USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 18
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These things put a great stop to the growth of piety and god- liness among us, and it is an objection that I frequently met with from several dissenters, both in this and in the neighbouring col- ony, that many of the members of the Church of England are irregular in their lives, and therefore they ought not, and will not join. The consequence is unjust and groundless-being the unworthiness of one or more communicants, is not charged a sin upon him who receives it in a fit and becoming manner. Yet, however, among ignorant and unthinking people, and even sometimes among the more knowing too, it is a great hindrance and stumbling-block, and is partly the reason that some of your missionaries have so few communicants.
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I thank God, I have no great reason to complain of my own people, nor do I mention these things for their sakes only, but for the good of the whole. And I heartily wish that the honoura- ble Society would do their endeavour that a good governour may be sent ; one that will discharge his place faithfully, and take care that others under him would do the same. This will be a means of bringing about a happy reformation, and will won- derfully conduce to the interest of our Church in these parts.
Sir, I intreat your acceptance of my most humble and hearty thanks for the kind and Christian advice you were pleased to tender me in relation to Connecticut. Such measures as you proposed, I have all along observed ; and I am sure no man in that colony can justly accuse me of the contrary. I know that meekness and moderation is most agreeable to the mind of our blessed Saviour, Christ, who himself was meek and lowly, and would have all his followers to learn that lesson of him. It was a method by which Christianity was at first propagated, and it is still the best policy to persuade mankind to receive instruc- tions. Gentleness and sweetness of temper is the readiest way to engage the affections of the people ; and charity to those who differ from us in opinion is the most likely to convince them that our labours are intended for the welfare of their souls ; where- as passionate and rash methods of proceeding will fill their minds with prejudices against both our persons and our principles, and utterly indispose them against all the means we can make use of to reclaim them from their errors. I have duly considered all these things, and have carried myself civilly and kindly to the Independent party, but they have ungratefully resented my love ; yet I will further consider the obligations that my holy religion lays upon me, to forgive injuries and wrongs, and to return good for their evil. Thus I hope, by God's assistance, I shall behave myself, and avoid the doing any thing that may bring blame upon that godly Society, whose missionary I am, or hinder the progress of that glorious work they have undertaken ; and ever since I have been invited into that colony, I have been so far from endeavoring to intrench upon the toleration which her Ma-
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AND CHURCH OF RYE.
jesty has declared she will preserve, that, on the contrary, I de- sired only a liberty of conscience might be allowed to the mem- bers of the national Church of England ; which, notwithstand- ing they seemed unwilling to grant, and left no means untried, both foul and fair, to prevent the settling the Church among them ; for one of their justices came to my lodging, and fore- warned me, at my peril, from preaching ; telling me that I did an illegal thing in bringing in new ways among them. The people were likewise threatened with prison and a forfeiture of 5l. for coming to hear me.
It will require more time than you will willingly bestow on these lines, to express how rigidly and severely they treat our people, by taking their estates by distress, when they do not wil- lingly pay to support their ministers. And though every Church- man in that colony pays his rate for the building and repairing their meeting houses, yet they are so maliciously set against us, that they deny us the use of them, though on week days; they tell our people that they will not suffer the house of God to be defiled with idolatrous worship and superstitious ceremonies. They are so bold that they spare not openly to speak reproach- fully and with great contempt of our Church. They say the sign of the cross is the mark of the beast, and the sign of the devil ; and that those who receive it are given to the devil .- And when our people complain to their magistrates of the per- sons who thus speak, they will not so much as sign a warrant to apprehend them, nor reprove them for their offence. This is quite a different character to what, perhaps, you have heard of that people ; for I observe particularly, one expression of your letter, where you say they are an ignorant, hot-heady, but well meaning people. That they are ignorant I can easily grant ; for if they had either much knowledge or goodness, they would not act and say as they do ; but that they are hot heady, I have too just reason to believe ; and as to their meaning, I leave that to be interpreted by their unchristian proceedings with us. Who- ever informed you so, I may freely say, that he was not so well acquainted with the constitution of that people, as I am, who give you the contrary information. I beg that you would be-
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lieve that this account (though seemingly harsh and severe, yet no more than is true,) does not proceed from want of charity, either toward their souls or bodies, but purely for the good of both. And to give you better information concerning the state of that people, that proper remedies may be taken for curing the evils that are among them, and that our Churchmen in that Col- ony may not be oppressed and insulted over by them, but that they may obtain a liberty of conscience, and call a minister of their own communion, and that they may be freed from pay- ing to their ministers, they may be enabled to maintain one of their own. This is all these good men desire.
