USA > Delaware > New Castle County > Wilmington > The records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, Del., from 1697 to 1773 > Part 16
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July 22nd the pastor informed the Church Council of the Highworthy Provost's conclusion with regard to a school master for Christina, that notwithstanding the pastor and the elders of the church had requested that Mr. Hernbohm should come down here to the congregation as also he had been recommended to them by the High- worthy Bishop, nevertheless as he had already made a good beginning in instructing certain of the upper congregatian's children, so that he could not soon be spared without detriment to thein, the Herr Provost thought it advisable that Mr. Gioding should be encouragingly asked to undertake school-keeping, as he had formerly on this side as well as the other side of the - river done the young good service which proposition as no one could say anything against it was requested to be promoted and set in operation.
August 26th. The Church Council mnet to consult about building a kitchen at the parsonage and though they had thought of building a house of timber yet on account of the difficulty of inducing the congregation to prepare and bring forward the timber they concluded
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to build a framne house, and Eskel Johansson promised to imake it as good as possibly could be and of not less value than a timber house.
September 12th. The Church Council contracted with Eskel Johansson to build the above mentioned kitchen building and promised him £7, 10 shil., for the work which should include cutting and preparing the tim- ber, setting it up, and roofing, and laying the floor so soon as plank for it could be sawed and fited or the work.
RECORD OF MARRIAGES 1716.
r. Anders Gustafsson Johansson, and Miss Mary Mansson, married January 3d.
3. Jonas Stalcop and Miss Judith Van de Ver, married January 5th.
3. Hendric Stedham and Miss Elizabeth Tossawa, married January 29th.
4. Erasmus Stedham and widow Helena Petersson, married May IIth.
5. Jasper Walraven and Miss Maria Snecker, married May 24th.
6. Joseph Barker and Miss Johanna Clayton, married Sep- tember 27th.
7. William Forehead and Miss Maria Stedham, married November 6th.
RECORD OF BAPTISMS 1716.
I. Gustaf Cock and wife Anna's child Catharina, born Deceni- ber 28th, 1715, baptized January Ist.
2. Peter Classon and wife Walborg's child Jesper, born Febru- ary 21st, baptized February 27th.
3. William Abraham and wife Maria's child Joseph, born Feb- ruary 18th, baptized March 4th.
4. Ante Wainan and wife Margaretta's child Maria, born March 8th, baptized March 1Ith.
5. Martin Gustafsson and wife Brita's child Gustaf, born March 19th, baptized March 25th.
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6. Olof Pâlsson and wife Elizabeth's child Susanna, baptized April 4th, 3 weeks old.
7. Anders Loinan and wife Brita's child Joran, born May 19th, baptized May 27th.
8. Jonas Stalcop and wife Judith's child Johan, born May 26th, baptized June 3d.
9. Olof Mânson and wife Anna's child Johannes, (in St. Georges) baptized June 5th.
IO. Richard Enos and wife Susanna's child Elizabeth, born March 30th, baptized June 17th.
II. Lucas Lucasson Stedham and wife Ingeborg's child Peter, born June 18th, baptized June 24th.
12. Gustaf Hessellius and wife Lydia's child Andreas, born July 28th, baptized July 29th.
13. Israel Peterson and wife Margaeretta's child Lylof, born July 28th, baptized August 5th.
14. Staffan Cornelius and wife Williminka's child Gustaf, born August 3d, baptized August 5th.
15. Michael Meyers and wife Anna's child William, born July 16th, baptized August 12th.
16. Simon Johansson and wife Anna's child Maria, (in Elk River,) baptized August 12th, 8 weeks old.
17. William Maslander and wife Helena's child William born August 17th, baptized September 9th.
18. Johan Stalcop and wife Maria's child Matthias, born Sep- tember 26th, baptized September 30th.
19. Bille Cock and wife Emma's child Johan, baptized October 2Ist, 10 months old.
20. Timotheus Adamsson Stedham and wife Engelke's child Magdalena, (necessary baptized September 4th.
21, Pastor Hessellius and wife Sara's child Petrus, born November 7th, baptized November IIth.
