Mid 1700s and the Saga West

This section of Tribal Member Education overlaps (begins approximately 1768) while our ancestors are still engaged with the Northeast parent tribes, their role as missionaries, their forming of the Brothertown Indian Nation, and relationship with the Oneida Indians in New York. This ends approximately with the deal with the Oneida Nation for land to settle on and moving to New York to Brothertown.

*note: these links are from open and public sites and archives and many allow you to download copies for your own libraries and to read at a later time

Occom Circle (Dartmouth)

Joseph Johnson, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1768 February 10 (transcribed) (Abstract: Johnson writes to Wheelock about his life among the Oneidas and the progress of his school. He notes that Kirkland is very ill.)
Aaron Occom, letter, to Joseph Johnson, 1768 November 9 (transcribed) (Abstract: Aaron Occom responds to Johnson’s letter about possibly going to sea, and reports on the health of Johnson’s relatives in Mohegan.)
A short narrative of my life, Samson Occom (transcribed) (Abstract: Samson Occom writes his second draft of his autobiography.) *Note: although undated – many scholars believe he wrote the first draft in 1765 and this second draft in 1768.
Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Samson Occom, 1769 March 9 (transcribed) (Abstract: Wheelock writes that he has heard “rumours” about Occom being drunk. He reports that Hezekiah Calvin is in prison for forging a pass for a Negro, and that Joseph Johnson has not been heard from.)
Joseph Johnson, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1769 March (transcribed) (Abstract: Johnson asks to be discharged.)
Samson Occom, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1769 July 1 (transcribed) (Abstract: Occom writes that he has heard nothing of Joseph Johnson and that, for various reasons, he is unable to travel. He has heard that Wheelock’s Mohawk and Oneida students are not returning, and he notes that Jewett is still bitter.)
Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Samson Occom, 1772 July 28 (transcribed) (Abstract: Wheelock writes that he has drawn on John Thornton for £50 to cover Occom’s debts, and that he hopes Occom will go on a mission. He has heard that Jacob Fowler and Joseph Johnson have become pious, and questions whether he should send Jacob to be a schoolmaster to the Oneidas.)
A sermon at the execution of Moses Paul, an Indian; who had been guilty of murder, preached at New Haven in America (Original book scan published in 1772 in New London CT) (archive.org) Can be downloaded by clicking the three dots on the upper left. (Another additional scan of original Document: https://archive.org/details/sermonatexecutio02occo/mode/2up )
Joseph Johnson, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1773 August 30 (transcribed) (Abstract: Joseph Johnson writes to ask for help funding a trip into the wilderness for the purpose of Brothertown business. There is also a brief narrative of Johnson’s life.)
Joseph Johnson, letter, to the Indians at Niantic, Mohegan, Groton, Stonington, Narragansett and Montauk, 1773 December 24 (transcribed) (Abstract: On behalf of himself and six other Indian signatories, Johnson strongly urges each tribe to send a delegate to confer with the Oneidas and Sir William Johnson, on the subject of lands. Recipients: Montaukett Tribe; Stonington Pequots; Narragansett Tribe; Groton Pequots; Niantic Tribe; Mohegan Tribe.)
Hymns — “Come all my young companions, come,” “The Slow Traveller” — by Samson Occom; and “Nativity,” by Isaac Watts, 1773 (transcribed) Occom’s hand is clear and legible. Three separate sheets are in good-to-poor condition: the first page (one recto/verso) is large, with moderate staining, creasing and wear. The second page (two recto/verso) is a smaller sheet, with heavy staining, creasing and wear that leads to a loss of text. The last sheet of paper (three recto/verso) is a large sheet folded in half to make four (blank) pages; it is in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear, and holes that appear to have come from a binding.
Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Joseph Johnson, 1774 February 4 (transcribed) (Abstract: Wheelock rejoices at Johnson’s improved character and wishes to have him and Jacob Fowler visit Hanover.)
Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Samson Occom, 1774 February 6 (transcribed) Abstract: Wheelock writes to express his thankfulness for Occom’s letter, and encourages visits from Occom, Joseph Johnson, and Jacob Fowler.