USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Brunswick > History of Gilead Evangelical Lutheran Church, Centre Brunswick, Rensselaer Co., N.Y. and the vicinity > Part 2
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a. John and Henry Dater and Henry Clum.
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CENTRE BRUNSWICK, NEW YORK.
Stone Raby up to the year 1771.b This, it is almost certain, is the place mentioned in these extracts.
Sir William Johnson wrote to Rev. Charles Inglis under date March 27, 1771, as follows :-
* * Between ourselves (for it shoud not be Communicated to some people) I shod tell you that the German Lutheran Minister at Stoneraby has Expresed a desire to me of taking orders in our Church, & what is more Extraordinary his Whole Congregation desire to become members of the same This Shews what the chh might Expect with due Countenance I intend to mention this affair to Dr Auchmuty to whom I beg my Complimts & that youll acquaint him that I shall Write him by next post."
In fulfillment of his promise Sir William wrote Dr. Auchmuty on the 4th of April, 1771, as follows :-
"I desired our friend Mr Inglis to mention a Circum: stance concerning Religion here that I think you ought to know. The Lutheran Minister ata Stoneraby, (Lansinbargh) has lately in a voluntary Manner without any previous Arguments to Induce him thereto desired to take orders in the Church of England, and what is much more Strange, It is the desire of his Congregation that he should do so. The great difficulty is That, they will be with out a Minister during his absence, and that it will be attended with an Expence which from their great Occonomy they do not
b. This patent was given to Johannes Wendel by Gov. Thos. Dongan, July 22, 1686. Doc. Hist., N. Y., Vol. I, p. 473.
a. In his second letter Sir Wm. says near.
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HISTORY GILEAD CHURCH,
chuse to Incurr, Especially as they have some Charitable Establishments amongst themselves, that are Chargeable. -If therefore any thing could be fallen upon, or that the Society would take it into Consideration, and that at. the same time it Could be Carried through without making much noise, It would add the Majority of Inhabitants of a very fine Settlement to the Church, and as they are Foreigners (!) must strengthen their allegiance to Gov't. I shall be glad to have your thoughts on this."
May 24, 1771, the zealous but cautious Sir Wm. wrote on the same subject, and presents a kindred application from a Presbyterian minister. He says :-
"I wrote you the 4th. of last Month, and amongst other things mentioned the affair of the Lutheran Minister near this place."
In reply Rev. Dr. Auchmuty wrote from New York June the 11, 1771, to Sir Wm. as fol- lows :-
"The Lutheran minister you mention and his people would be a considerable acquisition to the Church, and some method if possible should be fallen upon to send him home for ordination. If he is sensible and of a good character, I make no doubt but, upon being properly recommended, he would meet with assistance from the Bishops. But this he must not altogether depend upon. Suppose (if he and his people continue in the same mind) that you should be so good as to represent his Case, to the Society. and though they will not erect new missions, they may either as a publick Body, or as private persons, who ought to promote the Interests of the Church, make him
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a present of as much as will defray his Expences: but this assurance should be obtained before he imbarks. I will also write in his favor. and befriend him in everything in my power. I would propose a subscription here for Him, but our people are so often called upon for their money, that I should be afraid to attempt it. As to the Difficulty of supplying his people with a minister in his absence I think that might in a great mesure be obviated."
Once more only do we hear of this minister without a name. Sir Win. says he visited Johns- town and preached to a " Congregation of 500, of whom 250 were communicants." Whether he finally succeeded in obtaining orders is not recorded, but the congregation of Foreigners never went over, and the fine Settlement was not added to "the Church."
About this time the church seems to have had no regular pastor, and the more zealous of the members attended Divine service in Albany. The grand-children of Mrs. Eve Brust, whose husband's name was Jacob, whose, (Jacob's) father came here directly from Germany, remem- ber to have heard her frequently tell of walking, with many of her neighbors to Albany, 14 miles, to hear the preaching of the Gospela. They, however, did not unite with the church there.
a. The descendants of Catharine Clum who married Valentine Cropsey remember that she often spoke of the same thing, and that there were many going in company and afoot.
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HISTORY GILEAD CHURCH,
Rev. Mr. Schwerdfeger, it appears, was at that time officiating at least occasionally in that church.
CHAPTER II.
THE PERIOD BETWEEN 1768 AND 1792. AN UN- RECOGNIZED LUTHERAN PATRIARCH.
