Wilmington, Delaware - History (part 4 of 7)

That the "mild virtues" of the Swedes had their appropriate effects in bringing the Dutch into amicable relations with them, cannot be doubled ; but that marriage connections had taken place extensively at the time the Crane-hook church was built, is almost certain. It is true that marriage connections are generally founded on amicable relations, but those were mostly formed between the. younger part of the community, some of them ten or twelve years before the Dutch and Swedes united in building a church, and by the consequent intercourse of their families had a powerful effect in removing the prejudices of the older people, and changing "former foes into friends." In 1693, thirty-eight years after the surrender of the Swedes, when a list of their families, with the number of individuals in each family, was made, we find several of the parents bearing Dutch names.*

It is probable that the old church at the rocks, within the fort, continued to be their place of worship until both parties had united and built the Crane-hook church. We know that in Governor Beekman's time, Andreas lludde, who had been the commander at Fort Nassau, officiated as clerk in the church at Christina, under Loch, who was, at that time, the only Swedish clergyman in the country. Beekman resided here from 1C58, until 166 1, when the colony was conquered by the English.

From the time of building the church at Crane-hook in 1C67, to the year 1GS8, nine years before the three missionaries, Biorek, Rudman, and Auren, arrived in this country, Lock had to supply as well as he could the two congregations at Christina and Tinicum. Lock died in 1688, after which (hey had no preacher among them but Jacob Fabritius, an ancient Dutch clergyman, who had been called to their service from New York, in 1677, and officiated principally at Wicaco fourteen years, the last nine of which he was totally blind. Rudman says he died in 1693 or 1694. From 1691, when Fabritius retired, until the arrival of the missionaries, they had no regular ministry. During the interval, " public worship was in part continued by prayers, psalms, and reading of homilies. Two worthy men performed the office of lecturers. Anders Bengtson, in the upper church, and Charles Springer, in the lower. Orderly people attended, but others did not ; or came for amusement ; some of the young men for horse-racing. The want of discipline occasioned many disorders."*

As soon as Fabritius, by the infirmities of age, had become unable to discharge the duties of a clergyman, the Swedish congregations manifested their concern for the religious instruction of their people, by writing to Sweden for assistance, but receiving no answer, they suspected their letters had been intercepted from sinister motives ; for they had twice failed to reach their destination. Disappointed in their hopes from Sweden, they petitioned the Lutheran Consistory, at Amsterdam, to procure them a minister, by ordaining some student of theology, a native of Sweden, if any such should be at that place, and well qualified for the station. And, if no such character could be obtained there, then to correspond on their behalf, with some ecclesiastical body in Sweden, requesting that a clergyman might be sent them. Some judgment may be formed of the value of money at that time> 1691, by the following extract from their letter: "As a labourer is worthy of bis reward, we stipulate for the coming minister, a yearly salary of one hundred rix dollars, with a house and glebe for his maintenance." This was probably considered a liberal offer.

"This expedient proved ineffectual," says Rudman, "and the prospect became very dark." They were attached to the Lutheran religion, and wanted a minister who would teach "the true doctrines contained in the Augsburg Confession of Faith, free from all human superstition and tradition." They were fearful that their people might be drawn away from the profession of their education, which would weaken their attachment for their church and their country.

During the administration of Markham, deputy governor of Pennsylvania, who was appointed in 1G94, William Penn, understanding through his deputy, their destitute situation, manifested his liberality and kindness, by sending them " a parcel of books and catechisms, with a folio Bible for their church." Several years before, he had petitioned the Swedish ambassador at London for ministers and books for them.* It is pleasant to record such instances of Christian benevolence, of freedom from that illiberal spirit which would turn away from a suffering brother, because of some honest difference of opinion or judgment. Penn, though he would have laid down his life in defence of the truth, as it was manifested to his own mind, had none of that religion, which, seeing a fellow creature in distress, could coldly " pass him by on the other side." The very essence of his religion was love. It was the animating, warming, inspiring influence of this heaven-born principle, that sustained him through all his toil, and suffering, and self-sacrifice, for the happiness and welfare of his colonists; that he might settle them in peace and safety, under a ivee government, where they might enjoy every man the fruit of his own industry, on his own domain, where "none should make him afraid."

The administration of the new government soon gave life and animation to (lie colony. Never, perhaps, did a short lime produce a more striking- change in the face of a country. Under the Duke of York all was dull and sluggish. I lis government, like a stagnant pool, only produced a sickly malaria, or if it gave life at all, it was to something noxious. Man is excited to action by a consciousness of his own powers, and of the freedom to direct them toward the attainment of desirable objects. The Constitution of Pennsylvania not only gave that freedom, but set before the people an open door to the attainment of every thing desirable to a rational mind. The Swedes, in common with all the original settlers, soon felt the change. From this period, we perceive in their records the evidences of a more active condition. They were wholly untrammeled by Church and State, - their people became counsellors, legislators, officers in various departments under the government.* Trade with foreign countries was opened, and a livelier communication with the rest of the world began to take place.

About the year 1600, a young man of the name of Andrew Printz, a nephew of their late Governor Printz, visited the Delaware. His countrymen hailed the youthful adventurer with delight, and entertained him with warm hospitality. He was from their "father-land," to many of them the land'of their birth. He could tell them of their country and their friends beyond the Atlantic ; could say who was their king, and their bishop and archbishop ; who of their old friends were yet alive, and who had gone to their long home. Two men at least, of those who crossed the ocean with their first governor, were yet living; old Andrew Bonde, and Peter Rambo; and many later adventurers, born in the "father-land," were yet on the stage of action. Young Printz returned to Sweden, and at Cottcnburg met with John Thelin, to whom he related the circumstances of his journey, and particularly of the discovery he had made of a settlement of "old Swedes," on the Delaware, who lived comfortably, had good land, dwelt together in harmony, and " used the old Swedish way in every thing.''* He said they had greatly rejoiced to see one from their native country ; wished to know who was ihe reigning king; and expressed great confidence that, if his majesty knew of their " want of ministers, and godly hooks, he would supply their necessities." Thelin was postmnster at Gotlenhurg, and heing an officer of the government, found means to communicate this information to his sovereign. The king, who was greatly interested, resolved to grant their request, and sought for young Printz to make him the messenger of his bounty. But PrirrtZ had vanished, and could not be found.

Thelin, intent on the accomplishment of his benevolent design, determined to open a correspondence with his transatlantic countrymen, and, if possible, obtain from themselves, an account of their situation. The opportunities of communication between Sweden and Pennsylvania were at that time very rare. But Thelin was acquainted with a sister of old Peter Ilambo. She then Jived in Gottenburg, and had corresponded with her brother. To her he applied for assistance, and, through her aid, transmitted a letter of inquiry to the Swedes on the Delaware. This letter was dated Nov. 16th, 1692. It expressed a warm interest in their welfare, and a firm belief that a Providential hand was about to be extended for their relief. " This work," says he, " doth certainly spring from God, in whose hands are the hearts of kings. Be not negligent in the things which belong to your everlasting happiness. I commend you to the holy protection of Almighty God."

The letter of Thelin was received with great joy by his distant countrymen, who determined immediately to answer it, with an ample account of their situation. But before opening a correspondence which might lead to a direct communication with a a foreign potentate, they deemed it prudent and due to the Governor of Pennsylvania to lay before him their proceedings and object. The governor received thcin with great cordiality, approved their design, and offered to write on their behalf to the proprietor in England, and to the Swedish minister at the Court of St. James. This fully opened the way for the prosecution of their plans, and Charles Springer of Christina, was appointed their scribe on the occasion. As his letter gives an interesting view of the state of the Swedish population at that time on the shores of the Christina and Delaware, we deem it worth inserting entire, for the information of the reader. It is dated May 31st, 1G93.

" Your unexpected and welcome letter dated Gottenburg Nov. 16, 1G92, came to hand the 23d of May, 1G93, and made us heartily rejoice that it has pleased Almighty Cod, through that young man Andrew Printz, to make known our condition to our friends in Sweden. We rejoice that his majesty doth still bear us a tender and a Christian care. Therefore do we heartily desire, since it hath pleased his majesty graciously to regard our wants, that there may be sent unto us two Swedish ministers, who are well learned in the Holy Scriptures, and who may be able to defend them and us, against all opposers, so that we may preserve our true Lutheran faith, which, if called to suffer for, we are ready to seal with our blood. We also request that those ministers may be men of good moral lives and characters, so that they may instruct our youth by their example, and lead them into a pious and virtuous way of life.

