USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume I > Part 50
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Your Lovinge friend.
Amsterdam in the New Netherlands this 11th of March 1662.
A Coppie of the Oath of Fidelity to be done and Subskrybet by those that are to Come and Settel under the Government of the Province of the New Netherlands.
Wee doe in the Presence of the Almighty God hereby acknowledge, declare and sweare, that wee shall be true and faithful unto the high and mighty Lords and States Generals of the United Belgicq Provinces, the Right Honnourable the Lords Bewinthebbers of the West India Company, theire Governour and Counsel in tyme Beinge all fitting and due obediance accordinge as other Prince or State to have Dominion over us, Soo long as we shall live and Continue in this theyre Province and Jurisdiction off the New Netherlands.
Soo help my (or us) the God Almighty.
Oath for Magistrates.
I, N. N., doe wel and truely sweare in the Presence of the Almighty and Ever- livinge God to be true and faithful to the high and mighty Lords and States Gen- erals of the United Belgicq Provinces, the Right Honnourable the Lords Bewintheb- bers of the West India Company, their Gouvernor General and Counsel in tyme Beinge, that I as Choosen and Confirmed Magistrate for the towne of N. N. shall maintaine the true and Protestant Religion, soo as the same accordinge to the word of God is declared and in this Province is Professed, that I shall use my best and utmost endeavor for the Supression off Mutinis, Sedition, Conspiraces or Invasion whatsoever I shall heare, may be prejudicial to the abovementioned high and mighty and honnourable Lords and their Government here Established, as also to the wel-
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fare of this Province in general as to the Particular Towne, whereof I was Choosen; that I accordinge to my best Skil as one of the Magistrates Chosen by the aforesaid Towne Shal use and Exercise good and Equal Administration of Justice, without favor or affection, hatred or malicy to the Persons or Partys, and not be a Counselar in Privat in any Cause dependinge before mee -
Soo help mee God Almighty.
Oath of Military Officers in the Towneships.
I, N. N., Captain, Leiftennant, Eynsen, Sergiant and all the Compagnie before this present Coulers, doe well and truly Sweare in the Presence of the Almighty and Everlivinge God, that wee shal bee true and faithful to the high and mighty Lords the States Generals of the United Belgicq Provinces, the honnourable Lords the Bewinthebbers of the West India Company and their Governor and Government heere Established, that we shall shew them and alsoo our Subalterne Magistrates all due Respects and obediance not Bearingh any Armes against them in what Respect soever -
Soo help my (or us) God Almighty.
Here follows a private latter of his Honor, the Director General, sent concerning the foregoing matter to Mr. Robert Triatt.
By Mr. John Gregorie was our answer to the Compagnie in general and therefore sent open, where out may be deducted, that all the Points of your Propositions where graunted, except the Appeale, Election and Confirmation of Magistrates, from the first wee kan not declaine, the Reasons of the other wheerefore it in a dubbel Number ought to be presented to a heyer Authority ware to my opinion soo just and waithy that I see noe Reasons how to answer the denyal, notwithstandinge if any to the contrary can be brought forth, which may give more light and Satis- faction to our Court after due Examination, I wil and shal by all possible means endeavor both here and if neede Requires by our Superiors in Europa, that the Company in that point and in some other grievances may obtain al Reasonable. satisfaction: I hope not, that such a small difference will cut off the business in hand, therefore I shall Request you will be pleased to send me word by the Bearer, your and the Company final Resolution, that we in buyinge and disposeinge of that trackt of Land may order our occasions as the present tyme for the common good of this Provincy shal offer, so after my love and respects I shall Rest.
Your lovinge friend.
Post Schript:
The Bearer Dirck Johnz desyred my a letter of address in the behalfe of his cause, dependingh before the Governor and Court of New Haven Jurisdiction, my Request is yow will be pleased to be helpful unto him, if Security should be re- quired, for his goods Layinge under Arrest, if you will be pleased to become his Security for it, these shall oblige me to save you harmless, so after my love I Rest as before -
Amsterdam in the Netherlands
this 13th of March 1662 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiii. 216, 217, 218.
WILLIAM BEECKMAN TO DIRECTOR STUYVESANT;
REV. LAERS ;
In the matter of the pastor, Domine Laers, nothing has been done. I shall take it up now.
Altena, March 18, 1862 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xii. 363, 364.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
521
1662
COURT MINUTES OF NEW AMSTERDAM.
