USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume I > Part 63
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On petition presented by Mr. Cornelis van Ruyven, on behalf of the widow of deceased Domine Johannis Megapolensis and of Domine Samuel megapolensis, re- questing that what still is due them for earned salary both from the West India Company, from this city and the town of Bergen, may be ordered to be handed and paid him, etc.,
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Ordered by the Governor-General of New Netherland:
As regards the claim against the estate of the West India Company, the petitioner is referred to the commissioners appointed on the 21st instant for the settlement of its books and payment of its debts; regarding the debt of the city and of the town of Bergen, it is already recommended to the respective Courts, in order that some means may be found, if possible, to pay the same .- Col. Docs. N. Y. ii. 726.
COURT MINUTES OF NEW AMSTERDAM.
Arrears of Salary due Rev. John Megapolensis, decd.
1674, June 26.
On the petition of Mr. Cornelis van Ruyven requesting in substance for Domine Samuel Megapolensis* and mother Megapolensis, payment of the arrears of the Minister's salary etc. Apostilled. That they, the petitioners, shall come in concur- rence with others, the old creditors of the City of that time, for what the City is found indebted to them, to be paid the arrears whenever means are found; and as regards the debts of particular persons, the petitioners have their recourse against them .- Records of New Amsterdam, Vol. 7. p. 104.
COMMISSION OF ANDROS TO BE GOVERNOR OF NEW ENGLAND, NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.
Instructions for Governor Andross.
1674, July 1.
1.
2. When you shall be arrived at New Yorke you shall take possession thereof in my name from those Dutch who have lately seated themselves there and are obliged by ye Article of His Majesty's last Treaty of Peace with ye States Generall of ye United Provinces to surrender it in ye same condicon that it was at re time of ye publication of ye said Treaty.
3. Being possessed of New Yorke (and in vertue thereof, of ye territories there- unto belonging) you shall by all possible meanes satisfy ye inhabitants, as well Natives as Straungers as English that your intention is not to disturbe them in their possessions, but on ye contrary that your coming is for their proteccon and benefitt, for ye encouragement of Planters and Plantations and ye improvement of trade and commerce, and for ye preservation of religion justice and equity amongst you.
4. And ye better to perswade ye Inhabitants of ye sincerity of your intencons herein, you are in ye first place to take care that a strict discipline be kept among ye Soldiers and Officers under your Command, severely punishing any disorderly or debauced proceedings among them, thereby to avoid all cause of Complaints from ye Inhabitants and at ye same time to invite them by your example to live soberly and discreetly in their severall vocacons.
5. You are not to molest or vex any person of ye Inhabitants there, upon pretence of their having lately dealt treacherously in assisting Eveson or his party in taking ye Fort or in giveing him intelligence of ye condicon thereof, thereby to invite him
* A son of Domine John Megapolensis, born in 1634, his father sent him to Harvard College in 1655 to study the classics and English, and in 1658 to Utrecht, Holland, to prepare himself for the ministry of the Reformed Church. Then he studied medicine at Leyden, and having been licensed as Minister at Amsterdam in 1659 he came back to New York to assist his aged father. He was one of the regular ministers of the Reformed Church in New York from 1664 to 1668, and a Commissioner to prepare the terms of surrender in 1664. In 1669 he returned to Holland, where he first became pastor of his father's first Church at Wieringer- waerd, and died in 1700 as Pastor Emeritus of the Scotch Church at Dordreght, where he had served since 1685 .- Corwin, Manual Refd. Church.
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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to the attempt (except such person haveing offended shall prove to be an English- man, in which case onely you are to proceed against him to ye forfeiture of his estate, or as ye law shali determine) But if you shall find any of ye Dutch (or other forreigners) inhabitants have been active in this matter, you shall take care to observe them more circumspectly hereafter, and If they be posted In any place of strength where the continuance of persons of doubtfull affections may be dangerous, you shall by ail iawfull means induce them to remove to other places as beneficiall to them but less hazardous to ye publick safety .- Col. Docs. N. Y. ill. 216.
Under the sub-division of "Rates for the Customs of New York " In these In- structions, occurs the following, relating to Religion :-
11. You shall permit ali persons of what Religion soever, quietly to inhabitt within the precincts of your jurisdiccon, without giving them any disturbance or disquiet whatsoever, for or by reason of their differing opinions in matter of Religion; Pro- vided they give no disturbance to the publique peace, nor doe molest or disqulet others in the free exercise of their religion .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 218.
