Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume I, Part 52

Author: New York (State). State Historian. cn; Hastings, Hugh, 1856-1916. cn; Corwin, Edward Tanjore, 1834-1914, ed. cn; Holden, James Austin, 1861-
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Albany, J. B. Lyon, state printer
Number of Pages: 812


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As renewed complaints have been made in this regard by the Magistrates, we trust that the error committed by you will be promptly corrected and avoided in future; but we are also informed and shall hear in due time, whether it is true or not, that the Magistrates tried to arrogate the disposal of what is collected in the community for the Church or the poor. If it is, as we are informed, then we are of opinion and direct, that the disposal and distribution of it properly concerns and shall remain in the care of the Consistory. We recommend you, the one side and the other, before closing each to remain within the boundaries of your respective positions and to continue as well officially as privately to live together in mutual friendship and harmony; we inform you both hereof in love and friendship and rely upon its proper observance. We commend you all to God's protection and remain with greetings,


Honorable, Pious and Very Discreet Friends.


Fort Amsterdam,


21st November 1663 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiii. 307.


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1663


ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


ANSWER OF REV. HERMANUS BLOM TO DIRECTOR STUYVESANT'S LETTER, CONCERNING CLERICAL AFFAIRS AT WILTWYCK.


Very Worshipful, Prudent and Very Discreet Sir. Sir :- Your letter of the 21st of November has been received by us as well as the enclosed copy, sent by your Honor. We should have answered the same properly, but cannot do it now on account of the hurried departure of the yachts and defer it therefore to a better opportunity. In regard to the estates of deceased persons we have done no more, than to send our clerk to Cornelis Slecht and Juriaen Westval, that they should not give up the surplus of the estates into the hands of the Magistrates, before we have examined whether the overseers of the poor or the village were authorized to receive it and we maintain that position, until we are better informed; that is the whole of the matter, while they write so amply about it, that we do it judicially and trouble ourselves with their business and assume their duties and other things. Your Honors may see now, what it amounts to; methinks, we are not so wrong in this matter, if we want to examine the case ourselves and discover who has a claim to the money, when there are no heirs, for it is our duty to take care of the poor and we have at present a heavy burden laid upon us; much less we meddle with matters of this nature in opposition to the civil authorities, to compel the same to appoint curators of the estate, nor have we ever thought of it, much less even to forbid them through the Court messenger, while it has only been done by our clerk, who simply spoke of the aforesaid persons: we leave them to attend to their duties and have enough to do with ours, but they do not the same, as the fol- lowing will show.


We also learn from your Honor's letter, that they have made several complaints, while the Magistrates have not yet heard the Consistory, except Albert Haymensen, whom they call the Consistory and him they hear whimsically at their meeting instantaneously summoned, while he is only a member of the Consistory, for the Consistory consists in the country, where the number of elders is only small, of the preacher, the elders and deacons, according to the order of the Synod of Dort, as your Honor knows.


The Magistrates summoned, as your Honors know, the preacher and I answered, that they must not let me wait, but they say, the messenger had given as reason, because it was a day of prayer the next day and I had to preach therefore; then I had to come immediately with Albert Heymansen, one of the Consistory, so that the matter was not delayed; we will show your Honor in due time, how they have treated us in regard to other ecclesiastical matters etc. as well as to the house of Claesjen Teunis, also how they have compelled us by some documents to before the church in the afternoon.


Wiltwick, December 3, 1663.


Hermanus Blom. (Parts of this letter are gone.)- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiii. 311.


LETTERS FROM THE MAGISTRATES AT WILTWYCK TO DIRECTOR STUYVESANT ON GENERAL MATTERS AND THE QUARREL WITH THE CHURCH.


Noble, Very Worshipful, Honorable, Wise, Prudent and Very Discreet Gentlemen :- We trust your Honorable Worships have received our last letter of the 3rd of December with the journal of daily occurrences. We inform your Honorable Wor- ships herewith, that since the 3rd of December we have not heard of any hostile rencontres, we remain in the meantime on our guard and shall continue so. We send your Honorable Worships some old pieces of property in Reijntje Pieter's yacht, namely six muskets with five locks and eleven cutlasses and sabers. We hope to receive from your Honorable Worships the necessary provisions for the military in the Company's yacht before winter and the heavy frost; most of the soldiers are ill provided with clothing for expeditions and standing on guard and as


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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


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to eatables for their subsistence, they cannot very well get them here, because peas and other victuals cannot be obtained here in Wiltwyck except with great trouble and at excessive prices. With God's help, our own good information and other reports, we shall do our best during the winter, to do as much harm to our enemies, as we can and wherever it might be, with detachments of fifteen, twenty, twenty five or more men from the military or resident volunteers, whom we think fit thereto, unless your Honorable Worships should give us other orders. The book number four kept in Wiltwyck has been closed and only half of it has been copied, it can therefore not be sent down unless during the winter by a mail from Fort Orange or next spring. Closing with our salutations we commend your Honor- able Worships to God's protection and remain,


Your Honorable Worships' faithful and obedient servants,


Wiltwyck, December 12th 1663.


