USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 1 > Part 34
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One writer says that Trinity was set on fire in several places, alleging that this was done by the enemies of the Church,1 whereas, as stated, it was done by the cinders blown in advance of the main fire, which came near de- stroying St. Paul's Chapel. All sorts of suspicions and
1 Extract of a letter dated New-York, September 23, 1776 : " The city was set on fire in four different places at the same time. Poor Trinity Church, a princi- pal object of Republican, Independent Malice was set on fire in three places." -- The Middlesex Journal and Evening Advertiser, Nov. 9, 1776.
Extract of a letter dated New-York, September 27th : "Early in the morn- ing of the 2Ist instant the City of New-York was set on fire. About 1200
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charges were entertained, but the investigation proved that they were unfounded and that the fire was accidental.1 David Grim in his account of the fire says that
" TRINITY CHURCH, being burned was occasioned by the flakes of the fire that fell on the S side of the roof. The southerly winds fanned those flakes of fire, in a short time to an amazing blaze, it soon became out of the Human power to extinguish the same ; The roof of this noble Edifice was so steep that no person could go on it.
"ST. PAUL'S CHURCH ; was in the like perilous situation. The roof being flat, with a balistrade on the eves ; a number of the citizens went on the same, and extinguished the flakes of fire as they fell on the roof. Thus happily was this beautiful Church saved from the destruc- tion of this dreadful fire [which] threatened the ruin thereof, and that of the whole city."?
The number of houses destroyed was four hundred and ninety-three. In the excitement the Loyalists suffered as well as the Republicans.
houses are destroyed which has reduced many very respectable citizens, who had lived in the most comfortable affluence, to a state of extreme indigence. That venerable pile, Trinity Church, was set on fire in three places ; the church corporation sustains a loss of 40,000/. by the catastrophe."- The Middlesex Journal and Evening Adver- tiser, Nov. 19, 1776.
1 The following offers a fair sample of a class of representations put out at the time, being quite worthy of the period of the " Negro Plot." " During this compli- cated Scene of Devastation and Distress, at which the most savage Heart might re- lent, several Persons were discovered with large Bundles of Matches, dipped in melted Rosin and Brimstone, and attempting to set Fire to the Houses. A New-England Man, who had a Captains Commission under the Continental Congress, and in their Service, was seized with these dreadful Implements of ruin-on being searched, the sum of 500/. was found upon him. General ROBERTSON rescued two of those Incen- diaries from the enraged Populace, who had otherwise consigned them to the Flames, and reserved them for the Hand of deliberate Justice. One Wright White a Carpen- ter, was observed to cut the Leather Buckets which conveyed Water-he also wounded, with a Cutlass, a woman who was very active in handing water. This provoked the Spectators to such a degree, that they instantly hung him up. One of those Villains set fire to the College, and was seized ; many others were detected in the like Crime, and secured." -- The New- York Gazette, Sept. 30, 1776.
2 New York Hist. Soc. Coll., 1870, p. 275.
8 David Grim in an account of the fire written for the New York Historical Society says : " There being very few inhabitants in the city at that time, and many of
.The ruins of Trinity Church after the great fire in 1916.
393
Return of Dr. Auchmuty to New York
1776]
In the midst of these distresses and disasters, Dr. Auch- muty returned to his parish, but only after the endurance of trials and sufferings which cost him his life. On the re-occupation of the city by the royal forces, he sought permission to pass through the American lines, and go back to his parish ; the permission was refused, but, not daunted thereby, he determined to make the attempt to return without it. By night, and on foot, and concealing himself in the woods, he succeeded, after a painful journey of a week, in accomplishing his object. Dr. Auchmuty graphically described the state of affairs on his return, in a letter to the secretary of the Venerable Society.
The abstract of the proceedings of that Society for I777 states :
" The Society have been favoured with one letter from their faith- ful and much esteemed correspondent, the Rev. Dr. Auchmuty, dated New York, November 20, 1776, in which he acquaints them that upon his arrival at that once delightful, but now unhappy city, he found everything in great confusion. Upon searching the rubbish of his late venerable church, and his large and elegant house, he could find only a few trifles, of little or no value, except the church plate and his own. Providence having preserved him two chapels, he begins to have divine service again regularly carried on, after a suspension of near three months, and his people begin to flock in, so that they will soon be filled. The several churches in that city and the neighboring governments are converted to the worst of purposes, and the Society's missionaries are either in jail or sent back into the country. His wife and daughters are still in the hands of the rebels, and he knows not when he shall be able to obtain their freedom. The losses he has himself sustained by fire and cruel devastations amount already to £2500 sterling, and to the
those were afraid to venture at night in the streets, fearing of being taken up as sus- picious persons.