Further, it is our humble desire that you would be pleased to send us three books of sermons, twelve bibles, forty-two psalmbooks, one hundred tracts, with two hundred catechisms, and as many primers; for which, when received, we promise punctual payment, at such place as you may think fit to order. We do promise also, a proper maintenance to the ministers that may be sent us; and when this our letter is gone, it is our intention to buy a piece of land, that shall belong to the church, and upon which the ministers may live.

ground ; and as to our meat and drink, we live according to the old Swedish custom. This country is very rich and fruitful, and here grow all sorts of grain in great plenty, so that we are richly supplied with meat and drink; and we send out yearly to our neighbours on this continent and the neighbouring islands, bread, grain, Jlour, and oil. We have here also, all sorts of beasts, fowls, and fishes. Our wives and daughters employ themselves in spinning wool and flax, and many of them in weaving; so that we have great reason to thank the Almighty for his manifold mercies and benefits. God grant that we may also have good shepherds to feed us with bis holy word and sacraments. We live also in peace and friendship with one another ; and the Indians have not molested us for many Years. Further, since this country has ceased to bounder the government of Sweden, we arc bound to acknowledge and declare, for the sake of truth, that we have been well and kindly treated, as well by the Dutch as by his majesty the king of England, our gracious sovereign. On the other hand, we, the Swedes, have been and still are true and faithful to him in words and in deeds. We have always had over us good and gracious magistrates, and we live with one another in peace and quietness. So that we desire as soon as this our letter comes to hand, that a speedy attention may be paid to our requests : for we believe that God has certainly his hand in this Christian work, and pray that he may bring it to a happy termination."

This letter was signed by thirty persons, and forwarded to Thelin. He caused it to be laid before the king, who sent it to Suebilius, archbishop of Upsal, with directions that he should select suitable persons as missionaries to reside on the Delaware, and as pastors to take charge of the churches there ; that he should procure bibles and other religious books, which the king would present free of expense, and would send them out with the clergymen that should accept the mission.

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Sweden, but their aid in the procurement of suitable pastors for their flocks. They ask for nothing that they are not able and willing to pay for. "If you will send us ministers, we will maintain them, and compensate them for their services ; if you send us books we will punctually pay your draft for the amount.1' They ask spiritual aid, not temporal. They come not before the king as supplicants for pecuniary favours, but as Christians, asking openly for what they had, as fellow members of the church, a right to demand. They show plainly, that they have been breathing the wholesome air of freedom. They present to their countrymen in Sweden, the aspect of a people, who, understanding their wants, would have them supplied, but having no need of a gratuity, are too independent to ask for one.

The letter gives us also the proof, that domestic and foreign commerce had revived among them, or rather had begun to shed their kindly influence on the land. They now not only raised enough "bread, grain, flour, and oil," for their own use, but something to spare for the neighboring colonics, and for foreign countries; and were receiving in exchange, the products of I other climates, to add to the comfort and embellishment of their cheerful homes.

The Archbishop entered with zeal into the scheme, which had been presented to him by the King, in a letter, dated Feb. 18, 1696. Measures were taken to procure suitable persons, who might be willing to venture their lives in such a perilous undertaking; - for such it then seemed to be. Perhaps, in the present day, a mission to Kamtchatka or Nova Zembla, would hardly be deemed more momentous, or hazardous. At length three persons were found, who had the courage and requisite zeal for the enterprize. They were Andrew Rudman, Master of Philosophy, a native of Gevalia, in the province of Geslrickland ; Eric Biorck, of the province of Westmanland ; and Jonas Auren, of the'provincc of Wenneland. Before their departure they waited on the king ; respectfully and affectionately thanking him for his favours, lie gave them his hand, and snid " Go now in the name of the Lord, to the place whither I send you. God be with you, and prosper your undertaking."

Why there was so much delay on the part of the government, to complete the benevolent intentions of the king, as expressed to Thelin, after he had communicated the intelligence brought by Printz, is matter of conjecture ; and has not been satisfactorily explained. It could hardly require three years, from the receipt of Springer's letter, to select missionaries, and equip them for the voyage. The best reason for that delay perhaps is, that the business had to give way to more pressing circumstances, and wait the Royal convenience. The measures, for the departure of the missionaries, were not complete until the 4th of. August, 1G9G, when Rudman and Biorck set sail in the ship Palmboom, Capt. llogcn, master, bound to London. Auren went to Gottcnburg, intending to sail in another ship, and meet his colleagues there. After sundry perils and providential escapes, they arrived safely in London, on the 10th of October, just nine weeks and four days on the passage.

At that time it was thought necessary to obtain the permission of the British government in order to settle missionaries in Pennsylvania ; and that consent was not suddenly given. The delay, however, was a great advantage to the travellers ; for the ship, in which they had taken passage, could not wait until they were ready, and sailed without them. She was afterwards so much damaged by a storm, that she with difficulty reached a port in Portugal, and did not arrive in America until more than sixteen months afterwards. After remaining in England almost four months, the missionaries sailed for America in the ship Jeffris, Captain Cooper, on the 4th of February, 1697, and arrived in the Chesapeake bay in a little more than ten weeks.

The following extracts from a letter, written by Biorck, to a clergyman in Sweden, dated Oct. 29, 1G97, gives an interesting view of the state of affairs at Christina, and on the Delaware, when the missionaries arrived :

" I had the pleasure of writing to you on the 4th of February to inform you that we were about to leave London. We went on board that day, but were detained some lime at Deal and Portsmouth until the convoys and the captains could be cleared.

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At last on (lie 22(1 of March wc weighed anchor at Portsmouth, and having passed Plymouth, (lie last land we saw on the 2-ith was the Lizard, and from that time we saw no land until we reached Virginia. I shall not detain you with the particulars of our voyage, which was, as usual, made up of storms and fair weather, but shall at once tell you, that on the 31st of May, in the afternoon, wc found ourselves in thirty-four fathoms depth, and were glad to see land before us, which we were informed was Smith's island. We tacked about until the 2d of June, in .the morning, when we cast anchor in seven fathoms depth, with joy and gladness. We went afterwards to seek a safe harbour in James river, in which we remained some days while the captain was making his arrangements ; thence on the 10th of June we sailed by Maryland, New Port, Rappahannock, Potomac, Point Lookout, the first point in Maryland, and Patuxent, to a town on the river Severn called Annapolis, where resides the Governor, Francis Nicholson, and there we cast anchor on the 19th of June. I would fain relate to you all the attention we received from the said governor, but suffice it to say that he treated us with the greatest kindness and respect. Our gracious sovereign, and his royal family were duly remembered, and had we been sent recommended to that gentleman directly from Sweden he could not have done more for us. We remained four days in his house, during which time he did all in his power to entertain us, and show us every thing worth seeing. When at last wc were obliged to go on board our ship to continue our voyage, he took all the trouble upon himself to see every thing properly done. When we took leave of him, he accompanied us part of the way, gave us a sum of money, and sent two men with us to put on board as many bottles as they could carry, filled with all kinds of liquors. The governor is a single man, looks like a brave soldier, and is greatly attached to his king, of whom he is a faithful servant.

On the 23d of June we went on board with all our things; and we' can never forget the captain's goodness, who carried us through such a long voyage without charging us any freight or passage money. At last, with a fair wind, we sailed about -seventeen miles to Transtown,* situate on Elk river, al the distance of an English mile from our Swedish settlement,! where we joyfully landed, returning thanks to God for having

Before we had been there a day and a night the people nocked in great numbers to see. us. They came from the distance of ten or twelve Swedish miles, (fifty or sixty miles English,) in order to conduct us to the places of their mceling.i They welcomed us with great joy, and could hardly believe we had arrived until they saw us. They were, indeed, in great want of spiritual assistance. For at (he time that I, though unworthy, was appointed to this high office, they were deprived by death of their venerable teacher, Jacob Fahritius, and since that time have had nobody but their reader, Chailes Christopher Springer, a plain, honest, pious man. They did tolerably well with him, as he was very zealous, and spared no pains to promote their spiritual welfare, as I have myself always witnessed.

On the 27th of June we had only a small meeting, of prayer and thanksgiving, at the lower congregation. On the 29th we went up to Philadelphia, a clever little town, and waited on the lieutenant-Governor, William Markham, who, when he saw our credentials, received us with great kindness.

tThis settlement, as a settlement of Swedes, is unknown to us. It was probably made up of the descendants of a company of Hollanders; who came to this country in 1640, under a license from the authorities at Stockholm, and now spoke the Swedish language.

X The church at Christina is about 22 miles from Frenchtown ; the church at Tinicum was about 40 miles from it ; and the church at Wicaco about 50 miles. But probably the roads (hen were not nearly so direct as they are at present.

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place called Wicaco, which is the nearest to Philadelphia, and where the Swedes have a church, in which we gave them an account of our voyage and objects, beginning with their own letter to the Postmaster at Gottenburg, then his Royal Majesty's orders given thereupon, &c. &c. We did the same thing on the 2d of July to the lower congregation at Tran-hook,* where they also have a church. On the 11th of July, I, their unworthy minister, clad in my surplice, delivered my first discourse to them, in Jesus' name, on the subject of the righteousness of the Pharisees.

And now, to say something more respecting our congregations. I must confess that they did not entirely comply with what they had promised in their letter. The reason was, that they were most uncomfortably situated ; the land which led to their church being then overflowed with water ;t and yet they would not abandon the place until they should have ministers to whom they should commit the work : in which, through God's grace, I have succeeded, and agreed with them to fix upon a more convenient place to build a stone church, to be called Christina church. I hope it will be done within a year, for the congregations are rich, and easily persuaded by good reasons, such as I have given them."

