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 4
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hitherto the chief supporter of the parish, was in exile; other Tory members of the late Vestry had lost all their property, and Churchmen generally had so "suffered both public and private" that they "were incapable" of rendering material assistance. Both church buildings were in a ruinous condition; the parsonage house was almost uninhabitable; and round the glebe "not a ves- tige of a fence remained." And to crown all, the parish was burdened with a debt of between three and four hundred pounds.
The extent of the material damage suffered by St. Peter's in the course of the War of the Revolution may be gathered from an interesting document preserved in the State Comptroller's Office at Albany. The Highlands and the northern part of Westchester suffered most severely from the fortunes of War.1 St. Philip's Chapel was stripped bare, and "S. Peter's Church was much injured" whilst the French troops who occupied the parsonage house left neither fence nor lumber on the glebe. No compensation was ever obtained for the damage wrought upon the property in the Highlands, but William Denning writing to Bishop Provoost in 1796 says:
The damage done to the Parsonage and Farm was, after the most assidious pains, taken for that purpose, recompensed.2
At the close of the War appraisers were appointed to
1 In March, 1777, Colonel Bird with a detachment of British troops visited Peekskill and destroyed much valuable property. (History of New York during the Revolution, Thomas Jones, Vol. I, p. 177.)
2 Archives of Trinity Corporation, January 18th, 1796.
42
The History of St. Philip's Church
assess the damages, and a list of claimants and awards is still preserved. The damage to the farm was appraised at £300. In October, 1791, the Vestry gave power of attorney to one of their number, Jarvis Dusenbury, to receive the money from the State Treasurer. The docu- ment runs as follows:
Know all men by these presents, that we Caleb Morgan and James Spock, Trustees and Caleb Ward, Warden for the Episcopal Church at Peekskill, of the Manor of Cortlandt in West Chester County and State of New York, have made ordained constituted and appointed Jarvis Dusenbury of the Manor afore- said our true and lawful Attorney for us and in our name place and stead, to ask, demand, sue for Levy and recover of and from any Person or Persons, what- soever, all and every of accounts put in his hand which are now due on account of said Church, and to settle or compound as to his own said Attorney shall con- ceive most for our interest, and on receipt of our just due, a full and sufficient discharge in our name to give-and one or more. . under him for the aforesaid to constitute and appoint and at pleas- ure to revoke, in a full and ample manner as we might do were we personally present. Ratifying and holding for firm all our said Lawfull Attorney shall do in and about Premise.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 1st day of October in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and ninety-one.
Joshua Nelson James Spock Trustees
Caleb Morgan
Caleb Ward, Warden.
Hc. November 21h 1791. Prow Guard Manchin Tread? a Certificate for three hundred pounds infull for the Clavin of a Religious. Society un Wat Chester County for Rail VO.
Rh 300. ...
Jarvis Disordery
RECEIPT FOR DAMAGES IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION
1791
St. Peter's Church and St. Philip's Chapel 43
Six weeks later the £300 were paid to Jarvis Dusen- bury, who gave this receipt:
Rec'd Nov 21st, 1791, from Gerard Bancker, Treas", a Certificate for Three Hundred pounds-in full for the claim of a Religious Society in Westchester County for Rails &c.
£300.
Jarvis Dusenbury.
The document is thus endorsed on the docket:
Abstract of Vouchers Value of Firewood, Timber taken by the Army of the United States at different times.
Beverly Robinson-A Religious Society. £300.1
This money was used to pay the debt on the "improve- ments" purchased on the farm and the balance due on the parsonage, so enabling the corporation to secure the title deeds to the property "agreeable to the conditions im- posed by Mr. Robinson;" but it left the parish with two churches and a parsonage badly in need of repair, and congregations utterly unable to meet the cost.
It is comparatively easy to picture material conditions of the United Churches during the closing years of the 18th Century. At the Vestry meeting held on Easter Monday, 1795, in the extremity of their need, an appeal for financial assistance was made to the Corporation of Trinity Church. Part of this petition has already been quoted.2 It ran as follows:
1 MSS. of the Colony and State of New York in the Revolutionary War. Vol. L, Folio 94. (Comptroller's Office, Albany.)
2 See page 39.
44
The History of St. Philip's Church
We, the Wardens and Vestry of the Protestant Episcopal Churches at Peekskill and the Highlands beg leave to represent to the Rector, Wardens and Vestry of Trinity Church in the City of New York, the unhappy situation of our respective Churches. 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.
