USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 10
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Caleb Heathcote
Autograph and Seal of Col. Caleb Heathcote.
Book of Pat. Alb. Rec. No. vii, 226.
102
HISTORY OF THE
Concerning this individual, Dunlap the historian thus speaks : " I will pause to give some notice of the Caleb Heathcote who became at this time one of the governour's or his majesty's coun- cil. He was judge, and a colonel of militia. The name of George Heathcote, appears among the inhabitants of New York, in 1676, and his property is rated at £2036, which placed him as one of the rich of the time. George died unmarried, and his property devolved to Caleb. Tradition says, that the father of Caleb was a man of fortune, and mayor of Chester, in England ; but Caleb had two brothers born before him, who, probably, one or both, inherited the father's estate ; both procured titles, and founded families well known in England. The oldest brother was Sir Gilbert Heathcote, the founder and first president of the Bank of England, and Lord Mayor of London. Caleb, the youngest, had formed a matrimonial engagement with a lady of great beauty, but unfortunately took his elder brother, Gilbert, to see his intended wife. Gilbert was struck with the lady's beauty, and supplanted his brother, who sought refuge with his uncle in New York, married a daughter of " 'Tangier Smith,"a of Long Island, and became a distinguished man in our history He was a sincere Episcopalian, and probably seconded from principle, the views which Fletcher advocated from interest, and in obedience to his orders. Heathcote, in his military capa- city, had command of the West Riding, on Long Island, and in one of his letters, gives this account of his method of " con- verting," as my friend Doctor De Kay, from whom I have the extract, says, " military into religious exercises."
The colonel came to America in 1692, as I gather from this letter, which is dated in 1704, and he must have had both influ- ence and fortune to have attained a seat in the council, the first year of his arrival.
He writes thus :- " I shall begin the history of the church from the time I first came among them, which was about twelve
& Smith was so called. from having been governor of Tangier, and to distinguish him from " Bull Smith," and all other Sinithis.
To face page 102, vol. ii.
PEDIGREE OF
Arms. Ermine three pomeis, each
Gilbert Heathcote, Esq , of Chesterfield in Scarsdale
-ir Gilbert-Hester da. of
John,
Sal
ancestor of Christopher
ob. s. p.
ances
the
present Rayner, Esq.
the p
Sir Gilbert
Wm.
Heathcote of
cote,
Normanton
sley
Park,
Co.
Eng.
Rutland. ob.
13, 18
Jan. 25, 1732
-3, æt. 83.
Gilbert,
William,
Elizabeth,
M:
ob. s p.
ob. s p
ob. s. p.
ob.
Capt. James de Lancey_
Johu Peter de Lanc of Heathcote hill, Mamaroneck.
of Bath, Somerset, aid- de-camp of Gen. Aber- crombie, at Ticondero- ga, July 8, 1758.
1
Lt. Col. James de
Thomas James- Mary J. 5
Lancey.
Ellison.
B
of
pr
CO
Thomas James,
John Alex
proprietor of
De Lancey neck Mamaroneck.
102
HISTORY OF THE
Concerning this individual, Dunlap the historian thus speaks : " I will pause to give some notice of the Caleb Heathcote who became at this time one of the governour's or his majesty's coun- cil. He was judge, and a colonel of militia. The name of George Heathcote, appears among the inhabitants of New York, in 1676, and his property is rated at £2036, which placed him as one of the rich of the time. George died unmarried, and his property devolved to Caleb. Tradition says, that the father of Caleb was a man of fortune, and mayor of Chester, in England ; but Caleb had two brothers born before him, who, probably, one or both, inherited the father's estate ; both procured titles, and founded families well known in England. The oldest brother was Sir Gilbert Heathcote, the founder and first president of the Bank of England, and Lord Mayor of London. Caleb, the youngest, had formed a matrimonial engagement with a lady of great beauty, but unfortunately took his elder brother, Gilbert, to see his intended wife. Gilbert was struck with the lady's beauty, and supplanted his brother, who sought refuge with his uncle in New York, married a daughter of " Tangier Smith,"a of Long Island, and became a distinguished man in our history He was a sincere Episcopalian, and probably seconded from principle, the views which Fletcher advocated from interest, and in obedience to his orders. Heathcote, in his military capa- city, had command of the West Riding, on Long Island, and in one of his letters, gives this account of his method of " con- verting," as my friend Doctor De Kay, from whom I have the extract, says, " military into religious exercises."
