USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. III pt 2 > Part 23
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EARLY NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE REV. MR DELLIUS.
[Alb : City Rec.] Extraordinary Court holden at
Albany 6 Angst 1683
The W: Commissaries assembled in consequence of the arrival of the new Minister Dome Godefridus Dellins who reached here on the 24 instant pursnant to the request and letters of this Court to the Venerable Classis of Amsterdam.
And whereas by consent and approval of this Comonalty a second Domine is sent for to assist the old Dom : Schaets, it is therefore resolved to call the Congregation together to enquire of them in a friendly manner how much they will from their own Liberality and good inclination contribute to the maintenance of the s' Dom : Godefridus Dellius whereupon the following Burghers have freely contributed to the Salary of said De Godefridus Dellius, & that for the term of one year.
Peter Schuyler ps of 8 6 Albt Rykman. 4 Wm Kettelheyn. ....
Cornelis Van Dyck .. Derek Wessels. ..
6 Evert Wendell Junr ..
4 Jan Nack.
David Schuyler
6 Harme Basteanse ....
Johannes Roos.
Marte Gerritse.
6 Pr. Davitse Skuyler ..
Ands Teller
6 Melgert Wynantse ...
2 Wouter Albertse. ..
2
Gert. Swart
2 Jan Becker Senr .....
2 Takel Dirkse.
1 Jan salomonse .. 1 1
1 Hend. Martense.
2 Johannes V Sante. ...
I
Johannes Provoost .. Richd Pretty.
3 Jacob Abrahamse ....
4 Jan and : Cuyper .....
2 Cobus Gerritse ..... . .
Joh : Wendell.
6 Myndt Harmense .....
Jan Lansingh 1 Gert hardenbergh .... 4 6 Evert Wendel Senr .. Wm Gerritse ..... I Gabriel Thomson.
4 Cornel van Skelluyne
1 Johannes Martense
Johannes Wandelaer.
Jacob Sanderse ......
4 Smitt
2
I 121
Ilend. Van Ness
Pr. Winne ..
6 Wynant Gerritse .... 4 Turck Harmense. ... . 3 Hendk Bries.
2 Pieter Lookermans .. 1
2 Cobus Turk. I
Jan I. Bleker ..
6 Lawrence van ale .... 2 Jan Byvank. 3
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Jan Cornelise vandr hoef .
Bastiaen Harmense .. 1 Harme Lievese 3
1 Hend Hansen ... ..
1 Jan Grutterse. 2
Jacob Voss ..
1 Matthys Meesen. ...
2 Jan Van Ness. 2
Jacob Meesen.
2 Robt Sanderse. 6 Bart Alb Bratt.
Paulus Martense.
11 Joh : Roseboom. . . 3 Gert Hendrix.
Pr Bogardus.
Gert Lansingh
Hendt Lansingh.
2
3 Joh: Abeel & Sister 3 Eghbert Teunise ..... Jan Gow.
3 Jan Gilbert.
11 Jacob janse gardinier 4
Joseph Yetts ..
Of Gert Van Ness.
Jeronemus Hansen ... 1
Jacob Ten Eyck.
2 Joh: Oothout Junr ..
Claes Ripse ...
2 Pr Meuse ..
2 John White
Frederick d' Drent ..
Johannes Cuyler
5 yond the North Gate and Ien Van Wie. 1
Adriaen Gert V. Pap- endorp.
6
sels & J. Bleker :-
Onnorce the french- man. 1
burgh.
1 Jan d' Noorman 1
Mart Cornelisc .. 3
Jacob Stacts ...
22
Claes van Boekhoven Pr Quackenboss ... . .
Cornelis Teunise. .... 2
ArnoutCornelise (viele) 2
Wouter Pieterse.
1 Abraham VanBremen 1
Annetje van Schayk .. 6 Jan Pieterse.
Jochim Staets.
3 Reynier Pieterse.
1
1 Melgert Abrahamse .. Jan Thomase.
0
Gert Banken.
3 Dowe Funda.
1 Cobus Janse
] Johannes Janse.
1 1 2
Hend Cuyler. 6 Jacob Salomonse .... 2 Manus Borgerse
1
Johannes Thomase ..
2 Teunis vandr Poel ...
Teunis Slingerlunt ... 2 Luykes Pieterse .....
