USA > New York > Schenectady County > Schenectady > A history of St. George's church in the city of Schenectady, Volume I > Part 4
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42. Inside measurement. This is the present width of the church from the inside door as far as the transepts.
43. Also inside measurement. This would bring the location of the south-east in- terior corner three-quarters of the way in in the present pew 99, and correspondingly the north-east corner the same distance in in pew 32.
44. The present front wall (within the one supporting the tower) is undoubtedly now as in the original church. The original side walls form the walls of the present church for a distance of about thirty feet from the original front wall, and can be easily distinguished from the difference in the way the stones are laid.
45. Letter of the vestry to Dr. Burton, January 21, 1772.
46. A portion of the arch still remains about twenty-five feet from the original front wall.
47. It is not improbable that the back of the church also had two windows to corre- spond with the two at the front.
48. Fortunately later alterations did not change the general scheme of the interior.
49. Number 3 on the plan of 1766. This would bring the location of the pew on the floor plan of the church as it stands today, in the right transept at about the location of pew number 110. It was erected by Mr. Jesse Price at a cost of £6 16s.
50. Richard Smith, " A Tour of Four Great Rivers," p. 22.
Chapter V.
Efforts to Secure a Minister and Charter and the Friction with the Presbyterians.
A LTHOUGH "from their small Ability, and great desire to become like other Christians," the English of Schenec- tady had by 1765, "with much perseverance almost fin- ished a small Church for Publick Worship,"' they now found that they were unable to support a clergyman and that, therefore, all their endeavors were ineffectual.2
From time to time, since the latter part of the year 1763, ir- regular services had been held in the chapel under the direction3 of the Reverend Thomas Brown, rector of St. Peter's. These ser- vices did not, however, satisfy the needs4 of the worshippers and with their "great desire," therefore, and "small ability" to gratify it, it was determined, in this early crisis in the affairs of the parish, to seek the aid of the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and on March 23, 1765, certain petitioners5 were moved6 to "humbly pray" that a mission be granted to enable them to com- plete the work begun, or, in case this was not feasible, that some other assistance might be given.
The matter of forwarding the petition was left7 to the Rever- end Samuel Auchmuty, rector of Trinity Church, New York, who, after noting8 on the bottom that he had been informed that many of the subscribers were people of character and property, enclosed the petition with a letter, addressed to Dr. Burton, the Secretary of the S. P. G., reading in part as follows:9
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St. George's Church.
New York May the 3rd. 1765.
"Revd Sir
As I did myself the pleasure of writing to you by our last packet, at large, I should decline troubling you at present was I not repeat- edly importuned, by the people who subscribe the inclosed Peti- tion, to forward it to you-I am very sensible that many Things, such as a House, Glebe &c. are wanting, before they are intitled to a Mission; yet, their request I am obliged for the sake of rest to comply with. They have sent me a sort of an Obligation wherein they promise to pay, to the Revd Mr Browne, (who is now among them), or any other worthy Missionary, the Society shall be pleased to send among y™ about forty pounds Currency (£22-Sterg) Annually. There is no doubt but that Missionaries in those distant parts of this Province are wanting; but whether, confining them to any one par- ticular place at present would be prudent, I ca'not yet say."
On May 20 the Reverend Mr. Auchmuty wrote10 to the vestry that he had forwarded the petition to the Society, adding that he had supplemented the letter that accompanied it with some con- sideration of their "situation and circumstances." "As soon as I receive their answer," continued Mr. Auchmuty, " I shall take care faithfully to remit it to you. In the interim you would do well to be looking out for Glebe and make some Provision for a parson- age House. These things will be required by the Society if they should erect you into a mission. I shall at all times be ready and willing to serve you-permit me Gentlemen, before I conclude to recommend peace and unanimity to you,-a constant attendance upon Divine Worship-A veneration for our most excellent Lit- urgy-A true and genuine faith in the Lord our Righteousness- and an extensive Love and Charity for your Protestant Brethern,
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who out of Consciences unhappily do not join with the established Church."
