History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 51

Author: Cole, David, 1822-1903, ed. cn; Beers, J. B., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > New York > Rockland County > History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 51

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190212

BUILT 1850.

REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH,

PIERMONT, N. Y.

224

HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.

the living members were invited to a grand opening on seminary, was called to fill the vacancy and began his that occasion."

In 1879 the church was still further enlarged by the erection of a commodious lecture room in the rear, at an expense of $3,000. The first parsonage was erected on the hill in sight of the river in 1847, enlarged in 1849, and sold in 1857 to John Quackenbos, its present owner. In 1860 the present parsonage was built at an expense of $3.000, so that the entire amount expended by the Re- formed congregation of Piermont for buildings and grounds is $25,000.

The first child baptized was Louisa, daughter of Heze- kiah C. Seymour and Mary Sherrie, born November 22d 1838, and baptized September 8th 1839. In after years she became a member of this church. She has lived a useful life and is an honored member of society.

The first recorded marriage was that of William H. Whiton to Sarah Lord, October 2Ist 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Whiton are still members of this church.

The present officers of the church are: Elders, I. M. Dederer, J. W. Ferdon, S. A. Jessup, J. W. Blauvelt, C. W. Miller; Deacons, C. Clark, F. W. Bauer, C. Voor- hees. J. W. Littlefield, J. Westervelt.

Episcopal Church, Piermont .- The first services in this parish were held by the Rev. William Walker, in Mr. Lord's line kiln building, in the year 1847. At a meeting held at the old stone house of Dr. James Hopson, Pier- mont, March Ist 1848, the parish of Christ Church, Pier- mont, was duly organized by the election of Edward Mar- riott and John Quackenbos, wardens, and Thomas E. Blanch, George Hoogland, William E. Smith, Henry Ayers, William Armstrong, Zira Trowbridge, J. B. Gerard, and S. S. Post, vestrymen. The act of incorporation was recorded in the County Clerk's office, New City, April Ioth 1848. In the summer of the same year Mr. Walker resigned and the Rev. John Canfield Sterling was called. In the autumn of 1849 Mr. Sterling resigned and retired from the ministry. The Rev. Solomon G. Hitchcock, a native of Amenia Union, was called to fill his place and began his duties on the first Sunday in Advent, 1849. Mr. Hitchcock's field of labor comprised the whole of Rockland county, to which he was appointed mission- ary, as well as rector of Christ Church. These duties he fulfilled most faithfully and ' cheerfully during his long rectorship and the parishes of this county owe their origin to him. During Mr. Hitchcock's rectorship the parish received a gift of land from Thomas E. Blanch and the present stone church was built and entirely paid for. Mr. Hitchcock remained in charge of the parish till his death, which occurred September 14th 1877, having passed twenty-eight years of active and faithful self sacrificing labor in the parish for the good of the people and the glory of God. His name is still loved and honored in the homes of the poor. The Rev. Joseph M. Waite was called to the rectorship, and began his duties January Ist 1878. Mr. Waite remained in charge of the parish till May Ist 1883, when ill health caused him to resign.

The Rev. Theodore M. Peck, a deacon just from the

work the Ist of June, 1883. He is still in charge.

ROCKLAND CEMETERY.

This cemetery is situated on the west side of the Hud- son, in Rockland county, New York. On its southeast lies Piermont, with Sparkill on its southwest It is on a part of the romantic Palisade range, which attains at this point a height of 500 feet. On the east, facing the Tap- pan Zee, it presents a bold front, covered with native for- est. From the entrance gate it rises in gentle slopes, with graceful curves, terraces, and plateaus, apparently formed by the hand of nature, for the purpose to which it has been dedicated.

The cemetery contains about 200 acres, and was found- ed by the late Eleazar Lord, LL. D., in the year 1847. for the purpose of providing New York city with a perma- nent resting place for its dead. At that time the Erie Railroad terminated at Piermont, and it was expected that there would be frequent and rapid communication on the river between New York city and Piermont, thus affording facilities for reaching the cemetery. The ter- minus of the road being changed to Jersey City, the growth of the cemetery was for a time checked.

In the spring of 1880, William H. Whiton, in connec- tion with Andros B. Stone, George S. Coe, José M. Muñoz, John W. Ferdon, and other gentlemen, resolved to revive the project originating with Mr. Lord, and to put the cemetery in a condition suitable for interments. Under the direction of Mr. Whiton, miles of broad mac- adamized avenues have been built, and bridges, drains, vaults, arbors, seats, and other conveniences necessary for a first-class cemetery, have been constructed. This has been done with the aid of engineers, surveyors, gar- deners, mechanics, and a hundred or more of laborers, at a cost of over $50,000.