Thomas Chambers.


To the Noble, Honorable, Very Worshipful, Wise, Prudent and Very Descreet Gentlemen, the Director General and Council of New Netherland at Fort Amster- dam in New Netherland .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiii. 317.


Noble, Honorable, Very Worshipful, Wise, Prudent, Very Discreet Gentlemen .- Your Honorable Worships' fetter was thankfully received by us on the 26th of November last past and we have accepted most of its contents with pleasure, but we are highly astonished that your Honorable Worships as our supreme authority here in New Netherland should have taken away the small privileges of this vil- lage and destroyed the authority of the Commissaries, for we see by your Honor- able Worships' order, that the surplus resulting from estates left behind by this or that person shall be placed into the hands of the overseers of the poor, that it may be better and more safely taken care of by them. The Magistrates of this vil- lage are therefore much dissatisfied, unless your Honorable Worships had appointed orphan masters for this place or mistrusting us had required security, as is done in Court when guardians are appointed. If your Honorable Worships will transfer not only part, but all the duties and rights of the Commissaries to Domine Her- manus Blom and his Consistory Albert Heymansen, for before or during our time no deacon has been elected, who could either read or write, except the Domine alone, who sides with Albert Heymansen, who has shown himself more than once as an instigator of quarrels.


Finally the Court of this village is amazed, that your Honorable Worships have given us no answer to our request concerning the farming of the beer and wine, as we are dunned by several parties on account of the arrearage on the Domine's house and have no revenues, while the expenses of the village increas daily. Clos- ing with salutations we commend your Honorable Worships to God's protection and in the expectation of further orders we remain,


Your Honorable Worships' obedient and faithful,


Roeloff Swartwout The mark X of Albert Gysbertsen Tierck Classen de Witt Thomas Chambers Gysbert van Imborgh.


Actum Wiltwyck,


the 12th December 1663 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiii. 31S.


PETITION OF THE SCHOUT AND MAGISTRATES OF BERGEN, THAT


ENGELBERT STEENHUYSEN SHALL PERFORM HIS CONTRACT AS SCHOOLMASTER.


To the Noble, Honorable, Very Worshipful Director General and Council at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland. Show humbly the Schout and Commissaries of the village of Bergen, that, as your Honors undoubtedly know, before the going out of office and the election of new Commissaries, Michael Jansen Sall has been


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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


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before your Honors and requested that we might have a precentor, who could also keep school for the instruction and education of our young children and that your Honors proposing one Engelbert Steenhuysen as a suitable person the Schout and Commissaries repeated this proposition more than a year ago to the com- munity, which resolved to employ him not only as precentor, but also, this was expressly stipulated, to keep school. The said Steenhuysen accepted this and has now served for more than fifteen months, for which he was allowed a salary of two hundred and fifty guilders in wampum annually and some other emoluments, besides the school fees, considered proper and fair. Now being the owner of a house and lot and of a double bouwery in the jurisdiction of the village of Bergen the said Engelbert Steenhuysen has upon the complaint of the majority of the community been directed to maintain a soldier like the other inhabitants; this has aggrieved the said Engelbert Steenhuysen so much, that he has resigned his office, asserting that a schoolmaster should be exempt from all village taxes and burden, as it is customary, he says, everywhere in Christendom. The Schout and Commissaries interpret this to be the case, when a precentor has only the school lot, but not when a schoolmaster owns a lot and a double bouwery; the community is also opposed to his being exempted for his lot and lands, for he receives a salary as precentor and is bound to serve not only as precentor, but also to select himself and provide a fit and convenient place to keep school in, which he has failed to do until this day, pretending the community must designate and provide such a place fit for a school-house. The petitioners are of opinion, that Engelbert Steenhuysen cannot resign his office, without giving a notice of six months of his intention so to do and therefore the petitioners address themselves to your Honors with the humble request, to direct the said Engelbert Steenhuysen that he must continue his services during the second year now commenced, and to decide whether he is not bound to maintain on behalf of his lot and land a soldier like the other inhab- itants. Awaiting your Honors' decision we remain,


Your Honors' very obedient servants,


Caspar Steinmets, Tielman van Vleeck.


