JOURNAL OF SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL. Oct. 20, 1710. p. 295. § 14. Rev. John F. Haeger. From Mr. Haeger, dated New York 25th of July, 1710, importing his arrival with the Palatines, after a tedious voyage, his sickness therein, the separation of the Lutherans from the established church, which he strongly opposed and will petition his excellency about; that he wants some liturgies in the German tongue, that his circumstances are very mean, therefore he begs a summer gown and a surplice; and lastly says that his books have been spoiled by the water. The Committee agreed to move the Society that a gown and surplice and some German Common prayer and other books may be sent to the said Mr. Hager. Agreed that the sum of ten pounds be allowed for the purpose above mentioned. Suit against the Church Wardens of Jamaica for the Ministers Salary. Queens County, Ss. Att Speciall Court held in Jamaica on the 27th day Present John Coe Judge Samuel Baley Richard Edfield Justices. Mr. Thomas Poyer pr Mr. Clowes Complaines that the Church Wardens do refuse to pay the one quarters salary. The reasons of the Church Wardens Against the Complaint of Mr. Thomas Poyer qui tam 1. Because we had no money. 2ly We had no Orders from ye Justices and Vestry according to an act of assembly to pay any. 3ly Because we thought Mr. Poyer not Quallifyed according to the act of assembly of this Province as minister or Incumbent of Jamaica to demand the whole or any part of the said Sallary. Tho. Poyer Clerke Rector of the Parish of Jamaica in Queens County comes before John Coe Esq. Justice of ye Peace in the same County and Complains against Saml. Coe and Daniel Smith Church Wardens of ye Parish of Jamaica aforesaid for refuseing to pay his the said Thomas Poyers last quarters sallery for officiating as Rector of the said Parish and therefore prays as well on behalfe of himselfe as the poor of the said Parish that the said Church Wardens be awarded to pay five pounds Current money of New York to him ye said Thomas Poyer and ye power of the said Parish of Jamaica. true Copy Joseph Smith, Clerke. Letter of Rev. John Frederick Haeger, Oct. 28, 1710, to the Secretary of the Most noble Sir: Whether the first letter, (safely reached you) which I sent to you briefly but hurriedly for lack of time, in order to show you my submissive respect, by announcing our safe arrival, and whether this letter will safely reach you, I am not certain. 1710 1710 For this reason I report once more, that with two other ships we arrived here on the 17th of June 1710, after having been separated from each other, I know not through what causes. From the day of our arrival I have used my utmost endeavor to conduct divine service at the appointed place, the City Hall. I have not wanted audiences, although the so called Lutherans have separated from us, because a minister has been assigned to them. In our congregational prayers I have caused my people to conform to such an extent, that they themselves take great pleasure in them and desire nothing more ardently but to obtain such books (of prayer) in some manner. I have organized them by installing some of the oldest men as church wardens, that everything might be done in a better order, and they be more like a regular congregation. I have several times celebrated the holy communion, at which occasion I counted up six hundred members; of these I instructed fifty two in the fundamentals of our religion according to the Church Catechism; among them were thirteen Papists. Since my arrival I have married four couples, and by baptism incorporated eight children into Christ and his Church. Many of the people died at sea, and here, through fever; so that the number of the survivors amount to about two thousand. At present all of the people, except a few sick ones, who remain here during the winter, have been shipped up the river to a certain tract of land. I intend, God willing, to follow them in the near future. As far as my subsistence is concerned, I have been compelled to live miserably thus far, upon credit; because I have not received any perquisites from the people, nor have I been granted an allowance, as every other Palatine recelves; nor could I get a draught on my salary, having given my power of attorney, as you well know, to Mr. Miller. But I hope his Excellency will now give me an advance on the same, that I may be able to live. A fuller report of the conditions here I shall send with the next opportunity. Meanwhile I remain, My most honored Sirs, Your obedient and submissive servant, New York, October 28, anno 1710. John Frederick Haeger. [By the courtesy of Rev. Prof. Wm. J. Hinke, of Philadelphia, who procured a copy of this letter, and of many others, in London, and furnished translations.] Contract with R. Livingston to Victual the Palatines; Nov. 13, Anno 1710. This Indenture made this thirteenth day of November in the ninth year of the Relgne of our Soveraigne Lady Anne by the Grace of God Queen of Great Brittain ffrance & Ireland Defender of the ffaith etc. Between his Excellency Robert Hunter Esq., Capt. Generall & Governor in Cheiff of the Provinces of New York, New Jersey & dependences thereunto belonging & Vice Admirall of the same etc. of the one part & Robt. Livingston of New York Gent. of the other part. Witnesseth That his said Excell. Robt. Hunter & Robt. Livingston aforesaid