USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. III pt 2 > Part 28
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William Dusinberre Rychard Wooley
Jacob Forman
Richard Honeywell
Dauid Febe
Robert Knoulton Joseph fowler
Reuben Hallani
Robert Carpenter Joseph Sarls
henery Dusenberre
By the Honble RIP VAN DAM Esqr Presidt of his Maties Councill of the Province of New York
To ffraneis Pellam Esqr one of his Maties Justiees of the Peace for the County of West Chester
I having reced Some Complaints agt yu the said ffrancis Pellam Concerning the male Execution of yr office as one of his Maties Justices of the Peace for ye County of Wt Chr I have therefore thought fitt by virtue of the Powers & authoritys on me devolved by virtue of his Maties I'res Patent under ye great Scal of great Brittain and by & with the advice & consent of his Maties Coun- cill for ye sd province to dismiss suspend & amove yu the said " ffrancis Pellam from being a Justice of the Peace for the said County of West Chester and yu the said ffrancis Pellham art hereby accordingly dismist suspended & amoved from ye Said office of Justice of the Peace in of or for the said County where- of yu are hereby desired to take notice & govern yfself accord- ingly as you will answer ye Contrary at ye perill GIVEN &c
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PAPERS RELATING TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
PETITION OF THE DUTCH CHIURCII OF NEW-YORK TO SELL THEIR LAND AT FORDIIAM.
To the Honourable JAMES DE LANCY Esqr his Majesty's Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America In Council
The Humble Petition of the Ministers Elders and Deacons of the Reformed protestant Dutch Church in the City of New York
SHEWETII
That your Petitioners intending to apply to the General Assembly of this Province for leave to bring a Bill into that Honourable House to enable them to sell and dispose of those Lands known by the name of the Manor of Fordham in the County of Westchester either altogether or in parcels as they shall Judge best to and for the use and benefit of their said Church Did (pursuant to his Majesty Royal Instructions relating to the passing of private Bills in this province) canse an Adver- tisement to be affixed on the door of the parish Church in West- chester declaring their said Intentions where the same remained upwards of four Weeks successively.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that they may have leave to make proof to your Honor and this Honorable Board of the said Advertisement being so aflixed and Remaining on the door of the said Parish Church and that the same may be enter- ed in the Council Books and a Certificate thereof granted to your petitioners and your petitioners as in duty bound shall pray &c Signed in behalf of ourselves
& ye rest of ye Petitioners. 5 HENRICUS BOEL P. t. Proses. AB: VAN WYCK.
21st Nov. 1753
Read in Council & granted.
2
New York September 27: 1753.
ADVERTISEMENT.
Publick Notice is hereby given That the Minister, Elders and Deacons, of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the City
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PAPERS RELATING TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
of New York, do intend to apply to the Governor, Council, and General Assembly of this Colony, for leave to bring in a Bill to enable them to sell and dispose of those Lands known by the name of the Manor of Fordham, in the County of Westchester, either all together or in Parcels, as they shall Judge best, to and for the use and Benefit of their said Church.
City of - Joost Vredenburgh of the Manor of Fordham in New York S ss. the County of Westchester Cordwainer Hendrick Magielse of the same place Farmer and Benjamin Corsen of the same place Farmer all of full age being duly sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God severally Depose and say as follows The said Joost Vredenburgh Deposeth that on Saturday the 29th day of September last he put up and fixed a printed Advertisement of which the above written is a true Copy on the Door of the Parish Church of Westchester and on Monday the Sth day of October following saw the same remaining there in the manner he had fixed the same and that two Sundays had intervened from the day he so put the same up and the said 8th day of October, And that the Deponent the third Sunday after the said Adver- tisement was so put up sent the said Hendrick Magielse to Westchester to see if the said Advertisement remained as the Deponent had fixed the same on the Door of the Church afore- said. The said Hendrick Magielse Deposeth that he was sent on a Sunday by the said Joost Vredenburgh to see if the said Advertisement remained fixed on the Door of the Parish Church of Westchester as aforesaid and that he found the same remain- ing there in the afternoon of that day and read the same in the words or to the effect of the Copy thereof above written and that as to the time he so went to Westchester he believes it must have been the same Sunday on which the said Joost Vredenburgh herein declares it to have been because he never except at this Time went on the like occasion to Westchester, And the said Benjamin Corsen Deposeth that he saw the said Joost Vreden- burgh fix up the Advertisement aforesaid on the Door of the said Parish Church of Westchester which he believes was on or about the 29th day of September last And that he saw the same
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PAPERS RELATING TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
remain so fixed thereon Monday after the fourth Sunday next following the day the said Deponent Joost Vredenburgh put up & fixed the same as aforesaid.
