USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. II > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01068 7280
GENEALOGY 974.701 UL7s v.2
- -
840 HISTORY
OF
ULSTER COUNTY,
-
NEW YORK, V- WITH
ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF ITS
PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.
BY
NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
AUTHOR OF "HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF NORTHERN NEW YORK AND THE ADIRONDACK WILDERNESS," -HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK," "HISTORY OF RENSSELAER COUNTY, NEW YORK," ETC.
128287.
PHILADELPHIA :
EVERTS & PECK. .
1880. 10100
THE
63171 =
18
NEWBER
PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA. LIBRARY
..
15
1752932
TOWN OF NEW PALTZ.
quently confirmed in the said charge of elder and deacon, This min- ule has been made to put in order the matters which pertain to the said church."
As the settlement consisted of only ten or twelve families, the church was unable to secure the services of a : ettl .d pastor, but Mr. Daillie appears to have divided his services betwen the New Paltz church and the Huguenot church of New York. The last recorded service of this minister was the marriage of " Peter Guimar, native of Moir Saintogne, to Esther Hasbrouck, native of the Palatinate, in Germany, April 18, 1692."
Dominie Bourepose was the next minister, his services beginning May 31, 1696. A change of language from the French to the Dutch occurred from 1500 to 1530, chicing which time there was no settled ministry. The English language has been used during the present century.
A second house of worship was dedicated on Dec. 20. 1720. It was of stone, and finished with brick brought from Ilolland. It was of small size, square, with a window on each of three sides, and a door inclosed by a portico on the fourth. The roof was surmounted by a little steeple, from which a horn was sounded for religions services. The following entry of the event appears upon the records :
" Rer i soit Disu, Cai L nous a mys a coeur de Iny batir utes maison pour y estre allures et servir, it que par sa grace nous Lavon lings en Lan Dix vii : et Dieu veilfie que son evangile y so't atouce dean ce ciecle et ded in Lautre y ustque an jour De Leternite. Amien."
The translation is as follows :
". Jies-J be God, who has pet it into our Lenits to build a house where He may be a loved es! served, and that by his grace we have finishe ! it in the year IF [1717]: mot God grant that bis gospel may Le preached bere from one ape to another till the day of eternity. Ames."
On Dec. 12. 1741, the envistory of New Paltz united with those of Rochester, Marbletown, and Shawangunk in calling Rev. Casparns Fryenmeet to be their minister at a salary of £100 per annum. Rochester was to pay 231 6s. and provide a parsonage. receiving one-third of his ser- vices ; Marbletown Eat: 11%, for another third; and New Paltz and Shawangunk .E3] for the remaining third.
In 1760, Rev. Johannes Mauritius Goctsbins entered upoa the duty of pastor of the churches of New Paltz and Shawangunk. Among the stipulations of the call were the following: To press': twice on Sabbath, from Paus to October, in each church alternately, the morning service to be from the Scriptures and the afternoon service from the entechisnt. He was to visit his families every year with an eller. On the other hand each congregation was to pay him 940 good New York gold, and the Shawanguuk church furnish him with a house, barn, garden, outbuild- ings, spring, and farm, and the New Paltz church to provide himself and horse with lodging.
!
In 1713 a new stone church was erected, and was super- seded in 1:39 by another house of worship, which, having urlereine enlargement and alteration in 1572, is the one still in use. It is a large, imposing structure, and has a writing capacity of 1000. Rev. C. Il. Stitt was installed master of the church in Die. 20, 1:45. The present pas- tor, Rev. Pisilip Peltz, D.D., was installed! May 2, 1865.
The membership of the church in large. The congrega- tions of New Hurley, Highland, Guilford, Rosendale, and
Dashville have gone out from the mother-church at New Paltz. The consistory consists of :
Elders -Abram D. B. Elting, Joseph Hasbrouck, Uriah Auchtuoody, Solomon Van Orden.
Deacons .- Jesse Elting, Lewis H. Woolsey, Oscar Steen, and Charles M. Harcourt.
The pastor occupies a pleasant parsonage, which was built in 1818, replacing an old stone parsonage that had been built many years before.