"An instance to my knowledge occurred, a Mr. White, a decent citizen and house carpenter, rather too violent Loyalist, and latterly had addicted himself to liquor ; Was that night of the fire, hanged on a tavern signpost, at the corner of Cherry and Rose- velt Streets ; several of the citizens were sent to the provost guard for examination, some of them remained there two and three days, until they could give satisfactory evidence of their Loyalty."-New York Hist. Soc. Coll., 1870, p. 276.
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loss sustained by his church to the amount of £25,000 sterling must be added also that of the quit rents, which the tenants, as they are burnt out, are unable to pay. The Doctor adds that as soon as public affairs are settled such methods will be adopted as shall be recommended by their superiors for procuring some assistance from this part of the world in order to rebuild the church, the schools and parsonage house ; and they flatter themselves, their application will be attended with success." (Pp. 69, 70.)
The Society later says :
"Dr. Inglis's second letter contains an account of the great loss sustained by the corporation of Trinity Church in the above dreadful catastrophe, to the amount of 24000/. sterling, and of his own private loss also at Kingston, from whence a body of British troops being fired at in going up Hudson's River, and thereby provoked to burn the town, Dr. Inglis lost houses to the value of 11col." 1
The following account of Trinity Church as it stood in 1775, and as it was when in ruins after the conflagration of September 21, 1776, is of special interest as being that of an eye-witness.
Dunlap wrote his History of New York for Schools cast in the form of dialogue, the fashionable form at that period.
There is a vignette at the head of Chapter XVIII., giving a view of the ruins of Trinity Church. The dialogue, which is between an uncle and his nephews, proceeds as follows :
" Un. In our last walk through Broadway, I promised you some account of the old Trinity Church, which was burnt in the great fire of 1776. I here present you with a picture of the ruins as they stood until after the Revolution. This edifice, frequently called in the old records of our city, 'the English Church,' was built, says Smith, the historian, 'in 1696, and afterward enlarged in 1737. It stands,' says he, writing in 1757, 'very pleasantly upon the banks of Hudson's River.' The present Trinity Church occupies the same ground.
" Phil. I am sure, Uncle. it is not near the river.
" Fohn. There is Lumber Street, Greenwich, Washington, and West Streets, between its cemetery and the river.
1 Abstract of the proceedings of the S. P. G. for 1788, p. 44.
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Trinity Church in 1775 and 1776
1776]
" Un. Yet the scite of the present church was, in 1757, on the banks of the river. Smith continues, 'and has a large cemetery on each side, inclosed in the front, by a painted pale fence. Before it a long walk is railed off, from the Broadway, the pleasantest street of any in the whole town.' This walk, during the occupancy of the city by the English as enemies, was called ' the Mall,' and every morning there paraded the troops destined as guards for the different posts of the garrison ; the 'main guard ' being the City hall in Wall Street. In the evening during summer, 'the Mall' was the fashionable walk for ladies and gentlemen, while in the church-yard a band of military musick turned the thoughts of the promenaders far from the dead within the palings, or the ruins which stood as a monument of the horrours of war. Read what the historian gives as the dimensions of Trinity church, in 1757.
" Fohn. 'One hundred and forty-eight feet long, including the tower and chancel, and seventy-two feet in breadth. The steeple is one hundred and seventy-five feet in height. The church is within ornamented beyond any place of the kind amongst us. The head of the chancel is adorned with an altar-piece, and opposite to it, at the other end of the building, is the organ. The tops of the pillars which support the galleries are decked with the gilt busts of angels winged. From the ceiling are suspended two glass branches, and on the walls hang the arms of some of its principal benefactors. The alleys are paved with flat stones.'
" Un. Such was Trinity church when I saw it in 1775 ; and that time its pictures and winged angels made an impression on my mind never to be effaced. On 1777, I saw it as in the little picture I gave you." 1
A picture of the ruins of the church was painted by Thomas Barrow in water colors and presented to the Cor- poration in 1841 by his son. This picture is fairly well done and measures about fourteen by twenty-five inches. The sketch given in this volume follows the picture by Barrow. It will be seen that the demolition of the edifice was complete.
