USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. III pt 2 > Part 25
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We are likewise of Opinion that not only the Said Dutch Church but also the several Lands and Tenements of which the
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said Congregation by Several mean Conveyances now stands seized and possessed of Seitnate lyeing and being within the City and Corporation of Albany being particularly mentioned in a Schedule or List hereunto 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 acknowledgement of one Pepper Corn (if demanded) Saveing nevertheless the Right and Title of all manner of Persons Body Politick and Corporate to the aforesaid Lands and Tenements or any part or parcell thereof all which is nevertheless humbly submitted by
Your Honours Most Obedt humble Servants
AD PEYSTER
New York Aug. the 8th 1720.
R WALTER
GERARD: BEEKMAN
JOHN BARBERIE A. PHILIPSE
ORDER TO PREPARE A PATENT.
By the Honble PETER SCHUYLER Esqr President of his Majesties Councill for the Province of New York in Councill
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 Ministers 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 Direk. Ten Broeck being the present Deacors of the said Church for the ffree use and exercise of their religion and worship according to the Canons rules institutions & church Goverment established by the Nationall synod of Dort in Holland in the years of Our Lord
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Christ 1618 and 1619 with such and the libertys and priviledges as are granted to the Minister Elders and deacons of the reformed protestant Dutch church in the city of New York or to the Minister Elders & Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church of the town of Kingstown in Ulster County with such variacons additions or omissions as they may have found most proper and agreeable to their present circumstances from the usage and presence 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 mony of the Colony 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 & heridataments 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 nevertheless 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 yearly and every year forever unto Our sovereign 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 what- soever the particular description and limits and boundaryes of their present demesnes are conteind in a certain schedule here- unto 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 seaventh 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 province of New York.
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SCHUDALE OR LIST Of Lands and Tenements to be Confirmed 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 Comonly Called the Dutch Ministers house scituate lying and being in the City aforesaid in the Brewers 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 said Street to the City Stockadoes bounded on the South side by Jan Salomonz on the north side by 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 Comonly 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 northerly Point of the Island comonly Called and known by the name of Marten Gerritsens Island having to the East Hudsons River to the South the mannor of Renslaer- wyck to the West the high way that leads to the City aforesaid
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the Pastures now or late in the Tenure and Occupation of Martin Gerrits and the Pasture now or Late in the Tenure and occupa- tion 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 Severall gardens late in the Tenure and Occupacon of Dirk Wessells 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 allso all that Certain Parcell of Pasture Land scituate 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 mannor of Renselaarwyck Conteining in breadth along the waggon way six and Twenty Rodd in Length towards the woods Eight and Twenty Rodd & in Breadth towards ye woods 25 Rod. and allso a Certain garden Lot of ground Scituate lying and being in the great Pasture Conteining in breadth six rodd 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 1700
New York 3d day of August 1720.
PETITION OF THE REVP MR VAN DRIESEN.
To his Excellency WILLIAM BURNET Esqr Capn Generall and Governor in Chief of the Provinces of New York and New ersey and the Territories thereon depending in America nd Vice Admirall of the same &c in Councill.
EXCELLE SIR AND GENTE
The Petition" Petrus van Driesen minister of the word of God at Albany with all Respect takes the Liberty to shew unto yor Excy and yor Honors the Councellors the station wherein Divine Providence had made use of him for upon entring into his ministry in his Congregacon since the year 1712 he has been desired by the Mohawks to continue in the same services towards them As his Reverend Predecessors Godefridus Dellius and
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Johannis Lydius had done whereupon with the advice of the Consistory the same has been agreed to and performed to them untill now Excepting the time that Mr Andrews ministred to them
The Petition' finding himself in Conscience thronged and moved to continue with them in the doctrine of the true knowledge of God if yet at some time the Lord might give them Repentance as by meanes of the same ministracon thro' the blessing of the most high has been done to Our fore Fathers-
Wherefore the Petition' in all Dutyfull manner Turns himself to yor Excy and yor Honors with Request to hold his person as Recomended and to assist him in his services which are both heavy and chargeable according to the nature of the Indians as allso the Interpreter he makes use of at his own Cost.
