USA > Delaware > New Castle County > Wilmington > The records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, Del., from 1697 to 1773 > Part 9
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The 12th of July the people met to pry up the house and lay the foundation under it.
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The 4th after Trinity, July 13th, I buried after serinon Aaron Johnson who died in his house on Bread and Cheese Island the Tuesday before, and was laid in Chris- tina Church the Friday following, which was the first burial in the church since it was built, with our Swed- ish ceremony of standing on the bier during the funeral sermon.
Which funeral took place in the presence of a large congregation. His grave is in the main aisle at the beginning in the lower quarter where the long pews for men begin.
This we owed to him as he being childless willed both personal and real property to the church, which was to come into possession so soon as his wife should die.
The 9th Sunday after Holy Trinity, they were reminded to come and cut inore wood for the brick- burning, for on Wednesday eight days hereafter is set to burn the brick.
The 12th of August when I was at St. Georges and preached there, some of the Swedes living there and especially Joran Anderson, John Cock, and Hen- drick Ivarson urged and tried to persuade ine to. come once a month to them and they would increase iny salary, which they accordingly did as they could not conveniently come to church nor their children so often as they ought. And I promised to. comply with their request on condition that they in all things should remain united to Christina as heretofore, and be willing to help pay for the support of the church and parsonage etc., etc. But otherwise I would not accede to their request. We then came to an agreement
See 1710, June 25th.
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and I began my promise the 29th of August, and so following preached the Evangelium in course, and always catechised therewith, and also on the history of Christ's sufferings at the proper time and always examined them.
The IIth Sunday I again bade them come and cut wood for the brick-making, especially those who knew themselves that they had not yet done anything, for if the mnoulder had been well the burning should have been finished.
The 12th Sunday I finished the reading of the whole Bible, both the Old and New Testament for the first time, which I began the year I came here, viz: 1697, on the 18th of July or 7th Sunday after Trinity, which is so much over'ten years, as from the 7th Sunday to the 12th, or from the 18th of July to the 3Ist or last of August. In concluding, I remarked that those who had been diligent and punctual might say confidently that at least they had heard the whole Bible read once in their life- time from beginning to end, while those who liave been negligent may not say so.
But many who heard the beginning and a part there- of are now dead, but it is to be hoped that they are in greater knowledge than we can be who remain. But that we who have been spared so long must be grateful and give God thanks etc., etc.
Then I requested the congregation to join with me and say, "We pray Thee O Lord to still protect both old and young, and help us to bear this world's burdens, keep us in the truth and give us everlasting deliverance to the praise of thy grace and our Eternal Joy in Christ Jesus, Amen.
The 13th Sunday after Holy Trinity Sunday, I began
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again in the name of the Lord which is the 2nd time, Bible reading in the church. And first I explained the title Bible, and then the introduction in the newly received big Bible, but only read about one half of it to the words "then the Christian learner."
The IIth of September on Thursday, the brick- maker Pietter Hanson came and prepared a heap of bricks so that we set fire under them on Saturday.
The 14th Sunday, September 14th, I bade them come in the morning and get more wood for the brick- burner set fire under the bricks yesterday, but says he needs minore wood so that it may not now miscarry for then it will be to the loss of themselves.
September 16th the burning was finished and tlie burner left in the inorning.
The 18th Sunday I reminded them to bring forward what they had promised for the Parsonage-house and especially the stove.
The 19th Sunday now in the Lord's name after I had read the preface to the Old and New Testaments, this Sunday I began the first chapter of the book of the creation, and the first chapter of St. Matthews' gospel.
The Ist of November, or All Saints' day, I preached on the other side of the river, and that part of the congre- gation agreed to hire Swen Kohlsberg to ferry me over whenever I set a time to preach there so that I should have no such trouble as I have had in years past to get there and back again and at that time they made up a sub- scription for him amounting to five pounds, dated this day, embracing each and all the men at 2 shil. and 6 pence for each one, so that a first payment should be ensured and to Jacob Van de Ver and Jacob Hendrickson took upon themselves to be his paymasters for this year
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beginning to reckon the year from this All Saints' Mass day of this year to the same next year.
