xt7nvx061g8j https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7nvx061g8j/data/mets.xml Historical Records Survey (New York, N.Y.) United States. Works Projects Administration. Division of Community Service Projects. New York Historical Records Survey (New York, N.Y.) United States. Works Projects Administration. Division of Community Service Projects. 1940 1 v.: map 28 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Program libraries. Call Number: FW 4.14:N 42/yc/14/v.2 books  English New York City: The Survey  This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. New York Works Progress Administration Publications Catholic Church -- Archdiocese of New York (N.Y.) -- Archives -- Bibliography Catholic Church-- Archdiocese of New York (N.Y.) -- History -- Sources -- Bibliography Catholic Church-- Archdiocese of New York (N.Y.) -- Directories Archives -- Churches--New York City -- Catalogs New York (N.Y.) -- History -- Sources Inventory of the Church Archives in New York City. Roman Catholic Church, Archdiocese of New York, 1940 text Inventory of the Church Archives in New York City. Roman Catholic Church, Archdiocese of New York, 1940 1940 1940 2020 true xt7nvx061g8j section xt7nvx061g8j NIVERSITY 0F KENTU CKY

WIIWIWH H HI HEIIIHWH‘W

\ \
I:

\
I:

_.;,~“EFINMENT PUBLICATKJ;

.MVERSITY OF KENTUCK”
LIBRARIES

ritgyfifistesae of 91

THE BRONX, MANHATTAN. AND RICHMOND

VOL. 2

 

THE HISTORICAL RECORDS SURVEY
WORK PROJECTS ADMIN STRATiON
NEW YGRK Ci‘TJY
1940

 

 

 

 

 Volume one of this publication, which was no deal with the holdings

of Roman Catholic institutions ofiher than churches, has not baen

tit?“

oomplatad, because the activities of the Work Erojeota administ

have been diaeontinuad.

 

 

 INVENTORY OF THE CHURCH ARCHIVES
IN NEW YORK CITY

R C M A N C A T H O L I C C H U R C H
ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK

Vol. 2

Prepared by the New York City WPA
HlSTORICAL RECORDS SURVEY
Division of Community Service Projects
NEW YORK CITY
1941

 

 THE HISTORICAL RECORDS SURVEY
Sargent B. Child, National Director
Charles C. Fisher, State Supervisor for New York City

DIVISION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS
Florence Kerr, Assistant Commissioner
Agnes S. Cronin, Chief Regional Supervisor
Joseph L. Ginniff, Director for New York City

WORK PROJECTS ADNHNISTRATION
Howard 0. Hunter, Commissioner
R.C. Branion, Regional Director
Irving V.A. Huie, Administrator for New York City

SPONSOR
Fiorello Hi LaGuardia
mayor of the City of New York

 

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ForeWOrd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Explanatory Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Organization Dates and Arrangement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Form of Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Symbols of Religious Orders . . . . . . .1. . . g . . . . . . . ix
Library Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Historical Sketch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘ . 1
Map of Diocesan Divisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Organization and Records System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
St. Patrick‘s Cathedral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Church Entries . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Uniate Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Diocese of Pittsburgh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Ukrainian Greek Rite Diocese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151_

Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

 

  

4m

 

 Table of Contents

Indexes . . . . . . .
Alphabetical . . . .
Churches . . . .
Priests . . . . .
Chronological . . . .
Churches . . . . .
Parochial Schools
Location of Places of

Other HRS Publications

l

Worship

iii

Page
159
159
159

162

 

 iv

FOREWORD

From the beginning of the Christian era ecclesiastical records have
possessed a unique significance even though their exact character has not
always been understood. An early demonstration of this is seen in the
program of the Emperor Diocletian for wiping out Christianity. Eusebius
records that edicts appeared everywhere ordering the Scriptures to he
bUrned. It is hardly possible that Diocletian had in mind the destruction
of all copies of the Bible for this would presuppose that he understood
the character of Holy writ. The chances are that Diocletian was concerned
principally with the destruction of Church records, regarding these as
having some potency in keeping alive an organization which he but
imperfectly understood, yet hated violently. In this limited sense
Diocletian was correct, for ecclesiastical records have a value in at—
testing to the vigor of Christian life, the growth of the Christian
ideal, and the vitality of ecclesiastical organization not to be found
in any other medium.

