Born about 1780 in New York [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 20 Mar 1824 at about age 44 in New York County, New York

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Eric Winchell [send private message]

somehow cousin of Catharine Haviland

A WORK IN PROGRESS

Biography

Lived in Woodstock in 1810^[1]

Baptism (1810)

Saturday, April 7, 1810 "Jonathan Van Velson gave a relation of the work of grace on his heart which gained the fellowship of the church...was baptized the following day and received the hand of fellowship" ^[2]

Ordination (1816)

"Marbletown October 3, 1816

At a Council called by the Church of Marbletown for the purpose of ordaining Jonathan Vanvelsin to the work of the Ministry - the Church met at the Bapt. Metting house opened meeting by prayer by Eld. Hezekiah Pettit -

• Firstly, cauled on the Lexington Church and received their return they seat their Eld. Hezekiah Pettit & bretheren Aron Bushnell, John Newton & Samuel Peck -

• 2dly, Cauled on the Roxbury Church and received their answer to our request they sent their Eld. Wm. Warren & Breth. Jonathan Hammon, Joseph Moss Thomas Falkner -

• 3rd, Cauled on the Lattintown Church no returns

• 4ly, Cauled on the Colchester Church no returns

• 5ly, Above mentioned Delegates ware received by the Church as their Council with the Brethern which they had appointed to set with them viz - James Winchel Nathaniel T. Jones Tittus Bishop with the Church Clerk

• 6ly, The Council being convened voted Eld William Warren Moderator - Br. Falkner Clerk

• Seventhly, the Church presented Br. Jonathan Vanvelsen the Candidate for Ordination to the Council

• Eighthly, Cauld on the Candidate to relate his experience

• 9ly, Cauld on the Candidate to relate his call to the Ministry

• 10ly, to relate his ideas on Divinity

• 11ly, Voted for the Council to retire to form their judgement with regard to the relation given

• 12ly, the Council being returned and convend proposed the following queries

Query #1 Are we satisfied with his experience answer in the affirmative

2ly Are we satisifed with his call to the Ministry Answer yes

3rd Are we satisfied with his eydeas in Divinity Answer yes

4ly Is it expedient to proceed to Ordination Answer yes

• 13ly The Council being united in their judgment agreed to procead to the ordination in the following manner: Eld. Hezikiah Pettit to preach the Ordination Sermon, Eld. Warren to make the Ordination Prayer, Eld. Pettit to give the Charge, Eld Pettit to give the right hand of fellowship and make the concluding prayer, Eld. Pettit to write the Certificate of Ordination.

• 14ly The Council being thus agreed, they proceeded to the Meting house and proceded to ordain the Candidate. Eld Pettit prayed and preached from Acts 30th Chapter and the middle and last clause of the 2nd Verse - Separate unto me Saul and Barnibus to the work whereunto I have caused them.

• 15ly And lastly, they proceeded through the Ordination as proposed and recorded.

Certificate of Ordination

To all persons whom it may concern,

This may certify that the barer Jonathan Vanvelsin was this day set apart for the work of the Ministry by solemn Ordination in the fellowship of the first Bapt. Church in Marbletown and by the assistance of the following Council: Eld Wm Warren and brethren Thomas Falkener Jonathan Hammon and Joseph Morss from Roxbury - Eld Hezekiah Pettit and Brethren Aron Bushnell, John Newton and Solomon Peck from Lexington. Who hereby recommend our beloved brother Vanvelsin to the notice of all good people and sincerely pray that a Divine blessing may attend him and his labors.

