Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume I, Part 21

Author: New York (State). State Historian. cn; Hastings, Hugh, 1856-1916. cn; Corwin, Edward Tanjore, 1834-1914, ed. cn; Holden, James Austin, 1861-
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Albany, J. B. Lyon, state printer
Number of Pages: 812


USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume I > Part 21


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ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


Extract.


1646. There were read by Rev. Mourcourtius the extracts re- garding the affairs of the East and West Indian Churches, which


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


211


1646


will be exhibited at the next meeting of Synod. iv. 394; xxxix. 143.


Acts of the Deputies.


Rev. Simon Welmerdonckius in the Chair.


1646, July 28th.


Whereas the two ministers, Revs. Ketelius and Van der Poel, have declined accepting the proposed calls to New Netherland,. both having received calls in this country, and have returned their thanks to our Assembly; and as it has been understood from their Excellencies, the Directors, that they will inquire of Rev. Mr. Bogardus, who is still over there, whether he is not willing to remain: therefore the Assembly postpones this subject for the present. xx. 157.


SYNOD OF NORTH HOLLAND, AT AMSTERDAM.


Art. 22. Plan as to East and West India Affairs.


1646, Aug. 7 et seq.


Regarding Art. 20 (1645), touching the Plan as to the East and West India Affairs: It is understood that the Rev. Synod of Gelderland does not as yet accept that Plan; the Synod of Utrecht accepts it, with the reservation that they may retain the privilege of themselves directly presenting and recommending ministers and siekentroosters to the Messrs. Directors. Those of the Synod of Friesland, who heretofore were in harmony with us, or at least acquiesced, now put forward the same obstacle as those of the Synod of Utrecht. The Rev. Synod of Overyssel persists in its former complaint, with especial protest against all misfortunes which might arise on this account. Those of the Synods of Groningen and Ommelanden, agreed before to the Plan, and hold to it yet. Whereupon it was resolved to take up this whole subject ad notam, and to inform the several Classes of our Synod thereof, in order to see what further action must be had in this matter; meantime the Rev. Deputati of our Synod shall


212


ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


1646


also communicate the same to the Rev. Deputati of South Hol- land; and the Rev. Brethren ad correspondentias shall be charged on this point to insist with all earnestness before the Synods ob- jecting, and seek to induce them with good arguments, so that by all means the proposed Plan may be accepted by all.


Article 23.


Arrived there (Brazil) Rev. Henricus Hermannius, minister of Greuningen. Siekentroosters sent: Abraham Henrixse Duy- senpoort, to Brazil; John Walraven, as siekentrooster and school master to New Netherland.


Those of Hoorn had nothing to report at present.


Those of Enkhuysen had only this; that by their Rev. Classis had been sent during the current year, as Krankenbesoeker, to Brazil, Franciscus Henrixsen Huppelen.


NEW NETHERLAND, COVERING THE YEARS 1641-1646.


[This covers six years in the latter part of the ministry of Rev. Everardus Bogardus, 1633-1647 .- From the Journal of New Netherland.]


There is first given a description of the country, as to its location, geographical features, climate, animals, and native inhabitants. Concerning the natives, the following is said:


"The Indians are of ordinary stature, strong and broad shouldered; olive color, light and nimble of foot, subtle in disposition, of few words, which they previously well consider; hypocritical, treacherous, vindictive, brave and pertinacious in self defense; in time of need, resolute to die. They seem to despise all the torments that can be inflicted on them, and do not utter a single moan; they go almost naked, except a flap which hangs before their nakedness; and on their shoulders a deer skin, or a mantle, a fathom square, of woven turkey feathers, or of peltries sewed together; they make use now generally of blue or red (duffels), in conse- quence of the frequent visits of the Christians. In winter they make shoes of deer skin, manufactured after their fashion. Except their chiefs, they have gen- erally but one wife whom they frequently change according to caprice; she must do all the work, plant corn and cut wood, and attend to whatever else is to be done. The Indians are divided into various nations. They differ even in language, which would be altogether too long to be related in this brief space. They, dwell together, mostly from friendship, in tribes commanded by a chief, who is the General, and usually called Sackema; he does not possess much authority and but little distinction, unless in their dances and other ceremonies. They have- hardly any knowledge of God; no Divine Worship, no law, no justice; the strongest does what he pleases, and the young men are masters. Their weapons are the bow and arrow, in the use of which they are wonderful adepts. Hunting and fishing, in addition to the maize which the women plant, furnish them food."


