1701 The Gentlemen in Common Council are unanimously of opinion that such persons as have conveyed said pasture grounds to said Bogardus are to make ye same good unto him ye said Bogardus. In ye meantime ye said Bogardus is not to proceed Infenceing as aforementioned.- Munsell's Annals of Albany, Vol. iv. pp. 131, 132. COL. SMITH, PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF NEW YORK, TO THE Missions to the Mohawks. 1701, May 10. I must also observe to your Lorship's that the French since the last peace have industriously endeavored to debauch our Indians, to their interest and have (as I am informed) prevailed with many of them; some reasons of which I find the late Governour had been pleased to represent to your Lordships. What further I could be informed of, is the taking from them a Minister, who had with great pains and care instructed them in the Christian Reformed Religion and of whom they had a great good opinion; whose want, though several times represented to them, hath not hitherto been supplied. Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 867. ROBERT LIVINGSTON TO THE LORDS Of Trade. Missions to the Mohawks. 1701, May 13. The Five Nations have received such impressions of the Christian Religion that If ministers were planted amongst them to convert them to the Christian faith, it would be of great advantage to his Majesty's plantations, not only in securing those Indians friendship, but also to be a checque and discouragemant to the French emissaries, who frequently visit those nations and endeavor to corrupt their affections from the English, and makes ill impressions in their mind, to the apparent prejudice of our trade, since the French by their false reports have poysoned our Indians, insomuch as to make them believe that we have no love for them, but will leave them a prey. I am humbly of opinion that it will be absolutely necessary for the King's service that all the passes between the French and them be secured, and forts built in suitable places for the security of their trade, and the preventing the French from any longer deluding or trading with them; for it is equally reasonable that we should secure the trade of our Indians to our selves, as the French do theirs, and even use the same methods of force for the effecting of it. Those forts being built at proper places, will for ever prevent the French from making any descent upon them.- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 872. My Lords, 'twill be necessary that every fort have a Chaplain in it who may likewise instruct the Indians in the Christian Religion as your Lordships do well approve. Ditto, 875. EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL OF MESSRS. BLEEKER AND SCHUYLER'S Catholic vs. Protestant Missionaries. 1701, June 2. Dekanissore came and told us that they were much confused in their meeting and extremely divided; some will have a priest on the one side of the Castle, and a Minister on the other side, and ask our advice. Wee told him to take no priest into the country if they were minded to live peacably, for they would then have a Traytor always in their land. Your Brother Corlear will never be able to speak a word to you but the Governor of Canada will know it. On the other side, you may be assured that Corlear the Governour of New York will never suffer it, so long as sun and moon endures; how are you soe discomfited and affrighted? doe you not see how the French creep and cringe to you with beads and shirts to make friends with you? would he doe soe if he had any ill design; be not affraid of the French, speake like men and behave yourselves like soldiers, for which you have always been famous. Dekanissore replyed, wee are affraid the French will warr again upon us, and what can we doe then, poor people; for all them that he pronounces dead are certainly dead; wee have found it soe by experience, as also our Brethren the Maquases; and if we comply not to what he will have us, wee fear he will come again and kill us. Wee answered: Brethren: You talk of nobody but Onnondio, the Governor of Canada; or doe you think that your Brother Corlear cannot be angry likewise? he has tendered you first a Protestant Minister and would you now take a Popish priest? That would render you ridiculous. Wee admire (wonder) that you are soe affraid of the French, when there is no cause; when you can support your reputation; can you not see that the French are in want? how are you so brutish and stupid? I was at Canada this spring, and see their scarcity of provisions, and wherewith would they goe to warr? be not afraid, speak like men; neither dare the Governour of Canada make warr upon you before there is a warr between the two Kings at home, and if that happened, the Brethren would see what care our King would take of you. Dekanissore Replys and said: Itt was concluded in our