USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume V > Part 79
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
Jeremias Van der Bilt
Jan Couenhoven
Cornelis Coerte
Jac. Sebring
Steven Schenk
Willem Van Nuys
Johannes Lott
Rutgert Van Brunt
Joost de Bevois
Jan Lott
Jeremias Remsen
Roulof Voorhees
Andreas Stockholm
Jan Van der Bilt
Daniel Bodet
Laurenz Ditmars
Jacobus Coljer
Abraham Bloom
Barent Andriese
Folkert Folkertson Abrm. Schenk.
Thus done and concluded in our presence on the 20th and 25th of June 1759.
Johannes Ritzema, V. D. M. in New York.
Ulpianus Van Sinderin, V. D. M. in Kings County.
3734
1759
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
ARCHBISHOP SECKER TO THE REVEREND DR. JOHNSON.
Lambeth, July 19, 1759.
Good Dr. Johnson
I thank you heartily for your two letters of March 20 and April 15. I have received much useful information from both of them : especially from the former and longer, of which I hope to have the sequel in a little time. On a Consultation amongst the Bishops it was agreed, that though establishing a Mission at Cambridge might probably furnish a handle for more than ordinary clamour, yet the good to be expected there from the temper and prudence and abilities of Mr. Apthrope was likely to overbalance that inconvenience considerably ; and that it would be best to propose the matter in the Society, without taking notice of its being liable to any peculiar objections: which was done accordingly, and the resolution taken unani- mously. Your views in relation to a successor are very worthy of you : but I hope many Years will pass, before there be occasion to deliberate on that head. Pray will it not be proper, that I should send over a Proxy, as a Governor of the College? And will you permit me to nominate you?
How the matter concerning Mr. Beach hath been accommodated, I have not heard : but shall be glad to hear.
Nor have I ever seen the Independent Reflector or the Watch Tower. Nor will it be any use to have every number of a periodical paper transmitted : but only such as relate to the concerns of the Church and the Society. I have an ordination Sermon, published by Mr. Hobart in 1747, and his second address, but not the first. Just in like manner I had the Continuation of Mr. Beaches Vindication, but not the Vindication itself, till you lately sent it me: for which I am much obliged to you. Dr. Bearcroft hath shown me Dr. Barclays remarks; which I like very well, so far as they go. But I hope a fuller answer to the several reflexions cast upon the Society may be drawn up, of which his remarks will make an useful part. Your letter of last March contains likewise very proper Materials. I was a very Young Bishop in 1735 : and almost my whole time was taken up in the care of St. James's Parish : by which means it happened, that I either did not know anything of the letter to the Bishop of London, which you mention, or had forgotten it. But I shall now enquire for it. And whatever God shall enable me to do, or procure to be done, for the Service of the Gospel in Your parts, will be a great satisfaction to
Your loving brother. -Col. Docs. N. Y. Vol. vii, pp. 394, 395.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Letter from Jamaica.
1759, July 23rd. Art. 9. A certain letter from some mem- bers of the church of Jamaica, having been sent to Rev. Curtenius, and by him to the Rev. Classis, to be forwarded to the Christian Synod, has been sent back to him, to do with it what he deems best.
xiii. 216.
REVEREND DR. JOHNSON TO ARCHBISHOP SECKER.
King's Coll. New York July 25, 1759.
As to the Clergy of New Jersies, New York and New England they are generally
ti
h
Sp
fo b
h
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
3735 1759
speaking virtuous and faithful persons : And I do not know of any of them now, suspected of any erroneous principles. There is but one whose Character is excep- tionable, I mean Mr. Lyons of Brookhaven on Long Island, under whose conduct, a pretty little flourishing Church is dwindling, and I fear, coming to nothing; as I found having preached there last Fall. No other vice indeed, is laid to his charge but Covetousness and perfunctoriness, making only a trade of the Gospel, and his habit was so scandalously ragged, that it could not fail of bringing both himself and that into contempt. I used him very freely, and advised him to get himself removed, and enter upon a better conduct in some new place ; but we have heard nothing of him since, only that he continues ragged and despised.
