USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II > Part 49
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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those in Holland, that we and our neighboring churches should have the privilege of securing ministers through the Honorable West India Company.
Yesterday, October 20, (1698) the remains of Commander Jacob Leisler and of Jacob Milbourne (eight years and five months after their execution and burial) were exhumed, and interred again with great pomp under our (new) Dutch Church (in Garden street.) Their weapons and armorial ensigns of honor were there (in the Church) hung up, and thus, as far as it was possible, their honor was restored to them. Special permission to do this had been received by his Honor's son, Jacob Leisler, from his Ma- jesty. This gave unutterable joy to their families and to those people who, under him, had taken up arms for our blessed King William. With this circumstance we trust that the dissensions which have so long harassed us, will also be buried. To this end our Right Honorable Governor, my lord the Earl of Bellomont, long wished for by us, is exerting his good offices. He tries to deal impartially with all, acting with great fairness and modera- tion. He has begun (his administration) by remembering the Lord God; for he has ordered a day of solemn fasting and prayer throughout the whole land. In a proclamation of great serious- ness, he has exhorted the inhabitants earnestly to pray for these things (peace among the people) to the Divine Majesty. We hope the Lord will bestow his gracious blessings and grace, upon your Reverences, with all our hearts.
New York, in America,
October 21st 1698.
[Johannes Van Giesen David Provoost, Jr. Johannes de Peyster Jacobus Goelet Albartus Ringo.]
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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Note: It is remarkable that such a partizan document should have been written nearly nine years after the execution of Leisler and Milbourne; but it seems to have been their reburial, and the effort of the Church of New York to obtain a minister in sym- pathy with Selyns, that prompted it. Domine Verdieren who was first called, did not come; but the excellent Gualterus Du Bois came, and continued pastor in New York for more than half a century, 1699-1751. Compare also " Collections of N. Y. Hist. Soc. 1868, pp. 389-412. See also letters of Consistory of New York to the Classis, April 24 and Sept. 18, 1700. The Charter gave the Consistory the right to call a minister; but this was dis- puted on the ground of custom. E. T. C.
BELLOMONT TO THE LORDS OF TRADE, CONCERNING GOV. FLETCHER'S LAND GRANTS.
1698, Oct. 22.
There goes with this a certificate under the hand of the Surveyor Generall of this Province of several most extravagant grants of land by Colonel Fletcher (No. 7); and Lieutenant Hunt, a gentleman who goes from Boston in the Deptford man of Warr, is to deliver your Lordships a new Map of this Province, (it being too bulky to make up in this packet), made by the said Surveyor Generall, the exactest, I believe, that has yet been made; wherein he has described the severall large tracts of land granted, with the grantees names; so that your Lordships will see that this whole Province is given away to about thirty persons in effect, to the great prejudice of the Crown; because at that rate this Province, which by its situation is the most considerable of all the Provinces on the Continent, (and ought to be under the best regulation), can never be well peopled; for men will not care to become base tenants to proprietors of land in this Province, when they can buy the fee-simple of lands in the Jerseys for five pounds per hundred acres; and I believe as cheaply in Pennsylvania. I do not find that Colonel Fletcher had any power by his commission to sell the lands in this Province, and yet 'tis certain he took money for all the grants he made, except that of the Mohacks land, which I cannot yet find out. If he had reserved in those grants he made, a reasonable Quit Rent to the Crown, he would have been less to blame than he is; but I find the rents reserved in all his grants are trifles. Having formerly represented to your Lord- ships the great mischief of these extravagant grants, I ought to ask your pardon for troubling you again on the same subject: but it being a thing in my appre- hension of so very great consequence to the Crown of England, I cannot forbear reminding your Lordships of it, in hopes your wisdom will find out a way of voiding these extravagant grants and limiting all Governors to a certain number of acres in their grants, obliging them to reserve a Quit Rent of half a Crown on every hundred Acres, to the Crown, and restraining them from selling the lands to the person they grant them to. I should think a thousand acres were a sufficient quantity of land to grant to any man; for the clearing of land from wood costs four pounds ten shillings per acre all this country over; so that it would require a good
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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purse to man(a)ge and overcome a thousand acres, this country being all under great woods; and yet Mr Dellius the Minister at Albany, besides his share of the Mohacks land, has in another grant which your Lordships will see by the Mapp, at least seven hundred thousand acres of land .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 397.
