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 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
How fared the speculation history sayeth not, but in April of the same year the Vestry took a deeper plunge when "It was unanimously agreed to sett on foot a Lottery for the benefit of S. Peters Church at Peekskill and S. Philips Chappell in the Highlands for the raising £360. The scheam to be for 1500 tickets at four dollars each. The whole to be divided into prizes from which 15 per cent is to be deducted for the aforesaid churches."
The Rector was instructed to go to New York "im- mediately in order to sett on foot the said scheame, and to engage such gentlemen there for managers and assis- tance as he shall think propper." In July Mr. Doty was again sent to New York "to forward the Lottery" and instructed "if a sufficient number of tickets cannot be reasonably sold so that the Lottery may be drawn, then Mr. Doty is desired to go to the Managers of the said Lottery and have it stopped, and the Patrons that have purchased tickets have their money returned to them again." Whether the lottery was carried through or no, we cannot tell, but no further mention is made thereof.
The first recorded instance of collections made in the Church is in 1771, when it was ordered that "a collection
1 The Delaware Lottery was for the disposal of land owned by Lord Sterling. The tickets were £4 each, N. Y. currency, or 46 shillings sterling, or 10 dollars. (Gaine's Weekly Gazette, March 23rd, 1772.)
58
The History of St. Philip's Church
be made in Church immediately after the Sermon," and David Penoyer and Peter Drake were appointed to make the collections in the church for six months to come.
In 1791 Mr. Dusenbury and Mr. Arnold were appoint- ed "to furnish the subscription roll on the part of St. Peter's, and that Mr. Arnold and Mr. Morgan to furnish the same on the part of S. Philips." It was further decided that the Wardens and Vestrymen begin both the subscription papers, but, adds the resolution, "it is hereby understood that the duplicate signing is designed to give equal encouragement to both, and that the pay- ment of one will discharge the subscription."
In 1795 the Vestrymen
met according to appointment at the Revd Mr. Haskell's and agreed that the monies raised in sd Church on Sunday by way of contribution shall be considered as belonging to the Minister of the sd Church independently of all considerations, excepting on particular occasions, when mention is made in public of the causes for which particular monies are wanted.
The system of keeping parochial accounts was primi- tive indeed. For many years there was no Treasurer, but in 1791 the Vestry "did then appoint Messrs. Caleb Ward, Caleb Morgan, and Sylvanus Haight treasurers for the temporalities of S. Peter's Church at Peekskill, and S. Philips Chapel in the Highlands, to receive all monies that is due or shall become due to the said Church- es, to keep and to hold the same until demanded by the Wardens and Vestry of the said Churches whomsoever they shall then be, and the above said Caleb Ward, Caleb Morgan, and Silvanus Haight do give a just and
St. Peter's Church and St. Philip's Chapel 59
true account of all monies which they shall or may receive into the aforesaid Wardens and Vestry of the above Churches."
It was too admirable a scheme to be workable. What really happened was that when money came into the hands of the Vestry it was handed over to one of their number, and then a draft was made upon him as needed. Daniel Birdsall was directed“to take charge of such money as shall be collected, which is to be applyd as Shall be hereafter Directed by the Vestry." Men who were in- debted to the parish invariably paid by "Note." In 1810 the committee appointed to "settle with James Mandevill" reported " a Balance due to the said Churches of Seventy three dollars and we have taken a Note payable to said Wardens and Vestry for that amount payable on demand."
The Vestry in turn paid the Clergy by means of "Orders" drawn on these debtors, and sometimes the Clergy drew an "order" on the Vestry in favor of a creditor.
Peekskill, 29th April, 1811.
Gentlemen,
Please to pay Mr. James Mandeville or the Bearer Eighty five dollars on demand & oblige Your very H1 Sevt,
John Urquhart.
The Wardens and Vestry of St. Peters Peekskill & S. Philips Highlands.
The order is countersigned:
Harry Garrison Warden Daniel Haight.
60
The History of St. Philip's Church
Here are two drawn by the Rev. Edward J. Ives who was Rector of the Church 1826-9:
To the Wardens and Vestry of the Episcopal Parishes of Cortlandt and Philipstown:
Please to pay the bearer, Mr John Oppie, Esq. $15 and charge the same towards my services in the said parishes -- Peekskill Edward J. Ives.
11th Sept. 1826.
The Second is for Board:
To the Wardens and Vestry of the Episcopal Societies of Cortlandt and Philipstown-
Please to pay the bearer, Mr. John Oppie Esq. $56 for board from the 6th of June to the 11th of Septr, 1826.
