USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. III pt 2 > Part 33
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The second Examination of Joseph Shaw and Gudlop Bydner two Moravian preachers.
Joseph Shaw was again called in & asked
Whether he looked upon it lawful or Sinful to seperate from that Communion with which he held it lawful to communicate ?
Says that he does not look upon it to be Sinful but lawful to join with all those who profess Christianity and that he calls himself an united Brother for that they are united with all protestants, That it is lawful for him to communicate with the Church of England, for it is a Church established by Law, It is also lawful to seperate from that Church if his Conscience says so, That there is a Difference betwixt the Moravian Church and the Church of England that he preferrs the former because it has the Stricter discipline But the Moravians never denyed him the Liberty of going to the Church of England.
Being further Examined he Sayd That he preached here in Town last May was 12 Mo That he had a Commission to Teach and Instruct people in the Doctrine of Christ not from the Church of England But from Bishop David Nichman then in York by bidding him keep meeting if he thought fit That he lodged at Mr Nobles and preached at Montagnies.
Being told they might be ordered to remove from the ledians he Sayd
That he Believes were they to Remove the Indians would follow and the Mohawks might take it ill
Being again required to take the Oaths he Refused and Sayd he Continued of the Same mind.
Gudlop Bydner. being called in was told he had Sayd he came to teach the Indians and asked how he came to know they wanted teachers to which he answered
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QUAKERS AND MORAVIANS.
That he knew not whether they wanted teachers or not but he knew that all the Earth was to be Subject to the Lord.
Says that at Schacomico there are above 16 ffamilys their hearers but there are others that come 12 or 20 miles to hear them and that there are about 30 Indian men at Schacomico
The Oaths were again tendred him but he Refused to take them but offered to take an affirmation.
FURTHER ORDERS RELATING TO THE MORAVIANS.
August 11th 1744.
His Excellency also required the Opinion of the Council what further should be done in relation to the Moravian priests against whom Complaint was made & who were Examined by his Excellency in Council the first Instant.
As to the Moravian Priests, The General Assembly of this Province having Ordered in a Bill for Securing this his Majesty's Government The Council were of opinion to advise his Excellency to Order the Moravian priests back to their Homes and required them to live there peaceably and await the further orders of his Excellency.
At a Council held at the Council Chamber in theCity of New York on the 27th day of November 1744 PRESENT His Excellency the Honble GEORGE CLINTON Esq" Mr Kennedy Mr Courtlandt Mr Ch : Justice Mr Horsmanden
Mr Murray.
His Excelleney directed the Deputy Clerk of the Council to read the act of Assembly for Supporting his Majesty's Government in New York which having been Read
It is Ordered by His Excellency with the Advice of the Board That the Deputy Clerk of the Council do write to the several Sherifs of the Countys of Albany Ulster & Dutchess Inclosing Copys of the 5, & 6 Clauses of the Act for securing of his Majesty's Government of New York and acquainting them that his Excellency by and with the Advice of his Majesty's Council
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has thought fit to direct them to give notice to the several Moravian & vagrant Teachers among the Indians in their re- spective Countys of those Clauses and the Act aforesaid and requiring them forthwith to desist from further teaching or preaching and to depart this province or that the said Act will be immediately put into Execution.
Ordered that the Deputy Clerk of the Council do write to the several Justices of the peace of the Countys aforesaid informing them of the Order to the Sherifs & directing them to see that the several Moravian & vagrant Teachers among the Indians Do forthwith depart And on Refusal that they do immediately put the Act in Execution against them And also directing them to Cause the said act to be publickly read every Quarter Sessions during the Continuance thereof.
It is further Ordered that the Deputy Clerk of the Council do also write to the Justices of the several Countyes within this province requiring them to put the aforesaid Act in Execution.
COUNT ZINZENDORFF TO THE BOARD OF TRADE.
[Lond. Doc. XXVII.]
