History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 78

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co.
Number of Pages: 703

USA > New York > Queens County > History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals. > Part 78

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In 1706, 29th of 3d month, monthly meeting was held for the first time in the new house. The First-day meet- ings were held here, except on the last First-day of every month, and then at T'. Powell's, Bethpage.

In 1708 William Willis built a stable for the Friends' horses. In 1716 Nathaniel Seaman, for 35 shillings a year, provided wood, and did the janitor work on the meeting-house premises. In that year meetings were appointed for every First-day at Westbury; the meetings

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

at Bethpage and Hempstead to be kept as usual. In 1722 it was thought well to enlarge the meeting-house. In 1729 a stable was built, forty-two by eighteen feet, with lean-tos nine feet wide. In 1739 John Willis was engaged to fence the meeting-house ground; and John

Seaman were " to take care and niind the shutting up the gate and putting up the bars, and also to speak to such as shall turn their horses into said ground [to pasture] on First-days when there is no real occasion." In 1751 the partition of the house was altered so as to hang on hinges and be hooked up when occasion required. In 1753 two acres of land were added at the south end of the lot and a gate was made at the west side, "wide enough to pass in and out with a riding chair." In 1755 the benches were repaired. In 1757 Benjamin Smith was “ reasonably paid for his trouble in helping Samuel Willis to record Friends' sufferings." In 1761 all gravestones were or- dered removed. In 1762, "it being very tedious to write on monthly meeting days in the winter season and the house being cold," Samuel Willis was instructed to get a wood stove. In 1766 the meeting-house was enlarged for the accommodation of the quarterly meeting. In 1780 it was recorded that "Friends are sorrowfully affected at the schooling of their children, in being joined with those not Friends, and masters of not good example be- ing employed, whereby our youth sustain a great loss in a religious sense; a school-house is to be erected, so near that the master and children may attend meeting." In 1781 a school-house forty by twenty feet was built on Thomas Seaman's land, leased for $4 a year; tuition to be 6 shillings per quarter. In 1782 soldiers took pos- session of the house and broke up the school. In 1784 it was repaired. In 1782 John Pemberton "had a large meeting of the black people, who behaved well."

In 1784 "it was proposed whether some advantage may not arise by appointing some meetings particularly for negroes." Four were appointed. In 1792 some Friends professed scruples about using the products of slave labor. In 1793 " several satisfactory meetings for blacks " were held; " the consideration thereof is left off from the minutes for the present." In March 1796 Westbury meeting sent to the poor of New York £4 17. and eight loads of wood; Matinecock meeting £16 12. I. and two cords and one load of wood; Cow Neck meet- ing £8 2. and one and three-quarters cords of wood. In 1799 Westbury contributed for the poor of New York £29 16. 9. and five loads of wood, “ half a hundred- weight of Indian meal, and half a hundredweight of rye." In 1800 a new meeting-house was built, 40 by 57 feet, with twenty-two feet posts, at a cost of £822 9. 10. In 1801, " as there is a scarcity in England and Ireland," the meeting sends over $108 12. 11. In 1803 £15 4. was raised toward civilizing the Indian natives, and in 1807 £11 10. In 1810 more shelter for horses was needed, and a stable was built, costing $218.28. In 1818 a horse stable was built, 110 feet long and 20 feet wide, at a cost of $331.19. " The burial committee are to attend to all funerals in our ground, and see that de-

cency and good order are observed therein." In 1827 $2,000 was ordered raised for a deficiency in the fund for the civilization and improvement of the Indians.

It was in the last named year that the meeting was divided. The Hicksite or Unitarian branch of the and Henry Willis, Silas and Peter Titus and Nathaniel , Friends proponderating, the Orthodox branch, acting in accordance with the meeting of that branch in New York, withdrew and built a meeting-house on the oppo- site side of the road.

These societies are as prosperous as any on the island, but the members are not as numerous as formerly.

CHRIST CHURCH (EPISCOPAL ), MANHASSET.

