USA > New York > Rensselaer County > East Greenbush > History of the Reformed church, at East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, New York > Part 1
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1800,
Glass
F129
Book E12 PZ4
Popular Price Book
Store SCHILLER'S 211 PA.
--
-
D.L.
SH
AVE. N. W WA
To Rev. J.C. Eacton D.D. with The complements of the Compiler
Jan. 4, 1897.
"ERECTED A. D. 1860. A. BIRCH, BUILDER."
HISTORY
OF THE
REFORMED CHURCH,
AT
East Greenbush,
Rensselaer County, New York.
" One generation shall praise thy works to another."
COMPILED BY REV. P. THEO. POCKMAN, A. M.
PUBLISHED 1891.
J. HEIDINGSFELD, Printer, New Brunswick, N. J.
F129 E12P74
2172020
/
INTRODUCTORY.
T HE little hair-trunk, tender with age, has poured out its contents at our feet. On the seared and yellow leaves were written deeds, bills, receipts, etc., which told plainly enough that this was the treasurer's chest. It has long and faithfully preserved these, together with the " col- lector's " books. It has many a quiet tale to relate of early struggle and devotion to the temporal in- terests of Zion.
From different hands there have come to us the various records of our Mother Church, telling their individual stories of how God hath wrought among the people for over a hundred years. Some of these are in a foreign language, for our forefathers were Dutch, but all are in a good state of preservation.
These pages have been scanned with keen in- terest, and such items noted here and there as may be of general interest to the reader. It is worthy of special mention that we have been enabled to make out a complete list of all who have served in the Consistory from the beginning, and also that we can present a full catalogue of members.
The records of births and baptisms are in a good state of preservation, but will not be found trans-
4
INTRODUCTORY.
cribed in these pages. Baptisms began in January, 1788.
The record of marriages is complete from Octo- ber 5th, 1788, when Henry Shebley and Elizabeth Shans were married; also Wynanot Van De Bergh and Eva Witbeck : Rev. J. V. C. Romeyn perform- ing the ceremony.
The first thought of this modest volume was awakened four years ago, when the church observed her centennial, and much of the contents were col- lected at that time by the persevering labors of the historian, Rev. Jeremiah F. Yates, of Fort Edward, N. Y., who has most generously put everything into the hands of the compiler.
In the hope that these pages will keep alive the interest of generations yet unborn in the church of our fathers, and that the name of the Great Head of the Church will be glorified in some measure through them, they are now scattered broadcast.
" Church of my sires-my love to thee Was nurtured in my infancy, And now maturer thoughts approve The object of that infant love. Linked to my soul with hooks of steel, By all I say, and do, and feel- By records that refresh my eye, In the rich page of memory- By blessings at thine altars given- By scenes which lift the soul to Heaven; By monuments that humbly rise Memorials of the good and wise- By graves forever sad and dear, Still reeking with my constant tear; Where those in honored slumber lie, Whose deaths have taught me how to die. And shall I not with all my powers, Watch round thy venerable towers ? And can I bid the pilgrim flee, To holier refuge than to thee ?"
aligi
maakt
LOCALITY.
T HE original deed of sale for the land forming the Van Rensselaer Manor (a tract 24 by 48 miles), lying about Albany, then Fort Orange, was seen by Gen. James Grant Wilson at Amster- dam a few years ago. It is dated August 13th, 1630, and is full of Indian names. Gen. Wilson has a photograph of the paper. This is supposed to be the oldest record of the kind pertaining to New York State lands.
The deed of sale for Manhattan Island was long ago lost or destroyed .-- Albany Journal, Oct. 29,1889.
The names of Van Buren, Van Hegen, Staats, Witbeck and Bris were found in the township as early as 1630. Van Denburgh, Cuyler and Van Wesipe were also among the earliest families in the old township of Greenbush.
A Mr. Van Buren occupied a brick house on the river road, about three miles south of the village of Greenbush, which was erected over one hundred years ago, and stands on a stone foundation that was laid in 1630. The original house was a stone structure, but its walls became so damp that it was taken down.