While the design of building St. George's Chapel had been "for the decent celebration of divine Worship in the english Language, & according to the Liturgy of the Church of England," it had been planned that liberty should be granted "to Protestants of every De- nomination to use the- Chapel at such Hours as (should) not in- terfere with the Service of the established Church."11
Not a few of the inhabitants of Schenectady who held to the Pres- byterian faith had subscribed to the fund for the erection of the church and they, therefore, felt doubly free in availing themselves of the privileges granted, in fact so free as to almost immediately cause a friction with the Episcopalians, which soon broke into open discord with the petition that the chapel be established as a mission of the English Church.
To such a point had the trouble progressed by December that the Episcopalians resolved 12 to petition Governor Moore for a char- ter whereby their rights and privileges would be secure and any fu- ture unjust attempts by the Presbyterians on the privileges of the church, prevented.
A draft of the petition was forwarded to Captain Guy Johnson 13 that he might lay the matter before Sir William, and the letter that accompaniedit expressed the desire that he, as well as Captain Dan- iel Claus,14 would permit their names to be enrolled as trustees of the church in case the charter was granted.
Sir William "is of the Opinion," wrote15 Captain Johnson on De- cember 27, 1765, in reporting to the vestry the result of his con- ference, "that the Clergy at New York will be able to effect your desire provided they stir heartily in it, he has as yet no Acquaint-
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ance with the New Governor-when he has he will second it if occasion requires .- I would have added to the Number of Subscrib- ers to the Petition but that my place of residence being pretty well known, it would not have been so proper to do so, not being an In- habitant, -I shall be very Glad if my being a Trustee can be of any service, Therefore I have no objection to it: I have spoke with Capt. Claus on that head but have not received his final Answer, tho' I don't Doubt but he may agree to it .- If the petition was copied over on larger paper, and the Words "Your Excell' cys Petitioners" added for, " Your Petitioners" at the beginning of each Paragraph, I think it would do better, and also that It should be mentioned at the foot "Signed on behalf of ourselves & the rest of the Protestants of the Established Church" and this will look better I think, as the Subscribers appear too few to Constitute a Church, especially it will be so represented by those who may disagree to your design."
A draft of the proposed petition was also sent16 to the Reverend John Ogilvie that both he and Mr. Auchmuty might peruse it and insert whatever alterations they thought necessary, before returning the paper for the final approbation of Sir William Johnson.
On October 14, 1 766, the vestry were able to report17 to the Rev- erend John Ogilvie that they had laid their petition for the charter before the governor while he was visiting Sir William, that he had received it with the utmost condescension and had given assurance that he would lay the petition before the Council as soon as he re- turned to New York. "(Sir William) who generously espoused our cause with the greatest warmth," continued the letter "informed his Excellency with the proceedings of the presbyterians the Gov'r Advised us to return the presbyterian in this town the Superscribsion Money back again, and Sir William Answered rather than they
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should have any right in the Church he would pay the Money him- self."
Matthew Lyne who chanced to be in New York, later in theyear, took occasion to wait upon the governor with a view of ascertaining how matters were progressing and was able to report18 that he had had the pleasure of hearing that the petition had been laid before the Council, that it had met with a favorable reception and that the charter would shortly be "sent up."
The matter of the charter was still pending in April, 1767, for on the third Sir William reported19 to the vestry that Captain Guy, who had "newly returned" from New York, had reminded the governor of the affair and had been informed that it would shortly terminate to their satisfaction. In spite of the favorable promises, however, the charter had not been granted by June 15, 1768, although Captain Johnson wrote20 to Mr. Brown on that day that the governor had assured him the day before that it was "making out"21 and that being very favorably disposed towards the church he would do everything in his power for its interests.
While the granting of the charter was being urged in New York, the matter of the request for a mission was being pressed, and with better success, in London. When, at first, the petition was not noticed, it was suggested that a memorial be sent by the petitioners to the clergy of New York asking them jointly to solicit the Society in their behalf and "to represent in the strongest manner the danger of the congregation (for want of a Clergyman duly to Officiate for them) being drawn away from the established Worship to the Presbyterian."22
Whether or not any action was taken towards presenting the sug- gested memorial cannot be ascertained, although Dr. Auchmuty
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wrote23 to the Society on October 24, 1766, suggesting that "it might not be amiss for (them) to give the petitioners some encour- agement providing they set about purchasing a glebe house etc." Sir William also wrote24 and in addition to mentioning the fact that the Presbyterians "had done all in their power to obstruct the work on the church and (to) draw off the members (by) threaten- ing to pull it down," stated that "unless something (was) immedi- ately done for (the petitioners), the next generation must become dissentors and all future hope of the increase of the church-prove abortive," as Schenectady was not the only town where such prac- tices were carried on.
