USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Bergen > Annals of the classis of Bergen, of the Reformed Dutch Church, and of the churches under its care: including, the civil history of the ancient township of Bergen, in New Jersey > Part 7
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It is thus the ancient township of Bergen has as- sumed a new dress. The external appearance of the entire county is so strikingly changed, and the chang- es are so rapid, that it need be no surprise if ten years hence, the cities of Hoboken, Jersey City, and Hud- son, with the town of Bergen, should be consolidated under one city government. In twenty years, the entire county may become one vast city. Even now, this ancient township is occupied by the inhabitants of three cities and two townships.
At an early day the first settlers in the township established a school, which was for years under the direction of the Consistory, of the then only church- the Reformed Dutch Church at Bergen. The Con- sistory appointed the school master, who. in addition
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to the ordinary instruction in the elementary branches of education, was required to hear recitations on the catechism of the church, and at stated times to receive the pastor or elders of the church, when all the pupils of the school were to be catechised and instructed in the elementary truths of religion. Doubtless, for several successive generations, this was the course pursued. This arrangement precisely corresponds with the provision in the Constitution of the Reformed Dutch Church .* "The Consistories, in every congre- gation, shall be careful to provide good schoolmasters, who are able, not only to instruct children in reading, writing, grammar, and the liberal sciences, but also to teach them the Catechism, and the first principles of religion." And by subsequent enactment of the General Synod, no person could be appointed to the charge of these schools who was not a member of the Reformed Dutch Church, furnished with testimonials of his orthodoxy, and good morals, and who had not previously subscribed the Confession of Faith, and the Belgic Catechism, and solemnly promised to in- struct the children committed to his care, in the prin- ciples contained in the church standards. In accord- ance with these requirements, were the provisions of the charter granted to the church at Bergen, in 1771.
The author has heard some of the most aged of his pastoral flock refer to the days of their childhood, when from all parts of the township, as it then existed, including Hoboken, Jersey City, and Bergen Point, they and their schoolmates were busied with their
· Rules of Church Government in Constitution of Reformed D. Church. Edition of 1815, p. 180.
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lessons in Dutch and English, using principally as a reading book, the Psalter and New Testament, and rather dreading the day for the good old Dominie's catechise. The name of one of the venerable teachers, in the use of the Dutch language, was Van Benthuy- sen, who became famous for his instructions, and as a rigid disciplinarian, not sparing the rod.
Nor can he soon forget the exhilarating scene he once witnessed, as it occurred between two aged men of the olden schools. This Van Benthuysen had re- moved to Schenectady from Bergen, and there con- tinued his indefatigable labors for a long time. One of these aged persons, while visiting a son at Jersey City, for several days craved an opportunity for some conversation in his beloved Dutch language, and was brought to our then quiet village, where many could be found to gratify his wish. He applied to the author for an introduction to some aged citizen, with whom to spend an hour or more in a social chat. In a few minutes he was in the presence of an octoge- narian like himself, and soon the countenances of these venerable men, both then vigorous and active, bright- ened, as they spoke in Dutch of the generations that were, and presently, of their school-boy days ; each narrating the studies pursued, and the playful pranks of boyhood, followed by the rod of correction, with stripes many, when one of them named the renowned Van Benthuysen, as specially severe on his own back. The other asked significantly -" What? did you go to school to Van Benthuysen ?" "Surely I did," was the reply. " I, too," said the other, " and he often flogged me, too." Both, with peculiar emotion, ex-
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THE HISTORY OF BERGEN.
pressed surprise, and fought their school battles over again, with a zest that they never forgot. In after years, repeated messages passed between them, and they ever referred to the unexpected meeting, at their advanced age, with interest. Each, in his native place, had outlived the large majority of his early companions, and soon both would be no more on earth. But the Psalter, the Catechism, the schools, and the venerated master of the schools, were pre- cious in their memories.
How long the school in Bergen retained its pecu- liar form, under the government of the officers of the church, cannot now be certainly ascertained.
On the site of the present stone edifice, known as the old Academy, there must have stood at least one, and perhaps two school houses, previous to the exist- ing one. This is a large edifice of brown stone, erected A. D., 1790, two stories high, surmounted by a cupola.
