USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 36
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b Westchester Vestry Book.
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
pened to me, never any one opened his lips to reproach me of my life and doctrine, and God has supported me in all those ca- ses in which men have abandoned me. I immediately looked upon that which his Excellency, my Lord Cornbury, ordered me out of Her Majesty's revenue as a sure fund, but the payment thereof is so remote from one another that I am ready to perish in the mean time, insomuch, that 'tis very surprising to all them that hear it. My Lord is so kind as to give me some warrants, but to this hour I have some by me of four years standing, whereof Mr. Neau is soliciting one with Mr. Bearsly, the Receiver, without being able to get anything. The favor I ask of you, Sir, and the Honourable Society, is, that you would be so good as to get me such an order from the said Society as you shall judge most proper for the payment of my arrears, and if it be Her Majesty's good pleasure to confirm to me what two Governours, by the advice of the Councilhave ordered as a nec- essary provision for my subsistance, viz., £30 out of Her Majes- ty's revenue, and that pension be paid to me quarterly according to the time of its establishment. If I obtain this favour of the Honourable Society, I shall be obliged to you for having con- tributed thereunto by your representation according to your justice and charity. I pray God to give us the opportunity of giving satisfaction to that venerable body (whereof you are a member) . by the joyfull tidings of the great progress which the Gospell makes in these parts, through their great care and piety. I have seen with pleasure the beginning of Mr. Neau's exercises, as al- so, from time to time, the progress and good order of his prose- lytes. It were to be wished that the civil powers would take the same care of the slaves in the country. I have often proposed this to our company, among whom there are several slaves ; the poor creatures might easily receive the same edification by the care of the minister in their several places ; if that was recom- mended in such a manner that the servants, the masters and pastors, might understand that this order which our superiors require is both reasonable and just. I should be always ready; if it ple ed the Lord with his help, to discharge my duty and
405
AND CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.
follow the directions which shall be given me by my superiors, for whom I will continue to pray heartily that God would direct them how to labour successfully in all things for the advance- ment of his glory in the midst of his people, and that he would please to continue unto you life and grace to further his work in your generation.
I am, Sir, &c., &c., DANIEL BONDET. "a
The following extract, from a letter of Col. Heathcote to the Secretary, shows that the Society must have immediately granted the favour which Mr. Bondet so earnestly solicited. The writer also recommends the payment of an annual salary to Mr. Bondet, and that he be directed to use the English Liturgy at all times :-
COLONEL HEATHCOTE TO THE SECRETARY.
[EXTRACT.] " Mannor of Scarsdale, Dec. 18th, 1707.
WORTHY SIR,
I desire my hearty thanks may be given them for their favours in remembering Mr. Bondet, and it was truly a seasona- ble relief to him, he having for many years been only fed with fair promises from the Government, being, I think, at this, time about four years in arrear. As to what you mention of my Lord of London recommending him to our Governour, I can't tell what service it may do him to his Lordship's successor ; but it will be of little use or service to him now. As for his being able to preach in English, I do assure you he can and doth it every third Sunday, using the liturgy of our Church in the town where he lives, which is part of and belongs to Mr. Bartow's parish and where he hath to this day never preached one ser- mon, although they contribute one-fifth part or thereabouts to- wards his maintenance. Now, if the Society think fit to settle a constant allowance on Mr. Bondet, he must then be directed
a New-York, MSS. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. pp. 163 -- 4 -- 5, (Hawks.)
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
by my Lord of London, at all times, whether he preacheth in English or French, to use our liturgy, which he above all things desires, and it will then be advisable that common prayer books in French be sent over for his congregation. And as to the improvement of his time, that he may not receive the Society's money without doing them service for it; when notice is given that they have been pleased to establish him, Mr. Muir- son, Bartow, Colonel Morris and myself, will have a meeting, and taking to our assistance the soberest inhabitants of the country, we will consider of the properest ways not only for im- proving Mr. Bondet, but likewise at the same time think of the most effectual means for taking care, besides the two parishes, of such parts of the country as are included in neither ; and had I not formerly been opposed, this had not been to be done now ; and in case any of the missionaries shall refuse a reasonable complyance the Society shall most faithfully have an account thereof, that if by them they can't be persuaded to their duty, their allowances may be withdrawn, for I can't tell what others may think of it, but for my own part, to connive at the misap- plication of the money given to that pious use, I think to be equal to one's being concerned in plundering of churches." a
.
