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 25
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392 The History of St. Philip's Church
If any justification were needed for the missionary work which St. Philip's has maintained faithfully for nearly fifty years it would be found in the list of bap- tisms. In eight years the Rev. Charles Frederick Hoffman baptized seventy persons at the chapel, and an unusual number of them were adults. It was no un- common thing to receive whole families into the Church by Holy Baptism.
On September 16th, 1873, the following remarkable record stands in the list of baptisms,
George Washington Williams,
14 years.
Belcher Williams,
2 years.
Emma Williams,
4 years.
Betsy Williams,
5 years.
Emma Williams,
1 year.
Phoebe Wells,
9 years.
Amelia Wells,
7 years.
Annie Wells,
2 years.
Marzara Wells,
5 years.
Trinity Wells,
6 years.
Elizabeth Wells,
7 months.
Eleven baptisms, at which the Rev. Wm. F. Morgan, D. D., a summer resident, officiated! The Rector of the parish, the Rev. C. F. Hoffman, adds this interesting note to the record:
The following account has been given to me of this remarkable occurrence: The Rev. Dr. Morgan, who was staying temporarily at Garrison, was passing along the road near the rectory gate when he was ac- costed by a party of travellers or gypsies, who repre- sented themselves as Church of England people, going to England. Having asked if he was a clergyman, they requested him to baptize their children. Dr.
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The Parish Register
Morgan, having said he would see the Rector, came to the rectory and finding he was absent and away from the parish (the travellers intended to leave in the afternoon), the parents and children having fol- lowed Dr. Morgan, he went into the church and baptized them.
They went their way, but the end was not yet. On the 9th of October, 1875, there stands this entry in the register of baptisms: "Ruth, daughter of Thomas and Victoria Williams," with this note in the handwriting of the Rev. Albert Zabriskie Gray, "The same family of English wanderers baptized by the Rev. Dr. Morgan two years ago."
APPENDIX.
Note on Rev. Bernard Page.
Some additional information has come to light in the manuscript records of the Claims of the American Loyalists, from which it appears that Mr. Page preached as a candidate for the parish of Wyoming, Pa., in 1771 and in August of the following year was appointed to the parish, by the Bishop of London. In December, 1775, he was Curate at Joppa, Md., where he remained for three months. He departed for England on the 23rd of January, 1777. Mr. Page claimed £500 for losses and service during the Revolution which claim was disallowed by the Commissioner on the ground of "insufficient evidence." (Amer- ican Loyalist MSS. Vol. L., pp. 360-371.)
Additional Note on Political affiliation on the Manor of Cortlandt.
The contemporary accounts are somewhat conflicting. It is stated under date of February 17th, 1775, as follows: "It is said that at least three-fourths of the people in Cortlandt's Manor, New York, have declared their unwillingness to enter into the Congressional measures." (Moore, Diary of the Revolution, Vol. I, p. 22.)
Holt's Journal of March 2nd, 1775, comments thus on the foregoing statement: "There are not any of the landholders in said manor, except one C(orne) y, a miller, at Peekskill, and a few interlopers of his kidney, that are of that perverse sentiment. The proprietor of the manor of Cortlandt, together with all the other landholders except the above miller and his few adherent Tories are unanimous in favor of the Congress measure."
Additional note on the Purdy family.
The toryism of the Purdy family is illustrated in the following para- graph from Rivington's Gazette of April 20th, 1775: "March 28th- This evening was married at the White Plains, Westchester County, New York, Mr. Gabriel Purdy, youngest son of Mr. Samuel Purdy, to the agreeable Miss Charity Purdy, daughter of Mr. Joseph Purdy, both of that loyal town. What is particularly remarkable in the affair, is this, the guests consisted of forty-seven persons: thirty-seven of whom were Purdys, and not a single Whig among them."
395
Appendix
By the courtesy of Mr. H. H. Cammann, the Comp- troller, the following documents have been copied from the manuscript archives of the Corporation of Trinity Church.
I.
PETITION OF THE VESTRY TO THE COR- PORATION OF TRINITY CHURCH, 1795.
