THE Tribe commonly known by the Name of River-Indians is large, most of them live within, the Limits of New-York Government, interspers'd among the Dutch, and never had Endeavours us'd with them, either to civilize or christianize them; but still continue in their native Ignorance and Barbarity. A small Number or them live in the N. W. Corner of Connecticut Government, and a few Families of them on Hou­satunnuk River, or at Housatunnuk, which now goes by the Name of Sheffield in the County of Hampshire, in the S. W. Corner of the Massachusetts Province, bordering on the Government of New-York W. and on Connecticut Colony S.

These few Indians at Housatunnuk, are they to whom the Rev. Mr. JOHN SERGEANT received his Mission, and with whom En­deavours have been us'd for about eighteen Years past, to form them to Christianity. And 'tis the Design of this Treatise, to give an Historical Account of the Measures which have been taken with them for this End; the Success that has attended them; and what their present State is.

In Prosecuting this Design, I shall have Occasion to give an Account of a considerable Part of the Life, Death and Character, of that pious and excellent Man, the Rev. Mr. JOHN SERGEANT, who preach'd the Gospel to them, and died in that Service.

[Page 2]About the Year 17 [...]0. or perhaps something sooner, the Ge­neral Assembly of this Province granted two Townships on Hou­satunnuk River, to some People who were desirous of settling there. The Land was purchased of the River-Indians, who had the native Right; but they reserv'd for themselves two small Tracts of Land: one lying at a Place they call Ska [...]eb [...]ok, and now falls into the first Parish in Sheffield; the other about 8 or 10 Miles further up the River, which they call Wnahktukook, and is within the Bounds of Stockbridge. And at each of these Places dwell about four or five Families of Indians.

When the English made Settlements there, they became ac­quainted with those Indians; and Kunkapot, the principal Person among them, was soon taken Notice of by the English, and spoken of as a Man of Worth. It was by a meer Accident I became acquainted with his general Character. Mr. Ebenezer Miller, one of my Neighbours, who had his Account from Housatunnuk, inform'd me, that he was strictly temperate, a very just and up­right Man in his Dealings, a Man of Prudence, and industrious in his Business; and inclin'd to embrace the Christian Religion: But that there were some Difficulties lying in his Mind, two of which I remember. One was, that if he became a Christian, his own People would discard him. The other was, the ill Con­versation of Christians; it being as bad, as he tho't, if not worse than that of the Heathen. (An Objection too just, and it is not to be wonder'd at, that it should prove a stumbling Block to an observing Heathen.)

I was much affected with the Story of this Indian, and deter­min'd to endeavour that he, and the Rest of the Indians there, might be instructed in the Doctrines of Christianity; for this I was prepar'd, by Dr. Colman's giving me an Account, the May preceding, of the Money deposited in the Commissioners Hand for such Purposes; and knowing that the honourable John Stod­dard, Esq of Northampton, was more than any Man, in the Pro­vince, acquainted with the State of the Indians in general, having often been employ'd by the Government in Affairs relating to them, I determin'd to discourse with him upon it, and to take his Advice in the Case. Accordingly, March 11th 1734, I waited upon him at his own House, and confer'd with him upon the Subject. He informed me, "That the River-Indians were the [Page 3] largest Tribe of any near the English Settlements; that he judg'd a Missionary among them would be much more likely to do Ser­vice, and to answer the End of his Mission, than those Missiona­ries, Messieurs Parker, Hinsdel, and Secomb, who had been some Time before ordain'd, and sent to the several Forts and Truck-House: in our Eastern & Western Borders. For the Tribes, those Gentlemen were sent to, were very much under the Influence of the French. And further, what Opportunity those Missionaries had to instruct them, was only at those Forts, when they came in upon a trading Design; and that, as soon as they had done their Business, they went off, and while they stay'd, were not perhaps in the best Temper to receive Instruction: But as to the River-Indians, the French had no Influence upon them; a Missionary might live among them, and take all Opportunities to instruct, not only the Men, but also their Families: Their Children might be taught to read, and write, and be led into a Knowledge of the Principles of Christanity, &c. &c.

The Event prov'd these Reasonings to be very just; for, not long after, those Missionaries, Messi, Parker, Hinsdel, and Secomb, were discourag'd, and threw up their Missions, as not being able to answer the Ends of them; but a Mission to the River-Indians prov'd more successful.

Some Time after, I inform'd the Rev. Mr. Stephen Williams of Springfield of these Suggestions, and what I had heard. And upon our Motion the Rev. Mr. Williams of Hatfield wrote to the Honourable and Rev. Commissioners at Boston; who desir'd us that we would take a Journey to Housatunnuk, and confer with the Indians there, respecting their receiving a Missionary to instruct them.—About this Time His Excellency Governour Belcher was pleas'd to honour the two principal Indians of Housatunnuk with Commissions. To Kunkapot he gave a Captain's, and to Umpachenee a Lieutenant's. Their Commissions being sent to Spring­field, we heard that they were coming for them, & therefore con­cluded we would confer with them here, before we proceeded to Housatunnuk. Accordingly, on the 22d Day of May, we went to their Lodgings, and discours'd with them by their Interpreter Jeboikim Van Valkenburgh, who came with them.

The Captain shew'd himself very desirous of having a Missio­nary sent among them, that their Children might be taught to [Page 4] read, &c. The Lieutenant did not seem so very desirous of it; but yet express'd his Willingness that it should be so. But, at the same Time, they let us know, that they spake only for them­selves, and that it would be needful their Brethren should be con­sulted in the Affair. We therefore inform'd them, that some Time in July they might expect to see us at Housatunnuk, where we would confer with them, and their Brethren, further upon those Things. But when the Time came, I was sick. The Rev. Mr. Bull of Westfield therefore took my Place, and, on the 8th of July 1734, accompany'd Mr. Williams thither. The Captain and Lieutenant were very glad to see them, and call'd their Peo­ple together, of whom those Gentlemen inquir'd, whether they were willing a Minister should be sent to them to instruct them in the Christian Religion, to teach their Children to read, &c. The Indians desir'd four Days to consider of the Thing propos'd; and at the End of those Days they all gave in their Names, and sig­nify'd their Desires to those Reverend Gentlemen, that a Minister mig't be sent to them, for the Ends propos'd. Upon which the Rev. Mr. Williams deliver'd to them a small Belt of Wompum, as a Confirmation of what had pass'd between them, and as a Sort of Record thereof.

Not long after the Return of those Gentlemen from Housa­tunnuk, the Rev. Mr. Williams went to Boston, where he waited upon the Honourable Commissioners (his Excellency Governor Belcher being then at their Head) and acquainted them with the [Page 5] good Disposition of the Indians respecting the Business they went upon. And the Commissioner, were so encourag'd by the Account given them, that they desir'd those Gentlemen, Messieurs Wil­liams and Bull to seek after some suitable Person to be employ'd as a Missionary to those Indians. As appears by the following Vote.

Before this Time, Mr. SERGEANT's Inclination to serve the Souls of the Natives had reached our Ears; for he had freely said in private Conversation, that he had rather be employ'd as a Missionary to the Natives, if a Door should open for it, than ac­cept a Call any English Parish might give him. Those Gen­tlemen being inform'd of this, were not at a Loss where to go, but made their Application to him in September 1734. at New-Haven, where he was employ'd as one of the Tutors or Yale-College. Their Application to him, and his Answer, I shall give the Rea­der [Page 6] in his own Words, as I find them in the Beginning of the Journal, which he kept of his Mission to the River-Indians at Housatunnuk.

The Terms propos'd by Mr. SERGEANT were agreable to the Commissioners, as appears from the following Letter from the ho­nourable Adam Winthrop, Esq their Secretary.

Accordingly Mr. SERGEANT proceeded to Housatunnuk, and in his Journal gives the following brief Account of his Journey, and the Reception he met with there.

The Indians, as has been observ'd, living in two Places about 8 or 10 Miles asunder, it was needful they should come together in one Place, that they, on the Sabbath might attend upon Mr. SERGEANT's Preaching, and have their Children taught on the Week Days. When therefore they were together at Lieutenant Umpachenee's House, they discours'd the Matter, and concluded, that, during the Winter Season, they would dwell together about half Way between those Places, where each Party then liv'd; the Place being well accommodated with Wood and Water, and also near some English Families, in one of which Mr. SERGEANT [Page 10] might live, while he serv'd them; but this could continue no longer than the Spring, when they must return to their own Places to Plant, &c.

On Monday October 21st. They chearfully set about building a publick House at the Place agreed upon, to serve them, both to meet in on the Sabbath, and to keep the School in; round which they built small Huts for their several Families to dwell in. The Chearfulness & Engagedness they discover'd herein, was an Evi­dence of the ardent Desires they had to hear the Word preach'd, and to have their Children taught to read. And, in a short Time, they all mov'd with their Families thither. While these Things were doing, Mr. SERGEANT went up to Wnabktukook, the Place where the Captain and some others lived, to teach their Children to read, and was greatly pleas'd with the Respect they shew'd him, and with the Children, they being exceedingly engag'd to learn. He went also to Skatekook, the Place where the Lieutenant and four Families more liv'd, and taught their Children. The Number at each Place being about 9 or 10.

The Number of Mr. SERGEANT's Auditors now began to in­crease. Lord's-Day, November 3. he writes, ‘My Auditory was greater than it had been; and now, besides Preaching, I pray'd by an Interpreter.’ And to move our Pity to the poor Heathen who are brought up in Ignorance, he proceeds thus; ‘After Service they invited me to go, the next Day, up to Wnabktukook, to see a religious Ceremony, they had learn'd of their Fathers. Accordingly I went. Ebenezer bore me Com­pany, of whom I enquir'd, to satisfy my Curiosity, into the Notions, Customs & Manners of their Nation. Among other Things, he told me of some he had known that were Atheists, who suppos'd all Things began, continu'd, and ceas'd, accord­ing to the several Laws of their Natures, without any Cause or Direction from a superiour Hand. Others believ'd the Sun to be God, or at least the Body, or Residence, of the Deity; but that now they genernlly believ'd the Existence of one supreme invisible Being, the Maker of all Things. He told me also [Page 11] sundry childish and ridiculous Things, which they believ'd: As that the seven Stars were so many Indians translated to Hea­ven in a Dance; that the Stars in Charles's Wain, are so many Men hunting a Bear; that they begin the Chace in the Spring, and hold it all Summer; by the Fall they have wounded it, and that the Blood turns the Leaves red: by the Winter they have kill'd it, and the Snow is made of its Fat; which, being melted by the Heat of the Summer, makes the Sap of Trees.’ ^†

The above Historical Account I have not inserted so much for its being curious, as to excite Compassion towards such ig­norant Creatures, and the charitable Endeavours of generous Minds to bring them out of such a benighted State.

November 5th. Mr. SERGEANT began to keep School, in the School House which the Indians had built; and on the next Week his Scholars were in Number 22 or 23, as he writes; and on the following Week two new Scholars were added to their Number. These he instructed on the Week Days, and preach'd on the Sabbaths.

The following Passages, in Mr. SERGEANT's Journal, well de­serve the Attention of those who are concern'd for the English Interest in America, and for the spiritual Good of the Indians.

Mr. SERGEANT left the College, designing to return to it again, as has been observ'd. The Rev. Mr. Stephen Williams, there­fore, and some others, being very desirous that the Indians might be instructed, while Mr. SERGEANT was absent, prevail'd with Mr. Timothy Woodbridge of Springfield, to go to them. And when Mr. SERGEANT return'd from his forementioned Journey, he writes thus. ‘Upon my Return from Albany, ( which was on Saturday November 30th) I found Mr. Timothy Woodbridge, a young Gentleman very well qualify'd for the Business, sent up here, to take Care of the School, and to instruct the Indians in a Catechetical Way, when I should return to my Business at College.’

Tho' Things had succeeded hitherto according to Mr. SER­GEANT's Desires, yet the Week before he return'd to College, he met with some Things very discouraging, of which he gives the following Account in his Journal.

The Neighbourhood of the Dutch to these Indians has often prov'd a Disadvantage and Snare to them, and it is to be fear'd will prove so still; for the Indians have often Occasion to go among them upon Business, and to visit their Brethren: Upon those Occasions the Dutch do not fail of tempting them to Drunk­enness, it there is any Prospect of their finding their Account in it; and 'tis to be fear'd some of them tempt them to Excess, on Purpose to disappoint the Design of Christianizing them. And, without Doubt, the many Relapses into Intemperance that have appear'd among the Indians, after their Profession of Christianity (of which have happen'd too many Instances) have been owing to the wicked Practice of the Dutch. And as if other Temp­tations were not enough, they too often recommend Drunken­ness to them by their own Example.

The Time was now come, when Mr. SERGEANT was oblig'd to return to his Business at College; and, as a proper Expedient to forward the Design he was now engaged in, he propos'd to take two Indian Children with him, intending thereby to lead them into some Acquaintance with the English Language and Manners. And the efore, at the Close of the Conference he had with the Captain and Lieutenant, mentioned above, he propos'd it to them. And in his Journal gives this Account of the Matter.

The prudent Measures Mr. SERGEANT took with the Indians, the little Time he spent with them before his Return to College; the Success had; the Hopes he conceiv'd of being further ser­viceable to them; together with the Opposition he met with in prosecuting his good Design; the Reader may best learn from the following Letter which he wrote to the Commissioners, soon after he got to New-Haven, (how soon I am not certain, for the Copy of it before me, has no Date) and directed it to the Honourable Adam Winthrop, Esq their Secretary.

On the 19th of December, Mr. SERGEANT wrote to the Indians, directing his Letter to the Captain, Lieutenant, and the Rest. And that the Reader may see what Pains he took, to accommo­date himsaelf to their infant State of Knowledge, I will transcribe some Passages out of it.

This Letter was very acceptable to the Indians; and the more so, because it came to them a little before a general Meeting of the River-Indians, at Housatunnuk, at which they were to consi­der, whether it was best that the Indians there should go on to receive Instruction or not?

It is a Custom among the Indians, not to proceed in any Affair of Importance, till they have the Consent of the several Clans, belonging to their Nation; and the Indians, at Housatun­nuk, having proceeded so far, without the general Consent of their Brethren, were much concern'd lest they should be frown'd upon at the approaching Meeting, and the more so, because they had heard, that the Indians of Hudson's River highly re­sented their receiving a Minister and School-Master, before they had gain'd the Approbation of the Rest of their Tribe; yea, there was a Report, that a Design was on Foot to poison the Captain and Lieutenant, on that Account; as also, because they had re­ceiv'd Commissions from his Excellency Governor Belcher. Whe­ther there was any just Ground for these Reports, or whether they were set on Foot by the Dutch Traders to discourage the Indians, at Housatunnuk, I am not able to say. But however that was, the Indians were so affected with these flying Stories, that they sent, desiring some of the Ministers of the County would come to them, and be present at their general Meeting.

Accordingly, January 15th 1734-5, the Rev. Mr. Stephen Williams of Springfield, and I, accompany'd by John Ashley, Esq Westfield, went to Housatunnuk. The Indians, who were expected from Hudson's River, came not till Saturday, which was the 19th of the Month.

[Page 22]On the Sabbath Mr. Williams, being desir'd by the Captain and Lieutenant, preach'd to the Indians by an Interpreter, in Number about 150, or 200, great and small. I was with the English at Sheffield, who were then destitute of a Minister.

To give the Particulars of our Proceedings with those Indians, (a Journal of which the Rev. Mr. Williams kept, and is now be­fore me,) would be too prolix. I chose therefore, for Brevity's Sake, to give the Reader a concise Account of them, from a Letter which Mr. Williams wrote to a Gentleman in Boston, which was printed in Mr. Appleton's Preface to his Sermon preach'd at Mr. SERGEANT's Ordination, and is as follows. ‘We had diverse Conferences with the Indians, and read to them a Let­ter from the honourable JOHN STODDARD, Esq and endeavour'd to answer their Objections, &c. and so far satisfy'd those that came from other Places, that they thanked us for the Pains we had taken; and desir'd Mr. Woodbridge might continue among them (at Housatunnuk) and that Mr. SER­GEANT would return to them; and said they would give an Account to their several Towns, of what we had offer'd to them: And gave us Encouragement that they would as a Nation submit to Instruction.’—

Mr. SERGEANT's Account of what follow'd upon this general Meeting of the Indians, I will give in his own Words.

‘After I had seen these Things, (which it is impossible to describe) I took an Opportunity to inform them, how improper such a Method of Worship was; how sinful & displeasing to the great God. Upon which they told me, they knew no Harm in it; they made their Application to the great God, and to no other. I informed them, that God was not to be worship'd in such a Manner. And when I had instructed them as well as I could, they resolv'd never to do so any more: And those of them who had been best taught were much troubled, that they had taken so wrong a Step.’ Thus far Mr. Woodbridge.