The certificate of incorporation for this society was exe- cuted Oet. 3, 1796. It was signed by the elders and dea- cons,- Benjamin Freer, Jeremiah Freer, Abraham Dayo, Dene D. Relyea, Jonathan Van Wagenen, Andries Lefever, Jr., Elias Eau, Jacob Lefever. The document was wit- nessed by J. Dewrite and Dayton N. Wagenen, sworn to before Judge Abram Bevier, and the record attested by Christopher Tappen. deputy clerk.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH OF NEW PALTZ.S
The history of the Reformed Church at New Paliz be- gins Jan. 22, 1683. when Rev. Pierre Daillie "came to New Paltz, and preached twice on the following Sunday." At his suggerion steps were taken to organize a church, which was effected by choosing Louis Du Bois elder, and Hugo Frere deacon, of the new organization.
The church was a Freuch Reformed Church, upon the pattern by which the Reformed Churches in France were formed. To the Christian families at New Paltz the church order, doctrine, and worship were such as they had been ceelistomiel to in their native land. The - Reformed Church" on the continent of Europe has bad for centari x a peculiar historieal and theological meaning. It sienifes a church Calvinistic in doctrine, Presbyterian in guvern- ment, and the name distinguishes it not only from the Catholic Church, but from all Protestant churches which do not hold the sque type of doctrine and government.
There was general agreement among the Reforme! Churches of Europe, though not related in the way of gov- ernment or supervision. It was not :litheult for the church of New Paltz to glide into conformity with the Reformned Datch churches surrounding it when the French hoguege had passed out of use, being succeeded by the Dutch, which was vernacular in Ulster and some adjacent counties.
The French Church had been subject to distressing por- seentions, even before the revocation of the edict of Nantes, which was declared by Louis XIV. in 1685. The founders of this church of New Paltz had suffered for conscience sake, and had sought safety by emigrating first to the Palatinate. then temporarily to Holland, theuce to America,
This French Church at New Paltz has had a singular history. It manifestly was not in connection with any superior crelesiastical body, classis, or synod. The sur- rounding Dutch churches were subject to the classis of Amsterdam, which ruled them very strictly, requiring all their jasters to be educated in Holland, and to be ordained there. But the church of New Paltz was never in con- nection with or subjection to that classis. le had no ccele- sinstical connection till 1772, when the plan of unity be-
# By the pastor, Rev. Phihr. Peitz, D.D.
16
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
teen the Cietus and Conferentie factions of the church brought this church as a constituent factor of the newly- formed synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church.
It is interesting to note that whilst the church of New Paltz had no possible reason to side with one or the other of the Cortus or Conferentie factions, it was deeply shaken by the dispute which hinged upou allowing ministers to be educated and ordained in America, as the Cretus held, or whether they should be trained and ordained in Holland under the supervision of the classis of Amsterdam, as the Conferentie maintained. The church of New Paltz suffered from schism owing to this quarrel. A Conferentie Church was formed, a church edifice built, and partial services of a pastor maintained for a number of years,-from 1753 till after the union of the churches in 1772. At the conven- tion which formed the union the Conferentie and Cretus Churches were both represented by their elders, who signed the union. Henceforth the churches became one, and the Conferentie edifice was abandoned.
The church of New Paltz has had a remarkable variety in the languages in which divine worship was celebrated, and in which the records of the church have been kept. At first these were in the French only, the book of records being in that language for the first half-ventury after the formation of that church. In 1728 there is a record made in Dutch, which alternates with the French for a few years, after which the language of church worship and record was Dutch alone till 1799, when Rev. John H. Meyer be- came pastor, and began the records, as he conducted church services, in English. We have then the use of these lan- guages for periods extending about as follows : French, fitty years ; Dutch, seventy years; English, eighty years. The apparent discrepancy between these figures and the years of the church is explained by the mingling of French and Dutch during the transition from the former. The his- tory of the church is unique in having lad so many languages employed in worship and historical records.
The Pastors. - The Rev. Pierre Daillie must be recognized as the first pastor of the church which he formed. He was a native of I'rance, and was driven away by persecution. Hle was a minister of distinction in his own country, being pro- fessor of theology at Samar, one of the seats of Protestant theological education. The school was broken up by Lonis , XIV. This school was an important Que, and its destrue- tion was a heavy blow to the Protestant cause in France.
