USA > Delaware > New Castle County > New Castle > Sketch of early ecclesiastical affairs in New Castle, Delaware, and history of Immanuel Church > Part 2
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Domine Fabritius came to New Castle to look after some property belonging to his wife, and only remained for a short time at this visit, but he afterwards, as will appear, became quite a prominent figure on the Delaware river, and took part in many affairs which were not always to his credit or the good name of his religion. He seems to have been a second Lokenius in that respect.
(1) Hazard's Annals, 377.
(2). Albany Records 12, 473. 2
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A few years after the English occupation, the Indians became troublesome and fears were entertained of an uprising among them. The old fort was decayed, and from its situation on the 'river bank and at the end of the town, would not be suitable, if repaired, to protect the people from Indian attacks; therefore, it was pro- posed, in the fall of 1670, to build a new fort near the centre of the town, as will appear by the following extract from a communication by the authorities of New Castle to the Governor and Council at New York, dated October 8, 1670; "That it was thought the market place, where the bell hangs, was the most convenient place in New Castle to erect block houses for defensive purposes," and it was resolved to give the order accordingly, "provided that his Honor, Captain Carr, shall cede forever the necessary ground thereto, without retaining any claim on it as to the expenses and labor, required for the aforesaid fortifications and block house, the citizens of New Castle are first to advance money each according to his means and position." (1). The work on the fort appears to have been greatly delayed, notwithstanding Governor Lovelace several times strongly urged its completion, and money coming from the license for distilling, was appropriated to the work. Finally in the summer of 1672, Governor Lovelace ordered the authorities at New Castle to have the fort finished by November under a heavy penalty, and it was probably finished by that time. The fort contained within its limits a Court House and Prison. Immanuel Church now stands upon its site.
(1). Albany Records 12, 474.
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IN NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.
CHAPTER II. 1671-1689.
Magister Jacobus Fabritius in trouble. Sent to New York. Ap- pointed Minister at Old Swedes Church, Philadelphia. Aeme- lius De Ringh Reader in the Church. Location of Dutch Church. Rev. John Yeo first Church of England Clergyman. Letter to Archbishop of Canterbury. Captain Christopher Billop. Domine Petrus Tesschenmaker appointed to Dutch Church, Goes to Schenectady and is massacred. Arrival of Fenn.
Jacobus Fabritius the Lutheran Minister came to New Castle to settle during the early fall of 1671, as on August 21st of that year, we find him petitioning to Gov. Lovelace "for liberty to give his congregation (at Albany) a valedictory sermon, and to install the new come minister according to the custom used by those of their religion," which was approved. (1) The cause of his leaving the congregation at Albany was that he had gotten himself into hot water at that place, amongst other things, for not baptizing several children on ap- plication. His life at New Castle was not free from trouble, but he seems to have gotten along satisfactorily for a time.
In the month of September, 1673, the colony again passed under the dominion of the Dutch, which fol- lowed the capture of New York by them on July 30th. The first, of the instructions to the newly appointed Dutch Commander at New Castle, was "to see that sin-
(1) Hazard's Annals 388.
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cere, true Christian religion, in conformity with the Synod of Dortrecht, be taught, and to maintain it by all proper means, without tolerating, that people hold- ing another belief may make the least attempt against it." (I) Thus a disposition was shown to be illiberal towards these not worshiping according to the Synod of Dortrecht.
Domine Fabritius who had been frequently in trouble with his friends, soon incurred the displeasure of the authorities, who were hostile to his belief, and we find in the following February he was tried for hav- ing married a couple "without having any lawful au- thority thereto, and without publication of bans." The Domine was condemned and declared to be incapable of performing the functions of a minister for the time of one year. After his conviction, Fabritius petitioned that the sentence against him should be mitigated so far, that he might be allowed to baptize. His request was granted. (2) At the same Court he was tried for striking Mary Jansen. Fabritius confessed to the strik- ing, but said she "provoked him to it by scolding." He was fined "two beavers, cuin expenses." (3) While Fabritius was ministering at New Castle his wife re- inained at Albany (N. Orange), and he probably passed part of the time there, and certainly succeeded in keep- ing in trouble at both places, as will appear by the fol- lowing "Petition against Rev. J. Fabritius, 24th Feb- ruary, 1674. To the Worship'll of Heeren, President, Burgomasters and Schepens of the City of N. Orange. Annitze Cornelis represents with very great humility that she hath divers times, requested that the house be-
(1) Albany Records Vol. 12, 510.
