16 April 1776

Van Schaack, Henry, 1733-1823

Autograph letter

Title: to his brother [incomplete]

Writes to his brother about the shipment of goods, family matters, and a difficult boy working as his clerk, named Johnny. Discusses legal issues pertaining to the division of a land patent in Kinderhook, New York. Incomplete and not signed. Possibly a retained copy. Henry had a brother named Peter Van Schaack, who is possibly the recipient of this letter.

GLC07160.02

1792

Van Schaack, Henry, 1733-1823

Autograph document

Title: [Notes on taxation and establishment of churches in Massachusetts]

Notes outlining his arguments against the practices of taxation and appropriation of public monies to fund construction of meeting houses and payment of teachers for denominational majorities. Cites the state constitution and its Bill of Rights. In general, Van Schaack records quotes from the constitution, axioms regarding the separation of church and state, and personal readings of the two, in the left-hand column. In the right-hand column appear specific instances that violate his principles, and other details relating to religion in Massachusetts. Page four has four points to be included…

GLC07160.06

1791/03/11

Van Schaack, Henry, 1733-1823

Autograph letter

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

Writes at length on the relationship between church and state, particularly in regard to unconstitutional tax assessment and the use of public funds to build a Congregational meeting house in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Discusses the Constitution, referring to the second article of the Bill of Rights as it pertains to religion, and his memory of debates at the Constitutional Convention.

GLC07160.01

1791/12

Van Schaack, Henry, 1733-1823

Autograph letter

Title: to Loring Andrews

Writes a letter to the editor of the Western Star to condemn the practice of using public funds to pay for parish teachers linked to denominational majorities. Such taxation and town treasury appropriations, he charges, violate the constitutional protections of minority denominations. Grounds his objection in the Massachusetts constitution and its Bill of Rights.

GLC07160.04