USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 1 > Part 35
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"The Distance at which my Family is at present, is so great, & there will be so many Difficulties in removing them, that if I had Lib- erty now to remove them it would not be possible for them to be here in less than ten Days. This Circumstance makes me the more anxious that the matter should be speedily determined, as, from the advanced Season, we may expect the North River will be closed by Ice near that Time.
"Two Gentlemen, Mr. Philip I. Livingston & Mr. John Moore, are concerned with me in the Flag of Truce & are here with the same In- tention to bring Home their Families. I have read this Letter to them, & they beg that Your Excellency would consider what I say of my Case, as applicable exactly to theirs. Mr. Livingston desires me to inform You that he intends speedily to remove from this Continent to Jamaica in the West Indies where he has an estate, which makes him the more anxious to remove his Family, as he proposes to carry them with him.
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New York during the War 403
" I hope You will excuse any Inacuracies that may be in this Let- ter, which is written in the dark Cabin of a Schooner, that is agitated by Wind and Tide.
"I have the Honour to be “Sir, "Your Excellency's most obedient "& most humble Servt "CHARLES INGLIS
"His Excellency General Heath " 1
The rest of the correspondence is wanting, but in due time, it appears, his wife and children rejoined him to the great joy and satisfaction of all.
New York now became the headquarters of the British army in North America, and Howe took up his residence at the Kennedy House, built by a British officer of that name, near the lower part of Broadway. Subsequently Admiral Digby lived at the Beekman House, in Hanover Square, having in his charge Prince William Henry, after- ward William IV. A line of intrenchments stretched across the middle of the island from river to river, while the British held about five thousand Americans as prison- ers. In fact, New York was a city of prisons, the most convenient buildings, together with hulks lying in the stream, being turned into dungeons, supervised by the notorious Provost Marshal Cunningham, who a little while before had exhibited his brutality and cruelty in con- nection with the gallant Nathan Hale, whom he executed as a spy.
The Dutch Church in William Street was seized, the pews torn out, and a floor laid even with the gallery ; and there eight hundred prisoners were confined without fuel or bedding, many of whom died from cold and starvation.
1 The author regrets that he has been unable to collate these extracts with the originals owing to the Library of the Massachusetts Historical Society being all in storage, during the erection of the new building, and the manuscripts consequently being utterly inaccessible .- April, 1898.
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The Brick Church in Beekman Street was used first as a prison and then as a hospital. The Quaker and Presby- terian places of worship were turned into hospitals, and the French Church into a military storehouse. The Mid- dle Dutch Church was stripped and crammed with three thousand prisoners; afterwards it was turned into a riding-school.1 The horrors of the Old Sugar House form a melancholy part of Revolutionary history.
On the 15th of November, the British, under the com- mand of Lord Percy, moved up the island, and defeating the Americans at Washington Heights and Harlem Plains, forced them to retreat into New Jersey, and thus transferred the seat of war from New York. It is un- necessary to dwell further on military operations. In- deed the condition of the city during the Revolution forms a history by itself.2
The year 1777 opened with as much cheerfulness as could be expected under the circumstances ; the parish turned its thoughts to the Charity School, while Chaplain O'Beirne and the Rev. Mr. Odell delivered discourses in aid of the funds.3
No event of general interest occurred until the begin- ning of March, when the " Clergy of the Church of Eng- land convened in the City of New York " presented an address to the Viscount Howe, brother of the General,
1 See Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties, by Henry Onder- donk, Jr., 207, et seq.
? See New York City during the American Revolution.
3 " Sunday next a Charity Sermon will be preached at St. Paul's, for the Benefit of the Charity School in this City."- The New- York Gazette, January 6, 1777.
"Yesterday an excellent Charity Sermon was preached at St. Paul's, by the Rev. Mr. O'BEIRNE, for the Benefit of the Charity-School in this City, and on Sunday next, another Charity Sermon will be preached at St. George's, for the like laudable Purpose."-Ibid., January 13, 1777.
" Yesterday an excellent Charity Sermon was preached at St. George's Chapel, by the Rev. Mr. ODELL, when a handsome Collection was made for the Use of the Char- ity School in this City."-Ibid., January 20, 1777.
