Massachusett materials, Royal Society (Great Britain) miscellaneous correspondence and documents
Culture:
Massachusett includes: Massachuseuk
Language: English
Date: 1664-1688
Contributor: Eliot, John, 1604-1690
Subject: Missions | Religion | New England--History | Massachusetts--History | Canada--History--To 1763 (New France) | Social life and customs | Warfare | Government relations | Politics and government
Type: Text
Genre: Microfilms | Correspondence
Extent: 10 items
Description: Ten letters from Protestant missionary John Eliot to natural philosopher Robert Boyle of the Royal Society for Improving Natural Knowledge about Eliots work among the so-called "praying Indians" of southern New England. Topics include the religious education of Native peoples; the estates, affairs, and habits of the "praying Indians" and the locations of their churches; the need for Bibles; Eliot's work translating the Bible and preparing a grammar of Indian printings of Bibles; Bibles, grammars, and other books being distributed to New England Indians; acknowledgement of gifts of money received and thanks for the same; French Indians; danger of attack by the Manquacq Indians [Minqua? Mi'kmaq?]; and the missionary work of Daniel Gookin. In the final letter (1688), conscious of his approaching death, Eliot would use £30 given him by Boyle many years ago for Gospel work to further the efforts of Daniel Gookin and John Cotton; also would like Gospel society to bear expense of printing and have Cotton revise other works Eliot has translated into the Indian language. Originals at the Royal Society of London.
Collection: Royal Society (Great Britain) miscellaneous correspondence and documents Mss.Film.460