USA > New York > Suffolk County > Shelter Island > Historical papers on Shelter Island and its Presbyterian church, with genealogical tables > Part 9
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
THE COVENANT.
"We do now as we humbly hope in divine mercy avouch the Lord to be our God, trusting alone for acceptance through the mediation of his dear Son, promising as God may enable us to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, to have our hearts united to the people of God, to love and treat them as breth- ren, and in common with ourselves as members of the mistical body of Christ.
"We promise to submit ourselves to the government of the Church of Christ, and to this Church in particular, to walk towards
82
Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
each other in the fellowship of the Gospel and to seek in all things its spiritual peace and prosperity, so long as God in his providence shall continue our relation with them."
The following persons appeared, and after having heard the fore- going Articles of Faith and Covenant read, assented to them and requested their names inserted, viz .:
Rev. Daniel Hall, Pastor.
Lucretia Hall, his wife.
Ephraim King.
Mehitable King, his wife.
Sylvester Dering and his wife
E. Sarah Dering.
Jonathan Doughlass and his wife
Abigail Doughlass.
Mary Mayo. Eunice Case.
Anna Boisseau.
Elizabeth Havens.
Abigail Sawyer.
Lodowick Havens.
Esther Case.
To this body of believers the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered by Mr. Hall on Sunday, October 16th, 1808. Though Congregational in form, it strongly leaned towards the Presbyterian fold from the very beginning, the preamble of its Con- fession mentioning that body as its model. Mr. Hall continued his connection with the Presbytery of Long Island until his death. That Presbytery had now for many years exercised a kindly over- sight over the religious affairs of this island. As early as 1747 it had met by the good will of the inhabitants on this island by com- mission.
Again, in 1766, when it ordained the Rev. Elam Potter. It was repeatedly petitioned by the people of Shelter Island to appoint preachers to this place, which requests it cordially complied with, as has already been seen, and now in less than two years after the organization of the Church Presbytery holds its spring meeting upon Shelter Island under date of April 18th, 1810. The opening sermon of that session of Presbytery was preached by the Rev. Jonathan Huntting, at that time pastor of the church at Southold,
83
Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
and who was destined twenty years later to be the Stated Supply for a period of years to this very church. Rev. Mr. Hall continued his labors here with marked success until his death, which occurred Jan. 20, 1812, from tetanus, caused by the amputation of a can- cerous foot. Dr. Prime, who was his successor in the pastorate of the Sag Harbor Presbyterian Church, speaks of him as having been a "remarkably affectionate preacher ; a son of consolation rather than a Boanerges." His remains were buried in our south church-yard, and over his grave was raised a tablet bearing this inscription:
"Sacred to the Memory of Rev. Daniel Hall, Who died Jan. 20, 1812. Ae 64.
"In all the various relations of life he lived like a Christian. As a husband and parent he was tender and affectionate. As a neighbor and friend, he was kind and benevolent. As a citizen he was truly patriotic, and as a minister of Jesus, he was faithful unto death."
Mr. Hall was born in New London, Conn., Sept. 19th, 1747. He was the son of Jonathan and Alice Hall. He left a widow, two sons, John and William, and three daughters, Sophronia, Lucretia and Mary.
Sophronia married Charles Doughlass, of Sag Harbor, and Lu- cretia married Capt. David Brown, of the same place. This doubt- less led to Mrs. Hall's removal to Sag Harbor, where she died on Sept. 4th, 1825, aged 76, her remains being brought to this island for interment alongside those of her husband, where they now lie with a host of others awaiting the resurrection morn. All of the original members of this church have long since passed to their re- ward. The first person of that band of fifteen to be called away was Mrs. Mehitable King, wife of Ephraim King, who died in less than four months after the organization, namely, Feb. 2d, 1809, aged 73 years. The husband died July 8th, 1820. Their bodies were at first buried in the south church-yard, but afterwards removed to Sag Harbor.