I have lately preached to a Dutch congregation, about 18 miles from this town ; they seem to be well disposed to the Church, and I intend to give them frequent visits on week days, but more of this hereafter.
Mr. Cleator is still with us; he continues faithful in the discharge of his duty, (he is, according to your instructions,) very useful and serviceable to me upon all occasions. He reads di- vine service and sermons to the people, when the affairs of the Church call me abroad. In short, I believe him to be a very good man, and that he justly deserves your bounty. I hope by this time Mr. Moore and Mr. Brooke are with you-two good men indeed, who suffered for discharging their office. I intend- ed to have laid down some arguments to show the necessity we have of a bishop among us ; but I think their treatment will be sufficient for all ; and if some speedy methods be not taken, I cannot tell how soon their's may be our fate. There was a time when our Governour looked with a favorable countenance upon us ; but tempora mutantur, I pray God to put it into the hearts of our superiors at home to send us a head to bless and protect the whole.
Honored sir, your most assured friend and very humble ser- vant,
GEO. MUIRSON. a
Rye, 9th January, 1707-8."
· * Connecticut MSS. from Archives at Fulham, p. 25. (Hawks'.)
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The Rev. George Muirson, after a short, but a most useful service in the ministry of the Church, died on Tuesday, the 12th of October, 1703, much lamented by his friends, and missed by his parishioners. " He was a most zealous, devoted, and truly good man ; a sound Churchman in his principles, and bold and fearless in advocating his views ; cool in judgment, winning in manners, and possessed of great natural eloquence; he was well fitted for the position in which he was placed, and admi- rably calculated to introduce the church into the then benighted Government of Connecticut. "
From the following entry in the records of the Honorable William Smith, of Long Island, it appears that Mr. Muirson was buried in the old stone Church, at Rye :-
Manour of St. Georg's, June 20th, 1707.
"Then sister Gloriana was mary'd to the Rev. Mr. George Muirson, who, the 12th of October, 1708, departed this life at Rye, and was intered in his Parish Church."
What more suitable mausoleum could have enshrined his bones, than the stately fabric his pious zeal had reared.
" What needs more words, the future world he sought And set the pomp and pride of this at nought, Heaven was his aim, let heaven be still his station That left such work for others' imitation."
By his wife Glorianna, youngest daughter of the Honorable William Smith, of St. George's Manor, L. I., Chief Justice and President of the Council of New-York, he had one son, George Muirson, M. D. of Setauket, L. I.,a who married his cousin, Anna Smith, and left one son, Heathcote Muirson. The latter was a graduate of Yale College in 1776, and died from wounds received in the attack upon Lloyd's Neck, L. I., July, 1781. Catherine,b the sister of Heathcote Muirson, married her fath-
· " Dr. Muirson possessed a large property in Setauket, or more correctly, in Brookhaven ; this however was confiscated after the war of the Revolution, and but little of it was recovered by his family. He died at New Haven, Conn., aged 79."-Communicated by the Rev. Frederick M. Noll, of Setauket.
b Catherine Muirson was born at Brookhaven, June 8th, 1742, died, April 15th, . and was buired under Caroline Church, in that place, A. D., 1785.
/
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er's pupil, Cyrus Punderson, M. D. Their grandson, Henry Ty- ler Punderson, is still living at Setauket.
Mrs. Muirson was born at Brookhaven, L. I., June 21st, 1690, and survived her husband only two years, as appears by the following entry in the Smith MSS : "(Thursday)" -- " Mannour of Scarsdale, October 7th, 1710"-" Then God Almighty, after - - days sickness and bloody flux, was pleased to take to himself our Dear Sister, Glorianna Muirson, who the Saturday ensuing was intered in Brot. Colonel Heathcote's burying place."
THE WILL OF GEORGE MUIRSON, CLERK.
" IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. The thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord God, one thousand seven hundred and eight, I, George Muirson, of Rye, in the county of Westchester, and province of New-York, clerk, being weake in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God therefor, calling unto mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye ; do make and ordaine this my last will and testament, that is to say : principally, and first of all, I give my soule into the hands of God that gave it, and for my body, I commend it to the earth to be buried in a christianlike and decent manner att the discretion of my Executrix, nothing doubting but att the General Resuerection I shall receive the same again by the Almighty power of God; and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and devise, and dispose of the same in the following man- ner and forme: I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife, Gloriana, whom I likewise constitute, appoint, and ordain my only and sole Executrix of this, my last will and testament, all and singular my estate, Reall and personall, whether of lands, messuages, tenements, money, gooods, chattels of what kind and na- ture and quality now in my possession, or in possession of any other, or owing me from any person or persons, which is, or may, by any way or means be my just rights and title att the day of my death, by her, the said Gloriana, freely to be possessed and enjoyed. And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke, and disannull all and every testaments, wills, legacies, requests, and executors by me made, or before this time named, willed and bequeathed; ratifying and confirming this and no other, to be my last will and testament.
In wittness whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand and seale, the day and year above written.
GEO. MUIRSON.
SIGNED, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said George Muir- son, as his last will and testament, in the presence of us the subscribers.
ROBERT BLOOMER, SAMUEL LANE, JOSEPH CLEATOR.""
a Sur. office, N. Y. Rec. of Wills, Vol. v. p. 385. Proved 10th day of Nov., 1708.
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Col. Heathcote, writing to the Secretary, April 28th, 1709, says :- "I must in the first place give you the melancholy ac- count of Mr. Muirson's death, who was a very industrious and successful Missionary, and had it pleased God to have preserved his life, would have been able to have given a wonderful ac- count of his labours. By his constant journeys in the service of the Church, and the necessary supply of his family, he ex- pended every farthing he got here and of the Society, and were the stock not so low, the Society could not have done a better act, than to have considered his widow whom he has left very bare, and has since his death been brought in bed with a boy, which is living."a
In a letter of May 30th, 1709, Col. Morris writes to the Sec- retary as follows :- " About the affairs of the Church in New- York, I shall only add to the copy of my former letter, that Rye being vacant by the death of Mr. Muirson, there wants a man of a peculiar learning, temper and life, to supply that place, and I think no man can be more fitted for that employ than Mr. Mackenzie, on Staten Island, in which place he is buried among a parcel of French and Dutch, who can't understand him, there being but few English there, and a place in which he seldom has his health ; the other, a place of ten times the number, and bor- dering on Connecticut, where a man of his learning and en- gaging temper is very much wanting."b
The following memorial in behalf of Mrs. Muirson and Mrs. Urquhart, was addressed by the " New- York Missionaries to the Bishop of London :" --
TO THE RIGHT REV. AND RIGHT HONORABLE, HENRY, LORD BISHOP OF LONDON.
New- York, Nov. 24th, 1709.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP :
"We think ourselves obliged by the ties of humanity and sa- -
· Conn. MSS. from Archives at Fulham. (Hawks'.)
b New- York MSS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. i. 159, 160. (Hawks'.)
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cred relation of paternity, as well as those of Christian charity to the indigent, to make this representation to your Lordship, our most worthy Diocesan, and the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, in the behalf of the virtuous relicts of our late deceased Reverend Brethren, Mr. Muirson and Mr. Urqu- hart, who present difficult circumstances, as they extort this our petition, so we humbly hope will render them proper objects of your commiseration. The former was Missionary of Rye, a parish bordering on Connecticut Colony, where God was pleased to bless his painful labours with suitable success, and that he might not fall under the censure of avarice, or give the least oc- casion of any reflection amongst his people, (who were for the most part proselytes to the church) he not only frequently parted with what, by law, was his just demand, but out of his mission- ary allowance of £50 per annum, endeavoured to support him- self that he might make the Gospel as little burdensome to them as possible, one of the most effectual means to establish the Church in these parts, and by his frequent journies to Stratford, a town in that Province where he was invited to preach, and had a very good prospect of erecting a church for the worship of God according to the form and manner of the Church of Eng- land, he was put to more than ordinary charges, which, (had God granted him a longer life) he might have reaped so much advantage from, as to have made a settlement there for the ser- vice of our church, and in a great measure repaired the volun- tary poverty he had brought upon himself in his endeavours to effect this good work; but it pleased God to remove him in the midst of his labours and dawning of our hopes, by which his poor widow, and one son born since his death, are left to struggle with some difficulties which we hope the pious zeal of your Venerable Society will remove, by an allowance of £50 sterling, to commence from his death, for one year, to pay his just debts contracted in that service, &c., &c. ; and further, that the same charitable bounty of a year's salary, may con- tinue to be paid to the widows of your missionaries who shall hereafter die in the service of the Church, &c., &c.
