USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II > Part 60
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* Or Estiaghicks, which, according to Colden, was the Iroquois name for the Sauteurs, or Indians around the Falls of St. Mary; Roone, meaning simply, " men ", being a termination used by the Iroquois to designate Indians of the Algonkin family.
¡ Achsisaghecks, or Missisagues.
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number of sixteen, that have already agreed to come and live among us, and if they do hear that wee commit any rudeness to the French Jesuits, that will put a stop not only to the said treaty, but exasperate our people that are at Canada, and obstruct their coming over to us. Therefore our conclusion is, first to wait the said farr or remote Indians their coming, before wee put that in execution which your Lordship proposes about the Jesuits; but if any Jesuit or Popish Priest do come into our Country before the treaty with the remote Indians be con- cluded, wee will send them back and forbid them to come into our Castles; and what wee have promised your Lordship concerning our adherence to the Protestant religion, wee stand to it and will ever abide to those principles .- Colden.
THE SIXTH DAY'S CONFERENCE. ALBANY THE 31ST OF AUGUST, 1700.
Present - As before. 1
His Excellency Richard Earl of Bellomont's Proposalls to the Sachems of the Maquase, Oneydes, Onnondages, Cajouges, and Sinnekes.
Brethren: -
I understand some of the French that are among the remote Nations of Indians would willingly come and trade with us in this town, but that they are appre- hensive you will not give them free passage through your country; but I hope you will encourage their coming hither, for now in time of peace it is but reasonable they should have the liberty of trading with us. There is a vast difference between Frenchmen that come among us purely on the account of trade, and the Popish Priests and Jesuits that come to deceive and delude you with thelr false doctrines and principles.
I would be very glad to know upon what errand or message it was that Mr. Marricour and Monsr. Bruyas the Jesuit and the rest of the French came to you lately at the Onnondages Castle. If you intend to keep a fair correspondence with mee as you have promised, you must be ingenuous in letting mee know what propositions they made to you then. Therefore I expect you will recollect and tell me everything that they say'd to you.
And now Brethren let me conjure you to perform all the promises you have made of an inviolable fidelity and obedience to the King our Master and to con- tinue in a steddy affection and friendship with us your Brethren and fellow sub- jects. You cannot give the King a surer testimony of your loyalty to him then by rejecting all manner of correspondence with the Popish Priests and Jesuits and by utterly refusing to suffer them to come into your country upon any pre- tence whatsoever. Upon those termes I doe take upon mee to assure you of the Klng's fatherly care and protection, and in token of his Majesty's grace and favour to you, I have provided a present which I give you in his Majesty's name, viz.,
200 Fusees
200 Knives
200 Baggs of powder of 61b. a peece
200 Shirts
2000 1b. lead
40 Keggs of Rum of 2 Gals. Rum.
2000 Flints
63 Hats
100 Hatchets
3 Barrels of Pipes with Tobacco.
This is besides 2 ps. of Duffells and some gunns, shirts and hatts given to the Sachems when they went home.
Robert Livingston, Secretary for the Indian Affaires.
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Albany 31st of August 1700.
The Sachems of the Five Nations, the Maquase, Oneydes Onnondages, Cajouges and Sinnekes came to his Excellency the Earl of Bellomont and made the follow- ing answer to his Lordshipps Propositions made to them in the forenoon.
Sadekanaktie Speaker: --
Brother Corlaer.
God Almighty hath been pleased to create us, and the Sun hath shined long upon us, and wee have lived many years in peace and union together, and we hope by your instruction to bee taught to bee good Christians, and dye in the Christian faith; let us therefore goe hand in hand and support one another. Wee were here before you and were a strong and numerous people when you were but small and young like striplings, yet wee were kind and cherished you, and therefore when wee propose any thing to you, if you cannot agree to it, let us take Councill together that matters may be carry'd on smooth, and that what we may say may not be taken amiss, and when wee are to be instructed in the Protestant Religion, pray let not such severities be used as the Jesuits do in Canada, who whip their Proselytes with an iron chain, cut the women's hair off, put the men in prison, and when the men commit any filthy sin, the Priest takes his opportunity and beats them when they are asleep. Now as a token wee accept of being instructed in the Protestant Religion, Wee give nine Bever Skins.
