Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II, Part 9

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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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


Art. 60. Ministerial Changes.


In the Classis of Amsterdam.


Left: Rev. Henry Selyns, of Waverveen, for New York in America.


In the Classis of Hoorn.


Died: Rev. Rolandus de Carpentier of Scharwoud.


CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


Correspondence from America.


The Church of New Castle (South River) to the Classis of Amsterdam, September 25, 1682.


Reverend and Pious Fathers in Christ: -


After the death of Domine Welius, who was sent here by your Reverences about twenty five years ago, we were without a teacher of the Holy Gospel of the Reformed Christian Church, for nearly twenty three years, until Domine Petrus Tesschenmaker, then only a licentiate, came to us four years ago, and was advanced to the ministry by the Rev. Classis at New York, upon our urgent request, and with the consent of our Governor there. He left us without lawful reason, and has accepted, as we are told another call made by the people of Bergen, in East New Jersey.


We have learned that Domine Jacobus Coelman, former minis- ter at Sluys, in Flanders, now without a place, is on your coast ; and inasmuch as we are sufficiently assured of his Reverences ripe orthodoxy, knowledge, aptness to teach, and good character, by trustworthy persons; therefore we earnestly pray and make request in a manner friendly, that your Reverences will please to give your consent to our call of said Domine Jacobus Coelman,


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and to send him by first opportunity to us, with your permission that he may become our pastor and teacher; and so remain.


We live here among many Lutherans, whose teachers preach in a very unedifying manner; and among a still greater number of Quakers who are given to errors. Apparently they will not cease their efforts to draw into their fold the fickle ones. There fore preaching and catechizing in the clean, upright, true Re- formed religion is very necessary here, especially as a great many unreliable, dissolute people move in here among us. We know, that said Domine Jacobus Coelman usually does not observe the printed forms of prayers or holydays ; but we will not grow angry about that while we know that he is sound in doctrine and of a good life. We hope, the Lord will dispose your hearts, so that your Reverences will please to consider our miserable spiritual state and condition, and that you will not fail to send Domine Jacobus Coelman to us; especially, since the majority of our con- gregation, comprising about one hundred fathers of families, have subscribed for a yearly salary for said Domine Jacobus Coelman and have firmly pledged certain of their lots to him.


We shall therefore rely upon the fatherly Christian love of your Reverences and earnestly await the arrival of his Reverence. We also beseech the Almighty for yourselves, and the growth of your congregations in faith, peace and love, in Jesus Christ, our Lord. We remain,


Reverend, Pious Fathers


Your very humble servants, friends and brothers,


Jean Paul Jacquet, Elder


Joan Moll, Elder


Engel


Deacon.


Jan Bisch, Deacon.


At New Castle, on the Delaware, the 25th of Sept. Anno Domini 1682.


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


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1682


Correspondence from America.


Rev. Gideon Schaats to the Classis of Amsterdam, September 25, 1682. xxi. 252. Extract in Mints. Syn. N. Holland, 1683, Art. 11.


The Peace of Christ.


Reverendi Domini Fratri: -


Inasmuch as the Rev. Brethren with the Gentlemen here of Albany, have been pleased to write, expressing their anxiety to provide me with a colleague; and efforts to this end have already been begun and will be continued ; therefore I am in duty bound, and cannot neglect to express my cordial thanks therefor. I also wish, that the good God may still spare me in my great age, to build up his church and congregation. The same wish I have also for your Reverences. We have received a letter from de Wolf and Rykert van Rensselaer, since we received yours, saying, that one of my countrymen openly declares his inclination, to come here, and that he is to be sent by the first opportunity, after he has presented himself to the Rev. Classis, which is to assemble in a short time. To this meeting, and to his confirmatory promotion, may the good God give his blessing. I commend the Rev. Breth- ren (to God and) the Word of his Grace, remaining,


Reverend Brethren in the labor of the Lord,


Your humble servant,


Gideon Schaats, Minister at Albany.


New Albany, this 25th of Sept. 1682.


Classis of Amsterdam. Waverveen's Call Approved.


1682, Oct. 5th.


