USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II > Part 45
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Vera Copia Extracted out of the Councill Book pr. me
B. Cossens, Clk Councill. - Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 254.
TRINITY CHURCH. SLAVES IN SALLY.
1697, (Dec.)
Mr. Jamison reports to this Board (Vestry of Trinity Church), that ye petition ordered ye last meeting of this Board was read in Council Thursday last, and that Col. Courtlandt, one of the Council and one of ye persons concerned therein, in- formed ye Governor and Council, that they were ready to deliver up all papers relating to the moneys collected for the redemption of Captives in Sally and to assign the same. Whereupon it was ordered, (Mr. Tho. Wenham being indisposed) that Mr. Robert Lurting, Mr. James Emott, and Mr. David Jamison do waite upon the said Col. Cortlandt and ye other persons to whose charge the said money was committed, and demand all papers relating thereunto, and assignment of the same. - Berrian's Trinity Church, 20.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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DUTCH CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
Building-Masters .- Burials.
1697, Dec. 7.
The so -called "Building-Masters " shall be changed into " Church Masters ", and they shall be four in number. One half of them will go out of office each year and their places be supplied by others.
The price of graves shall be regulated thus :
For the burial of a body over 20 years of age, 30 shillings
66 " 10
20 66 66 " " under 10 66 66 10
And for every body that is buried beyond the fixed line, double these rates shall be paid.
Church-Masters shall not be allowed to take part in the election of ministers, elders and deacons, but only at the election of Church- Masters. (The Consistory elected their own successors, and their names were published for the approbation of the Church.) This was confirmed on November 11, 1698 as appears by the resolutions then passed. Lib. A. 6.
INDUCTION OF REV. WILLIAM VESEY INTO THE PARISH OF TRINITY CHURCH, NEW YORK.
On Dec. 25, 1697, Gov. Fletcher inducted Rev. Mr. Vesey into his Parish. The ceremony was performed in the new Dutch Church in Garden street, as Trinity Church was not yet ready for use. Rev. Henry Selyns of New York and Rev. John Peter Nucella, of Kingston, subscribed their names as witnesses. The Dutch granted the use of their Church to Mr. Vesey and his congregation for about three months, the services of the two Ministers alternating. The Dutch felt under obligations to the Governor and his Council for granting them their Charter (1696), and the English felt under obligations to the Dutch for allowing the Civil Vestry to call Mr. Vesey. See Nov. 2, 1696; Aug. 2, 1697, and March 13, 1698 .- Dix's Hist. Trinity Ch. i. 96-7.
Remarks of Brodhead Thereon.
The Reformed Dutch Church was the Mother Church of this state; (New York) and a spirit of liberal courtesy early prevailed between its ministers and those of the Episcopal Church. The Rev. Mr. Vesey, the first Rector of Trinity Church in the City of New York, was inducted into office in December, 1697, in the Dutch Church in Garden street. On that occasion, two Dutch clergymen, the Rev. Mr.
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1697
Selyns, the pastor of the church, and the Rev. Mr. Nucella, of Kingston, assisted in the services. Mr. Vesey afterward officiated for some time in the Garden street church, alternately with the Dutch clergymen, until the building of Trinity Church was completed. When the Middle Dutch Church (Nassau and Cedar streets) was desecrated by the British during the Revolutionary war, the Vestry of Trinity Church passed the following resolution in 1779: It being represented that the old Dutch Church is now used as a hospital for his Majesty's troops, this corporation, impressed with a grateful remembrance of the former kindness of the members of that ancient church, do offer them the use of St. George's church to that congrega- tion for celebrating divine worship. The courteous offer was frankly accepted .- Brodhead's New York, i. 119.
OPENING OF TRINITY CHURCH.
1698, March 25.
Governor Fletcher's Letter of Induction of Rev. Mr. Vesey in Trinity Church, March 13, 1698, on occasion of the first opening of that building. By his Excellency Coll. Benjamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governor in Chief of the Province of New York, etc.
