USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume VI > Part 73
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A lease was given to David Gardner, for a lot in Dutch Street, for thirty years,. at the rate of £12. for the first fifteen years, and £13. for the remaining fifteen years. Lease dated April 1, 1775.
Also a lease to Gerrit Scholter for a lot in Dutch Street for thirty years, at & rent of £4. for the first six years, and £6. for the next nine, and £6:10. for the remaining fifteen years. Lease dated April 25, 1775.
J. H. Livingston, p. t. President.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Acts of the Deputies, Sept. 4, 1775. NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.
Deputies ad res exteras having as yet received no letters from New York and New Jersey proposed to and asked Classis whether they should wait to forward the Synodical Acts of the past year until the arrival of the letters, or whether they should forward them anyhow: whereupon it was resolved to permit the Deputies to send the Acta anyhow, as opportunity served, with an express request that those of New York and New Jersey would let them know in writing as soon. as possible the state of the church among them. Quod factum.
Xxiv :191.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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1775
GENERAL MEETING OF THE MINISTERS AND ELDERS OF THE CHURCH OF NEW YORK, OCT. 3-7, 1775.
Extracts.
CASE OF REV. MEYER AND THE CONGREGATION OF KINGSTON.
As regards the business of Rev. Meyer and the congregation of Kingston, com- mended to us by the Rev. Classis, the Rev. Body ordained that the paragraph of the letter of the Rev. Classis relative to this point be communicated to the Rev. Consistory of Kingston by the Rev. Deputatus who is to be chosen.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM TO THE GENERAL MEETING OF MINISTERS AND ELDERS IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY. OCT. 12, 1775. VOL. 31.
Rev. and Very-learned Sirs, and Highly-esteemed Brethren :-
We hope you have received our last two letters, sent you last year at the proper time.
But ever since you informed us that a General Meeting was held at Kingston, Oct. 5th to Oct. 8th, 1773, and of the business then done, we have heard nothing more of the condition of your Church. We greatly long, however, to hear from you. We therefore earnestly request you to rejoice our hearts with pleasant information, even as we endeavor to rejoice your hearts by sending you, with this letter, the Minutes of the Synod of North Holland, held at Enkhuizen, for 1774. This we do to foster this friendly and brotherly correspondence.
With this we have the honor, after wishing for you God's best blessing, to sub- scribe ourselves with all respects, etc., etc.,
Herman Hubert, Dep. Praes. F. Serrurier, Scriba.
Amsterdam, Oct. 12, 1775.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.
1776, June 24th. Synodalia. Art. 47 ad 46 (47 ?) Informa- tion from our Committee ad res Exteras inserted. xv. 75.
SYNOD OF NORTH HOLLAND, JULY-AUG. 1776.
ARTICLE 45 .- NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.
The Classis of Amsterdam has received no report from those churches. The matter continues to be further recommended to it.
EPISCOPAL CHURCHES IN NEW YORK AT THE OPENING OF THE REVOLUTION, 1776.
At the beginning of the Revolution there were in New York City only four congregations of the Church of England. Trinity
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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Church, 1697; her two Chapels-St. George's in Beekman street, 1752; and St. Paul's, on Broadway, 1766; and also a congrega- tion worshiping in Horse and Cart Lane (William street). In Westchester County there were Episcopal Congregations at Bed- ford, New Castle, New Rochelle, North Salem, Peekskill, Rye, Yonkers, East Chester and West Chester. On Long Island, the missionaries of the Society had extended their labors from Brook- lyn to Islip, with strong centres at Jamaica, Newtown and Hemp- stead. On Staten Island, St. Andrew's Church, Richmond, was the principal spiritual home of a large part of the population. There were also Episcopal churches at Albany, Fishkill, Lithgow, (Linlithgow ?) Poughkeepsie, Newburgh and Walden. Wilber- force, in a history of the American (Episcopal) Church in 1761, puts the population at one hundred thousand, and the number of Episcopalians at twenty five thousand. William Smith, however, puts the number of Episcopalians at about one fifteenth of the whole, or about six thousand.
DURING THE REVOLUTION.
