USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. III pt 2 > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
Soon after Washington's arrival, he attended our church ; but on the Sunday morning, before divine service began, one of the rebel generals called at the rector's house (supposing the latter was in town,) and, not finding him, left word that he came to in- form the rector that "General Washington would be at church, and would be glad if the violent prayers for the king and royal family were omitted." This message was brought to me, and as you may suppose I paid no regard to it.
On seeing that general not long after, I remonstrated against the unreasonableness of his request, which he must know the clergy could not comply with, and told him further, that it was in his power to shut up our churches, but by no means in his power to make " the clergy depart from their duty." This declaration drew from him an awkward apology for his conduct, which I believe was not authorized by Washington. Such incidents would not be worth mentioning, unless to give those who are at a distance a better idea of the spirit of the times.
May 17th was appointed by the congress as a day of public fasting, prayer and humiliation throughout the continent. At the unanimous request of the members of our Church who were then in town, I consented to preach that day ; and, indeed, our situation made it highly prudent, though a submission to an authority that was so far usurped was exceedingly grating and disagreeable. In giving notice the preceding Sunday, I only
1 DAVID MATTHEWS. This gentleman belonged originally to Orange Co. Having been admitted early to the bar, he acted as crown officer upwards of twenty years. le succeeded Mr. Ilicks as Mayor of the city of New York in 1779, but being a decided loyalist his name was entered on the list of the sus- pected, as early as May of that Year. He was shortly after arrested by order of the Committee of Safety, and lodged in N. Y. Jail, whence he was soon re- moved to Connecticut. The charge against him was that he was cognizant of, or concerned in Gov. Tryon's plot to assassinate Gen. Washington, and blow up the fort. llow long he continued under surveillance in Conn. we cannot say, but he is represented by Sabine as in N. Y. in 1778, and as Register of the Court of Admiralty in 1782. By the act of 1779, he was attainted and his property confiscated.
1
-
1057
ANGLO-AMERICAN CHURCHI.
mentioned that there would be a sermon the ensuing Friday, which was the 17th, without saying anything of the reason, or by what authority. It was exceedingly difficult for a loyal clergyman to preach on such an occasion, and not incur danger on the one hand, or not depart from his duty on the other. I endeavoured to avoid both, making peace and repentance my subject, and explicitly disclaimed having any thing to do with politics. This sermon, in the composition of which I took some pains, I intend to publish, for various reasons, should I be able to recover it from the place where it now is, with all my books and papers, in the country. . The several churches in this province, (except two, where the clergymen thought they might without danger omit service,) and so far as I can learn, through all the thirteen united colonies, as they are called, were opened on this occasion.
Matters became now critical here in the highest degree. The rebel army amounted to near 30,000. All their cannon and military stores were drawn hither, and they boasted that the place was impregnable. The mortifications and alarms which the clergy met with were innumerable. I have frequently heard myself called a Tory, and traitor to my country, as I passed the streets, and epithets joined to each, which decency forbids me to set down. Violent threats were thrown out against us, in case the king were any longer prayed for. One Sunday, when I was officiating, and proceeded some length in the service, a company of about one hundred armed rebels marched into the church. with drums beating and fifes playing, their guns loaded and bayonets fixed, as if going to battle. The congregation was thrown into the utmost terror, and several women fainted, expecting a massacre was intended. I took no notice of them, and went on with the service, only exerted my voice, which was in some measure drowned by the noise and tumult. The rebels stood thus in the aisle for near fifteen minutes, till, being asked into pews by the sexton, they complied. Still, however, the people expected that, when the collects for the king and royal family were read, I should be fired at, as menaces to that purpose had been frequently flung out. The matter, however passed over without any accident. Nothing of this kind happened VOL. III.
67
1058
STATE OF THE
before or since, which made it more remarkable. I was after- wards assured that something hostile and violent was intended ; but He that stills the raging of the sea, and madness of the people, overruled their purpose, whatever it was.