The corporate title of this parish is "Christ Church, North Hempstead." In age it is ninth among the churches of the diocese, the oldest of which dates back to the year 1701. Previous to 1800 St. George's church, Hempstead, was the central place of gathering for the Episcopalians of this township. In 1802 a move- ment was made by the vestry of that church to erect a place of worship in Manhasset, to be a chapel under the charge of the parent parish. The first church building was erected at a cost of between $4,000 and $5,000; a large sum for that time. It was consecrated by Bishop Moore, November 19th 1803. The original price of the land, which is now worth some thousands of dollars, was only $195.47. The first purchase was of about three acres; the lot has since been increased, by exchange, to nearly four acres, comprising the site of the church buildings, cemetery and parsonage grounds. In 1818 the parsonage and academy were erected, at an ex- pense, with subsequent additions, of $5,000. These buildings remained unaltered until 1868, when the church, which had stood sixty-six years, was enlarged and rebuilt, retaining only the frame and floor of the old building; The capacity of the church was increased to 100 pews, and a recess chancel added. The cost of rebuilding and furnishing, including stained glass windows, new bell, furnace, etc. (completed in 1870), was about $18,000. The entire indebtedness above the sub- scriptions was canceled in 1873.

During its history of nearly 60 years as a separate or- ganization this parish has been under the charge of eight successive rectors. The Rev. Eli Wheeler, who was as- sistant minister of St. George's church, Hempstead, be- came the first rector. He was succeeded by Rev. J. P. F. Clarke, who was twice chosen as rector (with an inter- val of five years) and remained in the parish over twenty years. The other rectors have been Revs. J. F. Phillips, M. Marcus, Samuel Cox, G. W. Porter, G. F. Bugbee and the present rector, Rev. James E. Homans.

During the rectorship of Rev.Mr. Clarke the chapel at Glen Cove was established, and it was under his charge trom July 1837 to December 1845, when it became the independent parish of St. Paul's church. Services were also held and the chapel erected in Roslyn under the direction of Rev. Mr. Porter and his successor. This was set apart as a separate parish under the title of Trinity Church, Roslyn.

421

CHURCHES OF MANHASSET.

Among the statistics of the parish of Christ Church may be mentioned as items from the church records: Baptisms, 647; confirmations, 272 ; marriages, 242; deaths, 711. The contributions to general, diocesan, and paro- chial objects have amounted to about $65,000.

During nearly half a century Christ Church Academy, under the charge of the rectors, was the principal place of education in this community; and until 1829, when the public school was established, it was the only place of solid instruction in the town. An old resident of one of the neighboring towns, writing recently some per- sonal reminiscences of the parish, says:

"I attended Christ Church Academy the first day it was opened, in 1818. I heard Rev. Mr. Hart (dressed in black breeches and stockings) preach his farewell ser- mon in Christ Church on its separation from Hempstead in 1819. He wept much. The church bought the land in 1802; and some were for buying a small piece, just enough to set the church on, but B. T. (a long headed man) said: 'Now is the time to buy all we shall proba- bly need for time to come.' There were at that time only two farni-houses at all near the church. In my early days there was no 'church-going bell.' Some one would say, 'Come, the minister has gone in.' Then the people went into church. At the academy a triangle was for some time in use. The clerk (who sat below the reading desk in an enclosure with a door) and the sexton were quite dignitaries in those days. The very audible tones in which the one responded, and the soft footsteps of the other as he renewed the fires, are among the mem- ories of my youth."

The parish of Christ Church is one of the most exten- sive in point of area in the diocese of Long Island. It covers about fourteen square miles. The congrega- tion is drawn from the extremities of Great Neck and Cow Neck, eastward beyond Roslyn and southward as far as Garden City. Two-thirds of its members come from three to seven miles, and not more than two of its families are within walking distance. Hence it retains much of the original character and material of the early churches.

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, MANHASSET.