Mr. Daillie came to America soon after this outrage, and was formally called by the Dutch Church of New York to preach to the French refugees, of whom there were many families. He was recognized by Selyus, the Dutch pastor, as his colleague. Mr. Daillie seems to have itinerated very widely to preach and administer the sacraments to tise Huguenots. He may have only occasionally visited Now Paltz, but his visi s were frequent enough to keep the in- finenres of piety alive in this community. He continued his services among the French churches till 1690, when he took charge of a French congregation in Boston, where he died, in 1715. aged about sixty-six years. The published notice of his death adds. " Hle was a person of great piety, chmity, affable and courteous behavior, of exemplary life and conversation ; mnuch lamented, especially by his tiock."
ITis professorship in one of the foremost theological schools of France or of the continent shows how high was his reputation for scholarship and picty. Selyns speaks of him as "full of fire, godliness, and learning. Banished on se- count of his religion, he maintains the cause of Jesus Christ with untiring zeal."
Rev. David Bonrepos supplied the church with occasional serviees, perhaps along with the services of Mr. Daillic. His special field was upon Staten Island. He died in 1734. His services at New Paltz seem to have been limited to the interval between 1696 and 1700. He seems to have also preached in the city of New York.
From this time the church at New Paltz was dependent for services upon those speaking the Dutch language. The people were able to profit by these services, as the Dutch has become vernacular through all the surrounding region. From this time the church seems to have made little ae- count of her Huguenot origin. It has been noticed how she fell not only into the language of the Dutch. but also into the dissensions occasioned by the Coins and Conferentie difficulties.
For a long course of years the church had no regular pastor. Mr. Daillie did not sustain that formal relation, nor did any one succeeding him who used the French lan- guage. Exceedingly interrupted were the services of the Dutch ministers, who officiated till 1760 in this irregular manner. Of many of them the people were suspicious on personal or ecclesiastical grounds. The first of these officiating butch ministers whose services are noted seems to have been a vagabond ordained upou forged credentials. His name was Van Driessen. His name occurs as early as 1728 in our records.
The church was still more disturbed by questions as to the regularity of the ordination of some of these preachers, who had received their authority to preach from the Cintos. Various names appear in the records of the church as hav- ing administered baptism, -Schuuema, Chalker, and others. Especially would we notice Johannes Henricus Goetschius, a native of Switzerland, who was called to exercise his min- istry during the troublous times in the churches. He was a man of manch force. " He was below the middle size, of a vigorous constitution, abrupt in speech, but his language was clear and expressive. He was a man of much crudi- tion, a thorough Calvinist, and an accomplished theolo- gian."
The first pastor of the church was Rev. Johannes Mau- ritius Goetschius, a brother of the Goetschius just alluded to. Hle came to America as a physician, but was persuade.l by his brother to prepare for the ministry. His first settle- ment was in Schoharie County, where he practiced medi- cine and preached over a wile extent of country. He had charge of the New Paltz congregation, with that of Shaw- anguok, from 1760 to 1771, when he died. He was the only pastor of this church, and died in its service.
Ile was followed by Rev. Stephen Goetschius, son of Rev. J. H. Goetschius, and nephew of his predecessor. Ile preached to the congregations of New Paltz and New Hurley; these churches being associated for more than fifty years. Mr. Goetschins began his ministry here in 1775. He left the charge in 1726, and settled in Bergen
17
TOWN OF NEW PALTZ.
Co., N. J., where he died in 1837. In New Jersey he also served two churches. When more than eighty years al be made his journey between them on horseback. He is said never to have become skilled in English. His preaching was in Dutch. His labors at New Paltz are memorable for the skill with which he healed the breach caused by the old Cutus and Conferentie troubles. As his ministry covered the time of demoralization caused by the Revolutionary war, it is not surprising that he did not see large spiritual results. " After the war he organized no less than mine churches in Ulster County." He is de- scribed as " a man of deep thought, holding strongly to the Calvinistie doctrine, and dwelling much on experi- mental religion, election, particular atonement, depravity, regeneration, and final perseverance."
