USA > New York > Dutchess County > Poughkeepsie > The records of Christ church, Poughkeepsie, New York, Vol I > Part 25
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Gent
Yr very Hble Servt John Davis Secrty.
3. Vestry Minutes, Vol. 1, p. 27.
1774, Feb. 16, Mr. Beardsley laid before this board a Coppey of a writing from Mr. James Duane, Relating to the diference between this Corporation and the members of the Congregation of Rumbout pre- cinct, When, Considering of the same, this board do agree To Send the following letter and Secretary be Order'd Accordingly:
Gentlemen
At a Meeting of the Vestry here, the Reverend Mr. Beards- ley laid before this Board a Coppey of a writing from James Duane Esq'r, which Mr. Terboss delivered to Mr. Beardsley. Which, being read and Considered, the Vestry Conceive that they are Under the Strongest Obligations of Gratitude to Mr. Duane for the friendly Office he has Undertaken, and are of Oppinion with him that no person can be thought of more proper than the Clergy and Vestry of the Church of New York to Determine of Controversie between you and this Corpora- tion (if any their does exist). If, when Mr. Terbos delivered the above Copey he had also delivered to him a memorandum in writing of what you demand of Us, we should have been able To have Informed you how far we Could Comply with your request, but as that has been Omitted, which we Impute to an Inadvertency to Mr. Duane's Request, the Vestry now Re- quest of you that you would lay before their Board a state of
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your Demands in writing, Subscribed by the persons with whom this Corporation are to treat on the subject, that the same may be duly attended to and Considered of: and we are not without hopes that matters may be Amicably adjusted between Ourselves without giving those worthy Gentelmen any Trouble about it.
At the Same time the Vestry, Considering how Absolutely Necessary it is for the Security and promotion of the Church here that their Clergyman be secured in the payment of his full Salary, and Understanding that since Beekmans Precinct dismissed Mr. Beardsley no proper security has been given him to secure the payment to him of that Quarter, we Can't help mentioning this matter to you as a thing of moment; we on our parts have made proper provition for the Quota of the Nine Partners from the time of his dismission from thence, and recommend to you to do the same with Regard to the other. With the failure of one, may deprive us both of a Clergyman, and be a means of our being represented in an Unfavorable light to the Venerable Society on whom we so much depend.
I am &c John Davis. P.S.
it is Our Stated time of
Meeting in Vestry on the third Saturday
in nex March which will be on the
19th of the Month if you have any Matter
to lay before the Board plese to send it
before that time.
4. Vestry Minutes, Vol. 1, p. 28.
1774, Mch. 19, The Vestry being opened the Rector laid before the board a letter from the Church Wardens (& Vestrymen) of the Church of Rombouts Precinct.
[Editor's note: This original letter is on file; Christ Church Mss., GlebePapers, Section C, No. 3.]
Fishkills March ye 14th, 1774
Gentlemen
Yours of the 16th Ulto we have Received by Mr. Childs by which you Inform us that a Copy of a writing from Jam's Duane Esq'r has been Laid before your Board.
We are glad to find that there is some hopes of Settling the Dispute between us without troubling those worthy Gentle-
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men Mr. Duane proposed to Determine our Dispute. We also find by your Letter that you are at a Loss to know what this Congregation does Demand of you; we did ever Suppose you was well acquainted with our Demand, but for your fur- ther Instruction we do here give you a Short Account of what we do demand, which is to be made Secure to one half of the Glebe with a good and Sufficient Title such as we and our Council shall think proper, and, if this Demand does not suit, we are willing to have the whole Glebe sold and our part of the money arising therefrom to be put out and the Interest arising from it to be paid to the Rev'd Mr. Beardsley (if he shall think proper to accept of it) instead of the Glebe, as long as he shall be our Clergyman.
You further add you conceive it to be needful for us to Secure to our Clergyman the full payment of his Salary. We on our part would be heartily glad if it were in our power to Comply with your Request, but as Long as we Remain in such Con- fusion and our Dispute unsettled we conceive it out of our power at Present.
Pursuant to your Desire we have Stated our Demands and have appointed Capt. Dan'l Ter Boss, Doct'r Jer: Cooper, and Mr. Jno. Halstead and Mr. Jno. Cooke to treat with you on the Subject.
We are Gentlemen with Respect
Your most Ob't Serv'ts Daniel Ter Boss Richard King Wardens.