Mr. SERGEANT goes on and observes, that the Indians us'd to to have an high Opinion of these Pawwaws, (whose Character answers pretty well to the vulgar Notions of Wizards and Con­jurers) and tell Stories of the great Feats which they can do. However, they confess they have no Power over Christians. And concludes with these Words. ‘There may be something, for ought I know, in what they say: But I am apt to think, they are very much impos'd upon by such kind of Pretenders, as the Rest of the ignorant Part of the World is.’

In the Beginning of February, Ebenezer visited Mr. SERGEANT at New-Haven, by whom he wrote another Letter to the Indians. Some Passages of which are as follows.

About the Middle of February is the Time, when the Indians of Housatunnuk leave their Habitation, and go, with their Fami­lies into the Woods, to make their Year's Stock of Sugar; and the Season for this Business lasts till the End of March, and some Times to the Middle of April.

[Page 26]Therefore, when the Indians went into the Woods, and took their Children with them, Mr. Wood [...]ridge their Shool-Master, made a Visit to his Friends at Springfield. By him the Indians wrote a Letter to some of the Ministers of the County; inform­ing them, that tho' their Business now call'd them, with their Families, abroad; yet, in a little Time, they should return again with their Families to their Habitations, and receive further In­struction; and desir'd, that their Remove might not be interpre­ted, as tho' they were disaffected to the Christian Religion; and express'd their Resolution to proceed in it, and to use their further Endeavours to increase in Christian Knowledge, when they should return from their Business of making Sugar. ^*

[Page 27]To this Letter the Ministers wrote an Answer, April 10. 1735. expressing the Satisfaction they took in the good Disposition of the Indians, and their Resulution exprefss'd in the Letter they hid receiv'd from them, and their Willingness to contribute to their Advantage, as far as was in their Power.

In the Beginning of May, several of the Indians went to New-Haven, and waited upon Mr. SERGEANT to Housatunnuk. The Account of which I chuse to give in his own Words.

May the 8th, Mr. SERGEANT left New-Haven (those Men accompanying him) and got to Housatunnuk on the 10th, at Night.

During Mr. SERGEANT's short Tarry with the Indians, (which was but 16 Days) he and Mr. Woodbridge both kept School; one at one Place, and the other at the other, each taking his Turn a Week at a place. The Week Mr. SERGEANT kept at Wuachktukook, he liv'd at Kunkapot's House, and was very well entertain'd.

May 26th. Mr. SERGEANT return'd again to his Business at New-Haven, from whence he wrote the following Letter to the Rev. Dr. Colman, one of the Commissioners at Boston.

Mr. SERGEANT's self-denying, generous, and pious Behaviour, discover'd in devoting himself to the Service of the Souls of the poor Heathen, as above, rais'd him very high in the Esteem [Page 30] of many. Nor do I think that the Rev. Dr. Colman exceeded due Bounds, when he express'd it in the following Letter, and encouraged and strengthen'd Mr. SERGEANT in his laudable Undertaking.

July, the 1st 1735. Mr. SERGEANT (having dismiss'd his Class at College) left New-Haven, intending to spend the Rest of the Summer, and indeed of his Life, with the Indians at Housatun­nuk, where he arrived on the 5th, and the next Sabbath preach'd to the English, there being no Interpreter present. And he, with Mr. Woodbridge, went on to keep the School, as before; one above, the other below, changing Place every Week.

The Indians reaping for the Dutch does not turn to their Ad­vantage, (tho' it might, if they had Prudcnce to save their Wages) but proves a Snare to them. For (as Mr. SERGEANT observes in his Journal) when the Harvest is over, the Indians at Hudson's­River drink up all their Wages. But he had the Pleasure to hear that Winampee, one of his Hearers, on this Occasion, over­came the Temptation, and told the Indians, at Hudson's-River, plainly, that the design'd to go to Heaven, and therefore must leave off such Wickedness. But some of them, to his great Grief, did not come off so well. Neither is it to be wondered at, that Men, who for a long Course of Years, have addicted themselves to Excess, should be overcome, when such Tempta­tions are laid before them by their Brethren, and urg'd on by others for the Sake of Gain.

The Pains some of the Honsatunnuk Indians have taken to cure themselves of this ill Habit, has been very great. And some Instances there have been of Persons among them, who, when strong Drink has been offer'd them, have refus'd to taste of it, giving this as a Reason, viz. that if they once taste, they are in the utmost Danger of exceeding the Bounds of Temperance.

[Page 32] August the 13th. Mr. SERGEANT receiv'd a Letter from the honourable Adam Winthrop, Esq informing him, chat at a Meet­ing of the Comissioners it was propos'd, and agreed to, that he should be ordain'd at Deerfield, when his Excellency Governor Belcher should come thither, upon a Treaty with the Indians of several Tribes, who were to meet him at that Place. The In­dians of Honsatunnuk, being sent for by the Governor, set out for Deerfield, about the 18th of August. But Mr. SERGEANT was then in Doubt whether he should be able to go; as he was taken a few Days before with the intermitting Fever, the common Dis­temper of all new Comers to Housatunnuk. But on the 26th of the Month, he was so far recover'd of his Illness, that he set out for Deerfield, and was there ordained on the Sabbath following.

The Account I find of Mr. SERGEANT's Ordination, in his own Journal, is only this.

Lord's-Day, August 31st 1735. I was ordain'd at Deerfield. I shall therefore give the Reader an Account of that Solemnity, as I find it in the Preface of the Rev. Mr. Appleton's Sermon, preach'd on that Occasion, and in what is annex'd at the End of said Sermon.—

As an Introdudlion to the Ordination, the Rev. Mr. William Williams of Hatfield made a Speech to His Excellency the Go­vernor, in which he took Notice of God's inclining the Hearts or some generous Persons in Great-Britain, by their charitable Donations, to seek the Salvation of the benighted Heathen; and of it's being submited to the Direction of an honourable Corpo­ration there; and that by them a Number of Honourable and Reverend Commissioners (of which His Excellency is at the Head) were here appointed for the same End; and of their having found a suitable Person for the Instruction of the Indians, of which those at Housatunnuk were desirous: And humbly ask'd, if it were His Excellency's Pleasure, that the Pastors then con­ven'd should proceed to set him a-part for that Work.

To which His Excellency manifested his Approbation.

Then he observ'd to Mr. SERGEANT, that he now understood His Excellency, in the Name of the Commissioners, desir'd him to take upon him the Ministry, and Service of a Missionary to the Housatunnuk-Indians; and ask'd him, if he were willing to de­vote himself to that Work?

To which Mr. SERGEANT gave his Consent.

The Ordination then was proceeded in. And after the Fellowssip of Elders was given, the Rev. Mr. Stephen Williams of Springfield, by an Interpreter, ask'd the Indians, if they were willing to re­ceive Mr. SERGEANT, thus solemnly set a-part to the Work, as their Teacher?

To which they manifested their Willingness by rising up.

After the short Account Mr. SERGEANT gave of his Ordina­tion, as above, he in his Journal adds.

[Page 34]Here Mr. SERGEANT takes Occasion (from a Quarrel that a­rose between an Indian & his Wise, by which they were upon the very Point of parting, (tho' afterwards the Difference was accom­modated, and they liv'd very happily together) to give some Account of the ill Custom among the Indians of parting after they are married.

Then he goes on,

By what I have here transcrib'd, from Mr. SERGEANT's Jour­nal, the Reader will be sensible, that the Indians had a great Re­spect for him, and were disposed to ask, and submit to, his Ad­vice in every Thing, their own ancient Customs not excepted; that Mr. SERGEANT was very iudustrious and faithful in pro­moting their temporal and eternal Good; and that the Blessing of God abundantly succeeded his Endeavours.

It was then but little more than a Year since those Indians were in the Depth of Healthesh Ignorance and Darkness, wholly unacquainted with the first Principles of Christianity, and without God in the World. But, in that short Space, many of them had gain'd such Degrees of Knowledge, in the Principles of Religion, [Page 39] that they were become in Mr. SERGEANT's Opinion, (who was a good Judge) fit Subjects of Baptism. And they, with their Children, to the Number of 40, were baptized by him, in little more than two Months after his Ordination. The Number of their Inhabitants, and of their Scholars in the School, was also increas'd.

These Things greatly refresh'd Mr. SERGEANT's Spirits, and were no small Encouragement to him, in his difficult Work. They were also Matter of Admiration to others, and the Occa­sion of many Thanksgivings to God, whose Power and Grace were manifest, in turning those poor People from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan to God.

And as many rejoic'd to see Mr. SERGEANT chearfully devote himself to the Service of Christ, in this self-denying Work, and to hear of the glorious Success he was favour'd with in it; so they said many kind and endearing Things to him by their Let­ters. And the Reader will not, I trust, be displeas'd, if I transcribe some Passages out of them.

The Rev. Dr. Colman, in a Letter November 18. 1735. says,

Mr. SERGEANT, by Reason of Hurry in Busness, kept Copies of but very sew of the Letters he wrote. I am not therefore able to insert his Answers, either to His Excellency, or to the Rev. Mr. Appleton: But, having obtain'd the Originals written to the Rev. Dr. Colman, shall gratify the Reader with Mr. SERGEANT's Answer to the foregoing Letter from the Doctor.

The Rev. Dr. Colman not only approv'd of the Method, in which Mr. SERGEANT propos'd to spend the Money offer'd him, but was so well pleas'd with it, that he doubled the Sum; as appears by a Passage in the Doctor's Answer of February 6th 1735, 6.

By a Passage in Mr. SERGEANT's Journal, it seems as if even the River-Indians had not wholly escap'd being tamper'd with by the Romish Clergy.

In Indians living in two Places, remote from each other, put them to the Trouble of removing from their proper Habi­tations in the Winter Season; and laid them under Disadvan­tages, as to attending upon the publick Worship, and theSchool, in the Summer. There was therefore, from the Beginning, a Design to accommodate them with Land, that they might all settle in one Place; and that there might be Accommodations also for others of the Tribe, who might be dispos'd to come and settle with them. The honourable John Stoddard, Esq in a Letter, wrote to be communicated to the Indians, at their general [Page 44] Meeting at Housatunnuk, in January 1734.5. mention'd it as follows.

At the Treaty at Doorfield, the same Thing was propos'd to them, by Governor Beleber. ‘—I have been inform'd, (says His Excellency) that you will live remote from one another, and that you are not accommodated with Lands sufficient to support your Families. This Matter I shall lay before the great Council of this Government, and recommend to them the giving you Lands for your more convenient and compact Settlement, and what may be enough for your living comfortably upon.’

Accordingly, the Governor laid this Matter before the General Assembly at their Fall Session, and gives Mr. SERGEANT the following Account of it, in a Letter of January 20th 1735, 6. ‘—I laid before them (the General Court) what I had pro­mised to your little Flock, at the Interview with them at Deer­field; and Col. Stoddand, Major Pumroy, and Mr. Justice In­gersole, are appointed, by the General Court, to weigh and con­sider all Things and Circumstances, so as to accommodate my Children at Housatunnuk with Land, in the best Manner.’

His Excellency adds, ‘I agree with you that some English Families (if sich can be found as you mention) be interspers'd and settled among the Indians; for to civilize, will be the readrest Way to christianize them.’

The Indians of Housatunnuk were inform'd of the Steps that were taken by the English, and of the Committee chosen for the above-mention'd End; but had a great Jealousie upon their Minds, that the English had some ill Design upon them; and had several Consultations among themselves, what Answer they should make to them they came up. Why they were so cautions, the Reader may best learn from Mr. SERGEANT's [Page 45] Journal. ‘It may, (says he) perhaps, be wonder'd that there should be any Difficult among the Indians in this Affair. But it is the Manner of the Nation to be slow in their Debates, cautions in their Determinations, and jealous of their Interest. And the Enemies of the Gospel (for we have a great many, not only among the Indians in other Places, but also among pretended Christians; whose Godliness is their Gain) had been very industrious to throw stumbling Blocks in their Way, and to prevent their accepting the Proposal of settling together. For there have not been wanting those, and there are some yet, that tell them, our Design, in this Affair, is only to get the greater Advantage of them, and bring them more into our Power, that we may insalve them and their Children.’

But these Jealousies were, in some good Measure, remov'd by the Pains Mr. SERGEANT took to satisfy them of the kind and good Intention of the English towards them; and by the Faithfulness both of the Committe & Government in that Affair.

It must be here observ'd, that the Lands at Wnabktukook (alias the Great Meadow) above the Mountain, were comprehended in the North Part of a Township, which was some Time ago purchased of the Indians, and by the General Assembly granted to a Number of Proprietors; except a small Part, which Captain Kunkapot, and some other Indians there, reserv'd for their own Use; and now live upon. What the General Assembly design'd, was, to agree with those Proprietors, who had Land above the Mountain, to give up their Right, and to take Land in other Places, as an Equivalent for it: and to grant to the Indians a Township six Miles Square, comprizing the Great Meadow in it; that being the most suitable Spot for the Indians of any that could be had: for they make little or no Use of any but inter­val Land.

The Business therefore of the Committee, in the next Place, was with those English, and Dutch People, who held the Land above the Mountain; with whom, when they came to discourse, they found little or no Difficulty; for they were content with the Proposals made to them of equivalent Lands in other Places. But there were two or three Dutch Men, who were settled above the Mountain, and had Lands in the Great-Meadow, who were more difficult. To those the Committee made some very fair Proposals, which they took into Consideration.

The Committee therefore, upon meeting the Indians on the 18th, inform'd them, that they had conser'd with the Proprietors of the Land above the Mountain, and that there was a Prospect of obtaining those Lands for the Indians, according to their Desire; especially seeing the Governor, and General Court, were so very [Page 47] desirous of promoting Religion among them; that it was not now in their Power to settle them together, but they must make Report of what they had done to the General Assembly; who, if they approv'd of it, would send another Committee to accomplish the Affair. And then they desir'd to know, Whether the Indians had any Thing further to say to them?

The Indians return'd them their hearty Thanks for the Pains they had taken, and for the Trouble they had been at, in prose­cutting the Affair: and added, that they had nothing further to say, but only that they desir'd to be settled together by planting Time.

Upon the Report of this Committee, I suppose, it was, that the General Court granted to the Indians a Township, six Miles square, above the Mountain; comprising in it Wnebktukook, or the Great-Meadow. And the same Gentlemen were appointed a Committee to lay out the Land, and to treat further with those, who were Proprietors of Land, within the Limits of the Township, to give them an Equivalent, to Proportion the Meadow Lands to the Indians, and to do all that was needful that the Indians might be put into the quiet Possession of it. By the Grant of the General Assembly, Mr. SERGEANT, their Minister, and Mr. Woodbridge, their School-Master, were made Proprietors, each of a sixtieth Part of the Township; and four English Families be­sides were to be accommodated with such a Part as the Committee should see fit. It was upon Mr. SERGEANT's Desire, that those Families were admitted. The Ends he had in View were, not only that He, and Mr. Woodbridge, might have the Comfort of their Neighbourhood, and Society; but especially to civilize and anglicize the Indians, and to be a Help to them in their secular Affairs. Families, well adapted to answer those Ends, were to be chosen, and by Col. Stoddord's Approbation (who was a good Judge) they were to be admitted.

April 20th. These Gentlemen, the honourable John Stoddard, Ebeneze Pumrcy, and Thomas Ingersole, Esqrs went to Housatunnuk, upon the Business assign'd them by the Court. When they met the Indians, they found some Jealousies yet re­maining upon their Minds, which it was needful for them, in the first Place, to remove. Of this Matter Mr. SERGEANT, in his Journal, gives the following Account.

The Committee met with much Difficulty from the Men that were settled above the Mountain; but at Length sound Means, whereby they were made pretty easy.—They therefore pro­ceded in their Business, laid out the Township, which now goes by the Name of Stockbridge; and, if I mistake not proportion'd the Meadow-Land, which they had got for the Indians. But, some yet remain'd in the Hands of the Proprietors, which after­wards the Indians were put into the Possession of: tho' it cost [Page 51] the Committee, and Mr. SERGEANT too, a great deal of Trouble, before they could satisfy and remove the Owners.

Capt. Kunkapot had formerly given to Jehoiakim Vanvalk­enbeurgh, a Dutch Man, his special Friend, 40 Acres of Land in this Great-Meadow, and about 250 of Upland adjoining to it; which he now held. [...] a little after, being reduc'd, he was oblig'd to sell. Some Gentlemen therefore bought him out, and gave the Land to the Indians, an Equivalent of the unap­propriated Lands being given them by the General Assembly. So that the whole Meadow was in a little Time possest by the Indians.

On Monday the 26th of April, the Committee confer'd again with the Indians, and inform'd them what they had done, re­specting their Township; shew'd them a Plan of it; desir'd to know of them, if they would have any Thing alter'd. The Indians replied that they were very well satisfied with what was done, and very thankful for it.

