USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. VI > Part 7
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Die Mercury 8th do 1685.
The Consistory informs their W : of the Court that the Rev. Dom: Godv. Dellius proposed to them as he perceives the unwillingness of the Congregation to let him depart, that he will conclude to remain until the Spring, and jeopardize his call so long, in order to preserve the sheep from all straying at this Conjuncture, on condition that he shall depart for Patria in the spring & that in the first ship. Meanwhile letters shall be written by him & the Consistory to the Classis of Amsterdam, Gorcum & to the City of Heuclum to procure another Minister in his place, in which he shall perform his duty.
Their W: of the Court answer the Consistory that they can inform Dom: Dellius that if his Rev : will resolve to remain some years, they shall be well pleased to do their duty in affording every satisfaction in the world; but if
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not his Rev; may adhere to his previously adopted Re- solution.
PETITION OF THE REVD MR LYDIUS.
To his Excellency EDWARD Lord Viscount CORNBURY her Majes Capt Genll and Govr in Cheiffe of ye Pro- vince of New Yorke, and of New Jersey, and of all the tracts and territories of land depending thereon in America, and Vice Admiral of ye same etc, and to ye Honourable Councill of ye said Province of New York. The humble Petition of Johannis Lydius Minister att Albany, Humbly sheweth :
How that your petitioner in obedience to your Excel- lency's directions hath to the out most of his er.deavors made itt his practice to instruct Indians of ye Five Na- tions in the Christian faith, for which service your Ex- cellency and Councill hath been pleased to allow your humble petitioner a sallary at sixty pounds per annum.
Your humble petitioner doth therefore most humbly pray your Excellency and Councill will be pleased to grant him a warrant on ye Collector or Receiver Generall for one years sallary in ye service as aforesaid, which is expired the first of November 1703,* and your humble petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray &c.
JOHANNES LYDIUS.
Albany the 30 of December 1703.
* In Council Min. IX. 48, June 13, 1702, is an entry in which Mr. Lydius is styled "Minister of the Dutch Reformed Church at Sche- nectady." The statement that he came to this country in 1703, which some persons have made, is therefore incorrect. His son, John Henry Lydius, who was a prominent Indian Trader in the Colony of N. York, died in Kensington, near London, in 1791 aged 98, having re- tired to England in 1776. There is a Biographical notice of him in the Gent. Mag: vol 61. p. 383, which we refer to here only for the pur- pose of putting the Historical Student on his guard against some parts of it which contain more poetry than truth.
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PETITION FOR REBUILDING THE DUTCH CHURCH IN ALBANY.
To His Excellency Robert Hunter Esqr Capt Generall and Governour in Chief of the provinces of New York New Jersey and Territories thereon Depending in America and vice Admirall of the Same &c
The Humble Petition of Petrus van Driesen Minister of the Nether Dutch Reformed Congregation of the City and County of Albany and the Elders and Deacons of the said Congregation, Humbly Sheweth
That the Predecessors of your Excellency's humble Petitionrs in the year of our Lord 1655 & 1656 when this towne was Settled did with assistance of the then nether dutch Congregation build and Erect at their own proper Cost and Charge the Church belonging to the said con- gregation (Standing & being in the said City) for their Christian devotion and Publick worship of Almighty god, in the Exercise of the Reformed protestant Religion, which Church is Since been Confirmed to the Mayor Alderman & Commonalty of ye Said City by Charter, under the Seale of the Province.
That the said Church being built of timber & boards is by time so much decayd that they find themselves under the necessity of building a new one in its place and your Petitioners believing your Excellencys Continance and ap- probation will be very advantageous to them, in this their undertaking.
Your Excys Petitioners do therefore most humbly pray that your Excellency will please to. approve and Encour- age this pious work by signifying such your approbation and your petitioners as in duty bound shall Ever pray &c PETRUS VAN DRIESSEN V. D. Præco
JOHANNES ROOSEBOOM
MYNDERT SCHUYLER
HENDR VAN RENSSELAER
JOHANNIS BEEKMAN RUTGER BLEECKER STEVANIE GROESBECK
I do approbe of what is desired In the petition and re- commend the Same to all who are concernd
18 June 1714
Ro: HUNTER
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PETITIONS FOR THE INCORPORATION OF THE DUTCH CHURCH.
To the Honble Peter Schuyler Esqr President and the Rest of his Majesties Councill of the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in Ame- rica.
