USA > New York > Staten Island > History of Richmond County (Staten Island), New York : from its discovery to the present time > Part 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
After Dr. Van Santvoord left the island there is an interval of eight years, up to 1750, of which no record can be found. Occasional services were performed, and baptisms administered by ministers from the city, and also by Dominies Vas and Anthonius as before.
In 1750 the church on the north side united with that at Ber-
35€
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
gen, N. J., in a call to a minister to supply them in common. His name was Petrus De Wint. The agreement drawn up by the consistories regarding their respective shares of the ser- vices, and their contributions for the minister's support, is very specific. Each was to have a righteous half of the services, and to make a righteous half of the payment. The church at Bergen was to furnish a parsonage and sufficient firewood. That on Staten Island engaged to give "an able riding horse, with all that belongs to it." After that it was stipulated that " the dominie was to look out for his own horse."
De Wint accepted the call, and commenced his labors in the two churches in 1751 ; but these did not continne long. The call had to be sent to Holland, to be approved by the Classis of Amsterdam, and they immediately wrote back to the con- sistory at Bergen that De Wint was an imposter, and that the credentials by which he had obtained a favorable reception were forgeries. Of course he was at once discharged by the two consistories ; and a final settlement was had with him at Ber- gen, which is recorded in the minutes of that consistory, Jnne 22, 1752.
In June, 1753, the two churches again joined in calling Mr. William Jackson, then a student under the care of Rev. John Frelinghuysen, of Raritan, N. J. By the terms of the call Mr. Jackson was to proceed to Holland to complete his studies there, the churches agreeing, in the meantime, to pay him an annual sum for his support. He remained in Holland four years and a half, and was ordained there. On his return he was installed pastor of the two churches, in 1757.
Mr. Jackson was much esteemed as a preacher, and in the re- formed Dutch churches in Middlesex and Somerset counties, had a reputation as a field preacher scarcely inferior to Whit- field. Instances are recorded in which the crowds assembled to hear him could not be contained in any church, and the ser- vices had to be held in the open air. After ministering for up- ward of a quarter of a century, he became subject to fits of mental aberration ; not frequent at first, but very afflictive; and while suffering from them he would say strange things in the pulpit, by which the gravity of his hearers was sorely dis- turbed, while the body of his discourse would be sound and edifying. His illness at last increased to such a degree that the two churches had to apply to the Classis of Hackensack for a
357
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
commission to inquire into his case. This met in December, 1789, and after a patient investigation, continued during three days, Mr. Jackson's insanity was deemed to be such as to pre- clude the hope of his farther usefulness, and he was advised to return his call. This he finally did, although with extreme re- luctance, for his heart was set upon his Master's work. He never seemed willing to stop when preaching. On one occasion, when at New Brunswick, his audience became so weary that his friend, Hon. James Schureman, ventured to give him a hint by holding up his watch. The dominie said to him quietly, "Schureman, put up your watch, Panl preached tili mid- night."
He finally bound himself under a penalty of five hundred pounds not to preach, or administer the sacraments within the bounds of the two churches. His ministry lasted thirty-two years, and the two churches, greatly to their honor, united in making a comfortable provision for their pastor as long as he lived.
After Mr. Jackson resigned his ministry the connection be- tween the two churches of Bergen and Staten Island was dis- solved, having continued harmoniously thirty-nine years. In 1769 a deed was given by Jacob Rezean to the Rev. Mr. Jack- son and the consistory of the Reformed Dutch church at Rich- mond and the session of the English Presbyterian church at Stony Brook, for land in the village of Richmond on which to build a church, these two bodies being desirous of uniting.
From this it would appear that after the Waldenses left Stony Brook, in order to unite with the Dutch and the French Huguenots in 1717, as already mentioned, a Presbyterian church was formed in the place which they had occupied. The deed mentions the names of James Rezeau and Samuel Broome as " the present Elders of the English Presbyterian Church, ac- cording to the Westminster Confession of Faith, Catechism and Directory, agreeable to the present established Church of Scotland." The deed conveyed a small lot, sixty-five feet by fifty-five, to these parties. As far as we can understand it this is the ground on which the present Reformed church in Rich- mond stands. The church then standing at Stony Brook was to be removed and rebuilt on this lot. The deed was granted by the donor "in consideration of the pions and laudable de- sign of the said parties, and also of the sum of ten shillings,
358
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
lawful money of the province of New York, to him in hand paid." It is distinctly specified that if ever any attempt shall be made to alienate the property from sacred to secular pur- poses, it shall be lawful for the grantor, his heirs or assigns, to enter on it and reclaim it. This, unhappily, seems a not im- possible contingency, in the present condition of that church.