Sworn the 20th day of November 1753
JOOST VREDENBURG
HENDRICK NICHELSEN
Before me
BENJEMEN CORSEN.
JNº CHAMBERS
Sworn the 21st day of November 1753 Before his Honor the Governor in Council
GW BANYAR D. Clk. Con.
PETITION FOR LEAVE TO COLLECT FUNDS FOR BUILDING A NEW MINISTER'S HOUSE AT NEW ROCHELLE.
To the Honorable CADWALLADER COLDEN Esq' Lieutenant Governor & Commander in Chief of the Province of New York & Territories Thereon Depending In America &c
A Petition of Sundry of the Inhabitants of New Rochell Belonging to the Church of England.
Sr the Society for Propogation of the Gospel In foreing Parts have Been So Charitable as To Appoint Mr Houdin-a french Refuge a Gentleman of a Good Character Successor to their Late Worthy Missionary at New Rochell the Reverend Mr Stoupe- In Consideration of which Particular Regard they Require and Insist that the People at New Rochell Should Do their Utmost To make Mr Hondin a Comfortable Support and that they Should Immediately Put the Parsonage House In Good Repair We Are Ready & Willing To Exert Ourselves To the Utmost According To Our Abilities, But To those that Are Acquainted with the Circumstances of the People Profesing the Church at New Rochell It will Appear To Require the Utmost Exertion of Our Abilities To Efford that Necessary Support To Mr Houdin that the Society Expect & Require & If We Should Be Obliged to Raise four Hundred Pounds To Build a New Parsonage House, The Old Being So Decayed that It Is thought By No Means Worth Repairing Especially at this Burthensome Time We have the Greatest Reason To fear that It will Be So Extremely heavey
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PAPERS RELATING TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
that Many Will Be Discouraged & In that Case that M' Houdin Must Leave Us, tho he Is the Only Minister In the Place, & Indeed there are But few Besides Professors of the Church of England In the Place & We have Reason To hope that they May Be Induced To Conform Should A Worthy Minister Contine Among Us- Upon Those Considerations We Beg Your Honour Will Be Pleased To Grant A Brief through this Province To Collect the Aforesaid Sum of four Hunder Pound for Building a New Parsonage House To Repair the Church In this Place & your Petitioners As In Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray &c
BARNARD RYNLANDER JAMES DE BLEZ
JACOBUS BLEECKER
ISAAC GUION .
DAVID LESPINARD PETER BARTINE
JEAN SOULICE.
August 19th 1761. Read in Council & granted.
PETITION OF TIIE FRENCH CHURCH AT NEW ROCHELLE.
To the Honourable CADWALLADER COLDEN Esqr Lieutenant Governor & Commander in Chief of the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America &ca IN COUNCIL
The Petition of the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Township of New Rochel in the manor of Pelham, in the County of Westchester.
