USA > New York > Erie County > Buffalo > History of St. Paul's Church, Buffalo, N.Y. : 1817 to 1888 > Part 1
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Gc 974.702 B86℮ 1851833
M. L
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02210 2724
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofstpauls00evan_0
William Shelton
From a photograph taken by Ghémar Frères, Brussels, Belgium, during Dr. Shel- ton's second trip to Europe in 1864-65, at the age of sixty-six years.
history of - St. Paul's Church,
Buffalo, IA. D.
1817 to 1888.
BY CHARLES W. EVANS,
ONE OF THE WARDENS, FROM 1863 UNTIL HIS DEATH, FEBRUARY 8, 1889.
EDITED, WITH FOOT NOTES, OCCASIONAL ADDITIONS IN THE TEXT, AND A CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY FROM
1888 to 1903.
WITH CHAPTERS ON : THE RESTORED ST. PAUL'S; THE MEMORIALS; THE IVY; THE CHIMES OF ST. PAUL'S; THE GREAT TOWER AND SPIRE ; THE MUSIC, 1817-1903; HISTORICAL NOTES, 1817-1903; LIST OF THE CLERGY, 1817-1903 ; LIST OF THE VESTRY, 1817-1903 ; THE ARCHITECTS OF ST. PAUL'S; SUBSCRIPTION LISTS, ETC. BY ALICE M. EVANS BARTLETT AND G. HUNTER BARTLETT.
With Sixty=four Illustrations.
THE MATTHEWS-NORTHRUP WORKS, BUFFALO AND NEW YORK. 1903.
Copyright, 1903, by ALICE M. EVANS BARTLETT AND G. HUNTER BARTLETT.
TO THE MEMORY
OF THE
Rev. William Shelton, D. D.
RECTOR OF
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, BUFFALO, N. Y., 1829 TO 1882,
THIS HISTORY IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED
BY
THE AUTHOR.
IF reface.
T HE History of St. Paul's Church, Buffalo, was first suggested by the vestry June 7, 1841, but beyond the collection of some useful memoranda nothing was done. From 1847 to 1887 the minutes of the vestry were recorded in somewhat of a historical form. In 1886 it was suggested to the undersigned to write a history of the parish - and having been called by his fellow parishioners, at different times during the past forty years, to all the important offices of the parish - first as clerk of the vestry, then as treasurer of the parish, then as one of the vestry, and subsequently as junior warden, and, finally, as senior warden - he became possessed, in the exercise of the duties of these different offices, of considerable knowledge of parish history, by tradi- tion as well as by examination of the records, the result of all of which is this history. He hopes it will be favorably received by the present parishioners. Of course, the central figure is our late rector, the Rev. Dr. Shelton ; and such parishioners are named as have made more or less of parish history, or have been instrumental in advancing its interests. The chronological form was thought to be the best adapted in showing the progress of the parish from its organization in 1817, through its days of adversity, then in its more comfortable circum- stances, and finally, through the large expenditures in building the church edifice, to its present prosperous condition.
BUFFALO, N. Y., January, 1888.
CHARLES W. EVANS.
Charles W. Evans died February 8, 1889, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, leaving the History referred to above in manuscript.
The Dedication to the Rev. Dr. Shelton, the Preface and the full text of the " History of St. Paul's Church, Buffalo," by Mr. Evans, from 1817 to 1888 (pages 7 to 159 in this volume) are given as he left them in manuscript. It was his expressed wish that the present editors should prepare this part of the book for the press. Footnotes have
Preface.
been added wherever the interest of the narrative seemed increased thereby. We have also thought best to add such paragraphs as might serve to fill out the details of the story for present-day readers, and have therefore inserted in Mr. Evans's text extracts from Dr. Shelton's first sermon in the new church in 1851 (p. 73), and portions of the sermons by Bishop Coxe and the Rev. Dr. Brown on the death of Dr. Shelton (p. 150, 147), also a description of the church, published in 1851 (p. 68), written by the Rev. Dr. Charles Wells Hayes, who was present at the consecration in that year. Further details have also been added in some of the obituary accounts of parishioners, and elsewhere.