The 22nd Sunday I reminded them to fulfill their promises to the Priest's house and for the books, and that they who cannot conveniently come to haul stone should come and dig them up, that they who come to cart them may so much the faster hand them in.
The 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, I gave notice that inasmuch as Wm. Van de Ver to lighten the labor of getting the stone for the Parsonage house had prevailed on (a) Gambla Empson (Cornelius Empson,) to give all the stone that may be found at his old house where his mill on the Brandywine Creek some years since stood, having been used for a cellar, and now lying all around loose and ready to be loaded on a sled, and ready to be brought forward, now should the congregation improve this opportunity and bring them in with expedition, as everything is ready for the mason except the stone which should have been first on hand.
The 25th of June, or Midsummer day, a meeting of the congregation was held on the old land, but I was absent.
Then the Church Wardens resigned their office and settled their accounts with the Church Council, and the congregation chose others in their place, viz: Matt Tossa and Pietter Pietterson on the old land.
The Ist of September, on a Wednesday, Richard Manken was buried by me in Christina Church yard, when two Quakers Cornelius Empson and George Rob- inson made disturbance with me in the very act of the burial, but I nevertheless held on to the end and immed- iately thereafter arrested them to stand for trial at the court at New Castle.
a. Gambla means old but is used respectfully.
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The 14th of September, hearing that my beloved col- league Magister Rudman was very sick, I went up to Philadelphia to visit him.
He, not without great sorrow to me, died on the 17th of Lung sickness, and I buried him in Wicacoe Church, just before the altar and preached his funeral sermon in English, in the presence of an exceeding great number of people.
His own chosen text for his burial was Psalms 73d chapter and 24th verse. "Thou leadest me by thy coun- sel." He was not yet 40 years old.
The 19th Sunday, I admonished them to bring next Wednesday or Thursday to Empson's mill what they had promised for books, and to give for the Minister's house that the Church Wardens may not come short for the payment of the laborers.
The 30th October, on Saturday, there came to me George Huntingson and John Gregg, with George Rob- inson and Cornelius Empson, and they acknowledged that they did very wrong at Richard Meakins funeral, and most sincerely wished to be reconciled with me, and if anything further should be required by the congre- gation they will also come and own their fault and ask forgiveness. I answered that they should find me entirely ready to be friendly, but that the law may have something to say about it which I could not prevent. They answered that they were willing to undergo that, if they first could be reconciled with me, and be at ease conscientiously in the matter.
The 22nd Sunday after Trinity, I again reminded them of their promises for the Priests' house, and also for the books, and that they should not depend upon those who were nearest to cart and attend to the work, while those a little further off will take nothing of it on
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themselves, and yet they give no more in money; such should not be accounted true members of the Church, nor will they have so honorable a name when it is once finished as the others, because they have done little or nothing towards it.
The 31st November, the following were with me on the old land, viz: Brewer Seneke, Lucas Stedham, Matz Pietterson, Edward Robinson, James Seneke and Pietterson on the old land.
When came again Cornelius Empson and George Robinson to confess and beg pardon for their fault (see before Oct. 30th and Sept. 12th,) before the above namned who were the church council for the whole church, and we did not think it on the whole advisable that they should appear before our whole congregation in church, and it was by us accepted as in full for good, with this understanding previously mentioned by mne with regard to the legal proceeding, and furthermore I laid it down to them that they must do it of an upright heart such as the Almighty God will hereafter judge and strictly look upon.
The 2nd of December I buried Brewer Seneke in the church under his own pew at the south side of the Altar, who was the second that was buried in the church, 1709.
The 5th Sunday after Epiphany, I reminded then. of paying in for the Mason.
The 25th day of April on Easter Monday, the con- gregation met after sermon on the Old Land for further consultation about the building of the Priesthouse.
