Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II, Part 56

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


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Correspondence from America. The Church of Albany to Wm. Bancker, etc. in Amsterdam, November 15, 1699.


Gentlemen :- Our previous letter was sent to you by Captain Bandon the 8th of June, (1699,) with the accompanying instruc- tions, concerning the return of Mr. Dellius. This we hope was received by you. We doubt not that you carefully considered it,


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and remembered the limited time indicated in which the business could be properly accomplished. Our brother, Evert Bancker, has shown us certain letters of his brother (William) Bancker of Am- sterdam, desiring that the Commission to secure the call of a preacher should not restrict him to the Classis of Amsterdam. And we understand by another account, through Messrs. Peter Van Beughn and Myndert Schuyler of a later date, that a certain and proper person has been proposed by you as a preacher for New York, but subsequently the Classis above indicated would not agree to it, and this gave you great dissatisfaction. If Domine Dellius does not give full assurance of his return to us; for, as we understand it, he must take ship from England within ten months from his departure from us, we then desire that, if you cannot come to an understanding with the said Classis, that you may seek to serve yourself from such other Classis as you find convenient. We hope that you, with Domine Dellius, or in his absence, you yourself, with your own godly and excellent ability, may secure the accomplishment of our desires. We want the right kind of a person, a young man rather than a married one, either a Bachelor of Divinity, who is yet to be made a preacher, or one who is already a preacher, with the necessary gifts - just as it seems best. May such a one come to us next summer, in love and peace unto our salvation, that the churches of God may no longer remain without a teacher, and run to waste.


Messrs., Your willing servants, the Elders and Deacons of the Church of Jesus Christ at Albany.


Albert Rykeman P. Schuyler Jacob Lokermans Antony Bries Johannes Cuyler Evert Bancker.


See also the Bicentennial of the Church of Schenectady for another Dutch copy, and a different translation, pages 69-71.


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ARTICLES (IF AGREEMENT BETWEEN JOHANNES VAN ECKELEN, SCHOOLMASTER AND VOORLESER, (CHORISTER ETC. ), AND MID- WOUT.


About 1699-1700.


In relation to the School:


1. The school shall begin in the morning at eight and close at eleven o'clock. In the afternoon it shall commence at one and close at four o'clock. The bell will ring before the opening of the school.


2. At the opening of the school one of the children shall read a morning prayer, such as is found following our Cathecism; and at the closing of the school, the prayer before meals. The after- noon school shall open with the Lord's Prayer, and close with the singing of a Psalm.


3. The children shall be instructed in the ordinary prayer, and in the Heidelberg Catechism, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so as to be prepared to recite the same on Sunday, previous to the afternoon service; or if this should be prevented on Monday, to the Consistory; at which time the schoolmaster shall be present.


4. He shall be obligated to keep school nine months in succes- sion, from September till June.


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CHURCH OF NEW YORK.


1700, Jan. 19.


Receipt of Quitrents to May 17, 1699.


Received from the Minister, Elders and Deacons of the Dutch Protestant Congregation in the City of New York, the sum of one pound sixteen shillings, being in full of all Quitrents due to his Majesty, for the Manor of Fordham, the Dutch Church and Church-yard, and the house and lot of ground of the said minister in New York, pursuant to the Patent, bearing date May 11, 1696. I say, Received for three years Quitrent, at one hundred and


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twenty per annum, from the date of said Patent, to the 25th day of March, last past.


Signed, Stephen Van Cortlandt, Com.


Lib. A. 24.


Lib. A. pages 25, 26, contains various extracts from the Acts of Church Government of the Synod of Dort, 1619, about Elders and Deacons, Baptism of Infants, Funeral-sermons, Support of Ministers, etc.


TRINITY CHURCH AND BELLOMONT. 1698-1700.


Says Dr. Dix: "The hostility of Bellomont to the Church (of England) took the form of an attack on the Charter. Attempts having been made to dispute its validity, there was great anxiety to discover defects, if they existed, and to remedy them. At a meeting of the Vestry held June 8, 1698, this subject was con- sidered, and a subcommittee was appointed to take whatever steps might be deemed necessary to have the privileges and powers of the Corporation confirmed by Act of Assembly ". Records i. 20. " There was cause for the uneasiness felt by Church- men on this subject. Complaints against the proceedings of Governor Fletcher in the form of a long communication to the Lords of Trade, and dated Jan. 9, 1698. had been sent to England, signed by T. Weaver, Agent for the Province of New York, and among them were matters involving the interests of the (Episcopal) Church .- Dix, 121-2.


