Ecclesiastical Records, State of New York

Col. Morris to the Society for Propagating the Gospel.
Clergy had arraigned the Governor's conduct respecting
Jamaica and Rev. Poyer. The dissenters had asked for a
Ministry Act, to raise money for a church. Governor
Fletcher took advantage of this, to do something for the
Church of England. Ministry Act formulated accordingly;
but indefinite. Jamaica church built by means of it, and
a dissenting minister paid. Some dissenters displeased,
and joined Church of England, and such a church started
at Jamaica. Cornbury dispossessed the dissenters of their

1712.

Feb.

church and parsonage, and gave them to Rev. Urquhart.

His daughter married a dissenting minister, and thus the

dissenters regained the parsonage. Change in the magis-

tracy in favor of dissenters. Rev. Poyer's complaints re-

jected. Governor wishes to prosecute the magistrates. But

all the Assembly which passed the "Ministry Act" except

one, were dissenters; hence the law was meant for them.

Answer: Legislature consists of Assembly, Governor and

Council, and the latter two meant the Law for Church of

England. Poyer does not prosecute; refers the matter to

England, hoping the Governor may be recalled. The Act

loosely worded; dissenters can claim the benefit. Dis-

senters, by far the most numerous. Church of England

will not make converts by taking many by force; in better

condition in Jersey and Pennsylvania, where there is no

such Act. The Governor a true friend of the Church.

The manner of writing that letter about the Governor.

Observations of Col. Morris. Poyer's answer to the Gov-

ernor not very respectful. Manner in which Vesey secured

signatures to the paper against the Governor

PAGE.

1909-1912

25 Gov. Hunter, to Society for Propagating the Gospel. Gen-
eral excellent character of the English missionaries. Yet
subscriptions sought to a paper against the Governor.
Declares his zeal for the Church. Reviews the case of
Rev. Poyer, at Jamaica. Could not dispossess the dis-
senter in the parsonage, except by legal process. Poyer
complains of non-payment of salary. Reasons of the Mag-
istrate for non-payment: (1) No money; (2) Had no or-
ders from the Justices; (3) Rev. Poyer was not qualified
according to the Act. The Governor requested Rev. Poyer
to begin a suit. This not done. Poyer was then asked to
suggest what should be done. Answer: had submitted the
case to his superiors at home. True cause of the opposi-
tion: Rev. Vesey had used the Governor ill; had persuaded
Poyer that a trial at law, was dangerous; thus took away
my opportunity to show my zeal for the church; then se-
cretly circulated a paper, that I might be recalled, in dis-
grace. Rev. Vesey was also offended at Hunter's repairing
the Chapel in the Fort. Exposulations and anger. Bishop
of London had urged the Governor to bear with Vesey's
infirmities, while the Bishop would admonish him. Com-
plained, and said he adhered to his opinion still. Arrival
of Missionary Henderson; calls the repairing the Chapel
in the Fort, a schism; carries back the paper against
Hunter. He had been sent to Dover, Pa.; remained a short
time; supplied Rev. Talbot's place at Burlington, in Jersey;
made trouble there; Rev. Talbot returned; Rev. Hender-

1712.

Feb.

son dismissed, to return to England; carried back the

Paper of Vesey. His scurrilous language against the

Primate of England. Henderson also sued for defama-

PAGE.

... 1912-1915

1916

25 Church of New York. Resolve to call another minister from

Holland

...

27 Church of New York: Rules about approaching the Lord's

Table

March 1 Governor Hunter to the Bishop of London.

1916, 1917

Encloses copy

of his letter to the Society, of Feb. 25. The signers and

the non-signers, of the Paper against the Governor, all

join in the enclosed address to defeat the object of that

paper. Character of the zeal of his opponents. Necessity

of a Bishop in America. The clergy, mostly excellent

men; but some are vicious. The Governor's characteriza-

tion of Mr. Vesey. The Governor's own account of his

conduct in church affairs. Had personally given Rev.

