USA > Delaware > Sussex County > Some records of Sussex County, Delaware > Part 27
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"The Mission at Lewes is still vacant on account of the refractory conduct of the People, and one Mr. Harris, who intruded himself into it without the Society's Leave, and to the exclusion of the Missionary they had appointed some years ago.
"Mr. Harris did not offer to take his seat in Convention, but pre- sented to their Committee a Submission on his own part and that of two of his churches, to be transmitted to the Society, praying to be reinstated in their favour.
"But as the Church of Lewes, which is the principal one, and the seat of the Mission, had not joined in this Submission, and as those who did join in it seemed still desirous of retaining Mr. Harris among them, the Committee did not chuse to have anything to do in trans- mitting their Papers, but ordered them to be returned to themselves to be transmitted in such manner as they should think proper."
The Hon. Ryves Holt, Chief Justice, writes from Lewes June 26th, 1762, to the S. P. G. for a pastor :
"And now, Sir, permit me to subscribe myself on behalf of the Congregations of St. Peter's Church, St. George's and St. Matthewe's Chappels in Sussex aforesaid."
In 1765 the Rev. Mr. Inglis of Dover (afterward Lord Bishop of Nova Scotia) writes: "Sussex County is to be twice as large, on account of the decision of the Lord Chancellor in favour of Penn, and two Maryland churches will be added.
"Separate St. Matthew's from Lewes, and attach it to St. Paul's Kent County."
He said St. Matthew's and St. Paul's could be worked together, as they were so near each other.
The Rev. Mr. Magaw, of Dover, writes, November 14th, 1767: "Cedar Creek (St. Matthew's) is at present connected with the Lewes Town Mission."
In a letter dated July 31, 1763, the parishoners of Sussex Co., St Peter's, St George's, & St. Matthews, agree to raise so much money & a glebe for such Missionary as the Society shall see fit to send them.
1765 Resolved that the Rev. Mr Quincy of Geddington Northamp- shire be appointed Missionary to Lewes in Sussex Co. Pa., with a Salary of £40 per annum &c. Mr. Quincy did not come to Lewes.
A letter from the inhabitants in Sussex Co. dated Lewes Co. on Del. Nov. 11, 1766 requesting that Mr. John Andrews who is perfectly well recommended by Dr. Smith, Mr. Peters & many worthy Clergymen, may be appointed the Society's Missionary to the Churches of St Peters, St. Georges & St. Matthews in that County. Agreed, if the Lord Bishop of London shall find him worthy of Holy Orders. Or- dered that Mr. John Andrews be appointed to the Mission of Lewes in Sussex Co. on Del. with salary of £40 per annum to commence from Xmas last.
Letter from the Rev. Mr. John Andrews, Miss. at Lewes &c &c Cedar Creek dated Lewes 18 Nov. 1767. He met with a kind recep- tion on his arrival June 1. His Mission includes St. Peters Lewes, St Georges at Indian River & St. Matthews at Cedar Creek, to each of which he gives an equal share of his labours Since his arrival he
REV. JOHN ANDREWS, D.D. From a portrait by Sully. St. Peter's, Lewes, 1767-1770.
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has baptized 53 White, 7 Negroe & 2 Mulatto Children & has 67 Com- municants. The three churches have jointly engaged to pay annually the sum of £75 Currency towards the support of a Miss. & to allow an equivalent for a Glebe till one shall be purchased, which will be as soon as a convenient place for that purpose shall be found, for which they have agreed to give £300. Currency. Mr. Andrews, with great modesty hopes that the Society will take into their consideration that his salary is reduced & his Duty expensive & Laborious & bestow on him a gratuity which he had some hope given him. Agreed to.
Letter from Mr. John Andrews Miss. at Lewes dated Philada Aug. 4, 1768 informing the Society that he lives in great harmony with his people, who are regular in their behaviour, but rather deficient in a proper sense of Religion, which cannot seem strange as they have been so long without the performance of Public Worship They are very illiterate owing to their great poverty Several attempts have been made in vain to establish a Grammar School at Lewes, because they could not furnish salary sufficient for a man duly qualified. At Xmas administer H. C. St Peter's Lewes to 16 at Easter at St. George's 34. Whitsun Day, St. Matthew's 21. Since last Nov. has Baptized 75 White & 2 Black Children & 1 Adult. The S. P. G. agreed to make an allowance for a Schoolmaster at Lewes.