HUMBLY SHEWETH
That the Petitioners are members of the French Church at new Rochell aforesaid, and principally, decendants from French protestants, who fled from the Religions persecution in France in the Year one thousand six hundred and eighty one and shortly thereafter settled a Tract of six thousand acres of Land, now known by the said name of the Township of New Rochell, which was granted to Jacob Leisler from whom your Petitioners' said Ancestors purchased by John Pell then Proprietor of the said Manor of Pelham, in the year of our Lord one Thousand Six hundred and eighty nine. That the said John Pell at the
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PAPERS RELATING TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
same time, did also give and grant to the said Jacob Leisler, the further Quantity of one hundred acres of Land, for the use of the French Church Erected, or to be Erected, by the Inhabitants of the said Tract of Land, or Township, or by their Assigns. That the Petitioners' Ancestors, have long since built a decent Church within the said Township, and dedicated the same to the service of Almighty God; and they and your Petitioners have Enjoyed the same, with the said Tract of one hundred acres of Land as a Glebe thereto, to this day. That on the twelfth day of June, in the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and nine, all the then Inhabitants of the said Township, who were Members of the said French Church, excepting two, unanimously agreed & Consented to Conform themselves, in the Religious worship of their said Church, to the Liturgy and Rites of the Church of England as Established by Law, and by a Solemn Act or Agreement, did submit to and put themselves under the protection of, the same.
That fourteen Years before, and ever since such Conformity, their respective ministers and pastors, have been Invested with holy Orders by Episcopal Ordination; and have received their principal support, from the Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign parts; and that divine Service since the said Con- formity, hath constantly been performed in their said Church, Agreeable to the Rites and Liturgy of the Church of England as by Law Established, two Sundays ont of three in the French Tongue, and every third Sunday in English, for the Instruction of such of the Inhabitants, as frequented the said Church and were Ignorant of the French Language.
And the Petitioners further shew unto your honour, that their said Church is at present greatly decayed and ont of repair; and their Minister or pastor but Indifferently provided for & altho' the Petitioners are sincerely disposed to make a suitable pro- vision for both; yet the Petitioners cannot accomplish this good design, unless by being Incorporated, they may become Enabled to receive apply and improve, the Donations and Contributions that may be Collected among themselves; and given for that purpose by other pious and Charitable people.
Your Petitioners therefore most Humbly pray, that your
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Majesty's Royal Charter, Confirming to them the said Church and the Lands and other Rights thereunto appertaining ; and also Creating and Constituting them, and the rest of the mem- bers of the said Church, a body politick and Corporate, for the purposes of managing Conducting and improving, the affairs and interest of the said Church ; with such powers priviledges and Imunities, as have been lately granted, to the Inhabitants of the respective Townships of Jamaica Flushing and New Town, in Queens County on Nassau Island, in Communion of the said Church of England : or otherwise as to your Honour shall appear fit and reasonable.
And the Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray &c New Rochell 1st Feb. 1762.
MICHAEL HOUDIN Minisr
David Guion
Sarah Bleecker
Jacobus Bleecker )