Thys Huybertsen, elder, Roeland van Doornenstruyck, deacon, and Jacob Pietersen, church master, at Waverveen, requested the


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approval by this Classis of the call made by that church, together with the approval of the Hon. Jacob van Hazemarpel, Bailiff and Dike-grave, (Inspector of Dykes,) of Amstelland; also Dike- grave of the Zeeburg and Dimerdyk; on Rev. John Tuk* as their minister. This call was unanimously approved by this Assembly, with their wish for the Lord's rich blessing upon them. vii. 334.


Correspondence from America.


The Magistrates of Albany to the Classis of Amsterdam, October 12, 1682. xxi. 242. (Extracts in Mints. Syn. N. Holland, 1683, Art. 11.)


Reverend, Pious and Very Learned Gentlemen : -


Yours of the 6th of April last, (1682) was duly received by us. We were sorry to learn therefrom that notwithstanding all your efforts and pious care for our church, you have not yet been able to persuade anyone to accept the duties in our behalf. We are under many obligations to you, and feel very grateful for the efforts made for our spiritual good by your Reverences, and for all your labors. We humbly and earnestly beseech you to continue in your efforts, as you are the only persons to whom we can ad- dress ourselves. Our children will gratefully acknowledge the good services of the Rev. Classis, especially if good results ensue. Our old Domine grows in age and infirmities ; his voice is also becom- ing feeble, so that people sitting far back cannot well understand him. Nevertheless our congregation grows, so that we shall be obliged to make a second gallery. A pious, prudent, orthodox and eloquent man would be of great service to us. We have also no doubt, since we have so good a reputation in the Fatherland, but that our distress will soon be removed. From the last letters from Messrs. Abel de Wolff and Richard van Rensselaer, of the


* He was the successor of Rev. Henry Selyns in Waverveen. There was subse- quently a family of the name of Tuck in New England, and a recent minister there, near Springfield, of this very name.


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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


24th of May, (1682) it appears that they had great hopes of speedy success. But time will tell. We leave the matter in the hand of God and the nourishers of his congregation, whom your Reverences represent. We commend you to the goodness and protection of his only Son Jesus Christ.


With cordial salutations, we remain,


Reverend, Pious and Very Learned Gentlemen,


Your affectionate brethren and servants,


Albany, in America, 12th


The Magistrates of Albany,


The Colony of Rensselaerswyck, etc.,


of Oct. 1682.


Cornelius van Dyck.


Jan Janszen Bleecker.


By order,


Robert Livingston, Secretary.


Correspondence from America.


Rev. Henry Selyns to the Classis of Amsterdam, Oct. 28, 1682. xxi. 249, 250. Extract in Mints. Synod N. Holland, 1683, Art. 11. There is also another abridged translation by Rev. Dr. Thos. De Witt in Christian Intelligencer, March 27, 1856; and an extract (a different translation) in Murphy's Anthology, 93, 94; beginning "I have engaged myself to preach " and ending with "As to Papists " etc. " or that of the Lutherans ".


Addressed :


- To be handed to the Rev. Pious and Very Learned Domine Rudolphus Rulaeus, President of the Deputies on Foreign Af- fairs, and Preacher in the Hospital and the Church at Amster- dam .-


To the Reverend, Pious and Very Learned Gentlemen and Brethren, the Ministers and Elders of the Classis of Amsterdam.


Reverend, Pious and Very Learned Gentlemen and Brethren :-


Having had the happiness of attending your Ecclesiastical As- semblies for many years in succession, and of frequently listen-


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ing to your wise and godly deliberations, I might justly be ac- cused of ingratitude, if I did not send you my cordial thanks, and inform you by the first opportunity of my safe arrival. I had hoped that I would not be obliged to leave without bidding you and your Rev. Assembly farewell, and commending myself and my services to your Christian prayers; but sooner than we ex- pected we were forced to break up and leave, but not without my being able to make the request of several of the brethren to tender my excuse to the whole Classis.


After leaving our Fatherland we ran in at Dover, (Doeveren), where, at the request of the Mayor, I preached for the gratifica- tion of the Hollanders there. We spent twelve weeks between Dover and New York. The voyage was longer than usual, partly owing to calms, or to little wind, or to contrary winds; but we experienced not the slightest storm, nor did we suffer in the least for want of food or drink.