The oldest dwelling in the valley of the Hudson, and one of the most ancient in this part of the country, is situated just five miles south of Albany,
8
EARLY HISTORY.
upon the east side of the river. The old Staats stone mansion, or fort, dates far back, even to the remotest history of our Colonial days. No doubt when the Mayflower was tempest-tossed upon the angry billows of the Atlantic, and but a few years after the first trading post was established by the Dutch, which was the origin of the Capital city of New York, this little stone fort, with its thick and substantial walls, stood the ravages of time, as the rugged oak of the forest stands, defying the tem- pest's fury or the wintry blast. The Staats man- sion was standing long ere Queen Anne ruled over the British Possessions, and was more than a century old at the time of Gen. Washington's birth. It is built of stone and brick. The stone portion of the building is the first or original house; the other portion is a comparatively modern structure.
The Staats family have occupied the same home- stead and farm all these years. The present gen- eration is the seventh from the original proprietor.
(C. Van Rensselaer, Hudson, N. Y.)
Another dwelling in the township contests the claim of priority and speaks of early life in the vicinity. In the suburbs of Greenbush village to the south is found an ancient structure, which was built at the time Holland held sway. Its front walls facing the river, are pierced with two port- holes. It originally had more in the different walls of
9
EARLY HISTORY.
the building. This house was erected by Hendrick Van Rensselaer about 1642. It is commonly known as the old Manor House.
(C. Van Rensselaer.)
Among the memorial tablets erected in Albany and vicinity during Bi-Centennial year (1886) is one placed in the walls of this Van Rensselaer house bearing this inscription :
"Supposed to be the oldest building in the United States and to have been erected in 1642 as a manor house and place of defence known as Fort Cralo, General Abercrombie's headquarters while marching to attack Fort Ticonderoga in 1758, where it is said that at the cantonment east of the house near the old well, the army surgeon, Dr. Shamburg, composed the popular song, 'Yankee Doodle.'"
The early settlement of the township is no more surely authenticated than is the establishment of religious worship.
A marble slab in the vestibule of the church re- lates the fact year after year-"Built 1786"- which was the year previous to the organization of the society as a Christian church.
The deed for the land upon which the church was built was given to the Consistory by Stephen Van Rensselaer, Esq., on April 8th, 1793, and reads as follows :
10
EARLY HISTORY.
Stephen Van"Rensselaer, Esq.,
to The Minister, Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Low Dutch Church in Greenbush.
Release.
"This Indenture, made the Eighth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, Between Stephen Van Rensselaer, Esq., Lord and Proprietor of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, in the Counties of Albany and Rensselaer, of the first part, and Jacobus Van Campe Romeyn, Minister, Christopher Yates, John E. Van Alen, Stephen Mul- ler and Huybert Ostrander, Elders, and Barent Van Denbergh, John Lewis, Thomas Mesick and Jonathan Ostrander, Deacons, Trustees of the Reformed Protestant Low Dutch Church of Greenbush, of the second part: Witnesseth, that the said Stephen Van Rensselaer, for and in consideration of promoting the Christian Religion, and for advancing the Interest of the said Church, as for and in consideration of the Sum of ten Shil- lings, lawful money of the State of New York, to him in hand paid by the said party of the second part, at and before the Ensealing and Delivery hereof, the Receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge, Hath given, Granted, Remised, Released and Confirmed, and by these presents Doth give, grant, Remise, Release and Confirm unto the said Jacobus Van Campe Romeyn, Minister, Christopher Yates, John E. Van Alen, Stephen Muller and Huybert Ostrander, Elders, and Barent Van Denbergh, John Lewis, Thomas Mesick and Jonathan Ostrander, Deacons, trustees of the said Church in their actual Possession now being, and to their Successors forever: All that certain piece or Parcel of Glebe Land situate, lying and being in Greenbush, in the County of Rensselaer, and Manor aforesaid, whereon the Church Now stands, and is bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning at a point which is distant one chain forty-seven links from the Northeast Corner of said Church, on a Course North twenty- seven degrees East and runs thence North thirty-three degrees
11
EARLY HISTORY.
