USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 1 > Part 17
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History of Trinity Church
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" This barbarous conspiracy of the negroes, which was first thought of to be general, opened the mouths of many against Negro's being made Christians. Mr. Neau durst hardly appear. His school was blamed as the main occasion of it, and a petition had like to have been presented if the Governor had not stood to his cause. Amongst all those that suffered there were but two that had been of his school, one of which only was baptized, and he was condemned on slender evidence in the heat of the people's resentment. I saw him suffer and heard him declare his innocency with his dying breath ; and then, but too late for him, he was pitied and proclaimed innocent by the generality of the people. The other of the Catechumens was slave to an eminent Merchant, one Hendrick Hooghlands, who was murdered. He had for two years solicited his master for leave to be baptized, but could not obtain it. He was certainly in the conspiracy but was hanged in Chains for the murder of his master. After his hanging three days I went to him and exhorted him to confession. He said he knew of the Conspiracy but was not guilty of any bloodshed in the tumult. The cry against Catechizing the negro's continued, till upon conviction they were found to be such as never frequented Mr. Neau's School, and what is very observable, the persons whose Negro's were found guilty are such as are declared opposers of Christianizing negro's." 1
A memorandum without name, but probably written by Mr. Vesey, on this same subject, runs as follows :
" The late barbarous Massacre attempted by the negroes, April 6th, 1712, gave strength to this clamour (that Christianity made them worse), which had a full run for many days. The school was imme- diately Charged as the Cause of the Mischief, the place of conspiracy, and that instruction made them Cunning and insolent. All that were known to favour this design were reproached, and the flagitious villany was imputed to the Catechumens ; yet upon the strictest inquiry and severest tryal, (where the bare affirmation of Infidel evidences, who are not Capable of any other tye to veracity was sufficient to fix the guilt) there were not any found, either Actors or Accomplices in the Conspiracy who had attended the Catechetical instruction, but two were accused, one of which had been formerly baptised and dyed pro- testing his innocence, and was, but too late for him, pitied & declared guiltless even by the Prosecutors. The other had made some profi- cience but was not admitted to Baptism thro' the reluctance of his Master whom he had often Solicited for it." 2
1 N. Y. Genl. Conv. MSS., i., 376.
9 Ibid., i., 119.
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187
Educational Projects
1719]
It is interesting to see how history repeats itself. A hundred and fifty years after the time of which we are now reading, during the Draft Riots in the City of New York, on the evening of July 15, 1863, the rector of Trinity Parish, who was then residing in the rectory, No. 50 Varick Street, received notice that the mob had made ar- rangements to attack St. John's Chapel during that night, the reason assigned being that a Sunday-school for negroes was held at that chapel. Word was sent to headquarters, and a troop of cavalry came down and stood on guard all night in the lane just back of the rectory garden. Again the murderers' spirit was afire, and again the innocent negro was the intended victim.
