Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 260

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 260

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Mr. John Crawford was the Elder from the Cur- rie's Bush Church at the first meeting of the Albany Presbytery, November 9, 1790; Mr. Samuel Mc- Kee at the meeting of Presbytery December 8, 1790, and Mr. Walter Maxwell, March 1, 1791.

The following Elders represented the Currie's Bush Church at the meeting of the Presbytery held on the dates set opposite their respective names : Samuel McKee, January 10, 1792; Walter Maxwell, March 6, 1792; John Crawford, Septem- ber 4, 1792. These, then, were the three Elders of the Currie's Bush Church at that time, but their names do not appear on the records of the Albany Presbytery after that time. They evidently about that time united with the Presbytery of New York of the Associate Reformed Synod (or United Pres- byterian Church), and secured the services of the Rev. James Mairs for a part of his time.

Previous to this arrangement with Mr. Mairs, and between July, 1792, and July, 1793, the Albany Presbytery furnished the following supplies to the Currie's Bush Church : Rev. Methuselah Baldwin, Rev. Simeon Hosack, Rev. Messrs. McDonald, Schenck, Lindsey, Sturgis and Judd.

Rev. James Mairs, who also preached at Gal- way, Charlton and Florida, continued from Feb-

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THE TOWNSHIP OF PRINCETOWN.

ruary 19, 1794, to May 6, 1795, when the arrange- ment proving unsatisfactory to all concerned, it was discontinued.

Then came Rev. James McKenney, who preached principally in the Currie's Bush Church, and may have taken Galway as a part of his charge. Mr. McKenney's object was the establishment of a reformed Presbyterian Church, and for this he worked. The result was a division, out of which came an offshoot of the Currie's Bush Church, in the shape of the Duanesburgh Presbyterian Church.

This division occurred in 1800, and the new Duanesburgh enterprise flourished for a time, while the Currie's Bush (Princetown) Church declined and struggled hard for life. But on February 19, 1805, the Duanesburgh Church applied to the Albany Presbytery and was taken under its care, and united with Princetown in securing the ser- vices of Rev. William Boardman, who was or- dained and installed over these churches February 28, 1805, and continued in charge of the same until February 21, 1809.

At the next meeting, held February 21, 1806, the pastoral relation between Mr. Boardman and the Princetown Church was dissolved. Mr. John Robinson was the Elder from the Church at this meeting of the Presbytery, and consented to the dissolution upon the ground that the membership was so small they could not continue to meet the necessary expenses. On March 29, 1809, the pastoral relation between Mr. Boardman and the Duanes- burgh Church was dissolved for the same reason. Rev. John J. Christie supplied the Princetown Church for a part of the year 1809, and also Rev. Kirby. Mr. James McMillan, of the Duanesburgh Church, appearing as the Elder from Princetown, at Presbytery, February 16, 1813, indicates the absorption of this church by that at Princetown.

Rev. Thomas Holiday, pastor of New Scotland Church, supplied the Princetown Church from 1813 to 1829, in connection with his New Scotland charge.

After Mr. Holiday came Rev. Thomas Fraser, who supplied the church from June 10, 1829, to May 18, 1834; Rev. William Hamilton from October 10, 1835, to June 2, 1838; Rev. James Finley from January, 1839, to June, 1843; Rev. Jeremiah Boice Coney from the fall of 1843, to May 16, 1848, when he died. He is buried in the graveyard, on the north of the present church, and the congregation erected a monument to his memory, upon which is inscribed : "In memory of the Rev. J. Boice Coney, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Princetown, who died May 16, 1848, in the fifth year of his pastorate of this church and the seventh of his ministry, and the thirty-eighth of his age."

Rev. David Tully was the pastor from June, 12, 1850, to September 20, 1855; Rev. George W. McMillen from November 17, 1857, to Janu- ary, 1863; Rev. George Harkness from September 17, 1865, to June 15, 1869. Under Mr. Harkness the tokens at communion seasons were abolished.

