USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 1 > Part 36
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The first Constitution of the State of New York, passed April 20, 1777, provided, in Article XXXV., that
" such parts of the common law of England & of the statute law of England and Great Britain & of the acts of the legislature of the Colony of New-York as did together form the law of the said Colony on the nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shall be and continue the law of this State That all such parts of the said common law, and all such of the said Statute, and acts aforesaid, or parts thereof, as may be con- strued to establish or maintain any particular denominations of Chris- tians or their Ministers are hereby abrogated and rejected,"
while Article XXXVIII. declares :
" And Whereas we are required by the benevolent principles of rational liberty, not only to expel civil tyranny, but also to guard against that spiritual oppression and intolerance, wherewith the bigotry and ambi- tion of weak and wicked priests and princes have scourged mankind : This convention doth further, in the name and by the authority of the good people of this State, ORDAIN, DETERMINE and DECLARE, that the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and wor- ship without discrimination or preference, shall for ever hereafter be al- lowed within this State to all mankind. Provided, that the liberty of conscience hereby granted, shall not be so construed, as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this State." '
In May of this year the Charity School lost its head master. The Venerable Society's abstract of this year al-
1 The Constitution of the State of New- York, 27-30.
416
History of Trinity Church
[1777
ludes to the death of Mr. Hildreth,' approving, at the same time, the appointment of his successor, saying :
"The Society have in the course of the year been favored with two let- ters ; in the former of which, dated July 24, 1777, the Society are in- formed of the death of Mr. Hildreth, their late Schoolmaster at New York, and of the care that hath been taken of the scholars (which are 86 in number) until another Schoolmaster should be appointed. And upon the recommendation of Dr. Inglis, the Society have given that appointment, with the salary of 15l. per annum, to Mr. Amos Bull, who is represented to them as a person of good character and princi- ples, and in all respects well qualified for the employment. The Soci- ety have also bestowed a gratuity of Iol. upon the widow of the late Mr. Hildreth, who, from the losses sustained by her husband, from the great fire in September 1776, is left in low circumstances."
The Records show that notwithstanding the troubled condition of affairs, efforts were made to carry on the busi- ness of the Church in the customary and orderly way. Thus it was voted, June 9, 1777, to pay Dr. Auchmuty's salary to his administrator up to May Ist last. Leases were talked about, Captain Lewis was appointed to collect rents, a petition was sent to the king, asking for relief from losses incurred by the fire, a subscription was opened for Mr. Moore, a committee was appointed to find a suc- cessor to "Mr. Joseph Hildreth, deceased," and a balance of £659 19s. 2d. was found due to the Warden from the Corporation. A special report of the loss by fire was presented, showing the amount to be {22,200 .?
1 " Last week died at his House in this City, Mr. Joseph Hildreth, who for about 40 Years past was Clerk of Trinity Church, and had the Care of the Charity School here ; He was always esteemed an upright, honest Man."-The New- York Gazette, May 12, 1777.
? " By the late fire which happened in the City of New York, on the 21st Day of September last . . . the said Corporation have lost twenty-two thousand two hun- dred pounds in the four following Buildings which was consumed by the fire :-
Trinity Church, including the Organ. £17,500
Parsonage or Rector's House. . . 2,500
Two Charity School Houses and Fencings. 2,000 --- £22,200 Library. 200
Besides the loss to the Corporation of £536. p. annum, the annual rent of 246 Lotts of
417
New York during the War
1777]
In June, Dr. Seabury preached in St. Paul's before the Free and Accepted Masons, on " Brotherly Love."1
Among the notable funerals of the period was that of the wife of Governor Franklin, of New Jersey, whose re- mains were placed under the chancel of St. Paul's.2
The insecurity of property and life in the city at that time will be better appreciated by reference to the fact, that on the night of November 25th, Martling's men came down from the American lines, and, in a dash into the city, burned the residence of Oliver De Lancey at Bloom- ingdale. It may here be noted, that at the close of the war the entire property of this gentleman, together with that of his nephew, James De Lancey, and many others of the same political stamp, was confiscated. General Lee also was taken prisoner by Lord Howe, and held by him as a deserter, on the ground that he was English born.
A corps had been raised for the king's service, com- posed of natives of the province, and known as the " Loyal
ground the Tenant's Buildings all consumed by the Fire. In witness whereof we have signed this report the 13th day of May 1777. Elias Desbrosses, Charles Shaw, An- tho. Van Dam, William Laight."-Records, i., 398.
