USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume I > Part 38
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When we deliberated on all this, we could not believe that the Hon. Directors would tolerate in this place any other doctrine, than the true Reformed Religion. This is fully sustained by the oath, which your Honors administered to us upon our enter- ing upon our duties, and which the Honorable, the Lords-Pa- troons, approved. By this we bound ourselves under oath to help maintain the true Reformed Religion, and to suffer no other religion or sects. 3 Therefore we have charged the said Goet- waeter, not to hold public or private exercise in this city, and not to deliver to the congregation, as he called it, the letters from the (Lutheran) Consistory (at Amsterdam) until further orders. As this is a matter which concerns not only this place, but the whole Province, we address ourselves further to your Honors, and request that measures may be found, by which the true Reformed Religion will be maintained, and all other sects excluded, that the blessing of the Lord may increase in its flow
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upon us. Thus all our good inhabitants will feel obliged to show their gratitude to your Honors, for doing this, etc.
By order of the Hon. Burgomasters and Schepens,
Timotheus Gabry,
Secretary of Amsterdam, in New Netherland.
Received the report by the Burgomasters and Schepens of this city, accompanying the petition of the ministers.
The Director-General and Council are well pleased with the zeal and desire, shown by the Burgomasters and Schepens of this city for supporting the Reformed doctrine and excluding schisma- tics, and praise them therefor. The Director-General and Council agree in every particular with the report. They request and order the Burgomasters and the Schepens of this city, as well as all other inferior Courts, that the orders and edicts formerly issued and repeatedly published against this thing; and especially the order, repeated on the first of February, Anno 1656, shall be retained and enforced strictly. We consider this to be neces- sary for the maintenance and conservation not only of the Re- formed divine service, but also of political and civil peace, quiet- ness and harmony. Thus done at the meeting of the Honorable Director-General and Council, held at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 14th of July, Anno 1657.
Signed by order of the Noble, Honorable Director-General and Council,
C. van Ruyven, Secretary.
Report of the Burgomasters and Schepens of Amsterdam, to Director-General and Council about maintaining the Reformed Religion, with (exclusion of sects.)
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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1657
Gov. STUYVESANT TO THE MAGISTRAATS OFF HEEMSTEAD.
17 July, 1637.
Lovinge Frindes - Before mi departure from you I was in hoopes; off a good act amongst you both in settlingh off mister denton's continuance according to agree- ment off the tents for the present year: Butt Beeinge in hest Back and ready for mi returne; Both were Broock off By sum turbelent Spirits iff in the neme off the whole or any is yet ignorant; but not satisfeyt therefore you may be pleased to understand by these presents that wee are yett expected the tenths uppon the field for the year present and accordanse to the value off them for the yeare past this therefore is ordered by these present that before the gatheringe off the crop you shall give tymly noticij that we may send a men for the such or watt is the patrons due, and for the ministry: You al doe know that Mister Robert fordim sum tymes minister of the town off heemsted; did leave the plaeic and alsoo the exercys of the ministery without our wish or knowledge and for no little reasons therefore wee ken not admitt him in such a mennor of comminge againe. Soe after my servis recommendinge you all unto the proteckcon off the Almeytig I rest.
Answer to the above.
Right Wortschipfull - Your's wee have received bearing date the 17th Jully wheare in wee understand you are unsatisfied heering summe speeches from sume pitlur (i. e. private) man or men not being imployed by the towne nor by ther knowledg or consent nether doe the towne owne what they have said wee hoope according to the agreement made for a hundredth skeepell of wheeat for the tentes you will be content the which the towne agreed with you and are willing to per- forme, our desiers are to Imbrace Mr. dentons ministrie if God be pleased to con- tinue hime amongst us and as for yoursellfe we have had sufficient experience of your willingnesse and doubt not but you are the same by your late free and noble profer. Soe hoping will not take any exceptions against the whoolle for sume p'tillr Estrauigant speches for soe it will sumtimes fall out wheare a generall roat is wee have sent Mr. Simons the hearer heare of hee shall further informe your woorshipe soo not further to truble your woorschepe att present wee remaine yours in all ser- vice to command according to our power
Richard Gildeersleue, in the name and behaulfe of the towne of Hempsteed, this 25th of July, 1657.
Addressed.
" To the Right Worschipfull peeter Stiuasnt Gouernor Generall of the new Netherlandes at his house foort amsterdame thesse present." - Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 118.
GOV. STUYVESANT'S REPLY.
