170 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN

ernor, Lord Cornbury, for permission to call him. Their action, however, well-meant as it undoubtedly was, gave rise to a contention which was destined to distract and agitate the inhabitants of Kings County for many succeeding years. The people, always jealous of the English power, to which they were unwilling subjects, and particularly sensitive to any interference of that power with their ecclesiastical affairs, were highly indignant because the elders had seen fit to ask the Governor's permission to call Mr. Freeman. In Flatbush, the disaffected even went so far as to convene a town meeting, whereat the regular elders of that church were deposed from office and new ones elected in their stead, who were instructed forthwith to send for Mr. Freeman; while at Breuckelen certain busybodies went around endeavoring to gain signatures to a petition or call to the said Freeman, and also for the choosing of three now elders from that town, as had been done at Flatbush.1 Their discontent was undoubtedly encouraged by some inconsiderate acts of Domino Freeman, and his evident desire to come among themalthough in direct opposition to the expressed desire of his own church at Schenectady.2

The legal examination of the contending parties before the Council, resulted in the following order from Governor Cornbury:

“I having duly Considered the Within petition, and having been well Informed that Mr. Bar. ffreeman has misbehaved himself by promoting and Encouraging the unhappy divisions among the people of this province, do not think it Consistent with her Majestic's Service that the sd ffreeman should be admitted to be called, as is prayed by the sd petition, And the petitioners are hereby required not to call or receive the sd ffreeman. But they are hereby left at Liberty to send for such Minister as they shall think fitt, from holland or any other place, as bath been customary.”3

The opposition which Mr. Freeman met with from the Governor, the people of his charge at Schenectady, and the disaffected minority in Flatbush and Breuckelen, although it retarded, did not defeat his settlement in Kings County. Late in the year 1705, he received the following commission as minister there:

1 Doc. Hist. N. Y., iii. 1,39,140,141,142.

2 Ibid., iii. 143,144.

3 The above order is on a scrap of paper without date. Dr. Strong (Hist. Flatbush) states that it was made on 23d Oct., 1702.