1 A copy of the sermon, presented to the Rev. Benjamin Moore, with the author's autograph, is bound up in a volume of sermons and tracts presented to the New York Hist. Society, July 22, 1813, by Mr. Moore, then Bishop Moore. The occasion is brought to notice by the Gazette : "Tuesday the 24th Instant, (Being the Anniversary of Saint John the Baptist) a large Body of loyal Members of the ancient, free, and accepted Masons belonging to Zion Lodge, assembled at the house of the Widow De La Mon- tagnie ; and from thence proceeded in Form to St. Paul's Church, where a most excel- lent Sermon was preached on the Occasion, by the Revd. Doctor Seabury, from the first Verse of the CXXXIIId Psalm : ' Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity.' After Service they returned and dined to- gether ; when a Number of loyal Toasts were drank, and the Evening concluded with the usual Love, Harmony and Unity ever subsisting among the Craft."- The New- York Gazette, June 30, 1777.
2 " Last Monday departed this Life in this City, in the 43d Year of her Age the Lady of his Excellency William Franklin, Esq ; Governor of the Province of New- Jersey ; Her remains were decently interred in the Chancel of St. Paul's Church, the next Evening, attended by a Number of the most respectable Inhabitants of this Place : She was a loving Wife, an indulgent Mistress, a steady Friend, and affable to All." -- Ibid., August 4, 1777-
27
-
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History of Trinity Church [1777
Americans." The spirited action of Mr. Inglis at this time is indicated by a sermon preached by hi'n to this corps, on the subject of the duty of the Christian soldier. In the eyes of the clergy at that crisis, loyalty and righteousness meant much the same thing. This sermon was printed, as appears from the following advertisement :
" This day is published and may be had at H. GAINE's Book-Store, In Hanover-Square
The Christian Soldier's Duty Briefly delineated :
In A SERMON
Preached at KING'S BRIDGE Sept. 7, 1777, BEFORE The American Corps newly raised For His Majesty's Service By CHARLES INGLIS, A.M. Rector of Trinity Church, New York. Published by particular Desire." '
Troops were now pouring into New York ; during this month three thousand arrived from England. A duel oc- curred, soon after the arrival of the fleet, of which an ac- count is given in the Gazette :
" On Wednesday last one of the Fleet that came out under Convoy of the Experiment, Bristol, &c. arrived here from Eng- land. And,
"Next Day arrived the Remainder of the Fleet under Convoy of his Majesty's Ship the Experiment, of 50 Guns, Sir James Wallace, Commander ; the Bristol, of 50, J. Renier, Esq., Commander ; the Buffaloe (an old 70), Henry Bromedge, Esq, Commander ; and Zebra, Hon. J. Talmash, Esq., Commander ; with the Lord Howe, and Aston Hall, Ordnance Transports. There are about 3000 Soldiers in the Fleet and 167,000 7. Sterling in solid Coin.
1 The New- York Gazette, Sept. 29, 1777.
419
Church Work during the War
1777]
" The Evening after the Arrival of the Fleet, a Duel with Swords, was fought at Hull's, between the Hon. J. Talmash (Brother to Earl Dysert) Commander of the Zebra and Capt. Pennington (Son to Sir Ralph Pennington) of the Guards, who came Passenger in the Zebra ; in which the former received a Wound under the left Breast of which he expired immediately ; the latter was wounded in 7 different Parts, but is like to do well.
"Captain Talmash's Corpse were decently interred in Trinity Church Yard last Saturday Evening."-The New- York Gazette, Sept. 29, 1777.
Notices of the work of the Church, quietly going on as usual in the midst of the prevalent turmoil, are not with- out their interest.
"On Sunday next a Charity Sermon will be preached in the Fore- noon, at ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL, for the Benefit of the CHARITY SCHOOL in this City .- Should the Weather be bad, the Sermon will be postponed to the following Sunday.
" It may be proper to inform such as are not acquainted with the Nature and Design of this Institution-that this School consists of 86 Scholars, viz. 56 Boys and 30 Girls, who are annually cloathed and in- structed in the Principles of the Christian Religion. They are taught Reading, Writing, and Arithmetick, and the Girls Needle Work ; Books, Paper, &c. found them. The Aiders of this pious Work are also in- formed, that the School is visited once a Month by the Rector, Church Wardens, and a Committee of the Vestry of Trinity Church, and the Children carefully examined ; and that the Institution is principally supported by the Contributions of benevolent Persons, collected at the Sermons which are annually preached for its Benefit." 1
December Ist, there was the following announcement :
"The badness of the weather Yesterday prevented the CHARITY SERMON from being preached in ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL, as mentioned in our last : But on SUNDAY next (Weather permitting) it will be preached in the said Chapel for the Benefit of the Charity School in this City." ?