"The country here is delightful, as it has always been described, and overflows with every blessing; so that the people live very well without being compelled to too much or too severe labour. The taxes arc very light. The farmers, after as well as the respectable inhabitants of the towns. They have fresh meat, and fish in abundance ; and want nothing of what other countries produce. They have plenty of grain wherewith tThe large body of marsh in that neighbourhood, both that on the Christccn and that on the Delaware, were then uninclosed with banks, and under water at every ilood tide.

Ids History Of The

to make bread, and plenty of drink. Ma}' God continue them in the enjoyment of these blessings. There are no poor in this country, but they all provide for themselves; for the land is rich and fruitful, and no man who will labour can suffer want."

By the foregoing letter we learn that Crane-hook church was unfavourably situated, and poorly adapted to the wants of the Swedes in the neighbourhood of Christina Fort. At this time New Castle had become comparatively a large town. The Dutch inhabitants there had provided a place of worship in their own vicinity, and dissolved the partnership under which they had united with the Swedes in building Crane-hook church.* Under these circumstances the crisis was peculiar!) favourable to the design of building a new church at Christina. In that neighbourhood the great body of Swedish emigrants had settled. Along the banks of the Minquas, or Christina, of White-clay creek, Red-clay creek, Brandywine, Shelpot and their tributaries, and on the west bank of the Delaware as high as Naaman's creek they were thickly settled. A considerable number had also settled in Jersey, on Oldman's creek, Raccoon creek, and along the shore from the mouth of Salem creek to the northerly part of Perm's Neck. To all these, the site proposed by Biorck was favourably circumstanced. Nature had provided a landing at the rocks, within a few steps of the church door, a landing full of interesting associations to every lover of the land of his forefathers - to every one capable of connecting the present with the past. Here their "pilgrim fathers" first set foot on their "promised land," - here stood their first temple dedicated to divine worship ; and here tire first sacrifice of praise to the author of every blessing from

* William Penn, in a letter dated in 1083, says," The Dutch have a meeting place for religious worship at New Castle." This was sixteen years after they had joined the Swedes in establishing a church at Crane hook. See Clarkson's life of Penn, vol. 1, p. 309.

In another letter of Biorck's, to a clergyman in Sweden dated 19th of November, 1700, after Christina church was finished, he gives a particular description of (he building, and states some preliminary facts, extremely interesting, to those particularly who are concerned to know every thing connected with its origin, progress, and completion, lie says, " Shortly after my arrival at this place 1 persuaded the congregation to agree in selecting a better place for a church than Tran-hook, to wit, Christina: and I immediately commenced the work in the Lord's name, though with little money : but I never doubted, notwithstanding my unworthiness, of Divine assistance. I therefore made a bargain with bricklayers and carpenters, and bound them and me so strongly, that otherwise the work would not have been finished in less than three years. We laid the first stone at the north corner on the 28th of May, 1698. The size of the church, inside of the walls, is sixty feet in length, thirty feet in breadth, and twenty feet in height. The walls are of hard gray stone, up to the windows three and a half feet thick, but above that only two feet.

"There are four doors; a large one at the west end, and a smaller one at the south : there are two smaller ones on the north side, one of which leads into the vestry room.* There are two windows on the north, and two on the south, all of the same size ; but there is a larger one at the east end, and a small one over the western door. There is a small belfry at the east end. The roof is arched with logs, and plastered. It is covered with cedar shingles.

"The pews in the church arc made of fir; the chancel is circular, and the inner bannister, as well as the pulpit, are of walnut wood well turned. There is a large aisle, eight feet in

* It appears from this passage, that originally there -was a vestry room on the north side of the house near the east end, where one of the arched buttresses now stands.

breadth, from the chancel to the large door, and [one] across the [said] aisle from the north door to that on the south. Between the chancel and the first row of pews there is also a little way, with six pews on each side, to the cross aisle. There are also long pews along the wall for the men, from the south door to the east end ; and there are seats in the chancel for the ministers. In the lower part of the church, from the north and south doors to that on the west, there is a large aisle, with eight pews on eacli side."

The building was formally dedicated on the day called Trinity Sunday, (in the Fifth month, Way,) 1G09, and was named Trinity Church. Rudman officiated that day, and preached from the text, Psalm exxiii. 3, "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof ive are glad" There were many hundred persons present, who, after the service was over, partook of refreshments, which had been prepared by the order of Biorck. A collection was made, and about two hundred dollars raised, - a very large sum for that day, when money was so valuable.

In the foregoing letter we are told, that the parties were bound uso strongly that otherwise the work would not have been finished in less than three years." A copy of the Articles is preserved in the records of the church. ^Ye shall present them to the reader, " verbatim et literatim ,"lest in changing the language, or the spelling, we might lessen its interest.

Articles of agreement made, done, and concluded by and be twixt Hance Pietterson, John Stalcop, and Charles Springer, ol the County of New Castle, and Christeen Creek, of ye one part. and Joseph Yard, Mazon and Brick Layer of Philadelphia, ot ye other party wittnesseth as followeth :

It is agred & I Joseph Yard, doe obledge and engage myself and my heirs, that is, with the help of God, to lay all the stone and brick work of a Church wh: is to be built in and upon ye 14* it shall be CG fot from out to out, the breath shall be 36 fool from out to out, and (o be laid in ye ground, a good & firm foundation, and the height from y" Top of ye ground upwards 20 loot, and the thickness of yc wall from ye foundation to the lower end of the windows 3 foot thick, and then afterwards 2 foot thick upwards, and all ye windows & doors upon the church shall be arched, and the doors & windows arched and quinedt with bricks, and this abovementioned worck must be, and shall be done sufficiently, firmly, and substantially, in all respects, as yc stuff will allow, and to be done with all expedition that possible may or can be.

Now for the consideration heareof, Wee, the abouc named, Hans Pietferson, John Stall cop & Charles Springer, doe engage to pay Joseph Yard, or his Ass8 the aforesaid work, Eighty and six pounds In Silluer Money, to be paid as followeth, Twenty & Three pounds in Siluer Money at the beginning of ye work, that is, at the first Stone Laying, and 23 pounds when he ye said Yard comes to put In ye door cases, and then 20 pounds more when he comes to y" upper end of y° Arched work of Doors and Windows, and ye Remainder, that is, 20 pounds more when ye stone work is finished, and withall wee doe obledge Our Selues to find the sd Joseph and his Assistance during yq time of ye said work, with sufficient Meat, Drink, Washing, and Lodging, with Sufficient Labourers, for him & his Assistance, and to finde all necessary Materials fi.lt for ye work, and the s'1 Joseph not to be hindered for Materials, or Labourers, or Carpenter's work.

* ll Upon the church yard at Christeen."' This phrase shows that the ground on which the old church stands was a church yard before the erection of that building. There can be little doubt that it had been a burying giound from the time of the first arrival of the Swedes.

t "Quined." A word from our Norman ancestors; the orthography changed to suit the pronunciation. "Coin," a corner. " Quiiicd," cornered. This part of the contract was faithfully performed, as may be seen by inspection at lire present time.

of Agreement, doe wee, Hans Pietterson, John Stallcop & Charles Springer, Binde our Selues and our Heirs, Executours, & Administratours, Joinly & Seueraly of ye one party In a penall Bond & Obligation of 172 pounds Silluer Money, and also doe I Joseph Yard, binde my self and my heirs, Executours, & Adminis'" of y" other side In a penal Bond & Obligation of 172 pounds In Siluer Money, to be paid upon demand, that is, If it be not on both sides truly and duly performed according to every pr in ye Articles Specifyed, Butt If it be on both sides performed, then the Bond shall be of none effect, if otherwise, to stand in its full force and Virtue, Whereunto wee have sett our hands and seals.

It appears that the. ceremony of laying the corner stone was performed the day before the aforesaid contract was executed. The contract only bound Yard to do the stone work up to the square, that was " from the top of the ground upwards twenty feet." This he finished before the 12th of August following, as will be seen by the following receipt and acquittance :

"I, Joseph Yard, of the citty of Philadelphia, Mazon,doe acknowledge that I am fully satisfyed, that is, for laying the stone work of y'' Church at Christeen, which is G(J foot long, and thirty-six foot broad from out to out, and 20 foot high, for which I have Receiued of yp Reuerend Minister, Ericus Biork, that \<\ Eighty and six pounds in Silluer Money, ami Likewise, I haue Receiued in full for my Morter Labourer, the Neger, Hue pounds, ifour still. & 6 pence, and this receipt I have given to satisfyc the church wardens & congregation of Christcen Church, that J am fully satisfied, as Wittness my hand,

After about two months, in which the mortar cement had sufficent time to harden, Yard entered into another contract to build the gable ends of the church, above the square, to plaster the inside of the walls and arched ceiling, and to pave the floor. The contract is as follows:

Articles of Agreement made, done, and concluded, by and betwixt Joseph Yard, Mazon, of y? city of Philadelphia of ye one party, and the Rcuerend Minister, Mag1" Ericus Biorck,* Minister for ye congregation of Crane-hook, of yc other party wittnesseth as folio weth.

In primis, It is agreed and concluded, that I, Joseph Yard, Mazon, shall well & truly make up & lay the Stonework of ye Gabell ends of yc Church at Christeen, and to be well & artificially and sufficiently done, as bchoueth a good workman.