Cow Neck and Great Neck (now Manhasset) meeting was started in 1702, when Thomas Story visited the place. He says: "We went to Great Neck, to the house of William Mott, a young man lately convinced by the ministry of Thomas Thompson, where we had a large meeting, there being many other people with us, and all very sedate." A meeting was settled at his house. Story visited Mott again in 1704. In 1703 Samuel Bownas had a meeting at Jacob Doughty's, Cow Neck, there not liav- ing been any there before. A meeting every First-day

was settled at Doughty's. In 1706 a meeting was kept one First-day at Doughty's and the next at Mott's. In

1708, on Doughty's removal, the meeting was appointed at Richard Cornwell's, and the Sixthi-day meeting at William Hutchings's, Cow Neck. In 1715 this meeting was transferred from the Flushing to the Westbury monthly. In 1719 it was concluded to build a meeting- house at Cow Neck, the place and dimensions to be left to Joseph Latham, William Hutchings, James Jackson,

William Mott, Jeremiah Williams and Richard Cornwell. In 1722 John Fothergill had a very large meeting; many Friends and others were humbly affected with his testi- mony. On the shortest day in the year 1725, it being snowy and stormy, eighteen persons went, in company with Thomas Chalkley, from Thomas Pearsall's, Cedar Swamp, to Cow Neck, where he had a good meeting, larger than could be expected. They then went to Joseph Latham's and had a tender open meeting. · In 1737 Chalkley went again to Latham's. "Our conversation was pleasant. We remembered our walking to and from school in the suburbs of London, when we were beaten, stoned and abused for being the children of Quakers." In 1755 and 1763 the house and stable were repaired. In 1762 Adam Mott was appointed to remove the grave- stones and do up the graves of those who had no re- lations. In 1780 half an acre of land was bought of Adrian Onderdonk, the cost of which, with the fence, was £19 8s. In 1782 the meeting-house was occupied by the soldiers. Friends applied to Governor Robertson, who ordered Colonel Wormb to restore it. In 1783 it was again used as a guard-house, and considerable damage done to the seats and fence.

In 1785 it was proposed to remove the place of wor- ship. In 1786 the Westbury stove was put up in the Cow Neck meeting-house and more pipe bought, but it did not answer, and another was bought (1789) for £10 15. 3. In 1788 the meeting wished a school-house built, the place where the school was then held being incon- venient. In 1809 it was proposed to set the new meeting- house on Thomas Appleby's land, on the Middle Neck road, one hundred rods north from Appleby's Corner, as being more central to the Friends; but in 1812 it was concluded, after long agitation, to put it on the old ground, northeast of the old house. The dimensions proposed were 38 by 28 feet, and 18 feet posts, and the estimated expense was $1,250. The building, completed in January 1813, cost $1,547.25; the old stuff sold for $24.98, so that $272.27 was yet wanting.

At the marriage of Henry Mott and Temperance Hicks the old house was crowded, and a bench in the gallery broke down with the weight of those standing thereon, and the crashi created a panic.

THE REFORMED CHURCH OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD.

This church, now located at Manhasset, was first or- ganized at Success (now Lakeville), as the Dutch Re- formed Church of Success, April 11th 1730. Half an acre of land was bought of Martin Wiltse for 25 shil- lings. Money was subscribed to the amount of £173 16. for a church building, which was erected in a few months after the organization (the corner stone is dated 1732). Adrian Onderdonk and Martin Ryerson were chosen church masters. They allotted seats to the men for 25 shillings each, and to the women for 20 shillings each. The church edifice was the largest in Queens county, being 50 by 60 feet, with pyramidal roof, and was situ- ated in the midst of a settlement of Dutch families in- cluding the Schenks, Onderdonks, Rapelyeas, Bogarts,

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

Rhodeses, Remsens, Van Nostrands, Brinkerhoffs, Cor- nells and others. It never had a fireplace or stove ex- cept foot stoves within its walls. The people were ac- customed in cold weather to come early and go to Gil- bert Cornell's, across the road, to warm themselves and prepare their foot stoves to be carried to the church. In warm weather, between services, the people would gather under the old white oak (now gone to eat their basket dinner.

