CIRCUIT RIDER --
THE MINISTER

An entry on the Moses Dupui page of the ledger states:  "By Cash paid for me toward the Ministers House and Horse" (11 shillings).   Yet another entry, this time from Hugh Pugh, points to "Cash paid unto our Minister" in the amount of 12 shillings.

While the minister was indeed provided with a house and horse, one still gets the sense that we're dealing with a rather skinflint congregation (otherwise we doubtless would have seen a greater number of entries -- certainly more than two --relative to the minister's support).

In support of this somewhat damning contention is some text to be found in the "Register of the Acts, Which have been Passed by the Rev. Consistory of this Congregation":

1741, Aug. 30.     Whereas some among us, in and outside of this congregation, are unwilling to contribute to the Minister's salary, and yet wish to avail themselves of his services, it is decided by the consistory that each person, who will not contribute to the salary of the Minister, shall pay for a child, that they wish baptized, six shillings, three of which shall go to the consistory, and three to the Minister, for the registration.

During his 14-year tenure at the Smithfield Refurmed Dutch Church, the Reverend presided over 146 baptismal ceremonies. 

As to his own entries in the ledger, the Reverend Johannes Casper Fryenmoet only has one; in March of 1744, he purchased "the remains of Muslin" at the cost of 1 shilling and 9 pence.  Frugality.

We read that the minister received seventy pounds in equal proportion from the four area Dutch Reformed churches that he served and three hundred pecks of oats for his horse. "They all paid in New York money, except the Smithfield Church, which tendered him "Proclamation Money." The next year two of the churches agreed to pay forty pounds if he married." He was married to Lena Van Etten, by Justice Abram Van Campen, on July 23, 1742 and continued his ministry in the region until August 22, 1756 (when he fled the area).