Secondly. I doe engage and promisse, with the help of God, to doe & plaister all yc archwork & plainwork of ye walls within side of ye aforesd Church, and to nail up the Latts in ye Roof for ye Archwork, and Likewise to doe it sufficiently.

Thirdly. I doe engage & obledge myself also to lay the floor of ye afore'1 Church partly with stones & partly with bricks, and he not to hew the stones, butt lay them as well as I can, and as ye stones will be workt.

Now this aforementioned work I will partly doe if the weather fauours before Winter, & the Rest shall be done betimes In ye spring of y': year with y° help of God.

Now for ye consideration of this aforementioned work, that i<. the Gabell ends, and plaister work, and laying of the floor of the Ghurch, doe I, Ericus Biorck, Minister of yc congregation of

* The minister's name is sometimes spoil Biork, he si^ns his name Ericus Biorck. In the chinch records it is mostly spelt as he spelled it himself ; yet often with the C left out.

Crane-hook, obledge & engage my self to pay, or cause to be paid unto JJoseph Yard, or his Ass8 the summe of fourty & fine pounds of Silkier Money, and to pay it at three payments as first when the Cabell ends is finished Twenty pounds, and when ye plaisterwork is finished then to pay ye said Yard fifteen pounds, and when the floor is laid and finished Tenn pounds, and moreoner, I doe obledge myself to finde the said Yard, and his workmen & labourers, good sufficient .Meat, Drink, Washing & Lodging, during ye time of the aforesaid work, and to finde aU, Materials necessary for the work, that he shall not stay & waste his time in Vain. And further, doe I obledge my self to finde him good Labourers and sufficient Sbaflblds.°

Now for the true performance of all & every Article of both parties, doe wee binde our selues & our heirs, In a pcnall bond & Obligation of Ninety pounds of Silkier Money, that is to pay it, he that doth not pay or performe the afores'1 work, and to doe it sufficiently, butt if truly performed this obligation to be void & of none effect, or else to stand in its full force and virtue, Whereunto wee have sett our hands and seals.

The contract for the carpenter-work was made before those for the stone-work, and before Biorck had discovered the necessity of inserting in the articles of agreement a penalty for nonperformance of the contract. From some cause the carpenter failed, whether because not " bound so strongly" as the mason had been, cannot now be known. But the diligence and good management of Biorck found a remedy for the defect. The whole was finished with great promptitude, under circumstances

The s'1 John Smart & John Britt, doth couenant & agree with Ericus Biorek, to build & finish a certain Church on Christeene Creek, near John Slallcop's house, to be sixty foot long & thirty foot In Breath, both in the clear to builde the carpenters work, to vet: One large & four smaller Windows proposable to the sd biggness before said, two large & one lesser Door Casses with Door & four pewess enclosed, the other with rails and a Handier & Benches & Doors & encloses ye ends of the Pews at the passages thereof. The Rufe to be framed with Nealing Principles & Quale1 in the inside, also with an ornamental Eueses,t with a Pulpet & Canape^ over the same, & to make a Table and conuenient casements to y° Windows. The same Ericus Biorck to firide all Timber &. Boards and Iron worck, & all ready sawed and brought to place &, also to iinde & allow ye said carpenters Meat, Drinck, Washing and Lodging duering y° said worck, and the said John Smart and John Britt, oblcdgc them selves to finish ye same by ye Last of Octob1" next insiuing the date here- v of, and ye said John Smart & John Britt heare to have for y6 aforesd worck and biulding One Ilundered & Thirty pounds current Silkier Money, to be paid in three payments, vet: fourty and three pounds & G shill8 and S pence, at the entering upon the said worck, & fourty & three pounds 6 shills & S pence, to be paid at y1' Raising of yc Rufe thereof, and fourty & three pounds six shills ec S pence, at the finishing of ye same, as wittness our hands & seals, this 29 of March, 169S.

* "Quale.'-' Perhaps oval. The ceiling; was an arch running from end to end of the house. Quale, or elliptical in its form. t £:Eueses," meaning; perhaps an ornamental cornice. X '' Canape/*' a canopy, which is still preserved in good order.

The preceding contract was not performed according to the stipulations made between the parties. The si one- work, as high as the square or eves, had been done by the 12th of August; and before the 23d of December the gable walls were up, and the house inclosed. From the contract which Smart afterwards made with John Harrison, it appears that all the outside work, and a considerable part of the inside work were finished at that date. Some judgment of the state of the building may be formed by reference to the following agreement between Smart and Harrison, by which the latter undertook to complete Smart's contract.

Articles of Agreement, made, done & concluded of, by & between John Smart of Philadelphia, Carpeiv7 of ye one party & John Harrisson, Joiner and Carpenter, of ye same place, Wittnesseth as followeth :

InprimiSj doe I, John Smart, Lett unto John Harrisson, a certain pieace of worck to finish at the Church of Clnisteen, I was Imploycd to doe of y° Reuerend Minister Ericus Biork, and hath not performed according to ye Articles of Agreement to ye time nominated.

Secondly. Doe I, John Harrisson, Obledge & engage my self &. my heirs, to finish this aforesd pieace of work with the help of God, with al expedition as possible may be, that is, I doe obledge to do all ye Inside work of ye aforesaid Church, that is, all ye pews & windshot work & the pulpett with a canope over it, and a pew of each side of y"' communion Table, and also with Reals & Banisters about y" chancel, and all yc inside work is to be done according to ye draught, and as it specifyeth more at large, and all this to be done sufficiently as a good workman.

Thirdly. Doe I, John Harrisson, engage to doe ic finish all the sealing joice wh: is to doe and lilt in y" sealing of y'' Root, when they are brought in place, and hewed to my hands.

Now for this aforementioned work & the consideration thereof, so shall IJohn Harrison have at yL> finishing of yc work, thirty & six pounds and Tenn shillings in Silluer Money, and Reuerend Minister, Mag Ericus Biork, shall become his paymaster, and during the time of this afores'1 work so shall the afores'1 Harrisson and his Assistance have their Meat, Drink, Washing & Lodging, In ye bargain. Now unto these afores'1 Articles have wee Both Interchangegcably sett our hands and seals. Christeen, ye 23 of Decerab" 1698.

It has already been stated that the church was dedicated to the divine service in the 5th month, (May,) 1699, just one year from the time of its commencement. This could not have been done in so short a time, had the congregation not possessed such a faithful, untiring agent and friend, as Biorck. In that year all the funds were to be raised by his personal exertions and influence. The sum total of seventy-two subscriptions was only £1S0 lis. 9<L, or #481.60, averaging less than SI, per each individual, and this list included ail the richest members of the church. The highest subscription was Wholle Slobey's £30, or {5S0. The next was Hans Peterson's £10, or S2G.G7. There was one of £8 2s, one of £ly one of £6, three of £5, three of £4:, and all the rest smaller suras. The lowest was six shillings. There were eighty-one persons who contributed labour, amounting to nine hundred and twenty-three days' work, averaging a little more then eleven days for each subscriber. The highest subscription was forty-one and a half days' work, the lowest two clays. Masons, carpenters, labourers, and others, were to be boarded and lodged, &c. Many subscribed corn, wheat, rye, malt, rum, boards, timber, stone, &c, &c. To manage all these concerns, and to complete the great object in so short a time, required extraordinary qualifications, and the congregation found in Biorck an agent such as the crisis demanded. He must have been an amiable, prudent, active, devoted friend of his people. We never find him involved in any dispute or difference with his parishioners, which cannot be said of all his successors ; we do not find him changing his place of residence, and shifting about from the care of one Hock, to the charge of another, as did some of the missionaries. He served the congregation at Christina sixteen years; returned to Sweden, and died at a good old age in 1740, having retained a warm interest for the Swedes in America to the last.

The building, when completed, had a belfry at the east end, but no bell, so far as can be ascertained. When it was removed is not known. Sixty years ago there was a belfry on the roof of the easternmost portico on the north side of the house. It had a bell hung in it, which they used to toll at funerals, and ring to announce meeting time.* The bell-ringer, when called upon to perforin his office, used to climb up into the belfry, sit astride on one of the cross beams, and by means of a rope tied to the bell-clapper, pull it forcibly against the bell. Thus producing the desired effect, not as is usual, by bringing the bell to the clapper, but the clapper to the bell ; as they were obliged to do in Russia, with the Tsar Kolokol, the largest bell in the world.

Magnif. Reg. Suec. Nunc Clor. Memor

Under the reign of William III., by the grace of God, King of England. William Penn. Proprietary, William Mai kham, Vice Governor, and in the reign of Charles XL, of Sweden. Their great king, now of glorious memory, sent to this place, E. T. B. Biorck. W. S. P. L. Wholly Slobey, highest subscriber.

t These inscriptions are copied from the church records. There has probably been an omission at this place of the vice governor's name. Will Markham.