This church was associated under the same pastoral care with the Reformed Dutch churches at Newtown, Jamaica and Oyster Bay until 1802, having services but once a month. From 1802 to 1834 this with the Oyster Bay church constituted a circuit, having services once in two weeks. Since 1834 it has been a separate charge, supporting its own pastor and holding weekly services. The churches were obliged to wait until 1741 for a pas- tor to come from Holland, when Johannes Henricus Goetschius became the pastor for the circuit. He re- mained seven years. Thomas Romeyn was pastor of the circuit from 1752 to 1758, and Hermanes Van Boelen from 1766 to 1772, Solomon Froeleigh, noted in later years for seceding from the denomination, became their pastor in 1775; but, being an ardent Whig, he was forced by the British and tories to leave after the short pastorate of fifteen months. The pulpit then remained vacant until 1785, when Rynier Van Nest became pastor, which position he occupied until 1797. In 1794 Zachariah II. Kuypers became collegiate minister, and he remained as pastor of the congregation until 1824. In 1813 the northern part of the congregation withdrew and organ. ized a separate society at Manhasset, with David S. Bo- gart as pastor, he having become collegiate minister that year. The old congregation disbanded in 1830. The building was sold to Mrs. Maria Hegeman for $290, and taken down after standing one hundred years.

The new congregation built a church in 1816. Judge Singleton Mitchell, Peter Onderdonk and Daniel Brink- erhoff were the building committee. Rev. David S. Bogart left in 1826 and died in 1839. Henry Hermance was pastor nine months, and was succeeded by James Otterson, who was pastor from 1827 to 1834. For a more detailed account of ministers the reader is referred to the history of the Reformed church of Oyster Bay. After Mr. Otterson left, the church became a separate charge. Rev. John Robb was the first pastor under the new order, and remained from 1835 to 1837; Rev. Wil- liam R. Gordon, 1838-43; Rev. John H. Sheffield, 1843- 46; Rev. James Demarest, 1853-59; Rev. Ira C. Boice, 1859-70; Rev. William E. Davis, 1871-80; Rev. William H. Stephenson, the present pastor, came in 1880.

During Mr. Sheffield's pastorate a Sunday-school of twenty members was organized, with Warren Mitchell as superintendent. Very little interest in the subject was then manifested by the members.

WESLEY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ROSLYN.

The precise date of the introduction of Methodism at Hempstead Harbor is unknown. It was probably not

many months after the formation of a class in the Sear- ingtown neighborhood, in 1785. Bishop Asbury visited this locality in 1787. He writes: "Tuesday May 22 1787 .- Rode twenty miles [from New York] on Long Island to Hempstead Harbor, and preached with some liberty in the evening." Probably this evening service was not in Hempstead Harbor proper, but in Searingtown, as the house is still standing in which he is known to have preached. Two days later he made the following entry: "I preached in a paper-mill, on ' If any man will do His will he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God." The location of the old paper- mill in Roslyn is well known. A part of the same building yet remains, near the spot where the bishop preached.

The following, from the pen of the Rev. Benjamin Ab- bott, may be taken as evidence that a Methodist "class " was organized in this neighborhood previous to 1791. Mr. Abbott was a preacher on the Long Island circuit that year. He writes: "I went to the paper-mill at Hempstead Harbor, and preached with great freedom. God attended the word with power, and many wept. I met class, and had a very precious time."

The Rev. Billy Hibbard, who was circuit preacher in 1801, gives a very entertaining account of an attempt on the part of a mob to put out the light and break up a meeting he was holding, and then throw him off the dock into the water. He overcame by courage and stratagem, and "Esquire Smith " promptly undertook to humble or punish the offenders. " One," writes Mr. Hib- bard, " came forward and made confession, and prom- ised good behavior in the future, but the other five ran away, and none knew where to find them. Thus the per- secution ended. We had no more disturbance in Hemp- stead Harbor."

