DOMINIE BLOMS DESCRIPTION OF THE MASSACRE AT THE ESOPUS, 1663. Revd Wise, right learned, and pious: The state and condition of my Church, situate in the village of Wiltwyck, in the Esopus country, in New Netherland, since my 3 years residence there is somewhat prosperous, through God's blessing and mercy, as well in Members, which have increased from 16 to 60, as in hearers, and all was well ordered in Church matters and consistory, so that every thing is placed on a good footing. I have also laid a good foundation, both by private and public Instruction of Catechists, both within and without my house, as also by the explanation of the Catechism, so that this newly rising community began to grow and to bloom right worthily, when a cruel blow overtook it, and the Heathens fell on, and right sorely treated our Church and Commonality, and under the guise of friendship murdered and also captured many; they intended to destroy this Church altogether, and to devour it alive, had not the Lord our God wonderfully protected it, and they fled, having taken a fright in their heart, when no person drove them away. So that we escaped with the most part of the inhabitants, and have still retained the place. The Lord only be thanked therefor, not menfor men's help was far from us; for the soldiers whom we had before were discharged and sent to Holland. There lay the burnt and slaughtered bodies, together with those wounded by bullets and axes. The last agonies and the moans and lamentations of many were dreadful to hear. I have been in their midst, and have gone into the houses, and along the roads, to speak a word in season, and that not without danger of being shot by the Indians; but I went on my mission, and considered not my life mine own. I may say with Jeremiah, "I am he who hath seen misery in the day of the wrath of the Lord." Consider well, worthy colleagues, how manifold is the suffering and lamentation amongst us, of our wounded who fled for refuge to my house, and of others who yielded up the ghost near me. I encouraged our people as much as possible, out of God's word, and particularly in prayer to God who hath rescued us. We must behold God's flock taken away into captivity by the Heathen, and Death come in unexpectedly by the windows, and cut off the children from the highways, and the young men from the street; so that I might exclaim-O! my Bowels-my Bowels! I am pained at my very heart !—and with Jeremiah, O that mine head were water, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep for the slain of my people; for the dead lay as sheaves behind the mower. The burnt bodies were most frightfull to behold. A woman lay burnt, with her child at her side, as if she were just delivered, of which I was a living witness. Other women lay burnt also in their houses; and one corpse with her fruit still in her womb, most cruelly murdered in their dwelling with her husband and another child. The houses were converted into heaps of stones, so that I might say with Micah, We are made desolate; and with Jeremiah, A piteous wail may go forth in his distress. But in all this, my request to our brethren is to remember us and our suffering Church in their prayers. With Paul I say, Brothers, pray for us. 'Tis then soe that we see in all this the rod and Him who uses it; and with the Church of the Lord willingly bear the Lord's anger; for we have sinned against him, and I exhort my Congregation to patience and endurance; and lately, at our monthly prayer-meeting, I took my text from Isaiah 42-Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers? &c v. 24, 25; and such other verses in addition. I have also every evening during a whole month offered prayers up with the congregation, on the four points of our fort, under the blue sky. But the Lord strengthened me in all this. We trust and depend further on the help of our God, that he will not altogether forsake us, but vouchsafe us his mercy in the midst of his justice, and evince his power in our weakness; for mountains may depart, and hills fall away, but His mercy shall not once depart from this feeble and infant congregation. For we lean on his mighty arm, and He shall be a wall of fire round about us, and require and avenge this blood on the heads of these murderous heathens. Already He has begun to do so. Many heathens have been slain, and full 22 