covenant, that he that toucheth one, all the rest would resent itt; butt wee found itt otherwise by experience; when the French came and destroyed our Country and the Maquase, wee gave you seasonable warning, but gott no assistance, and that makes us affraid what to doe;- About ten o'clock att night Dekanissore came to us again, and told us they were still divided in their opinions, and that he had not slept in two nights, and prayed our Council what to doe; wee told him to keep the priest out of the Country, to keep their land free and clear, and not to fear. The 22nd June 1701. Dekanissore speaks and said: Wee are desired by both parties to turn Christians; in the first place by a belt given us in this house by Coll. Peter Schuyler Queder, and Mr. Livingston secretary; and then another belt sent by the Governor of Canada; wee see the both belts hanging in these Courte house. The French being present and all the Five Nations they said Brother Corlear and Governour of Canada. You both tell us to be Christians; you both make us madd; wee know not what side to choose; but I will speak no more of praying, or Christianity, and take the belts down and keep them, because you are both to dear with your goods; I would have accepted of his belt who sold the cheapest pennyworth; would you have me put on a bear skin to goe to church withall a sundays? wee are sorry wee cannot pray; but now we are come to this conclusion; those that sells their goods cheapest, whether English or French, of them will we have a Minister; our Sachims are going, some to Albany, some to Canada; in the meantime we will consider itt till winter Wee believe the Christians are minded to warr again, because the Priest is soe earnest that wee should be newter and sitt still; and wee tell you wee will hold fast to the peace; and if there be any breach, itt will be your fault not ours, You 1701 1701 must hear us speake before you engage in warr again; and then gave a belt of Wampum to us, and another to the French When Dekanissore had made an end of his proposition, he told us he would not goe to Canada, (as he had once designed), because he could not get his requests granted of having goods cheap; what pains he took was not for his private gaine, but for the good of all the Five Nations; and those that gave the last pennyworths, them they would love best. The 23rd June. All the Sachims of the Five Nations being convened together, called us and said, Corlaer, hearken to what wee are now going to tell you what happened in our hunting with the Waganhaes or Farr Indians; wee have made peace with four of their nations, and wee gott some skins from the Waganhaes, which is a signe of peace; and told us further they would conceale nothing from us but wee would know whatever thing happened in their Country this is all Interpreted by Lawrence Claese the Interpreter. Signed Translated out of the Dutch by me Johannes Bleeker, Jr. (signed.) Robert Livingston, Secretary to the Indian affares.- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 893-4. 24th June 1701. Now follows what happened att Onondage after Captain Bleekers departure to Oneyde. The house being mett, Dekanissore said he believed, when the Sachims would come to Canada, the Governour would insist upon that point, to have a Jesuit in their Country; and if he does, soe, what shall wee doe. David Schuyler replyed that they should never agree to that; that they were assured our Governor would never suffer that, soe long as the sun and moon endured; he believed the Sachims would grant itt notwithstanding because they feared the French. David Schuyler. EXTRACT FROM CHARTER OF THE SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING THE The Anglican Church in America. June 16, 1701. This Society was chartered by William III, June 16, 1701. Its objects were, first, to provide a maintenance for an orthodox clergy in the plantations, colonies and factories of Great Britain, beyond the seas; for the instruction of the King's loving subjects in the Christian Religion; and secondly, to make such other provision as was necessary for the propagation of the Gospel in those parts. Among the corporators, ex officio, were, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York; the Bishops of London, Ely, Glouchester, Chichester, Bath and Wells, and Bangor; the Deans of Westminster and St. Paul's; the Regius and Margaret Professors of the two Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; and besides these ex officio members, many clergy and laymen. This Society helped to support many of the early Episcopal ministers in America, and provided for missionary work among the Indians and Negroes. This Charter may be found in Hawkins Missions, 415-421.- Hist. of Origin of this Society, Hawkins, 1-16.- Classified Digest of Minutes of 1701-1894: Pubd. 1894. -See also Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 591, 598, 698; Anderson's Col. Church, ii. 751.