USA > New York > New York City > History of the school of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church, in the city of New York, from 1633 to the present time > Part 3
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* Brod. N. Y. i. 397, 374, 392, 398, 410.
+ O'Call. N. N. ii. 37.
33
FROM 1633 TO 1664.
to defray, on behalf of the Company, a portion of the expenses necessary for the encouragement of education, and to continue such assistance in future, to 'promote the glorious work.'" "Meanwhile, he informed them that a convenient place for a school-house and dwelling for the school-master would be pro- vided for the winter, either in one of the outhouses of the Fiscaal's department, or any other suitable place that the Deacons of the church might approve." "The arrangements for completing the church, and for fostering the school, met with no objection." A plan, however, which he had proposed for repairing the fort was condemned by them .*
It will be observed that when a school is spoken of under the Dutch administration, special reference is invariably made to the official public school, supported by the authorities, and in connection with the Established Church, the schoolmasters whereof were appointed by the West India Company. From the first organization of the school till the year 1808, when a special Board of Trustees was appointed, the supervision and management of the school was in the hands of the deacons ; hence the reference made to them above.
No private school teachers, as will hereafter be shown, could follow their calling without a license from the civil and ecclesiastical authorities.
The Records furnish the names of some such in the city at this period,t but the provision made above is for a school- house and dwelling for the school-master, under the direction of the deacons ; and, furthermore, the statement that, for want "of proper accommodations, no school had been held for three months," must have reference to the public school in connection with the church; for one Jan Stevenson was actually teaching at the time, and had been so doing for five
* O'Call. N. N. ii. 41, 42.
+ N. Am. Rec., 102. Alb. Rec. i. v. 31. 2*
34
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
years. The same statement is also conclusive evidence of the preexistence of the school ; the temporary suspension arising " from want of proper accommodations."
Jan Cornelissen was the schoolmaster for whom the dwell- ing was to be provided.
1649 .- In the year 1649, serious difficulties arose between the Nine Men on one part, and the Director-General and his Council, in consequence of which, a delegation from the Nine Men, at the head of which was Adriaen Van Der Donck, the President of that body, proceeded to the Hague, and laid before the States-General a remonstrance, known as the Ver- toogh, in which they complain of many grievances existing in the administration at New-Amsterdam. Speaking of the Church, they say : "As for its revenue, we know of none. No pains were taken by the Director to create any. There has been a good deal said about the building of a school-house, but, as yet, the first stone is not laid. The funds collected for this object have been misapplied. No provision has been made for the poor, who had to depend entirely on the congre- gation and a few fines and offerings. But the greater part of the sacred fund had found its way into the Company's hands, on interest, it was pretended, but, as yet, neither principal nor interest was forthcoming. Furthermore, they desire that the school be provided with at least two good schoolmasters, so that the youth may be instructed and trained, not only in reading and writing, but also in the knowledge and fear of the Lord."*
Cornelius Van Tienhoven, the Schout or Sheriff of New- Amsterdam, proceeded to the Hague, and presented a reply to the Vertoogh, and in answer to the above says : "It is true the new school-house has not been built, but this was not the fault of the Director, who is busy collecting materials, but
* Hol. Doc. iv. O'Call. N. N. ii. 114, 120.
35
FROM 1633 TO 1664.
of the churchwardens (or deacons) who had charge of the funds, provided in part by the commonalty, and in part by subscriptions." In the meanwhile, Jan Cornelissen had kept the school, a place for which had been provided ; and then immediately adds : "Other teachers* keep school in hired houses, so that the youth are furnished with the means of education," although there is, as yet, no Latin school or Academy. "If," he adds, " the remonstrants be such friends to religion and education as they pretend, let them be leaders in a subscription to such laudable undertakings, and not complain as they did when asked to contribute for the church and school-house."+ 1721785
This Jan Cornelissen is the second teacher mentioned in connection with the public school under the care of the church.
The same year, Dominie Backerus, who had succeeded Bogardus in 1647, by the permission of the Classis, took leave of the church at. Manhattan, with the intention of returning to Holland. Jan Cornelissent having signified his intention to resign his situation, Stuyvesant embraced the opportunity of the Dominie's return to write earnestly to the Classis of Amsterdam " for a pious, well-qualified, and dili- gent schoolmaster." "Nothing," he adds, " is of greater im- portance than the right, early instruction of youth." §
Subsequent to the departure of Backerus, Dominie Mega-
* These undoubtedly were Jan Stevenson and Aryaen Jansen, ac- counts of whom, as schoolmasters, are found from 1643 to 1649, but no where as connected with the Church School .- N. Am. Rec. v. 31, 150, 169.