22. Hindric Garrisson and wife Kerstin's child Conrad, born November 16th, baptized November 18th.
- 23. Johannes de Foss and wife Hannah's child Anne, baptized November 25th, 10 months old, and only through the neglect of parents and contempt of all advice without the least excuse has been kept from baptism unto this day ..
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24. Mâns Gustafsson and wife Catharine's child Anders, born November 19th, baptized November 28th.
25. Erasmus Stedham and wife Helena's child Andreas, born November 22nd, baptized November 25th.
26. Isabel Atkinson baptized December 23, twenty-one years old.
BURIALS 1816.
[. Ante Vainau's child Staphan, buried March 30th.
2 Eric Ericson (from Crane hook,) buried November 8th.
3. Olof Tossawa's widow Gertrude, buried September 25th.
4. Pastor Hesselliu's child Petrus, buried November 25th.
In Holy Trinity Church close to Provost Biork's child Petrus, which can be seen in the first church book page 89.
A. D. 1717. The frame of the kitchen at the parson- age was raised by Conrad Constantin, Johan Von Culen, Lucas Stedham, Jr., and both the Churchwardens with Erasmus Stedham, Samuel, the Sexton, Timotheus Lylofs- soil Stedham and Johan Stalcop.
May 7th. There was a general parish meeting at the parsonage, when were present the Rev. Provost Andreas Sandall, Herr Abraham Lidenius, the Pastor of Rat- cong's Creek Church, and a large number of the con- gregation.
Ist. His Highworthiness the Provost, after calling on God for his blessing that the meeting might have a good result, asked the congregation why they treated their pastor so badly by keeping back his salary, and neglect- ing their promises , inasmuch as more than twenty per- sons have entirely failed to pay anything for five years, and a large number of other members have neglected to do anything for the support of their teacher for the past year. Churchwarden Philip Van de Ver said that he was not to blame for the neglect, and .so far as he can get a list of the arrearages he is ready to gather them in.
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The pastor replied that no list was necessary, as almost all in common are behind in the fulfillment of their promise.
Mr. Springer in the name of the congregation pro- posed that the salary should be increased by a new promise and addition, viz: That those who have hereto- fore promised to pay in old money will now for the future pay the same in new currency, to which Mr. Gioding replied that such a promise will do no good, because they who have paid nothing of the lesser promise will hardly fulfill a greater one.
Nevertheless some expressed a willingness to make the increase, and Mr. Springer set down their names and the pastor expressed satisfaction therewith.
2nd. The Provost represented the necessity of setting up regular Swedish school keeping in the congregation, to which the Pastor agreed immediately with great pleasure, and gave his opinion that if Mr. Gioding could take up his abode at some place in the Parish which would be convenient for most of the children to come together, he probably will take upon himself the duty of school teaching upon terms which he and the parents of the children may be able to agree upon They all seemed to think well of the project, provided they could agree upon the school place. They thereupon named three places around which most of the children were to be found, viz: with Mr. Springer, Johan Stalcop and Christiern Brunburg, and it was agreed that the neigh- bors should meet with Mr. Springer on a certain day, come to a decision about the school place and the school-master's salary, and the sooner the better.
3rd. Johan Von Culen was appointed to collect and take to Wicacoe the skins which the congregation had
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promised to the merchant Oriot in London, for the care he has heretofore taken to forward over Swedish letters and books.
4th. Win. Mahlender was chosen to the Church Council, in place of Eric Ericsson of Cranehook, deceased, so that the Church Council for the present year are these:
Mr. Carl Springer, Conrad Constantin, Peter Mânsson, Jonas Walraven, Johan Tossawa, Matthias Petersson, Lucas Stedham, Johan Von Culen, Jacob Van de Ver, M ns Gustafsson, William Mahlender, Joran Andersson in St. Georges.