EARL OF BELLOMONT TO THE LORDS OF THE TREASURY.
1698, October 27.
My Lords.
In my letter of the 21st inst., which Mr. Weaver will lay before your Lordships, there are some things that particularly come within your Province; among the rest the grants of lands, which your Lordships will find to be so ex- travagant in Colonel Fletcher's time, that to prevent the ruine of this Province, which by its situation, as being contiguous to Canada, I reckon the most consider- able of any, I hope your Lordships will find out a way to vacate; and at the same time lay a restriction on all Governours never to grant above one thousand acres to any man whatsoever, without particular leave from his Majesty, and to reserve a Quit Rent of half a crown on every hundred acres to the Crown; and to be forbid selling any lands upon pain of the losse of his imployment. I have made a full representation of these matters in the letter which I have mentioned that Mr, Weaver is to communicate to your Lordships.
My Lords,
Your Lordships most humble and obedient Servant,
Bellomont. - Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 537.
New Yorke, October the 27th 1698.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK. MANOR OF FORDHAM.
1698, Oct. 27.
The Manor and the ridings thereof shall be entrusted to the Church-Masters, with power to lease houses or lands for fifteen years. They shall give account thereof to the Consistory. The preaching on Wednesdays shall be in the morning in summer and in the evenings in winter. Lib. A. 7.
EARL OF BELLOMONT TO MR. POPPLE.
New York, Oct. 27, 1698. To Mr. Popple.
Sir: Having writ so particularly to the Lords of the Councill of Trade, and you to read those letters of mine, the trouble you'll have in this will be the shorter. I send with this my proclamation for a Fast and Humiliation, thinking it a proper means to remove the heats and differences among the parties here. Last Wednes- day was the day, and as a proof of the wickedness of the people who indeavour to give me disturbance in my government, few of them came to church, and not one of the ringleaders, neither Bayard, Nicolls, Wilson, nor severall others that are not worth my naming to you .-- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 415, 416.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
NUMBER OF INHABITANTS IN THE SEVERAL COUNTIES OF NEW YORK.
An account of the number of the inhabitants in ye several Counties of ye Province of New York taken by the High Sheriffs and Justices of the Peace in each respective County ; as pr. order of his Excellency, the Earl of Bellomont, Governor etc. Anno 1698.
Men. Women. Children. Negro's
In ye County and City of Albany
380
270
803
23
In ye County of Ulster and Dutchesse County ..
248
111
869
156
In the County of Orange.
29
31
140
19
In the City and County of New York.
1019
1057
2161
700
In Richmond County als Staten Island.
328
208
118
73
In ye County of West Chester
316
294
307
146
In Suffolk County within Nassau Island
973
1024
124
558
In King's County within Nassau Island
308
332
1081
296
In Queen's County within Nassau Island
1465
1350
551
199
5066
4677
6154
2170
A true Copy
(signed)
Bellomont.
- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 420.
THE CONSISTORY OF THE DUTCH CHURCH OF NEW YORK TO THE CONSISTORY OF THE DUTCH CHURCH OF LONDON, Nov. 19, 1698, N. S.
Acts of the Consistory of the Dutch Church at New York; Oct. 27- Nov. 19, 1698, N. S.
To the Ministers, Elders and Deacons, of the Rev. Consistory of the Dutch Reformed Church in London .- Minutes of our Ecclesiastical transactions, after having made choice of a second Minister, as well as of Elders, Deacons and Church-masters for cur Dutch Reformed Church of Jesus Christ at New York, which have occurred since Oct. 27, 1698.
A. Consistory meeting was held on Oct. 27, 1698, for the choice of Elders, Deacons and Church-masters. Having called on the most Holy name of God to direct us in the choice of Elders, Deacons and Church-masters for our Dutch Reformed Church, there were chosen for Elders, Boell Roeloffsen and Capt. Jacobus van Cort- landt ; for Deacons, Johannes van Giesen and David Provoost, Jr. ; and for Church-masters, Col. Charles Lodewijck and Abraham Kip. These, according to custom, appeared in our Assembly,
1698
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1698
and were asked if they accepted these offices. They stated that they did. In token of our approbation they were then welcomed with handshakings and good wishes, and their names were to be published on the following Sunday.
