USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume IV > Part 50
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CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
Church on the Manor of Fordham.
New York, April 28, 1741.
Consistory, held, after calling on God's name. Elders and min- isters present. Resolved, That henceforth, the ministers and elders shall hold a Consistory meeting once a month, on some afternoon, in the first or second week of the month as shall be most convenient to the President.
On Monday afternoon, May 4, 1741, for the first time, the Con- sistory of ministers and elders was held.
1. Domine Du Bois reported that for the encouragement of
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the congregation on the Manor (of Fordham), he had promised, in the name of the Consistory, to pay ten pounds, if they would repair the church on the Manor. Also Mr. Philip Van Cortlandt had promised five pounds. They had accepted the offers, and would at the first opportunity, begin to repair the church.
2. Resolved, That the son of de Gree should not have the place of his father. Mr. John Roosevelt undertook to apprise Mr. G. Beekman that he may give notice of this to the son of de Gree.
- Lib. B. 149.
REV. P. H. DORSIUS SENDS TESTIMONIALS TO THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Portfolio " Pennsylvania " .*
Rev. and Pious Gentlemen :- Agreeable to the promise made by me, in a letter to the Rev. Deputies on Foreign Affairs, dated March 3, 1739/40, I find myself in duty bound to fulfill said promise, and to forward to your Reverences copies of three testimonials signed by your Rev. Colleagues. By these I trust that your Reverences will be fully assured of the falsity as well as the unreasonableness of the accusations brought against me.
May the Lord, the All-sufficient Jehovah, shield and richly reward us, and give us all necessary grace for the performance of our important duties. Earnestly hoping for this, and with prayers for your Reverences as well as for myself, I remain with due respect, as I also willingly sign myself,
Rev. Gentlemen, Your obedient brother and fellow-laborer,
Bucks County, (Pa.) May 1, 1741.
P. H. Dorsius.
CITY OF ALBANY MAKES A DONATION TO DUTCH CHURCH OF SCHAGHTICOKE.
1741, May 8. Resolved that this corporation make a present of eight pounds to the church at Schaahkook, and that the clerk draw an order on the chamberlain to pay the same to Mr. Lewis Viele .- Munsell's Annals of Albany, Vol. x. p. 94.
CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA.
Rev. Gualterus Du Bois to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, May 14, 1741. Portfolio " New York," Vol. i.
Very Rev. Assembly, Respected Gentlemen and Brethren in Christ :- I had the pleasure at the close of last Nov. (Sept .? ) to receive from your Rev. Assembly your favor of Aug. 20, 1739. From this I learned that no objections existed to
[* See these testimonials under dates of March 31, 1740 and April 14, 1740.]
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
2755 1741
such a Coetus as the papers, forwarded to you, propose, except that no decision must be made concerning any doctrine. That is, as I understand it, nothing is to be done to the disparagement of any of our doctrines; and, really no one desires to do such a thing. Also, that no examinations, preparatory or final, for licensure or ordination, shall be had.
I received at the same time the Postcript to your letter, dated Oct. 8. 1733, warning us to be on our guard against the Herrenhutters, together with a Pastoral Letter, cautioning us against that pernicious sect. A book was also received of Mr. Kulenkamp, for our general use, with the Minutes of the Synod of North Holland for 1738. Further on this Postcript were the replies of those who dis- approve of a Coetus in America, with their complaints that proper notice was not given them as to the footing upon which said Coetus was requested; also their troubled deductions therefrom, that it was our intention over here to make our- selves independent of (the European) Classes and Synods.
I then took the trouble to send a copy of your letter to every one whom it concerned; also to Domine Santvoort, now minister at Schonechtade (Schenectady), although his name was not mentioned. He, beyond all others, is an advocate for a Coetus, but was not present when our letter was despatched to the Rev. Classis. All were requested, if it was pleasing to them, to be in New York on the last Monday in April, 1741, and consider this matter, etc. But no one appeared except Domines Freeman and Frelinghuysen. Domine Santvoort has lost his dear wife, and was also not well himself. I have heard nothing from Domine Schuler, (Schuyler), who lives almost 50 Dutch miles from here. Domine Haeghoort is, I am sorry to say, very ill. Domines Erigson (Erickzen) and Curtenius intended to be present, and I do not know what causes have prevented - probably contrary winds. As we could not, therefore, do anything to promote the matter, Domine Freeman said - I shall myself write a letter to the Rev. Classis, and you do the same.
