Bishop Fenwick to Governor Lincoln Sprague's Journal of Maine History. Vol. VIII Special Number, June 1920 No. 1. page 84-85 Bishop Fenwick to Governor Lincoln Boston, Dec. 18, 1827. His Excellency, Enoch Lincoln, Governor of the State of Maine: SIR: -- I have been anxious this some time past to communicate to your Excellency my views respecting the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Tribe of Indians. Standing as I do in relation to them and bound by my sacred office to do every thing in my power to promote their temporal as well as spiritual welfare, I have, ever since my arrival in Boston turned my thoughts to that matter. Hitherto several obstacles interposed -- among these was the want of the clergymen to supply the different congregations under my charge; and especially of such a one as would suit in every respect the Indian Mission. But happily I have now one ready who is every way calculated for this important work, and who, I trust, after a proper trial will be found to give the fullest satis- faction, not only to the Indians but to the State at large. As I wished, before I took any decisive step in the business, to see the ground, to become acquainted with the Indians, their character, names, habits, present mode of life, etc., as well as to examine what previous arrangements it might be proper to make in order that the plan I should propose to be adopted by the pastor, to be stationed among them, might be attended by every success, I, in the course of last summer, paid a visit to them. The following is the result of my observation and I submit it to your Excellency in the hope that the Government will approve the measures I am about to adopt, and approving will assist and co-operate with me in my endeavor to render the two Tribes of Indians mentioned above, consisting of eight hundred souls, good Christians, a sober and industrious class of people and an intelligent and useful por- tion of the Commonwealth. I have observed when among them a strong and deep rooted attachment to their religion. This attachment pervades each and every individual of the two Tribes. Accordingly the first thing I propose to do is to send this next spring a proper Pastor among them, who shall be a native of this country, who shall reside among them and who shall devote the whole of his time to their instruc- tion and care. The next thing I propose is that this Pastor shall immediately open a school for the instruction of the Indian youth of both sexes, in English reading and writing and in Arithmetic, shall superintend this school in person and devote the chief part of his time to it. Thirdly, he shall use his best endeavors to inspire a love of Agriculture -- to encourage and promote it by every means in his power -- to encourage the building of proper and more convenient houses -- the rearing of sheep, cattle, poultry, etc., and in process of time, and as soon a proper arrangements can be made for the purpose, to encourage the women to card, to spin, to weave and make their own clothing and that of their children. Thus an attempt will be made to better the condition of that interesting though long neglected class of people, which I pledge myself to follow up as far as my own exertions, influence and even pecuniary resources will allow; and which from the obser- vations I have made respecting their character, etc., if Govern- ment will only second it, I am confident will be attended with the most happy success. I beg leave farther to represent to your Excellency, that there is no school house at present erected at the chief place of residence of the Penobscot tribe -- nor have they a church fit for divine worship either at Penobscot or Pleasant Point; the church, how- ever, at this last place, with some repairs, may soon be rendered serviceable. It will advance the object materially if Government will give directions to have these buildings put up on repaired as the case may require. In the hope that during the approaching session of the Legislature something will be done for these unhappy people, worthy of the State in which they reside, I remain with sentiments of the highest veneration and esteem, Your Excellency's Obt. Servt., B. FENWICK, B'p of B'n (Secretary of State Records) (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.