Strange, It is the desire of his Congregation that he should do so. The great difficulty is That, they will be with out a Minister during his absence, and that it will be attended with an Expence which from their great Occonomy, they do not chuse to Incurr, Especially as they have some Charitable Establishments amongst themselves, that are Chargeable.-If therefore any thing could be fallen upon, or that the Society would take it into Consideration, and that at the same time it Could be Carried through without making much noise, It would add the Majority of Inhabitants of a very fine Settlement to the Church, and as they are Foreigners must strengthen their allegiance to Gov't. I shall be glad to have your thoughts on this and Am allways with true regard Dr Sir &c SIR WM. JOHNSON TO THE REVD. DR. AUCHMUTY, CONCERNING THE REVD MR HANNA OF SCHENECTADY. Good Sir, Johnson-hall May 24th 1771. I wrote to you the 4th of last Month, and amongst other things mentioned the affair of the Lutheran Minister near this place since which I have been applied to by Mr Wm Hanna of Schenectady who was formerly a Presbyterian Minister at Albany, since which, he has practised the Law in this County, and now expresses an ardent desire to take Orders in the Church of England and become a Missionary, he has entreated me to befriend him in his application and delivered me the Originals together with a Copy which I now inclose you of Sundry Testimonials In favor of his Abilities & Character.-he complains that the Presbyterians who had a great esteem for him whilst he was their pastor are since warm against him, & he professes much Zeal & inclination for the Church of which he says he formerly would have become a member but for the prejudices agt it which his father entertained. I thought it best to Lay the matter before you, who may have it in your power to make necessary enquirys concerning him, & who can best Judge whether he deserves encouragement under these Circumstances, as my acquaintance with him, or his conduct will not enable me to be more particular. I am just finishing my post Letters so can only add at present that I am always with truth and regard, The Revd Dr Auchmuty. Dear Sir &c REVD. MR. HANNA'S TESTIMONIALS. Schenectady May 6th 1771. To all whom it may Concern, the Bearer Wm Hannah lived several Years under my Inspection & read the Latin & Greek Classicks under my Tuition: has taught the Latin for the Space of a Year past & began to teach the Greek Classicks to the good acceptance of his Imployers; & as he has well acquited himself in the Former, I doubt not his Capacity to teach the Later upon Due Prælection to which I expect he will be naturally Inclined he is Sober & Regular as to his moral Character certified at Nottingham Octo 2d 1756 by S. FINLEY. That the Bearer hereof William Hanna assisted me in teaching Greek & Latin more than a year conducted inoffensively & Soberly, was faithful in his Business & behaved to the good acceptance both of Employers & Scholars and I doubt not if he is employed in teaching again but he will deserve the same Character is certified at Pequea February 19 1757 pr ROBT SMITH V. D. M. Philada March 10 1759. This is to certify that the Bearer Mr William Hannah was regularly admitted unto the Jersey College at Prince-Town behaved himself soberly while in it, & applyed himself diligently to his Studies and had passed one Examination for a Degree with the approbation of the Trustees & would have been admitted to the Honours of the College had he attended at the Commencement last; For he left the College only for a Season by Permission of the authority of it, & was as well Qualified to stand a second Examination as any one of his Class who were all admitted without Exception. So that the only reason of his not geting a Degree was his absence he was free of all College Censure Certified per JOHN EWING. New York May 8 1759 This is to Certify that Mr John Ewing was Tutor of the Jersey College at Princetown last year I the Subscriber being his Pupil. PETER RT LIVINGSTON1 This may certify that Mr William Hannah is a member of the church of Christ in Salisbury in full Communion & in Regular Standing & as such is recommended to Occasional or stated communion in the Church of Christ wherever Providence may call him Testes JONATHAN LEE Pastor of said Church May 24th 1760. At a meeting of the Association of Litchfield County in Sharon on Wednesday May 28 A D 1760 Mr William Hanna B. A. offered himself to Examination in Order to obtain Licence to Preach the Gospel, who was accordingly examined & this Association having examined him according to our Stated Rules look upon him competently Qualified to Preach the Gospel & accordingly the said William Hanna is hereby Licensed to Preach the Gospel under the Conduct & Direction of this Association & do recommend him accordingly wishing he may be useful to the Churches examined and attested per JONATHAN LEE Scribe. 