USA > New York > Putnam County > Garrison > History of St. Philip's church in the Highlands, Garrison, New York, including, up to 1840, St. Peter's church on the manor of Cortlandt > Part 21
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Westchester Personally appeared before me Elijah Lee one County. of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said County Daniel Birdsall and being Duly Sworn Deposeth and Saith that Beverly Roberson and Susannah Roberson (his Wife) objections for not given a Deed for the Par- sonage belonging to the United Episcopal Churches of St. Peter's Church at Peeks Kill and St. Phillip's Chappel in the Highlands; was, that the Congregations was indebted to the Said Daniel Birdsall and that they was willing at any time to give a title whenever the Incumbrances was Discharged from said Glebe.
Peeks Kill Febr 16th, 1792.
DanIL Birdsall
Elijah Lee Justice of the Peace.
Westchester County for.
1% Personally appeared before me Elijah Lei Justice of the fract in and "for the faid County Silvanus Haight and being Duly Invor Deporth and faith that he was one of The Chain Bearers on a Survey of the Parsonage volo to the United Episcopal Churchis Ja Peters Church Pacho Hill and Phillips & happel in the highlas and at a place of heating I heard Beverly Robert try bay as Soon as The Congregation Cleared of the Incumbrances on bald Gluck he www rady and Willing To give a dub for the fame Fuchs Hill Fabry 1of 17 8/2. That see quitin of the Dead ibanno ha
AFFIDAVIT CONCERNING THE GLEBE FARM
1792
317
The Glebe Farm
Westchester Personally appeared before me Elijah Lee County. one of the Justises of the peace in and for the Said County Joshua Nelson and being Duly Sworn Deposeth and Saith that Beverly Roberson and Susannah Robber- sons (his wife) objections for not given a deed for the Parsonage belonging to the United Episcopal Churches St. Peter's Church at Peeks Kill and St. Phillips Chap- pel in the highlands; was, that the Congre- gations was indebted to Daniel Birdsall and that I have Repeatedly heard them say that they would give a title whenever the Incumbrances was Discharged from Said Gleebe.
Peeksk Kill Febry 16th, 1792. Joshua Nelson.
Elijah Lee Justise of the Peace.
Westchester County.
Personally appeared before me Elijah Lee Justice of the Peace in and for the Said County Silvanus Haight and being Duly Sworn Deposeth and Saith that he was one of the Chain Bearers on a Survey of the Parsonage belonging to the United Episcopal Churches Sat Peters Church at Peeks Kill and St Phillips Chappel in the highlands and at a place of Resting I heard Beverly Roberson Esq" Say as soon as the Congre- gations Cleared of the Incumbrances on Said Gleeb he was ready and willing to give a deed for the Same.
Peeks Kill Feby 16th, 1792. Silvanus haight. Elijah Lee, Justice of the Peace.
The aforesaid testimony was given by men who were thoroughly familiar with the facts. All were members of
318 The History of St. Philip's Church
the Vestry at the time they made the affidavits, and Joshua Nelson and Daniel Birdsall had been on the Ves- try when the glebe was originally given. Their united tes- timony makes it perfectly clear that there was no disposi- tion on the part of Beverly Robinson to withdraw his gift, but that on fulfillment of the conditions freely accepted by the Vestry, he stood ready to make a legal transfer of the property. Whether the vandue actually took place history sayeth not, but there is ample evidence that the farm remained in possession of the Vestry "until the service of the country demanded them to yield the same for public use." The unknown writer of 1813 says "The grantor having delayed executing a Deed, this farm, with the whole of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson's estate, became vested in the People of the State of New York."1
Before, however, the glebe passed into the hands of the Commissioners of Forfeiture the parish made a serious effort to raise the money necessary to clear the "In- cumbrances" and secure title. Amongst the Van Cort- landt papers there has recently been discovered the original Statement and Appeal which was issued for that purpose, and, by the courtesy of Miss Van Cortlandt, we are enabled to reproduce it:
Whearas the Inhabitants on the Manor of Cort- landt have at great Expence Built a Church near Peeks Kill called S. Peter's Church, And the Inhab- itants of Philip's Patent have also at great Expence built another Church in the Highlands called S. Philip's Chaple, both on the Establishment of the Church of England, And whearas the Inhabitants of both places are in general very poor and have Exerted
