USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > A historical account of Christ Church, Philadelphia : from its foundation, A.D. 1695, to A.D. 1841 : and of St. Peter's and St. James's, until the separation of the churches > Part 19
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
367
ACT OF SEPARATION.
with all deeds and muniments of title relative thereto, and with all and singular the appurtenances shall be and re- main to the said corporation of St. Peter's Church and their successors forever, for the sole and exclusive use of the said church, subject nevertheless to the payment of the debt, according to the second article of the said plan, and the said corporation of St. Peter's Church and their suc- cessors forever, are hereby confirmed in the title, seisin, possession and enjoyment of the said lands, tenements, her- editaments, rights, privileges, deeds and muniments of title with the appurtenances, for the sole and exclusive use of the said Saint Peter's Church, subject as aforesaid in the same full, free and ample manner, as if the same had in due and legal form been conveyed to the said corporation of Saint Peter's Church and their successors for ever, by the said corporation of the rector, church-wardens and vestry- men of the united episcopal churches of Christ Church and Saint Peter's Church, in the city of Philadelphia.
Sect. 9. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the legal property of Christ Church Hos- pital shall be in the rector, church-wardens, and vestry- men of Christ Church, but the charity is to be managed by six persons, three to be chosen by Christ Church corpora- tion, and the other three to be chosen by Saint Peter's Church corporation annually, at the first meeting after Easter. And that as to other charity funds, the charity funds given to the respective churches by name, or for the use of their members particularly, shall be the property of the respective churches in trust. And that in all cases, in which the charity has been vested in the churches, or in trustees for the use of the members of the churches gene- rally, the legal property shall remain in the trustees or go to the churches as joint tenants, the income of the trust estate and funds to be equally divided between the church-
368
APPENDIX.
es, for distribution by them separately among the objects designated by the donors.
Sect. 10. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the church records of the present united churches of Christ Church and Saint Peter's Church, shall at all times be and remain in the possession of the corporation of Christ Church, who shall have the same power to certify copies thereof, with the like effect as the same can now be certified by the corporation of the said united churches, and free access to the same for the pur- pose of examining and making extracts and copies, shall always be permitted to the corporation of St. Peter's Church, or their authorized agent. The library to be the property of Christ Church, subject to the same right of access by the officers and members of Saint Peter's Church as they now have.
Sect. 11. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the members of Christ Church and Saint Peter's Church at the time of this separation, and their widows, and all the children of such members shall have the same rights of burial in either of the burial grounds now belonging to the united churches, as agreeably to the existing statutes and by-laws of the united churches at the time of this separation, they would have had respec- tively, had this separation not taken place ; their rector or other minister shall have the right of officiating at the in- terment. The owners of vaults in either of the said burial grounds, and the members of their respective families shall, at all times, have the right of burial therein, upon the same terms as if they were at their decease members of the church to which the ground may appertain.
Sect. 12. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaíd, That the present rector shall continue to be the rector of each church, with the same effect as if duly cho-
369
ACT OF SEPARATION.
sen by each after the separation, and his salary shall be paid in equal portions by the respective churches. The respective churches shall have the right of electing an as- sistant minister, who shall, if it be so agreed, be rector upon the demise of the present rector, subject to the rules and practice of the Episcopal Church in the United States in this behalf. If the present assistant minister shall not be chosen an assistant minister of either church, he shall con- tinue to be assistant minister of both the churches with the same effect, as if duly chosen by each after the separation, and shall divide his time equally between them. His sal- ary shall be paid in equal proportions by the churches respectively.
Sect. 13. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if on any of the days or times appointed for the election of vestrymen or churchwardens of either of the corporations created by this act, no such election shall take place, in every such case the vestrymen or church- wardens for the time being shall continue in office until the Easter Monday next following, and until others shall be duly chosen.
