Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 254

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452


USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations > Part 254


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219 | Part 220 | Part 221 | Part 222 | Part 223 | Part 224 | Part 225 | Part 226 | Part 227 | Part 228 | Part 229 | Part 230 | Part 231 | Part 232 | Part 233 | Part 234 | Part 235 | Part 236 | Part 237 | Part 238 | Part 239 | Part 240 | Part 241 | Part 242 | Part 243 | Part 244 | Part 245 | Part 246 | Part 247 | Part 248 | Part 249 | Part 250 | Part 251 | Part 252 | Part 253 | Part 254 | Part 255 | Part 256 | Part 257 | Part 258 | Part 259 | Part 260 | Part 261 | Part 262


1878 .- George Lasher, Supervisor; George Mickel, Town Clerk; Jolin McClure, Assessor; George Love, Col-


176


HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.


lector; Zerah Jenkins, John L. Bronk, Overseers of the Poor; David Walpole, John F. Marckley; John Smith, Orlando Jones, Zachariah Smith, R. J. Liddle, Abraham Osterhout, Elwood Moore, Wil ian L. Schermerhorn, Inspectors of Election; H. P. McMaster, Jacob W. Gardiner, Jacob Waggoner, George Fellows, Eli Mickel, Constables; Will- iam McMillan, Game Constable.


1879 .- John W. Head, Supervisor; George Mickel, Town Clerk; James Staly, Assessor; George H. Love, Commissioner of Highways; J. W. Head, T. R. Herrick, Justices of the Peace; Martin J. Wilber, Collector; G. D. Durfee, John L. Bronk, Overseers of the Poor; Daniel S. Pulver, Frederick Delamater, William Bronk, N. S. Pang- burn, R. L. Hunter, J. J. Gardiner, William L. Schermer- horn, Andrew Harbeck, Elwood Moore, Inspectors of Elec- tion; Eli Mickel, J. M. Bradt, Henry McMaster, Jonathan Clayton, Jacob Waggoner, Constables; M. H. Sheldon, Game Constable.


1880 .- George Lasher, Supervisor; William L. Scher- merhorn, Town Clerk; Cornell W. Bronk, Assessor; John W. Feidler, Commissioner of Highways; David W. Wal- pole, Justice of the Peace; Robert J. Liddle, Collector; Gilbert D. Durfee, John L. Bronk, Overseers of the Poor; James Quick, Robert Cullings, David N. Peek, F. W. Shute, Orlando Jones, Robert J. Liddle, Andrew Harbeck, Elwood Moore, J. M. S. Wilber, Inspectors of Election; Henry P. McMaster, Jacob W. Gardner, Jonathan Clayton, John 1. Barton, John M. Brodt, Constables; William Mc- Millan, Game Constable.


1881 .- James W. Waddell, Supervisor; John L. Turn- bull, Town Clerk; A. H. Delevan, Assessor; Simon Dare, Commissioner of Highways; Lewis A. Wilber, Justice of the Peace; Robert J. Liddle, Collector; Eli Hart, John L. Bronk, Overseers of the Poor; George Astrander, Henry 1. Smith, Edward Day, J. J. Gardner, John H. Shute, Horace Avery, Abram S. Liddle, William Chadwick, Hiram Hilton, Inspectors of Election; Henry McMaster, J. J. Gardner, Howard Sperbeck, Abram Ostrander, Con- stables; George W. Mickel, Game Constable.


1882 .- James W. Waddell, Supervisor; John L. Turn- bull, Town Clerk; Jacob D. Patterson, Assessor; George H. Love, Commissioner of Highways; John M. Delamater, Justice of the Peace; David N. Peek, Collector; John Levy, Eli Hart, Overseers of the Poor; Juan Pangburn, John Buckley, Edward Deay, John H. Shute, Jay Abbey, Will- iam Tiffany, Andrew Harbeck, William T. Waddell, J. M. Swart Wilber, Inspectors of Election; John L. Barton, Obediah Stillwell, Howard Sperbeck, Newton J. Gardner, Constables; William S. Knight, Game Constable.


