USA > New York > Kings County > Williamsburgh > A history of the city of Brooklyn : including the old town and village of Brooklyn, the town of Bushwick, and the village and city of Williamsburgh > Part 17
USA > New York > Kings County > Bushwick > A history of the city of Brooklyn : including the old town and village of Brooklyn, the town of Bushwick, and the village and city of Williamsburgh > Part 17
USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > A history of the city of Brooklyn : including the old town and village of Brooklyn, the town of Bushwick, and the village and city of Williamsburgh > Part 17
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168
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
case; therefore the minister advised that this difference be referred and submitted to the Honorable the Consistory of New York."1
On the 14th of October, 1680, the following was agreed to, being article 7 of a new agreement with the minister, viz. :
" Those of Flatbush shall provide that the minister's field be enlarged two morgen, in order that the minister may keep a horse and suitably attend to the service of the Church, and also make all necessary repairs to the fences, dwelling, kitchens, well, and appurtenances, with earnest desire and integrity of heart."
The interference of the British authorities, who then held the Dutch colonies in subjection, with the concerns of the Reformed Dutch churches, produced much uneasiness and a considerable show of opposition among the inhabitants of the four towns. And in 1680 the Church Council, assembled in synod at Flatbush, form- ally resolved that the charge and management of church lands and property belonged to the Church Council, and was secured to them by the Charter of Freedoms ; and furthermore, that the English officials were, by their oaths of office, bound to protect and not to abridge the rights of the church.2 They also chose church masters, to take charge of the church property ; and these officers were reappointed for several successive years.
In a MS. of the Rev. Peter Lowe, quoted by some writers, " a
1 Translation of the second resolution of the session of the four towns, held at Flat- bush the 1st of February, 1680.
? Translation. "In Synedrio Midwoudano. The following was done on the 1st of February, 1679 (-80) :
"Whereas the Church Consistory judged that the charge of the goods and lands of the Low Dutch Church ought to be intrusted to the Hon. the Church Council, because it accords with the freedoms granted to us in this land,
"Therefore, the said Consistory provide (as it may not accord with their service in the church) that the right of choosing Church-Masters should be given to them, in connection with the Hon. Constables and Overseers, not because they judged that the English officers had any power over the church, or church property, as that would be contrary to the Dutch freedom, but simply to cause the aforesaid officers faithfully to maintain and protect the church and church property, which is not contrary to their oath or trust, etc.
" Whereupon, collectively with the Hon. Magistrate and Church Council, Joseph Hegeman, Adriaen Reijersz, Dirck Jansz Vander Vliet, were appointed as Church- Masters in the place of the retiring officers."
This action was continued in 1680, 1681, 1683.
169
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
Mr. Clark" is mentioned as the immediate successor of Domine Van Zuren. But of him nothing is known, and if such a person existed, it is quite probable that he was merely a temporary supply. At all events, in the carefully prepared "History of the Reformed Dutch Church in North America," by the Rev. Dr. De Witt, which we may safely assume to be the highest authority on these points, we find the name of the Rev. RUDOLPHUS VAN VARICK as minister of Kings County from 1685 to 1694. During the Leislerian troubles, in 1689, Mr. Varick, as well as the other Dutch ministers, stood out against the authority of Leisler, and was treated with much harshness, being dragged from his home, cast into the jail, deposed from his minis- terial functions, and fined heavily. These severities, which were heaped upon him for alleged treasonable utterances against Leisler, undoubtedly hastened his death.1 His congregation, also, were divided, and many of them refused to pay his salary according to the terms upon which they called him from Holland,-especially, as he says, in a petition to the Governor, Sept. 11th, 1691, for the six months of his imprisonment. The Court ordered the arrears of salary due him by his congregation to be collected, by distress, if necessary.2 Mr. Varick was naturalized on the 29th of July, 1686, and his posterity are to be found on the island.3
He was succeeded by the Rev. WILHELMUS LUPARDUS, whose min- istry was terminated by death in 1701 or 2.
Being thus again deprived of a regular ministry, the people of the four towns empowered the elders of the churches within said towns to procure a minister, "either out of the province or out of Hol- land," and the elders, after much deliberation, determined upon the Rev. BERNARDUS FREEMAN, of Schenectady, and applied to the Gov-
1 This is Secretary Clarkson's statement (Doc. Hist. N. Y., ii. 431, 432), but another party, not so favorably inclined, says that Varick was, at first, in favor of the revolu- tion of Leisler, and influenced Kings County to act unanimously in its favor ; but that, afterwards, he was won over to a contrary opinion, and created a diversion in the popular mind. The same authority says that he was suspected by the people of con- spiring to seize the fort in New York, was arrested, and released, after a time, upon his submission to Leisler ; that he favored the execution of the latter, "made intolerable sermons" against him, and cherished animosity even to his dying day.