Elizabeth Lespenard
Mary Rodman
James De Blez
Wardens
Moses De St Croix
Agnis Donaldson
Isaac Guion Jur
Marie De Sain Croix
Daniel Se Cord
Elias Guion
Debora toulon
francis Le Conte
Isaac Guion
Mary Guion
Judith Le Conte Abram Guion
Peter Bertain
Marie Neufuille
Mary Angevine
Paul Secord
Martha de blez
Easter Angevine
Lidia Sicard
Rachel Guion
Joshua Solis
Jean Ally
Jan Nicolle
Thos Steele
Joseph Antuniz
Argues ante Nicolle
Jane Contine
Content Antunez
Thomas Guion
Susanne Contine
Peter Bonnet
Jno Bryan
Jane Mauraux
Mary Bonnet
Oliver Besley
Jonathan Seicard
Peter Parquot
Isaac Besley
esther le Conte
Daniel Sulis
Corneliah Besley
Sarah Secord
Benjamin Seacord
Frederick King
James pine Susanna Soulis
Elizabeth Parquot
Esaie Guion
Jane Guion
Jane Seacord
Elizabeth Guion
Ester Soulis
Mary Seacord
Elizabeth Guion
Magdelene Soulis
Peter Guion
Susannah landrin
John Bonnet
Abigail Bleecker
Dina Guion
Mary Bonnet
Judith Le Conet
Anne Danlenson
Daniel Bonnet
Allada Guion
John houdin
Mary Bonnet
Catharin Bertain
Catherine hondin
James Besley
Mary Bertine
Kitty houdin
Edwd Smith
Peter Bertain Jur
Elizabeth houdin
James McCevrs
Josiah Le Conte
Rutger Bleeeker
12 May 1762. Read in Council & granted.
*** The earliest notice we meet of the above named clergyman is in the N. Y. Council Min. xix. 262. On the 29th of June, 1744, Gov. Clinton "acquainted the Council that one Monsieur MICHEL HOUDIN and a woman said to be his wife, were lately come to Town from Canada, from which place they had lately fled, and that on their arrival he had confined them to their Lodgings & had placed two Centinels over them " Having been examined before the Council. the parties were ordered to live at Jamaica, L. I., where they remained until the month of August following. Mr. H. representing his circumstances as very low, and his inability to do any thing to get a living, and that himself and wife must consequently come to want, they were then allowed to come to the city on his taking the oath of allegiance (16 273, 276 ) He was received into the Church of Eng. in 1749; appointed missionary ai Trenton, N J., in 1753, and in 1760, became minister of N. Rochelle. He was originally, it is said, a Recolleet, or Franciscan friar in Montreal, which enty he left in com- pany with the woman above referred to. In the Liste Chronologique of the clergy of Canada, we find the name of Potentien Houdin, a Recolleet, who is recorded as having left that country in 48; but we have no means of reconciling the discrepancies in these names and dates. ED.
·
Church
Judith Bertain
Ilester Le Conte
DavidLeespinard
Vestry men
Jean Soulice
Magd Stouppe
Abraham Seacord
Benjamen Guion
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PAPERS RELATING TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
LIST OF WHITE INHABITANTS OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, ANO. 1782.
Heads of Famely.
Mails under 16
Mails above 16 &
Mails above 60
Femails under 16
Femails above 16
Refuges Mails un-
Mails above 16 &
Mailes ahove 60
Famails under 16
Femails above 16
North Castel.
92
112
73
13
106
192
13
4
1
12
10
Bedford
270
417
212
42
339
431
21
25
1
21
26
Pound Ridg ..
126
201
47
15
212
172
13
5
.
6
6
Salem . . .
130
200
62
4
1×9
206
26
36
1
30
29
Est ward Cortland maunor. .
233
312
268
17
190
273
43
45
2
45
49
. Middel ward mannor Cortland ..
293
365
318
352
374
93
5
116
90
West ward manor Cortland ...
123
143
116
123
128
67
3
63
63
Rike patent
22
35
23
3
32
32
7330
1294
1795
1151
1126
(1172
[1711
199
275
13
203
272
A General return of the Number of White Inhabitants of the County of Westchester, taken from the returns of the respective Constables which it appears were by them taken exclusive of such parts of the precints above men- tioned as are most exposed .o the Enemy; and exclusive also of such precints in which no Town Officers have been Chosen by reason of the Invasion of the Enemy, this 28th day of September 1782.
JESSE HUNT Sheriff of the County Westchester.
-
der 16
under 60
under 60
XIV. PAPERS
RELATING TO
Ulster & Dutchess Counties.
REVP MR BLOM FIRST MINISTER TO ESOPUS.
[Vanderkemp's Alb. Rec. VIII.]
