USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume I > Part 3
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May 26 Church at Amesfoort - Tithes 531
June 2 Request of Samuel Megapolensis for increase of salary - Min- isters acting as physicians 531
6 Beekman to Stuyvesant - Rev. Abelius Zetscoorn. 532 Rev. Samuel Megapolensis to Classis of Amsterdam - Lost. . 532
24 Beekman to Stuyvesant - Rev. Abelius Zetscoorn 532
24 Order to enforce the British Navigation Act in America. 532
25 Deputies read a letter from Rev. Samuel Megapolensis - Ac- tion thereon 532, 533
Sept. 11 Rev. J. T. Polhemus to the Classis of Amsterdam. 533
18 Condition of Church of Kingston - Indian Massacre. 534, 535
Nov. 6 Pastor for New Amstel 536
15 Beekman to Stuyvesant - Rev. Abelius Zetscoorn.
536
Nov. 21 Stuyvesant to the Magistrates at Wiltwyck - Consistory must not interfere with intestate estates 536, 537
Dec. 3 Answer of Rev. Blom to Stuyvesant about church affairs at Wiltwyck 538
12 Magistrates at Wiltwyck to Stuyvesant - Church Affairs - Court of Wiltwyck to Stuyvesant - Church Affairs. . 538, 539
17 Magistrates of Bergen concerning the schoolmaster. 539, 540 1664.
Waldense and Huguenots emigrate to South River, 1656- 1663 - Population, 1664 540
Jan.
16 Return of Rev. Henry Selyns from New Netherland to Hol- land 540, 541
20 Directors to Stuyvesant - Departure of Rev. Samuel Megapo- lensis 541
541
Feb. 24 Subscriptions for defence
March 12 Extract from Patent of Charles II., to Duke of York, for terri-, tory of New Netherland 541
17 Ordinance to catechize the children 542
April 7 Letter from Rev. Polhemus received - Referred to the Depu- ties - Deputati request the Directors to send another min- ister to Brooklyn 542, 543
8 Letter from Rev. Polhemus . read by the Deputies - Rev. Schaats - Rev. Wernerus Hadson sent to South River .... 543
21 Rev. J. T. Polhemus to Classis of Amsterdam - Lack of united effort 543
23 Secret Instructions to Col. R. Nicolls, in reference to religion in New England, and in New Netherland - If conquered, See Aug. 4, 1664 544, 545
May 4 Letter of Rev. Blom to Director Stuyvesant as to annual
Thanksgiving at Esopus for escape from Indian massacre, 545, 546
May 12 Report of Deputies on affair of Schaats - Correspondence among the American churches suggested 546, 547 31 Proclamation of a Day of Thanksgiving 547
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
xxvii
1664. PAGE.
June 9 Rev. Henry Selyns to Classis of Amsterdam 547-550
23 Letter read by the Deputies from Rev. Polhemus 551
July 17 Petition of Rev. Selyns to Director to be released 551
Aug. 4 Stuyvesant to the Directors; his fears of English fleet. (Two translations.) The French refugees . 551-553
4 Letter read from Rev. Selyns of June 9; from Rev. Polhemus of April 21 553
Aug. 5-14 Rev. Samuel Drisius to Classis of Amsterdam - Sorrow at departure of Rev. Selyns for Holland - Rev. Samuel Meg- apolensis to succeed him - French on Staten Island sup- plied by Drisius 554, 555
Sept. 5 Remonstrance of the people against resisting the English, while without adequate resources 555-557
8 New Netherland conquered by the English (Aug. 29, O. S .; Sept. 8, N. S.) .. 557-560
ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION. Notes: On the English Policy in the Conquest; on the Dutch Rule for the half century preceding.
ADMINISTRATION OF COL. RICHARD NICOLLS.
8 Sept. 1664-1668.
1664.
