USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Annals of the Swedes on the Delaware (history of Old Swedes Church of Philadelphia) > Part 5
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a present from the reigning Sovereign, Charles XII. They were equally divided between the church at Wicaco and that at Christina.
As my plan is to mention facts as they occurred, or in chronological order, it is proper here to lay before the reader an address of the Swedes, to the Legislature of the Province, setting forth certain grievances which the document itself sufficiently ex- plains.
"To the Representatives of the Province of Penn- sylvania, met in General Assembly at Philadelphia, this first day of June, 1709. The complaint of divers of the freeholders and others settlers of this Province: Setteth forth :
"That whereas we the Swedes, ancient settlers and first inhabitants of this Province, with great diffi- culty, hazard, and loss of several of our lives, having at last obtained peace and quietness with the Indians -- and after the changes that have happened by rea- son of the divers sorts of governments, we have lived peaceably and quietly, enjoying our lands and estates, which we first settled, under our own government. And since we are informed that upon the surrendering of this province to the crown of England, in lieu of Surinam to the Dutch, it was agreed on both sides, that the inhabitants were in no wise to be disturbed either in their lives, liberties, or estates; we after that,
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being summoned to appear before the government which then resided at New York, were obliged to take patents or grants for what land we held before, or desired after. But since this Province has been granted to William Penn, he and his officers called for our patents and grants under pretence of renew- ing them, which having obtained would not return them again, but instead thereof resurveyed great parts of our lands, and took it from some of us : others were required to pay greater quitrents than before; and because some of us refused the payment of such quitrents, being on some tracts of land three or four times more than we ought or used to pay, when under the government of New York, we being, as we sup- pose, the Queen's tenants, and not liable to pay any at all to the proprietor-the collector, James Logan, threatened to make distress upon our goods for the said rents, using at the same time many harsh and opprobrious epithets :
"We, therefore, presuming that the same justice which, under similar cases, is dispensed by the Par- liament of England, may be obtained here, solicit from you our representatives, some help in our dis- tress, that we may have our patents restored to us, together with all the overplus of the quitrents which have been unjustly exacted from us these twenty years past : For which we shall always pray :
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Zacharias Cock,
Gabriel Cock,
Eric Keen,
John Stille,
John Tanck,
Hans George,
Otto Earnest Cock,
Morten Mortenson,
Peter Peterson,
Gosta Gostason,
John Aretson,
Hans Bonde,
Matthias Nezelius,
Lors Mortenson,
Anders Bonde,
Olle Bonde,
Anders Mortenson,
Gabriel Friend,
Valentine Kock,
John Ellet,
Andrew Longacre,
John Hindrickson,
John Mortenson,
Matthias Keen."
At a meeting of the congregation on the 18th of May, A. D. 1710, the usual election for vestrymen took place. It may be of use to the Swedes of our time to know what were then considered to be the duties of vestrymen. These duties were declared to be -"1st. To take care of the church, see to its re- pairs, and, if necessary, put up additional buildings : 2ndly. To maintain the parochial ordinances and regulations enacted at the general meetings-and to preserve order in time of divine worship. 3d. To inspect the behaviour of the people in their respective districts, admonish those that misbehave, and proceed with them further, if necessary. 4th. To attend divine worship often, partake of the Lord's Supper, and be edifying examples in all Christian virtues."
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At the same meeting the following resolution was adopted :- " Whereas some, when reproved for their sins, and are not permitted to break our church rules, hate both the minister and congregation, and abandon divine worship; therefore resolved, that such shall be several times admonished, and warned, against the dreadful hazard of their souls; and if they persevere in their malice, shall have no right to the privileges of the church; and if they die without repentance, shall not be buried in our cemetery."
