1709 addressed themselves, with a present of two thousand guilders, Holland money, to one, Madame Bridges! This they themselves confessed at the investigation. And she procured this much— that Rev. Antonides, by a license, was permitted to preach unhindered, in the two churches of (Brooklyn and Flatbush, according to his) call. The Rev. Lydius (of Albany) had obtained also a license for the Esopus, because he was afraid, (on account of certain difficulties in that) church, which also desired me (that I might settle there, in 1703?) and sought by such a turn that I should be kept at Schenectady alone. Rev. Boys, (G. Du Bois) aiso preached, under a license, on Long Island, after the death of Rev. Lupardus, (1702), which he had obtained personally from the Governor. But if all this be so detrimental to the Church, why go on with such doings? Yet for considerable money, a license could be obtained in such a way, in order to get rid of me thereby. I have told Mr. Antonides that, if he were willing, I wanted to agree with him, either not to preach any more; or, to unite with him, that the churches might also follow our example; but Mr. Antonides was pleased to say, that his church was unwilling to such arrangements, which was indeed deplorable. My church has always been willing to make peace. But those pretended elders, of whom some have already been in office for eight years, are so hot-headed, so inclined to retaliation, that it is distressing. For there is work enough for each of us, here, and also enough salary, without hurt to him or me. As to what the Rev. Bomble asks, whether I am lawfully settled at New Utrecht, (I answer:) The proclamation (license) was for New Utrecht and the churches combined with it. (Mr. Gualterus) Du Bois also personally installed me before Rev. Antonides came here. This was declared under oath, by several persons, in the presence of the gentlemen who made the investigation. If then I am troubled in my rights, because Mr. Antonides or his Consistory will not follow up your recommendation to peace, do not blame me if I defend myself in a proper manner; for I can present nothing better than simple equality. For lordship, we have to send to Rome. Meantime, let us pray God for peace, and for rest for His Church both here and elsewhere; yet not that we may endure no worldly inconvenience, or that we may be found unfaithful in our offices. Nevertheless, I will not neglect to follow out your just admonitions, and to labor for the best interests of God's Church, and will maintain good correspondence with your Classis, unless this letter be erased from your Classical Record Book, (Copy Book). But I hope that, with greater Classical efforts, Peace will be very earnestly urged. I call myself, Reverend Sirs, and Very Learned Classis, in all respects, Your Reverences servant and brother in Christ, 1709 B. Freeman. COLONEL NICHOLSON AND COLONEL VETCH TO THE LORDS OF To the Right Honorable the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations. My Lords, We could not but judge it our duty to acquaint Your Lordships of our safe arrival here and in short of the success hitherto of our Negotiation, which Your Lordship contributed so heartily Your endeavours for advancing; We have met with the wished for success in all Governments who are concerned in the same, save those of the Jerseys and Pennsylvania the first of which has one half of its Assembly Quakers, and the latter the whole number is almost so, whose pretended principles being against fighting, they have not as yet raised either men or money for the Expedition, and indeed as their principles are inconsistent with Government, so their Practice is to Oppose all good Order, and Especially any Directions from the Crown, as we have but too Visibly seen at this time, for which reason we have joyned with the gentlemen of the Council and Assembly of the Jerseys, who are not quakers, in Representing to Her Majesty the necessity of giving an Instruction to Her Governors not to admit any into the Council or Assemblies but such as Qualify themselves as the Act of Parliament directs; This we doubt not Your Lordships will think fitt to advise Her Majesty to do, when it comes before you, as likewise to advise Her Majesty to proper Methods with relation to Pennsylvania, who have wholly refused Her Majesty's Commands. And though we hope they shall not be able to abstract this noble enterprise, the Success of which we doubt not will be attended with such consequences as will sufficiently convince both Your Lordships and the Ministry, that Nothing could have been enterprized which could have contributed so much to the honour and Advantage of the Crown and Subjects of Britain, than this present Expedition, which the Quakers have not been wanting to their power to obstruct. This we judge it our Duty with all sub 1709 mission to Your Lordships consummate wisdom, humbly to advise you of. Who are with all possible respect. My Lords, Your Lordships most devoted humble Servants, New York, June 28th, 1709. Fran. Nicholson, Sam. Vetch. THE VESTRY OF TRINITY CHURCH TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CAN TERBURY, ABOUT 1709? MAY? "It is but of late years (our church) had its being, and is yet but very tender. The greatest part of the inhabitants of this Province are of the Dutch and French Reformed Religion, or Dissenters and Quakers; and but three counties within this Province would receive a Church of England minister, to wit, Queen's County, Westchester and Richmond; and of these Counties, but the smallest number goe to wor ship. With much adoe we have overcome the Debt we had contracted by the building of our Church and Steeple, which latter is designed for a Ring of Bells; the walls are of good thickness, and foundation above thirty food square; it has got so high as the ridgepole of the Church, but for want of money we were forced to cover it there, and for the present have hung in a Bell* of 6 sd weight, the free gift of his Lordship of London. The Bishop of Bristol in the year 1699 sent us over so many stones as did pave all the Isles of our Church. Col. Fletcher, who was Governor of this Province from 1692-1698, gave the first life and being to it, and was a large benefactor out of his own private fortune. His successor [Bellomont] in the Government (on the contrary) endeavored to ruin it, although he sometimes came hither to receive the holy Sacrament, which we hope God has forgiven him; the Viscount Cornbury, next to him, during