188 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

its. Several witnesses testified to the unchristian and intemperate language used by Rubel, both in and out of the pulpit, in regard to Americans who opposed the King of Great Britain, calling them “Satan's soldiers,” and saying “that they were accursed, and many were already in hell, and those who were not dead would go there, and that he could prove it by the Bible,” etc. Also, that he quarrelled frequently with his wife, towards whom he not unfrequently used personal violence; that he drank freely, and led a bad life, keeping much company with the Hessian officers quartered in the town of Flatbush, who were great swearers and drunkards. All the witnesses, however, agreed that they had nothing against Van Sinderen except his age, and that the breach between him and Rubel had gone so far that the old domine could not control his temper whenever he met the latter. The matter was referred to the General Synod, before whom Rubel was cited to appear, but replied only by an angry letter. He was, therefore, deposed in May, 1784. In May, 1788, he appeared before the Synod, desiring to be reinstated, but evincing no spirit of contrition. He continued to reside at Flatbush, devoting his time to the preparation of quack medicines, and in his advertisements styles himself “Minister of the Gospel and Chymicus.”1 In 1788 he published a pamphlet, in Dutch and English, showing, as he pretended, how he had been defrauded of his living by a wicked man in New York. He had a daughter, who was seduced by a Hessian officer during the war; and the old man's unhappy life ended in 1797, his solitary tombstone still existing in the Flatbush churchyard.2

Mr. Van Sinderen, at the request of the Consistory, resigned his pastoral charge in June, 1784, although he received a stated salary until his death, at Flatlands, on 23d of July, 1796, in his

1 ÒMarch 28, 1778. It has pleased Almighty God to give me the wisdom to find out the Golden Mother Tincture, and such a Universal Pill as will owe most diseases. I have studied European physicians in four different languages. I don’t take much money, as I want no more than a small living, whereto God will give his blessing Johannes Casparus Rubel, Minister of the Gospel and Chymicus."

2 “Tot gedachtenis van Joh’s Casp’s Rubel. V. D. M.—Geboren den 6de March, 0. 8, 1719—Overlenden 19de Maii, 1797.” (TRANSLATION): To the memory of John Caspar Rubel, minister of God’s word. Born, March 6th, 1719, 0. S. Died, May 19th, 1797.