160 THE FEENCH BLOOD IN AMERICA 



House in 1715 clierished the project, Id 1715 a house of worship, an un- 

 pretentious brick building, was erected on the plot of 

 ground originally intended for it, and the French church 

 had a home of its own until it gave up its separate 

 existence. 



Ill 



The first pastor of the French church was a severe trial 

 Erratic Pastor both to the uiembers and the outside friends. Laurentius 

 ' Van den Bosch, more properly Lam-ent du Bois, of 

 French parentage, had lived some time in Holland and 

 adopted a Dutch i)atrouymic. He was erratic in the ex- 

 treme. Eemoving to England, he conformed to the Eng- 

 lish church, and came to America with a license from the 

 Bishop of London. In Boston he speedily made himself 

 disliked by his disregard of rules and haughty and stub- 

 born demeanour when reproved. He also embroiled his 

 little congregation, and his conduct was so prejudicial 

 that Mr. Daill6 wrote to Rev. Increase Mather, begging 

 him not to permit the annoyance occasioned by Mr. 

 ' ' Vaudenbosk " to diminish his favour towards the 

 French, since the fault of a single person ought not to be 

 imputed to others to their harm. 



Fortunately for all concerned Vandenbosk soon left 



Boston, and was followed by a man of very different 



character, a most estimable minister who accompanied 



Good ' the French Protestants from the island of St. Christopher 



Bonrepos 



in 1686. The coming of this company added much to 

 the strength of the French congregation, which was 

 never large in numbers, and the new pastor, David Bon- 

 repos, was able to heal the divisions caused by his pred- 

 ecessor, and to enter into most pleasant relations with 

 his fellow ministers. His little flock was to be pitied 

 that after a year of such admirable service to the cause in 

 Boston he was called to minister to the Huguenot colonies 

 in New Rochelle, Staten Island, and New Paltz, in the 

 province of New York. 



