Godefridus Dellius (baptized 28 October 1654 – 1738) was a clergyman of the Dutch Reformed Church active in and around Albany, New York during the late 17th century and up to 1699. He also served as a missionary to the Mohawk people in what the English claimed as the Province of New York (the former New Netherland).
Dellius became involved in provincial politics in Albany and opposed Jacob Leisler in 1689, who had usurped power in New York. For a time he had to flee New York to other colonies but was recalled to Albany in 1691 by a new governor. After England and France had made peace, Dellius was delegated with a party to take the news to New France, while escorting the return of nineteen French prisoners. In the exchange, he accompanied English colonists back to Albany. Dellius' work in New York ended in disgrace after Indians complained of being forced to convey a large piece of land near Albany to him and other prominent men in the city; the governor gained approval of a bill to vacate the conveyance. Dellius went to England in his defense in 1699, then he returned to the Netherlands, where he served in Antwerp and Halsteren before his death.
Biography
Godefridus Dellius was the son of a preacher, Godefridus Dellius Sr (ca. 1613–1687), and his wife in a small town near Wijk bij Duurstede. His older brothers Johannes (1651–1691) and Cornelis (1652–1740) also became clergymen. The family's name may be a Latinized version of "van Dellen". He entered Leyden University in 1672 to study philosophy. Dellius was licensed by the classis of Wijk bij Duurstede about 1680 and ordained by the classis of Amsterdam in 1682.
He became involved in provincial politics and opposed Jacob Leisler in 1689, who had usurped power in New York. For a time Dellius had to flee New York to other colonies but was recalled to Albany by a new governor in 1691. After England and France had made peace, he was delegated with a party to take the news to New France, while escorting the return of nineteen French prisoners. In the exchange, he accompanied English colonists out of New France back to Albany. His work in New York ended in disgrace after Indians complained of being forced to convey a large plot of land to him and other prominent men in Albany; the governor gained approval of a bill to vacate the conveyance. Dellius went to England in his defense in 1699, then he moved to Europe for the remainder of his life, serving in the Netherlands.
To the New World
On April 10, 1683, Dellius married Isabella de Ridder in Cothen, and they emigrated to North America the same year. They settled at Albany, where he served as assistant to Gideon Schaats, pastor of the Reformed Church there. He also preached to ethnic Dutch at Schenectady, about 30 miles west of Albany. He continued in this service about sixteen years.
In common with all the Reform clergy, Dellius refused to recognize Jacob Leisler's usurpation of power in 1689. The latter charged Dellius with being a principal actor in the French and English tensions during King William's War, which played out in the colonies. Leisler said that Dellius was an enemy to the William III, Prince of Orange, who had succeeded King James II. Dellius was commanded to appear in New York City to answer Leisler's accusations, but he hid in New Jersey and Long Island. Later he fled to Boston. He wrote to England describing his perception of Leisler's character.
After the execution of Leisler in May 1691, Gov. Sloughter recalled Dellius, who was on the point of embarking for Europe. He returned to Albany. The government paid Dellius £60 for teaching Indians, primarily Mohawk whose territory was west of Albany. In 1693 he had three Indian boys boarding with him. He greatly restrained the Mohawk from practicing their ritual torture of French prisoners taken in warfare.
On the conclusion of peace between England and France, Dellius and Peter Schuyler were sent as agents, in April 1698, to Count de Frontenac, in Canada, to announce the peace, and bring to an end the provincial hostilities. Acting under the authority of Governor Bellomont, they took nineteen French prisoners to Canada, and obtained the exchange of English colonists held as prisoners by the French.