have come to a mutuall Agreement about the supplying of the Palatines settled in three severall Townships upon that land purchased for the use of the Queen her successors & assigns forever in the Manor of Livingston on the East side of Hudsons River & two other towns on the west side of said River on the Queens land opposite thereunto with Bread and Beer for & during the Term of six months next ensuing in manner & form & upon the Terms and condicons hereafter menconed & exprest. That is to say, The said Robt. Livingston for himself his Execrs. & admrs. & every of them doth Covenant grant and agree to & with his said Excell. his Execrs. & admrs. that he the said Robt. Livingston his Execrs. & Admrs. for and in Consideration of the Covenants clauses, articles & payments hereafter menconed & Exprest on the part & behalf of his sald Excell. his Execrs. & Admrs. to be paid performed fulfilled & kept will well and faithfully furnish & supply or cause & procure to be well & faithfully furnished & supplyed at the Manor house of the said Manor such numbers of Palatines as he shall have in charge to supply the Quantity of Bread & Beer following (that is to say) for each Person of them each day the Quantity of Bread Equall to one third of a Loaf of Bread of such sort and assize which is commonly at the prise of four pence half penny in the Citty of New York in weight and fineness according to the assize of Bread in said City for the time being & one Quart of Beer such as is usually called ships Beer of the Prise of three Pounds for each Tun All which is to be delivered to the Comissary or Commissarys of the said Palatines for the time being at the said Manor house, he or they the sald Comissary or Commissarys Granting Certificates unto the said Robt. Livingston his Execrs. or Admrs. of such Delivery In Writing under their hands for the Rule & measure of his payments. In consideracon whereof his said Excellency for himself his Execrs. & Admrs. doth Covenant Grant & agree to pay & satisfile or cause to be paid & satisfied unto the said Robt. Livingstons his Execrs. & Admrs. for the same Bread & Beer so supplyed furnished & delivered as aforesaid after the rate aforesaid during the same Terme in the manner following that is to say, The said Robt. Livingston his Execrs. & Admrs. shall at or before the Expiracon & end of every two months during the said Terme be fully paid contented & satisfyed by his said Excell. his Execrs. & Admrs. one Moiety or half part in Current Silver mony of the Province of New York & one other Moiety or half part in such merchantible Goods Wares & Merchandizes as the said Robt. Livingston his Execrs. or Admrs. shall nominate & require five sixths thereof to be of the Growth & Produce of Europe & one sixth of the Growth of the West Indies at the Curant mercat prise in New York for the time being & not otherwise, And in regard the Season of the year is so farr spent his said Excell. doth further Covenant Grant & agree to advance unto the said Robt. Livingston his Execrs. & Admrs. flower for the use of the said Palatines for the space & Terme of Three Months at the currant mercat prise at the time of having thereof which will amount to in all about the quantity of twenty five Tunns to be delivered unto him or them at the said Manor house & the sum of four hundred Pounds in Silver Mony for which the said Robt. Livingston is to be accountable to his said Excell. And the said Robt. Livingston for himself his Execrs. & Admrs. doth Covenant Grant & Agree at his & their proper Charge to furnish & supply to the said Palatines three hundred new Beer Barrells for the holding of their Allowance in Beer & no more; And his said Excell. for himself his Execrs. Admrs. doth Covenant grant and agree That the said Palatines shall receive their allowance in Beer at the said Brewhouse by the said Manor house & when the Cask supplyed by Robt. Livingston his Execrs. & Admrs. are emptyed to cleanse & Return their cask to the said Robt. Livingston his Execrs. or Admrs. at the said Brewhouse or the said Robt. Livingston his Execrs. & Admrs. shall be paid for what shall be stav'd or Lost after the rate of three shill. p Barrele And that the said three hundred cask shall be kept tight & in repaire by the Palatines at their own Charge. In Witness whereof the parties above menconed have interchangeably sett their hands & seals the day & year first above mencond. Ro. Hunter. (Seal) A Memorandum is added to the above agreement providing for the alteration of the assize of bread incident on any change in New York.- Doc. Hist. N. Y. Vol. ill. pp. 391, 392. Further Order in Favor of Mr. Antonides. 1710 At a Councill held at Fort Anne Present His Excellency Robert Hunter, Esq. Coll. De Peyster Doctor Staats Capt. Walter Mr. Van Dam His Excellency acquainted this Board that the Dispute Betwenne Mr. Antonides & Mr. ffreeman Concerning their calls to some Churches in Kings County, Notwithstanding all ye proposals made to them by him for an Accomodation still 1710 Continues to ye Great disturbance of ye Peace of ye said County and those proposalls not being consented to His Excellency desired ye Opinions of this Board what they Judge proper to be done therein. It is ye opinion of Every member of this Board (except Coll. D'Peyster) that ye Order made in Councill in this matter ye 18th of Aprill last be Confirmed Whereby Mr. Antonides was to be protected in the ffree Exercise of his Ministeriall function in the Towns of flat Bush flatlands and Brookland and that all persons were to take notice thereof accordingly and that Mr. Antonides and Mr. Ffreeman were recommended to persuade and dispose (as much as in them lay) their Consistories respectively soe as that each of them may be called to such churches as they are not yet duely called unto. Whereupon. It is ordered that the said Order be and it is hereby confirmed till His Excellency's pleasure be further knowne and all partyes Concerned are to take Notice hereof and Governe themselves accordingly.