Marbletown. October the 3rd AD 1816

William Warren { Moderator

Thomas Falkner { Clerk^[3]

Baptisms (1815-1819)

• abt 1815 - Phebe ()Knickerbarker, Lawrence Knickerbarker, Jacob Winchel - Church of Marbletown^[4]
• October 1817 - Joel Turner, Church of Marbletown^[5]
• November 28, 1818 Conrad J. Elmendorf^[6]
• June 29, 1819 - Rosetta () Every, Church of Marbletown^[7]

Marriages in Olive (1819)

• July 24, 1819 Jacob Winchel, to Sarah Ann Van Velsen, in Olive, New York

Marriages in New York City (1820-23)

• February 20, 1820 "On Sunday evening last, by the Rev. Jonathan Van Velger, Jackson Coleman, to Miss Sarah Searl, all of this city."^[8]
• May 21, 1820 "On Saturday evening last, by the Rev. Mr. Van Velsin, Mr. John Matthews, to Miss Sophia Parker."^[9]
• February 6, 1821 "On the 6th Inst. by the Rev. Mr. Vanvelan, Mr. George Thompson, to Miss Frances Burgen, both of this city."^[10]
• April 24, 1822 "On Wednesday last, by Rev. Mr. Vanvelsin, Mr. Peter Warden, to Miss Mary Hutchins, both of this city."^[11]
• June 5, 1822 "On the 5th inst. by the Rev. Mr. Van Welsin, Mr. James Wilson to Miss Margaret Tallman, all of this city.^[12]
• September 29, 1822 "On Sunday, by the Rev. Mr. Vanvelsor, Mr. Garrit Westervelt, of this city, to Miss Mary E. Beebe, of Norwich, Ct."^[13]
• November 13, 1822 "On Wednesday evening, by the Rev. Mr. Van Velser, Mr. Joseph Silva, of Staten Island, to Miss Eliza Pelton, of this city."^[14]
• February 4, 1823 "On Tuesday evening last, by elder Jonathan Vanvelsan, Mr. Gilbert Beebe to Miss Phebe Cunningham."^[15]
• March 6, 1823 "On Thursday evening last, by elder Jonathan Vanvelsan, Mr. Andrew Kitchel, of this city, to Miss Eliza Campbell, formerly of Philadelphia.""^[16]
• May 8, 1823 "On Thursday evening last, by the Rev. Mr. Van Velsen, Dennis Naitlis, Esq merchant tailor, to Miss Margaret Anderson, all of this city."^[17]
• May 21, 1823 "on the 21st inst. by the Rev. Mr. Van Velsen, Samuel Colby, painter, to Miss Sarah Riggs, both of this city.""^[18]
• October 4, 1823 "On the same evening, by Elder J Vanvelsan, Mr A Dungan, to Miss Hannah Ayres."^[19]

Correspondence and News Articles

Elder Zelotes Grenell about Jonathan Van Velsen (1817-18)

"Some of the incidents of this journey were never forgotten by him and often were they subjects for conversation and comment in after years. On the way he preached several times. formed the acquaintance of Elder Petit at Lexington and of the eccentric Elder Van Velsen at Esopus On this journey"^[20]

Letter from Mrs. Fradgly to Jonathan Van Velsen (January 3, 1819)

New York, Stone St., January 3d, 1819.

Our dearly beloved Brother Jonathan.

I am sorry I have to begin our correspondence in a way of reproof. When we were favoured with the delightful conversation of our dear Brother, (which favour we have received and acknowledged the same to our dear Lord,) you then spoke a large word 'that you never had hurt the feelings of a child of God.' I think my Brother had never measured the size of that word nor considered that it spake with two voices, words and actions, which latter sounded so loud in our hearts, that it woke up all those little mortifying creatures, whose family name is jealousies. Was my Brother staying in New York near three days after that cold and indifferent Tuesday morning, on which I was almost like to have said, 'We saw face no more?'

We would like our dear Brother to explain to us, what he meant to convey when he preached his last sermon in Anthony street, when you spoke upon eternal justification. To prove that justification was not eternal, you mentioned a space wherein the covenant of grace was made. This is the word I want you to explain, as to what you meant to convey; for I know of no time in eternity, but it must be resolved into one Eternal Now. He is an unlimited Eternal God, who was in Christ reconciling the world of his elect to himself in an everlasting covenant made before all worlds; for his purpose is an eternal purpose, because both in Essence and in Person, He himself is eternal.

