William Vesey to the Archbishop of Canterbury

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Title

William Vesey to the Archbishop of Canterbury

Description

Recommends appointment of Muirson as catechist to replace Neau. Neau is a worthy and good man, but he is an elder of the French congregation and a merchant. He does not communicate with the Church of England, and he does not speak good English.

Date

26 October 1704

Identifier

Lambeth SPG 13 85

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Diplomatic Transcription

New York Oct[o]b[e]r 26
1704

May it please your Lordship haveing given your Lordship a full account of the State of the Church in a generall narrative of the Clergy conven’d in this City and herewith transmitted to your Lord[shi]p shall only presume to recom[m]end Mr George Muirson Schoolmaster as a Person very capable of serveing the Church. His sober and religious life and Conversation his prudence & conduct since he came here exceedingly adorn’d & com[m]ended his Youth and obtain’d a considerable reputation in this Province. He comes Recom[m]ended to your Lord[shi]p by my L[or]d Cornbury & the Reverend Clergy as A Candidate for the

for the office of chatechist to w[hi]ch the most venerable society have assign’d 50 pound to be annually pay’d.

Mr Elias Neau was unanimously chosen by the society to officiate as Chatechist of the whole Province as I find now in a Lett[e]r to him. But my Lord Cornbury being of opinion th[a]t the Society was not rightly inform’d desired the clergy would represent that as well as other things in their true light. And it is their humble opinion that the great End of the Society would be better served by Mr Muirson. And indeed my Lord there is a very great occasion of A Chatechist in this City of New York here being a great number of Youths &

[f. 85a]

and of Negro & Indian slaves that need Instruction and I am no able to performe all offices without an Assistant.

I can’t by any meanes be perswaded that Mr Elias Neau will be a proper Assistant for me in this Parish for tho’ He is a worthy good Man Yet He is known to be a Lay Elder of the French congregation and a merchant in Good business besides He never yet com[m]unicated with us nor can he speake good English and if these things are so I humbly conceive your Lord[shi]p will not think him the fittest Person to officiate here. But my Lord above all I fear that his entring on that office now (as Affairs are circumstanced) without ordination will

will give too great countenance to a great number of preachers who run before they are regularly sent. My Lord I know that some worthy Members of the society are desirous to give Mr Neau encouragement and indeed he has been a noble confessor of the Protestant religion of a most zealous exemplary life & deserves singular respect but I hope it will be in away th[a]t may serve & not prejudice the interest of the Church. But if your Lord[shi]p & the Society shall judge him a fit Person to be chatechist of the Province I most humbly intreate \your Lord[shi]p/ to appoint Mr Muirson Chatechist & Assistant to me in the City of N York with an allowance of 50£ p[er] Annu[m] & for his farther encouragement I doe promise him 30£ p[er] Annu[m] out of my small income (if the vestry will not doe it) provided he assist me also in all offices. I most humbly submitt all to your Lord[shi]ps judgment & care & beg your prayers & benedictions for your Lord[shi]ps most Dutifull & oblidged Serv[an]t

Will. Vesey

Transcription and MS

New York Oct[o]b[e]r 26
1704

May it please your Lordship haveing given your Lordship a full account of the State of the Church in a generall narrative of the Clergy conven’d in this City and herewith transmitted to your Lord[shi]p shall only presume to recom[m]end Mr George Muirson Schoolmaster as a Person very capable of serveing the Church. His sober and religious life and Conversation his prudence & conduct since he came here exceedingly adorn’d & com[m]ended his Youth and obtain’d a considerable reputation in this Province. He comes Recom[m]ended to your Lord[shi]p by my L[or]d Cornbury & the Reverend Clergy as A Candidate for the

for the office of chatechist to w[hi]ch the most venerable society have assign’d 50 pound to be annually pay’d.

Mr Elias Neau was unanimously chosen by the society to officiate as Chatechist of the whole Province as I find now in a Lett[e]r to him. But my Lord Cornbury being of opinion th[a]t the Society was not rightly inform’d desired the clergy would represent that as well as other things in their true light. And it is their humble opinion that the great End of the Society would be better served by Mr Muirson. And indeed my Lord there is a very great occasion of A Chatechist in this City of New York here being a great number of Youths &

[f. 85a]

and of Negro & Indian slaves that need Instruction and I am no able to performe all offices without an Assistant.

I can’t by any meanes be perswaded that Mr Elias Neau will be a proper Assistant for me in this Parish for tho’ He is a worthy good Man Yet He is known to be a Lay Elder of the French congregation and a merchant in Good business besides He never yet com[m]unicated with us nor can he speake good English and if these things are so I humbly conceive your Lord[shi]p will not think him the fittest Person to officiate here. But my Lord above all I fear that his entring on that office now (as Affairs are circumstanced) without ordination will

will give too great countenance to a great number of preachers who run before they are regularly sent. My Lord I know that some worthy Members of the society are desirous to give Mr Neau encouragement and indeed he has been a noble confessor of the Protestant religion of a most zealous exemplary life & deserves singular respect but I hope it will be in away th[a]t may serve & not prejudice the interest of the Church. But if your Lord[shi]p & the Society shall judge him a fit Person to be chatechist of the Province I most humbly intreate \your Lord[shi]p/ to appoint Mr Muirson Chatechist & Assistant to me in the City of N York with an allowance of 50£ p[er] Annu[m] & for his farther encouragement I doe promise him 30£ p[er] Annu[m] out of my small income (if the vestry will not doe it) provided he assist me also in all offices. I most humbly submitt all to your Lord[shi]ps judgment & care & beg your prayers & benedictions for your Lord[shi]ps most Dutifull & oblidged Serv[an]t

Will. Vesey

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Citation

“William Vesey to the Archbishop of Canterbury,” USPG Online Exhibition , accessed March 29, 2024, http://emlo-portal.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/exhibition/uspg/items/show/28.

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