Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II, Part 15

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: 740


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Middleton Craven


John Nicholas.


To our lo: friend


Tho. Dongan Esq., His Majesty's Lieutenant and Governor of the Province of New York and its Dependencies in America. And in his Absence to the Comander in Cheif for the time being at New York .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 359, 360.


KING JAMES II. TO GOVERNOR DONGAN.


Trusty and well beloved, wee greet you well. Whereas by the decease of the late King, Our most dearly Beloved Brother, And Our Accession to the Imperial Crown of this Realm, Our Province of New York, the Propriety whereof was, by the letters patents of His said Majesty vested in us, is now wholly devolved upon Our Royal person and annexed to Our other Dominions. Wee doe hereby signify Our Will and Pleasure That you publish and make known the same to all Our lov- ing subjects within Our Province .* And as wee have been pleased, by Our Royal Proclamation, to direct that all men being in office of Government shall soe con- tinue therein untill further Order; soe wee doe hereby charge and require you to pursue such Powers and Instructions as wee have formerly given you, and such further Powers, Authority and Instructions as you shall at any time hereafter receive under Our Royall Signet and Sign Manual, or by Our Order in our Privy Council. And that you likewise give Our said loving subjects to understand, that having committed to Our said Privy Council the care of Our said Province, with the consideration of the several bills and Addresses lately presented unto us from Our Assembly there, They may shortly expect such a gracious and sutable return by the settlement of fitting privileges and confirmation of their rights, as shall be found expedient for Our service and the welfare of Our said Province. And soe wee bid you farewell. Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the 5th day of March in the first year of Our Reign.


By his Majesty's Command .- Col. Docs. N. Y. 111. 360.


ORDER CONCERNING THE DEACONS OF THE CHURCH OF NEW


YORK.


1685, March 13.


Act concerning the sale, conveyance of lands for the poor, and the reception of new poor (under their charge.) Lib. A. 41, of English translation.


The Consistory, and Deacons of the Dutch Church and of the poor of New York, having met concerning the sale and convey- ance of the poor-lands, and other matters touching the service of the Deacons,


* King James II, was proclaimed in the City of New York on the 23rd of April, 1685 .- Council Minutes, v. 109.


57


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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


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Resolved, after calling on the name of the Lord, as of old, that


(1) No real estate shall be alienated or sold unless the Deacons shall previously give notice to the Minister and Elders, and act according to their counsel and determination.


(2) No poor-moneys shall be placed or deposited with or with- out security, unless after a similar notice as above.


(3) No poor shall be taken under the charge of the Deacons, unless the Consistory have had previous notice of the same.


All this, for reasons, was agreed upon between the Consistory and the Deacons, to be inviolably followed hereafter.


Henry Selyns, Minister.


Signed also by the Elders and Deacons.


(The Consistory, in Holland, embraced only the Minister and Elders. In America, towards the middle of the Eighteenth cen- tury, the Deacons began to be included under the term.)


ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


Rev. Du Bois as to the Call of Rev. Dellius.


1685, May 7th.


Rev. Du Bois, minister at Gorinchem, made known both by word of mouth, and by a letter handed in from the Rev. Classis of Gorinchem, that although the documents of the call of the church of the town of Henkelom on Rev. Dellius, now minister at New Albany in America, or at least the copy of the same, had been sent to him (Dellius) a long time ago; yet that neither the church of Henkelom, nor the Classis of Gorinchem, had received any reply thereto. He asked therefore, whether this Classis had re- ceived any information of the inclination and resolve of Rev. Dellius regarding the said call. The Rev. Classis resolved to give Rev. Du Bois as answer, that hitherto this Classis had received no definitely clear answer from Rev. Dellius on this subject. She will, however, as soon as possible, write again to him, and seek a


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final answer from him as soon as possible. When this shall have been secured, it shall be made known to the Rev. Classis of Gorin- chem by Revs. Deputies ad res Indicas. vii. 376; xix. 228.


Acts of the Deputies and their Correspondence.


The Classis of Amsterdam to Rev. Godfridus Dellius, May 7, 1685. xxvii. 182.


Reverend Brother, Godfridus Dellius :-


From yours of October 15, 1684, we learn that you had, through a certain letter of ours to Rev. Selyns, as also through reports coming to you from collateral sources, received informa- tion of the call made upon you by the church of Henckelem; and that you remained in expectation of the original documents after- this preliminary receipt of the news. These were sent to you in order, on October 24, (1684), with the advice of our Rev. Classis thereon.


