History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 82

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 868

USA > New York > Dutchess County > History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 82

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).

Vassar Brothers' Institute .- In the year 1881, Mr. Matthew Vassar, Jr., and his brother Mr. John Guy Vassar, fully appreciating the meritorious character of the objects and work of the Pough- keepsie Society of Natural Science and the Poughkeepsie Literary Club, and recognizing the fact that both organizations stood in need of better accommodations and increased resources for the prosecution of the work they sought to do, express- ed their intention to erect a building and present the same to these societies-provided that they would unite in one society under one corporate name. The large majority of both societies favored this plan-but its execution was prevented by the action of a few members in each society. Practi- cally however, the result was the same as if a union of the two organizations had been consum- mated, for individual members gave their support to the new movement and permitted the old societies to practically die from inanition. The Vassar Brothers' Institute was incorporated June 13, 1881, the following being the incorporators and first trustees : Matthew Vassar, Jr., John Guy Vassar, Rev. A. P. Van Gieson, Dr. W. G. Stev- enson, Prof. T. J. Backus, Edward Ellsworth, Esq., Prof. L. C. Cooley, S. M. Buckingham, John P. Adriance, Prof. W. B. Dwight, Charles N. Arnold, Henry V. Pelton.

The object of the Institute is to "promote educa- tion and useful knowledege in the departments of science, literature and art, by investigating and discussing subjects appertaining thereto, and by establishing and maintaining a museum, a library and a collection of works of art and objects of his- toric interest in furtherance of such object."

In June, 1881, the following were elected officers of the Institute: Matthew Vassar, Jr., President ; John Guy Vassar, Vice-President ; Dr. W. G. Stevenson, Secretary ; Edward Ellsworth, Esq., Treasurer ; Prof. W. B. Dwight, Curator of the Museum ; Prof. H. Van Ingen, Art Director ; Joseph I. Jackson, Esq., Librarian.

That the object of the Institute might be better attained three distinct sections were formed of Science, Literature and Art, and the following elected officers of the respective sections : Scien- tific Section,-Prof. L. C. Cooley, Chairman, C. N. Arnold, Recording Secretary ; Literary Section, -Prof. T. J. Backus, Chairman, H. V. Pelton, Recording Secretary ; Art Section, -Prof. H. Van Ingen, Chairman, G. E. Bissell, Recording Sec- retary.

Each of these sections is fully organized and in successful operation. The sudden death of Mr. Matthew Vassar, Jr., August 10, 1881, without having made provision for the execution of his purposes, threatened to defeat the completion of the plan thus far so favorably inaugurated, but his brother, Mr. John Guy Vassar, generously assumed the entire responsibility and began to erect on the site of the old Vassar brewery, on Vassar street, a beautiful brick building, fifty by eighty feet at a cost of not less than $25,000, which will not only be an ornament to the city, but a fitting monument to the liberality of its founders.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

CHURCHES OF POUGHKEEPSIE.

T HE First Reformed Church of Poughkeepsie was organized in 1716, by Rev. Petrus Vas, who was then pastor of the church at Kingston, and who also organized the same year the church at Fishkill. For several years neither of these churches had a settled pastor, but both enjoyed the occa- sional services of Mr. Vas, likewise Rev. Vincen- tius Antonides, of Kings county, Long Island, and Rev. Johannes VanDriessen, of Albany, who also administered the rites of baptism and the Lord's supper .*

At a meeting of the "Reformed Low Dutch Church at Poughkeepsie," held at the house of Clear Everitt, March 22, 1774, "it was conceived advisable " to petition for a charter of incorpora- tion, and Rev. Stephen Van Voorhees, " one of the ministers," and Gilbert Livingston, "one of

* This sketch is prepared from a history of the Church, by Rev. A. P. VanGieson, the pastor, as published in The Dutchess Farmer of Nov. 6, 1877. A writer in the Rhinebeck Gazette, in 1878, alleges that the Reformed Dutch Church in Rhinebeck, which was organized Jan. 28, 1731, antedates the Dutch Church of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill by sev- eral months, and surpassed them in numbers at the time when it was assumed to have had no existence. The records of the church, however says Mr. VanGieson, date back to 1716, and continue with few interrup- tions from that date to the present time. Previous to 1770, they were kept wholly in the Dutch language.

419

CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE.

the elders of said congregation," were delegated to present a petition prepared for that purpose to his Excellency William Tryon, and "to apply to the Consistory of the Reformed Low Dutch Con- gregation at New York, in order to obtain their favor and assistance in the premises."