In our own country and in Our own immediate surroundings the signif—
icance of church documents is reaffirmed. Our city has had an extraor—
dinary growth. The Church has been intimately bound up with that

growth,but with the incredible changes that have occurred with the

 

 Foreword v

passing of the years, changes of which anyone who has lived a half cen—
tury in New York must be profoundly conscious, the records of the
churches stand as a reminder of other days when living was pursued
under widely different circumstances. The bulky marriage register and
the solid Baptismal register for the year 1890, for example, tell of

a day when a neighborhood was filled to overcrowding with people. To-
day that neighborhood has perhaps surrendered to commerce or, where
black tenements once stood, there is now a lovely park, but the document
that explains the change is found in the ecclesiastical records of the
neighborhood church.

The social historian and the student of human affairs will want to
know what if any material exists that will enable him to get a clear
picture of a given time and locality. This, the scholars and writers of
the Government, have enabled him to do. Their achievement is altogether

splendid.

Dr. Philip J. Furlong
President, Cathedral College
July 1941 462 Madison Ave., N.Y.C.

 

 vi

PREFACE

In January 1936, by authority of a Presidential letter, the Histori—
cal Records Survey was established under the national direction of Dr.
Luther H. Evans, to provide useful employment for needy unemployed pro-
fessional technical, and clerical workers. Among the nation-wide objec-
tives of this project, being continued under Dr. Evan's Successor, Mr.
Sargent B. Child, is the compilation of inventories of all ecclesiastical
records in the United States, denomination by denomination. These records
are invaluable, though heretofore largely unlocated or unknown, sources
of Social, religious, and vital-statistical studies of national and local
history.

Inventories of the records of each denomination will eventually be
published for every state. For the purpOSe of this survey, New York City
was designated as a forty-ninth state, under the successive directorships
of Mrs. Crete Hutchinson, Howard E. Qolgan, George J. Miller, and since
October 1939, Charles C. Fisher. The New York City project ceased to
exist as part of Federal Project #1 on September 1, 1959, from which time
it has operated under the sponsorship of Fiorcllo H. LaGuardia, Mayor of
the City of New York.

The present inventory-the ninth of a series which will eventually
cover every denomination in New York City—~includes every known Roman
Catholic parish within that portion of the Archdiocese of New York which
lies within the City of New York. Subsequent inventories are being
prepared for the archdiocesan institutions and for the parishes and in-
stitutions of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The cooperative aid of rectors and other church officials is grote—
fully acknowledged as having been indispensible to the completion of this
inventory. Thanks are due particularly to Monsignor Peter Guilday of the
the Catholic University of America, national advisor on inventories cf
Catholic Church archives, whose examination of the draft led him to com-
mend the excellence of the inventory and the accuracy and fairness of
its historical portions; to hr. Louis Kenedy, editor of the Official
Catholic Directory, whose cooperation has been of definite halijind to
Dr. Philip J. Furlong, President of Cathedral College, who secured Arch-
bishop Spellman’s approval and contributed the Foreword.

 

 Preface Vii

The Work of collecting, verifying, and editing the inventory has been
done under the direct supervision of Harry E. Greene and his successor,
Mrs. Alice Louise Hayes. The Historical Sketch and the essay on Organiza-
tion and Records System are the work of Raymond Reidy. Editing, entry-
writing, and indexing was done by Raymond Reidy, Natalie L. Jacobs,
Valerie Ball, Harry Pollack, and Melvin Sacks. Others who contributed to
to the inventory are: lhry A. Connors, Miguel Casillas, James M. Connolhg
Emily Downcs, Georgia Gardner, Harry L. Godwin, Pasquale V. Iorio, Adam
F. Leibman, Helen Shanehan, and Frank Riley.