The officers of the association are: John W. Ferdon president; George S. Coe, vice-president; William H. Whiton, secretary and treasurer; John W. Ferdon, Charles W. Miller, George S. Coe, José W. Muñoz, An- dros B. Stone, William H. Whiton, trustees. J. Martine & Son are superintendents of interments. The city of- fice is at 69 Liberty street, New York.

PALISADES.

Palisades (formerly Snedens Landing), the southern- most village of Rockland county, is prettily located on the northern slope of the Palisades ridge, and in part on the elevated plateau of the foot of the same slope, which extends about two miles along the river, ending at Tall- man's Mountain, Piermont. Owing to its elevation of two hundred feet above the river, and of about half that height above the valley toward Tappan, the drainage of the region is excellent and the locality notably healthy. From the wooded heights south of the village, which are ascended by the new Highland avenue in picturesque curves with easy grades, the view is very extensive to-

225

ORANGETOWN -VILLAGE OF PALISADES.

ward the west, north, and northeast, embracing an unu- sual combination of river, mountain, and valley scenery. Among the most striking views to be obtained are those from the premises of Dr. C. R. Agnew and Mr. Mulligan. of them were baptized in the old Tappan church .* Ga- briel Ludlow jr. was a Supervisor of Orangetown as early as 1734. The Lawrences at an early day in the last cen- tury occupied the lands in and about the present village There are some objects of interest connected with Rev- of Palisades, and some of their descendants died here at olutionary history in the vicinity of Palisades. The old a very recent date. The Lawrences intermarried with the Snedens and thus came the name of Lawrence J. Sneden, who owned, when he died, the landing at the bottom of the hill, which was for many years known as Snedens Landing, and was a place of embarkation for New York.

military road from the ferry below the village through the dells of the Palisades to Fort Lee, New Jersey, may still be traced in the old wood road, east of the point where the Boulevard crosses the State line. Washington's spring, which lies to the left of the road to the landing, is of interest as being the one used by the little force stationed on the sightly knoll below to watch the move- ments of the British fleet, when they were expected from New York, on their way to West Point. In the old stone house now occupied by E. M. Taft Esq., Washington and Lafayette are said to have dined together in Revolu- tionary times. This landmark was erected by William Corbett, about the year 1729, and though subsequently burned down, was rebuilt by his successor, one of the Lawrences. The original walls were used as they stood before the fire. It has always been called the big house, because it was the largest house in this locality for the first hundred years of its existence.

The original patent from the British government, granted in the reign of King James the Second, of Eng- land, to George Lockhart, for three thousand four hun- CHURCHES AT PALISADES. dred and ten acres of land, which is that portion extend- ing from Piermont on the north to a point near Closter on the southeast of the Sparkill, and bordering on the Tappan Patent on the west, and which included the present site of Palisades, was dated the 20th of February 1685. It is recorded among the Orange county records, in the Secretary of State's office, at Albany. The point of beginning of the survey was on the hill south of Dr. Agnew's residence, at the northeasterly corner of lands belonging to R. L. Simonson, which spot was then marked by a large white oak tree, with a bent trunk like an Z in outline. When this patent was granted by the British government, the forest along the Palisades, south of the tract, was called the King's woods, as appears by refer- ence to the records above referred to. The present pop- ulation of Palisades (1884) is about 400. The place has . two churches, a Methodist Episcopal and a Presbyterian, and a well conducted school. The nearest railway sta- tions on the Northern Railroad of New Jersey are Tap- pan and Sparkill, which are each about a mile and a half |house was one of the regular appointments on the Haver- distant, and the station of the West Shore Railroad at Tappan.

The center of the village is laid out in wide avenues which were planted with fine elms and maples several years since. A public park, containing a variety of decid- uous and evergreen trees, occupies the open area at the intersection of Corbett and Lockhart avenues. In the early part of the last century Gabriel and Henry Ludlow bought from George Lockhart and his successors all that part of his patent lying along the Sparkill, includ- ing Closter, to the then State line and the lower part of Rockland. The Ludlows lived in this locality. Some

The ferriage across the Hudson at this point was car- ried on a hundred or more years ago by a man named Dobbs, who lived on the east side and owned the wharf- age on both sides, together with the ferry right. Papers still existing show that the name Dobbs Ferry, properly belonging to the ferry franchise only, was during the Revolution applied indifferently, sometimes to one and sometimes to the other of the shore points on the east and west, which formed the termini of the ferry route proper. Very early, however, after the Revolution, the west shore point received the name of Snedens Landing, which it held for almost a century, while the name Dobbs Ferry became the designation of the east shore point, and has now long been the name of the thrifty village that has grown up upon it.

