USA > New York > Nassau County > Hempstead > History of St. George's Church, Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y. > Part 5
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
That case is entitled " The Trustees of Dartmouth College against Woodward," and is reported 4 Whea - ton, 518, and was this. In December, 1769, George the Third, by John Wentworth, Governor and Com- mander-in-chief, &c. of the Province of New Hamp- shire, granted a charter to twelve persons, with their successors, incorporating them as Trustees of Dart- mouth College, to have and to hold all and singular, the privileges, &c., &c., given and granted unto them, the said Trustees of Dartmouth College, and to their successors forever."
For fifty years the college prosecuted its work under the Charter, undisturbed. But in 1816, the Legislature of New Hampshire, of its own motion, amended this charter. The trustees refused to recog- nize the amendments. But the treasurer of the
* Ecc. Laws N. Y., p. 309.
68
St. George's Church.
college deferred to the action of the Legislature- kept possession of the book of records, the corporate seal, and other property, and refused to obey the old board of trustees. Thereupon the trustees brought an action in behalf of Dartmouth College, in the State Court of New Hampshire, to recover their prop- erty. The State Court upheld the action of the Legislature, and decided against the plaintiffs. From that decision, by writ of error, the case was carried to the Supreme Court of the United States. Daniel Webster argued the case on behalf of the trustees, and William Wirt for the defendants. . The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the State Court, and decided that the original charter was a contract ; that the charter was not dissolved by the Revolution ; that under the provision of the Constitution of the United States, that no State should make any law impairing the obligation of a contract, this charter could not be changed : that the act of the State Legislature of New Hampshire, altering the charter without the consent of the corporation, was an act impairing the obligation of the charter, and was unconstitutional and void. The questions involved were of such grave importance that opinions were written by Chief- Justice Marshall, and by Justices Washington and Story.
Charters of the present day are granted only with the reservation clause-" This act may be amended or repealed at any time." But our charter has no such reservation. Like that of Dartmouth College, the Charter of St. George's has the habendum clause -" To have and to hold all and singular, the prem-
69
Rev. Robert Fenney.
ises aforesaid, &c .- FOREVER." Thus, as says a legal writer-" here was a corporation endowed with immortality, that could set itself within its corporate limitations, above the State-an imperium in imperio. For it will be observed that there is no limitation made, or authority reserved in the " habendum clause."
"Mr. Jenney writes (May 5, 1737), that he has re- ceived the box of Common Prayer Books and has distributed them where he thought them most wanted, and received for the Society humble thanks from every one of the receivers of them. He baptized within the last year thirty-two, viz. : three adults (one a negro man slave) and twenty-nine infants."
"1738, March 25 .- The year 1737 has offered noth- ing remarkable in his parish. He baptized thirty- five, of whom five were adults and one a young negro slave. He officiates, as usual, two Sundays at Hempstead and the third at Oysterbay. At Hemp- stead he has a large congregation, when weather per- mits, the larger part of his flock living a great way from the church, many of them twelve or thirteen miles ; but at Oysterbay he meets not with the same encouragement, owing, as he supposes, to the want of a resident missionary among them."
Towards the close of this year Mrs. Jenney died, aged 64 years, and was buried in the churchyard ; one of the first interments after the ground was given to the church for a burying-ground. The in- scription on her tombstone is :
" Here lyes the body of SARAH, WIFE OF ROBERT JENNEY, Rector of St. George's Church, Hempstead; who departed this life on Christmas Day, 1738."
70
St. George's Church.
"1740, April 21 .- Mr. Jenney writes that he pro- ceeds carefully in his duty, and has a very encourag- ing congregation. He has baptized within the half year twenty persons, of whom two are adults and ten negro children. He recommends and transmits a petition of the inhabitants of Hempstead, that Mr. Thomas Temple be appointed schoolniaster there in place of Mr. Gildersleeve, deceased. Mr. Temple is well qualified, and has taught school many years in the neighborhood, with a good character."
In 1741, Mr. Jenney visited England. This fact is not directly noted in the Church records, but is incidentally referred to. On Aug. II, 1741, he is recorded as presiding at a Vestry Meeting. In the next month his absence is thus mentioned : " Att a meeting of the Church Wardens and Vestry (in ye absence of Rector) on Tuesday, the twenty-ninth day of September, Anno Dom. 1741," &c. From which it appears that Mr. Jenney's departure was between August II, and September 29.