Sept. 15 Rev. Samuel Drisius to Classis of Amsterdam on the surren- der 560-562
29 Rev. Henricus Selyns, in Holland, gives a verbal report to the Classis of Amsterdam 562
Oct. 10 Articles of Agreement on the surrender of Albany. 563 11 Salary of Evert Pietersen, schoolmaster. 563 14-20 Dutch refuse to take oath of allegiance to Great Britain until
assured that it does not conflict with Articles of Surrender .. 563 564 21-26 Names of the Dutch who swore allegiance to Great Britain, 564, 565 24 West India Company to the States General on the Surrender .. 565 Oct. 24-Nov. 1 Resolutions and action of the States General on the Sur-
render 565-567
Nov. 10 Letter of Drisius, on Surrender, read in Classis 568 1665.
Feb. 10 Concessions and Agreements of Carteret and Berkeley in New Jersey,- so far as they relate to Religion. 569, 570
16 Rev. Matthias Nevius in New York. 570
28 Gov. Nicolls calls a General Meeting of Deputies of the towns of Long Island at Hempstead, L. I .- The Duke's Laws there adopted :- So far as they relate to Religion. 570-573
May 2 (O. S.) Certificate as to the loyalty of Peter Stuyvesant, at the
Surrender - Note
573, 574
June 17 Repairs of Graveyard
574
xxviii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
1665. PAGE.
Aug. 1 et seq. Synod of North Holland at Hoorn 574
Art. 15. Extract of letter of Rev. Samuel Drisius was read, respecting the transfer of New Netherland. 574
Sept. 7 Letter from Rev. Drisius, read - Desires to return to Holland - To be asked to remain 574, 575
19 Salary of Evert Pietersen, schoolmaster 575
Oct. 19 Extracts from Stuyvesant's Report on the surrender. 575-577
Nov. 13 The City advances money to repair Graveyard. 577 1666. Feb. 20 Salary of Evert Pietersen, schoolmaster 577
April -
Aegidius Luyck testifies about Surrender 578
3,5 Minister's support at Seatalcott. 578
May 8 Rent for schoolhouse to be paid. 578
June 13 Election of Churchmasters, New York. 578
Aug. 7 Land at Domine's Point. 579
16 Rev. John Megapolensis to Classis of Amsterdam 579
17 C. Van Ruyven to Stuyvesant. 579
Sept. 6 Rev. Henry Selyns, called to Waverveen, Holland - Rev. Aegi- dius Luyck 580-582
Oct. 9 Percentage to Collector of Salary for minister 582
11 Rev. Henry Selyns 582, 583
13 English Governor tolerates the Lutherans. 583
18 Letter from J. Megapolensis, read: defending his advice to sur- render New Netherland 583
25 Rev. Peter Tesschenmaker 584
30 Percentage to Collector of Salary for minister 584
Dec. 10 Megapolensis's defence rejected by the XIX. 584
1666-1667.
Reply of West India Company to Stuyvesant's answer. 584-586
1667.
Feb. 7 Voluntary subscription for support of minister 586
May 7
Rev. Gideon Schaats to the Classis of Amsterdam 587
June 18 Arrearages for ministers salaries to be paid 588 Aug. 8 et seq. Synod of North Holland at Edam. 588, 589
Art. 12. Indian Affairs - Megapolensis's defence. Art. 53. Ministerial changes - Rev. Casparus de Carpen- tier : Rev. Henry Selyns.
15 Aegidus Luyck 589
16 Rev. Wm. (Guilhelmus) Nieuwenhuysen, received as candidate. 589
29 Aegidius Luyck 590
Oct. 10-20. Colonel Nicolls to Father Pierron. 590
19 Election of Churchmasters, New York 591
1668.
Jan. 2 Candidates for Indian churches, approved - Rev. Wm. Nieu- wenhuysen 591, 592
11 Abram De la Noy, schoolmaster 593
30 Rev. Wm. Niuwenhuysen 592, 593
xxix
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
1668.
PAGE.
Aug. 27 Testimonials as to the loyalty of Domine Megapolensis at the surrender - Rev. Hermanus Blom 593
28 Rev. Hermanus Blom back in Holland 594
Sept. 3 Rev. Hermanus Blom 594
4 Election of Orphanmasters 594
7 Rev. Samuel Megapolensis to a friend. 594-597
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR FRANCIS LOVELACE.
