USA > Delaware > New Castle County > Wilmington > The records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, Del., from 1697 to 1773 > Part 31
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The good people at Marcus Hook hath very earnestly pressed upon me these several years in their behalf, since they have appeared desolate and abandoned, I have been
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very loth to meddle with them, considering their great misunderstanding with you their proper minister, and of late have entered into no farther engagement with them than what should be agreeable to you and conven- ient to me. I have suffered some hardships indeed on that account and received not a morsel of advantage. To the fair promises made, I have given no reflection at all, being to well acquainted with the subscriptions of this country.
If you, Reverend Sir, don't think it beyond your charge to bestow the same labor upon ye hearers once in a month, on a week day to give them a sermon and catechise their children, which they have desired from me and which you can do with more ease and less envy, no doubt you will receive the reward promised and wel- come. I suppose this is the encroachment you mean, and when thus removed, if there be anything else, do be kind enough to tell it and we shall also soon see the
mending of that. Indeed, my respected friend and brother, you have as good a right to pass ye censure upon me as any man in these parts. But being on an equal footing with you, do consider that it is as unbe- coming to you to signify upon what terms I shall stand or fall before my Archbishop of Upsala, as it would be to me to give you some hints how far the Lord Bishop of London hath more or less reason to examine and ap- prove of the particulars of your conduct.
I am, Reverend Sir, Your Affectionate Brother and Most Obedient Servant, ISRAEL ACRELIUS.
To the Rev. Mr. Thomson.
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LETTER FROM THE REV. JOHN ROSS, THE EPISCOPAL CLERGYMAN IN PHILADELPHIA.
Reverend Sir :
I am extremely concerned at the unhappy differences now existing between Mr. Thomson of Chester, and his people; when or how a reconciliation will be brought about, God only knows, but no prospect of that at present appears to me. I have seen his letter to you, complaining of your encroaching (as he calls it, ) on his province, with your elegant answer, I have heard the complaint of some very sober, sensible people of Chi- chester who are distressed with the thoughts of your forsaking them, and on the whole have reflected that we have little reason to expect cordial meeting between Mr. Thomson and that people. And for want of a pious gentleman to officiate and perform Divine service occa-, sionally, the people will scatter and dwindle away, and the cause of the church suffer. I cannot but think it advisable to request your favor to visit this people at the times you lately have done, to perform Divine service among them, more especially as the church at Chichester is not particularly annexed to the mission of Chester, but is at the pleasure of the Missionary to attend it or not.
Excuse this trouble from Rev. Sir, your most affectionate
Humble Servant,
Chester, February 28th, 1755. JOHN ROSS.
To the Rev. Mr. Israel Acrelius.
CHESTER, March, 1755.
To the Reverend Mr. Acrelius, Dean of the Swede Churches in Pennsylvania, at Wilmington. Reverend Sir:
Your favor of February 25, 1755, confirmed me in my
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opinions of your good judgment and upright heart. Dear Friend and Brother, if my calling your duty of a minister of the church of Christ at Marcus Hook, an encroachment, and my mentioning the Archbishop of Upsala as a venerable prelate that would not approve of his clergy's making encroachments on the province of other clergymen of the same church of Christ, if this, I say, gives you offence, and appears to you unbecoming, I humbly beg your pardon, for I meant no evil, nor do I expect any more advantage than you have received.
I am, Reverend Sir, Your sincerely affectionate brother and most obedient servant, .To the Rev. Israel Acrelius. THOMAS THOMSON.
The 15th of October, the vestry met and the accounts of Timothy Stedham and Henry Colesberg, the old trustees, were taken in hand to make a final settlement. There yet stood against them a balance of £36 2s. 5d. at the last revision. . The trustees had nothing to appeal to but their honor, murmured against the provost bitterly and thought they were treated badly and threat- ened to withdraw from the church, and so on, but wished by all means to have the matter ended. Those who were appointed arbitrators did not know how to adjust the case and make them free from such evident indebtedness as was against them. The elders of the church were also at a loss what to say thereon, and what was worse neither of them had intelligence enough to judge the case. Neither the old trustees nor any other in the whole congregation understood the real contents of the accounts, except the Provost and Mr. Andrew
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Tranberg; but, finally, a settlement must be reached. The arbitrators again took the accounts in hand, through fabrication and various devices brought the balance down to three pounds, whereof Timothy Sted- ham should pay one and Colesburg two pounds, on which they received a discharge from the vestry for all their administration until this day; which discharge the provost yet had not the conscience to subscribe because thereby the estate suffered great wrong, yet said nothing either for or against it because he had done his duty, but the foolish folk neither understood or would under- stand their own damage, neither did the provost wish any more censure about the matter.