We perceive with satisfaction, in your above mentioned letter, your readiness to follow this advice, yet we do not understand your exact meaning, as plainly as we wish, respecting your ac- ceptance or declination of said call. We have therefore been directed by the Rev. Classis to address you again, and to request. you seriously, since you are now furnished completely with all requisite documents, together with the opinion of the Classis, to be pleased to express yourself clearly, at the first opportunity, with regard thereto. Also, without further delay, send your final decision, in accordance with the earnest desire of the church of Henckelem. To this topic restricting ourselves, we remain, after wishing all prosperity and blessing upon yourself and ser- vices, Rev. Brother,


Your affectionate brethren in Christ, The Deputati ad res Maritimas.


Johannes Brandolphus, Johannes Relandt, .


Gisbertus Oostrum, Caspar Voskuyl.


Amsterdam,


May 7, 1685.


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REV. DELLIUS ASKS FOR HIS DISMISSION FROM ALBANY.


Extraordinary Court holden at Albany July 6, 1685.


The Consistory of this City appearing in Court inform their Worships that Domine Godefridus Dellius resigned his office as Minister last Thursday at the Consistorial assembly, and requests his demission, as his Reverence is advised of a call for him to Henclem in Patria. To which his Rev. was answered that it was a matter of no small importance, and should therefore communicate it to the old Con- sistory next Monday; and the Members aforesaid being assembled, the inquiry was made if the Classis had sent letters to them by Domine Dellius, but none were found; On the contrary the letters were sent to the Court and therefore he was referred to the Court through whom he was called and to whom he was consigned.


Whereupon Domine Deilius appeared in Court and informed their Worships that 'he requested his demission from the Consistory, who referred him to their Worships; and as it is directly contrary to the order of the Netherlands Church, to demand demission from the Political authority, he, therefore, requests that he may receive his demission from the Consistory, and if not, a Certificate.


Their Worships learn with great grief and surprise the proposition and communi- cation of Domine Dellius; request to know the reason of his Reverences departure and if his Rev. is not satisfactorily paid his salary. It is their Worships' Opinion that should he act thus, it will be a violation of his promise, whereby he pledged himself, when his salary was raised, on his arrival, from nine hundred gl. Beaver to Nine hundred gl. Hollands, that he should not leave this Congregation unless something extraordinary occurred; secondly as the call has not been exhibited, they require to see it, considering that it is a very strange thing to call a Minister from America, where he is so necessary.


His Reverence says that he is promptly paid to his full contentment and satis- "faction, but being advised of a call to Henckelum, which he cannot now exhibit, he is wholly disposed to return home and prosecute his advancement.


Whereupon their W. desire to know what advancement his Reverence looks for; that they should recommend it, for their W. considering that Domine Schaets, their old Minister, is very feeble and again, that it was requisite he should remain under existing circumstances, when so many strange shepherds are lifting up their heads as we daily see; but the Domine persisting in his proposal to depart, and should no demission be given him, he required a simple certificate for he was' fully resolved to return Home and nothing should persuade him to remain even though he left without a certificate.


Their W. of the Court by and with the advice of the consistory, both new and old, resolved, if Domine Dellius is in no way to be persuaded to remain, that he may then go but on his own authority, and that no Demission can be given him, it" being contrary to the Will and Inclination of the Congregation .- Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 537.


ACTION ON REQUEST OF REV. DELLIUS.


Die Mercury 8thdo [8 July] 1685.


The Consistory informs their W. of the Court that the Rev. Domine Godefridus Dellius proposed to them as he perceives the unwillingness of the Congregation to let him depart, that he will conclude to remain until the Spring, and Jeopardize his call so long, in order to preserve the sheep from all straying at this Conjuncture, on condition that he shall depart for Patria in the Spring and that in the first ship. Meanwhile letters shall be written by him and the Consistory to the' Classis of Amsterdam, Gorcum and to the City of Henclum to procure another Minister in his place, in which he shall perform his duty.


Their W. of the Court answer the Consistory that they can inform Domine Dellius that if his Rev. will resolve to remain some years, they shall be well pleased to do their duty in affording him every satisfaction in the world; but if not his Rev. may adhere to his previously adopted Resolution .- Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 538.