I was met with very great love and gladness on my arrival by my whole congregation. As soon as they learned that I was coming, they secured a house for me, which was well adapted both for domestic uses as well as for my studies. I at once delivered your letters to my Consistory, which consists of eight persons. The other letters I sent to their respective destinations. My neighbor (on Long Island) Domine Caspar van Zuuren had been taking charge of the service here with great zeal and fidelity. He came over every Wednesday without reference to the weather, good or bad. At once upon my arrival a hearty vote of thanks was tendered him, with a suitable acknowledgment.


I have engaged myself to preach three times every week, in winter as well as in summer. This I began to do immediately after my arrival, and have thus far continued it. But as the number of inhabitants here, together with the people coming in from the vicinity, is too great for the size of our church building, they are contemplating the building of a new church, or else of increasing the accommodations in this one by a large gallery.


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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


The number of members has increased to about six hundred in all. For the sake of the children, who multiply more rapidly here than anywhere else in the world, I hold a catechetical class on Sunday evenings, and it is filled to overflowing. Besides this, I have been requested to preach to the people at Bergen, a village lying across the river, three times a year. This I do on Monday mornings and afternoons, and also administer the Lord's Supper. I found there a new church, and upon administering the commu- nion, I found one hundred and thirty four members. At other times these people are accustomed to come over here to service. The people of Harlem also come down to this city to the commu- nion; but in order to ordain their elders and deacons, I have promised to preach there once a year. Agreeably to certain ar- rangements made on June 19th 1672, (between the New York Consistory and the Harlem Consistory), they nominate a double number of elders and deacons to our Consistory, out of which our Consistory makes the choice. Except in this single instance, there is no difference in the order of worship, church government, etc., between the church of the Fatherland and ours here. This is a circumstance of very great interest, as well as the fact that both in the city and in the rural districts, our religious services are held with quietness, and without any annoyances.


The English residents here worship in our church building, en- tering and occupying it immediately after our morning service. They read their " Common Prayer ". They have no minister, but only a "reader "* who also marries people and baptizes in private houses, but does not publicly preach. There is here also a Lutheran church with a minister, (Bernardus Arensius) who


* Rev. Mr. Eburne was in New York City, 1682, and subsequently resided on Long Island for nearly twenty years, 1685-1705, though he probably did not attempt to carry on his partial Episcopal services at Brookhaven more than a few months in the year, 1685. On November 21, 1705, Cornbury wrote to the Mission Society in England, saying that at the time Rev. Peter Nucella left the Dutch Church of Kingston, March 7, 1704, " there was on Long Island


Mr. Eburne, a minister of the Church of England, who had formerly served one of the churches in ye Island of Jamaica, but not enjoying his health there, came to this province


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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


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lives in this city during the summer, but at New Albany in the winter. Besides, we have Quakers, Jews and Labadists, all of whom hold their own separate meetings. The Quakers are the most numerous, the Jews come next, and the Labadists are the fewest. The latter generally attend my morning and afternoon services on Sundays, but after that they meet by themselves. About a year and a half ago, God's church suffered considerable harm from one Domine Peter Sluyter, alias Vosman, who trav- eled all over the country, with another named Jasper Schilder. They disturbed many by holding up the Reformed Church in a suspicious light. But most of those who had ceased attending church services, upon my arrival returned, and now come to the Lord's Table. As to Papists, there are none; or if there are any, they attend our services or that of the Lutherans.


The church at Albany is badly off on account of the great age of Domine Schaats, who is now more than seventy. It is very desirable that a pious colleague should be provided for him. His son is voorleser at Schenectady. The state of the church in other places is better owing to the unwearied labors of Domine Cas- parus van Zuuren on Long Island, and of Domine Johannes Weecksteen at Kingston.


But at New Castle, formerly South River, the condition of God's Church is pitiable indeed. A great strife exists there with their minister, Domine Peter Tesschenmaker. He was a licentiate, but was examined finally, and ordained here. He has left that place on account of their failure to pay him his salary, as he says. But they deny this, and declare that it was only because of his desire to get a better position in some of the vacant churches,


and settled on Long Island, where he had a daughter married ". Cornbury ordered Rev. Mr. Eburne to proceed to Kingston, New York, -" to preach and read divine service, in good hopes of bringing the Dutch to a conformity ". In this he did not succeed. Dr. Dix thinks this is the first allusion to lay services in the Episcopal Church of New York. Such were afterward instituted by Col. Heathcote, at Scarsdale in 1692, and by Rev. Mr. Vesey, at Sag and Hempstead, Long Island, 1695-6. See Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 77, 218, 584; Dix, i. 54, 55, 56. Also in this work, 1685.