Wee desire that a Smith may come and live at Onnondage when the Ministers come; wee have not heard anything of that; pray let not this be forgotten. Wee give nine Bevers.
Wee shall now according to your Lordship's order acquaint you with what the Jesuit Bruyas hath say'd to the Sachems of the Five Nations at Onnondage this Summer, viz.,
1. That he was glad to see them, and that some of them were to Canada not- withstanding Corlaer's strict prohibition and that he was sorry for the loss of their people that were killed by the remote Indians, condol'd their loss and wip'd of the blood, and gave a Belt of Wampum.
2. That the ketle of warr that had boyl'd so long, which would have scalded and consumed all the Five Nations was now overset and turned upside down and a firm peace made.
3. He planted the Tree of Peace and welfare at Onnondage.
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6. He proposed to come and live at Onnondage and instruct us in the Christian Faith, and would banish all sickness plagues and distempers out of our country if wee would accept of him: and gave us a Belt.
But this Belt was not accepted by us, for wee told him that wee had accepted a Belt from Corlaer sent us this Spring by Col. Schuyler, Mr. Livingston and Mr. Hansen, to be instructed by such Ministers as he would send, which Belt, being given first, had the preference; and Dekanissore, one of our Sachems, told him further that wee had once been deceived by the Jesuit and his doctrine; for when wee were entred and learning the Christian Religion, the French came and knock'd us in the head.
7. That the Jesuit had a Belt of Wampum from the Rondax Indians to release two of their Indians that were prisoners at Onnondage, and carryed one of them to Canada.
They added further that the Jesuit Bruyas said when he see his Belt was rejected, whereby he proposed to come and live at Onnondage and instruct them
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in his religion, that if he had known that Corlaer the Governor of New York had sent a Belt for that purpose that Ministers should come there to instruct them, he would not have proposed it to them.
They further stated that Bruyas the Jesuit say'd it is as if Corlaer the Governor of New York would have warr again by hindering you to come and correspond and trade with us.
Albany the 31st of August, 1700.
While the Sachems of the Five Nations were making their proposals to the Earl of Bellomont :-
Henry, one of the Maquase Protestant Indians stood up and say'd: Wee com- playn'd to your Lordship two yeares ago in the name of the Five Nations that our land was taken from us by Col. Peter Schuyler, Capt. Evert Banker, Major Dirk Wessells and one William Pinhorne at New York and Mr. Dellius the late Minister of Albany; whereupon your Lordship promised you would write about it home to the King, and wee have accordingly found the good effects of it and have our land again. Mr. Hendrick Hansen came last year to our country and told us from your Lordship that the Patent that those five persons had obtained for our land, was vacated and broke, and that wee should keep possess and enjoy our land for us and our heires forever, if there were but two of us alive wee should not bee turned out, nether would it bee taken from us, and wee were told to acquaint all the rest of the Five Nations herewith; which wee accordingly did and for an acknowledgement of our gratitude to your Lordship wee give nine Bevers.
Wee doe again thank your Lordship in behalf of the Five Nations for your fatherly care in restoring our land to us again, and wee doe pray that the Great King of England may protect us from any hazard that may befall us. Wee give nine Bevers.
Robert Livingston, Secretary for the Indian Affaires.
PROPOSALS MADE BY THE RIVER INDIANS TO THE RIGHT HONOR- ABLE RICHARD EARL OF BELLOMONT, AUGUST 31, 1700.
Present - As at the First Dayes Conference.
Soquans Speaker said :- Wee are glad to see you and your lady here; 'tis now about two yeares ago since wee first see you. The sunn of peace shin'd then and so it does still. Wee give Beaver and an Otter to welcome our Father and Mother to this place.
2. In the times of old there were not any Christians on this river and the first Christians that came settled upon Renselaer's ys land whom wee loved as soon as wee see them, and received them as Brethren, with whom wee made a strict allyance and a Covenant Chain which has been kept alwayes inviolable ever since, and this chain wee are now come to renew, and wee are resolved to live and dye here in this government, and do pray that our Father will support and protect us. Wee give three Bevers.