Repairs of Church of New Amsterdam.
1662, March 28.
Nicasius de Sille and Hendrick Janzen van der Vin, in quality of Churchmasters, entering report that they have agreed with Claes Mareschalk to repair the glass in the Church, which he undertook for a reasonable price; but he rendered unto them an unreasonable account therefor, producing the same, with a request that the Magistrates examine the same. Claes Mareschalk says, he calculated according to the Church work, and has had great trouble to set the lozenges in the arms in their proper places. Burgomasters and Schepens refer the matter in question to Cornelius Steenwyck, old schepen and now Orphan Master of this City, and to Adolph Pietersen, to take up the account, to discuss and decide the same; to reconcile; parties, if possible; if not, to report their conclusion to the Court .- Early Records of New Amsterdam, iv. 57.
WEST INDIA CO. SELL THEIR RIGHTS IN SOUTH RIVER TO CITY OF AMSTERDAM.
1662, April-June.
The declining condition of the West India Company compelled its Directors to dispose of a portion of their territory on the South River (or Delaware) to the city of Amsterdam, which had undertaken to colonize it, but with little success. In 1662 a colony of Mennonites was organized by the Burgomasters of Amsterdam for settling on the Delaware .- Smith, 30. See also Col. Docs. N. Y. ii. 176-7.
RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AMSTER-
DAM.
1662, April 20.
The Burgomasters have also reported that about twenty five Mennonist families had declared their inclination to remove to and reside in the city's Colonie in New Netherland, if this city would resolve to assist each family to that end with two hundred guilders for once, in addition to the passage money, on condition that such families would jointly and severally bind themselves to repay the same. Which being considered, it is resolved to loan each family one hundred guilders on such conditions, the passage money therein included .- Col. Docs. N. Y. ii. 176.
PETITION. REV. LAURENTIUS CAROLUS FOR REMISSION OF A FINE IMPOSED ON HIM, ETC.
Noble, Honorable General. Sir: My humble service and what further lies in my power are always at your disposal. It will not be unknown to your Honor, how, since the elopement of my wife, I have stumbled from one mishap into the other, because all my steps taken on that account have been given the worst explanation and I have been condemned to heavy fines, which considering my poverty I am not able to get together, for besides about two hundred guilders paid already, I have now again been sentenced to a fine of two hundred and eighty guilders, which has happened, because I was looking for my wife and thought she was in the room, which I opened by force. I found there nothing but some pairs of socks, which the vagabond robber of my wife had left behind him. I inventoried these, and whereas it has been so interpreted as if I had abused the Court by this act of mine, therefore I have been fined two hundred and eighty guilders, as it is pre- tended, that the runaway was so much in debt; and whereas I have been condemned
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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to this fine in my innocence, having no other intention than to look for my wife, therefore it is my humble petition, that your Honor as Chief Magistrate may please to be favorable and merciful to me and to forgive me, what in my ignorance has happened here and to remit my punishment considering my poverty. As to having married myself, I have proceeded lawfully therein, and consent was given. I have followed the same custom, which others have followed here, who have not been called up on that account. I declare on my conscience, that it was not done with any bad intention; had I known, that this self-marriage would be thus interpreted, I would have willingly submitted to the usages of the Reformed Church, which were not known to me.
Therefore I pray once more the Honorable General may please to assist me with favor and mercy to attend to my poor vocation and means, so that I may enjoy my bread and lifelihood without being a burden to anybody. The Lord Almighty, to whose protection I faithfully commend your Honor, may move your Honor's heart and mind to such mercy.
Your Honor's humble subject,
Laurentius Carolus, L. Minister. - Col. Docs. N. Y. xii. 367.
Uplandt, April 30, 1662.
To the Noble, Honorable, Distinguished General Petrus Stuyvesant, Director of New Netherland, at the Manhattans.
HARMAN VAN HOBOOCKEN.
Order in Council .- Present, the Director General, Petrus Stuyvesant and the Hon. Johan de Decker.
Whereas, Harman Van Hoboocken,* before schoolmaster and chorister, was re- moved because another was sent to replace him (Pietersen) by the Lords Directors and the Consistory, solicits to be employed again in one or other manner in the Company's service, so is he engaged as Adelborst (signifying a sergeant, or some- thing above a common soldier), and allowed ten guilders per month, and g. 175 for board from 27th Oct. 1661.
