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Samuel Worcester

Samuel Austin Worcester (January 19, 1798 – April 20, 1859) was an American , printer, and linguist dedicated to serving the through education, publishing, and advocacy for their territorial rights. Commissioned by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, he began work among the in 1825, establishing mission stations at Brainerd and other sites before relocating to in 1828 to oversee printing operations. There, he collaborated on the , the first Native American newspaper, and utilized Sequoyah's to translate religious tracts, hymns, and substantial portions of the into , promoting and scriptural access within the tribe. Worcester's defining legal role emerged from his defiance of a Georgia law requiring non-Cherokees to obtain a state license for residency on tribal lands; arrested in 1831 alongside fellow missionary Elizur Butler, his appeal in (1832) resulted in a ruling affirming sovereignty over state jurisdiction, though President declined enforcement. Imprisoned for nearly a year under harsh conditions, Worcester's release in 1833 did not deter his commitment; he persisted in linguistic and missionary efforts until the removal via the in 1838–39, afterward continuing service among the in present-day .

Early Life

Upbringing and Education

Samuel Austin Worcester was born on January 19, 1798, in , to Leonard Worcester, a minister, and Elizabeth Hopkins. His family soon relocated to , where his father assumed the pastorate of the local , immersing young Samuel in a devout religious environment that emphasized Calvinist theology and missionary zeal. This upbringing in a ministerial household, amid the Second Great Awakening's evangelical fervor in , fostered his early commitment to religious service and education. Worcester received his initial schooling in Peacham, Vermont, under local influences that included exposure to prominent figures in missionary circles, such as editor and advocate Jeremiah Evarts. He then pursued higher education at the in , graduating in 1819 with a focus on classical studies and preparation for theological training. Following this, he enrolled at in , a key institution for Congregationalist ministers, completing his studies there in 1823; the seminary's rigorous curriculum in , , and equipped him for missionary work among non-English-speaking populations.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Worcester married Ann Orr of Bedford, New Hampshire, on July 19, 1825, shortly before his ordination and departure for Cherokee territory. The couple relocated to the Brainerd Mission in present-day Tennessee in August 1825, where Ann assisted in missionary activities alongside her husband. Together, they had seven children, several of whom were born at mission stations: Ann Eliza (born November 7, 1826), Sarah (born September 30, 1828), Jerusha (born 1831, died in infancy), and others including Hannah. Ann Eliza Worcester Robertson later became the first woman to earn a doctorate in literature, while her daughter Alice M. Robertson served as a U.S. Congresswoman. The family endured hardships typical of frontier missions, including the death of young Jerusha and relocations amid Cherokee removals. Ann Orr Worcester died on May 23, 1840, in Park Hill, Cherokee Nation, at age 40. Following Ann's death, Worcester married Erminia Nash, a fellow who had served at Dwight Mission, on April 3, 1841. Erminia, born October 26, 1801, in , supported Worcester's ongoing work at Park Hill Mission until his death; she outlived him, dying in May 1872 at age 70. No children are recorded from this marriage. Worcester's family life intertwined with his missionary duties, with his children often educated at mission schools and later dispersing after his passing in 1859.

Missionary Beginnings

Ordination and Initial Assignments

Worcester completed his theological training at Andover Seminary in 1823 before pursuing with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM), an evangelical organization focused on domestic and foreign work among Native American tribes. On August 25, 1825, he was ordained as a Congregationalist minister at in , alongside Elnathan Gridley, in a ceremony emphasizing their commission as ABCFM to the . The , delivered by a local clergyman, underscored the ' duties to evangelize, educate, and translate religious texts for indigenous converts. Immediately following ordination, the ABCFM assigned Worcester to the Brainerd Mission station in eastern , a site established in 1817 near present-day Chattanooga to serve Cherokee communities along the Hiwassee River. This initial posting involved manual labor, preaching, and school instruction amid a small contingent of missionaries and Cherokee assistants, with objectives centered on promoting , , and Christian to foster self-sufficiency. Worcester departed weeks after the ceremony and reached Brainerd by October 1825, where he assumed responsibilities including blacksmithing and basic medical care to support mission operations.