Final editorial resPonsibility was exercised by Charles E. Baker,
Editor-in-Chief of the Historical Records Survey. This inVentory was
prepared in accordance with instructions from the National Office of the
Historical Records Survey Projects; detailed editorial comments and crit—
icisti'Werc made by Donald A. Thompson, Assistant Archivist for Church
Archives Inventories.

Charles C. Fisher
State Supervisor for New York City
Historical Records Survey

May 29, 1941

 

 viii

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Organization Dates and Arrangement

 

The church entries are arranged in chronological order of organ-
ization, except that for the period during which a congregation was a
mission, chapel, or otherwise a sub—organization of another parish, it
is treated as a part of that parish. Whenever a church had a pro—parish
existence, the entry mentions that fact and makes cross-reference to the
pertinent entry. The date of organization is considered that on which a
worshipping body became an independent Roman Catholic parish. The dates
determined upon have usually been those claimed by the church, those
furnished by the Chancellor, or those in the certificates of incorpora—
tion.

Form 3: Entry

 

The entries follow a uniform style and are divided into four
parts as follows:

CAPTION: Includes entry number, popular name, followed by full
corporate title where known, organization date, followed by two hyphens
(to indicate a living church) or by date of demise (if defunct), street
address and borough.

TEXT: Includes a brief sketch of the church, confined chiefly
to origin, change of names and locations. Dedication, consecration, and
incorporation dates, are given when known. Citations in parentheses,
follow original source material. Names of first and present (or last)
pastors, their tenure and educational background are given. Where the
educational background of a pastor is omitted, it does not necessarily
indicate that such background is lacking, but that the information was
withheld, or was not known to the Survey. Degrees of living clergymen
have been omitted.

PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS: Includes address, organization date, number
of pupils by sex, and name and address of the religious order supplying
teachers.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Items pertaining to the particular church or
institution. Unless otherwise stated, their location is the church.
Symbols indicate library where item is located.

 

 ix

Explanatory Notes

RECORDS: In thOSe instances in which the records were not
actually checked by the Survey, the information was given by authorized
officials of the church or institution and may be considered accurate.
Failure to mention condition of records in an entry indicates that the
records may be considered to be in good condition. Omission of Trustees
Minutes or other records mentioned in the essay on Organization and
Records System should not necessarily be taken to indicate that none
exists, since these records might have been considered confidential and
so withheld from the purview of this survey. Records are not open to
the public; inquiries regarding a specific record should be directed to
the pastor in charge.

Symbols 3: Religious Orders

 

The following symbols, used in connection with the name of a
priest, indicate membership in the religious orders given:

A.A. Assumptionist Fathers 0.8.A. Augustinian Fathers

C.M. Congregation of the Mission O.S.B. Benedictine Fathers
(Vincentians) P.S.M. Pious Society of Missions

C.P. Congregation of the Passion P.S.S.C. Pious Society of the
(Passionists) hfissionarios of

C.P.S. Stigmatine Fathers St. Charles

C.S.C. Congregation of Holy Cross S.A. Franciscan Friars of the

C.S.P. Paulist Fathers Atonement

C.S.SP. Holy Ghost Fathers 8.0. Salesian Fathers

C.SS.R. Redemptorist Fathers S.J. Jesuit Fathers

F.M.S. Marist Brothers S.M. Marist Fathers

F.S.C. Brothers of the Christian S.M. Fathers of the Society of
Schools Nhry (Marianists)

M.M. Mary Knoll Missionaries S.P.M4 Society of the Fathers of

O.Carm. Carmelite Fathers Mercy

O.F.M. Franciscan Fathers S.S.J. St. Joseph's Society of

O.M.Cap. Capuchin Fathers the Sacred Heart

O.M.I. Oblates of wary Immaculate S.S.P, Pious Society of St. Paul

O.P. Order of Preachers 8.8.8. Fathers of the Blessed
(Dominicans) Sacrament

Library Symbols

For location of records and bibliography in public or semi-
public depositories, symbols approved by the Union Catalog are used as
follows:

 

 Explanatory Notes

NE Brooklyn Public Library

197 Montague Street, Brooklyn (1 Hanson Place)
NBLiHi Long Island Historical Society Library

130 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn
NHi New York Historical Society Library
NN The New York Public Library

5th Avenue and 42nd Street, New York City
NNG General Theological Seminary Library

175 Ninth Avenue, New York City
NNNG New York Geneological and Biographical Society Library

124 East 58th Street, New York City
NNQ Queens Borough Public Library

59 - 14 Parsons Boulevard, Queens
Abbreviations

The few abbreviations in this inventory are of common usage:
accts. - accounts ms. - manuscript
anniv. - anniversary n.d. - no date
assn. - association no. - number
bet. - between n.p. — no place
bd. - board pub. - publication
-col. - college rec. ~ record
comp. - compiler rel. - religious
cop. - copyist Rev. - Reverend
cur. - current secy. - secretary
ecc. - ecclesiastical sem. — seminary
ed. - editor, education tr. - translator
hdw. - handwritten treas.- treasurer
inc. - incorporated, incorporations univ. - university
loo. - located

 

  

HISTORICAL SKETCH

92322 Eeoscription

The religious policy of the government of New Netherland from its
beginning until the English conquest in 1664 was identical uith that of
the mother-country. Although Holland was, during that time, the open
asylum 0f the oppressed Of all lands,1 its religion, the Dutch Reformed,
had been legally established and safeguarded in its monopoly as the State
Church of the United Netherlands.2 The Dutch government granted freedom
of worship to the English Puritans, who were brother Calvinists;3 it
tolerated the persecuted Walloons, Lutherans, Huguenots and haldenses;
reluctantly, for economic reasons, it practised limited toleration of the
Jews;4 but Catholicism, as a faith, it proscribed.4&

From the beginning of the nationalist movement in 1566, directed
against Catholic Spain, the anti—Catholic policy of Holland was rein-
forced by an aggressive religious nationalism. The Dutch Reformed Church
was established in 1573, independence of the United Provinces was declared
in 1581, and recognition of that independence by signed treaty with Spain
was obtained in 1609.5 The Dutch Republic repeatedly defined its policy
toward Catholicism by a series of oppressive decrees "aimed at forcing

 

1. Edward Tanjore Corwin, é Manual 9; Ehe Reformed Church 1Q America,
1628—190g (4th ed.), New York, 1902, p. 16 (hereafter cited as

2. John T. Conlon, “The Beginnings of Catholicism in New Netherlands,
1609-1664," Eistorical aeeeege egg StBQi§§$ New York, United States
Catholic Historical Society, XXIII (1933), 177 (hereafter cited as
9211.122)- '

3. John R. Brodhead, History 9: the State 9; flee 1253, legg-lggl, New
York,1853-71, 1, 115,116, 4581459; II, 9 (hereafter cited as
Brodheag).

4. geelee, p. 177.

4a. See below, pp. 1, 2.

5. Frederick J. Zwierlein, Eeligiee ie he; fletgerland, Rochester, N.Y.,
1910, pp. 9-35 (hereafter cited as Zwierlein, Religion), Brodhead,
I, 19, 40, 98-111, 434-464.

