full satisfaction, and therefore joined in recommending him as a proper person for the Society's service. This being a frontier settlement, its duties were particularly onerous. He had to ride 148 miles every six weeks to attend his three congregations, and often at the head of his people went to oppose the Savages when desolating the neighboring settlements. He served in 1758 as Chaplain in the expedition against Fort Duquesne, and thus became acquainted with Washington and other distinguished Officers. In 1770 he received the degree of A. M., from King's Coll., New York. On the breaking out of the revolution he adhered to the Royal cause and was in consequence placed on the limits of his county, and afterwards confined to his house. He continued thus a prisoner two years, and at last found himself under the necessity of leaving his family and parish, after a service of 20 years, and withdrawing to New-York, where he arrived in November, 1778. His long confinement to his house impaired his health, and brought on a dropsy, under which he languished until the 25th May, 1780, when he yielded to his fate at the age of 50 years. He left in Pennsylvania, a widow, and eight children by a former wife. The well known Prof. Barton, of the University of Penn., was his son. ED. CHURCHWARDENS OF SCHENECTADY TO SIR WM JOHNSON. Schonactady 20th December 1765. Sir As the Congregation of the Church of England have come to a Resolution to petition his Excellency the Governor to grant them a Charter to Secure their Rights and privileges in the Church built here, they beg leave to lay their petition before you for your approbation, and likewise beseech you Sir to Honour them with an Acceptance of beeing one of the Trustees in the Charter if one can be Obtained, as we then can have no doubt if a Gentleman of your known Merit and Charecter will Espouse our Cause it will prevent for the future the presbyterians from makeing any unjust attemps on the priviledges in the Church we hope you will graciously, Honour us with an answer as soon as your Leisure will permit which will confere the most Gratefull Obligation on our Congregation, and in a perticular manner on your Honors Most Obedient humble servants J W BROWN REVD SAMUEL KIRTLAND TO SIR WM JOHNSON. Sir. I wrote your Honour sometime past by Onuhsocktea & ye two white men from Niagara,. wch I hope has come safe to hand.-We have no news of consequence stiring among us at present. I've heard by some of ye Indians yt your Honour has had a very easy happy time thro' the winter—No Visiters no Company excepting Cap Monteur, no Letters from abroad. Nothing to do but to set down & enjoy ye Comforts of Life. wch news I tell them is too good to be true. I rather fear ye contrary. Ive lately spoke to the Indians here, something farther concerning my design &c. I have had an agreable encouraging answer-of wch I shall acquaint your Honour by ye next opportunity having but a moment to write at present, & ye Bearer now waiting. I beg leave being desir'd to insert a short speech for Tekanondo, as he is my special friend & main suppurt here. I mention only ye Substance. "I return you many thanks for your friendly encouraging words last fall-they buried almost all my sorrow, & gave me as it were new life. I keep ym continually in my mind. I again return most hearty thanks for your Remembrance of me. I desire you wou'd consider ye present disposition & intention of my warriors to visit ye old Enemies ye Cherokee. you are well acquainted wth our ancient Customs & Traditions, yt ye late Breach in my family cant be fully made up in any other way. I know not wt your present stores are, nor how you are disposed towards these things. I ask only this yt you woud take it into consideration. You are doubtless sensible it is hard for me to see all my Notes pass me on this Business, & I being alone, perhaps shall set down & weep wth my miserable Condition. But if my Warreours go I'll be contented to tarry your encouraging word & strict charge last fall shall support me & be continually in my mind. In much hast your Honours most obedt & ever hume Serv Kaunaudasage Feby 18, 1766, if I dont mistake. S. KIRTLAND. I beg ye favour of an Almanack if your Honour has a supply. I fear I shall forget ye Sabbaths & perhaps new moons, & become a Savage indeed. The Honbl Sir Wm Johnson. MR WEYMAN, PRINTER, TO SIR WM JOHNSON. ON THE SUBJECT OF THE INDIAN PRAYER BOOK. New York, March 25, 1766. Sir, The Indian Common Prayer Book stil lies dead ;-I should be glad to be informed how I am to proceed. I have been at much Expence for what is done, and assure myself of your consideration of ye Affair. I shall wait your Motion with Pleasure;-No doubt occurrences prevented its farther Progress with you. The Reverend Mr Ogilvie, who is now Curate here, will no doubt undertake its Correction, if you doubt my Carefulness from sticking close to a legible Copy; and, I think, Sir, he will readily assist on Application, which, if you please, I will undertake to address for, should you incline to continue its Publication. I am, Your Excellency's obliged, and Obedient Hble Servant, WM WEYMAN. THE MAYOR OF ALBANY TO THE REV. MR. WHEELOCK. May, 1766. Rev. Sir, We are favored with your letter of the 21st, and with Mr. Smith's of the 10th of April last. The design of christianizing the Indians, and diffusing the light of the gospel to those unhappy people, that have not yet partaken of that divine blessing, is so truly charitable, and favorable to humanity, that it deserves all the encouragement and attention, that it has met with from our gracious sovereign, and those worthy benefactors, who so generally followed the royal example. We esteem ourselves peculiarly happy that an opportunity is offered us, to show how much we are inclined to promote a plan so universally countenanced, and so deservedly applauded. We have informed ourselves of the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, to whom you was pleased to refer us for particulars. The affair is of so much importance, that it claims our most serious and deliberate consideration, and the little time allowed from the speedy return of Mr. does not permit us to send our proposals by him: we shall however embrace the earliest opportunity to convey them to you, and we hope that when you get them, they will be such as will meet with your approbation, and merit the consideration of those worthy gentlemen in England, to whom this affair is referred. We beg leave to assure you, sir, of