As a result of the letters of Dr. Auchmuty and Sir William Johnson the Society at once "engaged25 to appoint" a mission- ary to Schenectady.
The selection of the minister to be appointed seems26 to have been left to Sir William and after several letters had passed between him and Dr. Smith of Philadelphia, the Reverend Alexander Mur- ray, Episcopal minister at Reading, Pennsylvania, was induced to write27 to the Society in January, 1768, asking leave to remove to Schenectady.
While the events detailed were transpiring, the Presbyterians28 were busily engaged in organizing29 their congregation. For some time they had been worshipping in a rented "meeting house," and by August, 1768, had gained sufficient strength to warrant their competing 3º with their brethren in Albany for the services of the Reverend Andrew Bay.31
The vestry of St. George's were as yet unadvised regarding the decision of the Society on the appointment of Mr. Murray, and "Anxiously Solicitious on this head" by reason of the activities of
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the Presbyterians, Mr. Brown decided to place the matter before Sir William. "Our Congregation," he wrote 32 on August 5, 1768, "begs to know wether there is any reason to Expect Mr. Murray soon here, if not if your Honour approves of it, we would give him an Invitation to come here, that if this place is agreeable to him and he to us, we will then Subscribe yearly as much as lies in our power for him, tho' I really think it will not exceed £40 this Currency but however if Mr. Murray comes and you think him a person that (is) likely to promote Religion among us, we make no doubt but you will Sir: by recommending another Mission, to be added to this, or by some other means, make the terms agreeable to him."
During the summer Mr. Murray received 33 the permission of the Society to remove to Schenectady. He waited in vain for some word from the vestry of St. George's with reference to the position but when by September he had heard nothing he felt obliged to drop all further thoughts of the mission and so informed the Society that they might make another appointment.34
Although the affair had been thus badly managed, it was hoped that Mr. Murray might still be induced to accept the charge at Schenectady. A letter written to him in October with this in view, however, went astray 35 and it was only when an answer was re- ceived to a second letter sent on January 2, 1769, that the vestry put an end to their expectation of obtaining his services. "Since (September)," wrote 36 Mr. Murray in part, "i have entered into a married State, which would make a Removal so far as to Schenec- tady very inconvenient, & the Salary there wou'd be very unequal to the Expence of supporting a Family."
"You can't immagine how the Disappointment affects us," wrote37 the vestry to Sir William on February 25, 1769, in for-
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warding a copy of Mr. Murray's letter, "and will be attended with the Consequences of losing some part of our Congregation by their Joining the Dessenters, as they have provided 38 themselves with a Gentleman who is much admired, And as we are at a Loss how to proceed farther for the speedy provision of a Missionary. We make bold to Crave your Advice how to act."
Several months after the refusal of the Reverend Mr. Murray 39 to accept the charge at Schenectady, Mr. David Griffiths, 4º who had expressed the intention of going to England for ordination as soon as he could secure proper recommendations for a mission, journeyed to Johnstown to crave the "Countenance and Influence" of Sir William with a view of obtaining the appointment at Schenectady.41
Later through Mr. Brown "some tolerable offers" were made to Mr. Griffiths should he, after ordination, "be inclined" to the mission.42 What induced him to decline these offers and to choose instead the mission at Gloucester, N. J., is not known. Per- haps he visited Schenectady and met Mr. Dudley Davis, one of Sir William's protegés who was endeavoring to start a law practice here, or perhaps he was given an opportunity of reading a letter from that gentleman to Sir William, describing his impressions of the town, and became discouraged at the outlook. "Business here," reads the letter43 referred to, "is not to be had, house rent is high, and the Inhabitants very Extorting and unsociable, and so wanting in Humanity that a person is despised for that which should at Least, Induce them to condolence and pity .- the Longer I stay here the more time I shall waste and my Circumstances grow worse, if worse they can be."
Mr. Griffiths could not be induced to alter his decision and so was registered a second unsuccessful attempt to secure a rector for St. George's.
Notes.
Chapter V.
I. Manuscript Records of the S. P.G., II, Series B, No. 11, 24.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid., No. I, op. 32.