Nota: Whereas the aforesaid Harman is a person of irreproachable life and conduct, so shall he be employed on the bouwery of the Director General as school- master and clerk (Voorleeser), with this condition, that the Director General, when- ever his service might be wanted for the Company, as Adelborst, shall replace him by another expert person. So that from this date, until after the capitulation, there were two schools under the care of the Consistory - Pietersen's at or near Fort Amsterdam, and Van Hoboocken's, on the Bouwery. "The Church at New Amster- dam was now in a flourishing condition under the administration of Megapolensis and Drisius."
The year following, 1662, the Burgomasters petitioned the " noble, great and respectful Director General and Council in New Netherland," to grant a lot of ground in Brewer Street (in the vicinity of Whitehall and Stone streets), opposite the lot of Johannes de Peyster, for a schoolhouse, and also a lot outside the gates for a burying ground; and the Director General and Council " deem it, for various reasons, more proper that the school-house was constructed on a part of the present church-yard," i. e., within the fort.
There is no evidence to support the conclusion that the school-house was built as contemplated .- Dunshee, 29, 30.
*Alb. Rec. xix. 383. Governor Fish, in a letter to the author, writes: " I have an impression, although it is but vague and indefinite, that Mr. Stuyvesant pointed out to me the location of the old school-house, as situate on what now is the site of Tompkins Market, about the corner of Sixth Street and Hall Place." It is well known that Governor Stuyvesant provided for the education of the colored persons on his extensive bouwery, and it is highly probable that Van Hoboocken had them under his instruction.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
523
1662
COUNCIL MINUTES.
Petition in Reference to Minister's Salary at Hempstead.
Honnoured Lords. Our humble request to your honnours is, that your honnours would be pleased to helpe us with your advice. Whereas the Towne of Heemstede for the continuance of the Gospel amongst them have Concluded at a Towne meet- Inge by the major parte of the Towne, that there should be given to the Minister seventy pounds Sterlinge by the yeare, And Whereas the towne have called Mr. Fourdum, and hee have Continued with us one yeare and a Rate being made by the Towne and notice given to every man what he should paye, sum particular persons amongst us Refuseth to pay towards the Maintaniency of the Minister, our humbel Request to your Honnours is that you will bee pleased to helpe us with your advice, what way to proseed against such persons as Refuse to paye accordinge to the Towne order, Thus Cravinge your helpe wee leave it to your honnours wisdom to Consider of
Yours in Loyaltie, John Hickes Robert Jackson.
May the 16th 1662.
May 26th.
This is the answer made to the preceding petition:
The petitioners are hereby authorized, to compel the unwilling to pay. This is the warrant, given to the Magistrates:
Whereas wee Credibly ware informed that sum of the Inhabitants of the Towne of Heemstead were opposyt and unwilling to Contribute to the Maintenancy of a Protestant Minister, The Magistrates of the said Towne, are by these presents Inpowered and authorized, not only to Constraine those that are unwilling, but by further denyal, to punish them as they in aequity shall think meete. Date as! above .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 513.
FURTHER ANSWER TO THE PROPOSALS OF ROBERT TREAT, PHILIPP GRAVES AND JOHN GREGORY OF NEW HAVEN CONCERNING THE SETTLEMENT OF ACHTER CULL, [MADE NOV. 8, 1661. ]
May 30th, (1662).
At the house of his Honor, the Director General, present the Director General and the Councillors, Messrs. Nicasius de Sille, La Mantagne and Johan de Deckere.
Uppon the propositions made by the English deputies Robbert Triatt, Philipp Groues and John Gregory the Governor and Counsel of the New Netherlands doe still Remaine by that answer as formerly in Schriptis was given and sent unto them and for further Explanation of Sum particulars, which they thinke to be doubtful, this presents may serve.
First Conserninge the twoe former Propositions about the Churches orders and government wee Referre that unto themselves, that they not any way shall be molested therein and iff need should require that advyce should be taken with sum English Ministers or Churches within these Province of the New Netherlands that shall be left to their own liberty, But in case iff a Synode thereunto must be Re- quired the Approbation and Consent of the Governor and Counsel then beinge.