An act of incorporation had been obtained, by which the style and title of the school was " The Ber- gen Columbia Academy." The board of trustees con- sisted of seven persons duly chosen according to law. These trustees laid claim to, and took possession of, certain lands, which by the commissioners appointed years before, had been allotted and designated on the field books, as " For the Free School of the town of Bergen," being three tracts or lots. The first marked on the map of the commissioners as No. 177, was the lot in the town "whereon the school house now stands." The second was a pasture lot, No. 178, ly- ing Southwesterly from, and near to the town of Ber-
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BERGEN COLUMBIA ACADEMY.
Erected 1,90
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THE HISTORY OF BERGEN.
gen. The third was a lot of pasture ground, lying North-easterly from, and near to the town, marked No. 179. The descriptions of these lands are very accurately given in the field book.
Nearly all of the second and third of these lots had been sold and conveyed by the trustees of "The Ber -. gen Columbia Academy," to sundry persons, and they invested the proceeds of these sales so as to derive an available revenue from them, which revenue was applied to the support of the school in its two de- partments, the one for classical, the other for elemen- tary instruction.
In process of time, however, "The Trustees of the Freeholders, Inhabitants of the township of Bergen," claimed, and pressed their claim to these lands, and to the monies arising from such of them as had been sold, on the ground that they were the only legal re- presentatives of the inhabitants of the township. The contest became exciting. And with a view to end all dispute in the matter, "The Trustees of the Bergen Columbia Academy," by five, being a majority of their number, under their signatures and affixing their corporate seal thereto, conveyed, by quit claim, all their right, title, and interest in the said property, both to the lands set apart by the commissioners for the use of a free school in the town of Bergen, and to all monies arising from the sale of a part thereof, and to the bonds, mortgages, vouchers, and securities men- tioned in a schedule annexed; unto "The Trustees of the Freeholders, Inhabitants of the township of Ber- gen," and to their successors in office, and assigns. In this same instrument, they assign and set over to
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THE HISTORY OF BERGEN.
said trustees, the lot and school house in the town of Bergen, commonly called "The Columbia Academy," with a proviso, "The said school house shall be ap- propriated for the use of a school or schools." Dated, September 25th, 1813.
The signatures are :-
JEREMIAH VAN WINKLE, MARTIN WINNE,
PETER SIP, GARRIT J. NEWKIRK,
GARRIT VAN REYPEN.
The seal of the Academy is very distinct in its im- pression-an American eagle, surrounded by the words " Bergen Academy Seal."
The schedule of bonds, amounts to " three thous- and five hundred dollars and forty-two cents."
Legislative action was deemed necessary fully to confirm the sales of lands made by "The Trustees of the Academy," and for selling the remaining unsold land, and to secure the legitimate use of the monies thence arising, and the conditions and covenants be- tween the two boards of trustees. Wherefore, on ap- plication, by petition, from "The Trustees of the Free- holders, Inhabitants of the township of Bergen," with the approbation of the freeholders, properly obtained, the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, on the 27th day of January, A. D., 1814, passed an act to confirm the sales made by "The Trustees of the Ber- gen Columbia Academy," and authorizing the trus- tees of the corporation of the township to make further sales.
The third section of this act declares, "That the monies which have arisen from the sales aforesaid, and such other sums in the hands of the said trustees
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THE HISTORY OF BERGEN.
of the corporation of the township of Bergen, amount- ing to the sum of four thousand dollars, together with the residue of the lands and appurtenances thereunto, belonging to the said Free School, be vested in the trustees aforesaid, and their successors, for the use and benefit of said Free School, in gradual and perpetual succession, from one body of trustees to another, and to be exclusively under their control, for the continu- ance of said Free School, and for no other purpose."
For a time, teachers were employed at certain sala- ries in this school. But it appears from a report of a committee of the Trustees of the Freeholders, Inhabi- tants of the township of Bergen, dated January 28th, A. D., 1843, that they find that the whole amount of property sold by the trustees of the Columbia Acade- my, was - - - -
- $3,704 21 And a lot sold by the corporation trustees, 30 69
Total of sales, - -
-
$3,734 90
Amount assigned by trustees of the Acade-
my, in bonds, &c., - $3,500 42 -
The committee find that the whole amount ex- pended, as per vouchers, to 1st of May, 1842, was $17,491 80.