our particular regard for you; we wish you much of the divine grace, and health to go on with this good work, of which (greatly to your honour be it spoken, and may it long be gratefully remembered) you have been the first promoter. We are, Rev, Sir, Your most humble servant V. Dow, Mayor, &c. REVD MR WHEELOCK TO SIR WM JOHNSON. Lebanon 4th July 1766. Sir, I gratefully acknowledge the Receipt of Your Excelleys Favour by David Fowler-I much regrett the loss of Goah, who, as David and others inform me, was a man of great Consequence, both with respect to their religious, and Secular Interest. And I am indeed much affected with the accot (which you referr me to David for) of the occasions given to several Tribes to revive their old Prejudices, and renew their Hostilities against the English. May your Excellency experience that same Fountain of Wisdom which has hitherto guided you on such occasions, to be still sufficient for you, in this critical affair. My plan is much disconcerted hereby-The English youth who accompany this, viz. Johnson and McCluer,1 are Members of Yale College, as well as of this School; and were design'd, if it might be, under Your Excellency's Direction & Favour, to spend the ensuing Season, (with their Indian 1 DAVID MCCLURE, D. D., was a native of Brookfield, Mass. After spending some time under Mr. Kirtland, at Oneida, he graduated at Yale College in 1769, and then became a teacher in Dr. Wheelock's school. In the summer of 1772 he set out to visit the Delaware Indians on the Muskingum river, west of the Ohio, a journal of which mission is published in Wheelock's Nar. for 1773. On his return to Pittsburgh from this, what turned out to be a fruitless mission, he spent seven months among the scattered white settlements in Western Penn. In the summer of 1774, in company with Messrs. Dean and others, he visited the Canada Indians. During, and for some time after the revolution, he was minister of Northampton, N. H., and in 1786 removed to East Windsor, where he died June 25, 1820, aged 71. His wife was the daughter of Dr. Pomeroy and niece of Dr. Wheelock, whose Memoirs he published in connexion with Dr. Parish in 1811.-Ed. associates) in learning the Language of such Tribes, as they may likely serve, as Missionaries & School Masters, when they have compleated their Learning. The Disposal of them is now submitted to your Wisdom, and Prudence. Mr Kirtland seems inclined to take McCluer to Onoyada with him But whether the learning of that Language will be of such Consequence as that it will be worth his spending his Time for it, Your Excellency is best able to judge. 1 ; I have thought it might be best for Joseph Johnson, who is a Mohegan, and is too young to have the government of a school, to be employed, as an Usher under David Fowler, whose school, I understand, will likely be big enough for two masters. Jacob2 who is Brother to David, and tho' but 16. years old, I apprehend is endowed with Prudence & Discretion sufficient to conduct (and is well accomplished to instruct) a School. I would also propose to your Excellency Whether it will be best for Hezekiah [Calvin] to take the School which Joseph Woolley left at Onohoquagee, as I hear Mr Brown determines to defeat his Design of settling at Fort Hunter. But I need not be particular as the Bearers are fully knowing to whatever I should otherwise have need to inform you of; in this affair. And also as the Revd Mr Pomeroy & my son, are appointed (and yesterday sat out via New-York) to wait upon you for your advice respecting the place to fix upon, and build for this School. They will also be able to acquaint you with the favourable Reception, Messrs Whittaker & Occum, & the Design they Recommend, meet with at Home; and the Prospect I have of any Favour I can reasonably desire from the Board of Trade, if only the Place for the School was once determined. and as I would act in every step agreable to your mind, for I apprehend you are able above any man in this Land to serve the grand Design in view. What seems to be wanting at Home, at present, is only to know the place to fix it. And I purpose to mention several, with such Recommendations, Incouragements &c as shall be respectively given them, and leave it with Gentlemen at Home to determine which of the number it shall be. You will please to weigh the Arguments offerd by Mr C. J. Smith to carry it into the Southern Governments, a rough Draft of which I have sent by my son. William (Major as we call him for distinction sake) is a very good Genius, and capable of making a very likely man; but his Pride and the Violence of his Temper have sometimes rendered him troublesome; and obliged me to use severity with him, of which my son can inform you perhaps a Line or Message from You might be of Special service to him. I ordered him to write a few lines (which I inclose) as a Specimen He complained, and you will see, not without Reason, that his Ink was bad. I am heartily sorry to add to the great weight of Care, & Crowd of Business you are continually in; and rely only upon your Goodness and the nature and importance of the things I write, for Pardon, for this Trouble. That God may restore your Health, Support you under all your Labours, and long lengthen out your important life, is the earnest Prayer of him who begs leave to subscribe, with most Sincere Duty and Esteem. Your Excellency's Obedient and very Humble Servant Sir William Johnson Baront. ELEAZAR WHEELOCK. 1 JOSEPH JOHNSON was born near Norwich about the year 1750. His father served near Lake George in 1757. At the age of 15, Joseph became a schoolmaster as above stated, and was so employed for two years. He fell off, however, from this life of regularity afterwards, and went on a whaling voyage. Returning in 1771, he fell sick at his native place, which circumstance had such an effect on him, that he became quite religious. He was afterwards licensed to preach among the Six Nations, and was very faithful to the American cause during the revolution. It is said that he was not inferior to Samson Occum as a Preacher. ALLEN. See also Wheelock's Narrative, 1775 2 JACOB FOWLER, a Montauk Indian was born in 1750. He was approved as a Teacher in 1765, and taught for several years after among the Six Nations and N. E. tribes. Things, however, did not go well with him, and in 1774, he returned as a teacher to Dr. Wheelock's School, where he prepared himself for holy orders, previous to moving into the Oneida country with Sampson Occum. WHEELOCK |