USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 1 > Part 15
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' The private Journal kept by Madam Knight in a journey from Boston to New York in the year 1704. P. 66. 9 Sic.
.
161
The Fort Chaplains
1708]
Dishes and choice Beer and metheglin, Cyder, &c., all which she said was the produce of her farm ; I believe that we met 50 or 60 slays that day ; they fly with great swiftness and some are so furious that they'le turn out of the path for none except a Loaden Cart. Nor do they spare for any diversion the place affords, and sociable to a degree, they'r Tables being as free to their Naybours as to themselves." 1
Such is the picture given of life in New York at this period.
From Madam Knight's lively Journal one would hardly realize that the country was in a state of war, and that New York was well-nigh blockaded. Of the disabil- ities to which trade was subjected at this time (1705) one may judge from a letter of Cornbury's written July 8th. He says :
" I must acquaint you that this place suffers very much from want of a man of War-there has been a French privateer upon this Coast, he lay four days off of Sandy-hook, he had taken a Bermuda's Sloop which was bound from this place to Jamaica, a few days before he came upon this Coast he had not been above fifteen days out of Martinico. There is a Brigantine and a Sloop fitted out from Martinico to come upon this coast likewise ; this I was informed of by the Master of the Bermuda Sloop, which was taken, whom the privateers had set on shore upon Sandy-hook."?
Cornbury sent armed cruisers to go after them.
As to the chaplaincy at the Fort, it was vacant Sept. 23d, 1700 ; the Rev. John Peter Brisac afterwards served ; the Rev. Edmund Mott succeeded Mr. Brisac. Lord Cornbury, writing under date of October 3, 1706, to the Lords of Trade, refers to the Rev. Mr. Mott, "late Chaplain of her Majty's forces here, and what effects he has left in the Country. As for effects, he has left some books of which I herewith send a Catalogue and a very few cloths not worth in all six pounds, a silver seal, a silver headed cane, and some trifles all mentioned at
' Private Journal, 68-71.
$ N. Y. Col. Docs., iv., 1147.
II
162
History of Trinity Church
[1702-
the foot of the inventory."1 On the death of Mr. Mott the place was given to the Rev. John Sharp, of Cheese- quakes, New Jersey, who commenced his work in New York October 20, 1704, resigning in 1717, after having retired to London. As the chapel of the Fort was not in condition for use at this time, Mr. Sharp's duties were probably light, giving him ample time to assist Mr. Vesey.
To resume our narrative. Mention has been made of the appointment of Mr. Club as Catechist. It is possible that Mr. Vesey was disappointed as to the value of his assistance. At all events, November 21, 1705, he accepted gladly the services of Mr. Neau, who had con- formed to the Church and whom Mr. Vesey enthusiasti- cally styles "a glorious confessor of our holy religion." The commission of Mr. Neau by the Venerable Society was no doubt due to his great devotion to work among the humble classes. There were at that time about 1,500 negro and Indian slaves in the city, the system of slavery having been introduced by the Dutch. In vol. xii. of the Society's Archives, 141, is a list of Mr. Neau's black pupils. Hawkins says that he began visiting them from house to house, but afterwards obtained leave for them to come to his own residence. In 1708 the list of his catechumens had risen to about two hundred. He could never assemble his scholars till candle-light, either in summer or winter, except on Sundays, when they came at the close of the afternoon service. He taught these poor abused and degraded human beings to say the prayers by heart. They were presented to Mr. Vesey for baptism as fast as he judged them to be ready. In 1712 his work was interrupted by the so-called insurrec- tion of the negroes, but only one of his scholars, and that one unbaptized, was found to be implicated. The Gov-
1 N. Y. Col. Docs., iv., 1182. Coll. Prot. Epis. Church, i., xvii.
163
Death of Lady Cornbury
1708]
ernor approved this mission work, and the clergy generally were exhorted to aid it by all means in their power.1
Mr. Neau, writing to the Venerable Society July 5, 1710, says :
" Mr. Vesey baptized three of my Catechumens on Christmas Day, six on Easter Sunday, viz .: One Indian, 2 Negroes, and 3 Negresses, and three upon Whitsunday, viz .: I Negro and 2 Negresses ; my custom has been to carry them to Mr. Vesey to be examined, and from him to the church, and I take free and white persons for witnesses ac- cording to the order of our Rubrick."?
