Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 259

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 259

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ITS MINISTRY.

During the carly period up to 1790, according to an abstract of history deposited in the corner- stone of the present church building, the con- gregation enjoyed the labors of Rev. Sansom Oc- cum, a Mohican Indian, from Connecticut; "Lo- renzo Dow," the eccentric Methodist itinerant; Rev. D. Romeyn, Rev. Mr. Westerlo, Rev. Elias Van Benschoten, and others. This was the time of desolation and suffering and privation caused by the revolution. In 1790, in connection with the church at the Boght, the Rev. John Demarest was called. He served the two congregations until 1803, when he resigned and went to a new charge in New Jersey. This same year the connection of this church and the Boght was dissolved, and the church of Niskayuna was vacant for three years. In the meantime the northern part of the congregation was organized into the Church of Amity; and in 1806 the two congregations, Niskayuna and Amity, united in calling Rev. Thomas Romeyn. He was pastor of the joint charge for twenty-one years, from 1806 to 1827. Up to the beginning of his ministry the service had all been in Dutch. He began preach- ing alternately in Dutch and English. In 1811 it was voted unanimously that the proportion should be three of English to one of Dutch. In 1816 it was again unanimously decided to have all English preaching.

In the same year of Mr. Romeyn's removal, 1827, the two congregations of Niskayuna and Amity again united in calling Rev. John McKel- vey, a young graduate of the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick. He left after a three years' pastorate. In the next year, 1831, the churches, still united, called Rev. John Van Wagnen. Dur- ing his pastorate, in 1834, the partnership with the church of Amity was dissolved, and he remained for one year pastor of Niskayuna alone. In 1835 he resigned, going to another charge in Linlithgo, N. Y. In 1836, the church of Niskayuna alone called Rev. llenry A. Raymond. He had a long, prosperous and acceptable ministry of ncarly fifteen years. lle resigned in 1850, and moved to the church of Owasco, N. Y. In 1851

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

the church called Rev. Goyn Talmage. His min- istry was short, but full of lasting work. He peacefully divided the unwieldy congregation into two, and instead of the one old wooden church, he left two of brick, each in its appropriate place and fit to serve succeeding generations, all paid for. In 1855 he resigned, and went to Greenpoint, N. Y. The two churches, Niskayuna and Lishas' Kill, then united in calling Rev. Cornelius L. Wells, who re- mained with them two and one-half years, when he was called to the Third Reformed Church of Jersey City. In October of the same year, 1858, the two churches called the Rev. John A. De Baun, D. D., who remained their faithful and honored and loved pastor for nearly twenty-five years, until April, 1883, when he was called to Fonda, N. Y., and resigned. In October, 1883, the partnership between the two churches was dissolved, and Niskayuna congrega- tion called the present pastor, Rev. C. P. Ditmars.

ITS GROWTH AND PRESENT STATUS.

During all these years the increase of the church and community must of course have been great, else from the mother church so many children could not have been separated. When Rev. John Dema- rest came in 1790 he found 74 members During all those years, from that date until now, there must have been received into the church here at least 1,000 members.

The present statistics are as follows: families, 120; members in full communion, 223; baptized non- communicant members, 110. Raised this year for congregational purposes about $1,400; for benev- olence about $300.

The present consistory is as follows: Rev. C. P. Ditmars, President; Cornelius Van Vranken, Fletcher Onderdonk, Garret I. Van Vranken, Abram L. Vedder, Elders; W. H. H. Freleigh, Wendall Milbanks, Benjamin H. Lansing, Wesley Miller, Deacons.

There is a Sabbath-school connected with the church, of about fifteen teachers and one hundred and fifty scholars. Its Superintendent is Mr. G. W. Freleigh; Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Jacob V. Pearse; Treasurer, Mr. John V. Green.

