A history of the churches, of all denominations, in the city of New York, from the first settlement to the year 1846, Part 2

Author: Greenleaf, Jonathan, 1785-1865. cn
Publication date: 1846
Publisher: New York, E. French; Portland, Hyde, & Duren
Number of Pages: 784


USA > New York > New York City > A history of the churches, of all denominations, in the city of New York, from the first settlement to the year 1846 > Part 2


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NINTH STREET CHURCH.


This is a plain though a substantial brick building, without a spire, 94 feet long, and 64 wide, erected in the year 1837, on the north side of Ninth street, between Broad- way and the Bowery. It is found a very convenient location for a large portion of the Collegiate Church who have removed to that section of the city.


* See " Olden Time in New York," pages 17, 18.


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CHURCH ON LAFAYETTE PLACE.


This is an elegant modern built granite edifice erected by the Collegiate Church in 1839. It measures 110 feet by 75, and will comfortably accommodate nearly 1500 per- sons. It stands on the corner of Lafayette place and Fourth street, near Broadway. These three Churches, viz., " The North Church," now, however, the most southern of all the Dutch Churches, the Ninth Street Church, and the Church on Lafayette place, are now the places of worship for the " Col- legiate Dutch Church," and are under but one ecclesiastical jurisdiction. At the last report, in June, 1845, the Collegiate Church contained 490 families, and 1376 members in communion. There are now in the Church four stated pastors.


The following list exhibits the names of the pastors of the Collegiate Church, with the dates of their installation, and dismis- sion or death, so far as it is known :


Rev. Everardus Bogardus, died 1517.


Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, Rev. Samuel Megapolensis,


brothers and col- leagues in 1619, the last named a physi- cian. Little is known l of either.


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Rev. Samuel Drissius, was settled as colleague with Samuel Megapolensis who survived his brother,- both were dead in 1669.


Rev. Wilhelmus Van Nieuenhuysen, D.D., called from Holland in 1671, removed to Brooklyn in 1676, but officiated some in New York till his death in 1680.


Rev. Henricus Solyns, called from Holland to Brook- lyn in 1660, and officiated there and at Gov. Stuy- vesant's Chapel at the Bouwerie, for about a year, when he returned to Holland. Recalled to the Collegiate Church in 1682, and died 1700.


Rev. Gualterus Dubois, installed 1699, died 1756.


Rev. Henricus Boel, settled as colleague with Mr. Dubois 1713, and died 1754.


Rev. Johannes Ritzema, settled as colleague with the two preceding in 1744, left the city at the com- mencement of the war in 1776, and died at Kinder- hook in 1796.


Rev. Lambertus de Ronde, settled in 1751, the three preceding being then living, and died at Schagti- coke in 1795.


Rev. Archibald Laidlie, D.D., called to preach in Eng- lish in 1764, died of consumption at Redhook, 1778, aged 51.


Rev. John H. Livingston, D.D., settled in 1770, re- signed his charge, having been appointed Professor of Theology in the Seminary at New Brunswick, in 1810, where he died Jan. 20, 1825, aged 79 .-


Rev. William Linn, settled in 1785, dismissed on ac- count of ill health in 1805, died at Albany, Jan., 1808.


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Rev. Gerardus A. Kuypers, installed May, 1789, died June 28, 1833.


Rev. John N. Abeel, installed in 1795, died Jan. 19, 1812, after a lingering sickness of seven years.


Rev. John Schureman, settled 1809, dismissed in 1811, having been elected a professor in the Col- lege at New Brunswick.


Rev. Jacob Brodhead, D.D., installed Dec., 1809, re- signed the charge 1813.


Rev. Philip Milledoler, D.D., settled Feb., 1813, re- signed the charge Feb., 1825.


Rev. John Knox, D.D., ordained and installed July 14, 1816, still living.


Rev. Paschal N. Strong, ordained and installed July


14, 1816, died at St. Croix, W. I., April 7, 1825.


Rev. W'm. C. Brownlee, D.D., installed June 17, 1826, still living.


Rev. Thomas De Witt, D.D., installed Sept. 16, 1827, still living.


Rev. Thomas E. Vermilye, D.D., installed Nov., 1839, still living.


GARDEN STREET, OR SOUTH CHURCH.