As to learning, My Lord, much cannot be expected in such a Country as this, where they can have so little leisure or means; but Mr. Chandler will be consider- able. I wish some few had a little more zeal, tho' this is not wanting in the gener- ality of them, and they have divinity enough to render them useful preachers. Mr. Barclay of this Church, is a well accomplished divine, an excellent preacher and a very prudent and laborious Minister; I wish he could have the honor of a Doctor's degree, which he well deserves. Indeed not only the English in this City, but the Dutch Germans and French are all very happy in their Clergy. Mr. Wetmore and the two Seaburys in this province and Messrs. Winslow, Dibble and Leaming in Connecticut, are all very worthy men. Poor Mr. Gibbs is disabled in his under- standing; Mr. Standard was never agreeable to his people, so that religion is almost come to nothing under his Administration; but he is quite superannuated, and intends to resign in favor of Mr. Greaton, a worthy Youth, who will soon go for orders, and is greatly wanted; the more so, as Mr. Stoup at New Rochel, the next parish, is quite disabled with the palsy; which is also the case of good Dr. Cutler at Boston, who has been a learned and very faithful Divine. Mr. Caner excels there as a preacher, and they have in general a faithful Clergy in all those parts.
The next thing is to give Your Grace an account of those places where Missions are wanted. And here, I beg leave first to mention a great part of this province: I mean all that tract on the East side of Hudson's River, from West Chester upwards quite as far as we have any settlements, abounding with people, but almost destitute of Ministers of any denomination, except two Dutch and two Ger- mans, and many people have almost lost all sense of Christianity .- Indeed in the large County of West Chester, there is only good Mr. Wetmore and two Dissenting Teachers, that are capable of duty .- Northward of that, is Coll. Philips's Mannour, on which are people enough, for a large Congregation without any minister at all. The Coll. has himself built a neat small church and set of a tract of land for a Glebe, which will be considerable in time, and he and his tenants are very desirous of a Minister, but will need the Society's assistance.
Next above that is Dutchess County, a large tract, which Mr. Seabury repre- sented, where there is the greatest need of a Mission. Indeed in this with the Man- nours and Frontiers above, part of the County of Albany there is large and labori- ous work for at least two Missionaries: And I have two or three hopeful Candi- dates under my direction, and are within a year or two of age for orders who I hope may be provided for in these places .- I might add that a new Mission is much wanted at Huntington on Long Island, together with the South side, a long tract, where, except one Dissenter, they are wholly destitute, so that he must be Itiner- ant-and I wish Taunton in Boston Government could be provided for: and three are extremely wanted in Narraganset: Dr. Mc Sparran's Salary should be divided between Kingston and Warwick and another should be established at Westerly.
And lastly, My Lord, as to the Frontiers .- Mr. Mc Clennigan has left his Mission, where one is much wanted to succeed him who should be a young man. I wish he does not occasion much disturbance at Philadelphia whither he is going, and they are much divided about him: I doubt he is enthusiastical, at least he affects to act
3736
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1759
a part like Whitefield .- The frontiers of Boston and Hampshire have Dissenting Ministers, and I believe they have but few Church people .- In this province, besides that I mentioned last above Dutchess County belonging to Albany, they are build- ing a Church at Schenectady a fine County town on the West side of the river above Albany, and will soon want a Minister there and there will be a German Minister above that, and the other Frontiers are either dissenters Dutch or Ger- mans, which last I believe much want Ministers and schools in Pennsylvania. Of the frontiers further Westward I can say nothing: but the Colony of North Caro- lina doubtless wants more Missionaries. Thus my Lord I have briefly answered your Grace's inquiries as far as I am able for the present, and conclude with my humblest thanks for Your Grace's kind influence in the Society's generous donation to our College and with the greatest Esteem and Veneration I remain, May it please Your Grace, Your Grace's most obliged most dutiful and obedient humble Servant,
(Signed) Samuel Johnson.
-Col. Docs. N. Y. Vol. vii. pp. 396, 397, 398.
1759, July 31-Aug. 9. Synod of North Holland. Nothing about New York.
AFFAIRS AT JAMAICA, L. I.
Copy of the Action of the Coetus, September, 1759 in the affair of Jamaica, on Long Island.
Worthy Friends :-
The Rev. Coetus has carefully considered the papers presented with the view chiefly :
1. To make your consistory at Jamaica legal.
2. To declare, on that account, the consistory chosen by Rev. Ritzema, illegal, as well as the call, which is extended to the Rev. Mr. (Thomas) Romeyn.