There is also a cemetery adjoining the church property, and belonging to it. It consists of three acres, pleasantly situated upon the hillside and top, and is kept in good condition, being under the care of the sexton of the church. It may be noted there is a residence for the sexton in one corner of the church grounds, in which he lives, and there are large and commodious horse-sheds, giving shelter for more than fifty teams.

SOME OF THE PROMINENT RESIDENTS AT THE PRESENT TIME.

C. O. Hamlin, farmer, ex-Supervisor, four miles from Schenectady, on Albany turnpike ; Thomas W. Hinne, farmer and Supervisor, on the Troy road, six miles from Schenectady ; Thomas D. Tree, Town Clerk, four miles east of Schenectady ; G. G. Maxon & Son, Aqueduct road, three miles from Schenectady ; Cornelius & Aaron Van Vran- ken and other Van Vrankens, farmers, east of the

Troy road, from five to seven miles from Sche- nectady. The Van Vrankens are numerous, fifteen of them in one part of this town, farmers. Their residences are known as the Van Vranken neighbor- hood. Among them are: J. D. Van Vranken, Fre- leigh Van Vranken, and Mrs. A. M. Van Vranken, all farmers. The Vedders are also a numerous family. There are eight families of them, farmers. Lewis Brewer, farmer and philanthropist, Troy road, two miles from Schenectady; Clark V. Warden, farmer and ex-Sheriff, near Senator Stanford's place; Charles W. Whitbeck, farmer, near Rexford Flats; Garret L. Whitbeck, on turnpike, four miles from city ; P. E. Whitbeck, on turnpike, four miles from city ; C. Reynolds, farmer, Troy road, six miles from Schenectady ; George Reynolds, farmer, Troy road, six miles from Schenectady; John Van Antwerp, farmer, four miles northeast from city; William Craig, farmer, on the top of the bluff south of the Aqueduct on the old Craig Place ; Jeff. Thompson, farmer, on the old Vedder Place, one mile south of the Aqueduct ; Ezra, Casper and Martin Ham are farmers, three and a half miles east of Schenectady ; Conrad, Jacob, Thomas and Frank Mesick are farmers, about five miles east of Schenectady ; John McShea, Attorney of Niska- yuna Village, ex-County Clerk and Justice of the Peace ; Henry Lansing is an old and respected settler, and lives west of Lishas' Kill ; J. V. Clute, farmer, on Troy and Schenectady turnpike ; Matthew Winne, Postmaster, Niskayuna Village.

Ex-Senator CHARLES STANFORD is a native of Watervliet, Albany County. His father, Josiah Stanford, was a native of New England; he was a man of sterling character and of unusual business ability, and gained a competency by his business successes. He died in 1862. His son inherited the ambition of his father, and after receiving a good practical education, he at once entered upon a life of enterprise. In 1850 he went to California, and there, with three others, opened the largest com- mercial house in California at that time. In 1859, in connection with two of his brothers, he established a large commercial house in Melbourne, Australia, and soon after branches in Sydney and New Zealand. One of his brothers, the Hon. Leland Stanford, was elected Governor of the State of California in 1861. He is the President of the Central Pacific Railroad.

In 1854 the interests of his firm required that one of its members should reside near New York City, and in 1861 he took up his residence in Schenectady County, purchased a large farm in the town of Niskayuna, where he has since resided. In 1863 he was elected member of Assembly, and re-elected in 1864; in 1865 was elected Senator of the Fourteenth District. During this campaign he established the Schenectady Daily Union. Mr. Stanford is now in feeble health and confined to his home. Much of the enterprise in Schenectady owes its existence to him.

G. G. MANON, President of the Mohawk National Bank has a fine summer residence on the Aqueduct road, about two and a half miles from the City of

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THE TOWNSHIP OF NISKAYUNA.

Francis Milano

Schenectady. The house is surrounded with an attractive park, containing some beautiful statuary. There are two beautiful figures, one representing Spring and the other Summer.