Rev. Robert A. Hill from November 12, 1870, to June 14, 1882. During the pastorate of Mr,

Hill the organ and the Presbyterian Hymnal took the place of the " Old Version of the Psalms, " and the "rotary eldership" mode was introduced and other measures of reform instituted. Of course at the time there was some opposition to these in- novations, but in most cases time and familiarity with these new customs have made them unobjec- tionable, and the church has been strengthened and prospered thereby.

After Mr. Hill came Rev. Clarence W. Backus as stated supply, from April 29, 1883, to July 14, 1884, at which time he accepted a call to Victor, N. Y. During the different periods when the church has been vacant, besides those already named, the following ministers have acted as sup- plies: Rev. Dr. Eliphalet Nott, President of Union College; Rev. Dr. Robert Proudfit, Professor at Union College; Rev. Dr. J. Trumbull Backus, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Schenec- tady, until recently; Rev. Mr. Newcomb, about one year, 1863; Rev. John Clancy, about one year, 1856; Rev. David Lyon, Rev. David G. Bul- lions, Rev. William J. Blain, Rev. Jeremiah Wood, of Mayfield.

During the last year the church has been mate- rially strengthened, as will be seen in the following report to the presbytery at its last meeting.

"A new record book and a new register have been purchased, the former being Vol. IV. The roll of church members has been revised, rules for the election of elders have been enacted, and a con- fession and covenant of this church adopted which is to be publicly assented to by persons joining the church on confession of their faith. A cornet has been introduced as aid to the musical part of the worship.'

This church stands out by itself among the Princetown hills, without any village surroundings. Owing to its high elevation; the hilly character of its roads and their liability to become impassable at certain seasons of the year owing to snow-drifts and mud; the distance from the church of many of their homes; and at times the inclemency of the weather, there is of necessity some irregularity in the attendance upon religious services-notwith- standing which, during the past year, the regular Sabbath morning service has been uninterruptedly observed. Twenty-six persons have been added to the church upon confession of faith.

The Sabbath-school membership has increased during the past year from 80 to 230. The Cate- chism is taught in the school.

The Elders who have served this church since 1820 are: John Young from 1800 to 1822; James McMillan, 1812, to August 11, 1836; Jas. Ferguson, 1820, to October 2, 1851; William Gordon, Jr., 1820 to 1858; John Robinson, 1820, to March 24, 1833; Jonathan I. Clayton, 1812 to 1837; James Cantley, May 20, 1821, to October 2, 1824; James McMillan, October 16, 1836, to January 26, 1884; William Gifford, October 16, 1836, to August 3, 1863; Samuel McMillan, October 16, 1836, to October, 1862; James McNee, October 16, 1863, to January 7, 1875; James Weast, Jan- uary 4, 1852, to February 4, 1873; William S.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Kelley, January 4, 1852, to September 20, 1855; John Conning, January 4, 1855, to January 20, 1877; James Wingate, January 4, 1852, to Janu- ary 14, 1869; Samuel J. McMillan, September 14, 1866, and took letter; Daniel M. Rogers, Septem- ber 14, 1866, to February, 1874.

The present Elders are: James Turnbull, elected September 14, 1866; Samuel A. Weast, elected September 14, 1866; Hugh H. McMillan, elected June 8, 1876; Walter Bradshaw, elected June 8, 1876.

John A. Bradshaw, organist ; Frank Bradshaw, cornet.

The stone church was built about 1790. The present church was built 1820. Since then it has been enlarged once. The parsonage and church are at the present time in good repair. There is a burying ground connected with and ad- joining the church. The present pastor is the Rev. John J. Henning, from Argyle, Washington County, N. Y., who was duly ordained and in- stalled January 20, 1885. The Rev. T. G. Dar- ling, D.D., of Schenectady, preached the opening discourse, the Rev. Mr. Henning, father of the new pastor, delivered the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. Mr. Johnson, of Mariaville, gave the charge to the congregation. All seems pleasant and promising now to this congregation.

SOME OF THE PROMINENT RESIDENTS OF PRINCETOWN.