The first minister called and settled over the churches of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill, was Rev. Cornelius VanSchie, who was sent over from Hol- land by the Classis of Amsterdam, in 1731. The call, in response to which he was sent was signed by Rev. Vincentius Antonides, of Long Island, and the following persons, who then constituted the Consistories of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill, viz : Peter Palmatier and Johannes VanKleek, elders, and Laurens VanKleek and Myndert VandeBo- gaart, deacons, of the Church of Poughkeepsie ; and Pieter duBoys and Abraham Buys, elders, and Abraham Brinkerhoff and Hendrik Phillips, dea- cons, of the Church of Fishkill. The churches were thus united under the care of one pastor for many years. Rev. Mr. Schie was installed over these churches Oct. 4, 173 1, and continued his ministry un- til about 1738,when he removed to Albany, where he died in 1744.

About 1760, violent contentions arose in most of the churches belonging to this denomination, between the two parties known as Coetus and Conferentie. The former desired a separation from the Classis of Amsterdam, so as to save the trouble, delay and expense of sending to Holland for ministers. The latter, comprising many of the older ministers, were bitterly opposed to the meas- ure, thinking apparently, that an ordination could scarcely be valid unless it came from the Classis of Amsterdam. These churches shared largely in these difficulties. Two consistories were formed in each, and the excitement ran very high.

Dec. 11, 1763, the Coetus party called Rev. Henricus Schoonmaker; but so vehement was the opposition of the other party to him, that at the time of his installation at Poughkeepsie, the church doors were forcibly closed against him, and the service took place under an apple tree, not far from the place where the present church edifice stands. Mr. Schoonmaker continued his ministry until 1774.

In 1763, the Conferentie party, not only in these churches, but in those of Hopewell and New Hackensack, sent a call to the Classis of Amster- dam, to be placed in the hands of such persons as they might see fit to select. They presented the call to the Rev. Isaac Rysdyk, who was regularly

installed as the pastor of these four churches about 1765.

This state of things continued until 1771, when a reconciliation took place between the con- tending parties, brought about chiefly through the influence of Dr. John H. Livingston. The articles of union were adopted in 1772. Soon after this it is believed that Rev. Mr. Rysdyk relinquished his charge of the church in Poughkeepsie, and con- fined himself mainly to the care of the churches of New Hackensack, Hopewell and Fishkill, until about 1788.

So far as can be ascertained from the records and from tradition, says Rev. Mr. Van Gieson, the church has erected and occupied three church edifices. The first stood on the north side of Main street, with its rear adjoining the front of the old burying ground, which lies back of the store next east of the Poughkeepsie Hotel. It is said to have been erected in 1723, and to have been the first church edifice erected in the county .* From a plan contained in the records it appears to have had fifty-six pews, thirty-eight on the ground floor and eighteen in the gallery, furnishing three hundred and eighty-six sittings.

During the ministry of Dr. Cuyler the church and congregation grew so rapidly that increased accommodations were found necessary ; therefore the first edifice was torn down and a new and larger one erected on the south side of Main street, very nearly on the ground occupied by the present building. The corner stone of the new edifice was laid May 6, 1822, and the dedication took place on Dec. 24th of that year. On Sunday Jan. 18, 1857, about ten minutes past twelve o'clock, this second edifice was discovered to be on fire. The day was bitterly cold, so cold, it is said, that some of the water thrown by the engines, froze in the air and fell to the ground in the form of ice. By this intense cold, those who strove to subdue the flames were so benumbed, that their efforts were quite ineffectual, and the building was totally destroyed.

Prompt and vigorous means were taken to meet the exigency thus occasioned, and a third edifice, which still stands, was erected. The corner stone was laid August 25, 1857. The edifice was dedi- cated Sept. 7, 1858.

One of the most important events in the his- tory of the church was the dismission in 1849 of twenty-seven members to form the Second Re-

* Poughkeepsie Weekly Eagle, July 8, 1876 ; Bailey's Historical Sketches 19,

420

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

formed Church. The following have been the successive pastors of the church :-

Revs. Cornelius Van Schie, 1731 to 1738; Benjamin Meinema, 1745 * to 1758; Jacobus Van Nist, 1758 to 1761 }; Henricus Schoonmaker, 1763 to 1774}; Isaac Rysdyk, 1765 to 1772 §; Stephen Van Voorhies, 1773 to 1776 ; Solomon Freligh, 1777 to 1780; Dr. John H. Livingston, 1781 to Nov. 23, 1783 ; Andrew Gray, 1790 to 1793 ; Cornelius Brower, July 13, 1794 to 1807 ; Cornelius C. Cuyler, 1808 to Dec. 1833 ; S. A. Van Vranken, D. D., 1834 to Dec. 4, 1837 ; Alex. M. Mann, March 27, 1838 to January 15, 1857 ; George McEkron, March 26, 1858 to Feb. 1867; A. P. Van Gieson, Oct. 15, 1867, to present time.