1883 .- James W. Waddell, Supervisor; John L. Turn- bull, Town Clerk; Nicholas Smith, Assessor; William Chadwick, Cominissioner of Highways; Frederick W. Shute, Justice of the Peace; Stephen Pratt White, Col- lector; John Levy, Charles B. Carpenter, Overseers of the Poor; John Green, Marshall Wilkinson, John W. Smith, John H. Shute, Jay Abbey, Edward T. Liddle, John A. McClure, Edward Moore, Darwin E. Mott, Inspectors of Election; John L. Barton, Obediah Stillwell, Howard Sperbeck, Jacob J. Gardner, Constables; Austin Dela- mater, Game Constable.


1884 .- John A. McClure, Supervisor; John L. Turn- bull, Town Clerk; Spencer Churtman, Assessor; William Tiffany, Commissioner of Highways; David W. Walpole, Justice of the Peace; Robert J. Liddle, Collector; Charles B. Carpenter, John Levy, Overseers of the Poor; John Turnbull, James Wells, Daniel Pulver, John H. Shute, Jay Abbey, Horace Avery, Elwood Moore, William T. Wad- dell, J. M. Swart Wilber, Inspectors of Election; John L. Barton, Jaines Durfee, Obediah Stillwell, Jacob J. Gardner, William Levy, Jr., Constables; William McMillan, Game Constable.


1885 .- John A. McClure, Supervisor ; John L. Turn- bull, Town Clerk ; Jacob D. Patterson, Assessor ; William D. McMillan, Commissioner of Highways ; T. Romyne Herrick, Justice of the Peace ; Robert J. Liddle, Collector; Charles B. Carpenter, John Levy, Overseers of the Poor ; Jethro Rockwell, Theodore Vandescar, David N. Peek, Jay Abbey, John H. Shute, William Avery, William T. Waddel, Elwood Moore, J. M. Swart Wilber, Inspectors of Election ;


James Durfee, Augustus Taber, Edward Montanye, John Stebbins, Constables ; William McMillan, Game Constable.


EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS.


The whole number of schools in this town is twenty-two. There are, hesides, three joint districts-that is, districts partly in Duanesburgh and partly beyond the town limits, with school-houses beyond the lines. Two of the joint dis- tricts extend into Montgomery County, and one into Scho- harie County. The amount of State money appropriated to the schools of Duanesburgh during the last fiscal year was $2,163.70. The amount raised by district tax was $3,359.85 The total was $5,523.55. The number of scholars attending school in 1884 was 970.


CHURCH HISTORY.


Judge Duane, on his retirement, sought to establish in Duanesburgh a home for his declining years. One of his first thoughts was for a church. Centre Lot, or Square, having failed in its purpose of becoming the center of Duanesburgh village, he devoted it to the uses of this church, and in its center he built the present house of worship, about 1792 and 1793. Before the date of its consecration it was conveyed to the corporation. At a meeting of the rector and inhabitants of the town of Duanesburgh, in communion of the Episcopal Church of said town, on Tuesday, Septem- ber 22, 1793, the following instrument respecting the conse- cration, entitled "an act of the founder for consecrating Christ's Church at Duanesburgh," was laid before the vestry.


"I, James Duane, proprietor of the town of Duanesburgh, in the County of Albany, do hereby make known and de- clare that the edifice lately erected at the place called Centre Square of the said town, and the ground on which the said edifice is situated, are intended and hereby appro- priated for the public worship of Almighty God, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York, for which use they shall always remain and continue. And that I have requested, and do hereby pray the Right Reverend the Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the said State of New York to consecrate and set apart the said edifice, with the ground on which it is erected, by the name of Christ's Church in Duanesburgh, according to the rights and ceremonies of the said Protestant Episcopal Church. In Witness," etc.


(Signed)


[Seal. ] JAMES DUANE.


The duplicate of this instrument was publicly delivered by Mr. Duane into the hands of the Right Reverend Samuel Provost at the chancel of the church, and there read and published by the Rev. Mr. Ellison, rector of St. Peter's Church, Albany, immediately before the consecration, to a large audience, on Sunday, August 25, 1793. There was also present, to assist at the service, the Rev. Leonard Cutting, minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, U. S.


