USA > New York > Ulster County > New Paltz > History of New Paltz, New York and its old families (from 1678 to 1820) : including the Huguenot pioneers and others who settled in New Paltz previous to the revolution > Part 10
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Mr. Van Driessen was educated in Belgium. The church book contains a copy in Latin of a certificate showing that he had been examined in 1727 by the Presbytery of New Haven in the halls of Yale college and had well sustained the examination. In 1736 he accepted a call to the church at Acquackanonk, N. J., and for the space of about 16 years thereafter New Paltz was without a regular pastor, though visited occasionally by ministers from other churches.
From 1700 until 1731 there is no record of officers of the church. At the latter date, when Mr. Van Driessen became pastor, Nicholas Rose and Andries LeFevre were elected elders and Samuel Bevier and Solomon Hasbrouck deacons. In 1733 Louis DuBois, Jr. was elected elder and Christian Deyo deacon. In 1734 Nicholas Rose was again chosen elder; Jacob Hasbrouck was chosen deacon. In 1736 Samuel Bevier was chosen elder and Daniel Hasbrouck deacon. Then there is no further record of church officers until 1750.
Rev. Johannes Van Driessen was not regularly ordained by the Dutch church and 20 years after he came to New Paltz the next regular minister, Rev. B. Vrooman, insti- tuted an inquiry as to whether the members admitted by Van Driessen believed the doctrines of the Reformed church according to the Heidelbergh catechism. During Mr. Van Driessen's pastorate of about five years 19 joined the church and about 30 children were baptized. During the same period about half that number of children of New Paltz parents were baptized at Kingston.
In 1738 a highway, probably the first in this town, was laid out on the east side of the Wallkill for the purpose, Es
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stated in the record, of better enabling the people to get to church at New Paltz and Kingston.
At this time the Dutch language was coming into more general use in New Paltz and a side light is thrown on this fact by the will of Jean Tebenin, the old French schoolmaster in 1730 giving his property to the church with the special request that if the French language should cease to be used the Bible should be sold and the proceeds given to the poor.
After 1736 there is no record of baptisms until 1739 when three are recorded in French by Rev. J. J. Moulinars.
In 1740, in 1741 and again in 1742 Rev. Isaac Chalker offi- ciated at six different times, baptizing 15 persons in all. Each time the record is in English, but it is not to be supposed that the service was performed in that language, which must have been an unknown tongue to nearly all of his hearers.
In 1741 the New Paltz church, and Shawangunk, Roches- ter, and Marbletown made a call upon Rev. J. Casparus Freyenmoet, who was then preaching at Minisink, but the call was not accepted and the consistory of the Minisink church sent a very indignant letter to the consistory of the Rochester church, reprimanding them for attempting to take away their minister. ,
From 1742 to '49 the record shows no baptisms and one marriage only, that of Andries Le Fever and Rachel DuBois, Oct. 1745, after three proclamations "in our French Church," at New Paltz. The visiting ministers from the close of Rev. Mr. Van Driessen's to the commencement of the next regular pastorate baptized infants, but except in the case above noted no marriage by a minister is recorded from 1737 to 1751. In 1742 and 1749 marriages are recorded on the church books as being performed by Zacharias Hoffman, Esq., and Cornelius DuBois, Esq. In the latter year the name of
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Rev. J. Henry Goetschius appears as baptizing infants and in 175I he performed six marriages. He was settled over the churches at Schraalenbergh and Hackensack; occasionally coming to New Paltz, receiving members in communion and baptizing infants. In 1750 we find the name of J. C. Frey- enmoet, in 1751 that of Rev. Theodorus Frelinghuysen "pas- tor at Albany" and in 1752 that of Dominie Meynema as performing baptisms.
REV. BARENT VROOMAN
Then at last in 1753 New Paltz has once more a settled minister, Rev. Barent Vrooman, of Schoharie, whose call had been sent to Amsterdam and returned with the endorse- ment of the Classis. He was the first regularly installed Dutch pastor at New Paltz. He also preached at Shawan- gunk. His stay was short and in 1754 he accepted a call from the church at Schenectady.
From this date we may consider the Dutch language and the Dutch church established in New Paltz, though in some of the homes the French tongue doubtless lingered a while longer.
In 1751, '52, '53 and '54 no less than 75 persons joined the church on confession of faith and 23 by certificate from other churches. Part of these were admitted by Rev. J. H. Goetschius and part by Rev. B. Vrooman.