Edward J. Ives.
Peekskill,
11th Septr, 1826.
The endorsement on the back is as follows:
Rec'd 16th Oct 1826 from the Vestry the payment in full of this acct by Mr John Currie's Note with in- terest for $85-70- the balance to be paid to the Vestry.
It may be interesting to reproduce Mr. Ives' account with the Vestry eighty years ago :-
March 23rd, 1829. Reverend Edward J. Ives Dr.
To Cash recd of James Mandevill
125- 00.
on three seperate orders
To Cash Mr. Mandeville- Sub- 15- 00.
¥ Frederick Philipse- Sub- 150- 00.
recd of John Oppie 111- 50.
of Jas. W. Moyatt- Note 40- 00.
¥ of Daniel Haight per Order 25- 00.
St. Peter's Church and St. Philip's Chapel 61
To Cash recd from Peekskill Subscription 120- 00.
« General Van Cortlandt 10- 00.
on Notes Mr Wiley 106- 00.
To amount on Highland Subscription 1827 60- 00 To Cash recd on Isaac Lent Note 28- 00
« of John Garrison 1826 Lent 15- 00
on Mr Lent Note 50- 00
" on 1826 Subscription as Recollected 36- 00
891- 50.
To Cash of Daniel Haight for Wood cut off the Farm 1829 39- 71
To Cash my Subscription I. G.
5- 00
1830
March 8th
To Cash of F. P. Gouverneur on James
Mandevill Note
50- 00.
To No 1 Note by Order Vestry
65- 00.
To Cash of F. P. Gouverneur S. 50- 00
« John Garrison 78- 00
To Cash Isaac Faurst Paint Church 3- 00.
John F. Haight
2- 00.
To Daniel Haight - Subscription
6- 00
To Henry Garrison do 10- 00
To Cash lent by John Garrison of Pierre Van Cortlandt 5- 00
2- 00
John Warren's subscription
paid to Frederick Philipse Esq. 4- 00
1830
May 19th
To 1 Note signed by F. Philipse,
Harry Garrison & Daniel Haight
45- 00.
To 1 do do 61- 40
To be paid by Peekskill Committee
183- 39.
$1500- 00
62
The History of St. Philip's Church
CONTRA CR
1826 Credit by Service
300- 00
1827 do
400- 00
1828 do
400- 00
1829 Year ends - 29th May, 1830
Services 375- 00
Cr by Interest allowed 25- 00
$1500- 00
In the early days of the parish it was the custom to compensate members of the Vestry for services rendered to the Church. Here are a few items culled at random from the records:
1771 Ordered that £3.0.0. a year be paid to Jerediah Frost as a reward to him for officiating the office of Clark.
The said Jerediah Frost was evidently the parish clark whose duty it was to lead the responses in public wor- ship.
In 1774 Peter Drake and Joshua Nelson, who were appointed to collect the subscriptions, were allowed "for their trouble 7 per cent each." In 1801 Joshua Lancaster was paid £2.0.0. for going to New York, and twelve shillings for writing the lease for the glebe farm, and five years later the Rev. Joseph Warren received $4.50 "for his journey to New York." In 1809 Harry Garrison and James Mandeville, the committee for renting the parsonage, were allowed one dollar per day each. The following payments made to members of the Vestry are recorded in 1820:
St. Peter's Church and St. Philip's Chapel 63
Paid Harry Garrison for his services for 10 days $15-00 Daniel Haight for his services for 10
days 12-00.
From the year 1830 the connection between St. Peter's and St. Philip's was nominal. It was inevitable. When Daniel Birdsall built the first store in the village of Peekskill in 1764 it marked the drift away from Cort- landt. As Peekskill increased, Cortlandt decreased. In 1829 the Rev. Edward I. Ives reported to the Diocesan Convention that "A new congregation has also been organized in the village of Peekskill, who contemplate the erection of a new Church as soon as their pecuniary resources are enlarged."1 That new church was erected in 1838. At the same time the other end of the parish at Philipstown was developing rapidly. Men of wealth and leisure awoke to the rare beauty of the Highlands and built their homes on the bank of the Hudson.
So in 1840 St. Peter's and St. Philip's, after an associa- tion of seventy years, came to the parting of the paroch- ial ways, each wishing the other "good luck in the name of the Lord."
1 N. Y. Convention Journal, 1829.
CHAPTER IV. ST. PETER'S CHURCH AND ST. PHILIP'S CHAPEL. THE RECTORS.
1770-1840.
F ROM the year 1770 until 1836 St. Peter's and St. Philip's were served by one Rector who officiated in both churches.
