USA > New York > Schenectady County > Schenectady > A history of the Schenectady patent in the Dutch and English times : being contributions toward a history of the lower Mohawk Valley > Part 37
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1688 Cr.
66 lbs spykers.
Verkoght 34 strengen garen @ 6 stuy- vers pr streng: de strengen Kompt fl10- 4 credet
credit
Voort verkoght garen fl10- 4 For the selling of thread, 10- 4
[Audit for the year 1688.]
Aº Di 1688 Den 1 Novemb : in Skach- nechtadie
So heeft de kerckenraad van Shach- nechtadie, so predicant, ouderlingen als Diaeckanen De Reckeninge van de Cas opgenomen van Claes Lou- rentse Purmerent en de selve op dato aen Adam Vrooman overgelevert in dese naer Volgende posten. In casa en Zewant f199 .- 7 48.
noch vier Stucken vanachten
aen Boeck schuld 696.
Een obligatie op Hendrick meese van't jaer 1681 den 23 ap!
Een obligatie op Bennony Adre- sse Van 't jaer 1686 den 2 Augs. 336-1
Een obligatie op Willem Abramse van 't jaer 1687, den 28 Novr j 600
A.D. 1688 Nov. 1 in Schenectady
The consistory of Schenectady, minis- ter, elders and deacons, have received from Claas Lourentse Purmerend [alias Van der Volgen] an account of the cash, and at this date have delivered over the same to Adam Vrooman in the follow- ing items :
in cash in Zewant
four pieces of Eight (spanish) by book accounts An obligation against Hendrick meese [Vrooman] of the year 1681 Ap. 23,
fl199 .- 7 48. 696.
350.
An obligation of Bennony Aren- tse [Van Hoeck] of the year 1686, Aug. 2, 336- 1
An obligation against William Abrahamse [Tietsoort] of the year 1687, Nov. 28,
Except the interest
600.
* Son of Anneke Janse by her first husband Roeloff Janse.
Except de interest
350
to 16 skiples of wheat a 5 skip: pr. beaver 25-12 Cr.
Barent Wemp
to 11 skiples of wheat a 5 skiples pr beaver 17-12 Cr 1688 Gysbert Gerritse (Van Brakel) 10 skiples of peas a 5 skiples pr beaver 16
1688
The diaconate
Dr
66 lbs nails on the fence and 39} lbs
nails on the House
1688 de diyacony Credit
The diaconate 66 lbs. nails sold 34 skeins of thread at 6 stuyvers pr skein, the skeins come to f110- 4
.
385
The Reformed Nether Dutch Church.
Een obligatie op Reyer Jacobse van 't jaer 1687 den 28 maert 1008
except de interest Verschenen gelt van't weyland van 't jaer 1688 den 15 apl verschenen 164- 8 Van Gerrit Banckert Van 't wey- land 44 Vrywillige besloften van Barent Deip- mars 24
$% 1b garen
sª fl3369-16
't welck wy getuygen Petrus Thesschenmaecker, predicant. Sweer thoonischen Van Velsen, Reynier Schaets Meyndert Wemp
Claes Louresses Adam Vroomman Dit I COO is 't merck van Isaac Swits
An obligation against Reyer Jacobse [Schermorhorn] of the year 1687, 28 mar., f11008 .-
except the interest, Sundry sums from the pasture land of the year 1688 ap. 15, 164-8 From Gerrit Bancker for the Pasture land, 44- Freewill offerings of Barent Ditmars, 24-
38 lb thread,
sum. f13369-16
The which we witness -
Petrus Thesschenmaecker, preacher Sweer Teunise Van Velsen, Reynier Schaets,
Meyndert Wemp, Claes Lourentse [Vander Volgen] Adam Vroman, This is I C O the mark of Isaac Swits.
Deacon Adam Vrooman was treasurer of the Diaconate for the year 1689. The fol lowing are some of the expenditures.
