REV. MR. VESEY TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.

"May it please your Excellency:

1702

1702, June 9.

"In a letter from the Jerseys, your Excellency was informed of the grevious oppression of our Church and Province, which, if not redressed by my Lord Cornbury's arrival might have ended in our ruine. The management of the Lieutenant Governor and Council, even till then, was extraordinary, arbitrary, and violent, and if in print represented with all its circumstances to the world, must astonish an ordinary impiety and beget indignation and abhorrence in all those who have not cast off the common sentiments of humanity. Your Excellency, by Col. Bayard's printed tryall and some manuscripts, will be fully convinced of those unrighteous and barbarous measures which were taken to exterpate an English Church and interest out of this Province. I doubt not but my Lord (Cornbury) will be a Father to our Church and Province, and those methods his Lordship doth daily take, give us repeated assurances of his impartial administration, and are joyful presages that Justice will flow down our streets as a mighty streame and righteousness as a flood.

"I have by these ships received four letters from my very good Lord of London (the Bishop) full of zeal and affection. His Lordship doth now assure us six good men shall be sent to supply the vacant liveings in our Province, and also that communion plate, furniture and Bookes shall in a short time be obtained for us. "His Reverence Dr. Bray* advised me to enter into a Society with the Dutch and French ministers of this city, to consult on the most proper methods to effect a Reformation: accordingly a happy Society is maintained, in the Church Library, which I hope, by our Governor's assistance will in some measure answer the end. His Reverence, among other good things, informs me that he has writt to your Excellency to appoint a meeting of the Clergy at New York, as being the centre between Maryland and Virginia (?) I question not but in a few years we shall have such a number of clergymen in New York, the Jerseys and Philadelphia, as will make a meeting among ourselves very formidable.

44

Our church daily increases, and in a very wonderful manner. My Lord (Cornbury) has ordered his chaplain, Mr. Mott, and Mr. Bresack, to preach in our Church one part of the day. We have prayers on Wednesdays and Fridays, and catechising every Sunday in the afternoon. Mr. Huddlestone, the schoolmaster, brings all his scholars to Church in order, and those, I have formed, with many others, into three distinct classes, according to Dr. Bray's proposal; by which means I hope to compose the most glorious Church in America. I beg your Excellency to recommend me to our Governor's (Cornbury's) favor and countenance: May God ever bless, prosper and make you great, and glorious forever, is the prayer of your faithfull and much obliged servant,

About this time Rev. George Keith, formerly a Quaker, came to America as a missionary of the Propagation Society. Wherever he went he made a great impression. He preached at Hempstead on September 27 (1702?) when the Church building could not contain the people. He said that they greatly desired an Episcopalian Minister. Special services were held in Trinity Church, and Mr. Keith preached, at the request of Mr. Vesey, on occasion of the weekly fast, ap

"The Rev. Thos. Bray was sent to Maryland in 1696 as Commissary of the Bishop of London. He was particularly urgent about sending out books to America, and mentions in a sermon preached in London in 1699, on the subject of "Apostolic Charity", that there was in New York Colony a Church in the Fort with a Minister and a Library, and in the city a Church and a Minister, but no Library. It would appear from this that the first Library in New York was sent out from England for the use of the chaplain and soldiers of his Majesty's service. In 1767 the Library in the Fort contained two hundred and eleven volumes".

1702

pointed by the Government on account of the great mortality just then prevailing.
More than five hundred had died in the space of a few weeks, and that very week
about seventy had died. His text was James 5:13. "Is any among you afflicted,
let him pray". He published afterward a Journal of Travels
North America, 1706.- See Coll. P. E. Soc. 1851, p. 1.

in

About this time the Rev. Mr. Bartow, a missionary of the Society for Propagating the Gospel, settled in Westchester, and began a work for the Episcopal Church in that section, which continues to the present time.

In 1702 England declared war against France and Spain. The contest was prolonged until 1713. Canada was the objective point of the English, until they finally conquered it in 1763.- Dix, 142-3.

LORD CORNBURY TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.

Queen Anne Proclaimed in New York.

[June 23, 1702.]

To the Right Honorable the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations.
My Lords:-

Your Lordships letter of the 19th of March last (by the care of Coll. Blakiston) came safe to my hands on Wednesday the 17 of this instant June and in it I find a letter from the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council commanding me to proclaim her most Sacred Majesty Queen Anne in the Province of New York and East and West New Jersey. In pursuance whereof on Thursday the 18th instant having drawn out the forces there, I did in the presence of the gentlemen of her Majesty's Council attended by the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council the Clergy and I think I may say all the Gentlemen and Merchants of the City of New York cause Her Majesty to be proclaimed Queen of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Supream Lady of the Province of New York and Plantations of the same according to the directions I had received from the Lords of Her Majesty's most Honorable Privy Council. The solemnity was performed with all the duty and respect imaginable to the Queen and the people shewed all the chearfullness and Loyalty that could be wished for or desired from good subjects upon that occasion; and I hope your Lordships will pardon me if I take the liberty to assure you that the Gentlemen of the Province of New York, are unanimously ready to sacrifice all they have for the service and in the defence of the Queen. Indeed they have suffered great hardships and wrongs through the wicked practices of Mr. Atwood and Mr. Weaver who have made the divisions among the people of New Yorke much greater than ever they were and would have made them past cure had they gone on a little longer, but I will not trouble your Lordships any longer upon the subject now having written to your Lordships from New York by the way of Boston with relation to those affaires.