At the first meeting of the Vestry of which we have record, held on September 1st, 1770, it was resolved to "sett on foot a subscription in favor of Mr. John Doty and endeavour to settle him as our Minister." On October 15th it was "farther agreed to give Mr. John Doty a Call as Rector of this Church when he is properly ordained." The Vestry then prepared a petition to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel "recommend- ing Mr. Doty to them for our Minister, and praying their assistance for his maintenance," and also wrote a letter to the Rev. Dr. Burton, "Sec to ye Society giving an account of the state of our Church."
John Doty came of a good stock. The original family name was "Doten" and they hailed from Boston, in the county of Lincoln, England. Edward Doten was one of the "men of the Mayflower" who landed at Plymouth in 1620. Jabez, the son of Isaac Doten and Mary Faunce, was born at Plymouth, Massachusetts, on January 1st, 1716. He married Mary Ann Price of New York, daughter of a lieutenant in the Queen's
The Rectors of St. Peter's and St. Philip's 65
Fusileers. Jabez was the first of his family to leave Plymouth, and from that time wrote his name "Doty." On August 10, 1757, Joseph Harrop, mariner, of New York City, going on a privateering cruise in the ship-of- war called the "Stirdy Beggar," Captain Troup, "ap- points his trusty and loving friend, Jabez Doty of New York City, 'joyner,' his true and lawful attorney. Recorded in Clerk's office, New York City at the request of Mr. Jabez Doty, Joyner, June 28, 1762."
The Rev. John Doty was the eldest child of Jabez and was born in the city of Albany on May 8th, 1745. A descendant of his says of him:
While the paternal ancestors of Rev. John Doty were of the strictest Puritan stock at Plymouth, his mother was the daughter of an English military officer, stationed in New York. This union brought to him some means and good family connections, a conservative tendency in politics and religion, and a desire for culture, position and influence. He was the oldest son of his parents, and, 1768, entered King's College of New York City, now Columbia College.1
He left the college without a degree, in 1770, and dur- ing the summer of that year officiated at Peekskill and neighbourhood as a lay reader. On May 15th of the same year, he married, in New York, Lydia Burling, from whom he was subsequently divorced. His second wife (1819) was Rachel Jeffery of Boston, Massachusetts, who died at Montreal March 1st, 1860.
There were no Bishops in America, and it was there- fore necessary for John Doty to proceed to England for ordination. Armed with letters of recommendation
1 The Doten-Doty Family in America, pp. 155-7.
66
The History of St. Philip's Church
from the Vestry, he sailed to the other side, and on October 23rd, 1770, he was ordered Deacon in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall; and on January 1st, 1771, was made Priest in the same chapel by the Bishop of Norwich.1
It would be interesting, were they available, to read the letters of recommendation which John Doty carried with him to the Bishop of London, who had the over- sight of the Church in the Colonies, but we are able to reproduce the documents which accompanied the ordina- tion. The candidate was first required to put his hand to the Oath of Conformity:
I do declare that I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now by Law Establish- ed. John Doty.
The Certificate of Ordination to the Priesthood was thus worded:
-by divine permission Bishop of Norwich to all to whom these Presents shall come or whom they may in any wise concern.
Know ye that at an ordination holden by us with theAid and Assistance of Almighty God on the first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-one-in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall-we did admit and promote our beloved in Christ John Doty to the Holy Order of a Priest according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England in that behalf published and provided. He having been well recommended to us for His good life and virtuous attainments and proficiency in Learning with a sufficient Title and having been also first examined and approved by our Examiner. In Testimony Whereof we have caused our Episcopal Seal to be hereto affixed.
1 Two Hundred Years of the S. P. G., Vol. II, p. 885.
The Rectors of St. Peter's and St. Philip's 67
Duly ordained, two other formalities had to be ob- served before he could leave England and assume the rectorship of the United Churches. One was formal appointment by the Venerable Society as one of their missionaries and the other was a license to officiate in the Colonies, issued by the Bishop of London. In the library of Fulham Palace, London, there is preserved a manuscript, "List of Persons licensed to the Plantations by the Bishop of London from the year 1745 inclusive,"1 where the date of John Doty's "License" is given as January 1st, 1771. It was worded as follows :-
BISHOP'S LICENSE
Thomas by Divine Permission Bishop of London To our beloved in Christ John Doty, Clerk- Greeting.