Christ Church, (Episcopal,) of Poughkeepsie, was incorporated March 9, 1773, as "The Rector and Inhabitants of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County in communion of the Church of England as by Law Established," by a patent given by George III. of England, which vested in the church the right to a glebe of eighty-seven acres, held by deed of trust, and an additional 200 acres adjoining it, on petition of Rev. John Beardsley and other inhabitants of Poughkeepsie; which was read in the Council of the Province of New York Dec. 31, 1771, and " sets forth among other things that the said inhabitants and others adja- cent in like communion having long labored under great inconvenience from the want of a regular administration of divine service had some time since procured the petitioner John Beardsley, a clergyman of the Church of England to be sent by the incorporated society for the propagating of the gospel in foreign parts as a mission- ary to reside among and officiate for them in the public worship of Almighty God." The charter names Bartholomew Crannell and Samuel Smith as church wardens, and Richard Davis, John Child, John Davis, John Ferdon, Jr., John Medler. Zachariah Ferdon, Isaac Baldwin, Jr., and David Brooks as vestrymen. It makes reservation of " all mines of gold and silver and also all white or other sort of pine trees fit for masts, of the growth of twenty-four inches in diameter and upwards at twelve inches from the earth, for masts for the royal navy "; and requires the annual payment for lands conveyed, a rent of 2s., 6d. for each hundred acres of the grant or part thereof. May 4, 1792, the

corporate name was changed by the Legislature to " Rector and Inhabitants of Poughkeepsie in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York."

Rev. John Beardsley began his labors in Duchess county in 1766, and was the first to introduce the rituals of worship in the Anglican or English Episcopal Church in this county. He preached his first sermon at the house of Cornelius Hum- phrey, in Beekman. Oct. 4, 1771, he signed a petition, as minister of that church, for the incor- poration of Trinity Church, Fishkill. He married Miss Kane, a sister of Mrs. Gilbert Livingston and Mrs. Bartholomew Crannell, after whom Cran- nell street in Poughkeepsie was named .*

The purchase of the original glebe was designed for the benefit of the Precincts of Poughkeepsie, Nine Partners, Beekman and Rombout, but was completed for the benefit of Poughkeepsie and Rombout Precincts only, with the consent of the other Precincts. It was agreed between Pough- keepsie and Rombout Precincts that the glebe so purchased should ever remain for the use of the rector having the care of the churches in those Precincts ; but in case the congregations should at any time find themselves able to support two rec- tors, then the church of Poughkeepsie should re- fund to the church of Rombout (Fishkill,) such sum of money as they had advanced both for the purchase of said glebe and the building thereon, which was erected in 1774. The vestry deeming this agreement " just and reasonable," assumed the obligation of fulfilling it. But this arrangement did not, it would seem, meet the views of the Fish- kill church, and the minutes of several succeeding meetings are burdened with efforts to adjust the difference.

December 14, 1777, by order of the Council of Safety, the Rev. Mr. Beardsley, the rector, was removed to New York, and John Davis, a member of the vestry, entered upon and took possession of the glebe with the consent of the vestry. A letter of Mr. Beardsley's to the vestry, dated New York, June 2, 1783, reveals the cause of his removal from Poughkeepsie, which he there refers to as "my banishment on account of my loyalty."

Henry Van Dyke, or Van Dyck, a candidate for

* Mr. Meinema's call bears date 1745, but the first account of him in Consistorial records is in 1749.

t Mr. Van Nist died April 10, 1761, in his 27th year, and was buried at Fishkill.

# Called by the Coetus party.

§ Called by the Conferentie party.

* Ms. communication from Benson J. Lossing, LL. D., to Mr. T. Van Wyck Brinkerhoff, in A Historical Sketch of the Town of Fish- kill, says on the authority of Rev Dr. Buel, the Rector of Christ Church of Poughkeepsie, that the first services were held by Rev. Samuel Sea- bury, father of Bishop Seabury, in 1756, and that Rev. John Beardsley accepted an appointment to the Precincts of Poughkeepsie, Beekman and Rombont Oct. 26, 1766, and preached his first sermon at the house of William Humfrey, in Beekman, Dec. 21, 1766, from Luke ii, 32.

