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 39
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Mr. Monteith's successor was the Rev. Erskine Mason, a son of the cele- brated Dr. John M. Mason, whom in intellectual strength he in no small degree resembled. A scholarly and finished preacher, the three years of his service here were years of strength and blessing to the Church, which received during his brief pastorate an addition of 89 members, 306 being the total number of communicants reported to Presbytery in 1830.
From July, 1830, until December, the church seems to have depended for service upon various ministers, when the Rev. Wm. James, a brilliant but somewhat eccentric preacher, became its "Stated Supply," declining, how-
PRESBY.N CHURCH
II.TIM: II.XIX
SCHEN. DY 1809
I. COR: XI. XXVIII
* The "Token " was intended to prevent any unknown person, or member under discipline from coming to the Lord's table. Tokens were distributed by the eiders before com- munion to ail who were in good standing, and were taken up by the elders again from the communicants at the table. They were made of lead, or pewter, were about an inch square having inscriptions on each side.
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History of the Schenectady Patent.
ever, in 1832 the call to become pastor, and ceasing to preach in the spring of the same year, for the Rev. James W. Henry appears to have supplied the Church in April and May.
The day of rapid changes in the pastorate and shifting fortunes was soon to end, for the pulpit having been supplied by the Rev. Jonathan Trumbull Backus, May 27th, 1832, a call was extended to him, and on the 6th Dec., 1832, he was ordained and installed over the Church, remaining its pastor until the 18th June, 1873. During all this long pastorate, under the blessing of God, the Church steadily grew and strengthened; old differences died out; larger ideas of the privilege of Christian benevolence obtained; more efficient methods of work were adopted, and the usefulness of the Church greatly increased.
During the ministry of Dr. Backus, over 1,000 persons were added to the communion of the Church and a new era of benevolence entered upon, the aggregate of the reported benevolence during this period being over $160,000. The Church edifice was enlarged in 1834, and again in 1859; and the old " Session House " in 1843 gave way to the chapel to which was added in 1857 the session room. During this century not less than 60 of its members have entered the Christian ministry.
The Pastors and Supplies of the Church, as far as known, are:
Rev. Alexander Miller, 1770-1781. Rev. John Young, 1787-1791. Rev. John Blair Smith, D.D., 1795, etc. Rev. Robt. Smith, 1796-1801. Rev. Wm. Clarkson, 1801-1803. Rev. John B. Romeyn, D.D., 1800 :- 1804. Rev. Nathaniel Todd, 1805-1806. Rev. Alexander Monteith, 1809-1815. Rev. Hooper Cummings, 1815-1817. Rev. Drs. Nott & McAuley, 1817-1820. Rev. Walter Monteith, 1820-1826. Rev. Erskine Mason, D.D., 1827-1830 Rev. Wm. James, D.D., 1831-1832. Rev. J. Trumbull Backus, D.D., LL.D., 1832-1873. Rev. Timothy G. Darling, D.D., 1873 -.
Mr. Kelly's Paper, to which reference has been made, contains a list of the ministers of the Church down to Dr. Mason's day and could not therefore have been written before 1827, when Mr. Kelly was nearly 80 years old. In this paper it is stated that between 1760 and 1770. the Episcopalians and Presbyterians " agreed and built 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 belonging to the English Church went to New York and got it consecrated under the Bishop unknown to the presbyterians. The Presby- terians Highlie offended at this, John Duncan, James Wilson, James Shuter, Andrew and Hugh Michel, Andrew McFarland, William White and Alexander Merser, purchest a lot from a Gentelmin New York, colected moncy in varies places to Build a Church. The Dutch Inhabitants seing How they were served advanst very Liberal in money, Boards, plank, Nails, Hinges & paint, The Church was built about the year 1770," &c.
The allusion to consecration by the bishop is a manifest anachronism ; Seabury, the first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, receiving his consecration as bishop in Scotland in 1784, New York being under the care of the bishop of London, who succeeded in defeating all attempts of the Presbyterians to procure incorporation.
-
407
The Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Kelly is evidently referring to something which gave legal title to the property and which was done in New York and not on the spot. Writing in extreme age, his memory might fail to disting ish between consecration and incorporation.
