EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

MAY, 1809.

MEMOIR

OF

THE REV. JOHN SERGEANT.

MISSIONARY TO THE AMERICAN INDIANS.

MR. JOHN SERGEANT was born at Newark, in New Jersey, in 1710. A wound in his hand deprived him of the power of labour in early life, and induced him to seek the improvement of his mind. This apparent evil was the means of opening to him the sources of human learning, and of introducing him into the ministry of the gospel. He was educated at Yale College; and receiving the degree of B.A. in 1729, was elected a tutor; in which office he continued four years with honour to himself and advantage to those students who were committed to his care. He was determined to devote himself to the ministry, and possessing those acquirements which could no: fail to render him pleasing and acceptable, if worldly distinction had been his object, his prospects were flattering in no common degree. But he was not influenced by selfish desires. His heart was weaned from the world. He had long regarded with compassion the rude and barbarous natives of America, daily supplicating God to render him instru mental in turning them from darkness unto light. His prayers were heard, and an unexpected way was opened for his entrance among the Heathen.

In the western part of Massachusetts, there was a small tribe called the Housatunnuk Indians. Of these the General Assembly, about 1720, purchased two townships, with the reservation of two small tracks, called Skatekook and Wnahktukook. At each

of these places there were a few families of Indians when the English commenced their settlements near them; and Kunkapot, the principal person at Wnahktukook, was soon discovered to be an industrious and worthy man, and inclined to embrace the Christian religion The character of Kunkapot reaching the ears of the Commissioners for Indian affairs at Boston, of whom Governor Belcher was one, they dispatched the Rev. Messrs. Buli and Williams to confer with the Indians upon their willingness to receive a Missionary among them. In July, 1734, the Indians were visited by these gentlemen; and they cheerfully

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agreed to receive a minister among them, who should teach them to read, and instruct them in the truths of the gospel. At the close of the conference a belt of wompum was presented to them by the Rev. Mr. Williams, as a solemn ratification of what had been transacted.

Every obstruction being thus removed, the next object was to find a suitable person to undertake the arduous employment: Mr. Sergeant was the man in every respect qualified for the work; he was requested to accept the mission, and he cheerfully consented. In October, 1734, he bade adieu to the pleasures of his situation in an excellent seat of learning, and proceeded towards the place of his future labours. From Westfield he was accompanied by Mr. Bull. We set out,' he says in his Journal, on Thursday, Oct. 11, in the afternoon, designing to lodge at a house 15 miles distant, which was the only house before we came to Housatonic; but night coming on, we were forced to lodge in the woods, without fire or shelter. The next day we got to Housatonic, a little before night, through a most doleful wilderness, and the worst road, perhaps, that ever was travelled. Oct. 13, I made a short discourse to the Indians by an interpreter, an Indian, called Ebenezer; to which the adults, about 20 in mumber, gave very good attention, especially Capt. Kunkapot, their chief, and his family.

Ebenezer possessed a considerable knowledge of the Christian religion; and the next day, at his request, after declaring that he would rather burn in the fire than forsake the truth; after en gaging to forsake heathenish darkness and embrace the gospel; and promising by the help of divine grace to cleave to the Lord, he was baptized by Mr. Bull. Thus was the mission smiled upon at its very commencement.'

Mr. Sergeant persuaded the Indians who lived at Skatekook and Wnahktukook, 8 or 10 miles distant from each other, to fix upon an intermediate spot, and to live together. Here they cheerfully built a house, which answered the double purpose of a school-house and a house of worship; around which they oonstructed small huts for their families. This establishment, however, was only for winter; for in the summer they separated, and returned to their little tracks of land, to plant corn and beans. Their principal reliance for subsistence was upon hunting. †

* A wompum is a small cylinder, about one third of an inch long, and as large as a straw, with a hole drilled through it lengthwise. It is made of the shell of some sea-fish, polished very smooth. A number of these, strung upon sinal! threads and knit together, form a belt of wompum.” Strings of wompom, were used as ornaments, and answered the purpose of money. Belts of wompum are preserved as confirmation of treatics, and records of events.

+ Ebenezer informed Mr. Sergeant, that some of the Indians were atheists, who supposed all things began, continued, and ceased, according to their several natures, without any cause or direction from a superior

Besides contending with the difficulties which arose from the ignorance and habits of the Indians, Mr. S. met with obstructions from an unexpected quarter. If indignation ever rises in the breast of a good man, he will feel indignant when he reads. that certain Dutch traders from Hudson's River, who had supplied the Indians with rum at a very advanced price, and who took advantage of their folly, when in a state of intoxication, to make a good bargain with them, fearing that their craft would be in danger, made every attempt to produce in their minds an aversion to the Christian religion, and a suspicion of the designs of a missionary. Mr. S. however, was so happy as to convince the Indians of the design of the traders, and thus counteracted the insinuations of those whose gain was their godliness.

In December he returned to the college, to remain until the commencement with the class which had been under his care. He took with him two Indian boys, the sons of the Captain and the Lieutenant, and left in his school at Housatonic, Mr. Woodbridge of Springfield, who was very serviceable in promoting the objects of the mission. The number of scholars had now increased to 25; and the opinion Mr. S. had formed of the capacity of his tawney pupils, is thus expressed: "The Indian children excel the generality of ours in pregnancy of parts and good humour. I am sure that I could not have found an English school anywhere that would have pleased me so much. Capt. Kunkapot is an excellent man, and, I believe, has the true sprit of Christianity in him. He knows a great deal; and by the character all his acquaintance give of him, his conduct is unexcep

tionable.'

In Jan. 1735, deputies from the several clans which constituted the tribe of River Indians, met in council at Housatonie, to see whether they would approve the conduct of their Housatonic brethren in consenting to be taught the Christian religion. On the result of their deliberation every thing relative to the mission depended. The Rev. Mr. Williams and Mr. Hopkins of Springfield were therefore present. They found nearly 200 Indians assembled, and among them Corlair, the chief Sachem of the whole nation. Mr. Willaims preached to one of the gravest and most attentive auditories' that he ever addressed; and after repeated conferences, the proceedings at Housatonic receiv

hand. Others believed the Sun to be God, or at least the residence of the Deity; but that now they generally believed the existence of one Supreme Being, the maker of all things. He mentioned also sundry ridiculous things which they believed, 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 killed it, and the snow is made of its fat; which being melted by the heat of summer, makes the ¿ sap of trees,'