The condition of the colored people at this time ap- pears to have been deplorable. Humphrey gives a glimpse of their state where he says :
"the negroes were much discouraged from embracing the Christian religion, upon account of the very little regard showed them in any re- ligious respect. Their marriages were performed by mutual consent only, without the blessing of the Church ; they were buried by those of their own country or complexion in the common field, without any Christian office, perhaps some ridiculous heathen rites were performed at the grave by some of their own people. No notice was given of their being sick that they might be visited ; on the contrary frequent dis- courses were made in conversation that they had no souls and perished as beasts." 3
It is to the honor of the rector and clergy that they did all they could to help those unhappy and miserable people.
On Sunday, August 11, 1706, Katherine, Lady Corn- bury, the wife of the Governor, died, aged thirty-four years. The event caused a profound sensation. Her fu- neral took place in Trinity Church, on the 13th of the month, on which occasion a sermon was preached by the Rev. John Sharp, Chaplain to the Forces. In this dis- course the following words occur :
1 Berrian's Historical Sketch, 34, and Hawkins's Historical Notices, 272.
' N. Y. Genl. Conv. MSS., i., 214.
3 Humphrey's Historical Account, 92 ; a sketch of the Plot is given on pp. 93-95.
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164
History of Trinity Church
[1702-
"On Tuesday before her Death, she professed to me (having the Honour to wait on her then) that she was most willing to leave the World ; that she died in the Faith of the Church of England in which she reckoned herself happy that she had been born. She declared herself to be in perfect Charity with all the World, forgiving them, as she expected forgiveness at Christ's Hands. She received the Sacrament, and Absolution of the Church, and desired our Prayers might be con- tinued for her in the Language of our Holy Mother. She pray'd to God to enable her patiently to abide His Good-Will and Pleasure, and go through her last and greatest Work with Faith and Patience." 1
A reminder of the war existing between England and France appears in the Records, the Wardens being directed to " visit the men that were wounded on board her Matys ship the Tryton's Prize, engag'd with a French Privateer on this coast, and supply them and Famylys with neces- sarys not exceeding ten pounds." 2
It was also ordered :
" that Capt. Mathews hold & enjoy the Garden called the Queene's Garden granted to the Church by his Excellency the Lord Viscount Cornbury for seven years, if he so long live, If the same be not demanded by the Church Wardens for the time being, to erect a house thereon for the Incumbent of Trinity Church. Upon condition that the said Garden be Planted & Improv'd with good choice fruit Trees & be laid out in Walks according to the Approbation of the Ch : Wardens for the time being & leave the same Improvements & the fence in good repaire, when surrendered, & also Level & make even the passage Lane or way that leads from the broad way between the Church-yard & said garden to the North River by the Locus Trees standing by the said river." $
1 The sermon was published two years later : " A Sermon Preached at Trinity- Church in New-York in America, August 13, 1706. At the Funeral of the Right Honourable Katherine Lady Cornbury, Baroness Clifton of Leighton Bromswold, &c. Heiress to The most Noble Charles Duke of Richmond and Lenox, Wife to his Ex- cellency Edward Lord Viscount Cornbury. Her Majesty's Captain General, and Governor in Chief of the Provinces of New- York, New-Jersey, and Territories de- pending thereon in America, &c. By John Sharp, A. M., Chaplain to the Queen's Forces in the Province of New- York. London : Printed and sold by H. Hills in Blackfryars near the Water-Side. For the Benefit of the poor." P. 15.
? Records, i., 58.
% Ibid., i., 58.
