USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume I > Part 40
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To ward these off from us and our's and to obtain God's favours, benefits and blessings for us as well in temporal as in spiritual matters, the Director General and Council of New Netherland, have deemed it good and needful to prescribe and publish a Day of General Fast and Thanksgiving to be observed on the second Wednesday of the month of March, being the 13th of said month.
We therefore charge our subjects to repair on the fore and afternoon of the aforesaid day to Church or where God's Word is usually preached in order, after hearing the same, to praise and thank the all good and merciful God, for the favors, blessings and benefits, which his Divine Majesty hath been pleased to confer on us during the last year, yea, in the whole course of our lives, and further to supplicate, pray and implore His Holy Name, with bumble and contrite hearts, that his Divine Majesty would be pleased to continue the same to us, the ensuing year, to the Honour of His Name, to the furtherance and propagation of the Gospel, and the prosperity and salvation of us all.
That this may be performed with great devotion and unity, the Director General and Council prohibit, during divine service on the said day of Prayer and Thanks- giving, all exercises and amusements, tennis, ballplaying, hunting, fishing, sailing; also all unlawful plays such as gaming, dice playing, drunkenness and such like, on pain of arbitrary punishment and correction previously enacted against the
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same. We also admonish and require all Ministers within our jurisdiction to frame their prayers and sermons to the said end. Thus done In our Assembly holden in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland the 21st January Anno 1658. Was undersigned, P. Stuyvesant.
Lower Stood, By Order of the Honorable Director General and Council of New Netherland. C. V. Ruyven, Secretary. - Records of New Amsterdam, Vol. ii. pp. 346, 347.
SENTENCE OF TOBIAS FEAKS, SCHOUT OF FLUSHING, FOR HARBOR-
ING QUAKERS.
Whereas Tobias Feaks, a resident of Vlissingen on Long Island now a prisoner, has confessed and acknowledged, that he received an order from the Honorable Director General, not to admit, lodge and entertain in the said village any one of the heretical and abominable sect called Quakers, but has nevertheless had the audacity, in contempt of the said order and formerly published and renewed placats, to be a leader and instigator in the conception of a seditious, mutinous and detestable letter of defiance (chartebel) signed by himself and his complices and by him retained and then delivered to the Director General, wherein they justify and uphold the abomniable sect of Quakers, who vilify both the political authorities and the Ministers of the Gospel, and undermine the State and God's service, and abso- lutely demand, that all sects, especially the said abominable and heretical sect of Quakers shall and must be tolerated and admitted; all of which is directly contrary and repugnant to the above referred to orders and placats of the Director General and Council, which he pursuant to his oath, official position and duty, as a sub- ordinate officer of the Director General and Scout in the said village of Vlissingen, should by all means have upheld and enforced.
But whereas he has herein not only failed, but has himself transgressed and dis- obeyed, for which as an example to others he deserves severe punishment; yet con- sidering the humble petition of the prisoner Feaks, confessing his wrong doing and promising hereafter to avoid such errors:
Therefore the Director General and Council of New Netherland, administering the law in the name of their High: Might: the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, and the Lords Directors of the Privileged West India Company, first dismiss the said Tobias Feaks from his office as Scout of the said village of Vlis- singen, and banish him from this Province of New Netherland; or to pay a fine of two hundred florins to be applied as directed by law, if he will keep his promise, together with the costs and mises of law.
Done at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland the 28th of January 1658.
P. Stuyvesant. Pieter Tonneman. - Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 409.
PETITION OF THE MAGISTRATES OF MIDWOUT, (FLATBUSH, L. I.)
AS TO THE DISPOSITION TO BE MADE OF THE CHURCHLAND AND ORDER OF COUNCIL THEREON.
To their Noble Very Worshipful Honors, Petrus Stuyvesant and the High Council of New Netherland. Show with due humility and reverence the Schepens of the Court of Midwout, that heretofore they have several times requested and shown. how necessary and useful in easing the burdens of the village and the congregation the four Church lots would be, if granted to the village of Midwout; whereupon at last your Honors directed, that a further report in writing and a statement of the manner, in which the said Church lots were to be administered, was required.