1 Hobart MSS.
Matcherary o Personally appears before aru Elijah bounty Leione of the hurtisup of the Peace in and for the County Daniel Birdrall and being Duly Sworn Deposith and Faith that Beverlye Roberfon and Susannah Roberong his Wife objections for not given a Deed for the Parsonage belonging to the United Episcopal Churches St Peters" to Church at Such Mill and It &hellip Chappel in the Highlands; was that The Congregationo was Indebted to the Fair Daniel Birdsall and that they na Willing at any time to give a little whenever the trains Frances was Discharges from Laid Glube Fahr Kill Forht
an: : Birofall
Witchertis Personally appari before mi Elijah Lec
County f } Personally appare one of the furtifis of the peace in and for
The Laid County Joshua Nelson and being Duly Invorn Deposit and Faith that Beverly Roberson and Susann Robberson (his Wife) objections for not given a due for the Parsonage belonging to the United Thiscopal Churches it Peters Church at Sachs Mill and It Phillip, Choppil in the highlands was That The Congregation was Indette. to Daniel Birdoall and that I have Repeatedly have them Say that they would give a fille whenever The Incumbres ww ww Dischargeo from Faid Gleebe Packs still Sierry 16 hvg Elijah the future of the Deace otherce caBon
AFFIDAVITS CONCERNING THE GLEBE FARM, 1792
319
The Glebe Farm
themselves to the utmost of their abilities in building the said Churches, and therefore unable to purchase a Glebe & to build a house for a minister to officiate at said Churches Therefore this Subscription is put on foot Humbly requesting the Assistance of all Benevolent and well disposed persons to Enable them to purchase a farm and Build a house to remain as a Glebe for the use of the said Churches for ever; We the Subscribers hereto in Order to assist so Char- itable & Religious a design, do hereby promise & Oblige ourselves to pay or Cause to be paid unto Capt" Jeremiah Drake the Several Sums Affixed to our Names on or before the first Day of November Next. As Witness our hands this 12th Day of April, 1774.
Daniel Hatfield 0. 10. 0 I Promise Pay Teen Pond for the Farm if cleared Paid for ysue of Church.
Thomas Pen 0. 6.0 Jeremiah Drake 10. 0. 0.
Dennis Kennedy 0 10 0 Dan11 Birdsall 10 0. 0. Caleb Ward 5. 0. 0.
If in the Country the
4th of Nov. I promise to
pay-Jos. Lyman 0 8. 0. Peter Drake 3. 0. 0.
John Hussey
0. 8. 0. Robert Galer
2. 0.0.
John Ogden 0. 4. 0 Elezaor Read 0. 9. 0.
Joseph Strang Jr 0 8. 0 Abraham Mabe 1. 0. 0
Jacob Huchins
0. 8. 0
Caleb Morgan 2. 0.0
John McCoy 0. 9. 0 Peter Muggiford 3. 0. 0.
Daniel Strang
0. 10. 0. Silvanus Hyatt
0. 10. 0
Roger Barten 0. 4. 0 John Mandevill
0. 10. 0.
Roger Bissell
2. 0. 0. Gilbert Lockwood 0 10 0
Andveis Miller
0. 8. 0. Peter Corne(y) 5. 0. 0.
Peter Miller 0. 8. 0. John Jones
1. 0. 0.
Jas. Hatfield Jr 0. 15. 0 Isaac Poyner 0. 8. 0.
Walter Dobbs Jr
0. 8. 0 Joseph Legroot
0. 6. 0.
Isaac Hatfield
0. 8. 0.
320 The History of St. Philip's Church
And over the leaf of the subscription paper is this note:
Nov. 4th, 1774 henry purdy promised Daniel Birdsall that he Would pay 40 shillings if the Money could be made up or the Affair of the Glebe any Way Settled.