Sept. 17, 1668-1637, Aug. 9.
1668.
Sept. 24 Domines bouwerie at Esopus. 597
Oct. 1 Rev. Hermanus Blom - Letter received from Rev. Drisius. 598
Nov.
5
Rev. Hermanus Blom - Letter from Rev. Drisius, read.
598
19 Gov. Lovelace to Rev. Mr. James 598-600
1669.
Jan. 21 Letter from Rev. Samuel Megapolensis, read. 600
Feb. 16 Evert Pietersen 600
March 27 Rev. Francis Doughty 600, 601
April 17-27 Rev. John Megapolensis to Classis of Amsterdam - Arrears of salary - State of the Church under the English - Luth- erans 601-603
July 1 New Netherland - Case of discipline - Rev. Samuel Megapo- lensis - Rev. Samuel Drisius 603, 604
July 3 Salaries of Megapolensis and Drisius 604
29 Rev. Samuel Drisius - Rev. Gideon Schaats. 605
Aug. 5 Salary of Rev. Drisius 605
6 et seq. Synod of North Holland at Haarlem 605, 606
Art. 8. Indian Affairs.
Extracts from letter of Rev. John Megapolensis. Art. 15. Rev. Samuel Megapolensis. Sept. 15 . Gov. Lovelace to the Magistrates of New Castle - Rev. Fabri- tius 606, 607 1670.
Jan. 24 Church of New York to Classis of Amsterdam - Death of Rev. John Megapolensis - Drisius feeble - Desire for return of Selyns 607, 608
25 Election of Churchmasters, New York. 609
April 13 Gov. Lovelace to Gov. Carr of New Castle - Rev. Fabritius 609
22 Rent of City-school to be paid 609
June 5 Church of New York to Classis of Amsterdam - Drisius feeble - The chorister conducts service 610
28 Gov. Lovelace guarantees a salary to any Dutch minister who will come to America - Letter from Church of New York, read in Classis 611
July 28 Letter from New York, read in Classis 612
XXX
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
1670.
Aug. 5 et seq. Synod of North Holland at Amsterdam. 612, 613
PAGE. Art. 7. Indian Affairs.
Abstract of letter of Church of New York of Jan. 24, 1670.
Art. 40. Ministerial changes. Rev. Samuel Megapolensis. Art. 41. Loss of Synodical Acts, 1618-19 - Recovered - Translated into Dutch.
Sept. 10 The Classis of Amsterdam to Church of New York .... . 613, 614
Dec. 1 Letters from New York reported - Gov. Lovelace's offer 615
9 Effort to find ministers to go to New York 615
1671.
Montanus's Description of New York. 615, 616
Jan. 19 Order concerning Domine Polhemus. 616
March 16 Letters from New York - Rev. Wm. Nieuwenhuysen chosen
minister for New York 616, 617
28 Rev. Aegidius Luyck requested to assist Rev. Drisius 617
April 6 Rev. Rudolphus Varick 617, 618
May 16 Arrears of salary of ministers 618
July 10 Gov. Lovelace rebukes the minister at Southold for undue se- verity 618, 619
11 How salary for new Dutch minister is to be raised 619
14 Ministers' salaries 619, 620
620
Aug. 4 et seq. Synod of North Holland at Art. 12. Indian Affairs - Letter from New York of June 5, 1670 - Ministerial changes - Rev. Wm. Nieu- wenhuysen.
Aug. 10 Order for a new assessment to pay for a parsonage in Brooklyn. 620
11 Rev. Jacob Fabritius permitted to preach his farewell. 621
Dec. 5 Support of a poor Lutheran 621
21 Each church to maintain its own poor 621, 622
1672.
