USA > New York > Oneida County > Annals and recollections of Oneida County > Part 16
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wich then called the parish of Neweut, and now the town of Lisbon. His mother's maiden name was Hannah Perkins. The Kirkland family, as the name indicates, is of Scotch descent, and in this country can be traced back to Saybrook. Conn., in 1635. Among the thirty-six heads of families who were the early settlers of that place, the name of John Kirkland appears, who is said to have come from Silver street, London.
Samuel, the subject of these memoirs, was the tenth in a family of twelve children. Little is known of his childhood and carly youth. The first that can be learned of him is as a student at the Rev. Dr. Wheelock's school, at Lebanon. Conn., in 1761. He was there highly esteemed and beloved. IIe entered the Sophomore class of Nassau Hall, Princeton. N. J., in the autumn of 1762, and received his degrec at Princeton in course. at the commencement in 1765. He had, however, previously left college, and at the time his degree was conferred, he had entered upon his missionary labors for the Indians. While at school at Lebanon he had made considerable proficiency in the Mohawk dialect, under the instruction of a young native, a fellow-student. This shows that. thus carly, he was preparing himself for a mis- sionary to the Six Nations.
Mr. Kirkland's missionary expedition to the Senecas was undertaken at the early age of twenty-three, and was the first great act of his life, and abounded with romantic and perilous adventure. On his way, he arrived at Johnson ITall, the residence of Sir William Johnson, His Majesty's General Agent for Indian Affairs, on the 16th of November, 1764. He was kindly received by Sir William, who gave him a speech and a belt of wampum to deliver to the Sen- ccas. Sir William also furnished him with an escort of two trusty Indians of that tribe, each conveying a pack of
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forty pounds' weight. He left the Hall January 17, 1765, and made the journey on snow shoes. On arriving at Kanonwalohule (Oneida Castle), the principal village of the Oneidas, the Indians, after being made acquainted with the object of his mission, expressed some concern for his safety, and gave him an invitation to remain with them one year. before visiting the Senecas. IIe thanked them for their kind intentions, but told them he must proceed, unless Providence hedged up his path. On his route from Oneida to Onondaga, being unused to walk on snow shoes, his ancles became mueh swollen, and he stayed one night and most of the next day at the latter place. As this was the central council fire of the Six Nations, the Onondagas claimed that the message of Sir William should first be delivered here. The missionary acceded to this, and gave the substance of the speech, to which the chief sachem replied. and then affectionately embraced him, which was followed by the others present shaking his hands. On the 7th of February, towards evening, twenty-three days after leaving Johnson Hall, he arrived at Kanadasegea, the principal town of the Senecas. The two guides had been very kind. going before to make a traek for him, but still he suffered much from his swollen ancles. The day after his arrival a council was convened, and Sir William Johnson's address and belt of wampum delivered. These were thankfully received by the head sachem and a large majority of the nation, but there was, however, a small minority with sullen countenan- ces, and this minority, headed by an influential chief, subse- quently caused him great trouble.
Mr. Kirkland was soon adopted into the family of the head chief; but the chief's house being crowded, it was determined that he should reside with a small family near hy. In this family he was comfortable, and kindly treated ;
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but in a short time his host died very suddenly in the night, he having been in perfect health the day previous. These circumstances were seized upon by the enemies of the mis- sion. and a council called, in which they tried to induce a decision for the death of the missionary. Better counsels, however, prevailed, the head sachem averting the threatened event. After this last council he lived in great harmony, friendship, and sociability. But famine drove him from his station near the end of April, and in company with his Indian brother and family, he returned to Sir Willian! Johnson's. This journey was made in a bark canoe as far as the Oncida Lake; and on his way he called at Fort Brewerton, at the west end of the Lake, and enjoyed the hospitality of the commanding officer. Here the keenness of his appetite was such, that his host had to restrain him. to prevent his injuring his health. In crossing the Oneida Lake they were overtaken by a storm, and their danger was most imminent ; they, however, made for a point upon the northern shore, and upon striking which, their frail craft, having been so much strained, fell to pieces. They reached Johnson HIall in the early part of May, and the first saluta- tion of Sir William was, "My God. Mr. Kirkland. you look like a whipping post." After staying about three weeks, preparations were made for his return, and he was supplied. by Dr. Wheelock's order, with such necessaries as he would need the ensuing season. Sir William lent him a new blan- ket. "on condition he would never return it." A second- hand batteau was also presented him. in which to carry his provisions and baggage. His Indian brother, who had shared with him the downward passage, accompanied him on his return, and they reached Kanadasegea on the 29th of June. For some time matters went on very pleasantly ; he had acquired such knowledge of the language as to be able to
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engage in common conversation; his peace was, however. again disturbed by his old enemy the chief, who insisted that Mr. Kirkland's continuance would be the destruction of the nation. and announced it as his fixed purpose to put him to death if he did not leave ; and an attempt was made to put this threat into execution. A subordinate of the chief way- laid him, and snapped his gun at him twice, which fortun- ately missed fire.
