USA > New York > Suffolk County > Shelter Island > Historical papers on Shelter Island and its Presbyterian church, with genealogical tables > Part 11
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We can well imagine the grief of this community upon the death of such a man, the more so in view of the fact that just two months previous to a day another influential life had closed its career in their midst in the death of Squire William Bowditch. These two men were two of the original Trustees selected in 1785, and had con- tinued in office together almost uninterruptedly for all these years. Now both had been removed by death, and sad indeed were the hearts of this people over the loss of two such helpful men. But their cup of bitterness was not yet full. Another potion was to be added six months later when the Rev. Aaron Woolworth, D. D., passed to his eternal reward. For this eminent servant of God had fostered this church ever since the death of the Rev. Daniel Hall. He had been their councillor and friend, he had ordained their elders, administered to them the blessed sacraments, rejoiced in their spiritual awakening, dedicated their house of God, and thus in many ways endeared himself unto them. He died after a brief illness in
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the full possession and exercise of all his powers, April 4th, 1821. Perhaps it was to this celebrated divine that the lady referred in her letter from Connecticut, for Dr. Prime in his history of Long Island speaks of Dr. Woolworth as follows: "Though of small stature, and by no means of prepossessing aspect, he was one of the most able, discriminating and pious divines that Long Island was ever blessed with." One of the early elders of this church, all of whom were ordained by Dr. Woolworth-three at the organization of the Society as a Presbyterian Church and two subsequently-one of these five elders, Richard Floyd Nicoll, soon after his ordination as an elder in 1816, began the study of theology with Dr. Wool- worth, and was subsequently ordained a gospel minister by the Presbytery of Long Island, and in time became the preacher to this church for a short period. We shall have more to say of the Ruling Elders of this church later on. We now turn again to the condition of things prior to the death of Elder Sylvester Dering, or to the beginning of the year 1820. In the month of April of that year the Rev. William Evans was invited to fill the pulpit for four months, according to the following minute: "Parish Meeting, April 20, 1820. Voted unanimously to employ Mr. William Evans to preach the gospel to us, and that we will pay him four Dollars for every Sab- bath he preaches for us or supplies the pulpit, he boarding himself. Voted that the trustees agree with Mr. Evans for four months- on the above terms and with this provision, that Mr. Evans be at liberty to take a voyage for his health when he shall choose, and if it is previous to the termination of four months, that he make up the time after his return." As no record of payment to the Rev. William Evans appears among the treasurer's accounts, it is thought that this effort proved futile, perhaps because of the ill health of Mr. Evans. Again the Society sought a preacher, this time in the person of one of their former elders, the Rev. Richard F. Nicoll, who in De- cember of the same year, 1820, was unanimously invited to supply the pulpit for four months for five dollars per Sabbath. He re- sponded to the invitation and supplied the pulpit during a brief period in the early part of the next year, 1821. The same year the Rev. Ezra Youngs, then a licentiate, was providentially led to this place and began about the middle of the year to preach to this people. He continued in this relation with slight intermissions from July, 1821, to the middle of the year 1828. This is established by the records of the parish meetings and the more tangible and con-
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Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church.