Jan. 5 Ministers for East Indies - Rev. Rudolphus Varick .. 622
16 Permit to raise moneys in Delaware for Lutheran Church in New York 622
March 5 Domine Luyck paid for his services 623
21 Governor's order to pay Mr. Charlton, schoolmaster at Hemp- stead 623
623
21 Church in the Fort to be repaired
April 4 Rev. Nicolas Van Rensselaer received as a candidate in Classis of Amsterdam 623, 624
June ? The Church of New York to the Classis of Amsterdam - Rev. Van Nieuwenhuysen 624
July 13 Contract for salary between Church of New York and Rev. Nieuwenhuysen 625, 626
Sept. 13
Letter from New York without date, read - Van Nieuwen-
huysen
626
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
xxxi
1672.
PAGE.
Dec. 6 Concessions, as to Religion, made by Carteret and Berkeley, Proprietors of East Jersey 627
1672 ? Petition of Lutherans for four hundred acres of land on the Delaware 627
1673.
Aug. 8 et seq. Synod of North Holland at Edam 628 Art. 12. Indian Affairs - Undated letter from New York (of June, 1672?), read.
Aug. 9 Reconquest of New York by the Dutch. 628
ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. ANTHONY COLVE.
Aug. 9, 1673 - Nov. 10, 1674.
1673.
Nathan Gould's Account of the reconquest of New York by the Dutch . 628, 629 Orders to the several towns to send delegates to swear allegiance to the Dutch 629, 630
Aug. 14 Petitions from the English towns on Long Island for freedom of religion, etc. 630
15 Dutch. Magistrates in New York appointed - only of the Re- formed Religion - The Oath exacted 630
18 Petitions from the English in New Jersey for Freedom of Re- ligion 631, 632
24 Form of Oath for Town Magistrates 632
28 Ordinance for better observance of the Sabbath. 632, 633
29 Forms of Oath for the Dutch and English, respectively . 633
Sept. 1 Petition from Kingston for help to support their minister ..
634
1 Petition from Albany as to their rights under the restored Dutch Government 634
8 The Corporation of New Orange (New York) to the States General, respecting the means for prosperity in New Nether- land 635, 636
26 Freedom of Religion granted to Lutherans at Albany 636
27 Instructions for Andries Draeyer, Commandant at Fort Nassau. 636
29 Others than Quakers to be elected at Shrewsbury, N. J. . 636 29 Instructions for Peter Aldrichs, Commander at South River. .. 637 Oct.
1 Instructions for the Magistrates of the Dutch villages on Long Island 637
Nov. 15 Proclamation for a Day of Humiliation and Prayer 637
Dec. 9-19 The States General to Charles II. 639 1674.
Jan. 15 Magistrates to be only of the Reformed Religion 640
17 Case of Rev. Jacob Fabritius 640
Feb. 15 Case of Rev. Jacob Fabritius 640
24 Petition against Rev. J. Fabritius 641
xxxii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
1674.
PAGE.
March 17 Valuation of Property of Inhabitants of New Orange (New York) 641-643
31 Charles II. to States General. 644
April 9 Rev. Rolandus Carpentier
644, 645
16 States General to Governor of New Netherland.
645
18 Rev. Fabritius forbidden to baptize.
645
18 Case between Wm. Teller and Gideon Schaats 646
18 Punishment for disturbing Public Worship 646
May
9 Maintenance of Minister at Jamaica 646, 647
June . 16 Petition of Widow Megapolensis for arrears of husband's sal- ary, with action thereon; June 27 647
26 Arrears of salary of Rev. Megapolensis. 648
July 1 Instructions to Gov. Andros: as to religion 648
17 Complaint against Rev. Fabritius.
23 Petition of Church of New York, and confirmation of their title to the Church in the Fort - Dutch and English. ..
649
23 Duke of York recommends Rev. Nicholas Van Rensselaer to one of the Dutch Churches 649, 650
Summer Merchants to the Admiralty at Amsterdam. 651, 652
26 Rev. Wm. Van Nieuwenhuysen to Classis of Amsterdam - Death of Rev. Drisius - Treaty of Peace - Holland vs. France - Condition of Church - Questions 652-655
Aug. 6 Order to put the Duke's Laws of Feb. 28, 1665 in force in New York 655, 656
Sept. 21 Action on the Labadists sent to New York. 656
Petition of the Lutherans of Williamstadt for Leave to bury their Dead 659, 660
26 Election of Churchmasters 660
Oct. 8 Rev. Roelandius Carpentier 661
9 Churchmasters confirmed 661
27 Conditions of Re-surrender 662
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR EDMUND ANDROS.
