USA > New York > Staten Island > History of Richmond County (Staten Island), New York : from its discovery to the present time > Part 38
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Though this law remained upon the statute book during the colonial period it became to a degree inoperative, through the munificent beqnest of Judge Duxbury made some years later.
In 1706 Rev. John Talbot was sent here as a missionary, but a church in New Jersey shared his ministrations. Soon after he was succeeded by the Rev. Eneas Mckenzie. Catechists or schoolmasters were employed under the direction of the so- ciety as early as 1712. Before this time even, the matter of erecting a church building was talked of. They were then using the French church for their worship. On the 6th of August, 1711, William Tillyer and Mary, his wife, gave to the society a building site for a church and burial ground at the
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
head of Fresh kill, on Karle's neck. In 1713 a donation of one hundred and fifty acres of land was made to this church by the generosity of Adolphus Philips, counsellor; Lancaster Symes, a captain in Fort Lewis; Ebenezer Wilson and Peter Faulconer, merchants, all of New York. This was sold by the trustees, and another piece of ground, more conveniently lo- cated, was purchased for a glebe. During the year 1713 a church was erected on the ground which two years before had been given for the purpose. This was a plain stone structure, and as far as anything is known stood on substantially the same site now occupied by St. Andrew's church at Richmond. In the year last mentioned Mr. Mckenzie writes to the society that during the first seven years of his ministry here he had preached "upon sufferance in a French Church," but the church people had now "got a pretty handsome church of their own to preach in," and a house was about being built on the recently purchased glebe.
The church was now established under the royal charter of Queen Anne, who also presented the church with prayer books, a pulpit cover, a silver communion service and a bell. The names of prominent freeholders on the island, attached to this church, appear in the charter, as follows: Ellis Duxbury, Thomas Harmer, Augustin Graham, Joseph Arrowsmith, Lambert Gerritson, Nathaniel Brittain, William Tillyer, Rich- ard Merrill, John Morgan and Alexander Stewart.
In 1718 Ellis Duxbury bequeathed to this church an extensive tract of land. His will bears date May 5, 1718, and it was ad- mitted to probate October 22 following. The property was a plantation of two hundred acres, situated on the northeast ex- tremity of the island; and consequently the point of land at New Brighton was, until a recent date, generally known as "Dnx- bury's Point," and sometimes " The Glebe." It was bequeathed to the minister, clinrch wardens and vestry of St. Andrew's church, for the only use and maintenance of the minister and incumbent. The property still owned by the church at Tomp- kinsville and its vicinity is a part of this bequest. Being a de- vise to a religious incorporation, it was void by law, but as the title of the church was never disputed, and as the state by sev- eral acts incidentally recognized its validity, to say nothing of a possession of more than a century and a half, the title has long ago become unimpeachable. By the same will the church re-
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ceived £ -- for building additions to the church, in addition to the above bequest.
The salary of Rev. Mr. Mckenzie, in 1717, appears to have been raised to £50 a year. At what time he closed his labors here we are not informed, but in 1733 Mr. Harrison appears as the missionary on Staten Island. Two years later the numerical strength of the church was about fifty communicants. Mr. Har- rison at this time writes that he has baptized nearly seventy children since he came here, also "that he hath baptized one Indian Woman, two adult Negroes, and three Negroe Children; that he preaches on Sundays once ; catechises and expounds after the second Lesson, and teaches the Negroes after Service is ended, and the Congregation gone home ; for many of them live far from Church, and will not come twice, nor stay long." The labors of Mr. Harrison ended with his death, which took place October 4, 1739, The vestry then elected a Mr. Arnold, a missionary who had been traveling in New England, to be mis- sionary on Staten Island, In 1743 Mr. Arnold writes " that his church is Church is increased twofold and he hath lately bap- tized ten Negroes, and is still preparing several more for that Sacrament." He resigned in 1745, and Rev. Richard Caner was appointed to the mission.
In 1747 the Rev. Richard Charlton became rector : his eldest daughter was connected by marriage with the Dongan family, be- ing the wife of Thomas Dongan, and mother of John C. Dongan: and another daughter was the wife of Dr. Richard Bailey, who was health officer of the port of New York, and died in 1801 ; his remains are interred in the grave yard of the church, Dr. Charlton's ministry continued thirty-two years; he died in 1779, and was buried under the communion table in St. Andrew's church.