As before stated, the Garden Street, or South Church was originally a part of the collegiate charge, and in this relation it re- mained until the year 1813, when it was separated, and the Rev. James M. Mathews was installed its pastor. Rev. Dr. Mathews remained sole pastor of the church until 1834,


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when the Rev. Mancius S. Hutton was installed as colleague pastor; Dr. Mathews being then Chancellor of the University of New York. At the great fire in New York, on the 16th of December, 1835, the church edifice in Garden street was burnt, although the walls were left standing. But it was thought best not to repair or rebuild on that spot, as almost every family had re- moved from that vicinity, and stores and large warehouses occupied the place of dwellings. After due consideration a site was selected for a church edifice on Murray street, corner of Church street, and preparations made to erect a building. A part of the people, how- ever, had a preference for the upper part of the city, and a new building was projected to stand on Wooster street, fronting Wash- ington square, and a new church was organized, called the "Reformed Dutch Church on Washington Square." Both pastors resigned the charge of the "South Church," and became colleague pastors of the new church. The church edifice on Murray street was completed and opened toward the close of the year 1837, and in April, 1838, the Rev. John M. Macauley was


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ordained and installed pastor of the " South Dutch Church," which office he still sustains. The church numbers 261 in communion.


CHURCH ON WASHINGTON SQUARE.


This church was organized in April, 1937, and consisted of 49 original members. Rev. Dr. Mathews and Rev. Mr. Hutton became pastors of the church, and com- menced preaching in the chapel of the University, until the new edifice was com- pleted in 1840. In 1842 Dr. Mathews re- signed his charge, and Rev. Dr. Hutton remains sole pastor. The church numbers 243 in communion.


CHURCH AT HARLEM.


It is difficult, if not quite impossible, to ascertain with precision when a church organization was effected at Harlem. Dutch settlers were there very early, but whether they were in connection with the Collegiate Church, or whether they were formed into a distinct church, there are no records to show. It is stated in the old Dutch Records of Harlem, that on September 30, 1686, the Rev. 3


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Henricus Solyns preached the first sermon in a new church then built, and administered the Lord's Supper. Hence, there was then a church and a house of worship. The want of records prevents also any definite information concerning the names of the ministers who may have officiated here, for nearly 100 years after this. The first minister of whom we have any definite ac- count was the Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker, who held the pastoral office at Harlem pre- . vious to the year 1785, officiating there and at Gravesend; but he left in that year, and become pastor of the Dutch Church in Flatbush, where he died May 20, 1824, at the advanced age of 87 years. It is not known precisely how long he had preached at Harlem. Up to this time it is supposed that the services at Harlem had been con- ducted in the Dutch language, but it is doubtful whether preaching in that language was continued after this .* After the dis- mission of Mr. Schoonmaker, the church at


The supposition that the public services at Harlem had been performed in Dutch is grounded on the fact that Mr. Schoonmaker always preached in Dutch at Flatbush, never having attempted it in English but once .- See Prime's History of Long Island, page 328.


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Harlem remained destitute of a stated pastor for the space of nearly six years, but in September, 1791, a call was presented to the Rev. John F. Jackson, which he accepted. Mr. Jackson remained pastor of the church more than thirteen years, and resigned the charge in April, 1805. Immediately after this the church called the Rev. Philip Mille- doler, which he declined. The next pastor of this church was the Rev. Jeremiah Romeyn, who was settled here in April, 1806. After about seven years some difficulties arose, and at the meeting of classis in November, 1813, Mr. Romeyn requested to be dismissed, the church consenting thereto. But the classis declined to comply with the request. In January following this request was renewed and granted. But the troubles in the church did not end with the dismis- sion of the minister, and in October, 1814, the classis appointed a committee of investi- gation, and after about eighteen months, the congregation united in presenting a call to Mr. Cornelius C. Vermule, which he accept- ed. This took place in September, 1816. Rev. Dr. Vermule continued his labors at Harlem acceptably and usefully for the term


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of twenty years, when his health becoming impaired, he resigned his charge in October, 1836, and after a vacancy of something over a year, the present pastor of the church, the Rev. Richard L. Schoonmaker, was ordained in March, 1838.


GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH.