Mr. Andrews at Lewes keeps his health so ill that he prays to be removed to his native hills of Pa. Sussex on Delaware is as it were the Fens of Essex & it is to be feared there will be no stable Mission there till a person can be procured who was born in the place & is naturalized to it, tho they well deserve notice as a numerous body of Churchpeople.
Letter from Mr. Andrews Lewes April 12, 1769. He continues to officiate at St. Matthew's whereat a neat & commodious church is at present building of 40 feet by 36, & high enough to admit of galleries & two tiers of windows. The Chapel at Indian River being found too small a new one is much talked of. The Church at Lewes has been considerably repaired, & it is to the bounty of the ladies that they are indebted for an elegant pulpit cloth cushion, a Desk cloth &c of crimson silk Damask. Among the benefactors were some of the Presbyterian denomination. On Xmas Day he administered the Lord's Supper at Lewes to 16 persons only, the weather being very cold. On Easter at St. Georges to 52. Since Aug. he has Baptized 70 white & 2 Negroe children, 1 White & 4 Negroe Adults. He mentions the unhealthiness of the situation & his constitution is greatly injured by repeated attacks of Agues & fevers.
Mr. Andrews desires to leave a Minister in his place in Lewes pro- poses Mr. Lyon.
The Rev. John Andrews, D. D. was the son of Moses and Letitia Andrews, and was born in Cecil County, Maryland, 1746. He gradu- ated from the College of Philadelphia 1765. In 1767 he was ordained Deacon by the Bishop of St. David's, and Priest by the Bishop of London. In 1772 he married Mary Callender. He was Rector of York, Pa., at that time. In 1810 he became Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, in 1813 he resigned on account of ill health. He died at the age of 67 and was buried in Christ Church graveyard. He is described as being "tall and dignified and courteous, honest in opin- ions, of good judgement, benevolent, cheerful, and a fine conversa-
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tionalist. He was an eloquent preacher, and a good theologian, and won the respect of his students."
Letter from Lewes July 24, 1769 is leaving Lewes for York & Cum- berland. Speaks highly of the kindness of the people of Lewes & regrets leaving. On Whitsun Day had 24 Communicants. Since April 12, has Baptized 27 children. He arrived at York Dec. 16, 1769.
Agreed that Mr. John Lyon be appointed the Society Miss. at Lewes in Sussex Co. with the former Salary allowed to that Mission & that it may commence at Lady Day 1769.
Letter from the Rev Mr. Lyon, Miss. at Lewes dated Sussex Co Oct 24, 1770 acquainting the Society that in the course of the last year he had baptized 267 White infants-2 adult slaves, & 11 infant slaves. At Easter had 63 communicants-married 39 couples & buried 18. The people have bought a glebe, & are endeavouring to erect a house upon it, which will render his life more comfortable, provided he recovers his health.
Two letters from the Rev Mr Lyons Miss at Lewes one dated Janu- ary 23, 1770, the other April 1, 1771 In the former he excuses himself for having incurred the displeasure of the Society so early, whom he means ever to respect. He hopes they will judge favourably of his removal & he will use more caution for the time to come. His duty has been very hard, as he has been urged to go back often to the ex- tremes of the County, where he has had large Congregations of grown persons who never before attended public worship. He has visited them merely out of pity & regard, for generally speaking, he can expect no reward from them. He has been greatly indisposed, & since last July under the Doctor's care. His family, all sick, more or less. He came there 6 in a family, of whom his wife and one more are dead. He writes April 1, 1771 that the state of his Mission is growing, & promises fair, & his health is better. Since the 25th of Oct. 1770 he has Baptized 39 infants, married 24 couples, & buried 14 persons. Urged by necessity he has drawn a quarter's salary.
Rev Mr Lyon Lewes Miss. Letter dated New York Dec. 14, 1771 acquainting the Society that finding himself in a low & poor state of health last April, he had retired for a number of weeks to a Northern climate; where he has recovered equal to his wishes, & when he wrote this letter was upon his return home. He requests some Bibles, Prayer Books & pious Tracts.
Letter from the Rev Mr. Lyons Miss at Lewes dated April 28, 1772, in which he writes the same about the protested bills as Dr. Peters, adding that the charges on the bill will be suspended, till he hears from the Secretary. He encloses a copy of the Notary's Protest. Since Easter last he has baptized 2 White Adults & 181 infants, 1 Black adult & 8 Black infants, married 52 couples & buried 13 corpses.
