He did

was afterwards "imprisoned for his overbearing conduct." not long survive the contest, dying in February of 1683, whether of choler or of excessive indulgence in drink is not stated.2

6

Van Marken's salary presents a problem. His contract, as we saw, was for 400 guilders a year. But the account show that the deacons paid him on January 29, 1677, "for his year's salary" 50 guilders. This was their pro rata according to what had been done since 1660.3 Besides this the churchmasters paid him the same year 500 guilders." The next year, the deacons (apparently) nothing, while the churchmasters again paid 500 guilders; while for the third year (1678) he received only 400 guilders "for one year's salary." The only explanation that at present suggests itself is this: That about the time Van Marken undertook the work, Dom: Polhemus, the aged minister at Flatbush, became too feeble to carry on the work and shortly thereafter died. It was practically a year and a half that the church was without a pastor. During this time Van Marken, as voorlezer, would almost certainly be called upon to take charge of the church services. As this coincided with the first year and a half of his school service, we can easily believe that the extra 150 guilders his first year and the extra 100 guilders the second year were paid him for this extra work.

8

The relation of the church and the village municipal authorities in the control of the village school has all the while been an inviting problem. Van Marken's career presents several most interesting phases. Van Giesen and Clocq were each engaged by the "schout and schepens with the cooperation of minister and consistory." Tibout's, so far as form went, was entirely a matter of the court, the consistory being ignored. Jacob Joosten's contract was arranged in "a meeting of constable and overseers and consistory of the town of Midwoud." 10 But when Van Marken was elected in place of Joosten, it was by the "constable and overseers with the consent of the people." The consistory again was (apparently) ignored, though probably it was consulted, if not formally, at least informally. When now De Zuuren was wishing to get rid of Van Marken, he faced for the first time since coming to America the fact of the joint control of the school by the court and consistory, with the power of the court increasing. He seems then to have protested to the consistory that this was contrary to the

1 Eccl. Rec., p. 786.

2 Flatbush consistory minutes, p. 174; deacons' accounts, 1, 574.

3 Flatbush deacons' accounts, i, 1014, 101B, 1024, 102B, 134, 144, 154, 17B, 22B, 28B, 32B, 33B.

4 Flatbush churchmasters' accounts, pp. 36, 39.

Ibid., p. 39.

Ibid., p. 49. After the 50 guilders paid by the deacons on Jan. 29, 1677, we find no more record of their paying anything on the schoolmaster's salary (until 1711 possibly).

7 Eccl. Rec., pp. 688, 699.

8 Flatbush town records, 103: 244, 145.

Ibid., 105: 87f.

10 Ibid., 105: 207.

11 Ibid., 105: 208.

liberty of the Dutch church. We find in the consistory minutes (Feb. 16, 1680) a formal paper in the domine's own hand:

Since the church order of the Synod of Dordrecht, held in the year 1618 &c., enjoins that the consistories shall have control over the schoolmasters, as is seen in article 21,' the minister desired earnestly that they should govern themselves thereby, * * * The Dutch congregation ought not so to neglect their liberty. But in case they do not assert themselves he protested that he should have no part or guilt in these things or their complications.2

When a month later (March 21) Van Marken was dismissed from the school service the "action was taken in the church assembly of Midwoud in the presence of the honorable magistrates, constable, and overseers;" and similarly the resolution dismissing him was passed by "the honorable consistory in the presence of the worthy constable and overseers."3 Van Zuuren in writing the account of this meeting to the classis said, "I therefore called together our consistory, and as is usual here, invited the magistrates to meet with them." It is evident from all this that Van Zuuren himself was accustomed in the Netherlands to seeing the consistory control exclusively in such matters. Further, being a strong fighter, a pronounced churchman, and being, moreover, ready to despise American customs, he was determined to keep things in the hands of his consistory as far as possible." This decade marks the height of the power of the consistory in copartnership with the court. The tendency to democracy in America was yet to prove too strong even for such as Dom: Van Zuuren.