We the Wardens and Vestry of the Protestant Epis- copal Church at Peekskill and in the Highlands beg leave to represent to the Rector, Wardens and Vestry of Trinity Church in the City of New York, the un- happy situation of our respective Churches. This being the seat of the late war they were nearly de- stroyed between the British and American armies- In consequence of the injuries we suffered both Pub- lic and private, we were rendered incapable, for many years, of doing anything towards repairing them; dur- ing which time we were repeatedly urged by different Denominations to embrace their respective modes of Worship and reconcile ourselves to their minis- trations. But firmly attached to the Episcopal Church, we could never be led to conceive it our Duty to forsake its interest. At length recovering ourselves in some measure from the calamities in which we were involved by the War, and anxiously solicitous once more of enjoying a form of Worship so well calculated to inspire Devotion, by our united efforts we so far repaired our respective Churches, altho' tottering to their fall as to enable us to use them for the noble purpose of Divine Worship. Besides the difficulties above mentioned, our Churches were loaded with a debt of several hundred pounds, which we have wholly and happily discharged.
396 The History of St. Philip's Church
And now many raparations being essentially neces- sary to render them convenient, which we are un- able to make, we beg leave to solicit the charitable and humane assistance of that Church in New York whom we consider as our head and upon whom the bounties of Providence have been showered down in a rich profusion-Could we by any means possess our- selves of about two hundred pounds for each of our aforesaid Churches, we flatter ourselves it would enable us, with our own exertions, to make the neces- sary repairs and to hold a respectable rank in the Church of Christ in this Land-Whatever that Church to whom we respectfully make this petition shall see fit to bestow upon us for the purposes above mentioned, will be very thankfully rec'd, and grate- fully acknowledged and we are in duty bound should endeavour ever to maintain a just sense of the obli- gations we should be under for so timely and so truly needful aid and assistance.
With the greatest respect we subscribe ourselves the Rector, Wardens and Vestry's devoted and most humble servants
Silvenus Haight Caleb Morgan
Wardens.
Daniel Haight
Isaac Devenport Isaac Mead Elijah Morgan, Jr. William Douglass Smith Jones Harry Garrison
Vestry Men
Peekskill Easter Monday 1795 Jacob Nelson Clerk.
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Appendix
II. LETTER OF WILLIAM DENNING TO REV. MR. HARGILL.1
Beverly in the Highlands, 10 Sept 1795.
Revd Sir
It may perhaps not be amiss that I make a few re- marks to you upon the former and present state of the Corporation of the United Churches of S. Peters and S. Philips especially as from the frequent communica- tions I have had with you on the subject, it appears to me, you have been led to believe those congrega- tions are able to do more than they really are. When S. Peters was built near Peekskill so very unable were the Episcopalians to accomplish it that they called upon their friends of the Presbyterian congregation to assist them and promised that whenever the build- ing was unoccupied by the Episcopal Congregation that of the Presbyterian should have the use of it. This seems to have been well understood and con- ceeded by the Episcopalians.
Some considerable time subsequent to this, S. Philips Church in the Highlands was built by sub- scription assisted by liberal donations from its Patrons, but even this was far short of finishing the Church on the inside tolerably decent. The people were then, as they are now, poor. The two Churches were however Incorporated, the Reverend Mr. Doty, Rector. Mr. Robinson to promote the establishment gave to the Corporation a farm about 200 acres on condition that they purchased and paid for the im- provements and built a house for the Rector. The improvements were purchased, the house built and
1 There is no mention of Mr. Hargill in the parochial records. It probably refers to the Rev. Samuel Haskell.
398 The History of St. Philip's Church
the Rector moved into it. This involved a debt of between three and four hundred pounds with which the Corporation was incumbered when the late war began, and the farm was not to be granted till the debt was paid.
A little previous to the War, the Rector, Mr. Doty, gave up his charge. During the War no regular wor- ship took place in either of the Churches and the interest of this weak and infant Institution seemed wholly abandoned.
The Parsonage house was much injured by the troops, the timber on the farm entirely destroyed and not the vestige of a fence remained.
S. Peters Church was much injured, S. Philips in the Highlands had nothing left of it but the floor and frame. The siding, floors and windows were all taken away carried to West Point and appropriated to pub- lic use; for the depredations last mentioned not one farthing has ever been allowed. For the destruction of Timbers and fences at the Parsonage house a sum has been received sufficient to clear the Corporation of the debt incurred as above mentioned, which en- abled the Corporation to apply to the Legislature for and obtain a grant of the farm agreeable to the original conditions.
