USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume I > Part 35
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(Signed) L. van Seventer, 1656. - Col. Docs. N. Y. i. 640.
Resolution of the States General.
Thursday, the 5th of October, 1656.
Read at the meeting a certain Resolution of the attending Committee of the Directors of the West India Company representing the Assembly of the Nineteen of this day's date, in substance that Mr. Van der Capelle to Ryssel's remonstrance presented yesterday, to obtain a Commission for a Commander to be sent by him to his people of Staten Island in New Netheland concerning exclusively the Chamber of Amsterdam, with which that Gentleman had specially contracted, and conse- quently they the Directors in attendance had earnestly requested said Chamber to bring, out of respect for the case and his Honor's person, the petition before said Chamber of Amsterdam and to recommend it most favorably; which they have undertaken to do at the earliest opportunity. Whereupon no resolution is adopted. - Col. Docs. N. Y. i. 641.
COURT MINUTES OF NEW AMSTERDAM.
Repairs of the Church.
1636, October 9.
Evert Duycking requests by petition to be informed, from whom he is to receive payment for the glass, which he put in the Church for Schout, Burgomasters and Schepens, demanding two and a half beavers for each. Whereupon the Court decides, that petitioner shall go to each one, for whom the glass was, for his payment either in trade or as he can agree for the same .- Records of New Amsterdam, Vol. ii. p. 183.
PETITION OF THE LUTHERANS TO THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL, TO BE PERMITTED TO ENJOY THEIR OWN PUBLIC WORSHIP, . OCT. 24, 1656.
To the Noble, Very Worshipful, the Honorable Director-General and High Council of New Netherland :
We the united adherents of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession residing here in New Netherland, with all respect, do show, that
359 1656
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
we have obediently acted upon your Honors prohibitive order, published by edict, and have not gathered anywhere to hold divine services with reading and singing; nevertheless our friends in the Fatherland, acting in our behalf, have petitioned the Noble, Hon- orable Lords Directors of the West India Company, our Patroons, in reference to this matter. Upon their petition, they have ob- tained from their Lordships, as they report to us, in a full meet- ing, a resolution and decree that the doctrines of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession should be tolerated in the West Indies and New Netherland under their jurisdiction, in the same manner as in the Fatherland under its praiseworthy government.
We turn therefore to your Noble Honors, your Worships, know- ing us to be humble and obedient subjects, and pray, that hence- forth we may not be hindered in our services. These with God's blessing we intend to celebrate, with prayer, reading and singing, until, as we hope and expect, a qualified person shall come next spring from the Fatherland to be our minister and teacher, and remain here as such. We are your Honors humble and faithful subjects, who await your favorable answer.
Amsterdam in New Netherland
this 24th of October 1656.
Another translation in O'Callaghan, ii. 320.
After the question had been considered the following answer was made:
This will be sent to the Lords Directors of the Privileged West India Company by the first ships, and their further orders re- quested. Meanwhile the Director-General and Council persist in the above mentioned order and placat, issued and several times renewed, against conventicles and public gatherings, except those for the divine service of the here prevailing Reformed Church. Neither the petitioners nor anybody else shall meanwhile suffer for this belief, nor be prevented each in his family, from reading prayers, thanksgivings and singing according to their faith.
360
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1656
Done at the meeting of the Director-General and Council, held at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 24th of October 1656.
After comparison with the original petition and the order thereon, this has been found to agree therewith.
Cornelius van Ruyven, Secretary. 8/8 1657.
Lutherans in New Netherland.
1656, Nov. 7th.
The same Revs. Deputies did also report concerning their er- rand and business with the Messrs. Directors of the West India Company, as well as with the gentlemen appointed a committee on behalf of the city of Amsterdam; that having wished them God's blessing in reference to this affair, they had spoken to them about the Lutherans and others in New Netherland; but from all the circumstances, they could only learn that this affair is still unsettled, and the settlement a good way off ; (lit. raw and far to be sought.) That nothing may be neglected (wasted) in this matter, the Rev. Brethren, the Deputies are enjoined to be vigi- lant in every particular. vi. 39.
COURT MINUTES OF NEW AMSTERDAM.
Harmen van Hoboocken. Rent Allowed for a School.
1656, November 7, [or Sept. 7?]