During the Revolution the very name "Church of England " was a heavy burden for her to bear, and made her obnoxious to the great mass of the people. In New York, most of her ministers and people were Royalists. But it must be said also that most of them were missionaries of the English Society, and therefore, under oath to support the Crown. New York City was held by the British throughout the war, while Long Island and Westchester were debatable ground and suffered in turn from each side. Many Episcopals who fled to Nova Scotia or the Bermudas, had their property confiscated, and this was sometimes true even of Church lands. Trinity Church in New York City was burned in 1776, when about a fourth part of the houses were also destroyed.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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1776
GOVERNOR TRYON TO LORD GEORGE GERMAIN. The Established Churches Closed. Ship Dutchess of Gordon. Off Staten Island, Aug. 14, 1776. My Lord :
The confederate Colonies have declared themselves independent States : Enclosed is a printed copy of their Declaration of Independency, which was published through the streets of New York the middle of last month, where the King's Statue has been demolished, as well as the King's Arms in the City Hall, the established churches shut up, and every Vestage of Royalty, as far as has been in the power of the Rebels, done away. The persons of the Mayors of the Cities of York and Albany, Judges, Councellors, Magistrates and principal gentlemen of the Country that are not in rebellion, seized and secured, and even down to the meanest planters persecuted and tyrannized over.
The whole armament destined for this part of America, except the last division of the Hessians, being now assembled here, I expect, by the courage and strength of this noble Army, tyranny will be crushed and legal government restored
As the Military and Naval operations do not lye within my department, I shall leave the relations of them to those gentlemen who have the honor to guide them. I am with all possible respect, My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient Servant,
Wm. Tryon.
TRINITY CHURCH BURNED.
New York, September 24, 1776.
My Lord :
At the same time that I have the happiness to acquaint Your Lordship that on the 15th Inst. General Howe, with the forces under his command, by admirable skill, spirit and conduct, made himself master of the City of New York, and one- half of the Island; It grieves me to inform You that on the 21st, about two in the Morning, the Western part of the Town was set on fire by a number of Incendiaries, and which raged with such violence as destroyed, it is thought, one fourth part of the City, before the flames could be extinguished. Many of the incendiaries are now in prison, and two or three were killed as they were detected in their hellish design. Many circumstances lead to conjecture that Mr. Washington was privy to this villainous Act, as he sent all the bells of the churches out of town, under pretence of casting them into cannon, whereas it is much more probable to prevent the alarm being given by ringing of the Bells before the fire should get a head beyond the reach of Engines and Buckets : besides some Officers of his army were found concealed in the City, supposed for this devillish purpose. The town was thought to be saved more by a sudden change in the wind (which blew strong), and pulling down intermediate houses, than by water. It is afflicting to view the wretched and miserable inhabitants who have lost their all, the numbers of reputable shop keepers that are reduced to beggary, and many in want for their families of the necessaries of life, The fire broke out in sundry places nearly at the same time, but was first discovered at White Hall Stairs, and has burn't the whole body of the buildings that lyes between George Street and Broad Street, as high up as the City Hall, and all the buildings on the North of Fort George, lying between the North River and Great George Street as far up as King's College, excepting a few houses and St. Paul's Church, and almost all the houses on the Church Estate, with Trinity Church, is totally consumed; It really seems the conflagration was directed against the interest of the Church. The Ship Docks, Warehouses, and the Commercial part of the City is as yet safe, and every measure pursued by General Robertson, Commanding Officer in New York, assisted by myself,
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to establish such regulations and police as may ensure its future security. I was at Flatbush at Mr. Axtell's four miles from the City for the recovery of my health and strength when this dreadful event befel this devoted City.
-Col. Docs. N, Y. Vol. viii. 683-4, 686.
STATE OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN CHURCH, BY REV. CHARLES INGLIS OF TRINITY CHURCH, NEW YORK.
INTERRUPTION OF CORRESPONDENCE.
New York, October 31st, 1776.
Reverend Sir :-
The confusions which have prevailed in North America for some time past must have necessarily interrupted the correspondence of the Missionaries with the Society, and that to such a degree as to leave the Society in the dark with respect to the situation both of the Missionaries and the Missions at present. I flatter myself, therefore, that a short authentic account of them; and of the Church of England in general in this and the adjacent colonies, may be acceptable to the Society at this most critical period. 'The success of his Majesty's arms in reducing this city, and driving out the rebels, the 15th of last month, affords me an opportunity of doing this, as packets are now again established between this port and England.
