Robert Barclay
Robert Barclay | |
---|---|
2nd Governor of East Jersey | |
In office September 1682 – 3 October 1690 | |
Deputy | Thomas Rudyard, Gawen Lawrie, Lord Neill Campbell, Andrew Hamilton |
Preceded by | Philip Carteret |
Succeeded by | Edmund Andros (Dominion of New England) |
Personal details | |
Born | 23 December 1648 |
Died | 3 October 1690 Ury House, Kincardineshire | (aged 41)
Nationality | Scottish |
Spouse | Christian Molleson |
Children | Robert, Patience, Catherine, Jane, Christian, David, John |
Alma mater | Scots College, Paris |
Occupation | Writer, apologist, politician |
Signature | |
Robert Barclay (23 December 1648 – 3 October 1690) was a Scottish
Biography
Early life and education
Barclay was born at Gordonstoun
Robert was sent to finish his education at the Scots College, Paris, of which his uncle[5] was Rector, and made such progress in study as to gain the admiration of his teachers, specially of his uncle, who offered to make him his heir if he would remain in France, and join the Roman Catholic Church.
Joining the Society of Friends
In 1667, however, he followed the example of his father, and joined the recently formed Religious Society of Friends
The essential view which Barclay maintained was that all people can be illuminated by the
The Apology, however, failed to arrest the persecution to which the Quakers were exposed, and Barclay himself, on returning from Europe, where he travelled extensively (once with
Political influence
In later years he had much influence with
Governor of East New Jersey
Barclay was an absentee governor, never having set foot in the colony. he governed through a series of deputy governors, who oversaw day-to-day operations of Barclay's government.
Englishman Thomas Rudyard, a London lawyer, was the first to serve as deputy under Robert Barclay, having been appointed on 16 September 1682. Rudyard was the de facto governor. It was during Rudyard's tenure that the four counties of Bergen, Essex, Middlesex and Monmouth were established.[9]
Rudyard and Surveyor General Samuel Groom soon had a policy disagreement on the granting of land. Groom believed in adhering to the
Thomas Rudyard's land dealings resurfaced when, on 28 February 1684/5, he received a grant of 1,038 acres (420 ha) on Raritan Bay in Monmouth County. This resulted in Governor Barclay and the Proprietors issuing instructions to Deputy Governor Lawrie on the laying out of land. Section 7 directly addressed the questionable activity of Rudyard and Lawrie himself in their taking up of land.[12] On 5 November 1685 Rudyard sold the land in question to his son in law, Samuel Winder, who on 17 June 1686 sold to Andrew Bowne.
During Gawen Lawrie's tenure the Proprietors in England drafted a new constitution for East New Jersey, the Fundamental Constitutions for the Province of East New Jersey.[13] This document, drafted in 1683, was intended to supersede the Concession and Agreement of 1665. Lawrie introduced the new constitution in Council on 12 April 1686; the Council voted "that the same Did not agree with the (constitution) of these American parts--", but nonetheless sent it to the General Assembly for reading.[14] On 16 April, in response to Lawrie's inquiry as to the Assembly's action on the constitution, the lower house reported "That they apprehended the same Did not agree with the (constitution) of this province and that they understood that the same were noe wise bindeing Except past into a Lawe by the Generall Assembly--".[15] With both houses concurring, the Fundamental Constitutions was defeated, and the Concession and Agreement would remain the East Jersey constitution until the surrender to The Crown in 1702.
The Proprietors in England were concerned about the Lawrie's secretive dealings and they instructed the East New Jersey Board of Proprietors to investigate the state of affairs, including an audit of the finances. In March 1686 the Proprietors appointed Andrew Hamilton to oversee the investigation.
In September 1686 the decision was made to remove Lawrie from office, and on 5 October Lord Neill Campbell presented his commission from Gov. Barclay as deputy governor to the East New Jersey Provincial Council, who confirmed and recognized the appointment. Lawrie was then commissioned a member of the council.
