Godfridius Dellius | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cothen, Netherlands |
| Baptised | 28 October 1654 |
| Died | 1738 (1739) |
| Occupation | clergyman |
Godefridus Dellius (baptized 28 October 1654 – 1738)[1] was aclergyman of theDutch Reformed Church active in and aroundAlbany, New York during the late 17th century and up to 1699. He also served as amissionary to theMohawk people in what the English claimed as theProvince of New York (the formerNew Netherland).[2]
Dellius became involved in provincial politics in Albany and opposed Jacob Leisler in 1689, who had usurped power in New York. For a time he had to flee New York to other colonies but was recalled to Albany in 1691 by a new governor. After England and France had made peace, Dellius was delegated with a party to take the news to New France, while escorting the return of nineteen French prisoners. In the exchange, he accompanied English colonists back to Albany. Dellius' work in New York ended in disgrace after Indians complained of being forced to convey a large piece of land near Albany to him and other prominent men in the city; the governor gained approval of a bill to vacate the conveyance. Dellius went to England in his defense in 1699, then he returned to the Netherlands, where he served inAntwerp andHalsteren before his death.
Godefridus Dellius was the son of a preacher, Godefridus Dellius Sr (ca. 1613–1687), and his wife in a small town nearWijk bij Duurstede. His older brothers Johannes (1651–1691) and Cornelis (1652–1740) also became clergymen.[1] The family's name may be aLatinized version of "van Dellen".[3] He enteredLeyden University in 1672 to study philosophy. Dellius was licensed by theclassis of Wijk bij Duurstede about 1680 and ordained by the classis ofAmsterdam in 1682.[2]
He became involved in provincial politics and opposedJacob Leisler in 1689, who had usurped power in New York. For a time Dellius had to flee New York to other colonies but was recalled to Albany by a new governor in 1691. After England and France had made peace, he was delegated with a party to take the news to New France, while escorting the return of nineteen French prisoners. In the exchange, he accompanied English colonists out of New France back to Albany. His work in New York ended in disgrace after Indians complained of being forced to convey a large plot of land to him and other prominent men in Albany; the governor gained approval of a bill to vacate the conveyance. Dellius went to England in his defense in 1699, then he moved to Europe for the remainder of his life, serving in the Netherlands.
On April 10, 1683, Dellius married Isabella de Ridder inCothen, and they emigrated to North America the same year.[1] They settled atAlbany, where he served as assistant to Gideon Schaats, pastor of the Reformed Church there. He also preached to ethnic Dutch atSchenectady, about 30 miles west of Albany. He continued in this service about sixteen years.
In common with all the Reform clergy, Dellius refused to recognizeJacob Leisler'susurpation of power in 1689. The latter charged Dellius with being a principal actor in theFrench and English tensions during King William's War, which played out in the colonies. Leisler said that Dellius was an enemy to theWilliam III, Prince of Orange, who had succeededKing James II. Dellius was commanded to appear in New York City to answer Leisler's accusations, but he hid inNew Jersey andLong Island. Later he fled toBoston. He wrote to England describing his perception of Leisler's character.[2]
After the execution of Leisler in May 1691,Gov. Sloughter recalled Dellius, who was on the point of embarking for Europe. He returned to Albany. The government paid Dellius £60 for teaching Indians, primarily Mohawk whose territory was west of Albany. In 1693 he had three Indian boys boarding with him. He greatly restrained the Mohawk from practicing their ritual torture of French prisoners taken in warfare.[2]
On the conclusion ofpeace between England and France, Dellius andPeter Schuyler were sent as agents, in April 1698, toCount de Frontenac, in Canada, to announce the peace, and bring to an end the provincial hostilities. Acting under the authority ofGovernor Bellomont, they took nineteen French prisoners to Canada, and obtained the exchange of English colonists held as prisoners by the French.[4]
Soon after Dellius' return from this mission, two ChristianIndians declared on oath that Dellius,Peter Schuyler,Evert Bancker, andDirck Wessels had, in 1696, fraudulently obtained a deed for a large tract of land from the Indians. This land, the deed of which was confirmed by GovernorBenjamin Fletcher, was on the eastern side of the Hudson, north of Albany, and was seventy miles in length and twelve in breadth. Dellius also obtained a large tract of land in thevalley of the Mohawk, fifty miles by four.[4]
In an interview, the Indians told Bellomont the details of how the deed was conveyed. In the spring of 1699, the governor secured a bill from the colonial legislature to vacate the lands, and also a vote to suspend Dellius from ministerial duty in Albany county. The classis ofAmsterdam, Netherlands, complained to the bishop of London about Bellomont's action. Albany and New York contributed £700 to enable Dellius to go to England in order to defend himself against the vacating bill before it received the king's signature. The Indians who had sworn against him afterward took counter-oaths, and, just before his departure, asked Dellius to forgive them. But, they were his converts, and he was known to have great power over them, so their recanting of their statement was not accepted. His deed was vacated.
Dellius remained in Europe. From 1700 he preached inAntwerp; in 1705 he moved toHalsteren.[5] At his death in 1738, his brother Cornelius inherited his accumulated wealth.
Cornelis used it to start a trust fund for the poor. This fund still exists under the nameStichting Boedel Dellius; it helps support an orphanage inCulemborg.[1]
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