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who was then absent. Lamenting the "infatuation " of their fellow-subjects, they say :
"Determined to hazard the Loss of every Thing rather than violate our religious Principles, or deviate from that Allegiance We justly owed to His Majesty, not only as our rightful Sovereign, but as supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England, WE endeavoured to preserve a steady Conduct, and to adhere to that Line which was pointed out to us by our Conscience, and which the Duties of our Function required. The Lessons of Peace, Unanimity and mutual Benevolence, so strongly inculcated by our holy Religion, were the constant Subjects of our public and private Exhortations. Taught by the Word of God, and by that Church in the Ministry of which We serve, to 'honour Kings and obey Magistrates,' We could not disregard those Doctrines ourselves, nor forbear to instill them into others .- Such were our Principles and Sentiments ; WE studied to preserve a Consistency between them and our Practice : And WE gratefully rejoice in the public and generous Testimony which our Brethren in England have given us that our Con- duct has been thought deserving of their Approbation." 1
The time had come when another great and sad change was to take place in the condition of the parish. The Rev. Dr. Auchmuty passed away on Tuesday, March 4th, at the early age of fifty-six, after twenty-nine years of faithful service. Doubtless his own losses and those of the Church by the great fire affected his health, and though for a time he revived, a severe cold taken at a funeral induced a fever which resulted in death .? The day before he was stricken down, February 25th, he offici- ated at a wedding, this being apparently his last recorded official act.3 His last sermon was preached in St. Paul's
1 The New- York Gazette, March 3, 1777.
2 Mr. Inglis, writing to the Secretary of the Society, says :- " The persecutions and hardships which Dr. Auchmuty underwent from the rebels, contributed much to carry him off also. He died the 4th inst., and left his family mnuch distressed in their circumstances, having lost the principal part of his estate (consisting of houses) by the fire which consumed about the fourth of the whole city last September."-New York Convention MSS., ii., 613.
3 " Last Monday Evening, Lieut. John Coghlan, of the 7th, or English Fuzileers, was married by the Revd. Dr. Auchmuty, to Miss Margaret Moncrieffe, only Daughter to Thomas Moncrieffe, Esq."- The New- York Gazette, March 3, 1777.
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Chapel, February 23d, and in the chancel of this noble edifice, built under his inspection, his remains were laid to rest. His funeral sermon was preached by Inglis, March 9th, and published by Gaine.1 It is a feeling and appreciative discourse, marked by evidences of learning and research. Beginning by a reference to the disasters which swept over portions of Africa in the third century, when Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, endeavored to fortify the members of his flock against the fear of death by tell- ing them that the day of their decease would be the day of their entrance into Paradise, Mr. Inglis endeavored to adjust the subject, "Our Conversation is in Heaven," to the then existing condition of things in New York, so overwhelmed by calamity, which had now been rendered all the more heavy
"by the Death of our worthy and excellent Rector-in whom the Public has lost a Member, You a faithful Pastor, and I a sincere, affec- tionate Friend."
"My Intimacy and Connection with him for nearly twelve Years, enabled me to know him well ; and I can truly say, I scarcely ever knew a Man possessed of a more humane, compassionate or benevolent Heart. Often have I seen him melt into Tears at the Sight of Distress in others ; and the distressed never sought his Aid in Vain."
Turning more directly to the congregation, he continued :
"For nearly thirty Years you have enjoyed his Ministry-indeed ever since he entered that Sacred Office till the Day of his Death ; And the Respect shewed to him, and Distinction conferred on him, by You, as well as the flourishing State of these Congregations when our present Troubles broke out are incontestible Proofs of the Fidelity and Assi- duity with which he discharged the Duties of his Station."
Again :
" Unshaken in his Loyalty to our gracious Sovereign, and his Attach-
1 " A Sermon On Philip. iii., 20, 21. Occasioned by the death of Samuel Auch- muty, D.D. Rector of Trinity Church New-York. Preached March 9, 1777, By Charles Inglis A.M."
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Sermons on Dr. Auchmuty
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ment to our happy Constitution, he spurned the Voice of popular Ap- plause, where Conscience forbid him to approve of it."
Appended to the sermon in the form of a note is a succinct history of the parish down to the date of the rector's death.
On the same day that Mr. Inglis delivered his sermon on Dr. Auchmuty, Mr. Moore addressed his congregation from the words " And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horse- men thereof : and he saw him no more." The sermon was every way unlike that by Inglis ; the preacher avoided political allusions, and showed a gentle temper and that considerateness which prepared him to acquiesce in the results of the Revolution when the contest was finally over.1
With the following interesting extract from The Newe- York Gazette we close the present chapter.