The year following the organization of this church steps were taken at a special meeting of the parish, held the 6th of June, 1809, to procure a new meeting house, the trustees being then directed to pass a subscription paper among the people, with the condition
84
Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
that their subscriptions would not be binding unless at least one thousand dollars were subscribed. This effort, however, did not succeed. Perhaps because once more the national skies were grow- ing dark by the appearance of a war cloud which did burst in storm upon the people, and once more Shelter Island became the butt of the enemy's abuse and destruction. For like in the war of the Revo- lution, another fleet of British warships made Gardiner's Bay their anchorage and headquarters. Among them were the Ramesis, Maidstone, Sylph Thunderer, Pantagenet and the brig Boxer. These blockaded the whole eastern coast, from Fisher's Island to Montauk, and sought to destroy the neighboring villages, sending off their barges by night and by day. Under the cover of darkness they made an assault upon Sag Harbor, setting fire to its wharfs, but were driven off by the soldiers stationed there, among whom were a number of men recruited from this island. The national forces sought to blow up the flagship of this squadron, which was the Ramesis, by the use of a torpedo sent down the sound from New York. The effort, however, failed, from the torpedo getting ashore a little to the northwest of Greenport. One of the British ships, the Sylph, was sent out to destroy it, and did so, after which it cruised around the eastern end of Long Island. While running around Montauk Point on Jan. 17th, 1815, she went ashore on the south side of Long Island and became a total wreck. Out of her crew of one hundred and twenty-one men only six were saved. Among the lost were the following officers: Captain George Dick- ens, commanding officer; Lieutenant George Butt, Lieutenant H. S. Marsham, Mr. James Still, surgeon; Mr. Thomas Atwell, master. Indirectly that torpedo did its work. The man who brought it down the Sound was named "Penny." He lived at Northwest in a lonely place. The British found him out and one night took him prisoner. He was transported to Halifax, where he was held a prisoner until the end of the war.
As in the Revolution so in the war of 1812, the enemy would come ashore on this island, day or night, and confiscate cattle, sheep, and whatever else they wanted. It was another season of trial and suffering to our fair isle. One night the enemy went ashore on Gull Island and threw the lamps of the lighthouse into the sea. But they paid dearly for this act of vandalism, as one of their barges ran ashore on Plum Island, resulting in its loss, together with several of its crew. Their bodies were found shortly after by
85
Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
others from the squadron and buried on the east side of that island. Over the grave of one was set a marker, upon which was inscribed the following epitaph:
"Safely at anchor here I lay With several of our fleet, And here will lie till I set sail My Admiral Christ to meet."
Of course such wanton destruction of our beacon light had to be repaid in some way. So the Yankees bought an old square rigged vessel, and fixing a magazine in her hold, so connected that upon raising the hatches, it would explode, sailed her as near the fleet as they dared, and then under cover of darkness abandoned her. When the enemy noticed the vessel they put off in boats and brought her alongside of the fleet. Then a number of officers went aboard and started to raise the hatches, when the magazine ex- ploded with terrific force, blowing the men into the sea to their destruction and the vessel to the bottom of the waters. The British were so incensed that they sent their barges up the Connecticut the next night and burned every vessel that they found as far up as Deep River.
Mr. Lodowick Havens, from whose personal record these facts have been culled, says the sound of that explosion was like an earthquake. The British sent an order ashore on this island for the people to immediately furnish a lot of provisions, but little heed at that time was given to it, as the people felt that the three com- panies of soldiers stationed at Sag Harbor were abundantly able to protect them. Every man, however, on the island, kept his gun and bayonet in the room where he slept, and carried it with him to meeting when there was one, which under such conditions was not often. When peace was again restored in 1814, the people once more assembled in jubilee, only this time instead of on Prospect Heights they met in the mansion of Gen. Sylvester Dering. It is not to be wondered at that in the presence of such a state of public affairs the attempt at procuring a new meeting house, set on foot in 1809, should have failed. The year following the restoration of peace, however, namely, 1815, the effort was renewed. Of this we shall speak later on.
A little more than two months after Mr. Hall's death, in 1812, this church took steps towards being fully organized according to
86
Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian polity, with the view of being received into the Pres- bytery of Long Island. "At a meeting of the congregation of Shel- ter Island on Friday, March 27th, 1812, being a day of fasting and prayer, voted (the subject having previously been under consider- tion a suitable time) 'that it is their wish and desire that the church should be regularly organized with officers upon Presbyterian prin- ciples, and become regularly connected with the Presbytery of Long Island.' They also proceeded to the choice of three Elders and two deacons, and General Sylvester Dering, Jonathan Dough- lass and Lodowick Havens were chosen Elders, and the two former Deacons. The above persons having declared their acceptance of this appointment were at the same time solemnly ordained accord- ing to the Directory."