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


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either in this city, or Kingston, or Albany, or at least in Schenec- tady. But these plans all failing, he went off to Boston. Upon his return he again offered himself and his services to his former church. So our Consistory took this matter to heart, and Domine van Zuuren being near us, we met several times to consider this matter. We finally resolved that it would be salutary that said Tesschenmaker should make an apology to his former church, now without a pastor, and that we would second his effort and his letter of Apology, by ourselves writing to that church (New Cas- tle) in a friendly but earnest manner. This was done on the 3rd of September last, (1682), and signed by all of us, but we received no answer. We therefore wrote a second time on Sep- tember 27th. We did this, especially because we had been in- formed on good authority that Domine Jacob Coelman, well known to your Rev. Assembly, is said to have offered his services to said church, and would bring with him about two hundred and fifty of his members. (Coelman was a Labadist). It appears that Mr. de la Grandge, who married a daughter of Fonteyn, and who lived at Amsterdam and was settled there for two years, had written about Coelman (going there), or to him, concerning Tesschenmaker's departure.


For the sake, therefore, of keeping God's Church in this coun- try in ecclesiastical peace, and preserving it from many dangers which can easily be imagined; and also especially because innu- merable ships with Quakers are arriving at New Castle (and vicinity) ; we considered it highly necessary, and resolved to write ex officio to this endangered church, and fraternally to exhort them not to make out any new call unless according to ecclesiasti- cal rules ; that they should act with great caution, and should es- pecially consult with the Classis of Amsterdam about this Coel- man; who would be well acquainted with him personally, and also know all about his separate conventicles. We assured them - at the same time that he had seceded from the General Reformed


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Church, to the great grief of the same, and their fear lest there should be a public schism ; also that he spoke more or less against the Forms, and that it would be difficult to persuade him to ad- minister Baptism and the Communion according to those Forms.


Therefore we pray that for the preservation of God's Church in this distant country, and for its peace, this danger may be headed off in time by your wise management and pious zeal; and that this church of ours, as well as the one at New Castle may be warned of the approaching storm and of the threatened hurri- cane.


Enclosed are also letters from Domine Schaats and van Zuuren, sent to me to be transmitted to your Rev. Assembly; also letters from my Consistory and from the Magistrates at Albany. There is no letter from Domine Weecksteen. Domine Tesschenmaker who is here without doing any service, does not desire to write. There is no other news except that we have recently seen a comet which quickly disappeared again.


In closing we commend your Reverences, your services, as well as the churches entrusted to your care to the Great Shepherd of the sheep. We hope to enjoy your paternal fellowship at the throne of grace, and also await your correspondence.


Yours in the Faith and Service of Christ,


Done at New York, Henricus Selyns. Oct. 28, 1682, N. S.


P. S. A letter from the South River has since arrived, dated 8/18 of October, (1682). It thanks us for our endeavors in their behalf, and also in reference to Domine Tesschenmaker, as well as for the advice about the call of Domine Jacobus Coelman. After canvassing the church they discovered no desire to reinstate Domine Tesschenmaker; they therefore proceeded to discharge him. We immediately wrote the fact and sent it over to him. We were only mediators, not judges. And although the church of the South River has done nothing yet except to show that they


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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


understood our communication, and acknowledged it, nevertheless their passion for some new kind of reformation continually crops out. We take the general welfare of the whole church of God at that place to heart, rather than that of single individuals. They number only about fifty members. We examined the discharge (to Domine Tesschenmaker) and found it to be a penal discharge (poenale dismissie). They themselves speak of it as if it were a de-portment (deposition), inasmuch as he forsook them for want of payment of his salary; yet they admit that he gave them no offence by any lack of piety. But for the sake of keeping them and Domine Tesschenmaker in a better understanding with each other, and in mutual respect and honor, I have, in connection with my Consistory, drawn up and sent to them (for their signa- tures) a milder form of discharge to him from that church.


