Benjamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governour in Chief of the Province of New-York, Province of Pennsilvania, Country of New-Castle, and the Territories and Tracts of Land depending thereon, in America.
To all Officers and Ministers, Ecclesiastical & Civil, throughout the Provinces and Territories under my Government.
WHereas I am credibly informed that Cornelius Christians, Peter Wessels, Bartholomew Rouston, John Crage and William Green, Inhabitants and Sailers of the City of New-York, following their lawfull Occupation, were taken into Salley, where they are now in miserable Slavery, under the Power of the Infidell, and that their Relations are not able to advance a sufficient Ransom for their Redemption, I have therefore upon their application unto me, by and with the advice of the Council, out of Christian Charity, and in Commiseration of the grievous Bondage and Slavery of the said Persons, granted, and do by these presents grant Lisence or Liberty to Warner Wessells, Antie Christians, and others, the Friends of the said Prisoners, to ask and receive the free and charitable Benevolence of all Christian People under my Government, as well at publick Meetings as private dwelling Houses. And to avoid Irregularity in collecting the same, all Ministers or Preachers, where there are Parish Churches or publick or private Meeting-Houses, are required to publish a true Copy of this Grant, by reading there of openly, and affixing thereof afterwards upon the Door or other publick place, and admonish the people to Christian Charity, and at the next Meeting shall receive the free Offering & Benevolence of the people, for the use above-said. And where no Churches nor Meeting Houses are, the Constables are hereby required in their respective Precincts, having a true Copy of this Grant, to go about and collect the Charity of good Christian People for the use above-said. Of all which Benevolence and Charity, the said Ministers or Preachers and Constables, are to keep a distinct Account, which they are to transmit, with what Money they shall collect by virtue of this Grant, without delay to Stephen Courtland Esq Peter Jacobs Marius, John Kerbyll and John Kipp of New-York, who are hereby impowered to receive the same, and transmit the said Money, or so much as shall be requisit for the Redemption of the said Captives from Slavery, by the best and most convenient means and way. Provided always, That in case there shall be a surplusage above the value of their Redemption, or in case any of the said persons shall be dead, or otherwise redeemed, they the said Stephen Courtland Esq Peter Jacobs Marius, John Kirbyll and John Kip shall be accountable to Me, or to the Governour and Commander in chief for the time being, for the sum collected, or so much thereof as is left upon their or some of their Redemption, that it may be set apart [...] or other pious Uses, and for no other use or into [...] whatsoever [...].
Printed by William Bradford, Printer to King William & Queen Mary at the City of New-York, Anno 1693.
Ben Fletcher, Captain General and Governour in [...] of the Province of New-York, Province of Pennsilvania, and Country of New-Castle, and the Territories and Tracts of Land depending thereon in America.
To all Officers and Ministers Ecclesiastical and Civil throughout the Provinces and Territories under my Government.
WHereas I am credibly informed that the Son of Warner Wessels, and Husband of Antie-Christians, Inhabitants and Sailers of the City of New-York, following their lawfull Occupation, were taken into Salley, where they are now in miserable Slavery, under the Power of the Infidell, and that their Relations are notable to advance a sufficient Ransom for their Redemption, I have therefore upon their application unto me, by and with the advice of the Council, out of Christian Charity, and in Commiseration of the grievous Bondage & Slavery of the said Persons, granted, & do by those presents grant Lisence or Liberty to the [...] Warner Wessells & Antie Christians, to ask and receive the free and charitable Benevolence of all Christian People under my Government, as well at publick Meetings as private dwelling Houses. And to avoid Irregularity [...] the same, all Ministers or Preachers, where there are Parish Churches or publick or private Meeting Houses, are required to publish a true Copy of this Grant, by reading there of openly, and a fixing thereof afterwards upon the Door or other publick place, and admonish the people to Christian Charity, and at the next Meeting shall receive the free Offering & Benevolence of the people for the use above-said. And where no Churches nor Meeting Houses are, the Constables are hereby required in their respective Precincts, having a true Copy of this Grant, to go about and collect the Charity of good Christian People for the use above-said. Of all which Benevolence and Charity the said Ministers or Preachers and Constables, are to keep a distinct Account, which they are to transmit, with what Money they shall collect by virtue of this Grant, without delay to Stephen Courtland Esq Peter Jacobs Marius, John Kerbyll & John Kipp, who are hereby impowered to receive the same, and transmit the said Money, or so much as shall be requisit for the Redemption of the said Captives from Slavery, by the best and most convenient means and way. Provided always, That in case there shall be a surplusage [...] the value of their Redemption, or in case any of the said persons shall be dead [...] otherwise redeemed, they the said Stephen Courtland Esq Peter Jacobs [...] John Kirbyll & John Kip shall be accountable to Me, or to the [...] Commander in chief for the time being, for the sum collected, or so much [...] of as is left upon their or some of their Redemption, that it may be [...] for the like, or other pious Uses, and for no other use or intent [...].
Printed by William Bradford, Printer to King William [...] Mary at the City of New-York, Anno [...]