of our people in captivity have been delivered out of their hands by our arms: Another expedition is about to set out. The Lord our God will again bless our arms, and grant that the Foxes who have endeavored to lay waste the vineyard of the Lord shall be destroyed. The Indians have slain in all 24 souls in our place, and taken 45 prisoners, of whom 13 are still in their power. About the same number of theirs are in our hands. The Lord our God will make all turn out to the best for his Church, and for the peace and quiet of the whole land. The mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be and remain with you, my worthy colleagues for ever; and may this Triune God give us all together after this strife, the crown of immortal glory; and should we no more behold each other here, may we see each other hereafter in our Bridegroom's chamber, securely sheltered behind the blue curtains of the Heavens-in the third Heaven of Abraham's bosom, where shall be joy without sorrow, and a never-ending gladness, always and for ever; and receive altogether the hearty greeting of me who am one of the least of the servants of Christ Jesus in the work of the Lord. The 18th September 1663 in New Amsterdam in New Netherland, Egra manu. HERMANUS BLOM. PETITION OF SEVERAL INHABITANTS OF ESOPUS FOR A MINISTER. 1676. To the Rt Honorabe Sr EDMOND ANDROS Kt of Sauemares; Leiuetenant and Gouvrnar Genarall: vndar his Royall Highnes Deuke of Yorke and Albany; and Dependances. The humble petition of Seuerall of the Inhabittanse of Esopus humbly sheweth vnto yor Honor Whereas this place, is destitute of a minister for the Instruction of the people; It is our Ernest desiar and humbe request, wth all Submission, that yor Honor will bee pleased to bee aiding and assisting in the procuring one for vs that can preache both Inglish and Duche, wch will be most fitting for this place, it being in its minoritty, and hauing great charges is not very able to maintaine two ministares; nethor to bee at the charge of sending for one out of England or Holand; and wee are Informed Mr Peettar Tasetmakr' is at libarty, who is a person well knowne to yor Honor and officiated in this for sum time; And if to bee procured, is very well approued of and much desired by moste, hee being a man of sobar life and conversacon hauing Deportted himselfe to sattisfaction of ye Inhabitance. Wherefor wee Humbly pray that your Honor will be pleased to bee Instrumentall in the same, and yor Honors humble Petticoners shall Euer pray &c. 1 In N. Y. General Entries, XXXII, 61, is an order to the Rev. Gulielmus Newenhuyzen, dated 30th Sept. 1679, to examine and if found fit, to ordain Mr. Peter Tescheumaker, as minister of the Dutch Church at New Castle, Delaware. Mr. T. lost his life at the burning of Schenectady, in the year 1690. ED. Mr Haburne, who is a Minister of ye Establisht Church of England, and sent by his Excell. to administer ye Gospell to you, in this Vacancy, ought I think att Least, to be provided for as well as a Dessenting Minister to yt Church; who is only tolerated to exercise ye unestablisht religion he professes, but it seems you have not been of that Opinion, or if you have, you have not paid y' Obedience to his Excellency's Commands, and that regard to this gentleman's Character, as was due, and this appears plainly by ye mean accommodacons you provided before, I am therefore by his Excell Command to lett you know that you are immediately without delays in misconstruing any part of this to provide a good and Convenient house in your town of Kingstown with necessarys thereto belonging (suitable to the Character of Mr Heburn) for him, and if there be no other house to be Gotten you are immediately to put him in possession of ye house Late of Boudy Windewitt which was some time since Escheated for her Matie and make a speedy returne of what you shall have done herein. I am Gentlemen Yr very humble servt GEO. CLARKE. PETITION OF THE DUTCH CHURCH OF KINGSTOWN. To his Excellency ROBERT HUNTER Esqr Capt Genl Govr in Chief of her Maties Provinces of New York & New Jersey and the Territories depending thereon in America & Vice Admirall of the same & and the Honoble Councill of the Province of New York. The Petition of Petrus Vos Minister of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of the Town of Kingston in the County of Vlster