(2) Hazard's Annals 412.
(3) Albany Records Vol. 23, p. 169.
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IN NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.
longing to her and her children from God and nature may be given up to her, as she is very sickly and be- laden with the Quartan Ague, having been obliged the whole winter to sleep in the garrett under the roof of the house, which truly is a very hard thing to happen to an old woman, and all this for a drunken and constant prophaner of God's name, a ci-devant Lutheran preach- er, named, as he says, Jacobus Fabritius, her married but unfaithful husband, who has driven her out of her own house and chamber which she intended for her son : which is truly a matter that ought not to be tolerated in a place where law is maintained as is the case in this government, the good God be fervently thanked there- for. The Petitioner therefore humbly beseeches your Worships to be pleased to order that he deliver up the key of the room without delay to the Petit'r and to in- terdict and forbid him to presume to enter the house any more until further order from your Worships on pain of certain arbitrary correction to be found fitting by your Worships, the rather as said Fabritius did yesterday, not only use force and violence in said house, but also stole property, which at a proper time shall be proved : Whereupon" &c. This petition was received in Court and the Petitioner's request was granted and allowed, "especially as Jacobus Fabritius hath himself left the house and contrary to the previous order and prohibi- tion given him, hath behaved very uncivilly and badly, and the said Jacobus Fabritius is ordered to deliver up the said key to the Petitioner, and not to presume to molest her in any way until the W. Court shall other- wise provide therein" (1). The order had only a tem- porary effect upon the unruly Parson as will appear by the following case in Court at N. Orange, July 17, 1674.
(1) O Call Vol. 3, p. 399.
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"The Hr. Schout de Mill, Plft, agst Jacobus Fabritius, Dft
The Hr. Plft says that the Deft contrary to the order of this Court came by force on the 11th July last into the house of Annetje Cornelis his wife, and brought in there a chest against her will and consent : pushed a certain woman named Barentie with her spinning wheel off the road'and moreover, when he was warned to keep still or that the Schout should otherwise have to be brought he gave for answer, He was tired of the Schout and Burgomaster, and when the Schout came himself with order to remove him, the Deft, he resisted the sol- diers, pushing him, Plft, on the breast with many other evil acts : The Hr. Plft demands that the offender shall at least be banished forever out of this city's jurisdiction or otherwise punished according to his deserts as a per- son unworthy to live in a well regulated Burghery, having committed divers offenses against the laws and ordinances of our Fatherland : with the costs incurred and still to accrue." The Court condemned Fabritius to pay a fine of fl. 100 for the benefit of the Schout and to ask the Court's pardon for the insults and injuries com- mitted against it (1).
The second occupation by the Dutch of the colony on Delaware was of short duration, as in accordance with the treaty of peace between England and Holland signed at Westminster, February 19, 1674, the English resumed possession in November, 1674. After the English government was re-instated much more liberality in religious matters was shown; the court gave orders respecting the churches, and the ministrations were directed by it. From this time worship in the church
(1) O Callaghan His. N. Y., Vol. 3, p. 400.
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IN NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.
at New Castle was not during five years, confined to those of any one belief, but any minister who might be available, whatever his faith, was appointed, while a reader was constantly retained who conducted services in the church in the absence of a minister.
On June 1, 1675, the Lutherans on Delaware river, in a petition to the Governor General say, that in De- cember, 1672, two congregations were established, one above Verditrige Hook under Mgr. Laers (Lokenius) the other below that point (which included New Castle) un- der Rev. Jacobus Fabritius and praying that the same be confirmed. (I) Their request was probably granted, at all events, Fabritius was again at New Castle and almost immediately was again in hot water, which happened in this way. Under the order of the Governor General, for the construction of highways where necessary, the Magistrates, inet at New Castle on June 4, 1673, and de- cided, in order to make a road across the marsh, it would be necessary to build an outside dyke in marsh next to the town and also one across Hans Block's marsh, the second marsh above, and ordered that all the inhabitants should assist by work or money ; this meeting was held in the church and the order was looked upon as unjust in so far as it applied to Hans Block's dyke on account of that being private property. The scene which fol- lowed the promulgation of the order is well described in the following "Declaration" "Declaration of the un- dersigned concerning what has been done last 4th of June during the gathering of the people in consequence of the construction and repairs of the two outer dykes. As soon as we had read and promulgated the order concern- ing it, John Ogle, who was still in the church, took the
(1) Albany Record, Vol, 12 529.