In a letter from Mr. Brown and others to Sir Wm. Johnson, 20th Dec., 1765, it is stated that " the congregation of the Church of England have come to the conclusion to petition H. E., the Governor to grant them a charter to secure their Rights & Privileges in the Church built here," and seek Sir Wm's consent to acting as a Trustee " as we can have no doubt if a Gentleman of your known merit and character will Espouse our Cause, it will prevent for the future the Presbyterians from making any unjust attempts on our privileges in the church."-(Doc. Hist., N. Y., Iv, page 229.) On the 4th Dec., 1766, it is stated that the charter had been granted (Ib., p. 234). Of this petition and charter I can find no trace, though the kindness of Mr. Fernow, of the State Library, has furnished me a copy of the petition of 1774, in which it is stated that the title to the church lot was vested in Dr. Ogilvie and others, petitioners.
A letter from Sir Wm. to the S. P. G., 8th Oct., 1766, states that the church was built chiefly by subscriptions among themselves. " In the meantime the Dissenters claimed a principal property therein. because some of them had been promised the use of it when it did not interfere with the service of the church of England," and that they were so incensed at the turn of affairs, as to desire to destroy the organization and demolish the building.
-The Rev. Dr. Payne, of St. George's church has with great courtesy put at my disposal his church records of this period. and I have diligently searched them, without coming, however, to any very positive conclusions.
In 1759. both bodies must have been very feeble and in no condition, unaided, to support regular services, and the application to the S. P. G., does not seem to have been made till some time after. In 1769, Dr. Auchmuty thought that " Albany and Schenectady should be but one living," and in 1773, Mr. Inglis joins with Dr. Auchmuty in thinking the grant to Schenectady a perversion of the society's bounty, which ought to be ex- tended to larger bodies of people without worship .- (Doc. Hist., N. Y., IV, pp. 263 and 311), though Sir Wm. about the same time, writes to the society that although because of poverty and small contributions the "Church of England be then in its infancy, it is such as affords the most flattering hopes, if properly nourished and improved."-(Abstract of Proceedings of the S. P. G. Hist. Society's Library, N. Y.)
The lists of the contributors to the two ed:fices are extant. The subscribers were mainly residents of New York city, Albany and Schenectady, and in the two latter places, the names are largely Dutch. In Albany there were about 126 subscribers to the Episcopal, and 107 to the Presbyterian church, 22 of the above subscribing to both. In New York 71 to the Episcopal and 161 to the Presbyterian, and only 15 names in common. In Schenectady 192 to the Episcopal, and 212 to the Presbyterian, 47 in common. Of the Schenectady subscribers I think I have identified 63 of the Presbyterian, and 47 of the Episcopal subscribers as pew holders in the Dutch church, and many with like names not recorded as pew holders.
Unhappily there are no pew lists of the Presbyterian church prior to 1796. Of the 25 or 26 names attached to the agreement that the money from the sale and rental of pews be at the disposal of the church wardens and the vestry, dated 31st March, 1766, stands the name of John Duncan .* He was one of the largest benefactors of the church, sub- scribing £20, and giving besides "a fine of Pat'k Larkins" £4-12-0. Before 1765, he had bought pew No. 1 at £5. On a loose sheet, apparently a part of the original record, he is charged 12s. pew rent and £5 for Mrs. Hephburn's grave. The latter is marked paid on the record, but I cannot find that he ever paid pew rent. On the other hand Mr. Jas. Willson who subscribes £4-10-0, and Mr. James Shuter who subscribes £4-4-0,
.
* Which he likely did not himself affix, as his name and that of John Glen and Sir Wm., are in the same handwriting.
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History of the Schenectady Patent.
both pay pew rent as late as Jan., 1767, but do not sign. These men are prominent in the Presbyterian movement, and disappear about this time from the Episcopal records. This would tally with the publication of the charter which Dec., 1769, " would shortly be sent up."
On a loose slip of paper in St. George's Records, with memoranda of different dates, under a most curious " Church a Count of Hatts," and after a date of 1765, is this writing " Ye Daley Labor I Have stot down in This Count I wold Now if Church wold take Back ye Seets again Sence ye Presbyterns are Sepyerated."
It was a time when ministers were few, and in 1759 there could scarcely have been strength'enough in both parties combined to support a minister. Nor was the idea of a building common to several congregations, so foreign to the necessities of the times as to our notions of fitness. The churches so built by Sir Wm. Johnson, at Johnstown, 1763 and 1767, were used in common by Lutherans, Episcopalians and Presbyterians (after the war the church building of '67 was granted by the legislature to the Presbyterians except for eight Sabbaths in the year .- (Gillett Ilist. Pres. Ch , I, 383). Moreover, there was at this time the beginning of a movement in the Dutch church in favor of services in English. All these circumstances incline me to believe that there was a concerted effort, independent of denominational control, to erect a building in which there might be services as occasion offered in the English language in which all classes united harmoniously, until about 1767, when the Presbyterians felt themselves aggrieved and withdrew.