The first minutes of the consistory of the Port Richmond church, preserved in regular form, are dated June 25, 1785. At a meeting then held, this minute is recorded, along with some others not of interest, "our house of worship-the six- sided building described before-having been destroyed in the late unhappy war, it was resolved to build a new one, of brick." The account is that the building was greatly injured by fire by the British troops, and afterward blown down in a severe storm. A committee was appointed to raise money for the purpose at home and in the neighboring churches, and to superintend the building. There are no particulars of the progress of the work, but it was ready for service in March, 1788.
In 1790, the Rev. Peter Stryker was ordained minister of this church, and remained till 1794, when he accepted a call from Second River, now Belleville, N. J. During his ineum- bency the church was incorporated, in 1792, under the style and title of "The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, on Staten Island," the names of the incorporators being Rev. Peter Stry- ker. Hendrick Garretson, John Van Pelt, Wilhelmus Vreeland, John Garretson, William Merrill, Peter Hanghwont, Abraham Prahl, and Nicholas Haughwout.
After Mr. Stryker's departure, the church remained without a pastor for three years, when Mr. Thomas Kirby was ordained over it. He remained a little over three years, when he was obliged to resign ; the means of his support having been almost entirely withdrawn. He was an Englishman without culture, unable even to spell correctly, and the minutes in his hand- writing are such as would disgrace a schoolboy. Fifty years ago there were many living who had sat under his ministry, and knew him well. He soon showed himself to be a man with- out much character, and his habits were so gross as to disgust most of those who came into contact with him. He was suspended from the ministry for intemperance after leav- ing the island, but was afterward restored, and went to Canada.
359
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
The church at Richmond, erected on Mr. Rezeau's grant, was burnt down also, during the war, by the British troops, because it was, as they termed it, a rebel church. This speaks well," says Doctor Brownlee, "for the descendants of the Waldenses and the Huguenots, and the Dutch with whom they blended ; and their descendants may feel proud that it did not earn the distinction of being al- lowed to stand. There were no tories then in our churches, here or at Richmond ; and so both of them were burnt."
During Mr. Kirby's ministry, an application was made by Benjamin Swaim and Israel Oakley, for the concurrence of the consistory here in building a new church at Richmond, on the foundation of the old French church ; and steps were taken to organize a church, by ordaining two elders and two deacons. Very particular arrangements were also made as to the times and the amount of service to be rendered by the pastor ; but Mr. Kirby was not the man to succeed in a work of that kind, and the project was not carried out till some years later.
On the 16th of May, 1802, Rev. Peter I. Van Pelt, after- ward Doctor Van Pelt, was ordained pastor of the church, and remained till 1835, when the relation between him and the church was dissolved by mutual consent. Dr. Van Pelt's labors were exceedingly popular and successful from the first ; and numerous additions were made to the membership of the church at almost every communion.
During the incumbency of Dr. Van Pelt, a building was erected on the spot now occupied by the brick stores in Port Richmond, then the property of the church, with the view of establishing a parochial school, under the care of the church. The project, however, did not succeed very well ; and, after trying two or three teachers, it was finally given up. What is chiefly interesting in connection with this, is the fact of a Sab- bath school being opened in the building as early as 1812, and believed to have been among the earliest in this country.
In 1835, on the fourth Sabbath of August, the present pastor, Rev. James Brownlee, was ordained ; and through a kind Providence remains to this day. During all these years the church has been, on the whole, growing, and has made many efforts and some sacrifices to reach its present position, and "provide things honest in sight of all men."
"Soon after my settlement, says Dr. Brownlee, "it was de-
360
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
termined to repair the old church, which had become much dilapidated. This was immediately done, at a cost of over 84,000. The next year lots were purchased for a parsonage, and a house was erected, the whole costing over $3, 000.
"In 1845 it was found that the church was not large enoughi for those desiring to worship in it, and after much discussion as to enlarging the old building or erecting a new one, it was finally resolved to build anew. This was accordingly done, and the house which is now occupied was built, at a cost of
PORT RICHMOND DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH.
$10,000, and dedicated in February, 1846, the Rev. Dr. De Witt, and other clergymien participating in the services. Since then the parsonage has been enlarged and beautified at a cost of $5,000, and is now one of the most convenient and comfortable anywhere to be found.