. WHEREAS it is indispensably required, that the honour of God and the Salvation of men be promoted to the best of our abilities, and for this end religious meetings ought to be insti- tuted and encouraged by the pure preaching of the word of God, the lawful administration of the Sacraments, the publick invocation of the name of the Lord, and what further is belong- ing to the dutiful worship ; and whereas the Situation of Esopus in New-Netherland requires, that a duly qualified person, be sent thither as a lawfully ordained Minister, who can execute there the ministerial functions in every particular part in con- formity to the church Government and the word of God, and in unison with the laudable usages of the Reformed Churches in this country and who is able to maintain and defend these, THEREFORE, We, the Ministers of the word of God and Elders of the congregations of Christ, belonging to the Classis of Amsterdam, after the invocation of the name of God, and in his fear, with the approbation of the noble Directors of the West India Company, after a faithful examination in the principal doctrines of the Christian Reformed Church-and after having received satisfactory evidence of the pious life and requisite talents for the ministry of the Gospel, and after he signed the Netherlands Confession, the Christian Catechism and canons of the National Synod, have ordained the Reverend pious prudent and learned Minister Hermanus Blom with the Solemn imposition of hands, to preach there, both on Water and on the Land and in all the neighbourhood, but principally in Esopus, the Holy and only Saving doctrine of the word of God, in its purity, to administer the Sacraments agreeably to Christ's institution, with propriety to give an example to his congregation of publick prayers, to keep them with the aid of his consistory in a good discipline and order, all in conformity to the word of God and VOL. III. 61
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the formularies of the Netherland Churches and the Christian Catechism, Soliciting all our Brethern to accept him as a Lawful Brother, and lawfully called Minister of the Gospel of Christ, to honour him for the sake of his Ministry, and to assist him whenever it is in their power, So that he may officiate unmolested and chearfully, to glorify God's name and the conversion and Salvation of Souls.
The Almighty God, who has called this Minister to the Service of his church enrich him more and more with all talents and the blessings of his Holy Ghost, so that his labours may be crowned with abundant Success, to the glory of his name, and Salvation of men, and reward and adorn him, at the appearance of the great Shepherd of Sheep with the never fading crown of eternal glory-
Done in a Classical meeting in Amsterdam 16 Febr. 1660 In the name and by order of all (was signed) PETRUS PROELEUS, Eccles. Amstelodamensis, et De- putatorum ad causas In- dicas Pt scriba
DOMINIE BLOM'S DESCRIPTION OF THE MASSACRE AT THE ESOPUS, 1663.
Revd Wise, right learned, and pious:
The state and condition of my Church, situate in the village of Wiltwyck, in the Esopus country, in New Netherland, since my 3 years residence there is somewhat prosperous, through God's blessing and mercy, as well in Members, which have increased from 16 to 60, as in hearers, and all was well ordered in Church matters and consistory, so that every thing is placed on a good footing. I have also laid a good foundation, both by private and public Instruction of Catechists, both within and without my house, as also by the explanation of the Catechism, so that this newly rising community began to grow and to bloom right worthily, when a cruel blow overtook it, and the Heathens fell on, and right sorely treated our Church and Commonality, and
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ULSTER AND DUTCHESS COUNTIES.
under the guise of friendship murdered and also captured many ; they intended to destroy this Church altogether, and to devour it alive, had not the Lord our God wonderfully protected it, and they fled, having taken a fright in their heart, when no person drove them away. So that we escaped with the most part of the inhabitants, and have still retained the place. The Lord only be thanked therefor, not men-for men's help was far from us ; for the soldiers whom we had before were discharged and sent to Holland. There lay the burnt and slaughtered bodies, together with those wounded by bullets and axes. The last agonies and the moans and lamentations of many were dreadful to hear. I have been in their midst, and have gone into the houses, and along the roads, to speak a word in season, and that not without danger of being shot by the Indians ; but I went on my mission, and considered not my life mine own. I may say with Jeremiah, "I am he who hath seen misery in the day of the wrath of the Lord."
Consider well, worthy colleagues, how manifold is the suffering and lamentation amongst us, of our wounded who fled for refuge to my house, and of others who yielded up the ghost near me.
I encouraged our people as much as possible, out of God's word, and particularly in prayer to God who hath rescued us. We must behold God's flock taken away into captivity by the Heathen, and Death come in unexpectedly by the windows, and ent off the children from the highways, and the young men from the street ; so that I might exelaim-O! my Bowels-my Bowels! I am pained at my very heart !- and with Jeremiah, O that mine head were water, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep for the slain of my people ; for the dead lay as sheaves behind the mower.
