Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II, Part 22

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


USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II > Part 22


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Note. Not before this morning Leiseler had the letter J. in the King's armes standing before the fort altered in the letter W.


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967 1689


Jacob Leiseler sent severall of the late Souldiers three times this very day to the house of Mr. Mayor, and advised and intised them to demand from him their pay as Souldiers, saying he has your money, and if denyed to strip his coate from his backe, and plunder his house, and if they wanted assistance when they had but begun the worke, he would send them assistance out of the fort, as per affi- davy of the souldiers.


Mr. Fredrick Philips, Mr. Mayor and other Gentlemen hearing that I was at my house, came and advised mee to depart for Albany or elsewhere to be redd from the rabble, who railed exceedingly in their drinck to do some mischeafe, where- uppon I resolved and departed this night for Albany with a boat of Mr. De Kaay; July ye 5th. This day wee arrived at Albany, where wee found most part of the Inhabitants inclined to peace and quietness, and to maintain their Civill Govern- ment till orders do arrive from their Majestyes.


This is a true Coppy


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Attested by N. Bayard. Col. Docs. N. Y. ili. 599-604.


STEPHEN VAN CORTLANDT TO GOVERNOR ANDROS.


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New York, July 9th, 1689.


The 1st of March we received the news of the Prince of Orange landing in Eng- land, which we kept private at first, to hinder any tumult by divulging the same so suddenly and gave your Excell. a full account thereof, and, seeing that the news troubled the papists very much, we were jealous of the money that was in Mr. Plowman's hand and ordered him to bring the same in a strong chest made on pur- / pose into the fort being about eleven or twelve hundred pounds which was so done.


April the 26th. We gott the surprizall news of Bostons Revolucons and the seaz- ing of your Excell. which occasioned a great consternation amongst us, and being but four in number of the (Council) it was resolved that the Mayor should call the Aldermen and Common Councell of the Citty together to acquaint them with this ill news, to advise together what best is to be done for his Majestyes service, and the quieting of the Inhabitants of this place in this dangerous conjuncture and troublesome time.


The Lieutenant Governor proposed to the gentlemen that it would be expedient for the more security of the fort that part of the Citty Militia keep and guard in the fort, which was thankfully accepted of and the 28th of April the inhabitants began to watch in the fort.


The 27th Major Baxter came from Albany desiring leave to withdraw himselfe for a while seeing the humours of the people, which was allowed off, and he went that very day to Neversincks by Coll. Dongan at the house of Capt. Bowne.


Being at the Town hall one Hendrick Cuyler that had the watch in the fort with one half a Company complained that Capt. Nicholson would not suffer him to sett a sentinell att the Sally Port, and, when he told Capt. Nicholson of it, that he was threatened and his Corporall to be pistolled and that Capt. Nicholson would fire the Town, which Capt. Nicholson denying said that comeing in the fort last night about ten or eleven o'clock the Serjeant of the fort told him that the Corporall of the City would have placed a Sentry at the Sally Port but that he would not suffer it without his Order, upon which Capt. Nicholson sent for Henry Cuyler who took along with him his Corporall to be his Interpreter. Comeing in Capt. Nicholson's roome the Captaine being most undrest bid his men goe out and said to Henry Cuyler, Who is Commander in the fort, you or I? Why do you place a