The Humble Petition of Petrus van Driesen Minister of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Congregation in the City of Albany Joannis Cuyler Joannis Roseboom Hen- drick van Renslaer Willem Jacobse van Deusen present Elders for the same aud Rutgert Bleecker Volkert van Veghten Myndert Roseboom and Dirk Ten Broek present Deacons of the said Church. Most Humbly Sheweth.
That the said Minister Elders and Deacons and other the members in Communion of the said Reformed Protest- ant Dutch Church have at their own charge built and erected a Church within the City of Albany and dedi- cated the same to the service of God, and have allso purchased Certain two Tenements and Lotts of ground for a Poor or alms house and for a Ministers dwelling house; and sundry other small Tracts of Land within the said City the Rents and incomes whereof are by them (as they were allso by their Predecessors since they were Possessed of them) employed for the relief of the Poor and other Persons and charitable uses. And the Peti- tionrs further say that they and their predecessors have for many years before this Province was under the Government of the Crown of great Brittain and ever sinse Peaceably and quietly had and enjoyed the full and free Exercise of the Protestant Religion iu the Dutch Language according to the Cannons Rules Institucons and Church Government Established by the Nationall Synod held and assembled in the City of Dort in Holland in the year 1618 and 1619-
And the Petitionrs humbly conceive and are advised that they and their Successors would be the better ena- bled to employ the Rents and incomes of the Lands and Tenements aforesaid for Pious and Charitable uses if they were incorporated as some other of the Protestant re- formed Dutch Churches in this Province are.
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,
They therefore most Humbly Pray yor Honours that the Peticonrs and their Successors may be Incorporated by Letters Patent under the great seal of this Province with such or the like Priviledges and Liberties as are granted to the Minister Elders and Deacons of the Re- formed Protestant Dutch Church in the City of New York and that the said Church and the aforesaid Tenements and Lotts of ground and other the Tracts and Parcells of Land aforesaid may be Confirmed unto them and their Successors for ever under such moderat Quit rent as unto yor Honors shall seem meet.
And yor Petitionrs as in Duty bound shall ever Pray PETRUS NAN DRIESEN V DM Nomine Synodij.
New York 3d day of August 1720.
To the Houble Peter Schuyler Esqr President and the Rest of his Majesties Councill of the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America.
The Humble Petition of Petrus van Driesen Minister of the Dutch Protestant Congregacon in the City of Albany Joannis Cuyler Joannis Roseboom Hendrik van Renselaer and Willem Jacobse van Driesen the present Elders, Rutger Bleeker Volckert van Vegten Myndert Roseboom and Dirk ten Broeck the present Deacons of the same-MOST HUMBLY SHEWETH
That yor Petitionrs did lately most humbly pray yor Honors to grant unto them and their Successors Letters Pattent under the Great Seal of this Province for incor- porating them with such and the like Priviledges and Liberties as heretofore granted to the Reformed protest- ant Dutch Church in the City of New York together with a Confirmation of all such Lands and Tenements as they now hold to and for the use of the said Congrega- con-
But so it is may it please yor Honors that one Mr Hendrik Hansen of the City of Albany has entered a Caveat against the passing of the said Patent under pre- tence that the Dutch Church erected in the City of Albany
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is built on some part of the ground belonging to the said Mr Hansen, and altho yor Petitionrs can easily make ap- pear that the said pretence is groundless and only made up of by the said Hansen to delay yor Petitionrs in the Presenting and obtaining of the said Patent.
They therefore most Humbly Pray that for the Remov- ing of all difficultyes and objections that may be raised against the passing of the said Patent a Clause may be inserted in the Same to save the Right and Title of all manner of persons to the Lands and Tenements or any part thereof which the Petitionrs by their former petition did Humbly pray to be Confirmed unto them and their Successors.
And yor Petitionrs as in Duty bound shall ever Pray PETRUS VAN DRIESEN VDM Nomine Sijnodeii.
&c.
New York 6th Aug 1720
REPORT ON THE FOREGOING.
May it please your Honour
In Obedience to your Honors order in Councill of the 6th of this jnstant Referring to us the Petition of Petrus . van Driessen Minister of the Dutch Protestant Congrega- tion in the City of Albany ; Johannis Cuyler, Johannis Roseboom, Hendrick Van Renselaer, Willim Jacobse Van Deursen the present Elders, Rutgert Bleaker, Volkert Van Veghten Myndert Roseboom and Dirk Ten Broek the present Deacons of the Same, We have not only Maturely considered of the Same, But likewise of their former Petition to the same purpose bearing date the 31 of this jnstant and also of a Caveat against the Prayer of the Said Petitions Entred by Mr Wileman in behalf of Hendrick Hansen bearing date the 4th jnstant.