This interesting document, nearly a century and a half old, is of surpassing historic interest. The appeal is in the handwriting of Colonel Beverly Robinson, and it con- tains the autographs of Jeremiah Drake, his co-warden, Daniel Birdsall, Peter Drake, Peter Corney and Caleb Ward, Vestrymen of that year, as well as Caleb Morgan, also a Vestryman at an early period. On the day of its issue-April 12th, 1774-there was held a meeting of the Vestry at which there were present:
Capt. Jeremiah Drake, Warden Caleb Ward Joshua Nelson Peter Drake
Dan11 Birdsall Vestry
Before the meeting Beverly Robinson had doubtless drawn up two copies of the Statement and Appeal, one for Peekskill and one for the Highlands, and, as he could not attend, had sent them to the meeting in charge of Joshua Nelson, who was one of his tenants. It was adopted by the Vestry, and the subscription list opened by Jeremiah Drake for ten pounds, followed by Daniel Birdsall for a like sum, Caleb Ward for five and Peter Drake for two pounds. Peter Corney, not present at the meeting, added later five pounds.
It will be observed that no names from the Highlands appear upon this document. A separate list was circu-
Whereas the hihabitants on the manor of for blandt have at a great Ex pince Built a Church mar Bachs Kill called Se Betin- Church, and the Inhabitants of Philips Patent have alto atagreat Preference built another ( huren in the Highlands called " Thelips Chapple, both on the Establishment of the Church of England; and whereas the Inhabitants of both places are in general very poor and have Existed them selves to the utmost of their abilities in building the sand Churchist, and therefore unable to purchase aglibe Glo bus a house for a minister To Officiate at the said Churches, Therefore this Subscription is feet on foot Humbly requesting the appistance of. of all Benevolent & well dispotid pourtant to Enable them to purchase a farm & Build a houle to remain as a glaube for the use of the said Churches for wer; He the Subscribers hereto in Order to april so Charitable of Religious a design, do hereby promise & Oblige our Waves to pay olauke to bepaid unito sont Jeremiah Drake the Several Surms Office, to our names on orbefore the first Day of November Nost as Witness our hands this 12 Day of Glass * vy Brommer Day teen gard 1 for the farmil elipicos
1 .10 .-
Jeremiahizrade
Dan Birgall -- 10=0-0
Call Meto -- 5:010
Face& flucines
Robert Galer 2: .0 Eleazar Read 1-0
$ 4.0
with Herquen 210
0 :4 -02
3
0:8:5
John athan devill 0 10.
Peter million . 0:8:0
r
50.40
Tvaac. poynter
0. 6:30
A PAROCHIAL APPEAL AND SUBSCRIPTION LIST
1774
321
The Glebe Farm
lated for that section of the parish, which, unhappily, has not come to light.
The list thus started by members of the Vestry, pro- vision for a thorough parochial canvas was made in the following resolution:
Unanimously agreed that Peter Drake is appointed to go about amongst the Inhabitants on the manor of Cortlandt, and Joshua Nelson amongst the Inhab- itants of Philips Pattent and whatever they get by Way of Subscriptions, its agreed that they shall receive for there Trouble 7 pr Ct each; it is further agreed that Caleb Morgan assist the said Peter Drake in regard to the Subscriptions and that Beverly Robin- son assist said Nelson.
The total sum promised for the manor of Cortlandt was £56.15.0 as compared with the parochial indebted- ness to Daniel Birdsall of £260. Some additional light has been shed on the early history of the glebe farm by the discovery of an important letter, dated September 10th, 1795, written to the Rev. Mr. Hargill by William Denning. He writes:
Mr Robinson to promote the establishment gave the Corporation a farm of about 200 acres on con- dition that they purchased the improvements and built a house for the Rector. The improvements were built purchased, the house built and the Rector moved into it. This involved a debt of between three and four hundred pounds with which the Corporation was incumbered when the War began, and the farm was not to be granted until the debt was paid
For the destruction of the timbers and fences at . the Parsonage house a sum has been received suffi- cient to clear the Corporation of the debt incurred
322 The History of St. Philip's Church
as above mentioned, which enabled the Corporation to apply to the Legislature for and obtain a grant of the farm, agreeable to the original conditions.1
When the estate of Beverly Robinson was confiscated, the glebe farm, not having been deeded to the parish, was included, and passed to the People of the State of New York. Influence must have been brought to bear on the Legislature, for a special act was passed restraining the Commissioners from including the glebe in the general sale of the Robinson property. It was passed 25th July, 1782,2 and the final (fifth) section read as fol- lows:
Churches, for a
House and
Farm at Peek's-Kill.