He praying the supream being that he make yor Honble persons and manner of Governing more and more prosperous for the best of the Country and Religion
this being the wish of yor Excys & Honble Councills dutyfull Servant & Subject (signed) PETRUS VAN DRIESEN. Albany the 13 : 7ber 1722-
LICENCE TO BUILD A CHURCHI FOR THE MOHAWKS.
By his Excy &c
Whereas the Reverend Mr petrus Van Driesen of the County of Albany having represented unto me the necessity 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 assembling of themselves together for the Solemn worship of God wch might be a meanes of bringing over as well the Indians there as those in ye adjacent parts to ye knowledge of the principles of the Christian religion & has therefore made application to me for my lycence & for that purpose now for the furtherance of weh 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
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power Liberty Leave & Lycence 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
PETITION OF TIIE RECTOR &c OF ST PETER'S CHURCH FOR A CHARTER.
To his Excellency Sir HENRY MOORE Baronet Governor and Com- mander in Chief of the Province of New York and the Territo- ries thereon depending and Chancellor of the same &c.
The Petition of the Minister Church Wardens and Vestry of St Peters Church in the City of Albany
HUMBLY SHEWETH
That His Excellency ROBERT HUNTER His Majesty King George the firsts Governor of this province on the 21st October 1714 by Letter Patent under the Broad seal did Grant unto the Revd Thomas Barclay Peter Mathews Esqr and John Dunbar a certain piece of Ground therein particularly described for to erect and Build a Church for publiek Worship agreeable to the Rules and regulations of the Church of England as by Law Establish- ed, that soon after a Church was Built on the said ground and publiek worship has been performed according to the mode of the Church of England. And your Petitioners conceiving it may be for the Interest and advantage of the said Church to have it Incorporated.
May it therefore please your Excellency to Grant unto your Petitioners a Charter for the Incorporation of the said Church in such manner as unto your Excellency shall scem most proper.
And your Petitioners shall ever pray &c
HARRY MUNRO, Clerk. CHRISTOPHER HEGERMAN Churen
DANIEL HEWSON JunT Wardens
JOHN BARCLAY, WM BENSON
18 May 1768. Read in Council
& referred to a Committee. 13 July 1768. Reported and granted.
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XIII. PAPERS
RELATING TO
Westchester County.
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JOURNAL
Of BRIAN NUTON, Capt" Lieutenant ; CORNELIS VAN RUYVEN Secre- tary and CAREL VAN BRUGGE Commissary, appointed by the Heer Director General STUYVESANT to go in a boat a second time to Oost-dorp.
[Translated from the Dutch.]
Anno 1656, 29th Decembr Having received our instructions from the Heer General we rowed out with the boat of the Honble Company's ship from before Fort Amsterdam on the 30 ditto. about 7 O'Clock in the morning to proceed on our journey to Oostdorp, accompanied by Claes Bordingh as pilot, as the Company's Skipper was never through Hell-gate, and the Skipper of the Company's bark and a Sailor to row us thither
Manhattan Island being passed, our sailors said the tide was ebb ; that they could perceive it in the rowing. Hell-gate being neared in the meanwhile, we found indeed by the strong current which ran through it that the tide was ebbing and that our people had not well calculated the tide. We were, therefore, obliged if we would prosecute our journey, to await the Tide on this side Hell-gate ; for we still hoped to arrive betimes in the evening at Oostdorp and to accomplish our Mission, and to row back with the return tide in the night from there to the Manhatans so as to be home on Sunday, but we found ourselves sorely deceived in our expectation, as appears by the sequel-
Having gone ashore during the ebbing of the tide, on this side of Hell-gate where William Hallet's house & plantation formerly stood, which were laid waste by the Indians about September of the year 1655; we made a fire there by aid of spunk which we had ; found in the shallow water on the strand some Oysters which we fried and ate, whilst thus engaged, a fine herd of Cattle came right by us feeding along the beach; there were about sixteen cows both old & young, and 5 @ 6 horses
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Having viewed these as well as the land which is there quite flat and apparently of good soil ; and having eaten of what we had brought with us, it became low water. We embarked again in our boat, and passed through IIell-gate and by the fast anchored Brothers1 to the Kill in front of Oostdorp into which we pulled and hugged to our sorrow close on the west bank of said Kill, when after rowing up a short way, we ran ourselves aground. Our people looked for deep water but found none. As our pilot calculated that there would be still an hour and a half of ebb, we were obliged to row ashore as we were not willing to remain with the boat in the Kill in such cold weather ; we went ashore on the west bank and built a fire there, the land being apparently barren and stoney. Standing here together around the fire, we heard an Indian call. Some of us going out, on hearing the noise, found two Indians lying in a canoe, fishing, in front of the kill ; as soon as the Indians saw us they paddled away in their skiff.