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Sentry without my leave? Henry Cuyler answered, it's my Captain's orders, Upon which Capt. Nicholson fell in a passion, and said, (as it is reported) I rather would see the Towne on fire than to be commanded by you. Then Henry Cuyler called his Corporall to come in (as he saith) to speak for him, who comeing in with his sword over his left arm just before Capt. Nicholson who was unlaceing his stockings and looked up seeing a tall strong man with his sword in his hand, said to him Who called you here? Be gone. The man going backward about two or three yards stood still and looked upon Capt. Nicholson, who said, Goe out of my room, or I'll pistoll you, and went to the wall, took his pistoll and followed the man to the door, who went out the roome down stairs to the guard and spoke not a word. Being a very civill man, this bred such a noise and jealousy all that night and especially next morning through the Towne that all what wee could say would not satisfy them. This occasioned high words in Court and made Capt. Nicholson say to Henry Cuyler, Goe fetch your Commicon, I discharge you from being Lieut. any more. Mr. Abram De Peyster who is Capt. of said Cuyler speaking something in this matter fell out with the Lieut. Governor also And went with his Brother his Ensigne in an anger from the Towne Hall. We seeing what ill this might produce sent for De Peyster back but he would not come till late at night; in meane time we heard the drums beat and the Towne full of noise, and seeing the people rise and run together in armes Mr. Phillips and I went to Jacob Leisler's door where the people met and endeavored to allay them but in vain, they marched to the fort where Henry Cuyler received them, in one half hour's time the fort was full of men armed and inraged, no word could be heard but they were sold, betrayed and to be murdered, it was time to look for themselves. I went back to the Town Hall where all the Magistrates were, the Military officers I saw most in the fort. In a little while after in comes William Churchill with about twenty armed men, and a crowd of people in William Merritt's house up the room where all the Magistrates were, demanding the keys of the fort, etc., Saying We will and shall have the same by force.


The 24th Mr. William Merritt brought me a printed Proclamation from their Matyes., dated the 14th of February 1688/9 confirming all persons (being Protestants) who upon the first day of December last past were in the Offices of Sheriffes, Jus- tices, Collectors, etc. to be continued etc. Having this Proclamation I sent for the Aldermen and Common Councell at the Towne Hall and there Resolved to publish said Proclamation, charging and commanding all people concerned to take notice thereof.


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Upon this Order the said four Gentlemen went to the Custome house to look after his Majesty's interest accordingly, but having been there a little time in comes Leyslaer with armed men, pulls them out of the Custome House, several cutting at Coll. Bayard but the croud being so thick cutt only his hat and he escaped into the house of Peter De La Noy where he was all that night. They watched the house and swore they would kill him. Afterwards he gott out the house. They searcht for him, but he went to Albany, where he is now.


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Leyslaer hath put Peter De La Noy in the Custome House and he gives the passes signed (" Capt. appointed to secure the fort at New Yorke on behalfe of King William and Queen Mary?")


They have appointed a Committee of Safety, viz., two out of the Citty Peter De La Noy and Samuel Edsall, two of Brouckland, two of Flatbush, two of Flush- ing, two of Newtoun, two of Staten Island, two of Essex in New Jersey, two out of Esopus and two of West Chester, the rest of the Towns will not meddle themselves.


Your Excell. most humble servant,


S. V. Cortlandt. - Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 590-597.


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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


SYNOD OF NORTH HOLLAND, AT HOORN.


1689, July 26 et seq. Article 14.


Extract from a letter from Rev. Henricus Selyns of New York,


dated October 10, 1688, to the Classis of Amsterdam.


He had duly received a letter of November 13, 1687, and re- quests that correspondence with the churches of that region may be kept up.


He makes known the flourishing condition of his church. Sir Edmund Andros had again become Governor there; and although he belonged to the English Church, he nevertheless frequented the Dutch and French services, there.


Labadism and Quakerism were gradually decreasing; a leader of the same (Tellenaer) had become Justice of the Peace.


He complains, however, particularly of the increasing godless- ness.


The ministers in all that region were prospering, although Rev. Schaets, now eighty years old, was failing fast.


The French churches were growing daily on account of the arrival of French refugees.


At New Kastle the French minister had died. (Caspar Car- pentier).


It ended with a salutation.


Extract from a letter from Rev. Rudolphus Varick, of Long


Island in New Netherland, of September 30, 1688.


He states that he had received ours of April 14, 1688, and has learned therefrom with joy of the quietness of the church of New Netherland.


He relates that he lives at peace with his congregation, which was tolerably well regulated (or, pretty regular in attendance) and increased daily.


Some of the few sectaries there had come over to them, namely, from the Papacy and from Lutheranism; there was also hope that more will follow this example.


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The Quaker, Jacob Tellenaer, has not preached for a long time now, and no longer tries to seduce any one.


He still conducted services at Hackensack.


There were also two other places where he preached twice a year and administered the sacraments. On that Island there were eight English preachers. They lived in excellent harmony, although there were among them Episcopals, Presbyterians and Independents.


The French church increased daily by the arrival of many from the Carolinas, the Caribbean Islands, and Europe.