We do by these presents Give and Grant to you in whose Fidelity, Morals, Learning, Sound Doctrine & Dilligence, we do fully confide our License and Authority, to continue only during our pleasure to Perform the Office of a Priest in the Province of New York in America in Reading the Common Pray- er & Performing other Ecclesiastical Duties, belong- ing to the said office according to the Form pre- scribed in the Book of Common Prayer, made & pub- lished by Authority of Parliament & the Canons and Constitutions in that behalf, lawfully established & promulgated and not otherwise, or in any other man- ner (you having first before us subscribed the Articles & taken the Oaths which in this Case are Required by Law to be Subscribed and taken.)
In witness whereof we have caused our Seal which we use in this case to be hereto affixed. Dated the
1 This list is printed in the Collection of the Protestant Episcopal Historical Society, 1851, pp. 107-120.
68
The History of St. Philip's Church
first day of January, in the Year of our Lord 1771. (Seal) Tho. London.
It was also the custom that missionaries, before sailing, should wait upon the Archbishop of Canterbury to receive his "Paternal Benediction and Instructions." When John Doty did so he received, in common with other missionaries, the following written words of counsel and instruction :
That they always keep in view the great Design of their undertaking, viz. To promote the Glory of God, and the Salvation of Men, by propagating the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour.
That they often consider the Qualifications requisite for those who would effectually promote this Design, viz.,-a sound knowledge of and hearty belief of the Christian Religion; an Apostolic zeal, tempered with Prudence, Humility, Meekness and Patience; a fervent charity towards the souls of men; and finally, that Temperance, Fortitude and Con- stancy, which become good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
That in order to the obtaining and preserving the said Qualifications, they do very frequently in their Retirements offer up fervent prayers to Almighty God for his Direction and Assistance; converse much with the Holy Scripture; seriously reflect upon their Ordination Vows; and consider the account which they are to render to the Great Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls at the Last Day.
That avoiding all names of distinction, they en- deavor to preserve a Christian agreement and union one with another; as a Body of Brethren of one and the same Church united under the superior Episcopal order, and all engaged, in the same design of Propa -- gating the Gospel.1
1 Hawkins, Missions of the Church of England, p. 424.
The Rectors of St. Peter's and St. Philip's 69
With such counsels ringing in his ears John Doty set his face homewards, and arrived in the Highlands just five months after his ordination. At a meeting of the Vestry held on the 8th day of June, 1771, attended by Beverly Robinson, Charles Moore, Caleb Ward, Joshua Nelson, Daniel Birdsall and Jeremiah Drake, it was "Unanimously agreed by the Wardens and Vestry that the Rev. John Doty be presented to the rectory of S. Peters Church on the Manor of Cortlandt near Peekskill, and ordered that the Wardens do deliver him the key of said Church and give him possession according to Law." It is further recorded that "Agreeable to the above resolve, the Church Wardens did on the same day deliver the key to the Rev. John Doty and possession of the said Church."
Inasmuch as the Colonial Church was by law estab- lished it became the duty of the Vestry to present the Rector-elect to the Governor of the Colony for admission and induction. This the Vestry did at its meeting one month later, when the record runs:
The Rev. Mr. John Doty Having Excepted the Call given him the Last Vestry, Whereupon it is or- dered that the Board Present the said Mr. Doty to his Excellency the Earl of Dunmore, Governor and Desire he may be admitted and Instituted as rector and inducted into the said St Peter's Church, and a presentation being prepared for that purpose and the same being read wars Signed and Sealed by all the Members present and is as following, viz.
To His Excellency the Right Honorable John, Earl of Dunmore, Captain General and Governor- in-chief in and over the Province of New York and
70 The History of St. Philip's Church
the Territories depending thereon in America, Chan- cellor and Vice-Admiral of the same:
We the Church Wardens and Vestry men of St. Peters Church on the Manor of Cortlandt near Peeks- Kill in the County of Westchester, in Communion with the Church of England as by law established, the true patrons of the Rectory of S. Peter's Church aforesaid within your government, in all reverence and obedience to your Excellency, due and suitable send greeting in our Lord God Everlasting to said S. Peter's Church as yet having never been supplied and to our presentation of full right belonging to our be- loved in Christ, John Doty, Clerk, to your Excellency by these presents, we do present, humbly praying that you would vouchsafe him the said John Doty to the same Church to admit him to the Rectory of the said Church to institute and cause to be instituted with all its rights, members and appurtenances, and that you will with favour and effect do and fulfill all and singular those things which in his behalf are proper and fitting for your Excellency to do. In testimony whereof, we the Church Wardens and Vestry men aforesaid have to these presents put their hands and seals this eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy one.
Beverly Robinson Charles Moore,
Wardens.
