Abraham Pierson's Petition to the Commissioners of the United Colonies of New England
Much Honored and Worthy Gentlemen,
My most observant respects promised. Almighty God having at this time visited sundry families in our plantation with sickness, and my family amongst the rest and myself particularly with weakness and infirmity. I do doubt whether I shall be able, and of sufficient strength to wait upon yourselves at this
your present session, and therefore I thought meet to send you account of my travels amongst the Indians. For ten months last and somewhat more, I have gone to the Indian towns or places of their abode to teach them touching religion from the word of God, each month eight times (for that’s the task I set myself), what month or week I attained not so much by any impediment of ill weather, weakness, or urgent business, I fulfilled that week and month afterward, and this encompassed of about one hundred miles in distance. I find them very slow and slight-spirited yet do not doubt sundry of them are convinced of their error of their way, and I do know that they have often approved and justified the things of God taught amongst them. But by occasion of some more desperately opposite and the execrable trade of the English, their selling them liquors, and their own corruption of Spirit do not yet attain that so much desired and expected civility and devotion. It’s most manifest that the conversion of men dependeth wholly on the will and good pleasure of God. Sometime the Lord’s intent in sending preachers to some people is to make them without excuses, yet the seed that’s sown may in God’s time spring up. One may sow and another reap. Wompom, our Indian sachem, is still attendant upon the means on the Sabbath. Also another Indian is industrious in reading and is desirous that his children may attain it. However, we, being well entertained of the Lord in the Indians’ country, ought to offer the Gospel of our dear redeemer to them.
I hope you will allow that five pounds a year to the encouraging of the better affected amongst them, which of old was wont. It’s pity so good a work should be too much pinched. And it’s necessary to gratify sometime their sachems and more leading men that they may be the more willing to call together and encourage the Indians, when I come amongst them and also to relieve those especially that are friends to the cause in their sicknesses and extremities both with meat and medicine.
Now worthy Gentlemen, my humble request is that the spirit of the Lord may rest upon you, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord that you may be able to acquit yourselves like men of God and men for God in these difficult times, as the matter may require.
I take leave, Gentlemen. Yours in the Lord to be commended,
Branford, August 29, 1664
Address: For the Honored Commissioners of the United Colonies at Hartford, these present
Endorsement: Mr. Pierson’s Letter / August 1664
Notation: Petition to Commissioners of United Colonies of New England regarding Indians