The colonel came to America in 1692, as I gather from this letter, which is dated in 1704. and he must have had both influ- ence and fortune to have attained a seat in the council, the first year of his arrival.
He writes thus :- " I shall begin the history of the church from the time I first came among them, which was about twelve
& Smith was so called. from having been governor of Tangier, and to distinguish him from " Bull Smith," and all other Smiths.
Tu face page 102, vol li. PEDIGREE OF HEATHCOTE OF HEATHCOTE HILL, MAMARONECK.
Arms. Ermine three pomeis, each charged with a cross or. Crest, a mural crown azure, a pomeis as in thefarine, between two wings displayed, erminc. Motto, Deus prosperat juston.
Gilbert Benthente, Esq , of Chesterfield In Scarsdale, Derby shire, England=Ann, da, of Thomas Dickine, Esq., of Chesterfield Co., Herby, England.
Josiah,
Willlam,
Hon Caleb, = Martha, da
George.
> ir Gilbert_ Henter da. of ancestor of Chiletopher the present Rayner, Esq.
John, ob & p.
Samuel. = Mary, la. of ancestor of Wm Daw-
ob. e. P.
lord of the | of l'ol. Wm manor of Smith, Guy
the pres'i Sir sonne, mar.
Scarsdale,
Inf Tangier, will dar 1719. Fez, Africa
Gilbert Heathcote of Normanton
cote, of Hur- ob Feb. 10, sley | Park, 1719, ut. 50. Eng. ab. Nov 13, 1808.
1681, at Tail
Park, Co.
Ruttmard oh. Jon 25. 1732 -3, mt. 83.
Gilbert, ob s p.
William, ob & P
- Elizabeth, ob. I. P.
Mary, ob s. p.
Anne Heathonte
Hon. Janica de Loncey,
Martha Heathcote_Lewis Juhoston, M. D. on-helress with her | of Perth Amboy, nat. sister Anne.
N. Y. son of Etienne de Concey, nat. 1693, ob. July 30, 1760.
1704. ob 1774, will dat. 28 Sep. 1773.
Copt James de Lancey_ of Both, Somerset, nid. de camp of Geo. Aber- croable, nt 'I icondero ga, Joly 8, 1758
John Peter de Landry_Elizabeth of Heathcote hill, Mainaroneck.
Stephen
Jno. L Joline o Susannah Anos=WilLam Margaret-Bowes Heathcote
Barbarle. bb. 17.2.
Burnet, son of
Read, died In
Gov London,
Gov. Burnet,
1796.
and gd, 100
of N. Jersey.
of Bishop
Burnet
1
John L Barah
Rea hcote_Mary
Joboston=Montgomery
nat Nov. ob cir. 1833
Snow bill. Virgi-
22, 1771. ob cir. 18.39.
Thomas James, proprietor
Jubn Alex. Whammy fl
Ward, Rec-
H
De Lancey neck Mamaroneck.
bor of St. Thos. Ch. Mamoron'k.
-Lewis, D J'ly 13, 1773.
13, 1776, ob trt. 17.
-Wm Henry. not Dec.
hill, nat Feb 17. 1;80.
-Oliver_Anne @now.
-Mirtha, ob . P.
-Susannah G pat
nat April 10, 1791.
-Catharine_Skinner,
-Heathente.
Charles,
-Martin.
Lt. Col James de Lancey.
Thomass James_Mary J.
Hvalo
Ellisgil.
Will Heathcote. D D _Francea Bbhop of the dincese Munto. ot Western New York, proprietor of Heeth- cote Jill, Momaron'k
Slaria_Jos'h Me
Nov 12 1'84.
Charles Petit Mellvain, Bishop of the diocese of Olito.
1 hnmjos 31. Heathcote, Susancah __ Rev John Macy
; Floyd, nat a Aug 1758 ob. 7 May, 1820.
co-heiress with | Ll Gov. of the state of Mar her sister tha.
Wm. Beath- 22 Jan 1040.