In the month of May, A. D. 1712, two clergymen, Andrew Hesselius, master of Philosophy, and Mr. Abraham Lidenius, arrived from Sweden, sent by the Government and Bishop Swedberg, to take charge of the church at Christina, in place of the Rev. Mr. Biork, who had been recalled to Sweden. His recall was by Charles XII. in the following words :
"Charles, by the grace of God, king of Sweden, &c., &c., to all whom it may concern, greeting. His Royal Majesty, our beloved father, of glorious memory, had a tender solicitude for the welfare of those Swedish children that removed to the far distant country of America, and particularly for their con- stancy in the true evangelical doctrines, and the pure worship of God. We have likewise the same pious and laudable zeal. Having recalled the Rev. Eric Biork, who in the year 1697, was by his aforesaid Royal Majesty sent to a Swedish congregation in that
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country, to be rewarded for his long and laborious services, by some comfortable situation in our king- dom; and being desirous to provide this our congre- gation with a spiritual guardian in his place ; we have appointed a man renowned for his learning, official talents, piety and grave manners, our faithful sub- ject the Rev. Andrew Hagvinius. We have also com- missioned the Rev. as a colleague, for aid in preaching and other clerical functions; and sent a donation of bibles, and many books of common prayer, to be distributed among the congregations. They will, no doubt, be pleased and edified by the services of these clergymen. These may also depend on a gracious promotion in Sweden, when they shall wish to return. We also assure the congregations and the Swedes living in the aforesaid country, of our particular and permanent royal favour ; commending them to the care of Almighty God.
"Written in our Head Quarters at Smorgonie, in Littaven, February 21, A. D. 1708.
"CHARLES."
Mr. Hagvinius, the clergyman, mentioned in the preceding document, died while preparing for the voyage; in consequence of which the Rev. Mr. Hes- selius, above referred to, was commissioned to take the place of the Rev. Mr. Biork, with the other gen- tleman here spoken of, as his assistant.
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Doctor Jesper Swedberg, Bishop of Scara, in the province of West Gothia, had been appointed super- intendent of the Swedish Mission, and recommended the aforesaid clergymen. The following is an extract from the letter which he sent by them to the congre- gation :- " You receive now, my beloved brethren and sisters in Christ, two pious and learned clergymen, with a stock of religious books. This fresh proof of God's merciful goodness, and the king's solicitude for your spiritual welfare, merits your sincere grati- tude, which you will display in a truly Christian life, and thereby insure the same blessings in future. I am confident that these clergymen will faithfully per- form their duties, and shall be very happy to hear that you have received them with hearty affection. Hav- ing promoted their appointment by a zealous recom- mendation, I shall always, while God preserves my life, with the greatest satisfaction employ all the means in my power for your benefit. May God have you all in his holy keeping, abundantly bless you and your children, and finally grant to us a meeting in heaven with everlasting felicity."
For a considerable time after the new church at Wicaco was built, the residence of the clergyman continued to be at Passyunk, four miles below the church, on the Schuylkill. Among the church records I find the following memorandum in the hand-writing of the late Dr. Collin. It purports to be " a transla-
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tion from the Wicaco church records." The memoran- dum is as follows: "The parsonage on Passyunk was bought by, or from Andrew Bengtson, contain- ing eighty acres of land, whereof seventy are situated near the minister's house, and ten on Ponskon-hook. It cost in all sixty pounds. Was also bought by or from Capt. Laurence Cock, sixteen acres, of which the cost was ten pounds .- Afterwards was purchased on Wicaco, as the church was built there, as a glebe, the share of Valentine Cock, under a proper title, as appears from the deed of purchase dated the 19tl of September, 1698. The cost of this was twenty- five pounds. This land was paid for in manner fol- lowing: First, was sold the parsonage on Tinicum for one hundred pounds, agreeably to the consent of both congregations. Of this the Christina congre- gation received fifty pounds, and Wicaco the same amount. As this money was not sufficient, the people resolved to contribute five shillings each family, and to make a present of the surplus to the church. N. B. This was done in Mr. Rudman's time. Mr. Sandel and the congregation bought in 1719, from Martha Swanson* twenty-five acres on Wicaco. Gunnar Swanson, who died in 1702, left to the church one- third of his estate."
This is a memorandum of some importance, and
* The deed says Martha Cock, granddaughter of Swan Swanson.
