USA > New York > Queens County > History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals. > Part 49
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FIRST REFORMED (DUTCH) CHURCH, FRONTING ON THE MAIN STREET, JAMAICA; INTENDED FOR THE CONGREGATION SPREAD THROUGH ALL QUEENS COUNTY. ERECTED 1716; TAKEN DOWN 1833. IT WAS OF OCTAGON SHAPE. IN FRONT ARE POPLAR TREES, AND ON THE WEST AN OLD-FASHIONED HAY SCALE.
PLAN OF PEWS AND NAMES OF PEW HOLDERS IN FIRST CHURCH, 1785.
Garret Van Nostrand
Dowe, John & Roelef Duryea. ;
Luke Bergen.
PULPIT
Garret Durland.
Johannes Snedeker.
Elbert Snedeker.
Isaac Lefferts
Daniel Remsen and Daniel Lent.
*Martin Johnson
17
16
-
1
16
17
18
15
2
2
15
18
19
14
3
3
14
19
20
13
4
4
13
20
2 1
12
5
5
12
W AISLE
21
22
6
6
22
23
10
7
7
10
23
24
9
8
8
9
24
1. Minister's Pew.
2. John Suydam.
3. Hendrick Eldert.
4. Isaac Lefferts.
4. Isaac Amberman.
6. Benjamin Hegeman.
6. Dow Duryea.
7. Isaac Hendrickson.
7. Maretie Ditmars.
8.
Isaac Brinckerhoff.
9. Abraham Lott.
10.
Elbert Adriance.
10. William Golder.
11.
John Amberman.
11. Jacob Adriance.
12.
Martin Johnson.
12. Cornelius Monfort.
13.
Johannis Wyckoff.
13. Johannis Remsen.
14. Garret Van Wicklen.
14. Maria Ditmars.
15. Hendrick Emmons.
15. Abraham Ditmars.
16 Tunis Covert.
17. Casparus Springsteen.
17.
18. William Monfort.
18. Martin Schenck.
19. John Duryea.
19. Johannis H. Lott.
20. John Suydamn.
20. Hendrick S. Lott.
21.
Abraham Suydam.
21. Abraham Van Arsdalen.
24.
23. Cornelius Bennett.
24. Stephen Lott.
24. John Williamson.
REFORMED (DUTCH) CHURCH, JAMAICA, HUILT OF BRICK AND ROOFED WITH SLATE. CORNER STONE LAID SEPTEMBER 14th 1858; CHURCH DEDICATED OCTOBER 6tl: 1859; COST ABOUT $20,000.
REFORMED (DUTCH) CHURCH, JAMAICA, STANDING NEAR THE SITE OF THE FIRST ONE. CORNER STONE LAID JULY 4th 1832 ; BUILDING DEDICATED JULY 4th: 1833; CONSUMED HY FIRE NOVEMBER 19th 1857.
+ ** Fore-Singer."
1. Jost Van Brunt.
2. Barnett Bennett.
3. Hendrick Brinckerhoff.
5. Abraham Polhemus.
5. Abraham Golder.
8. Stephen Lott.
9. Jacobus Ryder.
16. Elbert Hoogland. Ares Remsen.
22. William Hendrickson.
23. Ares Remsen.
ELDERS
+|DEACONS
E AISLE
AISLE
239
REFORMED AND EPISCOPAL CHURCHES, JAMAICA.
In 1766, February 2nd, Dominie Boelen arrived in port from Holland, and on the 4th gave his introductory dis- course from Psalms xxxiv. 12. He was inducted by Dominie Van Sinderen, with a text from Hebrews .- " Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God." June Ist he had his first communion, and in the afternoon he gave a thanksgiving sermon, such being the custom on sacrament days.
In 1768 the collection on Paas Sunday (Easter) was 6s. rod., on Paas Monday 2s., on Pinkster (Whitsunday) Ios., on Pinkster Monday 4S. 4d. The congregation, as the collections show, was smaller on the festival days thyn on Sundays.