Now I feel obliged to inform the Rev. Assembly about this matter, and send the following as a further answer - an answer, chiefly, to your esteemed letter. All who favor the Coetus, declare, that they have nothing further in view than the best welfare of the Church of God in this land; that they detest any hidden motives. They were all filled with joy over the letter sent us. They believed they could justly infer therefrom that the Classis clearly perceived the necessity of a Coetus here, one to be organized on a proper basis, and to be subordinate to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam; that there was a demand from all the congrega- tions in these distant parts, as it was a matter of common concern to them all. Although the Classis was only pleased to say, that they had no objections, we could have wished that they had said something more in order to encourage so important a matter, and that the disinclined might have become, thereby, more inclined. For is it possible to conceive of anything more necessary here than such a Coetus?
Domine Dorsius, a minister in Pennsylvania, (which is distant about a day and a half's journey from here,) is said to have been authorized by the Classis of Rotterdam to examine any qualified persons, both preparatorily and finally, when he meets with such, but I have not seen his commission for doing so. I have been also informed, however, that this is done by his Reverence, because he was in- formed by a minister in Holland, that he, Dorsius, had this authority, having been qualified thereto by the University of Groeningen. Domine Freeman told me, that he exercised such rights in behalf of one Goetseus, (Goetschius, John Henry), a German, and that, therefore, he, Domine Freemen, had installed this Goetseus, as minister of the Dutch church of Jamaica on Long Island. This place is three Dutch miles east of Vlakbosch (Flatbush). This was done on the 19th (29th?) of April last. Also this Domine has now four others under his instruction, whom he intends to qualify (ordain) in due time.
Now if the Rev. Classis of Rotterdam did not experience any difficulty in giving to one man, over all other ministers in this land, such a commission as is pre- tended, and as his Rev. executes; then, I cannot doubt but that the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, considering the consequences of such a commission, will readily understand how necessary it is, that all who profess to be subordinate to that Rev. Classis, should unite in one Body and become a Coetus here. This Domine Dorsius, the Superintendent of the German churches in Pennsylvania, appointed
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such by the Rev. Synod of South Holland, might according to certain rumors, be induced to join such a Coetus. But unless something of this nature is done, nothing else can be expected but the greatest divisions.
Indeed, what can be considered more necessary than that care should be taken that all the churches here should remain subordinate to the Rev. Classis, and that none should be qualified here except with the approval of the Rev. Classis. If able men should here be found, the whole Coetus could notify the Classis, that the Classis might be assured of their fitness; and then the Coetus could be authorized to examine and ordain them. Would not such a plan be better than that which they are beginning to adopt? And especially so, since the churches at present can obtain no ministers from Holland, although they seek for them, that they may enjoy the Word and the Seals of the Holy Covenant. If they can secure no Dutchman to preach to them, some will assuredly go over to the Independents, and others to the Episcopalians. This some have already done, either induced by worldly aims, or by hypocritical reasons, or by artful misleadings.
With due respect our former communications exhibited the reasons to the Rev. Classis, for a properly constituted Coetus - its usefulness and necessity. I only refer to these reasons; I need not repeat them. Yet I must repeat one: Because there is here perfect freedom of conscience for all, except Papists, a spirit of confusion is ever blazing up more and more. Everybody may do what seems right in his own eyes, so long as he does not disturb the public peace. Hence so many conventicles exist. Hence so many are perplexed and misled; while others neg- lect or scoff at the divine service not to speak of those who, on various wrong pretexts, entirely abstain from the Lord's Supper. Therefore well-meaning people earnestly desire a common Coetus, which would at least tend to produce harmony among all the Consistories and Ministers. For at present, alienations among them do not decrease. On account of the sickness of Domine Antonides and the absence of Domine Freeman, who was officiating elsewhere, the Consistory of Vlakbosch (Flatbush), in their curiosity, would have allowed that John Van Driessen to preach. But because we refused to allow it, this created in some zealots, who praise his gifts, dissatisfaction against us. But I must hasten briefly to answer the Postscript of your Rev. Assembly, dated Oct. 5, 1739.