421

CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE.

holy orders, performed Divine service at Christ church June 20 and 24, 1784. The church had been for nearly eight years destitute of a pastor in consequence of the war. A subscription was started for the support of Mr. Van Dyke, whose services the congregation wished to retain, "and," says the record, " though we are but few in num- ber and far from being wealthy, yet, with the kind assistance of our neighbours of other denomina- tions who admire his performances, have got sub- scribed for his annual salary £50. Provided we give him a call, this we suppose, with one-half of the old glebe, will be sufficient inducement to him for the half of his services." Trinity church, of Fishkill, was invited and urged to unite with them in this call.

Mr. Van Dyke officiated here again August I, 1784, and the following Sunday at Fishkill, by invi- tation of that church. August 3, 1784, Isaac Baldwin, Richard Davis, Thomas Poole, William Emott and Isaac Baldwin, Jr., were appointed a committee to wait on the congregation at Fishkill the following Sunday and receive their answer with regard to the settlement of Mr. Van Dyke. Ac- cordingly a consultation was had with Major Dan- iel Ter Bos, Jonas Halstead, John Halstead, John Cook and Mr. Pine, of Fishkill, August 8, 1784, and a mutual agreement was entered into whereby Mr. Van Dyke, when ordained, should "be re- ceived as minister of the two churches, to preach at Poughkeepsie two-thirds of the year, and Fish- kill the other third." The Poughkeepsie church agreed to pay him f80 New York currency per annum, a part in cash and the residue in fire wood; and the Fishkill church £40. In addition he was to have the use of the glebe so long as he remained "their teacher." Mr. Van Dyke was or- dained September 16, 1785, but under various de- lays and other difficulties, which made him liable for trespass in this State, (for debt,) he never per- formed the duties of rector under this agreement. Another agreement with a like object was entered into November 21, 1786, substantially on the same terms, except, however, that his services were to be divided equally between this church and Fishkill. He commenced his services as rector May 27, 1787.

Up to 1784, it appears, the church was not pro- vided with pews, for December 6th of that year the vestry "resolved upon pewing the church," and a subscription was started for that purpose. It was provided that the money subscribed should " be paid as soon as wanted to persons appointed by

the vestry to be by them applied immediately in building the pews ;" and that as soon as the pews were finished they should be rented by public ven- due from year to year and the money arising there- from paid to the subscribers in proportion to the amount subscribed by each, until the whole amount was refunded.

The following have been the successive rectors of Christ Church :-

Revs. John Beardsley, Aug. 17, 1773 to July -, 1776 *; Henry VanDyck, Nov. - , 1785, only a few months; Henry VanDyke, May 27, 1787, to spring of 1791 ; Geo. H. Spierin, Nov. 13, 1792, to Dec. 9, 1795 ; John I. Sayre, Jan. 5, 1796, two years ; Philander Chase, Nov. - , 1799 to Oct. 1805; Barzilla Bulkley, Aug. 27, 1806, to Aug. 17, 1809; Joseph Prentice, Feb. 18, 1810, to July -, 1810; John Reed, D. D., Aug. 19, 1810, to July 6, 1845 ; Homer Wheaton, July -: 1846, to June 1, 1847 ; Samuel Buel, D. D., Sept. 15, 1847 to 1866 ; Phi- lander K. Cady, D. D., 1866, to 1875 ;t Henry L. Ziengenfuss, Nov. 1, 1874, to present time.

Christ Church Parish School, on the corner of Market and Pine streets, an ornate two-story brick structure, was built in 1857, at a cost, including lot, of about $7,000, and deeded to the parish by Wm. A. Davies and his wife. Two teachers are employed in this school, and in 1880, there were fifty-eight males and fifty-six females in attendance. The tuition is free, and the children are largely clothed by the parish. They are taught sewing and other useful branches of household work. The school has an endowment of $4,000, bequeathed by Mrs. Robinson, who also left $5,000 for the preaching of the gospel in Christ Church Parish.

The number of communicants is about 400 ; the attendance at Sunday school, which is under the supervision of the rector, 250.

Society of Friends .- Numerous persons of this persuasion had settled in the County, mostly in the eastern portion, before the Revolution, and a few had located in Poughkeepsie about the begin- ning of the present century. Prominent among these were the families of David and Benjamin Arnold, the former of whom was the father of Will- iam Arnold, the chair manufacturer, Levi Mckeon, a wealthy but unsuccessful banker in Poughkeep- sie at an early day, Isaac and Henry Powell, and --- Gardner, a sea captain. These were joined in the early part of the century by Zadock Southwick, who was for many years a prominent tanner in

* Rectorship vacant during the Revolutionary period.

Rev. Henry L. Ziengenfuss supplied the pulpit in 1874.