December 17th. [1663?]


The Schout, Commissaries and Engelbert Steenhuysen, mentioned in the forego- ing petition, having been summoned before the Council and heard, the parties were made to agree after divers debates and it was arranged, that Engelbert Steen- huysen should duly serve the rest of the term according to contract, as mentioned above .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiii. 318. 319.


ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


Return of Rev. Selyns from New Netherland.


1664, Jan. 16th.


The same Brethren, Deputati ad causas Indicas, state that they were informed by one of the Directors of the West India Com- pany, that Rev. Henricus Selyns, minister at Breukelen, in New Netherland, caused his father to notify the Directors, that, inas- much as the time of four years, during which he had pledged himself to the service of the church in New Netherland, had expired, he was now minded to return home again. The Assem- bly was of the opinion that the Rev. Brethren, the Deputies,


ADDRESS OF LETTER OF REV. HENRY SELYNS, DECEMBER 15, 1698.


541


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


1664


shall inform the father of Rev. Selyns, that he will have to give the same notice to the Rev. Classis. They will also request the Hon. Directors, to choose and send another minister in his place. vi. 331; xix. 108.


1664, Jan. 20.


Chamber at Amsterdam to Director and Council of New Netherland.


Domine (Samuel) Megapolensis goes out now by this ship. We have engaged him as Minister on the same terms and conditions as Domines Blom and Selyns were formerly accepted, viz., fifty florins a month. We hope he, too, will give satisfac- tion, and perform good service there, which we shall be glad to hear in due sea- son .- Col. Docs. N. Y. ii. 223.


COURT MINUTES OF NEW AMSTERDAM. Subscriptions for Defence.


1664, Feb. 24.


The citizens were called together and were asked how much they would give on ten per cent interest for the improvement of the defences of the City. We find the total amount subscribed was twenty seven thousand five hundred florins, or eleven thousand dollars. Among these


Peter Stuyvesant gave,


f. 1000.


Domine Johannes Megapolensis,


600.


Domine Samuel Drisius,


500.


Domine Eagidius Luyck, 200.


Hendrick Kip, Sr.


100.


Isaac de Forest,


250.


Jacob Leisler,


250.


The Deacons of the Church, Etc., etc. 2000.


- Records of New Amsterdam, v. 29-33.


EXTRACT FROM PATENT OF CHARLES II TO JAMES, DUKE OF YORK, FOR THE TERRITORY OF NEW NETHERLAND, AS FAR AS IT RELATES TO ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS.


(From Leaming and Spicer's Ed. of Laws.)


1664, March 12.


Letter-Patent of Charles II to James Duke of York.


And further, that it shall and may be lawful to and for our said dearest brother, his Heirs and Assigns, by these presents from time to time, to nominate, make, constitute, ordain and confirm, by such name or names, stile or stiles, as to him or them shall seem good; and likewise to revoke, discharge, change and alter, as well all and singular Governors, Officers, Ministers which here- after shall be by him or them thought fit and needful to be made or used within the aforesaid Parts and Islands: And also to make, ordain and establish all manner of Orders, Laws, Directions, Instructions, Forms and Ceremonies of Government and Magistracy fit and necessary for, and concerning the Government of the Terri- tories and Islands aforesaid; so always that the same be not contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this our realm of England, but as near as may be agreeable thereto. Page 15.


542


ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


1664


1664, June 24.


James, Duke of York sells New Jersey to John Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret with same conditions.


1664, March 17.


The children of the Schools to be catechised.


Whereas it is highly necessary and of great consequence that the youth, from their childhood, is well instructed in reading, writing and arithmetic, and princi- pally in the principles and fundaments of the Christian religion, in conformity to the lesson of that wise King Solomon, 'Learn the youth the first principles, and as he grows old, he shall then not deviate from it; ' so that in time such men may arise from it, who may be able to serve their country in Church or in State; which being seriously considered by the Director General and Council in New Netherland, as the number of children by God's merciful blessing has considerably increased, they have deemed necessary, so that such an useful and to our (us) God agreeable concern may be more effectually promoted, to recommend the present schoolmaster, and to command him, so as it is done by this, that they (Pietersen, the Principal, and Van Hoboocken, of the branch school on the Bouwery) on Wednesday, before the beginning of the sermon, with the children entrusted to their care, shall appear in the church to examine, after the close of the sermon, each of them his own scholars, in the presence of the reverend ministers and elders who may there be present, what they, in the course of the week, do remember of the Christian com- mands and catechism, and what progress they have made; after which the children shall be allowed a decent recreation.