At first, Mr. Bondet used the French Prayers, according to the Protestant churches of France ; and subsequently on every third Sunday, as appears by the above letter, the Liturgy of the Church of England ; but in 1709 his congregation, with the exception of two individuals, followed the example of their French Reformed brethern in England, by conforming to the English Church. This memorable event is thus recorded in the charter : " That on the 12th day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, seven hundred and nine, all the inhabi- tants of the Township of New Rochelle, who were members of the said French Church, excepting two, unanimously agreed and consented to conform themselves, in the religious worship of their said Church, to the Liturgy and rites of the Church of
* New-York, MSS. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. pp. 167, 168, 169, (Hawks.)
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AND CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.
England as established by law, and by a solmn act or agree- ment did submit to, and put themselves under the protection of the same."
Six days prior to their conformity, the members of the church addressed the following letter to Colonel Heathcote. This was probably the document alluded to in his letter of the 12th, which Mr. Bondet read at the meeting :-
" New- York, June 6th, 1709.
HONOR'D SIR,
Since it is by your charitable assistance and concurrence that the company of New Rochelle find themselves provided with the ministry, that your prudence and wise management hath hitherto composed and aswaged our difficulties about these matters of Church settlement; we have thought that it was our duty and that it should be your pleasure of charity, to assist us with your presence and directions, that we may come to some terms of Resolution for to have our Church in full confor- mity with the national Church of England, and for to have the protection and assistance of the rules and encouragers of the same, that the service of God may be established in our place according to that holy rule, and the weakness of our place con- sidered, that she may be enabled to support the charges of the ministry, as your Honor knows enough of our circumstances, be upon that trust of your candour, sincerity and charity, for refuge Protestants, well meaning in the duties of our holy re- ligion. We remain,
Honor'd Sir, Your most humble and dutiful servants,
ELIAS BADEAU, ADREW RENEAU, J. LEVILLAINE. [Signed by twenty-six others."a ]
The services on this occasion were held in the old wooden
a New-York, MSS. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. pp, 189-90. (Hawk's.)
40S
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
church, erected in 1692-3, upon Monday, June the 13th, A. D. 1709.ª Mr. Bartow, the rector of the Parish, who was present and read prayers, gives the following account to the Secretary of the Venerable Propagation Society :---
[EXTRACT.] " From Westchester in New - York, in America, June 10th, 1709.
SIR,
This night being Friday, Mr. Sharp is come to my house on his way to Rye where he intends to preach next Sunday, and I have appointed to meet him at New Rochelle next Monday, to try if we can persuade Mr. Bondet's congregation to conform to the Church of England, which if they will do, Col. Nicholson has engaged to procure their minister (Mr. Bondet) an allowance from the Society, whom they are not able to maintain in regard the £30 per annum, formerly paid out of the Queen's revenue is discontinued.
" Tuesday, June 14th.
I was at New Rochelle yesterday, where I read the service of our Church and Mr. Sharpe preached a sermon, and Colonel Heathcote being there likewise, after sermon, we proposed their conformity to the Liturgy of the Church of England, to which they all who were there present (the chief and principal inhabi- tants) assented, as you will see by their several names subscribed to the writing sent by Col. Heathcote, to which I refer you.
JOHN BARTOW."b
Colonel Heathcote, who was also present on the occasion, thus writes :-
COL. HEATHCOTE TO THE SECRETARY. " Manor of Scarsdale, June 13th, 1709. WORTHY SIR,
After I had finished my other letters, Mr. Bondet gave me an
2 And not on Sunday the 12th, as the charter declares. The lessons for the day were the 19th Chap. of Job and 13th of St. Mark.
b New-York, MSS. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. pp. 194-5, (Hawks.)