.Among the very early inhabitants of New York were some Germans, both Lutherans and Calvinists, and, as might of course be expected, they had some church order here in the " olden time." But of their very early movements little or no record remains. We have some few traces of the Lutheran Church, but nothing very distinct of the Cal- vinistic part,-generally known as the " Ger- man Reformed,"-until about the year 1758. Before this the German emigrants to New York, who were in sentiment Calvinists, and who understood the Low Dutch language, attached themselves to the Reformed Dutch Church, while those who could speak Ger- man only were constrained to attend the Lutheran Church, where the service was in German. But about the year 1758, the number having considerably increased, a


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, meeting was established of the members of the true German Reformed Church. A sub- scription was made to support a minister, and a building, formerly used as a theatre, was purchased for $1250, and fitted up as a place of worship. It stood on Nassau street, between John street and Maiden Lane. The first minister employed was the Rev. Mr. Rozencrantz, who had been preaching to a small congregation of Germans on the Mohawk river, and was driven off by the Indians. He officiated in the German Church in New York for about a year- Two others, whose names are unknown, succeeded, but neither remained long. After this the Church wrote to the Consistory of Heidelburgh, requesting them to send over a suitable man for their minister, and accord- ingly the Rev. J. M. Kern was sent, and arrived in New York in Sept., 1763, and took charge of the congregation. By his advice the church adopted the name of the " German Reformed Congregation in New York"' attaching themselves to the Classis of Am- sterdam and Synod of North Holland. This brought them at once into connection with the Collegiate Reformed Dutch Church in


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this city ; and when a regular call of the German Church was made out for Mr. Kern to take the pastoral office, the Rev. Mr. De Ronde, of the Collegiate Church, presided at the meeting, and Mr. Kern was installed by the ministers of the Collegiate Church on January 27, 1764. The congregation had not occupied their house of worship for a year, when, being already an old and decay- ed building, they found it necessary to take it down and rebuild it. This was done in the year 1765, the corner-stone being laid on the Sth of March in that year, by the Rev. Mr. Kern and the consistory of the church, each one placing a stone of the foundation. Mr. Kern continued with the church but a few years after this, and was succeeded, in 1772, . by Rev. C. F. Foering, who was installed in May in that year by the ministers of the Collegiate Church, as his predecessor had been. Mr. Foering was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Gebhard, who was pastor in 1776, when the British took possession of the city. He then went to Claverack, a town back of Hudson, where he preached till his death.


Soon after the close of the war, in Dec., 1783, the church obtained as a pastor the


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Rev. J. D. Gross, and after him, in May, 1795, the Rev. Philip Milledoler was called, and continued pastor of the church for about ten years. About this time very trying con- troversies arose in the church, and parties were arrayed against each other. They still had preaching. Rev. Mr. Runkle, Rev. Mr. Dryer, and Rev. Mr. Smith successively ministered to the congregation from 1805 to 1814, although the regularity of their several settlements was called in question by parties among themselves. In the year 1804, the Rev. Mr. Labagh was called, with the appro- bation of the Classis, and continued as pas- tor, in a state of tolerable quiet, until the year 1822, when he resigned his charge. At this time the congregation thought it best to dispose of their house of worship in Nassau street, and erect a new church edifice in " Forsyth street, which was accordingly done. The old building was sold. It is still stand- ing on Nassau street, near Maiden Lane, and is converted into an eating-house, known as " Gosling's Dining Saloon." It bears the street numbers of 64 and 66.


The first minister in the new house was the Rev. Charles Knouse, who officiated


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there until the year 1827. Rev. George Mills succeeded him in 1828, and continued to officiate for five years, leaving in 1833. In the next year the Lutheran party, who had been struggling in the church for many years, obtained possession, and, under their auspices, the Rev. Lewis Smith officiated three years, from 1834 to 1837, when he died.


The question of right to the church edifice had been before the State Court of Chancery for some time, and was undecided at the time of Mr. Smith's death. After this event took place, in the early part of 1838, Rev. John S. Ebaugh commenced preaching in the church for the " German Reformed," but before the close of the year the Lutheran party were put in possession of the property by a deci- sion of the Vice Chancellor.' Thus matters remained until the spring of 1844, when the Chancellor reversed the decision before given, and gave back the house to the German Re- formed Church, and the Lutherans retired to a hall on Grand street, making a final appeal to the " Court of Errors." In Jan., 1846, this court reversed the decision of the Chancellor, and the Lutherans again took possession of the house of worship.


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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH AT GREENWICH.


