USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 1 > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
1 The DeLancey's were of Huguenot origin. See various notices of the family in the Collection of the Huguenot Society in America, vol. i., and Memoir in N. Y. Doc. Hist., iv., 1037.
295
School for Young Negroes
1760]
is therefore hop'd that such Persons as have a Regard for the Souls of their poor Young Slaves, especially those born in their house, will be ready to assist in forwarding and promoting this laudable Under- taking."
Again, September 15th, we read,
"THIS is to inform the Public, that a Free School is opened near the New-Dutch-Church, for the instruction of 30 Negro Children, from 5 years old and upwards, in Reading, and in the Principles of Christian- ity, and likewise sewing and knitting ; which School is entirely under the Inspection and Care of the Clergy of the Church of England in this City : Those Persons therefore that have the present Usefulness, and future Welfare of their young Slaves at Heart (especially those born in their Houses), are desired to apply to any one of the Clergy, who will immediately send them to the aforesaid School, and see that they be faithfully instructed.
"N. B. All that is required of their Masters or Mistresses, is that they find them in Wood for the Winter. Proper Books will be provided for them gratis." 1
General Amherst returned from the scene of his suc- cessful northern campaign to New York, where he was invested with the order of the Garter and became " Sir Jeffrey." At this time the troops, under Governor Monck- ton, were in camp upon Staten Island, and the officers united with the people in showing their respect for this able commander, while the air shook with the thunder of cannon, and the city blazed with illumination. France was dismissed from America, and no people were more glad than those who held the city on the border of that noble harbor first described by the leader of a French exploring expedition in 1525. New York City had pros- pered during the war, and the merchants gave rich ban- quets to the officers of the army and navy. Nearly forty ships had been brought to port as prizes, while nearly thirty prizes had been carried by New York ships into
1 The New- York Mercury, September 15, 1760.
296
History of Trinity Church
[1761-
British West India ports. William Walton's house, in Franklin Square, was the scene of many of the recep- tions given in those days, when the loaded tables shone with the spoils of Mexico and South America.
January 2, 1761. It was voted to put the church and chapel in mourning for George II.
March 5. Resolved that five hundred pounds be al- lowed towards the purchase of a
"new Organ for Trinity Church, it being proposed by severall gentle- men to raise by subscription so much as in addition to the said five hundred pounds will amount to seven hundred guineas." 1
May 20, 1761. A committee was appointed to visit and regulate the Charity School. They were to meet on " the first Monday in every month at three o'clock in the afternoon in the Vestry Room for that purpose "; they also had " power to agree with and employ a School Mis- tress to teach the girls to Reade and sow upon such terms as they shall think fitt."
March 17, 1761, General Robert Monckton was nomi- nated Governor, Cadwallader Colden, Lieutenant Gov- ernor, and Benjamin Pratt, Chief Justice, the nominations being confirmed by the King three days later .? Monckton had been commander at Fort Pitt, in Pennsylvania, and was well known. Repairing to New York, he received his commission by the man-of-war Alcide, October 20th. On the 26th he took the oath of office. November 13th he re- ceived leave of absence to go on a military expedition, and on the 15th, delivering the seals to Lieutenant Gov- ernor Colden, he sailed for Martinique and victory.
Colden, we are told, commenced his administration
1 Records, i., 298
? Ibid., i., 300. N. Y. Col. Docs., vii., 460, 463, 471, 476, 485. Pratt was a Boston lawyer, whose appointment, to last during the King's pleasure, gave great dissatisfaction.
1761]
Benefit for the Charity School 297
" in a calm," which, however, was soon disturbed by the news of the death of George II., and the accession of his grandson to the throne. Colden is described as " old, versed in civil affairs, learned, studious, cautious, and re- served "; while Monckton was "young, bold, a military man : a man of the world in its expenses, show, and licen- tiousness-of course the favorite of the gay, the unthink- ing, and the ambitious, and the votaries of what is called pleasure." He stood in that line of governors, who sel- dom appeared in the public congregation, and contented themselves with a churchmanship made up of courteous and official terms. The parish, however, always respected the office, without regard to the temporary incumbent. Special efforts were made this year to increase the charity funds, and with considerable success.1
1 "By Permission of his Honour the Lieutenant Governor.