ALL THE EPISCOPAL CLERGY LOYAL TO ENGLAND.
I have the pleasure to assure you that all the Society's Missionaries, without excepting one, in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and so far as I can learn, in the other New England colonies, have proved themselves faithful, loyal sub- jects in these trying times; and have to the utmost of their power opposed the spirit of disaffection and rebellion which has involved this continent in the greatest calamities. I must add, that all the other clergy of our Church in the above colonies, though not in the Society's service, have observed the same line of conduct; and although their joint endeavours could not wholly prevent the rebellion, yet they checked it considerably for some time, and prevented many thousands from plunging into it who otherwise would certainly have done so.
DRS. CHANDLER AND COOPER OBLIGED TO FLEE.
You have doubtless, been long since informed by my worthy friends, Dr. Chandler and Dr. Cooper, to what an height our violences were raised so early as May 1775, when they were both obliged to fly from hence and seek protection in England.
These violences have been gradually increasing ever since; and this with the delay of sending over succours, and the King's troops totally abandoning this province, reduced the friends of government here to a most disagreeable and dangerous situation, particularly the Clergy, who were viewed with peculiar envy and malignity by the disaffected; for, although civil liberty was the ostensible object, the bait that was flung out to catch the populace at large and engage them in the rebellion, yet it is now past all doubt that an abolition of the Church of England was one of the principal springs of the dissenting leaders' conduct; and hence the unanimity of dissenters in this business. Their universal defection from government, emancipating themselves from the jurisdiction of Great Britain, and becoming independent, was a necessary step towards this grand object.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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1776
PATRIOTISM OF THE PRESBYTERIANS.
I have it from good authority that the Presbyterian ministers, at a synod where most of them in the middle colonies were collected, passed a resolve to support the Continental Congress in all their measures. This and this only can account for the uniformity of their conduct; for I do not know one of them, nor have I been able, after strict inquiry, to hear of any, who did not, by preaching and every effort in their power, promote all the measures of the congress, how- ever extravagant.
OPPOSITION TO EPISCOPAL CLERGY.
The Clergy amidst the scene of tumult and disorder, went on steadily with their duty; in their sermons, confiding themselves to the doctrines of the Gospel, with- out touching on politics; using their influence to allay our heats and cherish a spirit of loyalty among the people. This conduct, however harmless, gave great offence to our flaming patriots, who laid it down as a maxim, "That those who were not for them were against them." The Clergy were everywhere threatened, often reviled with the most opprobious language, sometimes treated with brutal violence. Some have been carried prisoners by armed mobs into distant provinces, where they were detained in close confinement for several weeks, and much insulted, without any crime being even alledged against them. Some have been flung into jails by committees for frivolous suspicions of plots, of which even their persecutors afterwards acquitted them. Some who were obliged to fly their own province to save their lives have been taken prisoners, sent back, and are threatened to be tried for their lives because they fled from danger. Some have been pulled out of the reading desk because they prayed for the King, and that before independency was declared. Others have been warned to appear at militia musters with their arms, have been fined for not appearing, and threatened with imprisonment for not paying those fines. Others have had their houses plundered, and their desks broken open under pretence of their containing treasonable papers.
I could fill a volume with such instances; and you may rely on the facts I have mentioned as indubitable, for I can name the persons, and have these particulars attested in the simplest manner. The persons concerned are all my acquintances, and not very distant; nor did they draw this treatment on themselves by any imprudence, but for adhering to their duty, which gave offence to some dema- gogues, who raised mobs to persecute them on that very account. Whatever reluctance or pain a benevolent heart may feel in recounting such things, which are, indeed a disgrace to humanity and religion, yet they ought to be held up to view, the more effectually to expose the baneful nature of persecution, make it detestable, and put mankind on their guard against their first approaches. Were every instance of this kind faithfully collected, it is probable that the sufferings of the American clergy would appear, in many respects, not inferior to those of the English clergy in the great rebellion of the last century; and such a work would be no bad supplement to " Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy."