At a meeting of the classis of New York, in November, 1803, a request was made in behalf of a number of members of the Re- formed Dutch Church, residing at Green- wich, " to be constituted and organized into a congregation in connection with, and under the jurisdiction of, the classis." This request was granted, and on the 9th of December following, the church was duly organized. The first pastor of the church was the Rev. Stephen N. Rowan, who was ordained and installed in December, 1807, and continued his labors until August, 1819, when some difficulties arising between him and the consistory, the pastoral connection was dis- solved, and a portion of the congregation leaving with him, they organized what was called " The Eighth Presbyterian Church," and erected a house of worship on Christo- pher street, formerly called " Skinner road." Rev. Charles Hardenburgh succeeded Mr. Rowan in the Dutch Church, being in- stalled in May, 1820, but was removed by death in September of the next year. The next pastor of the church was the Rev


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Nicholas I. Marselus, who commenced his labors in April, 1822.


The old church edifice which was built in 1S02, and enlarged in 1807, and in which the congregation then worshipped, was a wooden building, standing midway between Amos and Charles streets. This was found to be too small for the accommodation of the increasing congregation, and in 1826 it was sold to a society of Reformed Presbyterians, and removed entire to Waverley Place, near Grove street, where it now stands. " The removal of a church entire, with a spire, containing a public clock, and in motion during the time, was regarded as a very novel sight, and the novelty was heightened by the fact that while it was under way through Charles street to Fourth street, a congregation was assembled within its walls, to whom a sermon was delivered from the pulpit by a clergyman who had been engaged by the mover for this purpose."* In the place of the building thus sold, a very substantial and commodious brick edifice was erected in Bleecker street, corner of Amos street, and opened that year.


* Rev. Dr. Marselus' Anniversary Sermon, page 36.


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The labors of the Rev. Dr. Marselus, who continues pastor of the church, have been very successful, and notwithstanding. the formation of many churches around, the communicants in that church were 525 at their last annual report, and the number of families in the congregation 300, a larger church and congregation than any other Dutch Church in the city, with the single exception of the Collegiate Church, which has four ministers, and three places of wor- ship.


CHURCH ON TWENTY-FIRST STREET.


This church was a branch of the Reform- ed Dutch Church at Greenwich, and though very recent in its date, is very properly in- troduced here. Many of those who attend- ed the church at Greenwich resided far above the location of that church, and the ultimate establishment of another Dutch Church in that section of the city had been for a long time an object of deep solicitude with many persons. Several years before it took place, the late Rev. John F. Jackson communicated his intention to give freely a


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sufficient plot of ground for church pur- poses, whenever a Dutch Church should be organized in that region ; and when it was found that a sufficient number of families and church members were collected to war- rant the undertaking, measures were taken to organize a church, secure the ground, and erect a suitable building. Before this took place, Mr. Jackson had departed to his rest, but his widow and children promptly and cheerfully carried out his design. .


The Church was organized in the Green- wich Church, March 20, 1836, and here they continued to worship for nearly three years, until a house of worship was prepared for their reception. This was accomplished in 1838, when a convenient building of brick was erected on Twenty-First street, near Fifth Avenue, fifty-six feet long, and thirty- four feet wide. Soon after this, the Rev. Edward H. May was installed pastor of the church, in which office he still continues. Forty families were reported in the congre- gation in June last, and sixty-seven mem- bers in communion.


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BLOOMINGDALE DUTCH CHURCH. .


About five miles from the City Hall, near the North river, there was very early a little village called " Harsenville," from the name of some of the first settlers. That name is nearly lost at this day,-the whole district around being known as " Bloomingdale." ' The Dutch people there, who were religious, were generally connected with the Collegiate Church, but, being at an inconvenient dis- tance from the place of public worship, in the early part of the year 1805, Mr. Jacob Harsen erected on his own land a small wooden building for a house of worship, and it was publicly dedicated as such by the Rev. Dr. Livingston, on the last Sabbath in June, 1S05. On the 9th of September, in the same year, a church of four members was organized by Dr. Livingston in the house of Mr. Harsen, and called " The Har- senville Church," but now known as the Bloomingdale Dutch Church. To this church another member was soon added, and the officers were duly installed, October 20th, and the house of worship was conveyed to the church by Mr. Harsen.