There is a farm connected with this residence of 127 acres, the whole costing $40,000. He has also another farm, a little to the south of this, of 150 acres, valued at $20, 000.

FRANCIS McCANN.

FRANCIS McCANN was born in County Dublin, Ireland, January 15, 1813. In 1833 he came to America, and located in Niskayuna, where he has since lived. In 1837 he bought the old Vedder Farm on the Troy road, and he has since bought several other properties in Watervleit, Albany County, and in the city of Schenectady. His prop- erty comprises about 300 acres, and some valuable city lots and residences.

Mr. McCann is a Democrat and has long been a staunch adherent to the leading principles of his party. As a citizen he commands the respect of all who know him and the confidence of all his

fellow-townsmen. He has held the offices of Com- missioner of Highways and Overseer of the Poor, and at this time is an Excise Commissioner. He is a member of St. John's Catholic Church of Schenectady.

In March, 1837, Mr. McCann married Maria Bradt, of Niskayuna, who died December 15, 1879. He has since made his home with his stepson, Will- iam V. Bradt, who occupies his house on the Troy road. Now in his seventy-third year, hale and robust, he is quietly passing the closing years of his life, doing a little farm work now and then for exercise and as a reminder of his more active years.

WILLIAM STEERS Owns a fine farm of 150 acres, opposite Senator Charles Stanford's place. Mr. Steers has lived here for the last twenty-five years, and has filled some of the principal town offices. He and his brother established the express between Albany and Schenectady. They continued it for eighteen years, and then sold it to other parties. It has continued to the present, and is now owned by Pease & Waterman.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

A. V. P. LANSING (lately deceased), commonly known as "Uncle Lansing," was an old settler and the father of a large and respectable family, living near Lishas' Kill. Rev. Dr. John Lansing, of Brooklyn (lately deceased), was a son of Uncle Lansing.

We take pleasure in making mention of the fol- lowing well-known citizens, who, by their guaranteed support, have helped to insure the publication of this valuable work : I. V. Clute, Francis McCann, J. H. Putnam, J. D. Van Vranken, A. M. Van Vranken, Freleigh Van Vranken, William Vedder, Matthew Winne.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF PRINCETOWN.

By Rev. E. F. TAYLOR.

PRINCETOWN was formed March 20, 1798, from a portion of the patent of Schenectady, which had been ceded to the Reformed Dutch Church of that city, and from lands originally pat- ented to George Ingoldsby and Aaron Bradt in 1737. This was subsequently sold to William Corry, who formed a settlement there which was long known as Corry's bush, and Corry sold his interest to John Duncan. The town itself was named after John Prince, of Schenectady, who was then in the Assembly as a member from Albany County, and resided at Schenectady.

JOHN DUNCAN was a Scotchman, of Schenectady, and about 1760 purchased nearly all the present town of Princetown (then called Corry's bush), and titles to lands there are now held under grants from himself or his sons.

JAMES BRADSHAW, the father of Samuel Brad- shaw, and the grandfather of Walter Bradshaw, was only one or two years old at this time, and at that age was brought by his father and mother to Princetown, where they settled upon the farm which has ever since been in the possession of the family. James Bradshaw died August 29, 1858, aged eighty-three years five months and thirteen days. James Bradshaw, Sr., and his wife, Eliza- beth Bullock, were married in England, and had two children before they sailed for this country. James Bradshaw, Jr., above referred to, was the third child. There were ten children in all, three daughters and seven sons. From these sons must come the other branches of the Bradshaw family settled throughout Princetown. These are nearly all the principal names connected with the early history of this town. About the time of the revo- lutionary war and previous thereto, is found in connection with the history of the New Scotland Church the following names, familiar now in Princetown, Allen, Hunter and Van Valkenburgh.

The streams are Norman's Kill, in the south, Platt's Kill in the center, and Zantzee Kill in the northwest. Upon this stream, on the farm of Ebenezer Dougall, is a cascade sixty feet high, and from this point to the Mohawk are numerous falls or cascades. The soil is best adapted to grazing, and hay and grain are the principal products.

