The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-10-02
n.y. Which Probably Freedom
TO SUE Mr. VAN SANTvOORD
Church Wants to Get Letter Written BY
Washington.

| me ueSlfe or tna c0nSlStOry OF tht
First Reformed church cf Schenectady
to obtain possession OF letter writer
by George Washington to the church
officials on the occasion Of his visit tC
that city in 1882 may result in replevir
proceedings being instituted against
Seymour Van Santvoord, the we'll.
known attorney OF Troy and summer
resident of Bennington. The docu-
ment naturally is now considered very
valuable and by virtue of the fact that
1t was addressed to the church as a
corporation the officers hold that the
church is the rightful owner of the
priced document. Relative to the pro-
posed proceedings the Schenectady
Star says:
1.-THE First Reformed church OF this
city in 1899, appointed committee
from its consistory to call upon Sey-
mour Van Santvoord of Troy with a
request that valuable document then
in his possession and alleged to be-
long to the church, be returned to the
official body OF the church. The docu-
nent in question was the original let
ter addressed by George Washington
to the church officials on the occasion
OF his visit to Schenectady in 1882,
thanking the churchmen for the kind
reception given him. The document is
OF great historical value, and 1t is now
proposed to start reple Yin proceedings
to bring about the return OF the paper.
,'George Washington, following The
opening of the Revolutionary war Wis
tied Schenectady on three occasions.
On the first occasion he visited that
section to make arrangements for FROM
tier defenses. He then was entertained
at the residence of Henry Clan 10 what
isnow Washington avenue. On the
second visit, accompanied by General
Philip Schuyler, be rode to that city
from Albany in carriage. He was
then given royal reception by the
citizens of that pace. 1t was in ac-
acknowledgement of this reception that
the letter referred to above was writ
ten.
"The old Dutch Reformed church was
the social center of the town in those
days and Schenectady's social set was
then prominently identified with its do
ings. The church body, it seems, took
leading paytin the reception.
'"The letter reads.
TO the Ministers, Elders and Dea-
cons of the Reformed PROTESTANT Dutch
churtch of the town of Schenectady.
'Gentlemen;-I sincerely thank
you for your Congratulations on my
arrival in this place.
whilst join you in adcring the
supreem being to whome alone can be
ATTRIBUTED the signel successes of our
Arms, cannot but express gratitude
to you Gentlemen for so distinguished
testemony Of your Regard.
{" May the same providence that has
hitherto In so Remarkable manner
Evinced the Justice OF our. Cause lead
us TO speady and honorable peace
and may Its attendant blessings soon
Restore this our fourishing place to
its former prosperity.
Schenectady, June 30, 1852.
CSC. washington.
"a similar letter was addressed to
the magistrates and military officers
OF the town of Schenectady. These
we're written before departing from
Schenectady.
"Washington's third visit was made
in l7S6.
1.-THE following resolution was pass
ed by the church consistory, December
Is, 1889:
AT a meeting OF the Joint Official
Board OF the First Reformed Protes
tant (Dutch) church held at the con
sistory room in the city Of Schenectady
state OF New York, on the 18th day OF
December, 1880, it was resolved as fol
ows:
1" On motion II was decided to auth.
orize committee TO obtain letter
now in the possession OF Mr. Seymour
Van Santvoord of Troy which wa,
written by George Washington and adj
dressed to this church.
(Signed) "'H V. Mynderse,
CLERK of the Consistory.'
"The committee called upon Mr. Van
Santvoord at his Troy residence and
asked that the document be turned
over. This was refused. He was then
asked to state how he had come into
possession OF the letter. This he also
refused to do. 1t is asserted that Mr.
Van Santvoordis collector Of old
documents. 1t is also asserted that Mr.
Van Santvoord' Is father or grandfather
was at one time pastor OF the local
church.
"a prominent member of the church
also prominent member OF the local
bar is looking into the matter. He as
serts that the fact of the letter being
addressed to the church is prima facie
evidence of the ownership and that, 10
order to retain the document Mr. Van
Santvoord must prove his owne sh y.
Replevin proceedings may be started
to recover the valuable document and
restore 1t TO the archives of thechurch,