"On Tuesday the fourth Instant, departed this Life, in the fifty- sixth Year of his Age, the Reverend SAMUEL AUCHMUTY, D.D., Rector of Trinity Church in this City,-a Gentleman greatly beloved and respected.
1 " A Sermon occasioned by the death of the Revd. Dr. Auchmuty, Rector of Trinity Church, in the City of New York, preached March 9, 1777, by Benjamin Moore, A.M., published by Desire, New York, printed by Hugh Gaine, at the Bible and Crown, in Hanover Square."
The following is the advertisement :
" Just Published, [PRICE ONE SHILLING. ]
A SERMON
OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF THE Revd. Dr. AUCHMUTY, Rector of Trinity Church, in the City of New-York, Preached MARCH 9, 1777, By BENJAMIN MOORE, A.M. PUBLISHED BY DESIRE."
-The New- York Gazette, March 24, 1777.
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"He was born at Boston in the Province of Massachusetts-Bay, and educated at the College of Cambridge, in the same Colony, where he took the usual Degrees in the liberal Arts. He devoted himself early to the sacred Ministry, and soon after his Ordination, was fixed as Assistant Minister of Trinity Church, and Catechist, in the year 1748 ; in which Stations he continued till 1764, when on the Death of the late worthy Dr. BARCLAY, he was chosen Rector. About this Time the Degree of Doctor in Divinity was conferred on him by the University of Oxford.
"During his Residence here, which was 29 Years, he discharged the Pastoral Duties of his Function with Assiduity and Fidelity ; of which, the Respect shewed to him by the Inhabitants, and the flourish- ing State of the Episcopal Congregations in this city when our public Troubles broke out, are incontestible Proofs.
"Firmly and conscientiously attached to the Doctrines and Disci- pline of the Church of England, he was indefatigable in promoting her Interests ; yet without any of that narrow Spirit of Bigotry, which is the Disgrace of Religion. His sentiments were generous and enlarged, which led him to prize merit wherever he found it ; and this Disposi- tion and Conduct will ever command the Approbation of the rational and virtuous Part of Mankind, and succeed where Bigotry will assur- edly fail.
"Christianity never appears more amiable or winning, than when accompanied with that easy, tempered Chearfulness which Rectitude and Benevolence of Heart naturally inspire. In this he greatly excelled, and it gave him many Advantages to serve the Cause of Religion.
"Few Men ever possessed a more humane, benevolent and compas- sionate Heart. He often melted into Tears at the Sight of Distress, which never sought his Aid in vain. He was a liberal sympathising Friend to the Indigent and Afflicted, a zealous Promoter of every Insti- tution or Scheme that could contribute to the Welfare of Mankind, and was never more happy than when alleviating the Misfortunes of others, or employed in some Office of Benevolence or Friendship.
"Such a Temper and Disposition must necessarily endear him to his intimate Acquaintances, and enable him to shine in the more tender Connections of social Life. He was indeed a sincere, warm Friend, a most affectionate, tender Husband and Father.
" Those who were unfriendly with the Church of England, and to the British Constitution, could hardly be well affected to him, consider- ing his Station and Principles. Yet no Man had a more placable, forgiving Disposition under Injuries or ill Usage. He pitied those mis-
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Character of Dr. Auchmuty 409
guided People ; but as for Malice, it found no Harbour in his Bosom. He practiced the Apostolic Rule-Let not the Sun go down upon your Wrath. During the Troubles which have involved this Country in its present Calamities, lie took that Part, as may be easily supposed, which Duty, Truth and Reason pointed out. Unshaken in his Loyalty to our gracious Sovereign, and in his Attachment to the Constitution, he spurned the Breath of popular Applause where Conscience forbid hini to receive it. This drew upon him much persecution ; which with the Distress he felt for the Miseries of this Country, greatly impaired his Constitution ; the Case could scarcely be otherwise with a Person of his extreme Sensibility.
"His ill State of Health obliged him to reside in the Country the greatest Part of last Summer ; and when this City was reduced by His Majesty's Forces in September, he applied repeatedly to the Rebels, in whose Hands he was, for leave to return, which was as often denied. This obliged him to come away privately and exposed him to such Hardships, while making his Escape, that his Constitution was reduced still lower. With Difficulty he got here ; but how he was shocked on viewing the Ruins of so great a Part of the City, consumed by the Fire in September ! Especially those of Trinity Church, that ancient and once venerable Edifice ! The Sight drew Floods of Tears from him ; and altho' he lost, by the Fire, private Property to the Amount of some Thousands of Pounds, yet the Destruction of Trinity Church and of so much of the Property belonging to its Corporation, which has been es- timated at £40,000, affected him much more.