Mr. Vesey £30. per year, during his governorship; had in-

ducted Rev. Mr. Poyer in the church at Jamaica; had

urged him to sue for his salary, at the Governor's expense;

had completed the steeple of Trinity Church; had re-

paired the chapel in the Fort; had finished the church at

New Rochelle, and healed the breach there, and given

them a Patent for the ground there; was collecting moneys

for building churches at Rye, Piscataway, Elizabethtown,

etc.; was building forts and chapels among the Indians;

have assisted the indigent among the clergy;- Hoped the

Society would remedy the ills existing, and do him jus-

tice
... 1917-1919

2 Governor Hunter's speech to the Clergy, referred to in his

letter of March 1, 1712. Has called them to ask their ad-

vice how to promote the best interests of the church; to

inform them about affairs at Jamaica; review of that

1919, 1920

case

3 The Clergy's address to Gov. Hunter, apologizing for all the
evil reports circulating against him; signed by all the
clergy of the Church of England, in New York and New

Jersey

.......

1920

A statement of the Church at Jamaica. The successive

ministers. Church of England vs. Dissent .... 1921, 1922

4 Dutch Church of New York to call a second minister ..... 1922

7 Rev. Mr. Poyer to the Society for Propagating the Gospel.

The meeting of the Clergy in New York. Apologizes to

the Governor for certain disrespectful language...... 1922-1924

Trinity Church, New York, thanks Queen Anne for Com-

munion Set. Trinity Church under prosecution as to her

right to the "Church Farm". Importance of a Bishop

in America

1924

1712.

March 17 Consistories of Rev. Freeman to Consistories of Rev. An-

PAGE.

tonides, making overtures of peace

...

22 Rev. Freeman to the Classis of Amsterdam.

1924, 1925

Complains of

letters to Rev. Classis, which have been perverted to his

Church of Kings County (per Rev. Freeman) to Classis of

Amsterdam, about the Peace-Articles with Consistory of

Rev. Antonides

.. 1927, 1928

5 Address of Grand Jury of Suffolk County to Governor

Hunter

1928, 1929

18 Consistories of Rev. Antonides to the Consistories of Rev.
Freeman, in reference to Articles of Peace ...

1929-1931

27 Reply of Consistories of Rev. Freeman to those of Rev. An-

tonides

1931-1933

May 1, 2 Petition of the Dutch Church of Kingston for a Charter,

June

and Report on the same

1933, 1934

1935-1938

1938-1949

4 Consistories of Antonides to those of Freeman
8 Consistories of Freeman to those of Antonides
14 Address of the English Clergy to Governor Hunter. Thanks
the Governor for this opportunity of meeting, for his
zeal against immorality; for his encouragement of Elias

Neau, the catechist; for his favor to Rev. Daniel Bondet,

and the Church of New Rochelle, recently conformed; re-

quests encouragement for Rev. Beys of Harlem; and

thanks for the help rendered Rev. Mr. Barclay of Al-

bany

... 1949, 1950

2 Rev. Henderson's Account of State of Church of England

in New York and New Jersey. Says the two Acts estab-

lish Church of England. Six Churches. Dissenters have

taken possession of Parsonage and Salary at Jamaica, and

that by connivance of Governor Hunter. His charge of

Magistrates. Four churches in New Jersey. Quakers and

Dissenters there prevented passage of an establishing Act.

Most of the Governor's Council are Churchmen. Col. Lewis

Morris, a Professed Churchman, leader of the Dissenters.

Helped to establish a Conventicle in New York. Co-oper-

ated with Governor Hunter in turning out of the Coun-

cil, churchmen, and putting in some dissenters. Rev.

Woolsey, a dissenter, took church of Hopewell, built by

churchmen. (See March 14, 1713). ...

1950, 1951

17 Remarks on Rev. Henderson's Paper of June 2. Unpleasant-
ness of answering misrepresentations of a clergyman. The
language of the Acts themselves does not limit the salary
except to a good, sufficient Protestant minister. Gov.
Hunter favored Rev. Poyer for Jamaica, in preference to
Rev. Macnesh. Rev. Henderson, a non-resident, could not
know the Governor's motives for making changes in the

1712.

June

PAGE.

Council. Gov. Hunter, not partial to dissenters. In Jer-

sey, no law in behalf of any particular form of religion.

Influence of Henderson, in behalf of the Church of Eng-

land, detrimental. His description of Col. Morris contra-

dicts his statement of his churchmanship. His statements

about Morris favoring a Conventicle, etc., untrue, as also

his statements about changes in the Council

1951-1953

23 Gov. Hunter to the Lords of Trade. Census of the counties