Curiously enough. in the plans of St. George's church, to which reference is made, March, 1766, the " South Door," referred to by Mr. Kelly, is just west of Mr. Duncan's pew, and the six " body pews" (there are 17 wall pews) are near the two desks in the eastern portion of the church, leaving more than half of the body of the church vacant. In the second plan, which seems to be of only a little later date, the " south door' walled up, and there are sixteen "body pews," but removed quite far from the desks near to the western wall, suggesting in connection with note on taking back the seats, the query whether in the original building the Presbyterians did not have the western half of the church, with a movable desk near the western door, which would then not unnaturally, be kept closed during worship, entrance being at the south door, for which no necessity would exist after the Presbyterian exodus. Not earlier than February, 1768, John Moffatt is credited with £14, 128. Od. for " masonry," and as the previous credits on this account are in 1763, this may indicate the date of the closing of the door -though work was still being done upon the church, 6th December, 1768, when Mr. Brown regrets that there is " not one Plasterer in Town," and that for the joiner's work "the way Mr. Daves and he proposes, will Vastly exceed what we can pretend to do."
Whatever uncertainty may attach to these conjectures, the above items, in conjunc- tion with the allusion to "the balance due or the first two years' rent." indicate certainly a regular organization for Presbyterian worship not later than 1766, and probably at the time of beginning to build in 1759, what afterwards became St. George s church edifice, to which justly or unjustly the Presbyterians made joint claim.
409
Indian Trade.
INDIAN TRADE.
New Netherland was first occupied for the purposes of trade only. For the first fifteen years but few persons came over, save the servants and factors of the trading companies. So intent were they upon the Indian traffic that agriculture was greatly neglected and hardly breadstuffs enough for the trading posts were raised. The colonization of the country was neglected or positively discouraged, until the attention of the States General was called to the fact, when in 1629 they passed an act called Privileges and Exemptions for the creation of great manors with feudal rights and powers.
The servants of the United New Netherland company built the first trading house on the Hudson river on Casteel Eylandt* in the year 1614. Their charter expired in 1618, at which time their stockaded fort called Nassau was destroyed by high water, and the post was removed two miles below at the mouth of the Norman's kil.
The privileged West India company was chartered in 1621, with extra- ordinary powers of sovereignty and trade, and two years after erected Fort Orange where Albany now stands.t Manhattens was the port of entry and departure of all vessels trading with New Netherland, but the chief seat of the Indian trade was at Fort Orange, where in the business season, to wit, in June, July and August, the natives gathered in great numbers with their peltries. Until 1630, the two chartered companies above mentioned claimed, and practicalty had, a monopoly of the Indian traffic. Van Rensselaer, who had obtained possession of about 700,000 acres of land around the fort in that year, claimed not only a share of the profitable beaver trade but the land also on which Fort Orange stood. Not only so but it was found that the servants of the West India company as well as interlopers, made private
* This island is now comprehended within the limits of the city of Albany, and is used for manufacturing purposes.
t [About the steamboat wharf or the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad freight depot .- M'M.]
- 52
.
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History of the Schenectady Patent.
ventures of their own, so that by 1639, when trade was nominally thrown open to all, the income of the company from this source had very much diminished.
In 1652, Stuyvesant established a court at Fort Orange and Beverwyck.
Hitherto the jurisdiction of Rensselaerswyck had extended to all the inhabitants; but as the boundaries of the little village had not been defined, there were constant clashings between the two civil authorities thus es- tablished. With Stuyvesant's courts came municipal rights, excise, taxes, civil officers and all the privileges thereto belonging; among which was claimed the monopoly of trade with the Indians.
Every burgher (for outsiders were denied this privilege) who could purchase an anker of brandy, a tub of beer or a piece of duffels or strouds, claimed and used his right to trade for beaver, and often forestalled the market by sending bos loopers, or runners, up the Mohawk to purchase the natives' peltries. Such was the condition of the Indian trade when the first settlement was made at Schenectady in 1662.
