CONTENTS—At Fort Hunter—Mr. Stuart’s first sermon, Christmas—
Officiates in Indian tongue—Translates—The Rebellion—Prayers for
the King—The Johnsons—Rebels attack his house—Plunder—Indignity—
Church desecrated—Used as a stable—A barrel of rum—Arrested—
Ordered to come before Rebel Commissioners—On Parole—Limits—Idle
two years—To Albany—Phil—Determines to remove to Canada—Not
secure—Exchanging—Security—Real estate forfeited—Route—Negroes—The
journey, three weeks—At St. John’s—Charge of Public School—
Chaplain—At the close of the war—Three Protestant Parishes—
Determines to settle at Cataraqui—Chaplain to Garrison—Missionary—
Bishop of Virginia, Dr. Griffith—Visits Mr. Stuart—Invitation to
Virginia Declined—“Rivetted prejudices,” satisfied—“The only
refugee clergyman”—Path of duty—Visits the settlement, 1784—
Mohawks, Grand River—Reception of their old Pastor—First Church—
Mohawks, Bay of Quinté—Remains in Montreal a year—Assistant—
Removes to Cataraqui, 1785—His land—Number of houses in Kingston—A
short cut to Lake Huron—Fortunate in land—5000 settlers—Poor and
Happy—Industrious—Around his Parish, 1788—Two hundred miles long—
By Batteau—Brant—New Oswego—Mohawk Village church, steeple, and
bell—First in Upper Canada—Plate—Organ—Furniture—Returns—At
Niagara—Old Parishioners—Tempted to move—Comfortable not rich—
Declines a Judgeship—New Mecklenburgh—Appointed Chaplain to first
House of Assembly—Mohawk Mission—At Marysburgh—Degree of D.D.—
Prosperity—Happy—Decline of life—His duties—Illness, Death, 1811—
His appearance—“The little gentleman”—His manners—Honorable title—
His children—Rev. O’Kill Stuart.
MEMOIRS OF DR. STUART CONTINUED—“FATHER OF THE UPPER CANADA CHURCH.”
Mr. Stuart immediately returned to America and proceeded to his mission,
preaching his first sermon to the Mohawks on Christmas of the same year,
1770. He preached regularly every Sunday after the service had been read
in Indian. In the afternoon he officiated in the Mohawk chapel to the
whites, mostly Dutch. “In 1774 he was able to read the liturgy, baptize
and marry in the Indian tongue, and converse tolerably well with them.
He subsequently, assisted by Brant, translated parts of the Bible. After
the commencement of the rebellion, until 1777, Mr. Stuart did not
experience any inconvenience,” although in other places the clergy had
been shamefully abused; he remained at Fort Hunter even after the
Declaration of Independence, and constantly performed divine service
without omitting prayers for the king. Mr. Stuart’s connection with the
Johnson family, and his relations to the Indians rendered him
particularly noxious to the Whigs. Although they had not proof of his
being active in aiding the British, everything was done to make his home
unbearable. “His house was attacked, his property plundered and every
indignity offered his person. His church was also plundered and turned
into a tavern, and in ridicule and contempt, a barrel of rum was placed
in the reading desk. The church was afterwards used as a stable, July,
1778. He was ordered by the Board to detect conspiracies, to leave his
home and repair forthwith with his family to Connecticut until his
exchange could be procured.” He was to leave within four days after
receiving the orders, or be committed to close confinement. “Mr. Stuart
appeared before the Commissioners two days after receiving the above
order, and declared his readiness to convince them that he had not
corresponded with the enemy, and that he was ready and willing to enter
into any engagement for the faithful performance of such duties as may
be enjoined him.” The Board took his parole, by which he was obligated
to abstain from doing anything against the Congress of the United
States, or for the British, and not to leave the limits of Schenectady
without permission of the Board. Soon after he writes there are only
three families of my congregation, the rest having joined the King’s
forces, nor had he preached for two years. In the Spring of 1780, the
Indians appeared in the county infuriated because of the conduct of
General Sullivan the previous year. Mr. Stuart had to abandon his house
and move to Albany. So imminent was the danger that the fleeing family
could see the houses about in flames, and hear the report of arms. At
Albany, Mr. Stuart received much civility from General Schuyler, and
obtained permission to visit Philadelphia. Having returned, he made up
his mind to emigrate to Canada, and communicated his resolution as
follows: “I arrived here eight days from the time I parted with you (at
Philadelphia) and found my family well, and after being sufficiently
affrighted, the enemy having been within twenty miles of this place, and
within one mile of my house in the country, considering the present
state of affairs in this part of the Province, I am fully persuaded that
I cannot possibly live here secure, either in regard to ourselves or
property during the ensuing season; this place is likely to be a
frontier, and will probably be burnt if the enemy can effect it. For
these and other weighty reasons, materially weighed, I have resolved,
with the approbation and consent of Mrs. Stuart, to emigrate to Canada,
and having made an application for an exchange, which I have reason to
believe will be granted.”
