Harvard University. Corporation. Records of Grants for Work among the Indians, 1720-1812. Letters from Oliver Peabody to the Fellows of Harvard College, June 1724 and September 1724. UAI 20.720 Box 1, Folder 5, Harvard University Archives.

To the Honourable & Reverend; The Fellows of Harvard College.

Honoured & Reverend Sirs.

Having some time since addressed my self to the Honourable And {Reverend} Corporation praying that I might be allowed for my freshmanship at College in the same proportion as I was for the other succeeding years. of which I have Received but one half. & either that I may be allowed also for the year of my sophimorship, in like proportion or els for one years salary which is yet [illegible] [illegible] since I have preached at Natick, I having Received for two years no more than what was due for one as will appear by comparing the Receipts I have given of what I have Received, with the votes of the {Reverend} Corporation, & having been admitted to speake particularly, before you, to the case, & being ordered after it had been Considered & Debated, to bring a copie of all your votes Referring to me & of all the Receipts I have given to Messieurs the Treasurers of the Money which I have received. I have accordingly procured [illegible copys of both, & did leave them with the {Reverend} President; but the matter being not yet accomplished which is no small detriment to me.

I pray that you will now please to take this affair into consideration, & let the copies be compared & let some methode be found whereby I may be inabled to Receive these arrears, which tho' small in themselves, yet are of considerable consequence to me.

I pray also that you will consider of some way for my ordination at Natick, if it may be thought proper. The {Reverend} President proposed, to go with some of other Gentlemen of this Corporation, & the [{Honourable}?] {Commissioners} of the Indian Corporation to Natick, to enquire & order, (to the best of my remembrance) whether, under the present circumstances, I might be ordained over a church there, & if so whether the church to consist only of Indians, or only of English, or of both united. or if neither of these should be thought proper, whether it might not be advisable that I should be ordain'd without having the Pastoral Charge of any particular church.

I pray that you will please to direct me in so weighty an affair, & I shall remain as I am {Reverend} & {Honoured} Sirs your most humble & obedient Servant

Oliver Peabody

Natick June: 8 1724.

Mr Peabody's memorial. {June} 1. 1724

To the Honourable & Reverend The Fellows of Harvard College:

Honoured & Reverend Sirs.

I being now engaged in building an house, (which (notwithstanding all the methodes I can contrive to render the expenses of it small) will be a very considerable cost to me; & not having above two or three men of any estate considerable to help me, besides such as are obligated to pay Rates to the ministry in other towns; & what land I have being most of it wild & uncultivated, & so yeild, me very little Profit at present nor may I expect it will without much cost being expended first upon it. [?] I also being under great difficultys & disadvantages with respect to my studies for want of a library having very few Theological books & no annotations, & under my present circumstances being in no capacity to procure any; & the credit of our bills being so low that notwithstanding all I have receiv'd & all I have I cannot go thro' with building without running into debt [illegible] (unless I have help some way) which if I do with my present salary I can see no way ever to clear myself again, & having now been exercised with a sore fit of sickness of which I am but recovering, which has been expensive not only in necessarys for myself but in supplying my pulpit, & having been [illegible] denyed of some supply which I hoped to have received.

I am therefore Necessitated to address myself to you, for some Relief under my difficulty, & further encouragement & assistance in my settlement at Natick that I may not be compelled by necessity, in stead of, giving myself wholly to the work of the Ministry; to divert to secular employment for a living, & be much retarded also in my works by the concern how to support my family. I pray Reverend and Honourd Sirs that you will please to take my circumstances into consideration & grant me some further assistance -- I also pray that you would please to [?] the time when my stated salary shall begin of which I am still uncertain.

I am Honourd & Reverend your most obliged & obedient servant

Oliver Peabody

Natick {September} 1724

[at right-hand edge] {Reverend} Oliver Peabody Letter {September} 1724

[at bottom edge] Coll. Papers of Little Significancy