Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II, Part 29

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 29


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The Building Masters appointed were John Kip, Brandt Schuy- ler, Tunis de Key. They must procure material and urge on the work.


Frederic Philipzen, Stephen Van Cortlandt, Nicholas Bayard and Adolph Pieterzen, were appointed Committee on Plan, with full powers.


PETITION OF JACOB LEISLER TO THE KING. [DEC. ? 1691 ?]


To the Kings most Excellent Majesty. The humble Petition of Jacob Leisler son of Captain Jacob Leisler deceased, late Commander in Cheif of your Majesty's Province of New York in America. Sheweth,


That upon the late happy Revolution, your Petitioners said Father was very instrumental in Securing the said Province for your Majesty, [and being of known integrity to your Majesties interest]* and the Protestant Religion, Capt. Francis Nicholson then Deputy Governor having withdrawn himself from the said Province, your Petitioners said Father upon the 16th of August 1689 was by the Freeholders and Inhabitants elected and constituted Commander in Cheif untill your Majesties Royal Pleasure should be declared concerning the said Province, and accordingly


* The passage in brackets is from the copy of this document among the MSS. of the New York Historical Society, and printed in the New York Documentary History, 8vo., ii., 422.


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


1031 1691


he entered upon the Government, and was acknowledged as such by the people, and was in possession of the Fort and Garrison which till that time were ruinous and incapable of defence and did proclaim your Majesty and your Royall Consort to be our Sovereign Lord and Lady, King and Queen, and caused the same to be done in other Provinces.


That on the 10th of December 1689. Your Majesty's gracious letter dated the 30th July before, arrived there, the same being directed to the said Capt. Nicholson and in his absence to such as for the time being, took care for preserving the Peace and administering the lawes within the said Province, whereby your Majesty was graciously pleased to authorize the Person then Commanding in Cheif as aforesaid to take upon him the Government, calling to his Assistance in the administration thereof, the Principal Inhabitants or as many of them as he should think fitt willing and requiring him to do and perform all things which to the Place and Office of Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Cheif did apper- taine, as he should find necessary for your Majestys Service, and the good of your Subjects there, untill further order from your Majesty. That your Petitioners said father being so confirmed in the said government, by your Majestys said Royall Letter, did faithfully observe your Majestys commands thereby declared and did in all respects Provide for the Security of the said Province as well against all attempts of the French, who are very powerful in these Parts, as Papists and other disaffected persons of which there were many resident in the said Province.


That on the 28th of January [1691] last past, Capt. Richard Ingoldsby arrived at New York with some soldiers from England, to whom your Petitioner's said Father offered all sorts of accommodation, but the said Ingoldsby required the Possession of the said Fort, and Government for which your Petitioner's said Father desired to see his orders being ready to obey the same if he had any such from your Majesty, or from Coll. Sloughter whom your Majesty had been pleased to make Governor; but the said Ingoldsby had no such orders or would not produce the same, whereupon your Petitioner's said Father having advised with the principall Inhabitants was councilled and directed by them to keep and maintain the Possession of the Fort and Government (in regard the said Ingoldsby would not shew his orders to receive the same) untill the Governor arrived and your Majesty's pleasure known, That Ingoldsby thereupon joyning himself to the Papists and other disaffected Persons, did by many indirect means to the great Terror of your Majesties Liege Subjects in a hostile and dreadful manner assembled great numbers of French and other persons, and beseiged the said Fort, and raised divers batteries against the same, and so continued in arms about six weeks, that on the 19th of March last Coll. Sloughter did arrive, and as soon as your Peti- tioner's said Father had certain Knowledge thereof, which was not till eleven o'clock that night, He did send the Mayor of the City and Mr. Milbourne his Secretary from the said Fort to wayt upon him, and to offer him the possession thereof, but the said Coll. Sloughter without hearing them speak, committed them all close Prisoners, who not returning as your Petitioner's Father expected, he did very early next morning, write to the said Coll. Sloughter desiring him to come and receive the Fort, and accordingly he came and took possession thereof on the 20th of March, but presently after caused all the Soldiers and Inhabitants In the said Fort and Citty to be disarmed, and contrary to all Law and Justice, committed your Petitioner and his said Father and twenty six other persons to Prison pretending they were guilty of High Treason against your Majestys for keeping the said Fort as aforesaid, and the said Coll. Sloughter and Ingoldsby. confederating with divers others disaffected Persons to your Majesties, to put your Petitioner's said Father and others to death did in a most arbitrary and illegal manner cause him and seven others to be tryed Judged and Condemned to Death for some Pretended High Treason, and have since most barbarously caused your Petitioner's said Father and your Petitioner's brother in law (the said