Preamble, "V. AND WHEREAS, the War- Setting dens and Vestry of the two Churches forth at the HIGH-LANDS and PEEKS- the Pe- KILL, with sundry Inhabitants of tition of CORTLANDT'S Manor, by their Wardens and Memorial presented to the Legisla- Vestry, &c. ture of this State, represented, That of two in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-two, BEVER- LY ROBINSON and SUSANNAH, his Wife, tendered to convey to the said Wardens and Vestry, the Farm then in Possession of EBENEZER JONES, near Continental Village, containing two Hundred Acres, for the Purpose of a Parsonage and Glebe: That the Memorialists, in Consequence of such Tender, pur- chased the Improvements of the said
1 Letter of William Denning preserved in the Archives of the Cor- poration of Trinity Church.
2 Laws of State of New York, Vol. I, p. 789.
323
The Glebe Farm
Said House and Farm not to be dis- posed of til further Order of the Legislature.
EBENEZER JONES, and proceed- ed to build the House now on said Farm, called the YELLOW-HOUSE; that they were in Possession of the said Farm and House, until the Ser- vice of the Country demanded them to yield the same for public use; BE IT ENACTED BY THE AUTHOR- ITY AFORESAID, That it shall not be lawful for the Commissioners of Forfeitures, of the Middle District of this State, to sell or dispose of the said House and Farm; nor the Com- missioners of Sequestration to let or demise the same, until the Legisla- ture shall specially order the same; and that the said Wardens and Ves- try shall and may occupy, possess, and enjoy the said Premises until such further Order shall be made."
The first Vestry meeting after the War of the Revolu- tion was held on Easter Monday, April 5th, 1790. After the election of Wardens and Vestrymen steps were taken to piece together the broken threads of parochial life. In 1784 the Legislature of the State of New York passed an "Act to enable all the Religious denominations in the State to appoint Trustees who shall be a Body Corpo- rate for the purpose of taking care of the temporalities of their respective congregations and other purposes." Availing themselves of this provision St. Peter's and St. Philip's became a corporation on the 22nd of December, 1791.
Duly incorporated, and provided with a minister, the necessity of securing a legal title to the glebe and parson-
324 The History of St. Philip's Church
age was apparent, and the Vestry set itself to the task of paying off the incumbrances. At a meeting held on March 31st, 1792, they
Then did Examine the Accts of Mr Dan1 Birdsall and find Due to him Exclusive of his Improvements on the Gleb Farm to amount to £257-9-5 & Did Ap- point John Jones and Isaac Devenport to Inspect and Judge the Improvements that the said Dan1 Birdsall have put upon the gleb.
On the 7th day of April the committee reported that "they have brought in the sum of twenty-four pounds, ten shillings for James Croft and two pounds ten shillings for Dan1 Birdsall." The Vestry proceeded at once to liquidate these amounts, and their so doing is thus re- corded in the minutes:
At a Special Meeting of the Wardens and Vestry- men of Prot. Epis. Church on the manor of Cortlandt Near Peeks Kill the 18th March, 1793 Present, the revª Mr Andrew Fowler Mr Caleb Ward Warden
Caleb Morgan Salvenus Haight Isaac Devenport Jarvis Dusenbury Vestrymen
Proceeded to business, and a Settlement being made with Mr Dan1 Birdsall, he gave the Vestry the Following receit in full to the Present Day-Viz
Peeks Kill in Cortlandt Town. the 18th March 1793, then received of the Church Wardens and Vestrymen of the prot- estant Episcopal Church in Cortlandt Town, the Sum of two Hundred and Eighty Four pounds nine shillings and five pence, that is to say, two Hundred and fifty seven
325
The Glebe Farm
pounds nine shillings and five exclusive of my Improvements and also twenty four pounds ten shillings for James Crofts improvements, and two pounds ten shillings for my own improvements; In full of all Debts, Dues, or Demands of what name or Nature soever, upon the Glebe belonging to the Churches aforesaid, & moreover I Do hereby give up all Right title or Claime that I may have upon the same,
on account of any Dues I may have therefrom Recd by me Dan Birdsall
Attested by me
Andrew Fowler.