Dix does not give extracts from Weaver's letter. The whole communication may be found in Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 456-466, (463). Extracts will be given elsewhere. See also Am. Ch. Hist. Series, viii. 120.


THE KING TO THE EARL OF BELLOMONT, IN ANSWER TO WEAVER'S LETTER OF JANUARY 9, 1698. 1700, Jan. 27.


" To our Right Trusty and Well Beloved Cousin, Richard, Earl of Bellomont, our Captain General and Governor in Chief of our Province of New York in America.


" William R.


" Right Trusty and Right Well Beloved Cousin, We Greet you well.


" Whereas, we are informed that ye Inhabitants of your Town of New York, in that our Colony, having at their great expense and charge erected and built a Church there, for performing Divine Service according to ye usage of ye Church of England, and that they are under apprehensions of being dispossest and deprived thereof, upon a pretence of a Flaw in their Grant or Charter, whereby they hold their said Church: We have thought fit hereby to signify unto you, and accord- ingly our will and pleasure is, that in case any Suit be already commenced, or shall hereafter be commenced against their said Charter, or any of ye Rights or Revenues thereunto belonging, that you do not proceed definitely thereupon, until their said Charter, or an Authentic Copy thereof, together with ye whole state of ye matter be first transmitted hither, and laid before us in our Council, and our


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further pleasure be thereupon signified unto You. And so we bid you heartily farewell.


" Given at our Court at Hampton Court ye 27th day of January, 1700, in the Twelfth Year of our Reign.


" By His Majesty's Command, " C. Hedges ".


Cadix, 1. [Cadiz] Feb. 1700.


Mrs. Hero May & William Banker,


Sirs :-


We have yours of 5th of January in answer to which the Redemption of all the English Captives in Barbary is agreed, and Hope in a few months will bee com- pleted, Bartholomew Ruston, and William Green are upon the list given in which the agreement, So it will be needless to solicit now there redemption, and beside a needless charge to their frinds, this negotiation suppose it will bee Publicq, so shall not further trouble you therewith, butt in anything wee can serve you Please Command.


Sirs, Your most humble Servant, W. Hodges chri. Hayne & Torrecos.


(Translation.)


The Heern Stephanus van Cortlandt Piter Jacobez Marius Johannis Kip and Johannis Kerfbyll.


Myn Heeren


Our last to you was of the 3rd of January 1699 wherein it was stated that Bartholomew Rushton and William Green were alive in Maquines and through our correspondence at Cadiz, we have since used every effort for their redemption, and now lately by letter a copy of which is annexed, we have received the welcome tidings that in virtue of an agreement obtained by the English they will receive their freedom in a few months, Therefore we shall have to contribute but little out of the moneys in our hands. We shall most gladly be advised how and in what manner we are to employ the balance of the money, whether in the shipment of goods or on drafts which you may please to draw. Awaiting which we shall end and remain with due respect after our dutiful salutations,


Myn Heeren, Your dutiful Servants Hero May William Bancker.


Amsterdam, March 20, 1700. - Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 254, 255.


CALL OF THE CHURCH OF ALBANY, PER WM. BANCKER, OF BARN- HARDUS FREERMAN, MARCH 5, 1700.


In accordance with the Commission of Albany, dated November 15, 1699, to me given, to select for the church a proper person, either a preacher or a candidate; and after proper qualification, to send him over :- Therefore I, the underwritten, having ob- served the good and edifying conduct of Domine Barent Freer- man, Bachelor of Holy Divinity, have in the fear of God, offered


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to him the before written call, that his Reverence may serve and build up the Church of Jesus Christ in Albany, through the Holy Ministry, by the preaching of God's Word upon the Lord's Day, as also during the week, so far as it may be convenient; also to administer the Holy Sacraments, to exercise discipline, to the edification of the Church; to visit the sick and to pray for their consolation, to catechise diligently, and also at the request of the Rev. Consistory aforesaid, to preach four times a year at a village named Scheneghtade, and administer there the Sacraments; and to conduct himself in all other respects as an example to the Church of Jesus Christ, as God requires of his faithful servants. He shall receive for salary all that is therein agreed upon. And seeing that the said Domine Freerman has accepted this call in the fear of the Lord, and it has become further necessary for its accomplishment that his Reverence should be immediately exam- ined, and after examination be ordained to the Holy Ministry by the laying on of hands; we have therefore requested the Rev. Brethren of the Classis of Lingen (in Westphalia) to execute this holy design, doubting not but such act will redound to the glory of God's Holy Name, and the upbuilding of Jesus' Church there. Done in Amsterdam, the 5th of March, 1700.


