History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 74

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 780

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The influence of G. V. Lansing was excellent in inducing citizens to paint their dwellings and adorn their grounds.

Colonel Dickinson had an orchard of the best of fruit on the lot of his first residence, started from trees brought from Connecticut, and set out before 1790. This orchard is now laid out into lots with a few trees left, occupied with houses to some extent ; among them an Episcopal chapel and the unfinished Methodist church.

Sehuyler's mills and all additions were burned in 1817. The mills, etc., afterwards came into the hands of Philip J.

Schuyler, who ereeted a new grist-mill, in which was con- ducted clothing works. The frame of this mill was re- moved by Ephraim Newland down near the Stillwater brook. A new saw-mill was built by T. J. Sehuyler.

In 1838, Ephraim Newland and John F. Wetsell pur- chased the Schuyler property,-east side of the road for $9000; west side, $2625.

There was a brick-kiln at one time east of the canal- bridge. The clay for the brick was taken from that thrown out from the canal.

In early years the Waterford and Whitehall turnpike company was incorporated, but failed in a short time.

Stillwater was of much public importance in the olden time, as the county clerk's office was in this village, and Direk Swart was county clerk. The first meeting of the board of supervisors of the new county of Saratoga was held, in 1791, at his house. Didn't need a very large room for four of them,-J. B. Schuyler, of Saratoga ; Elias Palmer, of Stillwater ; Benjamin Rosekrans, of Half-Moon ; and Beriah Palmer, of Ballston.

The earliest town-meetings were held in the tavern kept by Wmn. Mead, a son-in-law of George Palmer. After- wards the house became the property of Elias Palmer, and his residence for many years; it is now owned by John Patrick, son of Jesse Patrick. The latter was a merchant here for a long time, and afterwards removed to Troy.

John Thompson, of this town, was a member of Congress. Ile was the father of Judge James Thompson, of Saratoga County court.

A hand fire-engine was bought in 1875, and a fire-com- pany formed. The engine and incidentals cost $1200.

The Congregational church, that came to this town in an organized form, brought lumber with them from Connecti- cut to build their honse of worship. They first built about opposite the mouth of the Hoosic, on the road to Ballston, near the Thompson place, and half a mile from the IIudson river. This building was afterwards taken down and ereeted over again where it now stands, two miles farther from the river. It was painted yellow, and thus became known all through the county as the " Yellow meeting- house," and to this day it is better known by this name than by the name of the denomination that founded it. When it was repaired in 1850 it was painted white, but it was so contrary to its old name and associations that it was again painted yellow to correspond with its past history.

The gallery in the Presbyterian church was unfinished until Rev. Dirck C. Lansing came. He had the gallery contracted some, and had slips put in for singers and other seats put up. This was in Rensselaer Schuyler's time, who took great interest in improving the meeting-house.

Crow Hill is in the southwest part of Stillwater, rising to quite an elevation from the valley of Anthony's Kil. It is said to derive the name from the fact that one or more set- tlers used to go over to Schaghticoke and work out as day laborers in the hard times of pioneer life. They were said to be obliged to go abroad to earu something, as the crows fly to a distant eorn-field to get something to eat ; so their home was called Crow Hill.

The southern extension of this range was known for many years as Tory Hill, because there was a tall old pine

MRS. PHILIP MOSHER.

PHILIP MOSHER.

[ PHOTOS BY BAKER & RECORD, SARATOGA SPRINGS]

RES.OF PHILIP MOSHER, STILLWATER, SARATOGA CO., N.Y.

297

HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

which the loyalists used as a post of observation and a sig- nal-station. This is very probable, as there was at least one well-known Tory headquarters in Mechanicville, on the site of the present Methodist parsonage. It is said that the proprietor of that house was once nearly caught, being chased far down towards Waterford, but escaped by swim- ming his horse across the Hudson.

VI .- SCHOOLS.