Having extinguished the Indian title to the "Great Flatt," the settlers applied for a patent from the Governor and Council, which was granted and in 1663 the Provincial surveyor was sent up to survey and allot the lands to the inhabitants. but only on condition that they " promise not to carry on or allow to be carried on at the aforesaid Flatt or there about any the least handeling (trade) however it may be called." To this prohibition they demurred, hoping "they should not be treated less liberally than others."
To this remonstrance Van Curler added a letter to the Governor in which he says that " it seemed to him that those who followed agriculture ought not to be worse treated than those who pursue commerce; and that it would be lamentable were the settlers and their posterity to remain for ever under the ban of slavery and be excluded from bartering either bread, milk or the produce of their farms for a beaver, so as to be able to pur- chase some covering for their bodies & dwellings." All appeals to Stuy- vesant were vain. The schout of Fort Orange was ordered to proceed to Schenectady and take an inventory of all goods brought thither, " as it was not the intention to build one place for the purpose of bringing ruin on another, yea on the whole country." Thus the matter rested another year and not till the spring of 1664, were the lands legally measured and allotted.
411
Indian Trade.
This arbitrary prohibition, though for the time apparently acquiesced in by the people, outraged their sense of justice and right. It soon began to be reported that these trade regulations were disregarded at Schenectady; Gov. Lovelace therefore in 1669-71, promulgated the following orders and instructions :
" An order prohibiting to trade with Indyans at Schanechtade
"Whereas I am given to understand that divers persons doe presume con- trary to former acts and Lawes Establisht within this Governt to trade with the Indyans from divers places to Schanechtade and that other of that place pretending or that the goods really belong to them do trade there with the Indyans contrary to the custome and practice of former times and the Con- diceons upon which they first settled, which already doth & hereafter may tend to the ruine & destruction of the trade in the towne of Albany, which is of farr greater consideraçon & benefitt of the governmt-then the private end and respects of particular persons can redound to,-These are to require you to see that the former acts and laws in the behalfe aforesaid bee putt in Execuçon and that you take care that no such liberty bee taken or hereafter graunted for any persons under what pretence whatsoever to traficke or trade with the Indians at Schanechtade,-And that the Inhabitants have no further liberty to trade with them but onely for their necessary subsistence and reliefe, Hereafter you are not to fayle.
"Given under my hand and seale at Fort James in New York this 7th day of June in the 21st yeare of his Majties Raigne Annoge Dominie, 1669."*
" 11 ap. 1670 [Gov. Lovelace's] Instructions for M. Thomas Delavall & Capt. Dudly Lovelace at their arrival to Albany;
* " To make a prohibition that no strangers coming from hence or goeing from Albany that have no residence at Schanektade do trade there and that ye Inhabitants of that place be likewise lymitted as to their Trade with ye Indians."} *
The next year, 1671, the Governor issued another order against trading at Schenectady of which the following is a copy:
" An order prohibiting handling (trade) with the Indyans at Schenectide.
" Whereas it has not been found convenient that ye Trade of handling with the Indians at Schenectide should bee permitted or tolerated, for that it may prove a great prejudice to ye towne of Albany; And complaint having been made unto mee that divers small Partyes of Indyans doe come privately to Schenectide wth whom diverse of ye place do presume to Trade and handle notwithstanding the severall orders to ye contrary; ffor ye pre- vention whereof for ye future. These are to authorize and Empower Capt. Sylvester Salisbury, commander of ye Ffort at Albany and Schout there
* Orders and Warrants, II, 431.
+ Court of Assize, II, 490.
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History of the Schenectady Patent.
and in ye places adjacent, as he shall have informaçon, or shall see cause,- to make such search and enquiry in any suspected House at Schenectide or parts adjacent, for such Indyan Goods as are prohibited to be handled there; And that hee bring the Transgressors to condigne punishment, ffor ye doing of which this shall bee his warrant.
"Given this 9th day of Jan., 1671. " FFRANCIS LOVELACE."*
The earliest innkeeper of the village was probably Ackes Cornelise Van Slyck. The privilege of retailing beer and strong waters was granted in early times by license from the Governor on the payment of a certain yearly sum as excise. In 1671, Cornelis Cornelise Viele, through the commissaries of Albany, petitioned Governor Lovelace for the right to open another inn in Schenectady, basing his claim upon services rendered with the Mohawks and upon the fact that Van Slyck had not suitable accommodations for strangers, which Viele promised to provide. The Governor granted his request as appears by the following minute :
" Lycence for Cornelys Cornelyssen Vielen to tapp strong Beer & Liquors at Schanechtide.