Also in accordance with Mr. Evans's desire, we have continued the History from January 1888, bringing it down to April, 1903. The work of preparing the book was begun shortly after Mr. Evans's death, and has been carried on, with unavoidable interruptions and delays, until now. The obtaining of reliable data in many instances has taken much time. The expected task of a few years has extended, a labor of love, over many years. The architectural description of the Restored Church, the chapters on The Memorials, The Chimes, The Tower, and The Music, the Historical Notes, and the various lists, have all been added as bearing on the history of the parish, and as worthy of preservation in a volume devoted to its annals.
Much time and care have been given in searching out the facts, and in verifying the dates, names, and other details of this history, both by verbal and written inquiry, and in the examination of the vestry records, treasurers' books, many old documents, old letters, and newspaper files. The records of the city and county, the Bureau of Vital Statistics, and the Buffalo Historical Society, etc., have also been frequently consulted. Some errors are, however, unavoidable in a book of this kind, especially when it is remembered that minor inaccuracies and omissions exist in the original records and documents themselves. We have also prepared and added an analytical Index, with cross references.
In the brief obituary accounts given in this volume of members of the parish who have passed away, only those who were parochial officers, or who were in some other way prominently identified with the growth and work of St. Paul's, during the eighty- six years covered by this history, have been mentioned. Of the great majority of the army of faithful parishioners who now rest from their labors, it has been impossible to give here even the names.
The history of St. Paul's parish, beginning as it does almost with the beginnings of Buffalo itself, affords glimpses of the old village life of our city, of the days when "the burning " was in everyone's mind as an event of yesterday, and when the regions north of Chippewa Street were still haunted by the legendary spirits of the fields and woods.
We wish to acknowledge the manifold courtesies received from the Rector and the vestry, and from many members of the parish and others, in the preparation of this History for the press.
The work is published by Mr. Evans's wife and family, in fulfillment of his long- cherished wish.
BUFFALO, N. Y., April 16, 1903.
ALICE M. EVANS BARTLETT.
G. HUNTER BARTLETT.
Contents.
PAGES.
History of St. Paul's Church, Buffalo, February 10, 1817, to January 1, 1888, 7-159 Continuation of the History of St. Paul's Church, January 1, 1888, to April 16, 1903, . 163-263 The Restored St. Paul's, 265-278 The Memorials, 278-298 The Ivy, 298, 299
The Chimes of St. Paul's, . 299-313
The Great Tower and Spire, .
314-318
The Music at St. Paul's, 1817-1903,
Historical Notes, 1817-1903, 319-356
357-395
St. Paul's Church, Historical Outline, 1817-1903,
357-360
The Seal of the Corporation,
360, 361
The first Roman Catholic Mass in Buffalo,
361
Notes on the early Rectors, .
361-365
Extracts from some early letters, from the Rev. Addison Searle, Rector of St. Paul's, to Bishop Hobart, etc., 365, 366
Major Noah's City, . 366-369
Accounts and Anecdotes of the Rev. Dr. Shelton, 369-383
Early years of the Church in Buffalo, . 383-385 The Bank of England and St. Paul's, . 385, 386 Account of the formation of a free church for lakemen and others, 386-388 Removal of the frame church, 1850, 388, 389
The numbering of the Pearl Street Rectory, 389, 390
The Wooden Model of St. Paul's, 390-392
Notes on the Sunday School, 392
St. Paul's Guild,
392-394
From Minutes of the Building Committee, after the fire of 1888, 394, 395 List of the Clergy in St. Paul's Church, 1817-1903, 396
397-420
List of the Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Paul's Church, 1817-1903, 421-426
The Architects of St. Paul's, 1819-1890, .
Subscription Lists, 426-439
In Conclusion, 440, 441 Index,
443-472
Illustrations.
Portrait of the Rev. Dr. Shelton, taken in Brussels, Belgium, at the age
of 66 years, with autograph, . . Frontispiece.
PAGE.