We come now to the period in the history of the church from which the names of the pas- tors can be given in regular succession. Count- ing Rev. Peter Nicholas Sommer as the first, and Sir Win. Johnson's protege as the second, we name the Rev. Samuel Schwerdfeger, -a fac- simile of whose signature is here given, -as the Third Pastor.
Jamwelchwerd Feger · Kin
Having served the Lutheran church in Fred- erick, Md. for a period of about six years, he vacated that church in 1768, aud joined his rela- tives in this vicinity. In view of the fact that one or more of his brothers lived here at that
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CENTRE BRUNSWICK, NEW YORK.
time, it is altogether probable that he went from here to Frederick, which supposition is strength- ened by his having been recommended to that church by Rev. Mr. Hartwick whom he suc- ceeded. He did not take charge of Gilead until three years after his arrival. Certain "memo- randa" found on a separate page of the Church Record, were evidently inserted after he had become pastor, and indicate that he was exer- cising his .ministerial functions at that time in Albany and Schodak. These memoranda are in German, and record the baptism of seven children of Nicholas Michel and wife Anna Barbara, (nee Hoofnagle,) of Schodak, Albany
County. The first was baptized in Schodak, Aug. 24, 1768; the second in Albany "in the English Church;" the third by Rev. Mr. Hart- wick. in Albany; and the other four "in the house." All, except the third, by Sam Schwerd- feger, (as he signs the record.) These parents were members of Gilead.
We date his settlement over this church in the autumn of 1771, and credit him with having saved the church from being turned over to the Church of England.
It is to be regretted that the church in Albany has no records dating further back than 1784. for
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it seems almost certain that both he and Rev. Mr. Hartwick had more intimate connection with it than as mere visitors. His name occurs in connection with the dedication of said church, Oct. 22, 1786, and he is called "Professor Schwerdfeger, of Hoosic." Again, on Nov. 21, 1790, he administered the Lord's Supper there, and his residence is again given as Hoosic. Hle however resided in a house on the church land, which stood about six rods north of the old log church, on the west side of the road as it then ran. (See map of survey, p. 41.)
The following instrument of writing will show that at that time, and two years previously, he was in charge of Gilead.
"Ranselaerswyke June 8th. 1780.
Then received from the Elders of the Lutherian Congre- gation at Hosick Road the Sum of two Pounds six Shillings and eight Pence, it being for Interest of a certain Bond in Behalfe of the Reverend Samuel Swerdfeger for two years on their Part.
his
Adam A Z F Zufelt" mark
The records in the oldest Church Book in our possession he began to make in 1777. They are in Latin, and show that between Nov. 7, 1777 and July 8, 1792 he administered the rite of baptism to eighteen hundred and twenty-four
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children. Of these there were 17 twins, 2 triplets. 9 negroes and 14 papists. He devoted more space to the recording of Negro baptisms than to others ; a specimen of which is here given :- "N. B: 1792. 27 Jan. baptizati sunt nigri, numeri. in Ser- vitute Johannis Schneiderii. 1st. ambo aetatis 12. Ann: nomen est Johannes. et 2d. ambo aetatis ? Ann. nomen est David; Sponsores fuerunt Johannes Schneider & ux: eg Catharina. 3d. ambo aetatis 5 Ann: nomen est Jan- netgen. Sponsores fuerunt George Fek et ux: eg Catha- rina."
At the baptism of Maria Rensselaer, daughter of Heinrich and Susanna Gordinier, born June 6, 1789, and baptized 19 days subsequently, the sponsors were the Patroon, Stephen Van Rensselaer and his wife Margaretha, (nee Schuy- ler.)
On the 15th of Feb., 1790, Martin Van Buren and his wife Catharine presented for bap- tism their child Maria, on which occasion John Van Buren and his wife Maria stood sponsors for the infant.
The passion for poetic, or at least fancy names, now so prevalent, is not a development of this progressive age, but raged to a considerable ex- tent in the earlier days of this church. It is fortunate, however, that names easier to write and pronounce. if not prettier and more eupho-
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HISTORY GILEAD CHURCH,
nious, are now fashionable. We cannot refrain from giving a few here, culled from the first pages of the record, in the column headed In- fantes, which will serve to show that our ances- tors were not inferior to their posterity in taste and inventiveness. Among the names of girls we find-Volekya, Aeltzia, Bedgra, Johannetya. Appolonia, Kissia, Jacobina, Williambe, Maica, Stephanna, Dannetta, Danega, Diadema, Arratya, Sisbrand, Durchy, Coelia, Mindwell, Hope- still, Thankful Prefix, &c., and among the names of boys-Charity, Dirk Abraham Van Der Kern, Sydneyvender, Zwilling, Bubner, Umphretus, John Moor Andrew, Job Moses, &c.