When three years of the service of the provost were past, he experienced various anxieties and disturbances within the congregation, partly on account of the dis- orderly condition of the church accounts and manage- ment of the property by the trustees, and partly because of some contrary and censorious members of the church who were excited by other perverse persons; even Swedes gave out the report that the provost stood in danger of having an accusation against him sent to Sweden, because he had preached Englishi once a month and at times in strange places. And as the provost heard of this while his health was quite poor from a long fever, which afflicted him each year, and now in the third year he let his disfavorers understand that he would relieve them of their burden by shortly leaving his place open for them to procure a successor who perhaps would be more to their mind.
When this became known all were dissatisfied with such talk, even those who had been dissatisfied came to ine; even those who had spread the report, saying they
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meant only that they had heard so of two thoughtless persons, but never did give any confirmation thereto. However that might be, the provost wrote to his great benefactor Archbishop Dr. Henrie Benzelius and asked for a recall. The answer thereto came in May, 1754, with the promise to be called home as soon as any proper benefice at home in the kingdom could be provided. From that time for two years the matter dragged on with various propositions which miscarried, not to mention the providing for Magister Nasman and his family which came betwixt. But in order that the Most Highworthy Archbishop should not let his word come to nothing, he was pleased by a letter the 8th of August, 1755, to assure me that he from His Royal Majesty should procure a recall for me, and by a letter of the 22nd of the same month, he informed me that the recall was granted, and again of the following 8th of Septem- ber containing the recall with another very gracious writing which were received the 18th of January, and are inserted in the Actis Prapositura.
It was left to the Provost to start on his journey imme- diately if he wished, in which case he should appoint Extraordinary Herr Lidenius to minister to the church during the vacancy; but considering that various dis- orders might creep in in the meantime, such as that the foolish people might divide into parties, chose for themselves a pastor from those remaining here before anyone should be in due order appointed, &c. There- fore the provost decided to see his successor in the pas- torate, for which he had only to delay till the 20th of May, when a commission came over for Pastor Herr Eric Unander to to be pastor of Christina congregation. The provost could not but with gladness revere the High Providence which had so directed the matter that he
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could leave his beloved Christina Church, which truly. had cost him the kernel of his strength, to a successor who had been his faithful friend from childhood, as also his fellow-traveler from Sweden, and showed himself al- ready a zealous teacher of two troublesome congrega- tions for seven years. Who also probably by the help of the Most High will be able to raise up and improve what time and strength will admit.
[ERIC UNANDERS' RECORD, &c ]
After the Provost Highworthy Herr Magister Israel Acrelius was called home the 12th of January last, His Royal Majesty's gracious commission for me to the Chris- tina Church, was received on the 20th of May, when immediately after some priests met with the provost, who freely offered themsel ves to supply Christina Church until the autumn, when he intended to take his depart- ure from the country because Herr Lidenius said he considered himself bound to preach a year for the English in Chester County, and it was concluded that the removal should not take place until August. But as Herr Provost was not ready to leave at that time the removal was deferred until the 23d of September, when I, in the Lord's name, with all my family safely landed here between 5 and 6 o'clock in the evening, having be- fore preached my inaugural sermon on Sunday, after Trinity. May the Lord grant me His grace to be found an approved and irreproachable laborer who rightly di- vides the word of truth.
Copy of His Royal Majesty's gracious commission to me to Christina Church.
We, Adolph Friedrich, by God's grace Sweden Gôthe and Wende's King, &c., &c., &c,, Crown Prince of Norway, Duke of Holstein, Stormarn and Ditmarsen,
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Count of Oldenburg, Delmenhorst, &c., &c., &c., make known that, whereas, through the home calling to Sweden provost and pastor Magister Israel Acrelius, the office o. pastor in the Christina Church in America is vacant, and for the filling of it again the pastor in Rac_ coon and Pensneck, Eric Unander, in consideration of his good learning and edifying walk, having been humbly proposed to us, have we therewith by virtue of this our open commission graciously willed to change the above named Pastor Eric Unander to the office of pastor over the Christina Church, receiving therewith to enjoy all the benefits and rights which from the said pastorate can fall to him. For further surety have we this with our own hand subscribed, and let it be confirmed by our royal seal.
