USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II > Part 27
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COUNCIL JOURNAL, NEW YORK.
1691, April 10.
1. Ministerial Maintenance Bill. Governor Henry Sloughter proposed to the Council (to introduce) "An Act for ministers in every town, and their Maintenance. Council Journal, 1; not adopted.
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From the Journal of the Assembly. New York .- 1691. April 17: page 6. Resolved. That the imprisoning of their Majesties protestant subjects into doleful and nauseous prisons, and their keeping them by force and violence, without any commandment or assignment of any legal cause, was arbitrary and illegal, and against the dignity of their Majesties crown in England, and a violation of the rights and privileges of their Majesties loyal subjects inhabiting within their Majesties provinces.
Resolved. That the proseribing and forcing their Majesties protestant subjects to flee their habitations and forsake the care of their families, by which the strength of this province was much weakened, was arbitrary, illegal and destructive of their Majes- ties interest in this province.
Resolved. That the depredations made by the French and In- dians upon Schenectady, by which many of their Majesties sub- jeets were destroyed and their houses burned, are only to be attrib- uted to dis. . and disturbances of those who had usurped a power contrary to their Majesties authority and the right of government over this province.
(Similar resolutions about the seizure of goods, orders of money, raising of forces, and refusal to surrender.)
1691. April 18. "A Bill for settling the Ministry, and allot- ting a Maintenance for them, in every Respective City and Town that Consists of Forty Families and upwards ".
(This would have included Albany, Kingston, Schenectady, etc. Compare " Ministry Act ". 1693.)
Journal of Notes and Proceedings of General Assembly. 1764. i. 30-34.
ANSWER TO THE MEMORIAL PRESENTED BY CAPT. BLAGGE, TO THE KING IN FAVOR OF LEISLER.
(Ap. 27. 1691.)
The notion of the Dutch plott cannot be applicable to Leisler and his adherents: the much greater part of Albany which wholly consists of Dutch people, and all the men of best repute for religion, estatte, and integrity of the Dutch nacon. throughout the whole Province, having alwaies been manifestly against Leisler and his society, in all their illegall and irregular proceedings.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1015 1691
I find, that Jacob Leisler a man of desperate fortune, ambitiously did assume unto himself the title of Lieutenant-Governor of this Province of New York, and chose a councel of ye meanest and most abject common people; made to himself a Broad Seale, which he called ye Seale of ye Province, with ye usuall armes of Kings of England; and affixed the same to some unlawful graunts of land within this Province; and commissionated under ye same Justices of ye Peace, in whose hartes were mischief. He constituted Courts of Oyer and Terminer, and tryed severall subjects for pretended treason, murther and other crimes. He taxed and levied monney upon their Majesties subjects to their grievous oppression and great impoverishment. When he wanted more monney for his occasions, he forcebly robbed and spoiled, broke open doors and locx were he guissed it was to be found, and carried away to ye vallue of some thousands of pounds in money or goods; and all this against the best Protestant subjects in the Province. He imprisoned whom he feared, without any other cause than that their integrity to ye Protestant interest, and fidelity to their Majesties, became a terroire to him; some of them after a tedious confignment, without collour of law, he whipt and branded; and some he kept in duresse so long as he held ye fort .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 764-5.
JOURNAL OF ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK .- 1691, May 1st ; page 9. Information was given that Dally (Daille), the French minister, had received a petition, signed by several of the inhabitants of Harlem and Westchester. Daille was summoned to appear before the House and give information. He appeared, and was asked through an interpreter, whether he had such a paper. He refuses to give any information. He was committed for contempt until he should answer. In the afternoon he said that he had received such a paper, but his wife had burned it, etc. He was discharged after paying certain fines.
1691, May 1, page 10. A bill for the settling of a ministry was read the first time. Not answering the intent of the House, it was rejected. Another Bill ordered to be brought in.
1691, May 5, page 10. An Act for Ministers in every town and their maintenance.
1691, May 6, page 11. Petition of Dallius, French minister, was read. Ordered that Rev. Selyns and Varick, ministers of the Dutch Churches, and the Elders of the French Church within this city (New York) examine the allegations and report to this House.
