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Miles Bronson
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Miles Bronson
Miles Bronson (July 20, 1812 – November 9, 1883), was one of the first American Baptist missionaries who worked in the state of Assam in northeastern India.
Bronson was born in Herkimer County in New York to Deacon Bronson and Rebekah Hall Bronson and was the youngest of five children; he married Ruth Montague Lucas in 1836.
In 1835, David Scott, the Agent to the Governor General in the North-East Frontier invited American Baptist Missionaries working in Burma (now Myanmar) to come to Assam to spread Christianity and education. Rev Nathan Brown and Oliver Cutter were the first to arrive in 1837, and Bronson arrived at Sadiya in Assam on July 8, 1838. Brown and Cutter, along with their families, had landed at Sadia with the objective to go to northern Burma and southern China through Sadiya. Initially, as part of their mission, they worked among the local people by establishing co-ed schools, writing books in the local languages and preaching Christianity. He was prominent in the official recognition of the Assamese language.
After staying for almost a year, Bronson left Sadiya and moved to Joypur, Assam, in April 1838. At the time, Joypur, with its location on the bank of the Burhi Dihing River, was an important strategic point for the Company Government because of its road link to Burma. Joypur also had connections with adjoining towns, including Namsang. After the British occupation, the place became important for large-scale tea plantations. At Joypur, Bronson opened a school with the help of Captain S.F. Hannay. Bronson spent his time studying languages of the surrounding tribes, including that of the Noctes and Wanchos. The Noctes at the time were concentrated in Namsang, Khonsa and the Liju area in the Tirap district of present-day Arunachal Pradesh. The Noctes had close contact with Joypur and frequently visited the area to trade salt. Most of these people spoke Assamese. Therefore, Bronson chose to work among the Noctes with a vision to go to Burma.
During this time the Bronsons had six daughters, including Sophie Bronson Titterington, who wrote several books including a short biography of her sister Maria; Maria went on to work at the school her mother had founded and was part of the Women’s Baptist Missionary Society of the West until her death from cholera at the age of 33.
From his accounts, it is known that Bronson made his first journey to Namsang, on January 7, 1839. Taking a rubber tent and an interpreter, he crossed dense forests, streams, and mountains. He was the first Caucasian to visit the area. At first, the villagers took him for a spy for the British East India Company, sent to collect information before annexing their territory. After waiting for two days by the side of the village, the Khonbao (chief) called upon him. Bronson told the villagers that he had come to learn their language and to preach the messages of the Gospel. With his geniality, soft words, and useful gifts, he was able to gain the goodwill of the Khonbao. Soon, the people accepted him into the village and the Khonbao allowed two of his sons to teach him the Nocte language. Bronson stayed in Namsang until January 29, 1839, studying and preparing a catechism in Nocte.
Bronson and his fellow missionaries brought a printing press with them to Sadiya. They learned the Assamese, Khamti and Singpho languages, and prepared to write books in those languages. Very soon the missionaries began to publish books on their press at Sadiya. When they left Sadiya for Joypur in January 1839, following the Khamti insurrection, they took their printing press with them. After his first Namsang visit, Bronson prepared a catechism book in Nocte. The book was published in 1839 and Bronson followed it up with A Spelling Book and Vocabulary, written in English, Assamese, Singpho, and Naga. During his second visit to Namsang, he presented the two books to the Bor Khonbao (acting chief). Bronson wrote how the Bor Khonbao was pleased that two books had been printed in their language; it could no longer be said that they had no books. Bronson wrote another two books for the Noctes: Vocabulary in English, Assamese Singpho and Naga (1840), and Phases in English and Naga (1840). Ruth Bronson translated Worcester’s Primer into Nocte in 1840.
Bronson made his second Namsang mission on December 20, 1839. During this visit, he established a school with the help of villagers. On March 13, 1840, he brought his wife and daughter Marie from Joypur. Initially, running the school was difficult. Only the very young and relatives of the chief were eager to read at the school; the common people had no interest in learning to read and write, as they did not have sufficient time due to the manufacture of salt and completing other domestic chores. Evening school was established and held for those who worked and could not attend the school during the daytime. The scholars came to the school with their dao (swords) and spears. The villagers were not in favor of female education and were unwilling to spare their women from their traditional duties.