Work with the Cherokee

Arrival in Cherokee Territory

In October 1825, Samuel Austin Worcester, newly ordained by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM), arrived at the Brainerd Mission station in eastern to begin his work among the , accompanied by his wife Ann Orr Worcester. The Brainerd Mission, established earlier by the ABCFM near present-day Chattanooga, served as a key outpost for evangelizing communities whose territory extended across parts of , , and at the time. Worcester's assignment followed his completion of theological training and reflected the board's strategy to expand Protestant missions amid growing adoption of settled agriculture and . Worcester reached Brainerd specifically on October 21, 1825, where he immediately commenced duties by preaching an inaugural sermon to assembled listeners and mission staff. In recognition of his message and perceived wisdom, the Cherokee honored him with the name A-tse-nu-sti, translating to "," a title that underscored his role in disseminating Christian teachings. This early interaction highlighted Worcester's focus on ; he promptly began intensive study of the tongue to facilitate direct communication and address doctrinal questions, laying groundwork for future translations despite the absence of a standardized until Sequoyah's gained traction. During his initial years at Brainerd through 1828, Worcester supplemented preaching with practical labors, including blacksmithing and carpentry, to support mission self-sufficiency and model industrious Christian living to the . These efforts occurred amid tensions over Cherokee land rights, as white settlers encroached on traditional territories, but Worcester's arrival marked the start of his sustained commitment to the nation's spiritual and cultural preservation efforts. In 1828, the ABCFM reassigned him to , the Cherokee capital in , to oversee printing operations, signaling an evolution from frontier outpost work to centralized literary initiatives.

Religious and Educational Initiatives

Upon his assignment by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Samuel Worcester arrived at the Brainerd Mission among the Cherokee in Tennessee in October 1825, where he immediately delivered an inaugural sermon that was received positively by the local Cherokee population, who honored him in recognition of his efforts. At Brainerd, established earlier in 1817 to provide basic education in reading, writing, arithmetic, and Christian doctrine to Cherokee children while promoting religious conversion, Worcester contributed to these dual religious and educational objectives as part of the broader missionary strategy to "civilize" the Cherokee through Christianity and literacy. In 1827, Worcester relocated to , the Cherokee national capital in , to intensify activities closer to tribal , continuing his preaching and support for Christian adoption among the , who had increasingly encouraged such ABCFM schools as tools for cultural and political advancement. There, he operated aspects of schooling and religious instruction, emphasizing the of Protestant values with Cherokee , though specific enrollment numbers or conversion statistics from his direct tenure remain sparsely documented in primary accounts. His initiatives aligned with the ABCFM's model of combining with , fostering a gradual increase in Cherokee Christian adherence, as evidenced by the denomination's expansion to multiple stations across the nation by the late . Worcester's personal residence at served as a hub for these efforts, underscoring his commitment to on-the-ground religious and pedagogical work amid rising state pressures.

Contributions to Cherokee Literacy

Establishment of the Cherokee Phoenix

The Cherokee National formally approved the creation of a in 1826, aiming to foster literacy through Sequoyah's , disseminate national laws and proceedings, and inform the public on political affairs. Samuel Worcester, a assigned to the by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, collaborated closely with the , recognizing the press as an essential tool for advancing Cherokee education and cultural preservation. In 1827, Worcester established a print shop in , the capital in , where he cast the specialized type blocks required for printing in the alongside English text. He secured funding through subscriptions—initially numbering around 400—and provided operational support for the inaugural press, which had been imported from . The first issue of the appeared on February 21, 1828, under the editorship of (Gallegina Watie), with parallel columns of English and content covering topics such as governance, missionary activities, and responses to external pressures on tribal lands. assisted Boudinot directly in the publishing process, ensuring the paper's bilingual format promoted widespread accessibility and literacy among speakers. The publication marked the first Native American newspaper in the United States, serving as a vehicle for self-expression and advocacy amid growing threats of removal.