Thus stood matters relative to those Churches when a few friends met and consulted about repairing and opening them for the purpose of having the Gospel again preached to the people. For this pious and laudable purpose a subscription was set on foot, and altho the people appeared zealous, yet so inadequate was the sum subscribed, that the burthen fell on a few liberal patrons.
St. Philips Church was decently repaired glazed and painted. The Parsonage clear and under some small repairs. In this state our little fund was exhausted. We have had no other assistance than the Congrega-
-
399
Appendix
tion, except from the worthy and pious Mrs. Ogilvie. The Congregations are unable to make further con- tributions at present. The people early anxious to have the Churches open, they have been gratified, but under very discouraging circumstances, particu- larly in their first essay of a preacher. The poverty & great inability of the people still keeps those united churches in a languishing state, & I assure you, Sir, that I am of the opinion the interest of Episcopacy would be greatly promoted by their being a little aided. I believe $1000 with what has been done would put this suffering institution in very compleat repair, and then with your own exertions I am sure it would become a respectable branch of our Church, and be found to merit the Patronage & protection of our Re- putable Clergy whose attention has been so often ex- perienced by other infant institutions and who do not yet know the state of the Corporation in question.
I have also to suggest to you that we have an Epis- copal school in forwardness, the completion of which depends on further assistance.
I am sorry to be obliged to tell you that there is no present prospect of any other or additional encour- agement to the Clergyman, so that the Farm as it now is, with the salary subscribed is all we have to offer, and you must be the best judge whether those are inducements sufficient for you to continue. You will however do me the justice to recollect that on your first application to me about those Churches I gave you no other encouragement than what the above statement would justify. I told you the Parsonage wanted repair and the farm fencing, that the whole sum to be expected from both congregations would not exceed from £75 to £100 per annum, this I be- lieve, you find literally true.
I do not however despair seeing those people one day better able to support a Clergyman and also seeing
400 The History of St. Philip's Church
the Corporation respectable, and perhaps if it was better known, it would have some able advocates, for which purpose I have no objection to your showing this statement to whom you may think proper.
I am with great Respect & Esteem Your most Hble Svt
Wm. Denning
Reverend Mr. Hargill.
III. LETTER OF WILLIAM DENNING TO BISHOP PROVOOST.
New York 18 Jany 1796.
Rev Sir,
As great exertions have been made by the Congre- gations of the United Churches of S. Peters and S. Philips-the former situate near Peekskill & the latter in the Highlands, & the abilities of those congregations being still greatly inadequate to the repair of those Churches and the Parsonage to make them comfort- able, permit me to recommend them to the Patronage of the Corporation of Trinity Church, and that the gentlemen of the Vestry may judge of the necessities of the Corporation of the said United Churches I most respectfully intreat their indulgence in stating the former and present situation of the same.
S. Peters near Peekskill was built by subscription and by liberal donations about 30 years ago. Some- time afterwards S. Philips in the Highlands was built in the same manner under the patronage of Beverly Robinson Esq., but neither finished within. They were incorporated by Governor Tryon & the Rev. Mr. Doty chosen Rector.
Mr. Robinson gave a farm of about 200 acres of land for a glebe on condition that the Corporation would purchase the improvements and build a house
401
Appendix
for the Rector. This was done but involved a debt which lay heavily on the Corporation & prevented a Deed being obtained from Mr. Robinson.
At the commencement of the late War Mr. Doty moved away. The Parsonage house was occupied and greatly injured by the troops of the French Army, & S. Philips in the Highlands had the windows, the sidings, the floors taken away for the use of West Point, & nothing of it left but the Roof and the frame.
In this situation the present Patrons found it and at great private expense repaired it, as not one farthing could ever be obtained from the public for its destruc- tion.
The damages done however to the Parsonage & the farm was after the most assiduous pains, taken for that purpose, recompensed by a sum which enabled the Vestry to pay the debt above mentioned & obtain a grant from the Legislature for the Farm agreeable to the conditions stipulated by Mr. Robinson and the land is now the property of the Corporation.
But the people are too poor either to compleat those Churches or to fence and repair the Glebe. It is needless to mention the exertions that have been made, from a disposition to promote this Episcopal Establishment, they have exceeded expectations after being so long abandoned.