Stockholm, the 20th of October, 1755, ADOLPH FRIEDERICH, C. RUDER SCHOLD.
On the 6th of November about 3 P. M. Herr Provost went on board the ship Betsy Sally, Capt. Snead, from Philadelphia for London, after he had taken a friendly farewell of friends, of Herr Provost Olof Parlin, me, and some few of the congregation who were present, and certain English gentlemen, his acquaintances. The Lord send his holy angels to conduct him the long and dangerous journey.
This day was just seven years since I and Herr Provost, about six in the evening went on shore for the first in Philadelphia, and now must I see myself here left by him, who just with seven yearsfaithful labor has fulfilled his call, and got to go home to gather the fruit of his toil. If God grants me health and my time be not doubled like Jacob's, I will however be satisfied. 30
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May the gracious God grant as heretofore so hereafter his blessing upon my labor in his dearly bought church: Amen.
A. D. 1757 .- On the day of the annunciation of Mary, I requested the vestrymen to stay after God's service, when the pastor exhorted them to set a good example before the rest of the congregation, especially with respect to the reception of the Holy Supper, which was so generally neglected by the congregation, even by many of the elders of the church.
2nd. Enquired how far the pastor should comply with the request of the English to preach for them here in the church one Sunday in the month, to which it was answered that it should be granted to them.
3rd. They were also reminded by the pastor that the church windows ought to be repaired, and he got for answer that the two which were repaired the last year were yet for the most part unpaid for. Therefore the Churchwardens were instructed to collect the subscrip- tions, except of those exempted by the congregation.
He also told the congregation to have the youth come in front of the choir before the sermon on Sun- day, now while the days were long to be instructed in Christian doctrine.
5th. The members of the church were exhorted not to neglect the Lord's supper as has been the case hitherto even by the oldest in the church.
6th. The account of Mr. Tranberg for the past year for the estate of the church was shown, which the Church Council would not subscribe because they did not show how much of the church's property from in- come they had in their hands, but only what they had taken in and payed out, without specifying the balance in hand.
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A. D. 1757, Nov. 9th .- A general parish meeting was held at the priest-house when the following was consid- ered and acted upon.
Ist. Swen Walraven was unanimously chosen vestry- man
2d. The pastor reminded them of the repairs neces- sary for the windows and the church-yard and also vari- ous repairs necessary at the priest-house, and it was found necessary that the money for the purpose should be raised by subscription, and because a part always kept away when it was necessary to effectually assist in keep- ing God's house and the parsonage property in good con- dition, therefore it was unanimously resolved, that they who on this occasion refused to be helpful by sub- scribing according to their ability for the above named objects, shall not be considered hereafter members of the congregation, but strangers.
Those who are poor shall not hereby lose their rights if they give in their money be it ever so little, or excuse themselves to the priest or church-wardens on account of their poverty.
3d. The pastor exhorted the congregation anew that they ought more frequently to partake of the Lord 12 supper, and represented to them in love how very bad the influence was upon the young if the older members neglected this ordinance.
4th. It was resolved that the young must not take the liberty to run out of church during Divine service, &c., and that Mr. Charles Springer, Sr. and Mr. Hans Petersson shall be inspectors, that all may go on prop- erly in God's house.
As Mr. Colesberg was not present his account could
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not be examined at this time, but Churchwarden Mr. Wm. Von Nemen's was examined and found correct.
Read up and confirmed by the vestry, the 26th of August, 1758.
His HANS (HP) PETERSON, Mark. His CHARLES (CS) SPRINGER. Mark. His TIMOTHEUS (TS) STEDHAM, Mark. NEILS. JUSTICE, JUSTA WALRAVEN.
A. D. 1758, August 26th. - A general parish meeting was held when the following business was brought for- ward and decided upon.
Ist. The records of the last year were read up, ap- proved and subscribed by some of the vestry in behalf of all which the pastor explained to be necessary, partly that no one may say that anything is set down in the church book which has not been approved by the church council, partly that no one may plead ignorance of what had been resolved and it was agreed and settled that always hereafter this course shall be pursued.
2d. A subscription was started for the church windows and a new door and an agreement made with the joiner, Fredrick Tassy to do the work.