In the beginning of July, independency was declared ; as this event was what I long expected, I had maturely considered, and was determined, what line of conduct to pursue. General Howe had arrived some time before from Halifax, as did Lord Howe from England. They had taken possession of Staten Island, where the fleet lay in sight of this city, at the distance of nine miles ; and only waited for the arrival of the fleet from England, to make a descent and reduce New York. This circumstance pointed out still more clearly what part I should act. However, I thought it was proper to consult such of the vestry as were in town, and others of the congregation, and have their concurrence; and I must do them the justice to say, that they were all unanimous for shutting up the Churches ; and chose rather to submit to that temporary inconvenience, than, by omitting the prayers for the king, give that mark of disaffection to their sovereign. To have prayed for him, had been rash to the last degree-the inevitable consequence had been a demolition of the churches, and the destruction of all who frequented them. The whole rebel force was collected here, and the most violent partizans from all parts of the continent. A fine equestrian statue of the king was pulled down, and totally demolished, immediately after independency was declared. All the king's arms, even those on signs of taverns, were destroyed. The committee sent me a message, which I esteemed a favour and indulgence, to have the king's arms taken down in the church, or else the mob would do it, and might deface and injure the churches. I immediately complied. People were not at liberty to speak their sentiments, and even silence was construed as a mark of disaffection:
Things being thus situated, I shut up the churches. Even this was attended with great hazard; for it was declaring, in the strongest manner, our disapprobation of independency, and that under the eye of Washington and his army. The other assist- ants now went to their respective friends in the country. My family were at such a distance, and in such a part of the country,
1059
ANGLO-AMERICAN CHURCHI.
that I could not with any degree of safety visit them; I therefore remained in the city, to visit the sick, baptize children, bury the dead, and afford what support I could to the remains of our poor flock, who were much dispirited; for several, especially of the poorer sort, had it not in their power to leave the city. After we had ceased to officiate publicly, several, of the rebel officers sent to me for the keys of the churches, that their chap- lains might preach in them; with these requisitions I peremp- torily refused to comply, and let them know that, "if they would use the churches, they must break the gates and doors to get in." Accordingly, I took possession of all the keys, lest the sextons might be tampered with; for I could not bear the thought that their seditious and rebellious effusions should be poured out in our churches. When those requisitions were repeated with threats, my answer was, " that I did what I knew to be my duty, and that I would adhere to it, be the consequences what they would." Upon this they desisted, and did not occupy any of the churches.
I cannot reflect on my situation at that time, without the warmest emotions of gratitude to Divine Providence for pre- serving me. I was watched with a jealous, suspicious eye. Besides the imputation of being notoriously disaffected-an imputation which had flung others in jail without any other crime,-I was known and pointed at as the author of several pieces against the proceedings of the congress. In February last, I wrote an answer to a pamphlet entitled " Common Sense," which earnestly recommended and justified independency. It was one of the most virulent, artful, and pernicious pamphlets I ever met with, and perhaps the wit of man could not devise one better calculated to do mischief. It seduced thousands. At the risk, not only of my liberty, but also of my live, I drew up an answer, and had it printed here; but the answer was no sooner advertised, than the whole impression was seized by the sons of liberty, and burnt. I then sent a copy to Philadelphia, where it was printed, and soon went through the second edition. This answer was laid to my charge, and swelled the catalogue of my political transgressions. In short, I was in the utmost danger, and it is to the overruling hand of Providence that I attribute
1060
STATE OF THE
my deliverance and safety. With difficulty I stood my ground till about the middle of August, when almost all who were sus- pected of disaffection were taken up and sent prisoners to New England: I therefore found it necessary to return to Flushing on Long Island; but I had no sooner left that place, than the committee met, and entered into a debate about seizing me. This obliged me to shift my quarters, and keep as private as possible, till the 27th of that month, when General Howe defeated the rebels on Long Island, which set me and many others at liberty.
On Sunday, the 15th of September, General Howe, with the King's forces, landed on New York Island, four miles above the city; upon which the rebels abandoned the city, and retired toward King's Bridge, which joins this island to the continent. Early on Monday morning, the 16th, I returned to the city, which exhibited a most melancholy appearance, being deserted and pillaged. My house was plundered of everything by the rebels. My loss amounts to near 2007. this currency, or upwards of 100l. sterling. The rebels carried off all the bells in the city, partly to convert them into cannon, partly to prevent notice being given speedily of the destruction they meditated against the city by fire, when it began. On Wednesday, I opened one of the churches, and solemnized Divine service, when all the inhabitants gladly attended, and joy was lighted up in every countenance on the restoration of our public worship; for very few remained but such as were members of our Church. Each congratulated himself and others on the prospect of returning peace and security; but alas! the enemies of peace were secretly working among us.