The next notice the record gives us of his absence occurs in the following letter, of October 27, 1741, addressed by the Vestry to the Secretary of the So- ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, referring to a letter from Mr. Jenney, " with thanks to them for appointing Mr. Thomas Temple schoolmaster of Hempstead, and recommending our Rector Mr. Jenney to the favour of the Society."
" HEMPSTEAD, Long Island, October 27, 1741.
" Revd. Sir :- Wee the Church Wardens and Vestrymen of St. George's Church in the Parish of
* Church Record, p. 32.
71
Rev. Robert Fenney.
Hempstead in Queens County, being lately Informed by a letter from the Reverend Mr. Jenney our Rector that the Honble. Society have been pleased to appoint Mr. Temple our School master in the room of Mr. Gildersleeve, Deceased, Wee embrace this first op- portunity to return our most humble and grateful acknowledgment to that Venerable Body for that and all other their favours, and at the same time assure them wee will use our best endeavours to encourage and promote their pious designs toward us. And as our worthy Minister has lately Imbarked for, and we hope will shortly arrive in England, so we humbly crave leave to Recommend him to the Honble. So- ciety as a Gentleman truly worthy the continuance of their favour and countenance, he having hitherto faithfully and conscientiously discharged his Mission to the General Satisfaction and approbation of all his hearers, and has not only preached Sound Doctrine, but also enforced the practice thereof by the example of a good Life and Conversation, which, with his hos- pitable and generous Temper, has so endeared him .to us all that we desire nothing more than his return, as soon as his affairs and the Honble. Society shall permit ; in the mean time care is taken by the Gentle- men of the neighbouring parishes to supply his cure and to Perform Divine Service in their turns, for which we are thankful, and remain with our humble Duty to the Honble. Society. Rev'd Sir, Your most humble Serv'ts."
This was a gratifying attestation to Mr. Jenney's faithfulness and usefulness. But the Vestry's desire for his continuance among them was not to be grati- fied. In April, 1741, there had died in Philadelphia the Rev. Archibald Cummings, the Rector of Christ Church, Philadelphia, who also held the office of Com-
72
St. George's Church.
missioner for the Bishop of London of the churches in Pennsylvania : an office in which the holder acted as a kind of supervisor or archdeacon, and the mouthpiece of the Bishop of London, to whom the care of the churches in North America was confided, as being, in some sort, a part of his diocese. Mr. Jenney desired to be appointed to the church which was rendered vacant by the Rev. Mr. Cummings' death. Earnest efforts were made by some of the members of that church to have the Rev. Richard Peters made its rector, and petitions to this effect were forwarded to England. Mr. Jenney being in England, and having made a favorable impression upon the authorities there, his application was most effective. The result is declared in the following cor- respondence :*
" To the Vestry of Christ Church, Philadelphia.
"GENTLEMEN-I take the opportunity by Captain Wright, to acquaint you that some of your friends and mine, have desired me to go to Philadelphia, in order to settle there as minister of the Church, if your congregation and I can agree upon the matter ; for I think no such thing can be done without a full agree- ment of both parties. To facilitate the affair, I have obtained my Lord of London's license, and a letter from him to you, not by way of appointment, but recommendation, or rather his approbation of it. I am to go over in the Lancaster man of war, Captain Warren, along with the governor of New York, Captain Clinton. We are to sail in May, and hope to arrive in July. If we can bring all things to bear so that I shall remain with you, I do not in the least
* Dorr's Hist. Christ Church, pp. 76-78.
Rev. Robert Fenney. 73
doubt our living agreeably together. It shall be my study to do my part, being resolved to approve my- self in all things your affectionate friend and servant, " ROBERT JENNEY.
" LONDON, April 12, 1742."
In reply to this letter the Vestry of Christ Church directed a letter to be sent to New York to meet Mr. Jenney on his arrival in that city, expressing their desire to receive him as their minister.
" Oct. 20 .- The Vestry again met, when the fol- lowing letters from Mr. Jenney and the Bishop of London were laid before them :
" NEW YORK, October 12, 1742.
" GENTLEMEN : Having arrived yesterday, I re- ceived your kind letter of the 8th of July, signifying your ready compliance with my Lord of London's license to me to be minister to your congregation ; and professing your hope that by our joint endeavors in the discharge of our respective duties and obliga- tions to each other, we may, by the blessing of God, live together in that peaceable harmony which be- comes true members of the Church of England. I thank you heartily for the first, and make no doubt of the other, since I am fully resolved, by the grace of God, if we come together, to do my part toward it, and make no question of the congregation doing theirs.
