USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 35
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M. Claude, a distinguished defender of the Reformed Church, referring to the "dragoons," who were sent to the Protestants to extort from them an abjuration, says :- " They cast some into large fires, and took them out when they were half roasted. They hanged others with large ropes under the arm-pits, and plunged them several times into wells, till they promised to re- nounce their religion. They tied them like criminals on the rack, and poured wine with a funnel into their mouths, until being intoxicated, they declared that they consented to be Catholics. Some they slashed and cut with penknives ; others they took by the nose with red hot tongs, and led them up and down the rooms till they promised to turn catholics." b
" Wearied with incessant persecution, and despairing of re- pose around their native hearths, the Huguenots began to leave France for more secure regions. The Protestants of other states and kingdoms opened their arms to receive them ; no less than five hundred thousand thus escaped, and found homes in Germany, Holland, and England."e "King Charles II. granted letters of denization in council, under the great seal, and assured the ex- iles, that, at the next meeting of the Parliament, he would in- troduce a bill, by which they should be naturalized, relieved them at the moment from importation duties and passport fees, and encouraged voluntary contributions for their support." This order was issued on the 28th of July, 1681, the same year
. "Memoir of the French Protestants, who settled at Oxford, Mass., A. D., 1686, &c., by A. Holmes, D. D., Corresponding Secretary of Mass. Hist. Soc., in 1830." -See Collection of Mass., Hist. Soc., vol. ii. 3d series.
৳ Mr. Disosway's Sketch of the Huguenots.
· Smedley's History of the Reformed Religion, vol. iii. p. 217.
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
in which the Huguenots of New Rochelle, fled from France ; conclusive evidence that they constituted a portion of those ex- iles who accepted the royal offers and afterward, under the pat- ronage of the government, purchased and settled here in 1689. The state of the Huguenots at the time of the revocation was evidently insupportable, as they drew nigh that crisis there were harbingers of "the windy storm and tempest." A decla- ration against them in 1681, was the forerunner of the revoca- tion of the Edict of Nantes.ª The Huguenots were aided in their escape from France, by the English vessels that lay for some time off the Island of Rhé, opposite La Rochelle, in which they were conveyed to England. b Tradition says, that they were subsequently transported to this place in one of the King's ships, and landed on Davenport's neck, at a place afterwards called Bauffet's, or Bonnefoy's Point. Soon after their arrival, we find them thus addressing Governor Fletcher :-
PETITION FROM NEW ROCHELLE.
" To His Excellency Coll. Benjamin Fletcher, Gover- nor in Chief, and Captain General of ye Province of New-York, and dependencies, &c.
The humble petition of ye inhabitants of New Rochelle, HUMBLY SHEWETH,
That your petitioners having been forced by the late perse- cutions in France to forsake their country and estates, and flye to ye protestant Princes. Their Majestyes by their proclama- tion of ye 25th of Aprill, 1689, did grant them an azile in all their dominions, with their Royall protection ; wherefore they were invited to come and buy lands in this province, to the end that they might by their labour help the necessityes of their familyes, and did spend therein all their smale store, with the help of their friends, whereof they did borrow great sums of money. They are above twenty
a Hist. of Louis XIV. 6, 13.
+ Smedley's Hist. of the Reformed Religion, vol. iii. p. 217.
393
AND CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.
(MIS. torn) poor and needy, not able tles and clothing, much they did hitherto beare above their
thereby reduced to a lamentable condition, as having been compelled to sell for that purposs the things which were most necessary for their use. Wherefore your pe- titioners humbly pray.
That your Excellency may be pleased to take their case in serious consideration, and out of Charity and pity, to grant them for some years what help and priviledges your Excel- lency shall think convenient.
And your petitioners in duty bound shall ever pray, &c.
THAUUET,
ELEI COTHOUNEAU."a
The settlement of the present village was commenced by these sufferers, for conscience' sake, soon after the purchase of the town in 1689, who gave it the name it now bears, in re- membrance of their
" Own Rochelle, the fair Rochelle, Proud city of the waters."
LA ROCHELLE
Coeval with the foundation of the village was the organization of a church, in forming which, the Huguenots appear to have adhered to the principles, and as far as they were able at that
* Doc. Hist. of New-York, vol. iii. p. 926.
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
time, to have maintained the Articles, Liturgy, Discipline and Canons, according to the usage of the Reforined Church in France. "It was for their religion that they suffered in their native country ; and to enjoy its privileges, unmolested, they fled into the wilderness."