INGLIS' OPINION OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
The present rebellion is certainly one of the most causeless, unprovoked, and unnatural that ever disgraced any country; a rebellion marked with peculiarly aggravated circumstances of guilt and ingratitude; yet amidst this general defec- tion, there are very many who have exhibited instances of fortitude and adherence to their duty which do honor to human nature and Christianity; many who, for the sake of a good conscience, have incurred insults, persecutions, and loss of property, when a compliance with the spirit of the times had insured them applause, profit, and that eminence of which the human heart is naturally so fond. Perhaps such cases are the most trying to a man's fortitude, much more so, in my opinion, than those which are sudden, and where danger, though more
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apparent, yet is not more certain or real. The one is like a weight irresistibly pressing on us, which wastes and consumes our strength; the other, like a transient impulse, which, by sudden exertion of strength, may be resisted. It is but justice to say that those instances were exhibited by the members of our Church: there is not one of the clergy in the provinces I have specified, of whom this may not be affirmed; and very few of the laity who were respectable or men of property, have joined in the rebellion.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
Thus matters continued; the clergy proceeding regularly in the discharge of their duty where the hand of violence did not interfere, until the beginning of last July, when the congress thought proper to make an explicit declaration of independency, by which all connexion with Great Britain was to be broken off, and the Americans released from any allegiance to our gracious sovereign. For my part, I had long expected this event: it was what the measures of the con- gress from the beginning uniformly and necessarily led to.
THE CLERGY SHUT UP THEIR CHURCHES, UNABLE TO PRAY FOR THE KING, WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS.
This declaration increased the embarrassments of the clergy. To officiate pub- licly. and not pray for the King and royall family according to the liturgy, was against their duty and oath, as well as dictates of their conscience; and yet to use the prayers for the King and royal family would have drawn inevitable destruction on them. The only course which they could pursue, to avoid both evils, was to suspend the public exercise of their function, and shut up their Churches.
This, accordingly was done. It is very remarkable that although the clergy of those provinces I have mentioned did not, and, indeed, could not, consult each other on this interesting occasion, yet they all fell upon the same method of shutting up their churches. The venerable Mr. Beach, of Connecticut, only is to be excepted, if my information be right, who officiated as usual after independency was declared, and, upon being warned of his danger, declared, with the firmness and spirit of a primitive confessor, "That he would do his duty, preach and pray for the King, till the rebels cut out his tongue." All the churches in Con- necticut, (Mr. Beach's excepted, if the above account be true, and I had it from pretty good authority,) as well as those in this province, except in this city, Long Island, and Staten Island, where his Majesty's arms have penetrated, are now shut up. This is also the case with every Church in New Jersey; and I am informed by a gentleman lately returned from Pennsylvania, who had been a prisoner there for some time, that the churches in the several Missions of that province are shut up, one or two excepted, where the prayers for the King and royal family are omitted. The Churches in Philadelphia are open.
POSITION IN VIRGINIA.
How matters are circumstanced in the more southerly colonies, I cannot learn with any certainty ; only that the provincial convention of Virginia have taken upon themselves to publish an edict, by which some collects for the King are to be wholly omitted in the liturgy, and others altered; the word " common- wealth " being substituted for the "King". For my part, I never expected much good of those clergy among them who oppose an American episcopate. If such should now renounce their allegiance, and abandon their duty, it is no more than what might naturally be looked for. There are, however, several worthy clergymen in those provinces, some of whom I hear have taken sanctuary in England, particularly from Maryland.
4295 1776
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
NEW YORK CITY IN THE REVOLUTION.
This province, although the most loyal and peaceable of any on the continent, by a strange fatality is become the scene of war, and suffers most. This city, especially, has a double portion of the calamities brought on by the present rebel- lion; and perhaps a brief detail of our situation for some months past, may gratify curiosity, and convey to the Society the clearest idea of the state of things here. Upon General Howe's departure from Boston to Halifax, early in the last spring, the rebel army was drawn to this city, which they fortified in the best manner they could, expecting it would be attacked. Most of the Inhabitants, warned by these symptoms of the gathering storm, moved into the country, and carried their valuable effects with them. Among others, I moved my family, consisting of a wife and three small children, seventy miles up Hudson's River where they still remain, that part of the country being yet possessed by the rebels.1 Dr. Auch- muty, the rector, being much indisposed during the spring and summer, retired with his family to Brunswick in New Jersey; and the care of the churches, in his absence, of course, devolved on me, as the oldest assistant, a situation truly difficult and trying in such times, especially as the other assistants were young and inexperienced, though very loyal, and otherwise worthy men.
WASHINGTON IN NEW YORK.