They say, "By adding the interest of said school fund to the principal yearly, and taking therefrom the expenses every year, said fund was expended in the year 1819."
The committee were Messrs. George Vreeland, and Cornelius C. Van Reypen.
While the accuracy of this report, as to receipts and expenditures, cannot be questioned, and the de- 5*
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THE HISTORY OF BERGEN.
tails of the report show various sums paid " FOR SCHOOLS," it is remarkable that the express condition of the transfer, from the trustees of "Bergen Colum- bia Academy," to the Corporation Trustees, and the third section of the act of the Legislature, passed in January, 1814, should have been so lost sight of, that in five years from that time, viz: in 1819, the whole school fund should have been expended.
The transfer of the school house or academy lot, vests that property, to this day, in the Corporation trustees, for " the continuance of said Free School, and for no other purpose."
A school or schools have continued to be there maintained ; not, however, by the Corporation trus- tees, but by the trustees of the District School No. 1, as designated under the State School Law.
The building is fast becoming dilapidated, and must ere long give place to another, adapted to the present advanced state of schools. And the present generation, who with their parents, have so long en- joyed the advantages furnished there, for elementary education, must meet the demand with a liberality, such as was manifested when the present house was reared. This, the district has resolved to do, and the work will ere long be begun. The cost, not to exceed four thousand dollars, to be raised by tax on the citi- zens. This academy was for many years in high re- pute. Attention was directed to it at an early day. In the month of June, 1794, at the stated session of the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, when that reverend body were adopting measures for estab- lishing a Theological Professorate, Bergen wax promi-
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THE HISTORY OF BERGEN.
nently named as a location for the Theological Hall then contemplated. A committee of the Synod, con- sisting of Rev. Dirck Romeyn, D.D., Solomon Fræ- ligh, and Elias Van Benschoten, and the Elders, Henry Van Wye, James Abeel, and Evert Bancker, in their report, recommended "that it should be fixed at the town of Bergen, or at such other place still further to the North, in the State of New Jersey, as may be agreed upon between the Trustees of the Col- lege, (Queen's), and the General Synod."
The then quiet, and almost secluded town of Ber- gen, was deemed an appropriate place for the loca- tion of the College, with which the Theological Semi- nary was contemplated to be connected, and it was understood, that accommodations for a season could be furnished in the Academy. Ultimately, however, other arrangements were made.
There have been in this Academy several very able and successful teachers, not only in the English, but in the classical departments. Our now aged fellow- citizen, Henry Traphagen, Esq., the Rev. Andrew Craig, Thos. M. Gehagen, David Patterson, and Rev. Melancthon B. Williams, have all served as princi- pals. And of the pupils who have gone forth into the world from it, some have attained eminence in their profession, and not a few been highly useful in the civil, social, and religious spheres of action. Among them are the Rev. John F. Jackson, John Ludlow, D. D., Professor of Church History and Church Govern- ment in the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, Gabriel Ludlow, D. D., Jared Dewing, Stephen H. Meeker, William J. R. Taylor, John Ferguson, M. D.,
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Honorable Gabriel Furman, John P. Jackson, Esq., Thomas B. Gautier, M. D., John M. Cornelison, M. D., Josiah H. Gautier, M. D., and William Horn- blower, M. D.
While for very many years, no other school existed in the township, several private seminaries of learn- ing, both male and female, and our numerous district schools are now urging forward the cause of educa- tion. New and commodious school-houses are being erected throughout the county, and will continue to send forth their healthful influences.
It is peculiarly gratifying to know, that the descend- ants of the original settlers of Bergen, are now appre- ciating a good education. Several of their sons are prosecuting literary studies in the best institutions of the land, and others are preparing to follow them ; while many are giving greatly increased facilities to their daughters, in obtaining an education which shall qualify them to adorn the social circle, and fulfill their destiny on earth, in all that is useful and lovely in the sphere of woman.
History of the Beformed Dutch Church at Bergen.
In the ecclesiastical records in possession of this Church, no precise account can be found of the time, and circumstances, under which it was constituted. It is however certain, that the early emigrants from Holland, and their descendants, very soon sought and obtained an ecclesiastical organization, by authority from the Classis of Amsterdam, under whose jurisdic- tion this Church was, until the separation of the Re- formed Dutch Churches in America from the Synod of North Holland.