Reduced facsimile of receipt given at first sale of pews, November 24, 1820, 6
Reduced facsimile of original Organization Paper of St. Paul's Church, February
10, 1817, . 8 The Rt. Rev. John Henry Hobart, D. D., 12 Reduced facsimile of autograph letter of Joseph Ellicott to the vestry, May 20, 1819,
14
Map of Buffalo Village,
16
Reduced facsimiles of pew deeds in 1823 and 1826, 22
Plan of original frame church of St. Paul's, as built in 1819, with names of pew holders in 1827, .
30
St. Paul's frame church from Main Street, 32
Original Altar, Chancel-rail, reading-desk, pulpit and font, in frame church, with plan of chancel, .
34
"The Churches " in 1838 (from Buckingham's " America "), . 38
Easterly end of interior of St. Paul's frame church, showing the organ, 1829-50, The Rev. William Shelton at about the age of 35 years,
38 40 44
Plan of galleries, basement, and part of south aisle, St. Paul's frame church,
" The Churches" in 1838 (from title page of "Buffalo City Guards Grand March"), .
46
Reduced facsimiles of stock certificate and pew deed, St. Paul's Church, 1849-51, 54
Plan of St. Paul's frame church, with names of pew holders in 1849, 58 The Rev. Dr. Shelton at about the age of 52, . 60
Reduced facsimiles of the two lithographic drawings of St. Paul's, published in 1851,
68
Reduced facsimile of the lithographed plan of church in 1851, with names of pew holders at Easter, 1857, 84
The Rev. Dr. Shelton, from a photograph taken about the early '60's, . 88
The Rt. Rev. William Heathcote DeLancey, D. D., LL. D., 96
The Rt. Rev. Arthur Cleveland Coxe, D. D., LL. D., . 98
St. Paul's from Main Street, in 1867, before the spires were built, 104
St. Paul's from South Division Street, in 1870, just before the completion of the main spire, 106
Illustrations.
PAGE.
General view of Buffalo in 1870, looking north, from scaffolding on main spire ·
of St. Paul's, 108 St. Paul's from Main Street in 1870, after the completion of the main spire, . IIO The Rev. Dr. Shelton in his 72d year, . 114 General view of St. Paul's and the city, from the tower of the City Hall (1875), 118
The Rev. Dr. Shelton in his 80th year, from the Sellstedt portrait, . 124 The Rev. Dr. Shelton in the chancel of St. Paul's, February, 1881, in his 83d year, I28
The Rev. John Wesley Brown, D. D., from a crayon drawing, 136
Plan of St. Paul's, and names of pew holders in 1883, 138
"The Churches " in 1884, 152
Interior of St. Paul's, looking east from the west organ gallery, 1884, I54
The first Shelton Memorial Windows at St. Paul's. The Rev. Dr. Brown in the chancel, 1887, 156
Repointing the main spire in 1886,
The ruins of St. Paul's from Main Street, 1888, 160
Interior view of ruins of St. Paul's, looking east from the west organ gallery, 166
161
Interior view of ruins of St. Paul's, looking west from the chancel, 168
The Restored St. Paul's, from Main Street, 182
The Rev. J. A. Regester, S. T. D., . 194
The present Rectory of St. Paul's, 61 Johnson's Park,
200
Bishop Coxe, about 1892, 204
Bishop Walker, . 212
Dr. Shelton's Rectory, 128 Pearl Street, . 216
The present Parish House, 128 Pearl Street, 216
Plan of Restored St. Paul's, and names of pew holders in 1902,
250
Plan of St. Paul's Church and lot in 1902, showing triangles of land deeded to the church in that year, 254
The Restored St. Paul's, from site of Prudential Building,
The Restored St. Paul's, Interior, looking east from main vestibule, 263
The Restored St. Paul's, looking west from the Chancel, 272
278
The Restored St. Paul's, from the northwest corner of Pearl and Church streets, 298 In the belfry of the Great Tower, . 304
At the keyboard in the Chimers' room, .
310
The Restored St. Paul's, from the corner of Pearl and Swan streets, showing the Great Tower and Spire, 314
The Restored St. Paul's, Interior, showing the Chancel and the vested choir, . 352
The seal of the Corporation of St. Paul's Church, .