Andrew Kelley, store and post-office, Kelley's Station; Duncan Ferguson, one mile southwest of Kelley's Station, farmer; Richard Hunter, near Kelley's Station, farmer; Frederick Springer, one mile north of Kelley's Station, farmer; John Mar- tin, one mile north of Kelley's Station, farmer; Thomas Wingate, one and a half miles north of Kelley's Station, farmer; Solomon Kelley, one mile north of Kelley's Station, farmer; Alexander Gifford, hotel, Gifford's Post-office; Thomas Pas- sage, two miles northwest of Gifford's Post-office, farmer; William Scrafford, near Gifford's Post- office, farmer; Archibald Cullings, one and a half miles north of Gifford's Post-office, farmer; James Gregg, Rynex Corners, farmer; Andrew Gregg, near Rynex Corners, farmer; Calvin Robison, near Rynex Corners, farmer; Romaine Robison, near Rynex Corners, farmer and Supervisor; Thomas Ennis, near Rynex Corners, farmer; James Rynex, near Rynex Corners, farmer and Justice of the Peace; John W. Weast, one and a half miles west of Rynex Corners, farmer and Supervisor; David Houghton, two miles north of Rynex Corners, farmer; Walter Bradshaw, two miles west of Rynex Corners, farmer; Frederick Bradshaw, two miles west of Rynex Corners, farmer; Jonathan Templer, one mile west of Rynex Corners, farmer; Andrew McMillin, two miles west of South Schenectady, farmer; Robert Van Valkenburgh, south of South Schenectady, farmer; Samuel A. Weast, one mile west of South Schenectady, farmer; Alex. Don- nan, northwest part of town, farmer; Alex. Clog- ston, one mile west of Princetown Church; William Lauder, near Mariaville, farmer; John A. Marlette, west part of town, farmer; James Smealie,

northwest part of town, farmer; William Staley, northwest part of town, farmer; Archibald Tin- ning, west part of town, farmer; John Walker, west part of town, farmer; Daniel Darron, south part of town, farmer; John C. Flansburgh, near Princetown Church, farmer; Charles Ostrander, near Rynex Corners, farmer.

DUNCAN FERGUSON represents one of the first families of his town. From old documents in his possession, it appears that his grandfather, John Ferguson, purchased the homestead in 1775 of Richard and George Duncan, once proprietors of the town. This property is located about half a mile southwest of Kelley's Station. The price then paid was ten shillings per acre. He was a native Scotchman, came from Perthshire, and built his first log-cabin on the spot now occupied by the family cemetery. He emigrated about 1773 or 1774. He brought with him his wife and daughter, Jane. James, John, Alexander and Duncan were born in Princetown. John died when young; James located adjoining his father, and there lived until his death, when he was seventy-two years of age; Alexander succeeded to the ownership of the homestead, and died at seventy-five years of age; Duncan married Hannah, daughter of Thomas Gifford, one of the original settlers of South Prince- town, who located on the place of Duncan Fer- guson's present home, and raised a family of eight children, of whom Duncan is the oldest. He was first married to Ann E., daughter of John Bryant, of Fultonville, N. Y. She died in 1874, and Minnie Turnbull, of Rotterdam, became his second wife, and she died in the spring of 1881, leaving one daughter, Leah. The family cemetery before mentioned was furnished by the ancestors, and is one of the best private cemeteries in the country.

JAMES FERGUSON, of Duanesburgh, was son of Captain James Ferguson, who was a son of James, the son of the original Duncan Ferguson. The subject was born in Duanesburgh, June 26, 1848. Captain John Ferguson was twice married, first to Mrs. Eveline Curry, who died leaving three chil- dren, Mary, Helen and Martha, who are all mar- ried and living in the West. For a second wife he married Arvilla Northrup, of the town of Berne, Albany County. Her children were nine in num- ber, James, the subject of this sketch, being the third. He married, December 24, 1874, Miss Helen E., daughter of Elisha Hungerford, of Colesville, N. Y., and they have two sons, Samuel and John. Charles, the first-born, died in 1883, at six years of age.