3d. The trustees presented two accounts for 1756 and 1757, which had been so long backstanding, which the pastor after he had read them through, held to be very incomplete and out of order, in that they not by one word showed what they had in charge of either interest or ground rents, but only gave the amount of
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what had been received and paid out since their last settlement, therefore, it was impossible to know from the accounts how large the yearly income of the church was, how much interest or ground rents were backstand- ing or in their hands. Mr. Tranburg answered that Provost Acrelius always accepted such accounts, and showed several of the same sort; nevertheless the vestry maintained that a better account was needed for the church and to that end appointed the pastor, Mr. Neils Justice and Mr. Gustaf Walraven to examine the church accounts with the trustees on some day which they should agree upon.
On the 2d of October, 1759, the above doings were read up and approved.
NEILS JUSTICE, JUSTA WALRAVEN, WM. TASSY.
In accordance with what was resolved in the last meeting, those whom it concerned agreed on a certain day for examination of the accounts of the trustees, against which, after it was announced in the church, Mr. Tranberg protested, saying that he was appointed by court on certain business at New Port. It there- fore, was agreed between him and the pastor that the meeting should be postponed until the next week. The pastor then went to Philadelphia and Tranberg promised to give notice of the postponement. Notwithstanding this agreement between the pastor and Mr. Tranberg, those who were appointed, together with some of the elders of the congregation met, who, on being questioned, afterwards said they had not found anything wrong in the accounts which Tranberg had shown them and
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believed that if the priest would be satisfied it might rest.
I had not hitherto disclosed my thoughts to anyone, though I had already for sometime feared what we after- ward learned, and what was now done did not quiet iny apprehensions but at once increased my unrest. When I had an opportunity I told some of my thoughts to vestryman, Mr. Nils Justice, who was at once convinced that iny fears were not groundless. We agreed that the matter should not rest with what was done but that the accounts should be examined in my presence in accord- ance with the resolution of the vestry. But before we could bring the business on, Mr. Tranberg was taken sick and finally died on the 18th of January, 1759.
1759 .- On the 24th of February the Church Council met, hoping to get the church accounts from Mr. Benzell, who administered on Mr. Tranberg's estate, and had before promised thie pastor to deliver them at the first demand. And also to appoint new trustees, even one also in Mr. Colesberg's place, who now declared that he wished to be released from the great trouble that he had for so long time with the church property, to which the Church Council agreed only that we must first have a settlement of the accounts for his and Mr. Tranberg's time. Meantime we consulted about new trustees. The pastor advised them to have more, that the burden might be less when one or two could make the collections, and have all ready for the congregation at the end of each year, and so in course. Whereupon it was resolved to elect three trustees, and consequently, Gustaf Walraven, Jonas Stedham and Williamn Derickson were chosen.
Mr. Benzell could not be persuaded to let the church book and accounts go out of his hands, nor in any way give an abstract. Therefore the Church Council were
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obliged to commission the pastor Eric Unander, Mr. Nils Justice and Gustav Walraven to obtain counsel in the case from a lawyer or advocate.
They therefore consulted Mr. Thomas Mckean, and when he had seen the deed that had been given to Mr. Tranberg by Mr. Stedham, he said that the land was in danger of being sold by Tranberg's creditors, as it was said that he had owed more than he could pay and that the only way out of our difficulties was to obtain an Act of Assembly to restore the land to the church and incorporate the church into a Body Politic, which has a right to a succession in the future, and buy, possess, sell and receive legacies, etc., and sue and be sued, etc., etc.
In the month of May of the same year this business was brought before the assembly in session at New Castle by a petition of the church, which had with them the good affect that they considered our application legitimate, and prepared an act according to our wish and left with the Governor for confirmation. But here we had the misfortune to meet with opposition from some who secretly opposed it, so that the Governor, not- withstanding he before had not only promised his con- currence but himself had recommended the case to the assembly, declined to sign the act until he could hear more advocates opinions thereupon.
He promised to give us a charter without the assem- bly's assistance, because it particularly belonged to him as he in such matters represented the King here.
But by that we could not win back the land, for that it was necessary to have a law confirmed both by the Governor and his assembly. None the less we found it necessary to accept his promise, and to that end called on him in Philadelphia.
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This compelled me to make many expensive journeys to Philadelphia, yet nothing was accomplished, for the greater part of the Governor's Council were altogether opposed to the case, therefore here nothing could be effected.