He left the Senecas in May, 1766, and arrived in Lebanon the 19th of that month. He was accompanied by a chief and his Indian brother, who were treated with great respect by the General Assembly, who were then in session. They were much affected by the kindness they received, and were greatly surprised to find the country so thickly peopled.
Mr. Kirkland was ordained on the 19th of June, and the same day received a general commission as an Indian missionary from the Connecticut Board of Correspondents of the Society in Scotland. With his new commission he started, in July of that year, and took up his residence at Kanonwalohule, among the Oneidas. His principal reason for changing the field of his labors was, that he regarded the Oneidas, in moral qualities, as the noblest of the Six Nations, and altogether the most susceptible of religious impressions. His opportunities for arriving at a correct conclusion, had been good, for he had passed some time with this people in passing to and from the Seneca country. A strong friend- ship had already sprung up between himself and some of the chiefs. He commenced his missionary labors among the Oneidas about the first of August, 1766, and continued them, with but occasional interruptions, for more than forty years. In the November following, he succeeded in building himself a house, cutting and hewing the timber, and digging the cellar, with his own hands. Mr. Kirkland cultivated a
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garden on the same ground now occupied for the same pur- pose by Hon. Timothy Jenkins. Among his first acts was an attempt to stop the tide of intemperance, in which he was quite successful. Eight of the chief men were appointed to seize all the intoxicating liquors which could be found. and destroy, or otherwise dispose of them. The effects of this strong measure were such, that about cighty casks of rum were carried through the town, and offered for sale. and even to be given away, yet not in one instance were the Indians prevailed upon to take it.
The Divine blessing soon followed bis labors. Many individuals and families were converted to the Christian faith. and continued firm, adorning their profession by lives of sobriety. industry, integrity, and piety. They became the steadfast "helpers in Christ Jesus" of their spiritual teacher. Ilis poverty was such. however, as to retard his usefulness. In 1769 he received the first pecuniary assist- ance from the Society in Scotland. An order drawn upon John Thornton, for one hundred pounds sterling, was sent him, and James Baine, of Scotland, sent him in addition thirty pounds.
In the spring of 1760, his health having failed him. he took a short respite to regain it. He spent the summer in Connecticut, and on the 15th of September of that year, he was married to Jerusha Bingham, the daughter of a respec- table farmer. She was indeed an excellent woman, and well fitted. by her good sense and devont heart. to become the wife of a missionary. Shortly after his marriage, he returned to his post, accompanied by his wife. As it was necessary to enlarge his house from ten to sixteen feet square, he left Mrs. Kirkland in the family of Gen. Herkimer, on the Mohawk, until he could accomplish it. This being com- pleted, he removed her to her new residence in the latter
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part of December. Mrs. Kirkland's influence was soon felt in introducing order, neatness, industry, purity, and devotion among the Oncida women.
In 1670, Mr. Kirkland visited Boston, when he was taken under the patronage of the Boston Board, and a salary of one hundred pounds a year as their missionary, and thirty pounds additional in consideration of his great pains and expense in learning the principal dialects of the Six Nations. Through the aid of the Boston Board, seconding the exer- tions of the Indians, a meeting house, saw and grist mills, and a blacksmith's shop, were erected, and farming utensils purchased, in the course of a few years. The progress of a portion of the nation in acquiring the habits and arts of civil ized life, as well as in Christianity, was rapid. The corres- pondence of this period between Mr. Kirkland and the Society in Scotland, shows that his missionary services were highly appreciated by the Society.