Journal of Council, New York .- 1691, May 12. Henry Sloughter, Governor. A Bill declaring what are the rights and
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privileges of their Majesties subjects inhabiting within this Prov- ince of New York. Assented unto by the Governor and Council, with these amendments :
(Fourth) In the clause concerning liberty of conscience - Provided always that nothing herein mentioned or contained, shall extend to give liberty for any persons of the Romish religion, to exercise their manner of worship contrary to the laws and statutes of their majesties Kingdom of England. Council Journal, 3.
1691, May 13. Richard Ingoldesby, Governor. A Bill to ease people that are scrupulous in swearing. Passed. Council Jour- nal, 10.
The Law as Passed.
" No Person or Persons which profess Faith in God by Jesus Christ, his only Son, shall at any time be any way molested, punished, disturbed, disquieted, or called in question for any Difference of Opinion, or matter of Religious Concern- ment, who do not under that pretence disturb the Civil Peace of the Province, etc. And that all and every such Person and Persons may from time to time, and at all times hereafter, freely have and fully enjoy his or their Opinion, Persuasions and Judgements in matters of Conscience and Religion throughout all this Province; and freely meet at convenient places within this Province, and there worship according to their respective Persuasions, without being hindered or molested, they behaving themselves peaceably, quietly, modestly, and Religiously, and not using this liberty to Licentiousness, nor to the civil Injury or outward Disturbance of others. Always Provided, That nothing herein mentioned or contained shall extend to give liberty to any persons of the Romish Religion to exercise their manner of worship, contrary to the Laws and Statutes of their Majesty's Kingdom of England " .- Bradford's Laws, p. 4, Ed. 1710.
(Compare with Law of Charter of Liberties, October 30, 1683; but which was vetoed by James, as King in 1685.)
LEISLER'S SPEECH AT THE GALLOWS.
1691, 16 May.
The great, wise and omnipotent creator of all things, visible and invisible, who, from the time of our first coming ashore in this vale of tears, misery and affliction, hath to this present moment protected us, be magnified, praised and glorified forever. Amen.
Gentlemen and Brethren :- I hope, through the grace and fear of the Lord Jesus, that we are not insensible of our dying condition; but like penitent mortals we submit our lives and all that appertains to us, into the hands of divine protection, prostrating ourselves before the foot-stool of that immaculate Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world; hoping that, through His meritorious death, our iniquities may be done away with, and our pardons sealed on earth before we go hence; humbly imploring that not through our own merits of justification, but through the merit of Him that is willing to save our souls, we may become precious in the eyes of God, and live forever in the Kingdom of Eternal Glory, when time shall be no more.
It is true that we have, at the request of the principal part of the inhabitants of this Province, and in opposition to the wishes of our families, taken in hand great and weighty matters of state, requiring, it is true, more wise, cunning and powerful
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
pilots than either of us could claim to be; but considering that in the time of this distracted country's greatest necassity, no person could be found, that were in any capacity of uniting us against a common enemy, who would take the helm - we, for the glory of the Protestant interest, the establishment of the present govern- ment, and the strengthening of the country against all foreign attempts, thought it a serviceable act that our poor endeavors should not be wanting in anything that was needful.
We will not deny that many excesses have been committed, oftentimes against our will, between the time of our undertaking and the arrival of Governor Sloughter; and oftentimes we wished, during our unhappy abode in power, to see a period put to the distracted affairs such as then were raging, and perhaps as to some of which we were not faultless. Of such as we have injured, we humbly beg forgivness, desiring them every one, with Christian charity, to bury all malice in our graves. And here, before God and the world, we do declare, as dying sinners, that we not only forgive the greatest and most inveterate of our enemies, but ac- cording to the pattern of our dying Savior, we say 'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.' So far from revenge do we depart this world, that we require and make it our dying request to all our relations and friends, that they should, in time to come, be forgetful of any injury done to us or either of us; so that, on both sides, the discord and dissension (which was created by the devil in the beginning) may, with our ashes, be buried in oblivion, never more to rise up for the trouble of future posterity. The Lord grant that the offering of our blood may be a full satisfaction for all the disorders to this time committed, and that, forever after, the spirit of unity may remain among our brethren on earth.
