That tlie said Minister Elders a-.d Deacons and otlier the members in Communion of tlie said Reformed Protestant Dutch Churcli have at tlieir own charge built and erected a Church witliin the City of Albany and dedicated the same to the service of God, and have allso purdiased Certain two Tenements and Lotts of ground for a Poor or alms liouse and for a Ministers dwelling house ; and sundi-y other small Tracts of Land within

AND ADJACENT PLACES 90^

the said City the Rents and incomes whereof are by them (as they were allso by tlieir Predecessors gjnce they were Possessed of them) employed for tlie relief of tlie Poor and other P'sons and charitable uses. And the Petition's further say tliat they and their predecessor's liave for many yeares before this Province was under the Government of the CroAvn of great Brittain and ever sinse Peaceably and quietly had and enjoyed the full and free Exercise of the Protestant Religion in tlie Dutch Language according to the Cannons Rules Institucons and Church Governmeiit Established by the Nationall Synod held and assembled in the City of Dort in Holland in the year 1618 and 1619.

And the Petition" humbly conceive and are advised that they and their Successors would be the better enabled to employ the Rents and incomes of the Lands and Tenements aforesaid for Pious and Charitable uses if they were incorporated as some other of the Protestant reformed Dutch Churches in this Province are

They therefore most Humbly Pray yo*" Honours that the Peticon^s and their Successors may be Incorporated by Letters Patent under the great seal of this Province with such or the like Priviledges and Liberties as are granted to the Minister Elders and Deacons of the Retbrmed Protestant Dutch Cliurch in the City of New York and that the said Church and tlie aforesaid Tenements and Lotts of ground and other the Tracts and Parcells of Land aforesaid may be Confirmed unto them and their Successors for ever under such moderat Quit rent as unto yo' Honors shall seem meet.