USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 16
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is so still, that there is no part of this Province, or even America, that would be of greater use or service to have the Church thoroughly settled in ; for it is not only large in extent, and the land very good, and near the city ; so, consequently, will in time be a great settlement. But bordering on Connecticut there is no part of the continent from whence the Church can have so fair an opportunity to make impressions upon the dissenters in that government, who are settled by their laws from Rye parish to Boston colony, which is about 35 leagues, in which there are abundance of people and places. As for Boston colony, I never was in it, so can say little to it. But for Connecticut, I am, and have been pretty conversant ; and always was as much in all their good graces as any man ; and now I am upon that sub- ject, I will give you the best account I can of that colony. It con- tains, in length, about 140 miles, and has in it about 40 towns, in each of which there is a Presbyterian or Independent minis- ter settled by their law ; to whom the people are all obliged to pay, notwithstanding many times they are not ordained ; of which I have known several examples. The number of people there, are I believe, about 2,400 souls. They have abundance of odd kind of laws to prevent any dissenting from their church ; and endeavour to keep the people in as much blindness and un- acquaintedness with any other religion as possible ; but in a more particular manner the Church, looking upon her as the most dangerous enemy they have to grapple withal ; and abund- ance of pains is taken to make the ignorant think as bad as pos- sible of her ; and I really believe that more than half the people in that government, think our Church to be little better than the Papist ; and they fail not to improve every little thing against us ; but I bless God for it, the Society have robbed them of their best argument, which was the ill lives of our clergy that came into these parts ; and the truth is, I have not seen inany good men but of the Society's sending ; and no sooner was that honourable body settled, and those prudent measures taken for carrying on of that great work, but the people of Con. necticut, doubting of maintaining their ground without some further support, [they with great industry went through
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their colony for subscriptions to build a college at a place called Seabrook; and the ministers who are as absolute in their respective parishes, as the Pope of Rome, argued, prayed, and preached up the necessity of it ; and the passive obedience, people who dare not do otherwise than obey, gave even beyond their ability. A thing which they call a college was prepared accordingly, wherein, as I am informed, a commencement was made about three or four months ago. But notwithstanding their new college here, and an old one in Boston, and that every town in that colony has one, and some two ministers, and have not only heard them say, but seen it in their prints, that there " was no place in the world where the gospel shone so brightly, nor that the people lived so religiously and well as they ; yet I dare aver, that there is not a much greater necessity of having the christian religion in its true light preached anywhere than amongst them. Many, if not the greatest number of them, being little better than in a state of heathenismi; having never been baptized nor admitted to the communion. And that you may be satisfied what I tell you herein is not spoken at random, nor grounded on careless observation, Mr. Muirson's parish is more than three fourths of it composed of two towns, viz : Rye and Bedford, which were first settled unde . the colony of Connecti- cut, and of the people bred and born under that government ; and some time before my coming, had a minister, one Mr. Denham, and had afterwards two more, Woodbridge and Bowers, at Rye, and one Mr. Jones, at Bedford ; and the people of Rye only had of this county the care to provide a parsonage house ; and not- withstanding all those great shows of religion, and that at such times as they were destitute of a minister.
Greenwich and Stamford, the bounds of the former of which places join upon theirs, and the other is not above ten miles dis- tant, where they were always supplied. But they could not be said to want the opportunity of having the sacraments admin- istered to them, yet I believe 20 of them had never received the communion, nor half of them been baptized, as Mr. Muirson will more fully inform you. And now I have given you an account of the state of that colony, what will in the next place be natur-
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ally expected from me ; is to know my opinion of the best and most probable way of doing good amongst them.
There is nothing more certain, than that it is the most diffi- cult task the Society have to wade through. For the people are not only not of the church, but have been and are trained up with all the care imaginable to be its enemies. That to make an impression under all those disadvantages is very difficult, though I hope not impossible ; and though, at first view, the prospect of doing any good upon them is very little, yet no doubt but the most proper measures ought to be taken, leaving the event to Almighty God.
