Experience Mayhew's Indian Converts: A Cultural Edition (native Americans Of The Northeast)

First published in 1727 under the title Indian Converts, or Some account of the lives and dying speeches of a considerable number of the Christianized Indians of Martha's Vineyard, in New-England, Experience Mayhew's history of the Wampanoag Indians on Martha's Vineyard provides a rare look at the lives and culture of four generations of Native Americans in colonial America. Dividing his treatment into four sections--Indian Ministers, Good Men, Religious Women, and Pious Children--Mayhew details the books that different age groups were reading, provides insights into early New England pedagogy and childrearing practices, and describes each individual in terms of genealogy, religious practice, way of life, and place of residence. In addition to drawing on his own firsthand knowledge of the community and transcriptions of oral testimony he and others collected, Mayhew inserts translations of Wampanoag texts that have since been lost. Although the book has been out of print since the early nineteenth century, scholars have long recognized its importance for understanding the history of New England's Native communities. In an extensive introduction to this new scholarly edition, Laura Arnold Leibman places Indian Converts in a broader cultural context and explores its significance. She shows how Mayhew's biographies illuminate the theological upheavals that rocked early eighteenth-century New England on the eve of the Great Awakening, shifts that altered not only the character of Puritanism but also the landscape of Wampanoag religious and cultural life. An accompanying online archive that includes over 600 images and documents further contextualiies Mayhew's work and provide suggestionsfor students' investigations of the text. First Published In 1727 Under The Title Indian Converts, Or Some Account Of The Lives And Dying Speeches Of A Considerable Number Of The Christianized Indians Of Martha's Vineyard, In New-england, Experience Mayhew's History Of The Wampanoag Indians On Martha's Vineyard Provides A Rare Look At The Lives And Culture Of Four Generations Of Native Americans In Colonial America. Dividing His Treatment Into Four Sectionsindian Ministers, Good Men, Religious Women, And Pious Childrenmayhew Details The Books That Different Age Groups Were Reading, Provides Insights Into Early New England Pedagogy And Childrearing Practices, And Describes Each Individual In Terms Of Genealogy, Religious Practice, Way Of Life, And Place Of Residence. In Addition To Drawing On His Own Firsthand Knowledge Of The Community And Transcriptions Of Oral Testimony He And Others Collected, Mayhew Inserts Translations Of Wampanoag Texts That Have Since Been Lost. - Publisher. Containing An Account Of Several Indian Ministers, Both Pastors, Ruling Elders, And Deacons, Who Have Been Truly Esteem'd Godly Persons -- Containing An Account Of Several Indian Men, Not In Any Church Office, Who Have Appeared To Be Truly Good Men -- Containing An Account Of Several Indian Women That Have Been Justly Esteemed Religious -- Containing An Account Of Several Indian Young Men, Maids, And Children, That Have Appeared To Be Truly Pious -- Some Account Of Those English Ministers Who Have Successively Presided Over The Work Of Gospelizing The Indians On The Vineyard, And Adjacent Islands -- Appendix: A Brief Account Of The State Of The Indians On Martha's Vineyard, And The Small Islands Adjacent In Duke's Country, From The Year 1694 To 1720. Edited And With An Introduction By Laura Arnold Leibman. New Scholarly Edition Of Indian Converts By Experience Mayhew Published In 1727. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [391]-404) And Index. First published in 1727 under the title Indian Converts, or Some account of the lives and dying speeches of a considerable number of the Christianized Indians of Martha's Vineyard, in New-England, Experience Mayhew's history of the Wampanoag Indians on Martha's Vineyard provides a rare look at the lives and culture of four generations of Native Americans in colonial America. Dividing his treatment into four sections -- Indian Ministers, Good Men, Religious Women, and Pious Children -- Mayhew details the books that different age groups were reading, provides insights into early New England pedagogy and childrearing practices, and describes each individual in terms of genealogy, religious practice, way of life, and place of residence. In addition to drawing on his own firsthand knowledge of the community and transcriptions of oral testimony he and others collected, Mayhew inserts translations of Wampanoag texts that have since been lost. Although the book has been out of print since the early nineteenth century, scholars have long recognized its importance for understanding the history of New England's Native communities. In an extensive introduction to this new scholarly edition, Laura Arnold Leibman places Indian Converts in a broader cultural context and explores its significance. She shows how Mayhew's biographies illuminate the theological upheavals that rocked early eighteenth-century New England on the eve of the Great Awakening, shifts that altered not only the character of Puritanism but also the landscape of Wampanoag religious and cultural life. An accompanying online archive that includes over 600 images and documents further contextualizes Mayhew's work and provide suggestions for students'investigations of the text. Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Abbreviations Experience Mayhew Timeline Introduction Indian Converts Dedication The Author’s Preface to the Reader An Attestation by The United Ministers of Boston The Introduction Containing an Account of several Indian MINISTERS, both Pastors, Ruling Elders, and Deacons, who have been justly esteem’d godly Persons. Containing an Account of several Indian MEN, not in any Church Office, who have appeared to be truly good Men. Containing an Account of several Indian WOMEN that have been justly esteemed Religious. Early Piety exemplified, in an Account of several Young Men, Maids, and Children, that have appeared to be truly pious. SOME ACCOUNT OF THOSE ENGLISH MINISTERS Who have successively presided over the Work of Gospelizing the Indians on the Vineyard, and adjacent Islands: By whose special Care and Labour it was at first begun, and has been carried on and continued down to this Day Appendix: A Brief Account of the State of the Indians on Martha’s Vineyard, and the small Islands Adjacent in Duke’s-Country, from the Year 1694 to 1720 Bibliography Index