3. It is now six and twenty years ago since wee were allmost dead when wee left New England and were first received into this government; then it was that a Tree was planted at Schakkook whose branches is spread that there is a com- fortable shade under the leaves of it: Wee are unanimously resolved to live and dye under the shadow of that Tree and pray our Father to nourish and have a favourable aspect towards that Tree,
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE EARL OF BELLOMONT'S ANSWER TO THE RIVER INDIANS, ALBANY THE 31ST OF AUGUST 1700.
Children. I thank you for your kind expressions, in which you have delivered yourselves by Sucquans your Sachem. I hope I shall alwayes behave myself to you and the rest of the King's Indian subjects so as that you will have reason to believe that the English lawes and government are the best in the world and you may be sure I will doe everything to maintain the Covenant Chain firm and stedfast. I am glad you are so near as Schakkook and should be very glad you would invite your friends the Pennekoke and Eastern Indians to come and settle with you there;
What you have say'd to mee I take kindly, but I am sorry you have not the same good disposition that the Five Nations have expressed of becoming Protestants and being instructed in the true Christian Faith; which would be infinitely more pleasing to mee than all the complements you can possibly use to me; if you intend to convince mee of your affection and duty to the King, you must resolve to renounce all sort of correspondence with Canada and neither be instructed by the Jesuits or other Popish Missionaries in their religion, nor carry on any trade with the French of Canada or their Indians; and when ever I hear that you go to Canada upon the account of trade, you must never reckon upon mee as your loving Father, nor shall I esteem you my dutifull Children.
To conclude the King our great Master does by mee make you a present equall with the rest of his subjects of each of the five Nations, viz.,
Forty Gunns, forty Bags of powder of six pounds each, four hundred pounds of lead, five hundred Flints, twenty Hatchets, forty Knives, eight Kags of Rum, forty Shirts, twenty pounds of Tobacco, one Cask of Pipes, one dozen Hatts.
Robert Livingston, Secretary
for the Indian Affaires.
Albany the 4th of September, 1700.
The Propositions made by some of the Five Nations to the Commissioners of the Indian Affaires, the third of July last, being read before the Earl of Bellomont, relating to a Belt sent by the Canada Praying Indians of Cachanuage to the Five Nations; and some discourse the Governor of Canada had with said Indians; as by said Propositions, relation being thereunto had more at large appears, His Lordship thought fit to give the following answer to the Sachems of the Onnon- dages and Sinnekes, the rest being gone home: viz.
Brethren. Upon your producing the Belt of Wampum sent to the Five Nations by the French Praying Indians of Cachanuage, and your owning to mee that the said Praying Indians desired I might not know of their said message and Belt, I perceive plainly the message was only to amuse and deceive you, that under the pretence and shew of a friendly correspondence between the said Praying Indians and the Five Nations the Jesuits and other emissaries or creature of the Governor of Canada might have the better opportunity of seducing you from your obedience to the King our Master; and whereas you have communicated to mee the desire of those Praying Indians that their Belt may bee kept in the Onnondages Castle in token of the good correspondence they intended with the Five Nations I thank you for your sincere dealing and discovery thereof; and since you have been so just to mee to give mee up that Belt so sent you by the Praying Indians, I do in the room thereof deliver you a Belt which I desire may goe as a token of my friendship to the Five Nations and may be kept in the Onnondages Castle in liew of the other Belt.
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Brethren. You are to understand that the Belt I now give you is to be a pledge between us of mutuall friendship, and to be a caution to you not to hearken to any propositions whatsoever that comes from Canada without my consent first had
The Sachems answered :-
That they were of opinion it would be requisite for them to send an answer to the Canada Praying Indians, since by that Belt they sent to them, they seem to insinuate the keeping firm the Peace made by the two Kings in Europe.
To which His Lordship reply'd :-
That he thought their best way would be to answer the message of the Praying Indians, but then advised their said answer should appear after this manner, viz. That they did desire the Peace between the two Crowns might be observed between those that sent the Belt and the Five Nations, but that they would never carry on any negociation with them or any other persons whatsoever without the privity and good liking of the Great King of England's Governor of New York, for that they are resolved to adhere firmly to their allegiance and fidelity to the Great King of England.
To this the said Sachems agreed and say'd the Interpreter should be present when they gave their answer to the Canada Indians, and His Lordship ordered the Interpreter Laurence to be present accordingly.
Robert Livingston, Secretary for the Indian Affaires. - Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 727-746.