1689 1689
6 ianwari. betaelt aen Lysbet Van Trych voer hans iansen Kluys 57-12
6 Jan. paid to Elizabeth Von Trich [Tricht*] for Hars Janse [Een- klys] 57-12
febwer. aen meyndert wemp betaelt 7 schep a taru 28. macrt, betaelt aen wyn voer het avont- mael 17. betaelt aen de wesvaders van Pyeter kwyns 144. 1689 den 30 mey
noch aen lodewyck cobes op renten gelandt 132
den 23 july noch betaelt voer 4 dagen gewerck my wey van hans iansen * * * * 16.
Feb. to Myndert Wemp paid 7 skiples of wheat, 28. March. paid for wine for the Lord's supper, 17. paid to the guardians of Peter Kwyns 144.
1689 30 may, also to Ludovicus Cobes lent upon in- terest, 132.
23 July. Also paid for 4 days work in the pas- ture of Hans Janse [Eenkluys], 16.
* Daughter of Willem Teller and wife of Abraham Van Tricht of Albany.
49
386
History of the Schenectady Patent.
den 30 okto.
noch betaelt voer wyn Voer het avont- mael 17-10
17-10
den 3 septem.
noch aen teunis karsten op renten 120.
gelandt
30 Oct. also paid for wine for the Lord's sup- per 3. Sept. also to Teunis Karstense lent upon in- terest, 120
[Audit for 1689.]
Aº Di 1689 Den 26en Novemr in Skacknechtadie.
So heeft de kercken raad van Skal- nechtadie so Predicant, Ouderlingen en Diaeckenen De Reckeningh van de Cas en alle Schuld en Obligatien en Van de wey op genomen van Adam Vroomman, en deselve op dats aen Isaac Swits overgelevert in dese naer volgende postem :
The consistory. minister, Elders and Deacons,- have received from Adam Vrooman an account of the cash, debts, obligations and [dues] for the [Poor] Pasture and delivered the same to Isaac Swits at this date in the following items :
In cas in zewant
fl245-14
In cash sewant, gl. 245-14 The Poor Pasture is in- debted 212-11
Aen Obligatien Debet
Obligations Debit
Hendrick meese
451- 5
Hendrick meese [Vroo- man], 11451- 5
Benony Aersse
396- 1
Bennoni Arentse [Van
Hoek], 396-1
Reyer Jacobse Scher- merhooren
1128.
Willem Abramse 612.
Willem Abramse [Tiet- soort], 612
Ludovicus Cobes
132.
Ludovicus Cobes, 132
Teunis Carstense
120.
Teunis Carstense, 120
Carel Hansen
120.
Carel Hansen ['Toll], 120
fi2959-6
fl2959- 6
aen Boeck schulder
Book debts.
Jan Brouwer
54
John Brouwer, 54
Maria Cobes
115-19
Maria Cobes, 115-19
Isaac de Triex
16-10
Isaac De Triex [Truax]
16-10
Sander Glen
15-15
Alexander Glen,
15-15
Johannes Glen
33-15
John Glen, 33-15
Jacob Van Laer
3-
Jacob Van Laer, 3
Philip Philipse
27-12
Jan Joncker
24-
Philip Philipse [De More] 27-12 Jan Joncker [van Rot- terdam]. 24.
Hendrick Lammerse
12-
Hendrick Lammerse, 12
Andries Bratt
24-
Andries Bratt, 24
Willem Abramse
30
Willem Abrahamse [Tietsoort], 30
De wey is debet
212-11
458-5
458- 5
Ryer Jacobse Schermer- hooren, 1128
387
The Reformed Nether Dutch Church.
Douwe Aukes
31-1 .
Douwe Aukes [De
Freese] 31-1
Jan Meby Joris Aerse
13-10
13-10
12-
Jan Mebie, Joris Aersse [van der Baast], 12.