In connection with this subject reference may be made to the earnestness of the Church in the work of education. In the New York General Convention Manuscripts, under the date of March 11, 1712, there is a memorandum, prob- ably from the rector, of a plan to obtain for the provinces, during his stay in England, three greatly desired things :
Ist, a public school, 2dly, a public library, and 3dly, a catechising chapel. The proponent sets forth that it is usual to send children from Esopus and Albany to New York to be educated and taught English. A door is thus opened to spread the teachings of the Church among those people by teaching their children Latin, and giving them an academical education ; the first thing is to find a com- petent person to instruct them. For the location of this school he deems New York to be the most desirable place, where Dutch, French, and Hebrew can be learned, there being a synagogue for the Jews, and many ingenious men of that race from Poland, Hungary, and Germany. The school-house should be large enough to accommodate 150 pupils and have a wall around it. On one side of the area should be a lodging for the schoolmaster, and a kitchen ;
188
History of Trinity Church
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and on the other side a furnished lodging-room for the clergy when they come out of the country to the city ; over this a room for a public library. He proposes that "there should be daily prayer used in the morning and night taken out of the public form of the Church and adapted to the use of the school, and to be recited by the master with gravity and devotion," and two chapters, morning and night, to be read by the scholars; and on Holy Days they are to meet and go to church in a body, and in the afternoon of the same day an hour at school to be spent in catechetical exercises. He goes on to speak of Mr. Neau's work, saying that it is done under great difficulties. The masters of the negroes oppose their be- coming Christians, believing that it would be the first step towards their freedom, and that Christianity tended to make them worse, rather than better. The only time allowed for their instruction is Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, after church, the hours being usually after twi- light, after hard labor during the day. The place in the upper floor of Mr. Neau's own house, which is not large enough to accommodate the sixth part of the negroes and Indian slaves that desired to be taught ; and for that rea- son a catechising chapel is proposed.1
These plans were probably those of Mr. Vesey. The subsequent history of education in connection with the parish and elsewhere in the State of New York, shows how well they have been carried out. Columbia College, Ho- bart College, the New York Protestant Episcopal Public School, commonly known as " Trinity School," the Society for Promoting Religion and Learning in the State of New York, and the existing system of Parochial Schools, in- cluding Kindergartens, Cooking School, Manual Training School, and Night-Schools, are the result of ideas held
1 N. Y. Genl. Conv. MSS., i., 109-125.
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189
Bishops Pleaded for
1719]
among us from the first by those in authority in the parish.
We may now return to the Vestry Records, gleaning from them as before.
Due acknowledgment is made to "the Queen's most excellt Majesty " that of her "princely bounty she had furnished & adorned the Sacred alter of our Church with such a magnificent Set of Plate." They thank her, like- wise, for " authorising his Excellency Genl Fra : Nicholl- son to Inspect into and represent the affairs of the Church and State here," and inform her that "the Corporation are now prosecuted in the Court of Chancy in this Prov- vince in your Majestys name," the Letters Patents for the Farm being now " disputable," praying that the suit may be stopped. Respecting the Episcopate they say :
"We conceive it to be highly necessary for securing the Establish- ment of the Church in these Provinces and Enlarging her Borders that the Ecclesiasticall Government according to the Apostolic fform and order should be establisht among us in like manner as in England & Ireland. We therefore become humble suppliants to your Majesty that you will be graciously pleased to Establish Bishops who may reside among us to govern the Church to Ordain some, Confirm others and bless all in our Redeemer's Name which we doubt not (by the blessing of God) will be the most sure and effectual means to propagate Relig- ion and Sound Doctrine and preserve the Church in Unity and Peace." 1
They added a letter to the Bishop of London to the same effect.
It is interesting to read these extracts, showing the wisdom of the Corporation in perceiving the need of the Episcopal Order in the province, and their earnestness in doing what lay in their power to obtain it. The denial of bishops to the Church in the Colonies was the crying sin of the English Government at that day ; the grounds of the opposition to the measure are well known : the ex-
1 Records, i., 93.
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History of Trinity Church
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aggerated notions of its effect, the furious threats, the dole- ful predictions uttered by the enemies of the Church on the subject ; and the steady perseverance, invincible logic, and touching terms in which the friends of the Church urged the matter upon the people at home. It is good to know that on this crucial question our predecessors were on the side of order and right : though they had to wait till after the Revolution before obtaining their desire.
By the beginning of the year 1714, the aspect of affairs had grown so threatening that it was decided that the rector should go to England for the purpose of secur- ing relief. The feeling against the Church, fomented by those who should have maintained her cause, ran high in radical quarters, and even expressed itself, as we have seen, in sacrilegious outrages too disgusting and filthy to be described. The time had evidently come when an effort must be made to protect and defend the Church from her foes, and arrangements were made for the voy- age of Mr. Vesey across the sea. On this point he con- sulted the Bishop of London, who approved his course. The Vestry ordered that " the seal of the Corporation be affixed to the copy of the patent and to such minutes of the Board as it should be thought proper to send in to England on this occasion," and that "the Church Warden do deliver the Committee the minutes."1 At this time also provision was made for a supply of preachers for Trinity Church during the absence of the rector. Mr. Poyer of Jamaica, with Mr. Talbot and others, were in- vited to preach in the parish.2
Governor Hunter appears to have been sanguine in the belief that Mr. Vesey's mission would prove a failure.3