William Banker.


CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


ACTS OF THE DEPUTIES AND THEIR CORRESPONDENCE.


The Classis of Amsterdam to the Consistory of New Albany, be- tween March 8th and 29th 1700. xxvii. 255.


Reverend and godly Sirs and Brethren in Christ :- It is now sometime ago since we received word that Rev. Dellius desired to return to the Fatherland. We then wrote him with great earnest- ness and in a friendly spirit, urging him to remain and continue with the church of Albany. For under the blessing of God, this church had flourished under his ministry, and we desired him,


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therefore, to exercise his gifts on that field still longer. Subse- quently we learned that our letter arrived too late - not until after his departure. At length the Rev. Dellius arrived here and finally reported to us. We tried to persuade him to return, but he gave us such reasons against this course that we finally agreed with him. A little later we received your letter of June 5, 1699, signed by the Rev. Gentlemen, Elders and Deacons, of New Albany, viz. A. Rykmans, P. Schuyler, J. Lockermans, A. Bries, J. Cuyler and E. Banker, embracing in substance: (1) The re- quest that we should give you our fatherly assistance and advice as to the best manner of maintaining the rights of our church; (2) In case the Rev. Dellius should decline to return, you had re- quested him, together with Messrs. William Banckert and Levinus van Schaick, to request our Classis to send over another orthodox minister in his place; using as an argument that you doubted not but that our fatherly care, which had always been so tender over your church, would still be found to be the same.


In answer, we assured you of the excellent inclination which we had for the welfare of all the churches in those parts, and that we grieved in our very souls at the infractions on the rights of the church which had been perpetrated by politicians; that we expected his Majesty of Great Britain shortly, when we would not neglect to present with all earnestness to him everything pertaining to this matter.


And now in regard to your request to send another orthodox minister: We have at the request of Mr. Dellius and Mr. Levinus Van Schaick - the third party, William Banckert not being willing to come, saying that two were enough to attend to this business - looked about in the fear of the Lord, for a man whom, we might, with a good conscience, recommend as capable of meet- ing your desire. And although you had fully authorized our Classis to issue a call at their discretion, we have nevertheless, done nothing therein without the entire approbation and satis- faction of the said Rev. Dellius and Levinus Van Schaick. We


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have, accordingly called Rev. Johan Lydius, who for eight years has been pastor, under the Cross, at Antwerpen, and who has testimony from all quarters, of dignified scholarship, and select and godly companionships.


We cannot doubt but that this will be entirely agreeable to you; and the more so, because by this choice, we were also en- abled to settle Rev. Dellius, to whose faithful labors you declare you have been so much indebted, (at Antwerpen. ) For he now ex- ercises his gifts there, under the Cross. But to our great surprise, Mr. William Banckert - after the Rev. Lydius had been called to New Albany, and Rev. Dellius to Antwerpen, and the former had already, by a dissolution of the pastoral relation, left his place, and the latter had been confirmed therein - read before us a letter from you with a request for the sending of a pastor. In that same letter it was added, that in case they, the Commission- ers, could not succeed through the Classis of Amsterdam, they might try through some other Classis. This appeared to cast mis- trust on our Classis, and in no wise to correspond to the fatherly care which you before mentioned. Hence we concluded that the said Banckert had acted in bad faith, and had, perhaps, written you things which exceeded the truth. In this we were confirmed when we heard that he had gone upon his own motion, to a certain Freerman, beyond the limits of the Seven Provinces, in West- phalia, in the Classis of Lingen, and had there secured the ordina- tion of the aforesaid Freerman for service at Albany; that he had thereupon quietly put him on board ship, without the knowl- edge of either Mr. Dellius or Mr. Levinus van Schaick, in order to forestall the Rev. Lydius, and thus set that church on fire. Now if there is anything calculated to excite mutiny in a church, it is such conduct as this. We cannot understand how such a frightful undertaking can be entered upon by a member of the church, such as Banckert professes to be. Neither can we com- prehend how anyone can, without a legal call, attempt to force


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himself as a hireling into the service of the church, as this Freer- man seeks to do.