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gives us a view of all the property, I suppose, ever owned by the church. I have never seen the deed here said to be of the date of 19th Sept. 1698, and was before ignorant# that so much land had been pur- chased at that early period. A question here suggests itself-what has become of all this land? And the proper answer would seem to be-that a great deal of it has fallen into other hands, through neglect. One of our late wardens, ¡ remarked very lately, that prop- erty which now yields an income of several hundred dollars to the church was a few years since not known to belong to the church, and was quite accidentally recovered by him out of the hands of a person who, about forty or fifty years ago had rented it as a grass lot, and afterwards brought himself to believe that he was the owner. }
The parsonage house in Passyunk was accidentally burnt down in 1717, and was immediately rebuilt. We have in the old records a very particular account of who furnished the timber-who cut it-who haled it -who built the walls-who cut the rafters-who car-
* Further inquiry induces the belief that this purchase of 1698 was never made. It appears that before 1719 the church owned no land at Wicaco except two or three acres, on part of which the church was built.
t Mr. William Jones. 1
# Of the nincty-six acres once owned by the church, on the Schuylkill, and mentioned in the above memorandum, a con- siderable portion has been lost through possession of more than twenty-one years!
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ried them to the ground-who put them up-who bought the shingles-who shaved them, &c., &c. The reader, who is curious in such matters, may see all the particulars on application to the rector of the church.
The 11th of Nov. 1717 is the date of an instrument of writing, by which Charles XII. of Sweden recalled the Rev. Mr. Sandel from his duties here, and ap- pointed him rector of Hedemora, a town in Dalecarlia. The recall was received on the 28th of May 1718; but private and parochial concerns prevented his im- mediate departure. The latter had reference, chiefly, to the purchase of the twenty-five acres of land which about this time the church was contracting for with Martha Cock, a granddaughter, as already mentioned, of Swan Swanson, deceased. His last meeting with the congregation was on the 7th of May A. D. 1719; on which occasion the Rev. Mr. Hesselius, of Christina church, and the Rev. Mr. Lidenius, pastor of Racoon church, in Jersey, were present. These clergymen promised to perform divine service once a month, dur- ing the vacancy. And Arvid Hernbom, a student of good abilities, and who had for some years kept school in the parish, agreed with them and the people to keep the church open on the other Sundays, by acting as lay-reader.
We have no data from which to ascertain with much precision what was the order of divine service among the Swedes, in the times of which we are writing. Mr.
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Sandel has mentioned that "the forenoon service was observed in the manner required by our (the Swedish) liturgy, and as is customary in Sweden." He also says that they had two sermons on Sunday-that they used the "Te Deum," to which, I suppose he refers, when he says they sang "O Lord we praise thee." As to the preaching, it seems to have been frequently from a portion of the catechism. Mr. S. was in the habit, in the summer season, of walking through the aisles, and examining the congregation on the cate- chism, and on their knowledge of the sermon he had previously preached. Such a practice in our time would be apt to make thin churches.
Mr. Sandel speaks of the harmony and friendship that existed between the Swedish and English congre- gations, and that they had mutually officiated in each other's churches .* "On solemn occasions," he says, "as at the laying of the corner stones of churches, they have always invited us, and conducted themselves as friends to our church. This year they undertook
* The Swedish clergymen did not confine themselves, in their endeavours to be useful, to the particular churches of which they had the pastoral charge. The Rev. Mr. Hesselius, pastor of the church at Christina, seems particularly to have laboured in a wider sphere than his own congregation. That excellent institution "the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," to which the Episcopal church in this coun- try owes such a large debt of gratitude, noticed and rewarded the labours of Mr. Hesselius; as appears from the following letter to him of its Secretary :
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to enlarge their church, and though the Presbyterians offered them the use of their church, they asked to be permitted to worship in Wicaco, which was granted them for three successive Sundays. And for confirm-
"London, May 8th, 1721. "REV. SIR,
"The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in For- eign Parts, hath received a representation from the clergy in Pennsylvania, setting forth among other things, the good serv- ices you have done by reading prayers and preaching in the several vacant churches in Pennsylvania, and have ordered me to acquaint you, that in consideration of your past labours, they have presented you with the sum of ten pounds, for which you may draw on their treasurer. They have also agreed to allow you ten pounds per annum, in case you perform divine service and preach in the English language in the several vacant churches in Pennsylvania, at least twenty times in one year, and transmit over hither proper certificates thereof.