About the middle of April, Mr. Washington, Commander in Chief of the rebel forces, came to town with a large reinforcement. Animated by his presence, and I suppose, encouraged by him, the rebel committees very much harassed the loyal inhabitants here and on Long Island. They were summoned before those com- mittees, and upon refusing to give up their arms, and take the oaths that were tendered, they were imprisoned or sent into banishment. An army was sent to Long Island to disarm the inhabitants who were distinguished for their loyalty. Many had their property destroyed, and more were carried off prisoners. It should be observed, that members of the Church of England were the only suf- ferers on this occasion. The members of the Dutch Church are very numerous there, and many of them joined in opposing the rebellion; yet no notice was taken of them, nor the least injury done to them. About this time, Mr. Bloomer administered the sacrament at Newtown, where he had but four or five male communicants, the rest having been driven off, or carried away prisoners. At this present time there are many hundreds from this city and province prisoners in New England; and among these the Mayor of New York.2 Several judges and members of his Majesty's Council, with other respectable inhabitants.
REQUEST THAT PRAYER FOR THE KING BE OMITTED. NOT DONE.
Soon after Washington's arrival, he attended our church; but on the Sunday morning, before divine service began, one of the rebel generals called at the rector's
1 They were sent to New Windsor, Orange Co. in Oct. 1775, whence they removed to Goshen. Mr. I. obtained a flag of truce in the beginning of Dec. 1776 and applied to the Com. of Safety, then at Fishkill, for permission to remove his family, together with his furniture, books and papers back to the city. It does not appear whether he obtained permission or not. His family then consisted of his wife, Mrs. Cookes her mother, and three children, the oldest not quite three years, the youngest about three months old, and four servants. Journal of the N. Y. Prov. Congress, i. 746, 748 ; ii. 249.
2 David Matthews. This gentleman belonged originally to Orange Co. Having been admitted early to the bar, he acted as crown officer upward of twenty years. He succeeded Mr. Ilicks as Mayor of the city of N. Y. in 1776, but being a decided loyalist his name was entered on the list of the suspected, as early as May of that year. He was shortly after arrested by order of the Com. of Safety, and lodged in N. Y. Jail, whence he was soon removed to Conn. The charge against him was that he was cognizant of, or concerned in Gov. Tryon's plot to assassinate Gen. Wash- ington, and blow up the fort. He escaped from Litchfield, Conn. in 1777, and he is represented by Sabine as in N. Y. in 1778, and as Register of the Court of Admiralty in 1782. By the act of 1779, he was attainted and his property confiscated, and left the United States in or about 1783.
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house (supposing the latter was in 'town,) and, not finding him, left word that he came to inform the rector that " General Washington would be at Church, and would be glad if the violent prayers for the King and royal family were omitted." This message was brought to me, and as you may suppose I paid no regard to it.
On seeing that general not long after, I remonstrated against the unreasonable- ness of his request, which he must know the clergy could not comply with, and told him further, that it was in his power to shut up our churches, but by no means in his power to make " the clergy depart from their duty." This declara- tion drew from him an awkward apology for his conduct, which I believe was not authorized by Washington. Such incidents would not be worth mentioning, unless to give those who are at a distance a better idea of the spirit of the times.
DAY OF PRAYER APPOINTED BY WASHINGTON.
May 17th was appointed by the congress as a day of public fasting, prayer and humiliation throughout the continent. At the unanimous request of the members. of our Church who were then in town, I consented to preach that day ; and, indeed, our situation made it highly prudent, though a submission to an authority that was so far usurped was exceedingly grating and disagreeable. In giving notice the preceding Sunday, I only mentioned that there would be a sermon the ensuing Friday, which was the 17th, without saying anything of the reason, or by what authority. It was exceedingly difficult for a loyal clergyman to preach on such an occasion, and not incur danger on the one hand, or not depart from his duty on the other. I endeavoured to avoid both, making peace and repentance my sub- ject, and explicitly disclaiming having anything to do with politics. This sermon, in the composition of which I took some pains, I intended to publish, for various reasons, should I be able to recover it from the place where it now is, with all my books and papers, in the country. The several churches in this province, (except two, where the clergymen thought they might without danger omit service,) and so far as I can learn, through all the thirteen united colonies, as they are called, were opened on this occasion.
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