5th. His Honorworthiness Mr. Lidenius, Pastor at Ratkong creek, presented the request from the congre- gation over the river to this congregation for assistance towards their new church, according to the promise which was given when Holy Trinity Church was built, in return for the rich joint help given by those on the . other side of the river at that time.
It was resolved that the request is reasonable and its propriety no one can deny. Therefore Mr. Springer along with the rest of the council promised to consult, and consider means for the compliance with the said parties legitimate request.
Whereupon the meeting was dissolved after an exhor- tation of the Provost to the congregation to live in love and unity with each another.
May 8th. Herr Lidenius took the old alms purse from the church at Christina with the consent of the Provost and Pastor to carry over to his congregation to be used in St. George's Church May 22d. The Pastor met with churchwarden Johan Gustafsson and the neighbors . up in the woods, and Mr. Gioding with regard to the
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school keeping which was decided upon at the last meeting, in order to get in operation as soon as possible, for though it had been decided to have the school at Mr. Springers' he had in the mean time made objection to having it there because Staffan Cornelius who had many children was not at home but with Indians at Conestowa, and it was uncertain when he would come home, there- fore the school could not properly be at his house or at least we should wait till Staffan's return.
But those parents who had more zeal for the instruc- tion of their children, thought that no time should be lost in so important and christian, undertaking. There- fore Johan Gustafsson offered to furnish both house and board for the schoolinaster, if in other respects they could come to an agreement.
This proposition the pastor was very much in favor of accepting, therefore on the aforesaid day he presented himself at Johan Gustafsson's, with Mans Gustafson, Gustaf Gustafsson, Johan Stalcop, Ante Vainan's wife Margaretta, and Mr. Gioding, and held consultation both with regard to the place and wages, and agreed that the before named persons together with Anders Gustafsson should send their children to Johan Gustafsson's house the next coming 17th of June, when Mr. Gioding shall be ready to begin school-keeping for this present year, to the same time in the next coming year, and have for wages 30 shillings for each child, leaving all the rest of the congregation at liberty to send their children when- ever they please and agree on the terms the best they can.
1817, June 17 .- Mr. Gioding began holding school in Johan Gustafsson's house, when the pastor was present with as inany of the parents as could attend, and after
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previously calling upon God with singing and prayer and a Godly talk to the children and their parents, ex- amined the children as to their proficiency and then recommended them to Mr. Gioding, the names of which children are here inserted:
I. Gustaf Johan Gustafsson, 9 years old, can read his cate- chism tolerably well, and also answers very well various questions of christian instruction.
2. Peter Joh n Gustafsson, 7 years old, recites the ten co111- mandments tolerably well.
3. Mary Geens, 9 years old, can read Swedish and say the ten commandments.
4. Gustaf Mans Gustafsson, 7 years old, can read Swedish tolerably well
5. Mans Gustaf's daughter Annika, 6 years old, can spell Swedish tolerably well.
6. Anders Gustaf's daughter Catherina, 12 years old, can read in a book, but must begin to learn to spell right.
7. Peter Stalcop Johansson's son, 5 years old, knows the letters.
8. Margaretta, the late Peter Stalcop's daughter, 11 years old, reads Swedish indifferently well, but must learn to spell anew.
9. Thomas Davis, 11 years old, can spell Swedish a little.
10. Annika, Anders Gustaf's daughter, 8 years old, can spell a little.
II. Ante Vainan's son Lars, 7 years old, knows the letters.
June 23 .- Johan Gustafsson resigned the office of Church-warden, and those of the congregation who were then present at the church elected Lucas Stedham Jr., in his place to be with Philip Van de Ver, Church- wardens for the current year.
June 30. - Samuel Stedham resigned the office of sex- ton and Timotheus Lylofsson Stedham was chosen in his place.