CORRESPONDENCE IN AMERICA.
The Revs. Selyns and Du Bois to the Consistory of Schenectady, September 4, 1700. Portfolio " New York ", Vol. I. To the Overseers of the Church of Jesus Christ at Schenectady, Constituting the present ruling Consistory of said Church :
Worthy Friends and Brethren :- We are very well acquainted with all that can be said in regard to the arrival of Revs. Lydius and Freerman; and we doubt not but that we have a clear view of the rights (righteousness) in that whole case. We are greatly rejoiced, therefore, that things have been directed as they have, if they are in harmony with the maintenance of the rights of God's Church, and of good order.
As to the call you have made on the Rev. Freerman, we perceive nothing else than that you have done it with a good and pious object in view. We wish you all manner of prosperity therewith, and hope that the Rev. Freerman may be for many years a faith- ful pastor and teacher to your church; one who will enlighten
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your congregation by doctrine and life, and build you up in the knowledge of the truth which is unto salvation; urging you to virtue and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
But considering that we are all preachers sent out by the Con- sistory and Classis of Amsterdam, and are, therefore, members of that same Classis, and must on that account recognize that Rev. Assembly as our competent Judge, and to which we are bound to refer all our church differences ; therefore we can recognize no one as belonging to this Corporation, (this Body of Ministers in Amer- ica) except such as also recognize the same Classis of Amsterdam, as that Body to which all our ecclesiastical disputes must be re- ferred. For example, as serving for your own warning, in case some dispute should arise, which may God forbid, between you and your pastor; and you should wish to choose us as arbitrators in the case; the Rev. Freerman would be able to say with the greatest justice,- I do not belong to that Classis of Amsterdam to which those ministers belong; but the Classis of Lingen is the one which can alone act on my case.
We are, indeed, willing to recognize Rev. Freerman as an ortho- dox minister, who belongs (belangt) to the Classis of Lingen. But if he, hereafter, is willing to consider the Classis of Amsterdam with us, as the one on which, in certain respects, we are alone dependent, and as the body to which we and himself belong (be- hoort) ; this would serve as a great bond of unity for all the Dutch Churches in these far off countries of America ; although the entire Church of God on earth constitutes but one Church.
Dear Friends and Brethren,
Your obedient servants and friends,
Henricus Selyns Gualtherius du Bois.
September 4, 1700.
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CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Correspondence from America. The Revs. Selyns and Du Bois to the High Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, September ? 1700. Portfolio New York, Vol. I. Extracts, xxi. 420.
Reverend, Pious, Highly Learned Sirs and Brethren :- From your lines of March 29, 1700, we received information that the Classis of Amsterdam, at the request of the Rev. Consistory of New Albany, had regularly called Rev. (John) Lydius to that field, and that he was a capable and pious minister ; but that, not- withstanding this, Mr. Bancker had tried to foist upon them a certain (Bernardus) Freerman, and had, to such a degree as you informed us, succeeded in his undertaking. You also represented to us the danger of such a proceeding, and admonished us to do our duty in the premises.
As soon as we heard of these irregularities of Mr. Bancker we admonished him therefor, but not with such immediate results as we could have wished. For not only this city, but pretty nearly the whole country beside is full of disputes ; on that account feelings are divided. There was therefore a rumor here, that besides the request (of the church of New Albany) to the Classis, (for a pastor) a private order had been sent to Mr. Bancker positively to see to it, that Rev. Freerman was called. It was for this reason, that when the letter of the Rev. Classis was read in our Consistory, and it was asked whether the members did not consider the calling of Rev. (John) Lydius regular; and on the other hand whether they did not condemn the call of Freerman as irregular: it was answered by the majority, that there was no objection to what had been done by the Rev. Classis ; but neither did they wish to declare the calling of Rev. Freerman irregular ; because they did not know anything of those orders sent to Mr. Bancker; that they were, indeed, always inclined to show all due respect to the Rev. Classis ;
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but that the Church of Albany had not recognized us (the Church of New York) in this call, (by asking our opinion) as all the other churches in the land were accustomed to do in such matters; and as had been done even by themselves, in regard to Albany, in the calling of Rev. du Bois : that therefore their declaration of the regularity or irregularity of this call would help nothing; but on the contrary might occasion more difficulty. Therefore it was judged advisable to give no declaration on the subject. It was thought proper, however, that each one in his private capacity, should seek so to influence his acquaintences at New Albany, that matters might be satisfactorily arranged with the Classis; and that the Rev. Freerman might also be helped in any way possible. For surely, to send him back could not be approved of, when there was so great need of ministers here. Such a course would cause much complaint from those who were informed about the situation here; indeed those would never permit such a thing to be done.