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word in an arrogant manner and said. 'We will not make Hans Block's dyke, nor the other dyke either.' Capt. Cantwell answered 'You John Ogle, are an En- glishman, but it does not behoove you to make such an ado among so many people;' he took him by the arm and shoved him out of the Church, whereupon one Mathys Smith said in a like arrogant manner, 'That man speaks the truth and we repeat what he says' ad- ding other improper words. Capt. Cantwell called for the constable to place this inan into the stocks, but as the constable was not at hand and Mathys Smith con- tinued with the foul language, Capt. Cantwell was forced to strike him several times with his rattan ; Magis- ter Jacobus Fabritius called out very insolently 'That man has done no wrong, he speaks the truth. If he must go to prison, then I too will go,' and other bad words, which do not become a priest. As the constable did not come, we thought it advisable to prevent other mischief and have the aforesaid John Ogle and magis- ter Fabritius brought down to the yacht. The priest was very angry on the way to the boat, and when Capt. Cantwell wanted to take him by the arm, he swore and scolded saying, 'may the Devil take you, if you touch me,' and other impious words. In the boat he still made use of his foul language, so that some people passing the boat called out 'take hold of him, take hold of him;' others armed with swords and sticks swore at each other and looked as if a great mishap had sprung up suddenly, so that we resolved at the request of several to have the aforesaid John Ogle and Magister Fabritius brought ashore again. A few days after we had had the con- firmation of our order affixed on the Church door, I, Hans Block met John Ogle on the street and spoke with him about the late meeting, created by him and others;
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IN NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.
he said if the Finns had been drunk no good would have come of it. I answered, that the confirmation of our or- der was now there affixed on the church door, whereupon he said' 'I care no more for your order than for this dirt on the street here,' kicking the same with his foot.
HANS BLOCK. JOHN MOLL, DUCH ALBERTS." (I)
Ogle and Fabritius were soon arrested and sent to New York for trial, and at a council held in New York, September 15, 1675, it was ordered "that ye said Magis- ter Fabritius in regard of his being guilty of what is laid to has charge and his former irregular life and conversation, be suspended from exercising his functions as a minister or preach any more within this government either in public or private." (2) This Rev. Fabritius whose life and habits were certainly a disgrace to his profession, appears to have relieved New Castle of his presence from this time. In a suit brought against him in the Court at New Castle 6th February 1676, the plain- tiff testified that the defendant Fabritius now is and has for a long time been absent out of the view. (3) In 1677, Fabritius was appointed to the Wiccacoe Church, now Gloria Dei Philadelphia, and delivered his first ser- mon there on TrinitySunday of that year. Five years afterwards he had the misfortune to become blind and continued so until the time of his death. Acrelius says on page 177 of his history that Fabritius died nine years after becoming blind which would be in 1691, but this is a mistake as the following record is found in the proceedings of the Provincial Council on August 8, 1693.
(1) Albany Records, Vol. 12, 53I.
(2) Idem 540.
(3) New Castle Co. Record A. 56.
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"Upon the complaint of Magister Jacobus Fabri- cus, the Sweeds minister, That being blind he was re- duced to that povertie that hee had not where upon to Live. Ordered, That the church-wardens of their church have notice to appear att the Councill the fifteenth in- stant, to make answer to the said complaint." (1) There is no evidence that the church-wardens appeared upon that day and no further reference seems to have been made to the matter. The records of old Swedes Church Philadelphia, show that Fabritius ceased to be rector in 1691, but do not tell when he died.