Jesaias Swart
12-
Jesaias Swart, 12
Benony Aersse
33-10
Benoni Aersse [Van
[Hoek]
33-10
Gerrit Banckert
44-8
Gerrit Bancker, 44-8
Barent Deipmars
24-
Barent [Janse] van Dit- mars,
24
537
527
fl3944-11
fl3944 -- 11
[Signed by] Petrus Thesschenmaecker, Predicant Meyndert Wemp
frans Harmeuse ouderlingen
Adam Vrooman Dit is 't I C c merck -
Van Isaac Swts
Willem Appel
Dit-B W is't merck
Van Barendt Wemp
Petrus Thesschenmaecker, preacher Myndert Wemp, Frans Harmense, Elders.
[Van der Bogart], Adam Vrooman, This is the I C O mark of Isaac Swits, Willem Appel, This is the B W mark of Barendt Wemp [Wemple],
These four Deacons.
MEMORANDUM.
The foregoing compilation is in the main, from original matter collected by Professor Pearson and published imperfectly in the church history issued in 1880, on the supposed 200th anniversary of the founding of the Dutch church in Schenectady. It contains an abstract of facts of interest to the general reader and some additional notes as to peculiar Dutch customs as well as some conclusions by the editor.
In 1715, the church was called "The Reformed Nether Dutch church," which title in 1727 was transposed into " Nether Dutch Reformed church " (Nederduytse gereformeerde gemynte), or commonly the " Dutch church."
The authorities for the foregoing are records and papers in the "Deacons' Chest," the baptismal and marriage books here and in Albany county, records of Albany and Schenectady counties, as well as data in State offices and State library.
The Doop and Trouw books begin in 1694, prior registers having been lost in the flames of 1690. There are a few imperfect records kept by the treasurer, of somewhat older date.
dese vier Diaeckenen
388
History of the Schenectady Patent.
This church with its vast estates and civil interests must have had many valuable papers pertaining to the ancestry of the people and defining many historical facts which are now but conjectures. A committee " to examine the papers in the old box belonging to this Board and to destroy all such papers as they may deem useless," was appointed in 1813, and they probably destroyed much history. It is said that the old records of Virginia were destroyed to cover up sins of the destroyers' ancestors and tradition has it that the consistory of this church in its business aspect was a close corpora- tion for the benefit of its friends. However this may be, this committee swept out of existence the original titles to much of the land and doubtless obliterated the ancestral trace of many worthy as well as unworthy Dutch settlers whose descendants are numerous throughout the country.
The most valuable of these records were the Notarial papers of Schencc- tady kept by Ludovicus Cobes, schout and secretary from 1677 to about 1695, when he died. They contained all deeds, wills, marriage contracts, testimony of witnesses prior to trial, and similar miscellaneous official matter. On examining the Albany Notarial papers one feels the deepest regret that those of Schenectady should have disappeared. Possibly there were un- pleasant facts but as facts they were worthy of preservation.
Whether they were destroyed with other unreadable Dutch documents by this committee, it is impossible to say now. They were appointed to destroy and not to preserve and they left no list of what went to the flames.
The Dutch quoted in the foregoing was "Mohawk Dutch." In Father Jogues time (1643) there were eighteen different languages spoken at New York, presumably as many at Albany. A considerable number of the early settlers had Indian wives. (Domine Megapolensis says the Dutch are constantly running after the Mohawk women.) The children growing up with Indian relatives, among the tribes and with men speaking so great a variety of tongues built up a patois of their own, the "Mohawk Dutch;" many words met with in it defying the dictionary of the schools and yield- ing only to the explanation of very old men who had been familiar with this kind of Dutch and the Indian languages in their early youth. Many words are untranslatable save by the context.
389
The English Church.
ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH (EPISCOPAL).