In 1772 Domine Boelen left. A call on Rynier Van Nest in 1773 being declined, Solomon Froeligh was or- dained and installed in the church at Jamaica, June 11th 1775. Froeligh was an ardent Whig and was so out- spoken in the pulpit that when the British got possession of the island he fled to the mainland. The Dutch church was taken by the British for a storehouse. The pulpit was left, but the seats and floor were ripped up, taken out and used for building barracks or huts for the sol- diers. To this church every Sunday wagons repaired to load up with the weekly allowance of rum, pork, flour and peas for the soldiers' rations. The congregation whenever the ministers (Dominies Rubell and Schoon- maker) from Kings county visited them were allowed the use of the Episcopal church for religious services.
After the Revolutionary war the church was repaired; and March 7th 1785 Rev. Rynier Van Nest, having ac- cepted a call, became the minister. In 1792 it was decided to have the public services in church half the time in the English language. July 13th 1794 Zachariah H. Kuypers or Cooper was called as assistant to Mr. Van Nest. His salary was thought by classis to be too small. It was £120 a year, without a parsonage.
April 21st 1795 the treasurer paid the "fore-singer " £1. 14 for a year's service and £1.12 to the bell-ringer. January 8th 1797 Mr. Van Nest left, and Mr. Cooper was sole pastor of the four Dutch churches of Queens county. The parsonage was sold in 1801 and the money dis- tributed to the four congregations to buy two parsonages.
Jacob Schoonmaker was called to the churches of Jamaica and Newtown April 20th 1802, and ordained Oc- tober 24th, and the connection of the four Dutch churches terminated. In 1809 a parsonage was bought for him at Jamaica, opposite the former one. In 1811 the Jamaica church comprised 107 families and 56 communicants. The parsonage was sold to Dominie Schoonmaker.
The church built in 1716 was now too small and in- convenient; and March 20th 1832 proposals for building a frame church 82 by 62 feet were issued. The corner stone was laid July 4th in presence of a large concourse of people, who were addressed by Rev. Dr. Janeway. On Sunday June 2nd 1833 Rev. Dr. Schoonmaker preached the last sermon in the old church in the Dutch language, which was understood by very few. The next day commenced the work of tearing down the building,
which had stood 117 years and was the last specimen on the island of the old Dutch churches. The new church was dedicated July 4th 1833, with a sermon by Rev. Elihu Baldwin.
On January 6th 1835 Rev. Garret J. Garretson was called as assistant to Dr. Schoonmaker, and he left in June 1849.
On Sunday August 4th 1850 Dr. Schoonmaker, having received a satisfactory compensation, preached his fare- well sermon and celebrated the communion, assisted by his old friend Rev. Dr. Brodhead.
January 7th 1851 John B. Alliger was installed here. In May a large organ was set up in the church, costing $1,200; a melodeon and a seraphine had been used for some time before. A parsonage was provided for the minister in 1853, and a consistory room was dedicated May 8th 1858.
November 19th 1857 about 9 o'clock at night, by the mismanagement of the firemen, a fire in Rotten Row was allowed to get under too great headway, and the wind, suddenly veering about, drove the flames to the church and it was totally consumed. It had just been repaired, painted and beautified at a cost of $3,000. The work- men had put on it the finishing stroke only a few hours before the fire. The books, cushions, carpets and clock were saved. The cummunion and baptismal vessels were lost.
The burning of the church was the cause of erecting one at Queens, which was dedicated May 8th 1859.
The corner stone of a new church was laid September 14th 1858, by Richard Brush. Addresses were made by Rev. Messrs. Cuyler and Van Zandt. The new church, of the round-arch style, built of brick, covered with slate and having stained glass windows, costing in all about $20,000, was dedicated by Dr. Thomas E. Vermilye, who also preached the sermon.
The Rev. Mr. Alliger resigned May 30th 1870. No- vember 20th 1870 Rev. John G. Van Slyke was installed. He celebrated the cummunion and gave his last sermon December 4th 1876. May 3d 1877 Rev. William H. De Hart was installed as pastor of the church at Jamaica.
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, JAMAICA.