For the BENEFIT of the CHARITY SCHOOL By a Company of COMEDIANS. At the New Theatre in Chapel-Street, this Day, being the 25th Instant, will be presented, A Comedy, call'd The
COMMITTEE : OR The Faithful IRISHMAN. The part of TEAGUE to be perform'd by Mr. HALLAM, And the Part of RUTH to be perform'd by Mrs. DOUGLASS, To which will be added a FARCE, call'd A WONDER, An HONEST Yorkshireman ! The Part of GAYLOVE to be perform'd by Mr. QUELCH, And the Part of ARBELLA, by Mrs. Morris.
TICKETS, without which no Persons can be ad- mitted, to be had of H. GAINE, Printer, Book
298
History of Trinity Church
[1761-
General Monckton returned from his campaign July 8th, flushed with success; the Board presented an ad- dress to him, congratulating him on his "reduction of the valuable Island of Martinico, and its appendages, a con- quest so important to our Sovereign and country and so distressing to the enemy."1 Soon after returning to New York he resigned his office and went to England. ? Col- den was now again left alone in the government ; he made no figure, compared with the dashing, open-handed sol- dier. Smith, the historian, wrote as follows to General Gates, afterwards so prominent in the American Army :
"Colden, for want of purse, and more for want of spirit to imitate Monckton in the dignity of his government, has retired to Flushing. The little star does not yet appear ; the twilight of his predecessor is still too strong to permit such a twinkling luminary to glitter." 3
In fact, the destined star did not rise to view until Sir Henry Moore appeared on the horizon. The Govern- ment was carried on by Colden until 1765. It would be difficult to convey an adequate idea of his administration, or of the condition of the province in a few words.4 seller, and Stationer, at his Printing-Office, at the Bible & Crown in Hanover-Square.
ttt The Ladies and Gentlemen who chuse to have Boxes reserved for them, are desired to send to Mr. Douglass."
-The New - York Mercury, April 26, 1762.
"On Monday last the Committee was Acted at the Theatre, in this City, for the Benefit of the Charity School, by which a handsome Sum was rais'd, and delivered by Mr. Douglass to the Church Wardens for that Purpose.
This is the Second Play the Company have given this Season to public Uses ; which, with their unblameable Conduct during their Residence here and the Entertain- ment the Town has receiv'd from their Performances, has greatly increased the Num- ber of their Friends, and considerably Obviated many Objections hitherto made against Theatrical Representations in this City."-The New - York Mercury, May 3, 1762.
1 Records i., 304. 2 N. Y. Col. Docs., viii., 250. 3 Dunlap's History, i., 408.
" One needs to study the Colden Papers, contained in two volumes of the N. Y. Hist. Society's publications for the years 1876-7. See on the Family, Purple's Genea- logical Notes of the Colden Family in America.
1762]
Trinity Steeple Struck by Lightning 299
Stormy times were at hand, and much disorder prevailed. No human being could have avoided the perplexing is- sues or given satisfaction. Colden, however, possessed solid qualifications, carrying his careful scientific methods into public administration, and seeking, so far as he was able, to do his duty both to the people and the Crown.
July 7, 1762. During a heavy thunder-storm, the spire of Trinity Church was struck by lightning, the men being at work on it. The fire was " happily extinguished," several persons escaping with a slight shock.1 This led the next day to a consideration of the subject of lightning rods, when it was ordered :
"that the Spire of the Steeple of Trinity Church be wholly New shingled and scuttles be made with hooks that may be thought proper to go up to the top of the spire and that a proper Iron conductor or conductors be affixed up from the Spindle of the Cock to come down into the ground."