A protest without date was then handed in against our call of a second Minister for our Church, and against the choice of a cer- tain Elder and the Church-masters, by Mr. Samuel Staets, Jo- hannes de Peijster and Dr. Joh. Kerfbijl.
The Protest.
To Rev. Henry Selyns, the Protestant Minister, and to the other members of the Consistory of this City :
We, the underwritten, for ourselves, and for the larger part of the members of this congregation, with all becoming submission, do show (as follows : )
Whereas, we, during the last year upon our respectful request and repeated friendly demands, could not obtain the opportunity to be heard in the presence of the old Consistory, as to what we had to say; but, notwithstanding our efforts, Domine Selyns and six members of his Consistory, took it upon themselves to call a second Minister, without calling together for consultation, as had always been the custom heretofore, the old Consistory and princi- pal members of the Church, because of an alledged clause in their Charter ;-
Therefore we felt compelled to address ourselves to his Excel- lency, my lord, the Earl of Bellomont, (Millort de Grave van Bello- mondt,) our Governor, with a circumstantial petition, stating, that we did not intend to impose our Ecclesiastical business on his Ex- cellency ; but we did this, that he, by his interposition, might hinder and prevent this quarrel of ours from becoming any worse; other- wise we should be compelled to write to the Classis of Amsterdam. Thereupon his Excellency promised to tender us a helping hand, but on account of a painful illness coming upon him, this was pre- vented. Meanwhile it came to pass that a couple of ships were ready to depart, and to carry this letter-of-call to Holland, without
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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any notice being given thereof as was usual, to his Excellency. Therefore his Excellency gave orders to write in his name to the Rev. Classis, as we now do by these ships, and by other means, that the Rev. Classis would be kind enough not to proceed with this hasty call, but would await a communication from his Excellency, with ours ; for his Excellency would undoubtedly write to the Rev. Classis by the ship of war, the Detford, which was shortly to sail from Boston to England. This would certainly occur at a very early day.
Meantime Domine Selyns and some of his elders made another blunder. Two persons were to be elected to the elders office, but the votes came out a tie. According to ancient custom, the lot ought to have decided which of these was chosen for elder; but instead of doing that, Domine Selyns, by a new rule, as alledged, declared that it fell to him to decide between them, which he ac- cordingly did. We have, indeed, nothing to say against either of these two men, although by this act, Domine Selyns proclaims otherwise. Therefore we all protested against this improper course of procedure, and we demanded that the lot should be employed in this case, or otherwise we would not recognize the elder, as such, when his name was published.
The second error was made thus: two persons were appointed as Church-masters, who were chosen by the old Church-masters together with the Consistory, contrary to the express and evident words of the Charter. These men, therefore, we neither can nor will recognize as Church-masters. We therefore requested that we might be heard in the Consistory without delay, in order there to present our objections, before a second publication of these persons should be made from the pulpit, in order that all scandals and alienations - which, all too many, may God forbid in his Church -- might be hindered. Doing these things, etc., etc.
Signed by,
Samuel Staets Johannes de Peyster Johannes Kerfbijl
Written by the hand of Dr. Kerfbijl.
1698
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1267
Advice taken from the Minister and Consistory of the French Church of this City; dated New York, Nov. 10, 1698.
Translated [from the French.]
Advice has been asked of this meeting regarding disagreements which have occurred between the Consistory and certain private members of the Dutch Church here, regarding the call of a min- ister, (leeraer), made according to the regular form, and the nomi- nation of a certain elder by a majority of votes. This latter was done under such circumstances as these: The Minister presiding, by a second vote made the decision, as his Reverence had often done before, without any opposition; but these circumstances excited some opposition, not only that concerning the call of a Minister, but that also concerning the nomination of an elder. These private parties then desired to be heard, and to be permitted to bring for- ward their reasons against these proceedings of the Consistory, as to the actual call of the said Minister, as well as the reception of the said elder.