To the Honorable Lords Burgomasters and Schepens of the City of New Amster- dam. Harmen van Hoboken, Schoolmaster of this City, respectfully requests that your Honours would be pleased to grant him the hall and the side room for the use of the school and as a dwelling, inasmuch as he, the petitioner, does not know how to manage for the proper accommodation of the children during winter, for they much require a place adapted for fire and to be warmed, for which their present tenement is wholly unfit. He, the petitioner, burthened with a wife and children is greatly in need of a dwelling for them; and his wife is expected from hour to hour to be confined, so that he anticipates great inconvenience, not know- ing how to manage for the accommodation of the school children; and if your Honors cannot find any, he, the petitioner, requests your Honors to be pleased to allow him the rent of the back room which Geurt Coerten at present occupies, which he, petitioner, would freely accept for the present, as he is unable to pay so heavy a rent as a whole house amounts to. He therefore applies to your Honours, expecting hereupon your Honors favorable endorsement. Was subscribed,
Your Honors Servant, Harm: van Hoboken .*
* There is a place in the southwestern part of Holland called Hoboocken, and a large Dutch family called by the name of Van Hoboocken. The name of this school-
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
361
1656
Dated 4 Nov. 1656.
Endorsement.
Whereas the City Hall of this City, the hall and little room whereof the peti- tloner now requests for a school and dwelling, are not at present In repair, and are, moreover, required for other purposes the same cannot be allowed him; but In order that the youth, who are here quite numerous, may have the means of instruction as far as possible and as the circumstances of the City permit, the petitloner, for want of other lodgings, is allowed to rent the sald house for a school, for which one hundred gullders shall be paid him yearly on a/c of the City for the present and until further order. Done in Court this 4th November 1656. At Amsterdam in New Netherland.
Allard Anthony, Oloff Stevensen, Jacob Strycker, J. Vinje, Will. Beeckman, Hendrick Kip.
- Records of New Amsterdam, Vol. Ii. pp. 219, 220. Abridged in Dunshee, 26.
SENTENCE OF WILLIAM HALLETT, OF FLUSHING, FOR ALLOWING BAPTIST CONVENTICLES IN HIS HOUSE; AND OF WILLIAM WICKENDAM FOR OFFICIATING AS MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT FLUSHING.
[Nov. 8, 11; 1656.]
Whereas William Hallett, born in Dorsetshire, in England, about forty years old, a resident of the village of Flushing, and now a prisoner, has had the audacity to call and allow to be called conventicles and gatherings at his house, and to permit there, in contemptuous disobedience of published and several times renewed placats of the Director General and Council of New Netherland, an exegesis and inter- pretation of God's Holy Word, as he confesses; the administration and service of the sacraments by one William Wickendam, while the latter, as he ought to have known, had neither by ecclesiastical nor secular authority been called or appointed thereto; and whereas he with several others has been present at and listened to this exegesis and interpretation and after hearing it has with others from the hands of the said William Wickendam received the bread in the form and manner, in which the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is usually celebrated and given; all of which is in direct contradiction with the general political and ecclesiastical rules of our Fatherland, and especially contrary to the said placats of the Di- rector General and Council, which he as Schout in the aforesaid village was bound to uphold and strictly enforce; which, however, he has not only failed to do, but himself has trangressed and disobeyed.
Therefore the Director General and Council of the New Netherlands, in pur- suance of the tenor of the said placats, first dismiss the said William Hallett from his office as Schout in the said village of Vlissingen; and furthermore condemn him to a double fine, to wit, fifty pounds Flemish, because being Schout and executive officer, he should have prevented these proceedings and enforced the placats of the Director General and Council; he is also banished from this Province of New Netherland, and shall be detained in prison, until the said fine with the costs and mises of law incurred in this case have been paid.
master naturally suggests the thought that the city of Hoboken, N. J., obtained its name from him. But Winfield, in his history of Hudson County, N. J., claims for it an Indian origin, especially since the deed to Michael Pauw, dated as early as July 12, 1630, for Pavonia describes the land as that which is called Hobocan-Hack- ingh, and says Hobocan means a tobacco-pipe .- Winfield, 13-15.
362
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1656
Thus decreed and sentenced in Council of Director General and Council at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland the 8th of November 1656.
