USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. III pt 2 > Part 26
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thereby reduced to a lamentable condition, as having been compelled to sell, for that purposs, the things which were most necessary for their use. Wherefore your petitioners hum- bly pray.
That your Excellency may be pleased to take their case in se- rious consideration, and out of Charity and pity to grant them for some years what help and priviledges your Excellency shall think convenient.
And your petitioners in duty bound shall ever pray &c
THAUUET ELEI COTHOUNEAU
PETITION OF P. VILLEPONTEUX.
To the Honourable Capt JOUN NANFAN Lieut Governr and Commandr in Chiefe of his Majestes Province of New Yorke And Territoryes depending thereon in America &c The humble Petition of P. Villepontoux Attorney and Elder of ye french congregation of New Rochelle HUMBLY SHEWETH
[ That Mr Bondet ] ye Minister of ye Said congregation having refused to come to baptize a childe of his newly born, and in danger of dying Your Said Petitrs Childe having recovered his Christening [was performed ] by Mr Peter Peyret Minister of ye french congregation [who had consent] of ye said Bondet to baptize your Petitioners child and with a Second consent of ye Said Bondet did Baptize [ye child but ] Some days after ye Said Mr Bondet with the other [ Elders upon] that pretext only, in a Scandalous manner did depose [him from Said ] Eldershipp. But because this blemish, they brought upon [ him is] found upon no reason and that it draws upon your petr the [contempt] of all his neighbours, he has declared to appeal thereof; But [unawares] where he can have Satisfaction for that injustice, as he applyets himself to your honour and humbly Prayeth
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That your honour may be pleased to take your petra case in your Serious consideration or appoint and Select the Presbytery of the french congregation of [ New York | or Such other as your honour Shall think [fit to] examine the aforesaid proceeding.
And your Petitioner in duty bound Shall ever pray &c 1701.
P VILLEPONTOUX.
PETITION FROM EASTCHESTER.
To His Excellency &c
The Humble Petition of John Drake Joseph Drake & William Chadderton in the behalf of themselves & the Inhabitants of East Chester
SHEWETH
That Coll Heathcot did at the request of your Excellencys Petitioners mone your Excellency to giue Directions that what the Vestry had Layd on the Parish of west Chester for incidentall charges over the ministers rate & Constables allowance for allow- ing the same might be abated from the quoata layd on our place we being burthened with much more then our Just proportion of that tax that Coll Heathcot did thereupon inform your Excelleneys Petitioners that your Excellency had been pleased to direct that some of the Justices which lined without the preeinets, should make Inquiry into that mater & make report thereof to your Excellency but the Justices not being able before this time to gett in the List of Estates wase the Cause of the delay of that returne so hope your Excellency will pardon our not Leauying what was Layd upon us by the late Vestry & will in your great goodness & Justice protect us from paying more then our fair & Equal Proportion which we shall always most readily do so long as your Excellency shall think fitt to Continue us Joyned to that Parish we are Exceeding thankfull that your Excellency hath been pleased to direct Mr Bartow to preach sometimes amongst us for we assure your Excellency that tis our Earnest desires to come under the Regulation of the Church of England as by law Established & so is our minister Mr Morgan for which reason we are desirous to Continue him amongst us &
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maintaine him by Subscription untill such times as your Excel- leney shall think fitt to hane the Parishes in the County otherwise divided which are at present so uery inconvenient that not halfe of the People can haue the benefitt of the Ministry your Excellency will find by the return of the Justices that our diuident of the late rate ought not to have been more than £7. 5. 6d & the westry haue layd £15: 109 upon us & there being £7: 10 Layd on the Parish besides the Ministers rate & the Constables allowance for Leauying the same under the name of incidental Charges & that some by the inequality of the division falling wholly upon us we therefore most humbly Implore your Excellency to direet that we may pay no more at this time than £8 : & for the future only our Equall diuident and as in duty bound your Excellencys Petitioners shall Ever Pray &c
JOIIN DRAKE JOSEPH DRAKE WILL CHADDERTON.
PETITION OF REVP MR BONDET OF NEW ROCHELLE.
[Translated from the French. ]
To His Excellency Milord CORNBURY Governor & Commander in Chief.
MY LORD,
I most humbly pray your Excell : to be pleased to take cognizance of the petitioners condition.