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CATHARINE Lady Yacou.4. CORNBURY Burnif. Of CLIFTON of ter Riton Brunnsold inthe Goaly of Warwick, Sole Surviving Daughter & Murof HENRY Ford Obriin the Lady Catharin his wife " to was Soul Sister show to the Most, Molo CHARLES Duke of RichAND & I ENON ONT. (The 29"way of perto the caves Thepast. thesfe at the Gly of Newyork In America the the last daquest you in the Bay ar of hr wer
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Lady Cornbury's Coffin plate
Found in the vault in Trinity churchyard near south porch of church 1
165
Financial Policy of Trinity Church
1708]
August 21, 1707. Ordered "that since the New Version of Psalms are Printed, next Sunday come seven night, the said New Version by Dr. Brady & Tate be sang in Trinity Church and that no other Psalms be sung in ye said Church." 1
Trinity seems already to have been regarded as the foster mother of new churches; for, on January 26, 1708, "Mr. Wenham presented to the Board a letter from Col. Heathcote wch was read, desiring the Lone of one hundred pounds for two years towards building a church at Stratford in the Colony of Conecticut & he & the Rev. Mr. Muirson would be security for the same."
Whereupon it was ordered " That notice be given to all the vestry to meet at Mr. Jordains precisy at three a Clock in the afternoone, Tuesday next to examine the state of the Church cash." 2
This record is an interesting one, as it marks the be- ginning of that policy which resulted in the loss to the Corporation, through gifts and grants in all directions and to an innumerable company of applicants, of nearly two thirds of their entire estate. The policy was not changed till some thirty years ago ; had it not been, little, if any- thing, of the original endowment would have been left ; our down-town churches would have been sold and re- moved, and the parish might have been in a state of bank- ruptcy.
At this meeting Mr. Wenham presented a
" List of writings belonging to Trinity Church, vizt.
" A Patent for the Queen's Farme & Garden " and a "Lease of the Farme."
" A conveyance of the ground behind the Church from Mr. De Reimer."
" A Counterpart of George Reyer's Lease of the Farm " and " The Citys grant of the Burying Place."
1 Records, i., 59.
' Ibid., i., 59. -
.
166
History of Trinity Church
[1702-
"Mr. Wrights bond of Security for James Welch for the grave money," with "A Table of Duty's of St. Mary Le Bow."
Lord Cornbury's administration, which began with hopeful auguries, closed in disgrace. Though not with- out good qualities, he was a vain and imperious man, and succeeded in disgusting the people of New York by his unseemly behavior. There seems to be no reasonable ground to doubt the story that, on one occasion, he was guilty of the gross absurdity of appearing in public in female dress.1 This silly freak might have been over- looked and forgotten ; he cannot, however, be so easily excused for acts of persecution directed against several clergymen of the day. The case of the Rev. Francis Mackemie, a Presbyterian, whom he threw into prison for preaching in a private house without his consent, was a flagrant instance in point. It is, however, a pity that it should have been wrested for the purpose of attack on our Church by writers of a partisan class. The trouble was a purely personal one between the Governor and an imprudent man, who had irritated Cornbury's vanity. Clergymen of the Church of England were occasionally treated worse than Mackemie, and on slighter grounds.2
We close the narrative of this administration with regret that so sad an ending should have ensued on so auspicious a beginning. The arrival of this man in his government
1 Lewis Morris, Feb. 9, 1707, writing to the Secretary of State, says of Cornbury : "Of whom I must say some thing wch perhaps no boddy will think worth their while to tell, and that is, his dressing publicly in woman's cloathes every-day, and putting a stop to all publique business while he is pleaseing himself wth yt peculiar but detestable magot." N. Y. Col. Doc., v., 38. Hawkins's Historical Notices, 271.
9 The Rev. Thoroughgood Moor, Missionary of the S. P. G. in New Jersey, was dragged from Burlington to Amboy and thence taken prisoner to the Fort in New York, and suffered the greatest indignity. N. Y. Col. Docs., iv., 1077, and v., 318. See Brod- head's so-called " Impeachment of Cornbury as a forger," Hist. Mag., 1863, vii., 329 ; Force's Hist. Tracts, iv., 4; Smith's New York, i., 186-90 ; and Centennial History of the P. E. Church, Dio. of N. York, 60. See also Briggs's Hist. of Presbyterianism, 152.