These are to certifie unto all to whom these presents shall come or may consern that on Sunday the 13th of March Instant at the first opening of Trinity Church in New Yorke, after ye reading the morning and evening service Mr. William Vesey did declare before his Congregation his unfeigned assent and consent to all and everything contained and prescribed in, and by the book Entituled the book of Common Prayer and administration of the Sacraments and other rites and Cere- monies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England, together with the Salter or psalmes of David printed as they are to be sung or said in Churches in the form and manner of makeing Consecrateing and ordayning and Consecrate- ing of bishops, priests and deacons and in the Time of divine service did read a Certificate from the Right Reverend Father in God, HENRY LORD BISHOP OF LONDON that he had subscribed the acknowledgement and Declaration according to the act of Uniformity. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale at New Yorke the 25th of March, Annoque Domini, 1698.
BEN: FFLETCHER.
Inscription over the Portal of Trinity Church. 1697.
Hoc Trinitatis Templum funda- tum est anno regni illustrissimi Su- premi, Domini Gulielmi tertii, Dei gratia Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae et Hiberniae Regis, Fidei Defensoris, etc. Octavo Annoq .; Domini 1696
Ac voluntaria quorundam Contri- butione et Donis Aedificatum, max- ime antem, dilecti Regis Chiliar- chae Benjamin Fletcher, hujus Pro- vinciae strategi et Imperatoris, Mu- nificentia animatum et auctum: cujus tempore moderaminis hujus
This Temple of Trinity was founded in the eighth year of the reign of our most Illustrious Sov- ereign Lord, William the Third, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, De- fender of the faith, etc .; and of our Lord, 1696.
And it was built by the volun- tary contributions and gifts of cer- tain ones; but was chiefly encour- aged and advanced by the munifi- cence of his Excellency, Colonel Benjamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governor-in-chief of this Prov-
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1698
Civitatis incolae, Religionem protes- tantem Ecclesiae Anglicanae, ut se- cundum Legem nunc stabilitate profitentes quodam Diplomate, sub Sigillo Provinciae incorporati sunt, atque alias Plurimas, ex Re sua familiari, Donationes notabiles eidem dedit.
ince; in the time of whose govern- ment, the inhabitants of this city, professing the Protestant Religion of the Church of England, as now established according to law, were incorporated by a Charter, under the seal of the Province, and many other valuable gifts he gave to it out of his own private fortune .- Smith's New York, i. 302-3.
Gov. FLETCHER'S GIFT OF HIS PEW IN TRINITY CHURCH.
March, 1698.
To all Christian People to whome these Presents shall Come Col. Benjamin Fletcher Late Captain Generall and Governour in Cheife of his Majesty's Province of New Yorke and Vice Admiral of ye same etc. sendeth Greeting Know Yee that the said Col. Benjamin Fletcher by the Consent allowance and approbation of the Rector, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of Trinity Church att his own private Charge did Erect and build A Pew att the East End thereof for the use of his family and for his Heirs and Assigns for Ever and his Majesty having thought fit to Recall the said Col. Benjamin Fletcher from his Government The said Coll. Benjamin Fletcher doth therefore hereby Assign and make Over the said Pew in Trinity Church with all the Rights and priviledges thereunto belonging unto the Honorable Coll. Nicolas Bayard and Col. Caleb Heathcote of his Majesty's Council of the said Province and to such Others that now are of his Majesty's Council of the said Province as are not otherwise seated and Provided with Pews in the said Church and to such Persons of Quality and Gent. Travell- ing to the said Citty as the said Col. Nicolas Bayard and Col. Caleb Heathcote or the Church Wardens of the said Church for the time being shall see meet. Provided allways and itt is the true intent and meaning hereof that in Case the Heirs of the said Col. Benjamin Fletcher or any of his friends or Relations doe att any time hereafter Arrive in this Citty of New Yorke that they
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Claime and have a Right to sitt in the said Pew for the hearing Divine Service anything Above Mentioned to the Contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding. In witness whereof I have here unto put my hand and seale in New Yorke the twenty sixth day of April in the tenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King William the third of England Scotland France and Ireland De- fender of the Faith etc. Annoq Dom. 1698.
Sealed and Delivered in the presence of
W. Nicoll, Will Sharpas.
Ben. Ffletcher.
Memorandum that on the twenty fifth day of October Anno Dom 1711 personall appeared before me Adolph Phillips Esq. one of the Justices of the Supream Court of Judicature of the Province of New York William Sharpas one of the Witnesses to the within Instrument and made Oath upon the holy Evangelists of Almighty God that he saw the within named Benjamin Fletcher seal and deliver the same as his Voluntary Act and Deed in the presence of William Nicoll the Other Witnesses thereunto subscribed.