103
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
years ago. I found it the most rude and heathenish country I ever saw in my whole life, which called themselves Christians, there not being so much as the least marks or footsteps of reli- gion of any sort. Sundays were the only times set apart by them for all manner of vain sports and lewd diversion, and they were grown to such a degree of rudeness, that it was intolerable. I having then command of the militia, sent an order to a'l the captains, requiring them to call their men under arms, and to acquaint them, that in case they would not in every town agree among themselves to appoint readers, and to pass the Sab- bath in the best manner they could, till such times as they should be better provided, that the captains should, every Sunday, call their companies under arms, and spend the day in exercise. Whereupon, it was unanimously agreed on throughout the coun- try, to make choice of readers, which they accordingly did, and continued in those methods for some time."
The following letter is extracted from the MSS. of the Vene- rable Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
COLONEL HEATHCOTE TO THE SECRETARY.
Manor of Scarsdale, Nov. 9, 1705.
SIR :
I am indebted to you for yours of the 11th Jan. and 9th of April, and am wonderfully surprised that the Society should make choice of me for one of their members. It was a very great satisfaction to me, that any thing I could offer was acceptable to them, and should very joyfully embrace any opportunity of doing service to the Church, and I bless God for it, I am not conscious to myself of ever having slipt one fair occasion therein, when government would give me leave. I beg of you, sir, to present my most humble duty to that honorable body, and thank them for the honor they have been pleased to do me, and may assure them that I shall not only endeavor to give them satisfac- tion as to any thing they shall desire of me ; but if any new matter occurs, which I believe may be of service to the Church, I will not fail laying it be- fore them for their consideration. If I mistake not, the several heads you desire satisfaction of in both your letters now before me, are, first, an exact and impartial account of all your Ministers. Secondly, what fruit may be ex- pected from Mr. Moor's mission. Thirdly, what my thoughts are of sending Mr. Dellius into those parts again. Fourthly, my opinion of the Society's having appointed that good man, Mr. Elias Neau, as Catechist to the
104
HISTORY OF THE
Negroes and Indians, and the cause of misunderstanding betwixt him and Mr. Vesey.
As to the first, I must do all the gentlemen which you have sent to this Province that justice as to declare that a better clergy were never in any place, there being not one amongst them that has the least stain or blemish as to his life or conversation, and though I am not an eye witness to the actions of any, save those in this county, yet I omit no opportunity of inquiring into their behavior, both of the friends and enemies of the Church, and they all agree as to the character of the gentlemen : and that they use their best endeavors to gain over the people. And as to their diligence in the faithful discharge of their trust, the Society, I hope, will, in their instructions, have laid down such rules as they won't fail coming at it without being imposed on. Mr. Urquhart, minister of Jamaica, has the most difficult task of any missionary in this gov- ernment, for although he has not only the character of a very good man, but of being extraordinary industrious in the discharge of his duty, yet he having a Presbyterian meeting house on the one hand, and the Quakers on the other, and very little assistance in his Parish, except from those who have no interest with the people, that his work can't but go on very heavily, as I understand it does : but Mr. Thomas, of Hempstead, having better assistance, the leading men in his parish not being disgusted, are helpful in the work ; and having no other sectaries to oppose him by their meetings but the Quakers, makes very considerable progress, as I have been told by some of the most sensible of his parish. As for Mr. Mackenzie, he has a very good report from the people of Staten Island, and I shall not fail making further inquiry concerning him, and let you know it in my next.
But when all is done, what I ean tell you concerning any minister, except in this county, is only by information from others, which is often very uncer- tain ; for some gentlemen may many times, and very deservingly, have a fair and good character by the generality of their neighbors, and yet at the same time, by one misfortune or other, not perform much of the service of the Church, in which I will give you this plain instance.
There is not any gentleman whom the Society have sent over, that is clothed with a fairer character than Mr. Bartow, of Westchester, and truly he is a very good and sober man, and is extremely well liked and spoken of by his parishioners in general ; yet although he has been three years in that par- ish, not many are added to the communion, nor baptized, and few catechised ; and if he is directed to send an account how he has advanced on each of these heads, annually since his coming there, it will be found accordingly. For this and many other reasons, I can't help still to be pressing that the Society should lay the gentlemen which are sent over under exact rules, and methinks it is no difficult matter to have it ordered so as to know almost as well what is done as if they were present in every parish.