1708]
Downfall of Cornbury
167
was a cause of just rejoicing among those whose peace and rights had been invaded and whose lives were in jeopardy. Had he sustained himself as a man of honor and integrity, his name and memory would have been cherished by us as one of the benefactors of the Church ; but the frailty of nature in thisinstance, as in too many others, robbed him of the praise and renown which, once his, were forgotten in the shame and humiliation of his exit from the scene.
CHAPTER X.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF LORD LOVELACE.
Address by the Vestry-Letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury on the State of the Church-Huguenot Congregation at New Rochelle Conforms to the Church of Eng- land-Letters of Colonel Heathcote on this Subject-Early Close of this Administration -Sermon by Mr. Vesey on the Death of Governor Lovelace-Military Operations of 1709-Continued Growth of the Church.
THE downfall of Lord Cornbury was ruinous and com- TI plete. On his removal from office his creditors took occasion to throw him into the common jail, then connected with the City Hall in Wall Street, where he lay until, on the death of his father, he found himself in possession of funds sufficient to enable him to discharge his legal obligations ; then he departed, never to return. John, Lord Lovelace, Baron of Hurley, succeeded him as Governor of New York and New Jersey. The appoint- ment was made March 28, 1708 ; the order to prepare his commission was given April 19th ; and on the 17th of December following he reached New York, after a pas- sage, as he says, of "nine weeks and Odd days" on the Kingsdale packet. He remarks that "our winter sets in very hard, the Ports and Rivers are full of ice," and that "our poor Seamen were so benumned with the Cold, that at last we had but twenty-five men fit for any Duty, and had not the Soldiers, which we had on board assisted, the Ship had been in great danger."
An address to Lord Lovelace was approved and ordered to be "fairly engross'd," in which address the Vestry say that
168
169
Letter to the Bishop of London
1708]
"we with most profound Gratitude acknowledge that her Maty has on many Occasions, signified Her tender Regards for this our In -. fant Church by endowments out of her Royal Bounty, has been pleas'd to bestow on it, and has now in a great measure committed to the Pro- tection of yr Excl, from whom as a person adorned with all the bright characters that are requisite to create the greatest esteem. We can no wise doubt, but even at this distance, to have a lively sence of the benign influence of the most Illustrious Reign under the greatest and best of Queen's."1
An order was given, January 11, "that the Ch: War- dens Col. Bayard, Mr. Regnier and Mr. Jamison be a Com'ee appointed to treat with workmen relating to cary- ing on the Steeple & produce a Model or Models there- of & Report their proceedings therein to the next Vestry." It still remained unfinished.
June 2. " That this Board do represent to the Bishop of London the Patent for the Queen's Farme & Garden & Act of Assembly relating thereto." 2
"That from the expiration of the Revenue of this Province Mr. Vesey be paid twenty-six pounds p. Ann. out of the rent of the Queen's Farme, if the Government do not pay the same for his House rent "; while Mr. Jamison was requested to reply to a letter from the Arch- bishop of Canterbury and make known to him "the State of the Church."" A letter to the Bishop of London was also prepared and read at the next meeting, June 17th, in which the action of the Assembly, hostile to the Church, was recieved, that body having voted
" that no Govr thereafter should have power to Grant or Demise for Longer time than of his owne Government the said Farm and Garden as being amongst other things the Denison of her Matys Fort in New York & declare all other grants of said Garden & Farme to be void ipso facto,"
which act Governor Cornbury had had repealed. The 1 Records, i., 64. ֏ Ibid., i., 66. ' Ibid., i., 66.