He and Rev. Selyns had been invited to preach, alternately, on the South River. There were there This offer he expected they would accept. The churches of all nationalities dwelt together in peace.


Mr. Andros had arrived as Governor for the second time. He speaks Dutch, and is attached to the Dutch Church (favors it.)


WILLIAM III. TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NICHOLSON. 1689, July 30.


William R.


Trusty and wellbeloved, We Greet you well; whereas we have been given to under- stand by Letters from you and others, the principal Inhabitants of our Province of New York, of your dutifull submission to our Royall pleasure, and readiness to receive from us such Orders as we should think requisite for settling the Peace and good Government of our Province of New York: Wee have thought fitt hereby to signify unto you that wee are taking such Resolution concerning the same as may tend to the welfare of our subjects inhabiting there; and in the meantime, We doe hereby authorize and Impower you to take upon you the Government of the said Province, Calling to your assistance in ye administration thereof the Prin- cipal Freeholders and Inhabitants of the same or so many of them as you shall think fitt: Willing and requiring you to do and perform all things which to the place and office of our Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of our Province of New York, doth or may appertain, as you shall find necessary for our service and the good Government of our subjects, according to the Laws and Cus- tomes of our said Province untill further order from us; and so we bid you fare- well. Given at our Court at Whithall the 30th day of July 1689 in the first year of our Reign.


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To our Trusty and Wellbeloved Francis Nicholson Esq., our Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of our Province of New York in America: and in his ab- sence, to such as for the time being take care for Preserving the Peace and admin- istering the Lawes in our said Province of New York in America. (This was Leisler.)


By his Majesty's Command,


Nottingham.


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- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 606.


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STEPHEN VAN CORTLANDT TO CAPTAIN NICHOLSON.


August 5th, 1689.


Sir .- Since your departure Mr. Layster etc: proclaimed their Majesties on the 17th day of June off which I gave your Honor an account by Mr. Mackinzie, the 19th. The people being much against papists being in office Mr. Philips, Coll. Bay- ard, the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Councell to put Mr. Plowman out and Coll. Bayard, Paul Richards, John Haines and Thomas (Wenham) in the Custom house to secure and receive all their Majesties revenues and as they were a sitting in the Custom house, Capt. Layster came with several armed men and turned them out in a violent manner, Coll. Bayard narrowly escaping having two cutts in his hatt soe that he was forced to fly for Albany where he is now still -They forth- with put Peter de la Noy and George Brewster in the Custom house who cleares the ships, and that Captaine that hath the guard in the fort signes the passes. But since that time they have appointed a committy of safety out of several coun- ties, many towns in the counties being against it and other counties unwilling to joine with them, as Albany, Ulster, Suffolk and most all New Yarsay. This Com- mitty hath appointed Capt. Layster to be the commander off the fort, who now signes all the passes for the vessels. The chest of money they have opened to pay their charges. He hath raised a new company of souldiers of about fifty men.


All letters are taken upp and opened, some letters that were sent to you from Baston and Burmudas, they have in the fort, their Committy called Mr. Plowman in the Fort who as a madman, gave them an account of the money in the Fort, uppon which they opened it and called me alsoo, to an account for the taxed money, I told them it was Mr. Plowman that was to give an account for he had it in his hands, but they said I was to pay it againe for it was unlawfully raised, and if I will not returne it they will fetch it -I answered if they had lawful power I should be ready to obey, their Majesties orders and none other. They threthne me every day soe that I was ones resolved to absent myselfe alsoo, but have kept myselfe home till now for I am intended to go up to Albany for fourteen days or three weeks in hopes that in meane time orders will come. Their threats, inso- lencies, abuses, falsities and lyes unlawfull actings and mischeeffs are soe many and unsufferable that if noe speedy relect (relief) and orders doe come from Eng- land many of the inhabitants will leave the citty and goe to live in the country, for fear of life and estate, for they imprison whom they please, and take out of prison those that are there for debt, they take peoples goods out of their houses and if hindered by Justices of the Peace, they come with great numbers and fetch it out of the Justices house by forse, and doe what they please, soe that their Captaines can no more rule them - It troubles them that they did not put you in prison and seized upon your papers, there they would have found the reason, for you are a papist and soe is Dr. Innes and have severall witnesses as they say against you both - Sir, if I should write you all their particular actions time and paper would faile.