Lovinge friendes :-
Your letter sent by Mr. Semins and his information have given us full satisfaction so that wee sal rest in your promise off hundert schepels off Weat for the tentes for the present yeare - about the continuancy off mister denton amongst you wee sal use al endevors we ken iff hee ken nott bee persuaded: you must locke for an- other Abel and Godly man weerunto we on our seyde sal contribu what is in our power - soo etc.
Heemsteid sent the 29th of July ady 1657 .- Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 119.
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CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Correspondence from America.
1657, July 31st.
J. T. Polhemus to the Classis of Amsterdam.
Reverend, Learned and Esteemed Gentlemen, the Preachers of the Classis of Amsterdam, and dearly beloved Brethren in the Lord :-
With respectful salutations and hearty thanks for all the favors shown to my wife in my absence, I am glad to inform you here- with, that she arrived here safely and in good health on the 4th of September. For this the good God be praised above all, and then your Reverences, who have helped her. I wrote to you, to her, and to others, in the year 1655, and am very sorry to learn, that these letters have been kept back. But as I requested then, so I entreat your Reverences now, that you will not interpret, to my disadvantage, the circumstance that I had not written sooner. The reason was, that I was uncertain about my remain- ing here, and I was in doubt, whether I should not carry my news myself. I had no idea, that there could be any dissatis- faction with myself or my service. I also sent over my dismissal (from Brazil) and my testimonials. Now, Reverend Brethren, please not to give too much credence to backbiters; they are but human. With God's help I shall give satisfaction to those who watch here, as well as to your Reverences and to all pious people. May the merciful God help us all. Herewith I commend your Reverences, collectively and individually, to God's Almighty keeping.
Your Reverences faithful and sincere servant,
J. T. Polhemus.
Midwout in New Netherland,
Ultimo July, 1657.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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1657
Correspondence from America.
1657, Aug. 5th.
Revs. J. Megapolensis and S. Drisius to the Classis of Amsterdam.
P. S. Aug. 14.
Reverend, Pious and Learned Gentlemen, Fathers and Brethren in Christ Jesus :-
The letters of your Reverences, of the 13th of June 1656, and of the 15th of October of the same year have been received. We were rejoiced to learn of the fatherly affection and care which you show for the welfare of this growing congregation. We also learned thereby of the trouble, you have taken with the Lords Di- rectors, to prevent the evils threatened to our congregation by the creeping in of erroneous spirits; and of your Reverences' de- sire, to be informed of the condition of the churches in this coun- try.
We answered you in the autumn of the year 1656, and ex- plained all things in detail. To this we have as yet received no reply, and are therefore in doubt, whether our letters reached you. This present letter must therefore serve the same end.
The Lutherans here pretended, last year, that they had obtained the consent of the Lords Directors, to call a Lutheran Pastor from Holland. They therefore requested the Hon. Director and the Council, that they should have permission, meanwhile, to hold their conventicles to prepare the way for their expected and com- ing pastor. Although they began to urge this rather saucily, we, nevertheless, animated and encouraged by your letters, hoped for the best, yet feared the worst, which has indeed come to pass. For although we could not have believed that such permission had been given by the Lords Directors, there nevertheless arrived here, with the ship " Meulen " (The Mill) in July last, a Lutheran preacher Joannes Ernestus Goetwater, to the great joy of the Lutherans, but to the special displeasure and uneasiness of the
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1
congregation in this place; yea, even the whole country including the English, were displeased.
We addressed ourselves, therefore, to his Honor, the Director- General, the Burgomasters and Schepens (Aldermen) of this place, and presented the enclosed petition. As a result thereof, the Lutheran pastor was summoned before their Honors and asked, with what intentions he had come here, and what com- mission and credentials he possessed. He answered, that he had come to serve here as a Lutheran preacher, but that he had no other commission, than a letter from the Lutheran Consistory at Amsterdam to the Lutheran congregation here. He was then informed by the Hon. authorities here, that he must abstain from all church services, and from the holding of any meetings, and not even deliver the letter, which he brought from the Lutherans at Amsterdam without further orders; but that he must regu- late himself by the edicts of this Province against private con- venticles. He promised to do this, adding, however, that with the next ships he expected further orders and his regular commis- sion. In the meantime, however, we had the snake in our bosom. We would have been glad if the authorities here had opend that letter of the Lutheran Consistory, to learn therefrom the secret of his mission, but as yet they have not been willing to do this.