Being on the strand we found the kill entirely dry except a Channel which we descried on the east or left side of the mouth of the Kill, which appeared to us to be so deep and so wide, that a boat could be rowed up through it at low water. Having remained there about two hours we found the water increasing.
We entered our boat and rowed toward Oostdorp where arriving we went to M' Newman's house. We were met, on the way, by John Lord one of those elected as Magistrate, who went with us to Mr Newman's, where on our arrival we found all abed. Thereupon John Lord invited us to his house whither we proceeded because Newman was abed, and we did not wish to trouble him, being a man of 72 years.
On arriving at John Lords we communicated to him the object of our journey, and requested him to have the Inhabitants summoned in the morning at day light by an Indian. He answered ns-'Tis our Sabbath morning ; the Inhabitants will not come. We asked him to learn the opinions of the principal settlers at once, as we could explain our business in half an hour, without hindering their service. Which he proceeded to do.
1 The " Brothers" are two small islands in the Sound, situate near the South Easternmost extremity of Westchester County. ED
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But brought us for answer, No-that they were in no way so inclined. Although we would fain reach home by Sunday noon, we were obliged to remain there until Monday, as they would not be prevailed on to assemble on Sunday.
31st ditto. Sunday. Went to examine the Village somewhat. It is a very stoney place, thickly covered with trees. At noon were invited to dine at Mr Newmans. After dinner Cornelis van Ruyven went to the house where they assemble on Sundays, to observe their mode of worship, as they have not as yet any clergyman. There I found a gathering of about 15 men and 10 to 12 women. Mr Baly made a prayer, which being concluded, one Robbert Basset read a Sermon from a printed Book composed & published by an English Minister in England. After the reading Mr Baly made another prayer and they sung a Psalm and seperated. In the evening we were invited to supper to Robbert Basset's, and having taken our leave we went to sleep at John Lords house : neither he nor any of the members of his family came home this night, which much surprised us.
Aº 1657. 1st January. He came home an hour after daybreak. He said he remained abroad in order that we may have more room. We requested him to have the drum beaten forthwith to get the people together ; to which he said, he had given orders to beat the drum, and the majority of the Inhabitants being assembled we communicated to them the object of our mission, and that the Hr Director general of N. Netherland had from the six persons named by them elected three as Magistrates for Oostdorp viz. Mr Newman, Mr Lord, & John Smith, and exhibited and read to them the commission granted to the Magistrates. After the reading was concluded, one Robert Basset requested to speak a word, which being allowed, he said there was one among the Magistrates who was unfit to fill the place; that notwithstanding he should respect him as a Magistrate so long as he resided there, as he was selected by the Director General. Thereupon we should have demanded of him who that was and wherein his unfitness consisted ; but in order not to make any trouble about him nor to separate leaving the business unfinished and other considerations, we merely answer- ed that he had the nomination of the whole town and was elect-
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ed with the others by the Heer General ; consequently they were bound to acknowledge the whole three as Magistrates, and turn ing to the Magistrates we requested them to take the oath, which they presently did, one by one, without any objection. This done, we wished them luck and prosperity in their office, and further pursuant to our Instructions requested the actual Inhabitants to take the Oath of Allegiance according to the for- mulary which we read to them. Whereupon many of them made answer that they had all taken the oath at the Manhattas when they had been carried prisoners thither. Among the rest, Robbert Basset abovementioned said, that he should not sub- scribe that form, but he should promise to obey as long as he remained in our province, the Director General and his appoint- ed Magistrates and laws so far as these harmonized with the laws of God. Whereupon we asked him if he would subscribe on these words being added. He replied yes. Therefore as we saw no other chance we determined to write his words ; this he said he should do himself. He therefore drew up the writing hereunto annexed, being the sense as before stated in which he signed. This all the Inhabitants then present offered to sub- scribe, and it was signed, as appears therefrom, by 15 persons, and the oath we read to them was taken by the 3 Magistrates and signed by one of the Inhabitants named George Reith. One of the settlers present named Anthony Gill would not sign either the one or the other. We told him, therefore, in the name of the Director General & Council of N. Netherland, pursuant to our Instructions that he should depart within three days from Oostdorp and within 3 weeks from the Province of N. Nether- land, which he said, he should do. Six persons were gone from home to other places, viz. Edward Waeters, Richard Pointom, Samuel Barret, Jonathan Writh, Tomas Stievens, Rochier Wyls, and one. was sick, Robbert Roos. These are all the present Inhabitants of Oostdorp, but they told us that 3 @ 4 families more would soon come.