" When the King's Troops penetrated into Jersey, his Family was set at Liberty to return. His Spirits seemed to revive, his Health to mend, and he and his Friends indulged themselves in the pleasing Ex- pectation of Peace and Happiness at last, after struggling through so much Disquietude, Anxiety and Persecution. But alas ! these flatter- ing Hopes were soon blasted ! His Lungs had been weakened by con- stant Exertion in preaching and other parochial Duties : A severe Cold which he caught at a Funeral, and could never wholly get the better of, weakened them still more, and greatly injured his Voice. On Tuesday, Feb. 25, he was seized with a Bilious Fever, which, by the Assistance of Physick, was removed in a great Measure ; yet left him exceedingly weak ; and the Disorder settling on his Lungs, finally carried him off in a few Days.
"On his Death Bed, he behaved with that Patience, Calmness and Fortitude, which became a Christian, and which a well-grounded Hope of immortal Happiness inspires. In his last Moments he retained the
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perfect Use of his Understanding and Reason ; and joined fervently in Prayer about four Hours before he expired-he died without a Struggle or a Groan !
"His Remains were interred last Thursday in the Chancel of St. Paul's Church-a Church which was built under his Inspection, was consecrated by him to the Service of Almighty God, and where he preached his last Sermon on Sunday, Feb. 23, two Days before he was seized by his last Illness.
" Blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord ; for they rest from their Labours, and their Works do follow them."-The New-York Gazette, March 10, 1777.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE RECTORSHIP OF DR. INGLIS : 1777-1783.
Election and Induction-Death of Hildreth, Head Master of the Charity School- Financial Difficulties of the Corporation-Insecurity of Property and Life in the City -Inglis Preaches to the " Loyal American " Corps-Marriage of Beverley Robinson and Nancy Barclay-Death of Elias Desbrosses-Kindly Relations between the Dutch and English Churches-Letters of Papinian-Baroness Riedesel's Account of Affairs in the City-Proposal to Rebuild Trinity Church-Surrender of Lord Cornwallis- Death of Dr. Inglis's Son-Death of Mrs. Inglis-Dr. Inglis under Attainder-Re- signs his Office as Rector-Election of Rev. Benjamin Moore as his Successor-Fare- well Sermon-Removal to Halifax-Subsequent History-Consecrated the First Colonial Bishop of the Church of England-Dies at Halifax, February 24, 1810.
S IXTEEN days after the death of Dr. Auchmuty, the
Rev. Charles Inglis was elected to fill his place. He was the unanimous choice of the Vestry, whose names it may be of interest to place on record :
Wardens, Nathaniel Marston, Jr., and Elias Des- brosses ; Vestrymen, Robert Crommeline, David Clarkson, Theophylact Bache, Adrian Renaudet, Thomas Hill, Ed- ward Laight, Anthony Van Dam, John Charlton, Benja- min Kissam, John T. Kempe, Miles Sherbrooke, John Griffith, Gabriel H. Ludlow, James Duane, Peter Goelet, Grove Bend, Charles Shaw, Christopher Smith, James Desbrosses, Peter Van Schaick.1
Messrs. Kemp and Bache were appointed a committee to wait upon Mr. Inglis, who was then presented to the Board, and, in their presence, accepted the rectorship.
Charles Inglis was the third son of the Rev. Archibald Inglis, an Irish clergyman. He was born A.D. 1733, in
! Records, i., 392.
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Ireland. At an early age he came to America, and from 1755 to 1758 was engaged in the work of a school-teacher at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His thoughts having been directed to the ministry, he went to England, where, in 1759, he was ordained deacon and priest by the Bishop of London. Returning to America with an appointment from the Venerable Society as missionary at Dover in Delaware, he had charge of the parish church at that place and of three mission churches, in a population of some seven thousand souls. He then married a lady by the name of Vining, who died in 1764.
The circumstances of Mr. Inglis's election as assistant and catechist at New York, August 28, 1764, have already been stated, including his declining the position for per- sonal and domestic reasons. It has also been shown how he accepted a second call, and became connected with the parish December 6, 1765. King's College conferred on him the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1767 ; a few years later he received the degree of Master of Arts from the University of Oxford, which also gave him, in 1778, that of Doctor of Divinity.