Rev. Mr Lyon Lewes Oct. 25, 1772 acknowledges receipt of Secre- tary's letter of the 25 of March last, & the books. Wishes there had been some of Burkett's tracts, his help & guide to Xtian families, for those pieces have been of great use to the people who have been prejudiced against the Church. He gratefully mentions the So- ciety's favor in answering his renewed bill for £70. but wishes to have some directions with regard to the damages of £14 19s- 3d. with interest, which he is liable to pay. The state of the Mission much the same. He has officiated in three churches on Sundays, & at other
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times preached in remote parts, as far as the borders of Maryland, to the number of 86 sermons since he came to the Mission.
Rev Mr Lyon Lewes April 12, 1773 states that his services have been as usual, having Baptized since last Easter 239 White, 27 Black infants & 4 Black adults. He intends in future, on every third Sunday in the afternoon, to give a Lecture in some part of the Forest among the poor people, which he humbly trusts the Society will promote by granting some annual encouragement.
Rev. Mr Lyon Lewes Nov. 22, 1773 acquainting the Society that the many fatigues of his Mission, together with his indisposition of body have determined him to accept of a parish in Virginia. The Rev. Mr. Tingley who will be recommended by Dr. Smith is ready to supply his place. The parish has purchased a piece of land for £190 Pa Currency, for a glebe, towards which he has contributed £10. He has been with the people entirely for 3 months after Easter, since which he has been with them occassionally. He has now but one petition to leave in favour of the Forest part of the Mission, whose lands are under water a great part of the year, they are therefore very poor He hopes that his successor will have special directions to visit them, at least one half of of the time at present allotted to St Georges, which is every third Sunday. He concludes with thanks to the Society for their last letter of the 4th of March & for the many favours re- ceived from them.
The Rev. John Lyon was born in New England, and was son of Mathew Lyon of Warrington, Lancashire, England. He matriculated 1743.
Bishop Meade speaks of the Rev John Lyon who came to St. Georges Accomac County Virginia, from Rhode Island. That is a mistake. Lyon went to Accomac from Lewes.
The Society agreed not to appoint the Rev Mr. Tingley until they should be better informed about him.
Letter from the Rev. Mr Tingley Miss at Lewes Nov. 10, 1774 that tho. no answer had been given to Dr Peters & the other clergyman's recommendation of him to succeed to the Mission of Lewes, he has officiated there from Oct. 14 1773, duly attending the several churches, which are one more in number than mentioned in the last Abstract, Viz. St Georges at Indian River. Besides the duties of his Mission, he has frequently officiated in an old ruinous church in the Forest, to a poor people, who are 8 miles distant from St Georges. In the Winter he has gone to them on Saturdays on his way to Cedar Creek, and in the Summer after evening service on Sundays. His churches are generally well filled & the people pay great attention. He has administered the sacrament 4 times in each church. Communicants 110. He has baptized 6 white adults, & 202 Children. 13 Black Adults & 43 children. Marriages 36. Burials 14. He catechises the children in town of Friday afternoons in the church, & hears them repeat portions of the Psalms. The Negroes he catechises on Sundays after the evening service. He hopes to prove himself a diligent Mis- sionary if the Society should be pleased to appoint him. The whole Library delivered to him by the Church Wardens consists of the following books Burkett on the New Testament, Burnet on 39 Articles, Barrows Works, 2 vols. folio, Book of Homilies, Archbishop Tillotsons Sermon's 1 Vol. folio, Stanhopes Epistles & Gospels 3d &
1
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4th Volumes. The Society directed the Rev. Mr. Tingley to use every means to recover the missing books.
Mr Tingley Miss at Lewes in a letter dated June 12, 1775 states that it was not until last Good Friday that he had the agreeable news of his appointment to that Mission, owing to the Miscarriage of a letter from Dr. Smith. He encloses a letter from the Church Wardens of Lewes expressing their thanks for his appointment & acquainting the Society that he has from the 23d of Nov. 1773 duly attended the duties of his Mission to general acceptance, besides occasionally preaching in the Forest. 25 Prayer Books to be sent to the Rev Mr Tingley whenever they can be conveyed with safety.
REV. SYDENHAM THORNE OF ST. PAUL'S KENT COUNTY.