Whereas William Wickendam, a native of Oxfordshire in England, forty two years old, now a prisoner, has had the audacity to call to and hold conventicles and gatherings; and in disobedience of published and repeatedly renewed placats of the Director General and Council of New Netherland has, as he himself con- fesses, usurped the office of Minister of the Gospel in expounding and interpreting God's Holy Word and administering and officiating in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, without being called or appointed thereto by any ecclesi- astical rules of our Fatherland; and especially to the said placats of the Director General and Council, expressly forbidding all such conventicles and gatherings, public or private, except the usual meetings, which are not only lawfully permitted, but also based upon God's Word and ordered for the service of God, if they are held, conform to the Synod of Dort here, in our Fatherland and in other Churches of the Reformed Faith in Europe.
Therefore the said William Wickendam, in pursuance of the said placats, is condemned to a fine of one hundred pounds Flemish and is banished from this Province of New Netherland; but to remain in prison, until the said fine with the costs and mises of law, incurred in his case, shall have been paid.
Thus decreed and sentenced in Council, etc., the 8th of November 1656.
Whereas the Director General and Council have been credibly informed and told, that the aforesaid William Wickendam is a very poor man with a wife and several children, and a cobbler by trade, to which he does not properly attend, so that nothing can be obtained from him.
Therefore the Director General and Council have remitted the aforesaid fine of six hundred florins and allowed him to remove, on condition, that if he is caught here again, he must pay it.
November 11th, 1656 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 369, 370.
LETTER FROM DOMINE POLHEMIUS TO DIRECTOR STUYVESANT ; COMPLAINING THAT HIS HOUSE IS NOT INHABITABLE.
Noble Sir, Honorable General in New Netherland.
I am compelled to respectfully complain to your honor, that I must see the planks, given by your honor out of compassion and presented to the community here to finish my house against this cold winter, being taken and lost this way or that; for instance two were lost on the way here by having been left on the beach in nobody's care: after having been brought into the village without my knowledge, twenty four were delivered to Jan Eversen Meyer; six were put down at the Church for benches; of the balance sixty nine were taken away with the consent of Jan Snedicker and Jan Strycker; seventeen carried to Thomas Swart- wout and his brother Aldert Swartwout to dry malt; so that my house remains open as it was and I with my wife and children must live and sleep on the bare ground and in the cold. They say, there is no carpenter here, that I should procure one to have the work done. In order not to make my situation worse by keeping silence, I write this to your Honor.
In haste, Your Honor's obedient servant,
Joh. Th. Polheym.
Midwout, the 14th of December 1656.
To his Honor, General P. Stuyvesant, at New Amsterdam .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 370, 371.
363
1656
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
EXTRACT FROM A LETTER OF THE DIRECTORS TO STUYVESANT : SETTLERS TO DWELL IN VILLAGES ; DELEGATIONS TO NEW ENG- LAND; TENTHS; RENSSELAERSWYCK; REVENUES; FRENCHMEN AMONG THE INDIANS.
The report made to you there, that some Frenchmen with a Jesuit from Canada have come into the country of the aforesaid Sennequens, and began to make a settiement there, was not agreeable news to us, for it can only be to the disad- vantage of our Province and the inhabitants. However we have not as yet deemed It advisable to come to a final resolution in this matter, as being premature and the matter perhaps of small consequence only, until we are better informed about it; we desire you to make a ciose investigation and report the result of it to us, while you must take care and make arrangements for the security of Fort Orange, that no mishap befall us there.
We should have sent you, as requested by the inhabitants of Fort Orange and Beverwyck, the little bell for their new church; aiso two others for the villages of Hempstead and Midwout, but as they could not be found ready made and the time for making them is too short, you will have to wait till the spring.
December 19, 1656 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 371, 374.
LETTER FROM DIR. STUYVESANT TO THE MAGISTRATES OF MID- WOUT ABOUT THE MINISTER'S HOUSE.