Corner stone of the City of Ararat ( 1825), 360
368
The German-Evangelical St. Peter's Church, formerly old St. Paul's, 388
Views of the wooden model of St. Paul's, 1850, .
390
St. Paul's and its environment, 1902 (views from South Division Street and from the Erie County Savings Bank Building), 440
(Added too late for insertion above.)
Monument to the memory of the Rev. Addison Searle, Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Mass., . · 366
history of St. Paul's Church, Buffalo, M. D.
*****
Slip
*****************
This may Certify, that Lamed weeney has this day purchased Slip No. 39. in St. Paul's Church, in the Village of Buffalo, for the sum of Fifty one dollars and has paid thereon Forty dollard. and that the payment of the further sum of Oliven do Ul and_ will entitle him to a Deto of the said Ich Buffalo, November 24th 1820. Gyvenimas Chapin.
×
REDUCED FACSIMILE OF RECEIPT. Given at first sale of pews, November 24, 1820. (See page 16.)
history of St. Paul's Church,
Buffalo, A. D.
EFORE beginning the history of this parish it may be interesting to note the rise and progress of the Protestant Episcopal Church in what is now the Diocese of Western New York. That rise and prog- ress was born of the missionary spirit, which has ever been in the church, and it has been observed that its most efficient progress has been from the east to the west. Bishop Hobart, although the Bishop of New York, was at the same time a zealous missionary bishop. In his address to the Diocesan Convention in the city of New York in October, 1814, he said that too much value cannot be placed on missionary services, and there is no object of more importance to the general interests of religion and to the prosperity of the church, and none more strongly demanded by the spirit and pre- cepts of the Gospel, than the encouragement of missionary labors.
Buffalo was laid out in the year 1804, by Joseph Ellicott, as agent of the Holland Land Company, and was then called New Amsterdam. Its principal streets were named after the proprietors of the company, and its less important ones after Indian tribes, but most of these names were changed in after years.
The place itself was called Buffalo as early as 1812, at which time it became a military post in the war between the United States and England. It was burnt by the English, December 30, 1813. In 1810, it had a population of 1,500 ; but in 1814, the next year after it was burned, the population was only 1,000. At the time of
8
History of St. Paul's Church.
the organization of St. Paul's Church, in 1817, Buffalo contained Io0 houses, several of them being of brick. The population had increased to 2,000 in 1820, and on the completion of the Erie Canal, in 1825, to 5,000 ; in 1832, it was incorporated as a city, with a population of 10,000.
The church in Western New York showed a marked increase under Bishop Hobart, and every year its missionaries extended their visits more and more westward from the Genesee River. From 1815 to 1817 we find ministerial acts recorded by the Rev. Alanson Welton, Rev. George H. Norton, Rev. Samuel Johnston, and Rev. Wm. A. Clark.
The first Episcopal Church on the Holland Land Purchase was organized in 1811, in the town of Sheldon, Genesee County, and Bishop Hobart visited it when there was no other west of Allen's Hill in Ontario County, N. Y. The first baptism recorded in Buffalo was that of Mary Tillinghast Leake, daughter of Isaac Q. and Catherine Leake, on October 19, 1812, at the house of her parents. The next was that of their son, Godfrey Wilson Leake, on April 4, 1815. The Rev. Samuel Johnston baptized John Smith Trowbridge, the son of Doctor Josiah and Margaret Trowbridge, on February 23, 1817; Dr. Trow- bridge came to Buffalo in 1811. The Rev. Mr. Johnston also bap- tized Catherine, wife of Sheldon Thompson, on March 2, 1817.
1817.
The certificate of incorporation of St. Paul's Church states that a meeting of the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of the village of Buffalo, in the county of Niagara, was assembled at Elias Ransom's tavern in the said village on Monday, February 10, 1817, in pursuance of notice for that purpose given during morning service on two preceding Sundays, and in compliance with "An act to provide for the incorporation of Religious Societies," passed by the Legislature of the State of New York, in the year 1813. The Rev. Samuel John-
With Underseguro being about Organise a Meligary Society, du harche, Tobecome members agree to Conform to the city Ceremonicy of the Protestante
Emerhal Church - Buffalo Felej 10-1817.