Bible Translation and Publishing

Upon arriving in Cherokee territory in 1825, Samuel Worcester initiated efforts to translate portions of the into the using Sequoyah's , collaborating with native speakers and fellow missionaries to produce accessible religious texts. He worked closely with , editor of the , to revise and publish the Gospel of Matthew, with the updated version appearing in 1829 via the Cherokee Nation's press at . This edition followed an initial serialization of Matthew in the Phoenix from April 1828 to July 1829, marking one of the earliest printed biblical works in Cherokee. Worcester expanded these efforts by translating additional books, including Acts in 1831, amid growing state interference in that disrupted operations. After his release from in 1833 and relocation to in 1836, he reestablished a at Park Hill, which became a hub for Cherokee-language publications. There, in partnership with Stephen Foreman and others, Worcester oversaw the printing of further portions, such as chapters 1–3 in 1840, 1 and 2 Timothy in 1844, the in 1847, 1 and 2 Peter in 1848, and the Gospel of Luke in 1850—all issued by the Mission Press. Revised editions of continued to be produced, including a fifth edition in 1850. These incremental publications facilitated widespread dissemination of scripture among Cherokee readers, supporting literacy and evangelism; Worcester's press also handled hymns, almanacs, and laws in . Although a complete emerged in 1860 under the —incorporating Worcester's contributions—these earlier portions represented foundational steps in rendering the fully indigenous. His work emphasized fidelity to original texts while adapting to syllabic , prioritizing clarity for native comprehension over literal word-for-word equivalence.

Legal and Political Conflicts

Georgia's Extension Laws and Oath Requirement

In response to growing pressure for and gold discoveries on lands, the passed legislation in December 1829 annexing substantial portions of territory to existing counties, including Carroll, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Hall, and Habersham, and declaring laws null and void within those boundaries. This act represented the initial step in a series of extension laws aimed at asserting full , including the and lotterying of lands for distribution to white Georgians. Subsequent measures in 1830 further incorporated the annexed areas into Georgia's county system, extending criminal and civil laws over the territory and prohibiting courts from operating. A pivotal component of these extension laws was the Act of December 19, 1830, which mandated that all white persons residing in the territory—without explicit permission from the —obtain a state-issued from the governor and swear a solemn to the state . The oath required affirmatively pledging loyalty to 's laws and , thereby implicitly recognizing the state's over lands guaranteed to the by federal treaties. Failure to comply rendered such individuals subject to arrest, fines, and imprisonment, with the law explicitly targeting unlicensed whites, including federally commissioned missionaries, to enforce 's claim and facilitate removal. These provisions conflicted with U.S. Supreme Court precedents and treaties affirming territorial rights, yet enforced them to undermine tribal autonomy and expedite land acquisition. Missionaries like Samuel Worcester, operating under federal authorization from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, viewed the as incompatible with their duties, as compliance would subordinate federal-Indian relations to state authority.

Arrest, Trial, and Worcester v. Georgia

In response to Georgia's efforts to assert control over lands, the passed an act on December 19, 1829, annexing the territory within its chartered limits and extending state jurisdiction over it. This was followed by a enacted on December 22, 1830, which prohibited white persons from residing within territory after March 1, 1831, unless they obtained a state license and swore an to support the and laws. Samuel Worcester, serving as a under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM), refused to take the or leave, viewing compliance as incompatible with his federal commission and obligations to assist the without state interference. On March 12, 1831, authorities arrested Worcester along with fellow Elizur Butler and five other non- residents for violating the residency . The prisoners were indicted in 1831 by the of Gwinnett for residing in territory without a or . and challenged the indictment's validity, arguing that lacked jurisdiction because lands were protected by U.S. treaties recognizing the tribe as a sovereign entity under federal authority, not subject to state laws. The trial proceeded, and on 15, 1831, the court convicted them, sentencing each to four years of hard labor at the state penitentiary in Milledgeville. While some defendants accepted pardons from Wilson Lumpkin, and rejected clemency to pursue an appeal, preserving the case for higher review. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court as Worcester v. Georgia, argued on February 20–21, 1832. In a 5–1 decision delivered by Chief Justice John Marshall on March 3, 1832, the Court ruled the Georgia laws unconstitutional, holding that the Cherokee Nation constituted a "distinct community" with sovereign powers occupied by federal treaties and the Commerce Clause, preempting state authority. Marshall emphasized that only the U.S. government could regulate interactions with Indian tribes, invalidating Georgia's extension of laws into protected territory. Justice William Johnson dissented, arguing states retained sovereignty over Indian lands within their borders absent explicit federal exclusion. The ruling ordered Worcester's and Butler's release but did not enforce it directly, leaving implementation to executive action.