As soon as the Church was organized, the most active meas- ures were taken for the erection of an edifice. Provision had been partly made for this purpose, in the grant to Jacob Leisler on the 20th of September, 1689. It was there declared that John Pell, Lord of the Manor, with the consent of Rachel, his wife, did (besides the six thousand acres) give and grant " To the said Jacob Leisler, the further quantity of one hundred acres of land for the use of the French Church, erected or to be erected by the inhabitants of the said tract of land."
The first church edifice of which anything is known, was built by the Huguenots, about 1692-3. It was constructed of wood and stood on the property of William Wood, in the rear of the Mansion House, and close to the old Boston post road. a Near the same time, Louis Bongrand " Did give unto the inhab- taints of New Rochelle a piece of land forty paces square, for a churchyard to bury their dead."b A house and about three acres of land were subsequently given by the town to the church forever.c
At this early period the inhabitants appear to have enjoyed the ministrations of the
· Several aged inhabitants of this town, still living, remember the old church which was destroyed soon after the Revolutionary War.
b " Louis Bongrand purchased of Jacob Leisler and Elsie his wife, 31 May, 1690, and sold to Francis Tierens and Valentine Cruger, on the 22d June, 1693. In the conveyance of the latter to Joost Bane, 9th May, 1698, the above gift is specified."-New Rochelle Town Rec. p. 70. " In a deed from Lewis Guion to Zaca- rie Engevin, &c., on the 26th Dec., 1701, the former was to ' have a particular lano or road' to serve the latter ' from Boston road going to the church yard, all along the swamp, &c., making a door (gate) which shall be shut by those who will make use of it, &c.'"-New Rochelle Town Rec. page 20.
· See Mr. Bartows letter to Sec. Nov. 15, 1722. See also Mr. Stouppe's letter to the same, Dec. 11, 1727.
395
AND CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.
REV. DAVID BONREPOS, D. D.,
a French Protestant minister, who accompanied the first settlers in their flight from France. His name, as pastor of the French Colony at New Rochelle, appears in the follow- ing letter to Governor Leisler :-
SIR,
" I have too much respect for your orders, not to execute them punctually ; so, that pursuant to what you did me the honour lately to give me ; I spoke to the principals of this new Colony about the nomination of some persons for the vacant offices of Justice of the Peace, but as the condition you require-that is a knowledge of the English tongue-has precluded them from making the election of two or three, according to your order, they cannot pitch upon any except Mr. Strang, saving your ap- probation, which if you will have the goodness to accord them, you will oblige them infinitely.
Mr. Pinton has also delivered me this day, an order to be communicated to the sd inhabitants relative to the election and nomination of assessors, collectors and commissaries, for levy- ing, imposing and receiving taxes for his Majesty's service. The time is very short, since it is the twenty-seventh instant they must be at Westchester, but they look for some forbear- ance and delay from your goodness, in case, notwithstanding their diligence, they may not be able punctually to answer. It is not through any unwillingness to exert themselves to meet it. but you know their strength as well as I. Notwithstanding, despite their poverty and misery, they will never lack in sub- mission to the orders on behalf of his Majesty, both for the pub- lic good and interest. This they protested to me, and I pray you to be persuaded thereof. I am with respect, and I pray God for your prosperity, Sir,
Your very humble and very obedient servant,
Schonvorone
Pastor of this French Colony.
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
Address
a Monsieur,
de Leislar,
Lieut. Gouverneur pour le Roy d' Angleterre, du fort William a la Nole York."a
Nothing is kuown with regard to the Rev. David de Bonre- pos' ministry or character. He must have resigned his charge here in 1694, for the Rev. John Miller, describing the Province of New-York in 1695, says :- " There is a meeting house at Richmond, (Staten Island) of which Dr. Bonrepos is the minis- ter. There are forty English, forty-four Dutch and thirty-six French families." Upon the 9th day of March, 1696, " David de Bonrepos, of New York city, Doctor of Divinity, and Blanche his wife, did grant to Elias de Bonrepos, of New Rochelle, hus- bandman, all that certain parcel of land situate and lying at New Rochelle in the Manor of Pelham, &c., containing fifty acres of ground. &c."b
The following entry occurs in the Town Records :- " The year of grace, 1693, we, the elders of the Church of New Ro- chelle, in the Province of New- York, according to the inten- tion and will and desire of the inhabitants of this said Church, have accorded to Ambroise Sicard, Jun. and Daniel Sicard, to convert into a rent at six per cent., the forty shillings which they owe for ten acres of land sold them by the said inhabi- tants, &c., and begin to pay the rent from the first to the last of May of the year 1694. Signed, Thauvet Ecotonneau, Tmacher Theroude, Guillaume le Conte, Daniel Strang."c
By an Act of General Assembly passed on the 24th of March,
ª Doc. Hist. of N. Y. vol. ii. 304, 5.