Its surface consists of a broken upland, gently descending toward the southeast, with a stiff argil- laceous mold resting on a compact of ponderous hard-pan, with ledges of limestone, calcareous and siliceous sandstone argillite.

The town contains 15,450 acres ; is mainly an oblong square, ten and a half miles long north and south, and two and a half miles wide. It is seven miles southwest of Schenectady, and sixteen miles from Albany by the Cherry Valley turnpike that runs through the town. It lies between the towns of Duanesburgh on the south and Rotterdam on the north. The town is a little west from the center of the county.

Princetown Academy, a Presbyterian institution, was opened here on an extensive scale in 1853 (an enterprise begun under the pastorate of the Rev. David Tully, D. D.) and was discontinued in 1856 on account of financial embarrassments and dissensions arising from the same.

· Princetown Hamlet is a small borough contain- ing a post-office, a store, a blacksmith shop, the First Presbyterian Church and burying ground, and a few scattered houses.

Kelley's Station is a small hamlet in the southeast corner of the town, eight miles south from Schenec- tady and three miles east from Duanesburgh Four Corners, consisting of a railroad station of the Schenectady and Quaker Street branch of the Delaware and Hudson road, a store and post- office kept by Andrew Kelley, a blacksmith shop, two or three dwellings, and a Union cheese factory in operation.

Gifford's is a small hamlet, situate on the Cherry Valley turnpike about three miles northwest of Kelley's Station, containing a hotel, kept by J. Gifford, a store, blacksmith shop, Reformed Church and parsonage, and a few dwellings.

Rynex Corners is a small hamlet on line of the town of Rotterdam and Princetown, eight miles west of Schenectady on the Fort Hunter road, consisting of a store and post-office kept by Will- iam H. Mudge, hotel by James W. Gregg, a Union cheese factory, not now in operation, a blacksmith shop and six dwellings. Religious services were held in the upper room of the cheese factory once in two weeks in 1884, where a large

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THE TOWNSHIP OF PRINCETOWN.

congregation were gathered in the summer of 1884 by Rev. E. E. Taylor, of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

DISTRICT SCHOOLS .- There are in the town of Princetown seven school districts and seven school- houses, and as many teachers employed. The average cost of school-houses is $600. There are annually taught 273 scholars, besides many that attend the schools in the City of Schenectady. The average price paid to teachers is $6.50 per week. C. W. Van Sanford is the School Commissioner.

TOWN OFFICERS. - Supervisor, James Weast; Jus- tices of the Peace, Lawrence Dougall, A. G. Davis, I. A. Rynex; Assessor, J. A. Laws; Col- lector, James J. Weast; Town Clerk, G. P. Templer.

COUNTY OFFICERS. - (See Officers. )

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH.

The history of this organization begins with the year 1818, in which year Dr. Nott, President of Union College, held occasional services in the school- house on the State road. At this time there were but two persons in the whole community who professed to be Christians-Joseph Phillips and his wife, who were members of the Presbyterian Church of Sche- nectady.

Professor Macauley and Professor Yates, of Union College, also occasionally preached. Ser- vices were held every two or three weeks, on the Sabbath afternoon or evening. This continued until Jeremiah Searl came and labored as a mis- sionary. He remained for a few months, and was then called to the church at Rotterdam. Mr. Searl was succeeded by Rev. Whyting, who re- mained about six months. The school-house had now become too small to accommodate those who wished to hear the Word of God explained, and it was determined to build a church, and on July 8, 1821, an association was formed and the following elders and deacons were chosen: Elders, George Passage, Philip G. Vought, George G. Passage and Henry R. Furbeck; Deacons, James Phillips and Henry Dutcher.