The oldest book of the minutes of the Consistory, now extant, refers under date of December 6th, 1798, to the loss of a previous volume, during the revolu- tionary war. The books of account of monies collect- ed for church purposes, are in a tolerable state of preservation, as far back as to the year 1667; and the Registers of the Church commence A. D., 1664. From this time, the Baptismal, Marriage, Communicants',
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HISTORY OF THE REFORMED
and Burial Registers, have been kept with great regu- larity, to the present date, (1856), with the excep- tion of a period of about twenty-four years, viz: from 1769 to 1793; and this chasm is found only in the Register of the Communicants.
As early as 1662, as appears from records in the office of the Secretary of State, in Albany, N. Y., four hundred and seventeen guilders, or $166 80, were raised by tax, in the township of Bergen, towards the erection of a Church. In the Communicants' Regis- ter, in 1664, there are recorded the names of nine males and eighteen females-twenty-seven in all.
The first named on the list is Nicholas Verlett, who was at that time one of Governor Carteret's privy counsellors. He had settled at Hoboken previous to 1656, and from varions public documents, to which his name is attached, appears to have been a man of activity and usefulness. He was prominent in the affairs of this Church for some years. His family are said to have been massacred by the Indians. This Church was doubtless the first, duly constituted on the soil of New Jersey, and probably the sixth of the Reformed Dutch Churches in North America.
Precisely where the first church edifice was reared, for the use of the inhabitants of Bergen, cannot be fully ascertained. Tradition locates it on the ground now occupied by the family vault of the late Rev. John Cornelison, in what is known as the Old Grave Yard on the hill, and the North-easterly corner of which, is the South-westerly corner of the Town Plot, as desig- nated on the Field Book of the Commissioners.
It is represented to have been a log structure, and
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DUTCH CHURCH AT BERGEN.
was for eighteen years an humble, unpretending tabernacle for the Most High. In it, as occasion would permit, those venerable men, the Rev. Samuel and John Megapolensis, of New York; John Theo- dorus Polhemus, of Flatbush, Long Island; Gideon Schaats, of Albany; William Van Niewenhuysen, of New York; Peter Taschenmaker, of New Amstel, (now New Castle, Del.), and Casparus Van Zuuren, of Long Island, lifted up their voices, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and administering the Holy Supper. But these occasions seldom exceeded five in a year.
No attempt was yet made to secure the stated preaching of the Word by the living teacher; but the faithful record of the Deacons of the Church shows, from 1667, the regular Sabbath collection, with only an occasional omission; and the frequent admissions of members to full communion, prove the value of such services as they were enabled to maintain. When, therefore, the living teacher could not be with them, the ever punctual Voorleser, or Clerk, or Chor- ister, (who was also for very many years the school- master, duly appointed by the Consistory of the Church, and who was always viewed as a man of piety, and looked up to as a "help" in the sanctuary), conducted public worship by leading in prayer-using the Liturgy of the Church, and reading a sermon, generally selected, by the Eldership, from some of the volumes of choice discourses, issuing from the pens of the best theologians of Holland. Thus, while as op- portunity occurred, some of the people frequented the Dutch Church in New York, none of them need be
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HISTORY OF THE REFORMED
without the sanctuary. They had it among them, and therein the Spirit of God manifestly wrought for the good of souls.
The Lord's Supper was administered to them in 1664-5, as appears on the records, but by whom is not specified. In 1666, the Rev. Samuel Megapolen- sis dispensed that ordinance. The Rev. John Mega- polensis did the same from 1667 to 1671. The Rev. Gideon Schatts, in 1671, and the Rev. Wilhelmus Van Niewenhuysen, statedly from 1672 to 1680. The Rev. Casparus Van Zuuren, from 1680 to 1682.
During the sixteen years previous to the erection of a commodious church edifice, and while the log tabernacle was frequented by these humble worship- ers, there were, as the Register shows, added to the communion of this Church, no less than one hundred and twenty-four persons. Thus feebly ministered unto, and yet favored with a mind to work, they early began a system of operations, designed to secure an appropriate house for God. Their efforts were crowned with success, in the year 1680, when they laid the foundation, and reared thereon an octagonal stone church. The initials of the names of the principal men in the congregation were cut in rude, but raised letters, on some of the stones, which they laid with their own hands. The site was on the corner, of the Southernmost street, in the original Town Plot, and the main street, or road leading to Bergen Point. Over the front door was a stone, on which was in- scribed "W. Day, 1680." Mr. Day was the builder. A belfry surmounted the roof, and when ringing the bell, the sexton stood in the centre of the building.