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We submit therefore to your Honors as our report and further explanation: we believe, under correction, that the best measures for the advantage of the con- gregation and the village of Midwout are as stated here below:
First. That twenty five morgens with their appurtenances lying on the east side of the plain and south side of the road be used for the repairs and maintenance of the Church.
Second. That another lot of twenty five morgens lying also on the east side of the market place and north side of the road with their appurtenances and privileges be used for the support of a school, divine service etc. If your Honors approve and consent, the necessary means thereto shall be found.
Third. The remaining fifty morgens lying on the west side should necessarily be added to the parsonage, but we cannot well decide, which is the most requisite and best use for them. The further explanation of this point, quite lengthy, is sub- stantially a request to be excused from contributing to the support of their Minister, until the tithes for their village became due; I have abbreviated it here, because the deputies from Midwout took the petition and answer directly away and I had therefore no time to copy it entirely. It was signed Jan Strycker, Adriaen Hege- man, Willem Jacobse van Boerum and below stood By order of the Schepens of the Court of Midwout, Pieter Tonneman, Secretary.
Having received and read the foregoing petition the following answer was given: We consent to the first two points regarding the lots and allow, that they be used for the purposes and no other, which the petitioners propose and submit.
The Director General and Council agree, that the remaining two lots or fifty morgens be used for the parsonage, to support as far as they will go, the present and future Ministers.
The Director General and Council are of opinion, that the deficiency must be made up by the inhabitants according to their former promises and subscriptions and continue so, until the tithes are due, when further orders concerning the sup- port of the Minister shall be given.
Thus done in Council held at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland the 29th of January 1658.
P. Stuyvesant. Nicasius de Sille, P. Tonneman. - Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 410.
ORDER ON A PETITION OF DOMINE POLHEMIUS, MINISTER AT MID- WOUT, LONG ISLAND, CONCERNING HIS SALARY.
January 29, 1658.
Received and read the remonstrance and request of Domine Johannes Theodorus Polheym, preacher at Midwout, etc., on Long Island, who shows, that from the month of October 1654 to the 7th of April 1656, the date of his agreement with the inhabitants of the villages of Breuckelen, Midwout and Amesfoort, he has had charge as pastor of the congregation and performed the duties connected with it as well as he could, without however receiving from the inhabitants of said villages any remuneration for it. Having arrived here from the Islands poor and without means he has been compelled to draw, with the knowledge of Director General and Council, from the Company's warehouse and office the necessaries of life, amount- ing now to nine hundred and forty two florins. He requests therefore, that this sum might be balanced against his services performed during the time, as above stated, when he received no salary, so that his wife and children might not bel troubled or asked to pay it at some future time.
Having taken this into consideration and being well aware, that the laborer is worthy of his hire, that the petitioner served as pastor in the said villages from the year 1654 to the 7th of April 1656, without receiving any pay from the in-
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habitants. The aforesaid amount of fl 942.6 .- Is placed to his credit and the book-keeper is directed to discharge this account for so much and to balance the amount against the service, performed by the petitioner.
Date as above.
P. Stuyvesant. - Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 411, 412.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Acts of the Deputies. Meeting of Feb. 11th, 1658. Rev. Mr. Carpentier in the Chair.
A certain letter from the Rev. Mr. Schaats, pastor at Fort Or- ange, in New Netherland, was read. His Rev. therein gives notice that the time of his service has expired. He complains of the limited salary, but is well inclined to continue in his charge, pro- vided the salary can be somewhat increased. Resolved, That the Patroons of the colony of Rensselaerswyck be consulted in ref- erence to this whole matter. This was done. The brethren found affairs in such a condition, that nothing of consequence could at present be done for us in this case. xx. 383.
ADMINISTRATIVE MINUTES OF NEW AMSTERDAM.
1658, Feb. 26.
Election of Churchmaster and Orphan-master.
Extract from the Register of the Resolutions of the Honorable Director General and Councillors of New Netherland adopted in their Honorable Court Tuesday, 26th February Anno 1658.
Whereas one Orphan Master and one Church Master have served out their time, and Burgomasters of this City have there- fore nominated and proposed a double number of persons, with request that Director General and Council should therefrom se- lect others in place of the retiring: The Director General and Council of New Netherland do therefore elect and confirm from the nominated, instead of the retiring
As Orphan Master : Wilhelmus Beeckman. As Church Master: Hendrick Jansen vander Vin. 27
. 2:
-
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Thus done at the Assembly of the Honorable Director General and Council aforesaid in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady, as above.