ANDREW SMEALLIE is one of the representative farmers of Princetown. He was born in that town January 9, 1814. His father, James Smeallie, was a native of Scotland, born April 18, 1786; emi- grated to America 1811. His mother, two brothers, John and Andrew, and a sister, Agnes, followed in 1816. He married Mary, daughter of John Smeallie, October 1, 1812. Andrew is the oldest of their children. Others are: John, born March 3, 1816; William, May 1, 1818; James M., June

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THE TOWNSHIP OF PRINCETOWN.

12, 1820; Robert, April 21, 1822; Peter C., June 5, 1824, and died August 21, 1827; Jane, born December 22, 1826. Andrew married Ann E., daughter of Abram Dorn, one of the first settlers of the town, August 21, 1851, and they have had one son, Abram D., born January 21, 1853, who died in Texas April 5, 1884.

JOHN MARLETTE is a prominent and successful farmer. He was born in Schoharie, N. Y., Sep- tember 2, 1802. His father, Giles Marlette, a native of Montgomery County, was son of John Marlette, a Frenchman by birth and a major in the the revolutionary army under General La Fayette. Giles was the youngest but one of six children, and married Rachel, daughter of Garret Newkirk, of Montgomery County. Of their nine children, John Marlette is the oldest. He came to Rotterdam April 21, 1821, and worked for one Pulman in a public house where now is the village of Patterson- ville. He was married in 1824 to Miss Nancy Mc- Master and located on his present home that same year. Rachael (Mrs. L. M. Clements, of Schenec- tady); John A. and William, farmers of Prince- town; and T. Luther, of the mercantile firm of Marlette & Clements, of Pattersonville, are his liv- ing children. Maria, William and Giles are de- ceased. T. Luther, the popular merchant at Pat- tersonville, married Miss Eveline, daughter of Seely and Adeline (Montgomery) Patterson, August 12, 1869, and have one son, Seely.

JOSEPH TINNING, who owns and occupies one of the first located and finest farms in Princetown, is a native of the town of Glen, Montgomery County, and is a son of James and Hannah (Bradt) Tinning. He was born June 18, 1833. He married Ann, daughter of William A. Milmine, of Florida, Montgomery County. She died June 5, 1859, and he was again married to Miss Mary, daughter of Thomas Coulter, of Duanesburgh, by whom he has three sons and three daughters, Bertha, Archi- bald, Mary, Elizabeth, Louis, and William. His father, James Tinning, was a native of Scotland, and emigrated to America from Dumfries County in 1821. He married his wife in the town of Glen. He died March 27, 1868.

GEORGE J. HOLTON is one of the enterprising young farmers of Princetown, and at present the only one of his family in the town. He was born October 27, 1855. His father, George Holton, who died June 5, 1862, married Miss Margaret J., daughter of Nich- olas Peek, who was one of the first Dutch settlers of the Mohawk Valley. George Holton had five children: George J., Sarah L., Hannah, Thomas S. (deceased), and William J. After Mr. Holton's death, Mrs. Holton married Thomas Shipley, by whom she had one daughter, Cora, born March 2, 1881. George J. Holton married Miss Emma J., daughter of Winslow Sterling, of Princetown. She was born February 13, 1860. They have a daugh- ter, Florence, born July 5, 1882, and a son, Mel- vin, born May 20, 1884.

DANIEL TAWS located in Princetown during the days of its very early settlement. He came from Scotland to America some years previous to the

opening of the revolution, and was a soldier of that war. Of his six sons James was the oldest, and mar- ried Jane Mulroy, and settled on the homestead and had two sons, John (deceased) and David, who now occupies the homestead. They had also two daughters, Janet (deceased) and Sarah. The estate now comprises 244 acres.