" But whereas I am credibly informed that there are divisions amongst you, and that some oppose my settlement there ; and considering that I am easy in my parish at Hempstead, and am indulged by my superiors in the liberty of choosing in which place to settle, I must beg the favor to be informed how that affair stands, and withal whether I may depend on being instated in the same rights and privileges which
4
74
St. George's Church.
the late Mr. Cummings enjoyed ; without which I cannot think of removing from Hempstead. I send enclosed my Lord of London's letter, and am,
" Your most humble servant,
" ROBERT JENNEY.
" Directed to WILLIAM PYEWELL and JOHN ROSS, " Church Wardens of Philadelphia.
"WHITEHALL, March 29, 1742.
" GENTLEMEN-I have waited a good while in hopes of hearing that the differences among yourselves about a new minister were adjusted, and that you had unanimously agreed in recommending some worthy person to be licensed by me, or in desiring me to send such an one from hence. It could not be supposed that I should send any person who had no other con- cern in the plantations, under an uncertainty whether he would be received or not; but as the bearer, Mr. Jenney, is and has long been a missionary from the Society here, to a cure in the province of New York, and is a person whom I believe to be exceedingly well qualified in all respects to succeed your late worthy minister, Mr. Cummings; I was willing upon his re- turn from hence to his cure in New York, to grant him a provisional license to your church, on suppo- sition that he would be received there in such a man- ner as might encourage him to quit his present mission and remove to Philadelphia.
" I have nothing in view but the peace and welfare of your church, and earnestly recommend it to you all to pursue the same good end. I pray for the divine blessing upon you and your proceedings, and remain, "Your assured friend, " EDMUND (GIBSON) London."
" For the Gentlemen of the Vestry of Philadelphia."
"The above having been read, it was Ordered, that the Wardens forthwith return an answer to Mr.
75
Rev. Robert Fenney.
Jenney's letter, and invite him hither, under the same privileges and advantages allowed the late reverend Mr. Cummings, and request Mr. Jenney to accept and approve of the Reverend Mr. Enos Ross to be his assistant in this church."
"Dr. Jenney promptly accepted this invitation, and at a meeting of the Vestry, Nov. 8th, he produced a license, from the Lord Bishop of London, appointing him minister of this church."
On accepting the charge of Christ Church, Philadel- phia, Mr. Jenney formally resigned St. George's, Hempstead. The resignation was accepted, and the following certificate of the resignation was entered upon the records of St. George's Church :
" NEW YORK, December 7th, 1742.
"These are to Certify whom it may concern, that on Fryday the Twenty-Sixth of November last, I did make a Resignation of the parish of Hempstead to the Church-Wardens and Vestrymen of ye parish and also to those of the Corporation met together at the house of Gerhadus Clowes at Hempstead, which Re- signation they accepted off and I do hereby acknow- ledge Confirm and Stand by.
Witness my hand, ROB'T JENNEY."
" Witnesses,
WILL'M VESEY, RICH'D CHARLTON."*
Thus was dissolved that pastoral connection be- tween Dr. Jenney and St. George's parish, which had existed for seventeen years. In his new sphere, Dr. Jenney continued until his death, in 1762. In that enlarged field of action he was efficient and accept-
* Records, p. 34.
76
St. George's Church.
able. He was a vigorous writer ; sometimes, perhaps, inclined to severity of expression in defending his views. His executive ability was considerable. His accurate learning and weight of character gave him wide influence. He took a prominent part in all the efforts which were made in his time to extend the ministrations of the Church to destitute places, and to defend the claims of the Church as scriptural and Apostolic in her creeds and usages. We find his name associated with the principal clergy of the coun- try, as appended to sundry documents addressed by them to the civil rulers and ecclesiastical authorities, respecting sundry matters of current interest. At the meeting of the clergy of Pennsylvania, in 1760, met to organize as a permanent body, he was invited to preside ; but the infirmities of age, aggravated by a stroke of palsy,* compelled him to decline the honor. He had as his assistant in Christ Church the Rev. Ja- cob Douché, renowned as the clergyman who acted as chaplain to the first American Congress.
The degree of LL.D. was conferred upon Mr. Jenney by the College of Philadelphia, which was afterwards merged in the University of Pennsylvania.
The sermon at Dr. Jenney's funeral was preached by the Rev. Dr. William Smith, Provost of the Col- lege of Philadelphia, and his remains were interred beneath the aisle of Christ Church, immediately in front of the chancel. In Dr. Smith's discourse he says of Dr. Jenney : "He was a man venerable in years, and a striking pattern of Christian resignation under a long and severe illness. He was a man of strict
* Penn. Ch. Doc., p. 295.