The Vestry did not fail to reward the " vigilance of the Inhabitants " that saved the steeple, and accordingly it was resolved, that the Church Wardens
" distribute the sum of fifty pounds among the Persons that were active and exposed themselves to danger in putting out the fire of the Steeple of Trinity Church in such proportions as they shall think proper." 2
Another account in the New York Magazine, January, 1790, says :
" In the summer of the year 1762, the steeple was struck by light-
1 " Last Wednesday between 3 and 4 o'Clock in the Afternoon, came up a violent Gust of Wind and Rain, accompanied with uncommon Thunder and Lightning, dur- ing which the Steeple of Trinity Church in this City, was struck with the Lightning and took Fire, but by the timely and usual Vigilance of the Inhabitants happily extin- guished, with but little Damage. The Steeple was under Repair, and one of the Gen- tlemen who had Care of it, being below, was (together with two of his Lads) struck down but received no Hurt, otherwise than remaining feeble for a short space." The New- York Mercury, July 12, 1762
? Records, i., 305, and DeVoe's Market Book, 259.
1
300
History of Trinity Church
[1762-
ning, and set on fire just below the ball ; but the fire was soon extin- guished by the activity of the citizens, and no damage sustained but the loss of some shingles torn from the rafters by the violence of the stroke of lightning."
During this month of September, Mr. Tuckey began to make preparation for the approaching musical season, and published his proposition for what may be called a boy choir. The Mercury gave the particulars, and he agreed to receive all proper comers, until the number should reach fifty.1
It may be here observed, that in 1756, Mr. Tuckey had been summarily discharged from the office of parish clerk in consequence of " refusal to officiate in time of Divine Service." From an advertisement in the Journal, it is
1 To all Lovers of DIVINE HARMONY.
WHEREAS it is a custom in protestant congregations in Europe, on times of re- joicing, as well on annual as particular days of thanksgiving, to sing the Te Deum. Therefore, by particular Desire, a subscription is open'd for the encouragement of so laudable a practice in this city. Proposals as follows : Every lady, gentleman, &c, to subscribe whatever they please, for which subscription money, WILLIAM TUCKEY, has obligated himself, to teach a sufficient number of Persons to Perform the Te Deum either with or without an organ, or other Instruments ; and that it shall be as good a piece of musick, as any of the common Te Deums sung in any cathedral church in England.
Performers to pay nothing for instruction, ( unless it be their pleasure ) but it is expected that they will ( as they are to be inhabitants of the city ) be kind enough to join the choir on any particular occasion ; especially at the opening of the new organ, which is expected soon.
Public subscriptions are taken in by Mr. Weyman, Mr. Holt, and the printer of this paper, which monies are to be left in the persons hands who receive it, till there is a rehearsal of the piece before the subscribers, of which rehearsal they shall have notice.
Mr. TUCKEY
Desires all persons from lads of ten years old, &'c. as well as other persons of good re- pute, that has good voices, and are willing to join the company, to be speedyin their affli- cation, and give in their names to Mr. Hildreth, clerk of Trinity Church, or Mr. Silby, clerk of St. George's chappel ; as he will begin immediately to instruct the per- formers, and receive all qualify'd till there are 50 voices in the chorus." The New- York Mercury, September 13, 1762.
301
Sale of the Old Organ
1762]
possible that he had since his discharge acted as musical instructor in the service of the parish.1 The advertisement is for
" Proposals for publishing (by SUBSCRIPTION) TWO SELECT PIECES of
CHURCH MUSIC."
Which " two pieces " consisted of " an Hymn by way of an Anthem," and of " a Performance adapted to a Funeral."