COMPLAINT AGAINST THE REV. JACOB FABRITIUS.
New Orange, July 17, 1674.
The Hr. Schout de Mill Plt. against Jacobus Ffabritius, Prisoner and Deft. The Hr. Plt. says that the Deft. contrary to the order of this Court came by force on the 11th of July last into the house of Annetie Cornelis his Wife, and brought in there a chest against her will and consent; pushed a certain woman named Barentie with her spinning wheel off the road and moreover, when he was warned to keep still or that the Schout should otherwise have to be brought, he gave for answer, He was tired of the Schout and Burgomaster, and when the Schout came himself with order to remove him, the Deft. he resisted the Soldiers, pushing him Plt. on the breast with many other evil acts. The Hr. Plt. therefore demands that the Offender shall at least be banished forever out of this City's jurisdiction or other- wise punished according to his deserts as a person unworthy to live in a well regu- lated Burghery haveing committed divers offences against the laws and ordinances of our Fatherland; with the Costs incurred and still to accrue.
Burgomasters and Schepens having heard at length the demand and complaint of the Hr. Officer together with the answer and excuse of the Prisoner, and having seen and considered the depositions on both sides, condemn Magister Jacobus Fabritius in a fine of one hundred florins for the benefit of the Schout, and he shall merely ask the Court's pardon for the insults and injuries committed against it at divers times although he deserved to be more severely punished: Further their Worships persist by their last rendered judgement between said Ffabritius and his wife Annetie Cornelissen dated 8th of June last,, with this explanation that said Fabritius shall not presume to come to his said wife without her consent or to give her any trouble. Further, paying the costs incurred herein .- Doc. Hist. N. Y. Ifi. 243.
PETITION OF CHURCH OF NEW YORK FOR CONFIRMATION OF THEIR TITLE TO THE CHURCH IN THE FORT, 1674, JULY 23RD.
On petition of the Consistory (Kerckenraat) of the Dutch Reformed Christian Religion in New Orange with the Church Masters (Kerckmeesters) of that city, requesting in substance confirmation to them of the Church standing in Fort Wil- lem Hendrick, which it was agreed on the surrender of this Province in the year 1664, should with other public buildings continue to be employed for the same pur-
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pose as they then were used; as more fully appears by the second article of the Capitulation.
Ordered:
Fiat confirmatio, and a deed in form shall be granted to the Petitioners in the premises .- Col. Docs. N. Y. ii. 730.
Gov. Colve confirms the title of the Consistory to the Church in the Fort, July 23, 1674.
Anthony Colve, on behalf of Their High Mightinesses, the Lords States- General of the United Netherlands, and of His Serene Highness, the Prince of Orange, etc., Governor General of New Netherland, to all who may see this or hear it read, Greeting:
Whereas the Rev. Consistory of the Reformed Christian Religion in the City of New Orange, with the Church Mas- ters of the said city, have requested by a petition, which petition was granted on the 7th, that they may have, keep, enjoy and use, as they have done in former times until now, for the exercise of divine worship, the Church, built and standing in this Fort William Hendrick;
Therefore, by virtue of the commis- sion granted to me as aforesaid; I have given and confirmed, as I herewith give and confirm, to the aforesaid Consistory, and their congregation in this city, full use of the said Church, for the exer- cise of divine service as aforesaid; and further grant to them full consent, lib- erty and privilege to hold services in the said Church on weekdays as well as on Sundays without any molesta- tion, as it has been done formerly, charging and commanding all and every- body to whom this shall be shown, or whom it may in any way concern, to allow the said Reverend Consistory and their congregation the unmolested use of the said Church, in accordance with these presents.
Done at Fort William Hendrick, in New Netherland, on the 23rd of July, 1674.