This (French) Assembly gives the following advice: In refer- ence to the call of a Minister, the Dutch Church already some months ago wrote to the Classis of Amsterdam, according to their action then taken. It is therefore now no time to pay any atten- tion to further opposition. The whole disagreement now belongs to the decision of the said Classis, to which the opponents may address themselves, if it seems proper so to do.
In regard to the nomination of the elder, above mentioned: The opponents should be heard by the Consistory of said Church on every point they have to offer, that their reasons may be investi- gated and pondered. If these are found right and reasonable, the nomination is to be regarded as null; but if the nomination is found to have been made regularly, the elder nominated should be received.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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Done in our Consistory, by the Minister and elders of the French Church in New York, on the 10th of November, 1698.
Signed by
A. Pieret, Minister. Elias Boudinoth, Gabriel le Bouteux,
Elders.
Poul Droiljet, Jean Barberie. L
CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
Consistory Meeting, held in the presence of the old and present elders and deacons, at New York, 11 Nov. 1698.
After invoking the Name of the Lord, it was made known to the old and present Consistory, that a certain Protest, without date had been handed in, against the Call made by us, and in reference to some other matters, by Messrs. Samuel Staats, Johannes de Peij- ster and Dr. Johannes Kerfbijl. These were also requested to be present on account of their Protest.
It was thought best that the said Protest should be first read and well understood before the said protesting gentlemen should be admitted. When they came in, the Protest was read a second time, and they were then asked what their Honors' grievances were against our Call, or other things. They were allowed to speak as long time as they wished, and their Reverences would listen to them most kindly.
They gave answer that they had written to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam about the Call already made, and that was done with. But they did object against the manner of the choice of a certain elder, and of the Church-masters, and they requested on these mat- ters, to be heard only by the ruling Consistory. Upon their with- drawing, it was promised to their Honors', that they would inform them on this matter either by a verbal report or by a written com- munication.
The Rev. Consistory, weighing this matter well, and aiming at nothing else than the peace of the Church of Christ, determined,
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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in order to neglect nothing for the sake of peace, to consider and to answer everything which might be brought forward in the said Protest.
This was found to consist of four particulars, viz. :
1. That they had frequently requested a hearing in the presence of the old Consistory, but they had not succeeded.
2. Concerning the Call of a second Minister, without the calling of a meeting of the old Consistory and the principal members of the Church.
3. Concerning the election of an elder.
4. Concerning the appointment of Church-master by the " Con- sistory and Church-masters ".
We express the wish that these Protestors had allowed us and themselves to have lived in peace. Nevertheless, for their satisfac- tion, and to establish a basis in general love for the peace of the Church, they shall be kindly and peacefully answered.
1. In the first place it may be proved, out of our Minutes and Church appointments, that these gentlemen have been already heard more than once, and that we have complained and must still com- plain, that all this mischief must be ascribed to their Honors. For, with all respect to them, that our papers and subscriptions for a second Minister were withheld and never delivered up, in opposi- tion to the wishes of the Consistory, must be ascribed to them.
2. In reference to the second point: After we had called upon the Name of the Lord and after full consideration, and with sub- scriptions from all the principal heads of families and of members of our Church, and agreeably to our Charter and the Dutch Church- Order, we sent our Call, with circular letters, according to custom, to all the Dutch Churches of this Province. These, with the excep- tion of Kingston, approved it, and declared it praiseworthy in every respect. These answers were signed by the Rev. Ministers, Elders and Deacons of the Churches of Jesus Christ in Albany, Cheneghtady (Schenectady), Midwout, Amesfoort, Breuckelen, Uijtrecht (Utrecht), Bergen and Harlem. Without counting our own Consistory, these names amounted to forty one ecclesiastical
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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persons, (church-officials). But lest anything more might be de- sirable in reference to this Call, the old and present Consistory were called together, and were requested to revise it, to see if any- thing more could be done. They unanimously, nemine contradi- cente, approved it and signed it.
3. On the third point - what belongs to the choice of an elder : When the votes are a tie for this office, the deciding vote has most frequently, here, been given by the deciding officer. Especially (as an example) when Mr. Stephen Van Cortlandt, Colonel, and one of the Council of His Royal Majesty was chosen to this office, it was without opposition (to such a casting vote). This is also customary in all civil military, Consistorial, Classical and Synodi- cal meetings, without any obligation to resort to the lot. When the question was put, it was thus understood and determined by five of our ruling Consistory against three doubtful votes; and by six of the old Consistory, against one.