Answer given in our Rev. Assembly to the first point: That it can by no means meet your views in this thing.
(a) Because such a thing must be done, pursuant to the action of the Rev. Classis, by a neighboring minister, one of the committee, or one of the Coetus. Not one of these touches the case of Arondeus; the first being proved by the result, the second appearing from the fact that he was not sent by it, (the committee); and the third is, thus far, not true.
(b) Because it must be done to the satisfaction of the church. It was not so done; for the elder, Abram Lott, did not only not vote with you, but being himself present in church, he protested against your voting.
And as regards the second; that is a thing which, according to our judgment, does not belong to us, because this matter is now in the hands of the Rev. Classis; where his Rev., no doubt is by this time, and our judgment can neither benefit nor harm him. Does the Rev. Classis, now, require of us, that we should settle the dispute, if possible? well, then, brethren, consider with us, whether it will not be most fitting to take joint action with you, when the judgment of the Rev. Classis on the. matter shall have become known to both of us. Maybe all difficulties will be thereby at once removed, and we and you will both be put at ease.
Whereupon, the commissioners having come in, it was agreed to let everything rest till the time when we shall have received further communication from the Rev .. Classis.
t
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
3737
1759
(On the other side)
Wednesday, Sept. 19, (1759). Afternoon.
Rev. de Ronde was requested to write a letter to Daniel Durje, informing him that the first item, of which a copy was given him, is to be left in the minutes, and he is thus to have the liberty of handing in his protest to the special scribe; and Revs. Frielinghuysen and Leydt, and elder Visscher, were requested to reply to the protest, and appeal in the name of the Coetus.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK. New York, Sept. 27, 1759.
Consistory held after calling on God's name.
Mr. Abram Lefferts presented to the consistory the negotia- tions with Mr. Lewis Morris for a portion of the Manor of Ford- ham, according to the plan exhibited in the previous consistory. Therein Mr. Morris promised to pay to the consistory, for the same, at the outside, Six Thousand Pounds, provided the Con- sistory will give a warranty for the 1200 acres, more or less, and a quit claim for the Governor ; which offer the Consistory accepted on condition that the current year's rents for the farms included therein shall be for the benefit of the church, and that the £6000. shall be paid in three equal sums; the first on April 1, 1760; the second April 1, 1761, and the third April 1, 1762; and further, that an acre of ground with the church standing thereon, although included in the tract conveyed, shall remain the property of the church; as also the piece of ground sold by the church to Mr. Peter de Lancey which lies in said tract.
And that Mr. Lewis Morris, Jr., must expect to pay the quit rent for half the Manor from the time he obtains possession.
And further that he gives a quit claim for the whole Manor, by which the suits between his father and the church shall cease, and each party pay his own costs.
Abram Lefferts, Pieter Lott, Theodore Van Wyck and Dirk Brinckerhoff were appointed to consummate this agreement with Lewis Morris, Jr.
Thus done in Consistory chamber by unanimous consent.
Signed etc., J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
3738
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1759
New York, Sept. 28, 1759.
The committee brought in their report concerning the agree- ment with Mr. Lewis Morris, Jr. according to the resolution of consistory yesterday. The agreement was delivered in writing and thereupon was signed and sealed with the church's seal on its behalf; and by Mr. Morris on his behalf. But then each party retained its own, until such time as the writings shall be completed and delivered.
Signed in name etc., J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
CORRESPONDENCE IN AMERICA.
Rev. Theodore Frelinghuysen of Albany to his wife, October 5, 1759, just before embarking for Amsterdam on his Mission respecting an American College. [See May 27-30, 1755.]
My Dear :-
I have done the utmost of my endeavors to get a copy out of the will of Captain Lancaster Symes, Senlor, but I cannot accomplish it so that at present I can have no advice in that affalr, and it must rest there for this time. The writings that have been made between us are in the office to be recorded.
And now, my dear, I must tell you, Providence hath so ordered that I have a good opportunity to perform the promise I have made to God and His Church to go to Europe on an important affair, which the Lord hath put in my heart. Here is one Captain Spin, who goes In a vessel, that cannot be taken by the French, directly for Amsterdam; he seems to be a good honest sort of a man, and the ship is a fine one.