Jacob Ausen, Wessell ten Broek Jacob Du Bois Elders Jacobus Elmendorp, Gerret Wyncoop, Hendick Pruym and William Elten Deacons of the same HUMBLY SHEWEth, That the members of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church in the said Town and their predecessors having for many years since erected a Church in the said Town and dedicated the same to the Worship of God acording to the Constitucons of the Reformed Churches of the United Netherlands Established by the Nationall Synod of Dort held in the years 1618 & 1619, and have allso purchased about half an acre of ground for a Cemetry or Church yard all at their own Charges & Expenses. They therefore humbly Pray for her Maties grant under the great seal of this Province to incorporate them and their successors into a body Corporate and Politick by the name and stile of the Minister Elders & Deacons of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church, of the Town of Kingston in the County of Vlster as near as may be to the Charter granted to the Dutch Church in the City of New York. And yor Petrs as in Duty bound shall ever Pray &c New York 1st of May 1712. By their order HENR BEEKMAN REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL ON THE FOREGOING PETITION. May it please yor. Excellency In Obedience to yor Excellencies Order in Councill of ye ffirst of May Instant We have Examined into ye matter Referred to us on ye Petition of Petrus Vas Minister of ye Protestant Reformed Church of ye Town of Kingstown in ye County of Ulster, Jacob Aerson Wessell ten Brook Jacob Du Bois Elders Jacobus Elmendorp, Gerrett Wyncoop Hendrick Pruym and William Elton Deacons of ye same praying for her Majties Grant under ye Great Seale of this Province to Incorporate them and their Successors into a body Corporate and pollitick by ye name and stile of the Minister Elders and Deacons of ye Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of ye Towne of Kingstown in ye County of Ulster as near as may be to ye Charter Granted to ye Dutch Church in ye City of New York, And Wee are humbly of opinion that yor Excellencie may Grant the said petitioners the Charter prayed by their said petition Which is nevertheless submitted by Yor Excellencies most Obedt humble Servta New York 2d May 1712. RIP VAN DAM May it please yor Honour In Obedience to your Honours order in Council of this day Referring to us the Petition of Petrus Vas Minister of the Reformed Dutch Church of Kingston in Ulster County, and of Abraham Delameter Captain Wessell Ten Brook, Guysbert Vanderburgh and Thomas Jansen Elders and of Captain Nicholas Hofman, Lambert Cool, Captain John Rutsen and Tirck Van Keuren deacons of the same Church. Wee have Considered of the same, and are of Opinion your Honour may grant a Patent of Incorporation to the said Minister Elders and Deacons and their successors for Ever for the free use and exercise of their said Religion and worship with the like liberty and Priviledges as are Granted to the Minister Elders and Deacons of the Dutch Reformed Church in the City of New York with this Difference only that the Rents of the Lands and Tennements to be held by them shall not Exceed the Sum of three hundred pounds pr ann. And that you may likewise Grant a Pattent of VOL. III. 74 Confirmation of the ground and Cemitry or burying Place mentioned in the said Petition under the yearly quit Rent of one Peper Corn if demanded, all wch is nevertheless humbly Submitted by A LIST OF THE FFREEHOLDERS WITHIN THE COUNTY OF ULSTER, 1728. The freeholders for the Town of Kingston, Vizi Doct Hans Kiersteeden Nathaniel Devenpoort Maj Johannis Hardenbergh Peter Tappen Tjerik Van kueren Samuel Burhans Aldert Kiersteeden Evert Roosa Solomon Bunschooten Hendrik H: Schoonmaker Harme barentse Van Emweegen Coll Jacob Rutsen Huyber Suylandt Stephen Gasharie Peter Peele William Legg Peter Oosterhout John Peterse Oosterhout The freeholders of Wagaghkemek: John Van Vliet Junr Barent Burhans William Keel Andries Hoff Manuel Gonsalisduck Junr William Traphagen Peek De Witt Arie Van Vliet John Freer Johannis Hd Schoonmaker Aldert Ariese Roosa Charles Brodhead Christopher Wanbomel Barnardus Swartwout Junr The freeholders of the Towne of Hurly: Johannes Schepmoes Albert Janse Roosa Symon helm Aert Van Wagenen John Van Duersen Abraham Van Wagenen Gerardus Hardenbergh Teunis Teerpening |