— American Church Hist. Series, viii. 126. Regents' Bulletin, N. Y. 1893, 216. ALBANY CITY RECORDS. PROPERTY OF DUTCH CHURCH, ALBANY, Att a Meeting of ye Mayor, Aldermen and Assistance in ye Citty Hall of Albany the 1st of July, 1701. It is concluded by ye Mayor, Aldermen and Commonality that in Pursuant of ye severall Requests unto them made by ye Minister, Elders and Dyakens of ye Reformed Nether Dutch Congregation how that ye Church of Albany here in this Citty in ye first warde in ye Jonncker street, by severall of the members of said Congregation was built and erected at there owne proper Costs and Charges Ao. 1656 and 1657, and by ye Commonality is obtained in there Charter graunted by ye late Gov. Thomas Dongan, on ye 22nd of July, 1686, they being therefore desyreous that ye same be released to them and there successors forever, together with a warrantie. The Mayor, Aldermen and Commonality have therefore for diverse Causes and other lawful Considerations them thereunto moving, appointed Mr. Wessel ten Broek, Mr. Joh. Cuyler, Mr. Johannis Roseboom, aldermen; Jacob Turke, Lykas Gerritse and Joh. Harmense, assistance, to see a Lawful Release Drawne in Writteing, to the Minister, Elders and Deakens and there successors, in trust of ye said Nether Dutch Congregation forever, inserteing ye Breath and Lenth of said Church, with an addition of four and twenty foot on ye west, and fifteen foot lenth on ye east end, and as broad as the Church is, and ordered that ye same shall forthwith be measured by Hend. Ooothout, ye sworne Surveyor, who is to return ye same under hand and seale, and to be recorded accordingly.— Munsell's Annals of Albany, Vol. iv. p. 137. Att a Common Councill held in ye Citty Hall of Albany ye 23rd of July, 1701. July 31. This day the Release or Conveyance of ye Church of Albany (which on ye first of this instant was appointed to be drawne), is produced. The same after being perused is signed, sealed and delivered by John Johnson Bleeker, Esq., Mayor of this Citty, by and with advice and consent of the Aldermen and Common Council to Mr. Joh. Lydius, Minister of ye Gospel of ye Reformed Nether Dutch Church Congregation of ye Citty of Albany, Maj. Dirk Wessels, Anthony van Schalk, Hend. v. Rensselaer, and Johannis Abeel, present Elders, and William Claese Groesbeek, Harpert Jacobse, Gerrit van Ness, & Johannis Schuyler, present Dyakens of ye sald Congregation and there successors forever.- Munsell's Annals of Albany, Vol. iv. pp. 138, 139. CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Acts of the Deputies and their Correspondence. The Classis of Amsterdam to the Dutch Ministers in New York, To the Reverend, Godly, Highly Learned Gentlemen, the Pastors Reverend Sirs and Brethren:-The Classical Assembly takes pleasure in the wisdom manifested by you both in the promotion. 1701 1701 of the Rev. Lydius to his lawful place, and in the suspension of your approbation of the call of Rev. Freerman* to Schenectady. The Classis, however, regards it as unprofitable that the latter circumstance should remain in such condition that one of your churches should have separated from your communion, and that her pastor and Consistory should have become independent. She therefore requests that you will, as far as possible, direct the matter thus: that the Schenectady people make out a regular form of call upon Rev. Freerman, and allow you and the other brethren belonging to the Body of your church to approve it in your own way; and that they then send it hither that the Classis may give their approbation to the same. Also that Rev. Freerman, at the same time, shall write a letter to Rev. Classis, in which, having accepted the call, he shall give notice of his desire to be received into your fellowship, and become united with our Classis. To that end he must also request our Classis, having approved the call, to be pleased to enroll his name among the number of those, who, as pastors belonging to our Classis, have signed the Formula of Unity in our book. He is then to regard this the same as if he himself had been present and subscribed his name thereto. The Rev. Classis, which indeed seeks nothing in your churches but the unity of the faith in the bond of peace, and considers this the means to that good end, will not refuse this request. She rejoices in the understanding that the differences existing in your churches are decreasing, and that your churches are in a flourishing state. She heartily desires that all remnants of strife may be entirely removed. Then without doubt, your churches enjoying peace, she will exercise her oversight to your constant increase, edification, and confirmation in the faith. To this end may the Lord give you strength, and add his blessing on Freer-man, Freier-man, in English Freeman. |