Oct. 31, Nov. 10, 1674-1683.
1674.
Nov. 3 Committee to welcome Gov. Andros. 663
6 Pass to Rev. B. Arensius, Lutheran, to go to Albany 663
9 Proclamation by Gov. Andros, confirming all right as existing before 663, 664
Nov. - Petition of the Lutherans about non-contributors 664
Nov.
26
Letter from Rev. Nieuwenhuysen, read
664, 665
30 Inhabitants of Hempstead petition the Governor for a minister. 665
Dec. 9 The Classis of Amsterdam to Rev. Wm. Nieuwenhuysen .. 667, 668 Anneke Jans property (owned by Gov. Lovelace), confiscated to Duke of York 668
649
TABLE OF CONTENTS. xxxiii
1675. PAGE.
March 16 Petition of Dutch Burghers of New York to Gov. Andros, as to the form of the oath of allegiance. 669, 670
16 Petition of the Dutch Burghers to the States General, as to said oath 671, 672
May 27 Rev. Henry Selyns, Chaplain in the Dutch Army 672
June
1 Petition of Lutherans for confirmation of grant of land on the Delaware of 1672; and for confirmation of Domines Laers and Fabritius as their ministers. 672, 673 Declaration of Magistrates of New Castle. 673 Order summoning Ogle and Fabritius before the Governor 674
July 26 Warrant sent to Fabritius and Ogle. 674
Aug. 1? Petition of Fabritius relative to changes made 675
July 29 et seq. Synod of North Holland at Haarlem. 675, 676
Art. 30. Labadists.
Aug. 14 Remonstrance against the ministry of Fabritius 676
26 Letter from Rev. Selyns on the religious condition of the Dutch army 676
Sept. 7 Rev. Gideon Schaats to Classis of Amsterdam. 676, 677
15 Suspension of Rev. Fabritius
677
15 Duke of York to Gov. Andros, concerning those who refused to take an unconditional oath. 677
25 Domine Van Nieuwenhuysen summoned before the Council - Nicholas Van Rensselaer case. 678, 679
25-30 Defence of Rev. Van Nieuwenhuysen in reference to the claims of Rev. Nicholas Van Rensselaer 679-681
30 Answer of Domine Van Nieuwenhuysen 681
Oct. 1 Conditions under which Van Nieuwenhuysen is willing that Van Rensselaer should officiate in a Dutch Church. 681, 682
2 Promise of Van Rensselaer to conform. 682 1676. Rev. Henry Selyns reports on his army life. 682
Dec. 26
March 30 Classis fail to get West India Company to pay arrearages of salary of Megapolensis 683
April 27 The widow Megapolensis 683
Petition of inhabitants of Esopus for a minister : - Rev. Peter Tesschenmaker 683, 684
May 20-30 Rev. Wm. Van Nieuwenhuysen to the Classis of Amsterdam - Rev. Van Rensselaer case. 684-686
26 Widow Megapolensis 686
July 20 686-687
Rev. Casparus Van Zuuren
Aug. 15 Affidavits as to Rev. John Megapolensis's loyalty. 687
29 Rev. Wm. Van Nieuwenhuysen to Classis of Amsterdam .. 688, 689
Sept. 8 Arrest and release of Domine Van Rensselaer 689
15 Domine Van Rensselaer gives bail. 689
16 Case of Rev. Van Rensselaer 689, 690
18 Leysler vs. Van Rensselaer 690
23 Case of Rev. Van Rensselaer 690
28 Case of Revs. Schaats and Van Rensselaer 690, 691
iii
xxxiv
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
1677. PAGE.
Oct. 23 Case of Rev. Van Rensselaer 691 Petition from Huntington, L. I., against Quakers. 691, 692
March 15 Rev. Casparus Van Zueren - Letter from Rev. Van Nieuwen- huysen, read - Death of Rev. Polhemus - Desire for return of Rev. Selyns - Rev. Van Zuuren 692, 693
July 17 Memorial of Bishop of London respecting churches in the Plan- tations 693
26 Extracts from letters - Van Nieuwenhuysen. 694
Aug. 10 et seq. Synod of North Holland at Hoorn. 695, 696
Art. 9. Extract of Indian Affairs. Abstract of letter of Van Nieuwenhuysen of July 27, 1676.