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Miles Bronson
Miles Bronson (July 20, 1812 – November 9, 1883), was one of the first American Baptist missionaries who worked in the state of Assam in northeastern India.
Bronson was born in Herkimer County in New York to Deacon Bronson and Rebekah Hall Bronson and was the youngest of five children; he married Ruth Montague Lucas in 1836.
In 1835, David Scott, the Agent to the Governor General in the North-East Frontier invited American Baptist Missionaries working in Burma (now Myanmar) to come to Assam to spread Christianity and education. Rev Nathan Brown and Oliver Cutter were the first to arrive in 1837, and Bronson arrived at Sadiya in Assam on July 8, 1838. Brown and Cutter, along with their families, had landed at Sadia with the objective to go to northern Burma and southern China through Sadiya. Initially, as part of their mission, they worked among the local people by establishing co-ed schools, writing books in the local languages and preaching Christianity. He was prominent in the official recognition of the Assamese language.
After staying for almost a year, Bronson left Sadiya and moved to Joypur, Assam, in April 1838. At the time, Joypur, with its location on the bank of the Burhi Dihing River, was an important strategic point for the Company Government because of its road link to Burma. Joypur also had connections with adjoining towns, including Namsang. After the British occupation, the place became important for large-scale tea plantations. At Joypur, Bronson opened a school with the help of Captain S.F. Hannay. Bronson spent his time studying languages of the surrounding tribes, including that of the Noctes and Wanchos. The Noctes at the time were concentrated in Namsang, Khonsa and the Liju area in the Tirap district of present-day Arunachal Pradesh. The Noctes had close contact with Joypur and frequently visited the area to trade salt. Most of these people spoke Assamese. Therefore, Bronson chose to work among the Noctes with a vision to go to Burma.
During this time the Bronsons had six daughters, including Sophie Bronson Titterington, who wrote several books including a short biography of her sister Maria; Maria went on to work at the school her mother had founded and was part of the Women’s Baptist Missionary Society of the West until her death from cholera at the age of 33.
From his accounts, it is known that Bronson made his first journey to Namsang, on January 7, 1839. Taking a rubber tent and an interpreter, he crossed dense forests, streams, and mountains. He was the first Caucasian to visit the area. At first, the villagers took him for a spy for the British East India Company, sent to collect information before annexing their territory. After waiting for two days by the side of the village, the Khonbao (chief) called upon him. Bronson told the villagers that he had come to learn their language and to preach the messages of the Gospel. With his geniality, soft words, and useful gifts, he was able to gain the goodwill of the Khonbao. Soon, the people accepted him into the village and the Khonbao allowed two of his sons to teach him the Nocte language. Bronson stayed in Namsang until January 29, 1839, studying and preparing a catechism in Nocte.
Bronson and his fellow missionaries brought a printing press with them to Sadiya. They learned the Assamese, Khamti and Singpho languages, and prepared to write books in those languages. Very soon the missionaries began to publish books on their press at Sadiya. When they left Sadiya for Joypur in January 1839, following the Khamti insurrection, they took their printing press with them. After his first Namsang visit, Bronson prepared a catechism book in Nocte. The book was published in 1839 and Bronson followed it up with A Spelling Book and Vocabulary, written in English, Assamese, Singpho, and Naga. During his second visit to Namsang, he presented the two books to the Bor Khonbao (acting chief). Bronson wrote how the Bor Khonbao was pleased that two books had been printed in their language; it could no longer be said that they had no books. Bronson wrote another two books for the Noctes: Vocabulary in English, Assamese Singpho and Naga (1840), and Phases in English and Naga (1840). Ruth Bronson translated Worcester’s Primer into Nocte in 1840.
Bronson made his second Namsang mission on December 20, 1839. During this visit, he established a school with the help of villagers. On March 13, 1840, he brought his wife and daughter Marie from Joypur. Initially, running the school was difficult. Only the very young and relatives of the chief were eager to read at the school; the common people had no interest in learning to read and write, as they did not have sufficient time due to the manufacture of salt and completing other domestic chores. Evening school was established and held for those who worked and could not attend the school during the daytime. The scholars came to the school with their dao (swords) and spears. The villagers were not in favor of female education and were unwilling to spare their women from their traditional duties.