The Episcopal church dates from 1702, when the So- ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts sent over Rev. Patrick Gordon, with the title of "rector of Queens county " and an allowance of £50 per an- num. In passing through New York he caught a violent fever then prevalent there, and, going on to Jamaica with intent to preach in his parish, was taken sick the day be- fore he designed to preach, and so continued till his death, about eight days after. He was buried in the stone meeting-house on July 28th 1702.
The following inventory shows a portion of Mr. Gor- don's outfit for his mission: Silver watch and seal, fro; tin tobacco box, 9d .; cloth colored cloak, L2; 4 old razors, 3s .; rewfarino gown and cassock, old, {2 10s .; black coat, 53 Ios .; two pair colored gloves, 55 .; 3 doz. and 8 pair of bands, £2 4s .; 12 pair of cheat sleeves,
238
HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.
7s .; 2 perukes, f1 6s .; I hat, $1 4s .; 2 old perukes, IOS .; cane with a prospect glass in it, f1 Ios .; 2 pair of new breeches and an old waistcoat, {2 105 .; fine silk morning gown with cape, $5 Ios. Besides the above there were saddle, bridle, boots and spurs, two teapots, some pewter dishes, a half-dozen wooden trenchers, two dozen and eight napkins, a dozen white handkerchiefs, two flannel shirts, three hats, three knit night-caps, twenty fine shirts, seven pair of sham sleeves, a large collection of books, etc., etc.
Rev. George Keith visited Jamaica September 24th 1702; and on Sunday November 14th 1703 he preached there from Hebrews viii. 9, 10.
Lord Cornbury appointed to succeed Mr. Gordon Rev. James Honeyman, who writes (April 15th 1704) that " we have a church [the meeting-house] but neither Bible nor prayer book, no cloths for pulpit or altar." The society sent over a silver paten and chalice, inscribed, " The gift of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, 1704." This chalice is still in use.
The society had appointed Rev. William Urquhart its second missionary to Jamaica. He was inducted July 27th 1704. Lord Cornbury ordered the Presbyterian minister to give up the parsonage house to the new rec- tor. This dispossessing by the governors's warrant inerely and otherwise than by due course of law gave rise to a long series of troubles and litigation. Chief Justice Mompesson said it was a "high crime and misdemea- nor;" a short way of proceeding but contrary to law, and did the church more hurt than can be easily imag- ined. The governor also ordered the money (church rates) made from the sale of corn to be paid to Mr. Ur- quhart, and the justices and vestrymen to lay a tax (ac- cording to a law enacted September 22nd 1693) on the inhabitants of the parish for raising the maintenance of the minister, Mr. Urquhart, which was £60 per year. The society allowed him £50 per year and £15 for books for the use of his mission; so his salary was £110 and the use of the parsonage.
" Mr. Urquhart has the most difficult task of any mis- sionary in this government, for, though he is a good man and extraordinary industrious, yet having the Presbyter- ians and Quakers to thwart him, and very little assistance - in his parish except from those who have no interest with the people, his work can't but go on very heavily." Some of the most rigid dissenters, however, were brought over into a close communion with the church.
Mr. Urquhart while in Jamaica became the third hus- band of Mary, daughter of Daniel Whitehead, and by the help of her money became one of the patentees of a tract of land in New Jersey. He died about the last of August 1709. "Mr. Urquhart, being settled among the adversaries of the church, was at great pains and charges to maintain the title of his church and parsonage, besides repairs. His natural good inclinations to hospitality led him into extraordinary expenses to support the credit of his character, and he has left his widow in such incum- brances as we can but pity." The society made the widow a present of £50.
The neighboring clergy continued services in the church till the arrival of Rev. Thomas Poyer, the society's third missionary, who was inducted July 18th 1710.
Mr. Poyer after a stormy passage of thirteen weeks was wrecked on the south side of the island, about one hundred miles east of Jamaica. After wending his way to his parish he found the door of his parsonage shut against him, so he had to take a hired house. He, how- ever, served the tenant with a lease of ejectment by way of continuing his claim. Mr. Poyer at once set about the work of his mission. He distributed the religious books given him by the society; took the names of the re- cipients, so as to look after them, and gave private advice as he went from house to house in his large parish. He preached in turn once a fortnight at Jamaica and once a month at Flushing and Newtown. In 1714 he reports that the church increases, he has gained over some in- dependents, his communicants have risen from thirty to sixty, and at Flushing among the Quakers he has fifty and sometimes one hundred hearers.