I am a french Refugee Minister, incorporated into the body of the Ministry of the Anglican Church ; I removed about fifteen years ago into New England with a company of poor refugees to whom Lands were granted for their settlement, and to provide for my subsistance I was allowed one hundred and five pieces per annum from the funds of the corporation for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Savages. I performed that duty during nine years with a success approved and attested by those who presided over the affairs of that Province.
The murders which the Indians committed in those Countries caused the dispersion of our company some of whom fell by the VOL. III. 59
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hands of the Barbarians. I remained, after that, two years in that province expecting a favorable season for the reestablishment of affairs, but after waiting two years, seeing no appearance, and being invited to remove to this Province of New York by Colonel Heathcote who always evinces an affection for the public good and distinguishes himself by a special application for the advancement of religion and good order, by the Establishment of Churches and Schools, the fittest means to strengthen and encourage the People, I complied with his request and that of the Company of New Rochelle in this province, where I passed five years on a small allowance promised me by New Rochelle of one hundred pieces and lodging, with that of one hundred and five pieces which the Corporation continued to me until the arrival of milord belamont who, after indicating his willingness to take charge of me and our Canton ordered me Thirty pieces in the Council of York, and did me the favor to promise me that at his journey to Boston he would procure me the continuation of that stipend that I had in times past. But having learned at Boston, through Mr Nanfan, his Lieutenant, that I annexed my signature to an ecclesiastical certificate which the Churches and Pastors of this Province had given to Sieur Delius, Minister of Albany, who had not the good fortune to please his late Lordship, his defunct Excellency cut off his thirty pieces which he had ordered me in his Conneil at York, deprived me of the Boston pension of 25 pieces, writing to London to have that deduction approved, and left me, during three years last past in an extreme destitution of the means of subsistence.
I believed, my Lord, that in so important a service as that in which I am employed, I ought not to discourage myself, and that the Providence of God which does not abandon those who have recourse to his aid by well doing, would provide in its time for my relief.
Your Excellency's equity ; the affection you have evinced to us for the encouragement of those who employ themselves constantly & faithfully in God's service induce me to hope that I shall have a share in the dispensation of your justice to relieve me from my suffering so that I may be aided and encouraged to continue my service in which by duty and gratitude I shall
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Continue with my flock to pray God for the preservation of your person, of your illustrious family and the prosperity of your government ; remaining Your Excellency's most humble & most respectful Servant,
DANIEL BONDET.
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ORDER AND REPORT ON THE ABOVE.
At a Council held at ffort William henry this 29th day of June 1702.
Sa: Sh: Broughton Caleb heathcote Esq Garrard Beekman Esqrs John Bridges Doctor of Laws Rip Van Dam
Upon the motion of Coll: heathcote that the Minister of New Rochelle had formerly a sallary allowed him out of the Revenue which the late Earl of Bellmont deprived him of, It is hereby ordered that the petition of the said Minister formerly Dd to his Excelleney be referred to the sd Coll: heathcote who is to Exam- ine into the Allegations and Report the same.
By order of his Excellency & Councill
B. COSENS Clk concilj
MAY IT PLEASE YR EXCELL:
In obedience to yr Excell: Commands I have Examined into the Allegations of the within Petition & do find, that the Petitioner was employed about 15 years ago by the corporation for Propagating the Xtian ffaith amongst the Indians at a place called New Oxford near Boston, with the allowance of a Salary of £25. a year, where he consumed the little he brought with him from ffrance in settling himself for that Service, and being afterwards by reason of the War compelled to fly from thence, his Improvements where wholly lost. Dureing the time of his stay there, which was about 8 years, it apears by a certificate under the hands of the late Lieut. Governour Stoughton of Boston, Wait Wintrope, Increase Mather, and Charles Morton, that he with great faithfullnesse care & industry discharged his duty both in reference to Xtians & Indians, and was of an unblemished life and Conversation. After his being called to
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Newrochelle the Corporation afforementioned in Consideration of his past services & sufferings, were pleased still to Continue him his Sallery which he Enjoy'd untill the arrival of the late Earl of Bellomont, who haveing settled £30 a year upon him out of the Revenue used afterwards his intrest with the said Corpora- tion to take of the Sallery, they had all along allow'd him, which no sooner was effected but he Immediately suspended him allso from the £30 a year he had settled upon him, by which meanes the Petitioner is left with a very deplorable Condition not being able with the sallary that is allowed him at Newrochelle, wych is only £20 a year to support himself and familly. All which is hu'bly Submitted by
Yr Excell's most Obedt humble Servt
CALEB ILEATIICOTE.