MY LORDS,
Some years since (by an almost evident instigation of the Calvinist clergy and a mean sort of people who thro' their ignoble disposition easily take occasion thereto) there has in the American Colonies arisen an evil custom of disturbing and burdening honest Men of all Sorts, who have settled themselves in those colonies hoping to enjoy an unrestrained Freedom of Religion & in civil matters such an honourable. liberty as is in no way prejudicial to the honour of the Crown I do not think it needfull to mention here the great multitude of Instances of injurious treatment wch are personally known to me, since my present Intention is not to accuse any body but only to lay before Your Excellencies the Lords at the head of the British world in the West Indies the intrinsick State of matters, as your Lordships are able with one stroke of the pen to prevent so many thousand
-
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QUAKERS AND MORAVIANS.
future Inconveniencies, that an honest and benevolent Man on that account willingly forgets the smarts of a multitude of Injuries already endured.
I petition for two Declarations or orders ;
The one to keep honest people as well strangers in, as inhabi- tants of, America from being chicaned with and plagued with- out the least reason & as it were only de gayete de Cœur.
The second that in the aforesaid Colonies no body but least of all the Indians shall be hindred from joyning with any Protestant Church whatsoever wch in his ideas is the most solid, according to the measures taken for incourageing Foreigners to settle in the British Colonies of America
Your Lordships have so much wisdom that I think it not proper previously to trouble you with arguments : But if for other people's sake (whose understanding & inclination is not in so good a Disposition as your Lordships') you shd desire that those points about wch I have petitioned shd be confirmed by some Proofs, I wait your Lordships' order & am,
My Lords
Maienborr 31 Dec. 44.
Your Lordships' most humble & obedient Servant ZINZENDORFF. 1
BOARD OF TRADE TO GOVR CLINTON June 2Sth, 1745.
[Lond. Doc. XXVII.]
SR
Since our letter to you dated the 5th of April last (a Duplicate is herewith inclosed) we have received a letter from Monsr de Gersdoff in behalf of himself and the Moravian Brethren in the
1 NICHOLAS LOUIS ZINZENDORF, founder of the sect of Moravians, was born in Dresden in May, 1700. He studied at Halle and Utrecht, and in 1721, purchased the Lordship of Bertholdsdorf, in Lusatia, where some followers of John Huss settled in the course of the following year. From this period, Count Z. devoted himself to preaching. Having travelled over the greater part of the world, he came, in 1741, to America, and in 1742 ordained missionaries. At Shecomico, he established the first Indian Moravian Congregation in N. America. In 1743, he returned to Europe, and died on his estate in 1760. His coffin was carried to the grave by 32 preachers and missionaries whom he had reared. ALLEN'S BIOG. DICT.
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Province of New York, complaining of an Aet passed there in September last, entitled " An Act for securing his Majesty's Government of New York" by which as he says these Brethren there will be very much oppressed. We have likewise had some discourse with him and two of their Ministers that have attended us on that subject and having at their request promised to write to you for further Information in the said affair, we do accordingly desire you would inform us in your next what the behaviour of these Moravians has been in yr province and whether any ill-practices on their part gave occasion to there being inserted by name in the said Act.
We must here observe to you that we have reed the above Act with 24 others transmitted to us by the Secretary of the Province without any letter from him or any observations upon the said Acts from you wch by yr Instructions you are directed to send us with them. So we bid you heartily farewell & are
Your very loving Friends
and humble Servants
MONSON
R. PLUMER
B. LEVESON GOWER
M. BLADEN
J. PITT
JA. BRUDENELL
REASONS FOR PASSING THE LAW AGAINST THE MORAVIANS RESIDING AMONG THE INDIANS.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,
In Pursuance of your Excellency's Order in Council of the 25th day of April last, referring to us (amongst other things) the Consideration of a letter from the Lords of Trade to your Excel- lency bearing date the 28th day of June last, we beg leave to Report our Sentiments upon the Subject matter of that part thereof communicated to us as followeth,
What in our opinions gave Occasion to the Passing the Law affecting the Moravians, Entitled " An Act for securing of his Majesty's Government of New York," was,
That as this and Several other Colonys on the Continent had for some years before been infested with Suspicious, Vagrant, Stroling Preachers, who under the Specious pretence of Greater
.