Conserninge the third Proposition the Governor and Counsel doe give Consent that the aforesaid English Nation being setlet under this government shall have power by the most vote of the Churches members, to nominate theire owne Magistrates in such a quantity as they shall thinck most meete and needfull for their Towne or Townes, which Magistrates with the freemen shall be Impoured, to make such
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Lawes and Ordinances, as occasion shall require, which lawes and ordinances after Examination being found not oppugnant to the general lawes of the United Belgick and this Provinces shall by the Governor and Counsel be Ratifyed and Confirmed unto them, only the Governor and Counsel doe Reserve the Appeale of Criminel and Civil sentences above the Sum of fifty pounds Sterlinge, without Reformation or Appeale to that sum, for all such Inhabitants as thereunto shall Subschrybe and ye Confirmation of the Magistrates out of a dubbel Number yearly to be presented unto them, out of which dubbel Number with advyce or Communication of the old Magistrates or their deputies the following Magistrates by the Governor and Counsel then being shall be Confirmed.
Conserninge the further propositions, they are by these presents graunted. Actum in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 30th of May 1662 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiii. 221, 222.
CONTRACT FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF MENNONISTS TO THE DELA- WARE RIVER.
Burgomasters and Regents of the City of Amsterdam.
Whereas we remain, at all times, disposed to advance this city's Colonie in New Netherland, therefore have we, with the knowledge and consent of the XXXVI. Councillors, resolved to enter into the following agreement to that end with Pieter Cornelisz Plockhoy, of Zierikzee, viz .:
He, Pieter Cornelisz Plockhoy, undertakes to present to us, as soon as possible, XXIIII. men, who, with him, making a Society of XXV. persons, shall bind them- selves to depart by the first sailing ship or ships to the aforesaid city's Colonie to reside there and to work at the cultivation of the land, fishing, handicraft, etc., and to be as diligent as possible not only to the end that they should live properly by such labor, but that provision may thereby be made for other coming persons and families.
Therefore the aforesaid Society of XXV. male persons, whether the same be more or less, according as they may increase or diminish, shall, for the whole, and, moreover, each member of said Society for himself individually, have the privilege of selecting, taking up and appropriating as much land, the property of no other person, whether in the Whorkill or in any other part of the district of this Colonie wherever it may lie, as they shall be willing and able to cultivate and pasture. Which lands, both divided and undivided, the aforesaid Society and Colonists respectively shall occupy in full property, to do therewith as to them shall seem good.
And the aforesaid Colonists, for the peace, union and welfare of their Society, such rules and orders shall be empowered to enact as they shall think proper, pro- vided, nevertheless, that each person who may consider himself wronged shall be at liberty to appeal to the Magistrate there or here.
The aforesaid Society, and each member thereof in particular, shall, for their further encouragement, be granted freedom from Tenths and all other imposts, howsoever they be named, for the term of XX. years.
And there shall be paid likewise, to each of the aforesaid twenty five persons, by form of a loan, a sum of one hundred guilders to provide himself therefrom with necessaries according to pleasure, on condition that such sum is understood to in- clude his passage money only, and not those of his wife and children, who shall be conveyed over at the expense of this city, conformably to the printed Conditions.
Therefore the aforesaid XXV. Colonists promise and bind themselves, in solidum, the one for the other, to repay the aforesaid two thousand five hundred guilders to this city agreeably to the 21 and 22 articles of the Conditions relating to the city's Colonie, last printed and published.
Then, in case any of the aforesaid twenty five men should wish to leave the Society before the time of the full payment of said two thousand five hundred
525
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1662
guilders, in order to return hither, he shall be at liberty to do so, on condition of leaving to the Society the undivided land, cattie and all other common property, and taking with him only his own particular goods, so that the repayment may be effected by the remaining Colonists. Therefore the passage money of such Colonist and family as have gone away shall be paid by the Society out of the common stock in return for his contributed labor.
And if any person will go over, or make the voyage at his own expense and yet wish to save or even sell his share in the common fund, he shall be at liberty to do so, on condition that he previously put one in his place or sell tô such a one as the Society respectively shail approve of, in order to help to have a strict eye over the common labor and other things besides.
The aforesaid Society and the individual members thereof remaining further bound to observe, in all-other respects, the aforesaid printed articles. In like man- ner, also, the explanation of whatever should herein be found to demand further interpretation remains reserved unto the Burgomasters of this State.
In testimony whereof have we, the Burgomasters and Regents aforesaid, the seal of this city affixed to these presents the 9th of June, Anno 1662.