Rev. John H. Meyer was pastor from 1799 to 1803. He was son of the Rev. Hermanus Meyer, paster of the church of Kingston in stormy times. He was graduated at Columbia College, New York City, in 1795. He studied theology under Dr. John HI. Livingston till 1798. He was settled at New Paltz and New Hurley in 1799. His pastorate here was short, closing in 1803, when he rentoved to the church at Schenectady. He was the first to minister and keep the records in English. He was a neat scribe, and the records are very carefully kept. fle is described as " an accomplished scholar, speaking with great Aneuey and elegance both in Dutch and English. As a preacher he was gifted and popular, and was possessed of a peculiar unction in his delivery."
The church, affer Mr. Meyer's departure, had a long vacancy, which was filled by Rev. Prter D. Froeligh, whose pastorate lasted from 1807 to 1516. He belonged to a family famous in the denomination, being a son of Dr. Solomon Froeligh. one of the theological professors of the church. P. P. Proeligh was gra inated from Columbia College in 1799. His carly ministry was spent in the northern part of this State. He is described as "alt at- tivetive preacher." His sermons, " while sound, perspic- uous, and clear," were " lacking in spiritual point and pun- gency, and failed to effect any reformation in morals or manners." Mr. Prodligh removed to Acquaekanonek, N. J .. where he fell into with his father's tendencies and seceded free the ministry of the church. Saba quently, he was so aSeted by charges of wrong-doing that he counnitted
Rev. William R. Bogardus succeeded. He was graduated at I'niou College, 1813, and from the theological seminary et New Brunswick, 1816. Prom 1817 to 1828 he served the associated churches of New Paltz and New Hurley, and fran 1823 to 1831 he was pastor of New Paltz only. He w ,- the first to give his attention to serving this church alone. His ministry was remarkably laborious and faithful. liv ught by every means to promote his people's good. Tie church received an impetus for good under his pasto- s.de far exceeding anything known before his day. Two Hanbed and eighty persons unitel with the church during fourteen years and a half of his ministry. He was an elo- to ut and very realy preacher. His pastoral services were always impressive and touching. He had the gift of song, Sul until after he had passed threescore years and ten bis 3
devout " leading" of hymns struck his fellow-worshipers very forcibly. Living men in this charge -- which he re- garded as his first love-have a lively remembrance of him as an able faithful, and dignified minister of the gospel. Whilst eminently a Christian gentleman, and as such ex- ceedingly courteous, he had the "courage of his convic- tions" in regard to every religious or muoral question which arose. He was the pioneer of the temperance canse in Ulster County. On the occasion of raising a parsonage barn he had a pitcher of cold water, flanked by tracts ou temperance, placed for the refreshment of his neighbors, who were used to stronger beverages on these semi-festival occasions.
Mr. Bogardus, in 1831, removed to Acquackanonck, New Jersey, the same church over which his predecessor had been pastor. In 1956 he resigned his charge. He con- tinuel to show how a Christian should live, till in 1862 he verified the hopes of the Christian by the death of the righteous.
Rev. Douw Van O'Linda was the next pastor. He had graduated from the theological seminary at New Bruns- wick, in 1824. He was pastor at New Paltz front 1832 to 1844. Ile is spoken of as " of large stature and com- manding appearance, an edifying and instructive preacher, addressing the understanding rather than the feelings. Hi- distinguishing trait was great executive ability." This executive ability was shown in building the brick church edifice in 1839, and in seenring the organization and build- ings for ile New Paltz Academy.
Rev. John C. Vandervoort succeeded. He was born in 1798; gradnatel in 1818 at Queen's College (now Rutgers) ; studied theology at New Brunswick Seminary. He entered the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. Ta ISIf he be- eatie pastor at New Paltz. His ministry was brief here, last- ing only three years. Diffienties which had! become chronic existed since the administration of his predecessor. There Was not ench interest in the pastor's work as is needed to make it successful. He was an earnest, spiritual preacher.
He gave himself to his work with energy. The recollec- tions of him floating among the people bear witness to his piety and singleness of purpose as a minister of Christ. He left bere in 1845, vil diel in 1851, at Ghent, Columbia Co.