Rev. Mr Thorne dated New York 5th Oct. 1778 which place he has obtained permission from those in power to visit, proposing to return to his Residence 200 miles off in the course of a week or two. About the beginning of Nov. 1774 he went to his Mission, where he was gladly received by the people, who did everything for him that his heart could wish for, both as to makeing his own situation easy, & also in repairing the churches. He continued to exercise the several Duties of his Calling for nearly three years, & never omitted praying for his most Gracious Sovereign, though frequently threatened with loss of life, if he did not desist. The Legislature of the State, as it is now called, then enacted a Treason Law by which praying for the King became a capital offence. In consequence of this he forbore preaching in the Churches; but as occasion required has preached at Funerals. He has lately prevailed upon a Religious Good Man to read Prayers in the churches, which he hopes may be a means of keeping the congregations together during the present times of con- fusion. He has been very happy in residing among a people dis- tinguished for their Loyalty & Affection to the British Constitution; and he cannot recollect a single member belonging to either of his congregations who hath taken an active part against the Government. They still retain the highest affection for it, & are every day more & more sensible of the inestimable benefits resulting from it. Before these unhappy disputes, his congregations were large & continued growing during the whole time of his preaching. The number that commonly attended was between 7 & 800 at each church. The num- ber of communicants about 100. Baptisms yearly between 4 & 500. Burials about 40. Marriages between 50 & 60.
His zeal for the British Constitution & the peculiar obligations he was under, as a clergyman of the Church of England, urged him to oppose the measures of Congress, Committees &ca as far as he consistly could. This soon rendered him obnoxious to the Resent- ment of that Party, who, at 4 different periods, summoned him before their. Committee, & more particularly, for not attending church on a fast day appointed by Congress. He was, however, always fortunate enough to extricate himself from them, without receiving much more Injury, than a little personal abuse. He has drawn for £40 in favour of Capt. Henry Coupar. Allowed by the Society.
From the Rev. Mr. Tingley Miss at Lewes in Sussex Co., at Cedar Creek, & at St Georges at Indian River, dated New York 5th March
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1782, apologizing for his long silence of six years, owing entirely to his situation, so remote & unconnected with New York, & the diffi- culties of the time which prevented his writing with any freedom. The fury of the persecution in his Mission is much abated. He has the satisfaction, however, of informing the Society, that during all their late, or present confusions, the members of the Church in his Mission have generally been loyal, two or three families excepted, who tho' Churchmen by profession are Presbyterians by trade. These joined with the hot-brained zealots among the Presbyterians, who have, almost without exception, been fiery advocates for Inde- pendence. Amidst the greatest fury, however, of the political storm, the church has been kept open; & in spite of threats of ill treatment he has persevered in the faithful discharge of his duty. After the Declaration of Independency, indeed, from a regard for the safety of his hearers, his family, or himself, he could not be so explicit, as he wished, in praying for the King. Unfortunately for him, his clerical Brethren of Philadelphia, far too generally, he thinks, made such compliance as are utterly repugnant to the principles, which must necessarily be interwoven in the very heart, soul, & mind of a Church- man; & so having none of great & established characters to consult with, he was left wholly to be directed by his own prudence. He verily believes it was by the merciful direction of Heaven itself, that, in this trying emergence, when he came to the petition, "O Lord save the King" it occurred to him at the moment to say, "O Lord, save those, whom Thou hast made it our especial duty to pray for," & this form he has continued to use ever since, making also a similar alteration in the Litany. He & his people can safely appeal to 'the Great Searcher of hearts for the integrity of their meaning; & thank- ful as they are for even so much indulgence, they trust they shall be forgiven for an apparent, but unavoidable, instance of duplicity. Some such management was absolutely necessary; as, had he been prevented altogether from preaching, his Flock must needs have been scattered. In so critical a situation, he was determined by all possible prudential means, to avoid the evil of having his church shut up, as foreseeing, that, if this were once done, he should never be able to have them opened again, but under the most humiliating & dishonourable circumstances. The same predential considera- tions determine him still to abide by the same form, tho' somewhat different from what he now finds is used by other loyal Missionaries, whose judgement he has the greatest respect for; inasmuch as the making any alterations now might lead to unfavorable suspicions; & he knows there are those who regard him with a jealous eye. Mr. Tingley's difficulties & Sufferings, he says, have been many & great; but, as the Society have already had many of a similar nature, he willingly spares them a circumstantial detail. Some comfortable refreshments for himself & his more distressed family were sent to them from their relations in New York; but these the Committees ordered to be seized; & armed multitudes were full ready, with many aggravating circumstances, to put their orders in execution; though his weak & dying wife begged a small part only of the things as medi- cine. It is a great consolation to him, that both she & his Mother, three years ago, were removed to that blessed place where the wicked cease from troubling & the weary are at rest. Ever since that time,