ORDER TO INDUCT REVP MR PRITCHARD TO THE CHURCHI OF RYE.
EDWARD Viscount CORNBURY Capt Gen" and Governour in Cheif of the provinces of New Yorke, New Jersey &c., and Vice Admirall of the same.
. To all and singular Rectors Vicars Chaplains Curates Clerks and Ministers wheresoever constituted in ye sd Province of New York and also to Caleb Heathcott Esqr and Joseph Theate Church-Wardens of the Pish Church of Rye in the County of Westchester, I do hereby firmly enjoyn and command that you indnet and prsent the Reverend Tho. Prichard as Rector to ye Rectory or Parish Church of Rye aforesaid, and that you put him in the reall actuall and corporall possession of the sd Rectory or pish Church of Rye aforesd, and of all the Globes Rights and Appartenances thereunto belonging, and you are to make a returne to me of what you shall have done herein. Given under my hand and prrogative seal of ye said Province of New York this day of 1704.
... The License to Erect an English Church in this Town bears date 22d Jan'y, 170516, and is in Deed Book X, 101. Sec's off.
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AFFIDAVITS.
BENJAMIN WRIGHT of Bedford in the County of Westchester Yeoman aged 22 yeares or thereabouts being sworne before Tho. Wenham Esq one of the Gent of her Majties Councill for ye Province of New York & one of ye Judges of the Supream Court of Judicature for the said Province, saith that since Mr Pritchard has been appointed Minister of ye Towns of Rye and Bedford in the County of Westchester, this depont has endeavoured to prevaile wth the inhabitants of Bedford to incourage the sd Mr Pritchard to preach and perform the dutys of Divine worship as used in the Church of England, among them whereupon the Inhabitants of ye sd Town of Bedford, became so incensed that by their ill treatment and threats they have forced this Depont to remove with his family from thence, and deterrd the members of ye sd Church from speaking anything in its favor- And this Deponent further saith that one Zachariah Roberts of Bedford a Justice of peace in ye sd County of Westchester went to the inhabitants of ye sd Town to prevaile wth them to sign an instrument or writing whereby to oblige them not to pay ye sd minister anything and likewise that the sd Zach. Roberts at a Town meeting called by him for that purpose gott such an act of the Town past accordingly, which act this Deponent saw being presented to the view of the persons there present by ye su Zach Roberts which Town act the said Zach Roberts afterwards burnt and this deponent believes he Cutt it ont of the Records or Books of ye sd Town- And the Depont further saith that the sd Zach Roberts hath refused (tho a Justice of ye Peace) to take any affidavidts in behalf of ye Church of England the Queen and this Governmt, and when persons have offered to make such affidts he has said he would take none agt his neighbours and himself and yt they might tell my Lord so-and the sd Zach Roberts hath as this Depont has been informed, countenanced severall soldiers who have deserted her Majties service in this Government and assisted them in their escape by entertaining them in his house and afterwards sending his son with them to conduct 'em to Danbury-and this Depont further saith that ab1 a month since there was a person who pretended himselfe to be
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a Quaker brought before the sd Justice Roberts by this Depont for speaking severall blasphemous Treasonable Words and that severall sufficient and credible persons have told the sd Justice Roberts that they heard the said Quaker say that he had as much authority and power as ye Queen and that he could forgive Sinns as well as God with many more such like expressions which the sa Justice Roberts writt down upon a piece of paper but refused to swear the sd persons so tendering their oaths thereto and that said Justice Roberts, not- withstanding the Tender of such oath & yt the sd Quaker owned before him to have spoken the aforementioned words and that he hath repeated them to ye sd Justice Roberts, conveyed the said pretended Quaker away without the least punishmt and without ye knowledge of this Deponent who informed against him-and this Depont further saith that at a Town Court att Bedford aforesaid held abt 2 months ago the said Justice Roberts accused one Ensigne Stephen Glossen for unlawfully taking & detaining a grid-Iron from his son Zachariah Roberts (which appeared to have been honestly bought & paid for by ye sd Glossen) and having then in Court drawn an Instrument or affidavit against the sd Glossen took ye Bible in his hand and in a passion would have compelled his sd son Zachariah Roberts to have sworne to it but he refused to do it, and this Depont further saith that at ye same Town Court there being an action tryed for Debt the said Justice Roberts being Judge of ye Court did notwithstanding the Evidence non Suite ye plt for no other reason as this Depont believes and as he could gather from the words and behaviour of the sd Justice Roberts, then that, the plt was a member of ye Church of England, the Rancour & malice of sd Justice Roberts being so violent that this Depont has been told by the sd Roberts's wife that she Dares not so much as mention the name of Mr Pritchard or any other Church of England man for fear of her husband's passion-and this Depont further saith that he hath been told by the said Justice Roberts's wife that her husband has razed or altered the Records of ye said Town by striking out the name of one Thomas Howard in an assignm' of a Bill of sale and putting his own name on in the rooh of itt-and this Depont further saith that he hath bech
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informed that there was formerly a parcell of Land bought by the said Town of Bedford to be laid apart for a minister for the said Towne, which said parcell of Land was wtnin a year Last past given at a Town meeting to one John Jones a Dissenting minister in the said Town for an encouragent to him to settle & preach among them.