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Milbourne) to be hanged and afterwards butchered, the said other six persons (if not since put to death) remaining in prison under the same unjust Sentence of Condemnation, and have seized their Estates and Goods, and have also most unjustly prosecuted your Petitioner and many other of your Majesty's good Sub- jects, confiscating their Estates, who for Preservation of their lives, have been forced to leave the said Province, by which cruell and barbarous practices great numbers of your Majestys Subjects are in danger of utter ruine, and the said Country is like to be depopulated and made desolate, the said Coll. Sloughter being dead, and the said Capt. Ingoldsby (since his death) commanding in Cheif in the said Province, who doth continue to exercise great Violence and barbarity against your Majesty's loyal subjects there.


Your Petitioner therefore humbly implores your most sacred Majesty, to take the premises into your Princely consideration and to give such orders therein as well for the preservation of the said Six Condemned Persons, and the Releif of your Petitioner's and other Poor Sufferers as also for the Preservation and future good establishment of the said Province as to your Royall goodness and wisdom shall seem meet,


And your Petitioner as in duty bound shall ever Pray, etc.


Jacob Leisler. - Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 825, 826.


ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


Nucella, 1692, Jan. 23rd.


Rev. Christian Frederick Nucella, formerly ยท a minister, re- quested to be employed in the service of the churches in foreign lands, and the Rev. Assembly accepted him as among the "Rec- ommended ". viii. 136.


DEED FOR THE DUTCH CHURCH LOT IN GARDEN STREET, NEW YORK CITY. LIB. A. 70-73.


1692, Feb. 27.


Samuel Bayard, merchant, of the City of New York, sold land to the Church-Masters. The lot was on the north side of Garden street, and north of the orchard of Elizabeth Drisius, widow; to the west was the lot of John Henry Bruyn; and to the east, the lots of John Syphens and David Hendriks, being one hundred and eighty feet on Garden street, eighty four feet deep, and one hundred and seventy five feet on the back end - English meas- ure. This was conveyed by a writing signed by the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty to Samuel Bayard, February 4, 1692 ; and he conveyed it to the Church-Masters, to hold in trust


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


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for the Church. They were to pay to Bayard the yearly rent of one shilling, on March 25th, provided it be demanded.


Signed, Samuel Bayard.


THANKSGIVING.


Since it has graciously pleased Almighty God to bless the Arms and enterprises of our very gracious Sovereign Lord and Lady, William and Mary, by the grace of God, King and Queen of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defenders of the Faith, etc., and to manifest his favor in these Provinces by the defence of our frontier at Albany, this winter against the French and the infidels : The Commander and Council have seen fit to appoint Thursday, the eighth day of the current month of March, for the City and County of New York, and Thursday the 22nd of the same month in every other county of the whole Province, to be observed as a day of solemn Thanksgiving, in which to praise and thank God Almighty for the King's safe and happy return to England, and the success of their Majesties Arms in Ireland ; and for the great victory of the Emperor over the Turks; and also for the preservation of our frontier at Albany against the French and unbelievers.


And each and every person in particular is hereby required to abstain from all servile work on the said day, and to observe and keep the same, with all possible manifestations of joy and thanks- giving. Given at Fort William Henry, the 3rd day of March, in the fourth year of their Majesties' reign, 1692. God save King William and Queen Mary.


A. Clarkson, Secretary.


SECRET INSTRUCTIONS TO GOVERNOR FLETCHER, SO FAR AS THEY RELATE TO RELIGION.


You shall take especial care that God Almighty be devoutly and duly served throughout your Government, the Book of Common Prayer as it is now established read each Sunday and Holyday, and the blessed Sacrament administered accord- ing to the Rites of the Church of England. You shall be carefull that the Churches already built there be well and orderly kept, and more built as the Colony shall


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by Gods blessing be improved; and that besides, a competent Maintenance to be assigned to the Minister, and a competent proporcion of land assigned him for a Glebe and exercise of his Industry


You are to take care that the Parishes be so limited and settled as you shall find most convenient for the accomplishing this good work.