Now, to give you my thoughts in what way this great work may best be endeavoured at, so as it may be done with little ex- pense. I believe, for the first step, the most proper way would be, that one of the ministers in this country were directed by my Lord of London to inform himself where there are any in that government that profess themselves to be of the church, and to know if they or any of their neighbours have any children to bap- tize, or desire to partake of the sacrament; and that he will come to the towns where they live, and after having given them a sermon, will perform those holy rites. There need, I think, no more be done in this matter for the present. But the Socie- ty may, if they please, leave the rest to me, and I won't only give him the best advice and directions I can therein, but will, God willing, wait upon him in his progress, and persuade some useful friends along with me. And when this essay has been made, I shail be much better able to guess at the state of that government, and what is fitting to be done next. Now the per- son that I would advise them to pitch upon by all means for this expedition, is Mr. Muirson, he being not only posted next those parts, and so will look less like design, but he has a very happy way of delivery, and makes little use of his notes in preach- ing, which is extremely taking amongst those people; and for argument, few of his years exceed him.
1
The chief end I have in this projection, is to have the people of that government undeceived in their notions concerning our church,; there being, I believe, fifteen thousand in that colony
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who have never heard, nor scarce seen a church of England minister; and I have the charity to believe, that after having heard one of our ministers preach, they will not look upon our church to be such a monster as she is represented ; and being convinced of some of the cheats, many of them may duly con- sider of the sin of schism. However, let the success be what it will, to me the duty seems plain. I have not only mentioned this to you, but in my letter to my Lord of London, and shall patiently wait for his and the Society's commands therein.
I will now proceed in giving direct answers to the several queries mentioned in yours. Having as yet, only spoke to the first, so shall now take the rest in course ; and as for Mr. Moor's mission, you will undoubtedly have the account thereof very ful- ly by Mr. Talbot, whose place he supplies, having not thought it worth the while to stay at Albany. As for my opinion in that matter, I think it is too heavy for the Society to meddle with at present, and would properly lie as a burthen upon the crown, to be defrayed out of the revenue here. For their being brought over to our holy faith, will at the same time, secure them in their fidelity to the government; and not only that, but the Society will, I believe, find employment enough for their money in send- ing of missionaries amongst those who call themselves christians, on the coast of America ; which I find to be their resolution .- And it is certainly the greatest charity in the world, to have the best religion planted in these parts, which with time will, in all probability, be so vast a country and people. But whether the charge of missionaries for converting the Indians fall to the share of the Crown or the Society, to effect that matter well and thor- oughly, those sent over on that errand, must be such as can en . dure hardships, and are able and willing to live with the Indians in their own country, and according to their way and manner, which are the methods the French take ; and I believe some of those gentlemen who have had their education in the colleges of the north part of Scotland, being in orders from my Lord of Lon- don, may be the likeliest to undergo it. As for Mr. Dellius, I don't think it worth the while in being at any extraordinary charge in sending of him; because I believe no consideration would make him live in the Indian country ; and if he did, he
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has not the language ; and one that goes on that mission must be a young man, who is able to grapple with fatigues, and will not only take pains, but is capable of learning the language ; and it is a general observation, that none are so apt to gain foreign tongues as the Scotch.
As for my thoughts of the Society's having appointed that good man, Mr. Neau, as catechist to the Negroes and Indians, it is undoubtedly a very good work; and he is wonderfully in- dustrious in the discharge of his duty, and the truth is, takes more pains than he needs, by going from house to house to per- form that office ; and I believe he would find it as effectual to gain the end, and not the fourth part of the trouble to himself, to appoint set times in having them together at the English church, or at least so many at once as may be proper, and cate- chise and instruct them. And Mr. Vesey assures me that he shall be very free and willing to let him have the use of the church for that purpose. And now I am on this subject, it will be very proper that the society direct Mr. Cleator, if he comes over, or any schoolmaster whom they appoint in their respective places, to catechise and instruct the Negroes and Indians ; and that the ministers in their several parishes were desired to send a list of all the slaves or free negroes and Indians, the society would then see how that matter was further worth their con- sideration.