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he has been daily employed in travelling & preaching about the County which bounds his Mission; & sometimes by special invitation into the adjoining Province of Maryland; always & to the utmost of his power, strengthening & confirming the Brethren. In this duty, he has travelled at least 3000 miles a year. Notwithstanding his frequent preaching, such is the well-known backwardness of people in general in those countries to contribute, even according to their abilities, toward the decent support of Ministers; such have been the necessities of the times; such the rapid depreciation of their paper currency; he has been so pinched in his circumstances, that he may truly say, he has often scarcely had bread to eat, or raiment to put on. The opportunity he now enjoys of drawing on the Society, he is truly thankful for, as the expectation of it has been the chief support of his spirits, in the many years that he has had hardly any resources, but the little sums he could borrow from his friends. Two years ago, he had intended & endeavoured to obtain leave to visit New York, but could not. Nay, so jealous were they of him, that he was not even permitted to see two prisoners, on his return, who had been confined there; & from whom he hoped to have learned some tidings of his relations there. At length, however, Providence very un- expectedly raised him up a friend, Mr. John Dickinson, heretofore celebrated as the Pennsylvania Farmer, & lately chosen Governour of the new State of Delaware; who has procured him a permit to go & return from New York, unmolested. The weather has lately been more inclement that had been known for many years; & the roads also are particularly bad; so that he was eleven days on his journey from Lewes to New York, in which he had, when he wrote, been 16 days; but proposed to return in a few days to his family, his Mission, & his duty. He thanked God that he can now think of with less pain, as from a conviction either of the injustice, or the ill policy of it, that violent spirit, which, a few years ago, was so intolerant & intolerable, is now much abated. The inhabitants of Sussex Co. are remarkably subject to Ague & Fever, always in the Fall of the year; & Mr Tingley & his family have been & still are exceedingly afflicted with it. In the hope, therefore, that the good Providence of God, in compassion of both countries, may again restore their former happy connection, he takes the liberty now to entreat of the Society, to be appointed to any Mission near New York, his native & healthful climate. Being obliged, notwithstanding the better temper of the times, to set out on this journey, with some caution. Mr. Tingley had it not in his power to consult & take abstracts of the different Registers of his Mission so exactly as the Society requires. He is prepared, therefore, now to say only, that he has baptized several thousands since he wrote last; & among them many Blacks, from 60 years old to 2 months. This account may seem extraordinary to those who are not particularly well acquainted with the nature of the country, in which he resides, & who do not know that there is not now another clergyman in a district of an hundred miles in length; so that he has seldom performed public service without having at the same time 30, 40, or 50 Baptisms. People ride many miles, to enjoy the opportunity once more to worship God agreeable to the order of their own Church; & bring, with eager delight, their gift & heritage that cometh of the Lord, to Him, in the laver of Regeneration. He
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has, moreover, for these three years past, had to encounter with the enthusiastic notions of swarms of ignorant Methodists & Anabaptists, whose absurdities seem to him to have a direct tendency to overturn all order & decency in the Church, as the wretched principles of those who call themselves Whigs (a softer name for Rebels!) have to over- turn the State. For the reasons above assigned, Mr. Tingley says, he has not drawn on the Society since May 24, 1776, so that now May 24, 1782 the Society owed him six years salary. For this viz. £240 he now draws in favour of Mess. Edward & William Laight; as it may be a long time before he has another opportunity of drawing.
Rev. Mr Tingley Lewes June 18, 1783 expressing great satis- faction & gratitude, on hearing, as he but lately has, that the Society have accepted & paid his bills He has again drawn for his salary to the 24 May 1783, which he should not have attempted without their express permission which he has been favoured with through Dr. Inglis. Since he last wrote to the Society he has been employed, as he has been for several years, in almost constantly traveling & preach- ing in different parts of the Country. He has baptized at least between 8 & 900 has married 40 couples & buried 40 corpses; but by no means all in his own Mission The number of Communicants has greatly increased.
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