After the decease of Mr. Charlton the pulpit was supplied for a brief term by the Rev, Mr. Barker. On the first day of May, 1780, the Rev, Mr. Field became the rector ; he had been a chap- lain in the British army, stationed in the fortifications in the vi cinity of the church. His first baptism is recorded as having been performed two weeks after that day. Mr. Field died in 1782, and was buried by the soldiers of the Seventy-seventh regiment of British troops, the place of his sepulchre being be- neath the church.
During the whole revolutionary war. the island being in pos-
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY,
session of the British, divine service was generally suspended in all the churches except this. The same is true of all other parts of the country where the British were in possession. Where the whigs had power none were closed except such Episcopal churches, the rectors of which refused to omit the prayers for the king.
In 1783 the Rev. John H. Rowland became rector. He was a native of Wales, and had been previously settled in a parish in Virginia. In 1788 he removed to Nova Scotia, and died in 1795.
In October, 1788, the Rev. Richard Channing Moore became rector. He was born in the city of New York, August 21st, 1762 ; he studied medicine and practised physic for a few years, when he became a student of Bishop Provost. His first minis- try, after receiving orders, for a very brief period, was at Rye, in Westchester county, and at the date above mentioned he came to Staten Island, where he remained until 1808, when he accepted a call to St. Stephen's church, New York. In 1814 he was elected Bishop of Virginia and rector of the Monumental church in the city of Richmond, and was consecrated May 18, 1814. During his incumbency, in 1802, a chapel was built on the north side, and called "Trinity Chapel," which has since become the Church of the Ascension. He died November 11, 1841. From 1793 to 1801 he officiated also at Amboy at stated times.
In May, 1808, Dr. Moore was succeeded by his eldest son, the Rev. David Moore, who continued rector for the period of forty- eight years. Rev. David Moore, D.D., was born in the city of New York, June 3d, 1787 ; he studied theology with his father, and was admitted to the diaconate in 1808, when he immediately took charge of his parish, In the northeast corner of the burial ground of St. Andrew's church stands a beautiful marble monu- ment, with the following inscription on one side :
REV. DAVID MOORE, D.D., Rector of St. Andrew's Church, Including Trinity Chapel, Staten Island. Born June 3d, 1787, Died Sept. 30th, 1856, Aged 69 Years.
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
On a mural tablet within the church is the following:
" Sacred to the memory of Rev. David Moore, D. D .; or- dained Deacon in Trinity Church, May 8, 1808. Received priests' orders in old St. Andrew's, June, 1811. After a min- istry of 48 years in this parish. entered into rest on Tuesday evening, September 30, 1856. In his life and character he was an exemplary pattern to his flock, possessing in an emi- nent degree those qualifications which endeared him to the hearts of an attached people, and raised in their affections a monument which will endure when the church militant on earth shall receive the full fruition of the church triumphant in Heaven."
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, RICHMOND.
Dr. Moore was succeeded by the Rev. Theodore Irving, LL. D., February 5, 1857, who resigned in November, 1864.
In June, 1865, Rev. C. W. Bolton became rector, but resigned in the following January, and was succeeded by the Rev. Kings- ton Goddard, D.D., of Philadelphia. Dr. Goddard died Octo- ber 24th, 1875, and was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Yocum, who was installed June 15th, 1876.
It is a circumstance worthy of note in connection with the revolutionary history of this church that although services in it were continued throughout the war while other churches were either closed or burned, the baptisms did not average more
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
than three in a year, and some of these were children whose parents belonged to the army.
The Episcopal churches on the island have at different times been the recipients of donations and loans from Trinity church, New York. Among these may be noticed a grant of $1,000 to the church on the North Side in 1800: one of $1,000 to St. Andrew's in 1802; and one of $1,500 to St. Luke's in 1846.
In 1802, Trinity chapel, in connection with St. Andrew's church at Richmond, was built upon a lot of land on the north shore, conveyed for the purpose by John McVicar, Esq. Rev. Richmond Channing Moore, rector of the church at Richmond, officiated in it until he left the parish. After his departure, his son, Rev. David Moore, succeeded to the rectorship, and preached, usually every Sunday afternoon, until a short time before his decease, being assisted in his duties in both places by several other clergymen employed for the purpose. After his death, the services in the chapel were conducted by several clergymen temporarily engaged until May, 1869, when another parish was organized, and Trinity chapel became the Church of the Ascension. The first rector after the organization was Rev. Theodore Irving, LL. D., of Newburgh. The congregation in- creased so rapidly that the old frame building was found to be insufficient, and the erection of a new church was determined upon. The corner stone of the new edifice was laid with ap- propriate ceremonies on the 30th day of August, 1870, and was first opened for divine service on Ascension Day, May 16, 1871. Dr. Irving continued in the church until February, 1872, when he resigned. In July, 1872, the present rector, Rev. James S. Bush, of San Francisco, was settled.