I did, in my former letters, make mention of one Mr. Bondet, a French Protestant minister, who is in orders from the Bishop of London. He is a good man, and preaches very intelligibly in English, which he does every third Sunday, in his French congregation, when he uses the liturgy of the church. He has done a great deal of service since his first coming into this coun- try, and is well worth the thoughts of the society. The town he lives in is called New Rochelle, a place settled by French Protestants ; it is comprehended in Mr. Bartow's parish, and con- tributes towards his maintenance, which disables them, in a great measure, to pay towards Mr. Bondet's, who is in very great want. It is true, besides twenty pounds a year, which the peo- ple of New Rochelle promise him, and is very ill paid, he has
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thirty pounds a year settled on him out of the public revenue here, as the French minister in York hath ; but that is paid with so much uncertainty, that he starves under the prospect of it.
Now for a remedy for this poor gentleman, and that he may be made as useful to the church as possible; if the society would use their interest that he might have an order from the court that he may not only forth with be paid his arrears, but that he should afterwards have his money by quarterly payments; and that at the same time, he be directed by the Bishop of London, to consult with and be helpful to Mr. Bartow and Mr. Muirson, in taking care of the scattering towns of their parishes ; especially Mr. Bartow's, where it is impossible for any one to manage it. And whereas, he has been obliged for his bread, to use the French prayers in his French congregation, according to the order of the Protestant churches of France, and he had that liberty gran- ted him (as he tells me) upon his receiving of orders, it is his earnest request, that he might have directions relating thereunto, wherein he might be required not to use otherwise than the liturgy of our church in any congregations where he preacheth, whether English or French ; and it would be well that some French common prayer books and catechisms were sent over for that purpose. The reason of desiring an order of that nature is, that it would put the matter out of dispute. Mr. Bondet and I have gone as far as we can in that affair, and it would spend too much time to tell you what tempests we waded through in attempting it, but if directions came from England about it, none, I believe, would be found to oppose it. The chief cause of its being hindered with so much heat was, that the French con- gregation in York were apprehensive that it might be a prece- dent for them ; and for that reason fired the most ignorant of Mr. Bondet's people, and persuaded them to recant from what they had agreed to. But I must do the most sensible of them the justice, that they hold fast their integrity, and are willing to receive the church.
If this matter goes forward, I expect that the greatest part of the people of New Rochelle will cease their contributions to Mr. Bondet ; so I must desire the society to consider him with some
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allowance in England. And if effectual care could be taken that 30l. is paid him, 15l. sterling more, with the small helps he will have from those who will continue steady to the church, will enable him to maintain himself and family.
If care is not already taken therein, in the instructions which are preparing, it will be of absolute necessity, that the clergy of this county be directed to meet twice at least, annually, and taking to their assistance the best and most sensible of their parishes, to consult of the most effectual ways for settling the church; and to give you an impartial account how the parishes are settled in point of conveniency, and which way it may be better done, not only to make it easy for themselves, but so as the bread of life may be fairly and equally divided amongst their people, that proper measures might be taken, in having it regulated by an act of Assembly ; for if something of this nature is not done, one half the people of the county won't have much benefit by all the cost that is laid out upon them. In the conclusion of your last letter, you tell me that you had sent some common prayers and catechisms, by Mr. Mackenzy, but do not understand he has broughtany ; so beg of you to inquire into that mistake ; and in case you send any other books to be disposed, pray let them only be Dr. Beveridge's (now Bishop of St. Asaph,) Sermon concerning the common prayers, a little book entitled : " A Christian's Way to Heaven," and one of the Lawfulness of the common prayer. No books can be more serviceable than they ; and I would take care to have them scattered through Connecticut colony to both mill- isters and people, and am apt to believe they would do service. As for the deputation the society are now pleased to send me, I am exceeding sorry I can do them no service therein ; for the people of this county, having generally land of their own, al- though they don't want, few or none of them very much abound ; there being besides, a settlement belonging to Col. Morris, and another to Mr. Philips, and mine, not any that belong to partic. ular men of any great value in the county ; nor are there ten in the whole county but what have been brought over to the church since I came into the province, that truly sir, if we can persuade them to build and finish their churches and schools,
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help to maintain their ministers and schoolmasters, and fit con- veniences for them, it is the most that can be expected till things are better settled, and the church a more firm footing among them. I have not had the happiness to be in company with Col. Morris since I received the deputation ; but shall discourse with him concerning that matter when I see him next. I could offer some few things more to the consideration of the society, but time won't permit me to enlarge, so I shall reserve it to the next opportunity. So with my humble duty to the society, beg- ging their pardon for the trouble I have given them therewith, I desire to remain, sir, &c., &c.