The bounds of the New Paltz congregation at this time extended over a territory stretching about ten miles to the south and eight miles to the north, that is from New Hurley on the south to Swartekill on the north. John George Ronk of New Hurley, ancestor of the Ronk family, joined the church in 1750 and Johannes Hardenbergh, of Rosen- dale, in 1751 and were soon afterwards made officers in the
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church. A few years afterwards Petrus Ostrander of Platte- kill and Abraham Hardenbergh of Guilford were officers in the church.
In 1752 at a meeting of the consistory it was resolved to elect, beside the governing elders and deacons, two more elders and deacons and this resolution was at once carried into effect.
After Rev. B. Vrooman departed for Schenectady the New Paltz church was dependent on supplies for six years. During that period Rev. J. H. Goetschius, Rev. Theodorus Freling- huysen, Rev. D. B. Meynema and Rev. Johannes Schuneman. officiated at different times, baptizing quite a number of in- fants, although none joined the church on confession and but one marriage is recorded in all those years.
BAPTIZING THE CHILDREN AT KINGSTON
During the long intervals while New Paltz was without a minister some of the little children were baptized by visiting ministers, but a great portion were taken to Kingston and the solemn rite was there performed. In the 16 years from the end of Rev. Mr. Van Driessen's pastorate in 1736 to the com- mencement of that of Rev. B. Vrooman in 1752 there were about 85 children of New Paltz parents baptized at Kingston. During a portion of this 16 years, that is from 1742 to 1749, the record shows no baptisms at New Paltz and 59 of New Paltz parentage at Kingston, that is an average of over 7 each year. After 1752 there were few baptisms of New Paltz children at Kingston-only about a dozen in the next ten years. During this time visiting ministers came quite often to New Paltz and the church grew and prospered. It is worthy of note that the Kingston ministers never baptized chil- dren at New Paltz, though their church book shows that they
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performed that service at Marbletown, Rochester, Shawan- gunk and Minisink.
The long ride from New Paltz to Kingston was taken prob- ably on horseback. There were no spring wagons until long after that date. The route on the east side of the Wallkill led from one to another of the stone houses, crossing the stream by a scow, just this side of the present Bontecoe school-house. We may suppose that a stop was frequently made at Rosen- dale, at the residence of Col. Johannes Hardenbergh, whose wife Marie DuBois, was the daughter of Louis DuBois, Jr., of Nescatock. A few miles further north at Bloomingdale we may suppose another stop would be made at the residence of Matthew LeFevre, who moved from our village about 1740 and located there. There may have been a little danger from wild beasts, but there was none from Indians. In passing through the clearings the gates must be opened, as it was not till long afterward that the farmers were required to build a fence on each side of the highway.
CONNECTION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE
There was a close connection between church and state at New Paltz in those days as shown by certain records in papers that have come down in the Patentees' trunk, showing what matters were submitted to voters, as follows :
In 1757 whether the money received for the collectorship should be applied on the highway or to the use of the church; the latter was preferred. In 1758 the same question was again decided by vote with the same result. In 1759 it was put to vote whether the money received for the collectorship should be given to the clerk of the church, to the poor, or used for the purchase of a "pall." It was decided to use it for the last
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named purpose. The next year it was again voted to apply · the money received for the collectorship to the purchase of a pall and the overplus for the purchase of a silver cup or beaker for the use of the church. The next year it was again voted that the money received for the collectorship should be applied to the purchase of a silver cup for the church.
REV JOHANNES MAURITIUS GOETSCHIUS
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In 1760 the churches at New Paltz and Shawangunk made a call on Rev. Johannes Mauritius Goetschius. He was a na- tive of Switzerland, a younger brother of Rev. J. H. Goet- schius, had studied medicine before coming to America, studied theology with his brother at Hackensack, N. J. and had preached two years at Schoharie. The call, which was ac- cepted, stated that from Easter to October he should preach twice each Lord's Day, holding services alternately at Shawan- gunk and at New Paltz, preaching in the forenoon from some text in the Bible and in the afternoon from the Heidelbergh catechism. The rest of the year he was to preach one sermon each Sunday. He was to administer the. sacrament of the Lord's Supper twice in the year at Shawangunk and twice a year at New Paltz and attend to the house visiting once a year. He should have a house, barn, 90 acres of land and a good spring at Shawangunk, where he had his home, and while at New Paltz should be provided with bed, board and quarters. He was to receive an annual salary of £80, one half to be paid by each of the churches. The call was approved by the Coetus in New York.