b Town Rec. Lib. A. 112. " Upon the 6th of Feb., 1695-6, letters of denization were granted to David Bonrepos and others. Elias Bonrepos was licensed to keep school within ye Town of Rochelle upon the 23d of June, 1705."-Albany Deed Book, vol. x. 65. " Letters of administration were granted to Martha Bonrepos, wife of David Bonrepos, 25th of Oct., 1711."-Surrogate's office, N. Y., Lib. viii. 61.
c Town Rec., Lib. A. 23.
397
AND CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.
1693, (which was subsequently confirmed) the Manor of Pel- ham became one of the four districts or precincts of Westches- ter Parish. In 1702, New Rochelle contributed towards the rector's maintenance and poor of the parish, £7 3s. In 1720 her quota had increased to £12, 14, 12.
The next minister of the French Reformed Church at New Rochelle was the
REV. DANIEL BONDET, A. M.,
a native of France. He was born in the year 1652, studied the- ology at Geneva and afterwards entered the ministry. On the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, he fled from France to Eng- land,a here he received Holy Orders from the Right Rev. Henry Compton, Lord Bishop of London, and soon after accompanied the French emigrants who arrived at Boston, Mass, in the sum- mer of 1686.b For eight years he was employed by the Cor- poration for Propagating the Christian Faith among the In- dianse at a place called New Oxford, near Boston, and was also a minister of the French congregation there, as appears from a letter written by him to some person in authority (prob- ably Governor Dudley) complaining of the sale of rum to the
¿ " Upon the revocation, the rest of the ministers were allowed fifteen days for their departure : but it can hardly be believed to what cruelties and vexations they were exposed." . " And yet, (adds the English historian) through rich mercy, very few revolted ; the far greatest part of them escaped, either into England, Holland, Germany or Switzerland ; yea, and some are now in New England."-Synodi- con Introd.
b " In Sept., 1686, £26 were contributed for the relief of the French Protestants who came to New England."-See Mass Hist. Coll. 3d series, vol. IV. 62. " In 1693, Cotton Mather speaks of Mr. Bondet, as a faithful minister ' to the French congregation at New Oxford, in the Nipmug country.' "-Magnalia. B. VI. c. vi. ( 2. vol. ii. p. 382. Svo. ed. Hart. 2 vols. 1820.
" On the restoration of Charles II., the charter for the Promoting and Propaga tion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in N. E. (founded in 1649) was renewed through the influence of Mr. Ashurst and Richard Baxter, with the Lord Chancellor Hyde, and the powers under it were enlarged : for now the corporation was styled " The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adja- cent in America."
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
Indians, " without order and measure," and of its baneful ef- fects-the date is lost, with a line or two at the beginning, but is endorsed Mr. Daniel Bondet's representation referring to New Oxford, July 6th, 1691.ª
Mr. Bondet must have continued his labors at New Oxford and its vicinity until near 1695, for in another communication, we find that " In 1695 Mr. Bondet, a French Protestant minis. ter, preached to the Nipmug Indians." After this, we hear no more of him at New Oxford.b He probably removed to this place sometime during the Summer or Fall of 1695, for the inhabi- tants of New Rochelle addressing the Propagation Society in 1709, declare that "By the assistance of Colonel Heathcote they had been provided fourteen years ago with a worthy min- ister, Mr. Daniel Bondet, ordained by the Bishop of London."c To this event, Col. Heathcote himself alludes in a letter to the Society dated 10th of April, 1704 :- " I did propose to the Ves- try of Westchester a medium in that matter, which was, that there being at Boston a French Protestant minister, one Mr. Bondet, a very good man, who was in orders by my Lord of London, and could preach both in English and French, and the people of New Rochelle being destitute of a minister, we would call Mr. Bondet to the living, (of Westchester) and the parish being large enough to maintain two, we would likewise continue Mr. Mather and support him by subscriptions. The Vestry seemed to be extremely well pleased with this proposal and desired me to send for Mr. Bondet, which I immediately did, hoping by that means to bring them over to the Church, but Mather apprehending what I aimed at, persuaded the Ves-
a "Soon after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Jos. Dudley and other propri- etors, brought over thirty French Protestant families into this country and settled them upon the eastermost part or end of the said tract of land, now known by the name of Oxford."-Oxford Town Records.
b His name does not occur in a list of the principal inhabitants in 1696, the year the settlement was broken up by an incursion of the Indians.