The letter being read and Considered: it was agreed that a Committee be appointed to meet a Committee Appointed by the Churchwardens of the Church of Rombout Precinct, To Endeavor To Settle the Deference between the two Congregations. Order'd that Bartholomew Noxon, Bartholomew Crannell, Richard Davis & Thomas Poole be a Committee for the abovesaid purpose and that they do Report the Same to this Board.
5. Vestry Minutes, Vol. 1, p. 33.
1775, Mch. 18, Mr. Noxon, in behalf of the Committee which were ap- pointed to meet a Committee of the Fishkill Church, Reported that they had met the Said Committee at the house of Mr. Cooper in Rom- bout Precinct, were they Come to an Agreement That, if this board Approved, they were willing that, when Both Congregations Should agree to part the Mission, the Glebe Should be Appraised by five indifer-
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ent persons to be Appointed by the Rector of Trinity Church in New York; on the Report, tis Ordered by this Board that John Child prepare a determined and final Answer to be given the Congregation of Fish- kill and that he have the Same ready By Saturday, the 27th day of May 1775, at the house of Bartholomew Crannell where this Board will then meet.
6. Vestry Minutes, Vol. 1, p. 34.
1775, May 27, This Board Taken in Consideration the Report of there Committee formerly Appointed to meet a Committee of their Brethren of the Church at Fish Kill-
We are of Oppinion the agreement, which our said Committee Enter(ed) into, Ought not, neither Can it be, Complied with for Reasons following: first, that forasmuch as the Original Intention of the Church of Fish Kill, Poughquack, Nine Partners & Poughkeepsie (their Circumstances Requiring it) was that, on the Establishing a Mission by the Venerable Society for propogateing the Gospel in foreign parts, neither of the said Churches should be at liberty to separate from the Other without Mutual Consent, which agreement we Conceive to have been founded in the Clearest Reason for the good of said Churches, as in a Separate State neither of them were Conceived of ability to Support a Missionary, whereas being joined their Mutual Endeavors would bearly do it with credit;
Second, For that we Still insist on the agreement, made in behalf of the Said Churches, by their Representatives, which were deputed by the Said Churches to purchase a Glebe for their joint Use, that (after the purchase of the Glebe in Poughkeepsie) if at any time the Said Churches Should agree and deem themselves of Sufficient Ability to Maintain and Support a minister in Each Church, and in Consequence of Such ability and agreement to Separate, the Glebe at Poughkeepsie to Remain to the Church at Poughkeepsie, the Congregation there Returning to the Congregation at fish Kill, Poughquack and Nine Partners, their part and share of the Money Advanced in purchasing and improving Said Glebe;
Thirdly, that forasmuch as the persons Now pretending and exercising the Right of Manageing the affair of Said Church at. Fish Kill have at Sundry times declared that, if Such an Agreement as afore Recited was Entered into, it was done on their part by persons who had not Suffi- cient Authority to make Such an Agreement; So this Board conceive the Same Objections may lay in future to any agreement now to be made with their Brethren of the Fish Kill Church by their present Representatives; are therefore of Oppinion nothing firm and lasting
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Can be determined on till a Charter of Incorporation for the Church at fish Kill be first Sued out and Established;
Lastly, this Board is of Opinion that untill the Church at FishKill take upon themselves that part of the Mission which Originally was Intended for Poquack and give the Rector Security for his Receiving his Salary for that Quater of his Services which the Church at Fish Kill now Enjoy, So that he may be Enabled to give up the present Security which he has from the Gentlemen at Poughquack: and Until the ar- rearages of Salary due the Rector for his Services past which have been performed at Fishkill: This Board for the Security of the Rector, the peace of the Church, and the Satisfiing the Gentlemen who Remaind bound in Poughquack, are determined to treat no farther on the mater Till those Reasonable and Just Requests are Complied with.
I am Gentlemen &c yours
John Davis Secretary.
To the Churchwardens and Vestrymen of the Church at Rombout Precinct. This letter is date Poughkeepsie June ye 17 1775 at Bottom.
[From December 1777 to March 1780 John Davis occupied the glebe
7. Vestry Minutes, Vol. 1, p. 45.
1780, March 11, Some of the members of Trinity Church at Fishkill being desirous to meet with the Vestry of Christ Church of Poughkeep- sie in Order to confer with them concerning the renting the Glebe, in which they are also intrested-Resolved, therefore, that as many of the Members as think it convenient do meet the Said members of the Church of Fishkill, and that they do report the same to this board at the next meeting. '
8. Vestry Minutes, Vol. 1, p. 46.
1780, March 28, Those members of this Board who met their Breth -. eren of Trinity Church of Fishkill Report that on the tenth (?) Day of March in this present year they, that is to say Richard Davis, Simon Noxon, William Emott and John Davis, Held a Conference in New Hackensack, at House of William Erskin, with Zebulon Southward, Gilbert Southward and Jonas Halstead on the part of Fishkill congre- gation, and did then and there Unanimously agree that the Parsonage
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be lett to hire for one year, and do appoint John Davis and William Emott their Committee to transact the Business.