In the year 1675 William Edmundson "a Public Friend " visited New Castle and found it difficult to be entertained, "the inhabitants being chiefly Dutch and Finns, and addicted to drunkenness, who refused him though he had money. He applied to the Chief Mag- istrate, Cantwell, to complain that they could not pro- cure lodgings even for money, who commanded the keeper of an ordinary to receive them, and himself promised him anything he needed. " (2) This incident as well as numerous cases in the court records of those times, of carousals, fights and robberies show that people and pastors were alike degraded in habits of life and morals.
Aemelius DeRingh, about the time of the re-occu- pation of New Castle by the English, was appointed Reader in the Church and received for several years more or less compensation by subscriptions from the people, and on April 14, 1677, he complained to the Court at New Castle, "that a number of persons, of whom he furnishes a list, had promised to contribute to his maintenance as a reader in the church, with an
Minutes of the Provincial Council Vol. I. page 386.
(2) Hazards Annals, 422.
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IN NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.
order of Court May 10, 1675, and another of November IIth last past, and that notwithstanding, he cannot receive his promised maintenance :" the Court confirm the order to the sheriff "to levy the money of the unwilling by distress." (1) Aemelius DeRingh owned and resided on the lot on which now stands the old Presbyterian Church, and his deed recorded in the Recorder's office for this county shows that his lot was bounded on the northeast by the church yard, which is sufficient proof of the location of the old Dutch church on the spot which is now occupied by the new Presby- terian Church. Very many of the early settlers must have been buried in this churchyard but no stone marks the grave of any one of them. A very few tombstones now exist in this yard and none of an earlier date than 1773. How long DeRingh acted as reader in the church the records do not show, but he was living, as appears by the list of taxables, as late as 1689.
On May 25, 1677, the Court "considering that the late church warden, Martin Rosamond, being deceased, some fit persons ought to be appointed to supply and administer the said place of church warden in this town of New Castle, have therefore, thought fit to appoint Mr. Hendrick Williams and Mr. John Harman to be church wardens in the room of the deceased for and during the space of one year next ensuing this date." (2) On July 12, 1677 Captain Colier gave a fine due him to " Aemelius DeRingh the Reader of the Church. " (3)
The next clergyman who was regularly appointed at New Castle was a clergyman of the Church of Eng- land, the first minister of that church, so far as any
(1) Hazard's Annals. 436.
(2) New Castle Co. Rec., A, 88.
(3) Idem, p. 122.
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records show, who had ever held service on the Dela- ware river. He came to New Castle in December, 1677. He was not regularly appointed by the Court until the next March, as the following extract from the pro- ceedings of the Court on. the 7th of that month will show : "Mr. John Yeo minister, being lately come out of Maryland, this day appearing in Court did exhibit and produce his letter of orders & License to Read Divine service, administer the Holy Sacraments & preach ye word of God, according to ye laws & consti- tutions of the Church of England. The court have accepted of ye said John Yeo, upon ye approbation of his Hon. the Governor : hee to be mayntayned by the gifts of ye free willing givers with which the said John Yeo declared to be contented." (1)
This was Mr. Yeo's appointment by the Court after receiving the approval of the Governor; but his own statement that he had come to New Castle in December 1677, is confirmed by the records of the Court ; one show- ing that on January 3rd, he produced in Court a patent for land on Christiana Creek (2), and on same day bond of Arthur Carelton of Cecil Co. Md., to him was entered : and another on March 6, reciting that"Mr. John Yeo, Mr. Emelius DeRingh, Mr. Hendrich Williams and Mr. Jan Harman did present Mr. Walter Wharton for marrying himself or being married directly contrary to ye known laws of England and laws and customs of this Province." (3) This clergyman seems to have been a great im- provement in every way over the Swedish ministers who had been stationed at New Castle, although he got him- self into some trouble before he left, as will appear. He
(1) New Castle Co. Record A, p. 235.
(2) Idem 208.
(3) Idem 225.