Our Will and Pleasure is that noe Minister be preferred by you to any ecclesias- tical Benefice in that our Province, without a Certificate from the Right Reverend the Bishop of London, of his being conformable to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England, and of a good life and conversation.


And if any person preferred already to a Benefice shall appear to you to give Scandall either by his Doctrine or Manners, you are to use the best means for the removall of him, and to supply the vacancy in such manner as we have directed. And also our Pleasure is that in the Direction of all Church affairs, the minister be admitted into the respective vestries.


And to the end the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the said Bishop of London may take place in that our province as far as conveniently may be, We do think fitt that you give all countenance and encouragement to the exercise of the same, excepting only the Colating to Benefices, Granting Licences for Marriages and Probate of Wills, which we have reserved to you our Governor and to the Commander in Cheif of our said Province for the time being.


You are to take especial care that a table of Marriages, established by the Cannons of the Church of England, be hung up in all the orthodox Churches, and duly observed.


We do further direct that no School Master be henceforth permitted to come from England and to keep school within our Province of New York without the Licence of the said Bishop of London; and that no other person now there or that shall come from other parts be admitted to keep school without the Licence first had.


You are to take care that Drunkenness and Debauchery, Swearing and Blasphemy be severely punished, and that none be admitted to publique Trust and employment whose ill Fame and Conversation may bring Scandall thereupon.


You shall administer or cause to be administered ye oaths appointed by Act of Parliament, to be taken in stead of the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, as also the Test, to the Members and officers of our Councill, to all Judges and' Justices, and all other persons that hold any office in our said Province by vertue of any Patent under our Great Seal of England, or our Seal of our Province of New York.


And you are to permitt a liberty of Conscience to all persons (except Papists) so they be contented with a quiet and Peaceable enjoyment of the same not giving offence or Scandall to the Government.


You are with the assistance of our Council to find out the best means to facilitate and encourage the Conversion of Negros and Indians to the Christian Religion .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 821-3.


NEW CHURCH BUILDING IN NEW YORK.


1692, March 9.


Resolved, That the moneys of the Consistory apart from the Deacons, and of the Deacons apart from the Consistory, or col- lections at any church-meeting, shall be brought into one and the same purse or chest; and that the Deacons be recommended


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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


to take out as much money as practicable, without injury to the poor, for the building of a New Church, to be erected when re- quired.


In matters of great importance, such as the calling of a minis- ter, the erection of a church or other ecclesiastical buildings and the like, as usual all who are or have been in service shall be called together for consultation, that that may be done which is deemed best. Lib. A. 4, 5.


CHURCH OF NEW YORK : MANOR OF FORDHAM.


Resolution of the Dutch Church of New York respecting the continuance of the Fordham lawsuit.


1692, March 9.


(Abstract.)


The people of Westchester had taken the church land, first by force, and then by a lawsuit, with a jury. But the case was not well understood. It had been appealed to a higher Court. The Church had expended about twelve hundred pounds on the property. The question was now before the Consistory, whether it should be taken to the highest Court in April, 1692, or should be taken only before the judges to have the law declared and ex- pounded in reference to the case; or before the Governor and Council, to seek justice therefrom; or even before the King's Bench and Commissary in England, to reach the desired end. The Consistory having considered everything in the fear of the Lord, and believing in the righteousness of their cause, resolved to bring up the case again de novo; and that the moneys should be disbursed by the Deacons out of their treasury; and that the whole business should be entrusted to Col. Bayard.


CHURCH OF NEW YORK.


1692, March 9.


The Trouw-bosch was opened in the presence of witnesses, and the moneys removed, amounting to forty four pounds ten shillings. Lib. A. 69.


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ORDER OF COUNCIL IN CASE OF LEISLER AND MILBOURNE. At the Court at Whitehall the 11th March 1691 [1692 ?]. Present - The Queens most Excellent Majesty in Councill.