October 17 .- The pastor was called to Johan Tos-
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sawa's, over Brandywine, to visit Hendric Stedham's sick wife and administer the Holy Supper, and on the way Hindric Stedham showed the Pastor two white oaks standing about two musket shots from each other, both beside the King's road, on the west side as you go up to Philadelphia, the one below the other on the stony hill above the land of Hans Piettersson who lives at Skillpot Creek. It seemed to rain under these oaks and no- where else, while the heavens were clear and sunshiny, and no sign of a cloud to cause the rain. The day previous which was the 16th October, Hindric Stedham with his mother and Michael Meyer, first observed the rain, and now when the pastor, this 17th day of October, came to the same place, notwithstanding the day was unusually clear and sunshiny, and it was mid-day, he saw with wonder that the rain was falling in fine drops under the first tree though thicker under the second, and it was so clear that the drops were to be seen on leaves, hats and clothes, from which, however, they were very soon dried. One could indeed, both recognize and taste the moisture without observing any difference be- tween it and any other rain water.
Towards evening when the sun was somewhat more than an hour high, as the pastor was returning from the sick woman, he saw still clearer the rain against the sun, and that there was 110 place around about, no matter how carefully one searched in the wood where such rain was to be seen. Therefore one may safely consider this to be a peculiar phenomenon, not unlike that which oc- curred two years ago by the King's road on the other side of New Castle.
God forbid that such strange occurrences should fore- bode us any evil ! No one has seen that unusual rain since that day, the atmosphere having been mostly
-
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cloudy, and common rain has often been falling since that time here in Christina. *
MARRIAGES, 1717.
I. Christopher Stedham and Miss Johanna Von Culen, mar- ried Jan. 3.
2. Cornelius Ja Quette and Miss Maria Palsson, married May 14.
3. Anders Stalcop and Widow Barbro Wolback, married May 23. Page 45.
4. Nathaniel Tucker and Mrs. Catharina Ivarsson, married October 31st.
5. Johan Oins and Miss Margaretta Stedham, married Nov- ember 19th.
BAPTISMS 1717.
Ist. Hindric Hindricsson and wife Judith's child Zacharias, born January 16th, baptized January 20th.
2. Philip Van de Ver and wife Elizabeth's child Maria, born January 20th, baptized January 27th.
3. Zacharias Didricsson and wife Helena's child Cornelius, born February 7th, baptized February 10th.
4. Henry Powell and wife Elizabeth Kent's child Anna Prudens, 6 years old, baptized February 9th.
5. William Forehead and wife Mary's child Margaretta, born February 19th, baptized March 4th.
6. Jacob Stille and wife Rebbecca's child Peter, born March Sth, baptized March 10th.
7. Christopher Meyer and wife Matta's child Margaretta, 7 weeks old, baptized March 10th.
8. Johan Stout and wife Anna's child Joseph, (from St. Georges,) 6 months old, baptized March Ioth.
9. Christiern Joran and wife Elizabeth's child Margaretta, (from Fish point,) born November 26th, 1716, baptized Mar. 19.
10. Ambrosius London and wife Brita's child Ambrosius, born March 17th, baptized March 24th.
II. Rees Prees and his strumpet Eleonora Morris' illegitimate child Catharine, II months old, baptized in the house of Mr. Springer, April Sth.
12. William Howell and wife Margaretta's child Patience, I year old, baptized April 22nd.
*The drops were emitted by a certain insect. B.
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HOLY TRINITY (OLD SWEDES) CHURCH.
13. Peter Manson, Jr., and wife Anna's child Johannes, born April 22nd, baptized April 24th.
14. Bertil Johansson and wife Maria's child Susanna, (Elk river,) born March 17th, baptized May 5th.
15. Pal Gustafsson and wife Catharina's child Peter, 8 weeks old, baptized May 19th.
16. The Quaker Oliver Matthews and wife Elizabeth's son William, 20 years old, baptized June 9th.
17. Gustaf Gustafsson and wife Kerstin's child Swen, born July 17th, baptized July 21st.
18. Johan Tossawa and wife Anna's child Hinidric, born July 15th, baptized July 21st.
19. William Richardson and wife Mary's daughter Anna, 7 years old, the 5th of last April, baptized July 31st, in the house of Samuel Barker.
20. William Richardson and wife Mary's child Mary, one year old 17th of March last, baptized July 3Ist in the house of Samuel Barker.