Then follows a General Review of the Dutch Colony from 1623-1641; by whom,. and how, it was peopled.


213


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


1646


" The subjects of the Lords States General, had frequented this country a long time ago, solely for the purpose of the fur trade. Since the year 1623, the In- corporated West India Company caused four forts to be erected, two on the River Mauritius, and one on each side of the others; the largest, which their Honors named New Amsterdam, stands on the point formed by the Mauritius and the other river already mentioned; six and thirty (Dutch) miles higher up, is another fort called Orange; that on the South river is named Nassauw; and that on the Fresh river, the Good Hope; in which the Company hath since continually main- tained garrisons. In the beginning, their Honors sent thither a certain number of settlers, and caused to be erected at great expense, three saw mills, which never realized any profit of consequence, on account of their great charge; a great deal of money was also expended for the advancement of the country, but it never began to be settled until every one was permitted to trade with the Indians, Inas- much as, up to that time, no one calculated to remain there longer than the ex- piration of his bounden time, and therefore did not apply himself to agriculture; yea, even the Colonie of Renselaerswyck was of little consequence. But as soon as the trade was opened, many servants who had prospered under the Company applied for their discharge, built houses and formed plantations, spread themselves far and wide, each seeking the best land, and to be nearest to the Indians, in order thus to trade with them advantageously; others bought sloops with which to sell goods at the north and at the south, and as the Directors gave free passage from Holland thither, that also caused many to come. On the other hand, the English came both from Virginia and New England, on account of the good opportunity to plant tobacco here; first, divers servants, whose time had expired; afterwards, families, and finally, entire colonies, having been forced to quit that place, in order to enjoy freedom of conscience, and to escape from the insupportable gov- ernment of New England; and because many more commodities were to be ob- tained here and there; so that in place of seven bouweries and two and three plantations which were here, thirty bouweries were to be seen as well cultivated and stocked as in Europe, (and) one hundred plantations which, in two or three (years) would become regular bouweries; for after the tobacco was out of the ground, corn was planted there without ploughing, and the winter was employed preparing new lands. The English colonies had settled under us by patent on equal terms with the others. Each of these was in appearance not less than one hundred families strong, exclusive of the Colonie of Rensselaerswyck, which is prospering, with that of Myndert Meyndertsz and Cornelis Melyn, who began first. Also the village of New Amsterdam around the fort, one hundred familles, so that there was appearance of producing supplies in a year for fourteen thousand souls, without straightening the country, and had there not been a want of laborers or farm servants, twice as much could be raised, considering that fifty lasts of rye and fifty lasts of peas were still remaining around the fort, after a large quantity had been burnt and destroyed by the Indians, who in a short time quickly brought this country to nought and had well nigh destroyed this bright hope, in the manner following."


Then comes an account of the Causes and Consequences of the New Netherland War; pages, 181-8. (For this, see also O'Callaghan and Brodhead.) A series of papers followed this, marked from A to R, relating to the condition of New Netherland, 1643-1647. Among these occur several series of questions, under M., addressed to different officials, about the origin of the War. The following were addressed to Domine Bogardus:


Interrogatories for the Reverend Everardus Bogardus, Minister of the flock of Jesus Christ here on the Manhatans. p. 200.


Article 1.


Was not your Reverence in the room with the late Director General Kieft when the three men, namely, Maryn Adriaensen, Jan Claessen Daem, and Abram


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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


1646


Planck, presented their petition respecting the demand for the war against the Natives ?


Article 2.


Is the conversation between Mr. Kieft and the three men on that occasion still fresh in your Reverence's memory ?


Article 3.


Can he, the witness, conscientiously and solemnly declare before God, verbally or in writing, all that then transpired in the room, between these five persons, respecting the War? - Doc. Hist. N. Y. iv. 4-11; Col. Docs. N. Y. i. 179-188.


Order Directing the Rev. Everardus Bogardus to deliver to the Council a Bill of Exchange, given by the Swedish Governor at the South River for goods sold there by one Sandelyn contrary to Law. Sept. 21, 1646.