Finally a favoring sky opened and we are able to read, December 8th, that
"Yesterday an excellent Charity Sermon was preached at ST.
1 The New- York Gazette, Nov. 24, 1777. * Ibid., Dec. 1, 1777.
420
History of Trinity Church
[1777
GEORGE'S CHAPEL, by the Revd. Mr. MOORE, when a handsome Collec- tion was made for the Use of the CHARITY SCHOOL in this City ; and next Sunday another Charity Sermon will be preached at ST. PAUL's for the same laudable Purpose." 1
Accordingly the following Sunday Mr. Inglis preached at St. Paul's. Referring to this occasion, the editor of The New-York Gazette says :
" Yesterday an Excellent Charity Sermon was preached in ST. PAUL'S CHAPEL, by Revd. Mr. Inglis, when a handsome Collection was made for the Use of the CHARITY SCHOOL in this City.
"The following polite Note was sent to one of the Vestry Yesterday Evening, with 5 Guineas.
"A Person who has been deprived of contributing his Mite at the proper Place appointed to receive it, takes this Method of convey- ing it to your Hands to answer the Request of this Day, Sunday Evening." 1
The Christmas feast brought its usual tidings of good will to the poor and needy. We are informed that :
" On Wednesday next being Christmas Eve, 40 poor Widows, House- keepers, having Families in this City, will receive 40 lb. of fresh Beef, and a half Peck Loaf each, on a Certificate of their Necessity, signed by two Neighbours of Repute, which is to be delivered at the Revd. Dr. Inglis's House in the Broadway, between 10 and 12 o' Clock that Day, who will give a Ticket for the above Donation." 3
The Masons were actively engaged on behalf of the poor of Trinity Parish, being invited to assemble at " The Sign of the Globe," and walk in procession to church.
" All Loyal ancient free and accepted Masons who chuse to celebrate the Anniversary of ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, are requested by the Master and Wardens of Zion Lodge, to attend at the House of Brother John Borrowes, at the Sign of the Globe, near the City Hall, on Sat- urday the 27th of December, at 9 o'Clock in the Forenoon. They will walk in Procession to Church where a Sermon will be preached on the
1 The New- York Gazette, Dec. 8, 1777.
? Ibid., Dec. 15, 1777.
$ Ibid., Dec. 22, 1777.
421
The Parish Registers
1778]
Occasion, and a Collection made by the Church Wardens for the Use of the Poor of the Parish of Trinity Church." '
The parish registers having been destroyed in the great fire, a new set of books was commenced. The destruction of those old registers cannot be too deeply deplored. One only, a Register of Marriages, escaped destruction ; and that goes back only to 1746, the time of a previous fire. In marriages we have no records prior to that date; in baptisms and burials we can go as far as 1777. The only remaining Burial Register of the parish begins May 11, 1777, with the name of Joseph Hildreth, the schoolmaster, who died of "nerv. Fever," at the age of fifty-five years. The entries of the year cover nearly twenty-two pages with about forty on some of the pages, and occasionally seven or eight interments a day, which would indicate a large draught upon the time of the clergy. The total number of interments was seven hundred and fifty-two. Children were the greatest sufferers.
The University of Oxford, in full convocation, on the 25th of February, 1778, conferred on the Reverend Charles Inglis the well-deserved honor of a degree of Doctor of Divinity.
At a meeting of the Vestry, held January 15th, in the same year, a select committee was appointed consisting of the Warden and others, to report on the subject of appro- priating that part of the churchyard which lay to the south of Trinity Church for the construction of vaults for the interment of the dead, and ascertaining how much of the said ground should be used for that purpose; they also considered the question of reserving a piece of ground ad- joining Thomas Street, "in order to widen and make the said street more commodious than it is at present."?
The next entry shows the financial condition of the 1 The New- York Gazette, Dec. 22, 1777. 2 Records, i., 460.
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History of Trinity Church
[1778
parish and recognizes the fact that the country was in a state of war. Mr. Mortier having demanded the payment of the Corporation's bond for the sum of four thousand pounds, the Board declare their inability to pay it, "owing to the present distressed circumstances of the country."
" Wednesday last was married at Flushing, Long Island, BEVERLY ROBINSON, jun., Esq ; Lieut. Col. of the Loyal American Regiment, to the amiable and accomplished Miss NANCY BARCLAY, youngest daughter of the Revd. Dr. BARCLAY, formerly Rector of Trinity Church in this Place. " 1
" On Saturday last died at his house in Broad Street, in the 65th year of his age Mr. Samuel Deall, merchant, who justly merited the character of a loving husband, a tender father, a sincere friend, a worthy citizen, and in all things else the upright honest man. His remains were very decently interred on Monday evening in Trinity Church Yard."?