 

 

 Historical Sketch

gradual extinction.“6 Catholics had "no equal rights before the law and
could hold no public office ... the common public exercise of worship was
not granted them ... their marriages had to be contracted before the Schout
and Schepens ... and their priests, upon appearance in public, were
punished with banishment and confiscation of goods.“

This attitude was transplanted to the New world. In 1629 the Dutch
Reformed Church received its first legal recognition and proVision was
made for its maintenance.8 Its position was more clearly defined by the
"New Charter of Patroonships" of 1640, which provided that "no other
religion was to be publicly tolerated or allowed in New Netherland, save
that then taught and exercised by authority in the Reformed Church in the
United Provinces."9

Though designed to guarantee religious monopoly to the Dutch Reformed
Church, the Act of 1640 was to be compromised within a year. "Facing
serious peril and fearing to offend a class of English whose cooperation
they needed," the Dutch, in 1641 and again in 1652, allowed a group of
Presbyteriane and Congregationalists to settle at Nettown, Long Island,
under guarantee of religious freedomolo And in 1658 the Lutherans, who
had been attending Reformed services, were finally permitted to conduct
their own services under a Lutheran minister, except for certain required
changes in their formula for baptism.ll Meanwhile the restive Quakers
and Jews were emboldened to demand religious freedom, but Governor
Stuchsant replied by issuing an "Ordinance against Conventicles" impos-
ing severe penalties on any dissenters who worshipped outside their im-
mediate family circles. To the end of Dutch rule the Jews and Quakers
Were regarded as dissenters.12

 

6. Frederick J. Zwierlein, "New Netherland Intolerance,“ Catholic Eig-
torical Review, Washinzton, IV (1918), 187 (hereafter cited as
Zwierlein, lgtolerange)

7. Ibid., pp. 189-190, in which Zwierlein quotes from Knappert's De
Verdraagzaamheig in de Republick QEE Vereeniade Nederlanden.

8. Brodhead, I, 196.

9. Morgan Dix, A History 9; the Parish 9f 23inity Church in the City of
NEE York, New York, 1898, 1, 30,31 (hereafter cited as 21;): The
translation in figodhead (I, 312) reads that no other religion was to
be ”publicly sanctioned," while the translation in Edmund B. O'Callaghan
The Documentary History g3 the State 2; New York, Albany, 1849—51, 1,
123, renders the phrase as “publicly admitted."

10. 215, p. 31; James Riker, The finnglg 9i Newtown, New York, 1852,
pp. 17, 18, 26, 27.

ll. Sanford H. Cobb, The Rise 9f Religious Liberty in America, New York,
1902, pp. 316,317—(hereafter cited as Cobb).

12. Zwierlein, Intolerance, pp. 136,137.

e

 

 Historical Sketch

In View of this attitude toward sects which, in Holland, were toler-
ated above Catholics, it would appear that absence of a "Catholic problem"
in New Netherland was due to the fact that Catholics were either too few
to or too hopeless of success to press their demands.13 ~

When in 1661 two commissioners from Maryland, Captain Wheeler and
Ulrick Anthony, approached Augustine Heermans, the Vice-Director of New
Amstel, requesting that persecuted Maryland Catholics be allowed to
settle there, Heermans refused them flatly. Reporting the incident in a
letter dated February 5, 1661, the Vice-Director wrote:"... our con—
science would not tolerate such a sect. If he (Wheeler) remains quiet,
and no other of the same breed shall arrive here hither, I shall tolerate
them ... but by an unexpected increase I shall command them to depart in
conformity with the orders of your honor.“14

The only recorded instance of even a mild persecution of Catholics
occurred in 1658 when "Nicholas the Frenchman," a resident of Breukelen,
was arrested by the sheriff for refusing to pay the tax toward support
of the Dutch minister. Nicholas' plea that he was a Catholic being
adjudged insolent, he was fined 12 guilders.15

While every precaution seems to have been taken that Catholics
should not gain a foothold in the settlements, great leniency and kind-
ness was shown the French Jesuit priests who were doing missionary work
among the Iroquois tribes west of Ft. Orange (Albany). On two occasions
captive priests were ransomed from the Indians and escorted to New
Amsterdam, where transportation was given them to France.16

 

13. Conlon, pp. 191-193.

14. Martin I.J. Griffin, “Commissioners from Catholics of Maryland seek
in 1661, toleration in the New Netherland Territory on the South
River (now Delaware and Pennsylvania), Not Granted," Ameyieee
Catholic Historical Researches, Philadelphia, IX (1895): 147,148
(hereafter cited as Griffin).