409
AND CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.
account by letter, that his people were in a very good temper to receive and conform to the Liturgy of our Church, in their con- gregation, whereupon I went to New Rochelle, being accom- panied by Mr. Sharp, Chaplain to the fforces, he being at my house, having yesterday preached and administered the sacras ment at Rye. Mr. Bartow did us also the favour to meet us at Mr. Bondet's, and his congregation being desired to be at church, after the service had been performed by Mr. Bartow; and a very good sermon preached to them by Mr. Sharp, the heads of their congregation desired Mr. Bondet to read and pre- sent me with a paper, returning me thanks for my endeavours in settling them in their religious affairs, which I send you here- with. Whereupon, those gentlemen of the clergy and I did advise them to address the Society, acquainting them with their resolution of conforming to the rules and discipline of the Church, to pray their assistance in supporting their minister and to send them a number of common prayer books in the ffrench language, which is here enclosed, and also an instru- ment in ffrench, being a declaration of their inclinations to con- form to the rules of the Church. We all of us promised them not only to recommend them in the best manner we could, but also to prevail with Col. Nicholson and Col. Morris to do the like. I believe I need not use many arguments to persuade the Society to do what they can conveniently for them; for Mr. Bondet, besides his serving the people of New Rochelle, will be of great use in assisting the ministers of the other Parishes, and not only that, but if these people are favourably received and en- couraged, it will be a great means to influence the ffrench con- gregation in New-York likewise to conform and I am not with- out hopes of effecting my desired end of having this country divi- ded into three Parishes, by which means we should effectually shut out all sectaries from ever crowding in upon us. I can hardly express how great comfort and satisfaction it is to me to see this work brought near so happy an issue and for which I have been laboring in vain many years, and the only thing that obstructed it was, that the Government would not give us leave, and which
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
was almost the only cause that none of your churches have throve better in this Province. The ffleet are just upon sailing and I am in a very great hurry in concluding my letters, but I must beg leave to refer you to my next and remain, worthy sir, Your affectionate humble servant,
CALEB HEATHCOTE."a
The subjoined address is from the Inhabitants of New Ro- chelle to the Society. It must have been written in 1709 and not the previous year as the MS. has it :-
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND AND RIGHT HON- OURABLE AND VENERABLE SOCIETY FOR PRO- PAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS. " The humble petition of several inhabitants of the town of New Rochelle, in the Province of New- York, in behalf of themselves and other inhabi- tants of the said Place.
The extraordinary care that your Honorable Society hath shewn in these parts of America, for the settlement of the Church in places which want directions and encouragement, to come to the happy terms of union and conformity to the national Church of England, makes us confidently to hope that your charity wil? be pleased to take into your pious consideration the condition of a poor company of refugees, inhabitants of the town of New- Rochelle, whose case hath been represented already several times by the Hon. Col. Heathcote, by whose assistance and con- currence we were provided fourteen years ago with a worthy minister, Mr. Daniel Bondet, ordained by the Lord Bishop of London ; who, by his constancy and tender condescension hath shewed us how confidently and with good conscience we may comply with the Church of England and further our edification in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, for whose sake we have left our native country and have been with great pity and charity relieved in England.
We have now happily brought that work to a fair and re-
* New-York, MSS. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. pp. 187-8-9. (Hawks.)
411
AND CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.
solved conclusion. The Hon. Col. Francis Nicholson, Colonel Heathcote and Colonel Morris, have promised to use their inter- est with the Venerable Society to have some regard to the just representation of our circumstances which are unable to sup- port the charges of a ministry, having been able to pay to Mr. Daniel Bondet but £20, this country money, per annum, sometimes more, often less. Notwithstanding which, he hath courageously continued to edify us by his doctrine and irre- proveable conversation.
The £30 per annum proposed to be paid him out of the revenue of this Province, hath for several years been unpaid, as will appear by the joynt representation of the said Col. Heath- cote and the Reverend Clergy, with an account of the unpaid warrants. The revenue is now expired by its own limitation, · and we have no other hope of support for the maintenance of our minister than in your piety and charity, which we beg leave to implore in these our indigent circumstances, and that you will be pleased to send over a considerable number of common prayer books, in the French language. We are already above one hundred communicants, and if we can enjoy the benefits of an English schoolmaster sent amongst us, we hope we and our posterity daily to improve, under the happy constitution of the English Church and Government.
We conclude with our hearty prayers to God for the peace of the nation, the enlargement and prosperity of the Church, and a blessing on your pious endeavours for promoting the Gos- pel of Jesus Christ, and are with profound respect,
Rt. Reverend Rt. Honourable and Venerable,
Your most obedient humble servants, ISAAC GUIONS, LOUIS GUIONS JEJEUNE, ANTHONY LISPENAR, PIERRE VALLEAU. [With twenty-two others."a]
* New-York, MSS. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. pp. 107-8. (Hawk's.)