He states that the anthem had been first designed for the benefit of the free school belonging to Trinity Church, and describes himself as for some Years a Pro- fessor of the Theory and Practice of VOCAL Music, Vicar Choral of the Cathedral Church of Bristol, and Clerk of the Parish of St. Maryport in said city, now resi- dent in New York. He was connected with the first per- formance of the Oratorio of the Messiah in America, which took place January 9, 1770, being repeated in Trinity Church October 3, 1771, when no less than 28 clergymen were present.
September 24, 1762. The committee was instructed to sell the old organ "for the most they can gett "; ? and " John Tabor Kempe, Esq : his Majesty's Attorney Generall of this Province was to have the use of the Canopy pew behind the south East Doore of Trinity Church adjoining Lord Sterling's pew for the use of himself and Family."
The wardens were also directed to "pay the sum of five
1 The New-York Journal or the General Advertiser March 28, 1771.
? Records, i., 305. The following clipping is of interest in this connection :
" To be Sold by the Church Wardens, the Organ in Trinity-Church .- The Instru- ment is large, consisting of 26 Stops, 10 in the Great Organ, 10 in the Choir Organ and 6 in the Swell, three Sets of Keys ; with a Frontispiece of gilt Pipes, and otherwise neatly adorned. It may be inspected, will be sold cheap, and the Purchaser may re- move it immediately, (another being expected from England next Spring) but if not disposed of, is, on the Arrival of the new Organ, intended to be shipt to England. The New-York Gazette, January 3, 1763.
302
History of Trinity Church
[1763-
pounds towards the New Well nearly opposite Spring Garden," and " Mrs. Masey was to have the use of one half the Canopy pew behind the south east Doore " ad- joining the pew of Mr. Andrew Barclay, Mr. Thomas Hays having the use of the other half.
On the 5th of April, 1763, we find the first mention of the proceedings which resulted in the erection of the sec- ond Chapel of Ease, subsequently known as St. Paul's, and still standing, the sole surviving ecclesiastical building of the Colonial period in this city. A committee consisting of Mr. Reede, Mr. Marston, Mr. Horsmanden, Mr. Hari- son, and Mr. Desbrosses, or any two of them, was author- ized
" to enquire and look out for a proper and convenient Lott of Ground in this City whereon to erect a New Church and report their opinion to this board with all convenient speed." 1
" This movement," observes Dr. De Costa, "may have been and probably was encouraged by the state of things existing in the Dutch congregation. Already preaching in the Dutch language had become unpopular among the younger portion of the Dutch congregation, which it was thought by not a few showed signs of diminution. The better portion of the people were now familiar, in some fair measure, with both English and Dutch, and intermarriages were also doing their peculiar work. The young people improved every opportunity of worshipping at Trinity, the 'English Church,' and there was a loud call for a minis- ter in the Dutch church who could preach in both languages. Finally it was resolved to supply the deficieney, and the Rev. Archibald Laidlie, a Scotchman, was called, through the agency of the Amsterdam Classis, from Zealand. He arrived early in 1764, when new life sprang up in the Dutch Congregation. Some, however, were dissatisfied and wanted all the services in Dutch. Accordingly they commenced a suit in the Courts against the Dutch Corporation. This failing they said that they would have either all Dutch or all English. Hence, there was a re- newed movement in the direction of Trinity Church with which body the Dutch had been on the kindest terms from its foundation. An es- tablished Church, too, was in accordance with all their ideas, their own Corporation having been recognized as the Establishment down to the
1 Records, i., 309.
303
Observance of Thanksgiving Day
1763]
occupation of New Netherlands by the English. Therefore the defec- tion could not be stayed, and Peter Van Burgh Livingstone said that if the change in the Dutch Church had been made thirty years earlier they would not have met with such losses, but, as it stood, the greater half of Trinity consisted of 'accessions from the Dutch Church.' April 15, of this year, the first English sermon was heard in the Middle Dutch Church, but the unwillingness of the Dutch to recognize the necessity of English preaching had already gone far, though not, perhaps, so far as indicated by Mr. Livingstone. Nevertheless the growth of Trinity parish was rapid, and the third edifice was not commenced any too soon." ", 1
June 16, 1763. Ordered to pay to
"Oliver DeLancey, Esq., and Company in behalf of this Corporation the sum of one hundred pounds towards making and completing the road laid out by a committee of the Corporation through the Church farm from the College ground to the land leased to William Burnham." ?