And in regard of the Said Congregation is one of the Longest Standing in this Government and that they have ever since enjoyed the free Exercise of their Discipline and Worship, We do Judge the prayers of the said Petitions very reasonable, and therefore are of Opinion, that yor Honour may Grant a Patent of Encorporation under the
Dutch Church.
-Broad seal of this Province to the said Minister Elders and Deacons and their Successors for Ever for the free use and Exercise of their said Religion and Worship ac- cording to the Cannons Rules Institutions and Church Government Established by the National Synod held and assembled in the City of Dort in Holland in the years 1618 and 1619 and also such and the like Liberties and Priviledges as are Granted to the Ministers Elders and Deacons of the Dutch Reformed Churches in the City of New York and of the Township of Kingstown respective- ly with such Variations and additions as may be proper and agreeable to the Present Circumstances of the said Congregation and that a Clause ought to be inserted that the Yearly Rents and jncomes of the Lands and Tene- ments now held by them or hereafter to be holden by them, shall not exceed the Sume of three hundred pounds Current money of this Province pr ann
We are likewise of Opinion that not only the Said Dutch Church but also the several Lands and Tenements of which the said Congregation by Several mean Convey - ances now stands seized and possessed of Scituate lyeing and being within the City and Corporation of Albany be- ing particularly mentioned in a Schedule or List hereun- to annexed, may in the said Patent of Incorporation be Confirmed unto the said Minister Elders and Deacons and to their Successors for Ever Vnder the Yearly Rent or ac- knowledgement of one Pepper Corn (if demanded ) Save- ing nevertheless the Right and Title of all manner of Persons Body Politick and Corporate to the aforesaid Lands and Tenements or any part or parcel thereof all which is nevertheless humbly submitted by
Your Honours Most Obed' humble Servants
New York Aug. the 8th 1720.
A D PEYSTER R WALTER
GERARD: BEEKMAN
JOHN BARBERIE A. PHILIPSE
Dutch Church.
51623
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Ontari
ORDER TO PREPARE A PATENT.
By the Honble Peter Schuyler Esqr President of his Majesties Councill for the Province of New York in council.
You are hereby authorized and required to prepare the Draft of Letters patent for incorporating the Reformed protestant Dutch Church in the City of Albany and making of them one body corporate and politick to them and their Successors forever by the name of the Minis- ters Elders and Deacons of the reformed Protestant Dutch church in the city of Albany the reverend Petrus van Driesen being their present minister Johannes Cuyler Johannes Roseboom Henry van Ranselaer and William Jacobsen van Deursen being the present Elders Rutgert Bleecker Volkerst van Veghten Myndert Roseboom and Dirck Ten Broeck being the present Deacons of the said Church for the ffree use and exercise of their religion and worship according to the Canons rules institutions & church Government established by the National Synod of Dort in Holland in the years of Our Lord Christ 1618 and 1619 with such and the libertys and priviledges as are granted to the Ministers Elders and deacons of the reformed protestant Dutch church in the city of New York or to the Minister Elders & Deacons of the Reform- ed Protestant Dutch church of the town of Kingstown in Ulster County with such variacons additions or omis- sions as they may have found most proper and agreeable to their present circumstances from the usage and pre- sence of others. Provided always that the yearly income of their demesnes whereof they are now or hereafter shall become seized and possessed shall not exceed the sum of three hundred pounds lawfull money of the Colo- ny of New York And you are by the Draft of the said Letters Patent to Grant and confirm to them & their successors and assigns for ever all the tenements & heri- dataments whatsoever whereof they are now seized and possessed to and for the sole and only proper use benefit and behoof of the aforesaid minister elders and deacons. of the reformed protestant Dutch Church in the City of Albany their successors and assigns forever saving never- [ Annals, vi.] 9
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theless the right & title of any other person or persons, body corporate and politick whatsoever to any of the aforesaid tenements or hereditaments or to any part or parts of any of them yielding and paying therefore year- ly and every year forever unto Our Lord the King his heirs and successors forever the annual rent of one peppercorn on the feast of the annunciacon of the blessed Virgin Mary comonly called Lady day in lieu & stead of all other rents services dues duties and demands whatso- ever the particular description and limits and boundaryes of their present demesnes conteind in a certain schedule hereunto annexed and for yor so doing this shall be your sufficient Warrant Dated as above.
Given under my hand & seal at arms at fort George in New York this tenth day of Augt in the seventh year the Reign of our sovereign Lord George by the Grace of God of Great Brittain ffrance and Ireland King defendr of the faith &c annoq Doi 1720.