In 1717 Mr. Poyer begins to complain of his hardships. His parish is fifteen miles long, and six and a half broad; has 409 families in it, but not above 80 come to church; he has 400 hearers, and but 60 communicants; has worn out two gowns and cassocks and the third very bare, and his family wants are such that he don't know how he shall get another; he has not as yet received a penny of his salary in this country, though he got a verdict for part of it. The obstinate independents, being church wardens, put him to as much trouble as they can in suing for it. Jamaica is a dear place to live in and things are costly. [Bohea tea is 7s. per pound and loaf sugar 13 pence]. He lives below the character of a missionary, and yet runs in debt. The society sent him a gown and cassock and £10.
The communicants in 1723-7 were Justice Betts and wife, Madam Clarke, Andrew Clarke and wife, Justice Clement and wife, Mr. Clowes and wife, son Samuel, - Gerardus, Mrs. Clowes and son John, Mr. Comes, Daniel Denton and wife, John Hutchins, Christopher Kernan, Captain Luff, Judith " the negress," D. Mills, Mr. Power, Mrs. Poyer, Mr. Reynolds, Mrs. Sawyer, Mr. Smith and wife, brother and sister to Mr. Clowes, Samuel Smith and wife, Mrs. Arthur Smith and wife, Mrs. Katrina Stillwell, inn-keeper, Mrs. Rachel Stroud, Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Wil- liam Thorne, Foster Waters and wife Mary, Mr. Wiggins and daughter Bedford, Mrs. Isabel Wiggins, Thomas Wiggins and wife, Catherine Wiggins, Mrs. Williamson, daughter Mary, and her two daughters, Colonel Thomas Willett, Edward Willett and wife.
Mr. Poyer says that, besides the service on the Lord's day and the holidays set apart by the church, he · gives. frequent lectures on week days; many of his parishioners live twelve miles distant and he must keep two horses. This wears out more clothes in a year than would last three or four if he hadn't to ride. In Flushing and New- town there is no convenience of private houses, so that he has to use public ones, at a very great charge. He
238
GRACE CHURCH, JAMAICA.
celebrates the communion four or five times a year or oftener, as he has health. He catechises and expounds the catechism to all such as are sent to him, twice a week in church, and once a fortnight the year round at his house.
At first Mr. Poyer had to put up with many abuses and affronts from the dissenters. He says (in 1718): "They tried to tire me out with their ill-usage. I am threatened to be starved, and denied victuals for my money. The miller wouldn't grind my corn, but sent it home and said I might eat it whole, as the hogs do. They say if the con- stables offer to collect my salary they will scald them, they will stone them, they will go to club-law with them."
This threat was soon carried out; for on December 5th 1718, as the constable, Ri. Combs, went to Daniel Bull's and demanded the rate, he took up an axe and swinging it over Combs's head said he would split his head if he touched anything there. The constable commanded Jacamiah Denton in the king's name to assist him, but he laughed, said he was no constable, and wouldn't obey him. He then went up and down the town and mus- tered sixteen or seventeen people, with Justices Clement and Whitehead, and on coming before Bull's door saw him with William Carman, Samuel and Henry Ludlum, Robert and Hezekiah Denton, and Ephraim Smith, standing there with great clubs in their hands and stripped to their waistcoats. On the constable saying he had come to distrain, they lifted up their clubs and bid him come if he durst, and gave him scurrilous lan- guage. On seeing that Bull had between twenty and thirty persons in his company the constable walked off and made no distress. The Rev. George McNish bid the people not mind the constable, and even invited them into his house to drink cider. These rioters were subsequently let off with a small fine on promise of future peaceable behavior. Samuel Clowes acted in the absence of the king's attorney.
In 1724, October 29th, Mr. Poyer brought suit against the tenants of the parsonage lands, homestead and out- lands, in which he was cast. We give the minutes of the trial from the judge's book:
At a court, by nisi prius, held at Jamaica. Present- Lewis Morris, Esq., chief justice. John Chambers vs. Joseph Hegeman jr. The same vs. Robert Denton. Defendants. confess lease, entry and ouster. Jury find for defendant. Murray for plaintiff and Jamison for defendant.
