4. That, to his regret, the church was divided into two parties, each of which was too passionate. 5. That he held himself neutral in the hope of restoring peace and unity. 6. He could wish that Rev. le Bouq had acted somewhat more prudently. 7. He concludes with a wish for blessings. xxi. 499. Reverend, Pious, Very Learned Sir, and Brother in Christ:Your favor of April 13th of this year (1708?) greatly rejoiced us, because we perceived therefrom your safe arrival after a difficult and long voyage. Our prayer unto God is, that He will bless your work and make it fruitful unto the gathering of many souls. It grieves us to the heart that there is such dissension in the church, towards which it appears the passionateness of Rev. le Bouq has contributed much. That there is great bitterness evinced by the letter from the consistory, which is in pretty harsh style. We are glad that you keep yourself neutral; for that is the right way to pacify such minds. We also live in the hope that you will soon cause to revive, by your wisdom which is from above and peaceable, that peace and unity which so well befit the Church of Christ. Rev. Kalde has defended himself before us in such a manner that we took satisfaction in it. But since Rev. le Bouq has sent us long papers in which were contained matters laid to the charge of Rev. Kalde, and time has not yet permitted these to be carefully examined, Rev. Kalde has agreed to defend himself against everything that may be brought against him, even as he has already defended himself satisfactorily generally, upon the most serious points; and we 1708 1708 have let him go from among us with commendations. In the place of the deceased Rev. Jacob Streso, there has been called here at Amsterdam Rev. Hermanus van de Wal, from Zutphen. In the place of Rev. Schaek, also deceased, the Rev. Nicholas Wiltens has been called from Bois-le-duc; and in the place of Rev. Homoet, who has become emeritus, Rev. John d'Outrern of Dort. We conclude with the prayers to God, that He will strengthen you in soul and body, make you acceptable in person and labors, and pour out upon you (lit. inundate you) with all blessings. xxi. 499-500. ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. New York. 1708, May 7th. The case of New York remains in statu; as also that of Suriname, according to the previous acta. ix. 162. ORDER OF COUNCIL FOR NATURALIZING AND SENDING CERTAIN At the Court of Kensington ye 10th of May 1708. Present, The Queens Most Excellent Majesty in Councill. Upon reading this at the Board a Report from the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations dated the 28th of April last in the Words Following Vizt. May it please your Majesty: Having in obedience to your Majesty's Commands Signified to us by the Right Honorable Mr. Secretary Boyle considered the Petition of Joshua Kockerthal the Evangelical Minister in behalf of himself and severall poor Lutherans come hither from the Lower Palitinat in Germany praying to be transported to some of your Majesty's plantations in America; we humbly take leave to represent to your Majesty that they are in number forty one: Vizt. Ten Men, Ten Women and Twenty one Children, That they are very necessitous and in the utmost want not having present anything (but what they get by Charity:) to subsist themselves. That they have been reduced to this miserable Condition by the Ravages Committed by the French in the Lower Palitinat, where they lost all they had, That they have produced to us severall Testimonials from the Bayliffs or Principall Magistrates in the Villages where they dwelt, which by the assistance of the Ministers of the Lutheran Church here we have Examined and find that they give War of the Spanish succession, 1702-1713. † All of Marlborough's campaigns were thus blessed. a good character of the said Minister and the others with him. Whereupon we would have offered that those People might be settled in Jamaica or Antego there being large Tracts of Land not taken up or Inhabited, and great want of white People but in regard that the Climate of those Islands is so much hotter than that part of Germany from whence they came It is to be feared it may not be agreeable to their Constitutions, and therefore We humbly propose that they be sent to Settle upon Hudson's River in the Province of New York, where they may be useful to this Kingdom particularly in the production of naval stores and as a frontier against the ffrench and their Indians. And this your Majesty be enabled to do by granting them the Usuall Number of Acres of Land if your Majesty Shall please to Confirm the Act passed at New York the 2nd of March 1698/9 Entituled An Act for Vacating Breaking and annulling Severall Extravagant Grants of Land made by Coll. Fletcher late Governor of that Province, as we humbly offered to your Majesty by our Representation of the 29th of July last without which there is no land but what is Engrossed by the patentees of the sald Extravagant Grants. And in case your Majesty shall approve of their going to New York, we humbly represent to your Majesty that the Cheapest way of Transporting them will be in the Man of War and Transport Ship that shall be ordered to goe with the Lord Lovelace, for we do not find that they can be carryed thither by any other way under Eight or Ten pounds per head for the Men and Women and proportionably for the Children. And we do further humbly offer that they be suppleyed here with the necessary Tools for agriculture to be sent with them, to Enable them to begin and make Settlements. As these people are in the utmost Necessity they will not be able to Subsist there till they can reap the fruit of their Labour (which will not be till after one years Time) unless assisted by your Majesty's Bounty, or that the Province of New York contribute towards their Maintenance during that time, but as we are informed that Province is at present very poor and much in debt there will be no reason to expect any great supply from thence. We further offer, That before their departure they may be made Denizens of this Kingdom for their greater Encouragement in the Enjoyment of the Priviledges accruing by such Letters of Denization. Which is most humbly submitted. Stamford, Ph. Meadows Her Majesty in Council approving the said Report and taking into Consideration the great sufferings and Poverty of the said poor Lutherans is graciously pleased to Order, that they be made Denizens of this Kingdom according to the abovementioned Report, and one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretarys of State is to prepare a Warrant for Her Majesty's Royall Signature Directing Mr. Sollicitor Generall to prepare a Bill in order to pass the great Seal for making the Petitloners free Denizens accordingly; and Her Majesty is further pleased to order that the Petitioners be not obliged to pay any Fees or other Charges for passing the said Letters of Denization. TRINITY CHURCH TO THE BISHOP OF LONDON CONCERNING THE June 2 (1708). Trinity Church takes the following action: "That this Board do represent to the Bishop of London the Patent for the Queen's Farm and Garden and Act of Assembly relating thereto ". Records i. 66. "That from the expiration of the Revenue of this Province Mr. Vesey be paid twenty six pounds per annum out of the rent of the Queen's Farm, if the Government do not pay the same, for his house rent ". 