(1) Reverend Richard Denton (1586-1662), one of the pioneers
of Presbyterianism in America, was a Cambridge man, who came
over with Winthrop in 1630, and was settled successively at
Watertown, Wethersfield and Stamford. His differences with
the Congregational clergy of New England had led to his
withdrawal, and since 1644 he had been at Hempstead.
On the west shore of the East River, about one miles beyond Hellgate, as we call it, and opposite Flushing, is another English village, called Oostdorp, which was begun two years ago. The inhabitants of this place are also Puritans or Independents. Neither have they a preacher, but they hold meetings on Sunday, and read a sermon of some English writer, and have a prayer.(1)
(1) Oost-dorp ("East Village") is the present Westchester.
"After dinner [Sunday, December 31, 1656] Cornelis van
Ruyven went to the house where they assemble on Sundays, to
observe their mode of worship, as they have not as yet any
clergyman. There I found a gathering of about fifteen men
and ten or twelve women. Mr. Baly made a prayer, which
being concluded, one Robert Basset read a sermon from a
printed book composed and published by an English minister
in England. After the reading Mr. Baly made another prayer
and they sang a psalm and separated." (Journal of Brian
Newton et als., to Oostdorp, Doc. Hist. N.Y., octavo, III.
923)
Such is the condition of the church in our province. To this we must add that, as far as we know, not one of all these places, Dutch or English, has a schoolmaster, except the Manhattans, Beverwyck, and now also Fort Casimir on the South River.(1) And although some parents try to give their children some instruction, the success if far from satisfactory, and we can expect nothing else than young men of foolish and undisciplined minds. We see at present no way of improving this state of affairs; first, because some of the villages are just starting, and have no means, the people having come half naked and poor from Holland, to pay a preacher and schoolmaster; secondly, because there are few qualified persons here who can or will teach.
(1) Harmanus van Hoboken at New Amsterdam, Adriaen Jansz at
Beverwyck (Albany), and since April of this year Evert
Pietersen at Fort Casimir. Two years later (1659) the
company sent over Alexander Carolus Curtius, "late professor
in Lithuania," to be master of a Latin school in New
Amsterdam.
We can say but little of the conversion of the heathens or Indians here, and see no way to accomplish it, until they are subdued by the numbers and power of our people, and reduced to some sort of civilization; and also unless our people set them a better example, than they have done theretofore.
We have had an Indian here with us for about two years. He can read and write Dutch very well. We have instructed him in the fundamental principles of our religion, and he answers publicly in church, and can repeat the Commandments. We have given him a Bible, hoping he might do some good among the Indians, but it all resulted in nothing. He took to drinking brandy, he pawned the Bible, and turned into a regular beast, doing more harm than good among the Indians.
Closing we commend your Reverences to the gracious protection of the Almighty, whom we pray to bless you in the Sacred Ministry.
Vestri et officio et effectu,(1)
(1) Yours both officially and actually.