March 26. The parish was called to mourn the loss of one of its wardens, Mr. Elias Desbrosses,3 who died at the age of sixty, having been an exceedingly useful mem- ber of the parish. He was a loyalist. At a meeting held April 2d, and attended by the rector and fourteen mem- bers of the Corporation, "it was requested of Mr. J. Desbrosses to act as Church Warden in the place of the deceased Church Warden, E. Desbrosses, Esq." He consented to serve until Easter, and reserved his decision respecting further duty, though at Easter he was elected.
1 The New- York Gazette, Jan. 26, 1778.
? The Royal Gazette, March 28, 1778.
3 " An Ornament to the Religious Society, of which he was a member, he was assiduous in promoting its interests ; and indefatigable in his endeavours to extricate it from those embarrassments in which the present wanton and unnatural Rebellion had involved it. Nor were his views for this purpose, and the general good of his fel- low creatures, confined to the term of his own existence here : By his last will he be- queathed considerable sums for the education and support of orphans in the Charity School of Trinity Church, and for promoting religion. In short, few persons have deserved better of society-few have been more justly and sincerely lamented than Mr. DESBROSSES. His remains were interred in the family vault in Trinity Church Yard, attended by a large number of the respectable citizens, on the Saturday after his decease." -- Ibid., April 4, 1778.
---
423
The Church in Brooklyn
1778]
In the month of April, the services of the Church were duly opened in Brooklyn by the Rev. James Sayre. It has already been shown that this enterprise was projected under the patronage of the authorities of the parish four years previously. Its successful issue forms a bright spot in that cloudy period. The happy consummation of the project is thus announced :
"On Sunday morning the 5th Inst. to the great satisfaction of the Inhabitants, the Church at Brooklyne was opened, and divine Service, according to ritual of the Church of England, performed by the Rev. Mr. Sears who preached an excellent sermon and baptized a Child, which was the first Infant admitted to that Sacrament within said Church, where there will be Prayers and a Sermon next Sunday and on Good Friday ; also on the three Sundays following: Every fourth Sunday afterwards the Church will be occupied by the Dutch Congre- gation." 1
About this time the University of Oxford conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity on the Reverend Samuel Seabury.2
On the 21st of April, a vestry, composed almost en- tirely of the old members, was elected, and a session was held the same day. The action of a committee appointed to treat with Mr. Bull, to serve as parish clerk at a salary of fifteen pounds, and master of the Charity School at six and the customary fees and perquisites, was approved and they were directed to notify Mr. Bull, "who is now in town." A house was ordered for the accommodation of the school, which, notwithstanding the misfortunes of the parish, they courageously resolved should not suffer. The master was to live in the schoolhouse. Mr. Peter Mc- Lean, who had officiated for some time past as clerk, was voted the sum of ten pounds. The committee in charge
1 The New- York Gazette, April 13, 1778. See also Sprague's Annals, v., 306 ; Onderdonk's Revolutionary Incidents, Sections 843, 874, pp. 178, 186 ; and Sabine's Loyalists, ii., 265.
9 See The New- York Gazette, April 27, 1778.
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History of Trinity Church
[1778
of leases reported a rent roll, or a list taking the place of one, and showing in the general confusion, that in some cases " no rent is specified," which the Board hastened to correct, and made at the same time regulations to pre- vent misapprehension in the future.
Mr. Nathaniel Marston presented the parish "with a Handsome Velvet Paal," for which he was duly thanked, while committees were appointed to audit the account.1
June 1. The auditing committee found that there was due the estate of the late Warden, Elias Desbrosses, now succeeded by James Desbrosses, the sum of £479 os. 6d.
It was voted to push the subscription for Mr. Moore with due diligence, but it was resolved that
" the precarious state of the Church Funds, added to their very great losses, render it Impossible for the Corporation to engage the payment of any specified sum p. Annum for the present, fifty pounds formerly engaged for excepted."
They also declared that their losses
" occasioned by the present unhappy warr in America renders it abso- lutely necessary for them to be very attentive to their remaining funds a considerable part of which arises from the Rents of Pews in their sev- eral Churches and which if not duly and regularly paid they cannot support the annual charges of Divine Worship and their other unavoid- able expenses."
It was accordingly resolved to let to other parties the pews not paid for within a given time .?