The first schools were supported by subscription, and held in private houses. A school-house was built before 1800 on the hill in Stillwater village. Walter Broughton was an early teacher ; he also taught singing schools. Afterwards kept the Patrick tavern, and added to his other various occupations that of stone-eutter, being probably the grave- stone dealer in this section of the country. An early school- house was in the Hodgman neighborhood. It stood on the bank of the Stillwater creck. This was so early as not to be remembered by Leonard Hodgman, who is now eighty- six years old, but he has heard it spoken of by good au- thority.

Another early school-house was in the Thompson neigh- borhood, near where the colony from Connecticut first erected their meeting-house. Mrs. Catharine Barker speaks of Matthew Simpson, Asa Tiffany, and John IForton as early teachers. There was a school-house on the bank of the Wilbur Basin creek as early as 1799.

At Stillwater village an academy was erected many years ago. After it failed it was succeeded by the two district. schools, now employing five teachers.

The town records being lost, we can only infer that the town accepted the conditions of the school act of 1812,- either that year or the following,-and elected commission- ers and inspectors annually thereafter. We can only give the names of the last, who were chosen in 1843 : Tylee Dunham, Abraham Y. Lansing, and Reuben Hart, commis- sioners ; Stephen W. Hart and Rensselaer Barber, inspec- tors. The town superintendents following this earlier sys- tem were:

Elected Annually. - 1844-45, Abraham Y. Lansing ; 1846, Edward Moore; 1847-48, Abraham Y. Lansing.

Elceted Biennially .- 1850, omitted from town records ; 1852-54, Edward Moorc.

Town supervision ceased in 1856, at which time the schools were placed in charge of the assembly district com- missioners.

The school report for 1843 was as follows :

Districts.

No. of Children.

Public Money.

No. 2

$37.66

5.4

42.12

27.30

67.42

49.14

19.92

" 12

24.10

" 15

12.12

Part No. 1

-19

38.22

149

116.22

10.14

11.70

10.92

23.40

3.90

Total

$602.61

COMMISSIONERS' APPORTIONMENT FOR 1878.

District.

Number of Children

between five and

twenty-one.

Equal Quota of the

Public Money.

Public Money accord-

Children.

Public Money accord-

ing to average at-

tendance.

Library Money,

Total Public Money.

No. 1.

$52.14

$23.38

$21.63

$1.14

$98.29

52,14

42.64

37.67

2.07

134.52

...

52.14

38.51

37.11

1.87

129.63

...

52.14

28.89

32.72

1.40

115.15

260.70

24.76

33.39

1.20

111.49

.121

52.14

289.55

272.73

14,04

837.02

7 ....

52.14

33.01

34.50

1.60

121.25

...

52.14

54.33

44.32

2.64

153.43

52.14

23.39

17.70

1.13

94.36

168

104.28

115.55

97.83

5.60

323.36

52.14

16.51

23.21

92.66

52.11

30.95

29.18

1.50

113.77

13.

52.14

50.90

63.58

2.47

169.09

1123

$938.52

$773.37

$745.57

$37.46

$2493.92

STILLWATER ACADEMY.

This institution was founded about the year 1847, and was for a time under the care of the regents of the univer- sity. It had a small but convenient school building, built of brick, still standing near the Baptist church. The ear- lier books of record were lost. Almon Richards was a noted principal for some years. He afterwards became the well-known educational leader and school superintendent in the District of Columbia.

Some of the conditions necessary to the continuance of the academy not being complied with, it became a private seminary for a few years. This finally declined. Select schools were kept for a time in the academic building, but finally there was nothing left but the ordinary district schools of the village. This state of things led to a union school organization. It was formed at a meeting held May 2, 1873. Trustees were then elected, and the organization of the board was as follows : Trustees, William H. Daven- port, president ; Edward J. Wood, clerk ; Egbert Gardner, Peter V. Wetsel, Matthew Pack ; James Rundle, treasurer ; John H. St. John, collector.