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DUTCH CHURCH AT BERGEN
In the interior, pews were placed only around the wall, and were occupied solely by the male attendants. The remainder of the floor was used by the females, each having a chair. The arrangement for public service continued as before, excepting only a definite agreement for the sacramental services to be rendered three times in each year, was entered into, first with the Rev. Henry Selyns, who, soon after his enda ne upon pastoral duty in the Church of New York, wrote to the reverend Classis of Amsterdam, October 28th, 1682, giving an account of his reception in that city, and of his arrangements for ministerial labor. In this communication he says, " at the request of the people of Bergen, I have consented to preach there, three times in a year, on Mondays, both morning and after- noon, and administer the Lord's Supper. I found there a new church, and at the celebration of the Lord's Supper, one hundred and thirty-four members. At other times they are accustomed to come over the river here, to the hearing of the word."* His first ad- ministration of the Word and Ordinance to this people, was on the 2d of October, 1682. These services he continued until the year 1699, a period of seventeen years. At other times, however, the records show that the Rev. Rudolphus Varick, William Bartholf, and Henry Lupardus, ministered, on the Lord's day, to this people.
In 1699, the Rev. Gualtherus Dubois became a colleague with Mr. Selyns, in the Church in New York, and the services and care previously bestowed
* See the letter in Christian Intelligencer of March 27th, 1856.
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HISTORY OF THE REFORMED
on the Church of Bergen, were transferred from Mr. Selyns to Mr. Dubois, only about a year before the death of Mr. S., in 1701. On the 2d day of Septem- ber, 1700, he first dispensed the Holy Supper in Ber- gen, and continued his ministrations until his death, in September, 1751-more than half a century. On the 20th of that month, on the Sabbath, he returned from preaching to his own people-entered his study, with the view of preparing for his visit to Bergen on the Monday, to administer the Lord's Supper, when he was prostrated suddenly by the disease which termi- nated his life in ten days.
From the earliest stage in their history, the Church and congregation had an eye to what to them was an object of unceasing desire, a stated ministry. They had great difficulties to encounter. The number of ministers who could preach in the Dutch language was very small, and however objectionable to some minds, funded churches may be, the founders of the Church of Bergen deserve to be held in remembrance, for having commenced a fund, by Sabbath collections, as soon as they were organized as a church, to be sacredly devoted to the support of a pastor. In this they per- severed; constantly increasing it, even while they had little reason to believe that their eyes would look upon, or their hands would feel the friendly grasp of one, whom they might style their Dominie. At that early day, an Indian money made of conch shells was used. These were beads of two kinds-black and white; the former worth twice as much as the latter; three of black or six white equalling a stiver-twenty stivers a guilder, and the guilder is worth forty cents of U. S.
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1. HowLANDje.
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DUTCH CHURCH AT BERGEN.
money. These small pieces of wampum, as it was called, were owned by the Deacons, and sold out at the given value-the head of each family purchasing them. They were distributed to the members of the family, and in church each deposited his piece of this money in the collection bag. The black velvet bags, attached to long poles, were used for a very long time, each having a small bell at the bottom of it, the ringing of which awakened the drowsy ones at the collection time. These bags were hung on pegs or hooks, just beside the pulpit, near to the deacons' seat, and within an appropriate box. At the proper time, the Deacons, each taking one in hand, present- ed themselves in front of the pulpit, and having re- ceived their sacred charge from the lips of the minister, when present, immediately went among the congrega- tion, collecting their contributions. This venerable usage continued until about half a century ago.
It may here also be properly stated, that the Clerk, or Voorleser of the Church, sitting in his little pew, just in front of the pulpit, with a book-board rising from it, also had a rod, in one end of which was a slit, in which notices were placed; and by his quiet- ly passing his rod up to the pulpit, the minister, with little or no interruption, received the notice to be published. This may seem strange at the present day, but let it be remembered, that the moment the minister arrived at the pulpit stairs, his private devo- tional prayer was offered, as he held his hat before his face, seeking the presence of the Master of the house,
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