Native American Religious Leader
A member of the Mohegan tribe and a descendant of its great chief, Uncas, Samson Occom was the first Native American to publish documents in English. He studied theology at Eleazar Wheelock's Latin School, where he was exposed to the teachings of The Great Awakening. He was ordained a Presbyterian clergyman in Suffolk, on Long Island, New York, in 1759. He served as a missionary to Native American peoples in Montauk on Long Island and in New England. At the urging of Eleazar Wheelock, in 1766 Occom made a tour of England to raise money for an Indian school. He delivered over 300 sermons and speeches, drew large crowds, and raised over 12,000 pounds. Part of the funds was used to found Dartmouth College, where scholarships and a professorship in Native American Studies bear his name, as do Occom Pond and Occom Ridge. After returning from England he, along with members of other tribes, helped to found the Brothertown tribe on Oneida Indian lands in northern New York as an independent Indian Christian community. After Occom's death, the Brothertown tribe moved to Wisconsin. Reverend Occom's publications include "A Short Narrative of My Life," "Sermon at the Execution of Moses Paul," and "A Short Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs." During World War II the liberty ship SS Samson Occom was named in his honor.
Native American Religious Leader
A member of the Mohegan tribe and a descendant of its great chief, Uncas, Samson Occom was the first Native American to publish documents in English. He studied theology at Eleazar Wheelock's Latin School, where he was exposed to the teachings of The Great Awakening. He was ordained a Presbyterian clergyman in Suffolk, on Long Island, New York, in 1759. He served as a missionary to Native American peoples in Montauk on Long Island and in New England. At the urging of Eleazar Wheelock, in 1766 Occom made a tour of England to raise money for an Indian school. He delivered over 300 sermons and speeches, drew large crowds, and raised over 12,000 pounds. Part of the funds was used to found Dartmouth College, where scholarships and a professorship in Native American Studies bear his name, as do Occom Pond and Occom Ridge. After returning from England he, along with members of other tribes, helped to found the Brothertown tribe on Oneida Indian lands in northern New York as an independent Indian Christian community. After Occom's death, the Brothertown tribe moved to Wisconsin. Reverend Occom's publications include "A Short Narrative of My Life," "Sermon at the Execution of Moses Paul," and "A Short Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs." During World War II the liberty ship SS Samson Occom was named in his honor.
Family Members
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Mary Occum Jowon
1752 – unknown
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Aaron Occum
1753–1800
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Tabitha Occum Johnson/Cooper
1754–1785
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Olive Occum Davids/Cooper
1755–1828
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Christiana Occum Paul
1757–1797
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Benoni Occum
1763–1829
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Theodosia Occum Deshon
1769–1835
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Lemuel Fowler Occum
1771–1790
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Andrew Gifford Occum
1774 – unknown
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Sally Occum
1780–1791