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


901 1685


SYNOD OF NORTH HOLLAND, AT EDAM.


1685, July 31-Aug. 9.


Article 11.


Extract from a letter from Rev. Dellius, of October 15, 1684.


He notifies us that ours of January 17, 1684, written to Rev Selyns and some one else and to himself, had been received; in which he was informed of the call of (the church of) Henkelom on him.


Article 25. Labadists and Coelman.


Ad Art. 27. Treating of the Labadists and of Coelman, the Rev. Correspondents have read from their Minutes; also the sev- eral Classes have related, how each, within its own borders, watches against them. The Rev. Classes were further recom- mended to take good care against both the one, (the sect), and the other, (the man).


1682-1685. Attestations. Lib. A. 31, 32, of English Trans- lation, Mints. Ch. of New York. Concerning payments to a Minister's Widow.


(1) Custom in North Holland.


We, the undersigned, ministers of the Reformed Churches of Jesus Christ in the Classis of Amsterdam, testify, at the request of the pious and learned Domine, Henry Selyns, that Ministers' widows after the death of their husbands, draw not only the salary of the quarter, in which their husbands died, but besides


that, a half years salary, without any abatement.


And at the


end of that year, draw yearly for life, one hundred guilders. Which, in testimony of its truth, we subscribe with our own Johannes Brandolphus, Minister at Wesop. hands.


Caspar Voskuyl, Minister at Wesop.


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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


1685


(2) Custom in Utrecht. The same.


Signed, Henricus Ten Brinck, Minister at Witnis. Cornelius Gentman, Minister at Utrecht.


(3) Custom in South Holland.


That this compensation, through all South Holland, is given to ministers' widows, and is still enjoyed by my sister, a Minister's widow at Noordrecht, I testify.


Casparus Van Zuuren.


The day of his departure to Holland, May 17, 1685.


Nota bene. Being called and conditioned according to the usage of the Hollandish churches that is exhibited thus plainly, in order to be sooner and better observed, by the third article of the contract of the foregoing call [of Domine Selyns. ]


According to the original, -


Henry Selyns.


August 16, 1685.


CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


Correspondence from America.


Rev. Godfridus Dellius to the Classis of Amsterdam, Septem- ber 1, 1685. Referred to in xxi. 296.


To the Rev., Pious, Very Learned Mr. Gisbert Oostrum, minister at Amsterdam.


Reverend, Pious and Very Learned Sir :-


I duly received in the middle of August your favor of the 7th of May (1685) and learned therefrom that the Rev. Classis had sent me, with their advice thereon, the Henckelem call, on the 24th of October 1684. You now demand that I, without further delay, and by the first opportunity, shall finally decide as to its acceptance or declination. Your Reverence will please to take notice that. the letter written by Mr. Homoet on the 4th of July


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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


1684, and which you thought had been despatched on the 24th of October, remained in the hands of Mr. de Wolff until the 25th of April current, (1685), and has been sent to me only now with the excuse, that he had not been able to find an earlier chance. I have only just received it simultaneously with yours.


The Rev. Deputies upon the advice of the Rev. Classis, in their first letter, sought to dissuade me from accepting said call. They did this both because they had taken notice of the satisfaction of the congregation with me, and because I am supposed to have further engaged myself to this church by their increase of my salary. This reason was hardly presented to the Rev. Classis in good faith. Before I came here from Holland, Messrs. Rensselaer and de Wolff, authorized the calling me a second time, and prom- ised me a second contract, that nine hundred florins should be paid to me, not in beavers or wheat as stipulated in the first con- tract, by which I claimed to have been led astray, but in Holland money. I receive therefore, no increased salary, but the proposed payment in beavers or grain was changed into a specie payment in silver. The first reason would have been powerful enough, viz., to follow the wise counsel of the Rev. Deputies and to stay here, if I had received it immediately after the call. Then the church might have been in a position to be grateful for their favor, (the favor of the Classis). But inasmuch, as, in the meantime, it has not wearied them (of Henckelem) to wait so long for me; and as I have not even darkly hinted to them that by sending over the call their desires would be so far gratified; so now I feel that I am compelled, and may the Rev. Classis approve of my determina- tion, to accept the said call, as I hereby do, and to exchange for another church this dear and growing congregation, of whose es- teem and affection I am fully satisfied; and which has been pleased to bestow much trouble upon retaining me. I pray God, that he will be pleased to bless our services there, as he has done here. I have also written to the church at Henckelem, that I accept their call, and with God's help intend to return to the Fatherland some-


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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


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time yet this year. I remain, with my wishes of salvation for you, and blessings upon you, your services and your families,


Reverend, Pious, Very Learned Sir, Your humble and obedient servant,


G. Dellius.


New Albany, the 1st of Sept.