The officers of the church at the time of the erection of the chapel, were Rev. Richard Channing Moore, rector; James Guyon and Peter Mersereau, wardens, and Peter Laforge, John Latourette, John Van Dyke, Nicholas Journeay. Paul Micheau, Joshua Wright, Paul J. Micheau, and George W. Barnes, vestrymen. The material of which the church is built is Staten Island granite; it is crnciform, and has several beautiful memorial windows; it has a turret on the northeast corner, and a tower and spire one hundred and fifteen feet high on the northwest corner.
St. John's parish was an offshoot from St. Andrew's. It was organized in May, 1843, when that part of the island was
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peopled by the families of metropolitan wealth, enterprise and social distinction. The first house of worship was a modest frame building standing on the west side of the avenue, nearly opposite the present church and in the midst of a natural growth of young forest trees. The corner stone of this church was laid July 14, 1843. William H. Aspinwall, Levi Cook and W. B. Townsend were the building committee. The first wardens were Charles M. Simonson and William H. Aspinwall; and the vestrymen were Levi Cook, James R. Boardman, M. D., W. B. Townsend, W. D. Cuthbertson, Lewis Lyman, D. B. Allen, W. A. Fountain and W. H. White. The corner stone of the present
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH AND RECTORY.
church was laid November 10, 1869. This is a handsome stone building, of ample dimensions and graceful proportions and, is in keeping with the culture and resources of the congregation. The material of which it is built is mostly a rose colored granite, from Lyme, Conn., with string pieces and ornamentations of Belleville stone. The architecture is of the Gothic style of the XIVth century. The windows are of stained glass, with designs highly executed from Italian religions art. The great south transept window is a memorial of the beloved physi- cian, Dr. Anderson, who was long a celebrity at quarantine
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and in St. John's. The north side window in the chancel is a figure of surpassing loveliness, a memorial of the daughter of John Appleton, one of the most munificent and devoted friends of the parish, who is himself memorialized in an elab- orate mural tablet of polished brass, just within the chancel arch. The stained glass window architecture is said to be the finest specimen of rural church architecture in the diocese. The church was consecrated by Bishop Horatio Potter, September 30,1871.
The first rector of this parish was Kingston Goddard, from June, 1844, to June, 1847. Later rectors have successively been: Alexander G. Mercer, June, 1847, to September, 1852; R. M. Abercrombie, January, 1853, to February, 1856; John C. Eccles- ton, April, 1856, to January, 1863; Thomas K. Conrad, March, 1863, to October, 1866; and John C. Eccleston, D.D., again from 1867 to the present time.
In 1862 a commodious rectory was built adjoining the church. A parish building, known as the Mercer Memorial chapel, was erected on the same plot of ground in 1865. Within the last sixteen years one hundred and fifty thousand dollars have been spent in parish improvements.
JOHN C. ECCLESTON, M. D., D.D .- Probably no man on Staten Island has attracted by his talents a greater amount of atten- tion, or possesses a reputation more to be envied than does the Rev. John C. Eccleston, M.D., D.D., rector of St. John's church, Clifton. The doctor has enjoyed a pastorate of more than twenty-six years in his present pulpit and during that time his energy and eloquence have done much to stamp his in- dividuality upon the community in which he lives.
Doctor Eccleston was born in Kent county, Md., May 6, 1828. He is a descendant of the Ecclestons who came from the village of Ecclestown in England, with the first Maryland colonists, tak- ing an active part in the revolutionary struggles, by means of which they forfeited large landed estates in Great Britain. His father was judge of the supreme court of Maryland. and his unele, Samuel Eccleston, archbishop of Baltimore and Metro- politan of the Roman Catholic church in the United States.
The doctor graduated from the Roman Catholic college of St. Sulpice in Baltimore, July 20, 1847, and on March 31, 1850, re- ceived the degree of M. D. from the University of Maryland. For a year he followed the medical profession in the city of
26
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
Baltimore, after which he entered the General Theological Sem- inary in New York city. From there he graduated Jnne 27, 1854. On August 22d of the same year, he was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Alonzo Potter, and on April 11, 1855, he assnmed priestly orders.