WHEREAS, The Right Honorable the Lords of the Commit- tee for Trade and Plantations have by their report dated the 11th Inst. Represented to Her Majesty that they have examined the matter of the Petition of Jacob Leisler the son of Jacob Leisler of New York, deceased, referred to the Committee by His Majes- ties order in Councill of the 7th of January last complaining of Proceedings against his father and Jacob Milbourne by Coll. Sloughter at New York, who were thereupon condemned and put to death, and their Estates confiscated, and their Lordshipps hav- ing fully heard the said Jacob Leisler the Petitioner by his Coun- cil Learned, upon the whole matter are humbly of opinion, that the said Jacob Leisler and Jacob Milbourne deceased were con- demned and have suffered according to Law. But their Lord- ships do humbly offer their Intercession to her Majesty in behalf of their Families as fit objects of their Majesties Mercy, That the Estates of the said Jacob Leisler and Jacob Milbourne de- ceased may be restored to them upon their humble application to their Majestys by Petition for the same, Her Majesty in Council is this day pleased to approve the said Report, and to declare that upon the humble application of the relations of the said Jacob Leisler and Jacob Milbourne deceased, Her Majesty will order the estates of the said Jacob Leisler and Jacob Milbourne to be restored to their Families as objects of Her Majesty's mercy .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 827.


COMMISSION OF BENJAMIN FLETCHER, AS GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK : SO FAR AS THERE IS REFERENCE TO OATHS OF OFFICE, CHURCHES, MINISTERS, ETC.


And we do hereby give and grant full Power unto you the sald Benjamin Fletcher, after you shall first have taken an Oath for the due Execution of the Office a Trust of our Captain General and Governor in Cheif in and over our


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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


said Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon, which our said Council or any five of them have hereby full power and authority and are required to administer unto you; to give and administer unto each of the Members of our said Council as well the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament, to be taken instead of the oath of Allegiance and Supremacy, as the Test and the Oath for the due execution of their places and Trust .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 828.


We do further give and grant unto you the said Benjamin Fletcher, full power and authority from time to time and at any time hereafter, by your self or by any other to be authorized by you in that behalf, to administer and give the oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, to all and every such person or persons as you shall think fitt who shall at any time or times past into our said Province or shall be resident or abiding there. Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 829.


We do by these Presents authorize and empower you to Colate any Person or Persons in any Churches, Chapells or other Ecclesiastical Benefices within our said Province and Territorities aforesaid, as often as any of them shall happen to be void.


We do hereby give and grant unto you the said Benjamin Fletcher, by your self, your Captain and Commanders by you to be authorized, full Power and Authority to Levy Arm, Muster, Command and employ all persons whatsoever (residing) within our said Province of New York .....- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 830.


And we do by these presents Will require and command you to take all possible care for the discountenance of vice and encouragement of virtue and good living that by such example the Infidells may be invited and desire to partake of the Christian (Religion) .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 832.


REV. JOHN MILLER, CHAPLAIN TO BRITISH TROOPS.


" In the summer 1692 the Rev. John Miller arrived in New York, with a com- mission of chaplain to two companies of grenadiers. He remained in the Province until 1695, when he sailed for home; but the vessel was captured by a French privateer, and all his papers were destroyed. On reaching London he wrote a book dedicated to the Bishop of London in which he reviewed the state and history of New York, and gave plans and ideas of his own, including a scheme for the establishment of an Episcopate in the Province. His plan was to unite the govern- ments of New York and New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island, station a bishop at New York as suffragan to the Bishop of London, and allow him "as' Governor " fifteen hundred pounds per annum, together with all licenses of marriage and probates of wills, and the things usually belonging to bishops in England, adding the King's Farm as a seat for himself and his successors " .- Dix, 73.


SYNOD OF NORTH HOLLAND, AT ALCKMAER.


1692, Aug. 7 et seq.


Article 27.


Extract from a letter of Rev. Godfrey Dellius, from Boston, February 17, 1691.


He feared that his letters, written about the wretched condi- tion of the churches in the province of New York, did not reach us safely, because so many ships are taken by the French.


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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


He sends us two documents, The one (an address) of the French Protestants to his Majesty of Great Britain, and the other (a letter) from his own hand, to Mr. Van Suilestein, in which a fuller explanation is given of the sad state of the churches in New York.