The great hardship I labor under is that I am afraid this will give you some trouble at first, but, my dear, comfort your self with these reasons:
1. That I have promised It before God and His Church and that I cannot be an honest man unless I endeavor to perform it.
2. That I hope the seas will restore me to my health, which, you know, is much impaired by application to study.
3. That I can never have a better opportunity than the present.
4. That I have taken care that you are well provided for.
5. That I hope to see you again in good health, when I shall be free of that heavi- ness and pensiveness that you have seen me under, which arose from checks of conscience that I opened my mouth to God and had not performed it.
6. You know you promised me, before we married, that you would not be agalnst me In this affair, when it should be necessary that I executed it.
And, therefore, my dear, think not that I am wanting in my love to you. It is very hard for me to be so long absent from you. But you know, if I should be unfaithful in what I have undertaken, it might be of very bad consequence. Besides, I hope it will be for the best and for our good. I hope that you will be easy and contented and stay with our good old uncle until I return, please God. When I left Albany I did not know there would be so good an opportunity, and besides, if I had spoken of it, I know that I should have been hindered as I was heretofore. If I do but hear, hereafter, that you are easy it will make me perfectly easy, and although at first, you may think hard of it, there will perhaps come a time that you shall see the good of it. As you have a husband who dares In the fear of the Lord
t
3739
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1759
to undertake difficult things, pray let him have the satisfaction that he hath a wife that wants no resolution to share her part therein. And, oh my dear, seek and love the Lord, seek to obtain his favor and it shall be well with you. And may the Almighty God bless you and grant that we may, in His proper time, meet again with joy. Kiss for me my babe, give my love to our good old uncle, to Jacob, and to all other friends and acquaintances that shall ask after me, and I remain your loving husband,
New York, Oct. 5, 1759.
Theodorus Freelinghous
P. S. Since I was in New York I have received tidings of my old father, Schey- lenburgh, who regards me as his son, and I want to see him before he dies. I hope likewise to inquire how it is with the Lydiuses, in Holland.
I send you a little trunk with papers of consequence; the key is in this letter. I give you a power of attorney over my whole estate and make over to you the money that - Fisher and Dirk Brinkerhof have in hands of me to put out at interest.
The Lord be with you, my dear, and bless you. Write me by Captain Mussart, who is to sail in about three weeks time to Amsterdamn. Be well contented and let our dear babe be a comfort to you and God bless it.
Note .- The superscription of the above letter is as follows, viz .: "To Miss Elisa- beth Freelinghous, in Albany, with a small trunk."
Per Captain Rensselaar.
[See Corwin's Manual, 4th ed. 1901, pp. 470-472. ]
MRS. GRANT'S ACCOUNT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH REV. THEODORE FRELINGHUYSEN LEFT ALBANY, 1759.
A regiment came to town (Albany) about this time, the superior officers of which were younger, more gay, and less amenable to good counsel than those who used to command the troops, which had formerly been placed on this station. They paid their visits at the Flats,* and were received; but not as usual, cordially; neither their manners nor morals being calculated for their meridian. Part of the Royal Americans, or independent companies, had at this time possession of the fort; some of these had families: and they were in general persons of decent morals, and a moderate and judicious way of thinking, who, though they did not court the society of the natives, expressed no contempt for their manners or opinions. The regiment I speak of, on the contrary turned those plain burghers into the highest ridicule, yet used every artifice to get acquainted with them. They wished in short to act the part of very fine gentlemen; and the gay and superficial in those days were but too apt to take for their model the fine gentleman cf the detestable old comedies. .These dangerously accomplished heroes made their appearance at a time when the English language began to be more generally understood; and when the preten- sions of the merchants, commissaries, etc., to the stations they occupied were no longer dubious. Those polished strangers now began to make a part of general society. At this crisis it was that it was found necessary to have recourse to billets. The superior officers had generally been either received at the Flats, or accommodated in a large house which the Colonel had in town. The manner in which the hospitality of that family was exercised, the selection which they made of such as were fitted to associate with the young persons who dwelt under their protection, always gave a kind of tone to society, and held out a light to others.
Madame Schuyler's sister was married to the respectable and intelligent magis- trate,¡ who administered justice not only to the town, but to the whole neighbor-'
* The residence of the Schuylers.