vincing proof of the payments made to Mr. Youngs according to the treasurer's accounts. I mention these facts because this is an en- tirely different presentation of things concerning those early days from what has been said about them by other writers heretofore. During the seven years of Mr. Youngs' ministry in this place there were occasional supplies in the persons of Rev. Mr. Wickam for one Sabbath in 1821, Rev. Abraham Luce for one Sabbath in 1823, Rev. Mr. Moody for seven Sabbaths in 1825, Rev. David Wilson for nine Sabbaths in 1825, Rev. Mr. Moody again for one Sabbath in 1826, and the Rev. Daniel M. Lord in the fall of 1827, then a sopho- more in college, employed here temporarily as teacher in the public school. A person still living with us remembers the subject of one of Mr. Moody's sermons, now preached over seventy-three years ago. It was this: "Building on sand." While laboring here the Rev. Mr. Youngs was received into the Presbytery of Long Island as licen- tiate on the 27th of August, 1823, and precisely five years later, after having assumed the duties of preacher to the Cutchogue Pres- byterian Church, whither he went from here in the early part of 1828, was ordained to the gospel ministry, and there continued for nine- teen years his relations to the Cutchogue church, after which he retired, but continued to live in the place until his death, August 25th, 1876, his funeral taking place on the 28th of that month, so that his admittance into Presbytery as a licentiate, his ordination to the gospel ministry and his burial all happened on the same day of the year. While serving as stated supply to this church he met her who was destined to become his wife, Miss Maria Nicoll, daughter of Samuel B. Nicoll, to whom he was married Oct. 4th, 1827, in the church, the first ceremony of that kind said to have been held in this sanctuary. His courtship was prosecuted some- what under difficulties, not being acceptable to the parents of the young lady. One method resorted to in order to carry on their correspondence was for the bride-elect to get early to church and there slip into the Bible those epistles so dear to hearts engaged. These, upon opening the precious Book, would come into the hands of her intended. Mr. Youngs was a lineal descendant of Rev. John Youngs, first minister to the church at Southold. He was an able preacher, a graduate of Princeton University in 1815, having as his colleagues the Rev. Dr. Chas. Hodge, the renowned theologian; Gov. William Pennington, of New Jersey, and other distinguished men in Church and State. After his graduation he entered Andover
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Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
Theological Seminary, where he pursued a full course in Theology, and graduated in 1820 in a class of subsequent distinguished preach- ers and missionaries. He was licensed to preach by the Congrega- tional Association of Andover. His subsequent advancement and ecclesiastical connections have already been dwelt upon. That he had some wit about him is shown by the following incident. In his day upon this island there was no bridge spanning Chase's Creek as there is to-day. Consequently those who wished to cross it would either ford it or row over it. Upon a certain occasion Mr. Youngs and Squire Chase had to cross the creek on the way to the latter's house. As they drew near to the water the squire proposed to the preacher that there was no need of him taking off his boots and wading through the water, remarking: "You just get on my back and I will carry you across." This being agreed to priest Youngs- the title by which the preachers were known in that day-priest Youngs mounted Squire Chase's back and thus they both crossed the stream. As Mr. Youngs dismounted from his friend's back he said: "Well, Squire, henceforth you can never say that you haven't been priest ridden." At another time, after marrying a loving couple, and being asked by the happy bridegroom what it cost, Mr. Youngs replied: "It is according to the kindness of the party." "Well," said the generous benedict, "which will you have, twenty- five cents or a load of sea weed?" "Give me," said Mr. Youngs, "the sea weed."
It was during the ministry of Rev. Mr. Youngs that this church inherited through the death of Mr. Benjamin Conkling, in 1826, a legacy of $8,000. Mr. Conkling was the youngest son of Thomas Conkling, one of our Town Fathers; a sea captain by occupation, in which profession he had amassed quite a fortune. After spending the major portion of his life plowing the seas he returned to his native place to spend the evening of his days among this people, during which he was a liberal supporter of this church, contributing fifty dollars annually towards its expenses, and upon his death, leaving no family, having never married, he bequeathed to this church the above-mentioned legacy, which, added to the legacy of Brinley Sylvester, that had grown to be about $1,000 at this date, made a total of $9,000. In 1834 the following inventory of property belonging to the Society was made, showing that it owned personal and real estate to the amount of $9,500, exclusive of the church lot and building.
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INVENTORY OF ALL THE ESTATE BELONGING TO THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND CONGREGATION OF SHELTER ISLAND, JUNE 1, 1834.
PERSONAL ESTATE.
ANNUAL REVENUE.
$
SYLVESTER DERING .- Note dated 26th August, 1813, for $1500. Part paid. SYLVESTER DERING .- Note dated 18th January, 1816, for $200. Part paid. The above Notes are in the Court of Chancery for settlement.
cts. By order of the Court of Chancery there has been paid on these Notes and invested in Man- hattan Co.'s Stock
56I
86
Certificate for seventy-two shares Manhattan Stock.
4234
50
Dividend
288
JOSIAH DOUGHLASS. - Bond and Mortgage for $1400, dated 17th November 1826 ..
I400
at 5 per cent
70
JOSIAH DOUGHLASS .- Note for $400, dated 7th December, 1831.
400
at 5 per cent.
20
SAMUEL S. GARDINER. - Note for $300, dated 25th May, 1831. $40 paid on it.