To David Jamison Esq Attorney Generall of the pro- rince of New York.
SCHUDALE OR LIST OF LANDS AND TENEMENTS TO BE CON- FIRMED UNTO THE MINISTER ELDERS AND DEACONS OF ALBANY.
The Dutch Church Scituate lying and being in the said City of Albany in the high street otherwise called the yonkers street nigh the bridge Containing in length on the South side seaven Rodd three foot four jnches on the North side seaven Rood three foot one Inch Ryn land measure in breadth on the East and West Side Sixty one foot and five Inches wood measure-dat 21st Decr 1714
As allso a Certain Messuage or Tenement or Lot of ground Commonly Called the Dutch Ministers house scituate lying and, being in the City aforesaid in the Brew- ers street on the East side thereof' in the third Ward of the said City being in front from the South to the North five Rodd tenn Inches and behind towards the River six Rodd Fiveteen Inches Ryn land measure and in length from the Street to the City Stockadoes bounded on the South side by Jan Salomonz on the north side by
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that late of Hans Hendricks and the widdow of David Schuyler .- datd 15 July 1692.
As allso a Certain Messuage or Tenement and Lot of Ground Scituate lying and being in the City aforesaid Commonly called the Poor or alms house being in the first Ward of the said City bounded to the South by the high street that leads to the burying place to the North of Rutters kill to the East by Harman Rutgers and to the West by Gerrit Banker Conteining in breadth towards the street that leads to the Lutheran Church by the said Rutters kill six rodd one Foot and the like breadth in the Rear in Length on the East side Eight Rodd wanting three Inches on the West side Eight rodd and Two Inches all Ryn land measure. dat 4th Decr 1685
As allso all that Certain parcell of Land commonly called or known by ye name of ye Pasture scituate lying and being to the Southward of the said City near the place where the old Fort stood and extending along Hudsons River till it come over against the most north- erly Point of the Island commonly Called and known by the name of Marten Gerritsens Island having to the East Hudsons River to the South the manor of Renslaerwyck to the West the highway that leads to the City aforesaid the Pastures now or late in the Tenure and Occupation of Martin Gerrits and the Pasture now or late in the Tenure and Occupation of Kasper Jacobs to the north the severall Pastures late in the Tenure and occupation of Robert Sanders Myndert Harmens and Evert Wendell and the Several gardens late in the Tenure and Occupation of Dirk Wessels Kiljan van Renselaer and Abraham Staats together with the old highway from the Bevers kill to the end of Schermerhoorns Pasture adjoining to the same on the West side thereof. dat 4th Decr 1688
As also all that Certain Parcel of Pasture Land scitu- ate lying and being to the South of the said City to the West of the Pasture last menconed near and about the Limitts of the said City on the manor of Renselaarwyck Conteining in breadth along the waggon way six and Twenty Rodd & in Length towards ye woods 25 Rod and also a Certain garden Lot of ground Scituate lying and being in the great Pasture Conteining in breadth six rodd
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and five foot, in Length eight rodd and two foot and stretching backwards with another small lot of three rodd two foot in length and in breadth one Rodd and two ffoot all Rynland measure-31st Decr 100
New York 3d day of August 1720.
LICENCE TO BUILD A CHURCH FOR THE MOHAWKS. By his Excy &c.
Whereas the Reverend Mr petrus Van Driesen of the County of Albany having represented unto me the necessi- ty of erecting and building a publick meeting house for the Indians in the Mohawk Country in the County of Albany in order for the more commodious and frequent assem- bling of themselves together for the Solem worship of God wch might be a means of bringing over as well the Indians there as those in ye adjacent parts to ye know- ledge of the principles of the Christian religion & has therefore made application to me for my lycence &
for that purpose now for the furtherance of wch good Design I do by virtue of the powers and authoritys unto me granted by virtue of his Majestys Lres patent under the great Seal of Great Brittain Give and grant unto the said petrus Van Driesen full power Liberty Leave & Ly- cence to Erect & build a meeting house for the Indians in the Mohawks Country in order to ye assembling of themselves together for ye solemn worship of God and that on any part of the Lands to them belonging as shall be found most Convenient for the purposes aforesaid Given &c
The Rev. Joh. Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius, writ- ing to the Classis of Amsterdam, Aug. 5, 1657, on the state of religion in the province, say :
Last year Domine Gideon Schaats wrote to your Rev- erences concerning the congregation in Renselaers and Bever Wyck, as he also shall again do. The condition of · the congregation there is most favorable; it grows stronger apace so as to be almost as strong as we are here at Manhatan. They built last year a handsome preaching house. [Doc. Hist., iii, 104.]