The parish evidently had a corporate existence for some years previous to 1795, and was in charge of the Rev. Mr. Belden. It was admitted to the Convention of the Diocese of New York in 1789. Under the State law then recently passed, action was taken to comply with the new require- ments.


"To all people to whom these presents shall come or concern: The Rev. David Belden, minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Town of Duanesburgh and County of Albany, and William North, James C Duane, Edward Cumpston and Joel Thompson of the said town, members of the said church, do hereby certify and make known, that on the twenty-third day of August, 1795, immediately after divine service, they were present and assisted at a meeting of the male adult persons of the congregation, or church in communion, of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York, at Christ's Church in the said Town of Du- anesburgh, for the purpose of incorporating themselves under the act of the Legislature of this State, entitled 'An Act for the Relief of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York,' passed the 17th day of March, 1795. That the said minister presided at the said meeting. That William North and James C. Duane, of the said town, were


177


THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.


then and there respectively and unanimously elected and chosen churchwardens of the said congregation or church; and George Wasson, Joel Thompson, Edward Cumpston, John Thornton, Joseph Thompson, Nicholas Righter and William Skeels, also of the said town, and John Dorn, of Corrysbush, were in like manner respectively and unani- mously elected and chosen vestrymen of the said congrega- tion or church; and that it was further then and there unanimously agreed and determined that on Tuesday in Easter week the said offices of churchwardens and vestry- men of the said congregation or church shall yearly forever hereafter cease, and their successors in office be elected and chosen; and, lastly, it was then and there agreed, de- termined and declared, that the said congregation or church shall forever hereafter be known and recognized in law by the name, style or title of the Rector and Inhabitants of the Town of Duanesburgh, in communion of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York. In testimony whereof, the said David Belden, William North, James C. Duane, Edward Cumpston and Joel Thompson have here- unto set their hands and seals this twenty-third day of Au- gust, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.


"Sealed and delivered in presence of us,


JAMES DUANE, [SEAL. ]


DAVID BELDEN, [SEAL. ]


W. NORTH, [SEAL. ]


J. C. DUANE,


[SEAL. ]


E. CUMPSTON, [SEAL. ]


JOEL THOMSON." [SEAL. ]


In 1811 a tower and spire was added to the building and a few changes were made in the interior. Since then no changes have been made. The building has been kept in excellent repair, and is the oldest church edifice in the Dio- cese of Albany which has preserved its primitive architect- ural design.


Immediately after the consecration of the church, Judge Duane, "desirous to make some permanent provision for the present and future incumbents of the said church," pre- sented a glebe of eighty acres near the church and parson- age. The land thus designated was a part of the Farm No. 116. Subsequently, the heirs of James C. Duane added a number of acres, increasing the glebe to its present size. Judge Duane also contributed materially toward the build- ing of the parsonage house, and, at his instigation, the vestry applied for further aid to Trinity Church, New York. In answer to the request, Trinity Church furnished 300 pounds for this purpose. Before any further action was taken in the matter, Judge Duane died. It having been deemed inadvisable to place the parsonage on the glebe, a plot of ground was leased on the western side of the public square, at an annual rent equal to the value of five "Span- ish milled silver dollars." The first parsonage was erected on this lot. The present rectory stands in the glebe, facing the turnpike.


On the 28th of January, 1811, Mary Duane, widow of Hon. James Duane, transferred to Robert Troup, of the City of Albany, and Peter A. Jay, of the City of New York, fifty-three shares of the capital stock of the Merchants' Bank of New York City, its income to be applied toward the uses of this parish. At the death of the original trustees, the fund was placed in the trust of the Protestant Episcopal Society for the promotion of Religion and Learning, the present trustee. By wise and judicious management the fund has gradually accumulated, and now provides an an- nual income equal to nearly twice the amount of the origi- nal principal, not a dollar having been lost through bad in- vestment or otherwise. October 17, 1845, the heirs of Elizabeth North, granddaughter of Hon. James Duane, conveyed to the church all transferable interests, in fur- therance of her wish, in the farm known as lot 85, contain- ing 106 acres, occupied by Warren Fuller at a perpetual rent of $200 a year, to be applied to the needs of this church. She had given the rent to the church since 1834. It was paid regularly until, in 1858, during the anti-rent move- ment, the tenant refused to pay longer, and removed from the farm all the buildings and such other property as he could conveniently secure. Unable to effect an amicable settlement of the difficulty, the wardens and vestry insti- tuted legal proceedings, which eventually resulted favorably