And now many reparations being essentially neces- sary to render them convenient, which we are unable 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 rich pro- fusion-Could we by any means possess ourselves 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 necessary 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 be- stow upon us for the purposes above mentioned, will be very thankfully received, and gratefully acknowl- edged: and we, as in duty bound, should endeavor ever to maintain a just sense of the obligations we should be under for so timely and so truly needful aid and assistance.
With the greatest respect we subscribe ourselves
St. Peter's Church and St. Philip's Chapel 45
the Rector, Wardens and Vestry's devoted and most humble servants,
Silvenus Haight Wardens
Caleb Morgan
Daniel Haight
Isaac Davenport
Isaac Mead
Elijah Morgan Jr
Vestry Men.
William Douglass
Smith Jones
Harry Garrison
Peekskill, Easter Monday, 1795 Jacob Nelson Clerk.1
Whatever details of the parochial picture are lacking in the above petition may be filled in from a lengthy letter written in the Autumn of the same year by William Denning to the Rev. Mr. Hargill, then Priest in charge of the United Churches, and from a second letter a little later addressed to Bishop Provoost. It would appear that Mr. Hargill thought the parish, by a little effort, could increase his scanty support, and in combating this idea Mr. Denning explains fully their condition.
Beverly in the Highlands,
10th September, 1795.
Revd Sir,
It may perhaps not be amiss that I make a few re- marks to you upon the former and the present state of the Corporation of the United Churches of S. Peter's and S. Philip's, especially as from the frequent com- munications I have had with you on the subject, it ap- pears to me, you have been led to believe those con-
1 Archives of Trinity Corporation, 1795.
46
The History of St. Philip's Church
gregations are able to do more than they really are. Thus stood matters (after the War) when a few friends met and consulted about repairing and opening the two Churches for the purpose of hav- ing the Gospel 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.
S. Philip's Church was decently repaired, glazed and painted: the Parsonage clear and under some small repairs. In this state our little fund was ex- hausted. We have had no further assistance than the Congregation, except from the worthy and pious Mrs. Ogilvie. The Congregations are unable to make further contributions at present. The people early anxious to have the Churches open, they have been gratified, but under very discouraging circumstances, particularly in their first essay of a preacher.
The Poverty and general inability of the people still keeps those United Churches in a languishing state, and, I assure you, Sir, that I am of the opinion the interests of Episcopacy would be greatly promoted by their being a little aided. I believe $1,000, with what has been done, would put this suffering Institu- tion 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 and protection of our Reputable Clergy whose attention has been so often experienced by oth- er infant institutions and who do not as yet know the state of the Corporation in question.
I have also to suggest to you that we have an Epis- copal school1 in forwardness the completion of which depends upon further assistance.
1 Probably the School at Garrison referred to in the Vestry Minutes of 1793.
St. Peter's Church and St. Philip's Chapel 47
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, and 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 state- ment 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 believe, you find literally true.
I do not however despair seeing those people one day better able to support a Clergyman and also seeing 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 show- ing this statement to whom you may think proper.
I am with great Respect and Esteem, Your most Hble Svt,
Wm. Denning.1
Reverend Mr. Hargill.
To Bishop Provoost Mr. Denning adds:
The people are too poor either to compleat the 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
1 Trinity Corporation Archives, 1795.
48 The History of St. Philip's Church it is increasing and with due encouragement will soon amount to a much larger sum. Mr. Hargill will, however, abandon those little Churches unless the house and farm can be put in better repair. I conceive it a duty I owe to those poor people to request the favor of you, Sir, to lay this statement before the Vestry of Trinity Church.1
In recounting the benefactions of the Corporation of Trinity Church the Rev. Dr. Berrian mentions the following to the parish:1
1797 S. Peter's Church, Peekskill $750.
1807 S. Peter's and S. Philip's 1250.
1813 S. Philips Church in the Highlands 750.
do For the Rector 250.
