A history of St. George's church in the city of Schenectady, Volume I, Part 2

Author: Hanson, Willis T. (Willis Tracy)
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Schenectady, Priv. print.
Number of Pages: 310


USA > New York > Schenectady County > Schenectady > A history of St. George's church in the city of Schenectady, Volume I > Part 2


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In preparation for the carrying out of the proposed plan, Gover- nor Hunter on October 11, 171 1, entered into an agreement21 with "Garet Symonce (Veeder), Barent Vroman, Hendrick Vroman, John Wemp and Arent Van Patten," carpenters of Schenectady, for the erection of a fort22 and chapel23 in the Mohawk's country24 and a second fort and chapel at Onondaga.25 The erection of the build- ings contracted for at the Mohawk's castle was completed in August26 of the year following and the fort was named Fort Hunter in honor of the governor. It was at this time also that the parsonage,27 still standing, was erected.


In the beginning of October Mr. Barclay went up to the Mohawk Country. Here being kindly received he preached to "above 60 Proselyte Indians," christened two children and took occasion to tell the natives that the one appointed to minister to them would soon arrive.28


On November 13, 1712, the Reverend William Andrews, 29 who had finally been selected for the post at Fort Hunter, arrived3º at


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Albany, accompanied by Laurens Claese (Van der Volgen), who was to act as interpreter, and a schoolmaster named Oliver engag- ed for the reason that the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel had particularly directed that every means should be used to per- suade the Indians to permit their children to be instructed in the English language.31


At Albany Mr. Andrews wasreceived by the Indians who had come to watch for his arrival "with abundance of joy; everyone shaking (him) by the hand (and) bidding him welcome over and over."32 Mr. Andrews remained some time in Albany in order to refresh him- self and then proceeded to Fort Hunter accompanied by several gen- tlemen among whom were Mr. Robert Livingston33 and the Rev- erend Mr. Barclay. On his arrival at Fort Hunter Mr. Andrews was "presently visited by a great many Indians, Men, Women, and Chil- dren, who saluted him with Abundance of Joy, and bad him wel- come to their Country."34


The first ministrations of Mr. Andrews met with an indifferent reception for the Indians had been led by some of their number to believe that he would claim a tenth of all their lands and goods. When, however, they were "undeceived" they received him more kindly 35 and there was every indication that his labors would receive ample reward, for not only did the Indians flock to hear him but, with apparent willingness, permitted their children to attend the school that had been opened by Oliver.36


It was not long, however, before objection was made by the par- ents to the instruction of the Indian children in the English language. Disappointed but undaunted, Mr. Andrews at once began the task of acquiring a knowledge of the Indian tongue.37 In this attempt he was greatly aided38 by the translations39 of the scriptures that had


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been made by Dominie Freeman to which he was granted free ac- cess through the courtesy of this gentleman.


Soon Mr. Andrews was able to conduct his services in the Indian tongue well enough to be understood. A marked improvement in the attendance and conduct of the Indians was now noticed and a number, both men and women, were baptized. Like results attend- ed his labors among the Oneidas, whose chief castle was some one hundred miles into the wilderness.4º


The success of Mr. Andrews was, unfortunately, but temporary and after six years of service, his patience tried by the "inhuman, savage natures" with whom he came in contact together with the drunkenness of the Indiansand their utter indifference to therestraints of morality or religion,41 he began to doubt whether any good had been or could be accomplished by his labors. Discouraged he now applied to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to be re- moved from his mission. For a time the Society was unwilling to listen to the depreciatory reports regarding the natives and hiswork among them but when upon inquiry his opinions were found to be shared by others Mr. Andrews was permitted to resign.


While the Reverend William Andrews had been ministering to the Indians, the Reverend Thomas Barclay had been successfully laboring among his parishioners at Albany,42 preaching upon suf- ferance in the small chapel belonging to the Dutch congregation. This chapel being in a very bad state of repair, Mr. Barclay "con- certed with some Members of the Church Communion, to try to get Subscriptions for building a Church. He found the People very zealous to carry on this Design. The Governor of the Province, Robert Hunter, 43 Esq .; contributed very generously and encouraged others to do so; besides his Subscription-Money, he gave all the Stone and Lime for building the Church. The Town of Albany gave pres-