They were ordained by the Rev. Aaron Woolworth, D. D., pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Bridgehampton, who by re- quest attended and presided on that occasion. Upon being duly elected and installed into their sacred office these elders the next day, March 28th, made application to the Presbytery of Long Island, on behalf of the church, "to be received into that body agree- able to the above resolution."
Presbytery met that year at Huntington on April 9th, 1812, when the application was received and acted upon as follows: "A communication from the Church at Shelter Island was received containing a request that they might be received into connection with the Presbytery. The Presbytery having ascertained that the proceedings of that church were regular, resolved to grant their request, and they are thereby accordingly received." And since that time down to the present, a period of eighty-six years, this church has maintained its relation with that great branch of the Christian Church with dignity and honor.
Dr. Woolworth has left on record a personal account of Mr. Hall's ministry and the organization of this church, which is of such importance that it may well be added here: "Rev. Daniel Hall's min- istry, though short, was connected with salutary effects. The public worship was well attended and the moral state of society much im- proved. Nor were individual instances of conviction and hopeful conversion wanting. By Mr. Hall's exertion a church was first formed which had before been supposed that the number of pro- fessors was so small as to render such an attempt inefficient. This may be considered as the dawn of that brighter day which has since
87
Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
opened upon you. The standard of the cross was now in manner and form erected, and the King of Zion sanctioned it, by many unequivocal tokens of his approbation which have followed. Some small additions were made to the church during Mr. Hall's minis- try, and the little band walking in fellowship of the gospel were edified.
"His death, which took place in January, 1812, was considered as a severe rebuke of heaven, both by the church and congregation, by whom he was much esteemed and loved. This mournful event it is believed was sanctified and made the means of leading Chris- tians to a more feeling sense of their dependence upon God, and exciting them to greater steadfastness in prayer. In the following spring the church was more completely organized by the choice and public consecration of elders, which from the smallness of its numbers had hitherto been delayed. Well, my brethren, do you and I remember the solemnities of that day. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper had just been administered, and after the ordination of the session they were publicly asked whether they would engage to maintain public worship on the Sabbath, when there should be no preaching, a thing which had never before been observed, to which under a deep and solemn sense of duty they consented on supposition that the people wished it. The proposal was made to the congregation, who by a unanimous vote expressed their desire of this arrangement and engaged to countenance and encourage it. Accordingly since that time the public worship has been uniformly kept up, and in general been well attended, and there is reason to believe the special blessing of God has accompanied it."
And now we have reached the time when our beloved church became fully organized as a Presbyterian church and in organic relation with the Presbytery of Long Island and the great Presby- terian Church of the United States of America. Thus far our re- view has been largely devoted to the birth and life of this island as the charming abode of the white man. We have gone into its civil history with increased delight, and would find pleasure in pursuing it down to the present time. But that is not according to our purpose. That purpose is to trace out the record of Shelter Island down to the organization of this Society, and from that point to confine the record to the Presbyterian church. We have there- fore reached the time when ecclesiastical and civil matters becoming distinct from each other, we must bid the latter an affectionate
88
Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
"good bye." We can say to the civil part of our research, that if we shall find the ecclesiastical as interesting, creditable, yea, glori- ous, we shall have lasting cause for thanksgiving to the Almighty, who shapes our ends, and in shaping them made those of the writer to run across this place, which when He formed He so lavishly beautified for the comfort, repose and rejuvenation of mankind.
Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
89
CHAPTER V.
We will begin the ecclesiastical part of these historical papers with the erection of the present church building. Upon the close of the second war with Great Britain, in 1814, the effort begun in 1809 to procure a new meeting house, and which had been inter- rupted by the war, was once more taken up by the circulation of the following subscription paper, with its accompanying result:
"Shelter Island, September, 1815.
"Whereas the House of Public Worship on Shelter Island is too small comfortably to accommodate the Inhabitants, and so gone to decay as to render it very uncomfortable in wet and cold weather, and it being judged unfit to repair and enlarge, we the subscribers do agree to pay on demand the several sums affixed to our names, to the Trustees of the Freeholders and inhabitants of Shelter Island, as a donation towards building a new Meeting House, or place of Public Worship on said Island, and that as soon as the Trustees judge that a sufficient sum is subscribed and collected to commence the building, they shall call a meeting of the Society for the pur- pose of agreeing upon a place for the Building, and the choice of a Committee to purchase materials, and to contract with persons to build the same. The House to belong to the Society, and to be regu- lated by them agreeably to the laws of this State, in such case made and provided, and in case more money should be subscribed and collected than is necessary, the overplus to be added to the fund for the support of the Gospel on Shelter Island."