On the first Sabbath after you left New York, we returned to Mr. Cummings' church again, as we had heard he was hurt at our long absence; and as we were labouring under the same disease, we thought it a duty to go and tell him the cause. And as I had before told him the sorrowful case my poor soul was in which he did not understand, I explained to him that you had taken up my case, and that the Lord had comforted my soul under your ministry. But this added fuel to the fire. However, Mr. Cummings candidly confessed he did not understand my case, but my blessed Master sent one that did. Of this, however I can assure you, that if you go beyond Mr C. in experience, he goes far before you in charity; for both Mr. and Mrs. C will have the Methodists safe landed in heaven.

But as I profess to be a citizen of Zion, and think it my duty to contend for the faith, and especially when God's glory is endangered by the corruptions of the day, I was bold enough to tell him I did not believe a word of his doctrine. Oh! my dear Brother, how ought we to be established in the faith of the least truth, if any truth can be called little, as there is a close connection between every truth. They are so joined together that a link cannot be parted but the whole chain is broken. ' Hold fast the form of sound words,' says the Captain; then, as spiritual soldiers with the sword girded by our side, let us be ready to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Well doth my Brother know that those who stand up for the truth must lay their account with opposition, or at least the reproach of a censorious spirit, as Mr. Cummings has named me. But as our Master was the chief builder, and he built by bearing witness to the truth, and was hated for his pains, so all those that have been builders under him have been called troublers of Israel, men of contention, turners of the world upside down. But if God's people do not witness against error, they refuse to witness that he is God.

Since Mr C. has whipped us out of his church, we have gone to Mr. Parkinson. My sister Bogart stays to receive a few more blows, and I expect nothing else, but she will be all over black and blue.

When I was pleading for you at the throne this morning, it fell on my mind, what a striking instance we have in Scripture of that genuine and uninterrupted friendship which subsisted between David and Jonathan. How affecting is that pathetic, mournful exclamation of David, when sweet friendship was dissolved in death! - 'I am distressed for thee, my Brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been to me. Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of woman.' Who can read these sweet and affecting lines of David without sympathy? Ah! my dear Jonathan, I have a friend that sticketh closer than a brother; that loveth at all times, and will never be weary of his friendship. Whether in adversity or in prosperity, he is always the same. You know I told you I cannot write short letters.

Mrs Bogart and myself never forget you in the best place. Mrs. Bogart joins in love to you and your wife, and all the friends of Christ .

Adieu, Ann Fradgly.^[21]

Letter from Jonathan Van Velsen to Mrs. Fradgly (March 27, 1819)

March 27th, 1819.

Dear Sister in the Lord.

I received your letter, and was somewhat astonish ed at some things I found contained in it, which I shall attempt to answer one by one. First, my sister tells me of speaking a large word, which was that I had never hurt the feelings of a child of God. I think my sister must have misunderstood me; the words were these, 'that neither brothers nor sisters ever told I had grieved them.' But what I most wonder at, is my dear sisters, that have so long been acquainted with the enemy, whose whole business it is to disturb the peace of the children of God, and to raise jealousy, which is cruel as the grave; it destroys the confidence we ought to have in each other.

The Tuesday morning I parted with you, which my dear sister is pleased to call cold and indifferent, all my feelings of tenderness were called up, which prevented me from saying much.

I now come to answer the third thing named, which was my staying almost three days in New York, and not calling the morning after preaching in Banker street. I went to look for a passage, but could find none till Friday; and having a brother living two miles from Powlerhook's landing, I went to see him and preached at his house on Wednesday evening, and returned to the city the next day. I then had to prepare for leaving the city on Friday morning. I saw Mr Bogart in market, and he told me that the steamboat was to leave the city at five o'clock that evening; and I went and took a passage in it, and had no time to see any body, or to spend any time in conversation.