1708 1708 Mr. Jamieson was to reply to a letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury and make known to him "the state of the Church". Records i. 66. The Assembly having taken action hostile to the Church, a letter to the Bishop of London was prepared by the Vestry of Trinity Church and read June 17, (1708.) The Assembly had voted "That no Governor thereafter should have power to Grant or Demise for longer time than his owne Government, the said Farm and Garden, as being amongst other things, the Denison of her Majesty's Fort in New York, and declare all other Grants of said Farm or Garden to be void ipso facto"; but Governor Cornbury had this Act repealed. The letter then gives the financial condition of the Parish, and says that Mr. Vesey had "an allowance for his house rent out of the Revenue of this Province; our Church at the time of its first being granted being considerably indebted, by building of their Church and Steeple, were not in a capacity to build for the minister a Dwelling house; the payment of this allowance had likewise been stopped and interrupted, which put us upon the necessity of supplying that defect out of our weekly contributions for some time, until the arrival of the Viscount Cornbury, who soon after got an Act passed for the better establishment of this maintenance of our Minister, by which instead of one hundred pounds per annum, is provided for Mr. Vesey during his life or continuance amongst us, one hundred and sixty pounds per annum; and his Lordship did likewise make good to him the former allowance out of the Revenue, twenty six pounds per annum, two last years only excepted; the Garden being about a quarter of a mile from the Fort, about half an acre of ground out of Fence, a common place for dung and rubbish, of no benefit to any Governor; but, adjoining upon the south side of the Church-yard, and very commodiously situated for a dwelling house and garden to our Minister; afterwards, to wit, the 23rd of Nov. 1705, before that Law about extravagant Grants was approved, and the other repealed, his Lordship did Grant to us a Patent for the said Farme and Garden, forever, under a small quitrent, and this condicon thereunder written,that if his Majesty's Captain-General and Governor in Chief for the time being, of the said Province, should at any time thereafter cease or forbear the yearly payment of twenty six pounds for the said House rent, which has been paid out of the Revenue in the said Province, and at such time, no suitable house should be erected. Which Revenue of the Province of New York, on the 18th day of May last (1708.) did expire by its own limitation and so remains discontinued. Now so it is please your Lordship. The Acts of the Assembly of this Province being transmitted for her Majesty's Royal assent or disallowance. We are lately informed her Majesty has been graciously pleased on some precedent consideration to approve and allow that Act made against the extravagant Grants and to repeal the other Act of Assembly, which did repeal the same, by which means we are apprehensive the foundation of the Patent of the year 1705, granting the said Farme and Garden is like to (be) disputed. We demised said Farme for five years at thirty pounds per annum which is not yet expired, and upon the determination of the Revenues. We passed a vote at our meeting in a full Vestry for payment of the twenty six pounds to Mr. Vesey for his house rent. Since the granting of this Patent for the Farme and Garden we put the Garden into Fence, and built therein a stone wall which cost us upwards of fifty pounds and have let it for ten years, without any rent, on condition to improve the same with fruit trees and walks against such time we shall be able to build a dwelling house in the front thereof for our Minister. If it be her Majesty's Royal pleasure the Farme or Garden, or both, should continue the denisons of the succeeding Governor we readily submit to her gracious will and pleasure; but if her Majesty's Royal intention or purpose in affirming and repealing of these two laws was for other good ends and purposes, we doubt not but that her Majesty will be graciously pleased to give directions for settling us upon a surer foundation in the peaceable enjoyment of ye said Farme and Garden ". The Vestry then beg the good offices of the Bishop in presenting the subject to the Queen, while they further add, "neither can we omit reminding your Lordship, how we are still obliged for the loan and use of the Communion Plate of her Majesty's Chapel in the Fort in New York, in that our Books, Vestments, are almost worn out, and how we have been granted by her Sacred Majesty for a supply of those things to our Church in particular, but by what ill fate or accident we know not, have them not to this day". They also send "a copy of that paraph of the Viscount Cornbury's Commission for New York relating to the power of granting lands". Dix, 169-171. SECOND PETITION OF THE REVEREND JOSHUA KOCHERTHAL TO To the Queen's most Excellent Majesty. The humble Petition of Joshua de Kocherthal Minister, on behalf of himself and MR. BOYLE TO THE LORDS OF TRADE. To the Right Honorable The Lords Commissioners of Trade and My Lords. Having laid before the Queen the Inclosed Petition of Joshua Kocherthal, Minister concerning several other Distressed Protestants newly arrived from the Palatinat & Holsteyn who are likewise desirous to be transported to Her Majesty's Plantations in America, in the same manner and with the same advantages as have been already granted to those who came before out of the Palatinate, Her Majesty has thereupon commanded me to trans 1708 |