We then demanded that our authorities here should send back the Lutheran preacher, who had come without the consent of the Lords Directors, in the same ship in which he had come, in order to put a stop to this work, which they evidently intended to prose- cute with a hard Lutheran head, in spite of and against the will of our magistrates; for we suspect that this one has come over to see whether he can pass, and be allowed to remain here, and thus to lay the foundation for further efforts; but we do not yet know what we can accomplish.
Domine Gideon Schaats wrote to you last year about the con- gregation at Rensselaerswyck or Beverwyck, as he intends to do
395 . 1657
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
again. We know nothing otherwise than that the congregation there is in a good condition; that it is growing vigorously, so that it is almost as strong as we are here at the Manhatans. They built last year a handsome parsonage. On the South River, mat- ters relating to religion and the church have hitherto progressed very unsatisfactorily; first because we had there only one little fort, and in it a single Commissary, with ten to twenty men, all in the Company's service, merely for trading with the Indians. Secondly : In the year 1651 Fort Nassau was abandoned and razed, and another, called Fort Casemier, was erected, lower down and nearer to the seaboard. This was provided with a stronger garrison, and was reinforced by several freemen, who lived near it.
But the Swedes, increasing there in numbers, troubled and annoyed our people daily. After they had taken Fort Casemier from us, they annoyed our countrymen so exceedingly, that the South River was abandoned by them. However in the year 1655 our people recovered Fort Casemier, and now it is held by a suf- ficiently strong garrison, including several freemen, who also have dwellings about. One was then appointed, to read to them on Sundays, from the Postilla. This is continued to this day. The Lutheran preacher (Peter Hjort) who was there was returned to Sweden.
Two miles from Forst Casemier, up the river, is another Fort, called Christina. This was also taken by our people, at the same time, and the preacher there (Nertunius) was sent away, with the Swedish garrison.
But because many Swedes and Fins, at least two hundred, live above Fort Christina, two or three miles further up the river, the Swedish Governor made a condition in his capitulation, that they might retain one Lutheran preacher, (Lokenius) to teach these people in their language. This was granted then the more easily. First, because new troubles had broken out at Manhattan with the Indian, it was desirable to shorten proceedings here and re-
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turn to the Manhattans to put things in order there. Secondly because there was no Reformed preacher here, nor any who understood their language, to be located there.
This Lutheran preacher (Lokenius) is a man of impious and scandalous habits, a wild, drunken, unmannerly clown, more in- clined to look into the wine can than into the Bible. He would prefer drinking brandy two hours to preaching one; and when the sap is in the wood his hands itch and he wants to fight whomso- ever he meets. The Commandant at Fort Casimir, Jean Paulus Jacquet, brother-in-law of Domine Casparus Carpentier, told us, that during last spring this preacher was tippling with a smith, and while yet over their brandy they came to fisticuffs, and beat each others heads black and blue; yea, that the smith tore all the clothing from the preachers body, so that this godly minister escaped in primitive nakedness, and although so poorly clothed, yet sought quarrels with others. Sed hoc parergiccos.
On Long Island there are seven villages, belonging to this Province, of which three, Breuckelen, (Brooklyn) Amesfoort, (Flatlands,) and Midwout (Flatbush) are inhabited by Dutch peo- ple, who formerly used to come here (to New Amsterdam) to communion and other services to their great inconvenience. Some had to travel for three hours to reach this place. Therefore, when Domine Polheymus arrived here from Brazil, they called him as preacher, which the Director-General and Council con- firmed.
The four other villages on Long Island, viz., Gravensand, (Gravesend,) Middelburgh, (Newtown,) Vlissingen, (Flushing,) and Heemstede are inhabited by Englishmen. The people of Gravensand are considered Mennonites. The majority of them reject the baptism of infants, the observance of the Sabbath, the office of preacher, and any teachers of God's word. They say that thereby all sorts of contentions have come into the world. Whenever they meet, one or the other reads something to them.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
397 1657
At Vlissingen, they formerly had a Presbyterian minister (Doughty) who was in agreement with our own church. But at present, many of them have become imbued with divers opinions and it is with them " quot homines tot sententiae." They began to absent themselves from the sermon and would not pay the preacher the salary promised to him. He was therefore obliged to leave the place and go to the English Virginias. They have now been without a preacher for several years. Last year a troublesome fellow, a cobbler from Rhode Island in New Eng- land, came there saying, he had a commission from Christ. He began to preach at Vlissingen and then went with the people into the river and baptized them. When this became known here, the Fiscal went there, brought him to this place, and he was banished from the Province.