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ently 2001. and every Inhabitant44 in the poor Village of Schen- ectady,45 gave something, excepting only one very poor Man, which, in the whole, amounted to 50 1. New York Money."46


About six hundred pounds was subscribed and on November 25, 1716, after many obstacles had been overcome "a very handsome stone church" (Saint Peter's) was opened for service.47 "Mr. Bar- clay's efforts to accomplish this result and some unexplained com- plications with those associated with him, left him responsible for a debt of two hundred and twenty-five pounds. He sought subscrip- tions in New York and elsewhere, but did not secure any large por- tion of the amount. His pastoral work, however, continued to be successful, the garrison attended regularly, Schenectady still was vis- ited and many of the people of Albany became members of the parish."48


While matters were thus satisfactorily progressing, representa- tions were made to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel that with his salary as chaplain augmented by voluntary contribu- tions, Mr. Barclay would have a sufficient maintenance.49 These representations, unfortunately, resulted on March 6, 1717, in the Society's withdrawing itsstipend and while before it had been a strug- gle for Mr. Barclay to support his family of eight on the one hun- dred pounds he received, the reduction of his income to one half soon caused him to want even for bread.5º


Although in September, 1721, the Society made an effort to a- tone for its error in judgment by restoring his name to the list of missionaries and by granting Mr. Barclay from time to time various sums, the action came too late, for anxiety and worry had brought on an acute attack of melancholia which gave place to violent in- sanity and some five years later Mr. Barclay died without recover- ing his reason.51


Notes.


Chapter II.


I. Mr. Barclay was ordered deacon on May 22, 1707, and ordained priest by the Bishop of London eight days later. He was a younger son of a noble Scottish house and was already in middle life when he came to America. In November, 1707, he was in Boston where he acted as one of the witnesses of the will of the unfortunate Thor- oughgood Moor. It is possible that Mr. Barclay came to Albany during the winter of 1707-1708. Reverend Joseph Hooper, "A History of St. Peter's Church in the City of Albany," p. 46 et seq.


2. "The Documentary History of the State of New York," III, 897.


3. Reverend Joseph Hooper, "A History of Saint Peter's Church in the City of Al- bany," p. 47. For his allowance as chaplain Mr. Barclay also received fifty pounds from the Crown.


4. Until 1712, when the Reverend Petrus Van Driessen was called. He continued in his pastorship until his death about February 1, 1738.


5. "The Documentary History of the State of New York," III, 897.


6. This was the second church building completed about the year 1703. It stood on the site of the first Dutch church at the junction of Church, Water and State Streets, and was used as a place of worship until 1734 when the services were trans- ferred to the third church. This building, erected on the site of the present church, the corner of Church and Union Streets, was dedicated January 13, 1734. It was removed in 1814.


7. "The Documentary History of the State of New York," III, 897.


8. David Humphreys, "An Historical Account of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," p. 215 et seq.


9. Ibid.


10. Born September 17, 1657; died February 19, 1724. He was the first mayor of Albany, serving from July 22, 1686 to October 13, 1694. He held many offices both civil and military and was familiarly called by the Indians " Brother Queder."


II. One died on the voyage.


12. In an epilogue delivered in their presence at the theatre, their visit to the Eng- lish court was compared with that of the Queen of Sheba to the court of Solomon.


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St. George's Church.


13. The speech is given at length in Bishop Kennett's Bibliothecae Americanae Primordia and is quoted by James S. M. Anderson in his "History of the Church of England in the Colonies and Foreign Dependencies of the British Empire," III, 301 et seq.


14. James S. M. Anderson, "History of the Church of England in the Colonies and Foreign Dependencies of the British Empire," III, 303.


15. Ibid.


16. Colonel Robert Hunter was appointed to succeed Lord Lovelace as governor of the Provinces of New York and New Jersey on September 9, 1709. He arrived in New York on June 14, 1710.


17. "Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York," V, 217 et seq.


18. Ibid., p. 227.


19. "The Documentary History of the State of New York," III, 898, 899.


20. Margarita Van Schaick. They were married in New York, August 25, 1705. She died January 18, 1738.


21. "Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York," V, 279-281. The contract price was £1000.


22. The contract called for the fort to be one hundred and fifty feet square and twelve feet high, of logs one foot square, with a blockhouse at each angle two stories high and twenty-four feet square. The ruins of the original fort were torn down at the beginning of the Revolution and the chapel was enclosed by heavy palisades.