9. Vestry Minutes, Vol. 1, p. 53.
1784, Apr. 20, At this meeting attended the following Gentelmen, a Committee of Trinity Church at Fishkill, Major Daniel TerBos, Philip Pine and Doct'r Cooper-They informed us that our Brethren of Fishkill had appointed them to Settel with us Respecting the Glebe & That the following matters had given cause of Uneasiness to their Congregation, which they wished might be removed in order to rees- tablish mutual Confidence between us.
First proposition of our Fishkill Bretheren sets forth that the Glebe purchased in Conjunction by both Churches, being covered by the Charter and Grant of Poughkeepsie Church, desire Justice may be done them by Secureing their part.
Answer: Vestry agrees that Trinity Church of Fishkill are Intitled to an Equal proportion of said Farm and Buildings with Christ Church at Poughkeepsie, this Corporation stand ready to give any Writing that may be proper for their Safety herein-It being the Wish of this Board that the two Churches may be united in Strictest Harmony.
Secondly, the Gentelmen of Fishkill propose leaving to Refferees whether they ought not to be intitled to an Equal part in two hundred acres of land, Granted to this Corporation By the late Government.
Answer: we do not at Present conceive it in our Power to admit of this proposition without Betraying the trust reposed in us-The lands in question being a free Donation to the Congregation we Represent. The Glebe, having Eventually in the course of the late War become vacant by the Removal of Mr. Beardsley, great Care has been taken by us for the Preservation & Renting out said place upon best terms Circumstances of the times would admitt-And as a farther proof of our integrity we produced Regular accompts of our Conduct herein- With earnest Requests that the above Gentelmen would at this meeting join with us in Settling these accompts & Receive their Dividend of any moneys we have in hand Belonging to their Church. Our Breth- eren thought proper to Wave this matter for the present till they Should report the Success of their Negotiations to the Vestry of Fishkill.
10. Vestry Minutes, Vol. 1, p. 57.
1784, Aug. 14, The Committee appointed to wait on Fishkill vestry Report to this Board that they enterd upon a Conference with Major Daniel TerBos, Mr. Jonas Halstead, Mr. John Halstead, Mr. John Cook, & Mr. Pine at Fishkill on 8 Aug'st 1784.
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The Gentelmen on the part of Fishkill earnesly requested that the misunderstanding between us concerning the Church lands be Settled. Their opinion is that there must have been a fraud or Collusion in that Affair, nothing can make them Conceive otherwise, unless Refferees shall decide against them, with whose determination they will rest con- tent. With that spirit of Conciliation which ought ever to mark re- ligious Bodys, the Committee from Poughkeepsie Consented to Submit this supposed Greviance to men, a proceeding the more generous as no Law could have oblidged us to it-But merely a Desire of making peace; the Arbitrators jointly Consented to were Doct'r Johnson of Stratford and the Rev'd Mr. Leaming, these two gentelmen to Chuse a third if Necessary.
11. Vestry Minutes, Vol. 1, p. 61.
1785, Feb. 24, The Vestry of Fishkill by Letter requested that the Pough- keepsie Vestry meet them upon Business relating to the two Congrega- tions. In Consequence of which a meeting was held at Mr. Cooper's, Inn-Holder, in Fishkill Town; Present on the part of that Congregation Daniel TerBoss, Doct'r Cooper & Jonas Halstead-from Poughkeepsie attended Richard Davis, Ebenezer Badger and William Emott-The refferees, appointed by the Resolve of the 14 of August last, not being able to Attend, Henry Schenck and Judge Isaac Smith were Nominated and appointed by the parties as Arbitrators to Settel the difference between the two Congregations, these two Gentelmen to Chuse a third man if it should be Necessary-the arbitration to be held at New Hackensack on the 8th Day of March next ensuing-This conference when the above agreement was Entered into was on the 24th February, 1785.
1785, March 2, Wednesday, Mr. Pine came up to Poughkeepsie with a letter from the Fishkill Vestry informing us that Henry Schenck refused serving on the refference, With a proposal that either Mr. Wilsey or Mr. MacNeal be appointed in his Stead-Whereupon Esq'r Wiltsey was agreed upon in the Room of Mr. Schenck.