At Middelburgh, alias Newtown, they are mostly Independents and have a man, called Joannes Moor of the same way of think- ing, who preaches there, but does not serve the sacraments. He says, he was licensed in New England to preach, but not author- ized to administer the sacraments. He has thus continued for some years. Some of the inhabitants of this village are Presby- terians, but they cannot be supplied by a Presbyterian preacher. Indeed, we do not know that there are any preachers of this de- nomination to be found among any of the English of New Eng- land.
At Heemstede, about seven Dutch miles (twenty one English miles) from here, there live some Independents. There are also many of our own church, and some Presbyterians. They have a Presbyterian preacher, Richard Denton, a pious, godly and learned man, who is in agreement with our church in everything. The Independents of the place listen attentively to his sermons; but when he began to baptize the children of parents, who are not members of the church, they rushed out of the church.
On the west shore of the East River, about one mile beyond
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Hellgate, as we call it, and opposite Flushing, is another English village, called Oostdorp, which was begun two years ago. The in- habitants of this place are also Puritans or Independents. Neither have they a preacher, but they hold meetings on Sunday, and read a sermon of some English writer, and have a prayer.
About eighteen (Dutch) miles (fifty four English miles) up the North River, half way between the Manhattans and Rensselaer or Beverwyck, lies a place, called by the Dutch Esopus or Sypous, and by the Indians, Atharhacton. It is an exceedingly fine coun- try there. Thereupon some Dutch families settled there who are doing very well. They hold Sunday meetings and then one or the other of them reads from the Postilla.
Such is the condition of the church in our Province. To this we must add, that, as far as we know, not one of all these places, Dutch or English has a schoolmaster, except the Manhattans, Beverwyck, and now also Fort Casimir on the South River. And although some parents try to give their children some instruction, the success is far from satisfactory, and we can expect nothing else than young men of foolish and undisciplined minds. We see at present no way of improving this state of affairs; first, because some of the villages are just starting, and have no means, the people having come half naked and poor from Holland, to pay a preacher and schoolmaster ; secondly, because there are few quali- fied persons here who can or will teach.
We can say but little of the conversion of the heathens or In- dians here, and see no way to accomplish it, until they are sub- dued by the numbers and power of our people, and reduced to some sort of civilization; and also unless our people set them a better example, than they have done heretofore.
We have had an Indian here with us for about two years. He can read and write Dutch very well. We have instructed him in the fundamental principles of our religion, and he answers pub- licly in church, and can repeat the Commandments. We have
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
given him a Bible, hoping he might do some good among the In- dians, but it all resulted in nothing. He took to drinking brandy, he pawned the Bible, and turned into a regular beast, doing more harm than good among the Indians.
Closing we commend your Reverences to the gracious protec-
1 tion of the Almighty, whom we pray to bless you in the Sacred Ministry.
Vestri et officio et affectu, Johannes Megapolensis. Samuel Drissius.
Amsterdam, in New Netherland,
the 5th of August, 1657.
(Compare this translation with one found in Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 69-72; 4to ed. )
[The following Postscript to the above letter, nine days after, is not given in Documentary History. It is as follows :- ]
Reverend, Pious, Very Learned Fathers and Brethren in Christ :-
Just after closing our recent letter of August 5th, it happened that on August 6th (or 12th) a ship came from the sea to this place, and approached the Fort, having no flag flying from the topmast, nor from any other place on the ship; only from the fore- mast a small burgee floated to indicate the wind. We could not decide whether she was Dutch, French, or English. They fired no salute before the fort, as is usual with ships on their arrival. When the Fiscal went on board, they tendered him no honor or respect. When the master of the ship came on shore and appeared before the Director-General, he rendered him no respect, but stood still with his hat firm on his head, as if a goat. The Director- General could with difficulty get a word from any of them. He only learned that they had come from London in about eight weeks. When asked as to the condition of Holland, France, etc., hardly a word could be drawn from them. At last information was gained that it was a ship with Quakers on board. The fol- lowing morning early they hoisted anchor and sailed eastward, to-
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wards Hellgate, as we call it, in the direction of New England. We suppose they went to Rhode Island; for that is the receptacle of all sorts of riff-raff people, and is nothing else than the sewer, (latrina) of New England. All the cranks of New England retire thither. We suppose they will settle there, as they are not tol- erated by the Independents in any other place. Last year there also arrived at Boston, in New England, several of these Quakers, but they were immediately put in prison and then sent back in the same ship. Probably fearing the same thing, these Quakers came this way, and then passed on. But they did not pass from us so hastily, as not to leave some evidences of their having been here, for they left behind two strong young women. As soon as the ship had fairly departed, these began to quake and go into a frenzy, and cry out loudly in the middle of the street, that men should repent, for the day of judgment was at hand. Our people not knowing what was the matter, ran to and fro, while one cried "Fire ", and another something else. The Fiscal, with an ac- companying officer, seized them both by the head, and led them to prison. On their way to jail, they continued to cry out and pray according to their manner, and continued to do the same when in prison. We perceive from this circumstance that the devil is the same everywhere. The same instruments which he uses to disturb the churches in Europe, he employs here in Amer- ica. We trust that our God will baffle the designs of the devil, and preserve us in the truth, and bring to nothing these machina- tions of Satan. Finally, we commend your Reverences to the pro- tection of the Most High, while we beseech him to bless us all in the ministry, to the edification of his church.