Andrew Jackson's Response and Implications

President declined to direct federal enforcement of the Supreme Court's ruling in , which on March 3, 1832, invalidated Georgia's extension of state laws over territory and ordered the release of Worcester and Elizur . The decision imposed no direct mandate on the executive branch, as it targeted Georgia's compliance, but Jackson's administration took no steps to compel the state, aligning with his broader policy favoring voluntary relocation west of the under the of May 28, 1830. Instead, Jackson issued a December 1832 urging Native American tribes, including the , to accept federal removal offers or submit to state jurisdiction, effectively bypassing the Court's affirmation of tribal sovereignty. A purported Jackson remark—"John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it"—has been widely attributed to his reaction but lacks contemporary verification and is considered apocryphal by historians, originating from later accounts rather than direct evidence. Jackson's inaction reflected his view, expressed in his 1830 message to Congress, that Indian tribes within state boundaries could not maintain independent sovereignty and that removal was essential for their survival and national expansion, a stance rooted in his experiences with southeastern tribes during the Creek War. Georgia authorities initially refused compliance, detaining Worcester and Butler until state-level negotiations led to their pardon and release on January 14, 1833, without federal intervention. The non-enforcement had profound implications for autonomy, enabling to persist with land lotteries and white settlement on Cherokee holdings, which intensified factional divisions within the tribe. This vacuum facilitated the unauthorized in 1835, signed by a minority Cherokee faction and ratified by the , which ceded tribal lands and precipitated forced removals under President , culminating in the from 1838 to 1839, during which approximately 4,000 Cherokee perished from disease, exposure, and hardship. More broadly, Jackson's stance tested the , prompting criticism that it undermined judicial authority, though he later affirmed the Court's role in other disputes, and no immediate ensued due to the lack of a direct . The episode reinforced federal deference to state pressures in Indian policy, prioritizing removal over obligations until subsequent administrations.

Imprisonment Experience

Prison Conditions and Hardships

Following his arrest on July 8, 1831, Samuel Worcester was initially detained at Camp Gilmer, a outpost near present-day , where he endured a forced march of approximately 85 miles under guard, during which prisoners were chained by the neck or ankle at night and subjected to and from the Georgia Guard. The jail facilities at Camp Gilmer were rudimentary, featuring poor ventilation and light in a with an unpleasant odor, though prisoners enlarged holes in the walls to improve airflow; food and water provisions were adequate, blankets were supplied, and no chains were used inside the jail, allowing Worcester to report maintaining good health despite the conditions. Requests for religious meetings were denied by the as "impertinent," exacerbating the emotional strain of from —Worcester's remained with illness—and principled to taking the required to . After conviction on September 16, 1831, Worcester was transferred to the Georgia State Penitentiary in Milledgeville, sentenced to four years of alongside Elizur Butler and other missionaries for residing in territory without state permission. There, he performed manual labor as a shop mechanic, confined and working in association with 60 to 80 felons, which imposed physical demands unaccustomed to his scholarly background and psychological hardship from daily interaction with criminals. Conditions included sufficient food, clothing, and overall treatment described as good by contemporaries, with no reports of severe physical mistreatment, though the penitentiary's regimen emphasized reform through labor and isolation. Throughout the approximately 16 months of incarceration ending January 14, 1833, faced repeated offers of pardon conditioned on swearing allegiance to and abandoning missionary work, which he and refused, prolonging their confinement and amplifying the hardship of family separation and uncertainty amid ongoing appeals. Despite these pressures, conducted religious services for fellow inmates, mitigating some emotional toll, though the experience underscored the punitive intent to deter white advocacy for sovereignty. No significant health deterioration was noted, but the ordeal highlighted the era's penitentiary system's blend of labor discipline and , applied selectively to political prisoners like .