There are two school-houses,-one in the upper and the other in the lower part of the village,-each worth, per- haps, $2000. There are five departments, constituting three grades,-one higher, two intermediate, and two pri- mary. Chauncey Deyoe was the first principal, and re- mained over four years. The present teachers (May, 1878) are William M. Whitney, principal; Miss Sarah J. Hewitt, Miss Cora Davenport, Miss Emma St. John, and Miss Mary Tabor.

The present officers of the district (May, 1878) are, Trustees, Lawrence Vandemark, president ; Theodore Baker, clerk; Peter V. Wetsel, Heury Newland, Ira L. Moore ; William L. Deunison, treasurer ; Collins Collamer, collector.

VII .-- CHURCHES.

THIE CHURCHI AT THE "YELLOW MEETING-HOUSE."

The Congregational church of Stillwater was organized at Canaan, Litchfield Co., Conn., June 26, 1752. From

48.36

ing to the number of

293

HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the records, as published by Lebbeus Armstrong, in 1850, it appears that there were present at the first meeting John Palmer, pastor of Scotland church, and Abraham Payn, pastor of the Church of Christ, in Nine Partners, Dutchess Co., N. Y. After examination and consultation, Rev. Mr. Palmer agreed to administer the sacrament on the following Sabbath to Jedediah Stephens and Henry Stephens, of Stonington ; Samuel How and Gideon Lawrence, of Plain- field ; Asa Douglass and Benjamin Green, of Canterbury, who now live in Canaan, but who were in full communion in the churches of their respective towns.

Sunday, June 28, 1752, John Palmer preached. A number were received on profession of faith, the sacrament was administered, a revival commenced, and the church met the next day, June 29, 1752, signed the covenant, and chose a clerk. Mr. Armstrong gives the list of subscribers, which contains the following names of male members : Henry Stephens, Gideon Lawrence, Zebulon Stevens, Uriah Stevens, Robert Campbell, George Palmer, Lemuel Taylor, Eber Andrews, Benjamin Green, Ephraim Andrews, Eb- enezer Wolcott, Ephraim Andrews, Jr., William Frisby, Solomon Campbell, Robert Campbell, Jr., Jonathan Morey, Titus Andrews, John Fellows, William Patrick, Daniel Campbell, Cyprian Watson, Edward Firel, Joel Frisby, Reuben Wright, Israel Rose, Isaiah Keeler, Amariah Plumb, Phineas Stephens, Jesse Howard, Robert Patrick, Joseph Stephens, Ebenezer Andrus, Benjamin Munger. In the ten years following other members were added, so that the number amounted to one hundred and one. Oet. 20, 1761, Mr. Robert Campbell was ordained and installed over them as their pastor. In April, 1762, a fast was appointed to know their " duty with respect to moving to Stillwater." It was then fully agreed this church should remove from Canaan to Stillwater; and it adds, under the same date, " Pursuant to said agreement, the greater part of said church-members HAVE removed to Stillwater." This would seem to decide the date of the removal of this Con- necticut colony at 1762. Whether all the persons whose names are given above came to Stillwater, is not decided by the record. Probably not ; some must have died in the ten years, and others declined to move.

This date thus fixed at 1762, makes this church truly the pioneer religious society in all this valley north of Al- bany,-at least of that faith and order,-and it is not be- lieved any other church can claim an earlier organization. The Reformed Dutch church, of Schuylerville, may have been organized nearly or quite as early, but no records are obtainable earlier than 1789.