This church was the natural outgrowth of the English occupation from 1664, to the Revolution. There were many immigrants from England and the New England colonies and many discharged soldiers turned settlers. There were always considerable garrisons of British regulars or New Eng- land militia more particularly during the French wars. Where they had mar- ried Dutch wives their families were usually brought up in the Dutch com- munion, this was especially true of those whose business carried them away with the troops to Oswego or beyond trading, during a large part of the year. English chaplains doubtless had many hearers among the inhabitants. After the peace in 1754, at the close of the old French war, few troops were stationed here, and those of the inhabitants who desired to hear preaching in the English language such as the English, Scotch and New Englanders were forced to build a church for themselves. Paucity of numbers and of means delayed this for years, though the foundation was commenced in 1759.
The old church still stands - transepts have been added in same style of architecture. Unfortunately the old sounding board has been removed from over the pulpit but the general quaintness of the interior has been preserved.
The following letter in answer to some inquiries addressed to the late Archbishop Tait by the Bishop of Albany, quotes some data from records of the "Society for Promotion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts " pertinent to the early history of this old church.
"S. P. G. HOUSE, 19 DELAHAY ST., WESTMINSTER, November 24, 1882.
Mem. for Major MacMurray, U. S. A.
SCHENECTADY.
We have no "sketch, map, or diagram " of the town of Schenectady - the only information here, likely to be useful is contained in the following extracts :-
I. From the Petition of the European Protestant Inhabitants of the town of Schenectady and Province of New York."
" Your Petitioners from Sundry parts of Great Britain and Ireland have mostly since the commencement of the late war settled in this remote part
390
History of the Schenectady Patent.
of His Majesty's Dominions, where they have had no opportunity of hearing the gospel preached there being no established church nearer them than six- teen miles.
"They have from their small ability and great desire to become like other Christians, with much perseverance almost finished a small church for pub- lick worship, but being unable to support a Clergyman, renders all their endeavours abortive.
" Your petitioners therefore humbly pray the Venerable Society will grant them a mission and enable them to compleat the work begun, or other assistance out of their great wisdom they please."
[This petition is dated "Schenectady March 23, 1765" and signed by 55 persons. It will be noted that they speak of having "almost finished " a church, Maj. MacMurray (in his letter to the Bishop) states that a church was built there in 1759.]
II. From the Report of the Society, for 1766.
" Upon the Representation of Sir William Johnson in his letter of Oct. 8, and of Dr. Auchmuty in his letter dated Oct. 24, 1766, together with the petition of the Protestant Inhabitants in communion with the church of England in the town of Schenectady about 17 miles from Albany, the Society have engaged to appoint a missionary to that place, it appearing that there is but one Clergyman in all the extensive county of Albany, and that the church people of Schenectady have purchased a glebe lot and by Subscription, chiefly amongst themselves, erected a neat Stone church."
III. From a letter of Sir William Johnson to the Society, dated : " JOHNSON HALL October 8, 1766.
" Some members of the church of England settled at the town of Schen- ectady purchased a lot there and by subscriptions chiefly amongst them- selves, erected a neat stone church and ...... petitioned for a missionary ...... In the meantime the Dissentors claimed a principal property thereon because some of them had been promised the use of it when it did not interfere with the service of the church of England- not content therewith they have done all in their power to obstruct the work and draw of the members threatening to pull it down. The Governor, at my instance has promised his protection but unless something is immediately done for these people the next generation must become dissentors and all future hope of the increase of the church will prove abortive, neither is that town the only one where such practices are carried on."
391
The English Church.
IV. From a letter of Rev. Dr. S. Auchmuty to the Society, dated : " NEW YORK, October 24, 1766.
" The enclosed petition was sent to me a few days ago, with a request to forward it to the Society, Schenectady is a growing village about 17 miles beyond Albany. The people that have signed the petition are (the most of them) respectable in those parts and have exerted themselves in building their church. There is not one Church Clergyman in all the extensive county of Albany except Mr. Browne, whose usefulness I have informed you is little, little indeed. It may not be amiss for the Society to give the peti- tioners some encouragement provided they set about purchasing a glebe house etc."
V. From letters from Rev. William Andrews to the Society.
"SCHENECTADY, March 15, 1771.