Mr. Stuart applied by letter to Governor Clinton, to be exchanged, March
30, 1781. His application received prompt attention, and he was the same
day allowed permission on certain conditions, which are stated by Mr.
Stuart in a letter to Rev. Mr. White, of Philadelphia. The letter is
dated Schenectady, April 17, 1781. “Being considered as a prisoner of
war, and having forfeited my real estate, I have given £400 security to
return in exchange for myself, one prisoner out of four nominated by the
Governor, viz.: one Colonel, two Captains, and one Lieutenant, either of
which will be accepted in my stead; or if neither of the prisoners
aforesaid can be obtained, I am to return as a prisoner of war to
Albany, when required. My personal property I am permitted to sell or
carry with me, and I am to proceed under the protection of a public
flag, as soon as it will be safe and convenient for women and children
to travel that course. We are to proceed from here to Fort Arin in
waggons, and from thence in Batteaux.” The danger of the journey was
adverted to, and the probability of obtaining a chaplaincy in Sir
William Johnson’s 2nd Battalion of Royal Yorkers, which is nearly
complete on the establishment. “My negroes being personal property, I
take with me, one of which being a young man, and capable of bearing
arms. I have given £100 security to send back a white person in his
stead.”
“Mr. Stewart set out with his family, consisting of his wife and three
small children, on his long and tedious journey, on the 19th of Sept.,
1781, and arrived at St. Johns on the 9th of the following month, thus
accomplishing the journey in three weeks, which is now done in twelve or
fifteen hours. As there was no opening in Montreal, he took charge of a
public school, which, with his commission as Chaplain, gave him
support.” In a letter to Dr. White, dated Montreal, October 14, 1783, he
says: “I have no reason hitherto to dislike my change of climate; but,
as reduction must take place soon, my emoluments will be much
diminished, neither have I any flattering prospect of an eligible
situation in the way of my profession, as there are only three
protestant Parishes in this Province, the Pastors of which are
Frenchmen, and as likely to live as I am.” Soon after, Mr. Stuart
determined to settle at Cataraqui, where was a garrison, and to which a
good many loyalists had already proceeded. He was promised the
chaplaincy to the garrison, with a salary of one thousand dollars a
year, and he writes, “I can preserve the Indian mission in its
neighborhood, which, with other advantages, will afford a comfortable
subsistence, although I wish it laid in Maryland.” After the
acknowledged independence of the United States, and the separation of
the Episcopalian Church of America from the mother Church, Dr. Griffith,
the Bishop elect of Virginia, invited Mr. Stuart to settle in his
diocese; but Mr. Stuart declined. He writes, “The time has been when the
chance of obtaining a settlement in that part of Virginia would have
gratified my utmost desire; but, at my time of life, and with such
rivetted principles in favor of a Government totally different, ‘it is
impossible.’” Though Mr. Stuart did visit Philadelphia in 1786, he never
seems to have repented his removal to Canada. Yet the isolation in which
he sometimes found himself, would sometimes naturally call up memories
that could not fail to be painful. “I am,” he writes, “the only Refugee
Clergyman in this Province, &c.” As a relief from such thoughts, he
turned to the active duties of his calling. “I shall not regret,” said
he, “the disappointment and chagrin I have hitherto met with, if it
pleases God to make me the instrument of spreading the knowledge of His
Gospel amongst the heathen, and reclaiming only one lost sheep of the
house of Israel.” In this spirit he set out on the second of June, 1784,
to visit the new settlements on the St. Lawrence, Bay Quinté, and
Niagara Falls, where he arrived on the 18th of the same month. Already,
3,500 Loyalists had left Montreal that season for Upper Canada. His
reception by the Mohawks, ninety miles from the Falls, was very
affectionate, even the windows of the church in which he officiated were