Release Negotiations

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's March 3, 1832, ruling in Worcester v. Georgia, which invalidated Georgia's extension laws and ordered the release of Samuel Worcester and Elizur Butler, state authorities refused to comply, citing President Andrew Jackson's non-enforcement stance. Worcester's legal team petitioned Georgia courts and Governor Wilson Lumpkin for immediate discharge under the federal mandate, but Lumpkin conditioned freedom on accepting a state pardon, which implicitly required acknowledging Georgia's jurisdiction—a concession the missionaries initially resisted to preserve Cherokee sovereignty claims. Negotiations intensified through intermediaries, including lawyers William Wirt and Peter Butler, and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Worcester's sponsoring organization, which urged acceptance amid reports of harsh prison conditions eroding the men's health after over 16 months of hard labor at Milledgeville Penitentiary. In a related compromise facilitated by incoming Vice President , Georgia's legislature repealed the specific 1830 law under which Worcester was convicted, removing its legal basis while preserving broader state claims. Worcester and Butler relented on these terms, signing the pardon on January 14, 1833, after which a judge discharged them without further imprisonment. The pardon process drew criticism from Cherokee leaders like Principal Chief John Ross, who viewed it as a pragmatic but principle-compromising outcome that weakened the Court's authority and facilitated ongoing removal pressures, though it allowed to resume missionary work briefly before the . No monetary or additional concessions were reported in the negotiations, which prioritized ending the incarceration over litigating .

Later Career

Relocation to Indian Territory

Following his release from a on January 8, 1833, after serving nearly two years of hard labor for refusing to swear allegiance to Georgia laws encroaching on Cherokee sovereignty, Samuel Worcester briefly returned to missionary activities in the eastern before accepting the inevitability of forced removal under U.S. policy. Despite his prior legal opposition, including the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in (1832) affirming Cherokee rights, Worcester shifted focus to supporting the Cherokee people amid escalating pressures, relocating westward to sustain his evangelistic and educational efforts among those already displaced or soon to be. He spent approximately a year in , residing at Brainerd Mission near Chattanooga as a temporary refuge, where he coordinated with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) on plans for western outreach. On April 8, 1835, Worcester, accompanied by his family and associates, departed Brainerd for (present-day eastern Oklahoma), traveling overland via steamboat along the , , and Rivers to reach the . His relocation aligned with the voluntary emigration of some prior to the full enforcement of the of 1830, though it preceded the bulk of the removals in 1838–1839; Worcester aimed to establish continuity in missionary services for the western bands, who numbered around 4,000 by 1835 and had settled in fragmented communities vulnerable to internal conflicts and lack of infrastructure. Upon arrival, he first settled at Dwight Presbyterian Mission near Sallisaw, a site originally founded in 1820 for education and Christianity but relocated westward in 1829 to accommodate early emigrants; there, Worcester preached to dispersed groups and initiated printing operations, introducing the first press in the region to produce -language materials. By early 1836, Worcester transferred to Union Mission on the Grand (, approximately 20 miles north of present-day , to better serve incoming factions amid rising tensions between Treaty Party adherents and National Party holdouts. This move positioned him centrally for the influx of over 15,000 eastern Cherokees during the forced migrations, where he provided spiritual guidance and practical aid, including distributing translated religious texts amid the hardships of resettlement—conditions marked by , , and factional violence that claimed thousands of lives. His presence helped stabilize early community formation in , though it required navigating U.S. Army oversight and intertribal disputes without the legal protections afforded in the east. Worcester's relocation thus marked a pragmatic adaptation to federal policy, prioritizing sustained engagement with the Cherokee over futile resistance in , where state authorities had nullified federal rulings.