Rev. Mr. Goetschius continued to minister to the churches at New Paltz and Shawangunk until 1771, when he died at lis home in Shawangunk in the 48th year of his age and was buried in the baptistry of the church. Mr. Goetschius prac-
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ticed medicine as well as preached the gospel. In 1762, dur- ing the early part of his pastorate steps were taken looking toward the erection of a new church building at New Paltz, but the plan was not carried out, owing probably to the quarrel between the Coetus and Conferentia parties, which split the Dutch church at New Paltz, as well as elsewhere in America, into two factions and led to the erection of a church building about two miles from our village on the road to the county house by the Conferentia party.
THE CONFERENTIA CHURCH
We have come now to a most exciting period in the history of the Dutch church at New Paltz, as well as elsewhere in America : that is the period of the struggle between the Coetus and Conferentia parties. This strife was due we may say, stating the case broadly, to the same causes that afterward provoked a revolt against the political control of Great Britain. In each of these cases the grievances were not great, but the American child, feeling its ability to walk alone, did not care to pay homage any longer to the mother church or to the mother country.
The Coetus party did not care to own allegiance to any for- eign ecclesiastical power.
The Conferentia party held that the church in this country ought to remain subordinate to the classis of North Amsterdam and accused the Coetus party of "despicable ingratitude against their benefactors, who had so long labored for their well being and have exerted so many efforts in behalf of the churches of New York."
The battle raged fiercely among the Dutch churches in America. The consistory of the New Paltz church took sides with the Coetus and the great majority of the people ranged
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themselves with that party. There was an element, however, respectable in numbers and especially so in means and influence, which sided with the Conferentia. This party was almost altogether of Dutch descent, had moved from Kingston to New Paltz at a considerable period after the first settlement, and few had formally united with the church here. This party comprised the Eltings, the Lows and the Van Wagenens; also Jacob DuBois, who had recently moved from near Kingston, and Hendricus DuBois. The last named was a member of the New Paltz church and may be considered the foremost man in the Conferentia movement. In 1765 he was suspended for provoking schism and secession in the church and refusing to answer after three citations. He was evidently not much frightened and two years afterwards a meeting was held at his house to organize a Conferentia church. Rev. Isaac Rysdyck of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill was the officiating minister.
The following persons, members of the Kingston church, joined the new church organization: Josiah Elting and his brother Noah, Petrus Van Wagenen, Jacob DuBois, Rebecca Van Wagenen, Dirk D. Wynkoop, Magdalena DuBois, Ja- comyntje Elting, Sarah Low. On the same day the following joined the church : Petrus, Solomon and Isaac Low, Hendricus DuBois, Debora Van Vliet and Jannitje Houghtaling The next year there were admitted to the church on confession Josiah Elting's four sons : Roelif J., Abraham, Solomon and Corne- lius; also various female members of the families of those previously mentioned ; also Jacobus Auchmoody.
The new church organization was weak in numbers, but strong in determination and had a house of worship almost completed before the church was organized. This church building was located a short distance this side of the present residence of Capt. W. H. D. Blake, about two miles south of
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our village, on the west side of the Wallkill. This church building was called "Kerk of het Grootstuck" that is in Eng- lish "Church of the Great Piece," that being the name of the tract of land on which the church was located and which be- longed to Noah Eltinge. It was usually called the "owl" church, probably because the neighborhood abounded in owls. It was a frame building, 30 feet square, boarded without, plas- tered with clay within, shingle roofed, and containing 20 pews. It cost about £150. Josiah Elting and Hendricus DuBois were the most liberal contributors, each giving about £25. Noah Eltinge was elected elder and Petrus Van Wagenen deacon. Rev. G. D. Cock served for a time as stated supply for this church. Then in 1774 Rev. Rynier Van Nest was called to the pastorate of the church at Shawangunk and the Conferentia church at New Paltz. He received as salary £60 a year from Shawangunk and £20 a year from New Paltz.
The feud between the Coetus and Conferentia parties in the Dutch church in America did not prevail many years, but it was a long time before the two churches at New Paltz were united.