Whereas the Honorable Director General and Council of New Netherland have received certain information, that Jacob Evertsen Sandelyn, master of the Ship " Scotch Dutchman " has, without order and commission from the Incorporated West India Company, Department of Amsterdam, come into the South River of New Netherland with the aforesaid ship and there sold a parcel of duffel cloth and other goods to the Swedish Governor, for which he has received from said Governor a bill of exchange amounting to the sum of twenty five hundred guilders, which bill of exchange and letter of advice have been handed by Laurens Laurensen from Vleckeren to Everardus Bogardus, minister here, to be transmitted to Holland and whereas this tends to the great prejudice of the Company and the serious injury of this country, We therefore hereby order said Bogardus to deliver up immediately into our hands the abovementioned bill handed him by Laurens Laurensen or to declare into whose hands he has delivered it. In default thereof said Bogardus shall be held responsible for all damages and losses, which the Honorable Company shall suffer hereby and be considered an accessory of those, who endeavour to defraud the Honorable Company of its revenue and seek to ruin the country.


Thus done in Council in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 21st of Sep- tember Anno 1646 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xii. 26, 27.


FATHER JOGUES .- HIS DEATH.


1646, May 16.


Father Jogues remained but a few months in his native country. On his return to Canada, he was commissioned by the Governor of that province to proceed to the Mohawks, to congratulate that tribe on the conclusion of a recently negotiated treaty. He sat out with some Indians for the scene of his former sufferings in com- pany with Sieur Bourdon, royal engineer, and arrived on the festival of Corpus Christi, at Lake Andiatorocte, to which, in honor of the day, he gave the name of the Lake of the Blessed Sacrament. Embarking, soon after, on the waters of Oiogue, (" called by the Dutch the River Mauritius,") they at length arrived at Fort Orange, June 4, where they were most hospitibly received, and after a short sojourn proceeded to Oneugioure, the first castle of the Mohawks. Presents were here exchanged in ratification of the peace; the French received every assurance of future welcome, and took their leave June 16, much gratified at the friendly manner in which they had been treated.


Encouraged now by the hope that a way was at length open for the light of Christianity, Jogues again returned to the Mohawk country. Superstition, the hand- maid of ignorance, was busy in the meantime arousing the prejudice of the savages against him. At his departure in June he left with his hosts, as a guarantee of his return, a small box containing some necessaries for which he should have occasion.


FATHER ISAAC JOGUES.


215


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


1646


Sickness unfortunately broke out during his absence among the tribe, and the worm destroyed their harvest. They became now convinced that he had left the Evil One in that box, and on his re-appearance among them, they stripped him of his clothing, Oct. 17, beat him with heavy clubs, and, as he was entering a wigwam to supper, he was treacherously felled with an axe, his head cut off and stuck on the palisades, and his sainted body flung into the river, Oct. 18. The Mohawk country is known since. in Catholic annals as " The Mission of the Martyrs."* - O'Callaghan, ii. 290, 200.


Note of Hand to the Deacons of the Church of Rensselaerswyck, Anno 1647.


I, the undersigned, Anthonie de Hooges, have, on the part of the Noble Patroon of the Colonie Rensselaerswyck, borrowed from the Diaconie of the aforesald place, for the term of one year, to be repaid in cash, at the option of the lenders, with ten per cent interest per annum, the sum of three hundred guilders in seawan, whereof one hundred and twenty is in ordinary seawan, promising thankfully to produce at the aforesaid time, in stated specie aforesaid, to the Diaconie of the aforesaid place. In testimony whereof, have I subscribed this Acte with mine own hand. Actum R. Wyck, 9th May, 1647 .- O'Callaghan's History of New Netherland, Vol. i. 471.


* Relation, 1645-6., 59; Ib. 1647., 6, 7, 125, 127, 128; Creuxius, 457. Father Jogues' Missal, Ritual, and a few of his clothes, were afterwards presented by the savages to the Rev. Mr. Megapolensis.


216


ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


1647- 1664


ADMINISTRATION OF PETER STUYVESANT.


May 11, 1647 - 1664, Sept. 5.


RESIGNATION OF REV. EVERARDUS BOGARDUS.