1
170
History of Trinity Church
[1709
letter then goes on to give information respecting the financial condition of the parish and says that Mr. Vesey had
"an allowance for his House Rent out of the Revenue of this Province, our Church at the time of its first being Granted being considerably Indebted by building of their Church & Steeple were not in a Capacity to build for the minister a Dwelling house, the payment of this allow- ance had likewise been Stopped & Interrupted wch put us upon the necessity of supplying that Defect out of our weekly Contributions for some time, until the arrival of the Viscount Cornbury, who soon after- ward got an Act passed for the better Establishmt of this maintenance of our Minister, by wch instead of £100 p ann. is provided for Mr. Vesey during his life or continuance amongst us £160 p. ann ; and his Lordp did likewise make good to him the former allowance out of the Revenue £26 p. ann two last years only excepted, the garden being about a quarter of a mile from the Fort about half an acre of ground out of Fence a comon place for Dung & Rubbish of no benefit to any Govr. but, adjoining upon the south side of the Church yard & very commodiously situated for a dwelling house & garden to our Minister, afterwards, to wit the 23rd of November 1705 before that law about Extravagant Grants was approved & the other repealed, his Lordp did grant to us a Patent for the said Farme & Garden forever under a small quit rent & this Condicon thereunder written, that if His Matys Capt-General & Govr in Chief for the time being of the said Province should at any time thereafter cease or forbear the yearly paymt of £26 for the said House Rent wch has been paid out of the Revenue in the said Province & at such time no suitable house should be erected. Which Revenue of the Province of New York on the 18th day of May last did expire by its own Limittacon & so remains dis- continued. Now so it is please your Lordp.
" The Acts of Assembly of this Province being transmitted for Her Matys Royal Assent or disallowance. We are lately informed Her Maty has been graciously pleas'd on some precedent consideration to approve & allow that Act made against the Extravagant Grants & to repeal the other Act of Assembly wch did repeal the same, by wch means we are apprehensive the foundation of the Patent of the year 1705 granting the said Farme & Garden is like to [be] disputed.
"We demised said Farme for five years a £30 p. ann. wch is not yet expired, & upon the Determination of the Revenues. We pass'd a vote at our meeting in a full Vestrey for paymt of the £26 to Mr.
------
171
Letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury
1709]
Vesey for his House rent. Since the Granting of this Patent for the Farme & Garden we put the Garden in to Fence & built there in a stone wall wch cost us upwards of £50 & have let it for ten years, without any rent on condition to Improve the same with fruit Trees & Walks gainst such time, we shall be able to build a Dwelling house in the front thereof for our minister. If it be her Matys Royal pleasure the Farme or Garden or both should continue the Denisons of the suc- ceeding Govr we Readyly submit to her Gracious will & pleasure, but if her Matys Royal Intention or purpose in affirming & repealing of these two laws was for other good ends & purposes, we doubt not that Her Maty will be Graciously pleased to give directions for settling us upon a surer foundation in the peaceable enjoymt of ye said Farme & Garden."
Accordingly, the Vestry beg the good offices of the Bishop in presenting the subject to the Queen, while they improve the occasion to say :
"neither can we omitt reminding yr Lordp, how we are still oblig'd for the Loan & use of the Communion Plate of Her Matys Chapel in the Fort in New York, in that our Books Vestments are almost worn out, & how we have been granted by Her Sacred Maty for a supply of those things to our Church in particular, but by what ill fate or accident we know not, have them not to this day."
They also send "a Copy of that paraph of the Vis- count Cornbury's Commission for N. York relating to the power of granting lands." 1 In a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury about this time, they say :
"It is but of late years our Church had its being and is yet but very tender the greatest part of the Inhabitants of this Province are of the Dutch and French Reformed Religion or Dissenters & Quakers, & but 3 County's within this province would receive a Church of England minister, to wit Queen's County West Chester and Richmond, & of these County's but the smallest number goe to the worship. With much adoe we have overcome the Debt we had contracted by the building of our Church and Steeple, wch latter is designed for a Ring of Bells, the walls are of good thickness and foundation above 30 foot square, it is got so high as the ridgepole of the Church, but for want of money, we were forced to cover it there and for the present have hung in a Bell