"A necessity having long been felt for some additional burying ground, that around the church as far as it is available being almost completely filled up, about the year 1874 the consistory purchased a piece of ground for a cemetery, most eligibly situ- ated, and in one of the most beautiful spots on the island.
dances Browulee
ARTOTYPE, E
IERSTADT, N سو
361
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
The consistory felt that this was necessary, as they had no proper space to bury their dead, and the time cannot be far dis- tant when the increase of population and the demands of business may render it necessary, as in so many other places, to remove the dead farther from the dwellings of men.
"During all these years the church has been much favored in spiritual things. For a time after my settlement there was a most depressing state of coldness-almost of lethargy-in the church. But we had a band of praying men among us, men of faith, who never ceased to plead before the mercy seat ; and speedily their prayers were heard. Converts began to come in in numbers, into our fold ; and from that time to the present, a year has never passed, and rarely a communion season, without some additions to our membership. In 1838, thirteen were added to our list of members, by confession. In the year following, sixteen, and so on. God never left himself without a witness among us.
" We also have had our seasons of gracious revival-but reviv- al of the right sort ; not that which is got up, but that which comes down ; which begins to show itself in a silent, prevalent earnestness, and diligent attendance on the prayer-meetings and other means of grace. Of that kind was the gracious sea- son of 1843-44, when twenty-eight were brought into the church ; some of whom are among the most warm-hearted and devoted followers of Christ among us to this day.
"In 1858, there was another very remarkable outpouring of the spirit among us. It began as before, silently and without any concerted action.
"The consistory and myself sought rather to guide and reg- ulate, than to stimulate it ; while at the same time we could not but discern and gratefully recognize the hand of the Lord. In April of that year, fifty were received in fellowship at one communion ; and within the year thirty-three more, making eighty-three in all. It was a season that stirred the souls of God's people to their depths, in joy and praise, and caused their Christian graces to shine forth with new and holy lustre.
"Our Sabbath school has long been prosperous. It has for years been under the very best management, without any at- tempt at display ; without any efforts or contrivances to allure teachers or scholars from quarters to which courtesy for- bade us to apply. We have kept to the steady purpose of
362
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
cultivating the nseful and solid, rather than the entertaining.
" It would be interesting, if space permitted, to give short sketches of some of the fathers of the church, who have gone to their reward from among us. Allow me very briefly to men- tion a few.
" The first to pass away were Jacob Bodine and Joshna Mer- serean, both of Huguenot origin, and both exhibiting the inef- faceable traits of their lineage, in the vivacity and energy which we usually attribute to the French blood. Mr. Bodine was for many years a member of the consistory, and an active and un- tiring friend of the church. He and Mr. Merserean, along with Dr. Clark, had the whole burden of remodelling the old church to bear, and of building the parsonage; and amid many diffi- culties, chiefly met and surmounted by Mr. Bodine's business skill and tact, they succeeded, to the satisfaction of all con- cerned.
" Mr. Mersereau was somewhat reserved in his manner; prompt, decided, and resolute. He had the appearance, to those who did not know him, of being rather stern; but his friends knew him to be of the most kindly and genial disposi- tion, when he met them in the quiet family circle. He was a man of incorruptible integrity, before whom no one could safely venture to commit any meanact. He, too, was a life-long steady friend of his church.
" Then there was Judge Tysen, who had been member of congress, and for many years first associate judge of the county : a most careful and accurate business man, for many years the treasurer of the church; always ready, by word and deed, to advance the interests of the church; faith- ful and liberal in all his ways. To him, along with George Cad- mns and myself, was committed the duty of overseeing the build- ing of the present church, and on him fell by far the heaviest share. He was indefatigable in his attention to the work while it was in progress, and professed himself amply rewarded for his labor when he saw the building completed-which had a much more creditable appearance then than it bears to-day, among the many new church edifices which have been built all around us. He was re-elected to the office of elder again and again, as long as he would consent to serve; and when he was taken away, in ripe old age, it seemed as if the most prominent place in the church was left empty.
363
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
" There was Aartie Housman, as he was commonly called. His name is entered on the record as Aaron, but I think it must have been a mistake for Arthur. Many will remember him as he sat under the gallery, with his tall, erect, massive frame, and his magnificent head, with flowing white hair, which at once attracted the notice of every stranger who entered the pulpit, and which might have served as a model for a head of Jupiter. He was a man of but limited education, but of strong good sense and natural intelligence; who with greater advantages of training, could not have failed to distinguish himself.