Jur Coram me die & Anno sup dict.
A. Philipse .- Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 249, 250.
1698
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1698- 1701
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELLOMONT.
April 2nd 1698-1701, March 5.
Bellomont was appointed, March 16, 1697. Shrewsbury thus informs the Lords of Trade: "My Lords: The King has been pleased to appoint the Earl of Bello- mont to be Governor of the Provinces of New Yorke, Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, and to be Captaine Generall during the War, of all his Majesty's forces both there, and in Connecticutt, Rhode Island and the Jerseys; which I signify to your Lordships by his Majesty's directions, that you may give orders to have his severall commissions and instructions prepared accordingly. I am, my Lords, Your Lordships most humble servant, Shrewsbury. Whitehall, 16th March, 1696-7. To the Lords of the Council of Trade and Plantations " .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 261-2.
Bellomont was not Commissioned until June 18, 1697. His " Instructions " are dated Aug. 31, 1697.
He had espoused the cause of the Prince of Orange, in opposition to James II. In 1688 he became a member of Parliament and was advanced by William III. to the dignity of Earl of Bellomont. He was a member of the Committee in the House of Lords to inquire into the legality of the execution of Leisler and Milburne, and , strongly declared that they had been " barbarously murdered ".
Says Dix; "He came to New York, therefore, in avowed sympathy with the faction who (which?) represented the ideas and were identified with the acts of Leisler, and looked to him to reverse the political machinery of the Province and undo what had been done. A man of narrow mind and strong prejudices, he was predestined to no end of trouble in his government; nor was it long before the Churchmen of the Province realized the nature of the change in their position. As a seaman might have expressed it, the wind had now come out dead ahead and was kicking up an ugly sea ". * * *
Bellomont was received by the Corporation of Trinity in a most respectful and honorable manner. His first act, however, was to dissolve Governor Fletcher's Assembly and call a new one. He charged his predecessor with dishonesty, oppres- sion and collusion with pirates.
In his relation to the Church of England, he was a latitudinarian. He believed that the Ministry Act of 1693, secured by Fletcher, was unwise, on acount of the divisions it sought to make between the different nationalities here; and was also Ineffectual in establishing the Church of England, as its language was entirely non-committal as to any Church in particular. * * *
In reference to the designs of Bellomont, he says: "It may be here remarked that for more than an entire generation the English and Dutch mingled together, and that there were few opportunities for training the people in the principles and ways of the (Episcopal) Church. The process of differentiation began with Vesey and Fletcher, and could hardly be appreciated by such a man as Bellomont, who was an indifferent Churchman, and ready to give nearly equal encouragement to the Church and Dissent. He reminds us of those of our own time, who are strong advocates of Christian union, provided always that it be effected at the expense of the faith and institutions of the (Episcopal) Church " .- Dix, 121.
EARL OF BELLOMONT'S INSTRUCTIONS TO MESSRS. SCHUYLER AND DELLIUS.
New York, April 22nd, 1698.
Instructions to Col. Peter Schyler one of the members of His Majesty's Council and Mr. Dellius Minister of Albany to be observed by them in their Negotiation with the Count Frontinac Governor General of Canada.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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1698
Having with advice of His Majesty's Councill appointed you, to go to Canada to communicate the Articles of Peace concluded by His Majesty and ye French King unto Count Frontinacque the Governor there, which I now deliver you in French and Latin to the end that he may have timely notice of the same to prevent the consequences that would otherwise attend the delay thereof.
You Col. Schylor are therefore ordered with all speed to hasten to Albany, and take with you from hence such French prisoners as are willing to return to Canada and on your arrival at Albany, you and Mr. Dellius are to take under your care all such prisoners as are there or that Governor can procure from the Indians and provide them with necessary Cloathing and other things needfull to enable them to returne home and what number you then so take under your charge transmitt me a list of their names. You shall also on your arrival at Albany provide yourselves with such things as shall be convenient for your Journey to Canada and make all possible haste to proceed on your said Journey for the prevention of any mischief that may ensue by reason of the Governor of Cannados not haveing timely notice of the peace.
On your arrivall at Mont Troyall you shall deliver unto Major Callior my letter and desire him to assist you in your quick dispatch to Quebeck, give him my service and assure him of my willingness to keep a fair Correspondence with him.