The Rev. Mr. Hargill is the present preacher at a salary from £75 to £100 a year which requires every exertion to compleat, but it is increasing and with due encouragement will soon amount to a much larger sum. Mr. Hargill however, will abandon those little Churches also unless the House and farm can be put in better repair.
I am of opinion that $1000 added to what the people can do will put the Churches, the house and the farm in very comfortable repair, and I have reason to be- lieve that this infant Corporation will with some at-
402 The History of St. Philip's Church
tention become a very respectable branch of the Episcopal Churches in this State and inspire the re- spective Congregations with great gratitude for this or any assistance afforded to them by the Corporation of Trinity Church.
I conceive it a duty I owe to the exertions of those poor people to request the favour of you Sir, to lay this statement before the Vestry of Trinity Church.
With great Respect Reverend Sir
Your most Hble Svt Wm. Denning.
The Rev Bishop Provoost.
The following documents have been copied from the collection of MS letters addressed to the Rt. Rev. John Henry Hobart, Bishop of New York, and preserved in the archives of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
I.
COPY OF A PAPER FOUND IN THE HOBART LET- TERS AT THE CHURCH MISSIONS HOUSE. (Unsigned and dated 18th February, 1813.)
State of the United Episcopal Churches, S. Philip's in the town of Philipse, County of Putnam (late Dutchess), and S. Peter's, in the town of Cort- landt, County of Westchester.
S. Philip's Church is situate near the banks of the Hudson, nearly opposite West Point, and about mid- way of the Highlands. Is a small building on a very beautiful commanding rising ground, with two acres of land, and a small schoolhouse attached to it.
403
Appendix
S. Peter's is about 6 miles south of S. Philip's, and 2 miles north of Peekskill.
A few years previous to the Revolutionary War those churches were built, incorporated and a minis- ter, Mr. Doughty, took charge of the said incorpora- tion. The late Beverly Robinson Esq. having a wish to make this Establishment permanent, took Mr. Doughty and his wife into his own family until a Parsonage House and a Glebe could be furnished for a settled clergyman to live, and Mr. Robinson made a present to the Corporation of a farm of land lying on the then Post road, and belonging to his estate, containing upwards of two hundred acres, and with the aid of a subscription, built a good house thereon, to which Mr Doughty1 removed.
But the grantor, having delayed executing a deed, with the whole of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson's estate, became vested in the people of the State of New York.2
With Mr. and Mrs. Robinson's generous gift Wil- liam Denning was acquainted, and, with some others, joined in a petition to the Legislature (of which he was then a member) for a grant to the full extent of the first grant or intention. Some members of the Pres- byterian congregation however, entering a claim on the ground that the gift was designed for both denomi- nations, the grant was not obtained. But some time after, when by proving the Episcopal claim, a Law is passed for the grant, and it continues vested in this Corporation.
One acre on which S. Philip's stood was in the same predicament with the Glebe when it fell within a location made by William Denning, to which he added another acre reserved to the Church for ever.
1 Doty.
2 The Glebe was restored to the parish in 1792.
404 The History of St. Philip's Church
During the said War, S. Philip's Church, being in the vicinity of the armies, suffered greatly. Nothing of it remained but the frame and the roof. The floor, siding, doors and windows destroyed or taken away.
The late Mrs. Ogilvie contributed generously which, with a very scanty aid from an indigent population and the residue furnished by William Denning, the Church was repaired; the floor laid, the siding, doors and windows replaced, a pulpit and altar erected, the church painted, and a small decent schoolhouse built on the premises. This was done in 1786.1 A few pews were erected by individuals, and tempo- rary seats of plank for the convenience of others.
Several essays were made to establish a respectabel clergyman, but the sum subscribed held out indifferent encouragement to such .. A Mr. officiated prior to his taking Orders; he stayed but a short time; then a Mr. Fowler, then a Mr. Haskell, and then a Mr. Warren, and long intervals entirely destitute. The present incumbent is the Rev. Mr. Urquhart.
During the ministry of Mr. Fowler or Mr. Haskell the Corporation of Trinity Church extended its be- nevolent aid to those Churches, to what amount is not recollected, but suppose about five hundred pounds, with an injunction, however, that it should be in- vested in lands, the rents or usuries of which should be applied toward the support of the minister for the time being.