In the Beginning of May, the Indians all settled in their new Town; were greatly pleas'd with it. Two new Families were added to their Number. ‘They gave very much into Husbandry, (says Mr. SERGEANT) planted more this Year than ever they did before, by three Times at least.—Mr. Woodbridge lodges at Capt. Kunkapot's, has a very numerous School, and a tedi­ous Task of it; lives a very lonesome Life; is indeed inde­fatigable in his Business; and no Body deserves more of the Publick than he.’

When the Committe, upon their first Visitation of the Indians at Housatunnuk, had finish'd their Business with them, the Time for geting Sugar was come.

Therefore ( March the first) they all went into the Woods, with their Familes, upon that Business; expecting to fellow it about six Weeks. They went in two Companies, about Half with the Captain above the Mountain, the Rest with the Lieute­nant below. Mr. SERGEANT was loth they should be so long without Instruction, and therefore concluded that he would go with one of the Companies, and Mr. Woodbridge with the other, and live with them during that Season.

After the Indians had been out two Days, and prepar'd them­selvs Houses, they sent in two young Men, one to Conduct [Page 52] Mr. SERGEANT to the Captain's House, and the other to con­duct Mr. Woodbridge to the Lieutenant's.

After they had been out about three Weeks, Mr. SERGEANT and Mr. Woodbridge chang'd their Quarters; Mr. SERGEANT went to the Lieutenant's Company, and Mr. Woodbridge to the Captain's, endeavouring that the Indians might have equal Ad­vantage from their Instructions.

During these six Weeks, Mr. SERGEANT spent his Time very agreably among the Indians, being employ'd, in the Day Time, in teaching the Children to read; and in the Evening he taught the Indians to sing, in which they took great Delight. He pray'd with them Morning and Evening, in their own Lan­guage, and said Grace before, and after Meat, in the same. He also preach'd to them on the Sabbath by an Interpreter, and pray'd in their own Language; which he began to do on Fe­bruary 18th, and continu'd it ever after. For they being desi­rous, that Prayers might be made in their own Language, Mr. SERGEANT (by the Assistance of Interpreters) had compos'd Prayers for such Occasions, in the Indian Language. The Snow now was about a Foot and Half deep in those Woods, and the Weather cold. A Deer-skin with the Hair on, spread upon some Spruce Boughs, and a Blanket spread upon that, was his Bed; and three Blankets spread over him was his Covering; where he slept very well. And tho' their Diet was low, yet it was cleanly and well dress'd, by the Captain's and Lieutenant's Wives. Their Drink was Water. He had a good Appetite, eat heartily, and was in very good Health, all the Time he was in the Wilderness with them.

About the Time the Indians settled in their new Town, Mr. SERGEANT went to Westfield, and was there detain'd by Sickness; so that he was absent from them two Sabbaths. He took Care to inform the Indians of his Sickness, who express'd a great deal of Concern for him; enquir'd by all Opportunities after him, and said if he should die it would be a great Loss to them: But [Page 54] if it should be so, they hop'd God would provide them another Minister. At his Return, they shew'd great Joy & Satisfaction, that he was recover'd and restor'd to them Again.

May 23d. He preach'd to them in their new Settlement, but liv'd not among them as their School-Master did, but kept still at his Lodgings about five Miles below.

June 12. A Messenger came from Hudson'-River, to call the Indians thither, to consider of a Murder committed by one of their Tribe. The Captain and Lieutenant went upon that Occa­tion, and had Opportunity, while they were gone, to see and converse with many of the principal Indians; spent almost all their Time in Discourse with them upon the Subject of Religion; and told Mr. SERGEANT when they return'd, that all they talk'd with, had favourable Thoughts of the Christian Religion; own'd that they themselves were in a wrong Way, and said they believ'd they were serving the Devil: And not one objected any Thing against Christianity, but several said they would come with their Families, and be instructed.

On the 27th of June Mr. SERGEANT baptiz'd a Child, which being mention'd in his Journal, he proceeds to say.

When Mr. SERGEANT was at Westfield, in the Beginning of May, he receiv'd a Letter from Dr. Colman, of April 21. giving him an Account of a generous Offer Mr. Isaac Hollis of London had made him, of dieting, cloathing, lodging, and instructing 20 Indian Boys at his own Cost.

This is the Gentleman to whom the Doctor wrote, recom­mending the Mission at Honsatunnuk to his Generosity; of which he inform'd Mr. SERGEANT in his Letter of June 18th 1735. inserted, in Page 30 & 31. And in Answer to the Letter of the Doctor's, he makes this generous Offer.

Dr. Colman, who was wise and prudent, thought it not best to draw upon Mr. Hollis, until he should be well inform'd, what the Charge of maintaining 20 Scholars would amount to, in one Year; for he was apprehensive that it would rise higher, than the Donor expected. And therefore wrote to Mr. Will­iams of Springfield, and to Mr. SERGEANT, for their Thoughts upon the Matter; and also consulted Governor Belcher; and, upon the best Computation they could make, concluded, that the Expence of one Child, in a Year, would arise to twenty five Pounds our Currency, and the whole to five Hundred Pounds per Annum. Of this Dr. Colman inform'd Mr. Hollis; and it prov'd as the Doctor expected. It exceeded what Mr. Hollis tho't of. He therefore reduc'd the Number of Scholars to 12; and propos'd to support that Number from Year to Year.

About the same Time, the honourable Samuel Holden, Esq; of London, directed the Rev. Dr. Colman to bestow one Hundred Pounds of his Money for the Benefit of the Indians at Stockbridge, which Mr. SERGEANT, with Dr. Colman's Approbation, thought best to expend for the Benefit of the Females; seeing Mr. Hollis's Donation was confin'd to the Males.

Of these noble, and generous Instances of Liberality, Mr. SERGEANT inform'd the Indians, who were much affected with them, and very thankful to their pious Benefactors. And, as a grateful Acknowledgment of the Benefits they had receiv'd from the honourable Corporation at Home, they wrote the following Letter.

In a Letter of July 11th. His Excellency Governor Belcher says to Mr. SERGEANT ‘—I desire you ta greet my Children at Housatunnuk, in the kindest Manner from me, and let them know, I shall be heartily glad to see them at Bosten, with Corslar their chief Sachem,—1 hope to see you with your People, &c.’

Accordingly Mr. SERGEANT, and a Number of the Stockbridge Indians, with about as many Strangers from Hudson-River, went to Boston. And August 5th they waited upon the Governor & CounciL.

From Westfield to Sheffield Bounds is about 26 Miles, the Land therefore which these Indians gave up their Challenge to is 52 square Miles, and should be esteem'd no inconsiderable Return for the Favour bestow'd.

August 6th. Mr. SERGEANT and the Indians din'd with the Governor and Council, were curteously treated, and receiv'd Pre­sents ol Guns, Blankets, Shirts, &c. Soon aster which they re­turn'd Home, well pleas'd with the Treatment they had met with. And tho' there were some Difficulties attending the Af­fairs of Stockbridge, particularly respecting their Lands, not yet got wholly out of the Proprietors Hands, yet, in the general, Things went well; the Indians increas'd in Knowledge and Number, new Families, and particular Persorns, coming to them from Time to Time, to live there and be instructed. And the Indians in general behav'd well. But about the End of August, some of them went to a Kentikaw, or Dance, at Squampaumuk, (a Place about 25 Miles distant from Stockbridge; in the Dutch Country) where, being encompassed with Temptations, some of them drank to Excess, which was Cause of great Grief to Mr. SERGEANT, and they themselves were fill'd with Shame and Confusion of Face when they came Home.

Mr. SERGEANT, who had hitherto liv'd in English Families, below the Mountain, in January 1736, 7. mov'd up into the Indian Town, and liv'd with Mr Woodbridge, who had built an House, and brought Home a Wife, &c. Mr. SERGEANT there­fore was no longer under a Necessicy of living at such a Distance from his People.—

When His Excellency Governor Belcher, according to his Promise of August the 5th to the Indians, recommended it to the General Assembly, to build them a Meeting-House and School-House, the Court granted it: as appears from a Passage in Colonel Staddard's Letter to Mr. SERGEANT.

[Page 59] ‘The General Court (says the Colonel) have ordered; That a Meeting-House of thirty Feet broad, and forty long, together with a School-House, be built for the Indians, at the Charge of the Province. And You and Mr. Woodbridge, with Myself, are appointed to see these Things effected.’

As Mr. SERGEANT had, by the Help of Interpreters, before this, translated some Prayers into the Indian Language, for their daily use; so now he had translated Dr. Watt's first Catechism into the Indian Tongue, that the Children might understanding­ly read and learn it. Some Things, about this Time, appear'd with a discouraging Aspect, and gave Mr. SERGEANT much Trouble; the Principal of which was, that one of their Dutch Neighbours, not only refus'd to give up his Right for an Equivalent, which made the Indians uneasy; but also kept a Store of Rum by him, of which he either gave or sold to the Indians, so that some of them drank to Excess, and were very troublesome. But this was Matter of Grief to most of them, especially to the Captain and Lieutenant, who exerted themselves to correct such Disorders; and the Indians, in general, behav'd well. New Families were, from Time to Time, added to their Number. And there were frequent Instances of Mr. SERGEANT's baptizing Persons, who, upon careful Examination, he found knowing in the Principles of Religion, and seriously resolv'd to walk by the excellent Rules of it.

Tho' the Indians went out this Season, as usual, to make Sugar, yet they return'd from their Work every Week, and attended the publick Worship on the Sabbath. They also discover'd an Inclination to the English Customs. For a couple, who were about marrying, enter'd their Intentions of it, or made them known to Mr. SERGEANT, who, upon the two sollowing Sab­baths, publish'd the Bands of Matrimony between Naukuchewat, and Wauwoonemeen, and then married them by a Form translated into the Indian Language.

On the 7th of August Mr. SERGEANT began to preach to the Indians in their own Language, and in Process of Time became so perfect in it, that the Indians were wont to say, Our Minister speaks our Language better than we do our selves. And as it cosl him a great deal of Pains to make himself Master of it; so it was no small Advantage to him, when he was able to use it [Page 60] freely, in Coversation with the Indians. For he was not only able, better to acquaint himself with the religious Sentiments of those? who would make a Prosession of Christianity; but also to converse with Strangers upon religious Subjects, when they came to visit their Brethren at Stockbridge, or when he had Opportu­nity elsewhere.

Mr. SARGEANT, about this Time, baptiz'd several Persons. And that the Reader may know, what Pains he took to inform the Candidates in the Principles or Christianity; and to satisfy himself that they understood them, and that it was their serious Purpose and Resolution to live a religious Life; I shall here transcribe, from his Journal, the concise Account he gives of his Treatment of them.

Mr. SERGEANT had been inform'd, that the Indians living at Kaunaumeek, a Place about 18 Miles from Stockbridge, to the N. W. were desirous that he should come and preach to them. He therefore sent a Messenger, informing them, that Lord's-Day, September 11th he would be with them. And in his Journal of that Day says.

[Page 62]A little more than a Month after this, viz. Lord's-Day, Oc­tober the 9th, the two principal Indians of Kaunaumeek were at Stockbridge, and heard Mr. SERGEANT preach. ‘—took Oppor unity (says he) to discourse with them both, and parti­cularly with the Chief, who now was free to own that he be­lieved the Christian Religion was true, and that he was deter­min'd to be a Christian. And added, that he had receiv'd such an Impression on his Mind, from what he had heard from me, and otherwise, of the Christian Religion, that he could not shake it off; that his Thoughts had been much fix'd upon the Matter; that, even in the Pursuit of his common Business, the could not but entertain himself with Reflections of this Nature. The other appear'd to be fully determin'd to come and live with us.’

That I may here finish the Story of these two principal Indians of Kaunaumeek viz. Aunauwauneekbbeek and Wautaunkumeet. I shall look forward to January 22. February 12, and April 16. 1738.

The generous Proposal of Mr. Hollis, to maintain 12 Boys, was not till now put in Execution. And what Mr SERGEANT says of it in his Journal is.

It was in the Spring of the Year 1736 when the Rev. Dr. Colman receiv'd from Mr. Hollis the Offer of maintaining 20 Scholars at Housatunnuk. The Doctor's Caution in the Affair, mention'd before, delay'd the coming of the Money till the Spring of the Year 1737. Some Time also was taken up in getting their Cloaths from Boston, making of them up, &c. And even then there was no House in Stockbridge, but Mr. Woodbridge's, which was small. Mr. SERGEANT therefore, who was building this Summer, and intending to take the Boys under his own Instruction, tho't best to put it off, till his own House could be prepar'd to receive them. And accordingly, having prepar'd it, hir'd a House Keeper; and, at the Time above mention'd, he tool them in.

It is probable, his House would have been ready for their Reception sooner, if he had not been in Want of Money to forward the building of it.

His Salary was no more than One Hundred and fifty Pounds our Money, twenty-seven Shillings and six Pence of which was then equal to one Ounce of Silver. And, by Reason of a ge­neral Scarcity, all Provisions were very dear. Little or Nothing could therefore be spar'd from his Salary towards building.

By a Letter of April 25. 1737. he inform'd the Commissioners of his being about to build; desiring some Assistance from them to defrey the Charge of it. In Answer to which the honourable Adam Winthrop inform'd him, that he would say his Letter before the Commissioners at their next Meeting, which would not be very soon, for they lately met. And in one Letter of July 30. and in another of September 8. The Secretary Mr. Winthrop inform'd him that the Commissioners had not yet met.

[Page 64]But April the 6. 1738. he writes thus to Mr. SERGEANT. ‘I laid before the Commissioners your Letter for some Allowance toward your building, and they voted fifty Pounds to be paid you on that Account.’

As the Sum, granted by the Commissioners, did not answer his Expectations, not amounting to ten Pounds Sterling, so neither was it sufficient to relieve his Necessities; for he, before this, was necessitated to run himself much into Debt: As he informs Dr. Colman in a Letter of June the 19th, in which he also says.

The General Assembly (which had all along encourag'd the Indians of Housatunnuk, and us'd their Endeavours to promote the Interest of Religion among them; not only by giving them a Township of Land that they might settle together, and by being at great Charge, and Trouble, in removing the Inhabi­tants, but also in building a Meeting and School-House, which the Workmen began last August;) receiv'd, and granted Mr. SERGEANT's Petition; voted him One Hundred Pounds in Bills of the middle Tenor, which was equal to about six Hundred Pounds our present Money, at fifty Shillings per Ounce.

His Excellency Governor Belcher, who upon all Occasions discover'd a great Regard for Mr. SERGEANT, was very friendly to him upon this Occasion; as appears from a Passage in his Letter of July 3d to Mr. SERGEANT.

‘I have (says the Governor) read with much Satisfaction yours of 24th of May, which is full of the Gentleman, the Christian, and the Gospel Minister; and therefore inclin'd me [Page 65] readily to afford all my Weight and Influence, in the Assembly, for your Help and Encouragement, in the arduous, but excel­lent Work you are engag'd in. I am thankful to God for succeeding so far the Endeavours of your Friends, and that we have Reason to hope more Help may be obtain'd for you (thro' the Goodness of God) from the same Fountain, and you will always be sure of my Assistance.’

Mr. SERGEANT, who had taken into his own House, and under his own Instructions, Mr. Hollis's [...] Boys, found, upon Tryal, the Burden was too heavy for him; and tho' he per­form'd that Service for near or quite a Year, yet afterwards was oblig'd to take other Methods with them. All whom he could persuade to it he sent abroad into English Families, where they were supported by Mr. Hollis's Bounty, and went to School, to perfect themselves in Reading and Writing. And those who refus'd going from Home, liv'd with their Parents, and went to Mr. Woodbridge's School. To these Mr. SERGEANT allow'd no more of Mr. Hollis's Bounty, than was sufficient to cloath them. And it was found upon Tryal, that those who liv'd in English Families, made much the best Progress in their Learning, beside the Benefit of gaining the English Language. The first Time that Mr. SERGEANT administer'd the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to his People, was June 4th, of which he gave Dr. Colman the following short Account, in a Letter of June 19th 1738.

‘The first Lord's-Day in this Month, we had the Communion of the Lord's-Supper. There were Eleven Communicants of the Indians, who attended the Ordinance with as much Seri­ousness, and apparent Devotion, as ever I observ'd in any People upon any Occasion whatever.’

Tho' the Indians had hitherto in general behav'd well, yet there had been divers Instances of baptiz'd Persons exceeding the Bounds of Temperance. And the Lieutenant himself, who had appear'd so very much engag'd in the Christian Religion, had Occasion to humble himself for the Sin of Drunkenness, before he came to this Ordinance. ‘Which he did (says Mr. SERGEANT) with a due Appearance of Seriousness, Gravity, and Resolu­tion of better Obedience for Time to come.’

The Commissioners, upon Mr. SERGEANT's Desire, supply'd the Communion Table with two Flagons, two Dishes, and some Wine.

[Page 66]Page 14th. I inform'd the Reader of Mr. Barclay's being em­ploy'd among the Mohawks, and of his Design to get Episcopal Ordination, and to be a Missionary to them, if the Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign Parts would support him.—This his Purpose he put in Execution, went to England, receiv'd Episcopal Ordination, and a Mission, from the Society to the Mohawks. And I find Mr. SERGEANT recommending him to the Commissioners at Boston, in a Letter of May the 9th, 1738. in the following Words.