In the meantime there seem to be some contradictions in their last letter. The whole congregation was called together on the 5/15 October, to reinstate Tesschenmaker. They then wrote, that an opportunity having occurred, they had already made some inquiries about Coelman. But in a letter to the Rev. Consistory they requested to be excused from this, stating that they had not written to the Classis, not considering that more than our Rev. Consistory belonged to the body of our Classis .* It is to be feared that Coelman will yet be secured, but under some other name. Domine Sluyter was called (when here) by the name of Vosman. It is suspected that Coelman will come out under the name of Guillaume Germonpré. Two Coelmanists, immediately on the sending of the letter from New Castle, signed an obligation to be responsible for the cost of transportation of one Germonpré and his family, now living at Amsterdam. Mr. Maison, owner of this ship and a deacon in the French church at Amsterdam, ought to know whether this Germonpré is Coelman or not. His coming over ought to be anticipated and prevented. Domine Tesschen-


* See their letter, Sept. 25. 1682.


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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS


maker ought not ( ?) to have written to you, and troubled your Reverences with this (unpleasant) business. But he was very depressed, and dipped his pen in his tears, and now requests (some favor) for himself in this distant part of the world.


Nov. 1st, 1682, O. S.


H. Selyns.


CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.


Correspondence from America.


Rev. Peter Tesschenmaker to the Classis of Amsterdam, Oct. 30, 1682. xxi. 251-2. Extract in Mints. of Synod of North Holland 1683, Art. 11.


Reverend, Pious, Very Learned and Very Prudent Brethren in Jesus Christ, Sirs : -


It is known to you by letter from Domine Van Nieuwenhuy- sen, deceased, that by reason of a disaster on the coast of Guiana, I arrived (here) from that country in the year 1678, and engaged, to the best of my ability, in the ministry in the Esopus, until the arrival of Domine L. Van Gaasbeek. I was then requested by the congregation of South River to come to them, and follow- ing the advice of several, I went thither, and prosecuted my min- istry in like manner there, during the first four months preaching in Dutch and English. But a misunderstanding arose between them, because the English did not contribute enough, and the English broke off. I then preached the five following months only in Dutch. I then proceeded to New York, at the request of the people of South River, in order to obtain my ordination. This was accomplished on October 31st, 1679, and has been made known to you. I again returned to the South River, and since then have discharged the duties of the ministry there. In the meantime the payment of salary became worse from year to year. They sought to satisfy me with the worst kind of payment, viz.


OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


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tobacco. This I could dispose of to one individual, exchanging it for goods at his convenience ; or else sell it to others at a price less than I could afford. The whole region in which I preached, and where I was well known, was displeased with this kind of payment. My worthy brethren will all testify that nothing can be alleged against my doctrine or life. I may not make complaint how I have supported myself with my own means. Mr. Meyer of this city, with whom I have lived, off and on, for several months, can testify to this. I therefore went to New York, Albany, etc., to make my complaint, especially as last winter I was obliged to sojourn with one of the deacons, and sleep right under the roof; because there was no parsonage. I did not re- ceive more than a half year's board-money for my support, and was obliged to collect the same myself, although they had prom- ised to make the collection. This grievance I laid before the Consistory. They would not assure me what my salary should be, although Domine Van Zuuren, minister on Long Island, wrote a letter to them on the subject, on March 15, 16 &z. Neither would they give me a dismission. So I felt compelled to come hither, and make my complaints. Some people of my church say that I have taken my own dismission. Those who daily see me and know me, observe the worn out condition of my clothes, and that I am destitute and disheartened. What would my condition be, had I a wife and children ? But notwithstanding all these troubles, my ministry has been offered to them for four hundred bushels of wheat, which is four hundred guilders, Holland money, reckoning five to one, and to have my board with Mr. Peter Aldrichs, for which I am to instruct his children. The Rev. Brethren, Selyns and Van Zuuren, with their consistories, have used every effort in my behalf, but in vain. They say they cannot and will not agree to it. This is a sad state for a minister to be in. They have become the more unwilling, because Domine Ja- cobus Koelman has written a letter to Arnoldus De la Grange,


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offering his services to them, which they have agreed to accept, and they have written to your Rev. Body about it. I do not doubt but that you will consider my reasons satisfactory, and ap- prove of them, so that my good name may not be tarnished by the action of these South River people. I am known in the Fatherland and in this whole country, and with Solomon, I con- sider my good name to be more precious than great riches. I will not detain you with further details, which might prove tedious. I pray that God may be pleased to bless your deliberations in the Classis and in the churches, as well as yourselves, your services and your families,




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