The oldest record of members extant is a list made in 1806, by the Rev. Mitchell B. Bull, then a pastor on Long Island circuit. The roll contains the following twenty- six names: John Searing (class leader), David Buck (local preacher), Anna Buck, Phæbe Craft, Elizabeth Rogers, Joseph Starkins, Sarah Starkins, John Davis, Anna Davis, John Rogers, Daniel Seaman, Mary Seaman, George Rogers, Margaret Rogers, Benjamin Wheatley, Catharine Wheatley, Nathaniel Brass, Catharine Brass, Lewis Wilson, Lucretia Wilson, Lydia Rogers, Elizabeth Sniffings, Benjamin Valentine, Anna Valentine, Abigail Brass, Catharine Wilson.

So far as known, John Searing was the first class- leader, and David Buck the first local preacher.

Several names were added to the above roll previous to 1832, but so great were the losses that at that date the membership numbered 19-less . by 7 than it was twenty-six years earlier.

Previous to 1814 services were held in the paper-mill and in private houses. A subscription paper bearing date December 12th 1813 was circulated to secure funds for the building of a meeting-house. The amount sub- scribed was $616.25. The subscriptions ranged from twenty-five cents to thirty dollars. The following per- sons contributed each $10 or more: John Searing, David

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WESLEY M. E. CHURCH, ROSLYN.

Buck, Samuel Titus, each $30; Lewis L. Hewlett, $25; James Hewlett, Gabriel Lawrence, John Sands, each $20; Robert Glenr, Joseph Starkins, each $12; Freder- ick Henderson, Daniel Seaman, Richard Kirk, Thomas Wood, Rem Chisshow, Benjamin Sands, Eliza Corder- man, Samuel Hewlett, each $10. The deed bears date July 20th 1814.

The date of the formal dedication, if indeed there was any, has not been ascertained. The church was located on its present site, a short distance from the old paper- mill, and about midway between the present railroad de- pot and the North Hempstead turnpike. The building re- mained unfinished for ten years. By another subscrip- tion paper, dated September 5th 1824, funds were se- cured to complete the edifice. This was the first house of worship in Roslyn and the only one for more than thirty years.

In 1823 this society was styled "Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church." The oldest trustees' record which has been preserved (1823) states that, all the old trustees being dead, a new board was elected, as follows: Joseph Starkins, Frederick Henderson, Richard Townsend, Cornell Denton, James W. Smith.

James W. Smith was sexton in 1823, receiving a salary of $10 a year. In 1825 it was reduced to $5, and in 1828 this minute appears: " The trustees agreed to give James W. Smith $5.5° for sextonship."

The following extremely economical figures are an exact copy of a summary of trustees' expenses for fifteen consecutive years, including cost of "firewood, candle- light, cleaning, sweeping and sexton's fees:"

1823, $15.75; 1824, $18.00; 1825, $15.28; 1826, $19.20; 1827, $14.89; 1828, $11.50; 1829, $16.45; 1830, $19.55; 1831, $22.25; 1832, $15.00; 1833, $10.15; 1834, $12.10; 1835, $6.75; 1836, $9.25; 1827, $23.48.

A Sunday-school was organized August 26th 1832, with twenty scholars. In a few months the number, by weekly accessions, had increased to forty. Moses Fow- ler is believed to have been the first superintendent. Noah Bigelow, A. Hulin and E. Oldrin were the circuit preachers when the first Sunday-school was formed. During the following year this church was favored with a revival.

In 1843 a parsonage was erected on land adjoining the church plot; Thomas Wood was the builder.

In 1869 a building committee was appointed, consist- ing of Rev. T. C. Beach (pastor), M. Valentine, C. Oak- ley, W. D. Wilson and W. S. Wilkey, to superintend the work of enlarging and renovating the church building, which had up to that time been an " uncomfortable and uncouth affair." Additions were made, making the church 48 feet long and 25 feet wide.

The reopening services took place Sunday September 19th 1869. Sermons were preached by Rev. Dr. E. G. Andrews (now bishop), Rev. George Stillman and Rev. F. P. Tower. The pastor wrote thus for the Christian Advocate: "We have now a neat and comfortable house of worship, which of itself will give Methodisin a better representation in this village. Through the energy of

the ladies the building has been tastefully furnished. All the members of the society have given freely toward the enterprise, in which they have been nobly aided by the people of the village, also by friends in New York, and especially by a member of one of the Brooklyn churches, now residing with us."