(Signed), Wigbolt Slicher Having a seal impressed in Green Wax .- Col. Docs. N. Y. il. 176, 177.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Correspondence from America.
1662, Aug. 8th.
Rev. J. T. Polhemus to the Classis of Amsterdam.
Reverend, Pious and Much Respected Brethren in Christ Jesus: -
I write to you to express my dutiful and respectful regards, and the remembrance which I cherish in my heart, and which I utter in prayers to God in your behalf; and to inform you that I still continue in the service of the ministry in the church here, and as I hope, to the satisfaction of pious souls. In relation to the general state of the church, which by the blessing of God, is con- stantly increasing, I will only say that we stand in need of com- munication with one another in the form of a Classis, after the manner of the Fatherland. It is desirable that this be begun, al- though I do not know of much business to be transacted. We also live at a considerable distance from one another. I myself, on account of the advanced period of my ministry, and my infirmities, have but little personal interest in the matter, but ought rather to hold myself in constant preparation for the grave, and for eter-
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1662
nel blessedness. I wish for you, even each one in particular, all prosperity and consolation from the Lord. Given in New Nether- land, in the town of Midwout, Aug. 8, 1662.
Yours affectionately and dutifully,
John T. Polhemus.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Call of a Minister to New Netherland. S. Megapolensis. 1662, Aug. 21st.
Rev. Cribius, as Deputatus ad res Indicas, makes known that the Hon. Directors of the West Indian Company, announce that they have need of a minister in the regions of New Netherland, to assume the service of the church there. And as this matter cannot brook any further delay, after the Assembly had made a nomination of three persons, namely, Rev. Broeckhuysen, Rev. Bralius, and Rev. S. Megapolensis, there was finally called, by a majority of votes, for the service of the church of New Nether- land, the Rev. Samuel Megapolensis. The time for his examina- tion was appointed for Sept. 5th, and the text, Acts 26; 17, 18, was given him by Rev. Examiner, for a sermon.
Whereas, on account of the shortness of the time (allowed) the elders to appear at the (next) meeting of Classis, and because the funds which are now lacking, cannot be collected, notwith- standing the resolution formerly adopted; therefore the Rev. As- sembly resolved, if there be no objection, to take up this matter at the next regular meeting of the Classis, which shall be held Sept. 4th. At this next meeting, Rev. John Mourcourtius shall preside .- vi. 276; xix. 88.
COUNCIL MINUTES. QUAKERS IN FLUSHING. Thursday, August 24th 1662.
To the Noble Honorable Director General and Council of New Netherland.
The Magistrates of Rustdorp came here to-day and in form of complaint reported to the Director General, that the majority of the inhabitants of their village were adherents and followers of the abomnible sect, called Quakers, and that a large
527
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 1
1662
meeting was held at the house of John Bound in Vlissingen every Sunday. They requested, that this might be prevented one way or the other. Date as above (August 24th, 1662.)
By these presents are all Magistrates and Inhabitants of the English Townes, in the Jurisdiction of the New Netherlands Ordered and Required to assist the Bearer, our Schout Resolved Waldron for to imprisson all such persons, which shall be found in a prohibited or in a unlawfull meeting. Given under our hand this 9th of September Anno 1662 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 515.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
S. Megapolensis.
1662, Sept. 4th.
Rev. Homma makes known that Rev. Samuel Megapolensis asks that his examination, which in pursuance of preceding resolutions was now to be taken up, may be postponed until October 2nd 1662, inasmuch as there are yet two or three months before his de- parture for New Netherland, the Rev. Assembly grants his re- quest. The examination will be held on Oct. 3rd the day after the last Classis (of the year). vi. 276; xix. 88.
FOR A CHURCH AT AMESFOORT.
Noble, Very Worshipful, Learned, Wise, Prudent and Discreet Director General and High Council of New Netherland.
Very Worshipful Gentlemen: As the Schepens of the Court of Amesfoort have resolved to construct and build with your Honors' approbation and the help of friends, a house of God and a place to meet for hearing God's word, therefore your Honors are humbly requested, to allow that said Court may collect voluntary con- tributions from the friends of religion for building such a house. Awaiting your Honors' approbation, etc., etc.
Your obedient servants,
The Schepens of the Court of Amesfoort By their order, Adrian Hegeman.
Amesfoort, the 12th of September 1662. September 14th, 1662. Answered: Fiat qd. petitur .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiv. 516.
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