My Lord, yours, &c.,
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AND CHURCH OF RYE.
EVAN EVANS, de Philadelphia. JNO. TALBOT, de Burlington. JNO. THOMAS, de Hampstead. JNO. BARTOW, de West Chester. JNO. SHARP, Chap. to the Queen's Forces. C. BRIDGE, de Rye.
SAMUEL MYLES, HENRY HARRIS, de Boston."a
Mr. Muirson was succeeded in October, 1709, by the Rev. Mr. Reynolds. This gentleman appears to have been licensed and appointed in England by the Bishop of London, (at the request of the Venerable Society) as Missionary to Rye, but from the following letter, it seems he had scarcely arrived at his mission, ere the Society revoked their orders, by recalling him after offi- ciating here for two or three Sundays.
MR. BARTOW TO THE SECRETARY.
Westchester, in America, October 30th, 1709.
SIR,
" I am sorry at the occasion, to acquaint you of the death of our late Reverend Brother, Mr. Urquhart, of Jamaica, whose place is now supplied by the Rev. Mr. Vesey, Mr. Sharp and the Missionaries in the province of New-York, every other Sunday, until you can send another curate.
I lament the unhappy circumstances of the Rev. Mr. Reynolds, your Missionary for Rye, who having escaped the danger of the seas and a violent sickness after his arrival, and was received with joy and satisfaction by Col. Heathcote, and his parishioners, as their undoubted minister, and your missionary, whom they greatly respected as such, till there came a letter from you, di- rected to my Lord Lovelace, deceased, in which our present Gov- ernour, Col. Ingoldsby, found your express orders to prohibit him from preaching in any part of his government.
These are judged hard measures by some, and the more, because you have given no reason of your rigid proceedings, to the satisfac-
· New-York MSS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. i. p. 211. 212. (Hawks'.)
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tion of those who respect and favour him ; but I presume you have done nothing but what you thought most requisite to promote the interest of Christ's Church, therefore labour that all would put such a candid interpretation on this matter as the just cause thereof deserves, and I crave leave to testify, that during his small stay amongst us, he has behaved himself as becomes a sober and religious pastor, and knowing not the cause of your displeasure, must (as in duty bound for a distressed brother) re- commend him to your favour, as one by his appearance here, well worthy his function, and shall be heartily glad if your recall- ing him, be intended for his advantage. We hear Mr. Bridge is arrived at Boston, and has by your orders to fix himself at Rye.
Sir, yours, &c., JOHN BARTOW. "a
The
REV. CHRISTOPHER BRIDGE, M. A.,
who thus superseded Mr. Reynolds, in the charge of this Parish, was the son of the Rev. Robert Bridge,b and was born near Tillington, in the County of Essex, A. D. 1672. He received his early education in the city of Chester, under Mr. Hancock. At the age of seventeen he was admitted to St. John's College, Cambridge, as a sub-sizer, under the tuition of Mr. Wigley ; (June 4th, 1689,)c and in 1692 took the degree of Batchelor of Arts.d After obtaining holy orders, he was appointed assistant minis-
· New-York MSS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. i. p. 208, 209. (Hawks'.)
b The Bridge's have been seated for many ages in the Counties of Hereford, Es- sex and Lancaster. The arms of Bridge of Bosbury, Hereford and Essex, are :- arg. a chief gu. over all, a bend, engr. sa-Crest, two wings endorsed arg. on each a chev. engr. sa. charged with a chaplet or.