West two chains ninety-six links, then North fifty-seven degrees East five chains, then South thirty-three degrees East five chains, then South fifty-seven degrees West five chains, then South thirty-three degrees East two chains ninety-six links, then South fifty-seven degrees West four chains, then North thirty-three degrees West five chains, then North fifty- seven degrees East four chains, to the place of beginning, Con- taining four Acres and five-tenths of an Acre; TOGETHER with all and singular the Hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining, and the Reversion and Reversions, Remainder and Remainders, Rents, Issues and profits thereof, and of every part thereof, with the appur- tenances; TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said piece or parcel of Glebe land and premises unto them the said Jacobus Van Campe Romeyn, Minister, Christopher Yates, John E. Van Alen, Stephen Muller and Huybert Ostrander, Elders, and Barent Van Denbergh, John Lewis, Thomas Mesick and Jonathan Ostrander, Deacons, trustees as aforesaid, and to their Successors forever, to and for the Sole and only proper use, benefit and behoof of the said Reformed protestant low Dutch Church of Greenbush, and for no other use or purpose whatso- ever; Provided ALWAYS, and these presents are upon this Express Condition, that, whenever it shall so happen that the Divine Service shall cease to be performed by the Congregation in the Church aforesaid, or that they shall otherwise be unable to sup- port a Minister for the Service, that then it shall and may be lawful for the said Stephen Van Rensselaer, his heirs and Assigns, into the premises aforesaid to Re-enter, and the same to have again, Repossess and Enjoy, anything herein to the Con- trary Notwithstanding. In Witness whereof the parties to these presents have hereunto Interchangeably set their hands and Seals the Day and Year above written.
STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER."
" STATE OF NEW YORK, 88.
This twelfth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and
12
EARLY HISTORY.
nine, personally appeared before me the within named Stephen Van Rensselaer, to me known to be the same person described in and who executed the within Indenture of Release and acknowl- edged to have executed the same. I therefore allow it to be Recorded. T. HANSEN, Master in Chancery."
"Recorded 3d October at 6 o'clock P. M. in Book of Deeds No. 6, page 22, Clerk's Office, Rensselaer County.
Examined by me.
Fees, $1.20.
R. M. LIVINGSTON, Dep'y Cl'k."
"Sealed and Delivered in the presence of
WM. GROSON, SCHUYLER SWITS."
CHURCH BUILDINGS.
The first church edifice was erected in 1786. It was built of wood, forty or forty-five feet square, with gambrel roof running north and south, and with the entrance on the east side. There were six windows on a side, three above the gallery and three below it. The entrance to the gallery was by stairs on the outside, beginning at the southeast corner and running up on the south side. It was painted yellow. Mr. William Snook says it was for many years known as "The old yellow church." Services on Sabbath, according to his earliest rec- ollection, were two, forenoon and afternoon, and only one hour apart, the people tying their horses
13
EARLY HISTORY.
in the rear of the church and eating their lunch there, while their teams fed on hay, which they had brought with them. Mr. Snook also says that he often heard his father say that he drew the second stick of timber for the first church-a Mr. Van Rensselaer living near the river having drawn the first stick.
Revs. Romeyn, Zabriskie, Labagh, Marselus, Taylor and Dumont preached in this building before any alterations were made in the structure.
Second building. The marble slab that gives the date of the first edifice-" 1786 "-also records the date of the first alteration, which practically made the church another building, viz .- " Enlarged 1829." In October of that year the following changes were ordered: An addition of thir- teen feet to be made to whole front (east) to contain one large door, and two flights of stairs on the inside to the gallery. The roof to be turned gable end to the road, so as to run east and west. Two doors to enter the body of the church ; one opposite each side aisle. Two recesses for stoves at front end, Windows then in front to be closed and inserted in the new part. Two windows on the north side and two windows on the south side in the new part of the building, and a door in front of the middle aisle. The south door leading to the gallery to be closed.
14
EARLY HISTORY.
A porch in front of the large door, and an arched window over the door. A cupola at the east end twenty feet above the eaves.
The following agreement was recently found among the papers of the Rev. John A. Liddell. It refers to changes made in the rear of the church in 1833 :
" Memorandum of agreement made and entered into by and between Henry Vandenbergh, Jno. Link, Barent Hoes, Jno Breese, James Elliott and Richard Waring, of the first part, and Jno. G. Rorabeck of the second part. Whereas the said Rora- beck is to erect or build an addition to the Prot. Ref Dutch Church in the town of Greenbush (of which the Rev. J. A. Lid- dell is pastor)-Said addition is to be placed on the west end of said church, to extend West fifteen feet from the said Church and North and South width and height of the old church to be built in a good substantial and workmanlike manner and in all things to correspond with the old Church inside and out, except the frame of the roof, which is to be supported with purline plates in a sufficient manner to support the sealing and roof, and one post to extend from (which will be) the centre post, under the north and south Galleries to the sealing of the said church to correspond with the- posts now under the Gallery. The pulpit to be placed at the west end of said Church with a flight of stairs on each side up to the entrance thereof, Railing and Bannisters to be of black walnut, a perpendicular schrale on said railing neatly finished-a closet under each flight of stairs with doors, locks and keys to the same. One slip less on each side of the Pulpit to leave room for the steps to the Pulpit. With a good stone wall under the new part of the church, two feet thick, three feet from the bottom of the sill downward, with good stone Butments of the same depth and two feet square of flat stones under the floor foundation, and under the
15
EARLY HISTORY.