2 Council Minutes, vi. 55.
3 May 19, 1690, in an address to William and Mary, he styles himself "Pastor Ecclesia Belgicæ in Insulâ Longâ."
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
ernor, Lord Cornbury, for permission to call him. Their action, however, well-meant as it undoubtedly was, gave rise to a contention which was destined to distract and agitate the inhabitants of Kings County for many succeeding years. The people, always jealous of the English power, to which they were unwilling subjects, and particularly sensitive to any interference of that power with their ecclesiastical affairs, were highly indignant because the elders had seen fit to ask the Governor's permission to call Mr. Freeman. In Flatbush, the disaffected even went so far as to convene a town meeting, whereat the regular elders of that church were deposed from office and new ones elected in their stead, who were instructed forthwith to send for Mr. Freeman; while at Breuckelen certain busybodies went around endeavoring to gain signatures to a peti- tion or call to the said Freeman, and also for the choosing of three new elders from that town, as had been done at Flatbush.1 Their discontent was undoubtedly encouraged by some inconsiderate acts of Domine Freeman, and his evident desire to come among them- although in direct opposition to the expressed desire of his own church at Schenectady.2
The legal examination of the contending parties before the Coun- cil, resulted in the following order from Governor Cornbury :
" I having duly Considered the Within petition, and having been well Informed that Mr. Bar. ffreeman has misbehaved himself by promoting and Encouraging the unhappy divisions among the people of this province, do not think it Consistent with her Majestie's Service that the sd ffreeman should be admitted to be called, as is prayed by the sd petition, And the petitioners are hereby required not to call or receive the sd ffreeman. But they are hereby left at Liberty to send for such Minister as they shall think fitt, from holland or any other place, as hath been customary."3
The opposition which Mr. Freeman met with from the Governor, the people of his charge at Schenectady, and the disaffected minority in Flatbush and Breuckelen, although it retarded, did not defeat his settlement in Kings County. Late in the year 1705, he received the following commission as minister there :
1 Doc. Hist. N. Y., iii. 139, 140, 141, 142. 2 Ibid., iii. 143, 144.
3 The above order is on a scrap of paper without date. Dr. Strong (Hist. Flatbush) states that it was made on 23d Oct., 1702.
171
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
" By his Excellency Edward Viscount Cornbury Cap' Gen" & Gov" in Cheife of ye Provinces of New York, New Jersey, & of all The Terri- tories and Tracts of Land Depending Thereon in America & Vice Admirale of ye same, &c.
"To M' BERNARDUS FREEMAN Greeting-
" You are hereby Licenced, Tollerated, and allowed to be Minist" of the Dutch Congregation at New Uytrecht, Flackbush, Bruyckland, and Bus- wick, in Kings County, upon The Island of Nassaw, in the sª Province of New York, and to have & Exercise the free Liberty and use of yo" Reli- gion, according to ye Laws in such case made and Provided for, & During So Long Time as to me shall Seem meet, & all P'sons are hereby Required to Take Notice hereof accordingly. GIVEN under my hand & seal at Fort Anne, in New York, This 26th day of Decem", in the fourth year of her Maties Reigne Annoq : D™ 1705. " CORNBURY.1
" By his Excellna command. .
" WILLIAM ANDERSON, D' Secy."
In compliance with this order, Mr. Freeman's installation cere- monies took place at New Utrecht ;? but his troubles were not yet ended. While his adherents had been foisting him into the pastor- ate, his opponents had made formal application to the Classis at Amsterdam for a minister, and in response to their request the Rev. VINCENTIUS ANTONIDES arrived from the Fatherland on the first of January, 1705-6,3 and was duly installed at Flatbush, assuming the charge of the four churches, to which, in 1702, had been added the newly formed church of Jamaica.