On the 1st of November following Van Marken's dismissal the consistory and magistrates in meeting assembled were called upon to consider "that since the position of voorlezer and schoolmaster has now been vacant for more than half a year and no one has presented himself as a candidate for this service, whether it would not be appropriate to increase the compensation a little." The proposition met with approval, and the salary was raised from 350 to 400 gulden of grain at seawant value. "Thereupon, on the 4th of the same month Jan Thibald [Tibout] was accepted for this service." This is the same Jan Tibout who had previously taught at Flatbush (1667– 1670). His service this time began on December 18, 1681.8 The terms of contract were quite similar to those already noticed in the case of Jacob Joosten. In particular, while the contract was signed

1 For this article, see Eccl. Rec., p. 4220.

2 Flatbush consistory minutes, p. 16.

3 Ibid., p. 30. The words are Van Zuuren's own; italics, the writer's.

4 Eccl. Rec., p. 774.

5 See pp. 23 ff, where it is shown that such was not universal and probably not general in the Netherlands.

See his letters to the classis, Eccl. Rec., pp. 699-843, passim.

7 We shall later see (p. 194 n) a similar position taken by Domẹ Van Zuuren on the election of churchmasters by the town.

8 Flatbush consistory minutes, p. 39. This statement of the size of the former salary is irreconcilable with the known facts. It is possible that this action merely rescinds a proposed reduction.

by both consistory and court, the latter under the former, Van Zuuren's previous phraseology is used: "Done in our assembly of Midwoud in the presence of the honorable constable and overseers."1 His school calendar, however, introduced several features not heretofore seen in the history of the Dutch schools. Item 4 of the contract presents them, reading as follows:

He shall be bound to hold school nine months in succession, from September to June, in case 16 children come to the school. He must be present in person and instruct the children and keep them in order. So far as the three summer months are concerned, he shall be excused from keeping school himself, if the number of school children does not reach twenty, in which case his wife may keep the school. Also in the event that ten children come or less than ten, these shall make up the school money nevertheless to ten.2

This is the first reference to school keeping by a woman found so far in our study among the American Dutch.3 The bearing of these figures on the question of the customary attendance at the Flatbush school is quite interesting. Apparently we are to judge that during the major portion of the year above 16 might be expected, while in the summer the attendance might fall even below 10, and probably would not go above 20. The division of the year into these two parts seems to anticipate the present American custom, though not till long afterwards did our summer vacation become established.

Jan Tibout proved no more acceptable than had Van Marken. Before the first half year was quite passed (June 16) a meeting of the consistory was called "to ascertain the truth in regard to the rumors which have been spread abroad for some time past concerning the deportment of our schoolmaster, Mr. Jan Thibaud." The women "concerning whom the said schoolmaster is said to have behaved himself unseemly" were invited to testify. They severally accused him of "very scandalous and entirely indecent deeds, viz, that Jan Thibaud had approached them with dishonorable words and acts and that they in self defense had pursued him with blows." He, in his turn, attempted a denial, but his admissions and explanations only served to fasten his guilt upon him. The authorities were disposed to treat him with consideration, and gave him "one month to investigate his case and search his heart to find out the truth, and to give God the praise." In the meantime, by unanimous vote of court and consistory, he was "suspended from service in the church and deprived of the participation in our Lord's holy supper." Whether this carried with it suspension from the school service is not clear; but at the expiration of the month (July 30), nothing more being brought forward in his behalf, "it was decided to remove him

1 Flatbush consistory minutes, p. 41. The actual handwriting is Van Zuuren's; the italics again the writer's.

Ibid., p. 40.

A similar reference at the New Lotts of slightly earlier date will be presented on p. 187.

• Flatbush consistory minutes, pp. 53ff.

at once from his school and church service, and he was enjoined to prepare himself at once to put his affairs in order and to leave his house at an early date." There can be no question that Tibout deserved to be dismissed. By his own confession he was grossly obscene in addressing the women, and was besides too intoxicated at times to know what he was doing or saying. By the explicit testimony of several women he had made most improper advances upon their persons, and according to one he had been in her presence inexpressibly indecent.2

Tibout's successor was Johannes van Ekelen, of Albany, the term of service beginning October 1, 1682. It is his contract that has been so widely published. By this time the schoolmaster was no longer court messenger, but instead was usually town clerk. This, however, was not a matter of the school contract. Van Ekelen was to be voorlezer, voorsanger, and sexton. The provision for dividing the school year into two parts, which we saw in the case of Tibout, was repeated. It was stipulated that when the minister preached elsewhere than at Flatbush the master must "read twice before the congregation, from the book commonly used for the purpose." "The children as usual shall recite their questions and answers out of the catechism on Sunday" "before afternoon service." Tuition fees were exacted "from those who attended the day school for a speller or reader, three guilders a quarter, and for a writer, four guilders. From those who attended evening school, for a speller or reader, four guilders, and for a writer, six guilders shall be given." For baptisms and funerals the charges were the same as in the case of Joosten. "In addition to the above, his salary shall consist of four hundred guilders, in grain, valued in seawant, to be delivered at Brooklyn Ferry* with the dwelling house, barn, pasture lot, and meadows to the school appertaining." This is substantially the same salary as Van Marken and Tibout received.