Done in Amsterdam, New Netherland, this 17th March, 1664, by the Director General and Council .- Dunshee, 30.


Another translation in " Laws of New Netherland," 461; and in Am. Ch. Hist. Series, viii. 52.


ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


Letters from Polhemius.


1664, April 7th.


A certain letter written by Rev. Polhemius of New Netherland, was read in the Assembly, mentioning how little correspondence was held among the (New Netherland) churches; also that the daughter of Rev. Gideon Schaats, being unmarried, had come to childbed by a strange and married man, which man's wife suf- fered keenly therefrom; but that the affair was now hushed up. The letter was placed in the hands of the committee ad causas Indicas, in order to make some further inquiries thereupon, and to report to the Rev. Classis. vi. 336.


Churches in the West Indies. (Brooklyn.)


1664, April 7th.


The Rev. Deputati ad causas Indicas also reported to the Assem- bly, how that they had presented themselves before the meeting of the Hon. Directors of the West India Company, with the


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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


1664


request that the Rev. Classis might be authorized to call another minister in the place of Rev. Sullyns, at Breukelen in New Nether- land. Their Honors gave for answer, that for the present, there was no opportunity to do this, on account of some difficulties with the English. They would, nevertheless, remember the matter favorably. The Rev. Deputati remain further charged therewith. vi. 337; xix. 111.


Acts of the Deputies. 1664, April 8th.


A letter from Rev. John Polhemus, pastor at Midwout in New Netherland, dated Sept. 11, 1663, was examined and read, by order of Classis, and found to contain two points: First, a com- plaint that no mutual correspondence was carried on among the churches there; second, a certain sad case of adultry committed by a married man, with the eldest daughter of Rev. Gideon Schaats, pastor at Fort Orange.


Resolved, that we confer with some of the Directors of the West India Company privately, (and request them) to furnish the Rev. Classis with the information which they have received. This will be done through Rev. President and clerk.


Since it was resolved on Nov. 6, 1663, to wait upon the Hon. Burgomasters in reference to sending a pastor to the South River, in New Netherland, the Rev. Classis has therefore, having ob- tained the consent of the Directors thereto, ordained, and sent, on Nov. 26, 1663, as pastor for that field, the Rev. Warnerus Hassinck (Hudson.) xxi. 13.


Correspondence from America.


1664, April 21st.


Rev. J. T. Polhemus to the Classis of Amsterdam. (Hardly decipherable.)


Reverend, Very Learned and Beloved Brethren in the Lord :-


With my respectful salutations, I find myself compelled, to open our wounds before your Reverences, in order, so far as I am concerned, to promote the desired cure.


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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


1664


1. There is no communication among us, in reference to the administration of divine services nor plans provided for propa- gating the Gospel among the savages and the English. We


receive, indeed, our dues, etc., but in reference to a teacher, for them, we must bear the expense ourselves, or leave them uninstructed, and thus they grow up wild, more and more ignorant of God. The Quakers also are compelled to go before the court, and be put under oath; but such compulsion is displeas- ing to God.


2. As to ourselves, each goes his own way, without any cor- respondence between us. Those who are outside the church are hardly noticed, and in consequence of such inattention they follow any opinions and whims of the community, from which we obtain our bread with troubles.


3. The defects of the past are severely criticized, the principal ones are the old servants remain. They card wool, like those who have to earn their living by it, and not without remonstrance over the injustice. They who wield the sceptre here, do so without let or hindrance, only shorten it, to the contempt of the divine service and the name of the Lord. I hope, Reverend Brethren, that this information may be received in such a way, that I may remain unsuspected and not be troubled therefor. Thus acting, may God bless us all. Fare ye well in Christ.


Your Reverences obedient brother,


J. T. Polhemus.


21st of April, 1664.


Midwout in New Netherland.


THE SECRET INSTRUCTIONS AS TO RELIGION, TO COL. R. NICOLLS, ETC., IN REFERENCE TO NEW ENGLAND; AND NEW NETHER- LAND, IF CONQUERED.


1664, April 23.


Abstract.