" The Congregational church of Stillwater," writes Mr. Armstrong, in 1850, " has never disbanded nor changed its doctrines nor form of church government to the present day. Before the War of the Revolution they erected a commodi- ous house of worship near the west bank of the Hudson river, opposite the month of the Iloosie, which was subse- quently removed about two miles west of the river, where they established their cemetery by its side, in which their first pastor, Rev. Robert Campbell, and the principal part of his congregation sleep in the dust." This house became known as the " yellow meeting-house of Stillwater." About the year 1800 a revival took place in connection with this

church under the labors of the Rev. Jedediah Bushnell, and his successor, Rev. Daniel Marsh. Fourteen years later the church was nearly extinct ; but after a meeting, in which there was intense feeling and much prayer, it was resolved to make one effort to revive the church. Deacon Thomas Morey was sent as a messenger to seek ministerial aid. Rev. Samuel Cheever was obtained from Vermont. Ile died in the midst of his valuable work, six months after his entrance upon his labors. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Lebbeus Armstrong. The church enjoyed much spiritual prosperity for ten years or more, re- ceiving new members at nearly every communion. Mean- while, under the Rev. Mark Tucker, in 1818, the Presby- terian church of Stillwater village was organized, and both churches were under his care as pastor. This united state of operation continued for many years, but, owing to vari- ous reasons,-the convenience of the location, and other eauses,-most of the new members united at the village with the Presbyterian church. About 1842 the latter, de- siring the full service of their minister, gave formal notice to that effect, and the union work closed. The influence upon the Congregational church in its location away from the vil- lage was disastrous. Some members took letters to the Pres- byterian church ; others, declining to do this, still gave their pecuniary support in the same direction. But the Congrega- tional church, nevertheless, lived. In 1850 the old meeting- house was thoroughly repaired and rededicated, the sermon being preached by Rev. Mark Tucker, of Weathersfield, Conn. Whatever of weakness in numbers or influence may have been the fate of this church in later years, never- theless many early and precious memories cluster about it. It is a specimen of how earnestly the men of New England loved the religion of their fathers, and how they would only remove their families into the wilderness when they could carry with them the ark of the covenant. Such men were worthy to be the pioneers of towns, the founders of States, the defenders of civil and religious liberty, the men "to trust in God and keep their powder dry."

The after-history since the repair of the house is briefly this: In February, 1852, at a church-meeting, it was re- solved to change the form of church government to Pres- byterian, and thus effect a union with the families of Presbyterian sentiments residing at Mechanicville. This was consummated in May of the same year, and the corpo- rate name became " the Presbyterian church of Stillwater and Mechanicville," but in the resolution it was expressly agreed that the covenant and confession of faith of the Con- gregational church should be retained, and the records should be held in perpetuity by the organization at the " yellow meeting-house." This union continued until 1871, when the Mechanicville Presbyterian church became a separate body, and the church at the " yellow meeting-house" again became a distinet society,-the lineal successor of the old Connecticut colony. As such it exists to-day ; but the form of government is Presbyterian, and it supports preaching by co-operative efforts with neighboring churches. The successive ministers of this church for one hundred and fifteen years have been Rev. Robert Campbell, Rev. Robert Campbell, Jr., Daniel Marsh, Luther Gleason, Samuel Cheever, Direk Lansing, Mark Tucker, John Blatchford,

299

IHSTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Ebenezer Cheever, Henry Smith, Villeroid Reed. This was down to about 1842. Then there was no minister steadily until Rev. Mr. Barber was employed, under whom the church became Presbyterian. After that followed Rev. Messrs. Campbell, Hancock, Davies, Beman, to 1871.

The present elders are Gardner Edmonds, Wm. Van- dewerker, Charles Earing, A. Fellows. Charles Cooper, clerk.

An excellent state of Christian unity existed between this pioneer Congregational church and the first Baptist of Still- water. Their pastors and delegates joined in the same coun- cils, and a letter in possession of Abiram Fellows from the Baptist church to the Congregational, in 1791, with refer- ence to the reception of a member, breathes a truly Christian and fraternal spirit.

In 1815, under the ministry of Direk Lansing, a Sunday- school was gathered; if not of the modern character, yet children were invited to learn verses, and come together and recite them once a week. Three or four years later, too, there was a Sunday-school and Bible-class, under the management of Deacons Andrews, Seymour, and Moody.