crowded with those who were anxious to behold again their old Pastor,
from whom they had been so long separated. This church was the first
built in Upper Canada, and it must have been commenced immediately after
the Mohawks settled on the Grand River. He officiated also at Cataraqui,
where he found a garrison of three companies, about thirty good houses,
and some 1,500 souls who intended to settle higher up. He next proceeded
to the Bay of Quinté, where some more Mohawks had settled, and were busy
building houses and laying the foundation of their new village, named
Tyendinaga. Though Mr. Stuart had now received from the Society, whose
missionary he continued to be, discretionary powers to settle in any
part of Canada, he remained in Montreal another year, as assistant to
the Rev. Dr. DeLisle, Episcopal Clergyman of that town. He finally
removed to Cataraqui, in August, 1785. His share of the public land was
situated partly in Cataraqui, and partly at a place, which, in memory of
the dear old place on the Mohawk River, was now called New Johnstown.
Sometime in 1785, Mr. Stuart says, “I have two hundred acres within half
a mile of the garrison, a beautiful situation. The town increases fast;
there are already about fifty houses built in it, and some of them very
elegant. It is now the port of transport from Canada to Niagara. We have
now, just at the door, a ship, a scow, and a sloop, beside a number of
small crafts; and if the communication lately discovered from this place
by water, to Lake Huron and Michilmackinac proves as safe, and short as
we are made to believe, this will shortly be a place of considerable
trade.” Reference here must be made to the route up the Bay and River
Trent. “I have been fortunate in my locations of land, having 1,400
acres at different places, in good situations, and of an excellent
quality, three farms of which I am improving, and have sowed this fall
with thirty bushels in them. The number of souls to westward of us is
more than 5,000, and we gain, daily, new recruits from the States. We
are a poor, happy people, industrious beyond example. Our gracious King
gives us land gratis, and furnishes provisions, clothing, and farming
utensils, &c., until next September, after which the generality of the
people will be able to live without his bounty.” The above must have
been written in 1785, as in May, 1786, he opened an academy. In the
summer of 1788, he went round his Parish, which was then above 200 miles
long. He thus describes his voyage on this occasion. “I embarked in a
batteau with six Indians, commanded by Capt. Brant, and coasted along
the north shore of Lake Ontario, about 200 miles from the head of the
lake; we went twenty-five miles by land, to New Oswego, the new Mohawk
village on the Grand River; these people were my former charge, and the
Society still styles me their Mohawk Vill. Missionary. I found them
conveniently situated on a beautiful river, where the soil is equal in
fertility to any I ever saw. Their village contains about 700 souls, and
consists of a great number of good houses, with an elegant church in the
centre; it has a handsome steeple and bell, and is well finished
within.” By this we learn, that not only was the first Protestant Church
built at the Grand River, but as well here was the first steeple to
contain a bell, which was the first to be heard in Upper Canada. Brant,
when in England, collected money for all this. With the above, they had
the service of plate, preserved from the rebels on the Mohawk; crimson
furniture for the pulpit, and “the Psalmody was accompanied by an
organ.” “This place was uninhabited four years ago.” “I returned by the
route of Niagara, and visited that settlement. They had, as yet, no
clergyman, and I preached to a very large audience. The increase of
population there was immense, and indeed I was so well pleased with that
country, where I found many of my old Parishioners, that I was strongly
tempted to remove my family to it. You may suppose it cost me a struggle
to refuse the unanimous and pressing invitation of a large settlement,
with the additional argument of a subscription, and other emoluments,
amounting to near £300, York currency, per annum more than I have here.