1. The commissioners were to inform themselves of the true state of the colonies by " insinuating " themselves by " dexterous carriage into the good opinions of the principal persons there ", that they might " lead " them " to desire to renew their charters and to make such alterations as will appear necessary for their own bene-


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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


1664


fit ". They were to inform the public that their great object was to conquer Long Island, that the Dutch may no longer monopolize the whole trade; for this territory was wrongfully wrested from the English. If the Dutch quietly submit, they shall have equal rights with British subjects.


5. Since it was the purpose of those colonists to possess liberty of conscience; therefore the commissioners were to be very careful not to say or do anything to excite suspicion that they intended " to make any alteration in their Church Gov- ernment or to introduce any other form of worshipp among them than what they have chosen ". The King then refers to an elaborate letter of his on this subject of June 28th, 1662, of which they had a copy, of the contents of which they should " dextrously take notice and press the execution and observation of the same according to the charter ". But that they " might not give any umbrage " to the people, as if they were enemies of their forms, they must " frequent their churches and be present at their devotion ", though they were also to have a chaplain of their own, "orthodox in his judgement and practice, who in your own families will read the Book of Common Prayers and perform your devotions according to the form established in the Church of England, excepting only in wearing the surplesse, which having never been seen in those countries, may conveniently be foreborne at this time ".


6. The commissioners were to be wary against any who seemed to side with them too soon in reference to " the establishing the Booke of Common Prayer and it may be the Episcopacy itself ". Such might be invited to the devotions of the commissioners, as led by their chaplain; but " you shall let them know that you have no order from us - for many of these overtures may be made known only for discovering your intentions - to make the least attempt, or to encourage altera- tion in the way they profess of religion ", although it would be the greatest blessing, if all were of "one faith and one way of worship with us". But ....


" you should proceed very warily and not enter upon it, till you have made some progress in your less difficult business; and indeed you should rather advise those who seem to be serious and hearty in that desire that they cause it to be first proposed and set on foot in the General Assembly that shall be called and promise them your utmost assistance there". They were not to "appear solicitous to make any change in the matters of religion or to make any attempt to bring any change to that people, except both " (a revenue for the Crown and a Church Establishment) "arise among themselves in the General Assembly, and then you shall give such countenance to it as you shall judge necessary for our service ".


[These secret Instructions show the real policy of the Government on religious matters in New England; and also in New Netherland as soon as it might be convenient.]- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 57-61.


LETTER FROM REV. HERMANUS BLOM TO DIRECTOR STUYVESANT, REQUESTING IN THE NAME OF THE CONSISTORY, THAT THE 7TH OF JUNE BE ANNUALLY OBSERVED AS A DAY OF THANKSGIVING AT THE ESOPUS, IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ESCAPE OF SO MANY PERSONS FROM THE INDIAN MASSACRE.


To the Noble, Honorable, Director General and the Honorable Council of New Netherland.


Very Worshipful Gentlemen .- Your Honorable Worships all know, that last year 1663 on the 7th of June the great God has allowed the savages heavily to visit our neighbor hamlet and this place, whereby the one was totally ruined and reduced to ashes and the other partially destroyed, in both places several people were killed smothered in their blood and wounded, as well as a large number of animals: many of us have even been captured by the heathens and led away as prisoners


35


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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


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and all this was done under the cover of friendship in an instant and with great cruelty, so that it was pitiful and distressing to look at, as we did not know, how it would go with those of us, who had been spared, for Death had come upon us and into our houses quickly and unexpectedly to destroy the children in their cradles, the young men on the streets, the dead bodies of men lay here and there like dung heaps on the field, and the burnt and roasted corpses like sheaves behind the mower. We have been living witnesses thereof as well as of the distress of our town and the uncertainty of our escape. The heathens fell then into the newly settled inheritance of the Lord intending to storm it at once and destroy it, which would have been done, when they rose so tyrannically against us in their rage and fury. If the Lord had not still been with us, they would have devoured us all alive, so that the waters of anxiety rose daily up to our souls, even went over all our souls, but our souls have escaped, like a bird from the snare of the bird catcher and in that anxiety the Lord has increased our pleading and lament- ing, so that we may say, where is there in New Netherland such sorrow as ours, with which the Lord has visited us, for He it is, who on account of our sins has. given up Jacob, the plunderer and Israel the robber, because we would not walk in his ways and not listen to his words, therefore he has emptied upon us the full- ness of his wrath and the fury of war and he has set all around us a fire, but we pay no attention to it and he has made us burn, but we do not take it to heart.




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