The ceremony of induction is fully and minutely de- scribed in the Records.1 It could not be held in the parish church, then a mere ruin ; it was therefore per- formed in the open air and in the churchyard. By man- date of Governor Tryon, the new rector, after taking the customary oaths, was conducted to what remained of the sacred edifice, and there, placing his hand upon the wall of the church, he was inducted by Elias Desbrosses, one of the Church Wardens, in presence of the assembled Vestrymen. The election and induction were acts of a single day.
On Sunday, the 6th of April following, in the after- : Records, i., 399.
The BIGBen Charles . Inglis. .. Appointed Rector, March 20th, Per, resigned . November1st, 1989. Consecrated Bishop of Soon Sedlia, legust 12th, 1787.
isMucho N
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Election of Charles Inglis
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noon, Mr. Inglis read himself in before a congregation assembled in St. Paul's Chapel.
A letter was laid before the Board from the new Bishop of London approving their choice of a rector.
"I know Mr. Inglis to be a person of the most eminent abilities, of great judgment, integrity and piety, of unshaken Loyalty & firm perse- verance in his duty ; as he has fully shown by his late exemplary behavior in the severest trials, by which he has merited the highest honours which the country has to bestow upon him." 1
The state of affairs was critical and dangerous to the last degree. As to the merits of the Revolution, people were divided in opinion, but all had chosen their side, pre- pared to abide the consequences. Governor Tryon no longer appears the kindly and popular man that he once was. Under cover of his letter of February 15, 1777, he sent home a copy of a declaration which the inhabitants of New York had been called upon by him to sign, under which they " in the most explicit manner disavow, renounce and disclaim " all powers, authorities and claims of Con- gresses, Councillors and Conventions over them.2
In a subsequent letter, that of April 21st, he quotes approvingly the opinion of the French Colonel, St. Luc, " Il faut lacher les sauvages contre les miserables Rebels, pour imposer de terreur sur les frontiers." 3
At the election held April 1, 1777, nearly the entire Board of the previous year was continued in office ; David Seabury's name appearing for the first time. At a session held immediately after the election, a committee was ap- pointed to inquire into the damage "sustained by the late fire and report their opinion thereon to the Vestry." 4
In connection with this session there is an interesting letter to the Venerable Society, informing them of the
1 Records, i., 400.
$ Ibid. 707.
2 N. Y. Col. Docs., viii., 698.
4 Records, i., 395.
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death of Auchmuty and the appointment of Inglis. The former they style
" a gentleman justly esteemed for his humane, benevolent disposition, with many other amiable qualities, which we shall omit to enumerate in the compass of a letter, as this just tribute to his memory is already performed by a more able pen, and inserted in the public Prints, which we make no doubt have come to your hands."
They add that they have chosen Mr. Inglis as his succes- sor, he being
"a clergyman universally esteemed, as well for his exemplary life as other abilities requisite to fill that publick and important station " ; they add that "we are of opinion had he not been in the line of succession as Assistant Minister to Docr. Auchmuty we could not have made a better choice."
A letter was also addressed to the Bishop of London in similar terms, saying that "as soon as decency permitted, the Church wardens and a majority of the vestry elected Mr. Inglis."
At this session the rector communicated a letter from the Rev. Mr. Bowden, dated at Jamaica, March 14th, saying that he had at last decided not to return to New York.
" Before Dr. Auchmuty's death," he said, " I had two objections. The one-there was no prospect of a Provision. The other-A weak broken voice, and a tender habit of body. The former objection may, probably, be removed by Dr. Auchmuty's Death ; but the latter con- tinues in full force, and alone determines me to buit the city." 1
His resignation was accepted, and it was ordered to pay his salary up to the date of resignation.
Outside the British lines, now somewhat closely drawn about the city of New York, the people of the province had taken decided steps looking to the future. A consti- tutional government had been organized, under which the
1 Records, i., 397.
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religious Establishment was swept away. The Established Church in New York lay at the point of death, waiting, like the monarchy, the act of dissolution ; as an estab- lishment it was ready to depart, but a greater and better thing was to arise from the ashes of the old burning, and a spiritual dominion, in the power of the old Catholic and Apostolic lineage, was to be born for a new and glorious life.
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