Methodist Episcopal Church at Palisades.t-As nearly as can be learned the first Methodist preachers came to Piermont about 1810. and preached in the school house on week day evenings. On one occasion after the ser- vices in the evening, the preacher (whose name is not known) was invited by a Mr. Ackerson, a miller, to pass the night at his house. The invitation was accepted, and ever afterward the preacher found a hearty welcome there.

How long this appointment was continued there are now no means of knowing.

Some time after this Moses Taylor and his family re- moved from New York city to this vicinity. He had at- tended Methodist preaching in the John street church, and learning that there was Methodist preaching at Nyack he on one occasion attended the services there. He invited the preacher, a Mr. Sherwood, the assistant of Peter Van- nest, to make an appointment at his house, which he did, and during a number of years- thereafter Mr. Taylor's straw circuit.

About 1820 there was formed here a class consisting of Mary Taylor, Zebulon Woolsey, Sarah Woolsey, Sam- uel Sneden, and Elizabeth Sneden. The leader of this class was Garret D. Onderdonk. Soon afterward Moses Taylor, Hannah Onderdonk, Robert Sneden, Jane Sne- den, Catharine Mann, Joshua Marten, Susan Marten, Ja- cob Sneden, and Cornelia Sneden were added to this class.

*Henry Ludlow married Sarah, the daughter of William Corbett, pre- vious to the year 1734, as the old Tappan church records bear witness that they had a daughter Mary baptized in that year.

+Furnished by Rev. W. C. Nelsou, pastor.

226

HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.

After a time the project of building a church was formed, and through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor a site was secured. A building was erected thereon, mostly by Mr. Taylor, except the windows, which were furnished by other parties. The house was dedicated in 1832 by Rev. John Dow, of Belleville, N. J. A Sabbath school was organized soon after the completion of the church, with Zebulon Woolsey as superintendent.

This church was occupied till 1859 when a new one was erected at a cost of $3.500. The old building is still standing on the original site. It was converted into a dwelling, and it has, at different times been occupied by the pastors. It is now the property of the Palisades Church.

Some of the preachers who have traveled on this circuit were as follows: Benjamin Collins, Joseph Lybrand, Peter Vannest, Charles Pitman, Manning Force, George Bang- hart, I. N. Felch, A. Atwood, J. H. Dandy, A. Mallison, Mulford Day, W. H. Stirr, L. R. Dunn. Till 1844 it was known as Haverstraw circuit. In that year Rockland Station was formed, and for a number of years it embraced Closter (now Alpine) Old Tappan, and Tappan, and later Piermont.

The first pastor after it was detached from Haverstraw was Fletcher Lummis. Following him in order were S. D. Lougheed, J. C. Summerill, A. E. Bollard, D. E. Framber, J. O. Winner, Thomas Walters, B. Day, C. C. Winans, W. Chamberlin, D E. Framber, G. B. Day, J. G. Crate, and W. C. Nelson.

In the spring of 1857 Rockland and Closter were made a separate charge, and Piermont, Tappan, and Washingtonville another. T. C. Carman was appointed to Rockland, and T. J. Williams to Piermont. The fol- lowing have been the pastors since, in the order of their names: J. Mead, R. B. Collins, S. D. Jones, H. J. Hayter, G. O. Carmichael, A. Vandeusen, I. W. Cole, W. Stout, N. Brooks, W. W. Vanderhoof, C. R. Snyder. The pres- ent pastor (1884) is W. C. Nelson, who was also the pastor in 1856 and 1857, when the church at Piermont was built. The present church at Palisades was built in the years 1858 and 1859. The contractor was John Hen- nion, of Tappan. The pastor was T. C. Carman. The . corner stone was laid in the summer of 1858 by Rev. J. B. Wakely, of New York, and the building was dedicated to the service of Almighty God on Sabbath, May 15th 1859, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Janes.

It is due to the family of Moses Taylor to state that for half a century he was the principal contributor to this church. He departed this life in 1869 at the ad- vanced age of ninety-tight, full of years and full of hope. The surviving members of the family removed to Mich- igan, and as no Methodist families have come in to strengthen and increase the number, the membership is quite small, and the resources are quite limited. The officers of this church are as follows: Pastor, W. C. Nel- son; Trustees: Abner Conklin, Charles L. Du Bois, Da- vid D. Mann; Stewards: J. J. Hemingway, Abner Conk- lin, Rachel Mann, Robert Morrow, W. D). Sherwood; Superintendent of Sabbath School, W. D. Sherwood.