He received his first call to St. John's church, February 27, 1856, assumed the rectorship of Trinity church, Newark, N. J., January 1, 1863, became rector of St. James church, Great Bar- rington, Mass., May 1, 1866, and returned to St. John's, at Clifton, November 1, 1867. The new stone church consecrated September 30, 1871, was erected largely through his energy and enterprise. The doctor has been twice married and has four children still living. His brother, Doctor J. H. Eccleston, is the distinguished rector of Emmanuel church, Baltimore, Md.
Doctor Eccleston's preaching is forcible and eloquent. Large numbers of people from all denominations and from all parts of the island are regularly attracted to his church by the power of his reasoning and by the magnetism of his manner. He has no sympathy with wrong doing, never shronds his true meaning in mystical language and is as independent in his private and political life as he is in the pulpit. His seenlar lectures which have been many, are characterized by a strength and vivacity equalled only by their instructive and nsefnl qualities, and his thirty-one years of public speaking have won him a distin- gnislied place among the orators of his day. On Staten Island he is universally known and his name is connected with every really aggressive movement. Free in lending his influence to the advancement of everything that is noble, free and good, the doctor has made for himself many lasting and powerful friends, and the memory of his good works will long survive to testify of him. We take pleasure in presenting the citizens of Rich- mond county with this short sketch of one of the oldest and most respected of its living clergymen.
The organization of St. Paul's church was effected at a meet- ing held at the Planters hotel, Tompkinsville, March 11, 1833. Previous to that time members of the Episcopal denomination attended religions services at St. Andrew's ; and for a time ser- vices were held in private houses here, by the Rev. Samuel Haskell. The first officers elected were Henry Drisler and Richard S. Cary, wardens ; and Daniel Van Duzer, Sr., Caleb
JOHN C. ECCLESTON
ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.
.
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
T. Ward, Richard Harcourt, Charles Simonson, George Brown, Daniel Simonson, Richard Sharrott and Henry B. Metcalfe, vestrymen. The Rev. F. H. Cuming was called to the rector- ship at a salary of $300 a year and ferry tickets for himself and family to pass freely between the island and New York, where he resided. He commenced his services here in July, 1833. The number of communicants became during that year, seven- teen, and measures were set on foot to build a church. Success attended those efforts, and the corner stone of an edifice was laid on the 3d of July, 1834, Bishop Onderdonk officiat- ing. Rev. Mr. Cuming resigned on the 3d of May, the same year, and Rev. William Curtis was called in his stead. He entered upon his duties August 1st, fol- lowing, and his labors were cut short by his death on the 21st of the same month. He was buried by the parish in St. Andrew's churchyard. The first church was built upon ground given by Caleb T. Ward, on what was then Richmond avenue, now known as St. Paul's avenue. The church was consecrated June 22, 1835, and was used for religious services until 1870. Its cost was $5,831.34. The financial condition of the church was for many years considerably depressed, and finally the building was sold under a foreclosure in 1861. It was pur- chased by Mr. Ward, and by him resold to the church on easy terms of payment, Still later, this generous benefactor of the church, Judge Albert Ward, proposed to erect at his own ex- pense a liandsome stone church and donate it to the parisli, on certain conditions, which were accepted, and the corner stone of the new church was laid September 29, 1866. The condi- tions referred to were that the parish should build a rectory and furnish the new church. This building of the new church was completed in 1870, and the first service held in it on Easter day, April 17th. The church was formally consecrated May 31st, following, the corporate name having been changed to " St. Paul's Memorial Church, Edgewater." The " memorial " was with respect to Miss Mary Mann Ward, a sister of the donor. The building is one of very substantial architecture and con- struction, and is said to have cost about $50,000.
The rectors acting in this church have been : William H. Walter, 1836 to December 3, 1838, except during a leave of ab- sence from November, 1837, to the time of his resignation, his place meanwhile being temporarily filled by Gordon Winslow
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
and R. C. Shimeall; William Walton, December 27, 1839, to October 1, 1843 ; Gordon Winslow, May 1, 1844 to April, 1852 ; Charles A. Maison, July, 1852, to April, 1857 ; E. H. Cressy, October. 1859, to November, 1861 ; T. W. Punnett, November, 1861, to February, 1875 ; Charles B. Coffin, April, 1875, to his death, Jnly 10, 1875 ; Albert U. Stanley, November, 1875, to May 1, 1882 ; and Henry N. Wayne, July 1, 1882, the present rector.