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
In this act of conformity, to the Church of England, the Huguenots followed the sentiments of their own Church, which from the beginning of the Reformation to this time, had allowed it to be lawful to do so, and condemned those who made any separation, but from the Church of Rome.
Beza, one of the most powerful advocates for the Huguenots, wrote to some of them who were discontented in England, con- juring them by all that was good and sacred, not to forsake the communion of the Church of England, for such indifferent rites and ceremonies as were there imposed upon them.ª Whilst Calvin, the founder of the French Churches, passed an' ane- thema upon those who forsake the communion of orthodox bishops where they are to be had. Witness that solemn declara- tion of his, in his Book, De Necessitate Reformandæ Ecclesic. " Talem si nobis exhibeant hierarchiam, in quâ sic emineant episcopi, ut Christo subesse non recusent-ut ab illo tanquam unico Capite pendeant, et ad ipsum referentur-tum nullo non anathemate dignos fateor, si qui erunt qui non eam reverentèr, summaque obedientiâ observent." " Give us such an hierarchy," says he, " in which bishops preside, who are subject to Christ, and Him alone as their Head; and then I will own no curse too bad for him that shall not pay the utmost respect and obedi- ence to such an hierarchy as that."
" The truth is, Calvin and Beza, and the French Church set up such a government and discipline at the Reformation, as the state of their affairs would bear; but they never absolutely condemned Episcopacy, or thought their own model ought to be the rule to other Churches. Beza expressly disclaims that as a false and slanderous imputation in any that should say, " They prescribed their own example to be followed by any other Church, like those ignorant men, who think nothing riglit done but what they do themselves."b
The Rev. Joseph Bingham, in that admirable discourse of
a Beza, Ep. xii, p. 105.
৳ Bingham's Antiquities of the Christian Church, vol. viii. pp. 209-10.
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AND CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.
his, entitled " The French Church's Apology for the Church of England," concludes with " A serious address to Dissenters and to the Refugees of the French Church, to join in constant and full Communion with the Church of England." " I have no- thing more to do (he observes) but to close this discourse with a serious exhortation to such persons as are concerned in it, who are chiefly such dissenters as make use of the arguments I have examined in this book, to justify their separation from the Church of England."
Upon this conformity of the French Church at New Rochelle, we find the Venerable Society making an annual allowance to the Rev. Daniel Bondet, and directing him to use the Liturgy of the Church of England. At the same time, Governor In- goldesby issued the subjoined order to the Consistory, putting Mr. Bondet in possession of the Church and its appendages.
COMMISSION OF RET. DANIEL BONDET, TO BE MINISTER OF NEW ROCHELLE.
" Richard Ingoldesby, Esq., Lieut. Gov. and Commander in Chief of their Majes- ties Province of New-York, New Jersey, &c. To Capt. Oliver Besly and his Brethern, Gen. of ye Consistory of New Rochelle in ye County of Westchester, greeting :-
GENTLEMEN,
The bearer hereof, Mr. Daniell Bondett, an orthodox minister of the Church of England, haveing laid before me the orders of ye Right Hono'ble and Right Rev- erend ffather in God, Henry, by Divine mission, Lord Bishop of London and Dioce_ san of this Province, to officiate in your Church and Parrish according to ye Rules & Constitution of the Church of England, as by Law Established, bearing date June 16th, 1709, as also a Letter from ye Venerable Society for propagation of ye Gospel in fforreign parts, bearing date June 6th, with an Extract of their Journal June 3d, 1709, Constituting and appointing him one of their Missionaries, and a yearly sallary for his service in your Church. You are therefore hereby directed to receive him as such.
Given under my Hand & Seal this ninth day of November, in the eighth year of ye Reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Anne of Great Britain, &c. Anno Dni. 1709.
RICHARD INGOLDESBY."2
In Mr. Bondet's report to the Venerable Society for the year 1710, occurs the following extract :-
* Doc. Hist. of N. Y. vol. iii. p. 941.
414
HISTORY OF THE PARISH MR. BONDET TO THE SECRETARY.
" New - York, 14th July, 1710.