4. "There is not one Church Clergyman in all the extensive county of Albany ex- cept Mr. Browne, whose usefulness I have informed you is little, little indeed." Dr. Auchmuty to the S. P. G., October 24, 1766. Quoted by Professor Pearson, "A His- tory of the Schenectady Patent," p. 391.
5. Jno. Brown, Matthew Lyne, Edward Arnold, John Shee, Samuel Fuller, Richd Cullon, James Cassety, Charle Adams, Thos Porter, Samll McNutt, John Thomson, John Porter, Joseph Norris, Charles Doyal, Stephen Dudley, Owen McCarty, John Steell, Robt Richey, Aubrey Thomas, Harmon Peters, John Wason, John Warson Jun, Willm Ewings, Henry Doular, Robert Bowhannen, Andrew Johnson, James Johnson, Portrul Larkins, John Davis, Daniel Campbell, John Duncan, James Phyn, David Meldrum, Alexr Ellice, Saml Tyms, Andr Mcfarlan, Gilbert Tice, Jonth Ogden, John Constable, Alexander Campbell, John Kempe, Salby Tayler, Edward Burrowes, Adam Smith, Thomas Morrall, John Kysand, Abram Watson, Donald McBean, Archebald McAnten, Daniel Callahan, William White, Nicklos McDaniel, Ruebn Horsford, Noah Horsford, Thos Arnold.
6. Manuscript Records of the S. P. G., II, Series B, No. 11, 24.
7. Ibid., No. I, op. 32.
8. Ibid., No. 11, 24.
9. Ibid., No. I, op. 32.
10. A copy of the letter is included among the Miscellaneous Papers of St George's Church.
II. Letter of the Reverend John Ogilvie, Montreal, August 19, 1761. Miscella- neous Papers of St. George's Church.
12. "The Documentary History of the State of New York." IV, 362.
13. Captain or Colonel, Guy Johnson was a nephew of Sir William. He had acted for some time as his private secretary and had married Mary, the younger of his uncle's two daughters. Later, at the death of Sir William, he succeeded to the position of His
[59]
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Majesty's Superintendent of Indian Affairs and at the outbreak of the Revolution re- tired to Canada. From 1766, until his departure for Canada, Colonel Johnson resided at Guy Park one mile and a half east of fort Johnson. The mansion house, built for him by Sir William, after years of neglect, is now being restored. His property in the State was confiscated by the act of 1779.
14. Captain (he received this rank on July 6, 1761) Daniel Claus was at this time serving as a deputy to Sir William. He possessed a thorough knowledge of the Iroquois language and his services as an interpreter were of exceptional value. He married the elder of Sir William's daughters and resided near Johnstown until the out- break of the Revolution. He served actively with the British forces during the ear- ly part of the war and in 1777 withdrew to Canada. Here he remained until peace was declared and then removed to England. During his stay in Canada, he superintended the printing of the Quebec edition of the Indian Prayer Book, a reprint from the sec- ond edition and necessitated because it was feared that the book might be wholly lost in a short time as very few copies of the edition remained among the Mohawks who had retired to Canada.
15. To Mr. John Brown. The original letter is among the Miscellaneous Papers of St. George's Church.
16. Mr. John Brown to the Reverend John Ogilvie, January 6, 1766. A copy of the original letter is among the Miscellaneous Papers of St. George's Church.
17. The vestry to the Reverend John Ogilvie. The original letter is among the Miscellaneous Papers of St. George's Church.
18. "The Documentary History of the State of New York," IV, 371. On this trip he also took occasion to procure a clerk (in all probability, Mr. James Fuller, payment for whose services in this capacity is recorded about this time) to officiate in the Church.
19. Sir William Johnson to Mr. John Brown. A copy of the letter is among the Miscellaneous Papers of St. George's Church.
20. Captain Guy Johnson to Mr. John Brown. A copy of the letter is among the Miscellaneous Papers of St. George's Church.
21. In spite of Governor Moore's assertions no charter was forthcoming. In the calender of Council Minutes there appears a reference under date of March 2, 1774, indicating that a charter of incorporation was granted at that time. The original peti- tion on which this action was taken is contained in Vol. 100 of the New York Colo- nial Manuscripts and that volume exists now in but a fragmentary state. According to the calendar of Colonial Manuscripts the petition bears the same date as the Coun-
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cil action. The following year, April 28, 1775, the minutes record that the Attorney General is to draw a Charter for the Protestant Episcopal Church at Schenectady. This seems to indicate that at that time the Charter had not yet been issued and I find no later reference to this matter. It seems unlikely that any further action was taken by the English Governor after the matter had been allowed to drag for nearly ten years and the important issues raised by the Revolution were demanding attention.