4. The last point is but a trifle, and in times of peace, (lit. of love), there would be no dispute about such a matter, viz., whether our Church-masters should be chosen by the Consistory in con- junction with the (former) Church-masters. The cabbage is not worth the gravy. (It is not worth talking about). When our Church was to be built, and building masters were to be chosen, (since called Church-masters) the Hon. Church-master Frederick Flipsen (Philipsen) voted with the Consistory. The Consistory and Church-masters together vote for Church-masters at Midwout Their office draws no salary, and the persons (holding it) are there- fore the more honorable. The greater number of our ruling Con- sistory are also of this opinion. If there should be another (de novo) election, the very same persons would be elected. There were none of the old Consistory who were against this plan, except a solitary one, and he was not willing to vote either way. We have determined that our usual method shall continue.
The meeting, therefore, always anxious for peace, expressed the hope that the protesting gentlemen named above should herein find full satisfaction. We also offered to them the right hand of fellow-
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to
1!
2
1
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
ship (lit. brotherhood), that the breaches might be healed, and God's Church more greatly strengthened and built up, and that, as it was a few years ago, we all might come together, as with one heart and one soul, to the Lord's house, and the Supper of the Lord.
Finally, it was found good and determined that a copy of these transactions and resolutions should on the morrow be handed to the abovementioned protesting gentlemen, to discover whether, by such means they could be persuaded to greater brotherly love and peace. Hendricus Selyns,
Minister of the Dutch Church at New York.
A true copy.
SECOND PROTEST.
A Second Protest against the said election, made, as before, by the beforementioned Messrs. Samuel Staats, Joh. de Peijster and Dr. Johannes Kerfbijl, was handed in on Nov. 12, 1698, (as fol- lows :)
To the Rev. Henricus Selyns, Minister, and to the other members of the Consistory of this City.
We, the undersigned, herewith protest against the very unreason- able and unbecoming conduct of Domine Selyns. We sought, in our former petition, to be heard by his Reverence and the Rev. Consistory, among the members of which, we believe and are sure, that the majority of them are men who love equity and peace. Of this Domine Selyns is also himself certain. And we doubt not but that, if we could have made our proposals to the said Consistory, we could have presented such plans and expedients, that these dis- putes could have been at least to a considerable degree adjusted and settled. But instead of doing thus, Domine Selyns calls in . the old Consistory, before which we did not desire to be heard until the proper time might come; and he did this only to carry his measures by a majority of votes, our adversaries being among them, (the old Consistory), and thus appear to have acted (not) illegally. By such means he further sought to hoodwink, yea, to
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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deceive the Rev. Classis. Against such an abominable way of act- ing, we complain and protest with grief ; and especially because it was promised only last evening by Domine Selyns, that a written answer to the two last points of our request should be sent,- the former that it might be sent to the Rev. Classis. But it was sent to us only on Saturday evening, so that we should have no time to answer, before that the publication would be made the following (Sunday) morning. And we then received, instead of a satis- factory answer, a communication full of falsehoods, misrepresenta- tions and pretensions of peace, while, meantime, not the least satisfaction was given to our request. We, therefore, now perceive that it is impossible that either we ourselves or the congregation can ever obtain anything of Domine Selyns, toward the securement of peace. We are therefore under the necessity to let the Classis of Amsterdam know the unendurable bossiness and tyranny of Domine Selyns, together with our other complaints, and the treat- ment we have received; for the Classis is our competent Judge; and to show that the gravy is indeed worth the cabbage (That it is very much worth talking about.)*
(Signed by) Samuel Staats, Johannes de Peijster, Johannes Kerfbijl.
New York, Nov. 12, 1698.
Note: It was indeed promised on Friday night that the report should be sent the next day. This was done by sending it on Saturday, before the evening. It was not possible to send it earlier.
Counter certificates and testimonials, by individual elders and the Ruling Eldership, and other persons who have been in office, made on Nov. 19, 1698.
Having received and read the second Protest given above, and prepared by Messrs. Samuel Staets, Johannes de Peijster and
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