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THE GREAT COMET OF 1680. From O'Callaghan's Documentary History, vol. iii, p. 882.
THE COMMISSARIES OF ALBANY TO CAPT. BROCKHOLES."
Ist Jan'y 1681.
IIONd SIR According to former Practise in this Season of ye Year wee have sent this Post, to acquaint yow, how all affares are here wt us, which is (thanks be to God)) all in Peace & quietnesse, The Lord continue ye Same,. throw ye hole Governmt wee doubt not but yow have seen' ye Dreadfull Comett Starr wh appeared in ye southwest, on ye 9th of Decembr Last, about 2 a clock in ye after- noon, fair sunnshyne wether, a litle above ye Sonn, wch takes its course more Northerly, and was seen the Sun- day night after, about twy-Light with a very fyry Tail or Streemer in y" West To ye great astoneshment of all Spectators, & it is now seen every Night wt Clear weath- er, undoubtedly God Threatens us wh Dreadfull Punish- ments if wee doe not Repent, wee would have caused ye Domine Proclaim a Day of fasting and humiliation to morrow to be kept on Weddensday ye 12 Jan in ye Town of Albany & Dependencies-if wee thought our Power & autority did extend so farr, and would have been well Resented by Yourself, for all persons ought to humble Themselves in such a Time, and Pray to God to With- draw his Righteous Jugements from us, as he did to Nin- eve Therefore if you would be pleased to graunt your approbation wee would willingly cause a day of fasting & humiliation to be kept, if it were monthly; whose answer wee shall Expect with ye Bearer.
We cannot forbear to acquaint you wt ye verry great Scarcety of Corne throughout our Jurisdiction, which is Ten times more then was Expected, now when ye People Thresh, soo yt it is Supposed, there will scarce be Corne To supply ye Inhabitants here, wt Bread. This is all at
* Albany City Records.
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The Great Comet of 1680.
present wishing yow & counsell a happy N. Year shall break off & Remain.
The Indian Wattawitt must have a Blankett & shirt att York.
Your humble & obt Servants Ye COMMISS. OF ALBANY.
New Yorke Jan'y 13th 1680.
Gentlemen, Yor's of the first Instant by the Indian post recevd and am glad to here all things Well, wee haue seen the Comett not att the time you mention only in the Evening The Streame being very large but know not its predicts or Events, and as they Certainly threaten Gods Vengence and Judgments and are prmonitors to us Soe I Doubt not of yor and each of yor performance of yr Duty by prayer &c. as becomes good Christians Especi- ally at this time, & hope the next Yeare will make amends for an supply yr present Scarcety of Corne, The Governor went hence the 7th and sailed from Sandy point the Eleventh Instant Noe news here but all well I remaine
Yor affectionate ffriend
A. BROCKHOLLES.
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CHURCH OF KINDERHOOK.
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[The church at Kinderhook being intimately identified with that at Albany, the following records are appropri- ately introduced here from the Council Minutes, vol. ix .* ]
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PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PAULUS VAN VLECK.
In Councill 12 Nov 1702
His Excellency in Councill being informed that one Paulus van Vleck hath lately wandered about the country preaching notwithstanding he hath been formerly forbid by his Excellency to do the same and is lately called by some of the Inhabitants of Kinderhook to be their Clark without any License from his Excellency for so doing. It is hereby ordered that the high Sheriff of the county of Albany do take care to send the sd Van Vleck down by the first oppurtunity to answer. his contempt before this board.
D' to Coll Schuyler.
CERTIFICATE IN HIS FAVOR.
Kinderhook the 30 of Novemb. Anno Domine 1702.
In the first year of the Reign of her Majesty Anne, Queen of England, Scotland Ireland and France, Defender of the Faith, We the undersigned inhabitants of Kinder- hook patent acknowledge and Declare that Paulus van Vleg during the whole of the time that he hath resided here and since he was accepted as Precentor and school- master of our Church hath truly comported himself to the Great content of our congregation, and that, in all the time he was forbid to preach he hath never preached in' house or barn or in any place in Kinderhook, but that he performed the office of precentor as one Hendrick
* See O'Callaghan's Documentary History, vol. iii, p. 894,
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Church of Kinderhook.
Abelsen, before his death, hath done at Kenderhook; We have received said Paulis van Vleg because one Joghem Lamersen (who was our Precentor here) hath resigned the precentorship and frequently complained that he could not perform its Duties any longer. We further declare that the above named Paulus van Vleg never took away the key of our church, but that we brought it to him in his house
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