I now come to the fourth thing, in which my sister requests me to explain what I meant to convey by a space in eternity. What I meant is this: I conceive the phrase, in the first place, to be unscriptural as the word eternal justification is not mentioned in all the word of God. As the purpose of God is one thing, and the acts of God another, although the purpose is eternal, his acts bring his purposes into existence; and that justification is an act of God no one can consistently deny, for it is an act of grace, and is founded on the covenant of grace made between the Father and the Son; and on that ground the Apostle agrees, (Titus, chap. 2nd, verse 7,) 'That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.' The second act is when Christ the covenant-head made the atonement, and completely paid the debt of his bride; when he satisfied Divine Justice, and opened the great fountain for Jerusalem and Judah to wash from sin and uncleanness. To this, the Apostle in Romans, chap. v. verse 9, - 'Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.' The third is an act of the Holy Ghost, the third Person in the Trinity, which brings these acts of God to our understanding, and makes us to rejoice in hope of the glory of God, (Rom. chap. 5, v. 1,) 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ .'

• • • • add punctuation ****

I shall now endeavour to inform you something of the state of Zion in this part of the land The Lord prospered my journey I reached home on Monday after I left the city The Sabbath following I baptized five of such as we believe to be God's dear children The month following we baptized ten more and are expecting a number more The church is in a comfortable situation at present but the rage of the enemy is very great so that there appears to be nothing but the overruling hand of God that prevents their laying hands on me

But my dear sisters you know that nothing enrages the enemy like the solemn truths of the gospel for it exposes all his lurking places wherein he lays in wait to deceive which has brought to my mind this passage of Scripture Rev chap xii v 12 Wherefore rejoice ye heavens and ye that dwell therein Wo to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth he hath but a short time

Nothwithstanding all that there appears to be a great prospect of the Lord's building up this branch of Zion and as the Lord has brought some of his greatest foes to bow to his sceptre we feel to believe that he is about to bring again Zion And it appears to me not to be far off for our Lord saith in Mat xxiv 30 Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn when they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory The signs appear to be rolling on therefore the saints may lift up their heads for the day of their redemption draweth nigh

My dear sister you remember I told you the Lord had never let me pray for my children but you told me that the Lord had given you a spirit of prayer for my family The same God that gives the same answers prayer for my oldest daughter is hopefully brought to know the Lord and to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God and has been baptized and is a member of the church

I must now tell you something about my health When I first left New York I was very weak but the God who works according to the counsel of his own will has been pleased to raise me by degrees till I am at present in tolerable health I now must conclude begging the prayers of my dear sisters and brethren

And give my best respects to all the friends in Christ Give my love to those three dear lambs in Broadway tell them that I carry them on my heart praying that the Lord may keep them and preserve and establish them in the faith till the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ Give my best respects to Mr Bogart and tell him that I esteem him as a friend as a benefactor and I could wish to say a brother and I remain your sincere friend and brother in the Lord

Jonathan Van Velsan

Letter from Jonathan Van Velsen to Mrs. Fradgly (September 15, 1819)

September 15th 1819

I received your letter with a request to answer it as quick as I could I should have written before but how shall I write a word of comfort to an afflicted sister when I am wading through great trials myself But the Lord who alone can comfort has been pleased to support me under trials and I doubt not but he has supported my sister though things appear dark and you were in heaviness through manifold temptations that the trial of your faith may be more precious than gold which God has seen cause to bring through the furnace

My sister you are not the only one of God's children that is tried and it appears it is the way all the servants of God have gone But we have reason to love God for the full promises in Christ and the certainty of their fulfilment For when God made promise to Abraham because he could swear by no greater he sware by himself saying Surely blessing I will bless thee and after he had patiently endured he obtained the promise Though there were cross Providences and an impossibility to the natural eye yet he being not weak in faith he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God believing that what he had promised he was able to perform God is the same and as faithful as he ever was and in his own way and time will fulfil the promise made to my sister