Rev. Charles H. Stitt eine, next. He was graduated from Rutgers College in 1811, and from the theological semi- bary in 1845, where the present pastor of the church was his classmate. He was ordained to the ministry and reeog- mized as pastor of the church in December, 184S. His work was well done, and was thoroughly according to the spirit and traditions of the church. There was a noble growth in the church. In 1858 there was a general revival of wide extent and great power. One hundred and three persons within twelve months made a confession of their faith. The results have showed how careful and wise were the pastor's supervision and instruction. Dr. Stitt (he re- ceived the degree of D.D. from his Alma Mater in 1806) has stood among the foremost of the ministry. In 1869 he was president of the general synod. It is too near the date of his residence at New Paltz to make eulogy neces- sary. He left this church in 1865, to become pastor of the
18
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Second Church of Kingston, and thence went to Bayonne, N. J., in 1874.
Rev. Philip Peltz, the present pastor, was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1845, aud at the New Brunswick Seminary in 1848. His first charge was the churches of Corymans and New Baltimore, classis of Al- bany ; then First Church of Coxsackie; next Paterson, N. J. In 1810 he became corresponding secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions. In 1965 he became pastor of this church, a field abundant in labors, which have not been des- titute of good results. In 1866 Union College conferred on him the degree of D.D. The church has grown more under his pastorate than during any equal period in its history.
Church Buildings, Etc .- The first church edifice was built of stone very soon after the organization of the church. As this became too narrow for the people, a stone edifice was erected in 1783, which is still remembered by many of the residents. The seats in the first two buildings were granted to individuals, not to families separate from others. In the second house the deed conveying the sittings covered also a proportionate part of the ground on which the church stood and the fabrie of which it was composed. This made it " real estate" indeed. In 1939 a substantial building of brick was erected, after almost endless questionings and dif- fieulties. It was hard to harmonize views as to where the new church should be located. The title of the owners of the old buil ling seemed to forbid using that site for the new. At length there was no obstacle to building upon the former site. The pews were sold, subject to a light tax for incidental expenses. The sales of pews gave a surplus of several thousand dollars beyond the cost of building lu twenty years there was need of niere room. In 1872 the consistory resolvedl to make au addition of thirty feet to the length of the church and a transept addition at the wings. The work was done in handsome, yet durable style. The pew-buyers were repaid two-thirds of the original purchase- money. The church was upholstered in handsome style. The expenses of the whole work were between 829,000 and 830,000. The pews were sold subject to an assessment for all the expenses of the church. This large expenditure was nearly wiet at the sale. A balance of debt, 86000, was removed in 1573, the people being moved the reto by the bequest of Mr. Levi Hasbrouck of 82400 for that purpose.
The present church has 172 pews besides seats in the galleries. The house will comfortably seat 1000 persons.
The church owns a parsonage and about 18 acres of land, which has been the pastor's residence for many years. A new house, of wood, was built in 1819, instead of the stone parsonage which had been the pastors' home for generations.
The membership of the church and its opportunities for Christian work are now larger than they have ever been. The last report mentions 256 families connected with the congregation, 424 members in full communion, S Sabbath- schools, with 330 pupils and 250 eatechumens.
The Corporate Title of the Church .- It was incorporated in 1794 as " The Reformed Protestant Dutch Congrega- tion of the New Paltz." This church adheres to the name " Dutch" as descriptive of the ecclesiastical position of the church.
The present members of eonsistory are Elders Abm. D. B. Elting, Joseph Hasbrouck, Uriah Auchmoody, and Solo- mon Van Orden. Deacons, Jesse Elting, Lewis H. Wool- sey, Charles M. Harcourt, and Oscar Stein.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
Perhaps there is no better way of tracing the origiu and development of the Methodist Church of the town than by recounting, in order of time, the successive stages of its growth as they are noted ou the records of the New Paltz church.
1786 .- In the spring of this year, Ezekiel Cooper and John McCloskey were appointed to East Jersey, a circuit embracing a large part of Sussex Co., N. J. To this was added the counties of Orange and Ulster, New York, form- ing a six weeks' field of labor.
In Ulster County they first preached in the house of John Woolsey, in Milton, and at Hendrick Deyo's and Henry Du Bois', in the town of New Paltz.
1788 .- In the spring of this year by the Conference the charge was ealled . Flanders' Circuit, Philadelphia Cou- ference." At the same session Jesse Lee and Aaron Hutchinson were appointed to it, and organized the Metho- dist Episcopal societies in Modena and East Plattekill. An old stone school-honse a little north of Modena Corners was a preaching-place until 1826, when the first church was built about half a mile south of the Corners, on the east side of the road. It was called the Plattekill Church.
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