A. Colve.
Anthony Colve, wegens haere hoog Moogendheden, de heere Staten gener- ael der verenigde Nederlanden en syn doorluchtige hoogheid den heere Prince van Orangie, etc., Governor Generael van Nieuw Nederlandt, allen dengeenen die desen sullen sien, ofte hooren leesen, Saluyt:
Alsoo de Eerwaerde Kerkenraet van de gereformeerde Christelyke Religie der steden N. Orangie geassisteert met de kerkmeesters derselven steeden pr. request hebben gerequesteert en by ap- pointment van den 7 deser oock is gecon- senteert, dat denselven sullen hebben, behouden genieten ende gebruyken, gelyck deselve in voorgaende tyde tot nu toe hebben gehadt, tot oeffeninge van de godsdienst 't volcomen gebruyk van de kerk, gebout, staende in desen ffortressen Willem Hendrick;
Soo ist dat uyt Kraght van de Com- missie in qualetie als vooren aen my verleent Aen wel gemelte Eerwaerde Kerkenraet en des selfs gemelten alhier ter steden hebben vergunt ende gecon- firmeert gelyck aen deselve vergunne ende confirmeert is mits desen volco- men gebruyk vangemelte Kerk tot het oeffenen van den Godtsdienst as voor- schreven is gevende aen de selve by desen volcomen Consent, Vrydom en Prevylegie omme so wel ter weeke als des Sondaghs inde selve Kerk haare Godtsdiensten als voor desen sonder eenige Verhinderinge te plegen; Last- ende ende bevelende alle ende een eyder die desen sal werden vertoout ofte eenigsins Concerneeren magh de wel- gemelte Eerwaerde Kerkenraet ende des selfs gemeente 't gebruyk van gemelte Kerk volgens den teneur deses ongemolesteert te laaten genieten.
Actum Fort Wm. Hendrick, in Nieuw Nederlant a dy 23 July, 1674.
A. Colve.
- From " Register van Transporten, Begonnen 29 November Ao. 1673. No. 3, p. 46 (Col. MSS. Vol. xxiii. f. 433.)
1
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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MERCHANTS TRADING TO NEW NETHERLAND TO THE ADMIRALTY AT AMSTERDAM.
To the Honorable Mighty Lords Deputies at the Admiralty residing in Amsterdam.
Honorable Mighty Lords: The undersigned committee from the New Nether- land Merchants, having understood that their High Mightinesses, by their letter of the 5th instant, request your opinion on the security which should and ought to be, in fairness, requested and required from the Crown of England for the inhabitants of New Netherland on the restitution of that country, have, on your recommendation, prepared their Observations thereupon.
Before explaining themselves, they have deemed it their duty humbly to pray you that, as they consider how importantly profitable that country is to this State, as the New Netherland Merchants have fully remonstrated, you would please to direct matters so that their High Mightinesses will be pleased to have the good- ness to discover some means whereby his Majesty of England may be prevailed on to relinquish the promised restitution for the behoof of this State, either in exchange or for a sum of money, according as their High Mightinesses, in their profound wisdom, shall judge most beneficial for this State; and, were this to succeed, to stipulate from, and condition with, the Crown of England, if neces- sary, such security as their High Mightinesses contemplate herein. But, if his Majesty were not to be disposed to that relinquisment by any devisable means, and if, accordingly, New Netherland must be restored to him, the undersigned committee think, under correction, that their High Mightinesses, considering with paternal commisseration, the miseries and troubles to which, in consequence of the restitution of that country, its inhabitants are exposed, who, through great attachment for their High Mightinesses' government, have zealously exerted themselves for the success of their arms, are, in duty bound, emphatically to oblige his said Majesty not to molest, punish nor injure those inhabitants for the aforesaid cause nor for any other, for anything whatsoever they might have done directly or indirectly during this war with England against his said Majesty, nothing excepted, but that everything shall be for all times forgiven and for- gotten, to all appearance, as if it had never happened, nor occurred.
Also, that the inhabitants there, as well as those of this country, shall remain in possession of their houses, lands, bouweries and all other goods and rights which they have in yonder country; and if dispossessed of any of them during or previous to this war, that all such shall be restored to them, with full power, so long as they remain there, to trade and barter, to sell or exchange their goods, to collect payment of their debts, and for all of them to settle, contract, prosecute and obtain judgement in all things with the same right, privilege and freedom as the English inhabitants there. Likewise, that the Dutch inhabitants there shall, at all times, be at liberty to transport themselves, with their goods and slaves, from that country whithersoever they please, free and unhindered, and that the Commander who shall then be over that Colony in his Majesty's behalf, shall give proper passports for such purpose to such departing Dutch inhabitants within two or three weeks after their request has been made; that, also, the Colonie of Rensselaerswyck shall be restored to the owners, with all such rights and freedoms as they have enjoyed and possessed from the foundation thereof.