to the church. The entire property was finally disposed of and the proceeds invested in bond and mortgage. By the will of Catharine L. Duane, a fund of $500 was left in trust, its annual income to be divided equally between the Sunday- school of Christ's Church and the Duanesburgh Library Association. The entire fund was lost by the recent failure of Emmet O'Neil. Several small funds obtained by sales of timber are invested, the income from which is applied for specific purposes.


There is no record of the first services held in Duanes- burgh. It is probable that the rectors of St. Peter's, Al- bany, from 1710 to 1770, officiated when there was need. The services of Christ's Church were, from the first, pro- vided for by the parish. The building was erected, the organization effected, and all the essentials appertaining to a formed parish were provided at the outset. The measures then taken to maintain the services have, during the subse- quent history, demonstrated their wisdom and efficacy, there having been no period during the more than ninety years of its life when any difficulty existed in providing the support of a rector.


The first minister after the incorporation under the then new State Law was Rev. David Belden. Mr. Belden had officiated as a deacon in Duanesburgh for some time before the organization and had presided at the business meetings during the formative period. Upon his advancement to the priesthood he was instituted rector. His official connection with the parish is thought to have ceased in the early part of 1797. On the 30th of July, 1798, Rev. Robert G. Wetmore was called to the rectorship, the wardens agreeing "to be- come responsible for the payment of one hundred and thirty pounds sterling. * * * and further to find a house for him to live in from the time he begin to preach in Duanesburgh." The right was reserved on the part of the vestry to make such agreement with the church at Schenectady respecting Mr. Wetmore's officiating there as they might deem advis- able, provided he should not be obliged to officiate in the church at Schenectady oftener than once in three Sundays.


August 23, 1798, the vestry of Christ's Church agreed "to allow, permit and enjoin on the said Robert G. Wet- more to preach in the Episcopal Church in Schenectady one Sunday in three for and through the said year." November 8, 1800, the vestry having passed a resolution commending most highly " the Rector of Christ's Church, Duanesburgh," for "his zeal, knowledge and integrity," declared that " no deduction of his salary shall be made on account of any disability that may take place during the ensuing year." His health beginning to be impaired shortly after, he re- mained until April, though he was unable to minister pub- licly after the Ist of February, 1801. He died soon after- ward. During his rectorship in Duanesburgh, he baptized one hundred and performed eight marriages, the smallest fee being eight shillings, the largest a guinea.


Between 1801 and 1817, the names of the following clergy appear on the records as having officiated at various times : N. Lilly, Mr. Burtess, R. Hubbard, Dr. Mansfield, Gross Stebbins, F. Clowes. Of these, Mr. Hubbard is thought to have been rector for some time. Rev. Nathaniel F. Bruce, deacon, was called to be minister June 12, 1817, at a salary of $400. He was advanced to the priesthood between the latter part of March, 1818, and April 13, 1819, at which date he signs himself as rector. He resigned about the close of 1819. Rev. Charles W. Hamilton was called to officiate as resident minister September 9, 1820. By mutual agreement his connection terminated May 6, 1822. Rev. Richard Bury began his services February 10, 1823, at $400 per year, which was subsequently increased to $500. He resigned about the last of December, 1827. Kev. William B. Thomas succeeded him early in 1828 and re- mained until 1841. Rev. Kendrick Metcalf appears on the records as rector October 26, 1842, remaining until October, 1850. During the interim the vestry invited Rev. Mr. Bab- cock to officiate at the rate of ten dollars per Sunday. Rev. William O. Jarvis was elected rector August 27, 1851. A suit at law was entered by the Reformed Presbyterian So- ciety against the rector, wardens and vestry, for a portion of the glebe. The issue was in favor of the defendants. The resignation of Mr. Jarvis took effect March 13, 1859.