Meanwhile it had been agreed upon by Rev. Selyns and myself, since both the ministers were sure to come over, that the first who should land, which ever it might be, should be entertained at the house of Rev. Selyns; and the other should stay with me, (du Bois.)
Furthermore, we have sought to induce all parties to come to this point, that the rest and peace of the church should be pre- served, and that the Rev. Classis should not be injured in its dignity and the respect due unto it. In due time both the minis- ters went to Albany, whither Mr. Nucella, on the receipt of the letter of the Rev. Classis, repaired also, and did his best in behalf of Rev. Lydius, who was received immediately as their lawful minister, and took possession of his office. Rev. Freerman was called to Schenectady, which church gave us information thereof .. Our reply to their request for our approval, we deem expedient to communicate to you, as we herewith do. With this we hope you will be pleased. The Rev. Classis will, no doubt, receive fuller
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information of everything, both from Rev. Lydius and from Rev. Nucella. As to the condition of our church, it is, God be praised, in a flourishing condition. We hope that the still lingering dis- sensions will gradually fade away, and finally disappear altogether. Thereunto, may the Almighty grant his blessing. May He ever bind us together more closely in the bonds of brotherly love. As in all these things we endeavor to please you ; so we request that you will not refuse us your correspondence in the future. We com- mend you to God and to the Word of his grace; while we remain, Reverend, Pious and Highly Learned Sirs,
Your obedient servants and brethren in Jesus Christ, Henricus Selyns, Minister Neo Eboracensis. Gualtherus du Bois, Neo. Ebor. Eccles.
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ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Letter of Bellomont.
1700, Sept. 6th. Regarding the letter of Mylord Bellomont, nothing else has been received, and it remains accordingly in statu. viii. 329; xix. 258.
Correspondence from America. The Consistory of Albany to the Classis of Amsterdam, September 9, 1700. Portfolio, "New York ", Vol. I. Extracts, xxi. 422.
Albany September 9, 1700.
Reverend, Pious, Highly Learned Sirs, and Brethren in Christ : - Your letters of March 29, 1700 were received. From these we perceived your call of Rev. John Lydius to the ministry of our church. He arrived on July 20, ult. His call having been shown to us, he was accepted by us, and duly installed. We found him
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to be dignified in purpose, and to possess excellent preaching gifts. These were to the complete satisfaction of the congregation.
We received also private letters from Mr. William Bancker. He had also caused the Rev. Classis of Lingen to appoint, on March 16th, the Rev. (Bernardus) Freerman for our church. He arrived here at the same time with Rev. Lydius. But we were not con- vinced (of the regularity of that call) and found no reason to acknowledge it. But inasmuch as both had come over, several members of the church would have liked to have had Rev. Freer- man also settle here, but both could not be supported by us. It then pleased the Allwise God to induce the Consistory of a certain village, Schenectady, five (Dutch) miles from here to call him. They had lost their pastor, (Tesschenmacker), at the beginning of the last war. That congregation happily came to an agreement with Rev. Freerman about his ministry and salary, which was greatly to our peace.
We cannot do otherwise than by these presents most heartily to thank you for sending us Rev. Lydius, and we bind ourselves to show him all esteem.
Finally, we entreat you, in case there should be any feeling about this affair, that it may be passed over in a spirit of brotherly love, even as we ourselves have done regarding it. For we bear in mind that this Mr. Bancker is not only a native of our place and a member of our church, but that he has also in this country most excellent family connections. And especially do we remember the recent dissensions which have existed here - may God im- prove our conditions ; - while we also refer you to Mr. Dellius (at Antwerp) and to Mr. (van) Schaick, whom you well know, and who can give you all necessary information about these cir- cumstances. By such a course we are sure we shall attain to a greater degree of love and unity in our congregation. We desire
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