Sect. 14. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the rules, by-laws and ordinances of the present corporation, as the same now are, shall be, so far as the same are applicable, the rules, by-laws, and ordi- nances of the corporation of Christ Church and of Saint Peter's Church respectively, until the same shall be duly altered. Provided, That in all cases where the existing by-laws, or any of them, require the presence or concur- rence of a certain number of the vestrymen to render valid acts done by them ; such number, until fixed by a future by-law, shall be in the proportion which the number of ves- trymen fixed by this act, bears to the number of the ves- trymen at the period the by-law, so requiring a specific number was passed.
370
MEETING OF THE VESTRIES OF CHRIST CHURCH AND ST. PETER'S, IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
PURSUANT to notice, a meeting was held at the Rector's House on the evening of January 25, 1832, and the follow- ing resolution was adopted :- " That the accounts of the Wardens and the Treasurer of the Charity Funds should be placed in the hands of the late Committee of Accounts for examination ; and that the same Committee be requested to examine the state of the funds, and determine on the most proper mode of division, and report to their respective vestries."
MEETING
OF THE VESTRIES OF CHRIST AND ST.
PETER'S CHURCHES.
THE undersigned, appointed at the last meeting of the late vestry of the united churches of Christ and St. Peter's, held at the house of the Right Reverend Bishop White, rector of said churches, on Wednesday evening, the 25th ultimo, to examine the accounts of the wardens, and of Thomas H. White, Treasurer of the Charity Funds ; and also to examine the state of the Church Funds, and deter- mine on the mode of division, &c., respectfully report, that they have examined the account of Mr. Meredith, Ac- counting Warden, and find the same correct, showing a balance of $429 78 due to the churches-also, the ac- counts of Mr. Hutchins, Assistant Warden of Christ Church, and Mr. Miller, assistant warden of St. Peter's, and find them balanced, and correct, with the exception of a small error of $2 71 in the latter, against the churches, which they have noted on the face of the account. They have also examined the account of Mr. White, Treasurer of the Charity Funds, which they find correct and sup- ported by the proper vouchers, showing a balance in cash of $1131 76 ·
and in United States Stocks of 1821 and
1822, 5 per cents. 3978 36
together amounting to $5110 12 in his hands; $60 of which belongs to St. Peter's Church, exclusively, arising out of the Brandon and Hand Legacies, and the difference of $5050 12 for the uses intended.
372
APPENDIX.
Your committee on the other matters referred to them, after having given to the same the best consideration in their power, have further to report, that they find the estates and funds of the united churches to be as follows :
I. Divided according to the provisions of the late act of Assembly.
CHRIST CHURCH CORPORATION.
1. The church and grounds on Second street, and on. Mulberry and Fifth streets.
2. Parsonage ground, so called, a rent charge of £136., reserved out of Parsonage Lot on Second street, 34 by 299, payable by J. Ridgway.
· $362 67
3. Three-fifths of Rector's Ground-Rent,* £100., reserved out of a lot on Spruce, Fourth
* The origin of the rector's ground-rent, so called, is believed to be as follows : About the year 1732,* Edward Jauncy, Esq., bequeathed three hundred pounds sterling to the Society, in England, for Propa- gating the Gospel in foreign parts, in trust, which the Society invested in " new South Sea annuities, till lands can be purchased in Pennsyl- vania," and appropriated the interest for the benefit of the minister of Christ Church, Philadelphia. In February, 1759, the vestry of Christ Church ask, and obtain permission, of the Society to sell, and invest the proceeds of these South Sea stocks in lands.t A lot was accord- ingly purchased in the south part of the city for £500. sterling, of which amount the Rev. Dr. Peters, the then rector, gave about £200., with an express understanding, it would seem, that " that part of the lot which is bought with the Society's money, (the £300. of Mr. Jauncy's bequest, given for that purpose,) be for the use of the rector of Christ Church, and that which is bought with my (his) money, for the minis- ter of St. Peter's Church, if ever separated."# Accordingly, on the separation of the churches, " three-fifths of rector's ground-rent," or the income of the property purchased by the £300. of Mr. Jauncy, were
* See pp. 114. 116. t Ibid. p. 149. # Ibid. p. 154.