Joshua Nelson, -
Caleb Ward, Danl Birdsell,
Vestry.
The Minute of the Vestry of September 28th read thus :-
The above written petition of us the Wardens and
The Rectors of St. Peter's and St. Philip's 71
Vestry affoursaid, Directed to the right Honorable John, Earl of Dunmore, the then Govn" of the Pro- vince of New York, praying him to admit, institute and induct the Revd Mr. John Doty a Rector of St. Peters Church, being presented to His Excellency William Tryon Esqre, who superceded Govr Dunmore as Captn Gen1 & Gov' in Chief in and over the Province of New York & the territories depending thereon in America, Chancelor and Vice Admiral of the same, His Excellency Did accordingly admit & institute him the sª John Doty, by virtue of certain letters of admishion & institution under the peroga- tive Seal in these words, to witt viz
I, William Tryon, Esq., Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over New York and the territories thereon depending in America, and Vice-Admiral of the same, do admit you, John Doty, to be Rector of the parish church of S. Peter's on the Manor of Cortlandt near Peekskill in the County of Westchester in the said Province, with all their Rights, members and appurtenances. Given under my hand and seal of the Province of New York, the 16th day of July, in the year of our Lord, 1771.
The Vestry were addressed by the Governor in these words:
His Excellency, William Tryon Esq., Captain General, Governor in Chief, in and over the Province of New York and the territories depending thereon in America, Chancellor and Vice-Admiral of the same, to all and singular Rectors and Parish Ministers what- soever in the Province of New York, or to the Church Wardens and Vestrymen of the parish of Saint Peters, on the Manor of Cortlandt near Peeks Kill, in the County of Westchester in the said Province, and to each and every one of you greeting:
Whereas I have admitted our Beloved in Christ,
72 The History of St. Philip's Church
John Doty, Clark, to the Rectory of the Parish and the parish church of Saint Peters, on the Manor of Cortlandt, near Peeks Kill, in the County of West- chester, within this government, to which the said John Doty was presented by the Wardens and Vestry- men of the said parish, the true and undoubted pa- trons of the said parish, vacant, as having never before been supplied by any incumbent, and him the said John Doty I have instituted into the Rectory of the said parish and parish church with all their Rights, members and appurtenances observing the Laws and Canons of Right in that behalf required and to be observed.
To you therefore jointly and severally I do commit, and firmly enjoyning, do command each and every one of you that in due manner him, the said John Doty, Clark, or his lawful Rector in his name or for him into the Reall, actual, and corporate possession of the said Rectory, parish and parish church of S. Peter's, and of all the rights and appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging. And you in- duct, or cause to be inducted, and him so inducted, you do defend.
And of what you shall have done in the premises hereoff, you do duly certify unto me, or other compe- tent Judge in that behalf when hereunto you shall be duly required.
Given under my hand and seal of the Province of New York, this 16th day of July, 1771.
WILLIAM TRYON.
Still another formality had to be observed before John Doty could enter upon his benefice. The Church in the American Colonies was under the laws of England, as the Anglican Church was an integral part of the State, and the Rector-elect was therefore required to assent to the
The Rectors of St. Peter's and St. Philip's 73
Thirty-nine Articles of the Faith. His having done so is thus recorded in the Minutes of the Vestry of September 28th, 1771 :
The said Mr. John Doty, having first produced a certificate to this Board, of his having, in the pre- sence of severall witnesses, declared his unfeigned assent and consent to the 39 Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishop and Bishops in the Convocation holden at London, Anno Domini, 1562, -and having prefixed these to his Majesty's royal declaration, after which he was, by virtue of certain letters mandatory, under the Seal, in due manner Inducted into the reall, actual and corporal possession of the Rectory and Parish Church of Saint Peter's aforesaid.
The form of assent, or, as it was called, the "Declara- tion of Conformity" was thus worded:
I, John Doty, do hereby declare my unfeigned assent and consent to all and everything contained and prescribed in ye Book entitled 'The Book of Common Prayer,' and administration of the Sacra- ments, and ye Rites and Ceremonies of ye Church, according to the use of the Church of England: to- gether with ye Psalter or Psalms of David, printed as they are to be sung or said in Churches, and the form or manner of making, ordaining and conse- crating Bishops, Priests and Deacons.
to which was also added assent and consent to the Thirty- nine Articles of the Church of England.
The minutes of the Vestry make no mention of Mr. Doty's resignation of the rectorship of the united church- es, nor of the time of his departure. It is, however, stat- ed in the report of the Society for the Propagation of the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.