1
Harme d' Brower .. . .
Hend Abelse.
Jean Rosie
1 Ands d' Backer.
Wm Claese.
2 Meus hoogeboom. ..
1 TeunisTeunise, Mason 4 2 Pieces of S 350
Gysbt Marcelis 2 Roelof Gerritse .. 1
Whereon De Godefridus Dellius is sent for and he is asked if he hath any further letters or documents besides what he had delivered to the Court, especially the No. ::: ! contract dated 20 July 1682 executed in Amsterdam by the Notary Public David Staffmaker Verlett whereby the Dome was accepted for the term of four years, beginning as soon as the ship, in which he would leave Amsterdam, had been gone to sea outside Texel, and that for the sum of eight hundred guillers a year, payable in Beavers @ S gl. cach or 600 skepels of Wheat, at the option of sd Dom: Dellius, besides a free house ; but should he, the Domine marry, his salary should be increased 100 gl. beavers, but as his Reverence was so unfortunate that the ship in which he was to take his passage sailed from Dover on the very day his Reverence arrived in London, so that his Reverence was obliged to return to Holland, and put to sea again last April, with Jan Gorter, with whom he is now arrived.
Their Worships find that in further clucidation of said geno
I
Marte Cregier ..
4 Antho Barentse. 2
Wouter Aertse.
2 Jan Hendricxe. 2
Jurean Teunise.
14 Gerrit Ryerse.
1 Jurian Callier. 1 2
1! Claes Van Petten ....
Barent Myndertse ....
PhilipSchuyler's wid- ow
Marte Janse ..
8 Adam Winne.
1 Albert Cato.
6 Geertruy Vosburgh .. 2 Jacob Vosburgh.
2 Antho van Schayk ...
4 Jacob Claese. . 1
3 Auds Carstense. 22
5 Gert Lubbertse 2
2 NB. Farmers below
Jan Van haegen.
Claes Jacobse.
3 NB. These reside up be- Ilend : Maesen ... 2
Robt Livingston.
were spoken to by D. Wes- Ryk Machielse.
1 Wmn Van Slyk. .. Gert Gysbertse. 4 1 2
Lambt van Valken-
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ral Contract the Agents Rykd van Rensselaer & Abel de Wollff and said Dome agreed that his term of Office shall commence on the day when Henry Bier went last year to sea, as his Reverence was then ready to leave ; his term commencing on the 15th August 1682 & ending on the 15th Angust 1686, but with the express condition that his salary shall not date earlier than the day his Reverence put to sea with Skipper Jan Gorter : And whereas we have been advised by letters from our correspondents that his Reverence is not wholly satisfied about his salary being in Beavers or Wheat knowing nothing about such things, and imagines such is greatly to his prejudice, whereupon said Rensselaer & De Wolff have written to us in his behalf, request- ing that the payment of his salary may be made as nearly as possible in Holland currency,
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Therefore, their said Worships maturely considering the con- tribution as well as the clause in the aforesaid notarial contract, to the effect that should Dome Schaets die meanwhile, the aforesaid De Dellius should receive the same salary as De Schaets had & enjoyed, allow Dom : Dellius aforesaid the sum of Three hundred pieces of Eight or one hundred and fifty Beavers being fl. 1200 in Beavers, which is two hundred guilders in Beavers more than Dom: Schacts ever had or received, as a testimony of their good disposition towards him and especially for his Teaching with which their Worships and the congregation deelac them- selves well satisfied, doubting not but his Reverence will be specially content, it being 300 gl. above the Notarial contract.
The Magistrates further resolve that if they can obtain any thing more. either from the Governor or congregation, the se Dom: :. all be remembered. And Mr Marte Gerritse & Com: Van Dyck communicate this to his Reverence.
Pieter Schuyler and Albert Ryckmans Deacons are authorized to receive the new Domine's Money, and to keep account thereof.
Dome Dellius informs the magistrates, through the Secretary, that he shall adhere to his Notarial contract-that is as second minister of Albany-and that for such sum as the Magistrates allow him ; but presumes their Worships pay little regard to the Recommendation of the Agents who requested them to pay the
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salary agreed on in Holland currency ; and expresses himself not over satisfied with the magistrates resolution regarding the fixing his salary @ 300 pieces of eight.