A careful examination of the minutes of the Trinity Vestry shows the following entries:
November 13th, 1797. Resolved that the Treasur- er pay the sum of £75 to the Reverend A. Lile being the amount of an Order in his favor by Samuel Ward, Clerk of the Vestry of the Churches of Peekskill and the Highlands, and that the said sum be in part of the Donation to the said Churches.2
And on February 6th, 1798:
To the Episcopal Establishment at the Highlands, £300.3
Apparently, however, whatever donation was granted was not fully paid, as witness the following petition:
1 Trinity Corporation Archives, 1796.
2 Minutes of Trinity Corporation, Vol. II, 1797.
3 Ibid Vol. II, 1798.
St. Peter's Church and St. Philip's Chapel 49
Peekskill, May 10th, 1798.
We the Church Wardens and Vestry of the Church- es of S. Peter's near Peekskill and S. Philip's in the Highlands beg leave to report to the Rector and Vestry of the Corporation of Trinity Church that they are at present Destitute of a Minister, that they have a convenient Parsonage House, and a farm of upwards of 200 akers of land which Farm is in want of fencing. That the abilities of the Parishoners are unequal to providing a sufficient Salary to induse a Person qualified as a Preacher to accept a Call for the Churches. It has therefore been contemplated as a very Probable mode of succeeding in so Laudable and necessary a purpose that an application be made to the Corporation of Trinity Church requesting direc- tion of the Corporation to advance the Church War- dens and Vestry of the before mentioned United Churches such sums of the Donation to those Churches as remains yet to be advanced, which they would put out on ampel security the Interest of which together with what could be raised by Subscription, would in their opinion, soon amount to the Desired Sum. The Farm is rented for the present year for £35.
Pleas to Pay the Bearers, William Douglass senr and Daniel William Birdsall the sum of £400.1
Joshua Nelson Daniel Haight
Caleb Ward
John Nelson
Wardens.
Thomas Henyan
Elijah Morgan jr
Danl Wm Birdsall
Vestry Men.
At times the Vestry did not find it easy to obtain the money which had been promised. In 1796 the Vestry
1 Archives of Trinity Corporation, 1798.
50 The History of St. Philip's Church
drew an order on William Denning "for the sum of six hundred pounds he making himself liable for that sum to the Corporation of Trinity Church it being a Donation from them to these Churches." Two years later, how- ever, the sum of one thousand dollars "yet remains due from the Corporation of Trinity Church." Shortly afterwards it "was agreed that a letter should be sent unto the Corporation of Trinity Church of New York which was done for the Purpose of obtaining an answer for an Order sent them in May 10th, 1798." The letter was as follows:
Peekskill, May 10th, 1800.
Gentlemen,
At a meeting of the Vestry of S. Peter's and S. Phil- ip's Churches on the 10th day of May, 1798, they did send you an Order for $1000 which order they have never received the money, and no answer thereto.
We the present Vestry would esteem it a particular favor if you would send us an answer by the first Opportunity as we now wish to put the Churches in good repair and give someone a Call to Preach for us.1
Daniel Haight Danl Wm Birdsall Benj Douglass Jr. John Nelson Joshua Lancaster John Jones Jr. James Mandevill.
One year later William Lancaster reports to the Vestry that "the moneys given as a donation to the Churches was not paid, and if a proper person was appointed the 1 Archives of Trinity Corporation, 1800.
St. Peter's Church and St. Philip's Chapel 51
money should be paid." Whereupon Mr. Benj" Doug- lass, Jr., was deputed "to goe to New York and Receive the sum of one thousand dollars and engage a Minister." His errand was fruitless. "Nov 26th. Mr Benj" Douglass Jr. reports that he called on the Treasurer of Trinity Church in New York for the Sum of one thousand dollars the Donation granted our Churches and the said Treasurer could not pay that sum until further orders from their Vestry in New York, and Retained in his hands the Order given the said Douglass to lay before the said Vestry for their consideration." Another effort was made to secure the money in 1806, and a letter was ad- dressed to Bishop Moore. On August 29th, 1807, Trinity Corporation passed this resolution:
That the further sum of £100 be granted to the United Churches of S. Peter's and S. Philip's towards payment for thirty-four acres of land lately purchased as an additional glebe, and that the same be paid with the £400 formerly granted for the same purpose and upon the like conditions as are expressed in the grant of that sum.1
It should also be stated that a further donation of $2,000 was made by Trinity to the building fund of the new St. Peter's Church at Peekskill in 1836-9.