Sometime ago the Church of New York requested us to send them a suitable minister. Banckert was at that time a strong ad- vocate for this Freerman. But we thought that we could not, without prejudice to our conscience, call such a man to so flourish- ing a church; because this Freerman, a Westphalian tailor, had but just come from his cutting-board, and had neither learning nor ability. He had failed in his examination here, even when he desired to go only as a Krankbesoecker (Comforter of the Sick.) How he has since succeeded in passing his examination as a candidate, we cannot understand. We then called the Rev. du Bois to New York, through whom, we understand, we have gained great honor; for he gives very great satisfaction to that church. But this especially incensed Banckert. When we subse- quently met to make out a call for Albany, he would not come, although requested to come by our Classis. He well knew that our Classis would not see fit to send such a patch-cutter to Al- bany, for the same reason as they refused to send him to New York; (for the same New York reason.) We beseech you to con- sider in what a dangerous position this Banckert has placed your, church. What discord will it make, when two pastors come, and possibly each seek his own adherents. This is just the way to allow all rights to be transferred to the English, and to lose for- ever the counsel, aid and assistance of the Netherlands Church. For who wishes to be concerned with those who issue orders against orders. We may ourselves well forego such troubles. We seek no dominion over your Church; but it is only the brotherly love and interest which we have for that Church, which was for- merly founded under Netherlands Order, and with which we have hitherto maintained so friendly a correspondence, (that we act in your behalf). We are sure that no Classis in the xvii Provinces would have dared to have entered on so rash an undertaking; but like the tailor, so also is this Classis in Westphalia. We have not been able to get any satisfaction from it, nor do we know in what


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manner this scheme was concocted there. It seems to us that the Classis of Lingen could not have done this, without the use of some sinister means.


It is, therefore, our friendly request, that you be pleased to receive Rev. Lydius, who will go to you next week in the vessel which Mr. Schaick controls, with all friendliness, as a servant of Jesus Christ, sent of God with a legal call. Send Freerman back again, and thus give no occasion that the bond of brotherly friend- ship be broken, lest we be compelled to use a stronger arm about such proceedings. May we be enabled to keep our hearts in all. good-will towards you, and continue to give proofs of our sincere good wishes.


Rev. and godly brethren in Christ, your most humble servants and brethren in Christ,


The Classis of Amsterdam; In her name, The Deputati ad res Maritimas, Jacob Streso, Daniel Eversdijk, Casparus Auckman, Eccles. die mensis p.t. Deput.


JOHN KEYS 32 HEADS OF ACCUSATION AGAINST BELLOMONT.


1700, March 11.


1. Refers to his favoring the Leislerians.


2. To the efforts of the Assembly to heal the divisions existing, and the treat- ment of them by Bellomont.


3. After the dissolution of this Assembly, His Lordship, in order to procure sheriffs and consequently an Assembly to his own humor, garbled the Councill, and upon frivolous pretences, suspended ten of the most considerable for estates and parts and experience in busynesse, viz: Coll. Bayard, Coll. Minveill, Coll. Willet, Coll. Heathcote, Coll. Young, Coll. Townley, Mr. Pinhorn, Mr. Nicolls, Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Brooke; and placed six of the Leislerian faction in their roome, vizt. Abr. de Peyster, a Merchant, Samuel Stauts, a Dutch Barber Surgeon, Johannes Carboyl (Kerfbyl), a Dutch Mountebank, Robt. Levingston, a Scotchman, the contriver of Kidd's Pyratical voyage, Jas. Graham, a Scotchman, Attorney Generall, and Robert Walters, a son-in-law of Leislers. Three of whom viz. Staats, Carboyl, and Walters, in all publick assessments were rated at no more than one hundred and fifty pounds, twenty five pounds, and seventy pounds Estate.