All that for our dying comfort we can say, concerning the point for which we are condemned is to declare, as our last words, before that God whom we hope before long to see, that our sole aim and object in the conduct of the government was to maintain the interest of our sovereign lord and lady, and the Reformed Protestant Churches in these parts. If there be any that think otherwise, (as from scandalous reports and misrepresentations we must believe there are,) we shall not trouble them with many arguments, being persuaded that every good Protestant of this country, who has been acquainted with our transactions, can, from his conscience, aver the falsehood and maliciousness of such aspersions. As for Major Ingoldsby's coming to demand the garrison after his arrival, had he, but in the least, produced any testimonial of his authority to receive the same and discharge us, we would as readily have delivered the fort as he could ask it; but as these things are past and gone, they are not worth noting.
The Lord, of his infinite mercy, preserve the King and Queen from traitors and deceitful enemies; God be merciful unto, and bless with peace and unity these their kingdoms, unto which we belong; God preserve this Province from enemies abroad and spiteful wretches at home; God bless the Governor of this place; God bless the Council, Assembly and Government now established, that they may all be united to propagate their Majesty's interest, the country's good, and the establishment of piety. The Lord of heaven, of his infinite mercy, bless all that wish well to Zion, and convert those that are out of the way; let his mercies likewise administer true comfort to all that are desolate, grieved, oppressed, in misery or other afflictions, especially the souls of that poor family unto which we formerly belonged. Our only comfort in this case is that God has promised to take care of the widows and the fatherless. Recommending them all, this dying moment, into the hands of one that is able and willing to save those that seek him; desiring them to put their, perpetual confidence in the mercies of one that never faileth, and not to weep for us that are departing to our God; but rather to weep for themselves that are here behind us, to remain in a state of misery and trouble. .
Gentlemen, you will all, I hope, Christian-like, be charitable to our distressed families that are to remain with you. Join with us in the prayer for the preserva- tion of our immortal souls in a kingdom of never dying glory, unto which, God, in his infinite mercy, bring us all. Amen. Amen .- Valentine's New York, pp. 205-208.
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PROPOSITIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN MOHAWKS TO GOVERNOR SLOUGHTER.
Propositions made by the praying Indians of the three Tribes or races of the Maquass, to His Excellency Coll. Henry Sloughter Capt. General and Governor in Cheife of the Province of New Yorke and the Honourable Councill, and to the Mayor and Aldermen of the Citty of Albany in the Citty Hall the 26th day of May 1691.
Present - His Excellency the Governor
Coll. Joseph Dudley
Jan Becker
Coll. Thomas Willet
Evert Banker
Coll. Stephen Van Courtland
Claes Ripse
Capt. William Pinhorne
Jan Bleeker
William Nicholls
Gerrit Ryerse
Major Peter Schuyler, Mayor
Eghbert Teunise, Aldermen
Brother Corlaer,
We Maquase of the three races or Tribes of our Country being praying Indians, are come to see you and are glad to see a Governor come from our Great King of England; we are sensible of the great hazard and danger you have undergone to come to us, and if any of your men dyed upon the voyage by the cold season of the yeare and badd weather, wee desire that the tears for their death may be . wiped off, and that you may not be troubled or grieved at it but look upon us with a good and clear eye, meaning a good heart. Give three fathom of wampum.
Brother Corlaer, Wee are extreamly rejoyced to see your Excellency and the Gentlemen of the Council safe arrived here and to see the Mayor and Aldermen conviend with you in this house, wee are not commissionate by the Sachims of our Nation to treat of publick affairs but being praying Indians and your children, think ourselves obliged to congratulate your safe arrival in a speciall manner, and bid your Excellency heartily welcome. Do give a Beaver and an Otter.
Father Corlaer, Wee are extreamly obliged to your Excellency and do returne you our hearty thanks for restoreing to us our Minister Domine Godeuridus Dellius, we were very sorry that he was forced to leave us in the late troubles, wee hope that your Excellency will for the future take an especial care, that we may be in- structed in the Christian Religion for the weake and faint setting forward of that great worke hitherto among us, has occasioned our Brethren to be drawn out of our Country to the French by their Preists. Doe give a Beaver and an Otter.