This church has never been financially strong, and has always been a part of a circuit, sharing with other churches-one or more-in the labors of the appointed ministers. The following statement will indicate the cir- cuits to which this Roslyn church has belonged and the pastors, also each preacher's term of service, beginning with the date of Bishop Asbury's preaching in the paper- mill:

1787-1809, Long Island Circuit .- The preachers were: [787, Peter Moriarty; 1788, Robert Cloud; 1789, Wil- liam Phœbus, John Lee; 1790, David Kendali, William Phœbus, Aaron Hunt (supply); 1791, William Phœbus, Benjamin Abbott; 1792, John Ragan, James Boyd; 1793, Joseph Totten, George Strebeck; 1794, Robert Hutchin- son; 1795, Sylvester Hutchinson, Jacob Rickhow; 1796, John Clark, Jacob Rickhow, David Buck, Timothy Dewey; 1797, Joseph Totten, William Phœbus, also - Donovan and Ebenezer M'Lane (supplies); 1798, David Brown, John Wilson; 1799, James Campbell, John Wil- son; 1800, James Campbell, Samuel Merwin; 1801, Peter Jayne, Billy Hibbard; 1802, David Buck, John Finne- gan, Sylvester Foster; 1803, Francis Ward, Sylvester Foster; 1804, Francis Ward, Henry Eames, Henry Red- stone; 1806, James Coleman, Mitchell B. Bull; 1807, Luman Andrus, John Kline; 1808, Nathan Emery, Ne- hemiah U. Tompkins, Henry Redstone, also William Brown (supply); 1809, Francis Ward, William Phœbus, Henry Redstone, also John Russell (supply).

1810-25, Jamaica Circuit .- Preachers: ISIO, Francis WVard, also Stephen Richmond and Coles Carpenter (supplies); 1811, Luman Andrus, Noble W. Thomas, Sam- uel Bushnell; 1812, William Thacher, Theodosius Clark; 1813, Jonathan Lyon, Samuel Bushnell, William Blag- borne; 1814, Smith Arnold, Theodosius Clark; 1815, Joseph Crawford, Benjamin Griffin; 1816, Thomas Ware, Marvin Richardson; 1817, William Phobus, James M. Smith, also Nicholas Morris (supply); 1818, Phineas Rice, Nicholas Morris, also Benjamin Griffin and George Coles (supplies); 1819, Phineas Rice, Noble W. Thomas; 1820, Samuel Cochran, Noble W. Thomas; 1811, Samuel Cochran, Samuel D. Ferguson; 1822, 1823, Elijah He- bard, llorace Bartlett; 1824, 1825, Jacob Hale, Richard Seaman.

1826-32, Hempstead Circuit .- Preachers: 1826, Daniel De Vinne, David Holmes, also Bartholomew Creagh and Oliver V. Amerman (supplies); 1827, D. De Vinne, D. Holmes, B. Creagh; 1828, Noble W. Thomas, Daniel I. Wright, B. Creagh; 1829, N. W. Thomas, D. I. Wright, Lemuel Green; 1830, 1831, Jesse Hunt, Gershom Pierce, Richard Wymond; : 832, Noah Bigelow, Alexander Hu- lin, Edward Oldrin.

1833-41, Huntington Circuit .- Preachers: 1833, A. Hulin, R. Wymond; 1834, Ira Ferris, Ezra Jagger; 1835, Ira Ferris, J. B. Matthias; 1836, J. B. Matthias, James N. Shaffer; 1837, Jesse Carley, J. N. Shaffer; 1838, Bezaleel Howe, Paul R. Brown; 1839, B. Howe, Humphrey Hum- phreys; 18440, John Nixon, John A. Edmonds; 1841, Or- lando Starr, J. A. Edmonds.

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 78

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co. Number of Pages: 703

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co.
Number of Pages: 703