JOHN THOMSON of Bedford in ye County of Westchester gent aged 40 yeares & upwards being sworne before Tho. Wenham &c. saith that there having been no Divine service according to ye ceremonys & usage of the Church of England in the said Town of Bedford the sd Depont hath often gone to the Dissenting meeting in that Town where he hath heard one John Jones the minister of yc dissenting Congregation preach, and hath heard him frequently in a very bitter and inveterate manner reflect upon the present Constitution and Governmt of the Church of England, and particularly this Deponent heard him say that he cared not for the sd Church of England, and that in his sermon he used to the best of this Dep's memory these words vizt come out of her (meaning ye Church of England) my people lest ye partake of her plagues, comparing likewise the sd Church to ye Church of Rome, and saying at other times likewise in his sermon to his Congregation, yee are in a dangerous Governmt where they do not pray nor serve God, and that he would preach Reprobation in Defianceof Principality's and powers, & that yee, speaking to his congregation, may tell 'em so at York for yt he did not care for my Lord and this Depont further saith that being one day with the sd Mr Jones att the house of one Zachariah Roberts at Bedford afored this Depont heard the sd Jno. Jones say he would burne the Church of England Books &c.
The two preceding depositions were read in Council May 8. 1705 ; Messrs. Roberts and Jones failing to give satisfactory explanations thereof, were bound over to answer in the Supreme Courl. COUNC. MIN.
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A LICENSE TO REVP GEORGE MUIRSON TO BAPTIZE IN CONNECTICUT.
By his Exly EDWARD Viscount CORNBURY &C
To M' George Mnirson Minister of Rye &c.
Whereas I am informed that severall persons in the Towns of Stamford Hertford and severall other places in the Colony of Conecticutt have not been baptized by reason they have had no Church of England Minister among them and being now desireons to be baptized by such Minister I have therefore thought fitt & do hereby give and grant unto you the sd Geo. Muirson full and free Liberty leave and Lycense to visit those places and persons for the service aforesaid from time to time as often as you shall be thereunto requested by them
Given under my hand at ffort Anne in New Yorke this 4th day of Aprill [1706.]
MR MUIRSON TO THE SECRETARY OF THE SOC: FOR PROP : THE GOSPEL.
[Hawk's Church Rec. ]
HONORED SIR
You desire me to give an account of all those persons that contribute to my Support in these parts. That I can easily do ; they are but few, for Since I came into the country, I have not received in all above 18£ though there is a Salary of 50€ per annum, New York money, established by Act of Assembly upon the minister of this parish : but the people being very poor, and the building of our church having cost a great deal, I thought it more proper to bear with them, than to exact by force what is due ; and So Suffer rather in my own condition, than that the house of God should not be finished, which now, to my great comfort, is completed, and a Stately fabric it is indeed. It was built by the inhabitants of the Town of Rye, without the help of the parish. And as for Subscriptions from other parts of the Government, we have had none but I expeet Some at York for making the pulpit, communion table, and finishing the Seats.
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You direct me to bring to church the negroes and Indians of this parish, and to consult with Mr Neau about the most proper means for their instruction. Mr Neau is a good, religious man, his conversation is desirable and edifying. I always have, and ever shall esteem it my happiness to keep a Settled correspond- ence with him : for I know he will joyfully do anything that may contribute to the conversion of infidels to christianity. But there are only a few negroes in this parish, Save what are in Colonel Heathcote's family, where I think there are more than in all the parish besides. However, So many as we have, I shall not be wanting to use my endeavours for their good.
