also dealing in tobacco. He also sells wine by the cask, and trades with one de Kemper for an ox. He resided and did business in Winckel, or Shop street, near the Fort and the storehouses of the Dutch West India Company, now Whitehall street, opposite the Bowling Green, but in 1669 he removed to the east side of Broad street, between the present Beaver and South William streets. In 1653 we find him and his wife enrolled as members of the Dutch Church. In 1653 he contributed $40 towards erecting the city palisades. In 1655, 1657, 1658, 1662, he held the office of Schepen, and his name constantly appears in connection with important movements in the colonies. He had retired to private life in 1664, when Nicolls was in command of New Amsterdam. One of the foremost and most fearless of the sturdy Dutch patriots, who refused to take the oath of allegiance to the British Crown, until they and their fellow citizens were secured in their rights, was Johannes de Peyster. In 1665, the government being apparently firmly vested in the British Crown, he again accepted the office of Schepen; and in 1666, 1667, 1669, 1673, was appointed, and acted as Alderman, the form of government having been changed. The year 1673 was a year of jubilee for the Dutch, for the gallantry and determination of Evertzen, Binckes, and Colve, had restored them to the jurisdiction of the mother country. De Peyster was one of the six selected to confer with their deliverers upon the settlement and establishment of affairs. In August, 1673, New York, originally New Amsterdam, became New Orange, and one of the three Burgomasters, selected by the Council of War from the six candidates, elected by the people, to govern it conformably to the laws and statutes of the fatherland, was Johannes de Peyster. He was likewise, during the reoccupation of New Netherland, 1673-74, a member of the commission of five to whom was committed the preparations for defense against the anticipated attempts at recapture by the English. This was one of those crises, which never occurred without affording additional proof of the fearless and unselfish patriotism of the Dutch. In 1674, he and his colleagues were just as bold in maintaining the rights of the "Burghery" against the Dutch military Governor-General, the impetuous Colve, as they had been, and afterwards were, to defend those of their fellow-citizens against the encroachments of the English Gov ernors. Though he was one of the last to take the oath of allegiance, he was, soon after the final cession of the Dutch colony to the British government, promoted to the highest offices in the municipality. In 1676, he was an Alderman, in 1677, Deputy Mayor, and the same year he was tendered the office of Mayor, but declined it in consequence of his imperfect acquaintance with the English language. "He could make," said Colonel Richard Nicolls, the first English Governor, "a better platform speech than any other man outside of Parliament." Certainly this was a great compliment from an opponent. He was one of the six who drew up the first charter for New Amsterdam. Tall, dignified, yet full of enthusiasm, he was a man who commanded, and deserved, the respect of his fellow men. An old record speaks of his belonging to the "Renteneers," or those who had a fixed income. His position in the Church was one of prominence, and, both as a preacher and a practiser, his example is worthy of imitation. In a Tax List of 1674, he is assessed at 15,000 guilders, and his wealth is estimated at $10,000. He died about 1688, after a long life of activity and usefulness, having been one of the most influential citizens of his adopted. home, proving himself a patriot at a time when opinions brought men's lives into jeopardy. His children were, *1. Abraham de Peyster, Alderman, 1685; Mayor of New York, 1692; Judge of the Supreme Court; Treasurer of the Provinces of New Jersey and New York; Governor of New York, 1700; born July 8, 1657; died August 8, 1728; married Catherine de Peyster, his cousin, at Amsterdam, Holland, April 5, 1684. 2. Johannes, died young. 3. Johannes, died young. 4. Maria, baptized September 7, 1660; m., 1st, Paulus Schrick, s. p.; 2d, John Sprat-a daughter by this marriage married James Alexander, member of the King's Council, and father of Lord Stirling; 3d, David Provoost. 5. Isaac, born April 16, 1662, member of the Provincial Legislature, and of the Corporation; married Mary Van Baal. 6. Johannes, born and baptized September 22, 1666, Mayor of New York 1698-9; Assessor, 1692-3; Assistant Alderman, 1694-6; member of the Provincial Legislature; married Anna, daughter of Gerrit Bancker, October 10, 1688. 7. Cornelius, baptized October 4, 1673; first Chamberlain of New York; married, 1st, Mary Bancker, September 20, 1694; 2d, the widow of Alex. Stewart. 8. Jacob, died young. 