23. This chapel was to be twenty-four feet square and erected within the fort. David Humphreys speaks of the chapel (vide "An Historical Account of the Incorpo- rated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," p. 301) as being "very decently adorned." " Queen Anne," he adds, "(gave) a handsome Furniture for the Communion-Table. The Imperial Arms of England, painted on Canvass, were fixed up in the Chapel. Archbishop Tenison gave 12 large Bibles very finely bound for the Use of the Chapels; with painted Tables, containing the Creed, Lord's- Prayer, and Ten Commandments."


24. The spot selected was at the junction of the Schoharie and Mohawk Rivers.


25. The fort and chapel here were to have been of the same dimensions as at Fort Hunter but they were never built.


26. Thomas Barclay to the Society, December 17, 1712. Reports of the S. P. G.


27. The parsonage, a stone building some twenty-five by thirty-five feet on the ground, two stories high, with a quadrangular roof, stands to-day as firm and with


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about the same outward appearance as when erected. In 1888, the interior of the building was rebuilt, as it was found that the old beams were so rotted as to make it un- safe and at this time there was removed the large chimney constructed of bricks brought from Holland which, with its fireplaces, stood in the center of the building. The date of the erection of the parsonage can be ascertained from a stone in the arch above the cellar door which bears the inscription "1712." The parsonage stands about a quarter of a mile to the east of the site of the fort, and is now with the exception of the Mabie House in Rotterdam (built 1680) the oldest building west of Schenectady.


28. Thomas Barclay to the Society, December 17, 1712. Reports of the S. P. G. 29. He had been "in the Plantations before" and understood "somewhat of the Indian languages."


30. He brought with him as a gift from Queen Anne the communion vessels and plate for both the chapels at Fort Hunter and Onondaga. The vessels used at Queen Anne's Chapel, Fort Hunter, are now carefully preserved and used by the Mohawks in their present home in Canada, two pieces in the chapel at the Bay of Quinte and the remainder at the chapel at Grand River. The communion plate intended for the proposed chapel at Onondaga consisting of six pieces (two large flagons, one large and one small paten, one chalice and an alms basin), was committed to the custody of Saint Peter's Church, Albany, and as the chapel at Onondaga was never built these pieces still remain where they were deposited. An effort is now being made under the leadership of the Onondaga Indian Welfare Society to induce the authorities of Saint Peter's Church to turn over the communion set to the Onondagas to be used in the chapel on their reservation.


31. David Humphreys, "An Historical Account of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," p. 295.


32. Ernest Hawkins, "Historical Notices of the Missions of the Church of Eng- land in the North American Colonies," p. 266.


33. Born in Scotland about 1663; died in Albany April 20, 1725. He came to America in 1687 and was, at the time of which we write, mayor of Albany.


34. David Humphreys, " An Historical Account of the Incorporated Society forthe Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," p. 297.


35. "Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York," V, 358. 36. James S. M. Anderson, "The History of the Church of England in the Colonies and Foreign Dependencies of the British Empire," III, 304.


37. Ibid. 38. Ibid.


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39. Part of these were used as the text for the Book of Common Prayer in the Mo- hawk language published in New York about the year 1714 by William Bradford un- der the direction of the Reverend William Andrews and at the expense of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. For an extended account of this publication and its reprints vide " Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York," VIII, 815 et seq.


40. James S. M. Anderson, " The History of the Church of England in the Colonies and Foreign Dependencies of the British Empire," III, 305.


41. "Their lives," wrote Andrews, "are generally such as leave little or no room for hopes of ever making them any better than they are-heathens. Heathens they are, and heathens they will still be." Ernest Hawkins, "Historical Notices of the Mis- sions of the Church of England in the North American Colonies," p. 268.


42. The population of Albany in 1714 was 1136, including the slaves.


43. Governor Hunter on May 31, 1714, granted a license to the Reverend Mr. Barclay and the wardens to collect money for building a church.


44. This was doubtless in grateful recognition of the constant visits that Mr. Bar- clay had paid them.


45. The population of Schenectady in 1714 was 591, of which number 276 were white males, 271 white females and 44 slaves.