The Church Council met one time after another, but could accomplish nothing because the accounts for the property were yet withheld from us; all that could be gathered out of the church book was read to the coun- cil.
Through this great dissatisfaction arose because of what was inserted on page 31, with reference to the final settlement of Mr. Stedham and Mr. Colesberg's accounts.
The trustees as well as some of the Church Council thought themselves by this highly injured, and insisted that it should be torn out of the church book.
The pastor knew not what to do, as they would not be pacified unless the book was torn asunder, so he asked the help of Pastor Eric Nordenlind in the matter, when they finally effected so much that it was agreed that the Herr Provost and the other priest's opinion should be heard upon it.
At the close of October, 1759, the assembly met at New Castle, and the pastor presented the petition of the church, and finally won his wish both in respect to makingthe land secure and establishing it as the church's perpetual property, and the establishing the incorpora- tion so that the officers of the church may have power to take care of and guard that which comes to the church under the protection of the law of the land according to best knowledge and conscience.
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4
This act was signed the 27th of October, 1759, by Governor William Denny and placed in the church chest among many other documents belonging to the church.
On the 2nd of November the pastor called the whole congregation together in the church after the act had the Sunday before been read from the pulpit, to elect a church council. On that occasion the preacher addressed the people, exhorting them to thank God who bowed the hearts of the authorities of the country not only to protect, but to recover the lost church land, but also to pro- tect us with such glorious privileges. The election was by ballot, in which Pastor Herr Nordenlind assisted . me. The following members of the congregation were elected : Gustav Walraven, Nils Justis, John Lynan, Hance Petersson, Peter Vandever, Swen Walraven, Jonas Stedham, Swen Justis, John Hendricsron. Afterwards the pastor and Church Council elected the same day accord- to the provision of the charter the churchwardens, viz: William Vaneman and Andrew Justis.
COPY OF THE CHARTER.
Anno Triscosimo Terito Regni Regis Georgii Secundi.
At a general Assembly begun at New Castle, in the Govern- ment of the Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex upon Dela- ware, the 20th day of October in the thirty-third year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second, King of Great Britain etc., Annoque Domini 1759, the following law was passed by the Honorable William Denny Esq., governor; that is to say
An act to redress the misemployment of lands, and stocks of money, heretofore given and purchased for the use of the Minister of the Lutheran Church called Trinity Church in the Borough of Wilmington and County of New Castle, and for the incorpora- ting the minister, churchwardens and vestrymen of the said Church.
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WHEREAS, The minister, church-wardens . nd vestry-men and others of the Swedes Lutheran Church, called Trinity Church in the Borough of Wilmington, in Christiana Hundred, and County of New Castle, did, by their humble petition presented unto the representatives of the freemen of the Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex upon Delaware, set forth, and also make appear, that two tracts of land and a piece of marsh, containing in the whole 509 acres, situate in Christiana Hundred in the County of New Castle, part thereof in the borough of Wilmington afore- said, have been heretofore purchased of a certain John Stalcop and confirmed by his heirs, unto the congregation of the church aforesaid, and conveyances for the same taken in the names of divers persons by the appointment of the said congregation in trust, and for the use of the minister for the time being of the, aforesaid church. And that the same persons have since con! veyed the same to a certain Timothy Stedham and Henry Colesburg, in joint-tenancy to the use of the said Timo- thy Stedham and Henry Colesburg, and their heirs for- ever without mentioning the same to be on any trust or confidence whatsoever, although neither of them ever paid any consideration for the same, and although the same was intended for the use of the minister as aforesaid; and that the said Timothy Stedham on the 15th of July, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and forty-nine, conveyed and alien- ated the one inoiety of two hundred and twenty-eight acres of the land aforesaid, and also of the said marsh, unto a certain Andrew Tranberg, and his heirs, forever, to the use of the said Andrew Tranberg, and his heirs, without expressing any trust or confidence in the same conveyance, although the same was intended and designed to be for the use of the minister as aforesaid, and although the said Andrew Tranberg, paid no consideration for said land and marsh, which appeared by an obligation or instrument in writing, bearing even date with the indenture given the said Andrew Tranberg. by the aforesaid Timothy Stedham, signed, sealed and delivered by the same Andrew to the vestry-men of the same church ; that the said Andrew is since dead, intestate, and the same land and marsh is de- cended to his two sisters Rebecca the wife of Adolph Benzell and Elizabeth Parlin, in coparcenary, who are not compellable to
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