The Palisades Presbyterian Church .*- The Palisades Presbyterian Church was formed as follows: On the 23d of April 1863, five gentlemen met at the house of the late Charles F. Park, 7 East Thirty-eighth street, New York city, and resolved to erect a church at Palisades, and to engage the services of a young minister. The names of these gentlemen were: C. R. Agnew M. D., Clinton Gil- bert, W. S. Gilman jr., I. Newton Sears, and C. F. Park.

At a subsequent meeting, held on the 11th of May in the same year, the same gentlemen decided to engage the services of the Rev. Joseph Greenleaf jr. to December ist 1863. May 15th 1863, the first service was held in the old Methodist church at Palisades, now (1884) used as a store and post office. There were thirty persons present in the audience. The first session of the Sab- bath school was held on the afternoon of the same day, with an attendance of seven scholars. On the ist of June 1863 the foundations of the present church edifice were begun, and on the 10th of July of the same year the lumber was drawn upon the ground.

The congregation of the Palisades Presbyterian Church elected as their trustees and incorporators, on the 23d of September 1863, the following persons: C. Gilbert, C. F. Park, C. R. Agnew M. D., W. S. Gilman jr., I N. Sears, L. H. F. Conklin, W. H. Gesner, and W. L. Van Ant- werp. Of these original trustees, C. F. Park, L. H. F. Conklin, and W. H. Gesner are not now living. On the same day, the church elected W. S. Gilman jr. Elder, and C. R. Agnew M. D., Deacon.

On the Ist of October, 1863 the church attendance was between seventy and eighty, and that of the Sunday school ninety-three.

The Presbytery of New York organized the Palisades Church on the 14th of October, 1863. The Rev. J. Green- leaf jr., was called to the pastorate on the 21st of Octo- ber, 1863, seventy-five persons being present. The church bell was first rung at midnight on the 31st of December, 1863. The bell was founded at Troy, N. Y., and bears upon it the legend " Holiness to the Lord." It weighs about 525 pounds. The first service in the present church Was held on the 3d of January, 1864, seventy-three per- sons being present.

The church has had five pastors as follows: Joseph Greenleaf jr., from October, 1863 to April 2d 1866; Jolin K. Demorest, from October 16th 1866 to February 13th 1870; Aaron H. Hand D. D., from October 18th 1870 to September, 1879; J. W. McIlvain, from December 26th 1879 to September 30th 1882. Rev. Newton L. Reed, the present pastor, began his labors in October, 1883. The present membership of the church is eighty- four, and of the Sabbath school a little more than 100.

The church possesses besides its house of worship, a parsonage, and is in no way encumbered with debt. There are on the south line of the church lot, a little to the east of the present church shed, the remains of a cedar tree, the top of which was cut off by a cannon ball from the British fleet that was endeavoring to strike ter-

*Compiled from the Session Book and Record Book of the Trustees of the Church.

227

ORANGETOWN-VILLAGE OF TAPPAN.

ror into the minds of the inhabitants during the Revolu- tionary war by a demonstration.

This relic was pointed out to the writer by the late Joseph T. Stansbury who died in March last at the age of seventy years, and who considered the information authentic.

TAPPANTOWN.

Many facts relating to the history of this, the oldest village in Rockland county, are given in the history of the old Dutch Church at that place, and in the Revolu- tionary history of the county.

The first tavern in this historic place was kept by Casparus Mabie in the same stone building afterward known as the Yost Mabie Tavern, and still later as the "Old Seventy-six House." It is now owned by Dr. Stephens, and is unoccupied.

During nearly two centuries that have elapsed since this became the central point of the region here where the original Dutch settlers commenced the cultivation of the soil, this village has acquired only a limited growth, though, as before stated, the historic interest connected with it is important.

THE OLD DE WINT MANSION-WASHINGTON'S HEAD- QUARTERS.

This old substantial brick and stone building was erected in 1700, as is shown by the large figures in the front wall. The land on which it stands was conveyed in 1714 by a deed, of which the following is a copy:

" This Indenture had made and concluded on the first Day of June in the Thirteenth Year of the Glorious Reign of Our Soveraign Lady Anne by the Grace of God of mer and other Grants Bargains Sales Joyntures Dowers Great Brittain France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith &c. Annoq Domini One thousand seven hun- dred and fourteen By and Between John Straatmaker of the Town of Orange alias Tapan in the County of Orange in the Province of New York Yeoman of the one part committed suffered or done by the said John Straatmaker And Deirk Straatmaker of the said Town County and or by any other person or persons whatsoever by from Province Yeoman of the other part,

