Kirkland, Samuel, 1741-1808
Dates
- Existence: 1741 - 1808
Samuel Kirkland was born in Norwich, Connecticut in 1741. After preparation at Eleazar Wheelock's school in Lebanon, Connecticut, he entered the College of New Jersey in 1762. He received his degree in 1765 in absentia, having left to serve as a missionary to the native peoples of New York. Kirkland was ordained in 1766 in Connecticut and returned to the Oneida peoples that year to serve for the next four decades as a missionary. In 1769, he married Jerusha Bingham, and niece of Eleazar Wheelock. The following year, after a disagreement with Wheelock, Kirkland placed himself under the auspices of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, receiving his salary from that organization and from Harvard College. Kirkland is credited with preventing several conflicts between the native peoples and British and American colonists. He also founded Hamilton Oneida Academy, later Hamilton College, in 1793. Kirland died in 1808.
Found in 34 Collections and/or Records:
Peter Thacher letter
Mss 797251
Collection
Identifier: Mss 797251
Scope and Contents
Letter from Peter Thacher of Boston to S. Kirkland announcing that the Society in Scotland considers their connection with Kirkand dissolved.
S. Kirkland letter
Mss 794559
Collection
Identifier: Mss 794559
Scope and Contents
Letter from S. Kirkland of Clinton to Peter Thacher informing him that Gen. Chapin is delayed by threatening hostilities to the westward.
S. Kirkland letter
Mss 795159
Collection
Identifier: Mss 795159
Scope and Contents
Two page letter from S. Kirkland of Boston to Peter Thacher telling him that he is sending a certified copy of the charter of Hamilton Oneida Academy.
S. Kirkland letter
Mss 791114
Collection
Identifier: Mss 791114
Scope and Contents
Five page letter from S. Kirkland in Stockbridge to Peter Thacher, plan to found schools among the Indians. His extra expenses during the famine of 1789. Is going to take his children into the Indian country.
S. Kirkland letter
Mss 791178
Collection
Identifier: Mss 791178
Scope and Contents
Two page letter from S. Kirkland in Oneida to Peter Thacher recommends a Mr. Crosby as good man to keep a school among the Indians.
S. Kirkland letter
Mss 792315
Collection
Identifier: Mss 792315
Scope and Contents
Six page letter from S. Kirkland of Stockbridge to Peter Thacher with a long account of his attempts to arrange a general peace among the Indians.