Art. 55. Ministerial changes. Rev. Casparus Van Zuuren. Rev. Samuel Megapolensis. .
Sept. 26 Church of Kingston to Classis of Amsterdam. 697
27 Petition of the three villages, Kingston, Marbletown and Hur-
ley, to Gov. Andros, to be permitted to call a preacher .. 697-699
Oct.
30 Rev. Casparus Van Zuuren to Classis of Amsterdam .... 699-704 4 Petition of East and North Ridings of Long Island for support of ministers, schoolmasters, etc. 705
1677-1678.
The Classis of Amsterdam to Rev. Casparus Van Zuuren. 705, 706
1678.
March 7 Call of ministers: Rev. Laurentus Gaasbeek to Esopus 706
18 Huntington and its clergyman. 708
Jan. ? Answer of Governor Andros to enquiries about New England (Received April 16, 1678) 709
Jan .- Answer of Governor Andros to enquiries of Council of trade, about New York. (Received April 9, 1678) . 709
May 2 Van Zueren's letters 709
June 24 Matthias Nicols to Rev. Prudden of Jamaica 710
July 15 Friends in West Jersey resolve to hold Monthly Meetings 710
Aug. 1 et seq. Synod of North Holland at Enckhuysen 710
of
Art. 9. Rev. Rudolphus Varick, received under care Synod. Art. 10. Ministerial changes. Rev. Laurence Gaasbeeck.
Oct. 15 English Church Service in New York 711
30 Rev. Casparus Van Zueren to Classis of Amsterdam. 711-719
1678-1680. Rev. Charles Wooley, chaplain to Gov. Andros. 720
1679.
Feb. 6 Minister's House at Albany - Rev. Schaats.
720
May 4 Rev. Casparus Van Zueren to Domine Cornelius Danckerts of Amsterdam 721, 722
26 Prevention of Quaker Meetings at Hempstead. 723
July 24 Letters from Van Suren (Van Zueren) 723
XXXV
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
1679
PAGE.
723, 724
Aug. 4 et seq. Synod of North Holland at Edam. Art. 32. Labadists - Coelman. Art. 61. Ministerial changes. Died, Rev. William Grasmeer. Rev. Gerardus Beekman. Martinus Lydius. Theodore Brouwer. Entered: Rev. Rudolphus Varick.
Sept. 30 Order of Gov. Andros to the Dutch ministers to examine and ordain Rev. Peter Tesschenmaker 724-726
Oct. 9 Copy of the proceedings of the meeting which ordained Peter Teschenmaker 726, 727
15-25 Rev. Laurentius Van Gaasbeeck to the Classis of Amster- dam 727-729
Nov. - The four Dutch ministers, Schaats, Van Nieuwenhuysen, Van Zueren and Van Gaasbeeck, to Classis of Amsterdam. (About the first ordination in State of New York, that of Peter Teschenmaker ) 730-733 A Minute by an unknown party, about the ordination of Peter Teschenmaker 733-735
Dec. 4 Letters from Rev. Van Zueren, read 735
31 Commissioners of Schenectady to certain merchants in Amster- dam to procure them a minister 735
1680.