‘I had just row a Letter from Mr. Barclay, a young Gentle­man of Albany, lately arriv'd from London, with a Mission from the Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign Parts, to the Mohawks West of Albany; who tells me he has but a scanty Allowance ( i. e. from the Society) and could obtain no Salary for an Interpreter, or School-Master: And that he has Thoughts of applying to the Commissioners at Boston for Assistance; but would have my Advice first. I cannot tell what Stock the Corporation has; but I suppose it is scanty, by the Allowances they afford their Missionaries. However, I could heartily re­commend Mr. Barclay to the Notice, and Favour of the Com­missioners? He is a worthy Gentleman, and well deserves En­couragement in his Undertaking. And every Body, who has the least Acquaintance with the Indians, and their Manners, must be very sensible, that tis a vain Thing to send Missiona­ries among them without supporting them well. There is no Part in the Bishop's Character, more necessary in a Missionary among the Indians, than being given to Hospitality.’

That the Reader may be sensible what a Prospect there was of Mr. Barclay's being eminently serviceable among the Mohawks, if he had been duly encouraged; I shall (asking Mr. Barclay's Pardon) show by transcribing some Passages contain'd in his Letters to Mr. SERGEANT. The following, are from a Letter wrote before he went for Orders, and dated in his School, at Fort-Hunter, June 11th 1736.

In another Letter, a little more than two Years after he had taken Orders, dated Albany, August 21st 1740. he says,

Is it not manifest, from these Things, that Mr. Barclay disco­ver'd a noble, generous, and Christian Spirit, in giving himself to the Service of God among the Mohawks, that he might be an Instrument in the Hand of God, of reforming & christianizing them? And was not there a most encouraging Prospect of his doing eminent Service, not only to the Souls of those perishing People, but also to the British Interest?

It is well known to us in this Part of the World, that the Mohawks, or Six-Nations, are a Terror to, and have in great Measure the Command of, all the Natives of North-America. The French have therefore used their utmost Endeavours all along to engage them in their Interest; and by their Missionaries, who are constantly among them, they have drawn off many of them to settle at Canada, and more or less, every Year, go over to them; from whom, in Time of War with the French, the British Provinces in North-America, especially the Ma [...]achusett [...] and New Hampshire, suffer much. It is also well known, that most of them remain in a State of Heathenism, and that these of them, who pretend to be Christians, know but very little of the Principles of Christianity; for tho' Mr. Barclay did what he could, while he was among them; ye it was but a few of them that a single Person could instruct, and that very imperfectly, for want of an Interpreter.

Their Circumstances therefore loudly call for the compassionate Help of those who are able to promote the Propagation of the Gospel among them.— And here I would beg leave to say, the honourable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign Parts do, out of the Charity they are betrusted with, maintain Missionaries at Boston, New-Port, Stratford, and are frequently sending them to other Places, where their Parishioners are well [...] honourably to support them, which evidences it to be plain [Page 69] Fact: uncapable of Dispute, that they wanted not Ability to help these poor Heathen.

It is evident also from the foregoing Account, that Mr. Bar­clay, who shew'd a noble and excellent Spirit in his Disposition to propagate the Gospel among these Heathen, and to whom such a wide Door open'd, and who was so well qualify'd for the Service, obtain'd from the Society but a scant Support for himself, and could obtain none for a School-Master, and Interpreter. Both Charity, and Policy, do certainly call for the most vigorous Endeavours to propagate the Gospel among the Mohawks. And the Reader may easily judge, Whether the Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign Parts (who have the Care and Disposal of one of the noblest Charities that has ever been known) would not employ that Charity full as well, if not better, were those Sums given to support Missionaries among the Mohawks, where the Gospel is not known, which are given to support Missionaries in some of the principal Towns in New-England, where the Gospel has been faithfully preach'd ever since they were first planted, and where those of the Persuasion of the Church of England are so numerous and wealthy, that they are well able to give their Ministers an honourable Support, without the Help of the Society at Home? Whether the former would not be more agreable to the pious Design of the Donours, as well as to the prosess'd Ends of the Society, than the latter? Whether Mr. Barclay, who was so heartily engag'd in that excellent and self denying Service of propagating the Gospel among the Mohawks, should not have been encourag'd by a plentiful Support from the Society, and also by the Support of a School-Master and Interpreter for his Assist­ance, rather than a Missionary at Boston, Newport, &c? Who would it not grieve to think, that that good Gentleman has been oblig'd to leave that Service for want of Encouragement, when there was such a Prospect of his doing much Good among those perishing Nations? What other Reason Mr. Barclay had for leaving them, I am not able to say; but if he had no other than the want of a sufficient Support, and of an Interpreter, was not that Reason quite sufficient? For how could he answer the Ends of his Mission under such Disadvantages?

[Page 70]I doubt not but the honourable Society act with Integrity, and Uprightness; and dispose of the Charity in their Hands, in a Manner that appears right and best to them, according to the Information they have. Yet, at the same Time, I am fully per­suaded, that, if they were well acquainted with the true State of Things in this distant Part of the World, they would see just Cause to alter their Conduct. And I think the Rev. Dr. Col­man's Sentiments very just, as express'd to his Lordship the Bishop of London, upon this Subject, in a Letter of September 13th 1753.

‘Were your Lordship, and the pious Trustees here on the Spot, I am sure you could not think the professed End of your Char­ter, and the Design of the Donors answer'd, in your support­ing Missionaries at Boston, Braintree, Newbury, Stratford, Bristol, Salem, Groton, &c. Or if Sea-ports of great Trade, such as Boston, Newport, Marblehead, need to have Ministers of the Church of England for the Sake of some Inhabitants & Stran­gers, yet are they well able to support their own Worship; or did they want some Assistance, there can be no Pretence for it out of a Fund sacred to God for sending the Gospel into dark and ignorant Parts of the Earth: They ought to be pro­vided for some other Way, and not by alienating a devoted and confin'd Charity, which were to run the Risque of Sacri­ledge and great Unfaithfulness’ ^†—.

If indeed the honourable Society judge it of greater Importance, more for the Honour of God, and the Good of Souls, more agreable to the Ends of their Charter, and the charitable Designs of the pious Donors, to convert those of the Presbyterian, or Congregational Persuasion, to the Church of England, than those poor perishing Heathen to the Christian Faith, then it is not strange that they should employ the Money in their Hands as they at present do; but upon what Grounds they should form such a Judgment, is not easy to apprehend.

But to return from this Digression.

The One Hundred Pounds which Mr. Holden directed Dr. Col­man to employ for the Benefit of the Indians at Stockbridge, Mr. SERGEANT now propos'd to expend upon the Females, by sup­porting [Page 71] some of the young Women abroad in English Families, as the best Way to acquaint them with the English Language and Manners. But when he communicated his Design to the Indians, tho' some of them, and the Captain in particular, lik'd the Proposal well; yet others, with the Lieutenant at their Head, strongly oppos'd it. And tho' Mr. SERGEANT us'd his best En­deavours to persuade them, yet all was in vain: Thro' the un­reasonable Jealousies the Indians entertain'd. they would not con­sent to it. However, Mr. SERGEANT did this Summer send two of them Abroad, one of which was the Captain's eldest Daugh­ter; but they would not be content to stay so long as to be any Benefit to them.

‘I have (says Mr. SERGEANT in a Letter to Dr. Colman of September 14th 1738.) spent about Five Pounds upon two of our young Women, in Prosecution of Mr. Holden's Design, but to little or no Effect. Thro' a childish Fondness for Home, they would not be contented to stay long enough where I sent them, to obtain any Good by it. But as I have been so great a Sharer in Mr. Holden's Bounty, I make no Account of it, nor desire any Thing for it.’—

The Design therefore of employing the Money for the Benefit of the young Women failing; and Dr. Colman being fully ac­quainted with Mr. SERGEANT's Necessities, gave him the Money to assist him in his Settlement.

‘If you will take the said Hundred Pounds ( says Dr. Colman in a Letter to Mr. SERGEANT) and use it for your present Set­tlement, you are welcome to it, as a Deodand to the Settle­tlement of the Gospel, in your Settlement, Comfort, & Strength, in the Work before you.—Mr. Holden has not only given me Leave, but even Wills it, that I assist you in the Work be­fore you. And if there open any Door for teaching some Girls in Womens Work, as was before proposed, inform me of it, and draw upon me before the Year is out, for Fifty, or even an Hundred Pounds more, and I will answer your Draught. However, Sir, ask of the Commissioners, as in Reason you ought, without Regard to this private Assistance.’—

He also, by the honourable Jacob Wendell, Esq who visited him at Stockbridge in September, receiv'd a Present from the Cor­poration at Home.

[Page 72] ‘—By Col. Wendell (says Mr. SERGEANT) I receiv'd One Hundred Pound in Money; a kind and generous Present from the honourable Corporation in London; for which I thank God and them.’

About this Time, Mr. SERGEANT receiv'd from Dr. Colman a Legacy of Ten Pound, left him by the Rev. Mr. Ward, Clerk, late Minister of Kingston in New-Hampshire (says Dr. Colman;) Minister of Exeter lately deceas'd (says Col. Winthrop)

And from Time to Time Mr. SERGEANT was reliev'd, by considerable Presents, from generous and well dispos'd Persons. And without the Helps I have mention'd, he could not have pro­ceeded in his Settlement at Stockbridge, as every one will be sen­sible, who know that his Salary was but One Hundred & fifty Pounds our Money, twenty seven Shillings and fix Pence of which was then equal to but one Ounce of Silver. Was it then possible that he should spare one Shilling of this small Sum towards the Charge of Building, &c? Especially considering he liv'd in a Place where all the Necessaries of Life must be purchased at a very dear Rate; and where his tender Heart could not but be mov'd to relieve the poor Indians, whose piteous Circumstances daily pleaded for them, and were enough to move a Heart much harder than his.

It was with a very grateful Spirit, both to God and his Bene­factors, that Mr. SERGEANT receiv'd those Donations. He esteem'd every Kindness bestow'd upon him on Account of his Mission, as a Favour from Heaven, a new Obligation upon him to be faithful in his Work, and a Talent for which he was accountable to the Lord of all; as in his Writings he frequently express'd himself.

He also used his best Endeavours to impress upon the Minds of the Indians a grateful Sense of the Kindness of their Benefac­tors; the Account of which seem'd very much to affect them. And at the close of this Year they were laid under a new Obli­gation, by a generous Gift of three Hundred Pounds from the honourable Society in England, Part of which was employ'd in purchasing Ploughs, Axes, Hoes, &c. to help them in carrying on their Husbandry. How the Rest of the Money was expend­ed, does not appear from any of the Papers before me; but I find, by a Letter from Secretary Winthrop to Mr. SERGEANT, [Page 73] that he judg'd it not best that the Indians should have the whole Donation at once, but that it shou'd be gradually dealt out to them as their Circumstances requir'd; which I therefore suppose was the Method taken, and that it was from Time to Time us'd to their best Advantage; and I am inclin'd to think, that it was principally, if not wholly, employ'd for their Encouragement in Husbandry and Building, from a Passage in Governor Belcher's Letter written to him on the Subject, December 5th 1738. ‘—I have talk'd with Mr. Secretary Winthrop (says His Ex­cellency) of the Disposition of the Money come from the honour­able Company at Home, that it may be mostly employ'd to promote Labour among your People, by giving them Husban­dry Tools, as Axes, Carts, Ploughs, &c. to assist in building English Houses: To civilize them will be a good Introduction to the Christianizing of them. I shall again talk with Secre­tary Winthrop, and others of the Commissioners, that this Method may be put in Practice without Delay.’—But after all it does not appear, that they ever receiv'd the whole; tho' it might be so, and Mr. SERGEANT make no mention of it.

The former Part of June this Year, Ephraim Williams, Esq and Mr. Josiah Jones, brought their Families to Stockbridge, and set­tled there; being two of the four English Families, who, by Order of the General Court, were to settle there, for Mr. SER­GEANT's Comfort & Benefit of the Indians. Lieutenant Brown, and Mr. Joseph Woodbridge, were the other, who came some Time after.

In the Year 1739, several of the River-Indians, who liv'd at a Distance from Stockbridge, discover'd an Inclination to hear Mr. SERGEANT preach. Some came from distant Parts to Stockbridge for that End, others sent for him to preach to them at the Place of their Abode. And Mr. SERGEANT fail'd not of improving all those Opportunities to endeavour their spiritual Good.

April 19th 1739. Mr. SERGEANT return'd from Abroad, and in his Journal says.

By this Account it is evident, that there appear'd about this Time an uncommon Desire in the neighbouring Indians to hear Mr. SERGEANT; but what Effect his Endeavours to serve them had, any further than is to be learn'd from the Account above, I am not able to say.

I shall also here transcribe, from Mr. SERGEANT's Journal, some Account of the Indians sending Belts of Wompum from one [Page 76] Tribe to another; as also the Messages that particularly accom­pany'd them, that the Reader may understand the Indian Customs in such Cases.

This was deliver'd with one Half of the Belt; with the other, Brother, don't hide my good Thing from me.

A very just and rational Scheme this, and, had it succeeded, would have been much to the Advantage of the Indians, as well as to us. But there is little or no Prospect of such a Neutrality taking Place, so long as the French have such as Ascendent over many of them.

Though the Indians had, for some Years past, improved the interval Land at Stockbridge; yet it was not divided to them, that every one might know and improve his own Property, till this Year. In May Session of the General Court, the Indians pre­fer'd a Petition to the Assembly, that it might be done; and they accordingly appointed Col. Stoddard, and Ephraim Williams, Esq to divide the Land to them; which they did to the Satisfaction of the Indians.

August 16. Mr. SERGEANT was married to Mrs. Abigail William, eldest Daughter of Ephraim Williams, Esq lately set­tled at Stockbridge, a Gentlewoman whom he tenderly lov'd, and justly esteem'd as one of Heaven's greatest Blessings; of which (in a Letter to Dr. Colman) he speaks as follows.

‘You will forgive me Sir, if I think that most ingenious Woman—is not the smallest Gift of divine Bounty, that I have receiv'd, since I undertook a Life tho't to be so self-denying. The more tenderly I love her, the more thankful I am to Heaven, who has form'd her as if on Purpose for me, and given her to me, as if, (like the Father of Mankind) he tho't It not good for me to be here alone:’ And in her he took the greatest Satisfaction the Remainder of his Days.

But to return.

The Gifts Mr. SERGEANT this Year receiv'd were no small Help to him, in defreying the necessary Charges of a Family.

[Page 79] June the 17th he writes. ‘This Week I receiv'd four Pounds fifteen Shillings from an unknown Gentleman in England.’

In answer to which, Mr. SERGEANT wrote July 17. as follows.

‘—Your Offer of Assistance to me, and Mr. Woodbridge, from Mr. Holden's Money, is exceeding kind; the forty Pounds Capt. Williams brought us was very welcome. The Expence of settling ourselves is indeed very great. You are sensible the Value of Bills is fallen considerable since our Salaries were granted. And tho' we are not in Circumstances of distressing Want, yet such Assistance as you offer would be very accep­table. I covet not Wealth; but would gladly live as free as possible from the perplexing Cares of Life, that I may attend the proper Business of my Calling without Distraction, which truly requires the most prudent and diligent Application.’

Accordingly, in a Letter to Mr. SERGEANT of November 10. the Doctor writes.

It was with a humble and grateful Spirit that Mr. SERGEANT receiv'd these Donations. In his Letter to the Dotter, of July 17th he says.

‘In every Letter you write, I see more of your native Good­ness, and the Power of divine Grace, which has made you so great a Blessing; and may it long continue you such. I blush to think how little I deserve the good Opinion you are pleas'd to entertain of me; and how unworthy I am of the divine Bounty, and repeated Benefactions of Men of Charity, Partak­ers of the divine Nature. Pray for me that I may have Grace faithfully to use the Talents committed to my Trust.’

In another Letter of December 26th. ‘I receiv'd—the fifty Pounds you was pleas'd to present me with, out of Mr. Holden's Bounty, for which I am most thankful to God, to you, and to that worthy Gentleman, whose Praise is in all the Churches. Your Letter is so full of Kindness it almost confounds me. I blush to consider how little I deserve the least of all that Goodness God is pleas'd to bestow upon me, thro' the Hands of his Servants. May ten Thousand Blessing from the Foun­tain of Life and Joy, crown the Heads of my Benefactors! And may I have Grace given me to improve every Talent to the Glory of my Lord and Master!’

The Meeting-House, built for the Indians, at the Charge of the Province, was now so far compleated, that on November 29th (which was a Day of publick Thanksgiving through the Province) the Inhabitants met, and attended the publick Worship in it.