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Godliness than their Neighbours, had debauched the Minds of the people with Enthusiastical Notions, at least, and Created Great Seisms & Divisions in the protestant Congregations, & so far infatuated their Votaries as to ingross their whole time to the utter neglect & Ruin of many Familys. And Information haveing some time before been given to this Government by General Oglethorpe (at the Time of the detection of the Negro plot here) of some Intelligence Received at Georgia from a Spanish prisoner, " That popish Emissarys were Dispers'd " Amongst his Majesty's Colonies upon this Continent, under " Several Disguises, Such as School-masters, Dancing Masters, " Physicians and Such Like, That they might under Such " colourable appearances gain familiar admittance into Private " familys, & have an opportunity of debauching & Distracting " the minds of the people, in order to carry on their wicked " purposes, of Creating Disturbances & Occasioning Revolts " among his Majesties Subjects ;" and there was great Reason to apprehend, that the late Conspiracy here, was Caused by such Vilanous Practices of disguised Papists who had Stolen in Amongst us.
After Whitfield had made an Itinerary or Two through his Majesty's Colonys on this Continent, from Georgia to Boston, & back again, under the like Pretence (but with what real Design he best knew ) and had purchased some thousand Acres of Land at the Forks of the River Delewarre in Pennsilvania Govern ment, not many Miles from the Limitts of this, and there laid the foundation of a large house for a Seminary, where (as given out) Such Youth & Negroes as People would be Fools, or Mad Enough to Entrust to his Managemt were to be Educated in his New-fangled principles or Tenents whatever they were ; Thus Reformation and the True Work of the Lord (as he and his Votaries would have had it supposed) was to go on at a high Rate ; & this Scheme was Carryed on by Whitfield 'til he had gull'd a Sufficient Sum out of the deluded people, under Colour of Charity for the Orphan house at Georgia, & this Negro- Academy, but (as most rational to suppose) with real Design under both pretexts to fill his own Pockets ; & when he had Carried on the Farce so far as he Could well Expect to Profit by
.
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he sells this Estate at Delewarre to Count Zinzendorf a Bishop (as he has been called) or head of a Sect of Germans, called the Moravian Brethren, outwardly professing themselves Protestants, who likewise were Stroling up and down these Colonies, to Vent their Unintelligible Doctrines, & to make proselytes also by Carrying on the same kind of Delusion.
This Count, & his Moravian Brethren, have by many Prudent People been lookt upon with a Jealous Eye, ever Since his Arrival in these Parts ; he is called a German Count & as Many of his Countrymen have for several years Successively been imported into, and Settled in Pensilvania, Roman Catholicks as well as Protestants, Without Destinction, Where it Seems by the Indul- gence of the Crown, their Constitution Granted by Charter, all Perswasions Roman Catholicks as well as others are tollerated the free Exercise of their Religion ; the Increase of these People in that Colony has been so Great, that they are Computed to be Already much an Overbalance to the English Subjects there ; And from the Priviledge given them of Setling in Bodys by themselves, they are like ever to Remain a Distinct People : and .this seems to be their Aim, for they are fond of keeping up the Language by Retaining Clergy, Schoolmasters, & even Printers of their own Country ; & Language, nor as is credibly reported, will they Suffer any of their People to Intermary with the English, so that by these means, & the Priviledges the Government of Pensilvania Admits them to upon Importation, in Common with the English Subjects, they may in Short Time bear the Chief Say, in the Government of that Colony; which from the aforegoing observations, may Probably be attended with Dangerous Conse- quences, not only to Pensilvania, But his Majesty's other Colonies in North America.