1685.


REV. JEAN DE LAMBERVILLE TO GOVERNOR DONGAN.


1685, Sept. 10.


My Lord:


I had the honour not long since to write to you; it was last month; Since the despatch of my last letter, the Senecas who were desirous to make trouble and to persuade the Mohawks and other villages to unite with them against Mons. de la Barre, have changed their minds; since they were assured that the peace con- cluded last year, as you desired, would not be broken by M. de la Barre, as they were maliciously told, and as a hundred false reports which are never ceased being related would persuade them. To complete successfully what you have so well begun, it only remains to exhort the Senecas to add a few more peltries to the ten beavers and thirty otters which they left in deposit with the Onnontagues to satisfy Mr. de la Barre, as you last year recommended them to do. Let your zeal for the publick peace, and especially for the Christians of this America induce you, if you please, to put the finishing stroke to this good work and to recommend the Senecas and other villages not to attach credit to the recent floating rumors, since it is true that the Governor of Canada desires with all his heart that all things should be quiet, and to second your just intentions. The Onnontagues and those who are of their opinions, have operated powerfully on the minds of the said Senecas to induce them to resume thoughts of peace, as Mr. Arnout, bearer of this letter, who was present at what was done and said, can inform you, and from whom you will be glad to receive the news.


Since peace, through your care, will apparently last, we shall continue to carry the Christian Faith through this country, and to solicit the Indians, whom you honor with your friendship, to embrace it as you yourself embrace it, for this is the sole object that has caused us to come here, that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed for all men, may be useful to them, and that His glory may be great throughout the earth.


If you will please to honor me with a line from your hand you can have your letter given to one named Garakontie who is deputed from the Onnontagues to repair to the Diet which you have convoked at Albany. Do him the charity to exhort him to be a good Christian, as he was whose name he bears, and who was his brother. Recommend him I beseech you not to get drunk any more, as he promised when he was baptized, and to perform the duties of a Christian. One word from you will have a wonderful effect on his mind, and he will publish' throughout that it is not true that the English forbid them to be Christians since you who command them will have exhorted him to persevere therein.


I pray God who has given us the grace to be united in the same Catholic faith, to unite us also in Heaven; and that he may heap his favors on you here on'


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


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earth, is the wish of him who is perfectly, and with all manner of respect, My, Lord,


Your very humble and very obedient Servant


Jean de Lamberville, of the order of Jesuits. (called in Indian, Teiorhensere). *


Oblige me, I request you, to have the enclosed sent to its address.


Please, My Lord, pardon me the liberty which I take to present my humble. respects to the Governor of Virginia, who. is called among the Indians, Big Sword or Cutlass,* who I learn is with you at Albany to whom, some time ago, I caused to be restored an Englishman named Robelman, whom these Indians here had plundered and captured, and whom I took into my hut to save him from the fury of some refractory people and from those who would make him their slave. It is the least service I would desire to render him .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 453-4.


1685? Reverend Father Dablon to Governor Dongan.


Sir:


The peace of our Lord.


I have learned by the letters to the two Fathers de Lamberville, who are with the Iroquois of Onnontage, the kindness you have for them and the protection you afford them in their difficult position where zeal for God's glory and for the salvation of souls alone occupies them.


As God hath willed that they should be under my guidance, it has been their duty to inform me to what extent you carried the affection of which you afford them such sensible proofs, and what you have been so good as to do to extricate the younger from the danger to which he was exposed during his elder brother's absence.


I am already aware that your protection extends even to the trouble of saving them from a thousand sorts of insults to which they are exposed especially during the drunken debauches which constitute one of their severest martyrdoms. In a word, they have informed me that you spare no pains to procure for them the repose necessary for the exercise of their functions, furnishing them also the means to send many souls to Paradise.