Had you a father who possessed a large property and had promised you a certain share and had given a bond would you be calling in question how he was going to fulfil it 1 Would you not rather say It is his own business and so leave it to him 1 God's promises held up by the Spirit are like a bond but he bestows his blessings when his children are best capable to prize them We are often looking how God is going to fulfil his promises but we always look the wrong way A way that we think not of is the way in which God works that no flesh should glory in their own wisdom but that he that glorieth may glory in the Lord for his paths are through deep waters and his footsteps are unknown Therefore may my sister rest on the promise of God and in due time you shall reap if you faint not

Mr Cotter is here among us and has offered himself to the church but could not give any evidence of his adoption and was not received And so adieu at present Remember me to all the friends

I remain your brother in the Lord

Jonathan Van Velsan^[22]

Henry Fitz on Attempts to Debate with Elder Van Velsen (1821)

"For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counciller, that when I asked of them, COULD ANSWER A WORD. Behold, they are all vanity - their works are NOTHING." Isa. xli. 28,29.

On Friday, August 31st, a committee of two members from the Rev. Van Velsan's church, waited on me with a request, that I would meet their pastor, Mr. Van V. on the Monday following, at his church in Broome-street, at 7 o'clock, P.M. for the purpose of discussing the question of the extent of the Atonement, and defending the doctrine of the "Restitution of all things," against the attack which should be made at that time and place, by the Rev. gentleman aforesaid. I concented to meet him, - The time arrived. A tremendous hurricane raged, and the church was filled, not withstanding the war of elements, the wreck of matter, and the crash of buildings! A message arrived from Mr. Van V. informing the audience that, in consequences of the inclement** of the weather, and his *** indisposition, he could not attend; and they accordingly dispersed. The committee called on me after the meeting was dismissed, and Friday evening, Sept. 7 was proposed. They agreed to consult Mr. Van V., and informed me of his acceptance or the contrary, during the following day. Not hearing from them, I called on Mr. V. on Wednesday, and he agreed to meet on Friday evening at 7 o'clock, at his church, &c. This arrangement was made known, and circulated, in an almost unaccountable manner, throughout the city, and in adjacent towns.

On Friday, at 1 o'clock, one of the committee called and informed me that the evening previous the church had met, and a majority of the members decided that the house should not be opened for the discussion. He likewise stated that "the Rev. Mr. Parkinson had sent word to them, and advised them not to have anything to do with the Universalists," &c. We repaired to Mr. Van V. who said he had no control over his people, and could not oblige them to open the house. He declared that he would meet me in any large convenient building which could be obtained, and publicly discuss the subject in question; and if no building convenient for the purpose could be procured, he would meet in the open field! I left him about 2 o'clock P.M. and informed some of the friends of truth of the decision of the members of Mr. Van V's church, &c. They immediately applied for and obtained Tammany Hall for the evening, and a gentleman started immediately for Mr. Van V's house, to give him the necessary information. Mr. Van V. could not be found at his own house, nor at those of his friends, where it was said he had, in all probability retired. An effort was made by gentlemen from a distant town, (who had come to hear the discussion) about half past 6 o'clock to find him, and persuade him to meet at Tammany Hall that evening, Their search proved fruitless. In the mean time, an admirer of the Rev. Mr. Van V., in company with a believer in the restitution of all things, repaired to Tammany Hall, relinquished the Hall for that evening, and agreed for it for the Wednesday evening following, (the 12th inst.) the friend and advocate of Mr. Van V pledging himself that Mr. Van V. should appear (sickness accepted) with his moderator, &c. Understanding, about 7 o'clock, that a large concourse of people had assembled in Broome St in front of Mr. Van V's church, I went there, and informed them of the decision of Mr. Van V's people, that the church should not be opened, &c. I likewise informed them that the meeting would take place at Tammany Hall on the Wednesday following, &c. It is due our fellow citizens to declare, that, notwithstanding the disappointment, good order and harmony prevailed throughout the crowd.

On Saturday morning I learned that Mr. Van V. had declined a public discussion. On the evening of that day I waited upon him and xxxxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxx a declaration, that he would not meet in public in any manner whatever. He likewise declared, that he would meet me in private, in company with twelve members of his church, and as many Universalists, and that the discussion might be made public, if a majority though proper. A competent Stenographer had been engaged from the first, and it was generally understood, that the discussion should be published to the world.