Extraordinary Court holden at Albany
13 Angst 1683
The Magistrates are again met to fix the salary of Dom: Godefridus Dellius, and the Contribution of the congregation being calculated, it was Resolved that said De Dellins shall enjoy yearly the sum of nine hundred guilders Holland currency pay- able in pieces of eight a forty eight stivers each, or in Merchant- able Beavers counted a Two pieces of eight each, and that his Reverence shall receive his money quarterly on condition that if De Schaets should grow feeble or die, Dom: Dellius shall perform the whole duty.
His Reverence is further told that if the Magistrates should agree with the Inhabitants of Schinncctady regarding Divine Service to be performed there, either once a month or once in six weeks, said Dellius shall take his turn with Dom: Schaets to edify said congregation, without being paid additional for it, as such sum of money shall be for the benefit of this Congregation.
Dom: Dellius is further informed that their Worships desire to be satisfied about the time of the Dom's sojourn here, as his contract mentions only four years, whereupon Dom: Dellius gives the magistrates for answer, that he cannot tell what extraordina- ry things may happen ; but his Intention and disposition are to remain here with this congregation, wherewith the court is fully satisfied.
Resolved that a letter be written to the Venerable, Pions, and very Learned the Ministers and members of the very Revd the elassis of Amsterdam assembled at Amsterdam, sincerely thank. ing their Rev: for their Fatherly care in sending over the Retd pious & Learned Dom: Goddefridus Dellins, with whom the Congregration is highly pleased.
Resolved, also to write to Sieur Riehd Van Rensselaer & Sieur Abel d' Wollff to thank them heartily for the trouble they have taken, in finding out the Rev. pious & learned Dom: Goddefridus
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Dellius who arrived here on the 2d instant, to the great joy of every one, and whose preaching was heard with the greatest satisfaction & contentment.
Extraordinary Court holden at Albany,
6 July 1685
The Consistory of this City appearing in Court inform their worships that Dom: Godevridus Dellius resigned his office as Minister last Thursday at the Consistorial assembly, and requests his demission, as his Reverence is advised of a call for him to Heuclem in Patria. To which his Rev. was answered that it was a matter of no small importance, and should therefore con- municate it to the old Consistory next Monday; and the Members aforesaid being assembled, the inquiry was made if the Classis had sent letters to them by Dom: Dellius, but none were found ; On the contrary the letters were sent to the Court and therefore he was referred to the Court through whom he was called & to whom he was consigned.
Whereupon Dom: Dellius appeared in Court and informed their worships that he requested his demission from the Consis- tory, who referred him to their worships ; and as it is directly contrary to the order of the Netherlands Church, to demaud demission from the Political authority, he, therefore, requests that he may receive his demission from the Consistory, and if not, a Certificate.
Their Worships learn with great grief and surprise the propo- sition and communication of Dom: Dellius; request to know the reasons of his Reverences departure and if his Rev: is not satisfactorily paid his salary. It is their worships' Opinion that should he act thus, it will be a violation of his promise, whereby he pledged himself, when his salary was raised, on his arrival, from 900 gl. Beaver to 900 gl. Hollands, that he should not leave this Congregation unless something extraordinary occurred; 2ndly as the call has not been exhibited, they require to see it, considering that it is a very strange thing to call a Minister from America, where he is so necessary.
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His Reverence says that he is promptly paid to his full contentment and satisfaction, but being advised of a call to Heuckelum, which he cannot now exhibit, he is wholly disposed to return home and proscente his advancement.
Whereupon their W: desire to know what advancement his Reverence looks for; that they should recommend it. for their W: considering that Dom: Schaets, their old minister, is very feeble; and again, that it was requisite he should remain under existing circumstances, when so many strange shepherds are lifting up their heads as we daily see; but the Dom: persisting in his proposal to depart, and should no demission be given him, he required a simple certificate for he was fully resolved to return Home and nothing should persuade him to remain even though he left without a certificate.
Their W: of the court by & with the advice of the consistory, both new & old, resolved, if Domine Dellius is in no way to be persuaded to remain, that he may then go but on his own authority, and that no Demission can be given him, it being contrary to the Will and Inelination of the Congregation.
Die Mercury 8thdo 1685.
The Consistory informs their W: of the Court that the Rev. Dom: Godev. Dellins 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 Heuchum 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 afford- ing him every satisfaction in the world; but if not his Rev: may adhere to his previously adopted Resolution.