Also,
"that materials be purchased for building a new Church on the south- ern part of the Churches lands unless a more convenient place can be purchased for that purpose,"
and that the organist be paid a salary of one hundred pounds currency. The site at Fulton street and Broad- way was, however, adhered to.
Thanksgiving day was well observed in New York from the beginning, not being a New England institution, as many have supposed, but in reality an institution of the Church.3
November 3, 1763. " Resolved and ordered, that a new church be built on the Church ground upon the cor- ner of Division Street " [Fulton] and that the committee
1 From a manuscript in possession of the author. 2 Records, i., 309.
3 See the article on " The Genesis of Thanksgiving Day," by Dr. De Costa, in the Churchman, November 22, 1879, and Dexter's " Congregationalism," 457. The fol- lowing shows what was done in New York at this time :
. " New York, August 15. Thursday last, being the Day appointed by Authority for a general Thanksgiving throughout this Province, the following Texts were made
304
History of Trinity Church
[1763-
" purchase materials and agree with workmen for building the same. Also ordered that what moneys are from time to time in hands of the Church Wardens more than is necessary to answer the annual Expenses of the Church and Chappel be applyed towards purchasing the materials and carrying on the building of the said Church."
Up to this time it would appear, Division Street had en- joyed a very uncertain existence, but about this time it was paved. Street lamps were also now introduced in various parts of the city.
It was arranged
"to agree with the Lutheran Congregation for exchanging part of their land adjoyning the Lutheran Church and the School house in such manner as they shall think right." 1
The needs of the charity school were once more pre- sented on November 26th,2 being duly mentioned in the city press.
use of, by the Gentlemen Clergy of the several Denominations in this City ; which we have been assured, were extremely well adapted to the purport of the Day; and handled on all Sides, with great Propriety. Viz.
At Trinity Church, by Dr. Barclay, from Psalms 178, Verses 28, 29.
At St. George's Chapel, by Mr. Auchmuty, from Psalm 27, Verses 6, 7.
At the Presbyterian, by Mr. Bostwick, from Ecclesiastes 7, Verse 14.
At the Baptist, by Mr. Gano, from Mathew 5, Verse 9.
At the Moravian (or rather Unitus Fratrum, the Name conferr'd on and given to the Brethren, by the Parliament, when they obtain'd the Act in their Favour) by Mr. Yarrell, from Psalm 29, latter part of Verse II .- The Lord will bless his People with Peace.
At the Old Dutch Church, by Mr. Ritsmagh, from Psalm 72, Verse 3.
At the New Dutch Church, by Mr. De Ronda, from Psam 46, Verse 7 to the End.
At the French, by Mr. CARLE, from I Kings, Chap. 8, Verse 53.
At the Sinagouge, by Mr. Joseph Jesuron Pinto from Zechariah, Chap. 2, Verse IO.
After the different Congregations had broke up, and his Honour the Governor had returned to the Fort, His Majesty's, and other Healths, were drank under the Dis- charge of the Canon."-The New- York Mercury, Aug. 15, 1763,
The Sermon of Auchmuty is preserved in manuscript.
1 Records, i., 310.
? " On Sunday next a Charity Sermon is to be preached at Trinity Church, and a Collection will be made for the Benefit of the Charity School, in this City : And on
305
Death of Dr. Barclay
1764]
April 5, 1764. The parish had not forgotten the valu- able services of Andrew Gautier on the occasion of the burning of the charity school in 1750. In consideration of those services it was voted to allow him "so much ground in the Church yard as will be sufficient for him to build half a vault for himself and family."