1 Records, i., 94, 95.
9 See Dr. Berrian's Historical Sketch of Trinity Church, 335.
3 Docs. relating to the Col. History of New Jersey, iv., 1709, 1720, p. 216.
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Vesey visits England
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The City Vestry took occasion of his absence to note that "it is the opinion of this Board that the warrant for the last Quarter's Salary to Mr. Vesey be not signed by the Justices till further order, by reason of his not officiating, and having left his cure without liberty." Some light is thrown upon the departure of Mr. Vesey by Governor Hunter, who, writing November 14, 1715, quotes from a letter by the Rev. Mr. Talbot, then at Burlington, and dated July 17, 1714, in which, addressing a Virginia cor- respondent, that clergyman says, with reference to him- self : "Your Friend Jonathan is not fallen before the Philistins," but
" Bro' Vesey ye Rector of Trinity Church at New York is fled be- fore the Philistins. He has gott the Generals [Nicholson] letters 'tis now 3 weeks ago since he Sail'd, God Speed him well and then No More Need go upon that account Now there's no Minister of our Church at New York but we serve it by turns next month I shall be there. meanwhile I have Enough to do to Keep the peace of the Churches at Philada and New York we have so many Adversarys without and within." 1
In another letter, written the same day, he says : "Mr. Vesey is fled for Persecution from New York So that church is destitute at present, only the Missionarys serve it by Turns."? Hunter clearly did not tell the whole of his own side of the story, and at this period seemed re- solved to oppose the rector of Trinity Church by the use of all the means in his power.
The details of Mr. Vesey's visit to England are not now accessible. It is known, however, that he remained longer than he intended, that he fell ill in London, and that he incurred unexpected charges which fell heavily upon him. The Propagation Society came to his assist- ance, voting a sum of money for his relief. His salary was withheld during his absence, and the City Vestry refused to 1 N. Jersey Col. Docs., iv., 224. º Ibid., iv., 225.
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192
History of Trinity Church
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pay it on his return ; this may have been the work of his political enemies ; there is no means of ascertaining how far the members of the Dutch and French Churches were concerned in influencing the City Vestry, or whether they influenced that Vestry at all.1
Mr. Vesey returned to New York in the early part of November, 1715. His success was complete. Not only did he secure all that he set forth to obtain, but he came back with the added dignity and powers of Commissary of the Bishop of London. His triumph was the more signal, as being won in the face of the strongest representations that Hunter and his following knew how to make. The Governor raged and stormed for a time; he railed at Mr. Vesey in the old style as a Jacobite and disloyal to the Crown ; he assailed the Rev. Mr. Talbot also, and com- plained of " a plott Laid and measures concerted between Mr. Talbot, Mr. Vesey and Mr. Nicolson for my utter ruine,"2 but nothing further could be done. It was evi- dent that the rector, whatever may have been his temper during certain stages of the controversy, had the confi- dence of the ecclesiastical authorities, and that he had gained a signal victory.
November 15, 1715, Mr. Vesey presented a letter from
1 For further information on the treatment of Mr. Vesey by this body, and on his successful prosecution of his claim against them, see Berrian's "Sketch," 328-337. Colonel Heathcote, writing to the Lord Bishop of Bristol on Feb. 25, 1715, on the subject of the withholding of Mr. Vesey's salary, says of him : " he has for 17 years past, with an unwearied diligence and steady application, an exemplary life & excellent good preaching, settled & brought together, one of the finest congregations in America, . . . and hasfor a long succession of time recd his sallery without being disputed, yet the town Vestry refuses the paying of it, & will neither give him what's due for past service, & in their hands, nor raise any more, but take upon them to declare the Living vacant because he went to Great Britain to represent the state of his Church, without their leave & acquainting them with the nature of his business, & notwith- standing he had the approbation of my Ld of London for what he did, and effectual care was taken in having his parish duly supply'd during his absence, they do yet re- main obstinate & he is kept out of his money." (N. Y. Genl. Convention MSS., i., 505.) 2 See New Jersey Col. Docs., iv., 220, 225.