+ ii. N. Y. Hist. Soc. Col. ii. 331. O'Call. ii. 123, 126.
¿ In 1653, Cornelissen was working at his trade, as he had done in Rennselaerswick .- N. Am. Rec. i. 340. 22d Dec., 1653, "Jan Cornel- issen claims payment for a building which he had erected on the land which he hired from Borger Jarisen."
§ Cor. Cl. Am. Brod. i. 508.
36
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
polensis arrived in Manhattan, on his way from Rensselaers- wyck to Holland, whither his wife had already returned. The church being vacant, he was solicited by Stuyvesant to remain, as children were every Sunday presented for baptism, "sometimes one, sometimes two, yea, sometimes three and four together." The Dominie being prevailed on to stay, was formally installed .**
1650 .- Jacob Pergens and S. Ryckaerts, Directors of the West India Company, in reply to Stuyvesant's letter, state : " We will make use of the first opportunity to supply you with a well-instructed schoolmaster ; and shall inform ourselves about the person living at Harlem, whom your Honor re- commended."}
The Committee of the States-General, to whom the remon- strance above spoken of was referred, accorded, in 1650, a Provisional Order for the Government of New-Netherland, in which they direct that three new ministers shall be called and supported ; one for Rensselaerswick, one for distant parts of the country, and one in and around New-Amsterdam : and the youth were to be instructed by good schoolmasters. We accordingly find that the Rev. Samuel Drisius was sent out to assist "that worthy old servant, the Rev. Megapolensis."}
.
In the same year, Pergens and Ryckaerts again write to the Director-General, and say : " We appoint, at your request, a schoolmaster, who shall also act as Comforter of the sick. He is considered an honest and pious man, and shall embark the fir t opportunity."§
In a subsequent letter, they write : "The schoolmaster that had been sent for, came over with the wife of Rev. Megapo- lensis,"|| on her return from Holland to Manhattan, where her husband had been induced to remain.
* Brod. N. Y. i. 508. t Alb. Rec. iv. 17. § Alb, Rec. iv. 23.
# O'Call. N. N. ii. 134, 191.
| Ibid. iv. 80.
37
FROM 1633 TO 1664.
This third teacher and successor to Cornelissen was WIL- LIAM VESTENS.
In 1654 he petitioned the Classis of Amsterdam for an increase of salary .*
1655 .- The following year he withdrew from the school, and Harmanus Van Hoboocken was appointed to supersede him, as appears from the following minute :
" Whereas William Vestius, [Vestens,] Chorister and Schoolmaster of this city, hath several times earnestly soli- cited leave to depart for the Fatherland, so is his request granted him ; and in consequence thereof have the Noble Lords of the Supreme Council, with the consent of the respected Consistory of this city, appointed Harmanus Van Hoboocken as Chorister and Schoolmaster of this city, at g.35 per month, and g.100 annual expenditures ; who promises to conduct himself industriously and faithfully, pursuant to the instruc- tions already given, or hereafter to be given.
"Done in Am, N. Neth. 23 March, 1655.
(Signed) NICASIUS DE SILLE, La Montagne."t
The appointment of Vestens by the West India Company ; his office as Krank-besoecker ; his petition to Classis for a rise of salary ; and his formal dismissal by the Council, denote him as the (third) teacher of the Reformed Dutch Church School.} * Cor. CI. Am. 1654.
+ Alb. Rec. xxv. 133.
¿ There were others in the city at this time engaged in teaching private schools. These were licensed by the Council ; and in conse- quence of the connection between the Church and Government, its sanction was necessary. On the application of Andries Hudde for a license to keep school, the Director and Council informed him that they would first ask the opinion of the Ministers and the Consistory. One Jacob Van Corler having arrogated to himself to keep school, is di- rected to apply for a license, which he did repeatedly, and finally received as answer, "Nihil actum." Permission was granted by the Council for Jan Lubberts to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic, "provided he conducted himself as such a person ought to do," and so of others. Alb. Rec. ix. 304. N. Am. Rec.