On Sunday, September 22d, the day after the fire, divine service was held in St. Paul's, which for many years served the purpose of parish church. The preacher on
1 A History of New York for Schools, by William Dunlap, 211.
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History of Trinity Church
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this occasion was the Rev. Thomas Lewis O'Beirne, chaplain to Admiral Lord Howe, and the sermon was printed at the request of the congregation.1 The text was from Jer. xii., 15 :
" And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out, I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land."
The chaplain, who was a fervid and warm-hearted Irishman, began thus :
" Was it then reserved for a Stranger to your Persons, and your Al- tars, to address you on this happy Restoration of your Public Worship ? This solemn Re-establishment of your Religious Assemblies ? Was it to have been the good Fortune of One, to whom you were unknown, but by your Sufferings, to be among the first of the Ministers of God to bring the Comfort and Consolation of his Word to an afflicted and persecuted People ? " ?
He proceeds to draw a graphic picture of the troubles of the time :
" Who that was Witness of the cruel and disastrous Deed of the Night before last, could promise himself that you should be assembled this Day in the House of God, to praise Him for your wonderful De- liverance? Who could have hoped that this Temple would remain a Monument of the returning Favour of Heaven, amidst the Horror of
i " Just PUBLISHED, And to be sold at the Bible and Crown, in Hanover- Square, .... Price ONE SHILLING : A SERMON, Preached at St. Paul's, New York, Sept. 22, 1776. Being the first Sunday after the English Churches were opened on GENERAL HOWE's taking Possession of the Town ; and the Day subsequent to the Attempt to destroy New-York by Fire. By the Reverend Mr. O'BEIRNE, Chaplain to the Right Honourable Lord Viscount HOWE. Published by particular Desire of the Congregation." - The New- York Gazette, Oct. 21, 1776.
' P. 5.
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Thomas Lewis O'Beirne
1776]
the Ruins through which you must have passed to approach it ? Which of you could have said to himself, that he should see those Doors opened once more for the Reception of the Faithful, tho' as yet but as the Shak- ing of an Olive Tree, and the Gleaning Grapes when the Vintage is done ? Or hear these Walls, so long silent and unfrequented, filled again with the Praises of him to whose Name you had raised them ? Is not this the Lord's Doing ? Is not this our God for whom we have waited ? We have waited for him, he hath saved us, and we will be glad and rejoice in his Salvation." 1
One more extract :
"This has never been, and I am confident never will be, the Pul- pit of Contention or Strife. No Prophets prophesying Lies in the Name of the Lord who sent them not, shall ever turn it into a Stage for Sedition. The Words of Truth and Life will never be perverted here in promot- ing Violence and Bloodshed, under Pretence of consulting the Interests of the God of Peace ; to cause the Religion of the lowly, mild, and meek Jesus to speak the Language of Ambition, Slaughter, and Re- venge ; or to consecrate and deliver out in his Name the Sword that is to be plunged by his Followers into each others Breasts." ? (P. 7.)
The date of the rector's return to his charge is not at hand. But though he resumed his duties, his heart was broken, and the hand of death was soon to lay him low. He preached an appropriate sermon at St. Paul's soon after he came back. This sermon is preserved in the original manuscript, presented to the Corporation of
1 P. 6.
? For an account of this able preacher and interesting historical personage, see Drake's Biographical Dictionary, and Croly's Life of George IV., 102. Thomas Lewis O'Beirne, born in 1748, of a Roman Catholic family, at Longford, Ireland, and educated at St. Omer's for the priesthood, renounced the Roman Catholic faith, took orders in the Church of England, and shone in the brightest circles of the society of his day. Distinguished for his literary acquirements, his varied accomplishments, and his eloquence, he was sent out to America as chaplain and secretary to Lord Howe, and returned, bringing with him the only laurels of the conciliatory expedition.
He was afterwards sent into Ireland with Lord Fitzwilliam, on his fatal appointment to the Vice Royalty, and was subsequently raised to the peerage and made Pishop of Meath. Such was the man who for a brief space appeared on the troubled horizon of the West, and lent a helping hand to Inglis and spoke earnest and comforting words to his terrified flock at one of the most distressing moments in the history of our parish.