posts that support the Gallery. The plastering to be of two coats and good quality to correspond with that of the old part of the church, and white washed. The windows in the new part of the church to be checked. The slips to be made to correspond with them in the old part of said Church, fashioned and finished corresponding with the old ones. The whole of the new part to be fashioned and finished to correspond with the old part inside and out, to have two coats of paint to match those now on said Church. Said Rorabeck is to have the materials taken from the west end of the church, and use so much thereof in the erection of the addition to said Church as may be good and sufficient.
In consideration of the said Rorabeck's faithful performance on his part the said Vandenbergh, Links, Hoes, Breese, Elliott, and Waring agree and promise to pay the said Rorabeck five hundred and sixty-five Dollars in manner following.
At the time of commencing said building Two hundred Dol- lars $200, when said building is enclosed Two hundred Dollars, and when the said building is completed to the satisfaction of the said party of the first part one hundred and sixty-five Dol- lars. The whole sum $565.
The said Rorabeck is to have the addition to said Church fin- ished on or before the thirtieth day of October, one Thousand eight hundred and Thirty Three.
In witness whereof the parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals this day of one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three."
These alterations changed the appearance and capacity of the house and formed the second structure.
The present handsome and substantial structure was erected in 1860, on nearly the same site, only changing the foundation sufficiently to make the building parallel with the highway. The corner.
16
EARLY HISTORY.
stone was laid June 5th, 1860, at the northeast corner. It is 72 feet long by 50 feet wide and 35 feet high, with organ loft and gallery across the front end only. It is of brick with brown stone water tables, etc. The church was without a pas- tor during its erection. It was dedicated April, 1861. Rev. Dr. E. P. Rogers, of the First Re- formed Church of Albany, officiated. His prede- cessor in that church, Rev. Eilardus Westerlo, per- formed a similar service for the first edifice sev- enty-four years before.
PARSONAGES.
The first house used as a parsonage was in the township of Schodack. The Schodack congrega- tion provided this for the minister. Rev. Mr. Romeyn lived in this house.
The second parsonage was at Blooming Grove, on the line dividing the two congregations of Green- bush and Wynantskill. It appears that the Rev. Mr. Romeyn bought this house at first and sold it to the two congregations for a parsonage, after his successor arrived. In 1802 it was bought by the church for 150 pounds, and fully paid for in 1805. The last installment of this sum was "transmitted
· 17
EARLY HISTORY.
to Mr. Romeyn by Capt. Boyd, of Albany, who brought up our Bond, which was cancelled."
The following "Quit Claim Deed" has been found, but the transaction seems not to be re- corded in the church records :
THIS INDENTURE, made the tenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three, BETWEEN Peter D. VanDyck, of the town of Greenbush, in the county of Rensselaer, and Margaret VanDyck, his wife, of the first part, and the minister, elders and deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Greenbush, in the county of Albany, their successors of the second part,
WITNESSETH, That the said parties, of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and fifty pounds, law- ful money of New York, to them in hand paid, by the said parties, of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged; HAVE bargained, sold, remised and quit-claimed; and by these presents Do bargain, sell, remise and forever QUIT- CLAIM, unto the said parties, of the second part, and to their suc- cessors forever, the one equal moiety or half of all that that cer- tain lot of ground situate, lying and being in the town of Green- bush, in the county of Rensselaer, with all the buildings and improvements on the same, butted and bounded as follows, to wit : Beginning at the corner post of the Court-yard fence, which is distant two chains and thirteen links on a course south, sixty-four degrees west from the southwest corner of the dwell- ing house of the said Peter D. Van Dyck, and running thence south seventy-five degrees and ten minutes, east nine chains and ninety links to a stake and stones, then south thirty degrees, west one chain and sixteen links to a stake and stones, then south fifty-five degrees, east fifteen chains and ninety-six links, then north twenty-nine degrees fifteen minutes, east six chains forty- four links to the south line of the farm of David M. De Foreest,
[2]
18
EARLY HISTORY.