Father Corlaer, We do againe congratulate your Excellency's safe arrival, and are glad to see you and the Mayor and Aldermen convened together; our earnest request and desire is, that you will take great care we may be instructed in the Christian Religion: we are fully resolved to settle ourselves at Tionondoroge* (a place fifty six miles above Albany) and pray that we may have ministers to instruct us as the French send Preists to instruct their Indians; yea they are so zealous in their way that they send their Priests to teach the Indians quite to Dionondade which is three hundred Leagues above Canada. Doe give two Beavers.
Father Corlaer, The Great God of Heaven has opened our eyes, that we discerne the difference betwixt Christianity and Paganism, and by means of the authority here, we have partaken of that benefitt to be instructed in the Religion of the Great King of England that is the Protestant Religion, wherein we are instructed already. Doe give two Beavers.
* Now known as Fort Hunter, Montgomery county. See New York Documentary History, 8vo., iii., 902.
t "True Christian Religion, and we Desyre and Pray the Continuation of it, that we may be instructed in the "- follows here in the copy of this document in New York Colonial Manuscripts, xxxvii.
th
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31
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Dirck Wessels, Recorder
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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Father Corlaer, We would make your Excellency a considerable present, that we are able, we are soldiers and do present you with that wherewith we adorne our- selves, when we goe out to warr (that is a Pouch made of Porkepine quills) and desire that your Excellency will be pleased to accept of that ornament as come from your chuldren.
A true Copy examined pr. Robert Livingstone. - Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 771, 772.
ANSWER OF GOVERNOR SLOUGHTER TO THE CHRISTIAN MOHAWKS.
His Excellency's answer to the propositions made by the Maquase praying Indians. Albany the 26th day of May Anno 1691.
Children. I am heartily glad to see and receive so many of the praying Indians who acknowledge themselves Children of the Government of the Great King of England, I shall always account them as such, and treat them accordingly.
I was very well pleased with Domine Dellius, your minister was still at Boston not yet removed out of the Country whome I sent for and came to me at New York, and was willing to return for your sakes. I hope I have already (so well). provided for him here, that will encourage his attendance upon, and putting for- ward of that good work in his hand, but above all encouragements I recommend your obedience and observance of his Ministry as the greatest.
I am contented at your settlement at the place called Tionondorage as you pro- pose, and as you are at present instructed here at Albany, so in time, I doubt not but such care shall be had that you may be supplyed with Instruction at your own habitations.
I am very well pleased that the understanding in Religion is so farr advanced that you cannot only distinguish between the Christian Religion and Paganism but also between the Reformed Religion and that of the Romans; I hope your Minister will take care further to instruct you in the Religion of our Great Protestant King whome I will acquaint with this your present application; as for your apologize for your small present was needless, 'tis your good heart that only acceptable to me. Was given them: one dozen stockings, six shirts, three baggs of powder, sixteen barrs of lead, thirty gul: strung wampum, three Runletts Rumm. (three rolls of Tobacco) and privately to the Cheife men some Coats of Duffells.
A true copy examined by Robert Livingstone .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 772.
GOVERNOR SLOUGHTER'S ADDRESS TO THE FIVE NATIONS.
Propositions made by his Excellency Coll. Henry Sloughter Capt. Generall and Governor in Cheife of the Province of New York and the honourable Council in the presence of the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Albany and the Justices of the said County to the Maquass, Oneydes, Onnondages, Cayouges and Sinnekes, in the Citty Hall of Albany the first day of June, in the third yeare of theire Majesties Reigne Annoq Domini 1691.
The Brethren may remember that they were strictly charged by the former Governours of this Place, not to treat with the common Enemy, without particular orders from this Government which now again I must in an especiall manner recommend unto you to observe the more because their Jesuits are too subtile for you and always endeavour to deceive you as they have lately done, some of our Indians which they have drawne over to their owne Religion and Country.
I must acquaint the Brethren, that it was very unpleasant news to me, which was told me at Schenectady two dayes ago, by the poor distressed Inhabitants of that village, how that some of the Brethren have burnt and destroyed several of their deserted houses and barnes, and have killed their horses, Cattle, Hogs and
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Poultry in the woods, left by the Enemy, which is an uncharitable act and ought to be enquired into and for the future prevented and remedied .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 773.
ANSWER OF THE FIVE NATIONS TO GOV. SLOUGHTER'S ADDRESS.