Early in the summer of 1770, Mrs. Kirkland started, on horseback, for the residence of her mother, in Connecticut, but was unable to proceed farther than Gen. Herkimer's, at the foot of Fall Hill, on the Mohawk. Here she remained several weeks, and on the 17th of August gave birth to twin sons, named by their father, after his esteemed friends. George Whitfield and John Thornton. During her illness, she received a letter from the celebrated George Whitfield. full of Christian consolation. As soon as her strength permitted. she returned to Oneida, to the great joy of the Indians, who immediately adopted the boys into the tribe. giving George the name La-go-ne-ost, and John that of Ah-gan-o-wis-ka, that is, Fair Face.
Mrs. Kirkland passed the winter of 1772-73 in Stock- bridge, Massachusetts ; and as the turbulent times preceding and during the Revolution now commenced, she did not
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return to Oneida until after the peace of 1763. A small farm was purchased at that place, upon which she and her family resided. Mr. Kirkland, however, continued his resi- dence and labors, as well as the unsettled state of the country would permit. He endeavored to keep the Indians in a state of neutrality. and this seems to have been the object of Congress, as appears by its records. (See chapter on Indian History.) With the Oneidas he was to a great extent. although not entirely, successful. in the early periods of the contest ; but subsequently, about two hundred and fifty warriors, under the celebrated chief Skenandoa. ren- dered important service to the United States.
Mr. Kirkland was commissioned as chaplain by the Con- tinental Congress, and performed duty as such at Fort Stanwix. and other posts in the vicinity, during a large portion of the Revolutionary contest. In 1779 he was Brigade Chaplain in General Sullivan's campaign against the Indians, on the Susquehanna and the western part of New York, and witnessed that terrible retribution which was meted out by that General. for the British and savage bar- barities inflicted upon our frontier. He continued with the expedition until late in the fall, when he visited his family at Stockbridge. During the remainder of the war, he spent the most of his time at Fort Stanwix and at Oneida Castle, as Kanonwalohule was then and is now called.
In 1784 he again renewed his labors among the Oneidas, as directed by the Boston Board for the Society in Scotland. That Society, however, very properly refused to pay him his salary while employed as chaplain by Congress.
In the fall of 1784, a great Council of the Six Nations was called at Fort Stanwix, at which commissioners on the part of the United States attended, and Mr. Kirkland was pre- sent as interpreter, and aided, by his advice to the Indians, in bringing them to agree to terms of peace.
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In 1786, a general religious awakening occurred among the Indians of Mr. Kirkland's charge at Oneida, and more than seventy souls in the villages were under serious im- pressions. The external reformation was conspicuous; and for more than seven months not a single instance of drunken- ness was known in two of the villages. The pagan party in the tribe were much annoyed by this state of things, and laid a plan to take the life of the Missionary. In this they were defeated by the Christian Indians, who hid him during the night in which the murder was to have been perpetrated, and in a council held the next day, the pagans were brought to terms. and asked Mr. Kirkland's pardon. His journals for 1786 and 1787 gave full satisfaction to the Society in Scotland.
During the residence of Mr. Kirkland's family in Stock- bridge were born his son Samuel and three daughters. Jerusha, Sally, and Eliza.
While Mr. Kirkland was on a visit to his family in January, 1788, Mrs. Kirkland died. She was an excellent woman, wife, and mother. This was a severe blow to the mission, to the missionary, the husband, and the father, and his plan of removing his family to Oneida the following spring was frustrated; he therefore returned solitary and alone to his labors. A considerable part of the summer of 1788 was spent on a tour among the western nations of the confederacy, as far as Buffalo Creek. At that place he found a large concourse assembled, principally from the Six Nations, with some Delawares, Cherokees, and other western and south ern Indians, and here he met many of his friends of the Senecas, with whom he had become acquainted in 1765, and the greeting was most cordial. At this conneil he had in- terviews with Indians from every village and branch of the Six Nations, and their whole population, from the best infor-
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mation he could acquire, was then 1,350. exclusive of the Mohawks, who had removed to Grand River, in Canada. He also had an interview with the celebrated Brant, in which that great chieftain informed him. he had been trying to unite the Indians in a confederacy, independent of white people, that a delegation from the Six Nations had visited twenty tribes, and that belts had been received importing a compliance with this plan, from all these nations. The ob- jeet of this alliance was the peace and good of Indians, and not war with either Britons or Americans. This was a wise and righteous policy, and well worthy its originator.