Several rebels secreted themselves in the houses, to execute the diabolical purpose of destroying the city. On the Saturday following an opportunity presented itself; for the weather being very dry, and the wind blowing fresh, they set fire to the city in several places at the same time, between twelve and one o'clock in the morning. The fire raged with the utmost fury, and, in its destructive progress, consumed about 1000 honses, or a fourth part of the whole city. To the v.gorous efforts of the officers of the army and navy, and of the soldiers and seamen,
1061
ANGLO-AMERICAN CHURCH.
it is owing, under Providence, that the whole city was not destroyed. We had three churches, of which Trinity Church was the oldest and largest. It was a venerable edifice, had an excellent organ which cost 850/ sterling, and was otherwise ornamented. This church, with the rector's house and the charity school,-the two latter, large expensive buildings,-were burned. St. Paul's Church and King's College had shared the same fate, being directly on the line of fire, had I not been providentially on the spot, and sent a number of people with water on the roof of each. Our houses are all covered with cedar shingles, which makes fire very dangerous. The church corporation had suffered prodigiously, as was evidently intended. Besides the buildings already mentioned, about 200 houses, which stood on the church ground, were consumed ; so that the loss cannot be estimated at less than 25,000/ sterling. This melancholy accident, and the principal scene of war being here, will occasion the Clergy of this city to be the greatest sufferers of any on the continent by the present rebellion.
The Church corporation have some thoughts of applying to his Majesty for a brief to collect money in England, or for leave to open a subscription to repair their loss in some mea- sure, which, I fear, will involve them in inextricable difficulties, as they are already burdened with a debt of more than 20,000l this currency. But this step will probably be deferred till the city and county are restored to his Majesty's peace and protec- tion, which I hope will be soon, as a petition for this purpose: signed by near a thousand inhabitants, has been presented to the king's commissioners, I had the honour of drawing up this petition ; and from the amiable and excellent character of the commissioners, Lord Howe and General Howe, from whom everything brave, generous, and humane, or tending to the interest of Great Britain, and the colonies, may be justly expected. I flatter myself that the prayers of our petition will be soon granted. Perhaps I should apologize for this detail, in which I myself was so much concerned ; but, in truth, no better method occurred to me of conveying to you information of what I thought you were desirous to know ; and I claim no merit in doing what I always conceived to be my duty. Any of my
1062
STATE OF THE
brethren in my situation would have done the same that I did -- many of them, probably, much better.
All the Missionaries in the colonies first mentioned are resi- dent on their respective Missions, although their churches are shut, except those that are now in England, and Mr. Walter, of Boston, who is here; also Mr. Cooke, who is chaplain to the Guards, and cannot get to his Mission, as that part of the coun- try is still in the hands of the rebels. I fear many of the Mis- sionaries are distressed for want of an opportunity to draw for their salaries, and I apprehend they have not yet received any benefit from the generous collection that was made for them in England. Dr. Chandler some time since sent me a list of those Missionaries in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, that were to receive those benefactions, and the sum allotted to each ; desiring that I should give them notice and inform them how to draw for the money. But I have not yet been able to give intelligence of this to any except Messrs Seabury,' Bloomer and
I SAMUEL SEABURY, D. D., first bishop of Conn. was born in New London in 1728, and graduated at Yale in 1751. At the request of his father (originally a congregational minister, but afterwards rector of Hempstead, L. I.,) he was appointed as early as 1748 his assistant and catechist to the mission at a salary of ten pounds a year. In 1753, he was recommended by the Rev. Mr. Wetmore, of Rye, for the vacant church of New Brunswick, N. J., and with the sanction of the Soc. for Prop. the Gosp. proceeded to England where he received orders. (a) Hle entered on the duties of his mission in May 1754, and in 1757 was sent to Jamaica L. 1. Some of his letters, whilst stationed at this place, will be found in the present Vol. of the Doc. Ilist. of N. Y. At the close of Dec. 1766, he was instituted, at his own request, rector of St. Peters Church, West- chester, and at the breaking out of the revolutionary war adhered, with the majority of his brethren of the Clergy, to the Royal cause. In April 1775, he signed the protest at White Plains in which he and others declared their " honest abhorrence of all unlawful congresses and committees," and de- termination " at the hazard of our lives and properties to support the King and constitution." Several pamphlets appeared about in the course of the same year in favour of the government; among others, some written under the character of A Farmer, which gave great offence to the Sons of Liberty, and a party of whigs from Connecticut crossed over to Westchester county and seized the Rev. Mr. S. and other loyalists and carried them to New Ilaven. This invasion of the territory of New York, and violent removal of its citizens, called forth a strong remonstrance from the P'rov. Congress to Gov. Trumbull, who demanded Mr. Scabury's "immediate discharge; the more especially as,
(a) Allen, and all writers after him who notice this divine, represent that he went to Seopland to study medicine, but changed his purpose and took orders. This is entirely contrary to Hawkins, who is the authority for the statement in the text, and is considered the most reliable.