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PETITION OF THE REVD MR LYDIUS.
To his Excellency EDWARD Lord Viscount CORNBURY hor Majes Capt Gent and Govr in Cheiffe of ye Province 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 ete. and to ye Honourable Councili of ye said Province of New York.
The humble Petition of Johannis Lydins Minister att Albany. HUMBLY SHEWETH :
How that your petitioner in obedience to your Excellency's directions hath to the out most of his endeavours made itt his practice to instruct Indians of ye Five Nations in the Christian faith, for which service your Excellency 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 a fore said, 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 Schonectady." The state- ment 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 retired 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 purpose of putting the flistorical Student on his guard against some parts of it, which contain rather more poetry than trutn.
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PAPERS RELATING TO ALBANY.
CHURCH OF KINDERHOOK.
[ Council Min IX. ]
In Council. 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 opportunity to answer his contempt before this board.
Dd to Coll Schnyler.
Certificate in favor of Mr Van Vleck. [ Translated from the Dutch. ]
Kinderhook the 30th 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 Kinderhook 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 schoolnaster 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 Abelsen, before his death, hath done at Kinderhook ; 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 abovenamed Paulus van Vleg never took away the key of our church, but that we brought it to him in his house
YOHANNES VAN ALEN COENRAET BORGHGIIRDT ABRAM VAN ALSTYN LAMMERT VAN YANSAN 10 Dec. 1702 Ordered that the above parties attend the
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The Sheriff of Albany to Secy Cozens. Albany Jany ye 15th 1702-3.
Sr
Yours of the 10th Decembr came safe to my hands with an Inclosed Order of Councell for the speedy summonsing of Johannis Van Alen Coenradt Borghghrdt, Abrahm van Alstyn and Herman van Jansen, the three former I have discharged my Duty by sending them to my Lord & Councell, as dyrected, but the latter Herman van Jansen, is not to be found within my Liberty, no man Knowing such a person in this County, '
Sr I have nothing more to trouble you with only to assure you that I shall allways be very carefall to execute all Orders I shall Receive from the Govermt And make a true returne of the same by the first opportunity.
Sr Your Humb Sert JACOB FIESCH Saerf.
Coenraet Burgert's Petition.
To his Excellency EDWARD Lord Vice Count CORNBURY &C &c &c.
The humble petition of Coenraet Burgert.
HUMBLY SHEWETH
That whereas your Lordship's Petitioner is sumoned by the Sherriff of the Citty and County of Albany by a sumons from Your Lordship and Councill to apcar before your Excelly & Councell In New Yorke And whereas I demanded a Copy of the Sumonce from the Sheriff & would give him all Due Satisfaction therefore which he Denyed to give me, soe that as yett I know not what is aleadged against me ; therefore Your Excelly & Councills petitioner humblys Begs Your Excelly favour to Refer the Case till the Spring of the year by Reason of the Could Winter and Ilconvenienceys to my Great Damage of my family or If Your Excell : Would be Pleased to Referr the Case to be Decided by any Justice or Justices of the Peace, In Our County whom your Lordship shall Please to apoint which favour the Knowledge of yr Excelleneys honour and Justice gives me
l The warrant was intended for " Lambert" Van Jansen, but "Herman" was Inserted, it appears, by mistake.
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ho Reason to Doubt : of and your Petitioner as In Duty bound shall always Pray.
Read in Councill & Rejected
28th January 1702.
COENRAET BORGHGHIRDT.
1
The Sherif of Albany to Secy Cozens.
Sr
Albany Merch ye 2d 1702-3.
Yors of ye 29th Jany came safe to my hands and was Surprised to find that the three men I sumond by order of Councell have not made their appearance ; for they gave me faithfull assurance of their faithfull performance, I have according to order sumond Lammert Van Jansen and allso spook to the other three, so that all four designe to be at the Councell before next week Expires ; as to your other Letter concerning the Nº of Males &c wth in this County I shall answare with all the Expedition that may be, which is all from S'
Your most humble Servt
JACOB FIESCHI.
In Council 11th March 1702.
John Van Alen Coenraedt Borghghrdt Abraham van Alstyn and Lammert Jansen appeared before this Board this day in obedience to an order of Councill, and they acknowledging their error & submitting themselves thereon were discharged with a caution to be more carefull for the future.