" Whereas Cornelys Cornelyssen Vielen of Schanechtide having made his address to ye commissaryes at Albany desireing that hee may have Liberty to tapp Strong Beere & Liquors & to keep an Ordinary, in Recom- . pense for severall services done by him between them and ye Maquaes the web They have recommended to mee for my approbation. But in regard there is a person already there (by name Aques Cornelyssen Gautsh,t an Indyan) that doth ye same by Lycense and appointment of my Predecessor, Coll. Richard Nicolls, t would give no determination therein and it being likewise represented that ye said Aques hath not sufficient accommodaçon for strangers wch ye said Cornelys Cornelyssen Vielen doth promise to be well provided off, for ye reliefe of Strangrs and Travellers, Upon consideraçon had hereupon, I have thought fitt to grant ye request of ye said Cornelys Cor- nelyssen Vielen &c. Jan. 9, 1671.
" F. LOVELACE."
* General Entries, Iv, 84.
# General Entries Iv, 83, 133.
+ Alias Aques Cornelise Van Slyck.
The ordinary kept by Van Slyck if it was any thing more than a beer shop, was prob- ably on the lot on the west corner of Cucumber alley and Washington street. Being a half breed Mohawk he doubtless had a thriving trade with his tribe not only in fire water but in whatever else they required.
Viele's ordinary was on the south corner of State street and Mill lane next the church : he was succeeded by his relative Douwe Aukes, and it was here that the traditional merry making was held on the eventful night of the 8th Feb., 1690.
413
Indian Trade.
. The following year a violent dispute arose between these two tapsters, but on appealing to the Governor he refused to interfere.
In June, 1678, Gov. Andross being in Albany it would appear that the Albanians renewed their complaints about the contraband trade at Schenec- tady, whereupon his excellency laid the little village under an embargo for three months* by the following extraordinary proclamation:
" By the Governor.
" Whereas I have been Informed of the frequent goeing off waggons or carts betwixt this place and Shinnectady Upon verry slight or frivolous occasions or Pretences, which att this time and Season of the year might Proove Verry Prejudiciall. I have therefore by the advice of the Magis- trates, Resolved and doe hereby order that for the space of three months next Ensueing, no waggon cart or carts whatever doe or be Permitted to goe between said towns unLesse on Extraordinary occasions, with the Knowledge and consent of the Magistrates, but to carry no Passengers or merchandable goods whatever upon Penalty off forfeiting all such waggons or carts and horses. Given under my hand in Albany, 26 day June, 1676. " Sic subscribitur.t
· " ANDROSS."
But orders and proclamations were not the only means used against the offending town. In 1678, sheriff Pretty was sent over "to visit all the houses" and search for any goods which might possibly be sold to the In- dians; at the same time the Governor and Council renewed their prohibi- tions. In anticipation of the sheriff's visit the magistrates of Schenectady state that they cannot discover that his commission gives him power to visit Schenectady, but those dependences of Albany which have no bench of justices. "Indeed," they say, " referring to our commission given by his Excellency Sept. 6, 1678 it is required that the duty and respect due to our bench shall be given. Wherefore we can not allow any visit to our place by the sheriff of Albany."
[signed]
Jan Van Epps, Daniel Janse [Van Antwerpen] Harme Vedder, Barent Janse [Wemp],
Ludovicus Cobes, Schout"*
* The months of June, July and August were called the handel-tyde (business season). This proclamation was made to cut off any supplies for trade at Schenectady. + General Entries. Į Col. MSS., XXVIII, 24.
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History of the Schenectady Patent.
Notwithstanding the above protest, Sheriff Pretty reports Oct. 22, that he went to Schenectady on the complaint of divers individuals to visit the houses for contraband goods and that the magistrates resisted him; for which reason the justices of Albany presented their complaint to the Governor, setting forth the enormity of the crime which the people of Schenectady were guilty of in trading with the Indians, and praying for an abatement of this offence .*
Whereupon the Governor orders
"Sconextady strictly prohibited all Indian trade, as well all other out places, as pr order to be executed by the court scout of Albany as formerly against all infringers in sd Sconextedy as in appeals to be in this case of trade and in all cases relating to itt concluded by ye court of Albany."
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