Rev. Robert T. S. Lowell, D.D., was elected rector April 26, 1859. Dr. Lowell's ministry was successful, and he was associated with many important improvements to the parish


178


HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.


property. At the earnest solicitation of the vestry he con- sented to withdraw his resignation, presented December 13, 1866, and remained until Easter, 1869. Dr. Lowell is well and widely known as an author and poet of high rank. Rev. George L. Weide was elected rector October 20, 1869.


In the summer of 1877, Trinity Chapel, near Esperance, was erected on land given by Benjamin M. Duane. Ser- vices had been held in a school-house near, by Dr. Lowell and Mr. Weide, for several years previous. A society of women raised the building fund. The chapel was formally deeded to Christ's Church, July 29, 1877, and consecrated August 7th following by the Right Rev. William Crosswell Duane, S. T. D., Bishop of the Diocese. Mr. Weide re- signed in the spring of 1881. Rev. H. L. Zeller was elected rector October 15, 1881, and remained until August, 1883. Rev. Ernest A. Hartman, the present incumbent, was elect- ed January 24, 1884, and assumed his duties March 16th fol- lowing.


Below are the names and terms of service of the wardens of Christ's Church from the foundation of the parish to 1885.


William North, 1795-1821 ; James C. Duane, 1795- 1805 ; George W. Featherstonhaugh, 1805-25 ; Col. Will- iam S. North, 1821-45 ; John B. Duane, 1825-44 ; Benjamin M. Duane, 1844-82 ; Ralph McDougall, 1845-57 ; Hugh McDougall, 1857-79 ; Alexander McDougall since 1879 ; Ralph McDougall since 1882.


THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, QUAKER STREET.


The Society of Friends of Duanesburgh was organized about 1790, when its first meetings were held. Its first meeting for discipline, subordinate to a monthly meeting, was established by a committee seot from Nine Partners Quarterly Meeting in Dutchess County in the fall of 1800. This meeting was then a part of Coeymans Monthly Meet- ing. In 1806, by a division of Coeymans Meeting, Duanes- burgh Monthly Meeting was established and a provision made to hold its meetings one-third of the time at Otego and Burlington, in Otsego County, and two-thirds of the time in Duanesburgh. Some time between 1800 and 1806, a lot of land was deeded to Oliver Briggs, two acres of which was to be held by the Society of Friends. In 1807 this lot was exchanged for part of lot No. 360 in the village of Quaker Street, where the Friends' log meeting-house then stood, by four brothers, named Job, Jeremiah, Robert and Richard Briggs, and was deeded by them to Jedediah Tallman and Zaccheus Mead, who were to hold it in trust for the society "to be used for a burying ground and for the erection of a meeting-house thereon." In 1828 a new deed was given to Nathaniel Wilber, James Shelden, Isaac Gaige, Zaccheus Mead, Benjamin T. Estes, Joseph Moore, Michael Hoag and Isaac Stevens, who were to act as trustees for the society and transfer the property to their successors. A framed addition of ten feet was built to the log meeting-house in 1804, and in 1807 the meeting-house now standing was built. From that time until 1828 the Meeting consisted of about two hundred members. Prominent among these early Friends were members of the families of Gaige, Estes, Hoag, Shel- den, Moore, Briggs, Wilber and Wing, and many of their descendants now live in the vicinity. In tracing the history of this society down to the present time, we find that through the close proximity of other churches, and various other causes, the membership has fallen off to nearly one- fourth its former number. Yet, as a society, it still holds a wide influence for good.


REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, DUANESBURGH.


The frame church building of this society is situated a little more than a mile west of the village of Duanesburgh. The cemetery adjoins the churchyard on the west, and the parsonage grounds adjoin it on the north.


The nucleus of the Duanesburgh congregation was formed in 1793 by Rev. James McKinney, who that year came from Ireland, although the formal organization may not have taken place for two or three years afterward. Rev. Mr. Mckinney was settled as pastor in 1797. The congregation worshipped mostly in a stone church in Princetown. This was a kind of union church, occupied by different denom- inations as they could arrange among themselves, though finally occupied solely by the Presbyterians. Mr. McKin-


ney resigned his pastorate in 1802 and removed to South Carolina, where he died the same year.