Your real friend and most humble servant, S. V. Cortlandt. - Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 609, 610.


COLONEL BAYARD TO CAPTAIN NICHOLSON.


New York (Albany?) August 5, 1689. -


Honnored Sir.


Since the enclosed of the 23rd of July I had severall letters from my friends in New Yorke - acquainting mee of their continuing trouble and dangers, whereof the particulars undoubtedly will be sent yourselfe by Mr. Mayor as I had desired him. Itt is greatly feared if no sudden orders or releefe arrives from His Majesty that


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some great mischeefe will befall, for the abuses and threatnings of Leiseler and his rabble encrease daily to imprison, plunder and massacre those who will not acquies, although they do submit to their illegal proceedings, wherefore I hope it will please God to send some speedy deliverance .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 611.


CAPTAIN MCKENZIE TO CAPTAIN NICHOLSON.


August 15, 1689.


Honoured Sir :- Since your honours departure Mr. Cortlandt and Mr. Levingston I know sends you an exact account of all that has passed. The former went to Albany about six days ago from whence I returned about two days after he was gone, during which small time I shall give you the best account I can of what has happened.


After reading of it Mr. Leiseler said he wondered what wrong he had done me that I should write so of him to wrong his credit, that if he knew he had done me any wrong he would beg my pardon for it upon his knees, I answered if I did him wrong I would beg his, but I told him I was provoked first by his calling me a Papist for so I was told; he answered it was a very great lye for he had never said so, after a little pause he put on a more angry look, and said he knew I was Popishly affected, I answered that is not true, I am as much a protestant as you or any man in the Country; why, says he, have not I heard you call Father Smith a very good man, yes replyed I, and so I do still he is a very good humoured man, but I never called him so because he was a Papist, and I was so far from haveing any friendship for his principles, that in all the six yeares I had known New York I never so much as out of curiosity looked into their Chappell. He told me I kept with Dr. Innes I went to hear him and prayed with him and that he was a Papist, I replyed that is not true, he then told me that one had sworne it, I told him I will not believe it if ten of them should sweare it .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 612, 613.


CAPTAIN LEISLER TO KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. August 20, 1689.


May it please your Majesties. I humbly beg leave to your Majesties with pos- sible respect by the express barer Joost Stoll the Ensigne of your Majesties fort, that the advice of Sir Edmund Andros confinement at Boston has caused here sev- eral meetings, where I have assisted in quality as one of the five Captains of the Militia, where the Lieutenant Governor of the fort Capt. Nicholson has proposed several propositions which had but a show for the best of your Majesties Colony, while his violent caridge has discovered his malicious designe, whereof the par- ticulars should be too long, which has moved severall inhabitants to secure the fort to be preserved for your Majesties, and to prevent, that with the great gunns he should not fire the towne as he intended, the fort so seased without violence nor blodshed has been preserved for one month, by the said Captains by turns, having received the day of my watch the happy proclamation of your Majesties to be King and Queen of England, France and Ireland etc. (from Conecticot:) I have immediately proceeded to the proclaiming, which was solemnly effected the 22nd of June when we had miraculous deliverance of a fyre which had been ken- deled in three severall places upon the Terret of the Church in the fort six thousand pounds of powder being next under the same roof and suspected to be done by one Papist who had been there before and was discovered by one Neger, and fort, city, and the people were trew God's mercy miraculously saved of that hellish designe, the committees of the nabouring counties and of this city with all the Captains being mett to advise, and order all things necessary to resist the Ennemy, and to conserve this fort, City, land and Protestant Religion, they have thought necessary, to elect one of the Captains to command in the fort till your Majesties order, and they have thought me faithfull and able of that charge which I have exerced from the first of July last, to discharge worthely and to the satisfaction of your Majes-


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ties; I have made one inventory of all things therein, and having perceived the miserable state thereof, I have caused to mend,


Coll. Bayard who has absented himself from this city since five or six weeks, and is at Albany where the Mayor Cortlandt is gone to meet him since some days - no doubt but to confer with more liberty, having both been councellors to Capt. Nicholson and aploded to all his propositions, but I watch no less upon their conduct, as to them and severall other peculiar persons, who under the aparance of the functions of the Protestant Religion, remain still affected to the Papist, which are here in greater number than in whole New England.