1 Records, i., 67.
1
172
History of Trinity Church
[1709
of 6sd weight,' the free gift of his Lordp of London. The Bishop of Bristol in the year 1699 sent us over so many stones as did pave all the Isles of our Church. Col. Fletcher who was Governor of this Province from 1692 to 1698 gave the first Life and being to it and was a large Benefactor out of his private fortune. His successor in the Govern- ment (on the contrary) endeavored to ruin it, altho' he some times came hither to receive the holy Sacrament which we hope God has for- given him, the Viscount Cornbury next to him, during his Governmt has endeavored not only to restore but advance the Churches Interest and made in this Grant wch by the accot we had, from his successor the Lord Lovelace is shaken and rendered disputable, until her most Sacred Maty shall be graciously pleased to re establish us therein. Col. Nicholson has likewise been a Benefactor to our Church of the first Rank. A thousand pounds will be required to finish the Steeple which we propose for our next task, & are about making up that sum. There is much more wanted, vizt, a Dwelling house for our Minister and a Vestery Roome with a Ring of Bells and a Sett of Organs .? What we cannot effect ourselves we shall leave to God Almighty's good Providence and must recommend the work to our Posterity."
They add : " the situation of our Church is very pleas- ant between two rivers on eminent ground. We have a large Burying place adjoining round it in good fence & adorned with rows of Lime trees wch will make a pleasant shade, in a little time." Suggestively, continuing, they say : "We want also a couple of large Branches of Candlesticks to hang in the Body of our Church, Communion Plate, Books and Vestments, wch these last we are credibly inform'd have been designed for us by the late King William, and since by her present Maty, but by what ill fate or accident we know not, we are still without them."
The letter concludes with "an humble petition beg- ging yr Graces favour and yr fervent prayers and Bene- diction." 3
At this period the Church was making considerable progress outside the city, and the Huguenot Church at
1 February 14, 1705, the bill, {6.17, was paid for hanging. ' See on the organ, ante, p. 154.
8 Records, i., 70.
173
The Church at New Rochelle
1709]
New Rochelle conformed. This matter having been mis- represented, like many others, the reader's attention is called to the following letter of Col. Heathcote which sets the matter in its true light :
"Col. Heathcote to the Secretary " Mannor of Scarsdale " 13 June 1709.
"Worthy Sir,
"After I had finished my other Letters Mr. Bondett gave me an account by Letter that his people were in a very good temper to receive and conform to the Liturgy of our Church in their Congregation, where- upon I went to New Rochelle being accompied with Mr. Sharp Chaplain to the fforces, he being at my house, having yesterday preached and Administered the Sacrament at Rye, Mr. Bartow did us also the favour to meet us at Mr. Bondetts, and his congregation being desired to be at Church, after the service had been performed by Mr. Bartow and a very good sermon preached to them by Mr. Sharp, the heads of the congregation desired Mr. Bondet to read, and present me with a paper, returning me thanks for my endeavours in settling them in their religious affairs, which I send you herewith, whereupon those Gentlemen of the Clergy &c I did advise them to address the Society acquainting them with their Resolution of conforming to the rules and Discipline of the Church to pray their assistance in supporting their minister and to send them a number of common prayer Books in the ffrench Language which is here inclosed and also an Instrument in ffrench be- ing a declaration of their Inclinations to conforme to the rules of the Church. We all of us promised them not only to Recommend them in the best manner we could, but also to prevail with Col' Nicholson and Col' Morris to do the like. I believe I need not use many arguments to persuade the Society to do what they can Conveniently for them, for Mr. Bondet besides his serving the People of New Rochelle, will be of great use in assisting the Ministers of the other Parishes and not only that but if these people are favourably received and encouraged it will be a great means to influence the ffrench Congregation in New York like- wise to conform, and I am not without hopes of effecting my desired end of having this County divided into three parishes, by which means we should effectually shut out all Sectaries from ever crowding in upon us. I can hardly express how great a comfort and Satisfaction it is to me to see this work brought near so happy an issue, and for which I have been labouring in vain many years, and the only thing that Ob-
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