Further that the inhabitants on both sides, from here to New Netherland and thence back to this country, shall be at liberty, free and unmolested, to go and trade without being obliged, in the outward or homeward voyages, to touch at and pay duty in Old England or any other place under his Majesty's jurisdiction, which trade and resort his Majesty did grant to some ships about the year 1668. But in case his Majesty object to grant it, and insist that the outward or home- ward bound ships must touch at and pay duty in Old England, we, the under- signed committee, humbly request that his Majesty may be disposed to appoint some person or persons in this country to whom the ships going to New Nether- land or returning thence, may pay the King's customs and duties, and thus be relieved and excused from touching at or paying duty in Old England.
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But should free trade be considered unsuccessful, In such case the Dutch inhab- itants, who in the first instance, will have remained in New Netherland, and who, afterwards, contrary to the concluded agreement on experiencing ill-usage, may resolve to depart thence, and shall be in want of ships for their conveyance, their High Mightinesses might insist on sending ships thither for the conveyance of the inhabitants, on such conditions as his Majesty hath agreed to the trans- portation of his inhabitants in Surinam by the IVth Article of the Treaty of Peace concluded at Westminster.
Finally, that the Treaty or Agreement whereby New Netherland was surrendered to Mr. Nikols for the Duke of York or Crown of England in the year 1664,* shall remain valid and be faithfully executed, except in so far as it may be or is modi- fled or altered by any subsequent agreement. But the undersigned submit all the aforesaid to your Honorable Mightinesses' wise judgement and correction.
Wherewith, Honorable, Mighty Lords, may God preserve your persons and bless, prosper and render successful your administration in this intended work, which is the sincere wish of
Your Honorable Mightinesses' Humble servants, (Signed),
Gerart Hamel, John Baptist van Renselaer, Nicolaus Gouverneur. - Col. Docs. N. Y. il. 541, 542.
DUKE OF YORK TO GOVERNOR ANDROS IN FAVOR OF THE REV. MR. VAN RENSELAER.
Major Andros :-
Nichalaus Van Renseslaer having made his humble request unto me, that I would recommend him to be Minister of one of the Dutch churches in New York or New Albany when a vacancy shall happen; whereunto I have consented. I do hereby desire you to signify the same unto the parishioners at yt (place) wherein I shall looke upon their compliance as a mark of their respect and good inclination towards me. I am, etc .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 225.
23 July 1674.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Correspondence from America.
1674, July 26th.
Rev. William Van Nieuwenhuysen to the Classis of Amsterdam. Reverend, Pious, Very Learned Fathers and Brethren in Christ :-
I have, since my arrival here, constantly sought opportunity to write to you particularly, but have found little to communicate. In July, 1673, we made you acquainted with the sympathy and grief we felt, concerning the breach of the daughter of Zion, in our beloved Fatherland, caused by traitors within, and the in- vasion of the country by the French. We also acquainted you
* This included articles on Religion.
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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with the death of the Rev. Samuel Drisius, one of the ministers of this church, who went to rest in the Lord on the 18th of April of that year, (1673). He had been appointed by the late English Governor here, (Lovelace) about the time of my arrival, (Or; ap- pointed by the English Governor here, who had just arrived,) to the service of the English church. He had been afflicted for a considerable time with a considerable loss of mental power and memory. I fear that the letter referred to has not come to your hands, as it is reported that some of you are dissatisfied with our neglect, as they term it, in writing. We greatly rejoice in the treaty of peace between our country and the King of England ; but we would have still more greatly rejoiced, if this country had not been restored to the crown (of England,) as has been done by virtue of the sixth article of the treaty. Not less pleasant to us, was the intelligence that it had pleased the Almighty God to put his hook in the nose of the arrogant French Sennacherib, (Louis XIV.) and has thus stopped the desolations of his dearly bought church. Also thereby God has extended his special protection over several cities in particular, and over our whole Fatherland in gen- eral, against the wanton and the scandalous, the cruel and the murderous, the hellish incendiarism and the robberies, of this child of Antichrist. We trust that this (treaty) may bring the end so long desired. Neither can we doubt, but that by these things the light of the Gospel will be made to shine much more brightly from the candle-stick of our Fatherland; that new opportunities will be procured for many of our fellow-laborers, belonging either to the Classis of your Reverences, or to some other Classis, to fulfill their duties with joy, without fear of persecution as heretofore; for when they and their families were driven out and persecuted, their churches and their dwellings burned, their congregations scattered, they were made a spectacle of grief to all christians.