12. Vestry Minutes, Vol. 1, p. 62.
1785, March 8 & 9. Tuesday the 8th of March the two Vestrys of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill met at New Hackensack at Mr. Annin's, Inn-keepers, together with Isaac Smith & Martin Wiltsey, the Arbitra- tors, to whom the matters in difference were Submitted, after mutual Instruments of writing were exchanged Between the parties in which they Reciprocally pledged their honor and good faith to abide by the . Award of the Arbitrators. The refferees Proposed to Choose a third
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man before they enter upon Business, which, being agreed to, the refferees withdrew & upon their return informed they had Elected Samuel Verplanck, who, being immediately Sent for, attended, when they proceeded to business, and after hearing the testimony of the Witnesses and the Allegations of the parties, this and the following day,-They brought in their award and determination.
13. Parish Mss., Glebe papers, Section C, No. 4.
1785, March 9, original paper; award of the arbitrators.
We, Isaac Smith, Samuel Verplanck and Martin Wiltsie, the Arbi- trators named in the aforegoing Instruments of Submission, having taken on us the Burthen of the said Submission, and heard the Parties, their Proofs and Allegations, do award and determine that the two Congregations, Parties to the said Submission, are (except with respect to the Twenty-three acres, the original Conveyance for which from the Family of Ostrander was taken by the Rev. Mr. Beardsley in his own name) each of them entitled to a full and equal undivided moiety of the Parsonage and Glebe at Poughkeepsie, including both the Lands distinguished by the Appellation of the Old Glebe, and the Two hundred Acres granted as vacant Lands, and that the Corporation of The Rector and Inhabitants of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County in Communion of the Church of England as by Law established were at time of their Incorporation, and still are to be, deemed Trustees for the said Congre- gation at Fish Kill for their said undivided moiety of the said Lands, and that the said Congregation at Fish Kill were originally and still are, unless the same hath been paid, liable to pay to the said Congregation at Poughkeepsie one moiety of the Expense incurred in purchasing the said Lands and obtaining the Charter for the said Corporation. Given under our hands this 9th day of March 1785.
Isaac Smith Sam'l Verplanck Martin Wiltsie.
14. Parish Mss., Glebe papers, Section C, No. 6.
Undated. Time of the arbitration; being a brief for the Corporation of Christ Church, in the hand-writing of John Davis.
In the year 1767 a mission was began by the Rever'd Mr. John Beardsley at the four following places, viz .; at Poughkeepsie, Fishkills, Poquack and the Ninepartners. The People of Poquack and Nine- partners finding themselves unable to perform their part gave up the matter. Whereupon the people of Poughkeepsie and Fishkills joined themselves together and determined to purchase a Glebe for the two
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places, and accordingly each party was to look for proper places, and to meet on a certain day to determine which place to purchase; they met accordingly on the day appointed and the Fishkill people held up a place which was Scituated in Rombouts precinct, distance about seven miles from Fishkill Town and eight or nine from the Town of Pough- keepsie; the Inhabitants of Poughkeepsie held up a place about one mile from the Town of Poughkeepsie. Upon which, debates arose between the parties about which of the two was the properest place to purchase; the Fishkill said that a Glebe purchased for two Congrega- tions should be Scituated nearly in the midway between the two Chur- ches and urged strongly for purchasing the place they had in view; on the contrary the People of Poughkeepsie argued: that a Glebe pur- chased for two Churches, so far distant from each other as these were, should be near one or the other of the Churches, alledging that if ever the Congregations should get able so as to maintain a Minister separ- ately and should part, that the Glebe so purchased would suit one of the Churches; but, if purchased as desired by the Fishkill People, would suit neither; after much altercation on the matter It was agreed to by both parties that they should leave the affair to Mr. Beardsley, and the place he should Choose should be the Glebe, and should be purchased by both Congregations for that purpose, with this proviso, that, if here- after, it should so happen that the Congregations separated, that that Congregation which lay nearest the Glebe should have it, Refunding to the Other the first purchase money; accordingly Mr. Beardsley determined on the matter and Choose the place at Poughkeepsie, and it was accordingly purchased for a Glebe for the two Congregations.