In 1771 a convention was held in New York, attended by delegates, ministers and elders from most of the churches, at which articles of union were drawn up. The Coetus church at New Paltz was represented by Johannes Hardenbergh. The Conferentia church had no delegate. The articles of union, adopted at this convention, left the church in this country prac- tically independent of the mother church in Holland, though it was provided that if difficulties should arise concerning im- portant points of doctrine or any member be deposed on account of heresy or misconduct there should be the right of appeal to the classis of Amsterdam. Johannes Hardenbergh, delegate
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from the old church at New Paltz, signed this agreement and his action was promptly approved by his consistory. The Con- ferentia party at New Paltz took no action for a long time. Finally in 1783 the spirit of harmony had been restored to so great an extent that at last the "owl" church was abandoned as a house of worship and its members in full harmony joined with the worshipers in the church in this village and its records were preserved with those of the older church. The "owl" church building was taken down and a granary was built of its material by Roelif J. Elting, at his home in this village. During its existence the total number of baptisms registered in this church were 60. There were 2 marriages recorded and 35 persons in all had joined the church. Of this number 19 united with the church in this village May 25th, 1783.
. The persons who came in from the Conferentia church were Dirk Wynkoop, Jr. and wife Sarah (daughter of Noah Eltinge) Abraham Elting, David Low, Henry DuBois and his wife Rebecca Van Wagenen and his mother Janiteje Houghtaling, Jacob DuBois and wife, Solomon Low and wife, Magdalena DuBois widow of Josiah Elting, Margaret Hue widow of Wil- liam Patterson, Maria Low wife of Roelif J. Elting, Cornelius Elting, Jacobus Auchmoody, Ann DuBois, Petrus Van Wage- nen and wife Sarah Low.
Having now concluded the history of the Conferentia church we go back twelve years and take up the history of the original New Paltz church.
In March 1771 the pastor, Rev. Mauritius Goetschius died. In October of the same year the Convention was held in New York, which apparently had no immediate effect at New Paltz, though it resulted in the restoration of harmony twelve years later.
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THE SECOND STONE CHURCH
· In the same year, 1771, though without a minister and with- out the assistance of the Conferentia party, action was taken toward building a new house of worship. The location of this new church was a few yards south of the site of the present brick church. The land was bought of Petronella Le- Fevre, widow of Simon. The new church building was of stone, much larger than the old church and remained as the house of worship until 1839. The following persons were chosen as the building committee: Abraham Deyo (grand- father of the late Judge Abm. A. Deyo of Modena) Jacob Hasbrouck, Jr. (great-grandfather of Jacob M. Hasbrouck) Simon DuBois (great-grandfather of the late John W. Du- Bois) Nathaniel LeFevre (great-grandfather of Hon. Jacob LeFevre) Garret Freer, Jr., Abraham LeFevre (great-grand- father of Josiah LeFevre) and Hugo Freer, ancestor of a num- ' ber of the Bontecoe Freers. The initials of several of these men and the date may still be seen in a large stone under the horse block at the south end of the portico. This was no doubt the corner stone of the building. Abram Deyo was appointed overseer of the work. He was required to give a bond and he kept a strict account of everything. His account book, in the Dutch language, containing a full statement of these matters is in possession of his descendant Abm. Deyo Brodhead, who occupies his house.
A lime oven was erected and lime for making mortar burned on the ground. The masons' helpers were paid 4 shillings a day, a man with a team and wagon was paid 9 shillings a day for carting lime and 10 shillings a day for carting wood; I shilling a day was allowed for boarding each workman; au- thority was given to buy beer for the workmen, also a barrel of rum.
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THE SECOND STONE CHURCH AT NEW PALTZ
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This church was a substantial, well-proportioned building, with a hipped roof and a cupola from which a bell sounded for religious services. The total subscriptions amounted to only £546, but the sum realized from the sale of pews fully doubled that amount. The list of subscribers comprises 85 names, the Freers being far in advance, with 17 names. The heaviest subscribers were Jacob Hasbrouck, Jr. £55, Abram Deyo £45, Wyntje Hasbrouck £33, Col. Abm. Hasbrouck (Kingston) £30, Hugo Freer £25, Simon DuBois £27.
In the list of subscribers appear the names of 17 Freers con- tributing £162, 9 LeFevres contributing £130, 8 Hasbroucks contributing £168, 8 Deyos contributing £97, 6 DuBoises con- tributing £77, 4 Beviers contributing £57, 3 Hardenberghs con- tributing £32, 3 Terwilligers contributing £32, 5 Ostranders contributing £9, 2 Eans contributing £7, 2 Schoonmakers con- tributing f11, 2 Lows £15, 2 Vandemarks £17.