21. William Hicks and wife Anna's child William, born December 17, 1715, baptized July 31st, in the house of Samuel Barker.
22. Samuel Hall and wife Anna Elizabeth's child Samuel 7 weeks old, baptized August 4th.
23. Matz Hamelin and his deceased wife Ingeborg's child Anna (in St. Georges,) born December 31, 1716, baptized in the house of Joran Anderson Sept 17th.
24. Hendrich Stedham and wife Elizabeth's child Johannes, born September 14th, baptized September 22nd.
25. Olof Palson and wife Elizabeth's child Olof, born September 26th, baptized October 2nd.
26. Christopher Stedham and wife Johanna's child Catharina born September 26th baptized October 6th.
27. Lucas Stedham Jr. and wife Ingeborg's child Christina, born October 12th, baptized October 13th.
28. Johannes Mânson and wife Ingeborg's child Lucas, born October 13th, baptized October 20th.
29th. William Cleany and wife Maria's child Rebecca, born 16
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October 19th, baptized October 27th.
30. Anders Loinam and wife Brita's child Maria, born November 29th, baptized December Ist.
31. Anders Cock and wife Sara's child Helena born December 5th, baptized December 13th.
RECORD OF BURIALS 1717.
I. Johan Tossawa's child Hindric, buried September 15th.
2. William Abraham's wife Maria, buried September 15th.
3. Richard Enos' child Joseph buried at Cranehook October 2nd .
4. Hindric Stedham's wife Elizabeth, buried November 9th.
5. Anders Loinan's child Maria buried December 22nd.
A. D. 1718. Honorworthy Herr Provost Magister Sandall was at Christina and preached, and after the close of Divine service the Council was convened, and the Herr Provost expressed his wish and opinion with regard to the portion of the church land which had been proposed to be sold to Mr. Runberg, to which piece of land no good title could be given, and he was under the necessity of purchasing another tract.
The Herr Provost considered it advisable that without the most urgent necessity, the said land should never again be offered for sale, it being a much better plan to hire out the land for the maintenance of the pastor than to sell it.
RECORD OF MARRIAGES, 1718.
I. Martin Martinsson and Miss Kerstin Walraven, married May 8th.
2. Christopher Shegel and Miss Anna Maria Aistrin, married May 15th,
3. Johan Jaquett and Miss Hannah Ellis, married November 6th.
4. Johan Andersson (from St. Georges,) and Miss, Elizabeth Iwarssen, married November 12th.
HOLY TRINITY (OLD SWEDES) CHURCH. . 243
5. Johan Eaton and Miss Mary Skagan, married November 34th.
6. Johnathan Otley and Miss, Debora Manly, married Decem- ber 8th.
BAPTISMS 1718.
I. Johan Barnet and wife Margaretta's children Robert, 5 years old the 13th of March, baptized January 3rd.
2-3. Thomas and Jeremia twins, three years old the coming Easter, baptized same day.
4. Peter Classon and wife Walborg's child Margaretta, born March 3rd, baptized March 9th.
5. Anders Stalcop and wife Anna Barbro's child Catharina, born March 4th, baptized March 9th,
6. Johan Barnet and wife Margareta's child Carl, born March 8th, baptized March 16th.
7. Johan Didrick Elrod and wife Maria Magdalena's child Elizabeth, (from St. Georges,) born March 12th, baptized March 18th.
8. Jesper Walraven and wife Maria's child Elizabeth, born March 25th, baptized March 30th.
9. Thomas Elwood and wife Elizabeth's son William, (from Philadelphia,) 1012 years old, baptized April 16th.
10. Edward Robinsson and wife Margareta's child Jacob, 14 days old, baptized April 17th.
II. Anders Vainan and wife Margareta's child Peter, born April 17th, baptized April 20th.
12. Pastor Hessellius and wife Sara's child Emmanuel, born April 24th, baptized April 27th Sponsors, Mr. Gustaf Hessellius and his wife Lydia, *Herr Emmanuel Swedberg (in Sweden,) in whose place Christina Brunberg answered, Johan Stalcop, Jonas Walraven's wife Annika, Miss Mary Peterson.
