(1) One of the fruits of Father Le Moyne's visit to New
Netherland was that the Dutch obtained from the governor of
Canada permission to carry on trade, except the fur trade,
on the St. Lawrence.
(2) Farewell, brethren; yours officially.
Rev. Henricus Selyns to the Classis of Amsterdam (October 4, 1660)
Reverend, Wise and Pious Teachers:
We cannot be so forgetful as to omit to inform you concerning our churches and services. While at sea, we did not neglect religious worship, but every morning and evening we besought God's guidance and protection, with prayer and the singing of a psalm. On Sundays and feast-days the Holy Gospel was read, when possible. The sacrament was not administered on shipboard, and we had no sick people during the voyage. God's favor brought us all here in safety and health. Arrived in New Netherland, we were first heard at the Manhattans; but the peace-negotiations at the Esopus,(1) where we also went, and the general business of the government necessarily delayed our installation until now. We have preached here at the Esopus, also at Fort Orange; during This time of waiting we were well provided with food and lodging. Esopus needs more people, but Breuckelen more money; wherefore I serve on Sundays, in the evenings only, at the General's bouwery,(2) at his expense. The installation at Brooklyn was made by the Honorable Nicasius de Sille, fiscaal,(3) and Martin Kriegers, burgomaster,(4) with an open commission from his Honor the Director-General.(5) I was cordially received by the magistrates and consistory, and greeted by Domine Polhemius. We do not preach in a church, but in a barn; next winter we shall by God's favor and the general assistance of the people erect a church.
(1) The Indians of Esopus had broken out in hostilities in
the autumn of 1659. The next summer Stuyvesant went there,
after some defeats of the tribe, and made peace formally,
July 15, 1660. A congregation had lately been formed there,
which called Domine Harmanus Blom to be its pastor.
(2) Stuyvesant's Bowery, or farm, acquired by him in 1651,
lay in the present region of Third Avenue and Tenth Street.
Near the present site of St. Mark's Church he built a chapel
for his family, his negro slaves, some forty in number, and
the other inhabitants of the neighborhood.
(3) Of New Netherland.
(4) Of New Amsterdam.
(5) For this letter of induction, see Ecclesiastical
Records, I. 480.
The audience is passably large, coming from Middelwout, New Amersfort, and often Gravesande increases it; but most come from the Manhattans. The Ferry, the Walebacht, and Guyanes,(1) all belong to Breuckelen. The Ferry is about two thousand paces across the river, or to the Manhattans, from the Breuckelen Ferry. I found at Breuckelen one elder, two deacons, twenty four members, thirty one householders, and one hundred and thirty-four people. The consistory will remain for the present as it is. In due time we will have more material and we will know the congregation better. Cathechizing will not be held here before the winter; but we will begin it at the preaching service there. It will be most suitable to administer the Lord's Supper on Christmas, Easter, Whitsuntide and in September. On the day following these festivals-days a thanksgiving sermon will be preached. I might have taken up my residence at the Manhattans, because of its convenience; but my people, all of them evincing their love and affection for me, have provided me a dwelling of which I cannot complain. I preach at Breuckelen in the morning; but at the Bouwery at the end of the catechetical sermon. The Bouwery is a place of relaxation and pleasure, whither people go from the Manhattans, for the evening service. There are there forty negroes, from the region of the Negro Coast, besides the household families. There is here as yet no consistory, but the deacons from New Amsterdam provisionally receive the alms; and at least one deacon, if not an elder, ought to be chosen there. Besides myself, there are in New Netherland the Domines Joannes Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius at New Amsterdam; Domine Gideon Schaats at Fort Orange; Domine Joannes Polhemius at Middelwout and New Amersfort; and Domine Hermanus Blom at the Esopus. I have nothing more to add, except to express my sincere gratitude and to make my respectful acknowledgements. I commend your Reverences, wise and pious teachers, to God's protection, and am,
Yours humbly,
HENRICUS SELYNS, Minister of the Holy Gospel at Breuckelen.
From Amsterdam on the Manhattans, Oct. 4, 1660.
(1) Wallabout and Gowanus.