Inasmuch as the Rev. Consistory of New York several years ago exhorted their ministers to be on their guard, and oppose the artful misleadings of one Peter Venema, a crafty free-thinker of Groeningen, who had previously been a Reader and Schoolmaster just outside that city; I, therefore, determinedly set myself against him. Under God's blessing my efforts accomplished much good, although some still adhere to him. Among these is one Jacob Goelet, who, with his con- venticles, endeavors to do all possible harm to our Church.
I have also taken a stand against the Herrenhutters. Some of these, from Philadelphia, have put in an appearance here, but they have as yet but little in- fluence, except among the followers of Venema, and some Independents. I had received a copy of the Pastoral Letter from Holland about them, before I received the one sent by the Rev. Classis, and it had been published everywhere in my congregation. I therefore sent the letter of the Classis, with Mr. Kulenkamp's little book on the subject after first reading it myself, as well as the Minutes of the Synod (of North Holland), around among the ministers. For all these things they with myself, cordially thank your Rev. Assembly.
Now as to the counter arguments of those who disapprove of the Coetus: As I perceive, and had supposed, they do not seem to have had much weight with the Rev. Classis. As to the Complaint of these opponents, that " no proper informa- tion had been given them about the Coetus ", I only say; I am sorry on their behalf, that they ventured to write such a thing. I do not intend to reply in detail and thus be obliged to refer not only to those ministers who were in favor of a Coetus, but also to the members of our own Consistory here in New York who were then in office, and to the Minutes of the meeting then held, namely, that our aim was to make ourselves independent of the Classis and Synod. But in order kindly to pass over all remarks which would naturally have to be made by referring to such details, I only wish to say that it would have been a better plan for them, in order to save themselves from such a suspicion, if, in answer to our invitation and that of our whole Consistory, they had united with us, and, as members of that Convention, had deliberated with us and carefully adopted such
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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Rules for the establishment of a properly subordinate Coetus, that all suspicion of efforts for independence had been entirely prevented. But now, most people will not hear anything about the proposed Coetus, whatever character it might have had; yet the whole scheme, as sent over to the Rev. Classis, was openly read in our Consistorial meeting.
But not to touch upon anything else, which might appear only to emphasize our differences of opinion, although it is only our intention to consider one another in order to provoke unto love and good works :- I must refer to one other thing in the general condition of the Church in this land. Certain ones, apparently only for worldly reasons, have united with the Episcopalians. Among them there is no confession demanded of one's faith, nor is there any discipline among them, as among us. Certain others have gone over to the Independents. Their ministers are running all over the country, and preaching, after their fashion, two or three times a day. They preach anywhere, in houses or in open fields. They also receive great credit on account of the peculiar conversions which they make, and for their own imagined holiness. Their success encourages them to preach any- where and everywhere, out of mere love, and in order to convert people. It is also their practice to send people, who are naturally inclined to piety; but also to excite the curiosity of everybody, to hear, now, this distinguished preacher, and then that eminent man, whose praises are sounded everywhere. And although to our sorrow we lose one another from time to time, nevertheless our Church remains in a fairly good condition, and thus far we have lost none who have at heart the real welfare of God's Zion.
Domine Freeman has requested me in behalf of himself and his people, to remember them in my letter to the Rev. Assembly. He also wishes me earnestly to press on your attention the necessities of their congregation; and to beseech you, as I hereby do, that you would take to heart their case, and agreeably to their instrument of call sent to you, that you would provide them as soon as possible with an able pastor and teacher. This should be done especially because of Freeman's advanced age and the great infirmities of Antonides. I have no doubt that his Reverence, whosoever may come, will meet, on that field, people who truly love God and his Word, and who will not fail, on their part, to show all due affection to their teacher.