See Charter of Trinity Church.
399
AND CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.
try to alter their resolutions and when he came they refused to call him."a
So that projection failing, (of inducting Mr. Bondet to the Parish of Westchester) Colonel Heathcote obtained his services for the French Church at New Rochelle. At this early period both Mr. Vesey of New-York and Mr. Bondet, preached in several parts of the Country and administered the rite of Holy Baptism. Mr. Bondet's destitute condition soon after his settle- ment, is proved by the following document :-
PETITION OF REVEREND MR. BONDET, OF NEW ROCHELLE.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.]
" To His Excellency Milord Cornbury, Governor and Commander in Chief.
MY LORD,
I most humbly pray your Excellency to be pleased to take cognizance of the petitioners condition.
I am a French refugee minister, incorporated into the body of the ministry of the Anglican Church ; I removed about fifteen years ago into New England with a company of poor refugees, to whom lands were granted for their settlement, and to provide for my subsistence, I was allowed one hundred and five pieces per annum, from the funds of the corporation for the pro- pagation of the Gospel among the savages. I performed that duty during nine years with a success approved and attested, by those who presided over the affairs of that Province.
The murders which the Indians committed in those countries caused the dispersion of our company, some of whom fell by the hands of the barbarians. I remained after that, two years in that province expecting a favorable season for the reestablish- ment of affairs, but after waiting two years, seeing no appear- ance, and being invited to remove to this Province of New-
a See Westchester Parish, p. 25.
400
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
York, by Colonel Heathcote, who always evinces an affection for the public good, and distinguishes himself by a special appli- cation for the advancement of religion and good order, by the establishment of churches and schools, the fittest means to strengthen and encourage the people, I complied with his re- quest and that of the Company of New Rochelle, in this Pro- vince, where I passed five years on a small allowance promised me by New Rochelle, of one hundred pieces and lodging, with that of one hundred and five pieces which the corporation con- tinued to me until the arrival of milord Belamont who, after indicating his willingness to take charge of me and our Canton, ordered me thirty pieces in the Council of York, and did me the favor to promise me that at his journey to Boston he would procure me the continuation of that stipend that I had in times past. But having learned at Boston, through Mr. Nanfan, his lieutenant, that I annexed my signature to an ecclesiastical certificate which the churches and pastors of this Province had given to Sieur Delius, Minister of Albany, who had not the good fortune to please his late Lordship, his defunct Excellency cut off his thirty pieces which he had ordered me in his Council at York, deprived me of the Boston pension of twenty-five pieces, writing to London to have that deduction approved, and left me, during three years last past in an extreme destitution of the means of subsistence.
I believed, my Lord, that in so important a service as that in which I am employed, I ought not to discourage myself, and that the Providence of God which does not abandon those who have recourse to his aid by well doing, would provide in its time for my relief.
Your Excellency's equity ; the affection you have evinced to us for the encouragement of those who employ themselves con- stantly and faithfully in God's service induce me to hope that I shall have a share in the dispensation of your justice to relieve me from my suffering, so that I may be aided and encouraged to continue my service, in which, by duty and gratitude, I shall continue with my flock to pray God for the preservation of your
401
AND CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.
person, of your illustrious family and the prosperity of your government. Remaining your Excellency's most humble and most respectful servant."
Manuel bonit 3
" Order and Report on the above.
At a Council held at ffort Wm. Henry, this 29th day of June, 1702.
Sa: Sh : Broughton, ) Caleb Heathcote, Esq., John
Garrard Beekman, Esqrs. Bridges, Doctor of Laws.
Rip Van Dam,
Upon the inotion of Coll : Heathcote that the Minister of New Rochelle had formerly a salary allowed him out of the Revenue which the late Earl of Bellamont deprived him of, it is hereby ordered that the petition of the said Minister formerly Dd to his Excellency, be referred to the sd Coll : Heathcote, who is to examine into the allegations and report the same.