1063
ANGLO-AMERICAN CHURCHI.
Cutting' all communication by letter with the rest being entirely cut off. Dr. Chandler also kindly informed me, that the Society transmitted a large sum to Boston, to pay the Missionaries in Massachusetts and New Hampshire ; but I imagine General Howe left Boston before the money could get there; and I have not been able to learn who the person was to whom the money was delivered, nor what is become of it. The Missions of New Windsor (or Newburgh, as it was latterly called) and of Albany are still vacant. Mr. Stuart? continues at Fort Hunter, and
"considering his ecclesiastic character, which, perhaps, is venerated by many " friends to liberty, the severity that has been used towards him may be sub- "ject to misconstructions, prejudicial to the common cause." Mr. Seabury was accordingly set at liberty (a) and returned to his parish; but being subject to occasional visits from armed parties, who would offer 100 dollars for the discovery of " that vilest of misereants, A Farmer, " and Independence being declared, he considered it his most pru lent course to close his church, " as there would be neither prayers nor sermon till he could pray for the King." On the retreat of the American Army, after the battle of L. Island, Mr. S. withdrew within the British lines where (Hawkins says) he was very useful to Gen'l Clinton, whom he furnished with plans and maps of the roads and rivers in the county of Westchester which could not but be highly serviceable. He continued to reside in N. Y. until the peace, and served as chaplain of the King's American regiment commanded by Col. Fanning. Ile went to England in 1784 to obtain consecration, but meeting with some difficulties at the hands of the English dignitaries, he proceeded to Scotland where he was consecrated oy some non juring bishops. Ile discharged the duties of his high office in an exemplary manner for many years, and died Feb. 25, 1796, in the 68th year of his age. lle was the first protestant bishop in these States.
I LEONARD CUTTING was born in the vicinity of London In 1731, and educated at Eton and Cambridge. Ile came to America in 1750, and resided sometime at N. Brunswick, N. J. In 1756 he was appointed tutor and professor of classical literature in King's Coll., N. Y., and in 1763, returned to England for ordina- tion. In 1766 he became successor of the Rev. Mr. Seabury at Hempstead where he opened a classical school. Among his pupils may be mentioned the late Dr. S. L. Mitchell, Edw. Griswold, Esqr., and Dr. R. Kissam, of N. Y. In 1781 he resigned his charge at Hempstead, and went South (according to Thompson, Ilist. L. I.) where he deceased, it is supposed, prior to 1803, in which year his widow died at Philadelphia.
2 JOHN STUART, DD., styled the father of the Episcopal Courch in Upper Can- ada, was a native of Scotland and recommended to the Soc. for Prop. the Gosp. by Sir William Johnson as a Missionary to the Mohawks. He arrived at Fort Hunter Dec. 2, 1770, where he was kindly received by the Indians, and preach- ed at Canajoharie on the succeeding Christmas day. During his residence at this mission he prepared with the assistance of the celebrated Joseph Brant, a
(a) Jour of N. Y. Prov. Cong., i., 214, 492.