Agrees with the aforesaid Resolution.
C. Van Ruyven, Secretary.
Thursday, 28th February 1658. In the City Hall. Present the Heeren Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift, Olof Stevensen Cortlant.
Whereas to the Court is exhibited the election made by Direc- tor General and Council of the succeeding Orphan Master and Churchmaster in place of the retiring: The elected Wilhelmus Beeckman as Orphan Master and Hendrick Jansen van der Vin as Churchmaster are sent for to Court, who appearing are informed thereof and are accepted by the Burgomasters and wished luck in their office.
Records of New Amsterdam. Vol. vii. p. 175.
COURT MINUTES OF NEW AMSTERDAM.
Jacob van Corlaer not Allowed to Teach School.
To the Right Honorable Director General and Councillors of New Netherland. Right Honorable Sirs,
The Burgomasters and Schepens of the City of Amsterdam in New Netherland represent with all respect, that some Burghers and inhabitants of the abovenamed City have presented a certain petition to this Court whereunto copy is hereunto annexed, remonstrating that your Honors were pleased to notify Jacob Corlaar, through the Fiscal Nicasius de Sille, not to keep any school; and as they the petitioners find themselves greatly interested thereby, inasmuch as their children forget, what the abovenamed Jacob van Corlaar had to their great satisfaction previously taught them in reading, writing and cyphering, which was much more- than any other person, no one excepted; therefore they request that the above named Corlaar may be allowed again to keep school; and although the abovenamed- Burgomasters and two Schepens have spoken verbally thereon to your Honors and your Honors were not pleased to allow it, for reasons thereunto moving your Honors; they therefore, in consequence of the humble supplication of the Burghers. and inhabitants aforesaid, again request that your Honors may be pleased to per- mit the abovenamed Corlaar again to keep school, which doing, we remain your Honors Subjects,
The Burgomasters and Schepens. In Amsterdam in New Netherland the 5th March, 1658. By order of the Burgomasters and Schepens of the City aforesaid.
Joannes Nevius, Secretary.
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On the 20th March received the apostille of the petition which read as follows :- School teaching and the induction of School Masters depends absolutely from the Jus Patronatus, by virtue of which the Director General and Council for pregnant reasons interdicted Jacob van Corlaar, he having presumed to take such on himself without their Order. To which order and resolution they still adhere. Done Fortress Amsterdam in New Netherland the 19th March, 1658.
By order of the Honorable Director General and Council of New Netherland.
C. V. Ruyven, Secretary.
- Records of New Amsterdam, Vol. ii. p. 348.
COUNCIL MINUTE. SCHOOLMASTER ;
Tuesday, March 19, 1658.
Received the petition of the Burgomasters and Schepens of this City requesting that Jacobus van Corlear, to whom on the 19th of February last the Director General and Council forbade to keep school, may receive permission to keep school.
It was decreed: To keep a school and appoint a schoolmaster depends absolutely from the jus patronatus, in virtue whereof the Director General and Council have for good reasons forbidden it to Jacobus van Corlear, who arrogated the same to himself without their order; and they persist in their resolution and interdict. Date as above .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 412.
COUNCIL MINUTE. THE SCHOOL OF JACOBUS VAN CORLEAR.
Tuesday March 26, 1658.
Received the petition of Jacobus van Corlear, asking permission to keep a school In this City for the instruction of children in reading, writing, etc.
For weighty reasons the Director General and Council decree: Nihil. Done at Amsterdam in New Netherland, date as above.
Received and read the remonstrance of Peter Tonneman as Schout of the village of Breuckelen, who complains of having received bad treatment, when demanding the long due salary of Domine Polhemius from Lodewyck -, Jan Martyn, Nicolaes the Frenchman, Abraham the mulatto and Gerrit the wheelwright ..
The following order was thereupon sent out:
By order of the Director General and Council of New Netherland, Lodewyck -, Jan Martyn, Nicolaes the Frenchman, Abraham the Mulatto and Gerrit the wheel- wright are hereby cited and summoned to appear at Fort Amsterdam on the 2nd of April next and to hear the complaint and demand for punishment, which the Fiscal shall ex officio bring forward against him. Date as above .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 413, 414.