The controversy between the two parties rapidly increased in bitterness and extent. Freeman's adherents, conscious of the pro- tection of the Governor and Council, formally demanded that the church books, lands, and stock should be delivered into their keep- ing ; to which the " original" church party very naturally demurred. On petition of Domine Freeman's party, the Governor then issued a warrant to the authorities of the Flatbush and Breuckelen churches, to deliver up said property and books to Mr. Freeman.4
1 N. Y. Doc. Hist., iii. 145.
2 Ibid., iii. 147.
3 Prime says, "in Nov., 1705," which does not agree well with the date of the above commission.
4 N. Y. Doc. Hist., iii. 146, 147.
172
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
To this the elders of the churches of Breuckelen, Flatbush, and Flatlands replied by a counter petition, in which they recite the circumstances attending Domine Antonides' settlement; assert that Mr. Freeman was "only called minister for the town of New Utrecht," and " has entered upon two of the said churches without any lawful call, and has continually obstructed their minister," etc., and conclude by requesting that a council may be called, composed of some of her Majesty's Council and the Deputies of the Dutch churches of the province, by whom the matter may be fully exam- ined and decided.1 The council was granted, to which were forthwith presented various and divers petitions from both of the contending parties, as well as the following documents, which we copy ver- batim :
PROPOSALS
" Offered by Cornelius Seabring, Ingelbert Lot, and Cornelius Van Brunt, in behalf of themselves and others, Members of ye Dutch Churches of Flatbush, Brookland, and New Utrecht, in Kings County, on the Island of Nassau (who have hitherto adhered to the Interest of Domine Ber- nardus Freeman, their Minister) pursuant to a due authority to them the sd Seabring, Lot, & Van Brunt, for that purpose given; for the more perfect and effectuall accommodation of the Difference between ye said Members, and others, Members of ye sª Churches, who have hitherto adhered to the Interest of Domine Vincentius Antonides, in the articles following :
"1. First, that all differences and Animosities between the sd Members which have hitherto hapend, be on either side no further talked of, but entirely buryed in Oblivion.
" 2dly. That Domine Bernardus Freeman, from the time the agreemt intended shall take effect, may in all things relating to the three Dutch Churches of Flatbush, Brookland, and New Utrecht, or any other Neigh- boring Churches, be admitted and put into equal State and Condition wth Domine Vincentius Antonides (to wit) in Service, in Sallary, in House & Land, and all other Proffits.
"3. That in order to put an End to ye Dispute concerning the present Consistory of Flatbush & Brookland, those persons weh Mr. Freeman now
1 N. Y. Doc. Hist., iii. 148, date January 27, 1708-9.
173
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
Deems to be a Consistory, & those persons wch M'. Antonides now Deems to be a Consistory, Do severally Elect two Elders and Deacons of each part, in the presence & wth the concurance of one or both Ministers, if they both please to attend, and that those Eight Elders & Deacons so to be elected, shall from thence forth be and remain Elders and Deacons for the sd two Churches of fflat Bush & Brookland for the first ensuing year & that at the end of ye sd year to comence from the sd election, half of them shall be removed & four others chosen in their stead, and at the end of two years after sd first election, the other half shall be removed, & other four shall be.chosen in their stead, & so successively every year according to ye usuall custom, the said Elections to be made by the votes of both the sd Ministers and the Consistory for the time being : and that whenever the sd Ministers shall meet upon any such or other Publick Service, the one shall preside one time and ye other the next time, & so alternately.
"4. That to the time of ye Election of ye sd New Consistory, so to be made by both parties as aforesaid, each party shall, of their own parts respectively bear pay and discharge the Sallary, Perquisites, and other things due to ye respective Ministers, vizt, Those who have hitherto sided with M' Freeman shall clear all arrears to him : & those who have hitherto sided with M' Antonides, all arrears to him.
"New York March 5th 1708.
" Endorsed, 'Proposals on the part of M' Freeman's friends. 1708.'
" CORNELIS SEBERINGH,
" ENGELBARDT LOTTE,
" CORNELIS VAN BRUNT."
ARTICLES
" Exhibited by the Elders & Deacons of the Dutch Reformed Protestant Church of the Towns of Brookland, fflatbush, and fflatlands, on the . Island of Nassau, for the Reconciling the differences wch have of late been amongst the Dutch Churches on the said Island.
" 1ªt That all parties do consent that M' Antonides, according to the rules of the said Church, is the duely called Minister of Brookland, flat- bush and flatlands, and that the Elders & Deacons weh were lately chosen by M' Antonides with the assistance and consent of those Elders & Deacons wch he formed there at his arrivall are yet still the true Elders & Deacons, and that what ever has been acted to the contrary by Mr Free- man & others was always null & void & is so still; That therefore the collections gathered in the Churches of Brookland & flatbush by the friends of M' Freerman be delivered to the Consistory of ME Antonides to be disposed of according to the rules of the Church.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
" 2ªly That all parties do consent that the Call made for M' Freerman by those of New Utrecht does limit him to the Congregation of that Town only.
