The History of Dartmouth College

by Baxter Perry Smith

Whereas it hath been represented to our trusty and well-beloved John Wentworth, Esq., Governor and Commander-in-Chief, in and over our province of New Hampshire, in New England in America, that the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock of Lebanon, in the colony of Connecticut, in New England aforesaid, now Doctor in Divinity, did, on or about the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and fifty-four, at his own expense, on his own estate and plantation, set on foot an Indian Charity School, and for several years, through the assistance of well disposed persons in America, cloathed, maintained and educated a number of the children of the Indian natives, with a view to their carrying the gospel in their own language, and spreading the knowledge of the great Redeemer among their savage tribes, and hath actually employed a number of them as Missionaries and School Masters in the wilderness for that purpose, and by the blessing of God upon the endeavors of said Wheelock, the design became reputable among the Indians, insomuch that a larger number desired the education of their children in said School, and were also disposed to receive missionaries and school masters in the wilderness, more than could be supported by the charitable contributions in these American colonies.

Whereupon the said Eleazar Wheelock thought it expedient that endeavors should be used to raise contributions from well disposed persons in England, for the carrying on and extending said undertaking, and for that purpose said Eleazar Wheelock requested the Rev. Nathaniel Whitaker, now Doctor in Divinity, to go over to England for that purpose, and sent over with him the Rev. Sampson Occom, an Indian minister, who had been educated by the said Wheelock. And to enable the said Whitaker, to the more successful performance of said work on which he was sent, said Wheelock gave him a full power of attorney, by which said Whitaker solicited those worthy and generous contributors to the charity, viz. the Right Hon. William Earl of Dartmouth, the Hon. Sir Sidney Stafford Smythe, Knight, one of the Barons of his Majesty's Court of Exchequer, John Thornton, of Clapham, in the county of Surrey, Esq., Samuel Roffey, of Lincoln's Innfields, in the county of Middlesex, Esq., Charles Hardey, of the parish of St. Mary-le-bonne, in said county, Esq., Daniel West, of Christ's Church, Spitalfields, in the county aforesaid, Esq., Samuel Savage, of the same place, gentleman; Josiah Robarts, of the parish of St. Edmund the King, Lombard Street, London, gentleman, and Robert Keen, of the parish of St. Botolph, Aldgate, London, gentleman; to receive the several sums of money which should be contributed, and to be trustees to the contributors to such charity: which they cheerfully agreed to.

Whereupon, the said Whitaker did, by virtue of said power of attorney, constitute and appoint the said Earl of Dartmouth, Sir Sidney Stafford Smythe, John Thornton, Samuel Roffey, Charles Hardey, and Daniel West, Esquires, and Samuel Savage, Josiah Robarts, and Robert Keen, gentlemen, to be trustees of the money which had then been contributed, and which should by his means be contributed for said purpose; which trust they have accepted, as by their engrossed declaration of the same under their hands and seals, well executed fully appears, and the same hath also been ratified by a deed of trust, well executed by said Wheelock.

And the said Wheelock further represents, that he has, by a power of attorney, for many weighty reasons, given full power to the said trustees, to fix upon and determine the place for said school, most subservient to the great end in view. And to enable them understandingly to give the preference, the said Wheelock has laid before the said trustees the several offers which have been generously made in the several governments in America to encourage and invite the settlement of said school among them for their own private emolument, and for the increase of learning in their respective places, as well as for the furtherance of the general design in view.

And whereas a large number of the proprietors of lands in the western part of this our province of New Hampshire, animated and excited thereto by the generous example of his Excellency their Governor, and by the liberal contributions of many noblemen and gentlemen in England, and especially by the consideration that such a situation would be as convenient as any for carrying on the great design among the Indians; and also considering that without the least impediment to the said design, the same school may be enlarged and improved to promote learning among the English, and be a means to supply a great number of churches and congregations which are likely soon to be formed in that new country, with a learned and orthodox ministry, they the said proprietors have promised large tracts of land for the uses aforesaid, provided the school shall be settled in the western part of our said province.

And they the said Right Hon. Hon. and worthy trustees before mentioned, having maturely considered the reasons and arguments in favor of the several places proposed, have given the preference to the western part of our said province, lying on Connecticut river, as a situation most convenient for said school.