And now in conclusion: May Jehovah our God, whose just judgements are now being experienced everywhere on earth for the punishment of the godless and the fatherly discipline of his children; and who has given me strength until this day for all my duties: May He bless your Rev. Assembly in all your godly deliberations, and spread over your persons, your valuable services and your esteemed families, every bodily and spiritual blessing.
Very Rev. Assembly, Rev. Gentlemen and Brethren in Christ,
Your humble servant, G. Du Bois.
New York, May 14, 1741.
Postscript by Rev. Reinhart Erickzon:
Prevented by headwinds, I did not arrive at New York until Wednesday. (He was sailing from Monmouth Co., N. J.) Upon reading over Domine Du Bois's letter, I was pleased with it, and in proof of my assent to all it contains, I also sign it.
Reinhart Erickzon.
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR CLARKE TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.
Burning of the Fort and Chapel. The Negro Conspiracy.
New York, June the 20th 1741.
My Lord.
The fatal fire that consumed all the buildings in the Fort, which from the circumstances of the time and place of the plumbers working I thought was
44
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accidental, now appears evidently to be done by design in consequence of an horrid conspiracy to burn it and the whole town, as your grace may be pleased to see in the inclosed paper, wherein the confessions and discoveries are written down in their own words just as they were spoken .-
The Plott was contrived by one Huson, a white man, to enrich himself by plunder; the Negroes were by him brought into it, in hopes of shareing with him and of gaining their liberty; they were mostly sworn by him to secrecy and many of them died without disclosing it, and even denying it, for some time after the fort was burned I had no other thoughts of it, than that it was accident, but when three or four and once I think five houses were set on fire in a day and some of them apparently by design, I soon changed my thoughts and set myself heartily to work to find out the villany; these frequent fires threw the people into the utmost consternation and confusion; to appease their fears and to secure them from danger, I caused a guard of militia to mount at the Town hall every night and to go the rounds duely; the Kings Troops doing duty as usual; this had a good effect by bringing the people again to think of their private business which for sometime was intermitted. I went constantly to every fire to give directions and to animate the people, and by my care and their activity, only one house, and that a warehouse of little value, was burnt. Had the suspicion obtained, when those fires begun that the Negroes were at the bottom of it, the whole town might have been laid in ashes, for men in that case would have been more intent upon guarding themselves and their families, than upon extinguishing the fires; The town was to have been burnt the night after the Fort, but was thus fortunately saved; In the evening the fire that was in the ruins of the Fort seeming to be extinguished, the people went to their homes, but about nine o'clock at night a strong North-West wind springing up, kindled it again in several places, and the sparks began to fly, so that I apprehended they might set fire to some of the adjacent houses, and by that means endanger the whole Town; wherefore I thought it necessary to alarm the people who coming to the ruins of the Fort again and seeing the danger, thought it the safest way to watch that night and a company of the militia being by my orders in arms and going the rounds, prevented the mischief designed.
The loss I have sustained by the fire is greater than at first it appeared to be, and too heavy for me to bear without being supported by your Grace's pro- tection, which I most humbly beg leave to ask, and to subscribe myself with the most profound submission My Lord - Your Graces - most humble, most obedient and most dutiful servant - (signed). G. Clarke .*
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle -
- Col. Hist. N. Y. vi. pp. 195, 196.
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR CLARKE TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.
New York, June the 20th, 1741.