Honorable, Dear, Faithful. When iast with you in Breuckeien at the house of Albert Cornelissen it was agreed in parting, by mutual consent and approbation of yourseives and the other delegates from the villages of Breuckeien and Amesfoort, that you should together make an estimate of the funds, out of which the preacher. Domine Poiheym, was to be paid and placed above want and report it to us and the Council within eight days. As this time has passed and we are not yet in- formed of the result, we have deemed it necessary to remind you of it through the Schout and this open ietter, that you fuifili your promise; else we shall be com- pelled by our officiai position and duties to take steps and give such orders and provide for such means, that the Minister be duly paid and placed above want. The said Domine Polheym, who was then present, complained further of the un- inhabitable state and inconvenience of his dwelling house, which has as yet neither . ceiling or wainscotting, so that he and his family are compelled to sleep on the floor. The winter being imminent, this is unbearable and improper, and in order to remedy it we sent you for the ceiling and wainscotting of the house one hun- dred hemiock planks, which parties deputed by you received and carried to my brother's-in-law Backer's house. I am however credibiy informed now, that the said boards have not been used for the purpose intended by us, but that the Com- missaries dispose of them privately according to their pleasure; for instance, so I am told, twenty four have been given to the hired man of Jan Evertsen; six ordered to be cut up for benches, seventeen given by Jan Snedicker to the Swart- wouts, so that the boards disappear here and there, while nothing whatever is done to finish the Minister's house, which is most urgent to do, the winter being so near at hand. We command therefore herewith, that the boards be brought together again upon receipt hereof, and put to their proper use and to no other,
364
1656
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
as we have ordered. If you fail herein, we shall take proper measures: where- upon relying, we commend you all with the usual greetings to God's protection, and remain,
P. Stuyvesant.
Done at Amsterdam in New Netherland the 21st of December, 1656 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 376.
PETITION OF DOMINE POLHEMIUS FOR AN ADVANCE OF HIS SALARY TO ENABLE HIM TO PAY FOR A PARCEL OF LAND.
To their Noble Honors, Petrus Stuyvesant, Director General and Council of New Netherland: Shows with due reverence Johannes Theod. Polheym, preacher, that he, the petitioner, has some time ago bought from Cornelis Aerssen a parcel of land lying in the village of Midwout, to better provide thereby for himself and his family, hoping, when the time for payment came, to be in a condition to pay for it: but as the petitioner has been disappointed in this hope, because his salary is not paid as he expected, and as a payment of one hundred florins has become due, the petitioner finds himself compelled, nay, forced to turn respectfully to your Honors and to request, that your Honors will be pleased to pay for his account, debiting the same for it, so much to Cornelis Aerssen. Awaiting a favorable. decision he commends your Honors to God's protection and remain,
Your Honors servant,
Joh. Th. Polheym.
December 21st, 1656 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 377.
JOURNAL .- OF BRIAN NUTON, CAPT. LIEUTENANT; CORNELIS VAN RUYVEN SECRETARY AND CAREL VAN BRUGGE COMMISSARY, APPOINTED BY THE HEER DIRECTOR-GENERAL STUYVESANT TO GO IN A BOAT A SECOND TIME TO OOST-DORP.
f
Anno 1656, 29th December.
Having received our instructions from the Heer General we rowed out with the boat of the Honorable Company's ship from before Fort Amsterdam on the 30 ditto. about seven o'clock in the morning to proceed on our Journey to Oostdorp, accompanied by Claes Bordingh as pilot, as the Company's Skipper was never through Hell-gate, and the Skipper of the Company's bark and a sailor to row us thither.
On our arrival at John Lords we communicated to him the object of our Journey, and requested him to have the inhabitants summoned in the morning at daylight by an Indian. He answered us - 'Tis our Sabbath morning; the Inhabitants will not come. We asked him to learn the opinions of the principal settlers at once, as we could explain our business in half an hour, without hindering their service. Which he proceeded to do. But brought us for answer, No - that they were in no way so inclined. Although we would fain reach home by Sunday noon, we were obliged to remain there until Monday, as they would not be prevailed on to assemble on Sunday.
31st ditto. Sunday.
Went to examine the village somewhat. It is a very stony place, thickly covered with trees. At noon were invited to dine at Mr. Newmans. After dinner Cornelis van Ruyven went to the house where they assemble on Sundays, to observe their mode of worship, as they have not as yet any clergyman. There I found a gather-
1
365
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1656
Ing of about fifteen men ten or twelve women. Mr. Baly made a prayer, which being concluded, one Robbert Basset read a sermon from a printed Book composed and published by an English Minister in England. After the reading Mr. Baly made another prayer and they sung a Psalm and separated. In the evening we were invited to supper to Robbert Basset's, and having taken our leave we went to sleep at John Lord's house: neither he nor any of the members of lils family came home this night, which much surprised us .- Doc. Hist. N. Y. ill. 557, 558.
This first January Anno 1657: In east towne in the New Netherlands.
Wee hose hands are under writen do promes to oune the governor of the manatas as our governor and obay all his magastrates and lawes that are made acordin to god so long as we live in his Jurisdiction.