At last the parish had fully complied with the con- ditions laid down by the donor twenty years before, and a petition was prepared and presented to the Legislature praying for "a grant to the full extent of the first grant or intention."
An unexpected difficulty intervened. "Some members of the Presbyterian congregation entered a claim on the ground that the gift was intended for both denominations, and the grant was not obtained."1 This claim had no foundation in fact; all the records show that it was a gift for the United Churches at Peekskill and in the Highlands. The parish had influential friends at Albany. The Lieutenant-Governor and presiding officer of the Senate was Pierre Van Cortlandt, a communicant of St. Peter's, and the senior Warden of the parish was a mem- ber of the lower House, and on March 27th, 1794, the property was restored to the parish.
The Act is as follows:
1 Hobart MSS.
326 The History of St. Philip's Church
An Act for granting a certain glebe to the United Churches of St. Peter and St. Philips, passed 27th of March, 1794-Whereas the Commissioners of Forfeit- ure were by law inhibited from selling the Parsonage and Glebe near the Continentalville Village, formerly in the possession of Ebenezer Jones; and whereas the said Glebe was vested in the People of this State by the attainder of Beverly Robinson, late of the County of Dutchess, who in his lifetime promised to convey the same to the use of the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of the United Episcopal Congregations of St. Peter's Church, now in the Town of Cortlandt, in the County of Westchester, and St. Philip's Chapel, in Philipstown, in County of Dutchess: Therefore- Be it Enacted by the People of the State of New York represented in Senate and Assembly and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that all the right, title and interest of the People of this State in and to the Glebe shall be and hereby is granted to the Trustees of the United Protestant Episcopal Churches of St. Peter's Church, in Town of Cortlandt, and County of Westchester, and St. Philip's Chapel, in Philipstown, in County of Dutchess, and their suc- cessors forever in trust for the use of the said united congregations.
At the next Vestry meeting it was resolved:
That the thanks of this Vestry be given to Pierre Van Cortlandt Esq. for the great pains he has taken at the Legislature of this State to obtain a Title for the Glebe belonging to these Churches.
The Rev. Andrew Fowler was the first occupant of the restored Parsonage House which the Vestry agreed to repair "as far as the funds of the Church would allow." In 1793 it was resolved-"That a Barn shall be built on
327
The Glebe Farm
the Glebe, consisting of 22 feet in length and 20 in bredth this summer. Voted that 200 white pine boards shall be immediately purchased to repair the house on the Glebe." A few weeks later at a special meeting, "The Revd M" Fowler acquainted the Vestry the reson of his Calling them together at this time wars to hasten the repairs of the house."
On the 4th day of January, 1794, the Vestry
After due Examination of the several accounts re- specting repairing the house on the Parsonage and building the Barn-found them standing as follows, viz.
Due Mr. Smith Jones for Labour £38. 7.8.
Due Mr. Fowler for boarding the
labourers 11. 15. 8.
Due Mr. Jarvis Dusenbury for sundries 20. 4. 1.
Due Mr. Saml. Jefferts for timber 1. 10. 0.
Due Mr. Thomas Dupree for labour 7. 6.
Total sum due £72-4-11
On April 21st the Vestry
Did then settle with Mr. Jarvis Dusenbury and Recvd the sum of £74-14-10 including the several sums before mentioned for the repairs of the house.
