Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04880

Author/Creator: Adams, John (1735-1826)

Place Written: Quincy, Massachusetts

Type: Autograph letter signed

Date: 21 June 1821

Pagination: 2 p. ; 25.5 x 20 cm.

Summary of Content: Discusses his interest in Native American religion and his difficulties in learning about it because of Indians reluctance to speak on the topic. Describes his attempts to learn about Native American religion from a Mr. Alexander McGillivray, the son of a ”Scotchman by an Indian queen.” Adams closely questioned the man concerning Indian beliefs including their ideas about an afterlife, but the man was not forthcoming, and Adams finally concluded ”that his father was one of those wandering Scottish epicurean philosophers who had taught him to seek for pleasure and not to disquiet himself with fears of an hereafter.” Written at ”Montezillo.”

People: Adams, John, 1735-1826., Shaw, William Smith, 1778-1826., McGillivray, Alexander, 1750-1793

Historical Era: National Expansion and Reform, 1815-1860

Full Transcript: Montezillo June 21 1821, My dear Nephew, Dr. Jarvis in his seventh page has truly observed that ”the Indians are not communicative in relation to their religion.” I have made the same observation. I have seen a strong and marked aversion to converse or say any thing upon the subject. Many great opportunities have presented themselves, in the old Congress, and which I was Vice president, [inserted: and] [struck: I] in the very numerous deputations from indian nations in all parts of the continent: and I always had a desire to learn something of their religion. But they discovered such repugnance, their interpretations appeared so inexpert in their own language as well as in the indian, that I was discouraged. And my mind was so oppressed with a thousand disquietudes which came nearer home to my buiseness and bosom, that I gave up the pursuit. (In 1789 there occurred an Occasion which gave me great hopes. A large deputation of Kings Warriors and Sachems from the Creek Nations came to New York with McGillivray at their head, to [illegible] with the government. They were lodged near my home on Richmond-hill. They frequently visited me and some of them dined with me, but I could learn nothing from them., [2] McGillivray was the son of a Scotchman by an indian queen. His father had given him a good education and he spoke and wrote very well in English. From him I was confident much information: but he was as close as a miser. I asked him many questions concerning the religion of the indians but he manifested strong tokens of impatience and dislike.) But when I [had] pressed him pretty closely for some time he said with an arch smile ”Why We used to say that our customs most resembled the Jews.” When I urged him with questions concerning their belief in a future state he still betrayed great reluctance and would be silent. (When I asked him whether they had any ideas of an existence after death? He arrived with a malignant scornful kind of smile, ”Why, I believe very little. I have heard them say that men are like trees, when a tree dies it rots.” This was all could obtain from him.), Upon the whole I concluded that his father was one of these wandering Scottish epicurian phylosophers who had taught him to seek for pleasure here and not to disquiet himself with fears of an hereafter. Accordingly he soon fell a sacrifice to his intemperate pleasures., In expectation of Saturday I am your affectionate , Uncle , John Adams, W. S. Shaw Esq.

Keywords/Subjects: American Indian History, Religion, American West

Sub Era: The First Age of Reform

Background: Biography: William Smith Shaw was the librarian of the Boston Athenaeum and the Massachusetts Historical Society, and an incorporator of the American Antiquarian Society. He was also Adams’ uncle and private secretary during his administration.