Saturday July 9th the meeting was held on Old Land instead of the regular Midsummer's day ineeting and at this time I was constrained to give in these points of my
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hardship, and through them exhibit my situation and circumstances.
Ist. That in 7 years time I have missed from the other side of the river each year 10 pounds and some shillings which amounts to at least 70 pounds.
2nd. That on this side I have yearly missed as follows : From Hance Gustaffson I pound, Hendrick Tossa, 15 shil., John Mounson I pound, Paul Pietterson 8 shil., John Van de Ver I pound, old Jacob Van de Ver I pound, Luloff Stedhem I pound, John Stalcop 2 pounds, James Seneke I pound, Brewer Seneke I pound, Jesper Wallraven I pound, Olle Thomas I pound, mak- ing 12 pounds and 3 shil.
This loss has been occasioned to me by the removal of somne so far away that they could not attend this church. And that in other cases I had not the heart to insist on payment every year but was promised to have it all made up, but they never got anything ahead, and finally died so that I never got anything, and dying, left widows who were not able to pay so much as while their husbands were living, and so from various causes there has been a constant falling off from what was first promised me, and there never is anything done to make up the deficiency.
All of which reckoned one year, with another is at least 50 pounds, though if I were to be accurate in the calculation, it would amount to more.
3rd. That I for seven years time have been subjected to various expenses and hardships, by reason of not getting to live on the Priest-land, which lies so near the church, being compelled at all times to keep a horse, to be out in foul as well as fair weather, and have everything to buy, and if I did not live with iny wife's folk as I now do, I must have often suffered want, and I
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reckon my loss each year at 20 pounds, which if I only reckon for 5 years and not for the whole seven, amounts to 100 pounds for this point.
4th. That my. year's salary does not amount to 40 pounds country currency, and irregular enough at that. How can it be likely that I can hold out longer in this way. A man servant has it better here in this country, and I must ride around, and scrape, and send after what I may get, as if it was my duty to send around the parish for something to live upon. But I must not forget to except some, who have some consideration, and are always prompt to send in. But you can in the course of the year more easily send in your dues, than that I should send around my horse and boy, as if I had not enough for my horse to do without that.
I was promised 50 pounds a year ou this side of the river, which would now in 12 years amount to 600 pounds, but I have received but 382 pounds and 6 pence, but if on the ground upon which they offered, had I received there would still be 70 pound arrear- age from the other side.
I heard nothing else but that the congregation were troubled that it should go thus with me, and that they had not so correctly understood before, and had not duly considered, and therefore they consulted among them- selves, in what manner my support could be bettered,
And they decided that unmarried men, and those who marry shall begin to help, for they live among the congregation, and enjoy all the privileges in the church in common with the others.
And also it was decided that the old householders should add somewhat to their subscriptions, and that the church wardens should take charge of this matter, with which I for this time let myself be content.
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At this time there were elected church wardens in the place of Mattz Tussy, and Pietter Conpany, Wm. Van de Ver, and Erick Errickson on Cranehook, and the former two were taken into the church council, in place of Brewer Seneke, and James Seneke, and so there were six again as there were in the beginning.
At this meeting it was also promised me that I should be helped to grain for my bread for the first year after I caine into the parsonage, as there was no produce from it for me.
The 7th Sunday after Holy Trinity Sunday which was the 7th of August, I gave notice that the English around about here, being again without a minister had made application to me to preach to them in their own language. I had been requested and urged to preach in English for them every other Sunday, beginning to preach to them the next coming Sunday, but so that I should always have preached in Swedish before the English are assembled.
I bade the congregation not to take this up wrong, but rather be glad and thank God for the signal grace that they so far from their Fatherland and under another government have yet the advantage in spiritual things, to have Priests who not only can serve themselves, but also the English instead of what would seem more likely that the Swedes should need the help of the English.
Therefore that they should grant to their fellow- christians in common with themselves, the preaching of God's word and administration of His ordinances, which peradventure they may at some other time need from them.