I am, Rev. Sir,
Your most humble servant, DAVID HUMPHREYS, Sect.
ing the unity that existed between the two congrega- tions, a Swedish hymn was sung at the English service. To preserve unity and confidence with the English church, the present Bishop Dr. Swedberg, has con- tinually urged in his letters."
The Swedes, about this time, addressed a long letter to "the Right Honourable Count Jyllenborg, the Swedish Envoy in London," on the subject of the grievances which had led them in 1709, to lay their complaint before the Legislature of the Province of
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Pennsylvania. This letter appears to have been de- signed merely as a vindication of themselves against what they conceived to be " misrepresentations of Wm. Penn, and his commissioners." An extract will show the nature of the misunderstanding between them and Mr. Penn :
"May it please your Excellency,
"We are much concerned that Mr. Penn should complain of us in such general terms as renders it difficult to make any particular defence, as he seems to do in our case. We can with all sincerity assure your Excellency, that we and our predecessors, have been ready upon all occasions, to serve Mr. Penn, and never, as far as we know, gave him the least cause of complaint. But, the manifest wrongs we received, gave us frequent and just occasion to complain. That this may appear, we respectfully ask your impartial consideration of our case and grievances, which in part, may appear to your Excellency in these follow- ing particulars, viz :
"When this country was surrendered to the English, all the inhabitants were confirmed in their lands, but required by the Governor of New York (to whom they were then annexed) to take pat- ents out there for the same, and to become tenants to the kings of England, under the rent of a bushel of wheat per annum, for every hundred acres.
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But may it please your excellency, when this province was granted to the present governor by the late King Charles II., we find, that lands held by the Indians, and not the lands confirmed before to our predecessors, much less the rents reserved to the crown of England, were granted to Mr. Penn; who, nevertheless, by an order under his hand and provincial seal, dated the 14th of June, 1683, did require all that had no pat- ents, or were willing to have their patents renewed, to send their certificates of survey, and old patents, to the surveyor general's office; whereupon many of the said patents and certificates were taken in, and have been detained ever since from the owners; and instead of having patents upon the said certificates of survey, or the old patents renewed, the governor and his com- missioners caused the lands therein mentioned, without any warrant of law, or consent of the possessors, to be actually surveyed, and the greatest and best part thereof, patented to new purchasers under Mr. Penn ; and the rents of what was left, advanced on some three, on others fourfold more, than was reserved by the old patents," &c., &c.
We give the above complaint as we find it, without comment. We are not sufficiently versed in ancient law to know what were the respective rights of Mr. Penn, as proprietor of Pennsylvania, and of the Swedes as earlier possessors of part of the soil. Non nostrum tantas componere lites. It appears to us,
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however, that they had some ground for complaint. The Rev. Mr. Sandel has noted some meteorological and other occurrences, which happened in his time. He states, that on Michaelmas-day, the 10th of Octo- ber, 1703, a quantity of snow fell, that laid on the ground for twenty-four hours; and that the oldest people said such a thing had not before happened in their time. On the 18th of the same month, in the evening, a hurricane arose, which did great damage. In Maryland and Virginia, many vessels were cast away, several driven to sea, and no more heard of. Roofs of houses were torn off, and large trees blown down. The same storm reached to England, where also it was destructive.
In 1704, in the latter part of November and De- cember, and in January, 1705, there were many great and lasting snow-storms. Few persons could remem- ber so severe a winter.
The winter of 1708 was very cold ; and it continued so, very late. On the 5th of April the cold was so intense, that water thrown upon the ground at noon, immediately froze.
For six weeks in June, July, and August of 1705, there was a great deal of bad weather.
The beginning of 1714 was uncommonly warm. Mr. S. saw a wild flower in the woods on the 8th of February. The spring was also very mild. Some rye was in ear on the 10th of April.
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There was an appearance of locusts in 1715, of which Mr. Sandel has given the following account :- "In May, 1715, a multitude of locusts came out of the ground every where, even on the solid roads. They were wholly covered with a shell, and it seemed very wonderful, that they could with this penetrate the hard earth. Having come out of the earth, they crept out of the shells, flew away, sat down on the trees, and made a peculiar noise until evening. Being spread over the country in such numbers, the noise they made was so loud that the cow-bells could scarcely be heard in the woods. They pierced the bark on the branches of trees, and deposited their eggs in the opening. Many apprehended that the trees would wither in consequence of this, but no symptoms of it was observed next year. Hogs and poultry fed on them. Even the Indians did eat them, especially when they first came, boiling them a little. This made it probable that they were of the same kind with those eaten by John the Baptist. They did not continue long, but died in the month of June.