" The first time I preached here was on Sunday the 6th of January last and since that I only baptized 5 children, buried 1, and administered the Sacrement to 20 communicants ..... I have preached twice every Sunday ...... in the evening I catechise the children-several of whom are Dutch. 24 June 1771, The number of my people I believe may be about 80 grown up persons who attend regularly and devoutly, besides some of. the other De- nominations come at times. My church is particularly more filled in the winter time, as several of them are Indian traders or Batteaumen, who, when the Mohawk River is open, proceed in those kind of vessels to Fort Detroit and even to Mishillimackanac in sloop which is reckoned upward of 1000 miles from here."
The Rev. William Payne, D.D., Rector of the church, preached an his- torical sermon November 12th, 1882 ; the following extracts give an outline of the growth of this church:
"In tracing out the history of the building, we must go back nearly to the beginning of the preceding century. The memories of the old French war, in which the inhabitants of this town suffered severely, had hardly begun to fade away, and there was not the first thought of that Revolution which, seventy years afterwards, resulted in our independence of the mother country. The smoke of the Indian wigwam still arose all along this Mohawk valley, and the cry of the wolf and the panther could be heard on its hillsides and in the forests. Though fears of another savage invasion had mostly subsided, yet the Old Fort, near by the spot where we are now assembled,
392
History of the Schenectady Patent.
was still standing, stocked with arms and surrounded by the pickets or pali- sades, within which the early settlers had been accustomed to find refuge in case of alarm.
" At this early period, the Rev. Thomas Barclay, missionary of the English church at Albany, visited Schenectady, and so far as I can ascertain, was the first Episcopal minister who held service in the place. Writing to London, to the society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts, by which he had been sent over, he says, under date of 1710 : ' At Schen- ectady I preach once a month, where there is a garrison of forty soldiers, besides about sixteen English and about one hundred Dutch families. They are all of them my constant hearers. I have this summer got an English school erected amongst them, and in a short time I hope their children will be fit for catechising.' 'Schenectady,' continues Mr. Barclay, ' is a village situated upon a pleasant river, twenty English miles above Albany, and the first castle of the Indians is twenty-four miles above Schenectady. In this village there has been no Dutch minister these five years, and there is no probability of any being settled among them. There is a convenient and well-built church, which they freely gave me the use of. I have taken pains to show them the agreement of the Articles of our church with theirs. I hope in some time to bring them not only to be constant hearers, but com- municants. * * From New York to the utmost bounds of my parish there is no minister but myself.'
"Two years after Mr. Barclay left Albany, where he was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Miln, and he by other missionaries, till 1746. These gentle- men doubtless often crossed the pine plains to minister to the few church- men here, though I do not find on our records any mention of their visits or acts. The Dutch pulpit became regularly occupied by its own pastors, and the English people who were the feeblest of the two, seem to have been brought under its predominating influence, instead of vice versa as Mr. Barclay so fondly anticipated.
"In 1748, the Rev. John Ogilvie came to Albany as rector of St. Peter's. And the same year arrived in Schenectady a layman, who, from the love he bore to the principles and usages of the English church, and the zeal he showed in promoting them, has been called the father of this parish. I refer to Mr. John W. Brown, whose memory is appropriately preserved by a tablet on these walls. He is said to have come from London, and was only
1
393
The English Church.
twenty-one years old at the time of his arrival here. Through a long life, till the day of his death at the age of eighty-seven, he was the steady friend and unwavering supporter of this church. From him probably it received its name, St. George being the patron saint of his native country.
" The earliest baptism, by an Episcopal minister, on our parish register is that of a daughter of Mr. Brown, in 1754, by the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie, who performed the same office for another child of Mr. Brown in 1759. It also records the baptism of three other children of Mr. Brown by Dutch minis- ters-the Revs. Thomas Frelinghise and B. Vrooman.