38
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
1652 .- The Vertoogh of 1649 having eventuated in a provi- sional Order of Government for New-Netherland, and to the consequent adoption of such measures as were deemed essential to the promotion of its best interests ; and as among these was reckoned the advancement of religion and education, the vacant churches were supplied with ministers, and a second public school established, in accordance with the desire of the remon- strants, that "at least two good schoolmasters may be pro- vided, so that the youth may be instructed and trained, not only in reading and writing, but also in the knowledge and fear of the Lord."*
A seeming necessity existed for this, in the fact that New- Amsterdam contained at that time a population of seven or eight hundred souls ; t and, as the result of correspondence between the Director-General and the Company, as to the selection of a teacher, and a suitable place for holding the school, the Directors of the West India Company, April 4, 1652, wrote to Stuyvesant : " We recommend to you Jan De La Montagne, whom we have provisionally favored with the appointment. Your Honor may appropriate the City Tavern for this purpose, if this is practicable." A few weeks subsequently, they wrote to the Director and Council : " John Mantagne is appointed schoolmaster, with a salary of 250 guilders." }
Under the head of "Churches and Clergyman," which sufficiently identifies the school with the church, we find the
* Ante, p. 34.
+ Brod. N. Y. i. 548.
+ Alb. Rec. iv. 68. The City Tavern, subsequently named the Stadt Huys or City Hall, stood on the corner of Pearl street and Coenties alley. This spot was occupied in 1775 by Brinckerhoff & Van Wyck ; in 1806, by Abraham Brinckerhoff, and in 1825 by his heirs. Moulton, i. 27. The present site is known as 71 and 73 Pearl street. For view and description of this ancient edifice, vide Val. Man. Com. Coun. 1852, pp. 378, 403.
39
FROM 1633 TO 1664.
following : " On the petition of John Morice De La Montagne, the Director-General and Council command the Comptroller to pay the supplicant three or four months of his wages."*
* Alb. Rec. vi. 49. While Montagne, as an official schoolmaster, was remunerated from the Government funds, we have Joost Carelse, Adriaen Van Ilpendam, and others, instituting law-suits against indi- viduals, for the payment of tuition in beavers and shillings .- Alb. Rec. x. N. Am. Rec.
The following reminiscences, illustrative of things as they were, are deemed worthy of insertion. The quaint and elliptical language in which the latter is given, is characteristic of the author, Judge Benson. In his memoir, read before the New-York Historical Society in 1816, speaking of John De La Montagne, ordinarily pronounced, Jan Mon- tagne, sexton of the old Dutch church in Garden street, he says. "I saw him at the house of my parents ; I in my earliest youth, he ap- proaching to fourscore. He was on his way to collect the Dominie's gelt ; for the Dutch always took care the stipend to the minister should be competent, that so he never might be straitened ' to desire a gift.' He told me his father and grandfather before him, (the names of all these individuals may be found in the old Directories,) the latter pro- bably the same as mentioned in the records, 'Jan De La Montagne, Schoolmaster, with 250 guilders salary,' had been the sexton of the congregation ; so that, as I have it from the relation of others, the suc- cessive incumbents, having been as well of the same Christian as sur- name, the name had, as it were, become the name of the office, like Den Keyser, the Cæsar, the Emperor; and accordingly, when the Eng- lish, having built a church, had als) a sexton, the Dutch children, and not impo-sible some adults, called him, ' De Engelishe Jan Mon- tagne.' He told me his grandfather was the sexton when the church was within the fort. On his (the third Jan's) death, the Consistory appointed his son Jan, who remained sexton till the dispersion of the congregation on the invasion of the city, 1776."
The Judge records also the following: " There was a day always kept here by the Dutch, and the keeping of it delegated by the mothers to their daughters, still at school. Vrouwen Dagh, Woman's Day ; the same with the Valentine's Day of the Engli h, and although differ- ently, still, perhaps, not fess salutarily kept. Every mother's daugh- ter, furnished with a piece of cord, the size neither too large nor too
40
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
The fact that this second school was commenced and carried on for a brief period, is clearly established ; but the absence of any subsequent reference to it, leads to the strong inference that its existence was of short duration. The principal school, however, was uninterruptedly conducted by Vestens, from 1650 to 1655.
In 1653, New-Amsterdam was incorporated with munici- pal privileges; and a court of justice, similar to that of Am- sterdam in Holland, consisting of a schout, burgomasters and schepens, was instituted. Director Stuyvesant relinquished to the burgomasters the excise license* on condition that they small ; the twist neither too hard nor too loose ; a turn round the hand, and then a sufficient length left to serve as a lash; not fair to have a knot at the end of it, but fair to practise for a few days to acquire the sleight; the law held otherwise, duelling. On the morning of the day, the youngster never venturing to turn a corner without first listening whether no warblers were behind it, no golden apples to divert him from the direct course in this race. Schoolboy Hippomenes espied, pursued by Charmer Atalanta ; he encumbered with his satchel, still striving to outrun, and, to add to his speed, bending forward, thereby giving the requisite roundness to the space between the shoulders : she, too swift afoot for him, and overtaking him, and three or four strokes briskly and smartly laid on; he, to avoid a further repetition, stopping and turning ; she looking him steadfast in the eye, and per- ceiving it required all the man in him to keep back the tear; not all the fruit in all the orchards of the Hesperides, and in their best bearing year, to compensate for the exultation of the little heart for the moment.