In the spring of 1822 the church building was commenced, and completed the same year at a cost of about twelve hundred dollars. For two years after the completion of the church the pulpit was supplied by different ministers, of whom are mentioned in the records, Rev. Dr. Yates, of Schenectady, and Rev. Mr. Halliday, of Duanes- burgh.

On the twenty-eighth day of December, 1824, James B. Hardenburgh was ordained to the pas- toral charge of the united congregations of Helder- burgh and Princetown, and served six months. Robert J. Blair was next called, November 1, 1825, to serve these churches, and was ordained and installed January 25, 1826. He remained here until August, 1827, when, upon the 25th day of the same month, at a meeting of the consistory, it joined with him in an application to the Classis to dissolve the pastoral connection, and to apply to have the connection between the churches of Hel- derburgh and Princetown severed, both of which applications were granted.

From 1827 to 1830 the church of Princetown did not have the regular services of a pastor. In 1830 Rev. Peter Stryker preached three months, after which there is no record of any stated supply until 1833, when Lewis R. Lockwood was called, who continued as pastor about one year. During Mr. Lockwood's ministry, steps were taken to secure a parsonage. One acre and three-quarters of land were purchased, without any restrictions, of Alex. Gifford, for the sum of one hundred dollars, one-half paid on the delivery of the deed and the balance the following spring. In 1834 Rev. John ·Nott took charge of the church as stated supply. This year the church was repaired and the society assumed the name of the First Reformed Protest- ant Dutch Church of Princetown. Mr. Nott preached most of the time from 1834 to 1838. In 1838, Rev. Wilson Ingals, tutor in Union College, supplied the pulpit. During the years 1839 to 1841, Rev. John Vandervogue, who resided within the bounds of the congregation, was stated supply. January, 1842, Rev. W. P. Davis was called, who remained until October, 1847. Mr. Davis was followed by Rev. Joseph Rosekrans, who re- mained until 1851, and was followed by Rev. N. Bogardus, who remained about eighteen months. After Mr. Bogardus left, until 1855, Rev. John Nott served them most of the time. In 1855 Rev. D. D. Hall preached as stated supply until 1863. In the spring of 1864 Rev. J. H. Rickett was engaged as pastor, and remained a little over a year. In October, 1865, Rev. I. B. Hall began his labors the second time, and continued as pastor until the spring of 1869. During the year of 1871 H. A. Raymond preached, and was the last who occupied the pulpit in the old church. The Ist of July, 1873, the present pastor, Rev. J. Kelley Rhinehart, began his labors, being the third settled pastor, although many others have served the church at different times. There have been three special revivals-the first during the ministry of the Rev. W. P. Davis; the second during the ministry of Rev. D. B. Hall, who was assisted by Rev. James B. Campbell; and the third under the labors of the present pastor in 1876. As the result of this last revival, seventy persons were added to the church; and again in 1880, when twenty-six more were added to the church.

The present membership is 243. Henry Smith, Isaac Scrafford, William Blessing and William Young, Deacons; Adam M. Blessing, John Young, James T. Wemple and J. Quackenbush, Elders.

In 1869 the people began to manifest greater activity and zeal, and sheds were built at a cost of $952.64. This is in excess of much done by the people. Next the parsonage was remodeled and repaired at an expense of $1,500. Then a new church was built at a cost of $8, 114. 12. Through the efforts of the ladies the church was furnished; the amount raised by them was $700. The church is now free from debt. The present successful pastor, Rev. J. K. Rhinehart, has been with this people nearly twelve years.

Previous to 1873, Sabbath-schools were held in the several school districts ; since then a congrega-

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

tional school has been held in the church, with most gratifying results. Number of scholars, 130; teachers, 20; total, 150. Superintendent, John T. Blessing.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The First Presbyterian Church of Princetown, Schenectady Co., N. Y., was organized under the authority of the Presbytery of New York more than one hundred years ago ; afterwards it came within the bounds of the Presbytery of Dutchess, which was formed from the New York Presbytery, and finally was one of the few churches which in. 1790 constituted the Presbytery of Albany. In 1790 the Presbytery of Albany was established by order of the Synod of New York and New Jersey. The Presbytery of Albany held its first meeting at Albany on the 9th of November, 1790.