On Friday the 19th Instant I went over the waters into the Jersies and went directly for Burlington which is the chief town of West Jersey, but the wayes were so bad I could not get thither till Sunday night late. Col. Hamilton to whom I had writ from New York met me in East Jersey and conducted me to Burlington where he had (being Governor of the Jerseys for the Proprietors) assembled the Chief Magistrates and Inhabitants of the Place in order to proclaim her Majesty which was done on Monday at eleven o'clock, where the people shewed great marks of duty and affection to the Queen. I did intend to have gone immediately to Amboy which is the Chief town in East Jersey, to proclaim her Majesty there but the floods have washed away the bridges so that till the waters are fallen, it will be impossible to travell. I hope two or three fair days will make the ways passable to Amboy, to which place I will repaire the moment it is possible, I do not doubt but we shall have a good appearance there likewise.

Col. Hamilton who intends to conduct me hither having sent beforehand to give notice of my coming. In the meantime I have taken this opportunity to come twenty miles down the river De La Ware, to see this place where I find a ship just ready to saile for London. I thought it my duty to take this opportunity to acquaint your Lordships how far I have proceeded in obedience to your commands. I shall return this evening to Burlington and as soon as possible go to Amboy, and from thence to Yorke, from whence I will send your Lordships a farther account, in the meantime I remain,

My Lords,

Philadelphia,

June 23, 1702.

Your Lordships most obedient, faithfull, humble Servant,

Cornbury.

N. Y. Col. Docs. iv. 960. Cornbury's reasons for suspending Chief Justice Atwood, Weaver, De Peyster, Walters and Staats are given in N. Y. Col. Docs. iv. 1012, 1014, 1017. The confirmation of his action by the Council is given, Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 1026-81 (?).- Dix, 140.

THE FRENCH CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE.

Petition of Rev. Mr. Bondet of New Rochelle.

(Time, 1702?)

To His Excellency Milord Cornbury Governor & Commander in Chief.

My Lord,

I most humbly pray your Excellency to be pleased to take cognizance of the petitioners condition.

I am a french Refugee Minister, incorporated into the body of the ministry of the Anglican Church; I removed about fifteen years ago [1686] into New England with a company of poor refugees to whom land was granted for their settlement, and to provide for my subsistence I was allowed one hundred and five pieces per annum from the funds of the corporation for the propagation of the Gospel among the Savages. I performed that duty during nine years with a success approved and attested by those who presided over the affairs of that Province.

The murders which the Indians committed in those Countries caused the dispersion of our company some of whom fell by the hands of the Barbarians. I remained, after that, two years in that province expecting a favorable season for the reestablishment of affairs, but after waiting two years, seeing no appearance, and being invited to remove to this Province of New York by Colonel Heathcote who always evinces an affection for the public good and distinguishes himself by a special application for the advancement of religion and good order, by the establishment of Churches and Schools, the fittest means to strengthen and encourage the People, I complied with his request and that of the Company of New Rochelle in this province, where I passed five years on a small allowance promised me by New Rochelle of one hundred pieces and lodging, with that of one hundred and five pieces which the Corporation continued to me until the arrival of milord Belamont who, after indicating his willingness to take charge of me and our Canton ordered me Thirty pieces in the Council of York, and did me the favor to promise me that at his journey to Boston he would procure me the continuation of that stipend that I had in times past. But having learned at Boston, through Mr. Nanfan, his Lieutenant, that I annexed my signature to an ecclesiastical certificate which the Churches and Pastors of this Province had given to Sleur Dellus, Minister of Albany, who had not the good fortune to please his late Lordship, his defunct Excellency cut off his thirty pieces which he had ordered me in his Council at York, deprived me of the Boston pension of twenty five pieces, writing to London to have that deduction approved, and left me, during three years last past, in an extreme destitution of the means of subsistence.

I believed, my Lord, that in so important a service as that in which I am employed. I ought not to discourage myself, and that the Providence of God which

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1702

does not abandon those who have recourse to his aid by well doing, would provide in its time for my relief.

Your Excellency's equity; the affection you have evinced to us for the encouragement of those who employ themselves constantly & faithfully in God's service induce me to hope that I shall have a share in the dispensation of your justice to relieve me from my suffering so that I may be aided and encouraged to continue my service in which by duty and gratitude I shall Continue with my flock to pray God for the preservation of your person, of your illustrious family and the pros. perity of your government; remaining Your Excellency's most humble & most respectful Servant, Daniel Bondet. Doc. Hist. N. Y. Vol. iil. p. 562.