15. Edmund B. O'Callaghan, History 23 New Netherlaeg, New York, 1848,
II, 353 (hereafter cited as O'Caglaehan .

16. John J° Wynne, The Jesuit Martyrs ef North America, New York, 1925,
pp. 154-174 (hereafter cited as Jesuit Mart rs); John G. Shea,
History ef gee Catholic Missions—Kmona the ndian Tribes 9: the
United States, 152g-1854, New York, 1855, pp. 208-214 (hereaftEr
cited as Shea, Missions); Ezgdheeg, 1, 345,346; Isaac Jogues, Novum
Bel ium, translated with notes by John G. Shea, New York, 1862, pp.
5-16 (hereafter cited as Novum Belgium), Francis Parkman, The Jesgits
ie North America EB the Seventeenth Century, Boston, 1899, pp. 305—
334. The two priests were Father Isaac Jogues in 1643 (the first
Catholic priest to enter New Amsterdam and, in 1646, the first to be
martyred on New York soil) and Father Francis Bressani in 1644. Cf.
Jogue's letter to his provincial dated August 5, 1643, translated in
Jesuit Mart re, p. 154 ff.

 

 Historical Sketch

By the treaty of Tawesanths9 which was signed with the Iroquois in
1617, the Dutch obtained a monopoly in the fur trade which lasted until
the end of their rule.1'7 Though the commercial contact stimulated the
Dutch ministers to evangelical effort, no success was achieved. After
repeated attempts, they judged the natives to be morally hopeless.l8
This conclusion contributed to the policy of toleration of the French
Jesuits who were known to be trying to convert the Iroquois to Catholi—
cism. One of the fruits of this policy was a trade agreement with New
France (Canada) effected in 1658 through the agency of the Jesuit,
Simon Le Moynej-9

The first priest from Canada to penetrate the present territory
of the United States was Joseph de la Roche Dallion, a Recollect
(Franciscan) who, in 1627, stayed for three months among the Neutral
Indians in western New York. Liking the natives, he planned to remain
and convert them, but a misunderstanding aroused their suspicions with
the result that he had to flee for his 11fe.30

The first of the French Jesuits to enter New Netherland was Isaac
Jogues, in 1642. While on an expedition with a band of Huron Indians,
his party was suddenly descended upon by a group of savage Mohawks.
Jogues, a lay companion, Rene Goupil, and several of the Hurons were
captured and taken to Auriesville (Montgomery County) in the Mohawk
Valley. All were killed except Jogues who, at the further risk of his
own life, administered the sacraments of baptism and confession-~prob-
ablyzgor the first time on New York soil——to those who were about to
die.

St. Isaac Jogue's association with the Iroquois (1642-43, 1646)
represents the beginning of the first period of missionary activity of

 

17. James R. Bayley, 5 Brief Sketgh 2i hhg Early History gfi the Catholic
Church 2h hhg Island 9: Egg York, New York, 1870, p. 39 (hareafter

cited as Ba 1e }.

18. Hugh Hastings (ed.), Ecclesiastical Records 9: hhg State 9; Egg
223E! New York, 1901-1916, I, 55—61, 544 (hereafter cited as
Ecclesiastical Records}.

19. O'Callaghan, II, 364. The trade agreement stipulated that while
in Canada the Dutch refrain from the public exercise of any reli—
gion opposed to the Roman faith. Cf.1etter of Governor D'Aillebout
to Father Le Moyne, Quebec, February 18, 1658 (ghgg.).
translated with notes by John-G. Shea, New-YSFE, 1881,'I,'§E5—27o
(hereafter cited as hg Clercg).

21. gesuit Martyrs, pp. 154-174.

