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ment with them, that under the benign influence of Heaven and their pious Care & bounty, my faithful endeavours have not been wanting to promote and answer the end & design of my Mission to this place I would further acquaint the Venerable Society that since my last accounts I have baptized 17 persons belonging to 3 families in this parish, consisting of Men Women & children who before were tainted with the corruptions of Anabaptism & Quakerism & have now before me a fair prospect of doing the like good office for others in a little time

*THE SAME TO THE SAME.

REVD SIR

Jamaica Sept 29 1744.

The several Churches belonging to my Cure (as those of Jamaica, Newtown & Flushing) are in a very peaceable & growing state, whilst other seperate Assemblies in this Parish are in the utmost confusion & this I can write with a great deal of truth that Independency which has been triumphant in this town for the 40 years last past is now by the providence of God in a very faint & declining condition which gives us hopes that better Principles than such as issue out thence will generally prevail amongst us & that we shall be better united than heretofore.

Revd Sir &c & c

THOS COLGAN.

*THE SAME TO THE SAME.

Jamaica Sept 29th 1746

REV SIR-These are to acquaint the Venerable Society that my endeavours in the work of my Mission are by the blessing of God attended with success a late & remarkable instance whereof we have in the conformity of a Family of good repute in ye Town from Independency to the Doctrine discipline and Government of our Church which considering all circumstances may be thought worthy of notice

In my letter of the 26 March last1 I gave information to the Society of our being in a very likely way of having a Church erected in the town of Flushing a place generally inhabited by Quakers & by some who are of no religion at all which indeed has all along from the first settlement of the town been a great obstruction and discouragement to an undertaking of this kind but now by the kind providence of God (who has raised up Friends & money for the purpose) the work is actually begun so that I have hopes of performing divine Service in this new Church in about 3 months time and also that the Society will bestow upon it a Bible & Common Prayer Book according to their usual bounty for certainly there can be no set of People within this Province who are greater objects of the Society's pity & charity than those belonging to the town of Flushing of which I have been so truly sensible that it has brought me (if I may be permitted thus to express it) to double my diligence in that place where error & impiety greatly abound nor have I been wanting (thro' the Divine assistance) in the other parts & duties of my Mission for the space of almost one and twenty years to approve myself a faithful Labourer & my trust in God is that I shall continue to approve myself such whilst I remain & &c

THO COLGAN.

1 No copy of said Letter in MSS.

*THE SAME TO THE SAME.

REVA. SIR

Jamaica March 28th, 1749.

I have great hopes that our Church at Flushing will in a little time gain ground among the Quakers who are very numerous there, and it is somewhat remarkable and may be thought worthy of notice, that a man who had for many years strictly adhered to the principles of Quakerism, when that new Church was opened & a collection made he gave money for the use of that Church, but thinking he had not put enough in the Plate, went immediately after service and gave more to the Collector.

CHRIST'S CHURCH; OYSTERBAY.

The Revd Mr Prime makes the following statement, relative to this Church (Hist. L. Island, p. 268.) "An Episcopal Church was erected here by the avails of a lottery granted for that purpose by the Colonial Legislature, November 4th 1754."

The Bill introduced for the above purpose, passed both branches of the Provincial Legislature December 5, 1754 but did not receive the assent of the Executive. The original is on file in the Secretary's office, but is not signed by Lt Gov. Delancy who then administered the government, and therefore failed to become a law. It consequently has no place among the acts enumerated at the Close of the Session as having "passed," nor is it printed among the Statutes. See Assemb. Journal ii, 408 et seq. 432. Also Council Min. xxiv. 150. Parker & Gaines' Laws of New York, p. 29 (for Acts passed 1754 ;) also Van Schaack's Ditto, p. 339.

*REVD MR SEABURY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE SOC: FOR THE PROP: OF THE GOSPEL.

REVA SIR

Jamaica Oct 10th 1759

I heartily wish it was in my power to give the honoured Society an account of my success in this Mission answerable to their pious care & expense, I have indeed baptized within the last half year One White & One Negro Adult fifteen White & three Negro Infants but have gained no new Communicants-Preaching once in three weeks at a place I find by experience will do a little more than keep up the present languid sense of religion and was it not for the steady tho' slow increase of the Congregation at Newtown I should be almost discouraged.