ORDER AND REPORT ON THE PETITION FROM NEW ROCHELLE.

At a Council held at Fort William Henry this 29th day of June 1702.

Sa. Sh. Broughton
Garrard Beekman
Rip Van Dam

Esqrs.

Caleb Heathcote, Esq.
John Bridges, Doctor of Laws.

Upon the motion of Coll. Heathcote that the Minister of New Rochelle had formerly a sallary allowed him out of the Revenue which the late Earl of Bellmont deprived him of, it is hereby ordered that the petition of the said Minister formerly Dd. to his Excellency be referred to the said Coll. Heathcote who is to Examine into the Allegations and Report the same.

By order of his Excellency & Council,

B. Cosens, Clk. Concilj.

May it please your Excellency: In obedience to your Excell. Commands I have Examined into the Allegations of the within Petition & do find, that the Petitioner was employed about fifteen years ago by the corporation for Propagating the Xtian faith amongst the Indians at a place called New Oxford near Boston, with the allowance of a salary of twenty five pounds a year, where he consumed the little he brought with him from ffrance in settling himself for that Service, and being afterwards by reason of the War compelled to fly from thence, his Improvements were wholly lost. Dureing the time of his stay there, which was about eight years, it appears by a certificate under the hands of the late Lieut. Governour Stroughton of Boston, Wait Winthrope, Increase Mather, and Charles Morton, that he with great faithfullnesse care & industry discharged his duty both in reference to Xtians & Indians, and was of an unblemished life and Conversation. After his being called to New Rochelle the Corporation aforementioned in consideration of his past services & sufferings, were pleased still to continue him his salary which he enjoyed until the arrival of the late Earl of Bellomont, who haveing settled thirty pounds a year upon him out of the Revenue used afterwards his intrest with the said Corporation to take of the Sallery, they had all along allowed him, which no sooner was effected but he immediately suspended him allso from the thirty pounds a year he had settled upon him, by which means the Petitioner is left with a very deplorable Condition not being able with the sallary that is allowed him at New Rochelle, which is only twenty pounds a year to support himself and family. All which is humbly Submitted by

Your Excellency's most Obedient humble Servant,

EXTRACTS FROM CORNBURY'S PROPOSALS WITH THE FIVE

NATIONS, ETC.

Mohawk Missions.

1702

1702, July 15.

As to the two ministers that were appointed for ye Instruction of ye Brethren in ye Christian Faith, one here at Albany and ye other at Schenectady, I understand that ye Brethren have been told that ye minister of Schenectady was alone appointed for that work and not ye Minister here; I desire to know who is the Author of that story, since I find upon your own request two years agoe, the Minister here was directed to take pains with you, and learn your language ye better to enable him to serve you in ye work of ye Gospell, and ye interpretesse appointed to be his assistant in that affair as formerly reckon this has been fomented by those Restlesse Spirits, who of late have endeavoured to disturb the peace of the Government; but I shall take care to prevent such wickednesse for ye future, and you may be assured that those that are inclined to be Christians shall have all ye Incouragement imaginable. Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 983.

Awanay, a Sachim of ye Mohags, in ye Maquase Praying Indians stood up and said:

Brother Corlaer:

There has been feuds and animosities among us Christian Indians, and last summer we were recommended to amity and Friendship; but it hath not had that good effect upon us as could have been wished for; we have been lately exhorted by your Lordship, at Mr. Lydius's ye ministers house, to unite as Christians and not to live in envy and malice, which are the works of Satan, not becoming Christians, but to live in Peace and concord, and then God would blesse us; which last exhortation hath so wrought upon our spirits, that we are now all united and friends; we return your Lordship our hearty thanks for ye pains you have been pleased to take in that affair, and as an acknowledgment of our Gratitude give a belt of Wampum.

The said Awanay acquainted ye Five Nations that in regard they had also recommended them to unity they had followed their advice, and that there was now a thorough reconciliation; and as a token thereof gave ye Five Nations a Belt of Wampum.

His Excellency told ye Sachims of ye Five Nations that he would consider of what they had now said and would in a short time give them an answer.

Dirck Wessels,

Justies of Pace.

P. Schuijler,
Robert Livingstone,

Secretary for ye Indian Affairs.

1702, August 17. Proposalls made by De Kannissore, Cheiffe Sachim of Onondage, and two other Indians of said nation to his Excellency, Lord Cornbury, etc.

I am glad to see your Excellency here in ye house where we are wont to speak to one another. I am to acquaint you with a message which ye Governor of Canada has sent to our four upper nations, viz. that three of each nation should go to Canada to treat with him; but the Mohogs he has nothing to say to, as for my own part I will not goe, but will send one of my family.