Of St. Luke's Church, Rossville, we have been able to pro- cure only a meagre account. The parish register appears to have been imperfectly kept. The church edifice was erected in 1843, and its first rector was Rev. C. D. Jackson ; he officiated some six or seven years, when he died in Westchester county. He was succeeded by the Rev. William H. Rees, who officiated about five years, when he died at Newark, N. J. The next rec- tor of whom we find any account was the Rev. Jesse Pound, who died in the parish after a service of some nine or ten years. He was succeeded by the Rev. Henry H. Bean, who, after sev- eral years' service, also died in the parish. There have been other rectors, but there is no record of them. The present rec- tor is the Rev. William Wardlaw.
The Church of the Holy Comforter, located at Eltingville, was opened for worship October 8, 1865, its erection being largely due to the efforts of Mr. Albert Journeay, assisted by the ladies of the neighborhood. The building was designed by Mr. Up- jolın, the architect of Trinity church. The parish was organized October 24, 1865; the incorporators were Albert Journeay, James Guyon, Edward Banker, Jr., S. K. Raymond, John W. Mersereau, Jr., and Charles E. Robins. The church edifice was consecrated May 29, 1868.
The rectors have been as follows : J. W. Payne, from Novem- ber 29, 1865, to August 9, 1866 ; W. W. Holley, from October 4, 1866, to October 24, 1867 ; WV. Leacock, from February 26, 1868, to September 23, 1868 ; Newland Maynard, from Septem- ber 27, 1869. to May 23, 1871; and Frederick M. Gray, from August 1, 1873, to
Christ Church, New Brighton, was organized on the 9th of July, 1849, its nucleus being an offshoot from St. Paul's at Tompkinsville. The nave of the present church was built in 1850, the transepts being completed at a later date. The first wardens were William Pendleton and David A. Comstock; and
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the first vestrymen were George Wotherspoon, Samuel T. Jones, Travis B. Cutting, Matthew Morgan, George E. Kunhardt, Peter Stuyvesant, Philip P. Kissam and Charles D. Rhodes. A hand- some Sunday school building was completed in 1874. The church is a frame building, and stands in the midst of tastefully ar- ranged and well kept grounds on the west side of Franklin avenue and just south of Second street. The Sunday school building stands in the rear, on the same grounds.
The first rector of this church was Pierre P. Irving, who be- gan with the early existence of the church, and continued for a term of twenty-five years. During the last two or three years he was assisted in his duties by Hamilton Lee. The present rector, George D. Johnson, succeeded him in 1875, and has min- istered to the church since that time. The present number of communicants is about three hundred, representing about two hundred and twenty families. The present officers are : L. Sat- terlee and H. E. Alexander, wardens ; and W. P. Raynor, E. Wiman, A. Rich, E. B. Crowell, W. H. Motley, N. S. Walker, C. Whitman and R. I. Fearon, vestrymen.
The establishment of the Baptist church on the island was due to the efforts of missionary work on the part of New York city pastors and licentiates. The first meetings of which we have any knowledge were held by Reverends John Gano and Elkanah Holmes in the summer of 1785. They were open air meetings, and were held at different places on the eastern shore and inter- ior of the island. Evening meetings were held in barns and pri- vate dwellings. The Methodists were in the meantime pursuing a similar course, occupying neighboring hills and orchards with their open air meetings, and sometimes the same buildings for their evening services. An important revival attended these early efforts. A church, under the name of the "First Baptist Church of Staten Island," was constituted on the 30th of De- cember, 1785. This was composed of the following persons, who had been baptized during the autumn preceding : Belichy Fountain, Anthony Fountain, Jr., Hannah Fountain, Nicholas Cox, Margaret Kruser, Mary Van Name, Mary Lockerman, Susannah Wandel, Jacob Van Pelt, John Wandel, Jr., Charles Van Name and John Lockerman.
The Rev. Elkanah Holmes became the pastor of this church, and continued as such about ten years. Rev. Daniel Steers was ordained on or about August 23, 1797, and at once became pas-
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tor of this church, which he continned to serve until about 1808, when he resigned. He was succeeded by Rev. Nicholas Cox, who had been ordained to the ministry, but died shortly after- ward, when the pulpit was supplied by different ones for a year or more.
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