" 3ªly That all parties do consent, that no such lycence, or the other orders web the Lord Cornbury has granted to M' Freeman whereby the Effects of the sª Churches at his pleasure were to be delivered up to M' Freeman, never were nor yet are of any force or validity in the Dutch Churches of this Province, but Tended to the ruin of the liberty of the said Churches in this Country ; That they do allso reject this Position, That all the Eccle- siasticall Jurisdiccon of the Dutch Churches in this Province is wholly in the Power of the Gov" according to his will & pleasure, That yet never- theless all parties do firmly own that the Dutch Churches in this Province are accountable to the Govt for their peaceable & good behaviour in their Doctrin, Disciplin, and Church Government; that is to say, as farr as it does consist with the Rules & Constitucons of their own nationall Church always enjoyed at New York, As well as they have the right and Privi- ledge to be protected by the Civill Govt in the free exercise of their Religion according to their own Constitution.
" 4thly That all parties consent to subscribe the Church Orders of the Classis of Amsterdam, & those practiced on the Island of Nassauw not being contradictory thereto, & that in case any matter in difference cannot be decided amongst themselves the same be referred to the other Dutch Churches of this Province & if not by them decided the same to be sub- mitted to the Classis of Amsterdam, whose decision is to be binding.
" 5thly That all parties reject the expression made by Mr. Freerman at a certain time, viz' that when the Church Orders were for his advantadge he · observed them, but if they were against him he went round about the same, & could tread them under his feet.
" 6thly That then M' Freeman shall be in a condicon to be called to those congregacons on the sª Island where he is not yet called according to the rules of the Church, and shall be called accordingly, Provided M' Freer- man's friends do first find out sufficient means thereto and a dwelling house and do perswade the Congregacons aforesaid to desire the Consis- tory to call him in an Ecclesiasticall manner.
" 7thly To the end that there may be a perfect peace in all the Dutch Churches on the said Island all parties, together with the freinds of M' Freerman at Jamaica are to consent that the Elders & Deacons that were there when M' Du Bois preached there the last time are yet the true Elders and Deacons & that then both Ministers may be called there.
175
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
" 8thly That all parties consent that these articles being interchangeably signed be read to the respective Congregations from the Pulpit & authentiq copies thereof sent to the other Dutch Churches in this Province to be by them kept & that notice hereof be given to the Classis of Amsterdam with the request of both parties for their approbacon.
"Lastly. If M' Freerman & his friends should not be pleased to consent to the above articles that then Cap" Joannes De Peyster be desired to pro- duce the resolucon of the Classis of Amsterdam, whereby Peace is said to be recommended according to the order of the said Classis, as M' Freer- man intimates in his letter without date to M' Antonides that Capt. De Peyster aforesaid had shewn the same to him, together with the means to attain such a Peace.
" New-York 4th March 170g.
" By order of the said Elders and Deacons,
" ABRAH: GOUVERNEUR, " JOSEPH HEGEMAN,
" GERONEMUS REMSEN, " PIETER MELIJUS. .
" Endorsed,
"' Proposals on the part of M' Antonides's friends. 1708.'" 1
After a full and patient hearing of all the testimony in the caso, the Council sent in majority and minority reports to the Governor. The former, signed by Messrs. Rip Van Dam, A. D. Philipse, J. V. Courtlandt, and Leendert Hugyen De Kley, finds "that Mr. Anton- ides is duly and regularly called minister of the said towns of Brookland, Flatbush, and Flatlands, according to the discipline, practice, aud constitution of the Dutch churches of the towns afore- said, and that Mr. Freeman is duly called minister of New Utrecht, on the said island, and we believe is likewise minister of Bushwick, though it has not been proved before us."? The minority report, by Messrs. D. Provoost, A. D. Peyster, and Jo. D. Peyster, finds that "Mr. Freeman is justly and legally called and entitled to the ministry of the churches of Breukland, Flatbush, New Utrecht, and Boswyck."3 The majority report, however, in favor of Mr. Anton-
1 N. Y. Doc. Hist., iii. 151-154.
2 Ibid., iii. 159.
3 N. Y. Doc. Hist., iii. 160, 161, date Oct. 6, 1709 : "and that the said Mr. Antonides is not Legally called thereto, for the Reasons Following-
" FIRST, that the Persons whoe pretend to haue Called Mr Antonides were not at that time the Elders & Deacons of the said Churches according to ye Rules & Meth-
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
ides, was accepted by the Governor and Council,1 and Governor Lovelace thereupon promulgated an order to the effect that "His Honor having considered the said report and the matters therein contained, does think fit to order and direct, and does hereby order and direct, that from this time forward Mr. Freeman and Mr. Anton- ides shall preach at all the said churches in Kings County alter- nately, and divide all the profits equally, share and share alike ; and to avoid all further disputes between the said ministers, Mr. Free- man shall preach next Sunday at Flatbush, and the Sunday follow- ing Mr. Antonides shall preach at Flatbush, and so on in the other churches, turn by turn ; if either of them refuses to comply with this order, to be dismissed."?