STATE OF THE CHURCH IN ALBANY &c.
REV. THOMAS BARCLAY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS,
Albany Sept 26th 1710.
HONOURED SIR:
As I did begin from my first coming to Albany, so I go on to catechise the youth, and it hath pleased God to bless my weak endeavonrs that way, for a great many Dutch children, who at my first arrival were altogether ignorant of the English tongue,
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can distinctly say our catechism, and make the responses at prayers. Every Sunday, after the second lesson at evening prayer, I explain some part of the catechism in as plain and familiar a manner as I can, shunning all controversies, teaching thent such fundamental doctrines as are necessary and tend most to promote piety and a good life. I have taught the scholars the prayers appointed for charity schools, and I have used all possible methods to engage the children to their duty, both by the giving of small presents to the most forward and diligent, and by frequently visiting their schools; and for encouraging the school masters I give them what charity is col- lected in our church, obliging them to bring their scholars to public prayers.
At Schenectady I preach once a month, where there is a gar- rison of forty soldiers, besides about sixteen English and about one hundred Dutch families ; they are all of them my constant learers. I have this summer got an English school erected amongst them, and in a short time, I hope, their children will be fit for catechising. Schenectady is a village situated upon a pleasant river, twenty English miles above Albany, and the first castle of the Indians is twenty four miles above Schenectady. In this village there has been no Dutch minister these five years and there is no probability of any being settled among them. There is a convenient and well built church which they freely gave me the use of. I have taken pains to shew them the agreement of the articles of our church with theirs. I hope in some time to bring them not only to be constant hearers, but communicants.
Mr. Lydius, the minister of the Dutch congregation at Albany, died the 1st day of March last. He was a good pious man, and lived in entire friendship with me ; sent his own children to be catechised. At present there is no Dutch minister at Albany, neither is any expected 'till next summer ; and from New York to the utmost bounds of my parish, there is no minister but myself : most of the inhabitants are Dutch, the garrison excepted, which consists of three companies, cach company one hundred men. In the city and county of Albany there are about three thousand souls, besides the garrison : in the mean time some VOL. III. 57
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of the Dutch children I have baptized, and married several, and other parts of the service I have performed in the Dutch tongne, and more of them would accept my ministry : but that Mr. De Bois, a minister of the Dutch congregation of New York, comes sometimes to Albany ; he is a hot man, and an enemy to our church, but a friend to his purse, for he has large contributions from this place. As for myself I take no money, and have no kind of perquisite. I have used all moderation towards dissenters in this country. There is none but those of the Dutch church, and I found two only not baptized, the one born in West Jersey and bred a Quaker, him I have brought over to our church, and christened him the first day of this year ; the other is an Old England man, but of a loose life; so soon as I can bring him off from his wicked courses, I design to baptize him.
Since the death of Mr. Lydius, the Indians have no ministers ; there are about thirty communicants, and of the Dutch church, but so ignorant and scandalous, that they can scarce be reputed Christians. The sachems of the five nations, viz: of the Masque, Oneydas, Onnondages, Cayougas, and Senekas, at a meeting with our governor, Col. Hunter, at Albany the 10th August last, when his excellency in his speech to them asked them if they were of the same mind with those four Indians that had been over with Col. Schuyler in desiring missionaries to be sent and they answered they were, and desired to have forts built among them and a church, and that Mr. Freeman, present minister of the Dutch congregation at Flatbush, near New York, be one of those two missionaries which the queen promised to send them. This Mr. Freeman, five years ago was minister of Schenectady, and converted several of the Indians; he has 'acquired more skill in their language than any Dutch minister that has been in this country, and Mr. Dellius is not so well skilled in that tongue, a great part of our liturgy he has trans- lated into the Indian tongue, in particular morning and evening prayer, the litany, the ereed of St. Athanasius, &c., besides «several places of the Old and New Testament. He told me when he read to them the litany, they were mightily affected with it: He is a gentleman of a good temper, and well affected to our church, and if there were a bishop in this part of the
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world, would be persuaded to take Episcopal ordination. I often entreat him to go over to England, but he is afraid of the danger of the voyage, and his wife will not consent to live among the Indians ; he has promised to give me his mannscripts, and what he has done into the Indian tongue.
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