Rev. Robert Fenney. 77
honesty, one that hated dissimulation and a lie ; ex- emplary in his life and morals, and a most zealous member of our Episcopal Church."
This testimony is the more weighty from the fact that Dr. Jenney had opposed some projects of Dr. Smith.
The Rev. Dr. Dorr, in his History of Christ Church, gives the following as the inscription-some parts of which are almost obliterated-on Dr. Jenney's tomb- stone. *
ROBERT JENNEY, LL.D., Col. S. S. Trinitat. Dublin Studit Alumnus, Obiit die V. Mensis Januar. Anno Salut. MDCCLXII. Æt. LXXV. Age Lector, Puræ Religionis, honesta veritatis, benevolentissime, Exemplum velis,
Hunc Christianæ Fidei vindicem, Probilatis Cultorem, Benevolentia Studia, Respice, sequere, imitare. Juxta Hoc etiam marmor, sepulta jacet
JOANNA ELIZABETHA, prædicti ROBERTI JENNY, conjux, Quæ sex tantummodo dies post mariti sepulturam, Obiit, anno ætatis suæ LXIV.
Of which the following is a free translation :
ROBERT JENNEY, LL.D., An alumnus of Trinity College, Dublin, Died on the 5th day of January, A. D. 1762, Aged 75. Attend, Gentle Reader.
Should you wish an Example of Pure Religion, honest truth, --- Regard, -Follow,-Emulate,
This Champion of the Christian Faith, this teacher of moral rectitude, In his benevolent zeal. Also near this marble lies buried
JANE ELISABETH, wife of the before-mentioned ROBERT JENNEY, Who died only six days after the burial of her husband, In the 64th year of her age.
* Penn. Doc. Hist., p. 274.
4*
78
St. George's Church.
Dr. Jenney left no children by either of his wives ..
Before we close this sketch of the parish during the Rectorship of Dr. Jenney, we should state that about the year 1739, the first recorded bequest was made to the parish. The honor of this primacy be- longs to John March, Esq., who, Mr. Jenney has told us in his letter of July 30, 1735, was from Jamai- ca, W. I., who spent his summers in this town for the recovery of his health. He left to the parish the. sum of £100, which was expended by the Vestry in having the churchyard put in order, the purchase of a bell, and repairing the parsonage. He had pre- viously showed his generous devotion to the church by the gift of the silver alms basin, on the rim of which is this inscription: "The gift of Mr. John. March, to St. George's Church, in Hempstead, 1735."
We do not know whether any tombstone marks. the place of Mr. March's burial; but by these gifts he secured a memorial more enduring than any marble could be. Many a one who has been connected with the parish since, and had abundant means, would have done a wise thing for their memories if they had followed Mr. March's example.
CHAPTER III.
1742-1764.
T HE REV. DR. JENNEY, having received and accepted an invitation in October, 1742, to take the Rectorship of Christ Church, Philadelphia, re- signed St. George's Parish. His resignation termin- ated a connection which had profitably continued for seventeen years. During this time the Parish made large and substantial gains.
Nearly all the years of the Rev. Mr. Thomas' rec- torship were employed in diminishing "inveterate prejudices " against the Church. He had so well succeeded, that when Dr. Jenney came upon the ground, the Church had got beyond the point of ask- ing mere toleration, and of seeming to continue her work only by sufferance. Her excellencies had begun to be seen, and her righteous claims to be admitted. And Dr. Jenney had promptly proceeded to have her position established by obtaining from the town a gift of the property which it had set apart for religious purposes ; and perpetuated the transference by the Charter, which secured to the parish a corporate exist- ence
80
St. George's Church.
The Vestry proceeded at once to fill the vacancy thus made, by calling to the Rectorship the Rev. Samuel Seabury, from the Mission at New London, Connecticut, and they addressed the following peti- tion to Lt. Governor Clarke to ratify their call :*
" By the Church Wardens and Vestrymen of the Parish of Hempstead, in Queens County, within the Colony of New York, in America :
" WHEREAS, the Reverend Doctor Robert Jenney, who had officiated as Minister of the aforesaid parish, nearly for the Term of Seventeen years, has lately voluntarily Resigned and Released unto us (in whom the Calling and presenting a good, Sufficient, Protes- tant Minister, to officiate and have the care of souls in the said Parish of Hempstead, does of Right belong upon any avoidance) all his Right to the said parish as minister thereof. Wee, therefore; pursuant to the powers in us residing, by virtue of an Act of the Gen- eral Assembly of this Colony, entitled, An Act for setling a Ministry, and raising a Maintainance for thein in the City of New York, County of Richmond, Westchester and Queens County, and one other Act made by the said General Assembly, for the better explaining and more effectual puting in Execution the aforesaid Act, Do by these Presents Call and Pre- sent the Reverend Mr. Samuel Seabury, Clerk, to be Minister of the said Parish of Hempstead. And we do humbly pray, that His Honour the Lieutenant Governor of this Colony, or the Commander-in-Chief for the time being, will be pleased to cause the said Mr. Samuel Seabury to be Inducted to the Parish. Church of the said Parish of Hempstead, with all and singular, the Rights, privileges and appurtenances to. the same belonging or in any ways Appertaining ..