In view of the unjust criticisms lately directed against the administration of the large estate of the Corpora- tion of Trinity Church it may be well to record on the authority of the Rev. Dr. Berrian, that up to 1842, "the aggregate amount of the gifts, loans and grants of Trinity Church, rating their lands at the present
1 Minutes of Trinity Corporation, 1807. Vol. II, p. 173.
52 The History of St. Philip's Church
prices (1842), considerably exceeds Two Millions of Dollars, a sum more than equal, in the opinion of competent judges, to two-thirds of the value of the estate which remains."1
The materials bearing on the spiritual side of the par- ochial work are very scanty, owing largely to the fact that there were long intervals when it was impossible to secure a clergyman.
The parish sent its first delegates to the Diocesan Convention in 1790-Jarvis Dusenbury and William Denning who are accredited in the diocesan records as coming from "Peekskill and Beverly."2
Later delegates were:
1792. William Denning and States Dykeman.
1793. Rev. Andrew Fowler.
1794. Rev. Andrew Fowler and Jarvis Dusenbury.
1795. William Duglass.
1796-7. Rev. Samuel Haskell.
1801. Joshua Lancaster.
1804-5. Harry Garrison.
1806.
Rev. Joseph Warren.
1807.
Isaac Purdy.
1808.
Rev. Joseph Warren and James Mandevill,
to whom was voted twelve dollars for "expenses."
1811. Daniel W. Birdsall and Harry Garrison.
At the convention of 1792 William Denning
certified that possession had been secured of the par- sonage house and glebe lands belonging to the Churches of S. Philips in the Highlands and S. Peter's
1 Berrian's History of Trinity Church, p. 386.
2 N. Y. Convention Journal, 1791.
St. Peter's Church and St. Philip's Chapel 53
near Peekskill-that they had given a call to the Rev. Andrew Fowler and provided for his support; and that the people seemed much pleased with having the gospel once more preached and divers services per- formed according to the usage of the Protestant Episcopal Church.1
The first parochial report was made to the Convention of 1807.
The United Churches of S. Peters, Cortlandt Town, and S. Philips, Philips Town, Rev. Joseph Warren.
Baptisms, Adults 3: Children, 16: Total, 19. Marriages, 5. Communicants, 10.
And in 1808 the report of Mr. Warren was-
Baptisms, Adults 2: Children 16: Total 18. Marriages, 8: Deaths, 6: Communicants, 8.
The first recorded Episcopal Visitation was that of Bishop Hobart in 1816 who reported to the Diocesan Convention, "November I visited the Congregations of Philipstown and Peekskill." In 1817 the Rev. Petrus Stuyvesant Ten Broeck, who was then in charge of the churches at Peekskill, Philipstown and Fishkill, report- ed to the convention that "The congregation in these places have been in a depressed state in consequence of having been destitute of the regular services of a clergy- man for some time past, particularly, S. Peter's and S. Philip's which have been the longest destitute. They now appear to be reviving from their depression."
He reports also:
Baptisms in Philipstown, Adult 1. Infants 10.
Total 11.
1 N. Y. Convention Journal, 1792.
54 The History of St. Philip's Church
In 1821 the Rev. Dr. Wilkins reported for the United Churches:
7 Baptisms, 3 Marriages, 21 Communicants, and a contribution of $4.37 for the "Missionary Fund."
As before mentioned St. Peter's Church was small1 and exceedingly plain. As it stands today the door is in the middle of the South side of the Church and there is a narrow gallery at the West end and running down the South side; no chancel, but a small raised platform. No pews were provided; the people sat upon rough hewn benches. But it appears that, in the early days, the Vestry rented ground in the church for the purpose of erecting pews. On April 28th, 1794, the Vestry resolved :
That Those persons who have taken up ground in the Church for pews Shall build from within Two months from Easter Sunday or forfit their Title to sª ground, and that we advertise the same imme- diately.