46. David Humphreys, " An Historical Account of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," p. 216 et seq.


47. Ibid., p. 217.


48. Reverend Joseph Hooper, "A History of Saint Peter's Church in the City of Albany," p. 60.


49. David Humphreys," An Historical Account of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," p. 217.


50. The last letter written by the Reverend Thomas Barclay to the Secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Quoted by the Reverend Joseph Hooper, "A History of Saint Peter's Church in the City of Albany," p. 63.


51. Reverend Joseph Hooper, "A History of Saint Peter's Church in the City of Albany," p. 64 et seq.


Chapter III.


Further Missionary Activities.


T HE withdrawal of the Reverend William Andrews from his mission at Fort Hunter and later the incapacity of the Reverend Thomas Barclay suspended for the moment the activities of the Church of England in this section.


For nearly four years his congregation had waited in the hopes that Mr. Barclay would recover his health and reason but when at the expiration of this period he continued to remain in the "same unhappy condition" petitions were sent to the Society for the Prop- agation of the Gospel representing the harm that was resulting from the interruption of religious activities and asking that a new ap- pointment be made.1


With a view of granting these requests the choice of the min- ister to be appointed was left to the Bishop of London and some time2 during the year 1727, the Reverend John Milne3 who had been selected arrived at Albany.


The first report of Mr. Milne to the Society, condensed in its Abstract for 1728-9, numbered his constant hearers at "at least a Hundred" and "the number of communicants at Easter last 29." Mr. Milne's report further indicated that during the previous win- ter he had visited the Mohawks in company with Laurens Claese (Van der Volgen) and that at the earnest request of the Indians he had remained for a time, had administered the Holy Communion and had baptized six children.


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Mr. Milne was well received by his congregation at Albany and his labors met with increasing success. In fulfillment of the reso- lution made after his first visit to the Indians he went up to Fort Hunter "5 or 6 times in the year in Summer and Winter." Here he held services in the chapel and with the aid of his interpreter took "indefatigable Pains" to instruct the Indians in the principles of the Christian religion and to baptize their children.4


On these visits to Fort Hunter Mr. Milne remained five days at a time and after several years of service attained a place of "great esteem" among the Indians, who expressed great satisfaction with him and only regretted that he could not attend them more often. As the result of "his pious labours," the Indians were now reported as being very much more civilized, orderly and observant of the Sabbath. 5


Mr. Milne served as rector of St. Peter's and as missionary to the Mohawks for a period of about ten years and while I find no evi- dence to so indicate, there seems every reason to assume that he must have embraced the opportunity to preach to the English in Schenectady as he passed through the town on his journeys be- tween Albany and Fort Hunter.


Mr. Milne's work, although noticeably successful in its results, had been far from easy and at the end of the ten years' period, desir- ing a change where the duties were less arduous, he petitioned the Society to be transferred to Shrewsbury, N. J., where the parish of Christ Church was vacant by the death of the Reverend John Forbes.6


The request of Mr. Milne was granted and as "a Person of good Morals and Learning," qualified to succeed him there was recom- mended7 to the Society Mr. Henry Barclay, the son of the late Rev-


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erend Thomas Barclay. This young man, who had been born in Albany and had been graduated from Yale College in 1734, had "applied himself with great Diligence to attain the Language of the neighboring Indians," and had on the recommendation of Mr. Milne been appointed catechist to the Mohawks at Fort Hunter in 1736. His activities among the Indians were well known and it was therefore "with great pleasure" that the Society for the Propaga- tion of the Gospel read the petitions recommending his appoint- ment. Mr. Barclay was sent to England to receive Holy Orders and "on his appearance fully answering the good character transmitted of him," he was ordered deacon, later ordained priest, and on Jan- uary 20, 1737, appointed the Society's missionary at Albany and to the Mohawk Indians with a salary of fifty pounds per annum.8


Mr. Barclay wrote9 from Albany on May 9, 1738, "that through God's Mercy he (had) arrived safe at his Mission and (that he had been) very gladly received by both his Congregations but more es- pecially by the poor Indians, . .. . . many of (whom) shed Tears of Joy." Mr. Barclay had already been in Albany five weeks when the letter was written and was purposing to go up to Fort Hunter on the day following with a view of residing five weeks among the Indians.