Witnesseth, That the said John Straatmaker for divers good sufficient valuable and lawful Causes and Consider- ations him hereunto moving Especially for and in Consid- eration of the Sum of Forty Pounds Current Money of New York to him well and truly in hand paid at and be- fore the Ensealing and Delivery hereof by Deirk Straat- maker aforesaid The Receipt whereof he Doth liereby acknowledge And therewith holdeth himself fully satis- fied contented and paid And thereof and of every part thereof Doth fully exonerate and discharge him the said Deirk Straatmaker his heirs and Assigns forever Hath given granted released aliened enfeoffed conveyed con- firmed assured bargained and sold And by these presents Doth absolutely give grant and release aliene enfeoff con- vey confirin assure bargain and sell unto the said Deirk Straatmaker and to his heirs and Assigns for ever All | that a certain Lott or parcell of Land scituate laying and being within the Township County and Province on the -

North side of Nicholas Van Houten and on the South side of Johannes Blauvelt (to the best of ye knowledge of both parties, but if mistake be found in the said scit- uation, the said parties are agreed to acquiesce and as- certain the said Lott or parcel of Land to lay among those Lotts as are laid out thereabouts from the Green- bush In proportion of one-Sixteenth part of the said Township of Orange to which the said John Straatmaker stands legally intituled The whole of the said Lott or parcel of Land amounting to Fifty Morgen be the same more or less Together with all and singular the Rights Liberties Priviledges and Immunities Right of Commons and Commonage Easements Profits and Commodities to the same belonging and in any wise appertaining And all the Estate Right Title Interest Use Possession Property Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders Claim and Demand whatsoever of him the said John Straatmaker his heirs and Assigns of in and to the same helonging and appertaining To Have and to hold the aforementioned Lott or parcel of land and all and singu- lar other the premises with their and every of their Ap- purtenances and every part thereof unto the said Deirk Straatmaker his heirs and assigns for ever unto the only sole and proper use benefit and behoof of him the said Deirk Straatmaker, and his heirs and Assigns for ever And the said John Straatmaker for himself his heirs Executors & Administrators and every of them Doth Covenant and grant promise & agree to & with the said Deirk Straat- maker his heirs Executors Administrators & Assigns & to and with every of them by these presents That the above bargained and hereby to be granted Lot or parcel of Land and premises with its Appurtenances are frce and clearly acquitted & discharged of and from all for- Titles of Dowers Mortgages Gifts Rents Arrearages of Rents Issues Judgments Executions Extents (the Propor- tion of Quit Rent annually payable only excepted) and of & from all other incumbrances whatsoever had made

or under him or with his privity or procurement or Con- sent And the same and every part thereof unto the said Deirk Straatmaker his heirs and Assigns against all per- sons lawfully claiming any Title thereunto shall & will truly Warrant & for ever by thiese presents Defend In Testimony whereof the said John Straatmaker hath here- unto set his hand & Seal the Day & Year first above written.

" Siin marck.

"Signed sealed and Delivered in the presence of

siin

" JAN STRAATMAKER. BLAUVELT

" ISACK

marck siin

" ISACK

VAN

" Acknowledge be fore me

CORNELIS GAZIING."

DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH. BUILT. 1716- WHERE MACORJOHN ANDRE VE TRIED. TAPPAN. NY

PRESENT DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH. BUILT 1835. TAPPAN

DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH, As RE-BUILT IN 1788. TAPPAN.

228

HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.

The original parchment is preserved in the archives of | 1660, 1686, and 1693. Mr. Vesey refers in his reports the Rockland County Historical Society.

The land was purchased about the middle of the eight- eenth century by John DeWint, a wealthy planter from St. Thomas, W. I., whose eldest daughter became the wife of Fredericus Blauvelt, a major in the British army under George II. The children and grandchildren of DeWint resided in this house during the Revolution, and although the sympathies of Mrs. De Wint were not with the Ameri- can cause she felt honored by the selection of the place as the headquarters of the American commander-in chief. It appears from the correspondence of Washington that he first occupied this house August rith 1780, and his last communication dated there was on the 21st of the same month. He was there again from the 28th of Sep- tember to the 7th of October in the same year, during which time the trial and execution of André took place. In May 1783, he was again at Tappan, but whether or not he made this house his headquarters then is not known. From a letter written in 1820, by Mrs. DeWint to a relative, it appears that General Washington and several other officers were guests at this house in Novein- ber 1783, and that they were detained there by a severe snow storm.

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History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 51

Author: Cole, David, 1822-1903, ed. cn; Beers, J. B., & co., New York, pub Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Cole, David, 1822-1903, ed. cn; Beers, J. B., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 993