- Doc. Hist. N. Y. Vol. iii. pp. 111, 112. REV. MR. THOMAS TO THE SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY FOR Honoured Sir: Hamstead 3rd December, 1710. Since my last to you nothing new or very memorable has occurred within my parish, I thank God all is well in generall and a happy continuance of mutual accord and affection between me and my parishioners - My neighbor Mr. Poyer who meets with great difficulties in his mission has desired me to represent his case to the Honorable Society as being his next neighbor and in some measure privy to the opposition he labors under, there was a Church erected at Jamaica by a public levy and Tax upon the inhabitants by virtue of an act of Assembly of the Province; recorded Church in their own town Records, all indifferently forced to pay their proportions towards it, upon the arrival of the first Missionary from the Honorable Society thither, in the Honorable the Earl of Clarendon's time, the missionary was put into possession accordingly Mr. Urquhart enjoyed it during his time without any dispute as to the legality of his possession, only some threats he met with upon the arrival of my Lord Lovelace, which soon vanished again by his death & the succession of Coll. Ingoldsby into the Government who soon allayed the heat of that faction upon the arrival of his now Excellency our present Governor (moved thereunto by I know not what Government) they got head again and upon Mr. Poyer's arrival took possession of the Church & parsonage, the parsonage they are still possessed of, but the Church Mr. Poyer preaches in again. There is a clause in the Act of Assembly for setling the Ministry in this Province, which empowers the people to call their Minister, accordingly the Dissenting party of Jamaica have called a Dissenting Minister and entitled him to the parish salary. Mr. Poyer has petitioned his Excellency to right him, what satisfaction he had he will undoubtedly inform the Honorable Society in. I hope he will take care to send the two acts of the Province whereby the ministry is settled here, to the Honorable Society, whereby that Honorable & venerable Body may see & judge themselves how justly or unjust he is handled among the Dissenters at Jamaica, I humbly beg leave to present to the Honorable Society the ill consequences that may ensue by this example, if a call from the Dissenting party entitle a Dissenter to be Parish minister, and to the salary of the parish, then upon the death or removal of the present Incumbent, the vacancies in most parishes will be filled with Dissenters, so will Dissention sit triumphant on the throne supported by the countenance of the laws of the Government. Honored Sir, this is as near as I can inform you the true & just state of the case all the rest of the missionaries are settled in Peace, & if these people are once more nipped in the bud and Mr. Poyer restored to his right, I presume they will scarce offer to flutter again as long as there is a crowned head that sways the Sceptre of Great Britain. Honoured Sir etc. John Thomas. Honoured Sir, I forgot to mention to you that the words Institution & Induction are in the Act of Assembly and that Mr. Poyer was accordingly Instituted & inducted and the act mentions likewise Church Wardens & Vestrymen all which words specify the true Intent of the Act viz., the Settlement of the National ministry, the call which they lay hold on has somewhat of the air of dissention, not a word more that I know of through out the Act I am, Honoured Sir etc. John Thomas. Doc. Hist. N. Y. Vol. iii. pp. 137, 138. ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Albany. 1710, Dec. 8th. The writing to Albany remains further recommended to the Messrs. Deputati ad res Exteras. ix. 226. CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Acts of the Deputies and their Correspondence. The Classis of Amsterdam to the Rev. Consistory of Albany, To the Rev. Consistory of Albany: From your letter of March 27, 1710, we have learned of the untimely departure of Rev. John Lydius, and that you were inclined to secure another suitable man in his place. We wish, indeed, to gratify your desire, to the benefit of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the best interests of the church. But we are obliged to say that at present few proper individuals, or rather none at all, offer themselves, or feel inclined to go to Albany. And even if there were some, our Classis is not in condition to send you any one, as she is already considerably in arrears by the departure of Revs. Antonides and Vas; and is not willing to plunge herself deeper in debt, without knowing where the funds are to come from. In order to gratify your desire, and supply you again as soon as possible with a capable pastor, 1710 |