My Lords:
The fatal fire that consumed the buildings in the fort and great part of my substance, (for my loss is not less than two thousand pounds,) did not happen. by accident as I at first apprehended, but was kindled by design, in the execu- tion of a horrid Conspiracy to burn it and the whole town, and to Massacre the people; as appears evidently not only by the Confession of the Negro who set fire to it, in some part of the same gutter where the Plumber was to work, but also by the testimony of several witnesses. How many Conspirators there were we. do not yet know; every day produces new discoveries, and I apprehend that in the town, if the truth were known, there are not many innocent Negro men; and it is thought that some Negroes of the Country are accomplices and were to act their part there; and to this belief I am led by the villany committed in New
* Clarke was one of the shrewdest of the Colonial Governors. He first appears as secretary of the province under Cosby. Clarke filled the office of governor for seven years and within two years and a half from the time of writing the above doleful letter to the Duke of Newcastle, returned to England with one hundred thousand pounds sterling .- State Historian.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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Jersey sometime after the fort was burnt; for at a village called New wark, seven Barnes were burnt in one night, for which two Negroes were tried and executed; In this Town there have been already executed for this Conspiracy seventeen, viz., Three Whites (Huson the contriver and main spring of the whole design, his wife and another white woman who lived in Huson's house, and had a bastard by one of the Negro Conspirators), and fourteen Negroes. Huson is hung in chains, for the rest that or may be executed, I desire the Judges to single out only a few of the most notorious for execution, and that I would pardon the rest, on condition that the pardon be void if they be found in the Province after a certain day, whereby their masters will transport them out of hand. I do myself the honor to send your Lordships the minutes taken at the tryal of Quack who burned the fort, and of another Negro, who was tryed with him, and their confession at the stake; with some examinations, whereby your Lordships will see their designs; it was ridiculous to suppose that they could keep possession of the town, if they had destroyed the white people; yet the mischief they would have done in pursuit of their intention would nevertheless have been great.
My loss sits very heavy upon me. His majesties bounty and goodness, I am sensible are vastly great, but yet I know not how to hope for relief, unless thro the protection of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, upon your Lordships favour- able recommendation which I beg leave to ask.
Whether, or how far, the hand of popery has been in this hellish conspiracy, I cannot yet discover; but there is room to suspect it, by what two of the Negroes have confessed, viz: that soon after they were spoken to, and had consented to be parties to it, they had some checks of conscience, which they said, would not suffer them to burn houses and kill the White people; whereupon those who . drew them into the conspiracy told them, there was no sin or wickedness in it, and that if they would go to Huson's house, they should find a man who would satisfy them; but they say they would not, nor did go. Margaret Keny was supposed to be a papist, and it is suspected that Huson and his wife were brought over to it There was in town some time ago a man who is said to be a Romish Priest, who used to be at Huson's, but has disappeared ever since the discovery of the conspiracy and is not now to be found; upon this occasion I do myself the honor to send your Lordships a paragraph of General Oglethrops letter to me. I do myself the honor to send your Lordships the naval officers accounts for the last year, and I have the pleasure to say that if your Lordships will be pleased to compare those of the last three years with those of three years before I had the Government, you will see that the trade and navigation of the Province is greatly increased. I am with the highest respect and honor
My Lords,
Your Lordships most humble and most obedient Servant,
Right Honorable the Lords of Trade.
George Clarke.
- Col. Hist. N. Y. vi. pp. 197, 198.
A CHANGE IN GOVERNORS.
Ecclesiastical item.
George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc. To our Trusty and Welbeloved the Honourable George Clinton, Esq., Greeting.
Whereas we did by our Letters Patents under our Great Seal of Great Britain bearing date at Westminster the (fifteenth) day of (August) in the (Eleventh) year of Our Reign constitute and appoint John Lord Delaware Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over our Province of New York, and the Territories depending thereon in America for and during our will and pleasure as by the said recited letters patents, relation being thereunto had may more fully and att large appear.
And we do by these presents Authorize and impower you to collate any person
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
or persons to any churches, chappels, or other Ecclesiastical Benefices within our said Province and Territories aforesaid as often as any of them shall happen to be void .*
- Col. Hist. N. Y. vi. pp. 189, 192.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Acts of the Deputies.
1741, July 11. At the regular meeting of the Classis held on July 11, there was called by the Rev. Committee appointed thereto, as Minister of the Churches of Midwout, New Amers- foort, in the County (Province?) of New York, America, Rev. John Arondeus, Proponent, etc. Rotterdam. There- xpon he was subjected to the final examination, and ordained to the service of these churches on September 4th 1741. Also at the same time, there was called and ordained for the East Indies, Rev. Henry Bunsch, Ministerii Candidatus. xxii. 523.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Acts of the Deputies.
Extract from a letter of George Michael Weiss, Minister at Bur- netsfield, (German Flatts) in New Netherland (Herkimer County, New York), July 14, 1741.
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