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4. The Councill being men thus new modeled, the Earl of Bellomont and this Councill appointed new Sheriffs and Justices of the Peace, mostly of the Dutch, and out of the meanest and mercenary people, having more regard to the faction they espoused, than any other qualification.


5. He next permitted, if not directed, the taking up at midnight, with sound of trumpet and drumms, the bones of Leisler and Milbourne, who had lain burried in


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their own graves neare nine years; and to ly in state some weeks, and afterwards to be publicly burried in the Dutch Church against the consent of the Officers thereof, attended by one hundred men in armes, and a mobb of fifteen hundred men, chiefly Dutch, the scum of that and the neighbouring Provinces; which struck such a terror into the Merchants, and other of the principal inhabitants of the City of New York, that most of them were forced to withdraw and absent them- selves for a time for their security. His Lordship, it is said, honored this funeral by being a spectator out of a window, whilst the cavalcade marched by. Though the Ministers of the English, French, and Dutch Churches addressed His Lordship, to prevent the bodies being publicly buried in that manner, he would not vouchsafe them any satisfactory answer.


11. This Assembly, upon His Lordship's recommendation, vacated several par- ticular grants of lands passed in the usual forme, under pretence of their being extravagant. And by one of the same Acts, suspended one Mr. Dellius from his Ministerial function, upon a malicious and false suggestion he had deluded some Indians to make him a grant of lands, tho' the said Indians have since recanted the same; by which means Mr. Dellius, who was the most useful man of that country, in converting the Indians and keeping them firme to the English interest, hath been forced to leave the province, to the great dissatisfaction of the Indians and hazard of their desertion to the French. But several other grants, as large or larger than those that were vacated, and under the same circumstances, were left untouched, because in the hands of Leislerians.


17. He suspended the payment of twenty six pounds per annum, to the English Minister, and thirty pounds per annum, a piece, to two French Protestant Ministers, which His Majesty had appointed to be paid out of the revenue, for noe other apparent reason than that they set their hands to an attestation of Mr. Dellius's good behaviour, whom the Assembly had suspended and driven out of the Province.


22. The Lieutenant Governor and Councill caused four Justices to be sent for, from their habitations at Albany, one hundred and fifty miles from New Yorke, and suspended them, because they had taken upon oath, the recantation of two Indians, who had falsely accused Mr. Dellius, and acknowledge their offence when he was leaving the country, after his suspension by the Assembly .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 620-623.


CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA.


The Consistory of New York to the High Reverend Classis of Am- sterdam, March, 29, 1700. Portfolio, New York, Vol. i. Ex- tracts, xxi. 410.


New York, March 29, 1700.


Reverend, Pious and Highly Learned Fathers and Brethren in Christ Jesus :-


We have not wanted to neglect to thank you, at this our first opportunity, for your Christian care and interest in us and our congregation, in providing us with such an excellent pastor as Domine Gualterus du Bois. His learning and virtues have justly become an ornament to our church. Through his remarkable zeal,


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mingled with gentleness, the troublesome disputes, which have, through each others rashness now for some years past, turned our church topsy-turvy, have at last been almost completely ex- tinguished. Every one in the congregation takes the greatest satisfaction in his teaching and his deportment. Now this state of affairs could not have come into existence if we had received a minister who troubled himself about the recent dissensions in the Government, or who showed himself a partizan. We clearly perceive the blessing of the Lord in this circumstance, for he has brought light out of darkness. For never was a congregation more agitated than ours over the calling of a minister, and never did feeling extend to such hot antagonisms.


The reason of all this was because the efforts (to secure a pastor) were made in an improper way; and the complaints of the prin- cipal people, and of the majority of the congregation, who would fain have had it otherwise, were despised and treated with con- tempt. But lest we may tear open again the old wounds, we will not dwell on these things any further. In charity, we will cast them into oblivion. We thank God that he has not only warded off the evil consequences which seemed to hang so threateningly over our heads, but that he has given us just the pastor that our church needed; and that this pastor proves so acceptable to us all. In bringing about these results, you, Rev. Sirs, were the chosen instruments.


We have nothing more to write at present. We commend you to God's gracious protection, and ourselves to your favor. We remain,


Your servants and brethren in Jesus Christ,


John de Peyster, Elder. David Provoost, Deacon John Van Giesen, Albartes Pingo, 66 Jacob Goelet,




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