And the said Wheelock has further represented a necessity of a legal incorporation, in order to the safety and well being of said seminary, and its being capable of the tenure and disposal of lands and bequests for the use of the same. And the said Wheelock has also represented, that for many weighty reasons, it will be expedient, at least in the infancy of said institution, or till it can be accommodated in that new country, and he and his friends be able to remove and settle by and round about it, that the gentlemen whom he has already nominated in his last will (which he has transmitted to the aforesaid gentlemen of the trust in England) to be trustees in America, should be of the corporation now proposed. And also as there are already large collections for said school in the hands of the aforesaid gentlemen of the trust in England, and all reason to believe from their signal wisdom, piety, and zeal, to promote the Redeemer's cause (which has already procured for them the utmost confidence of the kingdom) we may expect they will appoint successors in time to come, who will be men of the same spirit, whereby great good may and will accrue many ways to the institution, and much be done by their example and influence to encourage and facilitate the whole design in view; for which reasons said Wheelock desires that the trustees aforesaid, may be vested with all that power therein which can consist with their distance from the same.

Know ye therefore that We, considering the premises and being willing to encourage the laudable design of spreading Christian knowledge among the savages of our American wilderness. And also that the best means of education be established in our province of New Hampshire, for the benefit of said province, do, of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, by and with the advice of our council for said province, by these presents will, ordain, grant and constitute that there be a college erected in our said province of New Hampshire, by the name of Dartmouth College, for the education and instruction of youths of the Indian tribes in this land, in reading, writing, and all parts of learning, which shall appear necessary and expedient, for civilizing and christianizing the children of pagans, as well as in all liberal arts and sciences, and also of English youths, and any others. And the trustees of said college may, and shall be, one body corporate and politic in deed, action and name, and shall be called, named, and distinguished by the name of The Trustees of Dartmouth College.

And further, We have willed, given, granted, constituted and ordained, and by this our present charter, of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, with the advice aforesaid, do for us, our heirs and successors forever, will, give, grant, constitute, and ordain, that there shall from henceforth and forever, be in the said Dartmouth College, a body politic, consisting of Trustees of Dartmouth College. And for the more full and perfect erection of said Corporation and body politic, consisting of Trustees of Dartmouth College, We, of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, do, by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, make, ordain, constitute and appoint, our trusty and well beloved John Wentworth, Esquire, Governor of our said province, and the governor of our said province of New Hampshire, for the time being, and our trusty and well beloved Theodore Atkinson, Esquire, now president of our council of our said province, George Jaffrey and Daniel Pierce, Esqrs., both of our said council, and Peter Gilman, Esq., now Speaker of our House of Representatives in said province, and William Pitkin, Esq., one of the Assistants of our colony of Connecticut, and our trusty and well beloved Eleazar Wheelock, of Lebanon, Doctor in Divinity, Benjamin Pomeroy, of Hebron, James Lockwood, of Weathersfield, Timothy Pitkin and John Smalley, of Farmington, and William Patten of Hartford, all of our said colony of Connecticut, ministers of the gospel (the whole number of said trustees consisting, and hereafter forever to consist, of twelve and no more) to be trustees of said Dartmouth College, in this our province of New Hampshire.

And We do further, of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, for us, our heirs and successors, will, give, grant and appoint that the said trustees and their successors shall, forever hereafter, be in deed, act and name, a body corporate and politic, and that they the said body corporate and politic, shall be known and distinguished in all deeds, grants, bargains, sales, writings, evidences or otherwise however, and in all courts forever hereafter plead and be impleaded by the name of The Trustees of Dartmouth College. And that the said corporation by the name aforesaid, shall be able and in law capable for the use of said Dartmouth College, to have, get, acquire, purchase, receive, hold, possess and enjoy, tenements, hereditaments, jurisdictions and franchises for themselves and their successors, in fee simple or otherwise however, and to purchase, receive, or build any house or houses, or any other buildings, as they shall think needful and convenient for the use of said Dartmouth College, and in such town in the western part of our said province of New Hampshire, as shall, by said trustees, or the major part of them be agreed upon, their said agreement to be evidenced by an instrument in writing under their hands ascertaining the same. And also to receive and dispose of any lands, goods, chattels and other things of what nature soever, for the use aforesaid. And also to have, accept and receive any rents, profits, annuities, gifts, legacies, donations or bequests of any kind whatsoever for the use aforesaid: so nevertheless, that the yearly value of the premises do not exceed the sum of six thousand pounds sterling. And therewith or otherwise to support and pay, as the said trustees, or the major part of such of them as are regularly convened for that purpose, shall agree; the president, tutors, and other officers and ministers of said Dartmouth College, and also to pay all such missionaries and school masters as shall be authorized, appointed and employed by them for civilizing, Christianizing, and instructing the Indian natives of this land, their several allowances, and also their respective annual salaries or allowances, and also such necessary and contingent charges, as from time to time shall arise and accrue, relating to said Dartmouth College. And also to bargain, sell, let or assign lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods or chattels, and all other things whatsoever, by the name aforesaid, in as full and ample a manner, to all intents and purposes as a natural person or other body corporate or politic, is able to do by the laws of our realm of Great Britain, or of said province of New Hampshire.