The Indians being much addicted to Drunkenness render'd it necessary that Mr. SERGEANT, and others concern'd for their Good, should use all prudent and proper Measures to prevent their running into Excess. Accordingly they mov'd to the In­dians, to restrain those among themselves who were wont to [Page 81] make Gain by bringing Rum into the Place, and selling it to others; which the well disposed Indians freely came into; and agreed upon a Penalty of Forty Pounds York Money to be laid upon those who should do it. Those also who kept Taverns in neighbouring Places, and had sold Drink to such Indians as were given to Excess, they reprov'd, and endeavour'd to dissuade them from a Practice which prov'd so hurtful to the Indians. But some evil-minded Persons, among the English and Dutch, made a Handle of those Things to disgust the Indians; telling them, that this was an unreasonable Incroachment upon their Liberty; that those who abridg'd them of the Liberty of using Drink, would by and by incroach upon their other Liber­ties; that they were us'd worse than Slaves; that they were treated as if they were Dogs, and the like. By these Insinuations the Indians (who are as fond of Liberty, as of strong Drink) were much disturb'd, and some of them went into great Degrees of Excess; and New-Year's Day being at Hand, which the Dutch frequently honour by being Drunk upon it, by whose Example the Indians were easily led into the Practice, Mr. SER­GEANT was greatly concern'd, lest it should be a Day of great Disorder with them; to prevent which he took a very prudent Method; which I shall give in his own Words.

‘ December 30th 1739. Preach'd as usual, and propos'd to have an Exercise of publick Worship on New-Year's Day, now at Hand: for I supposed the Indians design'd to have a great Frolick on that Occasion, after the Manner of the Dutch in the neighbouring Government, whose Example they are very apt to follow: And I thought to have a publick Exercise on that Day, the most likely Method to prevent such Excess; which accordingly succeeded. For on that Day ( January the 1st) the Indians were universally at Meeting, and there was no Drinking at all, tho' there was plenty of Rum in the Town. Which was a rare Instance of Moderation at that Season.’

Tho' there were some disorderly Persons among the Indians, who were too free with strong Drink, yet this was what the grea­ter Part of them lamented, and they still, in the general, conti­nued to behave well.

Their Number at Stockbridge from Time to Time increas'd, by the Addition of new Families from Abroad; so that from [Page 82] about 50, the Number when Mr. SERGEANT went among them, they were now increas'd to 120.

Mr SERGEANT in his Journal of March 27th 1740. says, ‘The whole Number of Inhabitants is 120. Our Number is increas'd by the Addition of new Families, but reckoning by Births and Deaths the Number is somewhat lessen'd; which has one Year with another been the Case ever since I have been acquainted with these Indians.’

This perhaps is the Case of the Indians in general, who live bordering upon, and among the English. Their Numbers do not increase, but in some Places they are diminish'd & come almost to Nothing. For which divers Reasons may be assign'd, viz. Their Intemperance. They are so often Drunk, both Men and Women, that it is doubtless ruinous to the Constitutions both of Parents and Children.—Their great Irregularity in Diet, may be another Reason; for they frequently go without eating any Thing two or three Days, and when they come again where it is to be had, they eat an immoderate Quantity, set no Bounds to their Appetite, but croud down whatever they can.—Again, When they are sick, they take little or no Care of themselves, or of one another; for so long as the sick Person can stand and walk, he goes out of Doors upon all Occasions, be it Rain or Snow, or whatever the Weather is, and whatever Distemper he is exercis'd with. And in the mean Time they make use of few, or no Means to help the Sick. It is a Wonder therefore that they be not all sick, and that any recover when they are so!

In a Letter of September 8th Dr. Colman inform'd Mr. SER­GEANT of the Death of the honourable Samuel Holden of London, and adds. ‘So that Spring of your Comfort and Support, is cut off. Blessed be God that it run so long, and so fully!’ But yet the Doctor once more assisted Mr. SERGEANT and Mr. Woodbridge, by sending them some Thing of what remain'd of that Gentleman's Money. In a Letter of December 20th he says.

‘What I am able to do at present, is, to deliver into Mr. Brown's Hands, twenty Pounds of Mr. Holden's Money for you, and ten Pounds for Mr. Woodbridge.’ The Receipt of which Mr. SERGEANT acknowledg'd in a Letter of March 17th following.

The Lieutenant's Wife, of whom Mr. SERGEANT has divers Times spoken, as a valuable & virtuous Woman, died July 14.

‘With a comfortable Hope (says Mr. SERGEANT) of eternal Life; spending her last Moments in exhorting her Husband and Children to Godliness.’ And when Mr. SERGEANT visited her a few Days before her Death, and at her Desire pray'd with her; the told him she was content to die, hoping by that Means to be free from Sin, which was now her Burden; and if her Life was lengthen'd out, it was likely, thro' Temptation, the should be prevail'd upon to commit more Sin.

The Captain's Wife also, whom Mr. SERGEANT esteem'd a pious Woman, died the March following of a Consumption.

‘March the 29th. This Evening (says Mr. SERGEANT) died Kunkapot's Wife, having enjoyed, all along in her Sickness, a good Hope thro' Grace of a happy Eternity.’

In the foremention'd Letter of March 14th 1741. Mr. SER­GEANT first proposed to Dr. Colman, his Thoughts of setting up a Charity-House, afterwards call'd a Boarding-School, for the Edu­cation of Children in Labour and Industry, as well as Learning. Experience taught him that the Indian Customs and Way of Living, were great Impediments to the Progress of Christianity among them, and their behaving agreable to their Profession: for the Men live an idle & indolent Life, which is very unfriendly to Religion; it being their Custom for the Women to do all the [Page 84] Work, as getting Wood, Planting, Howing, &c The Men ge­nerally esteem it a Shame for them to follow any other Business but that of Hunting. Hence the Women cannot, if they would, be acquainted with I Housewifry, being oblig'd to carry on all the Business abroad. Mr. SERGEANT's Design therefore was better to regulate their Conduct in that Respect, by taking their Chil­dren, when young, and training up, both Sexes, in Business proper for them, that when they should be grown up, they might be both able and willing to provide for themselves in a Way of Di­ligence and Industry, which would in great Measure free them from many of those Temptations, by which they are now insnar'd; and enable them to make a much better Figure than they now do, or can do, while they continue entire Strangers to all the Arts of Industry and good Living, and indulge themselves in Idleness.

‘I have (says Mr. SERGEANT to the Doctor) entertain'd Thoughts (and they have made a strong Impression on my Mind) of attempting to set up a Charity-House, for the Instruction of our Indian Children, both Boys and Girls, in Business and In­dustry, as well as in Reading, and Writing, and the Matters of Religion. Whether the Motion be from God, Time will make more manifest. I should be glad of your Opinion of the Thing. This I believe Mr. Hollis expected would be the End of his noble Beginning. The Design, I am certain, is good; whether it be feasible, you may be a better Judge than I. It is what I have tho't of for a long Time; but suppos'd the Jealousies of the Indians would be a Bar in the Way; but hop'd that Difficulties of that Nature would vanish with Time. I have kept the Design to myself, nor have I ever mention'd it to any of the Indians. It may perhaps now be Time to act upon it. I doubt not but I can procure a good Accommoda­tion of Land for such a Purpose. The Charge I know would be considerable; but after a While it is to be hop'd, with the Blessing of God, they may be able to maintain themselves, at least in great Measure. If I should attempt such a Thing, I pray God spare your Life to assist in it, by your Advice, Prayers, and Influence with your Correspondents Abroad; and to introduce me into their Acquaintance.—’

[Page 85]Dr. Colman seems to receive the Proposal with some Surprize, yet blesses it; and I hope a Blessing is in it, and pray God it may attend it: tho' at present it wants Encouragement.

The Doctor in a Letter of April 4th replies,

‘— Dear Sir, What mean you by your projected Charity-House? The God of Frankins lead and animate you, own and succeed you. I shou'd wish to live to assist in it by the Will of God. But it needs not at all my living to help it. It the Motion be of God, he will find Hands. He makes Hearts, forms Purposes in them, and means to execute them. As Nathan said to David, so I am willing to encourage you to hope, God is with you. We must not be sudden nether; we may project what others may execute A good Motion (say they) seldom dies in Parliament; and [...]all it in Providence?—’

But I must leave this Affair, for the present, to attend Mr. SERGEANT in a long Journey of about [...]20 Miles, to Susquaban­ab-River, where he went with a Design to open the Way for a Mission to the Shonawoos Indians, so call'd, who live upon that River, in Pensylvania Government, and about 50 Miles from any English Inhabitants.

But because I find the best Account of Mr. SERGEANT's Pro­ceedings in this Journey, given in a Letter to George Drummond, Esq of Edinburgh, President of the Committee of Directors, for the Society for propagating Christian Knowledge, I shall first bore insert a Letter from Mr. Drummond to Mr. SERGEANT, and then give his Answer, in which the Account of his journey is con­tain'd. Mr. Drummond's is as follows.

To the foregoing Letter, the following is Mr. SERGEANT's Answer,

[Page 89]Mr. SERGEANT, according to his Purpose, set out on his Journey, accompanied by some of his Indians, to the Showanoos, May the 26th. June 3d he arrived at Sasquahannah. June 7th he preach'd to the Indians living on Delaware-River, as he re­turn'd from Sasquahannah. And June 20th he got Home.

These brief Hints he has given in his Journal; and in a Letter of June 23d to George Drummond, Esq he gives the fol­lowing more large Account.

A generous and charitable Spirit Mr. SERGEANT discover'd in this Visit to the Showanoos; a tedious Journey it was, and must of Necessity be of considerable Expence to him; and his [Page 92] Reward is doubtless with God; tho' that poor People be not ga­ther'd. ^† But from Men he receiv'd not any Thing as a Consi­deration of his hard Service.

As Mr. Drummond, in his foregoing Letter, desires, by Order of the Directors, that Mr. SERGEANT would favour them with a particular Correspondence, and that he would begin it by giving them an Historical Account of the Progress Religion had made among the Indians, &c. So Mr. SERGEANT comply'd with their Desires, sent an Historical Account, and wrote the foregoing Letter. But I find no Return he ever had from Mr. Drummond, or any other Member of that Society, nor any further Correspon­dence with it; except a Letter Mr. SERGEANT wrote to the President, for the Time, of that Society of May the 18th 1749. desiring, if it fell within their Sphere, that they would assist in promoting the Boarding-School, then begun at Stockbridge. Whe­ther Mr. SERGEANT's Letter fail'd by the Way, or what else happen'd to prevent a friendly Correspondence, I am not able to say.

Some Time before this, Mr. SERGEANT wrote to Dr. Colman, desiring he would procure for him Dr. Watts's Works, except a few Pieces already in his Hands; which I suppose the Doctor did without Charge to Mr. SERGEANT. Before this I find him acknowledging, in a Letter to the Doctor, the Receipt of Dr. Watts upon Prayer. And June 1st 1742. Dr. Colman says to him.

‘I inclose for you twenty Pounds out of the Bounty of Madam Holden and Daughters, to assist in your Support, in your singular Services for the Kingdom of our Lord & Master. With this I send you also two Pacquets containing six more Volumes of Dr. Watts's Works; one Pacquet contains Humane Understand­ing, The World to come; and the Use and Abuse of the Passions. The other Pacquet has his Humble Attempt. Strength & Weak­ness. Heaven and Hell. I put in a Sermon of Dr. Sewall's, and Dr. Chauncey's and my own.’

And to shew the Candour and Gratitude of Mr. SERGEANT, I here transcribe the Substance of his Letter to the Doctor on this Occasion.

[Page 94]Dr. Colman, being acquainted with Mr. SERGEANT's Design of setting up a Boarding-School at Stockbridge, as before related, inform'd the Rev. Mr. Isaac Hollis of it, who was disposed to encourage it; as appears from the Doctor's Letter of September 27th 1742. to Mr. SERGEANT, in which are the following Passages.

‘Yesterday came to me another Letter from the Rev. Mr. Hollis, wherein he expresses his Wonder and very great Offence, that nothing more is done by us here in New-England, for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge among the Heathen; which declares, he thinks, we have no Care for their Souls. You at Boston (says he) might save it out of your fine Hollands, Silks, and Laces, and superfine Woollen Cloths; and have a School erected for Heathen Children in Imitation of what he has essay'd already. As to our superfluous Expences, I must answer and plead guilty; but as for the School, Difficulties attending it from the Indisposition of the Indians to send their Children, or those to come if a School were open'd, I must leave you to lay before him. The good Gentleman promises to lend a helping Hand to such a School, if it were set up here.’

That charitable and generous Gentleman Mr. Hollis, had been at the Expence of about two Hundred and eight Pounds Sterling, in the Space of about four or five Years, for the Benefit of the Indians at Stockbridge, which was then upwards of one Thousand Pounds our Money; as appears from a Passage in Dr. Colman's Return in Compliance with Mr. SERGEANT's Request. August 20th 1743, the whole of which will by and by be inwserted.

The Passage is,

‘— November 19. 1736. I receiv'd from Mr. Hollis, his Bill on Col. Wendell, to pay fifty-six Pounds Sterling for the Education of 12 Indian Boys at Housatunnuk, under the Care of the Rev. Mr. SERGEANT. And August 15, 1738 I had a second Order from him for three Hundred & forty-three Pounds our Money. And again May 17. 1740. a third Order for four Hundred and forty-seven Pounds nine Shillings.—’

But what have we done in Comparison of him? Have any of our wealthy Professors put to their helping Hand to this lau­dable and glorious Design? While he has been at the Expence of maintaining 12 Boys, has any private Gentleman New-Eng­land [Page 95] been at the Expence of maintaining one? If therefore Mr. Hollis had been inform'd how little we do, is it at all strange that he should express his Wonder, and very great Offence, that nothing more is done by us here in New-England for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge among the Heathen.

Mr. Hollis also, in the forementioned Letter to Dr. Colman, desir'd an Account from Mr. SERGEANT how his Money had been expended, and to what Purpose? Mr. SERGEANT therefore wrote to him, and not only gave him a particular & satisfactory Account how his Money had been laid out, but also of what Advantage it had been: That several of his Scholars had made great Progress in Learning, &c:— But Dr. Colman having transcrib'd the Substance of that Letter, in his Recommendation of Mr. SERGEANT's Proposal of a more effectual Method for the Education of Indian Children, which will come in hereafter, I shall not insert it here.

The Difficulties which Mr. SERGEANT apprehended would attend setting up a Boarding School, viz. the unreasonable Jealou­sies of the Indians, vanish'd more and more, and he now tho't them ripe for such a Proposal; and therefore wrote to Dr. Col­man upon that Subject, January 24th 1742, 3.

‘—I am much pleas'd with Mr. Hollis's Projection for a School—wrote to you a Year or two ago about that Matter;— then thought that the Indians would not bear such a Design; but now their Temper, especially of late, seems to be much alter'd for the better, and a more than ordinary Spirit of Reli­gion seems to prevail. Thanks be to divine Grace for it! I am now of Opinion there is little or nothing on the Part of the Indians here, and in their Neighbourhood, to discourage such an Attempt. And if you think it worth while (as indeed I think it is) to undertake so great a Thing, I pray you, either by yourself or by the Assistance of some Friend that has a turn of Mind for such Projections, to draw up a general Plan of a School for the Education of Indian Children; which shall pro­vide not only for their Instruction in Learning, but also in La­bour; and send it to me, and I will try the Temper of the Indians with it. You may make some guess of the different Temper prevailing now among the Indians, from what did a few Years ago by this, that two of our young Women, not [Page 96] long since, of their own Accord, desir'd me to provide them Places among the English, that they might live with them, and support themselves by their own Labour in order to learn the English Languague & Manners; tho' a few Years ago they would not be hir'd to it. And, accordingly, I sent two of them to Northampton where they liv'd contented as far as I know.—’

And in another Letter of April 7th he adds upon the same Subject.

‘—You will find in what I have written to Mr. Hollis, that I have proposed the Affair of the free Boarding School to the Indians, and that they are mightily taken with it. I wait with Impatience for an Answer to what I wrote you last.’

What Mr. SERGEANT wrote to Mr. Hollis, he sent unsealed to Dr. Colman, to which the Doctor has Respect in the Beginning of his Letter of May the 18th 1743. to Mr. SERGEANT.

[Page 97]Dr. Colman having declin'd drawing up a general Plan, &c, and desiring Mr. SERGEANT to do it; he accordingly in a Letter of August the 1st, wrote his Proposal of a more effectual Method for the Education of Indian Children, &c. which was as follows.

[Page 102]Dr. Colman's Return in Compliance with Mr. SERGEANT's Request, is as follows.