 

 Historical Sketch

the French Jesuits in the region bordering the Mohawk Valley and extend-
ing from what is now Schenectady to Syracuse. After Jogues, came:
Francis J. Bressani (1644), Joseph A. Poucet (1653), Simon Le Moyne
(1654- 58-, 1661- .62), Peter J. Chaumonot (1655-58), Francis J. Le Mercier
(1656- 57), Rene Menard (1656- 58), James Fremin (1656—58), Paul Ragenau
(1657- 58), and Francis Duperon (1657-58).22 Operating out of Quebec,
they usually proceeded by way of the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes
into New Netherland.23 Their work, carrying Christianity to the Indians
and maintaining amicable relations between them and the Governor of New
France, was suspended in 1658 with the outbreak of the French-Indian War
and was not to be resumed until 1667.24

Other than the Jesuit records and the "Pompey Stone" which indi-
cates the presence of Spanish Catholics in New York State in 1520,25
historic reference to Catholic activity prior to the advent of the
English is scant indeed. Two Portugese soldiers temporarily defending
Fort Orange in 1626 are said to have been Catholic.26 On the occasion
of his visit to France in 1643, St. Isaac Jogues, before sailing from
Net; Amsterdam, confesseda Portugese and an Irishman.27 Ten years later
Father Poucet confessed two men in Beverwyck‘ one, a nondescript Belgian;
the other, Pierre Radisson, future great soldier and founder of the
Hudson Bay Company.28

In 1658 Father Le Moyne visited New Amsterdam. Megapolensis,in his
report to the Classis of Amsterdam, stated that he came to "administer

22. Conlon, p. 201; Michael Augustin Corrigan, "Register of the Clergy
Laboring in the Archdiocese of New York from Early Missionary Times
to 1885,” Historical Records and Studies, New York, U.3. Catholic
Historical Society, I (1899- 1900), 18 ff. (hereafter cited as
Corriaan).

23. Thomas A. Hughes, Hi.3to_y_ of the Society of Jesus in North America,
Colonial and Federal, London, 1907-17, Text, II, 230 (hereafter
cited as Eughgg).

24. Conlon, p. 224.

25. Found in Oneida County and now reposing in the State Museum at
Albany, it is regarded as genuine and authentic. Cf. Berthold Fernow,
"New Netherland, or the Dutch in America," Narratiye and Critical
History 9; America (Justin Winsor, ed.), IV, 434.

26. Shea, Missions, p. 86, Brodhead, I, 169.

27. Novum Belgium, p. 27.

28. Brodhead, I, 564, Shea, Missions, p. 244.

 

 

 

 Historical Sketch

to the Papists living here ... and to the French privateers."29 Although
"the Papists" are not otherwise specified, they might have been Negro
slaves, introduced into the colony in its earliest days, many of whom
were Catholics.30

Finally, it is recorded that Francois Hertel, a French Catholic who
was to become prominent in the war between New England and Canada,
visited New Amsterdam in 1662 or 1663. 1

Aside from the spilling of their martyred blood32 with its inspira-
tion to others to carry on, the efforts of the early missionaries in New
York State were futile. The mass of the Iroquois remained pagan and
baptisms Were chiefly of the dying.33 Of white converts there were
perhaps none at all.34 Mass was finally celebrated, against Dutch Law,
on November 14, 1655 in a cabin on Indian Hill, near Manlius, N.Y., and
a bark chapel was erected there four days later. Under the Dutch, no
church was ever built, no organized congregation ever existed, Catholi—
cism had been allowed to make no progress.35 Nor was it to make any
under the English.

English Proscription

With the signing of the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity in 1559
by Queen Elizabeth of England, the Catholic Church lost its juridical
status and its faith was definitely proscribed. By the first Act, the
Queen became the ecclesiastical authority; by the second, Mass was

 

29. Ecclesiastical Records, 1, 438.

30. O'Callaghan, I, 385; Thomas F. Meehan, "Mission Work among Colored
Catholics," fiistorical Records and Studies, New York, U.S. Catholic
Historical Society, VIIT‘ITsis), 124.