Jan. 24 Minister's house at Flatbush 736
29 Letter of the four Dutch ministers (Nov. 1679) who ordained Teschenmaker, read 737
March 11 Domine Schaats and the Lutherans 737, 738
April 2 The Classis of Amsterdam to the Dutch ministers in America, approving ordination of Teschenmaker 739
2 The Classis of Amsterdam to the churches of Long Island .. 740, 741
21 The Classis of Amsterdam to Rev. Caspar Van Zueren ... 742, 743
June 31 Proposals to raise funds to build a new Dutch Church in New York 743
July
4 Petition of Quakers against fines for celebrating marriages
-
Certificate for Reverend Charles Wolley
744
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
1. FRONTISPIECE - NEW YORK CITY ABOUT 1667. PAGE.
2. SEAL OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM, ADOPTED 1638 68
3. NORTH EAST AND SOUTH EAST CORNERS OF BROAD STREET AND EX- CHANGE PLACE AT THE CLOSE OF THE 17TH CENTURY 164
4. FATHER ISAAC JOGUES 214
5. SAMPLE OF OLD MANUSCRIPT 336
6. ADDRESS OF LETTER OF REV. HENRY SELYNS 540
7. DUTCH HOUSE IN NEW YORK CITY, 1679 641
8. SAMPLE OF OLD MANUSCRIPT 684
INTRODUCTION.
WORTH OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS - BY THE REV. EDWARD T. CORWIN, D. D.
The worth of contemporary documents for the writing of his- tory needs no discussion. The zeal of Americans in searching out and accumulating such material has steadily increased since the opening of the nineteenth century. By the aid of Historical Societies and of Legislatures, thousands of valuable documents have been rescued from destruction or oblivion.
INTEREST OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN SUCH DOCUMENTS .*
The State of New York has ever done and is yet doing its share in securing and preserving original documents for the elucida- tion of her history. Historical inquiry is always an incentive to progress, in whatever department it is pursued. It was under such a spirit that the New York Historical Society was founded in 1804, " The principal design of which should be to collect and preserve whatever may relate to the natural, civil or ecclesiastical history of the United States, in general, and of this State," New York, " in particular."
This Society had not pursued its objects very long, before it was discovered that the attainment of such objects, so various, comprehensive and important, requiring so much knowledge, research, industry and expense, was beyond the means or ability of individual enterprise. Hence the Legislature granted a char-
* See " Introduction " in Vol. i. of Col. Docs. New York.
6
INTRODUCTION.
ter to the said Society in 1809, to facilitate its work, having already frequently befriended it by its munificence before.
It was this Society, in a Memorial prepared by De Witt Clinton in 1814, which pointed out to the Legislature, the necessity and importance of searching Archives in Europe in order to obtain documents for an authentic history of the State. After repeated overtures on this subject, and much preliminary work, in order to understand what material was already on hand, the New York Historical Society again memorialized the Legislature in 1839 on the importance of securing official documents from Europe, and asked that the Legislature would make an appropriation to this end, and appoint an agent to do the work.
The Memorial was transmitted to the Legislature by Governor Seward, with a special message recommending it.
A Select Committee was appointed by the House, (Loring D. Chapin, Chairman), who made a report. This report spoke of the former indifference to historical studies; of the importance of transcripts from foreign Archives; of the design of Historical Societies, and their great importance; of the wish of the New York Historical Society to have an Agent sent to Europe; of the fact that other States were doing this; of the high position of New York State in the Union; of the only history of New York yet existing - that of William Smith - which was a mere narra- tive, and that New York had yet no reliable history; of the fact that the relations with Holland and England had been most inti- mate, and that there must be many documents in their Archives, relating to New York, as well as in those of France; and therefore it was suggested that four thousand dollars be appropriated, as it would take at least two years to make the searches.
THE APPOINTMENT OF J. ROMEYN BRODHEAD.
A Bill was passed May 2, 1839, that an Agent be appointed to visit England, Holland and France to secure copies of all desirable
7
INTRODUCTION.
documents, to be deposited in the office of the Secretary of State, subject to the use of the New York Historical Society. Four thousand dollars were appropriated to this object.
The Act was purposely made broad and indefinite. The Agent was to exercise his discretion in selecting any documents or papers relating to, or in any way affecting the Colonial or other history of the State.
In January, 1841, J. Romeyn Brodhead was selected as such Agent. He had been already attached to the American Legation at the Hague. He spent considerable time at Albany before start- ing on his mission, to learn what documents were already there in . order to avoid duplications.
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