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History of Trinity Church
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Trinity Church in 1870, by Richard T. Auchmuty, Esq., one of his descendants.
Dr. Auchmuty prefaced his sermon with the following address :
"My dear Bn. Before I enter upon my discourse permit me to congratulate you upon your again enjoying the invaluable blessing of offering up your public prayers and praises to your merciful God agree- able to yr consciences, & the Duty and Loyalty you owe to the best of princes.
" When I reflect upon the dreadful scene of misery & Destruction this city & many of its inhabitants have undergone-when I reflect upon the banishment & cruel usage that many of his majys loyal subjects have suffered for some time past, my heart is filled with grief, the friendly Tear comes to my assistance & my steadfast trust & confidence in my God is my only comfort.
"Both my duty & my inclination prompted me to return to you, tho' at the risque of my life, & to participate in yr joy for yr. deliver- ance from the cruel hands of your enimes. I have happily succeeded in my attempt & have once more the pleasure of seeing many of my much esteemed friends & parishioners (wd to God I could say the whole of them) ; for wh blessing I now return my most ardent & grateful thanks to my God & yr God."
His text was from Exodus xiv., 13: " Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." The ser- mon shows faith and resolution ; but it, no doubt, excited hopes that were destined never to be fulfilled, at least in the sense intended by the preacher. This being the last of his sermons now accessible, we may note a few of his points.
After declaring that to be wholly unaffected by the distresses and misfortunes of our fellow-creatures, and to be unconcerned for a "bleeding country" would be to deserve "the imputation of stoical stupidity," he passed on to notice the "exhortation to courage" contained in the text which he dwelt upon and illus- trated, saying :
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Sermon by Dr. Auchmuty
1776]
"Since the race is not always to the swift, nor the Battle to the strong, but time & chance happens to both, the best way to secure further suc- cess in this time of anarchy & confusion is to fix our dependence upon the Father of Lights wth wm is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
Continuing, he says :
" We have already seen the salvation of the Lord in our deliverance from a worse than Egyptian bondage. But in order to insure further success it is not eno' that we glory in being xtians and protestants & members of a pure & apostolic Church, but we must live & act agreea- bly to our profession, and by our lives & conversation become deserv- ing of still further protection & success."
He, therefore, exhorts the congregation to emulate the example of the ancient people of God,
" for are we not encompassed all around by our enemies ? Are not many of our nearest & dearest Friends-our poor defenceless women & children torn from our arms, many of them naked & in want of the comforts & conveniences of Life, flying from one mountain & cavern to another for protection & safety ; for neither the Tears of the tender sex, nor the lamentations of weeping children can soften the savage breasts of our enemies into tenderness & compassion ; & unless the visible hand of God is exerted in their behalf thousands must soon perish this winter ensuing for want of the necessaries of life."
The preacher, however, relieves his mind from the eff .c of these considerations, by what has already taken .ace.
" Has not," he asks, " His hand already visibly appeared in our behalf ? Was not this ruinous city once our boast & our glory but lately in the possession of our enemies, but now thro' the bravery of his Majy's forces & the interposition of Heaven again restored to us ? Was not a great part of it destroyed by Fire, kindled by vile Incendiaries, & our ancient & venerable temple the work of our forefathers reduced to ashes? Yet even in the midst of this great calamity the hand of God was visibly displayed in the miraculous preservation of what remains, & especially this neat & elegant edifice, tho' in the midst of the devour- ing flames wch threatened it with instant ruin."
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Therefore, he says,
"Let us now praise God that we have still a Temple left, in which we can perform our Devotions according to the Liturgy of the Church o England & serve our God in the beauty of holiness."
He concludes his discourse by invoking the divine bless- ing upon the king and "his Royal Highness the prince of Wales & every branch of the royal Family," whose health and strength he would have continued, with " length of days with Wisdom, righteousness and good- ness " to the latest posterity.
The sermon was thoroughly loyal in every line, and no doubt gave much satisfaction to the hearers. The people, now in a jubilant mood, notwithstanding the ruined con- dition of the city, were looking forward with hopefulness to a speedy and successful termination of the struggle and the full re-establishment of the Royal Government. They were destined, however, to be disappointed, though the good rector was not permitted to witness the complete failure of the predictions contained in his sermon.
