Godfridius Dellius

Godefridus Dellius (baptized 28 October 1654, Cothen – 1738) was a clergyman of the Dutch Reformed Church active in and around Albany, New York during the late 17th century, and perhaps the early 18th century. He came to the New World as a missionary to the Mohawk people in what was by then the English Province of New York (the former New Netherland).

Godefridus Dellius was the son of a preacher, Godefridus Dellius Sr (ca. 1613-1687) 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. He was licensed by the classis of Wijk bin Duurstede about 1680 and ordained by the classis of Amsterdam in 1682. On April 10, 1683 he married Isabella de Ridder in Cothen and they emigrated to North America the same year. He settled at Albany 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, he refused to recognize Jacob Leisler's usurpation 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 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.

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