In the year 1762, the north and south walls had become: bulged outward six or eight inches, owing to the heavy pressure of the arched ceiling, rafters, and roof. The congregation were much alarmed, lest the whole should fall and bury them in the ruins. A consultation was held, and various remedies proposed. It was concluded, that in order to prevent further damage, there should be two porticoes built on the north side, to serve as buttresses or supports to the wall ; and one large portico on the south side over the only door in that wall. The three supports were accordingly built. Each portico was formed by extending two massive walls at right angles with the side of the building, eight or ten feet long, springing arches for the gable, and roofing over from wall to wall. Over the south portico, the word Immanuel, in iron letters, which was originally built in the south wall, was now fixed, and yet remains in perfect preservation. The stone and brick work of the porticoes was done by Cornelius Hains, or Ilines, as it was formerly pronounced. His name and the date, 1762, cut in a corner stone of the south or main portico, is yet plainly to be seen.

In the year 1802, the congregation built a small steeple of brick at the west end of the church, against the large door ; and hung the old bell in it. It still occupies the place then assigned it, and on funeral occasions announces in peculiarly solemn perhaps, in good keeping with the old church, but is the better for the want of skill, or knowledge of design in the architect. It looks antiquated, although it is not old.

About ten years since, a substantial wall was built on the other three sides, so that the whole yard is now surrounded by a permanent stone fence. The oldest grave stone within the inelosure, (so far as we certainly know,) has no legible dale. It is that of William Yanoeyer. The church records say he was interred Oct. 11, 1719. The stone is a massive piece of gra- nite. It was made with skill, is very old fashioned, and so corroded by time as to leave no (race of the date of his death. A few years ago a rough unhewn stone was raised from the ground near the south-east corner of the church, almost covered will) earth. On cleaning the flat side of it, the letters B. C. 17:20, very rudely, but very legibly cut in the stone, were discovered. On examining the record of deaths for that year on the church books, it was found that a great many of their members had died," amounting to double the average number. The only name on the list of the dead, whose initials answered to those on the stone, was that of Brita Cock, daughter of Andrishi Cock, a family of some distinction in that day. She was buried on the 16th December, 172G, aged 18 years. On the 18th, only two days afterwards, her younger sister Katharine was buried by her side. On searching near the place of Brita's interment, another stone was discovered with K. C. cut in it, leaving no doubt, that here had been interred the two daughters of Andrishi Cock, cut off in the bloom of life. It was at that time too expensive and difficult to procure marble monuments for the dead ; and those who desired to fix memorials to the graves of the deceased, were obliged to use the rough stones of the country, or at best those that had been smoothed by the hand of nature.

This met accounts for the absence of tombstones of earlier date, for the records of the church show that the yard had been used as a cemetery long before the decease of William Yandever.

For one hundred years after the adjacent city of Wilmington was laid out, the old church stood nearly half a mile from the built part of it. Its situation was secluded and quiet. The scenery all round it was indeed beautiful, but calculated rather to tranquillize the feelings than to excite them. The Christina flowed by between its green bordering of reeds, but a few paces

* Some epidemic, probably small pox, prevailed. More persons died in December, alone, of that year, than in any whole year for ten years before. The average for eighteen years, from 1713 to 1730, inclusive, was ten deaths a year.

from the church yard walls. Many a bright sail was to be seen on a summer evening, gliding along its noiseless current. Behind it was the beautiful Brandy wine, and beyond it the majestic- Delaware, bounded by the blue line of Jersey woods, and rolling its mighty waters toward the mightier Atlantic. Rich green meadows lay immediately round the church ; all these, with the countless interesting associations connected with the place, combined to make a walk to the old church yard a favourite object both to the old and the young.

In no spot, perhaps, on this side of the ocean, where almost every thing is new and fresh, where there is so little to excite feelings of veneration, or gratify the taste of the antiquary, are there so many circumstances, enabling us to realize some of the best productions of the British muse, as in our old church yard. If the poet, Thomson, had been buried here, Collins's beautiful ode on his death, would have suited the surrounding scenery as well as it suits the vicinity of Richmond Church.* Had Gray written his incomparable Elegy here, he would have wanted but few subjects to have made it what it is ; and he might have found interesting substitutes for such as we have not. We have in deed no " ivy-mantled towers," those beautiful monuments of feudal barbarism, but we have "ivy-mantled" trees, which in the evening of the year, are clothed in colours, more splendid than any the poet ever witnessed, in the changing foliage of his own country. These, from the fact that this very splendour is the sure precursor of its own fall, an infallible sign that the gen-

Itle hand of death is upon it, are as appropriate subjects of church yard meditations, as any in his poem. It is true, we have no " Yew tree's shade," but we have our "rugged elms," and many other trees, natives of our country, whose branches are as thickly interwoven, and who as kindly throw their broad shadows o'er the quiet mansions of the dead, as the cypress 01 the yew. Our old cemetery contains, in sober truth, the relics oJ those who cleared the dense forests and tangled brakes of our country, who literally " bowed the woods heneath their sturdy stroke." We can say of it, without any draft on poetic licence for the sake of embellishment,

But alas! "Time that spoils all things," and trade, which has no poetry in it, have made sad encroachments on the venerable monuments of our Swedish predecessors. The city is fast invading the quietude and retirement of the old church. Within seven years, some hundreds of houses have sprung up on that side of the town. The Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore rail road has pushed its unrelenting way through a part of the grave yard. The beautiful site of the little town of Christinaham, is cut through for the passage of" the rapid car." The very spot where the valiant governor of the New Netherlands, Peter Stuyvesant, of warlike mien* and memory, with his sage counsellor Nicatius de Sylle, of the one part, and John Claudii Rising, governor general of New Sweden, with his Commissary Elswyck, of the other part, held a parley for the surrender of Fort Christina, nearly two hundred years ago - that very spot is now a yaioning gulph) excavated wide and deep, out of which have been taken thousands of tons of stone, to make the Delaware Breakwater. But what is more censurable than all, as having less excuse, a most magnificent row of trees, which ranged along the eastern boundary of the grave yard, has been sacriliced, not to necessity, but to a miserable want of taste. A noble old walnut tree which grew there, and which old Minuit, their fust governor, has many a time gazed upon - measuring seven feet

* Governor Stuyvesant had lost a leg in some of Ids military enlerprizes, and was now supported, on one side, by an artificial one. Tradition informsus, the leg was made of silver. Probably it was ornamented with silver inlaid, and which, it was said, he was fond of exhibiting as evidence of his military service.

in diameter at its base, - flourishing and vigorous, and perfectly sound, was, not many years ago, sold for a few dollars, and cut down to be converted into gun-stocks!* Sic transit gloria mundi !

After the church was completed, the old Cranehook church property was sold to a certain Peter Mounson. The articles of agreement for its sale are on record, and, as giving further insight into the state of literature at that time, the price of land, and reasons for selling it, as slated in the document, wc think it worth preserving.

Articles of Agreement done made and concluded by & between Pietter Mounson ofye One party & Charles Springer of ye other party wittnesseth as followeth :

Be it known that I Pietter Mounson doe acknowledge that I have bought a certain Tract of Land namely 100 Acres with all the conueniences thereunto belonging Lying & being upon Delaware River Joyning next unto my Land which Tract of Land did formerly belong unto Ilance Pietterson and Charles Springer, and the rest of ye Church Wardens which then at that time were Church Wardens did buy this afores'1 Tract of Land for a Minister to live upon wh: they did in the behalf of yc Congregation then ye Cranehooks Congregation called, Butt when it pleased God of his mercy, that when our lleucrend Minister arrived, and the Congregation did conclude to Biuld ye Church upon Christeen so was this Land altogether found not conuenient for a Minister to live upon, and so with a common consent for to be sould. Which afores"1 Tract of Land with 13V Acres of Marish, and all ye conueniences wh: thereunto doth belong, I Charles Springer as Church Warden & in yc behalf of ye Congregation doe sell this unto Pietter Mounson for him and his heirs for to have & to hold for euer.

obledge me & my heirs to pay unto Charles Springer or his Ass* the full & just summ of Thirty five pounds In Siluer Money, Twenty pounds of Siluer money to be paid at the 21 of Novembr at which day Charles Springer doth obledge himself to make this aforesd Land oner to Pietler Mounson If it please the Lord to permit him Life & health, and the other 15 pounds the sd Pietter Mounson is to pay at or upon ye 15 of Seplbl 1700. As Wittness our hands & seals.

Thus was alienated to common uses, the old church property at Crane-hook ; and the church being no more used as a place of worship, was suffered to go down by a gradual decay ; but the grave yard, containing the remains of the dead, who, for more than thirty years had been collecting within its enclosure, remained to be used as a cemetery, by some families, for many years afterwards ; as both tradition and the church records testify.