From 1792 to 1840 the glebe figures largely in the min- utes of the Vestry. When, as was so frequently the case, there was no Rector the farm was rented by the year. The first tenant was Daniel Haight in 1774. When the parochial records resume in 1791 we find the farm in the occupancy of James Croft and Daniel Birdsall, and in March of the following year the Vestry "did appoint John Jones and Isaac Davenport to Inspect and Judge
328 The History of St. Philip's Church
the Improvements that the said Dan Birdsall have put on the Glebe." This committee "brought in the sum of twenty four pounds, ten shillings for James Croft, and two pounds, ten shillings for Danl. Birdsall."
In 1795 "Mr. Salvenus Haight, Mr. Danl. Haight and Caleb Morgan were appointed to Inspect the Lines and Line Fences of the Parsonage farm on the 24th day of October, 1795 at ten o'clock of said day."
At a Vestry meeting held on March 31st, 1798,
the aforesaid Churches being Vacant as to a minis- ter-it was thought advisable to rent out the Glebe farm when it wars unanimously agreed that Salvenus Haight & Caleb Morgan should be and are hearby appointed as a Commety to Rent out the above sd Glebe-when the sd Commety Did agree with Thomas Hunyen1 for the sum of Thirty-five pounds for one year; from the date thereof the said Thomas Hunyen is to put the sd Rent in stone wall on the place Ex- cept Six pounds which he is to pay in Cash to the Wardens and Vestry at Expiration of the year. The Stone Wall is to be 4 feet 8 inches high, 2 feet wide at the bottom and Double half way up, and to be well Done; the said Hunyen is to Draw the stone for sd wall and make it where the sd Commety shall ap- point-and be at 4s/ pr Rod-the sd Hunyen is not to keep a Publick house nor suffer any to be kept in sd house nor Dammage the house
As witness our hands the Day and Date above written
Daniel Haight Abram Garrison
Caleb Morgan
Silvanus Haight
Thomas Henyen.
1 In some old deeds this name is spelled "Hennion."
329
The Glebe Farm
In 1799 Daniel Haight was appointed
to call a Jury to apprise Damages Done to the Parsonage Farm by Laying a Road threw The Same and it is Further agreed that Thomas Henyon have the use for one year, he paying Thirty-five pounds witch sum is to be Layed out in Stone Fence on said Farm.
The following year the farm was rented at forty pounds to Henyen, it being stipulated
that the rent is to be put out in stone wall as yusual at fore shilling per rod, also the said Thomas Henion is to sow the winter grane allon the west side of the road, also the stone fence to be made on the west side of the Rode along were the new road is laid owt.
The Vestry was not free from difficulties with its tenants, and in 1800
It was agreed that Harry Garrison, Joshua Lan- caster and Benjamin Douglass Jun" be a Committee to examine the Damages Done on the Parsonage farm and agre with Thomas Henyon for the Same and if Mr. Henyon will not Pay what Damage they Judg to have bin Done by him, the said Committee are hereby otherrised to take the Steps of the Law to collect the same.
Subsequently this Committee reported that-
After viewing the damage done on the Glebe farm by Thomas Henyon that it is there opinion that the sum of Ten pound Damage was Done by sd Henyon & that the said Thomas Henyon Mentioned to the Committee that he wanted a new Roof on the Barn to which the Committee agreed to allow him Six pound for that purpose out of the Ten pound
330 The History of St. Philip's Church
Damage as afforesaid, and that he has put on the said Roof & there remains a ballance of Ten Dollars Due the Wardens and Vestry of said Churches.
In 1802 Joshua Lancaster was allowed twelve shillings "for Riting lease for the Gleeb." The same year James Mandevill assumed the tenancy under the following con- ditions :
First, that there shall not be more than 15 acres of Winter Grane left on the Farm, and not more than 5 acres of Corn and 8 acres of Buckwheat sowed in one yeare, and no wood or poles to be sold of said farm, and that their shall be no Tavern kept or Danc- ing allowed in said house, and that the fences shall be left in as good repaire as he finds them, and that no Meddowland shall be plowed, and no Cattle is to run in the Meddow after the 20th of March in each year, and that the Tenant shall be accountable for all dam- magge that the house and farm shall receive by his neglect, and the said Mandeville shall give up the premises unto the Wardens and Vestry without trou- ble under the penalty of one hundred dollars-the rent to be paid in Cash at the end of the year.
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