This article first appeared in In Writin
Samson Occom 1723-1792 Mohegan Pastor His fund raising trip to the British Isles 1765-1767 in the company of Nathaniel Whitaker that led to the founding of Dartmouth College. Part Three.
London, Northampton and Olney, June 1-14, 1766
Having spent some months in London, Occom and Wheelock were now ready to travel to other parts of the country. On June 1, Occom preached at the Barbican for General Baptist Charles Bulkley (1719–1797). For once the congregation was disappointingly small. In the afternoon, he preached for Richard Winter (c 1715–1799), assistant pastor to Thomas Hall (1687-1762) at the Independent church, Moorfields. There was a good congregation but Occom was left feeling quite weak. On Saturday, June 7, he travelled to Northampton. He preached there for the Baptist leader, John Collet Ryland (1723-1792). A large and attentive crowd gathered and at least one young man was converted. In the afternoon he preached in the meeting house courtyard to about 3000 people.
The next day, the great John Newton (1725-1807) came and took him to stay with him in Olney, thirteen miles south of Northampon. That evening, Occom preached at short notice to an overflowing crowd. We learn from Newton's diary that the text was Song of Songs 2:1 but much of the sermon was taken up with describing striking things that had taken place in America. In his diary, Occom noted both the piety and the poverty he saw in Olney. On the Tuesday, Newton walked him back north towards Northampton, stopping halfway, at Denton, for breakfast. Newton then walked home and Occom proceeded on horseback, arriving in Northampton about noon, where he dined with William Hextal (c 1711-1777) successor to Philip Doddridge (1702-1751) at Castle Hill Independent Church. Occom preached there that night. He lodged with Ryland and rose very early the next day to take the coach back to London.
London again, June 15-July 15, 1766
On June 15, Occom preached three times. Firstly, for Baptist Samuel Burford (d 1768), then for Joseph Pitts (1702-1788) and in the evening for the Presbyterians in Shakespeare's Walk, Shadwell. Following this, he supped with a Mr Ware. The next day he again went to see John Thornton in Clapham, staying overnight. On Tuesday morning, Thornton brought him home to his London lodgings. The next day, Occom met Andrew Gifford's nephew Joseph Gwennap (1730-1813), by this time a Baptist minister in Saffron Walden. On Thursday evening, June 19, Occom preached to a large congregation at Wesley's Foundry Chapel. On the Saturday, Occom and Whitaker travelled to Saffron Walden where they stayed at Myddylton House with Elizabeth Fuller, an influential member of the Independent church where Gwennap was pastor. On the Sunday afternoon, Occom preached well although he became ill once again. A collection was taken.
They returned to London the next day. Occom heard that stage players had begun to mock him in some of their plays. He counted it a badge of honour. Not all the opposition he received on the trip was received with the same sanguinity.
Dining with Samuel Savage the next day, they were visited by the Methodist Samuel Furley (c 1732-1795). On the Friday, Occom preached to the meeting of John Richardson (d 1792) an Anglican who had been an assistant to Wesley.
On Sunday June 29, he preached for the Independent Samuel Brewer (1724-1796) in Stepney. A collection was taken that amounted to the sizeable amount of £100. The excursion to Sheerness mentioned previously was taken the next week.
The following Sunday, Occom preached to a small congregation in St Paul's Alley for the General Baptist Francis Webb (1735-1815). The following week there were trips to Clapham to see Thornton and to Wimbledon where they stayed with Thornton's sister, Mrs Wilberforce, aunt to abolitionist MP, William Wilberforce (1759-1833). She took Occom back to London in her coach. In the afternoon he met a Jewish convert, Susanna Gideon (b 1731), with whom he enjoyed conversation. Converted through Lady Huntingdon, she was the daughter of banker Sampson Gideon (1699-1762). He also met two loyalist Americans, New York physician and politician, Sir James Jay (1732-1815) and Sir John Wentworth (1737-1820) from New Hampshire. The latter would secure the land and sign the charter for Dartmouth College in 1769. Wednesday, July 9 was an unsuccessful day of networking but the next day he and Whitaker were more successful at making contacts with ministers in Stepney and elsewhere. On Friday they called on Quaker Thomas Penn (1702-1799), second son of William, but he was not in. In a pathetic fallacy, it rained and thundered.
On the Lord's Day, July 13, Occom preached first at Deptford, Kent, for John Olding (1722-1785), an Independent. He then returned to London where he preached for Independent John Stafford (1728-1800) at a smaller meeting in Broad Street. After that, drinking tea with a Mr Cox he was told he was due to preach again and did. Sermons from this day survive. One is on 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight and an other on 2 Corinthians 5:17 In Christ he is a new creature.
Another sermon that survives from this period is on Matthew 22:42 Saying, what think ye of Christ? It begins
It Looks to me Some like a Dareing Presumtion, that I Shoud Stand before you this Day as a Teacher, What Can I Say to you, you that are highly Priviledg'd of the Lord of Hosts, to Whom God has done great and Marvelous things, you tha[t] are Lifted Within Sight of Heaven, as it were, in Point of Gospel Blessings, and you that are refin'd with Literature and kinds of Sciences Who am I Shoud that I Stand Stand before this Great Congregation this Day, I [that] am but a Babe in Religion that begun to think of it, as it were but Yesteday, and imperfect every way, I shall but Be-tray my Profound Ignorance in Speaking to before you- And what Shall I say for I have not the Wisdom of the Wise nor Knowledg of the Learned nor Eloquence of the Oratour - but I Wish Coud with Propriety Say to any one Poor Impotent Soul in this great Congregation, as Peter Said to a Poor Criple, Silver and Gold have I none But Such as I have I give thee In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Rise up and Walk.
Hitchin, Luton and London, July 17-24, 1766
The next evening Occom preached to a small congregation for Gifford. On Thursday, July 17, they travelled to Hitchin by stagecoach. Arriving at about noon, they were warmly received. Occom lodged with a Mr Thomas and Whitaker with banker and lawyer William Wilshere (1754-1824), a deacon at the Baptist church. The next day they visited in Hitchin and on the Saturday made an excursion twenty miles south to Sopwell, where Occom preached to a small group.
The Lord's Day, July 20, was very busy. Occom preached in the morning at the Independent church for Edward Hickman (d 1781) and in the afternoon for the Baptist Samuel James (1716-1773). A post chaise was stationed at the church door and immediately after the service Occom was taken to nearby Luton, to preach to a large crowd for a Mr Hall. After that, he immediately returned to Hitchin, arriving around 10 pm. On the Monday they returned to London and spent the next three days taking leave of friends in the city before setting out for their tour of the country.
To be continued