By the articles, we find that one hundred and thirteen acres of land and marsh, beautifully situated, and of an excellent quality, sold in 1609, fur the sum of thirty-five pounds in specie, or ninety-three dollars and thirty-three cents, which is SO* cents per acre for the land, and ': all the conueniencies thereunto belonging" into the bargain. That land would probably sell at the present day, for at least one hundred times that price! Such is the increase in the value of land, together with the decrease in the value of money, in less than one hundred and fifty years.

as for its piety arid beneficence, ought not to be lost. At the lime when their excellent and laborious pastor was anxiously exerting himself to raise up for the Swedes a more comfortable and convenient house, in which to meet for the worship of Him, from whose bounty proceed all our blessings, a certain John Hans Stellman lent to Biorck, for the use of the congregation at Christeen, and for the express purpose of building the church, the sum of one hundred pounds. Stellman took of Biorck a bond for its repayment, with the usual interest of ten per cent. per annum, for the use of the money. When the interest became due, Stellman declined receiving it, and so continued to do until the year 1706, when he executed and presented to the church the following release: -'

Know all men by these presents, whom it may, or hereafter shall concern, that I John Hance Stellman, of yc County of Coecill in ye Province of Maryland, Merchant, doe heareby accquitt Release & forever discharge Magr Ericus Biorck, Minister of Christeen Congregation, of a Bond and Obligation Dated in Elk River, yc 30th of June 1C9S, Containing One hundred pounds Sillr 'money, with Tenn pound Interest yearly, & every yeare, which Money Magr Biorck had upon ye ace1 and for yc use of Christeen Congregation, for y° Bidding of ye Church; which Bond & y° Sum and Interest, I doe give freely, and of a pure concientious heart, for the honour of GOD, to ye Holy Trinity Church ; and doe heareby alsoe declare & testifye, that I never did design nor have taken any Interest forye aforesd hundred pounds, fori have never made up my aceu untell this Day, nor have disclosed my mind, what I have Resolved and had in minde, untell now, wheareunto I have sett my hand & seal. Jn°- Hans Stellman, [l. s.] Christeen ye ICth Novbr 170G Wittness

The care of the Swedes lo keep up their institutions for public worship, has been already noticed. The following account of their ministers will give a condensed view of the concern on the part of the government at Stockholm to furnish the colony at Christina with the means of public instruction, from the first settlement, of the country, until the final dissolution of their religious connection.

Reorus Torkillus, was the first cVrgyman from Sweden who came to America. He accompanied Minuit in 1G3S, and officiated at the church within the fort, at Christina until his death, on the 7th of September, 1643, which took place after a lingering illness of six months and two weeks, at the age of thirty-five years. He was born at West Gothland, and after finishing his education, was chosen a professor in the college at Gottenburg. He married in this country, and left behind him one child.

John Campanius Holm succeeded Torkillus. lie came over with Governor Printz, and arrived at Christina on the 15th February, 1643. He remained here six years, and on his return to Sweden was appointed first preacher to the admiralty, and afterwards pastor to the church at Frost Hultz and llerenwys, in Upland. He translated Luther's Catechism into the Indian language, which was published. He died in the year 16S3, aged 82 years, and was buried in the church at Frost Hultz, where a handsome monument was erected to his memory.

Lawrence Charles Lokcnius, commonly called Lock, came to this country during the administration of Governor Printz, and remained here until his death, in 16SS. He preached both at Tinicum and Christina, until 1677, when Frabritius being employed to serve the upper congregations, Lock devoted himself to the service of the conp;re";ation which met at Crane-hook.

Original Settlements On The Delaware- 179

Israel Holg came to America during Printz's government, but soon returned to his native country, where lie officiated as a minister in the Island of Sokn, West Gothland.

Another clergyman whose name Avas Matthias, came over in the ship Mercury, which arrived here in 1656, soon after the conquest. He returned in 1G5S.

Jacob Fabritius, a Dutch clergyman, who had officiated at New York, was employed by the congregation at Wicaco in 1677. The old blockhouse there ^ being then useless as a military defence, was fitted up as a place of worship, in which Fabritius preached his first sermon, on the day called "Trinity Sunday," 1677. After five years he lost his sight, which did not, however, prevent him from preaching. He served them nine years after he became blind, and until the infirmities of age disqualified him for the work. Rudman says he died in 1693 or 1694.

From the year 1691, when Fabritius failed, until the year 1697, when Biorck, Rudman, and Auren arrived, the Swedes were without a minister. During the interval the only religious performance in the churches was reading homilies or sermons, singing psalms, and prayer. This service at Christiana was done by Charles Springer, and at Wicaco by Anders Bengtson.

11714, having, as their faithful friend and pastor, served his congregation for the space of 16 years. He managed their concerns with eminent prudence and activity, struggling with them through all their difficulties, and sympathising with them in all their sorrows. In 1712, Andrew llesselius was sent over by Charles XII. of Sweden, to take his place. Biorck had now lived so long among his friends at Christeen, and had become connected with them by so many ties of affection and interest, that it required two years to wind up his affairs. Finally, in the summer of 1714, with his wife, a native of thisncighboihood, and five children, he sailed for Sweden. The king appointed him rector of Falun, a city of Dalecarlia, situate in a district famous for its copper mines. He continued to correspond with the principal men of his American flock, and to give them his advice on all difficult and important occasions. The directors of the copper mines, knowing the warm interest and attachment of their pastor for his old friends and desirous of giving him a proof of their affection for himself, presented to the congregation at Christina a large silver chalice and other silver plate, all richly gilt, for the use of the church.*

Andrew llesselius continued to act as the pastor of the church here until his recall in the year 1723. .During this period, the English Episcopal churches and the Swedish Lutheran churches, in America, found themselves so nearly united in doctrine, and in sentiment respecting other matters, that there was no obstruction to a free religious intercourse, and they occasionally officiated in each other's churches. " Indeed," say the English clergymen, in a letter addressed to the ecclesiastical authorities in Sweden, "so great was our mutual agreement in doctrine and worship, and so constant were they in attending our conventions, that there was no visible discrimination between us, but what proceeded from the different languages wherein they and we were bound to officiate."

At this time the English population in Pennsylvania had become numerous, and many of their congregations were without a regular service. Under these circumstances they were glad to have llesselius to preach for them, and he frequently gratified them, so'much to the satisfaction of the English, that " the society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts "sent from England ten pounds sterling, as an acknowledgment of thengratitude for his services, with a promise of as much annually in future, en receiving satisfactory evidence that he had preached in the English churches at least twenty times a year." When

Chester, and William Becket, a missionary at Lewes, gave him a certificate, stating their approbation of his character and conduct, and warmly recommending him for promotion on his return to Sweden. lie dicci in 1733.

Samuel Ilesselius, a brother of the aforesaid Andrew Hesselius, came to America in the year 1719, and settled as a clergyman at a place called Manating,* somewhere, on the Schuylkill. How long he resided there is uncertain, but the records of the church at Christina show that he was married here on 9th of June, 17:20, to a certain Brita Leikan. On the departure of his brother, he took charge of the congregation here, and remained until 1731. But the practice introduced by his brother, of serving others, as a preacher^ and receiving gratuities or annual allowances for the labour, proved a source of much uneasiness and contention between the new pastor and his flock. In the year 1729 he was charged with neglecting his duties and not preaching at his own church for many weeks together. In consequence of which, they refused to pay the monies subscribed for his support. Letters of complaint against him had been written to their former pastor Ericus Biorck and to his bishop in Sweden. Hesselius charged Charles Springer with the authorship of these letters, and petitioned the Governor of Pennsylvania for redress. Commissioners were appointed by the governor to hear the parties in the dispute, and report to him their judgment in the case. The report was made, and Hesselius was cleared of some of the charges, but it was evident that there was a breach between the parties, that no judicial proceedings could heal, and without leave from his bishop, he returned to Sweden in the year 1731.+ t On the 1st of November, 1731, a letter was written by Archibald Cumin ings, commissary, an&fonr clergymen of the Episcopal church,, and furnished to S. Hesselius expressing their approbation of his voyage for Sweden, without his bishop's direction. They gave as a reason for his

He was succeeded by John Encburg, who resided here until the year 1742. It was in the course of his ministry that the little village of Willingtown began to show itself on the shore of Christcen, and before he left it there was probably more than one hundred and twenty houses built, and a charter obtained, by which it changed its title, and became known as the Borough of Wilmington, which it retained almost one hundred years.

When Eneburg was recalled, he was succeeded by Peter Tranbcrg, who had been sent to this country sixteen years before, and had officiated at Raccoon Creek. lie remained here until his decease in 1748. His remains were interred in the great aisle of the old church near the pulpit. A marble slab marks the spot, and contains the following inscriptions:

"In memory of the Reverend Peter Tranberg, Missionary from Sweden, first fourteen years at Raccoon and Pennsneck churches, then seven years here. He departed this life Nov. the 8th, 174S, aged 52 years.

He left this world, this gloomy scene of pain, Tho' to his friends a loss, yet lasting gain To him ; the patron of a virtuous life, And good conductor from that monster strife. Who can forget the pains this worthy spent. In painful journeys by his duly bent, The sick to comfort, and to warn the vain : So sweet his presence, urging rules, how plain ! Whose tender care and universal love, Proved his commission from the God above, Who gave him strength at ilrst, and then did till His soul, prepensed to dolus holy will; To hazard health, nay, life and pleasure too, His Lord's command with ardour to puisne ; For which he rests with God, in bliss to be, Freed from this world to all eternity." " Also his son Peter Tranburg, who departed this life July 29th, 1750, aged nine years, 6 months, and two weeks."

departure that he had sold his household goods, and had liule encouragement to continue here. The clergymens5 names were George Ross, missionary at New Castle; Richard Backhouse, missionary at Chester; Waller Hacket, missionary at Apoquinimink; and William Docket, missionary at Lewes.