In the hopes which Mr. Barclay's friends and petitioners had for the success of his ministrations they were not disappointed, for he continued to divide his time between his congregations at Albany and Fort Hunter with gratifying results.1º A "great reformation" was noticed in the "manners" of the Indians especially as regarded drunkenness and he was able to add to his congregation at Fort Hunter a constantly increasing number of new settlers, chiefly from Ireland, whom he found a very sober, industrious and religious people.12


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Mr. Barclay, like his father, was thoroughly conversant with the Dutch language and very frequently, as occasion offered, visited Schenectady and here performed the offices of his calling, preach- ing to his congregations in both Dutch and English.13


With untiring zeal and continued success the Reverend Mr. Bar- clay performed his labors as rector of Saint Peter's and missionary to the Mohawks until the events of the Old French War14 not only rendered his position at Fort Hunter untenable15 but so curtailed16 the effectiveness of his ministrations at Albany that he was led to accept the rectorship17 of Trinity Church in New York City which had been vacant for several months following the death of the Rev- erend William Vesey.


With the cessation of hostilities and the return of peace to the frontiers, following the signing of the treaty at Aix-la-Chapelle in October, 1748, it was desired that the services of the Church be resumed at Albany and among the Mohawks, and to the Reverend John Ogilvie, 18 at the recommendation19 of the Reverend Mr. Bar- clay, was assigned the difficult task of reorganizing the missions.


Mr. Ogilvie had gone to England in the winter of 1748, follow- ing his graduation from Yale College. Here he had pursued a short course in theology under the direction of the Bishop of London and on June 30, 1749, had been ordained and licensed to officiate in the "Plantations."2º For the position assigned to him Mr. Ogil- vie was particularly well qualified for he added to his education and youthful enthusiasm a thorough knowledge of the low Dutch lan- guage, a valuable asset on account of its conformity to the Indian pronunciation and because it permitted the extension of his field of service to include the Dutch.21


The Reverend John Ogilvie arrived in Albany during the latter part of February, 1750, and it was not long before the qualifica-


Flat


Reverend John Ogilvie


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tions that had recommended his appointment won for him an en- viable position in the community. Under his guidance a new life was instilled in the parish and with the prospect of an increased congregation the church building was repaired and enlarged.22


While affairs were thus satisfactorily progressing renewed hos- tilities23 between France and England, that were later to deter- mine on the Plains of Abraham the supremacy of power in North America, again caused the frontiers to resound with the war cry of hostile Indian and the tramp of marching men.


Amid the confusion and terror excited by the war Mr. Ogilvie went calmly about his appointed tasks, continuing, notwithstand- ing the dangers and many other discouraging circumstances, tovisit the Mohawks.24 Cheerfully, too, he embraced the opportunity for further extending the field of his services by ministering to the soldiers stationed at or passing through Albany. Later as chaplain25 he took to the field with the troops and in 1759 accompanied Sir William Johnson on the expedition against Fort Niagara. While in the field Mr. Ogilvie "constantly officiated" to the Mohawks and Oneidas who were in the service, returning to Albany when the ex- pedition was over to again take up the duties of his parish.


The efficiency with which Mr. Ogilvie filled the office of chap- lain commended him to the attention of Sir Jeffrey Amherst who in the fall of 1760 ordered26 him to procure some proper clergy- man to supply his place at Albany and to join the army in Canada.27


Mr. Ogilvie did not return to his parish in Albany but remain- ed in His Majesty's service until August, 1764. He then accepted an appointment as one of the assistant ministers 28 of Trinity Church, and during the same year the Reverend Thomas Brown,29 who had had "the care of Albany and the Mohawk Indians" in his absence,3º was officially appointed to the mission.31


Notes.


Chapter III.


1. Reverend Joseph Hooper, "A History of Saint Peter's Church in the City of Al- bany," pp. 66-67.


2. The date of his arrival can be conjectured only from entries in the Church Book, the first after 1721, being December 9, 1727. Reverend Joseph Hooper.


3. Of his antecedents there is no knowledge.


4. Abstract of the S. P. G., 1731.


5. Ibid.


6. Abstract of the S. P. G., 1738-9.


7. Ibid.


8. Ibid.


9. Ibid.


10. In 1741, he informed the Society that his congregation at Albany consisted of one hundred and eighty English, besides two independent companies (the garrison of the fort); and that in the Mohawk country of five hundred Indians, settled in two towns, at thirty miles distance from Albany, he had sixty English and fifty-eight In- dian communicants. Abstract of the S. P. G., 1741.




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