then along the same north fifty-six degrees fifteen minutes, wes six chains thirty links, then south seventy-nine degrees, west forty-six links, then north fifty-one degrees, west nine chains forty-one links, then south twenty-nine degrees fifteen minutes, west three chains sixty-six links, then north sixty-three degrees, west eleven chains ten links, and then south eight degrees, west four chains fifteen links to the place of beginning, containing thirteen acres of land,
TOGETHER with all and singular the hereditaments and appurte- nances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof ; and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim or demand whatsoever, of the said parties of the first part, either in law or equity, of, in and to the above bargained premises, with the hereditaments and appurtenances. To HAVE AND TO HOLD, the said premises, above described, with the appurtenances to the said parties of the second part, and to their successors, to the sole and only proper use, benefit and behoof of the said parties of the second part, their successors forever.
IN WITNESS whereof, the parties to these presents, have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals, the day and year first above written.
PETER D. VAN DYCK, MARGARET VAN DYCK.
Sealed and delivered, in presence of
The heirs and assigns being obliterated in the eight line, and the word successors being inserted in place thereof, and the word all in the same line being also obliterated; heirs and assigns being obliterated in the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth lines and the word successors interlined in both places instead thereof.
LEONARD GANSEVOORT, JUNR. , ANN BEEKMAN.
Be it remembered that on the tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three, personally
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EARLY HISTORY.
appeared before me, Leonard Gansevoort, Junr., one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Rensselaer, Peter D. Van Dyck and Margaret, his wife, both to me personally known, who severally acknowledged that they had signed, sealed and as their voluntary act and deed delivered the within indenture for the uses and purposes theirein mentioned, and the said Margaret Van Dyck, being by me examined privately, apart from her hus- band, the said Peter D. Van Dyck, acknowledged that she exe- cuted the same without any fear or compulsion of her said husband, and I, having examined the same and finding therein no erasures or interlineation other than those noted, do allow the same to be recorded.
LEONARD GANSEVOORT, JUNR.
Recorded this Eighteenth day of February, 1803, in Book No. 3 of Deeds, Page 225 & 6, in the Clerk's office in the County of Rensselaer.
N. SCHUYLER, CI'k.
About 1807 " Ten acres of land adjoining the par- sonage " were purchased by the Church, Dominie Zabriskie advancing some of the money on it.
In 1815 the Greenbush Church sold the parsonage at Blooming Grove, "one-third consideration money to go to Blooming Grove."
Revs. Zabriskie and Labagh lived at Blooming Grove.
On October 19, 1815, the Consistory decided to buy the property of Charles Doughty.
This is probably the property owned for some time by William Barringer, and afterwards by Michael Warner, and now owned by Mr. Crandall.
The following survey of the parsonage and Green lots, made in 1825, is preserved.
BARN PARSONAGE 2.5
STEPHEN GREEN. 10.2 ACRES.
The heavy lines on the above map represent the parsonage and lands thereto attached, belonging to the Consistory of the Church of Greenbush, a part of which they have lately sold to Stephen Green as represented by the dotted line and which will be described as follows:
Beginning at a stake and stones standing in the south line of the said lot and at the distance of 5.85 on a course S, 41 degrees W. from the S. W. corner of the barn on the said parsonage and runs from the said stake and stones.
1. N. 3 degrees 5 minutes, E 6.25 to a stake in the north line and in the south side of the road, then along the same
2. N. 73 degrees 30 minutes 1.00 to a stake, then
3. N. 85 mimutes, W. 3.88, then
4. S. 52 degrees 30 minutes, W. 11.80 to a stake in the west line, then
5. S. 9 degrees, E. 1.22 to a stake, then
6. S. 5 degrees 45 minutes, E. 4.74 to a stake and stones, and then
7. N. 64 degrees, E. 14.46 to the place of beginning; contents, 10.2 acres.
Returned 12th August, 1825, by
EVERT VAN ALEN,'Surveyor.
21
EARLY HISTORY.
Revs. Marselus, Taylor and Dumont lived here, and probably Liddell in the early part of his min- istry.
What is now familiarly known as the old parson- age was built in 1831 on land belonging to the church. On April 15, 1831, a committee was appointed to get subscriptions, and to select a site for a parsonage " between the church and Esquire James Lansings's house."
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