1064
STATE OF THE
occasionally officiates at Johnstown. He has been of much service in that place. The Indians under his care remain firm in their attachment to the King, except one or two that were bribed into a kind of neutrality, with rum and some other presents by the rebels, but will, I doubt not be as active as any for the king's service, now that General Burgoyne has crossed the lakes from Canada with his army, and is got into this province. Upon the whole, the Church of England has lost none of its members by the rebellion as yet - none, I mean, whose departure from it can be deemed a loss ; on the contrary, its own members are more firmly attached to it than ever. And even the sober and more rational among dissenters-for they are not all equally violent and frantic- look with reverence and esteem on the part which Church people here have aeted. I have not a doubt but, with the blessing of Providence, his Majesty's arms will be successful, and finally
Mohawk translation of the Gospel according to St. Mark, with a compendious Hist. of the Bible and an Exposition of the Church Catechism in the same lan- ; guage. (a) Remaining attached to the Royal cause, and exerting his influence with the Indians accordingly, it is no wonder that at the breaking out of the revolution he became obnoxious to the yeomanry of the Mohawk valley. He was, however, protected by the Indians until the latter joined Burgoyne and shared his downfall. On the 25th June 1778 orders were sent by the Commission - ers for detecting conspiracies, to have Mr. S. removed with his family to Con- neeticut within four days, on suspicion of corresponding with the enemy; but on investigation, the charge proved unfounded and Mr. S. was admitted to parole and restricted to the limits of Schenectady, where he remained for more than three years. Ile lost his farm by confiscation in May 1781, and then proposed opening a Latin School. But this he was not allowed to do, being a prisoner of war. He then obtained with some diffientty leave to remove to Canada, and set out on his journey from Schenectady with his wife and three small children, on the 19 Sept. and arrived at St. Johns on the 9th Oct. following. IIe was ap- pointed soon after Chaplain to the 2ut battalion of Sir John Johnson's regt. of Royal Yorkers, and opened a public school in Montreal. He afterwards remo- ved to Grand River, Upper Canada; was next appointed archdeacon of Kingston ' and became eventually Bishop of the Province with an income, it is stated of . over $12,000. His son became archideacon of Kingston. One of his daughters married the Rev. E. W., son of the late Ch. Just. Sewell of Quebec, and the latter was succeeded on the bench by Bishop Stuart's brother, James, the pres- ent Chief Justice of Canada East. -
. (a) Stone (Life of Brant) says Dr. S. was engaged in revising the Indian Prayer Book ; in Translating ** a portion of the acts of the Apostles," a short history of the Bible, with a brief ex- planation of the Church Catechism. Hawkins asserts that it was " the Gospel of St. Mark." Col. S. adds, that Dr. S. was prevented publishing these books by the breaking out of the war; and that he then took the MSS. to Canada, and afterward delivered them to Col Daniel Claus. by whom they were taken to England. h appears (Stone ii. 260) that they were printed in London subsequently in 1756, in alternute pages of Mohawk and English, under the immediate patronage of the King, in large Svo., highly embellished.
-
1065
ANGLO-AMERICAN CHURCHI.
crush this unnatural rebellion. In that case, if the steps are taken which reason, prudence, and common sense dictate, the Church will indubitably increase, and these confusions will terminate in a large accession to its members. Then will be the time to make that provision for the American Church, which is necessary, and place it on at least an equal footing with other denominations by granting it an episcopate, and thereby allowing it a full toleration. If this opportunity is let slip, I think there is a moral certainty that such another never will again offer; and I must conclude, in that case, that Government is equally infatuated with the Americans at present. If fifty years clapse without any episcopate here, there will be no occasion for one afterwards ; and to fix one then will be as impracticable as it would be useless. And I may appeal to all judicious persons, whether it is not as contrary to sound policy, as it certainly is to right reason and justice, that the King's loyal subjects here members of the national Church, should be denied a privilege the want of which will discourage and diminish their numbers, and that merely to gratify the clamours of dissenters, who have now discovered such enmity to the constitution, and who will ever clamour against anything that will tend to benefit or increase the Church here. The time indeed, is not yet fully come to move in this affair ; but I apprehend it is not very distant, and, therefore, it should be thought of. Government will have it in its power very soon to settle this and other matters as may be judged expedient. The Clergy here will not be wanting in any- thing that is in their power towards the accomplishment of so desirable an object ; and, in the meantime would be very glad to have the Society's advice and directions how to proceed. I may add, that the Society, taught by late experience, will be desirous of seeing the Church placed on a more respectable footing, and so far as I can judge, will join in such prudent measures as may be thought necessary, on their part, for the attainment of it.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.