* Ch. Records, p. 34 ..
8 1
Rev. Samuel Seabury.
In Testimony whereof we have hereunto put our hands and seals at Hempstead aforesaid, this fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord Christ, Seventeen hundred and forty-two .- John Dorland, Samuel Manone, Church Wardens. Jacob Smith, John Cornel, Jr., Joseph Halstead, Wright Frost, George Weeks, Peter Luister, John Birdsal, Jeremiah Bedell, i the mark of James Pine, Vestrymen."*
The Rev. Mr. Seabury. with the approbation of the Venerable Society, accepted the call to Hempstead, and the Lieutenant Governor granted the petition of the Vestry, as the following papers show :
" George Clarke, Esq .- His Majesty's Lieutenant 'Governour and Commander in Chief of the Province of New York, and the Territories thereon depending in America :
"To all and singular the Rectors, Vicars, Chaplains ·or parish ministers, Curates, clerks and ministers what- :soever in or through the said Province, or any of you Constituted, Inducted or appointed-or to John Dor- land or Samuel Manoont the present Church War- ·dens of the Parochial Church of Hempstead in Queens county, and to the members of the Vestry of the said Church, GREETING :
"Whereas the said parochial Church of Hemp- stead aforesaid is now become vacant by the resig- nation of the Reverend Doctor Robert Jenney, late Curate or Rector thereof, and the Rever- ·end Mr. Samuel Seabury having been, at the request ·of the Church Wardens and Vestry of the said Rectory or Parochial Church aforesaid, represented unto me as
The names of some of this Vestry are new. There is no record of their election, and at the next annual meeting, several changes in the IBoard were made.
+ Probably Marvin.
82
St. George's Church.
a person they desired to be Inducted and appointed as the Rector or Parish minister for the said Church. -I Therefore Commit unto you the ministers afore- said, or Church Wardens of the said parochial Church, hereby firmly injoyning and Commanding that you Induct or cause to be Legally Inducted the said Sam- uel Scabury into the parish Church aforesaid, and into all the glebe Lands now or at any time heretofore ap- propriated or set apart for the use of the said Church, and into the actual, Real and Corporeal possession of the same. And him so Inducted you shall Maintain and Defend .- And what you shall do in the premisses you shall Certifye to me or to some other Competent Judge in this Behalf, when you shall be thereunto reasonably required, or any one of you who shall be present at the execution of this Mandate.
" Given under my hand, and the prerogative Seal of the said Province, the Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and forty-two.
" GEORGE CLARKE, By His Hon's Command.
"GEO. JOS. MOORE, Dep'y Sec'ry."
On the 10th of December this precept of induction was carried into effect by the Rev. Mr. Colgan of Ja- maica, as the following certificate attests .*
"This is to Certifye, all whom it may Concern, That on the tenth day of December, in the year of our Lord Christ Seventeen hundred and forty-two, at Hempstead in Queens County, upon the Island of Nassau, commonly called Long Island, in the Prov- ince of New York-I Thomas Colgan, Clerk and Rec- tor of the parish of Jamaica in the said County, by virtue of the within Mandate from the Hon'ble George
* Records, p. 37.
83
Rev. Samuel Seabury.
Clarke, Esqr., Lieu't. Gouvernour of said Province, did Induct the Rev'd Mr. Samuel Seabury Clerk into the Real, personal and actual possession of the Parish Church of Hempstead aforesaid, of all the Rights, Glebes and Rectory thereunto belonging. In Wit- ness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, the day and date above written.
" THOS. COLGAN.
" Present, Will'm Cornell, Micah Smith, Robert Marvin, Adam Lawrence."
With this formality of Induction, Mr. Seabury's in- vestiture with all the privileges and rights of the Rec- torship was not yet complete. There was a further act of " DECLARATION," as it was termed, which was required, by act of Parliament 14th of Charles II. to be made by a minister within two months after enter- ing into actual possession of a Parish.
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.