1
373
FUNDS.
and Fifth, 396 by 102, to be applied to the sup- port of the rector of the united churches, as long as their union shall continue; and in case of their separation, three-fifths to Christ Church, and two-fifths to St. Peter's. 160 00
$522 67
ST. PETER'S CHURCH CORPORATION.
1. The church and ground on Third, Fourth, and Pine streets.
2. Two-fifths of Rector's Ground Rent $106 67
3. Tucker and Vail-Rent charge, 4l. 8s. on lot west side of Fifth, near Mulberry street
11 75
4. Commarque-Rent charge, 4l. 10s. out of lot south side of Chesnut, 30 by 42 12 00
5. Freedland-Rent charge on lot south side of Sassafras, devise of Mary Stevens 14 50
6. Cooper-Rent charge out of lot north side of Pine, and on Fifth street 140 00
" Purchased with S. Powell's legacy to be ap-
" propriated to such uses as may be deter-
" mined upon from year to year by vestry."
assigned to Christ Church ; and two-fifths of the rent, or that pur- chased by the £200. of Dr. Peters, were assigned to St. Peter's Church. In March, 1838, an act of the Legislature was passed authorizing the sale of this ground-rent. It was accordingly sold, and the proceeds divided between the two churches; and the three-fifths belonging to Christ Church, are now (1841) invested (under the approbation of the Court of Common Pleas) in $2500 county loan payable in 1871 ; for the rector, church wardens and vestrymen of Christ Church, in trust, towards the support of the rector of said church. Interest 6 per cent., payable in January and July.
32
374
APPENDIX.
7. Stevenson-Rent charge on a lot on south side of Cedar street, between Second and George-Leak's ground-rent purchased with part of Peter Knight's legacy
25 00
8. Durney-Rent charge, 4l. 1s. 3d. ster- ling, 6l. 15s. 5d. currency, issuing out of a lot on Second and Shippen, granted by Joseph Shippen 18 06
$327 98
The Rector's ground-rent is received by himself, so that no arrangement in relation to it is at this time required ; nor until there shall be two rectors. The others are all paid up, and the churches respectively will receive what belongs to each hereafter.
II. Christ Church Hospital -- all the funds belonging to it will be collected by the treasurer, and applied to its use. Devises of Dr. Kearsley and Joseph Dobbins -- the present state of these will be seen by a statement, (marked A.) fur- nished by the treasurer, and appended to this report : the legal property of this charity to be in Christ Church, but the charity to be managed by six persons, three to be chosen by each church, at the first meeting after Easter, as is provided for by the present charter.
III. Charity Funds, given to the respective churches by name, or for the use of their members particularly, are to remain the property of the separate churches in trust. These are-
CHRIST CHURCH. THE RIGBY LEGACY.
DEVISE FOR THE POOR COMMUNICANTS OF CHRIST CHURCH.
1. A Messuage and lot on the west side of Delaware
375
FUNDS.
front street, above Sassafras, No. 124, and now rented to John F. Sarchett, for $120 00
2. A ditto, No. 15 Sassafras street, rented to Dr. Jacob Lentz for 200 00
3. A ditto, No. 17 Sassafras street, rented to John Wiley for 250 00
$570 00
See particular statement, also appended to this report, marked B, which shows further, "The following stock at " 5 per cent. per annum, purchased at various times by the " committee having charge of this legacy, viz.
" $700 of city loan, 5 per cent. yielding an- nually
$35 00
" $850 of Pennsylvania state, 5 per cent. 42 50"
and further, a balance in the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of 285 15
THE CLIFTON LEGACY. Extract from the Will of Miss Clifton.