Tranburg was succeeded in the ministerial office by the justly distinguished historian of the colony, Israel Acrelius.* lie remained here eight years, having officiated as their pastor from 1748 to 1756, when he was recalled. During his residence at Wilmington, he made use of such opportunities as his public position and other favourable circumstances afforded, to collect materials for a history of the Swedish colonies on the Delaware. It was then more than one hundred and ten years alter their arrival, and much of the important matter for a clear and connected account was for ever lost. He appears, however, to have made good use of his means, and has produced a very valuable, and the most clear and faithful narrative of facts relating to his subject, that has been published. That part of it which has been translated into English is, however, much too brief, being generally confined to great leading facts ; in the narration of which he is mostly correct, and may be relied on with much confidence. A translation of his whole work, in a clear modern style, is very desirable. A part of it, translated by Nicholas Collin, has been published by the New York Historical Society, in a volume of their collections, 1841, for which the public are much indebted to them. The volume contains many other works of deep interest to those who would inquire into the early history of our country. He died in 1800, aged 86 years.

Erick Unander succeeded Acrelius. He came to America in 1749, and having served the congregations at Raccoon and Penn's Neck until the recall of Acrelius, lie came to Christina. How long he remained here is not very clearly stated. Clay says, Andreas Borell was sent to preside over the Swedish Churches in 1757; arrived at Christina in 1759, and was Pastor in 1762. It is probable Unander was recalled in the last mentioned year.

* Only a small portion of his history has yet been translated into Kimlish. It is much to be desired that the whole should be given to the public by some competent hand.

but many are yet living that can well remember a Swedish missionary who officiated here within the last sixty years. His name was Lawrence Gerelius, and his voice, his foreign accent, his venerable aspect, and solemn manner at the interment of the dead, are all yet as familiar to some, as the events of yesterday. He returned to Sweden about the year 1790.

In the year 17S6, the vestry of Wicaco church authorized the wardens to write to the archbishop of Upsal, and inform him that N. Collin had expressed a desire to return to his native country, and that " whenever his majesty of Sweden should think it proper and convenient, to grant him his recall, the mission to the American congregations would undoubtedly cease.*' The Swedish language at that time had ceased to be intelligible to the hearers, and the congregations being able to provide for themselves a more acceptable ministry, announced the fact to the king, after a grateful acknowledgement for his former care over them. To the letter of the wardens the archbishop sent the following reply :

The death of the late Archbishop, Dr. Menander, with many other circumstances, which have hindered the laying before the king of the business relating to the American congregations, are the reasons wherefore the letter of the congregations, through their ministry, of the 16th of June, 17SG, could not before have been answered. But since I have now had the opportunity of laying before my gracious sovereign and lord the letter of the congregations, his majesty hath been graciously pleased to receive with pleasure the acknowledgement of the congregations, for his (as well as his royal predecessors of glorious memory) tenderness and care for the spiritual welfare of the Swedish congregations in America. And as his majesty also finds the reasons sufficient, for which the congregations would rather, here- after, chuse themselves teachers from the natives of their country, than that they should be sent to them from Sweden, Lis majesty hath ordered and directed me to give to this proposition of the congregations his royal approbation and assent ; in consequence whereof, those in America yet remaining Swedish ministers, commissaries L. Ghclius, and N. Collin, have obtained his majesty's gracious permission of returning to their native country, whenever their circumstances shall render it most convenient for them.

The king, my sovereign, still wisheth, with the love he beareth to the Swedish name, that the members of the congregations, who are for the most part the offspring of Sweden, may ever, jointly and severally, enjoy all manner of felicity, spiritual and temporal, and will have them at all times assured of his royal favour and benevolence.

My, in like manner, sincere, hearty wish and earnest prayer shall likewise be ever, that God with his grace may embrace the members of the respectable congregations, and that the Gospel light, which under Divine Providence was first kindled in those parts by the tender affection of Swedish kings, and the zealous endeavours of Swedish teachers, may there, while days are numbered, shine in perfect brightness, and bring forth fruit to everlasting life.

That the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost may be with you all, wisheth most heartily your affectionate well wisher.

Thus terminated the long intercourse between the Swedish churches in America, and the ecclesiastical establishment in the father- land,. Like the intercourse between a parent and his child, it had been warm and affectionate, and the final separa-

* Tlio letter, of which the foregoing is a copy, is the original, under ihe hand of the archbishop. Whether his name is spelled exactly, is somewhat doubtful, as the writing is not very legible.

The affairs of the. other Swedish churches on the Delaware, after the arrival of Biorck,' Rudrnan, ami Amen, present much the same aspect as those of Christina, and hardly require further remark. To those who would inquire more particularly concerning them, we would recommend Campanius's '; Description of the Province of New Sweden," published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1834, and Clay's "Annals of the Swedes on the Delaware," so frequently referred to in the course of this narrative, 1835.

As monumental inscriptions sometimes mark the state of society, as it relates to the tastes, the literature, and the opinions of the periods in which they were adopted, and are interesting on many accounts, the following selection, chiefly frpm the more ancient tombstones, has been made, under the belief that they will be deemed an acceptable addition to this account of the ecclesiastical affairs of the Swedes.

''Here lieth the body of Wtlliam Vandevere, who was born A0- 1656, and diedd 8th October 17 - ," (dale not legible ; the church records say 1719.) On the reverse side of the stone is the following text, " Rom. 6 : 7, 8. He that is dead is freed from sin. Now, if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall aiso live with him."

The next stone in the order of time, was erected to the memory of Breta Cock. It has only her initials and the date of her death. "B. C, 1726." By its side is one to the memory of her sister Katharine. H has only the initials " K. C." She died two days after Breta.

The following memorials of the dead are selected as among the oldest, and on account of the inscriptions, and the descent of the parlies from the early settlers : departed this life March yc 13th, 1732, aged G3 years. Reader, behold this stone, to know " What choice remains are hid below. Beloved in every scene of life, A maiden, widow, mistress, wife ;

"In memory of Ingebokg Stidham, daughter of Peter and Ingeborg Jaquet, born Oct. 12th, 1G90: married Lucas Stidham, Oct. 20th, 1715: departed this life April 4, 174S.

"Behold an obedient child; a chaste maid ; an honest, loving, virtuous wife ; a good endeavouring mother ; a helpful neighbor; - example take by me, as in my life 1 showed thee : having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far belter. Philips. 1st and 23d."

"In memory of Mary Smidt. She was bom yp loth of March, 1697. She went to Sweden in 1714, and returned ii. 172.1. She departed this life ye 19th of Nor'r., 1750."

" In memory of Casparus Jaquet, son of Cornelius and Mary Jaquet, who departed this life March 29th, 1755, aged 35 years, 4 months, and 2 days."

My flesh shall slumber in the ground, Till the last trumpet's joyful sound, Then burst the chains with sweet surprise, And in my Saviour's image rise.;'

In the cross isle of the old church is a small marble tablet with the following inscription: " In memory of Petek Abraham GirelIus, who died Sept. 18th 1786, aged 19 days." This was probably the son of Lawrence Girelius, the last of the Swedish missionaries who lived in Wilmington, of whom mention has been made in a preceding page. By reference to the Delaware Gazette, dated July 3d, 1790, it appears that L. Girelius was here at that time, and officiated as a clergyman before "the .Delaware State Society of the Cincinnati," at the old academy.

Willi seraphim she sings; While tasting of the pure delight, That from God's presence springs."' "In memory of John Justis, who died 1805, aged 55 years, 1 month, and 17 days.

We shall close this list with the inscription on the tomb of Henrietta M. Allmond. In her last will she bequeathed S6 40 to the church wardens and vestrymen of the old Swede's church, by which they were enabled to put the house into decent repair, and fit it again for a place of worship. As such, on particular occasions, it is sometimes used. Its distance from the city caused the congregation, in 1S30, to build another, in a more convenient location. But within the last seven years, the town has been so much extended in the direction of the old church, as to make it probable that its distance may not be much Ion »er any objection to use it for the purpose of its erection.

The present officers of the church have lately caused to be engraved on the tombstone over her grave, the following acknowledgement of her bounty :

" The liberal bequest of Henrietta M. Allmond, for the repair of the Swede's Lutheran Church, is here, by the wardens and vestrymen, Anno Domini, 1815, gratefully commemorated. "

Wilmington lies between two rivers, the one adapted to navigation and commerce, the other to mills and manufacturing establishments. In these respects Nature has made our city to resemble the metropolis of Pennsylvania, while Art has been actively engaged in carrying out the resemblance. The streets of Wilmington are all laid out at right angles with each other, and those running from river to river are crossed by others that are named numerically. Through the central part of the city runs the main street, which is called Market street ; the others running parallel to it, are mostly named after the trees of the country, and after distinguished individuals. The reader will perceive in all these circumstances the striking resemblance between Philadelphia and Wilmington. The truth is, that the founders of our city were humble copyists, but in general judicious ones. The world could have hardly afforded them a better model. There have been several attempts to improve upon Penn's plan, but they have all failed ; and the city of Washington, whose founders had every advantage which talents, knowledge, and pecuniary resources could give, have perhaps failed the most conspicuously. No plan yet adopted for a city, whether with a view to business, cleanliness, health, convenience, or economy, has been found to answer these purposes better than that in which the streets are laid out at right angles, from fifty to one hundred feet wide, according as circumstances dictate. The citizens of New York have adopted this plan in the new parts of their city to great advantage.