Mr. Ennis (Innes) the late English Minister lately departed from this place with testimony of the Dutch and French Minister has since been known to be of opinion contrary to our religion, whereof I have testimony in good forme .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 614-616.


MR. TUDER TO CAPTAIN NICHOLSON.


August 1689.


On Saturday June the 22nd Mr. Leisler proclaimed King William and Queen Mary haveing gott a printed proclamation from Major Gould and Captain Fitz who came from Connecticutt for that purpose, but proclaimed in the most meanest manner as you can imagine. After they had proclaimed him against the Forte, the Captain sent downe to the Mayor and Aldermen and demanded them to pro- claime their Majesties at the citty hall, who returned their answer, that they were very ready to proclaime the King and Queen upon the first orders they should receave for the same, and that if they had any orders to do it they were ready to attend them at the City Hall according to former Cutome;


Munday the 24th June the Mayor and Aldermen haveing by them their Majesties proclamation to continue all Officers that were not Papists proclaimed the same at the State House. which affronted the Captains and their gang very much.


Tewsday the 25th Mr. Plowman being a Papist was by Mr. Phillips Mr. Bayerd and the Mayor and Aldermen dismist from the custom house, And Coll. Bayard, Mr. Haynes, Paulus Richards and Mr. Wenham was appointed Commissioners to take care of his Majesties Customs, which soe much affronted the other party that they came with forse and armes, and puld them out by the haire of their heads, cutting and slashing at Coll. Bayard, that he was hard put to it to escape with his life; ever since which he was forsed to goe away privately to Albany and there remains.


Mrs. Bayard desired me to acquaint you that her husband had writt at large to the Secretary of State from Albany, but the letter is strangely miscarryed, and the ship being ready to saile, cannot give an account of it, whereby he might write. another.


Our present Government here is by a Committee of safety, as they terme them- selves, in which I may bouldly say, is not two men of sence, De la noy and Edsell being the two Chief some towns have chosen and sent men in, but others refuse; in shorte the greatest Olleverians that were in the Government are made Com- mittee men, who govern and rule at soe strainge a rate, that I am not able to express it, denying all power but their owne, putting in and turneing out the Militia Officers at pleasure, some of them openly saying there had been no legall King in England since Ollivers days, imprisoning persons at their pleasure in the fort .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 616, 617.


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CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


ACTS OF THE DEPUTIES AND THEIR CORRESPONDENCE. The Classis of Amsterdam to Rev. Henry Selyns, Aug. 22, 1689. xxvii. 203. Referred to xxi. 313.


Reverend, Godly and Highly Learned Sir, and Brother :- -


We safely received your letter of October 10th 1688. We re- joice to learn therefrom of your health, which we hope still con- tinues. May it long continue, to the best interests of God's church. We notice also with no less satisfaction what you write of the prosperity of God's church, entrusted to you and your worthy colleagues in those distant countries. May Almighty God grant you all long continued health and all necessary strength to enable you to care for his work unto the growth of his kingdom. We trust that the arrival of that new Governor Sir Edmund Andros, to whom you so respectfully refer, may be most service- able to that end, as well as to the diminution of divers fanatical spirits. Unless such are restrained, they are wont, through specious deeds, greatly to hinder the course of the Gospel. We also further hope that through your diligent labors, that eager pursuit of sin to which you refer, and which arouses the righteous wrath of the Most High, may be checked, and that the Almighty may be reconciled to the people for Christ's sake.


Concerning ourselves in this land, we have abundant reason to thank the Almighty for his undeserved grace. For in the past year, we saw dark clouds rising against Protestantism in Europe through the powerful conspiracy of the Kings of France and England (Louis XIV and James II.) At the time of your last writing to us, we were in good hope of being exempted from the coming storm, yet we were not without anxiety and fear. God be thanked who has caused it all to result for the best; for he blessed the effort of the Prince of Orange, who is now the King of


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England, (William III.) The particulars of the whole matter are doubtless fully known to you through the newspapers of England and of these regions.




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