And yo»" Petition^^ ag in duty bound shall ever Pray &c. in the behalf of the Elders and Deacons and other the members of said Congregacon

28'h June 1731. Piter du bois.

ULSTER AND DUTCHESS COUNTIES. 975

PETITION AGAINST A PRETENDED LUTHERAN MINISTER.

To his Excellency George Clinton Esqr Captain General and Governour in Chief of the Colony of New York and the Territories thereon Depending in America and Vice Admiral of the same &c.

In Council,

The humble petition of Micliael Christian knoll Minister and the Elders and Deacons of the Lutheran Church in the City of New York Sliewetli Unto Your Excellency

That your Excellency in Council on the Thirtyeth Day of May Last were Graciously pleased on a former petition presented by your petitioners to order and direct that one John Lodwick Hofgoed wlio lias taken upon him to be a Lutheran Minister Should not Exercise any Ministerial function witliin this province witliout a Lycence first obtained from Your Excellency for that purpose, a Copy of wiiich order Your petitioners Beekman petterson and Wolf did on tlie Evening of the Same Day Serve on tlie said John Lodwick Hofgoed and were in Great hopes a Due obedience and Regard would have been paid to tlie Same but Contrary to your petitioners Expectations and in Contempt and Disobedience of Your Excellencys Order in Councill he tlie said John Lodwick Hofgoed Still persists in Exercising a ministerial function and Since the Service of the said order on him has Baptized one Child and on Sunday Last and once before has administred the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to Sundry persons here And insists he has a Riglit so to do Notwithstanding Your Excelencys order to the Contrary and altho the said John Lodwick Hofgoed pretends he was silenced at Ingersiiim for preaching against popery Yet Your petitioners ai-e Well assured the said John Lodwick Hofgoed Never was in holy orders but is a meer Laick and Imposter if not an Emissary from the Enemies of the Eeformed Eehgion as Will appear by the Certificates and affidavits hereunto annexed Wherefore Your petitioners most humbly pray Your Excellency in Council will be graciously pleased to Interpose in this Behalf and Supress the