The foregoing Letter of Mr. SERGEANT containing his Pro­posal, &c. and Dr. Colman's Return, &c. were made Publick by the Doctory, according to Mr. SERGEANT's Desire; with a Design to excite the pious generous and well disposed in this Country, and in Great-Britain, to charitable Contributions for the setting up & supporting the proposed Boarding-School. And Dr. Colman distributed many of them, where he tho't they would be most likely to answer the End proposed. And in a Letter to Mr. SERGEATN of September 17th he gives him the following Account.—

‘—I cover to you your Letter in Print. I wish my Re­turn to it may be acceptable to you & others; and I humbly beseech God to incline many Hearts, Here and Abroad, to contribute to your most pious and generous Proposal. I have cover'd four of them to His Excellency our Governor, and sug­gested to him my Hopes that the General Court will smile upon it, at their next Session.’

And in another Letter of the 22d of the same Month.

‘—It was a great Pleasure to me Yesterday to see Mr. Josiah Jones. I have deliver'd to him twenty Pounds old Tenor, to deliver to you for your further Assistance and Support in your Work. I have desir'd him to call at our Deacon Philips's for two Dozen Copies of your Letter to me, and my Return to it; presented by Major Henchman, who sends them to you for the Copy.—I have distributed already of them 70, and shall receive 50 more to Day to distribute. I have already cover'd to Dr. Watts Dr. Guise, Madam Holden, Mr. Newman, Mr. Oswald and Brackstone, Booksellers, Dr. Avery Mr. Hollis; and to Mr. Willison of Dundee, and am going to put up for Mr. Palmer, Mr. Coram, Dr. Wilson and others on the other [Page 108] Side the Water. I have also presented four f(c) Governoor Shirley, and am sending to Lieutenant Governour Phips and Dummer here; and to the Governour, Lieutenant Governour, and some Ministers in Connecticut, and to the Presidents of our Col­leges, &c. I have cover'd to Mr. Speaker Cushing, and for our three Representatives, and to Mr. Secretary Oliver, and the Board of Commissioners for the Indians here, to the Minsters here about also.—’

By the Pains Dr. Colman took in recommending and distribut­ing Mr. SERGEANT's Proposal, it is evident he was much en­gag'd in Favour of it; as Mr. SERGEANT also was; and, I think, not without Reason: for I look upon it as the best concerted Scheme that has ever been propos'd for the Benefit of the Indians. Nor do I suppose it likely, that they will ever be bro't to be a knowing and thrifty People, unless, by some such Method of Industry, they are cur'd of their Idleness, and other Vices which proceed from it.

When Mr. SERGEANT understood, by Dr. Colman's Letter, what Care and Pains he had been at to forward this noble Design, his generous Soul was too tenderly touch'd to be silent. In a Letter of October 24, he thus expresses his Gratitude to the Doctor.

In another Letter of November 25th to Dr. Colman, Mr. SERGEANT says.

‘—Your Care and Pains, under the Decays & Feebleness of Age, to promote the Design of my Letter, I accept with great Thankfulness.— Madam Holden is exceeding kind, and sets a noble Example. May God put it into the Hearts of others to follow it.— I highly approve of the Manner you propose to put forward a Subscription for something annually, and yet not so confining it, but that who will, may, give what they please at once.— Yesterday ^† we of the English Families, with the Assistance of two Strangers happening to be present, being ten Persons only that contributed, collected by Subscription One Hundred and fifteen Pounds ten Shillings, towards our pro­pos'd School; some to be paid annually for the Term of ten Years: an Offering which, I hope, will be acceptable to him who gives us the Comforts and Blessings of Life, with which we are able to rejoice and give Thanks before him. Yesterday I also gave the Indians some Account of the Design; with what was doing for them, chiefly by your Means. They ap­pear'd very thankful, and this Morning sent a Message to me, to know where the House was design'd to be erected, with the Offer of their Assistance in clearing a Spot of Land to forward the Design.—’

The Letter, which Dr. Colman wrote to Mr. SERGEANT, giving hinm Occasion to say, Madam Holden is exceeding kind, and sets a [...]le Example, is missing. Therein I conclude the Doctor had inform'd him, that Madam Holden had given one Hundred Pounds towards his Boarding-School. For in his Letter of May 18th (before transcrib'd) the Doctor says.

‘I purpose to ask Mrs. Holden's Leave to apply one Hundred, our Currency, of her Money, toward your Boarding-School.’

And in another Letter of May 24th 1744, he speaks of Ma­dam Holden's Subscription of one Hundred Pounds. I suppose [Page 110] therefore in the Letrer that is missing the Doctor inform'd him of her Donation, which occasion'd him to express himself as above.

For want of that Letter, I am not able to say what Manner of Subscription the Doctor put forward, and which Mr. SERGEANT so highly approv'd of, but only from this Expression of his; for something annually, and yet not so confin'd hit that who will, may, give what they please at once. And what Progress it made I know not, but suppose it was not great. All the Light I have in the Case is from a Letter of Dr. Colman's to Mr. SERGEANT, dated May 24th 1744, in which he says.

‘I have as yet no Subscription but Madam Holden's one Hun­dred Pounds.’

Then he goes on to name four Gentlemen, who subscrib'd in this Country, and concludes by saying,

‘—I wish it may be slow and sure; believing and not making Haste. God governs, and I trust will provide.’ The four Subscriptions above mentioned Mr. SERGEANT never received. I find them not in his Account, and therefore conclude, that the War now coming on, and discouraging any further Subscripti­ons, those were not paid.

It mud be granted, that the People in Stockbridge discover'd a very noble and generous Spirit, in contributing so largely to that pious Design. Had the People thro' the Country given one tenth Part so much, in Proportion to their Numbers & Abilities, that School, and another for Females, might have been set up, and well suoported: And had we in general, in this Land, such just and affecting Views of the deplorable State of the Indians, as the People at Stockbridge have, whose Eyes affect their Hearts, I doubt not but many Thousands would have cheerfully given to forward that noble and pious Design, the best I think that has ever been projected.

Dr. Colman sent one of Mr. SERGEANT's printed Letters, and his own Recommendation of it, to a Gentleman in a neighbouring Town, whose generous Mind was pleas'd with the Projection; he therefore wrote back, proposing a Method of Subscription to en­courage it, which the Doctor approv'd of, and therefore publish'd the Gentleman's Letter in the Weekly Journal of February 7th 1744. The Letter, with what the Doctor or subjoined io the publick Print, were as follows.

Dr. Colman wrote to the honourable Commissioners upon the same Subject; of which he gave Mr. SERGEANT the following Account in a Letter of February 9. 1743, 4.

[Page 113] ‘To Day I wrote to Andrew Oliver, Esq; Secretary to the Commissioners for the Indians, to be communicated to them, in­closing to them your and my printed Letter, and these now inclos'd ( the foregoing Letter publish'd two Days before, and no inclos'd to Mr. SERGEANT) praying them to take your Proposal into Consideration, and act as they may see becoming them in their publick and private Capacity.’

It will perhaps be Matter of Surprize to the Reader, that when such an Opportunity presented, and Subscriptions were urg'd by such forcible Reasons by Dr. Colman, and the Author of the fore­going Letter; that no Subscriptions [...] obtain'd in the Country, save those four abovementioned: For I find no Account of any more in the Papers before me. All the Reason I am able to give for it is, that the War with France now came on, which drew the Attention of every one, and might discourage, for the present, those who were well inclin'd: Stockbridge being an expos'd Place, where no such Design could be carried on in Time of War, to good Advantage.

I am sensible some worthy Gentlemen, who were possest of a laudable Concern for the Good of the Indians apprehended, that there was too great a Coldness and Indifference in this Case, con­sidering the Importance of the Affair, and the happy Prospect there was of its succeeding, if it had been duly encourag'd; and that they were a little impatient on the Account of those Excuses which were made by some, from whom Subscriptions were ex­pected, viz. That we must not be too hasty, &c. &c.

One Gentleman in a Letter to Dr. Colman, of May 18th ex­presses himself thus,

‘I am sorry the propos'd Draught for a Subscription is so hard of Digestion; I wish Gentlemen would not be quite so over nice and exact, but leave some of the Prudentials in the Affair to the honourable and Reverend Gentlemen; who I hope will be appointed, and who will be charitably inclin'd to take upon them the Management of that Affair.’

A Gentleman also in a Letter to Mr. SERGEANT of July 9th says,

‘I could have been very glad, that my poor Endeavours with Respect to your Scheme to propagate Christianity among the Indians, had been attended with any Success; but I cannot [Page 114] learn that any Thing is done, or doing, about it; and it seems to me to be as dead at present as if it had never been in Motion. I have met with several Checks for being too hasty in the Affair.—Our Backwardness to generous Actions for the Good of our fellow Creatures, notwithstanding the excellent Rules of Charity prescrib'd in Christianity, and enforc'd by so many powerful Reasons, is a most convincing Argument, that the Spirit of pure and undefil'd Religion but little prevails, where the Form of it appears.’—

I am ready to think that any one, who is well acquainted with this Affair, and is impartial in the Case, will judge, that a gene­rous Subscription to promote such a noble Design, would have well became a People of our Profession: The Rev. and generous Mr. Hollis, when he was made acquainted with Mr. SERGEANT's Scheme, discover'd a very different Spirit from what appear'd among us. Before Mr. SERGEANT's Letter, and Dr. Colman's Recommendation of it, were made publick in this Country, in April 7. 1743. Mr. SERGEANT in a Letter to Mr. Hollis, inform'd him of his Design of seting up a Boarding-School. Mr. Hollis, in his Answer of December 5th 1743, in a most effectual Manner, shews his Approbation of it, in the following Worlds.

Dr. Colman in a Letter inform'd a certain Gentleman in his Neighbourhood of Mr. Hollis's Generosity, who in his Answer to the Dostor, expresses himself thus.

‘This extraordinary additional Bounty of that Reverend Gen­tleman, I hope will quicken the Gentlemen here concern'd in [Page 115] putting forward Subscriptions. Is it not amazing to find one single Gentleman (and that a Stranger too) so ready and free to be at the Expence of supporting 24 Boys, without any Jea­lousy of his Charity's being misapply'd, and this whole Land so backward to support an equal Number of Girls, when it is so vastly more our Duty than any Bodies else? May not a little Impatience here be a Virtue?’

To Mr. Hollis's Letter, of December 5. 1743, Mr. SERGEANT wrote an Answer July 2. In which, after his grateful Acknow­ment of Mr. Hollis's Generosity, and his hearty Wishes that a full Reward might be given him, by that God who is well pleas'd with such Sacrifices, he informs him, that the projected Method of a Boarding-School was the best he could devise for the Good of the Indians, and then adds,— ‘The War with France falls out unhappily for this Design. We are situated upon the Borders of the Massachusetts Province, open to the French Settlements, and in the Road where the French and Indians us'd to make their Irruptions; but have been hitherto, thro' the Goodness of God, preserv'd.—However, for the present, I believe, it will not be tho't prudent to be at any Expence in the Affair of the Boarding-School. My House is garrison'd; a Number of Sol­diers are sent into the Town;—and Provisions are scarce: so that I know not what can be done for your Boys just now. We are, for the present, in such Confusion & Uncertainty, by Rea­son of the War, that it is difficult to say what is best to be done; a little longer Time will probably direct us what Steps are best to be taken. As soon as may be, I shall gladly prose­cute your pious Design.—’

In a Letter also to Dr. Colman of June 29th, he says,

‘As for our Design here, I believe, it will not be tho't prudent to put any Thing in Execution for the present, till we see a little how the Affair of the War will turn.’

Thus ceas'd this important Affair of the Boarding-School for the present, and nothing more was here done about it till the Year 1747. But, in the mean Time, some Things were acted in Fa­vour of it in England, by some generous and publick spirited Per­sons, to whom Dr. Colman had sent Mr. SERGEANT's printed Letter, and his own Return or Recommendation of it; of which I shall give some Account in its proper Place: Only observing [Page 116] here that it was a Grief to Mr. SERGEANT, that he could not now proceed in it; but he hop'd for a more favourable Oppor­tunity.— In a Letter to Dr. Colman of November 7th he expresses himself thus,

‘It will be a great Grief to me, if we should not be able to accomplish the Design I have projected.— To God's Power and Grace I refer it.—’

This Projection of a Boarding-School, and the Pains Mr. SER­GEANT was at to promote it, took up a considerable Part of his Time and Thoughts; for it lay very near his Heart: But, at the same Time, he prosecuted his Work among the Indians with In­dustry and Faithfulness; and a very hard Service he had of it. For, having a mix'd Auditory, he was obliged, on each Part of every Lord's Day, both to pray and preach in the English and Indian Language, that all might profit by his Ministry. He himself esteem'd his Work to be double on this Account, and us'd it as one Argument, with the honourable Commissioners, to move them to make some Addition to his Salary, which was very small. His Words are;— ‘My Labour, by being oblig'd to preach in Indian, I suppose, is double to what it would be, if my Hearers understood English.’— And I apprehend it was more than double; for he wrote every Word he delivered to the Indians (as he further takes Notice in that Letter;) and that he might be very exact, he did, for a considerable Time, keep an Interpreter by him two Days in a Week, at his own Cost, to assist him in the Translation of his Sermons into the Indian Tongue. And besides, the Indians, being very ignorant, and not able to gain Knowledge by Reading, as those who can read may do, he was oblig'd to spend much of his Time in conversing privately with them, that thereby he might infuse Knowledge into their Minds; which having been so long, as an uncultivated Soil, wanted more abundant Labour. He was indeed a rare Instance of Diligence, Industry, and Painfulness, in his Work; and the Pains he took for the Good of the poor Natives are not to be express'd.

In the Close of this Year, Dr. Colman again refresh'd his Spirit, by sending him a small Sum.— 'Please Sir, (says the Doctor in a Letter of November 17th) to accept the ten Pounds inclos'd for you,' for which Mr. SERGEANT return'd his grateful Acknow­ledgments [Page 117] in a Letter of December 11.— ‘I have receiv'd your most obliging Letter—and the ten Pounds inclos'd, which I accept with great Thankfulness. I return Praise to God in the first Place, as the original Author of every good Thing; and in the next Place to you, who have been made, under him, the Instrument of many Kindnesses to me. You have my ser­vent Prayers in Return, springing from an Heart deeply sen­sible of the Kindness of God to me, by your Beneficence. May the Smiles and Joy of God to you be the Recompence of those repeated Favours, with which you have so often refresh'd my Bowels.’

As Mr. SERGEANT was laborious and faithful in the Work to which he was call'd; so there is good Reason to conclude, that he was successful therein: not only from the Increase of Know­ledge, and a visible Reformation among the Indians; but also from the Temper of Mind some of them discover'd at the Time of their Death, some Instances of which I have given above, and shall here add two or three more, by suggesting a few Hints concerning some young Persons who died this Year, and the Beginning of the next. The very brief Account which Mr. SER­GEANT, in his Journal, gives of them is as follows— ‘ May 22. died a young Person, not baptised; but expressing a serious Disposition of Mind. He was much in Prayer in his Sickness; deaf, and not able to speak much; but, just before he died, took his Father by the Hand, exhorted him to mind Religion, to get baptised; said, he hoped for Happiness, spake these Things plain, and then died. January 19. 1745, 6. This Week died Katharine, Kunkapot's eldest Daughter, with good Hope of fu­ture Happiness, and without any Fears of Death. Feb. 16. This Week died Kewaunnoabkub, Daughter of Naunaunekennuk, with a strong Hope of eternal Life.’ What a desireable Sight was it to behold such young Persons, who, a little before, were Strangers to divine Things, leaving the World with such a com­fortable Hope of a glorious Immortality?

The honourable Corporation for Indian Affairs in London, to whom Dr. Colman had sent Mr. SERGEANT's printed Letter, and his own Recommendation of it, received it; and their Treasurer, in a Letter to the honourable Andrew Oliver, Esq; Secretary to their honourable Commissioners in Boston, inform'd him, that Mr. SER­GEANT'S [Page 118] Proposal had gain'd the Approbation of the Society in London; that they were inclin'd to contribute to it; and that when there should be a Prospect of its taking Effect, they would consider the Matter, and encourage it as they conveniently could. This Letter Mr. Oliver communicated to Mr. SERGEANT, who wrote to the honourable Corporation, informing them, that the Affair of the Boarding-School had been delay'd by Reason of the War; that the Founding of it would cost a considerable Sum, tho' he hop'd it might, afterwards, be carried on with but little Charge; that, upon a Computation made, it was tho't, that two Hundred Pounds Sterling would be needful; that he purposed to proceed in that Affair, as far as present Circumstances would admit; and concluded by humbly recommending it to the fa­vourable Notice and Encouragement of that honourable Corpo­ration. But I find not, among his Papers, any Answer to this Letter, nor any Account of Money advanced by the Corporation for that Business; and therefore suppose Nothing was done by them, while Mr. SERGEANT liv'd. Perhaps his Letter, in Time of War, might fail of reaching the Corporation.