Adjoining to the Glebe lay a parcel of waste uncultivated land, in Common, then said to belong to the Descendants of Myndert Harmanse, one of the original proprietors of the soil and, according to the Deed of the Glebe to the Society for Propagating the Gospel in foreign parts, the Glebe had a Right in it for pasture and wood. After some years the people of Poughkeepsie was Informed that the land said to be Commons was like to be Vacant Land, and that Mr. Leake had Pe- tition the Govenor and Council for a patent for it, and it was also said that the Title of all the Land, in the patent under which the Glebe was held, was not good and that the Inhabitants living thereon were uneasy and wanted a Confirmation for them. The members of the English Church in Poughkeepsie then petition the Governor and Council praying to have themselves Incorporated, and have a confirmation of the Glebe; and also put in a petition for part of the land then deemed Vacant; and, in Order to have the Confirmation made out, got Mr. Cockburn to survey and make a map of it. Mr. Beardsley, hearing that the Governor
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would confirm unto the Inhabitants, holding under Saunders and Har- mense, all the Lands they possessed, and knowing that the deed of the Glebe did Intitle the Glebe to some part of the Common Land, did, when Mr. Cockburn surveyed the Glebe, git annexed to it a part of the said waste land and which was accordingly confirmed to and with the Glebe; and then the Governor and Council did give and grant unto the Corporation of Christ Church in Poughkeepsie Two Hundred Acres of the said Vacant Land.
Since which time an Unhappy dispute has arisen between the Cor- poration of Christ Church in Poughkeepsie and the Vestry and Con- gregation of Fishkills, on account of the said two Hundred Acres granted as aforesaid: the people of Fishkill say that the two Hundred acres ought of Right to be a part of the Glebe and that they should be equal to the Poughkeepsie people in it, and do accuse the members of Poughkeepsie Church of unfair dealing in Obtaining the Land to them- selves, and say farther that Mr. Beardsley had said it was for both Con- gregations.
We, the Members of the Corporation of Christ Church as above said, do deny that we have used any unfair or underhanded means in giting the land, but that we have Obtained it Justly and uprightly; further- more we say that we have added land to the Glebe by which the Fish- kill people is benefited as well as we; for, by the purchase of the Glebe they were entitled to part of the Commons, but, when the said Com- mons was deemed by the Governor and Council unpatented, and Con- sequently Vacant Land, the right of the Glebe and theirs with it fell to nothing. Yet we did obtain a part of the said Vacant Land for the Glebe and which we got annexed to it, as will appear by the Map of the Glebe and our Charter; which is the Land Mr. Beardsley told the Fishkill people he had Obtained for both Congregations.
In giting the two Hundred acres we acted for our Church Only, the same as we did in building of it; and we look upon it that a Claim from the Fishkills for the walls of our Church would be as Just as the one they make to the Land; for Can it be supposed that we cannot advance the Interest of our Church without giving theirs a part? Surely, no. Whatever property the Fishkill Members gets for theirs, Can in our Opinion, in no part whatever be Claimed for the Church of Poughkeep- sie.
We never Negociated this matter Secretly, it was agitated publickly and openly at New York, and we believe not without your knowledge. If Mr. Beardsley told you it was for both Congregations we can't help that. He had no authority from us for saying so. We are of opinion that if Mr. Beardsley was present he would easily set all Right in that
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affair, and we make no doubt but that his evidence would tend very much in our favor; but as that Cannot now be Obtained we are Con- strained to do without it. Mr. Beardsley always told us that what he meant by telling you it was for the benefit of both Congregations was Only the Gore annexed to the Glebe and not the two Hundred acres.
Gentlemen Arbitrators
This we think to be a true State of the matter in dispute between us and to your Determination we most willingly submit it, both for peace and the Churches sake, which we most ardently wish.
15. Vestry Minutes, Vol. 1, p. 62.
1785, March 9, The Business being thus finished the landlord brought in his Bill, and, Judge Smith's charge being five Dollars for his services, it was Agreed that both these charges should be paid out of the monies that have or may be received for rent of Parsonage, whereupon Mr. Richard Davis advanced the Money and Discharged the Bills.
[Editor's note: The original receipted bill of James Annin for the entertainment of the parties to the arbitration is on file in Christ Church Parish Mss., Glebe papers, Section C, No. 5.]
16. Vestry Minutes, Vol. 1, p. 80.
1785, Dec. 6, [A committee, consisting of Messrs. Richard Davis, William Emott, Melancthon L. Woolsey, Ebenezer Badger and Henry Mott, was appointed to]-make a General Settlement of all accompts, controversys, & demands of what nature soever between this Cor- poration & the Incorporated Episcopal church of Fishkill. In con- ducting this business we recommend our Committee to pursue the following Instructions:
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