The church in this place flourishes under God's blessing, as much as we could hope for, notwithstanding the fact that during the last four weeks, in apprehension of a change of governors, cer-
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tain of our members have moved away, as some of your Rev. Body will have learned from the letters of dismission exhibited to you by them. Our church consists of between four and five hundred members ; of whom, we can assure your Rev. Body, without boast- ing, more than one hundred have been received under our ministry. I have preached constantly three times a week, on Sundays and Wednesdays, for which duties God has graciously strengthened me. If we remain under the government of the States (of Hol- land), it would be well to send over a sober-minded man as a col- league to me; but if this cannot take place, I hope to fulfill my ministry faithfully, as heretofore. Since my residence here three hundred and seven children have been baptized by me in our church, and fifty couples have been publicly married by me be- longing to the congregation. Hence if nothing unpropitious oc- curs in our government, a great increase in the church and in this community may be expected.
We have no other sect here except the Lutherans. We think that the late English, as well as the present Dutch government, allow them too much liberty. Yet they do us no harm, while we oc- casionally gain a few from their small number.
We have to propose two questions on subjects brought before us during the late English rule here, and which may again arise, if we are brought under the government of their laws.
1. May I be allowed to administer the sacrament of Holy Bap- tism to children, without a sermon preceding, and not in the church but in a private house, and in the presence of only a few persons ?
2. Am I at liberty to marry persons outside of the church building, in my own house or other houses, without the publica- tion of the banns, and only on a license and order from the Gover- nor ?
I have always refused to do so in such cases, although it made the English very bitter against me, for I believed to do otherwise would be directly contrary to the instructions received from your
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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Rev. Body, and against the general Church Order. Therefore I could not do these things with a good conscience. I therefore re- quest your advice on these points, to be forwarded by the earliest opportunity, promising to regulate myself entirely thereby.
I commend my present pastoral charge, as well as myself to your care, as heretofore, beseeching you also, that in case of a change in the government, your care may continue, and be increased, rather than diminished. Meantime I commend your persons and families to God and the word of his grace, praying that you may earnestly preach the Word unto the prosperity of Jerusalem. May he bless your Classical and other ecclesiastical labors to the glory of his Great Name, the edification of his chosen, and the winning of many souls to Christ; and may he deliver his spiritual Israel out of all their troubles.
With cordial salutations to you, individually, and collectively as a Classis, and in the name of our consistory and congregation, I remain, Reverend, Pious and Very Learned Fathers and Breth- ren,
Your Reverences servant and fellow-laborer in Christ, Wilhelmus Van Nieuwenhuysen,
Ecclesiastes ibidem. New Orange, in New Netherland July 26, 1674.
(This letter was written during the brief recovery of New York by the Dutch, which lasted only about a year. The name of New York was changed to New Orange, 1673-4. )
ORDER TO PUT THE DUKE'S LAWS [OF FEB. 28, 1665] IN FORCE IN NEW YORK.
Whereas there are hereunto annexed certaine Laws established by authority of His Majesty's Letters Patents granted to me and digested into one volume for ye publique use of all ye territories in America under my Government collected out of ye severall laws in other His Majesty's American Colonies and Plantacons, upon perusall and consideracon of which it appears that there may be an occasion to make some alteracon or amendments in some particular clauses thereof; These are therefore to authorize and require you to put in execucon ye said laws, except
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such as shall have apparent inconveniences in them; and after your settle- ment at New York, with ye advice and helpe of your Councell carefully to peruse and consider ye same, and if you finde it necessary for ye ease and benefitt of ye people and ye good of my service to make any alteracons, addicons or amend- ments in ye said laws, you are with ye first opportunity to represent ye same unto me, to ye end you may receive from me such orders and direccons as shall be nec- essary for authorizeing you to put ye same in execucon. And for soe doeing ys. shall be your Warrant. Given under my hand at Windsor ys. 6. day of August 1674 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 226, 227.
To Major Andros my Lt. and Governor of New York.
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