At this period some persons evidently thought that the churchyard of Trinity was a proper place wherein to keep domestic animals ; but the sudden disappearance of a goat one day proved that, if an appropriate field for browsing, it was hardly safe. The owner at once raised a hue and
1 Records, i., 401, 402.
9 Ibid., 402.
425
Death of Chief-Justice Horsmanden
1778]
cry in the newspapers and earnestly sought to recover his property, though with what success we cannot state.1
Mr. Chief-Justice Daniel Horsmanden, a person of note in his day, and a prominent figure in the parish, as well as in society and politics, died at Flatbush, Long Island, September 23d. It will be remembered that he married the widow of the first rector of the parish. He was buried in Trinity Churchyard, September 25th. Judge Horsmanden was a native of Great Britain, but had re- sided in America upwards of fifty years. He was for some time President of His Majesty's Council, and Chief Jus- tice of the province. He died at a very advanced age. His narrative of the Negro Plot is well known.
Continuing our extracts from the newspapers of the time, we come upon the following :
" About 3 o'Clock last Wednesday Morning departed this Life in his 75th year, Mr. NATHANIEL MARSTON, of this City, Merchant : His remains were decently interred in the Family Vault in Trinity Church Yard the Afternoon of the Day following, attended by a number of the most respectable Inhabitants of this Place."?
"To-morrow, a Charity Sermon will be preached in St. Paul's Chapel, for the benefit of the Charity School in this City. Should the weather prove unfavourable the sermon will be postponed to the Sun- day following." 3
"Yesterday an Excellent Charity Sermon was preached at St. Paul's Church, by the Rev. Mr. Moore, where a large Collection was made for the benefit of the Charity School in this City ; and, next Sunday,
1 " STOLEN.
"Out of Trinity Church yard, where she was tied fast with a rope, which appeared to be cut, a milch Goat, with long horns, long hair, and shaggy, of a greyish colour, with some white stripes on her forehead. Whoever will take up said goat, and secure the thief so that he may be brought to justice shall receive a reward of one guinea, or the Goat only a reward of two dollars by applying to the printer.
"N. B. All masters of vessels are requested if carried on board anv of their ships, not to purchase her but to give notice as above."- The New- York Gazette, Sept. 14, 1778.
9 Ibid., Oct. 26, 1778.
3 The Royal Gazette, Nov. 21, 1778.
426
History of Trinity Church L1779
Weather permitting, another Charity Sermon will be preached at St. George's for the like laudable Purpose." 1
"Yesterday an excellent Charity Sermon was preached at St. George's Chapel, by the Rev. Mr. Battwell, where a handsome Collection was made for the use of the Charity School in this City."?
The local wit thus announced the marriage of the Rev. Mr. Moore :
"On the 20th ult was married at St. George's Church, the Rev. Mr. BENJAMIN MOORE to Miss CHARITY CLARKE, eldest daughter of the late Major CLARKE of this City.
" The good PARSON deserved a good CLARKE, Such happiness fate had in Store,
'Twas CHARITY blew up the spark,
And fix'd the bright flame in one MOORE. "'
At the annual election, April 6th, the following persons were duly elected ; it is well to give their names, as show- ing who stood firm at this period : James Desbrosses and John T. Kempe, Wardens. Robert Crommeline, Theophy- lact Bache, Edward Laight, Anthony Van Dam, John Chandler, Benjamin Kissam, Miles Sherbrooke, Col. Fred Phillipse, John Griffith, Gabriel H. Ludlow, Peter Goelet, Charles Shaw, Christopher Smith, Peter Van Schaack, Thomas Moore, William Laight, David Seabury, Robert Watts, William Ustick, Aug. Van Cortlandt, Vestrymen.4
May 4. The new Warden, Mr. Desbrosses, who had succeeded his brother, reported £339 4s. 84d. in his hands to the credit of the parish. It was ordered at this time that the clerk should have three shillings for recording each baptism.
July 6. Mr. Horton St. John presented his bill for surveying the Church lands and making a field-book, while it was voted to postpone the completion of the sur-
1 The New- York Gazette, Nov. 23, 1773.
' Ibid., Nov. 30, 1778.
& The Royal Gazette, May 2, 1778.
4 Records, i., 4c6.
427
1779] Relations of Trinity to the Dutch Church
vey for the present, "on account of the Heat of the Weather."
August 10. There were still those who believed in the permanent condition of things, and twelve lots were leased to John Livingston, Esquire, "for the term of 42 years." It was decided to fix the rent at "£50 for the first 14 years, £75 for the next 14 years, and £100 for the last 14 years."
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