The boys requested the next day should be theirs, and be called Mannen Dagh, Man's Day ; but my masters were told, the law would thereby defeat its own very purpose, which was, that they should, at an age and in a way most likely never to forget it, receive the lesson of manliness, he is never to strike."
This privilege has been neglected for such a length of time, that perhaps it is never again to be recovered .- Ben. Mem. 41.
* This was the first revenue in the treasury of New-Amsterdam. Paulding, 34.
41
FROM 1633 TO 1664.
paid out of it the salaries of the Ecclesiastique, to wit : one of the ministers, (Megapolensis or Drisius,) one precentor, beadle, or schoolmaster, and one dog-whipper, now called sexton ; and of the Polity, to wit : the Schout, both the Bur- gomasters, the five Schepens, the Secretary, and the Court Messenger .*
1654 .- The following year, 1654, the Director and Council re-claimed the excise, "inasmuch as the burgomasters had failed to pay the clergyman and school-master or beadle."+
This presents another valid proof of the connection existing between the school and the church. "The schoolmaster was always, ex-officio, clerk or beadle, chorister, and visiter of the sick."
1655-56 .- We have recorded the supersedure of Vestens, in 1655, by Harmanus Van Hoboocken. The following spring, 1656, the first survey of the city was made, and it was ascer- tained to possess 120 houses, and 1000 souls ; and " the num- ber of children at the public school having greatly increased, further accommodation was allowed to Van Hoboocken, the schoolmaster."§
His school-house having been burned partly down, he ad- dressed the following application to the city magistrates :
"To the Heeren Burgomasters and Schepens of the City of New-Amsterdam :
"The reverential request of Harmanus Van Hoboocken, schoolmaster of this city, is, that he may be allowed the use of the hall and side-chamber of the City Hall, for the use of his school and as a residence for his family, inasmuch as he, petitioner, has no place to keep school in, or to live in during the winter, it being necessary that the rooms should be made warm, which cannot be done in his own house, from its
* Val. Man. Com. Coun., 1848, p. 377. O'Call. N. N. ii. 269.
+ O'Call. ii. 270. # Watson's Annals, 166.
§ O'Call. ii. 540. Brod. i. 623.
42
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
unfitness. The petitioner further represents that he is bur- thened with a wife and children, . . . so that he is much at a loss how to make accommodation for his family and school-children. The petitioner, therefore, asks that he may use the chamber wherein Gouert Coerten at present dwells. Expecting a favorable answer,
HARM. VAN HOBOOCKEN."*
The reply of the burgomasters to this petition was as fol- lows :
" Whereas the room which petitioner asks for his use as a dwelling and school-room is out of repair, and moreover is wanted for other uses, it cannot be allowed to him. But, as the town youth are doing so uncommon well now, it is thought proper to find a convenient place for their accommo- dation, and, for that purpose, petitioner is granted one hun- dred guilders yearly.
"4th Sept., 1656."+
The burning of the schoolhouse, while the youth were "doing so uncommon well," led to the revival of the question of procuring a suitable edifice ; and the magistrates of the city, writing the 7th of the following November to the West India Company, "assert that the only revenue to the city was that arising from the excise of wines and beers, and that this was needed for immediate expenses in repairing the city wall, the Schoeyinge, the City Hall, the watch apartments, the building of the schoolhouse, and for several other improve- ments, and ask thereon the advice of the Company."} It is not known what answer was returned to this application, but one thing is certain : the condition of the city finances was such, "the old debt made in the time of the English troubles being yet unliquidated," that the schoolhouse was not built
* Paulding, N. Am. 40.
+ Paulding, N. Am. 41.
# Paulding, N. Am. 41. It was in this year that streets were first regulated. The first tax list was made out in 1655, to defray the expense of fortifying the city.
43
FROM 1633 TO 1664.