Note of Valentine on Bogardus .- Everardus Bogardus, domine, the first estab- lished clergyman in this city, arrived here in 1633. A church, constructed of wood, was erected for him on the present north side of Pearl street, between Whitehall and Broad streets. This edifice being exposed to an assault, should the Indians surprise the community while at their devotions, was abandoned in the time of the Indian War of 1642, at which time a church was erected within the walls of the fort, where Domine Bogardus afterwards officiated. He married in this city the widow of Roelof Jansen, one of the earliest settlers. This lady owned, in right of her former husband, a farm on the North river, in the neighborhood of the present Canal street, containing sixty two acres, which had been granted to Mr. Jansen in 1636. At the time of her marriage to Domine Bogardus she had four children, and by Domine Bogardus she had also four children. This farm was, in the year 1671, conveyed by the heirs, with the exception of one of her sons, Cornelius, to Governor Lovelace, and became afterwards the property of Trinity Church. Her son Cor- nelius, not having joined in the conveyance, his heirs claim one eighth interest in this valuable property, which has been the subject of litigation for many years, and is well known as the "Anneke Jans' suit ". The residence of Domine Bogardus in this city was on the present Whitehall street, east side, between Bridge and Stone streets. Having embarked on board the ship Princess in the year 1647, on a visit to his fatherland, the vessel was cast away on the English coast, and Mr. Bogardus, with more than eighty others, perished. He was succeeded in the pastoral charge of the Dutch congregation in this city by the Rev. Johannes Backerus. It was to be re- marked that the original name of the family was Bogart or Bogaert, the termina- tion us, assumed by him being then a common custom among clergymen and other professors of learning, as giving a classical distinction to the ordinary name. The name of his successor was originally " Backer ", or it would be called in English, the Rev. John Baker. Subsequently, in this city, the Rev. Messrs. Megapolensis, Drissius, Selinus and others, held the pastoral charge of the congregation .- Valen- tine's New York, pp. 131-133.


1647.


Note of O'Callaghan on the times .- " Where the shepherd errs the sheep go astray." Drunkenness and broils were of common occurrence. The people were " without discipline, and approaching to a savage state." " A fourth part of the city of New Amsterdam consisted of grogshops and houses where nothing is to be got but tobacco and beer." Religion and education felt the baneful effects of these evil influences. The church which had been commenced in 1642, remained still un- finished, as if the country were without timber or a sawmill. The Director General being distressed for money, applied to his own use the fines and forfeitures which had been appropriated to aid the completion of this sacred edifice .*


In the meanwhile no efforts were made to convert the heathen, between whom and the settlers an unlicensed intercourse generally prevailed. And, though a col- lege had been founded in Massachusetts some nine years before, the authorities of


* Alb. Rec. ii., 160, 190, 262, 369; iv., 1; vii., 28, 29, 38, 300. Van der Donck's Ver- toogh, c. xi. Wel is waer dat den Directeur Kieft, verlegen synde om gelt, in syn huys hadde hangen een bos, daer de Diakenen een sleutel van hadden, daerin alle cleyne breuken en boeten, die op de rechtdagen voor vielen gesteken waren; met kennisse van de diaconen heeft geopent, en 't gelt dat een moye somme was, op intresr genomen .- Van Tienhoven Cort Bericht.


217


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


1647


New Netherland made little or no effort, up to this time, to establish a common primary school in any part of this country. Some subscriptions had been entered into by the commonalty for the purpose of erecting a school-house in New Amster- dam, but their funds were also misappropriated, and this laudable undertaking failed in consequence.


Such was the state of disorganization into which the public affairs had fallen, when General Petrus Stuyvesant assumed the government of New Netherland .-- O'Callaghan's History of New Netherland, Vol. i. 395, 396.


DEATH OF REV. EVERARDUS BOGARDUS.


1647.


Having thus triumphed, and achieved what he considered ample vengeance over his enemies, Kieft prepared to depart for Fatherland. The Rev. Everardus Bogar- dus had already resigned his office as pastor of New Amsterdam, and had obtained permission to return home, and Fiscal Van der Huyghens was about to accompany his late chief. They embarked in the Princess, Kieft taking with him specimens of his tested minerals, and a cargo estimated at twenty thousand pounds. On the passage home, the mariners mistook the channel, entered the Severn, and were cast away on the coast of Wales, near Swansea. Eighty one souls, men, women, and children, perished in that unfortunate vessel, and of the cargo nothing was saved but a few furs. "I told Willem Kieft," said De Vries, in 1643, " that I doubted not that vengeance for the innocent blood which he had shed in his murderings, would, sooner or later, come on his head." This prophecy was fulfilled with awful precision, overwhelming alike friend and foe, the innocent and the guilty. Kieft, Van der Huyghens, and Bogardus perished in this dreadful shipwreck; the last mentioned leaving a widow and a large family to lament his loss.


A misfortune so terrible, might be expected to have excited sympathy and sorrow in all hearts. But strange as it may seem, all looked upon Kieft's death as an act of retributive justice. In New England, it was considered " that the solemn provi- dence of God had appeared therein, to bear witness against those who had so many years injured his own people in those parts, which some could not pass by without due acknowledgment and observation." He sunk into his watery grave, unlamented even by those in whose service he had passed ten years, who now were of opinion, that it had been better had he been obliged, by himself or his friends, to justify his conduct.