DAVID ELDER lives in the neighborhood of the Scotch Church, and is a native of Scotland. His father, William Elder, came from Kinrosshire, Scotland, in 1827, bringing with him a family of five sons, leaving a married daughter in Scotland. He located in the town of Florida, Montgomery County. His sons in due course of time entered business life, John as a merchant in New York City and later went to California; Robert became a civil engineer and was employed by the United States Government in the Western States; David developed into a first-class school teacher, follow- ing the profession in Montgomery and Schenectady Counties. He served as School Commissioner of the latter county three years, 1883-85. He mar- ried March 15, 1848, Miss Janet, daughter of Thomas Dougall, by whom he had four children: Margaret, now Mrs. W. W. Barlay, of Des Moines, Iowa; John A .; Thomas D .; and William J. James Elder. the youngest brother of David, taught school about twenty years in Montgomery County, and is now a farmer in Minnesota.

DANIEL DONNAN was a Scotchman. He emi- grated to America in 1803. Was born in 1776. He married in Princetown, Mary, daughter of John McKerlie, also a Scotchman by birth, who emi- grated in 1774 and reached Princetown in 1775, and purchased of George Wasson the farm in the west part of the town now owned and occupied by William Donnan, a grandson. The estate then comprised one hundred and fifty acres ; the im- provements consisted of a small log house and barn, and a small clearing. During the revolu- tionary war he was an active member of the Home Guards. He had six sons and four daughters: David married Mary McKerlie in 1805. They had seven sons and one daughter ; John was born Octo- ber 15, 1806, and died 1882 ; James lives in Am- sterdam ; Andrew is in Livingston County, N. Y .; Alexander, Samuel and William are in Princetown; and David is in Pennsylvania. William married Catherine, daughter of James Tinning, of Florida, Montgomery County, and has one daughter, Mary, living, and Martha and Owen are deceased. He lives on the old homestead. Alexander located adjoining the homestead; married June 7, 1844, to Miss Jane, daughter of William and Nancy (McKey) Conning. Has had six children: David A. (deceased), William, George, Essit and Nathan W. David is at Independence, Iowa; John A. is a farmer in Princetown; and William, assistant cashier in a banking institution at Leroy, N. Y. Samuel's place also joins the old homestead. He was mar- ried November 7, 1884, to Miss Helen, daugh- ter of Thomas and Margaret Dougall (deceased). They were among the first settlers of Princetown. Their children are William J., a farmer of Duanes-

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

burgh, Margaret A., Edwin C., Rensselaer and Mary N. Mrs. Donnan died July 31, 1884.

JAMES BRADSHAW was the founder of the family in this county. He was a native of Derbyshire. England. Born September 25, 1743. Emigrated to America in 1775 with his wife, Elizabeth Bul- lock, who was born in the same county August 23, 1743. They first located in Cherry Valley, Otsego County, N. Y., and in 1777 removed to Prince- town, at what was known as Curry's Bush, and located five hundred acres of land, a part of which was in Princetown and a part in Duanesburgh. He erected a large stone house about half a mile west of the present house of Walter Bradshaw, of Princetown. Of their ten children, three were born in England: John, June 14, 1769; Helen, February 12, 1771, who married Thomas Wasson and lo- cated in Princetown; Elizabeth, January 6, 1773, married John Barlow and located in Montgomery County. James was born on the voyage to Amer- ica, March 17, 1775. George was the fifth of the family, born in Princetown, November 10, 1776; Thomas, September 28, 1778; Robert, July II, 1780; Benjamin, March 11, 1782 ; Mary, March 19, 1784, married Charles Tullock, of Duanes- burgh ; Joseph, November 18, 1786. James, the fourth of this generation, married Delana Briggs, born in Rhode Island, June 20, 1776 They had nine children : Charlotte, born March 12, 1804, and married Henry Pulver; Samuel, born October 8, 1805; George, September 3, 1807; Martha M., December 31, 1809, married John M. Quick, of Rotterdam ; Ruth, February 27, 1812, and married James Mulach and located in Jackson County, Mich .; Walter B., August 20, 1814, and died at twelve years of age; Ann, born March 17, 1817, mar-