During the winter of 1658-59, the colony at New-Amstel on the Delaware experienced great distress. The crops hav- ing failed, famine and epidemic fever, induced by the nature of the soil, nearly decimated the population. Among those who fell victims to the prevailing disease, were the surgeon, the Commissary, the Director's wife, and six of his household, and the good Dominie Welius. The Director himself died also. In the midst of these calamities, information was re- ceived from Maryland that Lord Baltimore was about to extend his jurisdiction over their territory. This added to the consternation, and many of the settlers sought safety elsewhere, so that in a few months, famine, sickness, and desertion had reduced the population from over 600 persons to less than 30 families .* Several of those who left the colony, came to New-Am terdam, and among them was EVERT PIETERSEN, who from the first had been their schoolmaster. Here he was employed by the Director-General either as a colleague with Van Hoboken, or as his locum tenens, while he was disqualified from teaching by sickness.
The period of Pietersen's engagement is not definitely known; but on his return to Holland, he petitioned the West India Company for a permanent engagement, the Director- General and magistrates recommending his reappointment.
The Directors of the Company wrote to Stuyvesant, (1660,) " We will consider the petition of Mr. Evert Pietersen, late schoolmaster and chorister in the colony of the city, to be employed again in the Company's service, and return thither with his wife, and inquire about his character, conduct, and abilities, when we shall communicate the result to your Honor."+
* O'Call. N. N. ii. 374-388. Brod. N. Y. 652 et passim. + Alb. Rec. iv. 364.
-
44
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
Subsequently, the following letter, dated May, 1661, was received by Governor Stuyvesant :
"The Directors of the West India Company, department of Amsterdam, to the honorable, prudent, beloved, trusty Petrus Stuyvesant, Director-General and Council, make known:
" Whereas we have deemed it necessary to promote religious worship, and to read to the inhabitants the Word of God, to exhort them, to lead them in the ways of the Lord, and console the sick, that an expert person was sent to New-Netherland in the city of New-Amsterdam, who at the same time should act there as Chorister and Schoolmaster ; so is it, that we, upon the good report which we have received about the person of Evert Pietersen, and confiding in his abilities and experience in the aforesaid services, together on his pious character and virtues, have, on your Honor's recommendation, and that of the magis- trates of the city of New-Amsterdam, appointed the aforesaid person as Consoler of the sick, Chorister and Schoolmaster at New- Amsterdam in New-Netherlands, which charge he shall fulfil there, and conduct himself in these with all diligence and faith- fulness ; so as we expect that he shall give others a good exam- ple, so as it becomes a pious and good Consoler, Clerk, Chorister and Schoolmaster ; regulating himself in conformity to the in- structions which he received here from the Consistory, and prin- cipally to the instructions which he received from us, which he shall execute in every point faithfully ; wherefore, we command all persons, without distinction, to acknowledge the aforesaid Evert Petersen as consoler, clerk, chorister, and schoolmaster in New-Amsterdam in New-Netherlands, and not to molest, disturb, or ridicule him in any of these offices, but rather to offer him every assistance in their power, and deliver him from every painful sensation, by which the will of the Lord and our good intentions shall be accomplished.
" Done by the Department of Amsterdam, on the 2d of May, XVIC and sixty-one.
" (Signed,) "By order of him,
ABRAM WILMERDONCX.
" C. VAN SEVENTER."* LOWER STOOD.
In a few days, another letter from the same source, dated May 9th, 1661, was received, in which Pietersen's salary is fixed, and instructions given with respect to the books he would need as Krank-besoecker.
* Alb. Rec. viii. 321.
-
45
FROM 1633 TO 1664.
"Honorable, prudent, beloved Trustees :
"Our last was of the 11th of April, by the way of Curaçoa, of which we now have enclosed the duplicate; since which period, nothing has occurred here of consequence-i. e., which deserves to be mentioned-as only, that we have engaged, on your Honors' recommendation and that of the magistrates of the city of New-Amsterdam, Mr. Evert Pietersen as schoolmas- ter and clerk, upon a salary of g.36 per month, [$15,] and g.125 [$52+] annually for his board, who is now embarked in the ship the Gilded Beaver,* but not with his wife, whose indispo- sition, as he said, prevented her departure. And whereas he . solicited to be supplied with some books and stationery, which would be of service to him in that station, so did we resolve to send you a sufficient quantity of these articles, as your Honor may see from the invoice. Your Honor ought not to place all these at his disposal at once, but from time to time, when he may be in want of these, when his account ought directly to be charged with its amount; so, too, he must be charged with all such books of which he may be in want as a consoler of the sick, which he might have obtained from your Honor, which afterwards might be reimbursed to him, whenever he, ceasing to serve in that capacity, might return these ; all this must be valued at the invoice price."t
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