Your dutiful servants, Joannes Megapolensis. Samuel Drisius.
Amsterdam, in New Netherland,
August 14th, 1657.
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1657
1657, Aug. 10.
Evert Pietersen, Schoolmaster at South River, Delaware, to the Commissioners in Fort Amstel, South River, New Nether- land.
We arrived here on April 25th (1657). I find twenty fami- lies, mostly Swedes. Not more than five or six families belong to our nation. I have already begun to keep school, and have twenty five children, etc.
Your Honor's most obedient servant,
Evert Pietersen.
1657, Aug. 12th.
Evert Pietersen to the Reverend, Learned, Pious Domine Hendric Ruileus, minister of Jesus Christ in the flourishing congrega- tion of the City of Amsterdam.
Domine Hendric Ruileus : Emanuel !
Reverend Brother in Christ Jesus. Wishing you all bodily and spiritual blessing in Jesus Christ, I hope this will find you and your family in good health. I thank the Lord heartily for my own health. We have received very joyful news by the ships which have arrived from the Fatherland at the Manhattans, or at New Amstel. We learn "De Wagh " is coming with a galiot, bringing about four hundred people, among whom is the preacher, called Johannis (Everardus ?) Weelius, and also my son, Arent Evertsen, a miller who comes over as super cargo. It makes me very glad, to see my children thus prospering. My son Jan Evert- sen, goes daily to the office of the Director to write, for which he receives his thanks. He is on the road to success. We look with longing for the arrival of this ship "De Wagh " and trust that under Divine Providence, we shall soon hear of her arrival. If any mishap should befall her, we would suffer a great famine this
26
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winter. I must further tell you, that I am engaged in keeping school, with twenty five children in it; but I have no paper nor pens for the use of the children, nor slates and pencils. As soon as winter begins and they can no longer work on the soil, old and young will come to school, and learn to read, write (and cipher). But I have nothing, from which to teach them. To keep school here, is something of a novelty, as it has not been done before. The books mentioned on the enclosed memorandum, please to take care that they be sent by the first ship, for I am especially in need of them. Please to speak to van Beeck, as to the price at which I am to sell them. Let the paper and books be packed separately, for if they get into the Directors hands, we cannot get them. I must also respectfully request you, to be kind enough to go with my wife to van Beeck, and ask him to help her to get one hun- dred and fifty guilders of my already earned wages, and which must now stand to my credit; for I receive forty guilders per month. This will assist her in making provision for the winter, by buying meats, bacon, turf and wood. Otherwise she could not get along decently with the children, but would perish in sorrow. I have also written to van Beeck, that our steward, Cors. Jansen, has robbed the magazine. He was caught at it by the soldiers and banished from the river for twenty one years, and neither he nor his children may enter into any public service. I expect a letter from you next spring, with information in it of what our colonists write home, as great complaints are heard here against our Di- rector. He does not observe the ninth and twenty fifth articles ; for the colonists are obliged to buy everything at fixed prices, when they need anything. They are also put on rations; seven pounds of bread ; four of wheat, two cups (pints) of ground barley ; one cup of peas, one pound of codfish, per week; a child on half ra- tions ; one quart of oil, half a pint of vinegar ; but the men, who go to work in the woods daily, cannot live on this. Hence there is a great deal of murmuring. One has written this, and another
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