Another of those Proposals for a Boarding-School was sent to Dr. Watts, the Effect of which Dr. Colman inform'd Mr. SER­GEANT of in a Letter of May 21.— ‘I am now, dear Sir, (says the Doctor) to inform you, that last Night I received a Letter from Dr. Watts, dated March 26, wherein he says to me, I have your Letter from Mr. SERGEANT, and have made a small Collection among a few Friends for his Design, and pious Work in the Education of some of the neighbouring In­dians; and now I inclose a Bill of Exchange to you, for seventy Pounds your Currency, from Mr. Henry Caswell of Boston, Merchant.’ So he salutes Mr. SERGEANT, and wishes him Suc­cess. I rejoice with you, Sir, in this first Fruit. And in a Letter of June 10. the Doctor says,— ‘I lately inform'd you of a Bill seventy Pounds our Currency, from the excellent Dr. Watts of London,—The Money is in my Scriptore, wrote upon from him to you. I shall be glad to forward a Letter of Thanks from you to him.’—Accordingly, Mr. SERGEANT, in his next Letter to Dr. Colman, says;— ‘I have inclos'd a Letter, such as it is, for Dr. Watts; be pleas'd to forward it to him with as much Safety as you can, and as soon as may be.’ Of this [Page 119] Letter to Dr. Watts, and of many others which Mr. SERGEANT wrote to one and another, I find no Copies, which lays me under no small Disadvantage in my Endeavours to give a good Account of these Things.

Capt. Thomas Coram of London, a Gentleman who has discover'd a generous and noble Spirit in divers Projections for the Benefit of the Nation, and for the Good of Mankind, in some of which he happily succeeded, receiv'd from Dr. Colman Mr. SERGEANT's Proposal for a Boarding-School. When he had read the Scheme, he was very much pleas'd with it; and in a Letter dated London, January 23, he gave the Doctor Thanks for the Book, ^† and allured him that he had taken no small Pains to promote that good Work, and that he entertain'd Hopes, that the Prince of Wales would encourage that pious Design by becoming the first Subscriber.

Of this Dr. Colman inform'd Mr. SERGEANT in a Letter of May 7, which much reviv'd his Hopes respecting his Boarding-School; and in his Answer of May 29, he says to the Doctor: ‘Mr. Coram has shewn an excellent and most generous Spirit in the Matter, for which I thank God; and desire you, when you write to him again, to give him my most hearty Thanks, for the Pains he has taken in this Affair; which I hope will add to the Weight and Glory of that Crown of Righteoufnefs which waits for him, when he has finished the Work design'd him by Providence. And if he succeeds in this, it may per­haps appear worthy to be the last Service of so industrious a Labourer for the Good of others. If the Prince of Wales leads in the Subscription, it looks probable that it may secure the Success of that Design, I have so earnestly desir'd to see accom­plish'd. I am waiting to put something in Execution among the pious and liberal in our own Country, when the Face of Things, in divine Providence, shall appear encouraging.’—

Capt. Coram was so charmed (to use his own Expression) with Mr. SERGEANT's Undertaking, that he exerted himself abun­dantly to promote it. He first got a Book bound, and a proper Preamble writ in it for Benefactors to Subscribe to, for the Benefit of Mr. SERGEANT's School: Then he applied to some wealthy [Page 120] Persons, both in City and Country: And tho' he found many, who expressed their Willingness to encourage so good a Design, by their Contributions; yet he could find no Person who was willing his Name should stand first in the Subscription: but all chose to subscribe after it was well begun by some proper Person. These Objections put this generous Gentleman upon the tho't of prefering a Petition to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, that he would honour & encourage this noble Design, by placing his Name at the Head of the Subscription. He therefore pre­par'd the following Petition for that End.

This Petition, with a Letter, and the Subscription Book, Capt. Coram sent to Col. John Sbute, Privy Purse to His Royal Highness, with whom he was well acquainted, who was then about twenty Miles from London, desiring him to lay them before the Prince of Wales. But his Circumstances would not then admit of his going to the Prince. The Colonel therefore sent the Letter, Petition, and Subscription Book, to the Rev. Dr. Ayscough, Clerk of the Closet, and first Chaplain to his Royal Highness, desiring him to solicit the Prince to become the first Subscriber.

[Page 122]The Doctor had no sooner laid these Things before his Royal Highness, but he declared himself ready and free to encourage so good and laudable a Design, plac'd his Name at the Head of the Subscription, and gave 20 Guineas for the Encouragement of the Boarding-School, which was paid to Mr. Corom. Dr. Ayscough also let him know, that he himself design'd to make a Present of a Bible to the Congregation at Stockridge, which he soon after did; one of the largest Sort, finely Gilt, bound up in three Vol. large Folio, which now adorns the Pulpit at Stockbridge, and is made use of for the Benefit of that Congregation, every Lora's-Day.

While these Things were doing, Capt. Coram tho't himself ob­lig'd to let Dr. Aysough know, that this Mr. SERGEANTS Dissenting Minister, and not of the Church of England. The Doctor reply'd ‘What if he be a Dissenter? He is a good Man, and that is every Thing. It is Time those Distinctions should be laid aside, and not make them where there is none, and the Partition Wall thrown down; that Christians might love one another: That he lov'd all good Men alike, let them be Church­men or Dissenters.’

A noble, generous and catholick Spirit the Doctor herein dis­cover'd; and were all Ministers, of every Denomination, of such an excellent Temper, we should soon all join Hands to remove the Partition Wall, which has so long divided, and weakned the Church of Christ; and unite in cultivating and establishing that Love and Unity the Gospel of Christ so abundantly recommends to us, and which is both the Strength and Beauty or the Christian Church. The Doctor also wrote a very kind and obliging Letter to Mr. SERGEANT, which, if it prove as grateful to the Reader as it was to him, and is to me, I shall think my Time well spent in transcribing.

Capt. Coram, having succeeded so well with the Prince, in the next Place apply'd to the Duke of Cumberland, by the Right Hon. Mr. Points, desiring he would contribute ten Guineas. The Duke generously reply'd, 'It would be Shameful to give so small a Sum to so good a Purpose,' and subscrib'd Twenty. The Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Dorset, and the Lord Gewer gave each five Guineas. And here, so far as I can learn, this well begun Subscription ended, which every one who reads the fore­going Account will be surpriz'd at, unless I relate the Occasion of it, otherwise I should have pass'd it over in Silence.

A certain Gentleman in London, and a Lady of his Acquain­tance, (which Lady Capt. Coram had before appl'd to, to be­come the first Subscriber) had informed the Captain, that, when the Subscription was well begun, they would contribute to that good Design. He therefore now wrote to the Gentleman, ac­quainted him with the Success he had met with, sent him a Copy of the above Petition to the Prince, and inform'd him, that he design'd to wait upon the Lady for her Subscription. The Gen­tleman sent back the, Petition to Mr. Coram, and wrote to him, letting him know, that his Conduct had been such, that neither the Lady, nor he would have any Thing more to say to him. This Treatment gave the good Gentleman such a Disgust, that he proceeded no further. And, in a Letter of May 10, he says to Mr. SERGEANT,— ‘I really believe I should have got ten Times as much as I have, if I had not been prevented by that unhandsome Usage.’

[Page 124]What a Pity is it, that a Subscription to encourage such a pious and noble Design, that had so good a Lead, and such a fair Prospect of succeeding, should be put by because of the ill Usage one or two Persons offered to the generous Promoter of it? Would not one have tho't, that seeing that Gentleman & Lady fail'd, there was the more Need of applying to others, who had given Encouragement, that they would smile upon the Affair by their free Contributions? And is it not more than probable, that the Example of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, of the Duke of Cumberland his Brother, and also of the noble Persons who had subscrib'd, would have induced many to free and libe­ral Contributions to such an excellent and pious Design?

What Capt. Coram collected, he sent to Mr. Wallis of Boston, by whom it came to Mr SERGEANT's Hand. He wrote also a very large Letter, dated London, May 10, in which he inform'd Mr. SERGEANT of his Proceeding, in all the foregoing Steps; which Mr. SERGEANT receiv'd January 1747; when I find in his Journal these short Hints, ‘Received Letters from London informing of a Benefaction for the Indians School;—went to Boston to take Care of it.— The Prince of Wales subscrib'd 20 Guineas.’—

A grateful Sense of Dr. Ayscough's Generasity, Kindness and Condescention, oblig'd Mr. SERGEANT to write to him without Delay. The Copy of his Letter bears Date January 24. 1746, 7. and is as follows.

He also wrote a very large Letter to Capt. Coram, dated Jan. 22. In which he gives a considerable Account of his Mission the Indians, and of his Succefs in that Business. It will therefore doubtless be grateful to the Reader to be entertain'd with the whole of it.

These two Letter, from Mr. SERGEANT, I am apprehensive never reach'd the Gentlemen to whom they were directed; for, September 24. 1747, Mr. SERGEANT notes, in his Journal, that, he had then receiv'd a Letter from Mr. Wallis of Boston, informing him that Capt. Coram had receiv'd no Letter from him, and was [Page 131] a little out of Temper upon that Account. And then adds, ‘I immediately laid aside all other Business and wrote to Dr. Ayscongb & Mr. Coran’—Yea I suspect, that even this second Letter be now wrote to Dr. Ayscongb, fail'd by the Way; for, in a second Letter which the Doctor wrote to Mr. SERGEANT, dated December 9, 1748, he informs him, that he had receiv'd his Letter of July 22, 1748, but makes no Mention of any of an earlier Date. He also says to him, that he was glad the Con­gregation of Stockbridge had receiv'd the Bible he sent; which seems to intimate, that the first Information he had of their re­ceiving of it, was by Mr. SERGEANT's Letter of July 22, 1748; whereas Mr. SERGEANT in his Letter of January 24, 1746, 7, inform'd the Doctor of the Receipt of it, and return'd himThanks for it. I have before taken Notice, that as soon as Mr. Hollis was made acquainted with Mr. SERGEANT's Design of a Boardiug­School, he directly ordered twelve more Boys to be taken in upon that Foundation, and educated wholly at his Cost. But, by Rea­son of the War, which much affected them of Stockbridge, his Orders were not put in Execution, and the whole Affair of the Boarding-School was defer'd, till a more favourable Opportunity. Mr. Hollis, being inform'd of this, wrote this Year to Dr. Colman, insisting upon it, that 12 Boys should, without any furtherDelay, be taken & educated at his Charge: And those Passages of Mr. Hollis's Letter, which related to that Affair, Dr. Colman trans­crib'd to Mr. SERGEANT. In a Letter of May 7, the Doctor writes;

[Page 132]The Doctor goes on,

‘Dear Sir, you will please to communicate this to the ho­nourable Gentlemen, the Committee, to whom I paid, in your Presence, last Year, Mr. Hollis's three Hundred and fifty Pounds our Currency, and all the other Moneys in my Hand; and to advise with them. I am sure, you and they can best tell what can and must be done. I have wrote myself to Mr. Hollis to Day, wherein I let him know of this my present writing to you, and I hope you will, as soon as may be, write to Mr. Hollis, whose good and generous Soul is enough to animate us all.’—

Who the Committee were, into whose Hands Dr. Colman paid Mr. Hollis's Money, and the other Money that was in his Hand, I shall have Occasion to show by and by.

In another Letter also, he transcribes a Passage from Mr. Hollis, and this being the last written by Dr. Colman to Mr. SERGEANT, four Days before bis Death, I shall transcribe so much of it as relates to Mr. SERGEANT, and to the Affairs of Stockbridge.

Upon this Letter of the Doctor's, Mr. SERGEANT wrote, ‘My last indeed from this good Man, whose Soul is gone to rest in the Lord.’ May I be suffer'd to add, A rare Instance indeed of a good Man's dying, as it were with his Pen in his Hand, la­bouring to promote the Good of his Country, the Prosperity of his Friends, and the eternal Salvation of precious; Souls! And who of all his Brethren, die Sons of New-England, has he left behind him, who so tenderly loves, so ardenrly cares for, and so vigorously endeavours to promote the Good of his native Country, as Dr. Colman did? But I am steping beside my Line, and must return.—

If Mr. Wollis sent a Copy of Mr. Coran's Letter to Mr. SER­GEANT, as the Doctor desir's, it is not to be found; therefore what is meant by furtherBenefits to Stockbridge, and by the Support of Religion & Education at Housatunnak, spoken of in the Doctor's Letter above, I am not able to say. But by a new School, I con­clude, is included a Female Boardhig-School, which Mr. Coram then, and since, used Endeavours to promote.

Things relating to the Boarding School, now appearing with a favourable Aspect, and Mr. Hollis urging very hard, that his [Page 134] twelve Boys might be, without any further Delay, taken upon that Foundation, Mr. SERGEANT now entertain'd serious Tho'ts of prosecuting that Design, in the Manner he had propos'd. He therefore, in the first Place, mov'd the Indians of Stockbridge, who are the Proprietors of the undivided Lands in that Township, to give 200 Acres of Land, to build a School House upon, and to be cultivated by the Children who should receive their Educaticrr there. The Indians chearfully comply'd with the Motion, and gave 200 Acres of very good Land, about a Mile from the Meeting-House, for that Purpose. The Manner & Time of their giving of it, I am not acquainted with, but the Facl is well known.

About the Middle of July, Mr. SERGEANT set out on a Jour­ney to Boston, in order to forward this important Affair. He went by the Way of Northampton, Halfield and Hadley, that he might confer with those Gentlemen whom he had nominated, in the Postscript of his Letter to Dr. Colman, of August 1. 1743, to be a Committee, or Trustees, to receive and disburse the Money which might be given to promote that good Design, and who had exprest their Willingness to take that Trouble upon them, viz. the honourable John Stoddard, Eleazer Porter, Israel Williams and Oliver Partridge, Esqrs; and the Rev. Mr. Edwards. These are the honourable Gentlemen, the Committee, of whom Dr. Colman speaks, in his Letter of May 21, above transcrib'd, to whom the Doctor paid, in Mr. SERGEANT's Presence, Mr. Hollis's three Hundred and fifty Pounds, and other Moneys which were in his Hand. By the other Money, I suoppose he means Madam Holden's one Hundred Pounds, and Dr. Wall's seventy Pounds, which he had received for the encouraging the Boarding-School,

Those Gentleman Mr. SERGEANT desired would meet at Col. Porter's of Hadley, on the 20th of July, that he might there con­fer with them, and take their Advice and Direction upon the Business before him. Col. Stoddard and Mr. Edwards came not to the Meeting, and wholly declin'd having any Thing more to do in that Affair. The other Gentlemen, Col. Porter, Col. Williams and Col. Partridge met, before whom Mr. SERGEANT laid open the Affair, with what Clearnesxs he could propos'd to be made a Body Politick to act in that Business, and advis'd Mr. SER­GEANT to endeavour to accomplish that Matter, and to de­sire [Page 135] The Assistance of Mr. Hutchinson, and Mr. Oliver in it. When Mr. SERGEANT came to Boston, he confer'd with those Gentle­men upon the Subject who tho't it not best that the fore-named Gentlemen should be incorporated; but rather that the Matter should be put into the Hands of the London Corporation, and transacted by their Commissiones here. The Commissioners them­selves were also of the same Mind, and finally, neither the one nor the other was done, but the whole Care of that affair (so far as I can learn) devolv'd on Mr. SERCEANT; who resol'd, with what Speed he could, to erect a Buiiding for, and to proceed to, the Education of the Indian Children; more especially those for whose Education Mr. Hollis stood engag'd: and from Boston he wrote to Mr. Hollis, informing him of the Steps he had taken, and that he design'd to proceed in that Affair, as fast as he could. Of this Letter I find no Copy, but only a Minute in Mr. SER­GEANT's Journal, that he thus wrote to him. September 25, he again wrote to Mr. Hollis, and by his Answer the Reader may give some Guess what was contain'd in Mr. SERGEANT's Letter. Mr. Hollis's Answer is dated from

Mr. Hollis continuing to urge, that twelve Boys might, out of Hand, be supported and educated at his Expence, and the [Page 136] War continuing, which forbid its being done with any Conve­nience at Stockbridge, Mr. SERGEANT determined to provide them a suitable Master, and to send them abroad. He therefore went to Capt. Martin Kellogg, a Gentleman of Newington in Connecticut, with whom he prevail'd to take the twelve Boys for one Year; and to instruct them both in Learning & in hard Labour. The Indians, when it was propos'd to them, consented that their Chil­dren should go. Of this Affair Mr. SERGEANT gives us these short Hints in his Journal. ‘ March 13. 1747, 8. propos'd to the Indians to send their Children with Capt. Kellogg to Newington they consented. April 12. chose the Boys. May 23. Mr. Hollis's twelve Boys went off to Newington.’