Flushing in the last generation the ground seat of Quakerism is in this the seat of Infidelity; a transition how natural.

Bred up in an entire neglect of all religious principles in hatred to the Clergy & in contempt of the Sacraments how hard is their conversion, especially as they disavow even the necessity of any redemption.

At Jamaica open infidelity has not made so great a progress, a general remissness in attending divine Service however prevails, tho' I know not from what particular cause.

I beg leave to assure the Society that my best endeavours shall not be wanting to answer their truly pious intention the advancement of pure religion & virtue-Especially in striving earnestly to correct the present erroneous sentiments concerning religion that prevail in the Parish. I am &c &c

*THE SAME TO THE SAME.

SAMUEL SEABURY.

Jamaica March 28. 1760

REVO SIR

I heartily wish my success in this Mission was such as would justify my giving the honored Society an account thereof in some measure equal to their expence and care of it. But such is the effect of the Deism & infidelity (for the spreading of which Quakerism has paved the way) which have here been propagated with the greatest zeal & the most astonishing success that a general indifference towards all religion has taken place & the too common opinion seems to be that they shall be saved without the mediation of Christ as well as with; and even among those who profess themselves members of the Church of England a very great backwardness in attending her service prevails; and particularly with regard to the holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper so great is their aversion to it or neglect of it that I fear the number of Communicants at present scarce exceeds twenty. I remain &c

*THE SAME TO THE SAME.

SAMUEL SEABURY.

REVD SIR

Jamaica Octr 6, 1760

With respect to the state of my own Mission things are considerably mended especially at Flushing which has ever been the seat of Quakerism & infidelity-Many young people of both sexes have steadily attended divine Service the past Summer whose Parents are either Quakers or Deists and behaved with great decency-They are now finishing the Church which before was only enclosed so as to keep out the weather & I hope in my next letter to acquaint the Society of its being completed. At Newtown also they are repairing the Church & have rebuilt the Steeple from the ground at a considerable expence and I had the pleasure the last time I administered the Communion at the Parish Church to find three added to the number of the Communicants.

I must beg leave to repeat my request to the honored Society for a number of Common Prayer Books which I am lately encouraged to think may be distributed to advantage.

I am &c &c

SAMUEL SEABURY.

*THE SAME TO THE SAME.

REVD SIR

Jamaica March 26, 1761.

In my last I informed you that the people at Flushing were finishing their Church. The severe cold weather the past Winter obliged them to suspend the work some months, but they have now resumed it & are likely to complete it in a short time, together with a handsome Steeple which was begun last Autumn. The principal expense of this work is defrayed by Mr John Aspinwall & Mr Thos Grennall two Gentlemen who have lately retired thither from New York.

Mr Aspinwall has besides made them a present of a very fine Bell of about five hundred weight & I hope the Influence and example of these Gentlemen in their regular & constant attendance on divine Service will have some good effect on the people of that town Thro' Mr Aspinwall's means also that Church hath been constantly supplied the last half year with a Lay Reader one Mr Tredwell a young Gentleman educated at Yale College in Connecticutt of an amiable character & disposition & who intends to offer himself for the service of the [Society] and with their permission to go to England next autumn.

Revd Sir &c

SAMUEL SEABURY.

To the Honourable CADWALLADER COLDEN Esq President of his Majestys Council and Commander in Chief of the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America &c The Petition of the Minister of the Parish of Jamaica & Sundrey of the Inhabitants of The Town of Jamaica on Nassau Island Communicants & professors of the Church of England as by Law Established

