Letter from One of the Earliest Female Missionaries at Elliott Mission in the Choctaw Nation, Written Shortly After Her Arrival in “this land of moral darkness,” Describing Frontier Mission Life, Homesickness, and Early Protestant Missionary Activity in Mississippi Territory.
Elliott Mission, Choctaw Nation: April 29, 1820. Four pages bifolium, 10 x 8 inches. Stampless cover bearing the scarce “Choctaw Agency May 25” manuscript marking and “Via Philadelphia” routing notation, described in the original philatelic history sale as possibly “one of the earliest, if not the earliest, cover known from Choctaw Agency while still in Mississippi.”. Some losses at folds and areas of old reinforcement, though the remaining text is extensive throughout. Item #List3735
An early missionary letter from the Choctaw Nation written by Minerva Washburn (1788–1852), one of the first women attached to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions’ Choctaw mission efforts, shortly after her arrival at Elliott Mission in what was then the Mississippi frontier. Carried under what appears to be one of the earliest recorded “Choctaw Agency” manuscript postal markings known, the letter was sent to her parents, Jonah and Sarah Washburn of Randolph, Vermont, in the spring of 1820.
Minerva Washburn entered the service of the American Board in 1819 and arrived at Elliott Mission in January 1820. She was the sister of the missionary Cephas Washburn and would later marry missionary James Orr, becoming associated with the establishment of Dwight Mission in the Cherokee Nation. The identification of Washburn as the author is confirmed both by surviving missionary records and by the partially obscured signature beneath old reinforcement at the conclusion of the present letter. Datelined simply “Elliot, Choctaw Nation, April 29,” the letter describes realities of life at one of the earliest Protestant mission stations among the Choctaw. Written only months after her arrival, the letter preserves a firsthand account of missionary settlement in Choctaw territory during the earliest phase of organized evangelical expansion into the Southeast. She writes:
“For the first time I sit down to address you from this land of moral darkness. I often interrogate myself, isn't it a pity that 2000 miles lie between us? I am compelled to say that it is. I know your anxiety for me is great. But I have to record the goodness of the Lord to me, since I left my father’s house. I have been carried through all the dangers, and trials, attendant on so long a journey, & was brought to this place in safety. My wants have all been supplied and I have been blessed with friends in a land of strangers. I suppose you have learnt the process of our journey from letters written by the brethren and sisters, and [text missing due to paper loss] not repeat it. I can assure you, my dear parents [paper loss] it was very grateful to us, after so long journey through the wilderness to find a place of rest, for such we call this establishment at present. [paper loss] from Vermont [..?..] was very good, as I [paper loss] you from that place. But during the latter part of my journey, and after my arrival here, it was in a declining state, owing I suppose to an entire change of diet, and employment. It is now and has been for some time better than when at the South. Perhaps you would like to know my employment. I spend most of my time in sewing. We generally have enough to employ two hands. I usually ride or walk out, morning and exercising for the preservation of health, accompanied with some of the other sisters. Our walks are very pleasant. The woods are beautiful. Instead of [..?..] brush, as at the north, they are covered with grass & flowers. I wish you could have a view of Elliot. Its local situation far exceeded my expectation. And I found more of the necessaries and even the comforts of life, than I expected. We have a plenty of cornbread, milk, and meat, and some butter, coffee and tea and sugar, and some flour, and a boat is expected in a few days, that will supply us with a quantity of flour, cheese and dried apples. My dear parents, you often mentioned to me the dangers and fears that would attend me, when crossing rivers, forests, and swamps. But I can tell you, my fears were dissipated, and I felt calm and composed. I must write a few words about the brethren and sisters. Br. Kingsbury, our pastor, has the superintendence of the mission. Br. Williams, the care of the school, which consists of 63 scholars. Br. Jesel the care of the farm. Br. Fisk is the blacksmith. [paper loss] the sisters, they are [paper loss] Kingbury's absence, [paper loss] Kingsbury, he is a [paper loss] both a friend and a sister to me, and wishes to be remembered particularly to you.Her little son is a [paper loss] promising child. O how I long to hear from you. [paper loss] you not write me soon? That I may know how [paper loss] prosper in your temporal and spiritual [..?..]. I think of you daily and hourly. And, were it in my power, how happy should I be to alleviate your [paper loss] and cares. But I hope you cast your cares on [paper loss] who will be better to you than children or friends. I have a few hours notice of an opportunity of sending letters and can write but little at this time. I shall [paper loss] my dear brothers and sisters in one or two [paper loss]. Give my love to all my dear relatives. I [paper loss] love to write to them all. O my dear parents [paper loss] you supplicate the throne of grace, do not forget your affectionate daughter, Min[paper loss]”.
The Washburn family was closely connected to the early evangelical and missionary culture of New England during the early decades of the nineteenth century. Minerva Washburn’s brother, Cephas Washburn, became one of the better-known missionaries associated with the American Board’s work among Indigenous nations in the Southeast, while Minerva herself entered missionary service in 1819 before later assisting, alongside her husband James Orr, in the development of Dwight Mission in the Cherokee Nation. The present letter belongs to this first generation of Protestant missionary efforts carried into the Choctaw and Cherokee Nations.
Overall an early and highly personal missionary letter documenting evangelical expansion, women’s labor, family separation, and daily life in the Choctaw Nation during the opening years of organized American mission activity.
Price: $4,500.00