The same year was very fruitful. A bushel of wheat cost two shillings, or two shillings and three pence ; a bushel of corn twenty-two pence: of rye twenty pence. A barrel of cider cost six shillings.
It is elsewhere remarked, that in the latter part of November, 1732, "ice made the river impassable;" and that in January, 1733, there was much snow.
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Mr. Sandel is not the only one who has related the following " stratagem" of Governor Evans. In 1706, May 27th, he caused a false report to circulate, that the French were coming up to Philadelphia, with a view to take the town by storm, and that they were already high up the river. This report produced great fear and consternation. Having collected his soldiers, he caused ramparts to be erected on Society- hill,* where he placed field pieces. He ordered the soldiers to keep themselves in readiness, as the enemy would be up with the next tide. The people were very much alarmed. The Quakers conveyed their wives and children into the woods; their moveables they either carried off, or hid in wells. Those that lived near the town carried their goods into the swamp, and also hid themselves there. Many women, who were in a delicate situation, miscarried, in consequence of
* Mr. Watson, in his Annals of Philadelphia, speaks of Society-hill as a place much resorted to, in former times, on account of a spring there, called "Bathsheba's Spring." I have in my possession a manuscript life of my great-grand- mother, Ann Clay, in which she speaks of this spring in the following terms :- "Under Society-hill, she (her maiden aunt) built a small house close by the best spring of water, perhaps, that was in our city. This house she furnished with books, a table, and a cup, in which she, or any that visited her, drank of the spring. What name she gave her new house I know not; but some people gave it the name of Bathsheba's Bower, (her name was Bathsheba Bowers.) As for the spring, it has ever since borne the name of ""Bathsheba's Spring."
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their fright. This false alarm was raised to see what course the Quakers would take, and whether they would fight. Such conduct in a governor, needs no comment.
Another circumstance, not connected with our Swe- dish story, is the following. In 1715 the Indians, living on the borders of the Mississippi, made an incursion into the western parts of South Carolina, and destroyed a great many of the white inhabitants. As soon as the alarm was given, the people of the adjacent country fled from their homes to Charleston ; but as that town could not contain them all, many took passage in the trading vessels, and went, some to Barbadoes, and others to New England and Phila- delphia. The massacre was occasioned by the bad faith observed towards the Indians by the traders liv- ing among them.
The next pastor appointed for the church Gloria Dei, (Wicaco,) was the Rev. Jonas Lidman. His appointment was in the following terms, viz.
"We, Ulrica Eleanora, by the grace of God, Queen of the Swedes, &c., &c., make known, that as by the promotion of the Rev. Andrew Sandel, the office of pastor in the church of Pennsylvania is become vacant, we have appointed for the same our well-beloved Master in Philosophy, Jonas Lidman, ordering all concerned to act accordingly.
"Stockholm, 2d of May, 1719."
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With Mr. Lidman, or about the same time, came the Rev. Samuel Hesselius. We find them both pres- ent at a meeting of the congregation on the first Sun- day in Advent, (about the first of December, ) 1719, and also the Rev. Andrew Hesselius, of Christina. On that occasion the above letter of the queen, announc- ing the appointment of Mr. Lidman to the Wicaco Church, was read; and also letters from Bishop Swed- berg to the Swedish congregations in general, and to the church Gloria Dei in particular. The bishop had, on the recall of Mr. Sandel, recommended Mr. Hes- selius as his successor, who was accordingly appointed by the king, with Mr. Lidman as assistant in all the congregations, to aid where most wanted, and to suc- ceed in any that might become vacant ; but afterwards he had respectfully advised the queen to appoint Lid- man as ordinary pastor, because he had taken the degree of Master in Philosophy, allowing Hesselius to be pastor extraordinary of the church, and assistant to the other churches. The congregations promised their best endeavours to support both the pastors.
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