For the Swedes have had and will have God's word so abundantly preached and administersd in Swedish
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that if they live in accordance, Christianity will soon come to a great betterment.
The 8th Sunday after Trinity I began my promised service and preaching for the English till they should get one of their own language again.
1710. On the 22nd of January, I buried our bell- ringer and reader, Swen Colsberg, a no small loss to me and the congregation, on account of his useful work amongst us. And I reminded them at that time that those who knew themselves to be in arrears with his pay should now with an honest heart towards his wife and children, let them have for their use what he has honestly earned.
And I also said that as I now remarked their conduct towards him, a servant of the church, so should I suspect they would do with regard to me, if I should die to-day or to-morrow.
Last Friday, January 20th, I flitted at last in the Lord's name, into the slowly built, and now but little more than half finished Priest house on the Old Land, and now they should remember their promise to help me towards the housekeeping.
And so after almost thirteen years of difficult and tire- some journeys to the church, I hope to have a little easier life, if God shall please.
The 24th of June, Midsummer day on a Saturday, we held the usual congregational meeting; when
Ist. The church wardens, Wm. Van de Ver and Erick Erickson on Cranehook, made up and settled their accounts.
2nd. They were re-elected for the coming year.
3rd. They contributed more for the finishing of the building.
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4th. They promised to lielp me with the rail-splitting.
5th. Gave their consent that the land of the late Aaron Johnson, viz: 100 acres which was a separate deed, should in accordance with his will belong to me. I represented and stated that the congregation had just nothing to do with it, but that I would not appropriate it to myself without their knowledge.
For as I under God had been the cause of the late old man's giving all his possessions to our church, or else I might as surely have had all for myself, as I now have this pen in my hand which I am now writing with.
But (before God I-lie not,) I by God's grace have the inind, so much as is possible, always to look entirely to the welfare of the church, how it in time to come shall be better and better able to support a minister among them than now can be done, and so he was induced to make his will to Christina Church, and not to me. And as I for so many years could hardly have my daily support, and never be so rich as to buy mne a bit of land for my wife and children to live upon, if I should die here, and the loose property of his estate could not well be divided, therefore, has God's providence so ordered that this piece of land came to me. And the congrega- tion should so much the more willingly grant me this, as I otherwise could have had all, but through God's dispensing the best was left to the church.
6th. Philip Cornelieson Van de Ver, of Christina, promised to ring the bell for a while, which ringing I had usually done myself after the late Kolsberg's death, which I did not, however, come here to do.
The roth Sunday after Trinity, August 13th, I requested the congregation to stop after the close of the service and come to some further conclusion about the
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bell ringing for this year, for this Philip Van de Ver will not serve any longer, and reminding them that what I had done they must consider was neither my duty nor iny calling, and very little proper for me, but what I did was done to show that I will hold myself ready to perform anything that I may deein conducive to the honor and service of God and his Church, however com- mon it seem or may be, but that the congregation ought not to take advantage of my willingness, as it will not be creditable to them among strangers.
However Philip Van de Ver concluded to hold on longer, and if he fails the Churchwardens will ring each his alternate Sunday.
Tuesday, September 5th, I was with Mr. Walter Mar- tin at Marcus Hook to preach English, having been called by him in the name ofmany others with the idea, that I should preach for them every other Sunday, until they should get a Priest at Chester again, but I found very little earnestness and zeal among them, and made no arrangement with them, but I preached for those present at that time.
The 20th of September I buried my then youngest child Petter, in Christina Church, (which was the third burial in the Church,) on the south side of the altar in before the choir just before iny pew. God comforted me by the unexpected presence of Herr Aureen, who buried him with a funeral sermon fromn Job Ist Chapter, 2Ist verse, else must I have cast earth on him myself, as no Priest was near at hand, and it fell heavy on me as this was my first sorrow connected with my married life.
I must always be ready to serve others on like occa- sions, but I could not expect anyone to serve for me,
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but then I say came Herr Aureen. The child's age was only 10 months, two weeks and 3 days.
