had Chimney Corners like ours, and they and the hearths were laid with the finest that I ever see, and the stair cases laid all with white tile which is ever clean, and so are the walls of the kitchen which had a brick floor. They were making great preparations to Receive their Governor, Lord Cornbury from the Jerseys, and for that end raised the militia to Gard him on shore to the fort ". They are Generally of the Church of England, and have a New England Gentleman for their minister, and a very fine Church, set out with all customary requisites. There are also a Dutch and Divers Conventicles as they call them, viz., Baptists, Quakers etc. They are not strict in keeping the Sabbath as in Boston and other places where I had bin, But seem to deal with great exactness as farr as I see or Deal with. They are sociable to one another and Curteous and civell to strangers and fare well in their houses". "The English go fasheonable in their dress. But the Dutch, especially the middling sort, differ from our women; in their habitt go loose; were French muches, which are like a Capp and a head-band in one, leaving their ears bare, which are sett out with jewells of a large size and many in number. And their fingers hoop't with Rings, some with large stones in them of many Coullers, as were their pendants in their ears, which you should see very old women wear as well as Young". "They have Vendues very frequently and make their earnings very well by them, for they treat with good Liquor Liberally, and the customers drink as Liberally, and generally pay for't as well, by paying for that which they Bidd up Briskly for, after the sack has gone plentifully about, though sometimes good penny worths are got there ". "Their diversions in the winter is Riding Sleys about three or four Miles out of Town, where they have houses of entertainment at a place called the Bowery, and some go to friends houses who handsomely treat them. Mr. Burroughs carry'd his Spouse and Daughter and myself out to one Madame Dowes, a Gentlewoman who lived at a farm house, who gave us a handsome entertainment of five or six dishes and choice Beer and metheglin, Cyder, etc., all of which she said was the produce of her farm; I believe we met fifty or sixty slays that day; they fly with great swiftness and some are so furious that they will turn out of the path for none except a Loaden Cart. Nor do they spare for any diversion the place affords, and sociable to a degree, they'r Tables being as free to their Naybours as t themselves". Private Journal kept by Madam Knight in a Journey from Boston to New Yor in the year 1704, pp. 66-71.- Quoted from Dix, 159. 1704 CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN NEW YORK. 1704. Of the state of the (English Episcopal) Church in the Province of New York, the appointment of His Excellency Edward Lord Cornbury, and Colonel Franc Nicholson. A Summary Account. In this Province are ten Counties. First New York, in which there is an Englis Church, called and known by the name of Trinity Church, already built, and the steeple raised to a considerable height by the voluntary contributions of several persons, a full account whereof has been given in a former scheme to my Lord of London. The Rector of this Church is maintained by a tax levied upon all the Inhabitants of the city, amounting to one hundred and sixty pounds, one hundred whereof is entailed forever upon the Incumbent for the time being, and Sixty pound is added by the influence of his Excellency the Governor and an Act of the General Assembly, during the life and residence of the present incumbent, Mr. William Vesey. And for his further encouragement, his Excellency, out of his great goodness, hath ordered in council, twenty six pounds per annum to be paid out of the Revenue for the Rent of the house of the said Incumbent. His Excellency hath also, by a law, (1704) incorporated the Rector and all the Inhabitants of this City of New York, that are in communion with the Church of 1704 England, as by law established, by which they and their successors are vested with sundry rights and privileges; particularly the said law hath enacted, that the patronage and advowson of the said Church, and rights of presentation, after the death of the present Incumbent, or upon the next avoidance, shall forever thereafter belong and appertain to the church-wardens and Vestrymen of the said church, in communion with the Church of England; which before was in the Vestry chosen by all the Inhabitants of the said city. This privilege establishes the Church upon a sure and lasting foundation. BENEFACTIONS OF TRINITY CHURCH OF NEW YORK. The Right Honorable and Right Reverend Father in God, the Lord Bishop of London hath given a bell to said Church, value sixty pounds. His Excellency has also very liberally contributed to the said church, and besides used his interest to promote the same. A sum of about three hundred pounds formerly collected in the Province of New York for the Redemption of some captives in Algiers. In a Brief for collecting the said sum it is provided that in case the Redemption or death of the said captives shall happen before the arrival of the said sum in Holland, that then it shall be disposed of to such uses as are mentioned in the said Brief; The Slaves being either dead or redeemed