On your arrivall at Quebeck deliver my letter to Count Frontinacque, and tell him, that I have made it my first care since my Entrance upon the Government, to signify my respect to the friendship Contracted by our great Mars. in the Articles of Peace Now transmitted to him by you and have therefore with all speed sent to him such prisoners of warr as are come to my knowledge in this Government with the best accommodation the place could afford, and have given directions that the same shall be done in the other that I shall always be ready to maintain ye freindship of our great Masters with a friendly Correspondence.
You shall also take care to demand that all ye subjects and Indians of my Master the King of England that have been taken prisoners during the war and now under his Command in Canada or among the Indians that they may have Liberty to re- turne unto their respective places to which they belong without any lett or Molesta- tion, and be civilly and well treated according to the rules and laws of Nations.
You shall also desire him that the subjects of both our Mars. may have the free Intercourse of trade and Commerce according as formerly accustomed.
You shall also by your best discretion inform yourself if any of His Majesty's subjects are detained or kept prisoners contrary to the said Articles of Peace, and if any such to examine the cause of such detention and acquaint me therewith.
You are likewise to desire him to give directions that his Indians doe not doe any act of hostility against any of our Indians but that they shall observe the Articles of the said Warr, (Peace?) haveing given direction that our Indians shall strictly observe the same.
You are to demean yourself with great respect and regard unto Count Frontin- acque by all means to avoid giveing him any distaste.
You are also by all oppertunitys to acquaint me of the progress in your Journey and alsoe of what shall be transacted by you in your negotiation with Count Frontinacque, that I may transmitt some unto his Majesty.
Bellomont.
A true Copy (Signed) Bellomont. - Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 340, 341.
EARL OF BELLOMONT TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.
New York, May 25, 1698.
By the next opportunity your Lordships shall have such further proofs of Coll. Fletchers male Administration as will to the full equall anything I transmitt to you by this conveyance.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1698
I have been soe moderate towards Coll. Fletcher and his friends that I have turned out none of them, not soe much as his Sheriffs, who are complained against for very foul practices in the elections and returns of Members to serve in the present Assembly, notwithstanding my proclamation stricktly for bidding any such practices, by which means great discontents arise among those who are precluded by foul play from their right of sitting in the House, and such irregularities are dayly committed in the House in the point of order, that I begin to despair of their doing any good for his Majesty's service or their Countrie's.
What I have last writt leads me naturally to observe to your Lordships the great pains Col. Fletcher took to divide the people here and to foment the fewd between Leisler's party and the opposite party, and went so far in it as to publish a book (and took the advice of Councill in doing it) to revive the old story of Leisler .- By the next opportunity your Lordships shall have that book sent you, and the order of Council, that directs its being printed, and you will then judge whether this book was not calculated for putting this Town and Country into a combustion .* - Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 315.
FRAUDULENT PURCHASE OF LAND FROM MOHAWK INDIANS.
1698, May 31.
Interpreted by Arneut Cornelisse who was sworn.
Depositions of Henry and Joseph two of the Maquaes Nation who are of full age and have been Converts to the Christian Faith for about Eight years past, taken before His Excellency Richard Earl of Bellomont and James Graham Esq., His Majesty's Atturney Generall for the Province of New York, who being duely sworne on the holy Evangelists of God have answered to the following Queries as is hereunder Expressed. New York ye 31st May 1698.
Query. Whether they be owners of the Maquase Land where their Castles are seated ?
Answer. Yes, they are part owners or proprietors of the above land.
Q. How many are owners of the said land besides themselves?
Ans. Six more besides them, two have the Principall Propriety in those Lands and that the rest of the Maquase are Concerned under them.
Q. Whether they have sold the Land to Mr. William Pinhorn, Col. Peter Schuyler, Domine Godevridus Dellius, Major Dirik Wessells and Evart Banker?
Ans. Wee never sold nor gave away ye said Land to any person whatever.