For six years the congregation was without a pastor, though not without preaching. In 1804 they built a sub- stantial frame church upon the present site. Before this they often worshipped in private houses, and during the summer in the woods; but more frequently in the barns of Walter Maxwell and Robert Liddle. The land for the church and burying ground was given by the Hon. James Duane. The first elders were Walter Maxwell, Robert Liddle, John Cullings and James Duquid, all natives of Scotland.


The second pastor was Rev. Gilbert MacMaster. He was born in Ireland and came to this country when a boy. He first entered the medical profession and engaged in that work for a time in Pennsylvania, but feeling that he had a call to the ministry, he fitted himself for it. He was or- dained and installed August 8, 1808. He remained pastor of this congregation for nearly thirty-two years and exerted a wide influence, not only in the town where he lived, hut throughout the country. He was one of the or- ganizers of the County Bible Society in 1823. He received the title of Doctor of Divinity from Union College in 1828. He wrote several volumes, all on religious topics. He re- signed and removed to Indiana in 1840. His death occurred at New Albany, Ind., in 1854.


In the following year, Rev. Andrew Gifford Wylie became pastor of the congregation, and was ordained and installed August 29, 1841. He was born in the City of New York, and was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, in Phil- adelphia. He remained for nearly thirty years, ending his labors here with the close of 1870, when he accepted a call to a church in Philadelphia. In 1880 he was called to a church in Cincinnati, O , where he remained till his death in December, 1884. Rev. S. M. Ramsey became the next pastor, and is now (1885) occupying the pulpit. He began his labors here in October, 1873, and was installed the 14th of the following month.


The parsonage was built in 1829. The lot (some eight acres) was given by Miss Catherine Duane. The present church building was erected in 1836 and 1837, and was first occupied for worship June 18, 1837. A Sabbath-school was opened about 1834, and has been steadily carried on since. Mr. Robert Liddle occupied the position of superintendent for thirty-three years. The following persons have held the office of Ruling Elder: First Elders, Walter Maxwell, Robert Liddle, John Cullings, George Duquid; elected in 1811, James Young, James McBean; in 1825, John Tulloch, John Liddle, James Maxwell, Charles McClew; in 1839, Alex. Liddle, Daniel Stuart, James Turnbull, Ebenezer Cullings; in 1856, Robert Liddle, Robert Cessford Charles L. Tul- loch, John Cullings; in 1867, Daniel Stuart, Richard Hunter, James McCallum, Andrew Hunter. The following named persons have held the office of Deacon in the con- gregation: 1811, John Liddle, James Maxwell, John Tulloch, Thomas Kelly, Wm. Cummings; 1825, Daniel Stuart, Ebenezer McMillan, Simon Kennedy; 1826, Alex. Liddle, Samuel Young, James Ingersoll; 1839, Robert Cessford, Walter Maxwell, Robert Liddle, Thomas Liddle, John Cul- lings; 1856, Daniel Stuart, Richard Hunter, Peter Cameron, Andrew Hunter, James McCallum; 1867, Thomas R. Mc- Clew, James Liddle, Alex. Liddle, John E. Cullings, Richard L. Hunter.


Dr. Alexander McLeod, who for thirty-two years, from 1801 to his death in 1833, ranked among the leading minis- ters of the City of New York, was for six years a member of this congregation. Dr. E. D. McMaster, who in 1838 be- came President of Hanover College, Ind .; in 1845, President of Miami University, Oxford, O .; in IS50, Professor in the Presbyterian Theological Seminary at New Albany, Ind .; and at the time of his death, in 1866, was at the head of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Chicago, Ill .; spent his boyhood days here, and early became a member of this congregation. Dr. A. S. MacMaster, for nearly fifty years a gifted Presbyterian minister, as also his brother Benjamin J. MacMaster, editor of The Freeman's Journal, New York City, were also members of the congregation. Through Divine grace this congregation has been a blessing to many, and the names of Maxwell, Cullings and Liddle, Tulloch, Stuart and McCallum, McClew, Hays and Young, Cessford, Ilunter aod Turnbull, with many others, will long be pre- cious in Duaneshurgh.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.