By the year 1826, if not earlier, pew rents were charged at St. Peter's, for on the 22nd of December the Vestry
Voted that Mr James Mandeville (by paying four Dollars and sixty two cents) have Pew No 5 in St Peter's Church in Cortlandt Town in exchange for his old pew.
Voted that Pier2 Van Cortlandt (by paying nine Dollars and sixty-two cents) have pew No 4 in St Peters Church, Cortlandt Town.
Voted Mr George Fowler have Pew No 6 for which he has paid eight Dollars fifty Cents.
1 On Saturday, February 27th, 1909, Mr. Stuyvesant Fish measured the exterior of the building and found it 28 x 36 feet.
2 Pierre.
The Word our
be with us as de ivas with our Fathers.
H. H. PIERCE PHOTO.
INTERIOR OF ST. PETER'S CHURCH
St. Peter's Church and St. Philip's Chapel 55
Both churches kept up the old English custom of a "Clark," whose duty it was to lead the responses of the congregation, and in addition, St. Peter's employed a "Chorister." In 1793 the Vestry resolved that
Mr Caleb Morgan and Isaac Mead be appointed Clerks unitedly in S. Peter's and S. Philip's Churches, and that Gee be appointed Chorister in the Churches afore said till Easter Monday next.
The first mention of a sexton is in 1803, when it was voted "that Thomas Depew is Chosen Sexton for the ensuing year."
The six acres of land surrounding the church gave the Vestry a good deal of care. What was not used for burial purposes, was rented and made to contribute to the revenues of the parish. In 1803 it was agreed
That James Mandeville have the Church ground for three years for forty shillings a year, and that the said Mandevill shall not paster Hogs in the said Lott and that he shall do his best inDever to keep the pews in good repair.
The following year Mandeville was "allowed twenty shillings for the plaster that He put on the ground." At the same meeting it was agreed "that the Church dor bee repaired and Lock put there on and Lik Wise Locks to the gate." "It wire" also "agreed that Tomy Curry have the care of the cees of the Church and gate and that the sade Curry shant Lit any cretters in to paster with out the permission of the Wardens and Vestry of sade Churches." Joseph Ferris was appointed "to put up the Division Fence Between the Church Yard of the Episcopal Church and the Baptist Church."1 The
1 A roadway now runs between these two churches.
56
£ The History of St. Philip's Church
following year the grounds were re-let to James Mandeville "for one year to Mow and turn in after Mowing young Cattle for three pounds pr year," and in 1824 he was allowed five dollars for mowing the grass on the church grounds.
By far the larger portion of the minutes of the United Vestry are taken up with the problem of ministerial support. That support came partly from the glebe farm but mainly from subscriptions, and many and devious were the methods adopted to raise the money. Whenever a new minister settled a "subscription was sett on foot" for his support. For the purpose of raising the subscriptions the parish was divided into two sections, and collectors appointed for each. Thus in 1771 Bev- erly Robinson was appointed "to collect that part of the first half year's salary that is subscribed in Dutchess County, and Jeremiah Drake that part which is sub- scribed on the Manor of Cortlandt." When John Doty was called as Rector in 1770 a petition was addressed to the S. P. G. "praying their assistance in his main- tenance," and the Vestry entered into a bond with the Rev. Dr. Auchmuty, trustee for the Society, "obliging the Church Warden and the Vestrymen for the time being, and their successors to pay unto Mr. Doty annually the sum of Forty pounds, New York currency, to which Bond the Clark was ordered to fix the seal."
What would now be considered a highly improper way of raising Church funds, a lottery, was exceedingly common in the Eighteenth Century. On January 4th, 1772, the Vestry "Ordered that Mr. Birdsall furnish a ticket in the Delaware Lottery out of the money col-
St. Peter's Church and St. Philip's Chapel 57
lected in S. Peter's Church, and that Mr. Robinson do furnish another in the same lottery out of the money collected in S. Philip's Chappell and that the said tickets be for the benefit of the said Churches, and that they both be marked or wrote upon in the presence of the Rev. Mr. Doty."1
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