«Extract from the admission Books of St. John's College, Cambridge :- "Chris- topher Bridge, Castrensis, filius Robert Bridge, Clerici, natus infra Tillington in Comitatu Esseneæ, literis institutus in Civitate Cestrensi sub Mro. Hancock, ætatis suæ 17 admissus ut subsizator pro Mro. Stillingfleet, Tutor et fidejussore, ejus Mro. Wigley, Junii, 4to. 1689."
¿ See lists of Cambridge Graduates.
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ter to the Rev. Mr. Miles, the rector of King's Chapel, Boston, and arrived in March, 1699. In 1703, at the request of the vestry, Mr. Bridge proceeded to England, in order to solicit subscriptions for the enlargement of the chapel, a measure made necessary by the increase of the congregation. A misunderstanding about this time arose between Mr. Miles and Mr. Bridge, which grew into a serious division, and threatened the peace and prosperity of the church. The Bishop of London, (Compton) condemned the course of Mr. Bridge, and in his letter to the church says : " There- fore I shall not be so earnest for his removal, otherwise than I am convinced it is impossible for him and Mr. Miles to live to- gether in peace. I know his spirit is too high to submit to that subordination which is absolutely necessary he should comply with, while he stays at Boston, so that I would by all means, advise him to go to Narragansett, where he may have a hundred pounds per annum, sterling, besides what perquisites he may make upon the place, and then he will be his own master."
About the first of October, 1706, Mr. Bridge came to Narra- gansett. The wardens of King's Chapel spoke of him with re- gard and respect, and the Bishop promised him the continuance of his favour.
It however appears that Mr. Bridge, after his settlement in Narragansett, created a new difficulty, as we learn from the Bishop's letter to' the officers of King's chapel, dated in May, 1708, he says : " not being yet fully informed to what degree and upon what grounds Mr. Bridge hath committed that insolent riot upon the church of Rhode Island." " What is meant by the violent riot committed by Mr. Bridge upon the church of Rhode Island, alluded to by the Bishop, has not been ascertained."a
Mr. Bridge did not remain long in Narragansett, but at the request of the Venerable Society removed to Rye, in January, 1709, when he was again settled in the ministry. His commis- sion from the Venerable Society bears date 19th of August, 1709. He was not however called by the vestry until April, 1710.
· Updike's Hist. of the Narragansett Church, p. 38.
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REV. CHRISTOPHER BRIDGE'S COMMISSION, TO BE MINISTER OF RYE.
" To all people to whom these presents shall come .- The Society for ye Propa- gation of the Gospel in Fforeign Parts, sends greeting :
Whereas, Mr. Christopher Bridge, ye bearer hereof, being in Priest's orders, hath been sufficiently recommended to ye said Society, and by farther examina- tion appears to be a person duly qualified for promoting the good work in which ye said Society is engaged ; and whereas, he is by the Right Rev. Father in God, Henry, Lord Bishop of London, a member of ye said Society, at the request of the said Society, lycensed and appointed to performe all the offices of his sacred function at Rye, in New-Yorke, in America : Now, know yee, that ye said So- ciety have given and granted unto the said Christopher Bridge, and his assigns, and do hereby for themselves and successors, give and grant an annuity or yearly pension of the sum of fifty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain, to hold, re- ceive and enjoy the same from the feast day of the Nativity of St. John Baptist, be- fore the date of these presents, during the pleasure of ye said Society ; the same to be paid at the ffeast days of St. Michael the Archangel, the Nativity of our Lord, ye Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Nativity of St. John Baptist, in every year during their said pleasure, provided always, and on condition that the said Christopher Bridge, do without delay at the first opportunity after ye date of these presents, transport himself to the said parish of Rye; and also from and after his arrival, continue and reside there, (unless otherwise directed by the Society) and do with fidelity and diligence, discharge his holy function : other- wise this grant to be void and of none effect. And the said Society doth hereby heartily recommend ye said Christopher Bridge to the protection and blessing of Almighty God, the countenance and ffavour of the Honourable the Governour of New-York, and the good will of all christian people at Rye aforesaid, for his further encouragement and support.
In witness whereof, ye said Society hath hereunto caused to be sett their com- mon seal, this nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord 1709, and in the eighth year of our Most Gracious Sovereign, Lady Anne, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the ffaith, &c.
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