A letter was also read from Mr. Grub, at London, who had secured a new organ brought by Captain Jacobson in The Hope. Thanks were voted to Mr. Grub
" for his care and trouble about the same, and for his generous bene- faction of his Commission, and also the said Mr. Grub be desired to return the thanks of the Corporation to Mr. Stanley for his care and assistance about the said organ."
It was also
"resolved and ordered nem. con. That Mr. James Leadbetter be and he is hereby elected and chosen the organist for Trinity Church for the Term of one year to commence from the time he shall be desired to assist in tuning the organ, and that he be allowed the sum of one hundred pounds currency p. annum from the same day, to be paid by the Church Wardens quarterly, for which he shall be obliged to officiate on Sunday and Holy days throughout the whole year, and on Prayer Days only to the first day of November next." 1
On Monday morning, August 20, 1764, Dr. Barclay, who had been ill for some time, departed this life. The event was announced in the Mercury of August 27, which says :
" Last Monday Morning, between three and four o'Clock, departed this Life, in the 53d Year of his Age, the Revd. Mr. HENRY BARCLAY, Sunday following another will be preached at St. George's Chapel, for the like laud- able Purpose.
N. B .- An Hymn suitable to the Occasion will be sung by the Children."-The New- York Mercury November 21, 1763.
"A very large Collection, for the Use of the Charity Children of Trinity-School, was made on the preaching of the two Charity Sermons on Sunday the 28th of Novem- ber past, and Yesterday ; the former by Mr. Auchmuty, and the latter by Dr. Barclay." - The New- York Mercury, December 5, 1763. 1. Records, i., 311.
20
306
History of Trinity Church
[1764
D. D. Rector of Trinity Church, in this City ; And the Tuesday following, his Remains, attended by the Clergy of the several Denominations, the Gentlemen, and Chief Inhabitants of the City, preceded by the Charity Scholars, who sung a Psalm, suitable to the melancholy Occasion, during the Procession, were carried into Trinity Church, where an excellent Funeral Sermon, from Rev. xiv. 13, was preached, by the Revd. Mr. Auchmuty, to a prodigious large Audience, who were extremely affected with the pathetic and moving Manner in which they were addressed. The Service being over, the Corpse was deposited in his Family Vault, in the Church Yard.
"He was a Gentleman eminently distinguished for many amiable Qualities, and excellent Endowments of Mind ;- and each shone with peculiar Lustre :- The good Husband, the tender Parent, the kind Master, the liberal Benefactor, were all inherently united in him ; which, by long Improvement, spread its Kind Influence all around him. -In every Duty of his Function, he was regular and uniform, actuated by a Principle of Religion and Virtue, which he constantly studied and practised, with exemplary Goodness, and unaffected Sanctity-Substan- tial Piety and Devotion, animated by warm Zeal, for the Spirit of true Christianity, preserved him from the folly of Enthusiasm on the one Side, and the Danger of Superstition on the other ;- He walked in all the Ways of Virtue and Holiness, without that Noise, peculiar to those, who have only the Form, without the Power of doing it .- During his Ministry, he was continually engaged in the Business of it, and with unwearied Diligence he performed every Duty, with Chearfulness and Alacrity, till, by Degrees, his Health began to be impaired, by too great Care and Assiduity, in the Service of his Con- gregation, which, at last, put a final Period to his Life .- He submitted to Death with such a Resignation and Fortitude of Mind, with such a Calmness and Serenity of Temper, as bespeaks the genuine Character- istic of a Good Christian,-universal Charity and Benevolence, were his constant Pleasure and Delight: Those Virtues accompanied such a gentleness of Manners, and Mildness of Disposition ; joined with such a Sweetness of Converse, and Complacency of Temper ; that it were difficult to say which of all his Graces appeared the brightest in him : In fine, he was made by Nature, to be beloved, and, intitled, by Virtue, to be reverenced."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.