Blive Ramon
Lavice Beamer-
In it Larned" Teo Badger
N.P. Bilie
John of Coffin
REDUCED FACSIMILE OF ORIGINAL ORGANIZATION PAPER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH. February 10, 1817. (See page 8.)
9
History of St. Paul's Church.
ston being called to the chair, divine service was held, after which came the election of wardens and vestrymen ; Erastus Granger and Isaac Q. Leake being elected wardens, and Samuel Tupper, Sheldon Thompson, Elias Ransom, John G. Camp, Henry M. Campbell, John S. Larned, Jonas Harrison, and Josiah Trowbridge, vestrymen. At the same time it was unanimously resolved : "That Easter Monday, here- after, be the day for the annual election of their successors,* and that the said church be known and distinguished by the name of St. Paul's Church in Buffalo." The certificate bears date February 10, 1817, and is signed by Samuel Johnston, chairman, in the presence of George Badger and Jacob A. Barker, members of the said church. Their acknowledgments were taken by Oliver Forward, Judge of the Com- mon Pleas, Niagara County ; and the certificate was recorded in Niagara County Clerk's office in Buffalo, on February 10, 1817, at five o'clock P. M., in Liber I of Miscellaneous Records, at page 31.
Erie County was separated from Niagara County in the year 1821, and Buffalo became its county seat ; Lockport being the county seat of Niagara County.
The tavern of Elias Ransom, in which this meeting was held, was on the northwest corner of Main and Huron streets, and was one of the most popular houses of its kind in Buffalo.
The following residents of Buffalo signed a paper, t dated February 10, 1817, in which they agreed to become members of St. Paul's Church, and to conform to the rites and ceremonies of the Protestant Episcopal Church : Elias Ransom, John Root, Smith H. Salisbury, John G. Camp, Jonas Harrison, Isaac Q. Leake, Josiah Trowbridge, Jacob A. Barker, Sheldon Thompson, Ebenezer Johnson, David Brown, Henry M. Campbell, James Campbell, Eben Beach, Samuel Tupper, Elihu Alvord, John S. Larned, George Badger, S. P. Beebe, Elias Ransom, Jr., John A. Coffin, F. W. G. Camp ; in addition to these, the following per- sons were members : David M. Day of Buffalo, Mrs. Elias Ransom and four children, Mrs. John G. Camp, Mrs. Henry M. Campbell and Miss
* In accordance with this resolution a second vestry election was held a few weeks later, on Easter Monday, April 7, 1817. All the members of the original vestry were reëlected at this time.
t See the reproduction of the original paper, opposite page 8.
IO
History of St. Paul's Church.
Campbell, Mrs. J. S. Larned and two children, Mrs. Josiah Trowbridge and son, Mrs. Jonas Harrison and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver For- ward, J. Josephs, Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt and child, John Lay, Jr., Mrs. Eben- ezer Johnson, Zenas W. Barker, James Remington, and George Badger.
At a subsequent meeting of the vestry, Erastus Granger and Dr. Josiah Trowbridge were appointed a committee to wait upon Joseph Ellicott, agent of the Holland Land Company, to ask for such dona- tion and assistance as he might be disposed to grant, and to confer with him on the subject of a burial ground for the society, and for a lot on which to build the proposed church.
The Rev. Samuel Johnston was instructed to write to Bishop Hobart, requesting the aid and assistance of Trinity Church in New York.