9. Cornelia, died young. After her husband's death, Mrs. de Peyster continued to reside on Broad street, surviving him many years. The census of 1703, says her family consisted of a negro, a negress, and two children. Last Will and Testament of Cornelia de Peyster, April 23, 1692, proved September 25, 1725. In the name of God, Amen. Know all men by these presents, That on ye twenty-third day of Aprill in ye year of our Lord one thousand Six hundred and ninety-two, I, Cornelia de Peyster of the City of New York, considering mortality of all men, certainty of death, and ye uncertain time thereof, have made my last Will & Testament, well premeditated and out of a free mind, revoking and annulling all other acts of last Wills made by me before ye date of this present, desiring this only to stand in full power, force and virtue in law, being as viz. : Imprimis: I recommend my immortal soul when departed out of ye body in ye merciful hands of God Almighty and my corpse to a decent burial. Secondly I confirm ye last Will & Testament made by my husband deceased, Johannes de Peyster, before ye Notary Walwyn van der Veen, dated ye 8 day August anno 1663. Thirdly I make and bequeath to my Eldest sonn, Abraham de Peyster, ye summe of Tenn pounds for his privilege of first borne to be delivered to him before any division is made of my Estate. Fourthly I make unto my youngest Sonn, Cornelis de Peyster, in case I come to die before he is married, an outsetting equal as other have had of bed, furniture and household stuff and bybel. ye Fifthly I do make all my children by name, Abraham, Maria, Isaac, Johannes & Cornelis de Peyster, my only universall & equal Heirs of my Estate, which I shall leave by decease reall & personally, moveable and unmoveable, actions & credits, nothing Excepted, to be equally inherited & divided amongst them after my Decease without any distinction of Sonn or daughter or prerogative of one above other, and by decease of any of them, their Lawful Issue by representation. Sixthly: I will & require in case any of my children shall come to dye not being married, or dyeing a widower or widow, leaving no children, then ye inheritance of their share equally devolve to ye survivant children, or their Lawfull Issue by representation. Seaventhly I doe make all my children Executors of my Estate to act & performe all things required according to Law and my cousin, Peter de la Noy, to be their assistant. The premises I declare to be my last will & require ye Same may be performed in all points & accepted in ye law. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seale ye year, day & month as above said. Sealed & Delivered in ye presence of P. D LA NOY. ISAAC VAN VLECQ. JACOBSEN. WILLEM JACOBSEN. CORNELIA DE PEYSTER. THE INDUCTION OF THE REV. WILLIAM VESEY. During the more than fifty years of the ascendancy of the Dutch in this city, the affairs of their church moved with a tranquil current and their schools were carefully fostered; nor was there any radical change as to these under the early English Governors of the Province from 1664, when the Dutch control was destroyed, until the coming here as Governor in August, 1692, of Benjamin Fletcher. All the early English Governors, except Dongan, who was a Catholic, were Episcopalians, but were either indifferent as to the condition of religious affairs, or too deeply immersed in their private speculations and public duties to give attention to them. Not so with Fletcher: on his advent the quiet was disturbed, and peace was followed by turmoil. Fletcher was not a man of ability. An early historian describes him as a man of sordid disposition, violent temper and shallow capacity. He was an arrogant and overbearing soldier who bitterly resented opposition to his purposes, and who expected to be unhesitatingly obeyed whenever he commanded. It will be historically interesting to trace the legislation he initiated before the Assemblies of the Province of New York for effecting the establishment of the English Church in the colony, and the means by which he secured that result. There had been worship according to the Church of England in the Fort, where the steamship offices are now, opposite the Bowling Green. The Dutch had erected a building there, and in the days of the government from Holland had worshiped there alone. But in 1664 services were held by the chaplain of the English forces alternately with the Reformed Church of Holland. With the growth of the town, however, this had become too small for the latter society, and they erected a new building in Garden street, now Exchange place, just where the eastern end of the Mills building is now to be found. This was in 1693. The building in the fort was abandoned to the garrison and such few others as adhered to the Church of England. No record exists as to who the earlier chaplains were, or by whom the Anglican services were celebrated. The Rev. Charles Wolley appears as the first chaplain whose name is recorded. Soon after Fletcher's arrival here, he caused application to be made to the Assembly for the passage of an act for the building of a church in the City of New York and the settlement of a Protestant minister. This in his view would undoubtedly be an Episcopalian one. The Assembly stood by the faith of their fathers, and refused to pass the enactment. This refusal brought upon the Assembly all the wrath of the Governor. In 1693 he was somewhat more successful. He secured from the new |