Correspondence and resignation records regarding Rev. Richard Peters and Rev. Jacob Duché, 1775

Correspondence and resignation records regarding Rev. Richard Peters and Rev. Jacob Duché, 1775

1775-09-23/1775-10-30

ChristChurch.CorporationCorrespondence_4-2-0-7

4.2.0.7; F495

Letter to Richard Terrick, Bishop of London, from the church wardens and vestrymen of the united churches of Christ Church and St. Peter's Church in Philadelphia, and a testimony regarding the resignation of Rev. Richard Peters and the appointment of Rev. Jacob Duché to the rectorship.

The documents record Peters's resignation due to bodily infirmities after many years of service, and the vestry's unanimous election and recommendation of Duché, described as a native of Philadelphia who had served as assistant minister for more than fifteen years.

Pennsylvania--Philadelphia

Christ Church, Philadelphia, PA

2 documents

tiff

http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

eng

Text

This grouping consists of two documents concerning the transition of leadership at the united Episcopal Churches of Christ Church and St. Peter's Church in Philadelphia in 1775. The first document [p. 1r] is a humble address from the Church-Wardens and Vestry-Men to Richard, Lord Bishop of London, reporting that the Rev. Richard Peters, D.D., their late worthy rector, had voluntarily resigned his rectorship after many years of faithful service due to his bodily infirmities. In consequence, the vestry unanimously elected the Rev. Jacob Duché, A.M., to be rector of the united churches. They note that Duché is a native of Philadelphia, known to most of them since childhood, and had officiated as assistant minister under license from the Bishop's predecessor for upwards of sixteen years (amended to fifteen) with universal approbation. They warmly recommend him for his exemplary conduct, zeal, piety, and learning, and request the Bishop's favorable approval [p. 1r]. The address is dated Philadelphia, October 30, 1775, and is subscribed by church wardens John Morgan and Jonathan Browne, along with vestrymen including Edward Shippen, Jacob Duché Sr., Joseph Swift, Benjamin Wynkoop, Thomas Cuthbert, Gerard Clarkson, Richard Willing, Samuel Powel, Peter Dehaven, James Humphreys, Peter Knight, James Reynolds, Edmund Physick, William Modell, and Alexander Wilcocks [p. 1v].

The second document [p. 2r] is the formal deed of resignation executed by Richard Peters on September 23, 1775. In it, Peters, citing his bodily infirmities and desiring to be relieved and exonerated from the burden, cure, and government of his rectory, deliberately and absolutely renounces and resigns the rectory and churches, together with all their rights, profits, members, and appurtenances, into the hands of the Church-Wardens and Vestry-Men, leaving the rectory vacant. The document is signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of witnesses Matthew Whitehead and Jacob Diegel [p. 2r].

https://www.philageohistory.org/rdic-images/iiif.cfm/ChristChurch.CorporationCorrespondence_4-2-0-7/manifest