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
PLACE OF ABODE.
AMOUNT.
Samuel Lord
Shelter Island,
$250.00
William Bowditch.
100.00
Sylvester Dering
66
300.00
Benjamin Conklin
200.00
Benjamin Glover.
25.00
Robert Harlow .
20.00
Jonathan Doughlass
70.00
Obadiah Havens
20.00
Phineas King.
50.00
Jeremiah King
66
30.00
H. P. Dering
Sag Harbor,
80.00
90
Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
PLACE OF ABODE.
AMOUNT.
Thomas Mayo
Shelter Island,
25.00
Henry Conklin
20.00
Shadrach Conklin.
20.00
Henry Hains .
6.
10.00
Edward Cartwright, Jr.
5.00
Anderson Cartwright.
5.00
Comus, a blind Negro man
2.50
Joseph C. Havens.
5.00
Abraham Crook.
66
5.00
Samuel Bowditch.
3.00
Josiah Mayo
4.00
Joseph Case.
66
5.00
Jeremiah Case.
66
3.00
Edward Cartwright.
5.00
Sineus Conkling
5.00
George W. Congdon
5.00
28 Subscribers.
$1277.50
AN ACCOUNT OF MONIES SUBSCRIBED BY THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK AND ELSEWHERE, AS A DONATION TOWARDS BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE ON SHELTER ISLAND.
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
PLACE OF ABODE.
AMOUNT.
Henry Rutgers.
New York,
$100.00
Desire Havens
150.00
Mary C. L'Hommedieu.
150.00
Rensselaer Havens.
100.00
David Gelston
50.00
H. A. and J. G. Castor
50.00
Jone Kane.
25.00
John Adams.
25.00
Philetus Havens.
25.00
Gabriel Havens.
25.00
Nathaniel Richards.
25.00
Thomas H. Smith.
25.00
Walter Bowne.
25.00
Henry Eckford
25.00
John Mowatt, Jr
25.00
James Lovett
25.00
Edward H. Nicoll.
20.00
Edmund Smith
16.00
Abraham Riker
66
15.00
Najah Taylor.
10.00
William Edgar
66
10.00
Grover Wright.
10.00
Eliphalit Williams.
10.00
A. H. Lawrence
10.00
N. L. Griswold.
10.00
George Griswold.
10.00
66
66
66
5.00
Diana R. Williams
66
66
66
‹ :
91
Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
PLACE OF ABODE.
AMOUNT.
John Grayham.
New York,
10.00
Thomas Jenkins
10.00
Jonathan Thompson.
10.00
Matthew Bruin.
10.00
Libbius Loomis.
10.00
John Smith Crary.
10.00
Francis Thompson
66
10.00
Benjamin Strong.
7.00
John B. Treadwell
5.00
Philo L. Mills.
..
5.00
Daniel Oakley.
5.00
Peter Schermerhorn.
5.00
Mr. Desbrow
5.00
J. Boggs.
5.00
Amasa Jackson
5.00
William Lawrence
5.00
Thomas R. Williams (a black).
5.00
William Whitlock.
5.00
Hubert V. Wagenen.
2.00
John Taylor.
Albany,
40.00
Henry Huntington.
Rome,
40.00
George Huntington.
20.00
Jno. L. Broome.
New York,
25.00
Charlotte Broome.
2.50
Garet N. Bleeker.
3.00
John Connelly
Philadelphia,
10.00
Cash of four persons
..
15.00
David Dunham
New York,
20.00
James Mapes.
5.00
Harry Landon.
Southold, 66
25.00
Col. Benjamin Horton.
5.00
Gilbert Horton.
5.00
Hannah Storr.