The said two Christian Indians do pray his Excellency that he would use his endeavors to propagate the Christian Religion amongst them, which hath been much neglected and faintly performed of late years, therefore do pray that a minister may be appointed to Reside with them at their Castles for the cherishing and comforting of those few Converts that are already in the Christian faith and for the converting the rest of their Brethren who have good Inclinations to Embrace
* "At a Council held at New York, 4th March 1698. The clerk of the Council laid before this Board a Letter relating some transactions in this Province found at the printers which was ordered to be read. The Council are unanimously of opinion that it contains nothing but truth, and that it ought to be printed and published with the other papers menconed therein and do desire his Excellency will give direccons for the printing thereof accordingly ". Council Minutes, viii., 31. One of the reasons given by Lord Bellomont for removing Bayard, subsequently, from the Council was " that he had advised the printing a fraudulous and Malicious pamphlet entitled a Letter from a Gentleman in New York, in which it was endeavored to cast every species of odium upon Leisler and the Revolution he . effected ". Dunlap's History of New York, i., 239. The Letter here referred to is published in New York Documentary History, 8vo. ii., 425; 4to., 243.
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the said faith if they had Ministers to instruct them therein .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 345, 346, 347.
COUNT DE FRONTENAC TO THE EARL OF BELLOMONT.
Quebec, 8th June, 1698.
Sir. Colonel Schuyler and Mr. Dellius presented to me, three days ago, the letter you did me the honor to write me, from which I perceive your disposition to enter- tain a good correspondence with us in consequence of the peace which has been concluded between the King, my Master, and the King of England.
The missions we have had for more than forty years amongst them; the garrisons we maintained in their villages; their children whom they have given, and whom I have brought up near me, and many other evidences afford most certain proofs that they have ever been subject to the King's protection.
It was impossible to receive your letter by persons more agreeable to me than Messrs. Schuyler and Dellius, who have appeared to me gentlemen of merit. The desire they have to join you, before your departure from New York, forbids my detaining them any longer here .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 343, 344.
BELLOMONT TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.
1698, June 22.
How Fletcher Antagonized the Dutch and English in Church and State.
" The late Governor made advantage to divide the people by supposing a Dutch and English interest to be different here, and therefore under the notion of a Church of England, to be put in opposition to the Dutch and French Churches established here, he supported a few rascally English who were a scandall to their nation and the Protestant Religion; and here opposers to the Protestant Religion, and who joined with him in the worst methods of gaine, and severely used the Dutch, except some few merchants whose trade he favored, who ought to have an equal benefit of the English government, who are most hearty for his present Majesty, and are a sober industrious people, and obedient to Government " .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 325.
REPORT OF MESSRS. SCHUYLER AND DELLIUS' NEGOTIATIONS IN CANADA, JULY 2, 1698.
Report of our negotiations in Canada, by order of His Excellency the Earl of Bellomont, Captain General and Governor in Chief of the Province of New York.
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May 19. We arrived at Montreal with twenty prisoners, whom we placed in the hands of the Governor, whom we complimented in your Excellency's name, and to whom we presented your letter, at which he felt highly honored, and evinced much gratitude.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
May 21. We took our departure from Montreal, and arrived on the 25th at Quebec, where we waited on, and paid our respects to, Count de Frontenac and pre- sented him your Excellency's letter. He received us most politely, and evinced considerable satisfaction and lively sensibility at the honor your Excellency conferred on him.
May 26. The Superior of the Jesuits and the secular clergy visited us, and in the course of conversation said, they hoped to come soon to see us at Albany and wished to send their missionaries back among our Indians. We answered here- unto, that they may spare themselves that trouble - that our Indians are under the direction of our ministers at Albany (Dellius), who takes care of them, and awaits orders for their instruction from my Lord Bishop of London, to whose diocese they belong. This greatly astonished them, and obliged them to say that they were paid for that mission, receiving twenty four thousand livres annually from the King of France. To which we replied, that if our King did not surpass, he at least equalled, the King of France in piety and generosity; but as regards the Fathers, they, as we had but too often experienced through- out the war, were prompted rather by the desire to seduce our Indians and to enfeeble us, by attracting them hither with a view to strengthen themselves, than by charity and a design for their salvation.
May 27. According to your Excellency's instructions, we demanded of Count de Frontenac his Majesty's subjects, both Christians and Indians, who were de- tained in his government, and the establishment of a reciprocal trade, as the first fruits of the peace, etc.
The Governor rejoined: The Five Nations had always been under the French government; that it had missionaries and garrisons among them for forty years and upwards; they had affixed the arms of the King of France; the Indians had called him their Father; the English were not long in possession of the country; no mention was made of them (the Five Nations) in the Articles of Peace; that the Indians had, at one time, given him twelve children to be instructed.
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