Mr. Inglis having resumed his duties in connection with the parish turned his attention to his wife and chil- dren, who were far inside of the American lines up the North River. The Heath Papers show that he obtained a pass for this purpose 1 and went up to Verplanck's Point,
1 " NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 1776.
" SIR.
" The Bearer the Revd. Mr. Inglis and the other Gentlemen with him go up the North River with a Flag of Truce to bring down their familys as Mr. Inglis is a partic- ular Friend of mine and has Shewn great kindness and humanity to the Prisoners. I shall esteem it as a favor if you 'll forward him with as little trouble as the Service will admit of.
"I am Your Most Obdt " Hble Servt
" RBT MAGAW COLE " 5th Pen Battr.
"To the Commanding Officers on the Continental Service at the Posts on the North River."-[Heath Papers, Mass. Hist. Society.]
.
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Letter of Inglis to General Heath
1776]
where he addressed a long letter to "his Excellency," General Heath, which it seems proper to give in full.
" VERPLANK'S POINT, Decem. 11, 1776.
" SIR :
" Majors Huntington & Pullen favoured me with a Visit to Day, & gave me Information concerning the Mode of Procedure in accom- plishing the Business on which I came here, (& with which your Ex- cellency is now acquainted) which I was not so fortunate as to know before. After the best Enquiry at New York, I understood that the Members of the Convention at Fishkill were the principal Persons to whom I should apply for Leave to bring Home my Family & Furniture, but could not learn what Gentleman was vested with the Chief Military Command at Peekskill. Even after I came here & was told that Your Excellency commanded at that place, I was assured that it would be quite sufficient You should see my Letter to the Honourable Conven- tion, without any particular application to Yourself.
"The above Gentlemen however gave me to understand that the Management & Transaction of such Matters is committed to You. This being the Case, I could not be satisfied with my own Conduct till I had assured Your Excellency that my Omission of addressing You on the Occasion did not proceed from any Want of Deference or Re- spect to You ; but purely from not knowing the Steps that were proper to be taken ; & I flatter myself that this will serve as an apology for the Omission.
" The Gentlemen above mentioned intimated that some Difficulty in suffering my Family to come away might arise from an apprehension that they would give some Information respecting the Country ; to which I shall only say, that I am perfectly willing Your Excellency should order an Oath of Secrecy to be administered to those of them who are come to the Years of Discretion ; & I here solemnly promise on the Word of a Gentleman & a Christian that, so far from desiring them to violate their Oath, I shall inculcate on them the Sacredness of an Oath in general, & their Duty to observe this one in particular. Mrs. Untill was lately permitted by General Dickinson to come from Brunswick to New York, on taking such an Oath, & I believe she has religiously observed it. Such Precautions are certainly prudent, tho I am of Opinion that there is much better Intelligence conveyed to both Armies in this unhappy contest, than could be given or communicated by Women. My Family have been absent from Home near fifteen 26
-
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History of Trinity Church
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Months-I am distressed beyond Expression at the Thought of their being absent another Winter ; & bringing them Home is, believe me, the only Object I have in View, without the least Desire or Intention of interfering with either military or political matters.
" Women have Liberty to remove with their Children, Servants & Effects from New York ; I flattered myself that the Convention & Offi- cers in the Continental Service would grant a similar Indulgence to such Women as would chuse to move from the Country to New York ; & I cherished the Hope of such an Indulgence to my Family the rather, as I had been instrumental myself in assisting some Families to remove from New York to their friends who were engaged in the Continental Cause. The Brave are no less distinguished by their Humanity than their Valour ; & I am persuaded of You; Sir-to use the Words of Alexander commonly called the Great-' That You do not make War on Women or Captives.' If You are a Husband & a Father, your own Bosom will tell You what mine must feel at this Time, by the Absence of a Wife & three helpless Infants so long, & on the prospect of leav- ing them among Strangers in such calamitous Times. Place Yourself in my Situation one Moment, & I only appeal to the Feelings of Your Heart to decide on my Case. Yet far be it from me to desire You would in the least depart from what You conceive to be Your Duty : I only request that after taking such Precautions as Prudence dictates to prevent Injury to Yourself, You would permit the Innocent, the Feeble & Helpless to take Sanctuary in the Arms of those who love & would willingly protect them.
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