He has allowed himself to be persuaded to remain longer with his church, wherein he had had much fruit, in the conversion of the Indians.


Concludes with a salutation.


Extracts from a letter of the Consistory of Kingstown, August 30, 1690.


They inform us of the decease of their minister, Rev. Week- steen, and that in his place the Rev. Lawrence (Van den) Bosch had been called.


Rev. Bosch had conducted himself very unedifyingly, and had resigned his office to the consistory of his own accord.


Nevertheless he preached occasionally in different houses; but this caused disputes and schism.


Rev. Dellius had faithfully conducted services for them (in Kingston ;) but he was now inclined to return to the Fatherland.


There are only three Netherland ministers, of whom one is decrepit by reason of old age, and the other will perhaps leave. They find themselves incapable of asking a preacher from us for lack of money.


Concludes with salutations.


Extract from a letter from the Consistory of Albany, July 31, 1690.


They deplore the departure (from Albany) of their late preacher, Dellius, and that now they had only Rev. Schaats, who was decrepit and could do little or no work. 1


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


1039 1692


Through Rev. Dellius a goodly number of Indians had been received into the church by Baptism, after public confession, and accepted into the communion of the Lord's Supper.


They had been greatly inconvenienced by the war, whereby they have been diminished daily; their houses have been burned, and their people taken captive by the Barbarians.


They declare their lack of power to support a minister. They hope that the King of Great Britain would furnish them ade- quate means for that purpose.


They request us to persuade Rev. Dellius, in every possible way, to return to them, so that the Gospel might still have free course among the heathen.


A great number of that same tribe have been led over to the Romish faith by the Jesuits, and drawn from their land to Canada; they are tormented especially by these. They further request that we will do our best with the King of England unto the prosecution of the work begun, for the conversion of the heathen.


Concludes with a salutation - (zegenwensch, a wish for a blessing. )


ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


Nucella, 1692, Aug. 18th.


Rev. John Peter Nucella, S. S. Min. Cand. being already " Rec- ommended " by our Classis, requested also to be accepted as " Recommended " for the service of the Indian churches. This was readily granted him after he had given proof of his gifts on John 5:25. viii. 155; xix. 246.


JOURNAL OF THE ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK, 1692.


1692, Aug. 23rd, page 21.


Ordered, That a bill be drawn for the better observance of the Lord's day, and that each respective town within this province have a minister or reader to read divine service.


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THANKSGIVING FOR VICTORY. LIB. A. 73.


By the Commander-in-Chief and Council. A Proclamation.


(Abridged.)


Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God to bless the Arms of our Sovereign Lord and Lady, William and Mary, especially for the victory obtained in the month of May last, against the French fleet, and also to frustrate the wicked and treasonable devices of sundry conspirators, traitors and enemies of their persons, dig- nities and government: Therefore Wednesday, August 24, was appointed for New York City, and Wednesday September 7, for the other parts of the Province, as a day of Thanksgiving.


Given at Fort William Henry, August 22, 1692.


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


1041 1692


ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BENJAMIN FLETCHER. AUG. 29, 1692-1698.


JOURNAL OF ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK.


1692, Sept. 8, page 23.


In a petition to the Crown it is charged that, owing to the cut- ting up of the late New Netherland into several parts, (which were not governed like New York), the people were beginning to emigrate. In these new places they were free from the imposi- tion of taxes and levies for war, etc .; that Albany was very


CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


Correspondence from America. The Revs. Selyns, Varick and Dellius to the Classis of Amsterdam, October 12, 1692. Ex- tracts, xxi. 337; and another translation in Murphy's Anthol- ogy of New Netherland, 117-121.


New York, October 12th, 1692.


To the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam,


Gentlemen and Brethren in Christ: -


We wrote you two or three years ago, informing you of the sad condition of our land and our Church. We have been so unfortunate as not to have received any replies to our letters, nor even to have seen any other correspondence from you. The cause of this is, no doubt, on account of the war, or of the internal troubles at home, which are worse than war with a foreign foe. Your letters may have been captured by the enemy, or ours may have been stopped and deained here. It has not been per- mitted to ministers here to write to other ministers, nor to your Reverences; neither have private parties been allowed to corre- spond with their friends and acquaintances. During all this time,




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