260
at 5 per cent
I3
This Note is paid.
Certificate for six shares Manhattan Stock
392
48
Dividend.
24
These above six shares of Manhattan Co.'s Stock were purchased with the money belonging to the Old Church Funds of Shelter Island.
REAL ESTATE.
One House and one Barn, ten acres Land, cost.
I550
90
$
cts.
For one hundred and fifty years this community and church have enjoyed the help of funds in maintaining the cause of religion among them. Mr. Benjamin Conkling lived to be eighty-two years old. He died Feb. 21, 1826, and was buried in the cemetery in the rear of the church, where there stands a headstone with this inscription upon it:
"In Memory of
Benjamin Conkling, who died Feb. 21, 1826, aged eighty-two. It is but justice to the character of Mr. Conkling to say that he was an obliging neighbor; in his habits industrious, in his dealings honest. He liberally aided the cause of virtue and religion, and in his last moments bequeathed a large proportion of his property to the Presbyterian church and congregation of Shelter Island, for the support of the gospel."
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Close beside this stone and the grave of Mr. Benjamin Conkling is the grave of his brother, Shadrach Conkling, who died in January, 1827. It too has a headstone with a lengthy inscription upon it in singular contrast to that of Mr. Benjamin Conkling. It reads as follows :
"In Memory of
Shadrach Conkling, who died Jan. 23, 1827, aged eighty-eight. Mr. Conkling possessed a sound mind and excellent understanding, and was a firm patriot, a good neighbor, charitable and strictly moral. He owned, at the time of his decease, a large estate, which he be- queathed to his relations, who were all very poor, and among whom were seven orphan children. Posterity will decide upon the wisdom manifested in the disposition of the estates of these two brothers."
I do not intend to go into the merits of this proposition. One can, however, read very plainly between the lines of these epitaphs. Perhaps this significant fact will aid "posterity" in forming a correct opinion, namely, that while both men were wealthy bachelors, the latter contributed but twenty dollars to the erection of the present building, while the former gave two hundred dollars and yearly hired a pew, giving besides fifty dollars per annum to the support of the church. But we look in vain for Mr. Shadrach Conkling's name upon the pew lists of those ten years which are still in existence.
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Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
CHAPTER VI.
At the close of the Rev. Ezra Youngs' ministry, in 1828, during the last six months of which he preached here but a third of the time and two-thirds at Cutchogue, he was succeeded by the Rev. Jonathan Huntting. In September of that year the parish authorized the trustees "to make use of five hundred dollars of the Publick property to hire a Minister to Preach the Gospel unto us." Mr. Huntting had just ceased to be the pastor of the Southold church, his pastoral relation being dissolved on the 27th of August, 1828. To that church he had ministered more than twenty-two years, and now, at the age of fifty, in the very prime of his powers, God gave him to this flock as their shepherd and leader. He here continued to labor until the fall of 1832, a period of four years, during which his labors were blessed to a marked degree. He did not change his place of residence, however. That still remained at Southold, from whence he came weekly to minister unto this people. On June 19th, 1832, the parish sought to induce him to take up his abode on this island by passing the following resolution: "Voted that the Trustees be authorized to allow the Rev. Jonathan Huntting the sum of four hundred dollars a year for preaching for us provided he will come on the island and live." To this proposition he declined, but still continued to supply the pulpit, in response to the action of the parish, to the following Ist of July, when the trustees were instructed to "hire the Rev. Jonathan Huntting until they could procure an- other clergyman," presumably to come and live upon the island; and to this end they were at the same time directed "to write to procure a clergyman to preach for us on trial." Mr. Huntting was a man of marked ability and power; in life pure and transparent, in labors devoted and successful. His long pastorate at Southold is in itself a high testimonial to his excellency of character and ac- ceptableness as a preacher, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. There are those living among us to-day who remember him with great esteem and warn affection. One good brother in the parish of Franklinville, whither Mr. Huntting went after ceasing to serve this people, in speaking of him to me said: "Mr. Huntting was a wonderful man, a powerful preacher. I can hear him pray now (nearly sixty years since the
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Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