Mr. Erastus Granger waited on Joseph Ellicott to solicit a donation of one of the company's lots in Buffalo. Mr. Ellicott expressed sur- prise that Mr. Granger from New England should be with the Episco- palians. Mr. Granger said his wife was an Episcopalian. Mr. Ellicott said he knew Mrs. Granger when she was a little girl in Canandaigua, and there was no church there, but it transpired that the little girl had been brought up in church principles by private instruction. Mr. Ellicott was the local agent of the Holland Land Company in Batavia, N. Y., and Paul Busti was the general agent in Philadelphia. The proprietors of the company were liberal in their grants of land to all religious societies, and school districts, and for roads. They sold the land to actual settlers at very low prices, and on extended terms of payment. Five dollars was accepted by them as the first payment. They refused to sell lots in Buffalo unless the purchasers erected a building. In the first settlements of Western New York, Canadaigua was the official residence of the agent and surveyors of the different land companies, and afterwards Batavia became the residence of the surveyors and land agents of the Holland Land Company. Niagara County comprised what was afterwards Niagara, Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Prior to 1820
II
History of St. Paul's Church.
many persons, in visiting Western New York, had letters of introduc- tion to the agent of the Holland Land Company. W. J. Walter, a merchant in Schenectady, N. Y., under date of October 2, 1816, writes to Mr. Ellicott, recommending to his " favor Mr. Samuel Johnston, who visits your country on missionary purposes, and, as he is a stranger, may stand in need of information and advice. He is a young man of the strictest integrity."
In the Diocesan Convention held in Trinity Church, New York, October 21, 1817, the certificate of incorporation of St. Paul's Church of Buffalo was read, and the said church was received into union with the convention. The Rev. Samuel Johnston, deacon and missionary in Genesee and Niagara counties, reported to Bishop Hobart that he arrived in Batavia October 16, 1816, and, agreeable to directions, de- voted the most of the time there, officiating twenty Sundays in Batavia, ten at Buffalo, four at Le Roy, two at Sheldon, and, at the request of some members of the Church of England, while at Buffalo, crossed over to the British lines and held several evening services at Fort Erie and at Waterloo, and baptized twelve children. He also reported that on the roth of February, 1817, he organized a church in the flourishing village of Buffalo, by the name of St. Paul's Church in Buf- falo, and that about twenty families attached themselves to it. He further reported their readiness to cooperate with his exertions, and that their animated zeal was truly praiseworthy. Five thousand dollars were immediately subscribed towards building a church, but being disappointed in receiving payment for the losses of their buildings in the recent war, the work was deferred. They still continued zealous. Mr. Johnston having returned to the East, the Rev. George H. Norton, deacon, reported to Bishop Hobart that he had officiated four times at Buffalo. The salary of the Rev. Samuel Johnston as missionary was paid from funds procured by the New York " Protestant Episco- pal Society of Young Men." On the 23d of October, 1817, Bishop Hobart admitted the Rev. Samuel Johnston to the order of priests, and he afterwards removed to Ohio, by letters dimissory from the bishop.
12
History of St. Paul's Church.
We thus see that St. Paul's Church, Buffalo, and other parishes in Western New York really owe their origin to the missionary efforts and zeal of Bishop Hobart. In September, 1817, he visited St. Paul's Church, Buffalo, and reported to the convention of 1818 that the Rev. William A. Clark, for several years missionary at Manlius, Onondaga County, N.Y., had removed to Buffalo, and was also employed in Batavia, N. Y .; and the Rev. Alanson Welton, missionary in Ontario County, N. Y., reported to the bishop that he had spent eight Sundays in Buffalo.
In the convention of 1819 the bishop reported that the annual stipend allowed to each missionary was only $175, the remainder of their support depending on the contributions of the congregations among whom they officiated.
The collections in the Diocese of New York, as reported to the convention for the year ending October 1, 1819, were only $1,475.10, of which Trinity Church and its two chapels in the City of New York contributed $326.76. The Episcopate fund as invested for the sup- port of the Episcopate was only $19,650.17. The bishop derived his support from Trinity Church, New York, as its rector. In 1819 the population of the City of New York was only about 122,000.
1818.
At the annual election of wardens and vestrymen of St. Paul's Church, held at the house of Elias Ransom, March 23, 1818, Dr. Josiah Trowbridge was chosen chairman, Isaac Q. Leake and Henry M. Campbell were elected wardens, and John S. Larned, Sheldon Thompson, Elias Ransom, John G. Camp, Jonas Harrison, Josiah Trowbridge, William J. Caldwell and Staley N. Clarke vestrymen.
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