The burnt bodies were most frightful to behold. A woman lay burnt, with her child at her side, as if she were just deliver- ed, of which I was a living witness. Other women lay burnt also in their houses ; and one eorpse with her fruit still in her womb, most eruelly murdered in their dwelling with her husband and another child. The houses were converted into heaps of stones, so that I might say with Micah, We are made desolate ; and with Jeremiah, A piteous wail may go forth in his distress
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Bnt in all this, my request to our brethren is to remember us and our suffering Church in their prayers. With Paul I say, Brothers, pray for us.
'T'is then soe that we see in all this the rod and Him who uses it; and with the Church of the Lord willingly bear the Lord's anger; for we have sinned against him, and I exhort my Con- gregation to patience and endurance; and lately, at our monthly prayer-meeting, I took my text from Isaiah 42-Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers? &e v. 24, 25; and such other verses in addition. I have also every evening during a whole month offered prayers up with the congregation, on the four points of our fort, under the blue sky. But the Lord strengthened me in all this. We trust and depend further on the help of our God, that he will not altogether forsake us, but vouchsafe us his mercy in the midst of his justice, and evince his power in our weakness; for mountains may depart, and hills fall away, but His mercy shall not once depart from this feeble and infant congregation. For we lean on his mighty arm, and He shall be a wall of fire round about us, and require and avenge this blood on the heads of these murderous heathens. Already He has begun to do so. Many heathens have been slain, and full 22 of our people in captivity have been delivered out of their hands by our arms. Another expedition is about to set out. The Lord our God will again bless our arms, and grant that the Foxes who, have endeavored to lay waste the vineyard of the Lord shall be destroyed.
The Indians have slain in all 24 souls in our piace, and taken 45 prisoners, of whom 13 are still in their power. About the same number of theirs are in our hands.
The Lord our God will make'all turn ont to the best for his Church, and for the peace and quiet of the whole land. The mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be and remain with you, my worthy colleagues for ever; and may this Triune God give us all together after this strife, the crown of immortal glory; and should we no more behold each other here, may we see each other hereafter in our Bridegroom's chamber, securely sheltered behind the blue curtains of the Heavens-in the third Heaven
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,
,
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ULSTER AND DUTCHESS COUNTIES.
of Abraham's bosom, where shall be joy without sorrow, and a never-ending gladness, always and for ever; and receive alto- gether the hearty greeting of me who am one of the least of the servants of Christ Jesus in the work of the Lord.
HERMANUS BLOM.
The 18th September 1663 in New Amsterdam in New Netherland, Egra manu.
PETITION OF SEVERAL INHABITANTS OF ESOPUS FOR A MINISTER. 1676.
To the Rt Honorabe Sr EDMOND ANDROS Kt of Sanemares ; Leinetenant and Gouvrnar Genarall : vndar his Royall Highnes Deuke of Yorke and Albany; and Dependances. The humble petition of Seuerall of the Inhabittanse of Esopus humbly sheweth vnto yor Honor
Whereas this place, is destitute of a minister for the Instruction of the people ; It is our Ernest desiar and humbe request, with all Submission, that yor Honor will bee pleased to bee aiding and assisting in the procuring one for vs that can preache both Inglish and Duche, wch will be most fitting for this place, it being in its minoritty, and hauing great charges is not very able to maintaine two ministares ; nethor to bee at the charge of sending for one out of England or Holand ; and wee are Informed Mr Peettar Tasetmakr is at libarty, who is a person well knowne to yor Honor and officiated in this for sum time ; And if to bee procured, is very well approned of and much desired by moste, hee being a man of sobar life and conversacon hauing Deportted himselfe to sattisfaction of ye Inhabitance. Wherefor wee Humbly pray that your Honor will be pleased to bee Instrumentall in the same, and yor Honors humble Petticoners shall Euer pray &c.
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