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IN NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.
was a man of prominence in Maryland where he had lived for some years. Dr. Hawks in his History of the P. E. Church in Maryland says that in 1676, (I) "A letter had been written by the Rev. Mr. Yeo of Patuxent, to the Archbishop of Canterbury, presenting a picture, which it must be confessed, was hideous enough. "The Province of Maryland,' (thus he wrote) 'is in a deplora- ble condition for want of an established ministry. Here are ten or twelve counties, and in them at least twenty thousand souls; and but three Protestant minis- ters of the Church of England. The priests are pro- vided for, and the Quakers take care of those that are speakers ; but no care is taken to build up Churches in Protestant religion. The Lord's Day is profaned; re- ligion is despised, and all notorious vices are committed; so that it is become a Sodom of uncleanness, and a pest house of iniquity. As the Lord Baltimore has lately gone to England, I have made bold to address this to your Grace, to beg that your Grace would be pleased to solicit him for some established support for a Protestant ministry.' " The picture Mr. Yeo makes of the condition of morals and religion in Maryland can well be credited when we see what it was at the same time on the Dela- ware. This letter attracted much attention at the time in England, and through the Bishop of London, the at- tention of Lord Baltimore while in England, was called to it; but he ignored all demands for a provision for the Protestant clergy and whether or not any enmity towards Mr. Yeo was excited in him by the letter which caused Mr. Yeo's retirement for a time from Maryland, is not stated, his removal, however, to New. Castle soon after that incident, will justify such a conclusion.
The records do not show how long Mr. Yeo minis-
(I) Dr. Hawks P. E. Church. Vol. 2, p. 48.
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tered to the people at New Castle but probably for some months fully, and afterwards, to a limited extent, until 1681. The following Court record shows that he had some trouble in 1679. "In Court March 4, 1679, Mr. John Yeo preferring in Court a petition showing that he the petitioner came to this place in ye month of Decem- ber, 1677, and was received as minister to be maintained by the voluntary subscriptions of ye inhabitants and that he continued in ye ministerial office until he was denied the same, by Capt. Christopher Billop, the then Commander of this place without any manifest proof of any crime deserving such suspension. The said peti- tioner thereupon humbly desiring this Court to grant him an order for a quantum meruit proportionable to the time of his the said Petitioner's preaching to the people of this place being one third part of the subscrip- tions, and also for the other perquisites due to him ye Petitioner for baptizing of children, marriages and burials, etc. The Court answer that since the Petitioner Mr. Veo after he had been some small time here, did then in open congregation in ye church, voluntarily out of his own accord, throw up ye people's subscriptions he saying and openly then declaring freely to discharge them. The Court can therefore not charge thein again since the Petitioner himself so publicly discharged them, and if Capt. Billop (as without any order he did) has given ye Petitioner that subscription back, the Court are of opinion that therefore the Petitioner may have his remedy against him ye said Capt. Billop, etc. But as for the perquisites of Marriages, Baptismns and Burials, the Petitioners ought to be paid for ye same what is just and equitable." (1) A peculiar condition of affairs is here disclosed, in the statement, that the commander of
(1) New Castle County Records "B" p. 48.
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IN NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.
the fori should claim the right to deny the minister the exercise of his functions when as we have seen the power to regulate Church affairs was delegated to the Court. The exercise of this power was doubtless made by Capt. Billop without any right, as he seems to have been a very arbitrary and tyrannical individual and carried things with a high hand as shown on more occasions than one. About this time he had deprived the Court of the use of the Court room and prison which were within the fort, using the first for storing hay and the prison as his stable, and when remonstrated with by the Court answered, that the Court "should not sit in the fort and that it did not concern the Court, but after a long dispute the said Capt. Billop promised to remove his horses etc., out of the fort and cause the same to be made clean, and he said the Court might sit there again and that the sheriff might use the prison." (1) It is a singular coincidence that a descendant of this Capt. Christopher Billop was, about one hundred and eighty years after this time, rector of Immanuel Church.
After leaving New Castle Mr. Yeo went to Calvert Co., Maryland. Scharp on page 284 of his History of Maryland says; "In Jan. 1675, Mr. Jeremiah Eaton devised by will his estate of Stokely Manor, containing five hundred acres, to the first Protestant minister who would settle in Baltimore County and to his successors. The liberal bequest induced Mr. Yeo the Archbishop's correspondent to remove in 1682 from Calvert to Baltimore County where he was the first resident minis- ter of any denomination of whom we have any notice." Mr. Yeo was the first Church of England clergyman in Maryland, (2) the first at New Castle, and afterwards the first in Baltimore.
(1) New Castle County Record A. 247. (2) Johnston's His. Cecil Co. 205.
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