13. Johan Barnet and wife Margareta's child Margareta, 9 years old, baptized May IIth.
14. Johannes de Foss and wife, Hanna's child Johan, born March 14th, baptized June Ist.
#Son of Bishop Swedberg, and founder of the New Church, called Swedenborgians.
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15. Johan Eaton and the strumpet Elizabeth Nicssen's illegitimate child Maria, 3 months old, baptized June Ist.
16. Hans Gustafsson and wife Catharina's child Catharina, born June 6th, baptized June 15th.
17. Cornelius Jaquett and wife Maria's child Johan, born June 24th, baptized July 20th.
18. Richard Enos and wife, Susanna's child Maria, 9 weeks old baptized August 17th.
19. Johan Stalcop and wife Maria's child Tobias, born Sep- tember 29th, baptized October 5th.
20. William Maslander and wife Helena's child Abraham, born October 12th, baptized August 19th.
21. Johan Von Culen and wife Kerstin's child Maria, born October 3rd, baptized October 19th.
22. Jacob Van de Ver and wife Hana's child Magdalena, born November 5th, baptized November 11th.
23. The Indians Meckanappit and Gertrude Toene's child Philip, 8 years old last August 15th, Sponsors, Johan Hindrics- son and his wife Brita, who had adopted the boy for their foster child.
24. Thomas Bird and wife Sara's child Elizabeth, born Sep- tember 15th, baptized December 8th.
25. Israel Petterson and wife Margareta's child Petrus, born December 2nd, baptzied December 9th.
26. Philip Van de Ver and wife Elizabeth's child Cornelius, born December 2nd, baptized December 10th.
27. Jonas Stalcop and wife Judith's child Aunika, born December 10th; baptized December 14th.
28. Hindric Garresson and wife Kerstin's child Maria, born December 12th, baptized December 14th.
29. Martin Gustafsson and' wife Brita's child Beata, born December 8th, baptized December 14th.
30. Michael Meyers and wife Anna's child David, born Decem- ber Ioth, baptized December 16th.
31. Timotheus Adamsson Stedham and wife Engelke's child Israel, born December 11th, baptized December 20th.
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BURIALS 1718.
I. Christopher Stedham's child Catharina, buried July 4th.
2. Cornelius Ja Quett's child Johan, buried September 4th.
3. William Van de Ver, buried October 11th.
4. Peter Mânsson, buried November 8th.
5. Philip Van de Ver's child Cornelius, buried December 19th.
1719, March 7. Mârten Gustafsson brought 6 apple trees and 4 peach trees to the parsonage and planted them, thus showing his good disposition and wish to beautify and improve the Priest ground. .
March 12th. Lucas Stedham, Jr., planted 10 apple trees and one peach tree on the Priest's land.
March 2Ist. Philip Van de Ver planted 6 Morello trees at the parsonage house.
April 8th. The Pastor met with Mr. Gioding and all the scholars in the house of Johan Stalcop in presence of most of the parents of the children, to have a formal closing of the past school keeping, which began June 17th, 1717, and had been sometime since ended, thatit might be known by a proper examination how much improvement the children had made, and according to the wish of the parents dismiss Mr. Gioding from his school work. The pastor opened the exercises with a Godly prayer and appropriate remarks, after which Mr. Gioding in his praiseworthy manner according to the method of His Highworthiness Bishop Swedberg, in the beginning of his catechism, asked questions regarding the most important christian doctrines requiring proof from Holy Scripture, to which questions of Mr. Gioding to the surprise and gratification of all, they answered promptly and boldly, and so quickly confirmed their answers by a text of Holy Scripture, that all the company present could not refrain from glorifying God with tears of joy and gladness for their children's quick memory and
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attainments, and the school-master's diligence and cir- cumspection, who all that, only by conversation and with out any book, had impressed upon the memories of the children.
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