Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/151

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DE LANCEY
DE LANCEY
131

provost five years, and, having brought the university back to a prosperous condition (taking it with 21 students and leaving it with 125), resigned, to resume his profession. In 1833 he was elected (the three united churches being separated that year) assistant minister of St. Peter's church, Philadelphia, with the reversion of the rectorship upon the death of Bishop White, who was continued rector of all three. That event occurred in 1836, and Dr. De Lancey continued rector of St. Peter's until 1839, when, upon the division of the diocese of New York, then embracing the whole state, he was elected bishop of western New York, that half of the state west of a north-and-south line just east of the city of Utica. He was consecrated at Auburn in the new diocese on 9 May, 1839, Bishop Griswold, of Massachusetts, being the consecrator, assisted by Bishop George W. Doane, of New Jersey, and Bishops Henry R. Onderdonk and Benjamin T. Onderdonk, of Pennsylvania and New York respectively. Bishop De Lancey removed to Geneva, N. Y., nearly the centre of the new diocese, and the seat of Geneva college, where he resided during his episcopate. At that date, 1839, there was not a railroad in the state of New York west of Utica, except a horse-line with wooden rails between Syracuse and Auburn, nor did a railroad reach Geneva until late in 1841. His labors, therefore, in travelling continually over so large a territory, by horse-power only, during the earlier part of his term of office, were extremely arduous. In 1852 Bishop De Lancey and the bishop of Michigan were sent by the house of bishops as delegates to the celebration in London of the 150th anniversary of the Society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, in response to an invitation from the Archbishop of Canterbury. This was the first time the American church was ever represented officially in England, and the first time that American bishops took part officially with Anglican bishops in the public services in St. Paul's cathedral and Westminster Abbey. On this occasion the degree of D. C. L. was conferred by the University of Oxford upon Bishop De Lancey. He had previously spent a year (1835-'6) in Europe, and in 1859 he again went there on account of his wife's health, and travelled extensively. During this visit he was invited by the Archbishop of Canterbury to assist as a consecrator in the consecration of an English bishop for British Columbia, in Westminster Abbey, the first time an American bishop ever united in the consecration of an English bishop. The legislation of the American church during the twenty-six years of his episcopate, and her institutions as a whole, notably that of the General theological seminary, bear the impress of his judgment, his foresight, his influence, and his firm and decided, yet always courteous, character. He first proposed the adoption of the provincial system in the American church, and the change in the organization of the General theological seminary, which, though it did not occur till nearly twenty years after his death, has resulted, though in a slightly different manner, in making it practically a diocesan institution. To him western New York owes the existence of Geneva (now Hobart) college, the endowment that saved it from extinction being the result of his personal influence and labor with the vestry of Trinity church, and also the founding of De Veaux college at Niagara, and the Training-school at Geneva, the former through his influence with and his advice to his personal friend, Judge De Veaux, and the latter to his individual exertions in raising the funds, in the grounds of the latter stands a fine stone church, erected after his death by friends in Philadelphia and in western New York, as his monument. He was nearly six feet high, of graceful mien and commanding presence, united with the most courteous manners and great vivacity, and was one of the most agreeable of men. He was a most eloquent and forcible speaker, and few clergymen could read the service so well and so impressively. In debate he was most skilful, and as a parliamentarian unequalled among his professional brethren. He married, 22 Nov., 1820, Frances, second daughter of Peter Jay Munro, of Mamaroneck, N. Y., and left three sons and one daughter. Besides his various charges, official sermons, and addresses, and a few miscellaneous pamphlets, Bishop De Lancey published no other works. — Edward Floyd, lawyer, eldest son of William Heathcote, b. in Mamaroneck, N. Y., 23 Oct., 1821, was educated at the University of Pennsylvania and at Hobart college, being graduated at the latter institution in 1843. He attended the law-school of Harvard in 1844-'5, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1846, beginning to practise in the city of New York, where he has since resided. He has travelled extensively in Europe, Egypt, and Asia Minor, and also the British American provinces. Mr. Delancey early evinced a talent for historical research. He has been president of the New York genealogical and biographical society (1873-'7), of the Westchester county historical society (1874-'9), and of the St. Nicholas society (1880-'1). In 1879 he was elected domestic corresponding secretary of the New York historical society, which office he still holds. He has edited Jones's “History of New York during the Revolutionary War” (New York, 1879), and the “Secret Correspondence of Sir Henry Clinton” (“Magazine of American History,” October, 1883, to August, 1884). He is the author of “Memoir of the Hon. James De Lancey, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New York” (Albany, 1851), and in vol. iv., “Documentary History of New York” (1851); “The Capture of Fort Washington the Result of Treason” (New York, 1877); “Memoir of James W. Beckman” (New York, 1879); “Memoir of William Allen, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania” (Philadelphia, 1879); “Origin and History of Manors in the Province of New York” (New York, 1886); and “History of Mamaroneck, N. Y.” (New York, 1886). — Peter, member of assembly, second son of Étienne, b. in New York city, 26 Aug., 1705; d. in West Farms, Westchester co., N. Y., 17 Oct., 1770. He was a man of great wealth and influence, and sat in the New York assembly for Westchester county from 1750 till 1768, when he declined re-election in favor of his second son, John. He had six sons, several of whom are mentioned below. Of his five daughters, Alice married Ralph Izard, the South Carolina senator, and Susan became the wife of Col. Thomas Barclay, the first British consul appointed in New York after the peace of 1783. — Stephen, lawyer and loyalist, son of the