The people of Westchester were very angry with me because I was for
105
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
having this county divided into three parishes, and every minister to have 704. instead of 507., and I had brought the county, except that place, to a willing- ness to have it so, as I formerly acquainted you, and had they permitted that projection to have taken place, it would have been a great ease to the Society : for first, what Mr. Bartow had more than the 50/. he now hath, might reason- ably have been deducted at home. Secondly, Mr. Bondet would have been provided for. And thirdly, one Mr. Morgan, who was minister of Eastches- ter, promised me to conform ; that there would not have been occasion of an- other being sent to us, and by that means have saved 50/. a year more at home, and wholly out of all hopes of any dissenting ininister getting footing amongst us, and it will never be well until we are in three parishes ; and I shall not fail, when I have a fair opportunity, to push for it again. And to satisfy you of the reasonableness in what I offer, I believe there has not six public taxes been laid on this county by the Assembly this fifteen years past, but I have been at the proportioning of, and when the places in Rye parish pay 50l. the towns in Westchester parish were allotted 120/. ; and there are two places more, which, both together, are one third part as big as Rye parish, which are now in neither of them. And now I am on this subject, it comes in course to make out what I told you in my former letters, viz : that there is no parish in the government but what is able to pay twice as much as they do. For Rye parish which is not by one half so large as the least parish established by law in the government here, since my living here, maintained two dissenting minis- ters, viz : one at Rye and Mamaroneck, and one at Bedford, and gave the for- mer 504. and the latter 40l. a year, which I think makes it out very plain what I have offered on that head ; and you may be assured I shall omit no op- portunity of serving the Society therein. But the work must be done, in a great measure by the minister's taking pains, and bringing the people into a good opinion of the Church, for though the reason hereof is very plain, it must be a business of time to effect it. We have had it reported that the Queen would be at the charge of maintaining a Suffragan Bishop in these parts. If that was granted, I question not but a great many who have had their education in Boston College would conform, and would be content with the benefices as settled by Assembly, without being very burthensome to the Society.
I have been so long wandering from one subject to another, that I had al- most forgot to give you my thoughts of Mr. Muirson whom my Lord of Lon- don has sent for this parish. He has been here about three months, in which time he hath by much outdone my expectation ; having very fully retrieved all that unfortunate gentleman, Mr. Pritchard lost; and if he continues so faithful in the discharge of his trust, of which I have not the least doubt but he will, he'll be able to give as large account of his services as any that has been sent over to this Province. And I must do him the justice to own that he is as deserving of the Society's favors. For as some of his parishioners told me, and which I know in a great measure to be true, that although they VOL. II. 1.1
106
HISTORY OF THE
have had a great many ministers amongst them since the settlement of their town, yet Mr. Muirson did more good amongst them the first six weeks after his coming than all they ever had before. And I question not but when you have the particulars of his proceedings transmitted, you will find what I have said of him to be true. As for Mr. Brooks, whom the Society have sent to the Jerseys he has an unceminon good character given him from those parts ; and it is report- ed of him that he makes wonderful advances for the service of the Church, and I question not but Col. Morris will be very particular concerning him- that being properly his watch. For though that Province is not above 50 miles from my house, and Staten Island about forty, yet by reason of the diffi- culty of water passages, I have never been at either of them above twice since my coming to America. And I am now more tied at home with a fami- ly, and my private affairs than formerly, for which I humbly crave an allow- ance. My principles and natural temper lead me to do the Church all the ser- vice I can every where, but I dare not promise for more than this county at present, and my best endeavors in the westernmost towns in Connecticut colo- ny, when the Church is well rooted here. And it has always been my opin- ion, and is so still, that there is no part of this Province, or even America, that would be of greater use or service to have the Church thoroughly settled in ; for it is not only large in extent, and the land very good, and near the city ; so, consequently, will in time be a great settlement. But bordering on Connec- ticut there is no part of the continent from whence the Church can have so fair an opportunity to make impressions upon the dissenters in that government, who are settled by their laws from Rye parish to Boston colony, which is about 35 leagues, in which there are abundance of people and places. As for Boston colony, I never was in it, so can say little to it. But for Connecticut, I am and have been pretty conversant ; and always was as much in all their good graces as any man. And now I am upon that subject, I will give you the best account I can of that colony. It contains, in length, about 140 miles, and has in it about 40 towns, in each of which there is a Presbyterian or Indepen- dent minister settled by their law ; to whom the people are all obliged to pay, notwithstanding many times they are not ordained ; of which I have known several examples. The number of people there, are, I believe, about 2,400 souls. They have abundance of odd kind of laws to prevent any disseniing from their church, and endeavor to keep the people in as much blindness and unacquaintedness with any other religion as possible ; but in a more particular manner the Church, looking upon her as the most dangerous enemy they have to grapple withal. And abundance of pains is taken to make the ignorant think as bad as possible of her. And I really believe that more than half the people in that government, think our Church to be little better than the Papist. And they fail not to improve every little thing against us : but I bless God for it, the Society have robbed them of their best argument, which was the ill lives of our clergy that came into these parts. And the truth is, I have not seen many good men but of the Society's sending.