before the money was transmitted, his Excellency in Council hath assigned the said sum for the finishing of the steeple of Trinity Church. His Excellency the Governor taking into his consideration the great charges the parishioners have been and are still at in raising the Edifice and Steeple to that perfection they designed it, hath been graciously pleased to recommend to her Majesty the Queen, that it may please her Majesty to bestow a farm within the bounds of the said City, known by the name of the King's Farm, to the use and benefit of the said Church, with half an acre of ground adjoining to the said Church designed by his Lordship for a Garden and a house to be built for the said Incumbent. His Lordship has been pleased to encourage Religion, and discountenance Vice in the said Province by Proclamation, and has used his utmost endeavours to promote the Public Worship of God, and train up youth in the Doctrine and discipline of the Church of England, particularly in the city of New York, and hath contributed to the building a French Church. And since the death of the late minister of the French congregation, resolves to use his interest to introduce a French Minister that shall have Episcopal ordination and conform to the constitution of the church. His Lordship hath been also highly instrumental in enacting a law for establishing a Latin free school, and to endow it with a salary of Fifty pounds per annum, to which station his Lordship hath preferred the ingenious Mr. George Muirson, who for some time discharged that function with approbation and success. Two other schools are likewise established in this City by his Excellency's care, and by these and other means, the Church daily increaseth, and it is to be hoped, if God pleases to continue his Excellency in the Administration of this Government, this Church is in a fair way of becoming the greatest congregation upon the continent. We are willing with much submission to represent to the Honourable Society, how that excellent design of theirs in supplying us with a Catechist might have their plous endeavours better served, if instead of the pious and deserving Mr. Elias Neau, who was brought up a Merchant and in good business, the Worthy and ingenious Mr. Muirson, who is now going to England in the hopes of being admitted into Holy Orders, were appointed for that purpose. Mr. William Vesey might be assisted by him, and for his encouragement has promised him Thirty pounds per annum at his arrival, being sensible how much this place abounds with Indian Slaves and Negroes. This is the state of the Church in the City of New York. William Vesey, Rector of New York. LONG ISLAND. In Long Island in the Province of New York, are three Counties, viz. King's, Queen's and Suffolk county. King's County, consisting of four Dutch Congregations supplied formerly by one Dutch Minister, (Lupardus) but now without any, by the death of the late Incumbent, they are sometimes supplied by the Rev. Mr. Vesey where he finds all the English and some of the Dutch well affected to the Church of England. A minister sent by the Society to that County with some encouragement for a maintenance to preach and be a schoolmaster would be a great instrument of bringing the youth and others to the Church. William Vesey. In Queen's County consisting of five towns divided into two parishes and endowed with sixty pounds, of New York money per annum, each parish paid by a tax levied on all the inhabitants in the County by Act of General Assembly. Jamaica. The parish of Jamaica in said County consists of three towns, Jamaica, New Town and Flushing. In the town of Jamaica there is a Church of stone, built by a tax levied on the Inhabitants of the said town by an Act of General Assembly, it has a high spire with a bell, but is not furnished with pulpit, pews or utensils. The Church was built in the street; there is also a house and some land recorded for the parsonage, which was formerly in the possession of the Independent Minister, but now in the possession of the present Incumbent by his Excellency Lord Cornbury's favor, who has been the great promoter of the Church in this Province and especially at this place. In New Town there is a Church built and lately repaired by a tax levied on the Inhabitants by an Act of General Assembly: this Church was formerly possessed by a dissenting Minister, but he being gone, it is in possession of the present Incumbent by his Excellency's favor. Flushing. In this town there is no Church; whereas the other two towns are chiefly inhabited by Independents, this is inhabited by the Quakers. The Rev. Mr. Urquhart, the present Incumbent, resides at Jamaica, according to the directions of an Act of Assembly mentioned it as the parochial Church, and there preaches and reads Divine Service twice on the Sundays, for two Lord's days successively, and on the third Sunday preaches and prays twice at New Town and at Flushing once a month on the week days, and by the blessing of God, the Congregations in the respective towns daily increase. Hampstead. The parish consists of two towns, Hampstead and Oyster Bay. In Hampstead there is a church, a house and lands for the minister, the people are generally well affected to the Church of England and long for the arrival of the Rev. Mr. Thomas. In Oyster Bay there is no Church, but a considerable number of people desirous of a Minister. ACCOUNT OF SUFFOLK COUNTY. In Suffolk County in the East end of Long Island, there is neither a Church of England minister, nor any provision made for one by law, the people generally being Independents, and upheld in their separation by New England Emissaries. But there are several already well affected to the Church, and if one or two ministers were sent among them, supported at first by the Society, it would be an excellent means of reconciling the people to the Church, and of introducing an Establishment for a Minister by Law. William Vesey. 