422

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

Poughkeepsie. Meetings had been held here in private houses shortly previous to his coming, but, impressed with the importance of having a suitable meeting-house, Mr. Southwick bought land and erected one on South Clover street, near where the Hedding M. E. church now stands, the use of which he gave to the Society of Friends. That was then the only building on that thoroughfare between Main and Union streets. The upper story was used as a school house, in which children gathered together during the week were taught on Sunday not only religious instruction, but also the rudimentary branches now taught in our secular schools. This was the first Sunday school opened in Poughkeepsie, though different in character from those of the present day. The building referred to was erected about 1813-'14,* and meetings were held there until the present house of worship on LaFayette street was erected, when they were transferred to it. The school was numerously at- tended and was continued for several years.

When Anna Berthwaite came here from England and opposed the doctrines and teachings of Elias Hicks, of Long Island, followed in 1828 by the great division in the order, about one-third of the members of the Poughkeepsie society separated, and formed what has since been known as the Orthodox Society of Friends, the others in contradistinction being known as Hicksite Friends, from their adher- ence to the teachings of Elias Hicks. The Ortho- dox Friends were then few in number, and it was not until many years after, in 1862, that they built their house of worship on Montgomery street, between South Hamilton and Cannon streets. It was first opened for public worship on Sunday, May 10, 1863.

Washington Street M. E. Church.t-Freeborn Garrettson was the pioneer Methodist evangelist in the valley of the Hudson. His field was vast, ex- tending to Canada on the north, to the borders of New England on the east, and included the towns on the west bank of the Hudson. As early as 1788 and '89 societies were organized in Rhine- beck and adjacent places, and in the former year

* Statement of Edward C. Southwick, of Poughkeepsie. It would seem, however, that this is too early a date, for Nov. 27, 1819, a com- munication appeared in the Dutchess Observer over the signature of Zadock Southwick, which complains of a species of proscription practiced towards the Friends of that day, which denied them the use of the court house, while it was accorded without objection to other denominations, also to " play actors," and as a place of exhibition for children who were receiving their education at this place. Had the Friends a meeting house of their own, it is scarcely probable that they would have been applicants for the favor.

+The materials for this sketch are drawn from a History of Methodism in Poughkeepsie, by Rev. W. H. Ferris, D. D., delivered in the Wash- ington street M. E. Church, Poughkeepsie, Oct. 12, 1878.

Duchess circuit first appears on the minutes of the New York Conference, with a membership of ten. That circuit then extended south to the Highlands, east to Connecticut and Massachusetts, and north to the vicinity of Albany. But it was not until 1796 that the voice of a Methodist preacher was heard in Poughkeepsie. During that year Mr. Garrettson preached one sermon in the Reformed church, then standing on the north side of Main street. The field was then abandoned for years. In 1800, William Thacher came to Poughkeepsie, which then had a population of about 4,000, and preached in the court house some half-dozen ser- mons. In 1800 or 1801, Bishop Asbury visited Poughkeepsie, and pronounced it "no place for Methodism." By this time Duchess circuit had been divided, and its dimensions were nearly con- fined to this county. The membership was 321.

Soon after, Mr. Garrettson made another fruit- less effort to plant Methodism here. At that time, however, there was one Methodist residing here, John Giles, who had been a member of the society in Ireland, and was at that time connected with a class on the other side of the river. In 1803 or 1804, the persistant Garrettson made a third and successful effort, and after preaching the first evening, formed a class, consisting of Charles H. Duncomb and wife and John Giles. The next day Peter O. La Dieu and his wife were added. Mr. Duncomb resided at 334 Main street, " and it was probably at his house that the infant class was formed." The garret of his house, which was reached by an outside flight of steps, was the place of worship, and the nursery of Poughkeepsie Methodism.

James Coleman and Hibbard were the circuit preachers in 1803, and the latter, aided by Dates and Ensign, in 1804. Under Mr. Hibbard's preach- ing the class increased to eight. Francis Ward and Robert Dillon were the spiritual guides in 1805; and in that year a church thirty by forty feet was built on the east side of Jefferson street, south of Church street, on ground now occupied by the Methodist burying ground.

In 1814, under the preaching of James M. Smith about 200 were added to the little flock, and made it necessary to finish the galleries. The congrega- tion worshipped in the court house while this im- provement was in progress. Until August of this year, Poughkeepsie remained a part of Duchess circuit, but under the impulse of this revival it was made a station with Mr. Smith as pastor. In 1816 Poughkeepsie fell back into Duchess circuit. In

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.

History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 82

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 868

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 868