Answer of the Oneydes, Onnondages, Cayouges and Sinnekes Sachims to the proposal of His Excellency Coll. Henry Sloughter Captain Generall and Governor in Cheife of the Province of New Yorke in the City Hall of Albany the 2nd day of June in the third yeare of their Majesties Reigne Annoq Domini 1691.
We have been informed by our Forefathers that in former times a Ship arrived here in this Country which was a matter of great admiration to us, especially our desire was to know what was within her Belly. In that Ship were Christians, amongst the rest one Jaques with whom we made a Covenant of friendship, which covenant hath since been tied together with a chaine and always ever since kept inviolable by the brethren and us, in which Covenant it was agreed that whoever should hurt or prejudice, the one should be guilty on injuring all, all of us being comprehended in one common league. Doe give four pieces of Beaver.
You have enjoyned us to be obedient and dutiful, we have never been wanting in our parts, we have shewed our readiness, when our Brethren of Schenectady were destroyed, by immediately girding ourselves and pursuing of the Enemy, and we four Nations have positively concluded to prosecute the warr with all vigour as you order us, as long as we live and never speake of peace without the common consent, for we are all one heart one head one scalp which never is to be sepa- rated, we four Nations have no hand in any treaty or Correspondence with the French or their Indians but abhorr the same, and we desire that our Brethren the Christians keep no correspondence with them by letters or otherwise. Doe give five Beavers.
Lastly we recommend to your Excellency and the Gents of Albany Hilliken the Interpreter who doth good service for the publick and is our mouth and ears; take ber as the daughter, and provide for her that she may not want since she is so serviceable both, to us and to you, and we recommend her to mind her business well and to interprett a right as well on your Excellency's side as on ours. Doe give her four ps. Beavers.
A true copy examined pr. Robert Livingstone .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 774-777.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Letter from Rev. Selyns from New Netherland. 1691, June 5th.
Rev. Doreslaar read a letter from Rev. Selyns, written in (lit. out of) New Netherland, stating that Rev. Laurence van den Bosch, who had been called from Staten Island to Aesopus had been deposed from his ministerial office by them, on account of his drunkenness and immoralities. He refused, however, to submit himself to this censure, and in the meantime continued in his
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drunkenness and immoralities, and this brought a blot on the ministry of the Gospel. He also said that the state of the church there was in great decline; that it seemed as if everything would go to destruction, unless a higher power take care of the welfare of these churches, and proper order be reestablished. He re- quested therefore, that the Rev. Classis would lend a hand in this business, that the church order be not entirely trodden under foot. The Assembly, after discussing this matter, resolved that the Deputati ad res Maritimas examine the Acta of the churches of New Netherland, to discover whether more light may not appear therein, regarding the government of those churches since they came under English rule; and to take action in accordance with the situation of affairs. viii. 102, 103; xix. 243.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. ACTS OF THE DEPUTIES.
New Netherland. 1691, June 27th.
The Classis directed us to examine the back Acta in regard to the passing of censure upon a minister in New Netherland. Having done this we find no instance that the Classis of Amster- dam has had any hand in such business; but we did find that a minister, Rev. Tesschenmaker had been dismissed by the Magis- trates of New Albany; and a schoolmaster on Long Island had been deported (deposed) by the Consistory of the Dutch villages, without having asked the approval of the Classis thereto. xxi. 327.
REV. MR. HUBBARD'S PETITION.
To his Excellency Colonel Henry Sloughter Governor of the Province of New York, under their Royall Majesties Kings William and Queen Mary, etc.
The humble petition of Jeremiah Hobard Minister of Hempsted, on Long Island in Queens County in the Province aforesaid.
Humbly sheweth :-
That your petitioner haveing for these last eight years, and upwards, upon the call and agreement with the people of Hempsted, to bee their Minister, Laboured amongst them in that holy function, but am much afflicted for want of that stipend
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annually promised, and not duly payd, whereby your poor petitioner's self and family sustaynes great sufferings and wants to the both weakening his hands and discouraging his heart in the sayd work, and indeed cannot longer continew with- out some help and relief from your Excellency I doe therefore humbly crave your Excellency's succour and Relief in the premises, that a course and method may be used, so as all areareages may be payd and the burden of the future alleviated, that the gospel may have incouragement, etc. So your humble petitioner shall pray as in all duty bound. Ever your Excellency's to serve in all things to utmost power etc.
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