Besides the above account, we add that the earliest book of records belonging to this church has been obtained, just before we go to press, by the efforts of Abiram Fellows, from Rev. E. Seymour, of Bloomfield, N. J., and it is iutrusted to Mrs. William B. Fuller, a daughter of the late Deacon Jesse Seymour, residing near Stillwater village.

It is a valuable relie of the past, and a special history of the church that might be prepared from it at length would contain a large amount of personal and family history, as it includes records of baptisms, marriages, deaths, and church admissions, with dates that can scarcely be acquired any- where else.

Surely the friends of this venerable church, now one hundred and twenty-five years old, can well afford to pay for a work that would be so rich in historie interest. A single paragraph discovered settles it beyond question that a portion of this church came to Stillwater in 1762.

We give it verbatim :

"Sept. 5, 1762 .- Then Brother Lemuel Taylor and Barshaba, his wife, had their son Lemuel baptized by Brother Campbell, pastor of Christ church in Canaan, but it was done in Stillwater."

Perhaps all that finally came may not have reached this town until some months or years later, but a portion were certainly here in 1762, and their minister was here and preached for them.

The names of those who came to Stillwater are perhaps correctly shown by the following signers to the covenant. Unfortunately, amid so many other dates, this covenant has none. It is evidently later than the first covenant of 1752, and it seems earlier than the renewed covenant of 1789, and it is The Church of Stillwater. The names may have been attached, too, at different times. If it does not show the membership of the church when it reached Stillwater, it is nevertheless old enough to be valuable as showing early settlement. (The names in italies are those of the renewed covenant, 1789.)

Robert Campbell, William Patrick, Jonathan Morey, David Barnes, Robert Campbell, Deliverance Andrews, James Montgomery, Daniel Campbell, Hannah Campbell,

Surah Norton, Elizabeth Root, Elizabeth Andrews, Sarah Toms, Elizabeth Patrick, Rebecca Hunter, Solomon Camp- bell, Noah Stevens, Joseph Stevens, Titus Andrews, Joseph Tenny, Johu Toms, Robert Patrick, Phineas Stevens, Simeon Leonard, Ephraim Andrews, Ebenezer Tenny, Joseph Spaulding, Michael Dunning, John Thursting, Ebe- nezer Dunning, Anthony Paul, Jesse Howard, Cyprian Watson, William Watson, William Seymour, Thomas Morey, Peter Andrews, David Morris, Daniel Montgomery, Thankful Hewitt, Lydia Morcy, Avery Andrews, Philo- mela Ives, Sarah Campbell, Johannah Stevens, Emma Andrews, Chloe Watson, Martha Brunson, Hannah Stevens, Marah Gilmore, Sarah Parks, Ahithopel Seymour, Rosan- nah Finch, Huldah Leonard, Esther Campbell, Hannah An- drews, Desire Stevens, Sarah Kellogg, Sarah Stevens, Sarah Barrett, Elizabeth Patrick, Huldah Spaulding, Hannah Dunning, Eleazer Gilbert, Philip Rogers, Jeremiah Able, Jesse Denton, Sarah Seymour, Mary Ann Dickinson, Lois Andrews, Judah Southard. Molly Patrick, Sally Rowell, Aulcha Able, Susannah Hunter, Mary Buck, Rhoda Moody, Sarah Denton, Jennet Carrington, Mehitable Milliken, Miriam Conkling, Lydia Stone, Mary Rogers, Eunice Comstock, Betsey Andrews, Rebecca Hooker, Abigail Kellogg, Lucy Burgis, Sarah Stone, Ruth Morehouse, Sybil Watson, Philomela Andrews, Abby E. Watson.

Besides those marked above as having renewed covenant in 1789, there are also the following: George Palmer, Sarah Andrews, Robert Patrick, Gideon Lawrence, Mary Hunter, Sybil Andrews, Irena Andrews.