By order of His Excellency and Council, B. COSENS, CI'k Council." " May it please yr Excell :
In obedience to yr Excell commands : I have examined into the allegations of the within Petition and do find that the Petitioner was employed about fifteen years ago by the corpora- tion for propagating the Xtian ffaith amongst the Indians at a place called New Oxford, near Boston, with the allowance of a salary of £25 a year, where he consumed the little he brought with him from ffrance in settling himself for that service, and being afterwards by reason of the War compelled to fly from thence, his improvements where wholly lost. During the time of his stay there, which was about eight years, it appears by a certifi- cate under the hands of the late Lieut. Governour Stoughton, of Boston, Wait Wintrope, Increase Mather and Charles Morton, that he with great faithfullnesse, care and industry, discharged
a Doc. Hist. of N. Y., vol. iii. 923.
26
-
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
his duty, both in reference to Xtians and Indians, and was of an unblemished life and conversation. After his being called to New Rochelle the Corporation afore-mentioned, in considera- tion of his past services and sufferings, were pleased still to con- tinue him his salary, which he enjoyed until the arrival of the late Earl of Bellamont, who having settled £30 a year upon him out of the Revenue, used afterwards his interest with the said Corporation to take off the salary, they had all along allowed him, which no sooner was effected but he immediately suspended him also from the £30 a year he had settled upon him, by which means the Petitioner is left with a very deplora- ble condition, not being able with the salary that is allowed him at New Rochelle, which is only £20 a year to support him- self and family. All which is humbly submitted by
Yr Excell's obedient humble servant,
CALEB HEATHCOTE."a
It is a singular fact that the first settled Episcopal minister in this country should have been a French Protestant refugee, and that New Rochelle, the favorite asylum of the Huguenots, should claim the honor of having called him.
Upon the 20th of November, A. D. 1700, "Sir John Pell b and Rachel his wife, granted to Daniel Sampson and Isaac Cantin, one hundred acres, provided that the purchasers and their as- signeees, shall do suit and service, now or at any time hereafter, from time to time in the Manor Court, and pay their proportion to the minister of the place." c
" In consideration of £100-150 acres, beginning at the end of 25rods westward from the marked tree, said to be marked for the division lines of the French, in New Rochelle purchase, being between the land of the said Pell and the foresaid purchase."
" July the 22nd, 1700. In a General Assembly of the inhab- itants of this place, according to Justice Mott's warrant, it has
a Doc. Hist. of New-York, vol. iii. pp. 929, 930, 931, 932.
b So styled in the Town Records.
· Town Records, p. 10.
403
AND CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.
been agreed by the plurality of votes, that above the hundred acres of land given by Sir John Pell for the church of this place, the said one hundred acres shall be taken on the undivided land, according to the choice of the elders of the church, as they will find the more profitable for the church and people."a
At a meeting of the Justices and Vestry, held in the town of Westchester, on the 5th day of May, 1704, appeared Mr. Peter Hulse, (constable for the town of New Rochelle in 1702,) who produced two receipts for £5, the minister's rate for that year."b
The clergy of New-York, addressing the Society on the 17th of October, 1704, say :- " Mr. Daniel Bondet has gone further and done more in that good work (converting the heathen,) than any Protestant minister that we know, we comin:end him to your pious consideration as a person industrious in ye service of the Church and his own nation, ye French, at New Rochelle."
The following is Dr. Bondet's first letter to the Secretary of the Venerable Society.
MR. BONDETT TO THE SECRETARY. " New Rochelle. July 24th, 1707.
SIR,
Col. Heathcote has done me the favor to communicate to me the extract of a letter, where you make mention to him of me, and the part the Honorable Society is pleased to take in what concerns my life and service. If it had pleased God that the ships had come hither, which he expected, I doubt not but ac- cording to your opinion, I had had proofs of their good will and approbation, as also directions from my Lord Bishop of London , concerning those things whereof I did myself the honour to in- form his Lordship, with the testimony of several eminent and creditable persons. T"would be needless, Sir, to repeat things whereof my Lord of London and the Honorable Society are ful- ly informed. I'll only say for my comfort and the honour of my service, that amongst the many misfortunes that have hap-
a Town Records, Lib. A, p. 5.
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