These Moravians have Compassed Sea & Land to make Proselytes, & have so far Succeeded, as to Gain in Pensylvania, this, and other Colonys, And the house at the Forks before mentioned, is the principal place of Rendezvous & Quarter of the Chiefs of them : 'tis kept according to Whitefields Scheme as a Seminary for Converts, & house of Support to their deluded Votaries ; & many have Resorted thither; from thence they dispatch their Itenerant Emissarys Teachers or Preachers, Simple,
1
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illiterate persons, who were wont to be Content to busy them- selves in their Native Country in the Ordinary & humble Occupations they were bred to Vizt Bricklayers Carpenters Woolcombers Taylors and Such like Mechanical or handy-Craft Trades, 'till they were infatuated with a certain degree of Enthusiasm or Folly Sufficient for Qualifying them for the plantation of the Gospel in foreign Parts ; of whose Delusions, It seems, the Count has laid hold, & thought them proper Tools to be Employed in his Service, perhaps with views unknown to these Creatures themselves, though at the same Time they are forwarding his Schemes.
After some of the principal heads of these Moravians had Travelled up & down these Countrys, & made many Converts amongst the Christians, at Length the next Step was, the more difficult part to be Entered upon, the Conversion of the Heathen, Dy Intespersing Several of the Brethren amongst the Indians in this province, to Reside with them though unqualified as to the knowledge of their Indian Language or any other but their own Mother Tongue ; three of them were posted at a Place called Shacomicco in this Province who resided there Some Time, and at length intermarryed with the Savages, to give them the last Proof of their Affection and Good Intentions towards them ; this Gave Great Jealousie to the Inhabitants of that County, who made Representations to the Judges at the Circuit Court, & Afterwards to Your Excellency, concerning them, In Order to get them Removed, lest they should Seduce the Indians there from their Fidelity to his Majesty ; they were accordingly, by Order in Council Sent for down, & Examined in Council & their behavior & Account of themselves will appear by the Minutes of Council of the day of 174 It did not appear that they were (nor did they pretend to be) naturalized Subjects of her Majesty, they Came into the Province without your Excellencys Knowledge or Permission ; they absolutely refused to take the Oaths to the Government ; And when ordered there- upon to Leave the Province and forbid to Reside any more amongst the Indians, one of them impudently, replyed, with a Seeming threatning, that perhaps if they left the province, the Indians would follow them and so Artfully were these Emissarys, VOL. 111. 65
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preachers or Teachers, Stationed through this and some neigh- bouring Colonies, at Convenient Distances, that thereby a Line of Communication seemed to be formed for the Readier Corres- pondence and Dispatch of Intelligence through the heart of several of these Plantations from one to the other, & so to the Fountain head, the house of the Moravian Brethren at the Forks of Delewarre before mentioned : And, according to Information, messengers were frequently Dispatcht backwards & forwards, which 'twas thought high time to put an Effectual Checque to.
This strange surprizing & audacions Conduct of those people and the foregoing or such like observations and Reflections, 'Twas thought, gave sufficient umibrage for Jealousie Especially in the Time of War; therefore to Guard against the Subtile Devices of Crafty men, Strangers & aliens, & to frustrate all wicked Practices of Designing Persons & Papists in Disguise under any Colour or Appearances whatsoever Calculated to delude the ignorant Savages, vailed under the Specious Shew of Care for their souls, were, as The Comee conceive, Inducements to the Passing the act referred to in their Lordships Letter & of the mentioning the Moravians in it, by name.
The Restraints laid by this act upon the Moravian Brethren and such like are conformable to what his Majesty has been pleased to Enjoin your Excellency, by his Royal Instructions, to Observe, within this Province, with Regard to Ministers and Schoolmasters.
Ist Tis Provided by this act, That Persons residing within this Province shall upon Summons of the Judges & Magistrates give that Pledge of Fidelity to his Majesty & his Government (which 'tis in the Power of Every man to do) vizt to take the State Oaths under a pecuniary Penalty, or Six Months Impris- onment in Default.
2dly That no Place of Religious Worship shall be allowed without it be Certified & Recorded at the Quarter Sessions.
3dly That no Person shall reside amongst the Indians under the pretence of bringing them over to the Christian ffaith with out your Excellency's Lycence with Consent of his Majesty's Councill.