As a specimen to show the value of the book for family memorials, we add these items :

" Lucy Stevens, daughter of Henry and Sarah Stevens, was born Sept. 4, 1752."

" Azina Stevens, daughter of Jedediah Stevens and Mary Stevens, was born March 19, 1753."

" Robert Campbell and ye widow, Hannah Spalding, were lawfully joined in marriage March 29, 1764."

" Robert Campbell and Esther Perce were married Jan. 20, 1767." [Perhaps this was the junior. ]

The house of William B. Fuller, near Stillwater, is re- garded in tradition as one hundred and twenty years old. Take off ten years and it is very likely true. It is known as the " Harsha homestead." "The Harshas were a part of Dr. Clark's Scotch-Irish church, which settled Salem, Washington county, but first came to Stillwater in August, 1764, and stayed until May, 1767. The family history in Salem shows that John Harsha, an elder in the church, died in Stillwater, and further, one of that name did remain here. This house, then, may very likely have been built 1764 to 1770,-making it the oldest existing house in town, perhaps, except that of George Palmer, in Stillwater village. This Harsha homestead passed to the Hewitts, then to the Fergusons, then to the Bartletts, though they did not live here, and then to William B. Fuller, the present owner, in 1829.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF STILLWATER.

For the following facts connected with this pioneer organ- ization we are indebted to a report prepared for the Saratoga Association by a committee,-Charles Hunt, Deacon Simeon Rowley, and Elder Park,-June, 1877.

300

HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The First Baptist church of Stillwater is the origin of some of the most important churches in this county, as will be seen in this narrative. It stands in a section made sacred by the blood of the fathers, shed to secure not only eivil but religious liberty. It is especially fit that in this centennial of the battle of Stillwater the history of this old mother of churches should be written. Its early his- tory is somewhat obscure. In Benedict's " History of the Baptists," Vol. I., page 553, we find the following statement :

" At Stillwater, near the place where Burgoyne was taken in the American war, a church arose in 1762, which became unusually large and prosperons and branched out in many directions ; but, on account of certain difficulties, it suffered a great calamity and became nearly extinct."

In connection with this it is related that when the Rev. Samuel Leland came to preach among them, in an effort to reorganize, he took for his text, " And they all eseaped safe to land."

This date given by Benediet is considered correct by those having this tradition of the fathers of the old church. If it is accurate, it makes this church just about contemporary with the Congregational church, which came here in a body under Rev. Robert Campbell. That the church certainly had a very early organization appears fur- ther from the fact that in 1779, only two years after the Burgoyne battles, this home church had eighty-six members in fellowship, that colonies were already existing at Fish creek, Nipmouse, near the Hoosick, Newtown, Ballston, Kayadrossera, Milton, and Hemlock Brook.

This is a worthy record for a time of war and general disorganization,-a church with eighty-six members and eight branches.

In 1781, Beriah Kelly commenced preaching for this body, and in July he was ordained at a council regularly called. His labors terminated in 1788 or 1789. Mean- while, in 1785 or 1786, an unfortunate division occurred. One section worshiped in a frame meeting-house about a mile cast of the present house, with Lemuel Powers as their minister. The others met in a log meeting-house about a mile west of the present meeting-house, with Beriah Kelly pastor. In 1790 a reunion took plaec under the united pastorate of Rev. Lemuel Powers and Rev. David Irish. This continued until 1793, when the latter retired from the work.

In 1791 thirty-eight members were dismissed from this church to form the church at Saratoga. This was the foundation of the Baptist church at Schuylerville: The very same year, the members residing in Ballstown were dismissed to form a church there. It is further noticed that fifty-nine members residing in Newtown are not men- tioned in connection with the old church after this date, and it is inferred that they were also dismissed to organize for themselves in 1791 or 1792. This is three colonies sent out to organize for themselves in a single year.

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History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 74

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894 Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 780

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 780