On Tuesday evening (the 11th inst.) I called on Mr. Van V. for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements for a private discussion, and asked him if he would meet and discuss the subject in private, &c., received for answer, "I will not have any thing to do with a Universalist."

Thus ends the word, repeatedly pledged, of a Calvinistic Clergyman! Like a ghost, it dissolved into thin air, and vanished! And we tell him, that had he been true to his appointment, his doctrine would have vanished also! (To be Continued.)

Disruption of Preaching by Jonathan Van Velsen and subsequent Trial of John Degey (1823)

THE TRIAL OF JOHN DEGEY FOR DISTURBING DIVINE WORSHIP NEW YORK CITY 1823 ...

From the Rondout Courier (date unknown)

"There was formerly in this county a Baptist minister by the name of Van Velsen, who one Sunday used the following knock-down argument; Brethren, you do not read of the John the Presbyterian, or John the Episcopalian, or John the Dutch Reformed, but you do read of John the Baptist. You will therefore see that it is as impossible for a Methodist, Presbyterian or Dutch Reformed to go to heaven as it for a shad to climb a bean pole tail foremost with a loaf of bread in his mouth."

Last Residence: 10 Lispenard Street, New York, NY

Death

Jonathan died on March 20, 1824^[24]

Footnotes

1. ↑ United States Census, 1810
2. ↑ Minutes of the First Baptist Church of Marbletown, book 2
3. ↑ Minutes of the First Baptist Church of Marbletown, book 2
4. ↑ Signs of the Times 07/15/1871
5. ↑ Signs of the Times 11/01/1862
6. ↑ Signs of the Times 6/1/1862
7. ↑ Signs of the Times 2/15/1868
8. ↑ Tuesday, February 22, 1820 Columbian (New York, NY) Volume: XI Issue: 2951 Page: 3
9. ↑ Tuesday, May 23, 1820 New-York Daily Advertiser (New York, NY) Issue: 966 Page: 2
10. ↑ February 23, 1821 National Advocate (New York, NY) Volume: IX Issue: 2320 Page: 2
11. ↑ Friday, April 26, 1822 Evening Post (New York, NY) Issue 6186 Page: 2
12. ↑ Friday, June 7, 1822 Evening Post (New York, NY)
13. ↑ Friday, October 4, 1822 Spectator (New York, NY) Page: 3
14. ↑ Tuesday, November 19, 1822 Paper: Spectator (New York, NY) Page: 2
15. ↑ Saturday, February 8, 1823 Evening Post (New York, NY) Issue: 6429 Page 3
16. ↑ Saturday, March 8, 1823 Evening Post (New York, NY) Volume: 6453 Issue: 49 Page: 2
17. ↑ Tuesday, May 13, 1823 Spectator (New York, NY) Page: 2
18. ↑ Saturday, May 24, 1823 Paper: Weekly Visitor (New York, NY) Volume: VII Issue: 4 Page: 64
19. ↑ Saturday, October 11, 1823, Weekly Visitor (New York, NY) Volume: VII Issue: 24 Page: 384
20. ↑ Life and Labors of Elder Zelotes Grenell: For Sixty-four Years an Eminently Successful Baptist Minister, 1818-1882
21. ↑ The Christian Experience of Mrs. Ann Fradgly: Embracing an Account of the Lord's Dealings with Her, Both in Providence and Grace, by Mrs. Ann Fradgly (1843)
22. ↑ The Christian Experience of Mrs. Ann Fradgly: Embracing an Account of the Lord's Dealings with Her, Both in Providence and Grace, by Mrs. Ann Fradgly (1843)
23. ↑ Saturday, December 22, 1821 Religious Inquirer (Hartford, CT) Volume: I Issue: IV Page: 25
24. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6M7-BQQ : 20 March 2015), Jonathan Vanvelsan, 20 Mar 1824; citing Death, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 447,545.