ried Samuel Wingate and located in Duanesburgh; James W., July 22, 1820; Helen, October 22, 1822, and died at seven years of age. The venerable Samuel Bradshaw, formerly of Princetown, now living in Schoharie County, is in his seventy-ninth year ; Mrs. Ann Wingate, of New York City; and Mrs. Elizabeth Mallench, are the only ones of this generation now living. Samuel B. Bradshaw mar- ried Sarah Kelley and they had three children, the first of whom died in infancy. Walter B. was the second, born January 8, 1837; he has been twice married, first to Maria, daughter of James Allen, of Rotterdam, March 5, 1857 ; she died December 17, 1857, leaving a son and daughter : Allen and Maria (twins) ; the latter died when two years old. In 1863, Allen married Miss Hannah E., daughter of James B. Bradshaw, who was born August 25, 1842, by whom he has one daughter, Lorena. Allen, his oldest son, married Emma, daughter of Benjamin Wiltsie, June 26, 1879; their children are Edith, Walter B. and Clarence W. Solomon K. Bradshaw married Maria, daughter of James B. Bradshaw, and has one son, Samuel, who lives in the house of his birth in Rotterdam.

We take pleasure in making mention of the fol- lowing well-known citizens, who by their guaran- teed support have helped to insure the publication of this valuable work :

Walter Bradshaw, A. B. Cullings, Wm. Don- nan, Samuel Donnan, Alex. Donnan, Daniel Darrow, David Elder, Duncan Ferguson, George J. Holton, Andrew Kelly, John Marlette, Charles Ostrander, J. K. Rhinehart, Romaine Robin- son, Andrew Smeallie, Joseph Tinning, David Taws.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ROTTERDAM.

By Rev. E. E. TAYLOR.

R OTTERDAM was formed from Schenectady, April 14, 1820, and was formerly the third ward. Another part of the city was annexed in 1853, and a part taken from the town and added to the city in 1865. The town contains 24,422} acres. Population in 1880, 2,326. It lies near the center of the county, upon the south bank of the Mohawk. The surface consists of a broken, hilly region in the northwest, a level intervale extending from the center towards the south, and a high plain in the east. A part of the soil upon the west hills is a tough clay, underlaid by shale, which frequently crops out. The central valley or plain, five miles in extent, was called by the Dutch the "Bouw- lands," or farm-lands, The soil is a deep alluvial. The east plateau is sandy and has formerly been regarded as barren, but of late years has shown its adaptation for orchards and especially for small fruits.

Among the early settlers were Wilhelmus Van Otto, -Van Curazoa (a native of the Island of Curacao), Ryer Schermerhorn and Simon Veeder. The house of Van Otto stood on the site of the one afterward occupied by Simon Veeder. At the time of the revolution there were families living by the names of Delamont, Van Pelton, and Braugham.

SOME OF THE OLD LANDMARKS.

Arent Bradt, born 1684, built the ancient brick house now standing southwest of the first lock above the city, about 1730. Arent was a full cousin of Captain Arent Andreas Bradt. He married Catrina, daughter of Jan Pieterse Mabee ; she died in 1773, aged eighty-two years two months and seventeen days.

The Van Guysling farm, situated on the bouw- lands in Rotterdam, and occupied by the Van

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THE TOWNSHIP OF ROTTERDAM.

Guyslings as early as 1664, remained in that family until 1865, when Cornelius Van Guysling died without issue. The Van Guysling house is a wood- en structure and is a remarkable specimen of early Dutch architecture. It is the oldest house in the valley, unless the Mabee House out-dates it.

A part of one of the buildings at the Schermer- horn Mills, near Schenectady, dates about 1715 to 1720.

The Mabee House. [A description and cut of this ancient building is given in a previous chapter. ]

Johannes Peek's house, built in 1711, and now occupied by D. D. Schermerhorn, is situated a little south of the junction of the Boston and Hoosac Tunnel and West Shore Railroad.

Harman Albertse Vedder is the ancestor of all the Vedders in this county. He settled in Sche- nectady in 1663. His farm covered what is now known as the homestead of Col. D. D. Campbell.

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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 260

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