CERTIFICATE. CERTAIN OF THE FRIENDS OF HIS HONOR STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER, THE PRESENT LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, HAVING WAITED ON US AND INFORMED US, THAT REPORTS, HIGHLY UNFAVORABLE TO HIS MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CHARACTER, ARE INDUSTRIOUSLY PROPAGATED, PARTICULARLY IN THE WESTERN PARTS OF THIS STATE, AND REQUESTED OF US OFFICIALLY TO DECLARE THE TRUTH TOUCHING THE PREMISES- - THEREFORE, WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, DO HEREBY CERTIFY AND DECLARE, THAT THE SAID STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER, HAS FOR MANY HEARS BEEN AND IS STILL A MEMBER IN FULL COMMUNION, AND IN EXCELLENT STANDING WITH THE REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH IN THE CITY OF ALBANY- - THAT HE HAS FREQUENTLY BEEN ELECTED TO THE OFFICES OF DEACON AND ELDER IN SAID CHURCH; WHICH OFFICES HE SUPPORTED HONORABLY TO HIMSELF AND TO THE CHURCH, AND WITH OUR APPROBATION- - AND THAT, AS HEAD OF A FAMILY, A CITIZEN AND A CHRISTIAN, HIS REPUTATION IS PRE-EMINENT.
[Albany: 1801]. Broadside, 5-3/4" x 7-5/8." Light dusting, early repairs on blank verso. A few light crimps and a pinhole without affecting text. Good+. Above the printed title is the following manuscript note: "The Certificate underneath was obtained at the request of John Jauncey & Gerrit Bogart."
The Certificate is signed in type by John Bassett and John B. Johnson, each identified as "one of the Ministers of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, in the City of Albany." Dated in type, "Albany, April 21, 1801."
Beneath those typed signatures is a printed endorsement, confirming that the Certificate "respecting the Moral Character of the Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, is, in our knowledge and belief, accurate and just. Signed in type by a Rector [Tho. Ellison] and Ministers [Alex. Miller, Eliphalet Nott, Cyrus Stebbing, and Stephen Olmsted] of several other Albany Churches.
Though a Federalist, Van Rensselaer was known as a reformer, particularly concerning land tenures in his family's enormous Manor estates. His actions may have brought him resentment and opposition from his erstwhile allies.
Not in Sabin, American Imprints, or online OCLC, AAS, NYPL, Morgan Library, NYU, NYHS, Union College as of June 2024. Item #40143
Price: $1,250.00