The doughty Domine Antonides, however, was not so easily satisfied, and firmly but courteously refused to obey the order, saying that "to the end that he may not be wanting in his duty to God, his said Churches, nor give any Just cause to incur his honour's displeasure, he humbly beggs leave to Represent that he cannot comply with the said Order unless he breaks thro' the Rules &
ods prescribed by the Sinod of Dort for the Governmt: of the Dutch Reformed Churches, they having Continued as Such Some three years, Some four years, whereas by the Constitution of the said Sinod they could have continued but two years-
" SECONDLY, that the call on which Mr Antonides came over is Expressed to bee made by a Generall towne meeting (which appears to hane been the usuall way in Such Cases) and that apears utterly false by the Examinations, for that the pretended authority for making that call apears not to be given in a publiq meeting, but to be obtained Privatly & Clandestinely by Procuring Subscriptions in Going from house to house & there using false Insinuations concerning Mr Freeman.
" THIRDLY, that the said pretended call mentions the having obtained the Govrs License, & aprobation for making the said call, whereas it appears by the oath of the Lord Cornbury Govr & thire own confession that the Lord Cornbury, did not give any License to make that call,
"FOURTHLY, that on the contrary it apears that Mr Freeman was called by a gen erall Towne Meeting Publiqly assembled (as has alwaies been Customary) for which the Express License & aprobation of the Lord Cornbury then Governour had bein first obtained.
" FIFTHLY, that the having a License from the Govr was Esteemed necessary even by Mr Antonides himselfe & those that sided with him, Since both he & they fre- quently aplyed to obtain Such a License ; as appears by Seaverall letters to the Late Lady Cornbury, & Mrs Peartree, under the hand of the said Antonides & of the Said pretended Elders for the truth of which wee the Subscribers refer our Selves to the Examinations & the Respective papers produced at the taking thereof."
1 Council Minutes, N. Y. Doc. Hist., iii. 162, date Oct. 20, 1709.
2 N. Y. Doc. Hist., iii. 165.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
Discipline of the Dutch Reformed Protestant Churches, the Consti- tucon whereof not admitting any minister to assume a right to any Church but where he is Regularly called to, which the said order seems to Direct." 1
The only reply which the intractable domine received, was notice that the Governor "had already determined the matter, and would hear nothing further."" Still, he and his friends continued to worry the Governor with petition after petition, and finally (April 18, 1710), in the interval between Gov. Lovelace's term and the arrival of the new Governor, Robert Hunter, the question was again brought up in the Council, of which the Hon. Gerardus Beekman was president pro tem. It was then and there determined that the majority report rendered to the Council in 1709, in favor of Mr. Antonides, should be confirmed. Mr. Antonides had at length triumphed ; but a few days thereafter Mr. Freeman surreptitiously obtained an order from Mr. Beekman, the President of the Board, authorizing him to preach " alternately with Mr. Antonides, in Flatbush and Brookland churches." This outside movement on the part of Mr. Beekman gave great umbrage to the adherents of Mr. Antonides, who earn- estly protested against it, and requested that the order thus illegally granted might be recalled. The Council also felt insulted by the unwarrantable act of their President, and on his refusing, at their next sitting, to recall his order to Domine Freeman, " they declared they would not meet in council till it was done; telling the Presi- dent, if he could do what he had done as aforesaid without them, he might do all other acts of government without them, and that then they saw no business they had to convene in council. And there- upon the Council broke up."4
1 N. Y. Doc. Hist., iii. 166. 2 Ibid., iii. 167. 3 Ibid., iii. 172-date June 12, 1710. 4 Council Minutes, x .; N. Y. Doc. Hist., iii. 173. The following document relative to the above is taken from Doc. Hist. N. Y., iii. 174, 175 :
"H. FFILKIN TO SECRETARY (CLARKE) EXPLANATORY OF THE QUARREL BETWEEN HIM AND LT. GOV. BEEKMAN.
" SIR-I am in expectation of a complaint coming to his Excellency by Coll. Beeckman against me, and that his Excellency may be rightly informed of the matter, my hum- ble request to you is, that if such a thing happen, be pleased to give his Excellency an account thereof, which is as follows: A ffriday night last, the Justices of the County and I came from his Excellency's ; Coll. Beeckman happened to come over in the fferry boat along with us, and as we came over the fferry, Coll. Beeckman and we went into the fferry house to drink a glass of wine, and being soe in company, there happened a
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