17II. Midlent Sunday or IIth of March, I gave notice that Churchwarden Win. Van de Ver had presented to our church a black pall as a New Year's gift, with these letters upon it W. A. V .- ie, Wm. and Alice Van de Ver, memento mori. The 2nd Sunday after Easter or April 15th, I asked the congregation to come and clear a piece of land for me to sow upon and they came on Wednesday, April 25th, and I bade them also fulfill their promise to furnish mne with bread-seed until I can get iny own.
April 17th on a Wednesday, when I preached on the other side of the river there came a baptist by the name of Cabner, from Pumpkinhook, their pedobaptist min- ister, and made friends with me, and in the presence of a heap of my congregation and of some of his own, acknowledged that he had talked against ine otherwise than he should have done and was sorry for it and promised better in the future. I answered him that I would be satisfied, but I wished that he had brought with him certain others of his congregation such as Lars and Hendrick, and not these young ones, for the others are old and experienced, and thus I should feel more like trusting him ; nevertheless I assured him of my friendship, and at that time I talked with him with regard to what it was to be a Priest, and he acknowl- edged that he was not a minister as the English terin it, but only served those of his opinion with the inten- tion of building up a society.
The 4th Sunday after Easter, May 23rd, I preached on the other side, and Hendrick Janson left off setting mne over, and they on the other side engaged John Mink to do the same forone year, and the 7th of June when I was
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tliere they sat down their names for what they will give him for his trouble.
Saturday, June 23rd, we held our general midsummer meeting, for midsummer's day fell on Sunday this year.
Ist. We settled the accounts for the Wardens this year, viz: Williamn Van de Ver and Erick Erickson.
2nd. There was no change of Churchwardens, for William being angry at some talk of Matz Pietterson1, which he had heard, went his way and with the records etc., with him, so that we could accomplish nothing more that day, and we agreed that Eric and William should stand for another year unless they declined.
4th. We consulted about up timbering the barn, and those who promised assistance set down their names.
5th. We agreed with Philip Van de Ver to ring the bell for another year, the congregation to pay him therefor.
The 12th Sunday, August 19th, the girl Rose did penance for having improperly used at one time in the church the bason and linen cloth, which were always used when Holy Baptism was performed.
This penance was performed in English, for she was an Irish woman, and understood that language best, next to her own.
She promised 20 shillings old currency to the churchi with which another bason and linen cloth should be bought for use in this sacrament.
This girl though a stranger to us and could have easily run away, (as some thoughtless folk among us advised her to do,) yet would by no means do it, but when her misdoing was discovered and she understood that she had done illy, though she had done it ignorantly, having though baptized been for a long
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time brought up among the Quakers, with weeping con- fessed her fault and testified her sorrow of heart, and expressed her willingness to suffer whatever we thought she deserved, even if slie should be taken to Court and whipped.
I talked the matter over with the Church Council and so mediated in the matter that it was decided that if she would do penance according to our church law, and give something to the church, it should suffice, and she did so, and this so far as we can judge, was a clear sign that she was in a good measure penitent for her act.
N. B .- This was a rare example of obedience which many of our own people would not have complied with if they liad been adjudged to it, for she was a stranger to us and upon iny advice did it, though she might have run away and have earned her living somewhere else, for she was a free-woman.
1712. The third Sunday in Lent or the 23rd of March, I was solicited again to preach English for the country-folk which belong to New Castle, (though they also came from New Castle,) until they shall get some one in Mr. Tinkler's place, who left them in a very irregular manner.
I promised them that if they will have a little more consideration for my circumstances than they had when I helped them before, I would preach every other Sunday for thein, but so as that the one Sunday it should be here at Christina Church, and the other at the house of the smith Mr. Win. Ball, so that those who cannot come to the church can have better convenience to meet there at Mr. Ball's and for their sakes I will take the trouble to ride from here down there, but it must be understood that I first preach in Swedish for my own proper con-
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