Wilmington is " a city set upon a hill ;" the highest point in Market street, near the great, reservoir or basin, i.s one hundred and nine feet above the tide. This point is attained by a gentle ascent from the Christina, and distant from it three thousand seven hundred feet, being more than two-thirds of a mile. The distance from this point to the river Brandywine is seventeen hundred and thirty-two feet, making the whole distance from river to river, one hundred and fifty-two feet more than a mile.

Although Wilmington stands on a hill of such elevation, it is partly surrounded by a chain of hills still loftier, nearly in the form of a crescent, and distant from one to three miles. Beginning at the u high hills of Christeen" near the Delaware, and in a north-east direction from the city, they sweep round towards the north and west, with varying height, and waving outline until they subside nearly in a south direction on the road leading to New Castle. The city stands on ground which gradually declines towards the east, until it finds both a natural and legal boundary in the two rivers, Christina and Brandywine, where they meander through the meadow lands beyond the old church, to meet each other and mingle their waters before they enter the Delaware.

The Christina approaches the city from the south-west, and is navigable for sloops of fifty tons about ten miles beyond it. The Brandywine comes to us from the north, having within four miles, a fall of one hundred and twenty feet, affording great power for manufacturing purposes, to which a considerable portion of its forces has already been applied.

It is navigable for vessels carrying 2000 bushels of wheat, as high up the stream as the mills, which are situate at the northerly extremity of the city. They are thirteen in number, and have long been celebrated for their power and efficiency as flour manufactories.

in New York, the old Fori Amsterdam, the 23d of Way, 1G71. Anderson's patent was probably taken out about (he same time. The date is uncertain, but it could not have been later than 1673, as Lovelace left this country in that year, and did not return.

The patent granted to Stidham is not to be understood as an original grant of unseated land. As the patent recites, it was then " in ye tenure or occupation of Tymen Stidham," and the deed was to confirm a title, which he had by possession, probably from the time of the first Swedish colony in 1638. After the conquest by the English, all the inhabitants were summoned to New York to receive deeds for their lands, whether those already occupied, or such as were yet vacant. The few deeds granted during the Swedish government, were for lands held by persons not subjects of Sweden, as the Finns and Dutch ; and contained a condition in the habendum, " that they should hold them so long as they continued subject to (he Swedish authorities."* As they had now promised allegiance to another power, many of them, probably afraid of losing their lands, availed themselves of the present opportunity to secure their tilles. Anderson was a Dutchman, and may have deemed a patent from Lovelace necessary to make his title indisputable.

The patent to Stidham is curious, as showing the extreme looseness of description which at that time was satisfactory both to the grantor and the grantee ; it is also worded so as to be, in some respects, unintelligible. " Brandy wine kill," and " Rattlesnake kill," and « the Black Katt's kill," are yet well known. But a surveyor would now find it impossible to ascertain the beginning, the ending, or the quantity of the tract.

Royall Highness James Duke of York and Albany &c of all his Territoryes in America, to all to whom these presents shall come sendeth greeting. Whereas there is a certaine parcel] of Land in Delaware River near unto New Castle, now in yc tenure or occupacon of Tymen Stidderh as his proper right, heginning at y" flail of yc Brandy-wine kill, and stretching in length to ye Rattle-snake kill, and in breadth from ye Rattle-snake path in a like breadth to his house : As also ye meadow or valley upon yp Ilooke, from ye Blaek-Katt's kill to the great Brandywine kill, and soe along to Christina kill: Now for a confirmacon unto him the said Tymen Stiddem in his possession and enjoyment of y° premisses, Know Yee that by vertue of y° Commission and authority unto me given by his Royal Highness I have Ratifyed confirmed and granted, and by these presents doe ratifye confirme and grant unto Tymen Stiddem his Heires and Assign es ye aforesaid recited parcell of Land and Premisses together wlh ye Meadow or Valley upon ye Hook unto the said Tymen Stiddem his Heires and Assignes unto ye proper use and behoofe of him yc said Tymen Stiddem his Heires and Assignes forever. Yielding and paying ycarely and every yeare as a quitt Rent unto his Matic8use, one Bushell of winter wheat when it shall be demanded by such oflicer or officers in authority as shall be empowered and establisht in Delaware River and parts adjacent to command and receive the same. Given under my Hand and Sealed wlh ye seal of yf; Province at ffort James in New Yorke the third day of May in ye 23d yeare of his MaUe' Reigne, Annoq Dni 1671.

" Rattlesnake-kill,*' now called Rattlesnake-run, is a small rivulet which rises on lands lying west of the Wilmington and Kennett turnpike, formerly the property of Thomas Shipley, now of Alexander Moore. It crosses the road a short distance beyond the loll gate, and passing through lands late of Abraham

Ford and John Shallcrbss, enters (lie Brandywine at a point a little more than one mile above the bridge at Wilmington. Within the Inst quarter of a mile of its course, it passes over a bed of broken rocks, -which in former times made a confortable asylum for the rattlesnakes. These reptiles, like the people who gave the stream its name, have long since passed away, and left their possessions to other tenants.

" The Black-Katt's kill" was a small creek which entered the Brandywine about a furlong below the rail-road bridge. It was formerly one of the outlets for the great body of water, which, on the recession of the tide, had to be discharged from the marsh below the old church. It is now filled up and converted into grazing ground, but can still be traced by its "reeds and rushes," through all its sinuous course, to its former mouth in a small cove, on the south side of the Brandywine, nearly opposite a small two story brick house on Vandever's place. It is said to have taken its title from a transport ship called "the Black Cat," which came from Sweden about the. year 1G45, under Prinfz's administration, and which wintered in the creek that still bears its name.

The Indian name of the Brandywine has not been transmitted to us. It was called by the Swedes, Fish kill. Tradition informs us that its present name wTas given it in consequence of the loss of a vessel in its waters, laden with brandy ; in the Dutch language called Brand-wijn. This account is confirmed by the report of a number of old persons, who have declared that the remains of the vessel were frequently pointed out to them in early life by their ancestors, with the assurance thalthose remains were parts of the ship Avhose loss gave rise to the name of the river.* The wreck lay within the mouth of the Brandywine on the northern shore, about three hundred yards from its junction

* Frederick Craig, a very worthy citizen, ami remarkable for a clear, retentive memory, \\ho lived to eighty-five years of age, and died in 1841, has been frequently heard to say that tin; wreck of the ship which gave a name to the Brandy wine had often been pointed out to him in early life, by the old people of that day.

with the Christina. It was said that the vessel belonged to the Dutch, and came to the place after the capture of the colony of new Sweden in 1G55. This report is rendered probable by the fact that the name no where occurs in the early history of the settlement, nor until after that year. It is likely that the vessel attempting to pass the winter in the creek, was cut through by the ice in the spring, and sunk.

Anderson's tract contained eight hundred acres of land. It was bounded on the north by Stidham's land, on the west by Rattlesnake run and a line of marked trees, on the south by Christina, and the meadows then under water, &c., and extending eastward into the neighborhood of the old church. On the 16th of April, 1G75, Anderson, by an article written in the Dutch language, and which is now in the writer's possession, granted to Samuel Peterson and Lars Cornelison, one-half of his landed property, without stating or making out any definite line of division. Lars Cornelison sold his claim under the article-to Justa xVnderson. Anderson assigned his interest to Matthias Defoss, who afterwards sold it to a certain Charles Pickering ; Peterson in the mean time holding his share under the original contract with x\nderson.

Such was the position of the parties holding under old John Anderson, in the year 16S6.. At that time Anderson v,as dead, and all the owners agreeing to divide and hold their respective shares in severalty, employed Thomas Pierson, an official surveyor under the governor, to survey and lay them out accordingly.

(month, old stile, 16S6, corresponding to the 6th of the Fourth month, April, according to the present mode of dating, Samuel Peterson's tract was bounded as follows: Beginning at a thornbush standing in the middle of French street, and nearly in the line of the lower side of Water street. It then passed up and along the middle of French street to a point about two perches above the upper line of Third street, thence by a line running passing through the easterly end of the upper market house, to the easterly end of Love lane, thence continuing the same course partly along the lane to a slake somewhere near Rattlesnake run, standing at the distance of 444 perches from the beginning of the line. From this point, the boundary line, by two courses in a south-westerly direction, extended fifty-five perches to a stake, and thence in a direct line to the mouth of a small rivulet which then entered the Christina, in a piece of low ground, formerly belonging to Frances Way, which lies a little west of John Hedge's rope walk, and thence by the margin of the creek to the ihornbush. The rivulet alluded to now crosses Front street in a culvert, at its intersection with West street. In some places, the. line terminating at the mouth of the rivulet, yet remains as a boundary line between lands lying west of the city. Westward of the old King's road it divides the land late of John Way, now of Dr. Coxe,. from the lands belonging to New Castle county, for the support of the poor. It is marked by a row of Lombardy poplars, as it passes along between the poor house and the city, and may be distinguished from all others by its diagonal direction.