107
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
And no sooner was that honorable body settled, and those prudent measures taken for carrying on of that great work, but the people of Connecticut, doubting of maintaining their ground without some further support, they with great indus- try went through their colony for subscriptions to build a college at a place called Seabrook. And the ministers who are as absolute in their respective parishes, as the Pope of Rome, argued, praved, and preached up the necessity of it ; and the passive obedience people who dare not do otherwise than obey, gave even beyond their ability. A thing which they call a college was prepared accordingly, wherein, as I am informed, a commencement was made about three or four months ago. But notwithstanding their new college here, and old one in Boston, and that every town in that colony has one, and some two minis- ters, and have not only heard them say, but seen it in their prints, that there was no place in the world where the gospel shone so brightly, nor that the people lived so religiously and well as they : yet I dare aver, that there is not a much greater necessity of having the christian religion in its true light preached any where than amongst them. Many, if not the greatest number of them, being little better than in a state of heathenism ; having never been baptized nor admitted to the communion. And that you may be satisfied what I tell you herein is not spoken at random, nor grounded ou careless observation, Mr. Muirson's parish is more than three fourths of it composed of two towns, viz : Rye and Bedford, which were first settled under the colony of Con- necticut, and of people bred and born under that government, and some time before my coming, had a minister, one Mr. Denham, and had afterwards two more, Woodbridge and Bowers, at Rye, and one Mr. Jones, at Bedford. And the people of Rye only had of this county the care to provide a parsonage house. And notwithstanding all those great shows of religion, and that a: such times as they were destitute of a minister.
Greenwich and Stanford, the bounds of the former of which places join upon theirs, and the other is not above ten miles distant, where they were al- ways supplied. But they could not be said to want the opportunity of having the sacraments administered to them, yet I believe 20 of them had never re- ceived the communion, nor half of them been baptized, as Mr. Muirson will more fully inform you. And now I have given you an account of the state of that colony, what will in the next place be naturally expected from me, is to know my opinion of the best and most probable way of doing good amongst them.
There is nothing more certain, than that it is the most difficult task the so- ciety have to wade through. For the people are not only not of the church, but have been and are trained up with all the care imaginable to be its ene- mies. That to make an impression under all those disadvantages is very difficult, though I hope not impossible. And thougb, at first view, the pros- pect of doing any good upon them is very little, yet no doubt but the most proper measures ought to be taken, leaving the event to Almighty God.
Now, to give you my thoughts in what way this great work may best be endeavored at, so as it may be done with little expense. I believe, for the
108
HISTORY OF THE
first step, the most proper way would be, that one of the ministers in this coun- try were directed by my Lord of London to inform himself where there are any in that government that profess themselves to be of the church, and to know if they or any of their neighbors have any children to baptize, or desire to partake of the sacrament : and that he will come to the towns where they live, and after having given them a sermon, will perform those holy rites. There need, I think, no more be done in this matter for the present. But the socie- ty may, if they please, leave the rest to me, and I won't only give him the best advice and directions I can therein, but will, God willing, wait upon him in his progress, and persuade some useful friends along with me. And when this essay has been made, I shall be much better able to guess at the state of that government, and what is fitting to be done next. Now the person that I would advise them to pitch upon by all means for this expedition, is Mr. Muirson ; he being not only posted next those parts, and so will look less like design, but he has a very happy way of delivery, and makes little use of his notes in preaching, which is extremely taking amongst those people ; and for argument, few of his years exceed him.
The chief end I have in this projection, is to have the people of that gov- ernment undeceived in their notions concerning our church ; there being, I believe, fifteen thousand in that colony who have never heard, nor scarce seen a church of England minister. And I have the charity to believe, that after having heard one of our ministers preach, they will not look upon our church to be such a monster as she is represented. And being convinced of some of the cheats, many of them may duly consider of the sin of schism. However, let the success be what it will, to me the duty seems plain. I have not only mentioned this to you, but in my letter to my Lord of London, and shall pa- tiently wait for his and the society's commands therein.
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