Of these Things Mr. SERGEANT (I conclude) gave Mr. Hollis an Account in a Letter; for in his next & last to Mr. SERGEANT, dated London, October 5, he says;— ‘I have a Letter from you, wherein you mentioned concerning the Indian Boys. Pray let me know if you receiv'd of the Gentleman for my Account £. 350, New-England Currency, and in what Manner it may have been disbursed. If expended let me have Account:—I have inclos'd a Bill of £. 114 New-York Currency; Value £. 60 Sterling. Please to be very particular in yourAnswer to this.—Pray let the Gentleman, that has the Care of the Boys, be desired to pray with them every Morning and every Night, and before and after every Meal, and that he endeavour to instill into their Minds Principles of Piety & Godliness’—

Feb. 17th. Mr SERGEANT writes; ‘During thi Winter met the Indians once a Week, to confer with them.—Communiated Mr: Brainard's Journal to them:’ Mr. Woodbridge School­Master at Stockbridge, in a Letter to me, soon after Mr. SERGEANT's Death, gives a more particular Account of these Meetings in the following Words— ‘In the Winter Season, it was his common Practice to meet the Indians once a Week in the Evening for religious Execises. In these i very pften accompanied him; and, when sometimes he could not attend, he would desire me to serve in his Stead. These Exercises seem's to have a good Effect, by begeting in the Minds of the Indians a Serious­ness about the Things of Religion. And in the Summer Sea­son he commonly spent an Hour after publick Service In­struction, Exhortations, and Christian Advice.’

[Page 137]This was a very proper and necessary Method to be used with that People, who mad not the Advantage of increasing in Know­ledge by Reading, as others have; and by those Means a good Degree of Knowledge and Understanding, in the Principles of Religion, was instil'd into their Minds, by their faithful and la­borious Teacher.

Feb. 21. (be says) ‘The young People meet Lord's Day Even­ings for religious Exercises, Prayer, Singing, &c. This they did of their own Accord.’—This seems to shew, that the Minds of the young People: were imprest with religious-Sentaments, and that they delighted to draw near to God.

What Sum of Money Mr. SERGEANT had in Hand, or at Command, to enable him co erect a suitable Building for the Boarding-School, upon the Lands given by Indians for that End, 1 am not able to say; but he now resolved to use what he had, for that Purpose, and endeavour'd to procure more.

He wrote to the Rev. Mr. Andrew Eliot of Boston, desiring him to put forward a Subscription there. That Gentleman, who was a very hearty Friend to the Cause, propos'd a Method, that was likely to have succeeded, had it been put in Execution: but there arose so many Objections against the present Execution of Mr. SERGEANT's Scheme, that Mr. Eliot was discourag'd, and nothing was done them.

He wrote also to the Rev. Mr. Williams of Lebanon upon the same Subject, who communicated his Letter to the Rev. Mr. Eliot, Minister of second Parish in that Place, call'd Goshen: And in a Letter of May 7.. Mr. Williams inform'd Mr. SERGEANT, that at Goshen they had gathered by Contribution, on the Day of general Fasting in Connecticut, about twelve Pounds, and that this Congregation, on the same Day, contributed to that good Design between thirty and forty Pounds, which waited his Order. I find by an Account from Stockbridge, that the exact Sum contributed at Lebanon was forty-nine Pounds one Shilling. Anout the same Time, if I mistake not, died Mr. Elery of Hartford in Connecticut, who left by Will, to the Indians of Stockbridge, one Hundred and twenty Pounds.

Mr. SERGEANT also wrote the following Letter to the Hon. Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, in Scotland; desiring Assistance from them.

I suppose, either that this Letter sai'd of reaching the Society to which it was dircted, or that they did not see Cause to do any Thing in Favour of the Boarding-School; for I find not any An­swer to it, nor do I remember ever to have heard of their doing [Page 140] any Thing to promote it. Seeing that Society desired a Corre­spondence with Mr. SERGEANT, and that he would begin it, by giving them an Account what Progress Religion had made among the Indians at Stockbridge which he did; and seeing he now wrote to them as above, it is somewhat strange that he never receiv'd a Line from them. The most probable Conjecture I can make in the Case is, that either his Writings to them, or their Returns, fail'd by the Way.

It appears by the foregoing Letter, that Mr. SERGEANT had now erected a Building for the Boarding School, and that it was like to be fit, in a few Months, for the Reception of the Scholars. And while he was, with much Pains and Industry prosecuting that good and pious Design, which was attended with some Dis­couragements, his Spirit was refresh'd by the Reception of the following most kind & obliging Letter from the Rev. Dr. Ayscough.

Mr. SERGEANT receiv'd this Letter but a little While before his Death, and, if I mistake not, I have been inform'd, that he had not Opportunity to return an Answer to it. For the Satis­faction therefore of those into whose Hands this History may fall, and who want to be inform'd in the Things after which Dr. Ayscough enquires; and for the Satisfaction of the Doctor him­self, if it should ever reach him, I shall briefly touch upon what has not been sufficiently illustrated in the foregoing Account.

As for the Scheme which Mr. SERGEANT was pursuing;—some Account was given of it in his Letter of August 1. 1743, to Dr. Colman, to which it may not be amiss here to add; that his De­sign was, that the Indian Boys, under the Care of a faithful Master, who should labour with and inspect them, should subdue and cultivate the 200 Acres of Land upon which they live; that they should raise upon it all Sorts of Provisions; that they should keep upon the Farm a Stock of Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, &c. that the Girls should be employ'd in Manufacturing the Wool, Flax, Milk, &c. that should be rais'd upon it: They also, being under the Care of a faithful Mistress, who should instruct them in all Sorts of Business suitable to their Sex. By this Means, they [Page 142] might, after some Time, in great Measure, if not wholly, support themselves; be form'd to Industry; be acquainted with the English Language and Manners; and be fit, at about 20 Years of Age, to set up upon Farms of their own. By taking the In­dian Children when young, and bringing them up in the Way of Industry (as well as Learning) Mr. SERGEANT design'd to cure them of Idleness, which they are much addicted to, and which is a Seed Plot of all Manner of Vice among the Indians.

As to the Situation of the Place where Mr. SERGEANT settled;—I observ'd before, that Housatunnuk is in the S. W. Corner of the Massachusetts Province, butting upon Connecticut Colony South, and upon New-York Government West. For tho' by Charter the Massachusetts Province extends West to the South Sea, and must therefore Butt upon the Gulf of California near the North Part of it, yet the Dutch being previously settled upon Hudson's River, cut this Province in two, and at present we inhabit no further West than to the Dutch Settlements. Stockbridge lies at the North End of what goes by the Name of Housatunnuk, about 16 or 18 Miles North of Connecticut Line, upon a Stream which goes by the Name of Housatunnuk River, and empties itself into the Sea, between Milford and Stratford in Connecticut Colony. This River, tho' it be Navigable for 8 or 10 Miles from the Mouth of it, and extends itself cross the Colony of Connecticut, and almost cross the Province of the Massachusetts, more than 120 Miles into Land, yet is not laid down in any of the Maps, which I have seen of this Country.

The Place of this River at Stockbridge is about 40 or 45 Miles West of Connecticut River, and about 25 or 30 Miles East of Hudson's River. It's Course at Housatunnuk is from North to South, and after it enters Connecticut Colony it bears considerably to the East of South, till it falls into the Ocean at Stratford.

Northampton, upon Connecticut River, is in, or near, the same Parallel of Latitude with Stockbridge, and Mr. Neal in his History of New-England has, in his Map, laid down Connecticut and Hudson's Rivers, which in the Latitude of Northampton & Stock­bridge are about 70 or 80 Miles asunder. Any one therefore, by looking into Mr. Neal's Map, and drawing a West Line from Northampton, of 40, or 45 Miles extent, may easily fix the Place of Stockbridge.

[Page 143]As for the Condition of the Place;—the foregoing History, with what may be further said, will perhaps be tho't sufficient.—And as for the Condition of the Country round it;—South, upon Housa­tunnuk River, it has lately been purchased of the Indians, and is settled by Inhabitants of this Province. The Name of the Town is Sheffield; it is divided into two Parishes, in each of which there is a Minister settled. East of Stockbridge there is a Wilderness of about 40 Miles extent, which reaches to the English Settlements upon Connecticut River; it is Mountainous, and loaded with im­mense Quantities of Timber, of almost all Sorts. ^† West is a Wood of about 20 Miles extent, reaching to the Dutch Settle­ments in New-York Government. And North lies that great and terrible Wilderness, of several Hundred Miles extent, which reaches to Canada.

What Progress Mr. SERGEANT made, may, I hope, in some good Measure, be judged of, by the whole Account I have here given. And with Respect to the Number of Mr. SERGEANT's Congregation, and of what Sort of Persons it consists;—Mr. Wood­bridge, a little after Mr. SERGEANT's Death, wrote to me, that there were 53 Indian Families in the Town, that they own'd 20 Houses built after the English Mode, and that the whole Number of Indians living at Stockbridge was then 218; of which 129 have been baptized. Of these 42 were Communicants, 18 Males and 24 Females. The whole Number of Indians baptised by Mr. SERGEANT, both living and dead, was 182. The Number of Scholars belonging to Mr. Woodbridge's School was 55, about 40 is the Number which attend the School at once. There are also about 12 or 13 English Families dwelling there.

As for the School lately set up for the Indian Children, (by which Dr. Ayscough intends the Boarding-School, and not that under the Care of Mr. Woodbridge) I have before given an Account of Mr. SERGEANT's taking 12 Indian Boys upon that Foundation, and at Mr. Hollis's Cost, and committing them to the Care of Capt. Kellogg of Newington, for a Year. Those Boys made Progress in Reading and Writing beyond the Captain's Expectation, and in the general behav'd well. Some Time in the Winter Mr. SER­GEANT wrote to Capt. Kellogg, desiring him to come up to Stock­bridge [Page 144] with them in April, theCaptain did so; and upon examin­ing the Boys Mr. SERGEANT was well pleas'd with the Progress they had made in their Learning. Mr. SERGEANT now urg'd Mr. Kellogg to take the Care of the Boys one Year at Stockbridge, to which he contented: And after instructing them a While in a private House, he went with them into the Boarding-School, which was now prepar'd for their Reception, tho' far short or being finished. The Dimentions of this Boarding-School, which Mr. SERGEANT had erected, are, 38 Feet long, 36 wide: It has three Fire Rooms on one Floor, and two convenient Rooms be­sides, with a large Cellar under it. Of these Things Capt. Kellogg gave me an Account, in a Letter, foon after Mr. SERGEANT's Death: And this, so far as I understand it, was the State of that School when he died. His Design was, this Summer, if his Life had been spar'd, to have gone with Capt. Kellogg, (who in his Youth was twice taken Captive by the Indians of Canada, and therefore had some Acquaintance with the Mobawk Language and Customs) into the Mohawk Country, or to the Six-Nations as they are call'd, to invite them to send their Children, to re­ceive an Education in the Boarding School; and to have opened the Doors of it to the Children of any of the Tribes of Indians, who would fend them there to be educated.

The last Thing that Dr. Ayscough defir'd to be inform'd of is, Whether Mr. SERGEANT had any Salary or certain Appointment for his Labours or not? Before Mr. SERGEANT's Ordination he re­ceived from the Commissioners at the Rate of £. 100 a Year our Currency. At his Ordination they fix'd his Salary at £. 150, when £. 1 7s. 6d. of our Paper Currency was equal to an Ounce of Silver. They continued ic at £. 150 for the Space of fix Years (as Mr. Woodbridge informs me) during which Time our Paper Currency was near the same in Value, it having depreciated no more than from £. 1 7s. 6d. to £. 1. 9s. an Ounce: But continuing still to fink in its Value, the Commssioners allow'd him £. 200, aad then £. 250, and so it continued till the last Year of his Life, when they gave him £. 300; £. 2 17s. 9d. of our Pa­per Currency then, not being more valuable than an Ounce of Silver.

If by those Additions, the sinking of Money was made good (as I am sensible he tho't it was not; and his Salary was equal in [Page 145] Value, to what it was at his first Settlement, Silver being the Standard: Yet, it it be consider'd with Relation to the Necess­ries of Life, for which it was expended, his Salary was not half so good the last Year as it was the first: for Wheat, when he settled at Stockbridge was to be had for eight Sbillings a Bushel, and other Provisions in Proportion; but when his Salary was £. 300, it was not to be had under forty, or forty-five Sbillings a Bushel, and other Provisions were proportionally dear. The Sum itself confidered, every one must be senfible that his Salary was small, for it was but equal to £. 36 7s. 3d. our present Lawful Money, at 6s. 8d. the Ounce: and no more than £27 6s. 2d. Sterling. And can it be tho't, that he could support him­self and Family with that Sum, especially seeing all the Necessa­ries of Life were then, and are still, very dear in that remote Part of the Country. Had it not been for the Helps he receiv'd from Dr. Colman's Hand, and from other generous and well dispos'd Persons, he could not have subsisited at Stockbridge so long a Time: And after all the Helps he had, he was, while he liv'd, involv'd in many Difficulties, by Reason of the Scantiness of his Support; and when he died, he left his Estate involv'd in a Debt of between 7 and £. 800 New-England Currency, even tho' he had sold some of it before to answer his necessary Expences. A Friend of his, who was well acquainted with his Circumstances, in a Letter to me, written since his Death, uses the following Expressions.— ‘I should have mentioned to you the pressing Want Mr. SER­GEANT has often been in, for want of a sufficient Support in his laborious Work. Had not a good Providence, in asurprising Manner, provided and sent some Assistance to him, it is not at all probable he would have left any Thing that could have been a Benefit to his Family. And had it not been for his singular Prudence, and those Helps, he must have sold most of what the Government gave him *His Right of Land in Stockbridge. long ago.’

Thus I have endeavour'd to answer the Rev. Dr. Ayscough's Enquiries, which had Mr. SERGEANT liv'd to have done, he doubtless would have perform'd in a much better Manner, and more to the Satisfaction of those who want to be inform'd.

It would be a faulty Omission, should I neglect to say, that when his Excellency Governour Beicher came into his Government of New-Jersey, Mr. SERGEANT wrote to him, congratulated him [Page 146] on that Occasion, exprest his Joy and Satisfaction that he was appointed Governour of his native Country, and returned him his most hearty Thanks for the favourable Mention his Excellency had made of him in England, particularly to Dr. Ayscough, and Mr. Coram. The Governour, yet retaining his former Kindness and Friendship tor Mr. SERGEANT, wrote, in a most kind and obliging Manner, to him; assuring him of his Readiness to serve him, in what lay in his Power, and recommending to him the keeping up a careful & dutiful Correspondence with Dr. Ayscough and Mr. Coram, Gentlemen who were both willing and able to assist him, in his laudable and pious Undertaking.

The very great Regard Dr. Ayscough had for, and his Gene­rosity to, Mr. SERGEANT, I know not how better express, than in the Doctor's own Words; as they are contain'd in a Passage of a Letter which he wrote to his Excellency Governour Belcher, dated December 9. 1748. where speaking of Mr. SERGEANT he says,— ‘I most highly honour, and regard, that worthy Mi­nister of the Gospel of Christ, and am proud to call him Bro­ther. How much greater is his Merit, and how much greater will be his future Reward, than that of many of the most dig­nified and distinguished among us? You may be assured of my heartiest Endeavours to promote the good Design he is engaged in.— I am in great Hopes of being able to procure some Pension to be settled on him, that he may have some little Reward for his indefatigable Labours, even in this Life. In the mean Time, I should be glad to have the Sum of twenty Pounds ad­vanc'd to Him; but I am ignorant of the Means of doing it, I can only say, that if you or he will draw upon me for that Sum, I shall think myself bound to honour your Bill at Sight.’ A Bill was accordingly drawn, and the Doctor sent over twenty Pounds Sterling to Governour Beicher, who, in a Letter of May 16, 1749, (about two Months before Mr. SERGEANT's Death) inform'd him of the handsome Remittance the Rev. Dr. Ayscough had made him; and tells him, that he would pay the Money to his Order: Which was accordingly done: Either just before or a little after Mr. SERGEANT's Death.

I have here been the more exact, and have quoted Dr. Ayscough's own Words, that I might effectually remove a Mistake that some have gone into, who have tho't and said that the twenty Pounds [Page 147] was misapply'd; that Dr. Aysscough design'd it for the Boarding-School, and not for Mr. SERGEANT's own Use. Madam Sergeant, to satisfy others, I suppose, rather than herself (for the Case was doubtless plain to her) desir'd Governor Belcher's Sentiments upon that Head, which he gave her in the following Words,

While Mr. SERGEANT was carefully and faithfully proceeding in his Ministerial Labours, and with much Pains, Industry and Application, prosecuting that excellent, laudable and pious Design of the Boarding-School, (Burdens perhaps too heavy for his Con­stitution) purposing also in a little Time to go into the Mohawk Country to invite their Children to it, he was taken ill of a Slow or Nervous Fever, attended with Canker, which in a few Weeks, put an End to his precious Life, (on July 27. 1749, in the 39th Year of his Age) and to all his generous, pious & noble Tho'ts in Favour of the poor Natives, to some of whom he was, during his Ministry, a great and rich Blessing, an Instrument in the Hand of Christ of turning them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to God.

To draw Mr. SERGEANT's Character, I am sensible, is a Work to which I am not equal: but seeing it has not been attempted by any one heretofore, I shall endeavour to give the justest Re­presentation of him I can, by those Helps I am furnished with.