time). He put his whole soul into it." The year after he was or- dained at Southold, namely, the year 1808, he married Miss Julia Sayre, of Easthampton, his own native place. How he met this most estimable woman and proposed to her has been told to me by the same brother, and will doubtless be as interesting to others as it was to me, for which reason it will be here repeated. The story is as follows: "While on his way to Presbytery, which met in that year at Easthampton, Mr. Huntting passed through Franklinville on horseback. It was the usual mode of travel in those days, and the route from Southold to Easthampton was by way of Mattituck, River- head, Canoe Place, Southampton and so on to the place of desti- nation. Reaching Franklinville, Mr. Huntting dismounted to pay his respects to Mr. Seldon Herrick, who at the time was a widower. Here Mr. Huntting met Miss Sayre, who happened to be at Mr. Herrick's on a visit. As Mr. Huntting was about to resume his journey, Miss Sayre and Mr. Herrick joined him, the lady intending at the time to return to her home. And so they started off together, Mr. Herrick and Miss Sayre in a carriage, and the dominy on his horse. After they had gone some distance and were crossing the sandy plains south southeast of Riverhead Mr. Herrick proposed a change to Mr. Huntting, he to ride the preacher's horse and Mr. Huntting to take his place in the carriage. This was readily agreed to, so Mr. Herrick mounted the steed and Mr. Huntting placed him- self alongside the fair and attractive damsel. Such close contact had its effect, for before long their friendship ripened so fast that the dominy proposed to Miss Sayre right then and there, and was ac- cepted. By this time Mr. Herrick, having become tired of riding on the dominy's horse, suggested to Mr. Huntting that they resume their original positions, which was agreed to and effected. Now it happened that Mr. Herrick, being a widower, was also in search of another helpmeet, and thinking the present a good chance to get one, broached the subject to Miss Sayre and proposed to her. To his great astonishment and discouragement Miss Sayre responded that while the dominy was in the carriage he had made a similar proposal and had been accepted. They were married Sept. 20, 1808."
Mr. Huntting was born Feb. 13, 1778, graduated from Yale College in 1804, returned to his native place and became an in- structor in the academy in Easthampton, at the same time prose- cuting the study of theology under the instruction of Rev. Dr.
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Lyman Beecher, his pastor, and the Rev. Mr. Bogart, of Southamp- ton. On the Ioth of October, 1805, he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Long Island. As a licentiate he supplied the pulpit in Fishkill for five months in 1806. In June he began his labors at Southold, where he was ordained and installed as pastor the 20th of August, 1807. His subsequent labors have already been stated, except that he frequently supplied this pulpit after the close of his continued services in 1832. As for instance in 1834, when he preached for a month. Again in 1837 for a like period. Again in 1842, when he supplied for two months, and in 1843, when he or- dained two of the members as elders in this church. During them all his home continued at Southold, where he died De- cember 30th, 1850. Thirty persons united with this church dur- ing his ministry, most of them being the gracious fruits of a mighty revival that occurred during the last part of 1831 and the early part of 1832. During that revival they held seasons of services called "four days' meetings," when various members of the Presby- tery would be present to assist the preacher in his revival efforts. In all one hundred and thirty-two persons had by this date united with the church since its organization in 1808. The next person to unite with this Society was Mr. John Bowers, who joined by letter Oct. Ioth, 1833. He afterwards felt himself called to the gospel min- istry, and in time became a Congregational pastor, being ordained at Wilbraham, Mass., on May II, 1856. He supplied the pulpit at Aga- wam Falls for one year. After this he was called to St. Johnsbury, Vt., where he was installed as pastor over the Third Congregational Church Feb. 4th, 1858, and continued to reside there until his death, just five years later, on Feb. 4th, 1863.
Mr. Huntting was succeeded by the Rev. Daniel M. Lord, already known to this people, having taught school here during the winter of 1827-8, and at the same time supplying their pulpit and taking charge of the weekly prayer meeting. "That winter," says Mr. Lord in his historical discourse, "was memorable for two events, (1) for the burning of the school-house, with the loss of all the school- books, and (2) for a revival of religion, during which some fifteen or eighteen indulged the hope in the mercy of God. It was a work characterized by deep solemnity and pungent convictions for sin." At this time, as we have seen, Mr. Lord was a sophomore in Am- herst College, with his eye set on the ministry. Upon completing his college course he entered Princeton Theological Seminary,
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Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
where he pursued the study of theology for over two years. At a special meeting of the church, held Nov. 28th, 1832, the trustees were directed "to hire Mr. Daniel Lord to preach for us until the third Tuesday in June next, and that they allow Mr. Lord at the rate of four hundred Dollars a Year."
