546
PETITION FOR REBUILDING THE DUTCH CHURCH IN ALBANY .
To His Excellency Robert Hunter Esq r Cap* Generali and Governour in Chief of the Provincesof New York New Jersey and Territories thereon Depending in America and vice Admiral!of the Same & c
The Humble Petition of Petrus van Driesen Minister of the Nether Dutch Reformed Congregationof the City and County of Albany and the Elders and Deacons of the said Congregation.HumblV Sheweth . *
That the predecessors of your Excellency’s humble Petition 1,3 in the year of our Lord 1655 & 1656when this towne was Setled did with assistance of the then nether dutch Congregation build andErect at their own proper Cost and Charge the Church belonging to the said Congregation (Standing& being in the said City ) for their Christian devotion and Publick worship of Almighty god, in theExercise of the Reformed protestant Religion, which Church is Since been Confirmed to the MayorAlderman & Commonalty of y e Said City by Charter, under the Seale of the Province.
That the said Church being built of timber & boards is by time So much decayd that they findthemselves under a necessity of building a new one in its place and your Petitioners believing yourExcellencys Continance and approbation will be very advantageous to them, in this their under-taking.
Your Ex c y s Petitioners do therefore most Humbly pray that your Excellency will please to approveand Encourage this pious work by signifying Such your approbation and your Petitioners as in dutybound shall Ever pray & c
Petrus van Driessen Y. D. Praeco
Johannes Rooseboom
Myndert Schuyler
Hend" van Rensselaer
Johannis Beekman
Rutger Bleecker
Stevanie groesbeck
I do approbe of what is desired In the petition and recommend the Same to all who are concern’d18 June 1714. Ro: Hunter
FIRST ENGLISH CHURCH IN ALBANY.
To his Excellency Robert Hunter Esq r Captain Generali & Governour in Chief of the Provincesof New York, New Jersey &c.
The humble peticon of Thomas Barclay Minister and Peter Mathews and James Dunbar thepresent Wardens of the English Church at Albany .
Sheweth— Ynto yo r Excellency that whereas the right honorable the Society for propagating ofthe gospell in forrain parts have been pleased to appoint the peticoner Thomas Barclay theirmissionary for the city of Albany for the benefit of the garrison and Inhabitants there to performdivin service according to the liturgy of the Church of England , they have hitherto been necessitatedto make use of a small old Chappel belonging to a Lutheran congregacon at unseasonable hours asby their permission the house also [being] worn out & decayd. Yo r Excellency taking it into yo r