Soon after the settlement of Pastor Schwerd- feger over the church, the "disturbance of the war,"-as he calls it, -came on, and its progress was seriously retarded. Situated, as it was, near the head of navigation on the Hudson, and on the line traversed by the contending forces be- tween New York City and Canada, they naturally suffered many and grievous annoyances from both sides, but principally from the tories. From the first shock of conflict, east of them. in and around Boston, to the battle of Bennington, in sight from high ground and a few miles on the
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north-east; and the battles just across the river, between the patriot army and that of Burgoyne; and later, they were in constant dread and danger, many abandoning their homes, while all farm work was virtually given up. A few inci- dents, never before written, may be introduced here.
Emmissaries of the British government came among them, who easily persuaded many of the simple people to side with the royalists, but the majority, principally Germans, espoused the cause of freedom, which made it necessary for such as had joined with the tories to flee the country.ª This gave rise to the separation of families, the disruption of the harmony hitherto existing in the Church and community, and a deadly enmity which led to acts of violence per- petrated by the vengeful tories as opportunity offered, in which they sometimes had the co- operation of Indians.
On one of several occasions when mixed bands of them invaded the almost deserted settlement, an Indian discovered a babe in a cradle in one of the houses, and, strange to tell, sought to hide it by hastily putting the sleeping infant on the floor and turning the cradle over it. but one of
a. See p. 47.
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HISTORY GILEAD CHURCH,
King George's faithful subjects finding it, thrust it through with a bayonet.
When Burgoyne's army approached, and Gen- eral Schuyler with his forces fell back from Fort Edward to the Islands at the mouth of the Mo- hawk, the people on this side of the Hudson took refuge in Lansingburg. Abner Roberts, a member of Gilead and an officer of the Conti- mental army, anxious to visit his home, (now in possession of Jas. L. Roberts, his great-grandson,) and, not apprehending any serious danger, crossed to Lansingburg, and alone rode leisurely away. He had barely reached the top of the hill-now the sand-bank just outside the limits of the city of Troy, east,-when he was ambushed by a band of tories, killed and scalped. Several days afterwards his mutilated remains were found where he had fallen.
About the same time they captured a lad named Johannes Brust whom they bound fast on the back of the horse he was riding and turned him loose. The horse being gentle carried him safely among friends, and he was soon released unhurt.
Bald Mountain, recently occupied as a signal station by a corps of government engineers em- ployed in the coast survey, was a favorite resort
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CENTRE BRUNSWICK, NEW YORK.
or rallying point for these predatory bands. From its summit they not only had the advan- tage of a wide view of the surrounding country, but the valley of the Hudson for miles north and south lay open to observation, the importance of which, in carrying out their nefarious schemes, they fully appreciated and employed. Near a perpendicular rock on the west side of the moun- tain and near the highest point, tradition says, a young soldier was murdered, whom his tory captors charged with being an American spy, but who most likely belonged to the settlement around the church, and who was going to or returning from his home.
As early as 1770 preliminary steps were taken to build, but for lack of funds and perfect agreement as to the necessity of undertaking it just then, the work of the carpenter was delayed until 1775. Then they began the work, borrowing of Adam Zufeld fifty pounds, for which amount Martin Frælik, Barnet Zipperle and Nicholas Mickel, church wardens, gave a bond dated Nov. 20, 1775. This bond was not discharged till after the monies secured by permission of the Mayor of Albany enabled them to satisfy all claims against the church. The war for independence then coming
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HISTORY GILEAD CHURCH,
on caused the suspension of the work, so that it was not finished for occupancy before 1788. The carpenter's receipt in final settlement is here given :-
"December 13th, 1788.
Received of John Weager and Georg snider fifteen Pounds seaven shillings and six Pence in behalf of the church it being in full of all accounts on book Bond or Obligation from the beginning of the world to this Day I say Received by me
Samuel Collamer Carpenter."
This building stood between the Log Church, then in use as a school house, and the graveyard in Haynerville. It was sold to Leonard Sheffer, in 1822, for the sum of twenty-five dollars, and was removed to the opposite side of the old road, where it vet stands. been
having
used as a barn for the last fifty-eight years, and gives promise of remaining vet many years, as its substantial timbers exhibit no signs of decay. The framing seems to have been done piecemeal. Every stick of timber was hewed, even the braces, no two of these being of the same length. The cost of building cannot be given. Samuel Collamer having completed the house, on the date above given, turned it over to the church council, consisting of John Barnett, & Jacob Wae-
a. Now written Bornt.