The preceding being accomplished, divers of the Inhabitants made the following complaints which they requested us to present to the Hr General & Council, in order that a timely remedy may be applied :-
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Firstly, regarding the insolence of the Indians ; that they daily threaten to destroy them if they repair under the Dutch which some told us proceeded from Mr. Pel who purchased that piece of land from the Indians on this condition, as they said, that the Indians should deliver it to him unembarrassed, and maintain him in it against all who may have claims to it, and that the said . Pel now daily importuned the Indians to return his money, or otherwise that the Indians according to Decd of Sale, should free him from the Dutch nation who claim it as their property.
Secondly, That the Heer General had promised them when his Honour had them removed thence, that each should have his arms restored. This, they said, was not done, but that many among them yet missed their arms-one a snaphammer and the other a pistol, and some a musket whereby they were deprived of arms ; Request that the said promise may be fulfilled.
Thirdly, That they were never well supplied with arms and were stripped, as aforesaid, of the few which they had ; therefore, should the Indians make any attack on them, they must immediately surrender; they, consequently, request that the Village be provided with some muskets, powder, lead & match which they would preserve in a Magazine for the Town.
We promised to Communicate the whole of this Remonstrance to the Hr Director General & Council.
The business being completed and leave taken, we went to M. Ferris' who invited us to breakfast. This done, the tide being favorable after breakfast, we resolved to depart though it rained hard. We, accordingly took our leave both of the inducted Magistrates and Inhabitants generally, and rowed according to our Calculation about 12 o'Clock ont of the Kill ; passed Hell-gate with a favourable tide and landed about 3 o'clock at the Manhatans; reported our return and delivered these in Amsterdam in N : Netherland the 1. January, 1657.
BRIAN NEWTON C. V RUYVEN CAREL VAN BRUGGE
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This first Jannuary Aº 1657 : In east towne in the N. Netherlands.
Wee hose hands are vnder writen do promes to oune the governor of the manatas as our gouernor and obay all his magastrates and lawes that ar mad acordin to god so long as we liue in his Juridiction.
Robbert Basset his
Nick Lookerly
John Quimbie
George Reith mark
Josiah Gilber
Obodiah Gilbert
John Finch
Jonathan Llock wood
John Wilson
his
Richard Horton
Robert Meacker
Thomas Taylor his
his
Hendrick Cornelyssen
Jeffery > fferris mark
mark Thamis Martin
HONORED SIR
Wee humbly Desr and request that you wold be plesed to send vs a Court Booke and those 12 Mvskets which you spak of with the rest of the ammounishon for the use and safgard of ovr plantation with the orders and Laws which we are to walk by that wee may know how to akt
from Este towne the 1 of Jenuary 1656. NEWMAN.
PETITION FROM N. ROCHELLE.
To his Excellency Coll BENJAMIN FLETCHER Governr in Chief and Capt Gen'al of ye province of New York and depen- dences &c
The humble petition of ye inhabitants of New Rochelle
HUMBLY SHEWETHI
That your petitioners having been forced by the late persecu . tions in france to forsake their country & estates, And flye to ye protestant Princes. Their Majestyes by their proclamation of ye 25th of Aprill 1689, did grant them an azile in all their domin- ions, with their Royall protection ; wherefore they were invited to come and buy lands in this province, to the end that they might by their labour help the necessityes of their familyes, and
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THOMAS
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Did spend therein all their smale store, with the help of their friends, whereof they did borrow great sums of money. They are above twenty poor and needy, not able (MS. torn) tles and cloathing, much they did hitherto beare above their
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