But, on mature reflection, I have determined to remain here. You will
suppose me to be very rich, or very disinterested; but, I assure you,
neither was the case. I have a comfortable house, a good farm here, and
an excellent school for my children, in a very healthy climate, and all
these I could not have expected had I removed to Niagara. But, that you
may be convinced that I do not intend to die rich, I have also declined
an honorable and lucrative appointment. Our new settlements have been
divided into four districts, of which this place is the capital of one,
called New Mecklenburgh, and Courts of Justice are to be immediately
opened. I had a commission sent me, as first Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas. But, for reasons which readily occur to you, I returned it
to Lord Dorchester, who left this place a few days ago.”
In 1789, Mr. Stuart was appointed Bishop’s Commissionary for the
settlements from Point au Boudette to the western limits of the
Province, being the district now constituting Canada West. Though this
appointment added nothing to his emoluments, it increased considerably
his duties. At the meeting of the first Session of Parliament in 1792,
he was named Chaplain to the Upper House of Assembly, an appointment
which required for a time his presence at Niagara. He occasionally
visited and officiated for the Mohawk Village, at the Bay of Quinté.
But, notwithstanding the laudable exertions of the society, and the
partial indulgence of the British Government to this tribe, no
flattering accounts can be given either of their religious improvements,
or approach to civilization; on his return he usually stopped at Col.
McDonnell’s, Marysburgh, and preached in his house. In the year 1799,
the degree of D.D. was conferred on Mr. Stuart, by the University of
Pennsylvania, his Alma Mater, a complement he appreciated from his
native state. About the same time he received the appointment of
Chaplain to the Garrison of Kingston. “He had secured about 4000 acres
of valuable land to which he occasionally made additions.” In his
prosperity and wealth he exclaimed: “How mysterious are the ways of
Providence! How short-sighted we are! Some years ago I thought it a
great hardship to be banished into the wilderness, and would have
imagined myself completely happy, could I have exchanged it for a place
in the City of Philadelphia,—now the best wish we can form for our
dearest friends is to have them removed to us.” It must be remarked that
the above is taken from letters written to a friend in Philadelphia, and
no doubt, being private and social in their nature, there is often a
coloring favorable to the States which emanated from no love to that
country. “The remainder of Dr. Stuart’s life seems to have passed in the
routine of his duties, interrupted however by attacks of illness, to
which the increase of years, and the fatigue attendant on a mission in
so new a country, could not fail to subject him.” Dr. Stuart departed
this life on the 15th of August, 1811, in the seventy-first year of his
age, and was buried at Kingston, where he lives (says one of his
cotemporaries) in the heart of his friends. “He was about six feet four
inches in height, and from this circumstance, was known among his New
York friends as “the little gentleman.” His manners were quiet and
conciliating, and his character, such as led him rather to win more by
kindness and persuasion, than to awe and alarm them by the terrors of
authority. His sermons were composed in plain and nervous language, were
recommended by the affectionate manner of his delivery, and not
unfrequently found a way to the conscience of those who had long been
insensible to any real religious convictions. The honorable title of
Father of the Upper Canada Church, has been fitly bestowed on him, and
he deserves the name not more by his age and the length of his services,
than by the kind and paternal advice and encouragement, which he was
ever ready to give those younger than he on their first entrance on the
mission.” “By his wife, Jane O’Kill, of Philadelphia, who was born in
1752, he had five sons and three daughters.” All of his sons
subsequently occupied distinguished positions. His eldest son George
O’Kill, graduated at Cambridge, England, in 1801, entered Holy Orders,
and was appointed missionary at York, now Toronto, from whence he
returned on his father’s death to Kingston, where he became Archdeacon.
He died in 1862, at the age of eighty-six.