DIRECTOR ALDRICHS TO P. STUYVESANT.
March 30, 1658.
The prescribed day of fasting, prayer and thanksgiving has been observed here on the 13th of March, also on the following day with a sermon, to celebrate it, by the preacher Melius, (Welius), who, for that purpose was fetched to Altena by the Commissary: which was done .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xii. 20S.
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OATH TAKEN BY THE SWEDISH NATION, ON THE SOUTH RIVER.
April, 1658.
We promise and swear in the presence of Almighty God, that we will be and remain loyal and faithful to their Noble High Mightinesses, the Lords States Gen- eral of the United Netherlands, the Noble Lord Directors of the General Privileged West India Company, also to their Honorable Director General, already appointed or in the future to be appointed; that we will obey and respect and honor them, as it becomes honest and good subjects, as long as we continue in this province of New Netherland.
So truly help us God Almighty .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xii. 212.
SENTENCE OF THE PERSONS, WHO REFUSED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SALARY OF DOMINE POLHEMIUS.
April 2, 1658.
Pursuant to the order of the Director General and Council, dated the 26th of March, Jan Martyn, Nicolaes the Frenchman, Abraham Jansen, called the Mulatto, appeared before the Council, being the persons, who on several occasions, about seven or eight times, have been called upon by the Schout of the village of Breuckelen, Peter Tonneman, and in his behalf by the Court messenger Simon Joosten, and have each been asked, to contribute six guilders for the support of Domine Polhemius, the preacher on Long Island, according to the levy, ordered by the Court of Breuckelen and approved by the Director General and Council; they have behaved very insolently and stubbornly, making none but frivolous excuses, one for instance, that he was a Catholic, the other, that he did not understand Dutch, etc. Therefore the Fiscal demanded, that the aforesaid persons should be condemned to pay a considerable fine.
The Director General and Council, after mature consideration of the merits of the case, and after having heard the answer of the accused, found them guilty and sentenced them, as a warning example to others, to pay instead of six guilders twelve into the hands of the said Schout Tonneman, before leaving the Manhattans. Date as above.
Whereas besides the abovenamed persons Gerrit the wheelwright and Lodewyck Jongh were also summoned, but did not appear; the Fiscal is ordered to summon them once more, to appear at the next session of the Court. Date as above .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 414.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Letters from New Netherland; from New Amsterdam.
1658, April 2nd.
Rev. Deputati relate further that they have received some let- ters from New Netherland, telling about the condition of the Church there, and the efforts of the Consistory, and of Director Stuyvesant, against the Lutherans and Quakers, who now and then immigrate there in great numbers. There are also some re- quests that they may be seconded in their efforts, especially
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
against one Goetwater, Lutheran minister there; that these letters were handed them by the Directors of the West India Company, with the request that they, too, might have the perusal of them, or a copy of the same. It was resolved in regard to the request of the Directors, that the Rev. Deputati shall first inform them of the contents of the letters orally; but if the perusal of the let- ters be insisted on, to grant this to the Directors. For the rest the Revs. Deputati shall comply as much as possible with the re- quest of the brethren there.
From New Amstel.
There was handed in also a letter from New Amstel, from Rev. Everhard Welius, in which he presents the condition of the church, and requests that he may be provided, by the Directors of the Colony, with a clock and hour glass, needed for the ac- commodation of their meetings; the M.M. Directors will be spoken to about this, by the Rev. Deputati. vi. 94, 95; xix: 50.
LETTER FROM FATHER SIMON LE MOYNE, S. J., TO DIRECTOR STUYVESANT, TRANSMITTING A LETTER FROM THE MARQUIS DE DAILLEBOUT, GOVERNOR OF CANADA.
The 7th of April 1658.
Very Illustrious Sir:
I send you with my love a letter received in Quebec, which though written in French is sincere and friendly. He who signed his name to it, a very noble and also learned man, Lord Daillebout, did not wish, I think, to write in Latin, be- cause perhaps more among you know French, than Latin, anyway because it treats of a matter concerning the French and those, who love the French only.
Furthermore he wrote it, who to-day acts as the deputy of our absent Viceroy and who some time was himself Viceroy.