MOST HUMBLY SHEWETH

That the Inhabitants of the Town of Jamaica: Members & professors of the Church of England as by Law Established: did some years ago by Voluntary contributions Erect & finish a decent & Convenient Church in the Town of Jamaica: for the Celebration of Divine Service according to the use of the Church Of England, but that through the Want of some proper Persons to Superintend the Affairs of the Same: With Legal Authority, the Building is now Considerably out of Repair, and There is Danger Least moneys contributed for the Repair of the Same may be Improperly Applyd to the Detriment of your Petitioners: & Thro' the want of Such Persons it also comes to pass yt Pious & Well Disposed People are Discouraged, in their Designs of Establishing & Erecting proper Funds for the Support Of the Church & its Ministry Your Petitioners Therefore Humbly beg that yr Honour Takeing these things into Consideration Would be Pleasd to Grant us a Charter (Incorperateing such Persons as upon Mature Deliberation shall be found Worthy) with such Privileges & Immunities as in Your Wisdom you shall think Proper And Your Petitioners as in Duty bound Will Ever Pray Aprill the 8th 1761.

SAMUEL SEABURY Jur Minister

Robert Howell

Benjamin Carpenter

John huchiens

John Smith

Jacob Ogden
Joseph Ölfield

Joseph Olfield Jun

Jhno Troup

John Comes

Gilbert Comes

Thomas Truxton
Thos Braine
Benj. Whitehead
Sam Smith

William Sherlock
John Innes

Richard Betts.

Isaac Vanhook

Thos Hinchman
Adm Lawrence

* REVD MR. SEABURY TO THE SECRETARY.

Jamaica March 26. 1763

REVD SIR

After my humble Duty presented to the Honble Society I must beg leave to lay before them an affair which has given them a good deal of concern & trouble & still continues to perplex the state of the mission.

About eight weeks ago Mr Tredwell the Society's miss at Trenton New Jersey, came into this Parish & passed thro' Jamaica, (within three quarters of a mile of my house) to Flushing on a Saturday, without letting me know that he was in the Parish, nor did I know till two days after that he was even in the Colony, The next day the Church at Flushing was (as 'tis said) violently opened & occupied by Mr Treadwell, the key being in my possession.

Mr Treadwell I am also told continued there some time preached the next Sunday after, went to New York preached on a week day, came to Jamaica & baptized a child within a little more than a mile from my house, the child being well & several weeks old, & I had not been out of the Town for more than a day for six months; all this was transacted without giving me the least notice; either by visiting me, or by message, or by letter; nor have I yet either seen him or heard from him, I am utterly unable to guess at the motive of Mr Treadwell's conduct, unless he acted under the Influence & direction of Mr John Aspinwall of Flushing, a man of low Birth & strong passions & violent in his resentments, who having acquired a great Fortune by privateering removed thither from New York & who has really done very considerably towards finishing the Church & gave it a good Bell. But who is disgusted with me for declining to give Newtown & Flushing to Mr Treadwell, tho I readily consented & am willing to receive Mr T. or any other person that shall be agreable to the Society into the Parish in an amicable manner; but the Expenses of a growing family will not permit me to relinquish any part of the Salary. Nor do I conceive that I have any right to give up any part of the Parish to the entire management of another person, unless it should be divided by the same public authority which first established it. Had Mr Treadwell made me acquainted with his being in the Parish I should readily & gladly have invited him to preach at all the three Churches, & am very sorry he did not give me the opportunity, as it would have prevented all Disputes & a great deal of Talk & noise and ill Blood. I am told that I can have my remedy at common Law and have been much urged by my Warmer Friends to make use of it, but I would on no account have an affair of this kind litigated but choose to submit it entirely to the Venerable Society, knowing that while I discharge my Duty to them, they will protect me in the quiet & peaceable enjoyment of my mission, which I am sorry to acquaint them is a good deal disturbed & unsettled by this behaviour of Mr Treadwell's.

The State of the Parish is in other respects much the same. A most unaccountable backwardness to receive the Holy Communion prevails, & I almost despair of getting the better of it, seeing I have laboured much both publicly & privately to bring them to a sense of their duty in this respect but with little success.

*THE SAME TO THE SAME.

Jamaica March 26 1764

REVEREND SIR

My last letter to the Honble Society bore date Oct 4. 1763 wherein I acknowledged receipt of the Prayer books & pious tracts they were pleased to order for this Mission, most of which I have

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