In a history of the Schenectady patents by Prof. Pearson, is the following paragraph : "The first minister who is known to have preached to the congregation (First Presbyterian Church, Schenec- tady) statedly, is the Rev. Alexander Miller." Mr. Miller was a pupil of Rev. James Findley, a grad- uate of Princetown College in 1764 ; a student of theology under Dr. Rogers, of New York ; was licensed 1767, and ordained by the Presbytery of New York, 1770, which is the date of his settle- ment here. Mr. Kelley (an elder at that time) states that Mr. Miller left in 1781, during the summer. Mr. Miller also preached at Currie's Bush (Princetown) in connection with his charge here.

The Currie's Bush Church in which Mr. Miller preached, was the original First Presbyterian Log Church of Princetown. At that time the building was a log church located on what is known as the old Boyd farm, the ground on which the church stood being now owned by Jonathan Templer. It was a two-acre lot, not far from the old hickory tree which stands nearly on the line between Messrs. Bradshaw and Templer, and east of the present entrance to the Walter Bradshaw farm, the church lot joining Mr. Bradshaw's east line at this place. For a long time after the old log church had dis- appeared, the lot lay open to commons; it has since been fenced and become a part of the Tem- pler farm. So far as can be ascertained, this log church was built about 1770, the date of Mr. Miller's settlement at Schenectady ; and the church took its name, Currie's Bush Church, from the settlement in which it was located. In this log church Mr. Miller preached a stated supply, in connection with his Schenectady charge, between the years 1770 and 1781.

Mr. Miller was followed at Schenectady by Rev. John Young in the year 1787, who was ordained June 14, 1788. The records of the Presbytery show that the Currie's Bush Church united with the Schenectady Church in the call for the services of Mr. Young, and that he was duly installed over them both. He gave one-third of his time to Cur- rie's Bush (or Princetown) and was the second minister of the Princetown Church. Mr. Young requested a dissolution of the pastoral relation at the meeting of the Presbytery, November 10, 1790,

on the ground of non-payment of salary (by the Schenectady Church) and of ill-health. The church had not yet settled its indebtedness to Mr. Miller, who was still seeking payment, and the church at Currie's Bush applied to the Presbytery for two- thirds of Mr. Young's time, on the ground that the church in Schenectady was no longer able to sup- port him.

Mr. Young's pastoral relation was dissolved December 9, 1790, but the impression obtains, from the records of the Presbytery, that he contin- ued to supply Currie's Bush Church after that time, and a subsequent call was made by that and the New Scotland Church for his services, he to preach two-thirds of his time at Currie's Bush and one- third at New Scotland, and the churches each to pay accordingly. But Mr. Young was dismissed from Albany Presbytery to the Presbytery of Montreal, Canada, June 25, 1793.

In the resolution of the Synod of New York, con- stituting the Presbytery of Albany, in connection with the names of other ministers and churches, about halfa dozen in number, it is stated, "John Young, of Schenectady and Currie's Bush, mem- bers of the Presbytery of New York, be set off as a distinct Presbytery, by the name and title of the Presbytery of Albany." So that the Currie's Bush Church was the first church set off to constitute the Presbytery of Albany. Mr. John Young was elected the first clerk of the Albany Presbytery. At a meeting of the Presbytery December 9, 1790, when Mr. Young requested the dissolution of the pastoral relation, it is recorded that the Commis- sioners appeared from both the churches-Sche- nectady and Currie's Bush-and the dissolution being effected, Currie's Bush requested of the Presbytery supplies, and Mr. Young was appointed as such supply until the next meeting of the Pres- bytery.

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Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 259

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

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