" Garrit Martling, for many years an elder and warm friend of the church, was a man of few words. but his face beamed with the kindliness which filled his heart: and when any one asked a favor of him, he always granted it as if it were con- ferred upon himself, delighted with the opportunity of doing a kind act.
" Solomon Zeluff was long an elder. Quiet and reserved in manner, but faithful to all that he deemed right; he was a man of prayer, and earnestly attached to the doctrines and usages of his church.
" George Cadmus was not a member of the church, but a constant and generous friend. Withont doubt, he was a true Christian for years before his death, although, from nnaffected humility, he shrank from taking the name openly. Open hearted, full of quips and jokes, he was a most attractive com- panion and friend, beloved by all who knew him.
" Panl La Tourette, also long an elder, was of Huguenot ori- gin, and showed it in form and manner. A man of prayer and faith beyond many, he was strong in the Scriptures. Indeed, his Bible was almost his exclusive study. His mind was clear and logical, grasping at once the main points of any subject : and although he had not enjoyed many advantages of education in early life, there were very few who could hold an argument with him successfully on any Scriptural or doctrinal point. He was remarkably fluent in prayer ; and so warm were his feelings and so much did he become engaged that sometimes he would pray for half an hour, or even three-quarters ; and would be surprised when his friends told him how long he had been on his knees.
" Time would fail to speak of all whom we lovingly remem- ber. But I must mention John Garretson (Judge Garretson, as
364
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
he was commonly called), who had also been in congress. His name is the first of those subscribed to my call ; and he was the first to depart. He and his wife Martha were the oldest mem- bers of the church at Richmond, having been received in Dominie Jackson's time. Ile was a devoted Christian, and one of the finest specimens of the Christian gentleman ; polished, and even courtly in his manners, which his usual dress and appearance did not lead one to expect. He was a man of very extensive information, and clear, incisive intellect ; and would have greatly surprised any stranger who might have taken him for nothing more than the plain farmer he appeared to be. His household was one of the most delightful I ever knew. It was probably the last in the county in which the Dutch language was spoken. He and his wife always used it when alone ; and when, at my request, they would speak it, it seemed to lose every trace of uncouthness, which those unacquainted with it are apt to attribute to it, and to be the very dialect of warm, homely, household regard.
" The judge used to ride to church at Port Richmond every Sabbath, for years, till the Richmond church was built, in 1808; and, although he lived twelve miles away, there was no more regular attendant than he. I remember well his saying, 'I do not know what has come to our young people now ; it takes so little to keep them home on a Sabbath day. I have gone for years, through all weather, and it never hurt me.' And, look- ing kindly at his aged companion he added, 'and the jufvrouw always went with me. It took a storm-mind, I say a storm- to keep her home.'
"I cherish his memory with grateful affection. He was the first to speak words of encouragement to me when I came here, without experience in the ministry ; and to predict that there was in the young dominie 'something that would wear.' He was my kind friend to his dying day."
Rev. Alfred H. Demarest was called as associate pastor to Doctor Brownlee, and was ordained and installed November 6, 1884.
The fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Doctor Brownlee was celebrated on Sunday, August 23, 1885. At that time it was said that Mrs. Martha Miller, of Mariners' Harbor, was the only person living who was a communicant of the church at the time of Doctor Brownlee's installation. Several of the neigh-
S
Gaven. 91
Christian
Boumentir's Pliats en Kerkeneaters Plauk.
Johanne
Van wagen
Richard
w very. The
dimanzo.Tr
Murilo."
SanGroll.or
Mageworth 50
omeliaGroom
VogelanST.
2.
36.
73.
Porast
pan Yaghito.
Componist
Good doanh
You Gurt Goeson, 68
Novelomy
Condia
Order Lagen
antonio
82]
57
Maria Fraale!
Bija April 2 64
Kylie marcus : n 79.
Catrinas Bereketo 59
Sinatie Go startlinghs.
Lona Van 6
Para goles 60
G
Burbank .
poristan 82
Chinabeth 62 6 Baker
Marigrita vindhave.
60
63
Jane Post 63
Rebecca, 2.
26
23
Simonon 29 hanno,
slag
Goenn. Camelus
Mengh
Rest vanJuly
inbank. 19 Roman
Pois Frally, 15.
langrand t.
De groot. B.
Teater De groot 12
Krvefien. 10.