1704 WESTCHESTER. Mr. Bartow, Rector. Here is a Church built, but not finished, being neither glazed nor ceiled. The parish of West Chester is divided into four several districts viz. West Chester, East Chester, Younkers, and the Manor of Pelham. There is fifty pounds settled on the ministers salary by Act of Assembly. 1704 There is one Independent Congregation of East Chester, whose minister designs to leave there, whose congregation upon his departure are resolved to join with the Church. RYE. Thomas Pritchard. Rector. Here is no Church, but the Minister preaches in the Town house; the parish is divided into three districts, viz. Rye, Bedford and Mamaronets. There is a salary of fifty pounds per annum established by Act of Assembly; the number of communicants are considerably increased, since the first celebration of the Sacrament. There is an Independent Church at Bedford where the Minister designs to leave them, they are well affected to the Church, and it is hoped when he is gone they will be in communion with her. STATEN ISLAND, RICHMOND COUNTY. The greatest part of the people in this County are English, and there is a tax of forty pounds per annum levied on the inhabitants of the said County for a maintenance to the Minister, and it is very necessary and much desired by the people that a Minister should be speedily sent them with some further encouragement from the Society who has at this time an opportunity of reconciling most of them to the Church. ORANGE COUNTY. William Vesey. In Orange County there are about sixty families of several nations who have no Minister, nor are able to raise a salary for one. ULSTER COUNTY, COMMONLY CALLED ESOPUS. In this County the greatest number of people are Dutch, who about twelve years since, sent to the Classis of Amsterdam for a Minister; Mr. Newcella being lately (1704) called home, left them destitute of any person to officiate among them, which his Excellency was pleased to take into consideration, and has appointed the Rev. Mr. Hepburn to preach and to read Divine Service to them, whereby the English, who had never a Minister among them have the benefit of public worship, and are in good hopes of bringing the Dutch to a conformity. The Rev. Mr. Hepburn has at present small encouragement from the people, but chiefly under God depends on the kindness and bounty of his Excellency the Governor of this Province. ALBANY. William Vesey. A large frontier town where most of the people are Dutch, who have from Amsterdam a Dutch Minister, one Mr. Lydius, but there are some English families, besides a garrison of soldiers, who are a considerable congregation. A Church of England Minister here will, in all probability, do signal service not only by setting up a public worship to the joy and comfort of the English, who impatiently desire a minister, and persuading the Dutch and others to conform, but also in instructing the Indians which come in great numbers thither. Mr. Moore Missionary to the Mohawks, is coming to settle here for some time by the directions of his Excellency, my Lord Cornbury, who gives him great encouragement, and has been particularly pleased to promise him presents for the Indians.— Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 74-77. EARLY EPISCOPAL SERVICES. In 1704 Episcopal services were established at Hempstead, Long Island, by Mr. Thomas, thus carrying on the work, begun perhaps by Mr. Vesey, but deepened by Mr. Keith in 17.. Services were also begun this year at Richmond, Staten Island, where St. Andrews Church was built in 1713. Latin Free School. 1704. Lord Cornbury sent a communication to the Episcopal Clergy, assembled in New York, October 5, 1704, on the subject of education. The Governor had obtained the enactment of a law for the establishment of a Latin Free School, which was endowed with fifty pounds per annum. Other schools were also established. Fees in Trinity Church. 1704. At this time a system of fees were established in Trinity Church as follows: Clerk's fees: For attending at a funeral, 5s. 6d.; at a marriage, 6s. 6d.; for Registering a christening, 9d.- Sexton's fees: For ringing bell for funeral, 3s.; for digging a grave, 68. Fees for a marriage 3s. 6d. Every stranger to pay double fees. Burial fees: for burial in the Chancel, five pounds to the minister; for a child between ten and sixteen in the Chancel, 50s.; for a child under ten, one pound five shillings.- Dix's Hist. Trinity Ch. i. 158-9. JOHN CHAMBERLAYN, ESQ., TO THE LORDS OF TRADE. MOHAWK MISSIONS. 1704, Feb. 1. To the Right Honorable the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations: I must beg your Lordships pardon for taking up so much of your time, but the 1704 |