22. Miscellaneous Papers of St. George's Church.
23. Jonathan Pearson, "A History of the Schenectady Patent," p. 391.
24. Manuscript Records of the S. P. G., Series B, Vol. 2, No. 86, p. 272.
25. Report of the S. P. G., 1766.
26. "The Documentary History of the State of New York," IV, 406.
27. Ibid.
28. Tradition has it that when the church was first erected the Episcopalians made use of the front door and the Presbyterians of the side or south door and that when the friction between the two denominations arose and the Presbyterians withdrew, the south door was removed and the opening walled up.
29. The date of the withdrawal of the Presbyterians from sharing the use of St. George's Chapel, may be conjectured from an entry in the books of their church, quoted by Professor Pearson ("A History of the Schenectady Patent," p. 400), which records under date of January 11, 1769, a balance of £6 145. 6d. due "on the first 2 years of the old house."
30. "The Documentary History of the State of New York," IV, 383.
31. Then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Albany.
32. "The Documentary History of the State of New York," IV, 383.
33. Ibid., p. 406.
34. Ibid.
35. Ibid.
36. Ibid.
37. Ibid., p. 405.
38. Possibly the Reverend Mr. Bay divided his time between Albany and Schenec- tady.
39. He remained at Reading until 1778 when he withdrew to England.
40. He went to England for orders in 1770 and returned with the desired appoint- ment to Gloucester, N. J. He soon relinquished his mission and removed to Virginia. In July, 1776, he was appointed chaplain and surgeon to the 3d Virginia battalion as a man of "uncommon merit." After peace was declared he served as a rector of a
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parish in Fairfax, Virginia, and in 1786, was elected a bishop from that state. He was never consecrated, however, as owing to his poverty he was unable to proceed to England for that purpose.
41. Sir William Johnson Manuscripts, XVIII, 242.
42. "The Documentary History of the State of New York," IV, 440.
43. Sir William Johnson Manuscripts, XVII, 15.
Chapter VI.
The Rectorship of the Reverend William Andrews.
1 N November, 1769, Mr. William Andrews, a young man who had been in America for some months following his gradua- tion1 from Trinity College, Dublin, and who also had thoughts of entering the ministry, left New York for Johnstown, with a view of soliciting the aid of Sir William Johnson in securing for him an appointment to the mission at Schenectady. Mr. Andrews carried with him several letters of recommendation from Dr. Auchmuty and other gentlemen of influence in New York who wrote in highly commendatory terms of his character and education.2
On his way to Johnstown Mr. Andrews stopped over in Sche- nectady to pay his respects to his relative, Mr. Daniel Campbell.3 During his sojourn here he took advantage of an opportunity to ad- dress the congregation of St. George's, making such a favorable im- pression that all were unanimous in their desire to second his peti- tion for the appointment to the mission, and that Sir William might be advised of their wishes Mr. John Brown later accompanied Mr. Andrews to Johnstown.4
Mr. Andrews returned to Schenectady following a favorable in- terview and here awaited Sir William's promised letter of recom- mendation to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, upon which now rested his hope of securing the desired appointment.
On December 10, Mr. Andrews received word that a vessel at New York was expected to sail very shortly for Ireland and although
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the expected letter had not yet been received, he decided to request Sir William to write him at his earliest convenience in care of Dr. Auchmuty and to start at once for New York.5
On January 29, 1770, Mr. Andrews sailed for Ireland. Soon after his arrival he proceeded to London where he was ordained and on May 19, the secretary of the Society wrote 6 to the wardens and ves- try of St. George's Church advising them of his appointment to the mission. "He appears to be a person well deserving of the best en- couragement," comments the writer, "& will, I make no doubt, be perfectly agreeable to you, & therefore I trust, that you will testify your gratitude to the Society & your regard to him, by con- tributing to Him in so liberal a manner, & making a provision for a suitable habitation, that He may support himself in a manner be- coming his station & character."
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