"That year-1759- the erection of the church edifice seems to have been undertaken; for under date of that year our parish books still preserve, among other items of disbursement, to 'Richard Oldrick and Horseford, for digging the foundation of the church, £4. 3s. 9d.' Amounts for drawing timber, and work of the like kind, are mentioned from that date onward. The woodwork was done under the superintendence of Mr. Samuel Fuller, who also became the builder of Johnson Hall. He was master of the king's artificers, and came to this vicinity from Needham, Massachusetts, with Abercrombie's army. To obtain the necessary assistance for fulfilling his part of the work on the church, he went back, in 1762, to Needham, and engaged several carpenters; and besides having their regular wages while here, they were to be allowed a specified sum for the seven days it would take them to come from Needham, and also for the same number of days for their return. It was several years before the building was completed for occupancy and use, though as early as 1767 we find sums collected for pew rents among the treasurer's papers. These papers also show the names of persons who subscribed for the erection of the church, with their respective amounts.
" At that time lived in the Mohawk Valley Sir William Johnson .* He was a major-general in the British service, and general superintendent of Indian affairs in North America. The English church had in him a warm friend. He not only contributed liberally himself to the erection of this building, but also obtained subscriptions from his friends in various parts of the colonies-at one time £61 10s. from the Governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and other distinguished gentlemen, while attending a treaty
* At Fort Johnson, near Tribe's Hill, before he built Johnson Hall, Johnstown, where he died in 1774.
50
394
History of the Schenectady Patent.
of peace at Fort Stanwix. Sir William was also of great service to the church here, in procuring for it missionaries from the Venerable Society in England, which seems to have consulted him in most of its appointments to this region of country. Through his co-operation the wardens obtained from the Governor of the colony a charter for their church in 1766, and Sir William was requested to act as one of the trustees. He was a frequent worshipper in these walls, and tradition says that his pew, which was on the south side, was distinguished by a canopy. The church, as it then was, according to a ground plan of it in one of the old books, had two doors- one on the west end, and the other on the south side (the arch of which still remains), with a communion table against the east wall in the middle, and directly in front of it two desks for reading and preaching; and only a part of the church was finished with pews.
"During those years the building was used more or less by the Presby- terians, who had none of their own .* I have before me a curious statement on this point, said to have been found among the papers of a Mr. Alexander Kelly, a member of that body. He says: 'Betwext 1760 and 1770, the Episcopalians and presbyterians agreed & build a Church Betwext them, The Former to goe in at the west Door the Later at the South Door when the Church was Finesht John Brown Belonig to the English Church went to New York & get it Consecrated under the Bishop unknown to the pres- byterians, The presbyterians highly ofended at this John Duncan James Wilson James Shuter Andrew & Hugh Michel Andrew McFarland & Wm. White & Alexander Merser purchest a lot From a Gentelm in New York Colected money in varies places To Build a Church. The Dutch Inhabi- tants Seing How they were Served advanct very Liberal in money Boards plank Nails Hinges & paint The Church was built about the year 1770.'
" Mr. Kelly's representation of the case must be as faulty as his or- thography. To prove this, it is enough to state two facts-one, that there
* [This church is on part of the site of British barracks which extended along the Rondweg (Ferry street) from Union street to the " Queen's New Fort," at Front street. It was immediately under the walls of this citadel of the town and close to the palisades along Ferry street.
All British regiments had chaplains ; the English those of their faith, the Scotch, Pres- byterians. The regulations of the war department then as now required very strict attendance at divine worship by the troops, thus having services in which citizens and army followers were welcome to engage. Is it not probable that this was the origin of the joint use of the "English church " by both denominations of English speaking people ? -M'M.]
395
The English Church.
was no bishop in this country till 1784, thirty years after this alleged trans- action; and the other, that the church was never 'consecrated ' till nearly one hundred years later, by Bishop Potter, in 1859. The long and short of the whole story is, that the Presbyterian party was disappointed in not getting permanent possession of the building, to which they had no claim except that they had kindly contributed to its erection.
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