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MR. VESEY'S APPOINTMENT AS COMMISSARY OF THE BISHOP OF LONDON.
1719]
Triumph of Mr. Vesey 193
the Bishop of London addressed to the Board, in which that prelate says : " I have considered Mr. Vesey's Affairs and hope have settled everything both to his and your satisfaction. I have only farther to recommend to you to be at Peace Among your Selves and to forget all former differences as becometh Christians."
Mr. Vesey at this meeting acquainted the Vestry that he had " obtained his Majesty's gracious letter to his Ex- cellency Collo. Hunter to cause the Justices of the Peace and vestery men of the City of New York to issue their warrant to the church wardens of the city to pay his salary." This mandate, dated August 19, 1715, recites that Mr. Vesey was " obliged about a year ago to come to this our Kingdom of Great Britain in order to settle the Affairs of his Church," and as already stated he was prevented by a "long sickness & other Incidents . . . from returning so soon as he Intended."1 It further recites :
That the Justices and Vestrymen refused to issue the warrants on the "pretence of his not officiating and leav- ing his Cure without Liberty, though by his particular Care and by the Approbation and Appointment of the Right Reverend Father in God John Bishop of London, it hath been duly supplyed during his absence."? The City Vestry, therefore, had nothing to do under the cir- cumstances but to obey.
A letter of thanks was despatched to the Bishop of London, thanking him "for his care in supporting the rights of our Church, particularly in appointing Mr. Vesey Commissary in this & the neighboring provinces & other favours." They also congratulate Mr. Vesey upon his appointment, and thank him for his faithful service.3
1 Records, i., 96, 97.
? Ibid., i., 97.
3 Ibid. Also ordered, December 6, 1715, " that the Clerk of the Vestry do not . deliver copys of any minutes or Transactions of the Vestry without directions for soe doing from the Rector or Church wardens."
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194
History of Trinity Church
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"In all these struggles with Hunter," says Dr. De Costa, in a MS. in possession of the author, after a minute examination of all the evidence on both sides, " there is no sign of disaffection with the Rector in Trinity Parish, though the Governor imagined that all ' sober ' churchmen and 'men of figure ' in the place were violently opposed to Mr. Vesey. The men who followed Hunter seemed to have been the men who went with him to the chapel in the Fort, and made it a boast that they sat in the free benches with all comers, pretending that the pew-rents in church were excessive, and that there was no room ; whereas the object seems to have been to raise up a less positive school of churchmanship than that represented by Mr. Vesey, and to form a temporizing party. At all events their action has ever been used by those persons who have set themselves against the Church in New York, both in the early and later periods, and who have drawn upon their statements to injure the repu- tation of Mr. Vesey."
It should be kept constantly in remembrance that the enemies of the Church have not only used the document drawn up against Mr. Vesey by Governor Hunter and his friends, but that they have also used the cancelled parts of the said documents, disregarding the fact of can- cellation, and attaching no weight to the fact that, after having been read and considered by the ecclesiastical authorities and their advisers in England, they were thrown out as failing to make a case against Mr. Vesey and the Corporation. Such use of exploded partisan charges is unworthy of honorable controversialists ; and yet it has continued to our own day.
