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Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. IV

O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. IV. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1851. 271 words

1 Samson Occom, an Indian clergyman, was born at Mohegan, near Norwich, Conn., in the year 1723. He was the first Indian pupil educated at Lebanon, by the Rev. Mr. Wheelock, with whom he entered in 1742, at the age of 19, and remained with him 4 years. In 1748 he taught school in New London, and about the year 1755, went to the east end of Long Island, where he opened a school for the Shenecock Indians. He was ordained by the Suffolk Presbytery in August, 1759. In Jan. 1761, he visited the Oneidas, and in 1766 was sent by Mr. Wheelock to England with Mr. Whittaker, the Minister of Norwich, in order to promote the interests of Moor's School, as Mr. Wheelock's institution at Lebanon was called. As Occum was the first Indian preacher that visited England, he attracted large audiences and preached between three and four hundred sermons,

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Tour to Lake Erie, in Hopes he might meet You before the Parties from remote Tribes, who had joyn'd you, should be dispersed ; in Order to make Proposals to them of Receiving Missionaries, and School Masters among their respective Tribes. But when M'. Occum came to N. York and heard that you was got Home, he was thereupon advised to return, and accordingly did so ; by which Means I was prevented such a supply of proper youth for this school as I hoped he, with your assistance, and Direction, might obtain from Tribes more remote than I have yet had. Which Disappointment is, in part, the occasion of the present trouble given your Honour.