Evidence for plaintiff: . Thomas Welling, John Dean, Nehemiah Smith sworn. A vote of the town meeting, in 1676, for parsonage lands. Richard Combs. Warrant from Lord Cornbury to Cardale to survey church lands. Act of Assembly to settle a ministry in Queens county (1693). An act of Assembly to explain the former act (1705). John Chambers sworn, and Thomas Whitehead. An exemplification of the special verdict read.
Evidence for defence: An agreement of the town of Jamaica with Rev. John Prudden read. Votes of the town for Rev John Hubbard and George McNish, to be ministers read. Joseph Smith and Elizabeth Stillwell sworn. Mr. Prudden's exchange of land with the town (September 29th 1693) read.
The inaugural sermon that Mr. Poyer preached here, July 30th 1710, is still preserved in good condition. He
also preached on the Gunpowder plot, November 5th; martyrdom of King Charles, January 30th; the negro plot in New York, May 21st 1712; the accession of King George II., April 7th; on the defeat of the Pretender in Scotland, June 28th; at his wife's funeral, May 10th 1719; at Lloyd's Neck, November 27th 1722. These sermons and many others are still preserved.
December 28th 1728 the Presbyterians "by the sly tricks and quirks of the common law got the church into their possession," says Rev. A. Campbell. "In suing Mr. Poyer " (says Rev. Thomas Colgan), "upon a very odd turn in the trial the independents cast him. Mr. Poyer's counsel always designed to put the matter on some points of law which were clearly in the church's favor, and in the time of trial offered to demur in law; but was diverted therefrom by the judge, who said he would recommend it to the jury to find a special verdict and if they did not he would allow a new trial. The judge did not hold to his promise, and thus an end was put to the controversy."
June 16th 1731 Mr. Poyer complains of his trials and difficulties :- " I have been in poor health for years past, my life has been one continued scene of trouble, kept out of my allowance from this country for years and some of it lost, a great deal of sickness in my family, buried two wives and two children within five years, now eleven in the family, house rent £16 a year, the infirmities of years bear hard on me. I beg to quit my mission and re- turn to my native land." The society granted his re- quest; but Mr. Poyer died at Jamaica in the middle of January 1732.
Rev. Thomas Colgan was inducted here January 31st 1733; and by his marriage with Mary Reade and money acquired thereby took a higher social position than Mr. Poyer had. He bought the farm of widow Poyer, on the west side of Beaver Pond, which he enlarged to 66 acres, with an orchard of 100 apple trees that made 100 barrels of cider a year. This house had eight rooms on a floor, and sash windows. We hear of no more complaints of non-payment of salary, no law suits, no riots or quarrels. He writes (February 16th 1733) that his congregation increases very much; more than 200 come to church every Sunday.
After worshiping five or six years in the county court- house the people began to exert themselves toward build- ing a new church, and solicited help from abroad. On Friday April 5th 1734 the new church was opened, with the name of Grace Church, and divine service per- formed there for the first time. Mr. Colgan preached a sermon on the occasion, from Genesis xviii. 16, 17. Gov- ernor Cosby and his whole family were pleased to honor the meeting with their presence, and by their very gen- erous benefactions great encouragement was given. The militia was under arms to attend his excellency, and so great a concourse of people met that the church was not able to contain the number. After the sermon was ended his excellency and family, and several gentlemen, ladies and clergy, were very splendidly entertained at the house of Samuel Clowes, a tavern in the town, by the members of the church.
240
HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.
GRACE CHURCH, JAMAICA. OPENED FOR DIVINE WORSIHP FRIDAY APRIL 5TH 1734.
The governor's lady gave cloth for the pulpit, reading- desk and communion table; also a large Bible, prayer book and surplice.
Mr. Colgan writes (October 11th 1737): " We now wor- ship in the church, which 'tis thought will be one of the handsomest in North America, but is not yet completed. We want a bell. Our church is flourishing. We are at peace with the sectaries around us."