Continued Missionary Efforts and Death

Following his release from imprisonment in January 1833, Worcester briefly returned to before accepting the inevitability of and relocating westward. In 1835, he joined the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions' efforts in (present-day ), initially at Dwight Mission near Sallisaw. By 1836, he established the Park Hill Mission farther north, where he directed the construction of essential facilities including residences, a , a schoolhouse, a , and a bookbindery to support ongoing evangelization and education among the . At Park Hill, Worcester resumed and expanded his missionary activities, emphasizing the propagation of through direct preaching, literacy programs, and the distribution of religious materials in both English and . He oversaw the printing of hymns, catechisms, and additional portions of Scripture, building on his prior translations to reach the relocated population, many of whom arrived via the between 1838 and 1839. His approach prioritized spiritual instruction and avoided entanglement in factional disputes, such as the tensions between Treaty Party adherents and National Party members, which contributed to the mission's relative stability amid regional violence, including the 1839 murder of his associate . By the 1840s and 1850s, the mission served hundreds of students and congregants, with Worcester performing duties as preacher, teacher, and administrator until health declined in his later years. Worcester remained at Park Hill until his death on April 20, 1859, at age 61, succumbing to natural causes after decades of service. He was buried in the Worcester Mission Cemetery adjacent to the site, marking the end of a career dedicated to spiritual and cultural advancement through missionary labor.

Legacy and Evaluations

Achievements in Cherokee Advancement

Samuel Worcester significantly advanced Cherokee literacy and education through his missionary efforts, including the translation of religious texts into the using Sequoyah's . He collaborated with Cherokee leaders to translate the , completing portions by 1829 and the full by 1839 after relocation. These translations, along with hymns and primers, were distributed in thousands of copies via the , which Worcester supervised, fostering widespread reading proficiency among the Cherokee. Worcester established the first printing press in Cherokee territory at in 1821, enabling the production of Cherokee-language materials and significantly boosting literacy rates, which by 1828 approached levels comparable to those among white populations in the region. He played a key role in launching the in 1828, the first Native American newspaper, printed bilingually in English and ; Worcester assisted editor by providing the press, casting type in the , and contributing content to promote Cherokee self-awareness and political advocacy. This publication disseminated news, laws, and essays, enhancing political literacy and national cohesion. Beyond printing and , Worcester led the Temperance , organizing efforts to curb alcohol consumption, which he viewed as a barrier to progress; by , the society claimed over 1,000 members and contributed to reduced intemperance among the . His multifaceted work—encompassing , publishing, and moral reform—laid foundational elements for cultural and intellectual advancement, earning him the title "The ."

Criticisms and Alternative Perspectives

While Samuel Worcester's efforts on behalf of garnered widespread admiration among anti-removal advocates, contemporaries aligned with 's expansionist policies criticized him as an interloper whose refusal to obtain a state license violated territorial laws enacted in 1830, thereby obstructing state jurisdiction over lands and fueling unnecessary resistance to federal removal initiatives. authorities, enforcing legislation that prohibited unlicensed white residency in territory after March 31, 1831, portrayed Worcester's presence—alongside his role in establishing the newspaper in 1828—as provocative agitation that empowered leaders like John Ross to challenge land cessions. Supporters of President Jackson's of 1830 similarly faulted Worcester for leveraging his missionary status to contest treaties, viewing his challenge as an idealistic interference that prolonged conflict rather than facilitating orderly relocation amid growing white settler pressures. In historical evaluations, some analyses highlight Worcester's paternalistic framework, wherein and "civilization" efforts—such as translating the into using Sequoyah's starting in —prioritized and literacy over addressing entrenched issues like among acculturated elites, whom he deemed secondary to evangelistic goals despite his personal abolitionist leanings. This approach, common among Congregationalist missionaries under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, reflected a belief in benevolent as a pathway to Native preservation, yet alternative perspectives contend it inadvertently advanced federal oversight by promoting Western institutions like schools and print media, which bolstered legal defenses but aligned with broader U.S. policies eroding tribal through cultural transformation. Postcolonial critiques further question whether such interventions, while aiding short-term resistance, contributed to long-term cultural dilution by embedding Euro- norms under the guise of uplift, though empirical evidence of Worcester's collaboration with innovators like underscores mutual adaptation rather than unilateral imposition.