THE WOLF&CO.F.W.
SECOND CHURCH BUILDING HIS
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HISTORY GILEAD CHURCH,
ger, jr., Casper Frets and Sebastian Lohnis. It was 35 feet long and 28 feet wide, with a story 18 feet high.
The inside was very plain, the pulpit being the only ornamental thing. This was made after the style of those days, high, and was reached by a stairway on either side, one for the preacher to go up, the other for him to go down, probably! because the space within the pulpit was incon- veniently small to hold two persons at once. There were galleries on three sides. Within a short time it was found that the capacity of the church was inadequate to the accommodation of the public. The population of the neighborhood increased gradually, and it became necessary to either enlarge the building or economize the space already at their disposal. They therefore decided on the re-arrangement of the pews, and the removal of the stairways leading into the galleries. They then had a stairway constructed on the outside. This proved to be an unsub- stantial affair, and occasioned an accident, fortu- nately of a character only annoying. One Sun- day, at the close of the services, when the last of the boys and men had descended, and before any of the women had had time to follow, that stairway came down with a crash, thus imprison-
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ing the ladies till a ladder could be brought from Mr. Dater's, about a half mile distant, upon which they were safely assisted to the ground, amid noisy demonstrations of delight on the part of the younger portion of the congregation, par- ticularly the boys. In those days great care was taken of the vessels of the sanctuary and the alms-money, as the Sunday collections were called. Adam Lohning was commissioned to construct a chest of sufficient dimensions to hold the said vessels and alms-money, for which ser- vice they paid him six shillings. His receipt for which, dated April 25, 1776, should have been copied here, but the German in which it is writ- ten is so high as to baffle the translator, and no types in any language could be depended on to give it. If the chest was as cunning a device as the receipt, it must have been a pride and wonder to the church. In one respect, at least, it was deficient; it was not burglar proof. For years and years it stood in the gallery of the frame church, and then in the first brick church, but finally it was broken open and rifled of what money was in it; the vessels were left. Its last service was to be filled with Sunday-school books, and sent away bearing a donation from Gilead to some needy mission school. The chest now in
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HISTORY GILEAD CHURCH,
use, which corresponds very nearly in dimensions with the Ark of the Covenant of Temple times, was then procured and rendered secure by having three strong locks put on it. Each of the three Trustees took charge of a key, each lock and key being different, so that unless all were together that white pine chest could not be opened. They never, however, ventured to put it in the church. It has three compartments and a "till," the mid- dle compartment receiving the collections, which the Treasurer introduced through a hole in the lid. If their contributions corresponded with the size of that compartment, they must have been immensely more liberal than their posterity.
The piety of the members of the "Lutheran Church Gilead" a century ago, or, at least their devotion to their Church, challenges our admira- tion. Who now could be prevailed upon to wade through deep snow for miles to attend Divine service in mid-winter, in a house where neither stove, nor furnace, nor any other heating device was countenanced? Not until the year 1797 was such a luxury as a stove introduced, and then at the imminent risk of disrupting the congrega- tion. The innovation was bitterly opposed by some when suggested, and much angry feeling
The lara that is lord out for the Church on hojack Food in the Last manner of Reneselor nevyke Deamber. 5. 9 1787 [] John www. guez
the
NEW Road
N76 w12ch:
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N.57 : 12' W 35.12.
He legusing Jaglin
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HISTORY GILEAD CHURCH,
was engendered and exhibited for a time when the stove was set up, but increased comfort soon extinguished opposition. Jonas Smith, whom God hath continued in our midst to a ripe age, remembers having heard his mother tell of carry- ing her children through cold and snow, a distance of three miles to that unwarmed church, to sit through services lasting almost the entire day. In an enumeration of articles of "Estate Real and Personal of Gilead Church, of the Lutheran Congregation of Feilstown" we find set down "on stofe." Uncle John Dater, removed to his re- ward in 1877, engineered that stove when a little boy, always going to the church early on Sunday, and doing without his breakfast so as to make sure that grumblers should not complain of the stove as a failure; and once came very nearly setting fire to the church by the parting of the pipe, while the stove was crammed with dry pine wood. One other incident connected with the ante-stove period we introduce here, (and similar occurrences marked nearly every Sabbath service. ) On one occasion, in mid-winter, fourteen babes were baptized, and with their parents remained throughout the services. These things are re- corded in honor of the earnest and faithful inen and women from whom the worshippers of to-day
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are descended; who, in defiance of wintry storms and summer heat, forsook not the assembling of themselves together about the altar of their God and Savior. In the midst of all their exposure and discomfort, they yet brought to the baptismal font an average of one hundred and twenty-two infants in each year from 1777 to 1792.