SIR, -
Our Church is kept up in good order by the grace of God, notwithstanding the troubles and unexpected oppositions it has met with. I hope through the good reception that his Excellen- cy has given us at our first visit, that his equity and prudence will remove those difficulties which still remain to be surmoun- ted to the end, that there may be a good understanding amongst us. I acquainted you in my last, that we had celebrated the Holy Communion three times at the three quarters that are passed. Since our conformity, there have been two other quar- ters past since, and for fear that my last should not have come to hand, I will repeat to you the number of communicants in each :-
10th of July, 1709, 35
17th of October, 29
1st of January, 1709-10, 38
9th of April, being Easter Day, 43
11th of June, 32
Yours &c.,
DANIEL BONDET.a
At this period it seems the congregation had so for increased as to stand in need of further accommodation, and to require the erection of a new church. On the 20th of March. 1709, nearly three months before the conformity, Governor Ingoldesby issued an or- der or license, empowering the inhabitants to erect the same. b The undertaking, however, met with such violent opposition from the enemies of the Church, that nothing seems to have been done, either towards locating or building the proposed ed- ifice during the remainder of Ingoldesby's administration. This honor was reserved for his successor, Colonel Robert Hunter, who vigorously espoused the cause of the Church, and upon the 2d day of August, 1710, issued the following :-
a New York, MSS. from archives at Fulham, vol i. 217-10. (Hawks.)
b See County Records, Lib. D. p. 72.
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AND CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.
LICENSE TO ERECT A CHURCH IN NEW ROCHELLE.
" By His Excellency Robert Hunter, Esq., Capt. Generall and Comnian- der in Chief of her Majesty's Provinces of New-York, New Jerseyand all the Territories Depending thereon in America, and Vice Admiral of the same, &c.
To the Hon'ble Coll. Caleb Heathcote, Coll. Lewis Morris. To the Rev. Mr. Bondet, Minister of New Rochelle, to Capt. Oliver Besley, Dr. John Neville, Isaiah Le Villain and the other Inhabitants of the town of New Rochelle in the County of Westchester, Communicants of the Church of England, as by Law Established. Greeting : Whereas, I am informed of your pious design to build a Church for the worship and Service of God according to the form and manner Prescribed in the Liturgy of the Church of England, & am applyed to for Lycence to erect it in the Publick street. I have thought fitt and doe hereby give Leave and Lycence to you to Erect such Building in such Convenient Place of the said street as you shall think most Proper, Providing the Breadth of such Church do not Exceed thirty foot, and further, I do authorize and Impower you to Receive and Collect such sums of money and other helps as Charitable People shall be disposed to Contribute to this good work.
Given under my hand and seal at New-York, this second day of August, 1710. ROBERT HUNTER.
By his Excellency's command, GEORGE CLARKE."
" In pursuance of this Lycence, we, the within Nominated Trustees, appoynted by his Excellency for the building of a Church for the worship of God, according to ye Liturgy of the Church of England at New Rochelle, have agreed to Build it on the North side of ye high street in the said Town of New Rochelle, in ye County of Westchester, the said Church forty foot in length and thirty foot iu breadth, between the Dwelling houses of Francis LeConte and Zachary Anseuvain, as Judging it the most Convenient Place.
Witness 'our hand this Eighth day of August, 1710, Newfville, Daniel giraud, Isaac Quantin, Debonrepos, Andre Naudain, daniel bennet, Caleb Heathcote, Lewis Morris, Daniel Bondet, Besley, E. Valleau, Pierre Valleau, F. LeConte, ambroise Sicart. J. Levillain." ª
As soon as the site was determined upon, a subscription was set on foot for the building of the church. The names of the subscribers and the amount of their contributions are preserved in the following document :-
" An account of the money collected by the reverend Mr. Sharpe, Chaplain of the forces of her majesty at New-York, and Mr. Elias Neau, from the members of the Church of Eng-
* Documentary Hist. of N. Y. vol. iii. pp. 942, 913.
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
land, for building a Church at New Rochelle for the worship of God according to the forme and manner prescribed in the Lit- urgy of the Church of England :
His Excellency, Coll, Hunter, our Governour, £6 0 0
Coll. Nicholson, 500
The Reverend Mr. Evens,
50 0
The Reverend Mr. John Talbot,
5 0 0
The Reverend Mr. John Sharpe, 1 2 0
The Reverend Mr. Vesey, 1 0 0
The Reverend Doctor Innis, 1 10
0
The Reverend Mr. Vaughn,
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