The position of Mr. Vesey was now greatly strength- ened, as he stood in the relation of Commissary to the Bishop of London. The Governor submitted with what grace he could, and during the rest of that administration there was peace. In the affair of the chapel in the Fort, a happy solution of the difficulty seems to have been reached. The Rev. Mr. Jenney was assistant at Trinity Church, but on August 25, 1716, he informed the Wardens and Vestrymen that the Society for the Propagation of
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195
An Indian Pow-Wow
1719]
the Gospel had resolved not to continue him in that posi- tion longer than March 6th following, as they had decided to dismiss all assistants from their service. In this emergency the Governor offered to give him the position of chaplain at the Fort, with permission to assist Mr. Vesey so far as he could, without prejudice to the duties of the chaplaincy. The proposal was accepted with much pleasure, and thus the trouble was brought to an end. Mr. Jenney was to read service at the chapel on Wednes- days and Fridays, with an occasional Sunday morning service ; and on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays to officiate in Trinity Church, and also in the afternoon, whenever he was at the chapel of a Sunday morning. The Governor had given up attending the services at the Fort, which were now held for the benefit of the garrison only, and was going regularly to the parish church, with great propriety and decorum ; and so that contest ended in peace.1
There is a very funny story, which, though perhaps apoc- ryphal, may be brought in here without apology, as show- ing that the fame of Mr. Vesey had extended beyond the bounds of his own bailiwick. For the greater entertain- ment of the reader, I give it in full, quite safe in saying, " Se non è vero è ben trovato." The legend runs thus :
"An ancient religious rite called the Powwow was annually cele- brated by the Indians, and commonly lasted several hours every night for two or three weeks. About 1690 they convened to perform it on Stratford Point, near the town. During the nocturnal ceremony, the English saw, or imagined they saw, devils rise out of the sea, wrapped up in sheets of flame, and flying around the Indian camp, while the Indians were screaming, cutting and prostrating themselves before their supposed fiery gods. In the midst of the tumult, the devils darted in among them, seized several, and mounted with them in the
1 See Records, i., 112, 113, where Mr. Jenney's letters on the subject are entered in full ; also, for sketch of Jenney, see Sprague's Annals, v., 16.
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History of Trinity Church
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air, the cries and groans issuing from them quieted the rest. In the morning the limbs of Indians, all shrivelled and covered with sulphur, were found in different parts of the town. Astonished and terrified at these spectacles, the people of Stratford began to think the devils would take up their abode among them, and called together all the ministers in the neighbourhood to exorcise and lay them.
" The ministers began, and carried on their warfare with prayer, hymns and abjurations ; but the powwows continued and the devils would not obey. The inhabitants were about to quit the town, when Mr. Nell spoke and said, 'I would to God, Mr. Visey, the episcopal minister at New-York, was here ; for he would expel those evil spirits.' They laughed at his advice ; but on his reminding them of the little maid who directed Naaman to cure his leprosy, they voted him their permission to bring Mr. Visey at the next powwow. Mr. Visey at- tended accordingly, and as the powwow commenced with howling and whoops, Mr. Visey read portions of the holy scriptures, litany, etc. The sea was put into great commotion, the powwow stopped ; the Indians dispersed and never more held a powwow in Stratford. The inhabitants were struck with wonder at this event, and held a con- ference to discover the reason why the devils and the powwowwers had obeyed the prayers of one minister and had paid no regard to those of fifty. Some thought the reading of the holy scriptures, others thought that the litany and Lord's prayer, some again that the episcopal power of the minister, and others that all united were the means of obtaining the heavenly blessing they had received. Those that believed that the holy scriptures and litany was effectual against the devil and his legions, declared for the Church of England ; while the majority ascribed their deliverance to complot between the devils and the episcopal minister with a view to overthrow Christ's vine planted in New- England." 1
1 Rev. Saml. Peters's History of Connecticut, 164.
CHAPTER XII.
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNORS BURNET AND MONTGOMERY.
Arrival of Burnet-His Marriage-His Love of Books-Vesey's Account of Church Affairs in New York-Rev. James Wetmore Appointed Catechist-Bradford's Gazette -Rev. Mr. Colgan Appointed at Trinity Church-Montgomery Succeeds Burnet, April 15, 1728-Earthquake-Map of the City Published by Bradford-Petty Theft in the Parish Church-Gift of Books-Death of Montgomery, June 30, 1731.
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