The following were the pew-holders in Grace Church February 23d 1737: Richard Betts, Richard Betts jr., Timothy Bridges, Andrew Clark, Samuel Clowes, Samuel Clowes jr., Thomas Colgan, Robert Freeman, Robert Howell, Gabriel Luff, Sarah Poyer gratis, George Rey- nolds, Daniel Sawyer, Samuel Smith, William Steed, Ben- jamin Taylor, Benjamin Thorne, Isaac Van Hook, An- thony Waters, William Welling, Benjamin and Daniel Whitehead, Edward Willett, John Willett, William and Silas Wiggins, Henry Wright, Guy Young. Also see Documentary History, Vol .III., page 324, for twenty-one petitioners for a charter.
The New York Postboy announced in 1747: "The Jamaica lottery will be drawn on November 10th, in Queens County Hall, in the presence of three or more justices of the peace and such other persons as the ad- venturers may nominate. The managers, Jacob Ogden and Samuel Clowes, give their trouble gratis. There are one thousand three hundred tickets, at 8s. each, equal to £520. From each prize 127/2 per cent. will be deducted for purchasing a bell for Grace Church."
Rev. Thomas Colgan, rector of the church, died in
December 1755. The parochial vestry pre- sented Simon Horton, a dissenting ininister, to Governor Hardy for induction; but he collated Samuel Seabury jr. to the cure. Samuel Clowes jr. and William Sherlock certify that "Samuel Seabury jr., minister of Jamaica, on the 23d day of January in the year of our Lord Christ 1757, did read in his parish church of Jamaica, openly, publicly and solemnly, the morning and evening pray- er appointed to be read by and according to the book entitled The Book of Common Prayer, etc .; and, after such reading, did openly and publicly declare his unfeigned assent and consent to the use of all things therein contained; and did read certificates of his having declared his conformity to the liturgy of the Church of England, before Thomas, Lord Bishop of London, and Sir Charles Hardy, captain general and com- mander-in-chief of the province of New York, and did renew this declaration in his parish church aforesaid; and did read the Articles of Religion and declare his unfeigned assent and consent thereto."
Mr. Seabury writes in 1760 that the people are remiss in attending church. His communicants scarce exceed 20. He labors publicly and privately to bring them to a sense of their duty.
Communicants and professors of the church at Jamaica on the 8th of April 1761 petitioned C. Colden, acting governor of the province, for a charter, setting forth that some years before, by voluntary contributions, they had erected a decent and convenient church for the cel- ebration of divine worship according to the use of the Church of England; but that, from a want of some per- sons legally authorized to superintend the same and manage the affairs and interests thereof, the said church was greatly decayed and the petitioners discouraged from contributing to the repair thereof, lest the moneys given might be misapplied; and that, on that account also, charitable and well disposed people were discour- aged in their design of establishing proper funds for the future support of said church and the better maintenance of its ministry. The following signatures were appended to the petition: Samuel Seabury jr., rector; Robert Howell, *Jacob Ogden, *John Comes, *Benjamin White- head, *Richard Betts, *Thomas Betts, Benjamin Carpen- ter, Joseph Oldfield, Gilbert Comes, +Samuel Smith jr., Isaac Van Hook, George Dunbar, John Huchins, Joseph Oldfield jr., Thomas Truxton, *William Sherlock, *Thom- as Hinchman, Thomes Cornell jr., John Smith, tJohn Troup, *Thomas Braine, John Innes, Adam Lawrence, William Welling.
There were now two vestries, one parochial, elected by the freeholders of the parish to levy the minister's and
*Named vestryman in the charter.
+Named warden in the charter.
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GRACE CHURCH, JAMAICA.
poor tax; the other ecclesiastical, elected by those in communion of the Church of England. The terms of the charter (dated June 17 1761) were that the vestry should pay yearly, on the anniversary of the Annuncia- tion of the Virgin Mary, to the receiver general at New York a pepper-corn (if demanded) in lieu of all other rents and claims. The vestry could appoint a clerk, sexton or bell-ringer for the church, and a messenger or clerk for themselves.
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