" One share in the Bank of Pennsylvania I give to Tho- mas H. White and William S. Biddle, in trust, as the foundation of a fund for teaching six boys at a choir, to sing in the orchestra of Christ Church, and to be applied by them to that purpose, when a sufficient provision shall be made to answer that object : the interest to be applied to the purchase of other stock, and to accumulate until the purpose above mentioned is answered." This fund now appears to be invested in 5 per cent. stock of the United States, and amounts to $542 52.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH. THE THOMAS LEGACY.
1. A house and lot in Mulberry, near Front street, No. 10, rented to Geo. Scott for $200 00
376
APPENDIX.
2. A house and lot, North Fifth street, No. 58, rented to A. Tripple for 130 00
3. A house and lot, North Fifth street, No. 60, rented to William Johnston for ·
150 00
4. A ground-rent on lot, South Second street, near the Wharton Market 26 67
See statement likewise appended to this report, and marked C.
THE BRANDON AND HAND LEGACIES.
A ground-rent issuing out of a lot, corner of Third and Cedar streets, payable by J. Dupuy on the 1st of February, yearly and $60 of the capital of the 5 per cent. stock, forms the whole investment of these legacies, for the exclusive use of the poor members of St. Peter's Church, as appears from the follow- ing extracts from the wills, viz .- Mary Bran- don devises to her mother, Margaret Hand, for life, and by codicil -- " in confirmation of my esteem for the institution called St. Peter's Church, I devise, &c. for the benefit of the Poor Funds of said institution, $300," to be paid after the death of her mother. Margaret Hand devises one-half of the residuum of her estate to the Rector, Church-warden and Ves- trymen of St. Peter's Church, for the benefit of the poor members of said church -- the other one-half to the Presbyterian Church.
IV. Charity Funds vested in the churches, or in trus- tees for the churches generally, are to remain in the trus- tees, for the joint benefit of the churches, or go to the churches as joint tenants-the income to be divided equally
$42 00
FUNDS. 377
for distribution among the objects designated by the do- nors. These are --
WILLIAM CLYMER'S LEGACIES.
1. A ground-rent issuing out of house No. 60, in Shippen street, payable yearly on 1st May, by James Cox, 2l. 16s. $7 47
2. A ground-rent issuing out of house No. 64, in Shippen street, payable yearly on 1st May, by Jos. Fernandez .
9 00
The following is extracted from his will :- William Cly- mer directs his executors to apply £100. to the purchase of a perpetual yearly rent, or to be put out at interest, on good security, and gives the rent or interest to the minister and church warden of Christ Church and their successors forever in trust, to distribute the said rent, annuity or inte- rest, on the 20th September, yearly, to twelve such poor widows frequenting and belonging to the congregation of said church, as the said minister and church-wardens shall judge good and proper objects, &c.
JAMES STOOPS AND REBECCA VENABLES' LEGACIES.
1. A ground rent issuing out of houses, No. 244 and 246 South Third street, payable 1st May, yearly
$18 13
2. A ground-rent issuing out of house, No. 39 Union street, payable half yearly on 25th March and 25th September, by Mrs. George Barclay 17 77 3. A ground-rent issuing out of a lot on Vine street, between Third and Fourth streets, pay- able half yearly on 25th March and 25th of September, by James Exly, 5l. 12s. 32* 14 94
378
APPENDIX.
. 4. A ground-rent issuing out of house, No. 9 Third street, near Poplar Lane, payable yearly, on 1st May, by Jesse James 10 00
5. A ground-rent issuing out of Third street, near Poplar Lane, payable yearly on 1st May, by Judge Hallowell, £5 · 13 33
For the use of Christ Church and St. Peter's, as appears by the following extracts from their wills, viz. :-
James Stoops gives to his house-keeper, Ann Banks, for life, inter alia, his messuage, &c. on the west side of Third street, in breadth 17 feet, and in length 132 feet ; and upon her decease he gives one-third of the same to the rector, church-wardens, and vestrymen of the united Episcopal churches of Christ Church and St. Peter's, to be applied for the use of the poor belonging to the said churches ; one- third to the trustees of the college, &c. to be applied to the use of the charitable school ; one-third to the Pennsyl- vania Hospital. Rebecca, widow of Thomas Venables, gives to the church-wardens and vestrymen of the united Episcopal churches of Christ Church and St. Peter's, £100 .- interest to be distributed amongst the poor commu- nicants belonging to said churches.
