Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III

Samuel Seabury Jur Minister Thomas Truxton

Robert Howell Tho^ Braine

Benjamin Carpenter Benj. Whitehead

John huchiens Sam" Smith

Jolm Smith William Sherlock

Jacob Ogden John Innes

, Joseph omeld Ridiard Betts.

Joseph Olfield Jun' Isaac Vanhook

Jhno Troup Tho^ Hindi man

John Comes A^"" Lawrence

Gilbert Comes

PAPERS RELATING TO CHURCHES IN QUEENS COUNTY. 325

* REV^ MR. SEABUM TO THE SECRETARY.

Jamaica March 26. 1763 Revd Sir

^ After my humble Duty presented to the HonDie Society I must beg leave to lay before them an affair which has given them a good deal of concern & trouble & still continues to perplex the state of the mission.

About eight weeks ago M^^ Tredwell the Society's missy at Trenton New Jersey, came into this Parish & passed thro' Jamaica, (within three quarters of a mile of my house) to Flushing on a Saturday, without letting me know that he was in the Parish, nor did I know till two days after that he was even in the Colony, The next day the Church at Flushing was (as 'tis said) violently opened & occupied by M"" Tread well, the key being in my possession.

M'" Treadwell I am also told continued there some time preached the next Sunday after, went to New York preached on a week day, came to Jamaica k baptized a child within a little more than a mile from my liouse, the child being well & several weeks old, & I had not been out of the Town for more than a day for six months ; all this was transacted without giving me the least notice ; either by visiting me, or by message, or by letter ; nor have I yet either seen him or lieard from him, I am utterly unable to guess at the motive of M' Treadwell's conduct, unless he acted under the Influence & direction of M*" John Aspinwall of Flushing, a man of low Eirth & strong pa&slcus k violent in his resentments, who having acquired a great Fortune by privateering removed thither from New York & who has really done very considerably towards finishing the Church & gave it a good Bell.