1 Col. PETER R. LIVINGSTON, son of Robert third proprietor of the Manor of Livingston, was born May 8th 1737, and married Margaret, daughter of James Livingston, merchant of New-York. He was elected to represent the Manor in the Provincial Assembly in 1761, 1768, and again in 1774. At the breaking out of the Revolution he adhered, with other members of the family, to the side of American liberty, and in 1776 was chosen president of the Provincial Convention as well as chairman of the committee of safety, and was employed in other departments of the public service. He died 15th Novr., 1794, aged 57 years His sister Mary married Hon. James Duane.-ED. : These are to certify, that the Revd William Hanna was regularly appointed to the Pastoral Care of this flock that he performed the Ministerial Functions for the space of about 5 years amongst us; and mentained an unblemished Moral & Religious character during his incumbancy; but as he has lately taken a civil Commission from the Governor which we apprehend must naturally call off his attention from his Pastoral Duties : and as it is not customary for any Minister in our Church to bear a Civil office. We do therefore humbly pray that it would please the Presbytery to grant us a Dismission from the Reverend Mr William Hanna which We are the Moore Incouraged to hope for, as he has promised unanimously to concur with us in the same Request Signed Jointly by the Elders of the English Presbyterian Church in Albany. JOHN MCCREA1 ROBT. HENRY. July 9th 1767 A true Copy Joseph Peck Clerk taken at the Request o Mr Hanna the Presbytery Papers on file. REV. DR. AUCHMUTY TO SIR WM. JOHNSON. Worthy Sir, New York June the 11th 1771. I deferr'd answering your favor of April the 4th, in hopes of having some Letters from the Society concerning your generous offer, or other business of consequence, to communicate to you. I have at length received two, one from the Bishop of London, 1 Col. JOHN MCCREA was the brother of the celebrated, though unfortunate Jane McCrea. He removed in 1773 to the town of Northumberland, Saratoga Co. 2 This gentleman removed afterwards to Vermont and one from Dr. Burton, both relating to one subject only; which shows the low state of their Finances, and effectually shuts the Door against future applications. The Dr in his letter says, "It would give the Society a very sincere pleasure, if they were able to return a satisfactory answer to the several recommendations which they receive, and make a suitable allowance to the persons recommended: But having already gone to the very utmost of our abilities, and even beyond them, we are now under the necessity of giving refusals in several instances: For as I have said in other letters, if we go on to establish new missions, we shall soon have nothing left to support our old ones." & His Lordship of London is rather more explicit, on the subject, for he says that "the State of the Society will not allow us to establish any new missions: The Expences increase daily, far exceed our annual Income: It is hoped therefore that no persons will be sent over upon the presumption of new appointments, which cannot possibly be comply'd with in our present circumstances." These Letters effectually stop all future applications for new missions, which must greatly retard the Growth of the Church in America. The Lutheran minister you mention and his people would be a considerable aquisition to the Church, and some method if possible should be fallen upon to send him home for ordination. If he is sensible and of a good character, I make no doubt but, upon being properly recommended, he would meet with assistance from the Bishops. But this he must not altogether depend upon. Suppose (if he and his people continue in the same mind) that you should be so good as to represent his Case to the Society, and though they will not erect new missions, they may either as a public Body, or as private persons, who ought to promote the Interests of the Church, make him a present of as much as will defray his Expences: but this assurance should be obtained before he imbarks. I will also write in his favor, and befriend him in every thing in my power. I would propose a subscription here for Him, but our people are so often called upon for |