MARY ANDREWS'S LEGACY.
A ground-rent issuing out of a lot and houses, corner of Front, Water and Walnut streets, payable yearly on 25th December, by James C. Fisher, £10 $26 66
She, by will, gives the minister and church wardens of Christ Church £100. towards purchasing an organ, folio common prayer book, hanging for desk and pulpit, &c. Devises to William Peters, his heirs and assigns, &c. all the messuages, &c. in Front, on Walnut and Water streets,
379
FUNDS.
forming a corner, charged inter alia, with £10, which the said W. P. his heirs and assigns shall yearly, during Christmas holy days, distribute amongst such poor neces- sitous families of the city of Philadelphia, not on the poor roll, or supported at the public charge; in the distribution of which he and his heirs shall consult the minister and church wardens of Christ Church, for finding out proper objects amongst whom to be distributed, &c. ; gives power to minister and church-wardens to distrain.
V. The library and church records are to remain with Christ Church, with the provisions expressed in the act. A catalogue and inventory should be given to St. Peter's.
VI. General charity funds arising from collections and communion money, &c. amount, by the account of Tho- mas H. White, treasurer, as before
stated to . $1131 76 in cash, and in 5 per cent. stock to $3978 36,
less $60, leaves 3918 36
$5050 12
of which Christ Church takes one-half, $2525 06-St. Pe- ter's Church takes one-half, $2525 06, for the uses in- tended.
VII. The salaries of the rector, assistant ministers, (Dr. De Lancey excepted,) and officers, are paid up to the be- ginning of the current quarter ; and the assistant minister and Mr. Bryant are paid something in advance. The sala- ries of the rector and assistant minister, and of Dr. De Lancey and Mr. Bryant will be paid as they become due, a moiety by each church, and each church will pay its own officers for the current quarter and thereafter.
VIII. There is in the hands of the accounting warden, as before stated, to the credit of the churches $429 78. It
380
APPENDIX.
is proposed that this balance shall remain to be applied to the payment of salaries, or outstanding demands, &c. for which the churches are generally bound until the end of the present quarter, and what then remains shall be divid- ed between the churches ; or that the whole be now paid over, a moiety to each church, each church contributing its share of said salaries.
IX. Pew Rents .- It appears that the arrears of pew- rents in Christ Church, as per statement of the late assist- ant warden of that church, (marked D .* ) are $230 55, and in St. Peter's Church $472 86, as per statement of the late assistant warden of that church, marked E,* which, with the paper marked D,* are both further appended to this report. These arrears may be divided equally, as they are collected ; or each church may take its own arrears, as was done in the separation of St. James's Church : consid- ering that the former mode would keep the account open between the churches for a long time, and almost indefi- nitely-the committee would recommend the adoption of the latter.
X. Debts Due by the Churches .- These are the loans granted by Christ Church Hospital, and amount to $3300, to be paid by the churches equally.
Christ Church one-half is $1650 ; St. Peter's Church one-half is $1650. Either church may pay its one-half, or each may assume to pay it, with the consent of the trea- surer of Christ Church Hospital, and in the mean time pay the interest accruing on the same.
Finally, it appears that Christ Church is indebted to the united churches for an advance made by the vestry for her special use the 23d April, 1830, being the amount of Mr.
* These statements were exhibited to the vestrics, but are not now appended in print.
381
FUNDS.
Kenworthy's bill for painting, $278 40, and interest thereon to the time of separation.
All of which is respectfully submitted, 14th February, 1832.