Here is, Sir, sufficient cause to oblige me to express to you by this letter, which I have the honor to write you, how sensible I am of so many kindnesses, the. continuance of which I make bold to ask of you through the adorable blood of Jesus Christ whose precious remains those Fathers are collecting among the Heathen.


I cannot hope to be ever able to acknowledge them as I ought; but I can assert that God will be the witness of my gratitude, and that I shall often pray Him to be your rich reward and to heap His holy Blessings on you in time and eternity. This is what I ask him with as much ardour as I am with respect,


Sir, Your very humble and very obedient servant,


Claude Dablon, of the Society of Jesus. - Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 454.


* Signifying, "The Dawning of the Day". Colden's Five Nations, 107. It Is derived from the Onondaga word, iorhenha - the morning.


* In Indian, Assarigoa. Colden's Five Nations, 49. In the Mohawk version of the Gospel of St. John, attributed to the Chief Norton, the word "Sword ", (xviil. 10), is rendered by the term Asharego-a, which signifies, literally, "Big knife "; being compounded (see Gallatin's Vocabulary) of Ausehirlee, knife, and goa, big.


-


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CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


Correspondence from America. Rev. Henry Selyns to the Classis of Amsterdam, Sept. 20, 1685.


To the Reverend, Pious and Very Learned Domine Gisbertus Oostrum, P. T., Deputy for the foreign churches, and faith- ful pastor of Christ's Church at Amsterdam.


To be delivered to himself.


New York, the 20th of Sept. 1685. O. S. My dear Sir :-


When Domine Van Zuuren removed to Gouderack, I at last persuaded the vacant churches of Long Island, with the excep- tion of New Uytrecht, to convene for the call of a preacher. This was to be done on their behalf by the Rev. Classis of Am- sterdam. Full power and authority for it was sent to the Rev. Classis by the ship "Beaver ". To have it done as quickly as possible, there was enclosed a draft of one hundred and fifty florins, Holland currency, payable by Reynier van Brug, who lives on New Street, in Amsterdam.


But lest the "Beaver " should be shipwrecked, which may God forbid, or captured, a copy of the former letter written by said churches to the Classis, is here enclosed, with a duplicate of the draft for the same amount and order, if the first remains un- paid. This is to induce the Rev. Classis to send us an able pastor by the same ship "Beaver ", or by another ship about to sail, the " Hopewell "; or at least by the next, the "New York ".


The enclosure will inform you how urgent is this case, for the Antwerp man, it is said, has been engaged by the King. Con- cerning the Labadists - their blustering has mostly been quenched; but now, upon the arrival of some more from the house at Wiewarden, they again protrude their heads above the water. They have been reinforced also by Dutch Quakers, who have come to Long Island. Their impudent head and teacher, Telle-


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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


naer, intended to go and live in Pennsylvania, but he remained here and has not yet left, because of Domine van Zuuren's de- parture. He has dared, may God help us, to disturb public divine service at Breuckelen and Midwout, on one Sunday at the former place, and on the next Sunday at the latter. He comes assisted by his confrater, singing into the church. He pushes himself forward and sits down near the pulpit. After public prayer he rises and calls out loudly, that it has been re- vealed to him by God to say something to this congregation which is now without a pastor: that they had until the present time, only an hireling, who drew wages. He offers his service as pastor for nothing; and as heretofore they had been deceived by a false divine service, he is sent to them to preach the true and living God. One of the Elders ordered Tellenaer to be silent and pushed him, amid great commotion and disturbance, away from the baptismal fount. The constable then led him out of the church. After the service they went to the school house. There, with great audacity, he boasted of being without sin, and spoke against original sin, psalm singing, baptism, communion, and the righteousness ascribed to Christ. He shook his head, brushed the dust from his feet, and delivered up all, who were not willing to listen to his word, to the evil one.


But besides this, certain troubles are arising in other of the neighboring churches. Certain men came over last year with cer- tificates from Sluys in Flanders, and from Middleburg and Groode, in Zeeland. They were only tailors or shoemakers or cobblers, yet they endeavored to be promoted in this place or in that to the office of precentor and schoolmaster. Some of them were as- sisted by me because of their great zeal; but how is it possible to agree with most of them? They speak against the church, public prayer and the liturgy of the church. They say we are Coel- manists, catechize, have private exercises and special prayers; and almost say, that the public prayers are spurious. True believers are grieved at these things and look forward to very great troubles therefrom to the church of God.




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