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PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.
At a meeting of the Association of Litchfield County in Sharon on Wednesday May 28 A D 1760M 1 ' William Hanna B. A. offered himself to Examination in Order to obtain Licence to Preachthe Gospel, who w T as accordingly examined & this Association having examined him according toour Stated Rules look upon him competently Qualified to Preach the Gospel & accordingly the saidWilliam Hanna is hereby Licensed to Preach the Gospel under the Conduct & Direction of thisAssociation & do recommend him accordingly wishing he may be useful to the Churches examinedand attested per Jonathan Lee Scribe.
These are to certify, that the Rev d William Hanna was regularly appointed to the Pastoral Care of this flock : that he performed the Ministerial Functions for the space of about 5 years amongstus ; and mentained an unblemished Moral & Religious character during his incumbancy ; but ashe has lately taken a civil Commission from the Governor which we apprehend must naturally calloff his attention from his Pastoral Duties : and as it is not customary for any Minister in our Churchto bear a Civil office. We do therefore humbly pray that it would please the Presbytery to grant usa Dismission from the Reverend M r William Hanna which We are the Moore Incouraged to hopefor, as he has promised unanimously to concur with us in the same Request Signed Jointly by theElders of the English Presbyterian Church in Albany . John McCrea 1
John Munro 3
July 9th 17C7. Robt. Henry.
A true Copy Joseph Peck Clerk taken at the Request of M r Hanna the Presbytery Papers on file.
KEY. DR. AUCIIMUTY TO SIR WM. JOHNSON.
Worthy Sir, 1 deferr’d answering your favor of April the 4 th , in hopes of having some Lettersfrom the Society concerning your generous offer, or other business of consequence, to communicateto you. I have at length received two, one from the Bishop of London , and one from Dr. Burton,both relating to one subject only; which shows the low state of their Finances, and effectuallyshuts the Door against future applications. The D r in his letter says,
“ It would give the Society a very sincere pleasure, if they were able to return a satisfactoryanswer to the several recommendations which they receive, and make a suitable allowance to thepersons recommended: But having already gone to the very utmost of our abilities, and evenbeyond them, we are now under the necessity of giving refusals in several instances : For as I havesaid in other letters, if we go on to establish new missions, we shall soon have nothing left tosupport our old ones.”
His Lordship of London is rather more explicit, on the subject, for he says that “ the State of theSociety will not allow us to establish any new missions: The Expences increase daily, & far exceedour annual Income : It is hoped therefore that no persons will be sent over upon the presumptionof new appointments, which cannot possibly be comply’d with in our present circumstances.”
1 Col. John McCrea was the brother of the celebrated, though unfortunate Jane McCrea. He removed in 1773 to thetown of Northumberland, Saratoga Co.