CALEB HEATHCOTE." a
We have seen that the first services in Rye, according to the rites of the Church of England, were held by the Rev. Thomas Pritchard, in the town house. This practice appears to have been continued until the completion of the stone church, referred to by Mr. Muirson, in his first report to the Secretary. The license to erect an English Church in the town of Rye, bears date 22nd of January, 1706.
LICENSE FROM GOVERNOUR CORNBURY TO BUILD A CHURCH IN RYE.
" By His Ex'cy, Edward Viscount Cornbury, Capt. Gen. & Gov. in Chief of ye Province of New-York, New Jersey, and of all the Territories, and Tracts of Land Depending thereon, in America, and Vice Admiral of the same, &c.
It being the incumbent duty of all good Christians to serve Almighty God in a de- cent manner, I have by virtue of the power and authority to me given, by her Majesties Letters Pattents and the Broad Seale of England, hereby Licensed and Impowered the Rector and inhabitants of the Town of Rye, in the County of Westchester, in the said Province of New-York, to erect and build a Church in the said Town, for the publick worship of God, and the encouragement and in- crease of the Christian Religion, according to the rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England, as by law Established, and likewise to procure, obtain and re- ceive the gifts and Contributions of all such as shall be Piously inclined to the Promoting and Carrying on the work aforesaid. Given under my hand and Seal at Fort Anne, in New-York, this 22d day of January, in ye fourth year of the
· Church Rec. Francis L. Hawks', D. D., vol. i. 29.
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Reigne of our Sovereign Lady Anne, by the grace of God of England, Scotland France, and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the faith, &c., Anno Dom. 1705-6. CORNBURY.
By his Excellency's Command,
GEORGE CLARKE. "a
Mr. Wetmore, writing to the Secretary in 1728, says :- " That the chief promoter of the Church and its greatest benefactor was Col. Caleb Heathcote, who gave the nails and all the iron work. Mr. Muirson paid the masons, whose work amounted to about £40." (He probably procured the money by donations in New-York.) " The remainder was paid by tax upon the Town. Nothing more of the inside was done in Mr. Muirson's time but the ceiling."
This church stood exactly upon the same ground as the present edifice, where God has been worshipped for nearly one hun- dred and fifty years. Mr. Muirson having been requested to baptize several families in Connecticut, obtained the following license from the Governour for that purpose :---
A LICENSE TO REV. GEORGE MUIRSON TO BAPTIZE IN CON- NECTICUT.
" By his Excellency Edw., Viscount Cornbury, &c. Whereas, I am inform- ed that severall persons in the Towns of Stamford, Hertford, and severall other places in the Colony of Connecticutt, have not been baptized by reason they have had no Church of England Minister among them ; and being now desierous to be baptized by such a Minister, I have therefore thought fitt, and do hereby give and grant unto the said Geo. Muirson, full and free liberty, leave and lycense to visit those places and persons for the service aforesaid, from time to time, as often as you shall be thereunto requested by them.
Given under my hand at Fort Anne, in New-York, this 4th day of Aprill, (1706.)" ₺
Of his own parish Mr. Muirson again reports :-
* Albany deed book, x. 101. Sec. office.
· Doc. Hist. New-York, vol. iii, 936.
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MR. MUIRSON TO THE SECRETARY.
Rye, May 22d, 1706.
HON'D SIR,
" I think myself obliged to embrace every opportunity to give the Honourable Society an account of the state of the Church in my Parish.
I have baptized about two hundred, young and old, but most adult persons, and am in hopes of initiating many more into the church of Christ, after I have examined, taught, and find them qualified. This is a large parish ; the towns are far distant ; the people were some Quakers, some Anabaptists, but chiefly Presbyterians and Independents; they were violently set against our church, but now (blessed be God,) they comply heartily, for I have now above forty communicants, and only six when I first administered that holy sacrament, two of which never received before, several others will gladly joyne quickly, whom I intend to admit when I shall think them worthy. I find that catechi- sing on the week days in the remote towns, and frequent visi- ting is of great service, and I am sure I have made twice more proselytes by proceeding after that method, than by public preaching.