And though this act was Calculated to Continue of fforce for
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one year only, & is Expired by its own Limitation, yet it is Con- ceived to have been a necessary & salutary Law & is Proper to be received, & Continned.
All which is humbly submitted May 1716. DANL HORSMANDEN Chairman.
MORAVIAN CHURCH IN N. YORK.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY
We Deputies of the Unitas Fratrum his Majestys Dutifull and Loyall Subjects being duely Sensible of the freedom and Liberty of Conscience we Enjoy under the Government of so good and Mild a King as also under the Government of your Excellency IIereby beg Leave to acquaint you of our Intention of Building a Church in this City for the publick Worship of God, in which we Humbly hope for your Excellency's Fatherly Care and Pro- tection.
We are your Excellencys Dutifull Humble Servants
OWEN RICE
New York May 23d 1751. RUDOLPHUS VAN DYCK.
ENROLMENT OF THE PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS
Pursuant an act of Generall Assembly of this province passed the 19th of february 1755, Entituled an Act for Regulating the militia of the Colony of New York. Those for Dutchess County are as follows vizt
1755. Aprill 22.
Joshua Shearman of Beckmans precinct .Shoemaker
Moses Shearman of the Same place Lahourer
Daniel Shearman of the Same place. Labourer
Joseph Doty of the same place .. Blacksmith John Wing of the same place. ffarmer
Zebulon Ferris of the oblong in Beekmans precinct. ffarmer
Joseph Smith Son of Richard Smith of the same place. . Labourer Robert Whitely of the Oblong. farmer
Elijah Doty of the Oblong House. Carpenter
Philip Allen of the Oblong . Weaver
Richard Smith of the Oblong ffarmer
James Aiken of the Oblong. . Blacksmith
Abraham Chase Son of Henry Chase of the Oblong.
ffarmer
David Hoeg of the Oblong
John Hoeg of the Oblong . . ffarmer
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Jonathan Hoeg of the Oblong. Blacksmith
Amos Hoeg Son of John Houg of the Oblong Labourer
William Hoeg Son of David Hoeg of Oblong. Farmer
John Iloeg Son of John Hoeg of Oblong
Ezekiel Haeg of the Oblong
. Labourer
Judah Smith of Oblong .
.Taylor
Mathew Wing of Oblong
Timothy Dakin of Oblong . ffarmer
Jonathan Akin of Oblong. . Labourer
Samuell Russell of Oblong. . Labourer
John Fish of Oblong .. ... Farmer
Reed fferris of Oblong
.Shoemaker
Benjamin Ferris Junr of Oblong.
Labourer
Josiah Akin of Oblong
Blacksmith
Israel Howland of Oblong
.ffarmer
Elisha Akin of Oblong
ffarmer
Isaac Hlaviland of Oblong Blacksmith
Nathan Soule Son of George Soule of Oblong farmer
James Birdsall of Oblong Labourer
Daniel Chase of Oblong. .llarmer
Silas Mossher of Oswego in Beekmans precinct. . ffarmer
William Mosher of the Same place. . ffarmer
Silvester Richmond of the Same place
. ffarmer
Jesse Irish of the same place . tfarmer
David Irish of the Same place. . ffarmer
. ffarmer
William Irish of the Same place. 1
234
Josiah Bull of the Same place. . ffarmer
Josiah Bull Junr of the Same place . ffarmer
Allen Moore of the Same place. .farmer
Andrew Moore of the Same place ..
. ffarmer
William Gifford of the Same place.
. ffarmer
25th
Nathaniel Yeomans of the Same place. . ffarmer
Eliab Yeomans of the Same place. ffarmer
26th
William Parks of Oswego in Beekmans precinct. farmer DUTCHESS COUNTY SS : The aforegoing are all the Quakers Enroled in my office to this Ist day of July 1755 Per HENRY LIVINGSTON Clerk
A LIST OF THE NAMES OF QUAKERS
Enrolled in the office of Town Clerk, of and in the City of New York, in Lib: No. 1 of Quakers, &c: Pursuant to an Act of Assembly, Entituled an Act, for Regulating the Militia of the Colony of New York; made & Published the 19th day of Feb- ruary Last, viet:
Thomas Dobson of the City of . New York Merchant
Samuel Brown of ..