C. P. WAYNE, On behalf of Christ Church. J. PERCIVAL, On behalf of St. Peter's Church.
APPENDIX A.
PROPERTY BELONGING TO CHRIST CHURCH HOSPITAL.
WHERE SITUATED.
Occupied, or paid by
Total Am't.
House N. E. cor. High & Front sts.
Do. do. Cellar
G. W. Bertron
350|00
Do. N. W. cor. High & Water
James Brown
350|00
Do. No. 2, Letitia Court
E. Kuhn
160 00
Do. No. 4, South Front street
L. B. Clarke
400|00
Do. No. 6, South Front street
Gebhard Harris
325 00
Do. No. 111, Mulberry st.
Elizabeth Knight
400 00
Ground rent, lot No. 159, Mulberry
Adam Guier
16 00
Do. lots No. 381 & 383, N. Front
Edmund Pryor do.
13 47
Do. lot No. 379, N. Front st.
Do. lot N. Front, opposite Duke st.
Robert Porter
28|00
Do. lot N. Front st. adjoining public wharf, N. Liberties
Daniel Bickley
20 00
Do. lot adjoining Hay Scale Wharf, N. Liberties
Johns and Linerd
20 00
Do. lot No. 193, N. Front. st.
Do
Do. lot No. 197, N. Water st.
Do.
lot No. 33, S. Third st.
A. Brazier
6|00
Do. lot No. 25, N. Third st.
Jacob Ridgway
6|00 .
Joel Atkinson
3|51
Do. lot No. 62, do.
Caleb Pusey
4|07
Do lot No. 60, do.
Jacob Stockman
4|07
Do. lot No. 58, do.
John Harland
7/02
Do. lot N. Fifth st. between High and } Mulberry
Robert Fleming
165 33
Do. lot Cedar st. between Second and Third sts.
-
A. Southern
14 67
Do. lot N. E. cor. Third & Cedar
Wm. Campbell
61|33
Do. lot S. E. cor, Vine & Fifth sts.
James Stokes
32|00
Do. lot No. 121, Spruce st.
John Elliott
50/00
Do. lot No. 143, S. Fifth.
T'hos. Cooper
28|00
Bond and Mortgage, $6000 at 5 per ct. Bank Stock-Joseph Dobbins's legacy- 200 shares in Bank of South Carolina
Varies-last few years at about
600 00
Loans to Rector, &c. of the united church- es of Christ Church and St. Peter's, $3300 at 5 per cent.
165 00
Stock of the State of Pennsylvania at par -$2000 at 5 per cent-cost $2097 50.
10000
4056 20
Lot of Ground between Spruce and Pine sts. and Sixth and Seventh from Schuyl- kill, not improved or occupied.
I. W. Norris
10/00
James Trimble
10 00
Mary Tatem
10|00
Curtis Lownes
20|00
Do. lot No. 23, N. Third st.
Do. lot No. 64, Chesnut st.
Samuel Beatty
20 00
Do. lot No. 89, Cedar st.
556 20 300,00
J. T. Sullivan
350|00
2335|00
6 73
383
1
APPENDIX.
DUE BY CHRIST CHURCH HOSPITAL.
There is to the credit of an account entitled the estate of Samuel P. Moore, being an accu- mulation of years of ground-rent of £4 sterling per annum, to year 1827. It has not been called for, nor is it known who are the representatives of said estate, $228 54
To credit of Ann Simmons-interest paya- ble during her life 1000 00
APPENDIX B.
PHILADELPHIA, February 7th, 1832.
An account of the property bequeathed by Henry Rigby to Christ Church, in trust, for the poor communicants of said church, as per will, dated 28th April, 1823.
Dolls. per annum.
One house, No. 15 Sassafras street, now rented to Dr. Jacob Lentz · $200 00
One house, No. 17 Sassafras street, now rented to Mr. John Wiley 250 00
One house, No. 124 N. Front street, now rented to John F. Sarchett 120 00
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.