The main object of this council was the extinguishment of the Indian title to a tract of 6,144.000 acres, familiarly called the Genesee Country. This land was granted by New York to Massachusetts, and sold by the latter State to Phelps & Gorham. for $1.000.000. This price at the pre- sent day. and but little more than sixty years afterwards. seems a low price for lands now worth on an average $60 per acre. For Mr. Kirkland's services at this treaty, Messrs. Phelps & Gorham subsequently gave him a deed of 2.000 neres, located in Ontario County. in the seventh township. Seventh range of towns.
Returning from this tour the latter part of August, he resumed his labors among the Oneidas. At this period, the intrigues and influence of the French traders among the Indians, began to interfere with his usefulness. In the spring of 1789. a French Roman Catholic Priest, who was Jesuit, came to Oneida. and took up his residence near the lake, and claimed to have been sent by the French Ambas- sador at New York. Assisted by one Penet, a French trader of great shrewdness, a considerable French party was soon formed among the Indians. Mr. Kirkland carefully avoided all disputes between the American and French
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parties. The spirit of animosity rose to such a pitch as to endanger the peace of the tribe. The author of this work recollects of hearing. when but a small lad, his father state that this quarrel at one time had risen so high, that nineteen Indians of one party and twenty of the other. all armed to the teeth. met with the determination to settle the matter by trial of battle, and for this purpose they had chosen a large room, where they had all met, and were about to commence their murderous contest,-which, had they proceeded with their purpose, would have eventuated in the almost entire extermination of the whole party, so equally balanced were they as to strength and numbers, -when Mr. Kirkland by some means heard of the meeting of the parties and its object, and at once went to them, and obtained admission. He then proceeded, in one of his most glowing speeches, to depict the wickedness and folly of their shedding each other's blood, and with such effect upon his savage auditors, that they were induced to forego their work of slaughter.
During the difficulties between the American and French parties, cach had written to Governor Clinton, of New York, on the subject, who returned the following answer, which was translated to a full council of the tribe. This letter is so replete with plain common sense argument, that it is be- lieved it will well repay the perusal of every reader.
NEW YORK, September 12, 1789.
"BROTHERS :- I have received your letters, and shall give you an answer. Mr. Penet is only to be considered among you as an ad- venturing merchant, pursuing his own interest. He holds no otliec, nor does he sustain any public character in this country. He at- tempts to deceive you, therefore, when he says he is sent by the King of France and the Marquis La Fayette, to transact business with you. You ought not to listen to his speeches, nor pay any attention to his dreams .*
* Pennet had dreamed that the Oneidas gave him five miles square of their best land.
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" The King of France is our good ally, and he has an ambassador here (whom you saw with me at Fort Stanwix last fall) to transact business and maintain friendship with the United States; but he has nothing to do with any particular State, or the Indians residing in it. You must not, therefore, believe Mr. Penet, when he says he is sent among you by the ambassador. I believe the priest now among you came at the request of Mr. Pennet and his friends. They have a right to worship God in a manner most agreeable to them; but I approve of your determination to adhere to your old minister, for I tear the preaching of different doctrines among you will only serve to perplex and puzzle your understandings; and divisions, either in respect to your temporal or spiritual concerns, may prove dangerous to your welfare and prosperity.
" Brothers :- I am happy to hear you are firmly united as to our late agreement, and you may be assured that it will be faithfully adhered to on the part of the State.
"Let me exhort you to sobriety and industry, for it is this alone. by the blessing of the Great Spirit, that can seenre to your comfort and happiness.
" I am your friend and brother, GEORGE CLINTON."
This letter did much to produce quiet. for it unmasked the character of Pennet, and confirmed the wavering.