31. Thomas J. Campbell, Pioneer Priests of North America, New York,
1908411, I, 97, 98.

32. The North American Martyrs are: Isaac Jogues, John Brebeuf, Gabriel
Lalemont, Noel Chabenal, Anthony Daniel, Charles Garnier, Rene
Goupil and John Leland. They were beatified June 21, 1925; canon-
ized June 29, 1930; and their feast is celebrated in the United
States on September 25. Cf. Conlon, p. 220 (footnote).

33. E2 Clergg., Shea's introduction.

34. Conlon, p. 238.

35. Thomas J. Campbell, "The first Mass in New York State," Historical
Records and Studies, New York, XI (1917), 31 ff.

 

 

 Historical Sketch

abolished, attendance upon Anglican services became compulsory, and the
hierarchy practically came to an end.36 After Elizabeth, popular rather
than governmental opposition to Catholicism was nearly as effective.37

Nevertheless, the first religious regulation to be imposed by the
English after their conquest of the Province of New York in 1664 was a
liberal code drawn up by Col. Richard Nichols, the first Governor, and
embodied in the Duke's LaWS of 1665. Although this code provided that
no Christian should "be molested, fined or Imprisoned for differing in
Judgment in matters of religion," it also restricted officiating min~
isters to "such as shall produce Testimonials to the Governor, that he
hath Received Ordination either from some Protestant Bishop, or Minister
within some part of his Majesties Dominions or the Dominions of any
foreign Prince of the Reformed Religion."38 The ”Charter of Libertyes
and priviledges," enacted by the general assembly in 1683, under the
Catholic Governor Thomas Dongan, extended religious liberty to all Chris—
tian sects then present or later to come. Although this charter was
vetoed the following year by the Duke of York,39 a commemorative tablet
at the entrance to the present New York Custom House on Bowling Green
notes that within Fort James, formerly located there, mass was celebrated
in 1683, in the Governor's residence. 0

When Dongan came to New York in 1683, he brought with him a Jesuit
priest, Thomas Harvey, soon joined by Fathers Henry Harrison and Charles
Gage. These, with two lay brothers, comprised the clerical center in
the city. King James wanted them to overcome the influence of the French
Jesuits on the Indians of the Colony, instead they opened up a Latin
School in the city.41 This school, which was closed in 1688 then the
priests had to leave the colony, was patronized largely by Protestant
children.42

 

36. Bernard N. Ward, The Dawn 9; the Catholic Revival in England, 1781-
I§Q§, London, 1909, I, xxi, Clarence E. Martin, "Legal nepects of
the English Penal Laws, "Records of the American Catholic Historical
Societ 93 Philadelphia, XLI (1930 , 133—135 (hereafter cited as
Marting, h.P.M. Kennedy, "Fines under the Elizabethln Act of Uniform-
ity," English Historical Review, New York, XXXIII (1918), 517-528.

37. Martin, p. 139.

38. Ecclesiastical Records, I, 572; The Colonial Days 9: New York,
Albany, 1894, I, 25, 26 (hereafter cited as Colonial gages.

39. Ecclesiastical Records, I, 863—865, Colonial Days, I, xvii, 111-116.

40. William H. Bennett, "The Order of the Alhambra," Historical Records
Egg Studies, New York, XVI (1924), 99.

41‘ ME, I: 50-

42. Edmund B. O'Callaghan, The Documentary History pg the State 9; New
§grk, Albany, 1849—51, II, 23, 262 (hereafter cited as Documentary

istory).

 

 

 Historical Sketch

The overthrow of James II in the revolution of 1688 had its
immediate repercussion in the colony. Sir Edmund Andros, who had suc—
ceeded Dongan as Governor in that year, Was overthrown in 1689 by
Jacob Leisler, who "ruled by a high hand with no authority save his
own."43 When there were no churches and but few avowed Catholics,
Leisler incited the people against imaginary "papists and papistical
designs."44

Although Leisler was executed as a traitor upon the arrival of
Gov. Henry Slaughter in 1691,4