Samson Occom

Biographical Notes:

• A Mohegan -- northernmost branch of the Pequot tribe

• In 1739, at age 16, he was moved to conversion to Christianity

• In 1743, he was accepted as a pupil in training to become a missionary

• Advantage to the colonists of having Indian converts -- "a better defense for the whites than expensive fortresses"

• Occom left Wheelock to become a teacher and missionary

• In 1759, he was ordained a minister by the Presbytery

• In 1768, he wrote a ten-page autobiography -- it was unpublished until 1982

• The autobiography was one of the earliest written by a Native American

Text Outline / Notes:

• "Heathens" / "Heathenism"

• His awakening

• Found serenity and pleasure in the Lord

• Wanted to be capable of instructing his poor brethren

• Studies with Wheelock

• Problems with eyesight

• Becomes a schoolmaster

• Gets married

• Responsibilities with the tribe increases

• Methods in teaching school

• Method for learning the alphabet

• Method of religious instruction

• "A remarkable awakening among the Indians"

• His circumstances and manner of living

• Things he did to make money to feed his family

• Adverse providences

• Reasons for the commissioners not helping him

• He feels he has been wronged in terms of his salary

• He was prejudiced against because he is an Indian