Boston,
5.00
59 Subscribers, amount
$1320.50
28
1277.50
87
$2598.00
In less than three months from the date of the foregoing sub- scription paper all this had been gathered together. The Trustees, judging that a sufficient sum had been subscribed and collected to commence the building, gave public notice of a meeting of the so- ciety to be held in the school house on Friday, Dec. 8th, 1815, at 3 o'clock P. M. The meeting was held according to appointment, but that a more general attendance of the Society might be gained, adjourned without action for one week, or until Dec. 15th, at which time the Society, having made choice of William Bowditch as mod- erator and Sylvester Dering as clerk, passed the following resolu- tions: "Resolved, that the Meeting House to be erected shall be
92
Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
built on the Land where the old Meeting House now stands. Re- solved, that Sylvester Dering, William Bowditch, Samuel Lord, Jonathan Doughlass and Henry Conklin be a committee to receive the monies subscribed for building said Meeting House from the hands of the Trustees, and to build the said Meeting House of such dimensions and materials as the Committee or a majority of them shall agree."
A few days after the subscription paper began to be circulated a violent storm swept over this island, something like a tornado, in those days called the "great September gale." This storm felled a large number of Shelter Island's most stately trees. Many of these belonged to Gen. Sylvester Dering, and these he generously donated to the Society for use in the proposed building. Out of them was hewn the massive timbers that form the enduring frame of our present building. "The stars," said the Rev. Mr. Harries, "the stars in their courses fought for them, and the fierce winds of heaven brought them the oaks of Bashan and the cedars of Le- banon." It is indeed an ill wind that blows nobody good. God encouraged the Society in its purpose to erect a new sanctuary for His praise in felling the necessary trees for its frame upon the estate of one whom He knew had His cause greatly at heart, and who would generously donate them for that purpose. The building committee having funds and material at hand went immediately to work, and in less than fifteen months the building was finished and ready for its furnishings. To do this an additional five hundred dollars was necessary, which the parish, at a meeting held March 14, 1817, unanimously authorized the trustees to borrow upon the note of the corporation.
During the year 1816, in which the building was under construc- tion, a remarkable revival of religion was experienced on this island. Between forty and fifty persons were hopefully converted, or as the record notes it, "made to bow to the sceptre of Jesus." The origin of this work of grace began in the conversion of a husband and wife in the early part of the year 1815. These two persons were highly connected, and the marked change in their life greatly impressed the community with the power of religion. Soon a third person became seriously concerned about salvation and moved towards Christ. This deepened the impression upon the people and pre- pared the way for a monthly prayer meeting. This third person was a young woman whose conversion Dr. Woolworth speaks of
93
Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church
as remarkable. The summer came, bringing an increased interest in public worship. The work of the Lord continued to spread and prosper through the fall to such a degree that by the time Christmas had arrived the people, instead of spending the evenings of that week in festivity and mirth, as they were wont to do, they spent them in prayer and other religious exercises, which "most of the young people attended, and the meetings were solemn and marked with animating tokens of divine presence. Things remained much in this state until February, 1816 (I am now quoting from Dr. Woolworth's dedicatory sermon, preached in 1817), when the spirit of the Lord was poured out as on the day of Pentecost. The work commenced in the school-house (then under the charge of Mr. Samuel Phillips, a young man of ardent piety, and who subsequently became editor and proprietor of the 'Republican Watchman'). The mind of one of the scholars was so deeply impressed as to con- strain him to cry out and request the teacher to pray for him. This disclosure soon discovered that the minds of many others were the subjects of very special religious impressions. The usual exercises of the school the rest of the day were suspended and the time de- voted to prayer, reading the Scriptures and religious conversation. Persons in the immediate neighborhood came in and were deeply affected with what they witnessed. The dismission of the school at night carried the news of the wonderful things which had taken place into most of the families on the island. Much the same scenes were renewed the next day at the school-house. Many came to see and hear and were convinced that what they saw and heard was indeed the work of God. Deep solemnity rested upon the minds of almost all the inhabitants. Religious meetings were at first at- tended every day or evening and thronged by multitudes anxiously inquiring, 'What shall we do to be saved?' The revival thus begun continued in great power for months. The occasional preaching of the Word, which was now frequently enjoyed, and other public religious exercises, were attended with surprising effects. While scarcely an individual in the whole limits of the congregation could be found indifferent and secure, great numbers were the subjects of deep and distressing convictions, under the influence of which they were led to affecting discoveries of their lost estate in them- selves-the infinite evil of sin-the plague of their own hearts-their perishing need of an interest in Christ, and in order to this of being renewed by the power of divine grace in the spirit of their minds.
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.