Every fourth Sunday I preach at Bedford, and I am afraid, without success, for they are a very willful, stubborn people in that town, there are about 120 unbaptized, and notwithstanding all the means I have used, I could not presuade them of the necessity of that holy ordinance till of late, (thanks be to Al- mighty God for it,) some of them begin to conform. I intend to stay a month at once with them, which I hope by God's help, will produce good effect. The town of Rye are very diligent in building our Church, which will be finished this sum- mer ; it is of stone 50 foot long, and 36 foot wide, and 20 foot high, besides a steeple, which is to be finished next summer. This town is very willing to do what they can, but extremely poor, therefore we humbly address our superiors at home to as- sist us with some nesessaries which cannot be procured here, i. e. furniture for the communion table, the pulpit and a bell. I in-
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treat you to remind the Society to send me the books, for I stand in great need of them. I have drawn two bills upon the Treasurer which I hope he has paid, according to the Society's promise that if I went to Rye, or elsewhere but York City, they would allow me £50 per annum, with other missionaries :- I am invited by some persons in Connecticut Colony, to baptize their children ; the town is called Stratford, about 60 miles distant, whither I intend to go in a few days. By the next I shall give you an account of what progress I made. Several representa- tions have been made of my neighbour, Mr. Bondet, French Minister at New Rochelle, I know him to be a very good, pious person, very diligent in the service of the church, he truly de- serves some consideration. Col. Heathcote is highly instrumen- tal in promoting the interest of our holy church, both by his ex- ample and persuasions ; he has given all the iron work to our church at Rye. I shall not offer you any further trouble at present, seeing the worthy Mr. Evans, (who is bearer) is well acquainted with our circumstances, and has promised to give you an account. I beg your prayers for my further success in my ministry. I ever shall remain beseeching God to keep up your glorious work in hand, for his glory and men's good.
Sir,
Your most faithful and obedient Servant, GEORGE MUIRSON. a."
COL. HEATHCOTE TO THE SECRETARY.
New- York, April 16th, 1706.
1
SIR :
"I wrote you a very long letter by the Jamaica Fleet, and being informed that those convoys are arrived, it will be needless to trouble you with any duplicate thereof. As for the affairs relating to the Church, they continue to go on exceeding well in this
· New-York, MSS. from Archives at Fulham. vol. i. 130. (Hawks'.)
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Parish, where there hath been about 200 baptized, and most grown persons, since Mr. Muirson's coming ; and about 20 or 25 added to the communion, and if it please God to preserve him amongst us a year longer, I believe this Parish will as generally con- form to the Church as most Parishes in the Queens dominions ; which I must confess is very wonderfull, and I wish with all my heart I could say so much of Westchester. But I hope after the ministers of this county have settl'd their monthly lectures, which they are about to do, we shall in a little time find an alter- ation in things much for the better. I have since my last been taking some pains to find out the best ways for introducing the Church into the neighbouring colony of Connecticut, and am in- formed that there are a considerable number at a place called Stratford, about 6 miles from this parish, who are willing to con- form, and some families who refuse baptism from any other than a church of England minister ; that Mr. Muirson intends, God willing, about a month hence, to take a journey amongst them where I design, God willing, to accompany him, and after that progress, we shall be able to give a better account of ye state of that Colony relating to the Church. In my last I made bold to recommend Mr. Bondet to the Society as a worthy object to their favour, he having always been very firm and zealous for the Church, and if he has been otherwise represented to the Society, they have not done him justice. What I have to request in his behalf is, that the society would be pleased to use their interest, that he might have an order from home, that the £30 a year which is settled upon him by the Government, may be punctually paid him in quarterly payments, and that the Society would add £15 sterling more to it, which would enable that poor gen- tleman to live, directing him at the same time not only to ad- vise and consult with Mr. Bartow and Mr. Muirson, of the best methods for propagating the Church in this county, but likewise to assist Mr. Bartow by preaching in his parish, it being not pos- sible that any one man can take care of more than half of it .- I wrote you by Mr. Talbot, that the people of this Parish had resolved to build them a stone church, and had made some pre- parations by carting stone in order to it. They have since got
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