* *

The relationship between court and consistory is the same as was observed in the case of Tibout. The contract which was written by Van Zuuren was "agreed upon in the consistory in the presence of the honorable constable and overseers." The preamble states that the master was "called and accepted with the advice and consent of the honorable magistrates." It is evident that Van Zuuren was trying to minimize the part played by the court, while the members of this, on their part, were not willing to give up active participation in the control.

1 Flatbush consistory minutes, pp. 53 ff.

2 See p. 164, where the consistory removed the ecclesiastical censure from Tibout.

The original is in the Flatbush consistory minutes, pp. 57-59. It was first published in translation by Strong (op cit., p. 110 ff), and may be seen in Pratt (op. cit, p. 65 ff) and in Dexter (op cit., p. 581 ff). 4 The rate governing wampum at this time was about five to one. This 400 guilders wampum would then be about 80 guilders Hollands, or $32 (Eccl. Rec., 702). It would be, in grain, 50 bushels of wheat, or 75 bushels of rye. Peas were valued at the same rate as rye.-Riker, New Harlem, p. 372, Flatbush town records, 106: 295.

Van Ekelen's contract was at first for only seven months, and accordingly was due to expire on May 1, 1683. Before that time. "it was decided to renew the contract with the aforesaid Van Eckkelen," but with certain expressed conditions. "In particular, that regarding the school service he should regulate himself according to the articles of his predecessor, Jan Thibaud, especially in accordance with the fourth article, which treats of the time of holding school." It is interesting that Van Ekelen at this time had no wife to whom he could entrust the summer school if the attendance should be less than 20.1 Are we to infer that so small an attendance was improbable? The emoluments of the master, except the fixed salary, were increased. The burial fees were practically doubled, and the tuition. fees for the day school were advanced to equal those of the night school: "For a reader or speller, 4 guilders per quarter, and for a writer, 6 guilders." 2

Johannes van Ekelen, thus established as schoolmaster in 1682, continued for some years in the service. During the Leisler rebellion the Dutch on Long Island and elsewhere were much disturbed. "The furor of the common people," says D: Varick, of the Flatbush Church, "ran very high, so that everybody who did not escape was taken by the throat, or on feigned pretexts thrown into prison. was imprisoned and declared guilty of high treason."3 Schoolmaster Johannes van Ekelen was a leader in this uprising. When order was restored and De Varick released, he felt that Van Ekelen must be dismissed. In a complaint made to Gov. Ingoldsby D: Varick

says:

*

I

That in the late Rebellion Joannes Van Ecklen, the then clerk and schoolmaster of Flatbush hath always bin a very great zealot for the faction of Leisler, * ** especially the afore'sd Joanes Van Ekelen hath bin always opposing the minister and church councel * * publicly defaming the afores'd minister, setting the common people against him, offering his service to drag him out of his house by violence to a pretended court. * Upon these considerations and others too long to rehearse, besides other complaints as to his service in the afors'd office, the church councel did dismiss the afors'd Joanes Van Ekelen and did forbid him more to officiate, but choose in his place one Joannes Schenck a fitter person and well affected to the present government.

*

*

But "sd Joanes Van Ekelen" did not mean to let the action of the minister and "church councel" stop him from teaching. On the contrary, he "clandestinely without any of their knowledge procured a license" from the provincial governor; and "in defyance of their church and accustomed priviledges," he again set up school. Wherefore, continues the domine and his elder, "since it hath not bin accustomed to have two schoolmasters in that small town heretofore y' petition'rs humbly pray yr honor that s Joanes Van Ekelen may

1 He was married on Sept. 3 following this contract.-Flatbush consistory minutes, p. 115.

2 Flatbush consistory minutes, p. 61.

3 Letter to the classis, Apr. 9, 1693. Eccl. Rec., p. 1048 ff.