As to the Indians, the natives of the country, they are a do- caying people. We have not now in all this parish twenty fam- ilies ; whereas, not many years ago, there were Several hundreds. I have frequently conversed with Some of them, and been at their great meetings of powowing, as they call it. I have taken Some pains to teach Some of them but to no purpose ; for they Seem regardless of instruction ; and when I have told them of the cvil consequences of their hard drinking, etc., they replied that Englishmen do the Same ; and that it is not So great a Sin in an Indian as in an Englishman ; because the Englishman's religion forbids, but an Indian's does not. They further say they will not be christians nor do they See the necessity for So being, because we do not live according to the precepts of our religion. In Such ways do most of the Indians that I have conversed with either here or elsewhere, express themselves. I am heartily Sorry that we Should give them Such a bad example, and fill their mouths with Such objections against our blessed religion. But to prevent this, as likewise many disorders that are among us, I know of no better way than that the honorable Society would be pleased to recommend to our Governor, my Lord Cornbury, or if he is called home, to his Successor, to make Some Acts of Assembly against the many vices and immoralities that are too common in most places of this Government, or to take care that the wholesome laws of our realm be put in execution against the offenders. Swearing and drinking and Sabbath breaking, are chiefly predominant, which are all owing to the evil example and great neglect of our magistrates ; and
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that, again, is owing to the neglect and indifferency of our Superiour Officers, who mind but little whether our justices dis- charge their duty in that affair or not.
These things put a great Stop to the growth of piety and godliness among us, and it is an objection that I frequently met with from Several dissenters, both in this and in the neighbouring Colony, that many of the members of the Church of England are irregular in their lives, and therefore they ought not and will not join. The consequence is unjust and groundless being the unworthiness of one or more communicants, is not charged a Sin upon him who receives it in a fit and becoming manner. Yet, however, among ignorant and unthinking people, and cven Sometimes among the more knowing too, it is a great hindrance and Stumbling-block, and is partly the reason that Some of your missionaries have So few communicants.
I thank God, I have no great reason to complain of my own people, nor do I mention these things for their sakes only, but for the good of the whole, And I heartily wish that the honorable Society would do their endeavor that a good governor may be Sent ; one that will discharge his place faithfully, and take care that others under him would do the Same. This will be a means of bringing about a happy reformation, and will wonderfully conduce to the interest of our Church in these parts.
Sir, I entreat your acceptance of my most humble and hearty thanks for the kind and Christian advice you were pleased to tender me in relation to Connectient. Such measures as you propose, I have all along observed ; and I am sure no man in that Colony can justly accuse me of the contrary. I know that meekness and moderation is most agreeable to the mind of our blessed Saviour, Christ, who himself was meek and lowly, and would have all his followers to learn that lesson of him. It was a method by which Christianity was at first propagated, and it is Still the best policy to persuade mankind to receive instruction. Gentleness and Sweetness of temper is the readiest way to engage the affections of the people ; and charity to those who differ from us in opinion, is the most likely to convince them that our labors are intended for the welfare of their Souls ; whereas passionate and rash methods of proceeding will fill their
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minds with prejudices against both our persons and our principles, and utterly indispose them against all the means we can make use of to reclaim them from their errors. I have duly considered all these things, and have carried myself civilly and kindly to the Independent party, but they have ungratefully resented my love ; yet I will further consider the obligations that my holy religion lays upon me, to forgive injuries and wrongs, and to return good for their evil. Thus I hope, by God's assistance, I shall behave myself, and avoid the doing anything that may bring blame upon that godly Society, whose missionary I am, or hinder the progress of that glorious work they have undertaken ; and ever since I have been invited into that Colony, I have been so far from endeavouring to intrench upon the toleration which Her Majesty has declared She will preserve, that, on the contrary I desired only a liberty of conscience might be allowed to the members of the National Church of England ; which, notwith- standing they Seemed unwilling to grant, and left no means untried, both foul and fair, to prevent the Settling the Church among them. For one of their justices came to my lodging, and forewarned me, at my peril, from preaching ; telling me that I did an illegal thing in bringing in new ways among them. The people were likewise threatned with prison and a forfeiture of 5£ for coming to hear me.
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