Robbert Basset
Nick Lookerly
his
John Quimble
George X Reith
Josiah Gilber
mark
Obodiah Gilbert
John Finch
Jonathan Llockwood
John Wilson
his
Richard Horton
Robert X Meacker
Thomas Taylor His
mark his
Hendrick X Cornelyssen mark Thamis Martin
Jeffrey X Fferris
mark - Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 559.
PETITION OF THE MAGISTRATES OF MIDWOUT FOR POWER TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT TO PAY THEIR MINISTER, TO FARM THE EXCISE, ETC., AND ORDER THEREON.
To their Noble Honors, Director General Petrus Stuyvesant and the Council of New Netherland. Show with great humility and due respect the delegated Schepens of the jurisdiction of Midwout, that pursuant to the resolution, adopted by the Honorable Director General Petrus Stuyvesant after consultation with and with the assent of the Courts of Breuckelen, Midwout and Amesfoort on the 29th of December 1656 last past, the inhabitants of Midwout were to contribute to the yearly salary, promised to the Reverend pastor, Domine J. Theodorus Polhemius, four hundred florins, those of Breuckelen three hundred florins and Amesfoort a like sum of three hundred florins. That after several meetings, they could find no other way, than to impose upon each lot and parcel of land, of which there are about forty in Midwout, a tax of ten florins yearly is proportioned. This tax of ten florins yearly for every lot proportionally would make up the sum of four hundred florins, which we of the Court of Midwout have promised in presence of the Honorable Director General to contribute to the yearly pay of the said Domine Polhemius. But as every one of the inhabitants and neighbors has not the same amount of property, one having less, the other more, we must and cannot tax all alike, but each in proportion to his property and real estate. If we receive your Honors' approbation to such a cotization and tax up to four hundred florins for the yearly pay of the said Domine Polhemius, we promise to levy it directly and continue in it, each according to his ability and to make the assessment con- scientiously, provided we are supported by your Honors against unwilling parties, which we hope will not make any opposition. We promise also, to take care and pay attention, that at the expiration of each six months the salary then due shall be paid to Domine Polhemius and we think, that the said Domine Polhemius might be satisfied with it.
January 13, 1657 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 379, 380.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
PETITION OF THE MAGISTRATES OF AMESFOORT, PRAYING CON- FIRMATION OF AN ASSESSMENT FOR THE MINISTER'S SALARY ; GRANTED.
[Jan. 13, 1657.]
To their Noble Honors, Petrus Stuyvesant, Director General and the Council of New Netherland: Show respectfully and with due reverence, the delegated Schepens of the village of Amesfoort, as well in their official capacity as individually, that pursuant to the resolution, adopted in the presence of the Honorable Director Gen- eral, Petrus Stuyvesant, on the 29th of December 1656, last past, after conferring with, and with the consent of, the Courts of Breuckelen, Midwout and Amesfoort, we considered it determined, that we of the jurisdiction of the said village of Amesfoort should in proportion to our neighbors of the villages and jurisdictions of Breuckelen and Midwout find and raise as our quota of the annual salary and pay promised to the Reverend preacher Domine J. Theodorus Polhemius the sum of three hundred guilders. After several considerations and deliberations, con- ferring also with the congregation and inhabitants, under correction, we have, in order to raise the aforesaid three hundred florins in the easiest way, appraised and assessed the property of each person conscientiously and to the best of our knowledge and made the cotisation and taxlevy, here below given in detail, which with what some parties from Gravesend have voluntarily promised to contribute, will make up the sum of three hundred florins. When we shall have received your Honors' approbation we promise to carry it out, hoping for your Honors' assistance against a few, say two or three, evil minded persons, who mightoppose and resist our good intention and project.
The persons assessed and provisionally taxed for the contribution of the said three hundred florins are the following:
Peter Classen promises to pay
20
florins
Marten Jansen likewise .
20
Elbert Elbertsen is taxed .
32
Joris Jacobsen
20
Cornelis Dircksen
20
Jan Leyck
16
Albert Bestevaer's farmer
20
Hendrick Pietersen
10
Peter Roeloffsen
10
Hendrick Cornelissen
10
Hans Jansen
16
Jan Claesen
16
Cornelis Antonisen
10
Roeloff Cornelissen
10
Jacob Pietersen
6
Peter Cornelissen
16
Harpert Claesen
15
1
267 florins
Commending ourselves to your Honors' good favor, we, the Magistrates of Ames- foort, await most humbly your Honors' favorable decree, which doing etc. Your Honors' humble and obedient servants, The Magistrates of Amesfoort By Order
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