¡ Cornelius Cuyler.
92
3740
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1759
hood.In their house, also, such of the military were received and entertained, as had the sanction of her sister's approbation. This judicious and equitable person, who in the course of trading in early life upon the lakes, had undergone many of the hardships, and even dangers, which awaited the military in that perilous path of duty, knew well what they had to encounter in the defence of a surly and self- righted race, who were little inclined to show them common indulgence; far less gratitude. He judged equitably between both parties; and while with the most patriotic steadiness he resisted every attempt of the military to seize anything with a high hand, he set the example himself, and used every art of persuasion to induce his countrymen to every concession that could conduce to the ease and com- fort of their protectors. So far at length he succeeded, that when the regiment to which I allude arrived in town, and showed in general an amiable and obliging dis- position, they were quartered in different houses; the superior officers being lodged willingly by the most respectable of the inhabitants, such as not having large families, had room to accommodate them. The Colonel and Madame happened, at the time of these arrangements, to be at New York.
In the meanwhile society began to assume a new aspect; of the satellites, which on various pretexts, official and commercial, had followed the army; several had families, and those began to mingle more frequently with the inhabitants, who were as yet too simple to detect the surreptitious tone of lax morals and second-handed manners, which prevailed among many of those who had but very lately climbed up to the stations they held, and in whose houses the European modes and diver- sions were to be met with; these were not in the best style, yet even in that style they began to be relished by some young persons, with whom the power of novelty prevailed over that of habit; and in a few rare instances, the influence of the young drew the old into a faint consent to these attempted innovations; but with many the resistance was not to be overcome.
In this state of matters, one guardian genius watched over the community with unremitting vigilance. From the original settlement of the place there had been a succession of good quiet clergymen, who came from Holland to take the command of this expatriated colony. These good men found an easy charge, among a people with whom the external duties of religion were settled habits, which no one thought of dispensing with; and where the primitive state of manners, and the constant occupation of the mind in planting and defending a territory where every thing was, as it were, to be new created, was a preservation to the morals. Religion being never branded with the reproach of imputed hypocrisy, or darkened by the frown of austere bigotry, was venerated even by those who were content to glide thoughtless down the stream of time, without seriously considering whither it was conveying them, till sorrow or sickness reminded them of the great purpose for which they were indulged with the privilege of existence.
The domines, as these people called their ministers, contented themselves with preaching in a sober and moderate strain to the people; and living quietly in the retirement of their families, were little heard of but in the pulpit; and they seemed to consider a studious privacy as one of their chief duties. Domine Frelinghuysen, however, was not contented with this quietude, which he seemed to consider as tending to languish into indifference. Ardent in his disposition, eloquent in his preaching, animated and zealous in his conversation, and frank and popular in his manners, he thought it his duty to awaken in every breast that slumbering spirit of devotion, which he considered as lulled by security, or drooping in the meridian of prosperity, like tender plants in the blaze of sunshine. These he endeavoured to refresh by daily exhortation, as well as by the exercise of his public duties. Though rigid in some of his notions, his life was spotless, and his concern for his people warm and affectionate; his endeavors to amend and inspire them with happier desires and aims, were considered as the labor of love, and rewarded by the warmest affection, and the most profound veneration; and what to him was of much more
3741
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1759
value, by a growing solicitude for the attainment of that higher order of excellence which it was his delight to point out to them. But while he thus incessantly "allured to brighter worlds, and led the way," he might perhaps insensibly have acquired a taste of dominion, which might make him unwilling to part with any portion of that most desirable species of power, which subjects to us, not human actions only, but the will which directs them.
The progress which this regiment made in the good graces of his flock, and the gradual assimilation to English manners of a very inferior standard, alarmed and grieved the good man not a little; and the intelligence he received from some of the elders of his church, who had the honor of lodging the more dissipated subal- terns, did not administer much comfort to him. By this time the Anglomania was beginning to spread. A sect arose among the young people, who seemed resolved to assume a lighter style of dress and manners, and to borrow their taste in those respects from their new friends. This bade fair soon to undo all the good pastor's labors. The evil was daily growing; and what, alas, could Domine Frelinghuysen do but preach! This he did earnestly, and even angrily, but in vain. Many were exasperated but none reclaimed.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.