The vacancy created in the ministry, by the retirement of Domine Bogardus, was filled by the appointment of the Rev. Johannes Backerus, formerly pastor at Cura- coa. The salary of this clergyman was one hundred guilders per month, and two hundred guilders per annum for board, a stipend equal to five hundred and sixty dollars. With all this he was still unwilling to remain. He had, therefore, the promise that another minister should be appointed in his place, if his indisposition to remain in the county continued. But if the Director should not deem his removal advisable, then his allowance for board was to be increased .- O'Callaghan's His- tory of New Netherland, Vol. ii. 34, 35, 36.


Note on Annetje Jans, widow of domine Bogardus .- Annetje Jans, widow of Domine Bogardus, survived her husband nearly sixteen years. She died in Bever- wyck, in 1663. She had by her first marriage, Sarah Roeloffsen, (who married Sur- geon Hans Kierstede;) Catrina Roeloffsen, (who married Johannes Van Burgh;) Fytje Roeloffsen, (who married Pieter Hartgers;) and one son, Jan, unmarried at his mother's death. By her second husband, she had Willem, Cornelis, Jonas, and Pieter Bogardus. All her property real and personal, was by will, (dated 29th January, 1663, and of record in the original Dutch in Albany,) divided equally among her children, on condition that the four first named should receive one thousand guilders from the proceeds of the farm which she owned on the North River, Manhattan Island. This farm, called " the Domine's Bowery." contained sixty two acres, and was granted originally to Roeloff Jansen, in 1636,


218


ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


1647


confirmed to his widow and heirs in 1654, and again to the latter, in 1667. On the 9th March, 1671, Willem Bogardus, for himself and brothers, Jan and Jonas, and two of Annetje Jans' sons-in-law, (acting in right of their wives, and by assignment of Peter Bogardus,) conveyed this Bowery to Col. Francis Lovelace, then Governor of New York, from whom, it is inferred, the title passed to the Duke of York and the Crown, after which, it formed part of what was, successively, called "the Duke's Farm," " the King's Farm," and "the Queen's Farm." In the year 1705, this last was conveyed by Letters Patent, under the great seal of the province, to the Corporation of Trinity Church, New York, in whose possession it has since, for the most part, been. The Bogardus Farm, or the Domine's Bowery, extended from a line a little south of the present Warren Street, forming an irregular triangle, having its base on the River, running, however, along Broadway, only from Warren to Duane. Cornelis Bogardus, third son of Annetje Jans, not having been a party to the conveyance to Governor Lovelace, his heirs claim a share of this extensive property; the prosecution of which has formed the subject of various, though un- successful suits in Chancery against the Church. (Paige's Chan. Reports, iv. 178; Opinion of the Hon. Vice Chan. Sanford in re Bogardus et al. vs. Trinity Church; New York, 1847, 8vo. pp. 40.) The Rev. Domine Bogardus held a tract of land also on the north side of Mespath's Kill, L. I., which went by the name of " Domine's Hook." The heirs sold this farm in 1668, to one John Sharp, for seven thousand nine hundred and fifty guilders .- O'Callaghan's History of New Netherland, Vol. ii. 35.


SYNOD OF NORTH HOLLAND, AT HOORN. Art. 17. East and West India Affairs. 1647, Aug. 12 et seq.


Regarding the twenty second article, (1646) reciting at length the Plan as to the East and West Indian Affairs, as well as the acceptance of it by other corresponding Synods, it was under- stood after an elaborate explanation (openinge) that we will for reasons abide by the said Plan. Meantime we will try to induce all the objecting Synods to accept of the said Plan, at some time or other.


(The following item relating to Brazil is important because about this time (1647) Dutch authority and colonizing was break- ing up there, by reason of Portugal's restoration as an independ- ent Kingdom; and the scattering of churches and preachers must have had a bearing on ecclesiastical events in New Netherland.)


Art. 39. West Indies.


Extracts from a letter from Brazil, June 10th, 1646.


They complain greatly of the great burdens and anxiety which they have suffered during this revolt, (the return of the Portu- guese to power.)


219


1647


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


They show by what sort of management they have acquitted themselves in the support of poor and ailing persons. They request also that some aid be given to the poor Brazilians, who gave them good assistance during this war; and that a collection should be taken up for that purpose, to be sent over at the earliest opportunity, in order to recompense the loyalty of the Brazilians, to encourage them in the faith, and to keep them friendly. They request grave (deftige) ministers, particularly, to be employed in the church on the Recife.




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