his Government, has endeavored not only to restore, but (to) advance the Churches Interest, and made in his grant, which by the account we had, from his successor, the Lord Lovelace, [Died, May, 1709] is shaken and rendered disputable, until her most Sacred Majesty shall be graciously pleased to re-establish us therein. Col. Nicholson has likewise been a Benefactor to our Church of the first Rank. A thousand pounds will be required to finish the Steeple, which we propose for our next task, and are about making up that sum. There is much more wanted, viz., a Dwelling house for our Minister, and a Vestry-room, with a Ring of Bells and a sett of Organs. What we cannot effect ourselves, we shall leave to God Almighty's good Providence, and must recommend the work to our Posterity ". "The situation of our Church is very pleasant, between two rivers on eminent ground. We have a large burying place adjoining round it in good fence and adorned with rows of Lime trees, which will make a pleasant shade in a little time."........ "We want also a couple of large Branches of Candlesticks, to hang in the body of our Church; Communion Plate; Books and Vestments, which these last, we are credibly informed have been designed for us by the late King William, and since by her present Majesty, but by what ill fate or accident we know not, we are still without them... - Records, i. 70. Dix, 171-2. .... 1 LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR INGOLDESBY TO THE LORDS OF TRADE. TRINITY CHURCH. July 5, 1709. To the Right Honourable The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations. The only standing Revenue the Queen has in this Province is Quit Rents, and they are so much concealed, that very little comes into the Treasury, nor is it The cost of hanging this bell, was six pounds seventeen shillings was paid Feb. 14, 1705. practicable to make a Rent Roll whereby they may be collected yearly, other than by a law to be made particularly for that purpose; for I am very well informed that when the Dutch took this place from us, Several Books of Records of Patents and other things were then lost; And how little an Assembly will favour such a Bill is much to be doubted from their Interest; I wish your Lordships would give me your Directions herein, that I might apply myself to bring this matter to a clearer sight than it has yet been in. I am informed that the Minister of this Place is attempting to obtain from Her Majesty an allowance of twenty six pounds a year out of the Quit Rents, for His House Rent, as also the payment of some arrears occasioned in common with others by the anticipating and over charging the Revenue out of which this used to be paid; It was given in the Infancy of the Church, when the Congregation were not able to bear the Expence, and was a very pious Act, and has contributed very much to the Increase of it, which is now so flourishing that their Minister has a very handsome Salary of one hundred and sixty pounds per annum, besides his Perquisites. And the Church has now in bank as I am informed, seven or eight hundred pounds; I hope Her Majesty will think of some way of paying this Arrear and house Rent; for besides the 11 Example it will be, to appropriate the remainder of it to particular uses, it will deprive the Government of all manner of means to provide for several unavoydable Exigencies, this being the only money it can command.- Col. Hist. N. Y. Vol. v. pp. 82, 83. 1709 CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Correspondence from America. Rev. V. Antonides and Rev. Gualterus Du Bois to Classis of To the Reverend, Pious and Very Learned Gentlemen and Breth- Rev. Gentlemen: Although we have only recently burdened you with a large lot of documents about the condition of the Esopus congregation, we find ourselves again obliged to make another report, about something which has lately occurred here. From this, as a special sample, the confusion in the state of the Dutch Church here will clearly be seen, and, as we think, all caused by those who do not consider themselves bound by any rules or orders of the Church. A certain Paulus van Vleck, reader, (voorlezer), at a place called Kinderhook, has for some years past performed a reader's duties there, conformably to the usages of the Dutch Church. He had also studied the fundamentals of divine truth, and has expected for a long time to enter upon the ministry. He 1709 also understood how to bring his people so far that they should issue a call to him. But then it became necessary that he should be promoted to the ministry, and to escape a voyage to Holland for that purpose, it was thought that it could be done here. They at first worked underhandedly, to have it done by the ministers here. They spread a report among the people that the Domines here could do it just as well as the Classis of Amsterdam. This was rumored about secretly for a while. They did not dare to come out openly into the daylight with their plan, until, finally, the following circumstance was taken by the forelock, for the advancement of their scheme. When the soldiers were fitting out for the conquest of Canada, the Colonel judged that it would be useful and edifying to have, besides the English chaplain, also a Dutch chaplain to go with them; or, at least, because there are only a few Dutch ministers here, to have a reader or a couple of Comforters-of-the-sick, to serve the Dutch troops in the same manner, as the congre gations, which have no ministers, are served by them. His Excellency (Gov. Lovelace) said, when we once were incidentally conversing with him about this matter, that he was surprised that the Assembly, had not provided for this; and he asked Domine Du Bois, to inform the Assembly, in his name, that it would be well to have this matter attended to. This having been done, the Assembly turned their thoughts to this Paulus van Vleck, who was proposed to them by some friends of Domine Freeman. But when the place was offered to him, he refused to go in the character of a mere reader; but if the ministers would ordain him, he was willing to do service among the soldiers as a minister, and then, at the end of the campaign, be installed as minister in the congregation of Kinderhook. He seized this as a convenient opportunity to attain his long cherished aim. So far as we know, Domine Freeman and his friends helped him, to urge this business. And he knew how to obtain at least so much from the members of the Assembly, that the House issued |