Do
Do
Ilenry Haydock of
Do
Do
James Burling of
Do
Distiller
John Laurence of
Do
Boalter
Caleb Laurence of
Do
Merchant
William Palmer of.
Do
Joiner
Hugh Ryder of ...
Do
Shopkeeper Do
Walter Frankling of
Do
Isaac Martin of ...
Do
Tallow Chandler
Thomas Frankling of.
Do
Merchant
John Frankling of ..
Do
Shopkeeper
Thomas Frankling Jnnr of
Do
Hlatter
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QUAKERS AND MORAVIANS.
William Field of
Do Shopkeeper
John Burling of ...
Do Merchant
John Burling Junr of.
Do
Miller
Robert Murray of ...
Do
Shopkeeper
To the 19th of May 1755.
AUGT V. CORTLAND CIK Co.
A LIST OF THE NAMES OF SUCH MORAVIANS
. Who have Enrolled their names pursuant to the Directions of an act to continue an Act Entituled an act for Regulating the Militia of the Colony of New York with Some Additions thereto published the 1st of April 1756. Vist: 1756.
May ye 5th James Arden of the City of. N. Y. Joiner
Christian Trockliek of.
Do Sugar Baker
6th William Nixon of Do Cooper
Daniel Miller of. Do Potter
11 th Henry Van Vlack of Do Mercht
Garrase Roebuck of.
Do Corck Cutter
John Kingston of.
Do Blacksmith
William Pearson of
Do Butcher
John Runcy of.
Do Tobacconist
Names of Quakers who have Enrolled their names:
May the 10th Nathll Pearsall of. N. Y. Storekeeper
Thomas Pearsall of. Do Do
Samuel Franklin of Do Do
Enrolled.
pr Avar V. CORTLANDT CIK.
Decr ye 1st 1756 A LIST of all the Money Taken from the QUAKERS in QUEENS COUNTY Persuant to two Acts of General . Assembly of the Province of New York. Town of flushing Jamaica Toun
£ 8
Robert Doughty
1
Town of Hempstead
Stephen Lines
Thomas Seaman
10
William Lines .
Joseph Clements.
Adam Mott ..
Stephen Mott
William Mott.
Nathaniel Pierceall.
Samuel Titus
William Titus.
Stephen Titus.
John Way
2
Samll Way
2
William Betts
2
James Way.
Richard Hollet
2
Sam Il Burling
2
-
James Bowne.
2
Benj Doughty.
2 -
Stephen Hedger 2
Danl Bowne ..
James Persons
Danll Lathum
Samll Thorn
Caleb Field
1 - John Thorn.
New Town
John Vanwick
2
James Mott.
James Titus
Robert Alsop
Samuel Willis Jur
Francis Nash
1 -
Thomas Alsop
1
John Thorn. 2 -
James Burling
Q
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.
Oysterbay Town
Joseph Wood
2 -
Clark Cock
Israel Pierceal
2 -
Samil Cock ..
Isaac Doty
2
Henry Cock
Abraham Underhill
2
Reese Cock
2 -
Joseph Underhill
2
John Moit
2
John Powel.
Henry Titus.
John Witson
2
Obadiah Seaman
2 -
John Witson Jr.
2
Richard Alsop 2
£102 10
John Willett late Treasurer of Queens County Came before me Francis Filkin-and made oath that this is a true list as aforesaid according to the best of his knowledge
JOHN WILLETT.
Sworne in New York Decr 16: 1756 before me
FRAS FILKIN Justice.
Suffolk A LIST OF the Names of the People called QUAKERS County who have entered their Certificates in the Clerkce's SS office in the County aforesaid.
Edward Hallock of Brookhaven
Richard Willets
Jacob Willets
Samuel Willets
of Islip
Jeremiah Wood
Isaac Willetts
Thomas Willets
John Whitson Junr of Huntington
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