Sereaux.
oshuacher
Grit Prosent
Comedo formy.
San Yoghto
Hemmet fonction
Wogelom. A.
Druad Van
co
water
21/
Legea 66 freer
21
E.
co
Jacob Antero
Emi Johles.
Backer;
Nicholus
De groot.
Maria Mac61 sorealy.
Skakmen
Bral.
annullaes
Giles
& 77.
ce.
DCalforno van den (Pristatyho vedePourtoche Verts 9,0 Siten Čila den 30m Hyper Anno Dom: 175%.
Dankeffer Feat.
(Engraved from a tracing made by R. M. Bay les, from the original sketch.)
Oucod Boen.
M
Vimonza.
Smelias Elias.
labam 6 - 8
6
Johannes
365
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY,
boring churches suspended services in the morning out of respect to this celebration.
At that time Doctor Brownlee had, during the fifty years of his pastorate, baptized eight hundred and thirty-nine children and seventy adults ; married six hundred and twenty-four couples, attended about six hundred and fifty burials ; received seven hundred and twenty-one persons into the communion of the church ; preached four thousand three hundred and sixty six written sermons, and delivered about five thousand extempore addresses at evening prayer-meetings, funerals and on other occasions. The fact was a remarkable one that he had married a couple, not long before, whose parents he had married in 1860, and whose grand-parents he had married in 1838.
The record of baptisms belonging to this early church, and covering about half a century from 1696 onward, has been transcribed for this work, and will be found in this chapter.
Accompanying this article will be found a diagram of the second edifice of this church which stood at Port Richmond about where the present church stands. It was built about 1714 and destroyed during the revolution. The following ex- planations of the diagram of the old church were given by Mr. J. J. Clute.
Translation of the title: "Plan of the Christian Low Dutch Church on Staten Island, the 30th September, in the year of our Lord 1751 , made by Daniel Corsen."
A. Predikestoel-Pulpit, B. Ouderlingen-Elders. C. Diakenen-Deacons.
1 Boumeester's Plaats en Kerkmeester's Plaats-The Master-Builder's Place and the Church-Warden's Place.
2 Plaats voor den Overheidt-Place for the Magistrate.
3 Nicholas Backer,
4 Douwe Van Wogelom,
5 Ernst Lende, Henrik Croesen,
6 Jan Veghte,
7 Jacob Corsen, Cornelis Corsen,
8 Gerrit Croesen, Abraham Croesen,
9 Joshua Mersereaux,
10 Gerrit Kroessen,
11 Gerrit Post, Cors Krock,
12 Pieter De Groot,
13 Johannes De Groot,
14 Jan Van Pelt, and another illegible,
15 Joris Prall,
16 Thomas Burbank,
17 Jacob Van Pelt,
18 Peter Martlinghe,
19 Cornelius Croesen,
20 Egbert Hagabot,
21 Robert De Groot,
:2 Hendrik Proll, and another erased,
23 Johannes Simonson,
The succeeding nine are vacant,
33 Antonie Van Pelt,
34 Jon Roll, Junr.,
35 Joseae Morseroe, Junr.,
36 Cornelius Elles,
37 Vacant,
38 Art Simonson or Simonze,
39 Richard Merrell,
40 Jan Roll,
41 Cornelius - sen.,
42 Isaac Simonze,
43 Johanne Vanwagena,
44 Wilhelmus Vreelandt,
45 Cornelius Corsen,
46 Christian Corsen,
47 Otto Van Tuyl,
48 Jacob Corsen,
49 Vacant,
50 Nealtje Hagewout,
366
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
51 Cornelia Corsen.
64 Elsje Merrill,
52 Aaltje Van Pelt,
65 Gurtruyde Merrell,
53 Jan Veghte,
66 Antje Corsen.
67 Cornelia Croesen,
68 Gerret Croesen,
55 Vacant,
69 - Simonse,
56 Helena Croesen,
57 Elisabet Corsen, Sister Bock,
58 Maria Praal,
71 De Nakomelings van (the descendants of) Catharine Hoogelandt,
72 Vacant,
61 Arayaentie Elles,
62 Elizabetlı Baker,
63 Sara Post,
64 Belitie De Groot,
65 Elizabeth De Groot,
77 Fermie Van B
66 Aeyea Speer,
67 Vacant,
68 Maria Mersereau,
80 Lena Van Wagene,
69 Fransynt je Post, and another erased, 81 Maria Prall,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.