May it therefore bring happy, beneficial and fortunate results. Dear friends of the Manhattans, draw your furrows through the sea to our Quebec and some time hereafter our Canadians will unexpectedly with God's guidance safely reach your shores. Although it is not in my power to make, as I hoped, the voyage with you, for I have my forest boatman with me; yet at some future day I promise to be your guest and servant.
Even though my pen may have taken some liberties, overlook them, if you please, Illustrious Sir, and take this letter as an assured testimony of my regard for the Dutch and my love for you, with which I am
Illustrious Sir, Your most faithful and obedient servant, Simon le Moyne, SJ.
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Quebec, the 18th of February 1658.
Reverend Father:
I have communicated to all the principal persons of this country the intentions of Messieurs the Hollanders, of which you spoke. Nobody had any doubt, that in con- sideration of their being admitted as friends and allies of the Crown in all the ports of France since many years, we could for any reason refuse their coming to trade with us and I cannot object to it. I consent, that they may come when they please under the condition, that they submit to the same customs as French vessels, forbidding trade with the savages and the public exercise on land of their religion, which is contrary to the Romish. You know the orders of the King about this matter. Wherewith I commend myself to your prayers and am Reverend Father Your very humble and affectionate servant
Daille Boust. - Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 415.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Acts of the Deputies.
1658, April 15th.
Some letters from the church in New Netherland were read. Their principal subject was complainings about the annoyances of many seditious spirits, and especially about the uprising of the Lutherans; also a request to this Classis to further the preven- tion of these (evils) as far as possible, with the Directors. XX. 387.
Letters from New Netherland.
1658, May 6th.
An account of the letters from New Amsterdam having been given to the Directors of the West India Company, and the re- quests contained therein having been considered; their Estimables expressed themselves surprised at the character of the correspond- ence of the church there with the Directors. They insisted strongly upon the perusal of the letters, which were therefore handed over to them. Their Estimables showed themselves dis- posed, in regard to the Lutherans in New Netherland, to take action against them, declaring that they would do their part; but desired to see the Rev. Classis put into opperation all possible measures, if it knows of anything that can be done in the premises. The Rev. Deputati shall touch upon the aforesaid com- plaint in their letters to the said church, and recommend to them an active correspondence with the Directors.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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1658
New Amstel.
The Assembly resolved that the Rev. Deputati shall exert themselves against the Lutheran worship there, as well as at New Amstel, in every suitable way both with the Directors of this Chamber, and with the Estimable Burgomasters of Amsterdam; also at the proper time with the Nineteen. (the Amsterdam Cham- ber of West India Company.) vi. 97; xix. 50.
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTORS TO STUYVESANT;
LUTHERANS ; LATIN SCHOOL; MINISTERS.
The 20th of May 1658.
Honorable, Prudent, Dear, Faithful.
That you have sent back here the Lutheran preacher is not contrary to, but rather in accordance with our good intentions, although you might have proceeded less vigorously. The principal reason, which induced the Lutherans there to separate from the Reformed Church, was not only, so people of their persuasion here com- plain, because in the Sacrament of Baptism some words are used there, which are offensive to them and not contained in the new formulary, particularly in the second point of the questions or admonitions to the parents and witnesses, to wit, whether they acknowledge the dogma taught in the Christian Church there accord- ing to the Synod of Dort, as the true one etc .; but also, because they were com- pelled to be present at the baptizing of their children. We do not know how this is, but we are aware, that the Church here does not lay such great stress upon the presence of the parents and witnesses; we think also, that the old formulary of baptism is still used in many churches here, as being less offensive and more moderate, than the new, and therefore adopted at the beginning of the Reformation as necessary under the circumstances, in order thereby not to alienate, but rather to attract people of different belief. We shall leave it to your prudence and trust, that henceforth you will use the least offensive and most tolerant means, so that people of other persuasions may not be deterred from the public Reformed Church, but in time be induced to listen and finally gained over to it.
The two women of bad reputation, Magdalena Dircks and Gertie Jacobs, whom you sent back here on account of their dissolute life, shall not again receive our permission to return to New Netherland, and if they should come here again by deceitful practices or under a false name, you may punish them, as they deserve it.
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