Campbell, a Scotsman like Barclay, only served briefly; having urgent business in Britain, he nominated Councillor Andrew Hamilton as his replacement as Deputy Governor on 10 December 1686; the next day Lawrie was the only councillor to register a protest and vote against confirming Hamilton.[16] Neill Campbell returned to Scotland and is not known to have returned to the New World. Lord Neill Campbell died in April 1692.
Andrew Hamilton was Barclay's final deputy governor. Originally a merchant in Edinburgh, he was sent to East Jersey to act as an agent to recruit men to settle there.
After Sir Edmund Andros took control over the Jerseys as part of the Dominion of New England, Hamilton sailed back to England to consult with the Proprietors. On the voyage, he was captured by the French, delaying his journey to London until May 1690.
Later life
Robert Barclay's later years were spent at his estate of Ury, where he died.
Descendants
Robert Barclay had a son, known as
A more distant descendant is Priscilla Wakefield, née Priscilla Bell (1751–1832). She was an English Quaker, educational and feminist economics writer, and philanthropist. Her mother was Barclay's granddaughter.[19]
Works
- 1670: Truth cleared of Calumnies, wherein a book, entitled, A Dialogue between a Quaker and a Stable Christian, (printed at Aberdeen, and, upon good ground, judged to be writ by William Mitchel, a preacher near by it, or at least that he had a chief hand in it,) is examined, and the disingenuity of the Author, in his representing the Quakers, is discovered; here is also their case truly stated, cleared, demonstrated, and the Objections of their opposers answered according to truth, scripture, and right reason; to which are subjoined, Queries to the Inhabitants of Aberdeen, which might also be of use to such as are of the same mind with them elsewhere in the world.
- 1671: William Mitchell unmasked, or the Staggering instability of the pretended Stable Christian discovered; his omissions observed, and weakness unvailed, &c.
- 1672: Seasonable warning and serious exhortation to, and expostulation with, the inhabitants of Aberdeen, concerning this present dispensation and day of God’s living visitation towards them.
- 1673: A Catechism and Confession of Faith, approved of, and agreed to by the general assembly of the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, Christ himself chief speaker in and among them, which containeth a true and faithful account of the principles and doctrines which are most surely believed by the churches of Christ in Great Britain and Ireland, who are reproachfully called by the name of Quakers, yet are found in the one faith with the primitive church and saints, &c.
- 1674: The Anarchy of the Ranters and other Libertines, &c.
- 1675: Theses Theologicae (trans. "Theological Theses")
- 1676: Theologiae vere Christianae Apologia (trans. "An apology for a really Christian Theology")
- 1676: An Apology for the true Christian Divinity, as the same is held forth and preached by the people called, in scorn, Quakers; being a full Explanation and Vindication of their Principles and Doctrines, by many Arguments deduced from Scripture and right reason, and the testimonies of famous Authors, both ancient and modern, with a full Answer to the strongest Objections usually made against them; presented to the King; written and published, in Latin, for the information of Strangers, by Robert Barclay; and now put into our own Language, for the benefit of his Countrymen.