There are also on the list of contributors the names of Dr. Geo. Wurts, Petrus Smedes, John York, Teunis Van Vliet, Dennis Relyea, Johannes Walron, Lewis Brodhead and Joseph Coddington. The last named was the village schoolmaster and performed much clerical work connected with building of the · church.
Among the names of purchasers of seats, beside those resid- ing in this vicinity were Philip D. B. Bevier of Rochester, David Bevier of Marbletown, Col. Abm. Hasbrouck of King- ston, Isaac Hasbrouck, Jr. of Stone Ridge, Jacobus Bruyn of Bruynswick, Hendrick Smit of Rifton, Col. Johannes Hardenbergh of Rosendale and Dennis Relyea of New Hurley.
The total appraisement of the pews was £2280. The total sum realized at the sale was considerably more, amounting to £2684.
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Although the work was commenced in 1771 it was not until 1774 that the pews were sold at public auction.
The old Shawangunk church, with which the New Paltz church had formerly been connected, being now a Conferentia church, the New Paltz church joined with the New Hurley church in 1775 in extending a call to Rev. Stephen Goetschius, which was accepted. He was the son of Rev. J. Henry Goet- schius and nephew of his predecessor Rev. Mauritius Goet- schius. He was 23 years of age when he came to New Paltz and remained here 21 years-a longer period of service than any of the successors. He was a graduate of Princeton and had studied theology with four eminent divines, including his father. His call stated that New Paltz should receive two- thirds of his services and provide him with house, barn, 60 acres of land, pay £56 10 s. as salary. New Hurley should pay £33 10 s. annually. About ten years afterwards his salary was increased to £114, New Paltz paying two thirds and New Hurley one third.
In the early part of his ministry he boarded with Capt. Lewis DuBois who resided about half way between New Paltz and New Hurley. His daughter Elizabeth he married. In his later years at New Paltz he built the Philip D. Elting stone house, still standing in the northern part of our village. He was the only minister who ever built a house at New Paltz. His pastorate covered the eventful period of the Revolutionary war and the reunion of the Conferentia party with the church. The period succeeding the Revolutionary war was not favor- able to the growth of religion owing to the influence of French thought and French skepticism and we may suppose that New Paltz did not entirely escape the contagion. During the long period of his pastorate 102 in all were added to the church, including the 19 from the Conferentia church. Toward the
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close of his ministry, which ended in 1796, he preached occa- sionally in English, which he had learned sufficiently for that purpose and which pleased the younger members of his con- gregation. He is described as a man of deep thought, abun- dant in labors and holding strongly to Calvinistic doctrines.
A loose slip of paper in the church book dated 1782, shows that Joseph Coddington had been reader and singer in the church and Simeon Low was his successor. The paper, which is a subscription list, commences as follows: "Whereas read- ing and singing during religious service are not only beautiful, but in accordance with the word of God and the canons of the church, therefore the consistory, after Mr. Coddington for different reasons had resigned, have unanimously elected Mr. Simeon Low and contracted with him for £3 annually."
REV. JOHN H. MEYER
The next minister was Rev. John H. Meier. He was a graduate of Columbia College and had studied with Rev. Dr. John H. Livingston. Mr. Meier was called to the pastorate of the churches of New Paltz and New Hurley in 1799. His call stipulated that he was to preach three-fifths of the year. at New Paltz and two-fifths of the year at New Hurley and that the services should be performed one half in Dutch and one half in English. As his salary he received £135, besides a house, barn and 60 acres of land at New Paltz. He was to call on each family in the congregation once in two years. From this time the church records are written in English. He re- mained only a little over three years, when he received a call from the church at Schenectady. During his pastorate 22 were received as members of the church, 154 were baptized and 88 marriages were performed.
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REV. PETER D. FRELIGH
The church was without a minister about four years and then a call was made by the two churches upon Rev. Peter D. Freligh, who accepted. He was a graduate of Columbia Col- lege, his father and uncle were ministers and he had previously had charge of a church in the northern part of the state. He preached alternately in English and Dutch. He was faithful in catechising the young and his sermons were sound and in- teresting. He remained until 1815, when he removed to Ac- quacanock, N. J. During his pastorate 82 persons joined the church and 177 marriages were solemnized.
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