In his historical discourse Mr. Lord says: "In the fall of 1833, having been licensed to preach by the second Presbytery of Long Island, I visited this island and preached my first sermon in the schoolhouse, the church being closed while undergoing repairs. Mr. Huntting having declined to remove to this place, the good people, under the influence of that sermon, passing over all my early im- perfections, and unmindful of the proverb that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, gave me a unanimous invita- tion to preach to them for six months." During the winter and spring of that ministry the word was accompanied by the mighty power of God. The Lord revived his work. The church was quick- ened and sinners were saved. Of the fruits of this precious refresh- ing from the presence of the Lord twelve were gathered into the church at one communion season, among them being the last of the aborigines, upon whose remarkable conversion we have dwelt in a previous chapter. At the close of the six months he was cor- dially invited to preach to the people for a period of three years, a longer period than had yet been named in engaging the services of previous clergymen.
I am inclined to believe that the date of Mr. Lord's return to this people should be 1832 instead of 1833, and that for the following reasons. Mr. Huntting retired from the relation of stated supply to this people in the fall of 1832. In November of that year Mr. Lord was invited to preach "until the third Tuesday in June next." The following October, or to be precise, on Oct. 14th, 1833, at a special meeting of the parish the trustees were "authorized to hire Mr. Daniel Lord to preach for us three years, and to allow Mr. Lord the income of our stock." The same day the trustees held a meeting and "directed their Treasurer to settle with Mr. Lord and pay him what is due. Also to hire Mr. Lord for three years according to the Vote of the Society." What, however, confirms 1832 as the true date is this reference in Mr. Lord's own discourse, namely: "It was during my brief ministry that the session passed the following vote: 'Aug. 24, 1833, That it be required of members of this church to abstain from making use of ardent spirits as a beverage and to make the violation of this rule a matter of discipline.'"
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Mr. Lord did not serve the three years period as invited to do by the parish in its meeting of Oct. 14, 1833, but continued only till the following May, 1834. In April of that year, after a searching examination in theology, experimental religion, philosophy, the sacred languages, polity of the church, etc., by Presbytery, then in session at Southampton, which he passed to the great credit of him- self and the commendation of this court of our church, he was or- dained April 16, 1834, to the exercise of all the rights of the gospel ministry as an evangelist. As Mr. Lord returned again to this charge after an absence of about fourteen years, we shall have occa- sion to speak of him again. Previous to his going away in 1834 his successor, the Rev. Randolph Campbell, at the time a member of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, was introduced to the people of this church and congregation. The introduction was mutually agreeable, and resulted in the following action by the church in its annual meeting held June 17, 1834, "Voted that the Trustees be au- thorized to hire Mr. Randolph Campbell two Years and alow him the use of the parsonage and four hundred dollars in money a Year to preach for us." "According to a Vote of Parish the Trustees hired Mr. Randolph Campbell to preach for us two Years beginning Last Sabbath in September, 1834." Mr. Campbell responded and con- tinued to labor here until September, 1837, a period of three years. He proved to be an able minister of the New Testament. His minis- try to this church was greatly blessed and owned of God in the con- version of many souls. Several revivals visited this people. On the 17th of January, 1836, twenty-five persons were received into church fellowship. These were followed by a number of others on two suc- cessive communion services. Many among us to-day remember Mr. Campbell with tenderest memories. The two oldest members of our church in point of connection, Mrs. Glorian (Cartwright) Preston and Mrs. Frances H. (Chester) Jennings, joined the church during Mr. Campbell's ministry, on Jan. 17, 1836, now over sixty- two years ago. Rev. Mr. Harries speaks of Mr. Campbell as being "modelled after the Scotch type of the Puritan character, a good scholar, an ardent Christian, rigidly adhering to the rule of duty prescribed in the Word of God, and a very able defender and ex- pounder of its principles. He won and carried with him the hearts of his people, and even at this remote period his name is often men- tioned with respect and love."
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