- 1676: Quakerism Confirmed; being an answer to a pamphlet by the Aberdeen Students, entitled Quakerism Canvassed, written in conjunction with George Keith
- 1677: An Epistle of Love and Friendly Advice to the Ambassadors of the several Princes of Europe met at Nimeguen, to consult the peace of Christendom so far as they are concerned. Written in Latin, but published also in English for the benefit of his countrymen
- 1677: Treatise on Universal Love
- 1679: Apology for the true Christian Divinity Vindicated
- 1679: Vindication of his Anarchy of the Ranters
- 1686: The Possibility and Necessity of the Inward and Immediate Revelation of the Spirit of God, towards the foundation and ground of true Faith, proved in a Letter written in Latin to a person of Quality in Holland, and now also put into English
- 1686: A true and Faithful Account of the most material Passages of a Dispute between some Students of Divinity (so called), of the University of Aberdeen, and the People called Quakers, held in Aberdeen, in Scotland, in Alexander Harper his close, (or yard), before some hundred of Witnesses, upon the 14th day of the second month, called April, 1675, there being John Lesley, Alexander Sherreff, and Paul Gellie, Master of Arts, opponents; and defendants, upon the Quakers' part, Robert Barclay and George Keith: Preses for moderating the meeting, chosen by them, Andrew Thomson, Advocate; and by the Quakers, Alexander Skein, sometime a Magistrate of the City: published for preventing misreports, by Alexander Skein, John Skein Alexander Harper, Thomas Merser, and John Cowie. To which is added, Robert Barclay’s Offer to the Preachers of Aberdeen, renewed and reinforced.
- 1692: Works (folio)
See also
References
Notes
- ^ David Crystal, editor, The Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia, Cambridge University Press, 1994, p. 73: "He became one of the proprietors of East New Jersey in 1682, and was appointed its nominal nonresident governor."
- ^ David Crystal, editor, The Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia, Cambridge University Press, 1994, p. 73
- ^ a b c d e public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Barclay, Robert". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 394–395. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
- ^ Barclay, R. (1812). Genealogical Account of the Barclays of Urie; for Upwards of Seven Hundred Years: With Memoirs of Colonel David Barclay, and His Son Robert Barclay-also Letters that Passed Between Him, the Duke of York ... and Other Distinguished Characters. J. Herbert. p. 26.
- ODNB article by Brian M. Halloran, 'Barclay, Robert (1611/12–1682)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [1], accessed 3 December 2007.
- ^ Christian Barclay: see ODNB article by Gordon DesBrisay, 'Barclay, Robert, of Ury (1648–1690)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [2], accessed 3 December 2007. and - for children: P. G. M. Dickson, 'Barclay, David (1682–1769)’, rev., Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 10 Aug 2008
- Robert Polhill Bevan
- ^ "one of the most impressive theological writings of the century and often marked by the eloquence of lofty moral convictions'." said by Leslie Stephen, according to The age of Dryden by Richard Garnett, on Googlebooks p226.
- ^ Peter O. Wacker, Land and People; Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 1975; p.305
- ^ Peter O. Wacker, Land and People; Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 1975; p.307
- ^ New Jersey Colonial Documents, Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol. I; Daily Advertiser Publishing House, Newark, New Jersey, 1880. p. 376
- ^ The Grants, Concessions and Original Constitutions of the Province of New Jersey, Aaron Leaming and Jacob Spicer; W. Bradford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1758. pp. 207-213
- ^ The Grants, Concessions and Original Constitutions of the Province of New Jersey, Aaron Leaming and Jacob Spicer; W. Bradford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1758. pp. 153 et seq.
- ^ Journal of the Governor and Council Vol. I (1682-1714), Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol. XIII; The John L. Murphy Publishing Co., Printers, Trenton, New Jersey, 1890. p. 151
- ^ Journal of the Governor and Council Vol. I (1682-1714), Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol. XIII; The John L. Murphy Publishing Co., Printers, Trenton, New Jersey, 1890. p. 158
- ^ Journal of the Governor and Council Vol. I (1682-1714), Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol. XIII; The John L. Murphy Publishing Co., Printers, Trenton, New Jersey, 1890. p. 172
- ISBN 978-0-674-03589-8. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/37149. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 24 October 2008.
Other sources
Further reading
- Chambers, Robert; Thomson, Thomas Napier (1857). . A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen. Vol. 1. Glasgow: Blackie and Son. pp. 149–157 – via Wikisource.
- Cousin, John William (1910), "Barclay, Robert", A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature, London: J. M. Dent & Sons – via Wikisource
- Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. .
External links
- An Apology For the True Christian Divinity by Robert Barclay
- Works by Robert Barclay at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)