The year 1790 was one of comparative quiet. Taught a lesson of wisdom by the severe sufferings from famine the previous year. the Indians paid greater attention to agri- culture. One family harvested more than one hundred bushels of wheat, a greater quantity than had been ever raised before in the territory of the Six Nations by Indian culture.
The only incident giving variety to the life of the mission- ary this summer, was the arrival of Count Adriani, an Italian nobleman, who spent several days at Oncida; and the chief pleasure Mr. Kirkland derived from this visit, was in the confirmation of his own previous opinion respect- ing the musical powers of the Indians. The Count said he thought - the melody of their music, and the softness and
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richness of their voices, were equal to any he ever heard in Italy .??
In January, 1791, Mr. Kirkland again visited his chil- dren, but shortly returned to resume his arduous duties. A difficulty of long standing between the Wolf tribe and the Turtle and Bear tribes, caused by the Intrigues of the French traders, was brought by him to a peaceful issue. He wrote to General Knox, advising the sending of Capt. Hen- drick, a Stockbridge Indian, upon a mission to the western and south-western tribes. The plan was approved, and Capt. Hendrick sent, to endeavor to keep these Indians in a state of peace ; he was, however, unsuccessful, and the bloody defeat of St. Clair followed in November.
In January, 1792, in compliance with the wish of Gen. Knox, Secretary of War, Mr. Kirkland attended a council of the Six Nations at Geneseo. The object of this council was to induce the Six Nations to send a delegation to Philadelphia, then the seat of government of the United States. After surmounting many difficulties, Mr. Kirkland was at last successful, and a delegation of forty reached Philadelphia late in March. Mr. Kirkland's conduct was entirely approved by the War Department. Indeed, the eredit of bringing this large representation of the Six Nations to the seat of government is due, and the success attending the measure is attributable, mainly to his efforts and influ- ence with the Indians. Its results were highly important, for there had been previously a strong disposition among the Six Nations, with the exception of the Oneidas, to make common cause with the western Indians in their hostility to the United States. Had they done so, the frontiers of New York and Pennsylvania, instead of the territory north-west of the Ohio, would have been the seat of savage warfare and barbarity. Such a calamity was averted by the visit to the
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seat of government of so large a number of chiefs. Mr. Kirkland returned to Oncida about the middle of May, rejoicing in being able to return to the immediate duties of his mission. but with a consciousness that he had been in the way of his duty, and had rendered some service to his country, to the Indians, and to the cause of humanity.
The family of Mr. Kirkland had, in October, 1791, re- moved to the land given him by the Indians and the State. After his return from Philadelphia, in May, 1792, he spent the summer in the discharge of his missionary duties, and superintending the measures adopted by government for the instruction of the Indians in agriculture and the arts of civilized life. Additional oxen, plows, and other farming implements, were purchased and distributed.
In August he attended the commencement of Dartmouth College, and took with him an Oneida chief, by the name of Onondega, but called by the whites Captain John. During the exercises, President Wheelock addressed Captain John, and the latter replied, and in the close of his remarks he addressed the graduating class, in a strain of wisdom which would be an ornament in the address of any President of a college in his counsels to the young men at the close of their collegiate studies.
In October, Mr. Kirkland injured one of his eyes while riding through the woods from his residence, near Clinton. to Oneida, and in December his sight and general health had become so much affected, that his physician recom- mended a journey, and application to oculists in New York and Philadelphia. He was the more disposed to make this journey, because, in addition to the benefit to his health, it would enable him to do something for the furtherance of an object he had near his heart. His plan for the education of the Indians embraced a High School or Academy. An
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institution of this kind, to be located near what was then the boundary line between the white and Indian population, Mr. Kirkland had long regarded as of great importance for the improvement of both. This project was warmly seconded by all the intelligent and influential persons who had emi- grated from New England to the towns of Whitestown, Paris. and Westmoreland. They had faint hopes indeed of any great benefit to the Indians, but felt its importance to the growing communities around them. In his journey he saw and conversed with many influential individuals on the subject. At Philadelphia he saw President Washington. who "expressed a warm interest in the Institution;" and at New York he saw the Governor of the State and the Regents of the University, and took the initiatory steps for a char- ter. Mr. Hamilton had previously consented to be named as one of the trustees in the petition for incorporation.
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