GLEBE LANDS.
(See Survey, page 41.)
Under the colonial government of the province of New York. the Lutheran Church could not hold property in its own right, as in 1764 it had been refused a charter of incorporation. The land, therefore, on which the church, parsonage and school-house were located, and which had been in their possession from the time of settle- ment, was theirs merely by sufferance of the Patroon, who, so far as any legal claim outside of the power vested in him they might have sought to set up, could have dispossessed them. He, however, generously secured to them the tract of about sixty-four acres, a survey and dia- gram of which, made by Michael Vender Cook, (founder of Cooksborough,) Dec. 5, 1787, is given on the opposite page. After the passage
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HISTORY GILEAD CHURCHI,
of an Act concerning the Incorporation of Churches, by the Legislature of the State of New York, in 1784, it became necessary to conform to the law by electing Trustees. (Up to this time that office had been vested in the Deacons. who were called Church Wardens. ) Accordingly a meeting was held, and Sebastian Lohnes was elected Trustee for one year, John Haner for two years, and Dr. John Godfrey Knauff for three years. To them a new and sufficient deed was then made by the Patroon, Stephen Van Rensselaer, dated Aug. 6, 1790ª. After the location of the church had been changed, and a new building erected, the north half of this land was divided into sixteen lots, which were rented to as many individuals from year to year. When. to whom, and at what price they were finally sold is not known, but this part of the tract is now owned by Franklin Derrick. The south half, containing thirty-two acres, was sold to Leonard H. Sheffer, July 9, 1819, for the sum of nine hundred and thirty. dollars, power to do which having been conferred by Hon. James Kent, Esq .. Chancellor of the State of New York. .
Another lot of ground containing about fifty
a. See Appendix.
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acres, (now, owned and occupied by Mr. Uriah Sheffer, ) was at first donated by the Patroon to the Church, but afterwards conveyed by deed, dated June 19, 1795, to Dr. John Godfrey Knauff. All deeds were made by the Patroon, because Glebe lands were donated conditionally. hence only he, or a Chancellor of the State could empower a Church to sell. To save trouble he issued a new deed. This land was, in less than a year-March 1, 1796, -- again transferred to the Church. Jan. 2. 1802, Rev. Anthon T. Braun purchased it, the price paid being three hundred pounds. After the death of Pastor Braun his widow surrendered it to the Church, which then sold it to Martinus Haner.
This land was secured by the Church for the use of the Pastor, and on it a new parsonage was built; the old one in Haynerville was rented. The stone for the foundation walls were purchased froin Anthony Derrick-or " Andoni Derck," as he wrote it on the contract. The Trustees paid for 142 loads at 3d. per load. To have these conveyed to the site of the new parsonage a bee was made, and all the cost incurred was for "refreshments" served from a "Gudge." (Jug!) Where procured and at what expense to the
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HISTORY GILEAD CHURCH,
Trustees is shown by the following receipt filed with other Church papers:
"Troy. January 24th. 1793 Mr. Bosjohn Lones.
(Trustee Gilead Church.) Bot- of Benj & S. Covell 2 Gal. New Rum 6d- £ 0-12-0
Rec'd payment in full. Benj & Silas Covell.
The Church also owned a house and lot in the "village of Troy," purchased from Jacob D. Vanderhuyden, as the receipts here given show :-
"Received Feby. 18th. 1792 of Johannis Hanor Ten pounds in part the Consideration money of a Lot of Ground sold the Trustees of the Lutheran Church in Troy Jacob D. Vanderheyden"
"Received Feby. 18th 1792 of Johannis Haner Twenty Shillings for writing a Deed of a Lot for the Lutheran Church in Troy John Woodworth."
This property was sold in 1797, for the sum of sixty pounds.
Of real estate subsequently acquired for Church purposes, mention will be made hereafter.
Whether compulsory or not upon Churches to have a seal, this Church has all along been thus equipped. The first,-as we suppose it to have been, -- has left but one impression, and that so indistinct as to be barely decipherable. It was circular, one and one-eighth inches in diameter; the device being a Church with a spire, in the
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