William Denning's residence in the neighbourhood of S. Philips being only four months in the year, ren- dered it inconvenient for him to officiate as a member of the Corporation, and very unfortunately, those who had the care of the interest of those Churches, at the time of the gift, vested the money in lands since
1 Almost certainly a clerical error for 1796. The first mention of the building of a schoolhouse occurs in the minutes of the Vestry in 1793. -E. C. C.
405
Appendix
proved to be incumbered by Mortgages, and will eventually lost to the Corporation unless the mort- gaged premises is bought in and the mortgage paid off, and to this end the Corporation is totally incom- petent. The land is said to be worth much more than the demand against it.
The Glebe Farm is a very valuable tract of land, and its value increasing. It rents however at present for one Hundred dollars only. This, with subscriptions, may now yield to Mr. Urquhart about $300 per annum. The avails of the incumbered lot has failed entirely.
Both the Churches want repairs. Under these circumstances, and the tardy collection of rent (owing to the tenant repairing the parsonage) the present in- cumbent, altho aided by a school, would have found it difficult to subsist last Fall, until Captain Philipse, William Henderson and William Denning contributed by gift to his relief.
In December last, several members of the Vestry concurred in a scheme for selling the Glebe. The manner of the gift from Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, the obtaining a confirmation of that gift by a Law of the State, and a certainty of a future fund to the Churches, induced William Denning to oppose that measure of sale, and it is sincerely to be hoped it never will again be attempted.
The Churches, as before observed, are nearly six miles apart. The Glebe and Parsonage House lays between; the population is increasing, and it is cer- tain that if the same was duly encouraged by the fostering care and attention of the Corporation of Trinity Church, and the Respectable and Reverend Body of the Clergy of the Episcopal Churches of the city of New York, those churches would no longer languish for want of encouragement, but become a respectable member of and acquisition to the Epis- copal interest in the State.
406 The History of St. Philip's Church
There is a good orchard on the Glebe, and it is under pretty good cultivation, and the Corporation is not in debt.
The congregation has been greatly lessened by other denominations taking advantage of the paralised state the Churches remained so long without funds, and without a minister, but on arrival of its prosperity would soon recover those members and many others.
It is much to be hoped that this statement of the real condition of those long neglected Churches, will induce an enquiry and attention that will tend to secure this beneficial Establishment to the Union of the Episcopal interest.
The writer of this article has thought it his duty to make this representation, submitting it to the deliberation and wisdom of those to whom it is in- tended to be made known, the measures proper to be pursued.
New York,
18th February, 1813.
II. LETTER OF HARRY GARRISON TO BISHOP HOBART.
Pleasant Valley, Sept 3, 1813
Dear Sir,
As an application has been made to me this day for my signature in favor of Mr. our late rector, for some assistance from Trinity Church in New York, I have thought it proper to state to you briefly my reasons for not putting my signature to that Instrument.
In the first place, I will not be the means of de- ceiving your honorable Body for objects different from what they may at first appear, and there are
407
Appendix
reasons offered up in that certificate that may oper- ate unfriendly to our two churches here and at Peekskill. I have thought it my duty to state to you some of the reasons why we are so poor as set forth in the certificate above alluded to. The truth is, the present rector has conducted himself so far from what I conceive to be proper, that he has driven all his hearers from the church, and from the support of the same with a very exceptions, and from the face of the certificate you are to draw conclusions that all is right on his part, which is not the case.
Yet, I am willing if the Officers of Trinity Church shall be disposed to assist Mr. - to support his family, or to give him some aid, but not from an impression that he has done his duty here, and the congregation so poor that they can no longer support him-we are as able today to support a good rector as we were the first day he came to our place-but are not willing to pay him.
Intemperance is a crime in common life, and a great one in the Clerical department. I am con- strained by motives of duty to make this representa- tion to you as the Head of our Church. If this man had shown amendment of life since his late miscon- duct, I should say, forgive him, but when I see the Minister administer the Holy Sacraments to his con- gregation, warning them of the consequences of re- ceiving the same unworthily, and before the sun sets of the same day, so far forget himself and the God who he affects to represent, as to make a beast of himself, and so intoxicated as to ly along the streets so drunk as not to be able to go, and the people pointing the finger of scorn at him-that man is a preacher of the gospel-how would your feelings recoil at such a sight, and what is to be expected from such a preacher?
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