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The first pastor of this church was the Rev. Alexander Gunn, who was called May 21st, 1808. The church, being few in number, struggled along under many embarrassments for about six years, when, in the midst of pecuniary difficulties, they resolved to erect a better church edifice. A successful effort was accordingly made, and a substantial building of stone was erected, at a cost of $16,000. It stands on 6Sth Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues, and measures 65 feet by 55, and, what is worthy of special remark, the efforts of the people were so successful that when the house was finished they were less in debt than when they began,-evincing how a kind Providence favors those who seek the promotion of his glory in the exten- sion of the Redeemer's kingdom. The old house of worship continued to be used for evening services and meetings on week days until 1832, when it was consumed by fire.


Dr. Gunn continued pastor of the church until his death, which took place October 1st, 1828, in the 44th year of his age, and the 20th year of his ministry.


Rev. Francis M. Kip was the second pas- tor of the church. He was called July Sth,


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1830, and resigned his charge September 27th, 1831.


The church was then supplied for six months by Rev. Isaac P. Labagh, and after- wards, for two years and a half, by Rev. John Alburtis. The third and present pas- tor of the church is the Rev. Enoch Van Aken, who was called to the pastoral charge May 26th, 1835.


The present number of members in the church is 82. 1737657


THE NORTH-WEST DUTCH CHURCH.


About the year 1807, it was thought proper to attempt the establishment of an- other Reformed Dutch Church. Accordingly a site was selected for a building by the Consistory of the Collegiate Church, on Franklin street, between Church and Chapel streets,-now West Broadway; and in the course of that year the organization was effected, and though organized as a branch of the Collegiate Church, yet when they be- gan to act it was in an independent manner, and so they have continued. It was incor- porated under the statute as " The North-


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west Dutch Church," though it is generally known among the people as the " Franklin Street Church."


The first pastor of this church was the Rev. Christian Bork, who was called here from Schodac, near Albany, in the spring of 1803, and continued his ministry until his death, in September, 1823. The history of Mr. Bork is interesting. He was born in the city of Berlin, in Prussia, about the year 1756. His early education was rather limited, but he improved well what advan- tages he had, joining therewith a very reten- tive memory, a large share of excellent com- . mon sense, and a remarkably enterprising spirit. When he was about 18 years of age the Revolutionary war commenced, and some Hessian troops being about to be sent from Germany to assist the British in the reduc- tion of the Colonies, he enlisted as a common soldier in one of those companies, designing in this way to see the New World. Soon after landing, his company was attached to the northern army, under General Burgoyne, and he was captured with him near Saratoga, on October 17th, 1777. A large portion of the Hessian soldiers remained in the country,


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adopting it finally as their own. Thus did Mr. Bork. Directing his steps towards Albany, he offered himself as a teacher, and, as he spoke both High and Low Dutch fluently, he was well received by the Dutch people in that region. In the course of a few years he married into a respectable Dutch family, and now considering himself a citizen, before the close of the war, he en- listed in the American army, in what was termed the " nine months service," served out the time, and obtained an honorable dis- charge.


After leaving the army Mr. Bork resum- ed the business of teaching. Until this time he had lead a careless life; but now it was ordered in Providence that the Rev. Dr. Liv- ingston should visit that region of country, in order to carry the gospel to the scattered population. As there were few houses of worship, he was at one time holding a meet- ing in a barn, and there Mr. Bork heard the word unto his salvation, and with his cha- racteristic promptness, he embraced the offer of eternal life; and though many obstacles lay in his path, he resolved to encounter them all, and make his way into the min- 4*


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istry. He was encouraged in this effort by the Rev. Mr. Bassett, pastor of the Dutch Church in Albany, under whose direction he pursued his studies, until he was licensed to preach the gospel. He preached to good acceptance for several years in the vicinity of Albany; and was pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at Schodac, when he was called to New York. His ministry in Frank- lin street, which lasted about fifteen years, was productive of much good. His public ministrations were plain, scriptural and faith- ful, and his preaching will be long remem- bered by those who were privileged to hear it.


Mr. Bork died greatly lamented, as before stated, in September, 1823, and was suc- ceeded in the following spring, by the Rev. George Dubois. After some years the health of Mr. Dubois became impaired, and finding the large charge of the church in Franklin · street more than he could sustain, he resign- ed it in the summer of 1837, and was after- wards settled in the Dutch Church in Tar- rytown, where he died. The next pastor of the church was the Rev. Christopher Hunt, who was installed in November, 1837. The




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