History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 184

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I > Part 184

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).

From 1816 to 1823 only occasional services were held at White Plains by the neighboring clergy, and when, in 1824, it was proposed to organize a church, there was not one male communicant in the place, and only four or five females were church members.

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ROADS ABOUT WHITE PLAINS

No. 120) Near the White Plains across from Saw quill Rivertowards the Brunks to near Thin? Trumpson's.

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733

WHITE PLAINS.

Notwithstanding sueh discouraging circumstances, it was determined to organize a church, and accord- ingly, upon the 22d of March, 1824, a church was in- corporated under the title of "Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, White Plains," with Richard Jarvis and Alan McDonald as church wardens ; Wil- liam Purdy, John Horton, Gilbert Hatfield, James Diek, Alexander Fowler, Joshua Horton, William Bulkley and James D. Merritt, vestrymen ; and the same year the Rev. William C. Mead was elected rec- tor, and proceedings were instituted for the erection of a church edifice.

Mr. Mead was very acceptable to all, both in and out of his church, and his efforts to build a house for worship were generously aided by the people, without regard to creed or sect. How well this kind assist- ance was appreciated the records of the vestry show by an entry in the minutes, June 25, 1826, after the church was completed, of a vote of thanks to the officers and members of the Presbyterian Society in White Plains, for the use of their church.

Mr. Mead removed in 1826, and was succeeded by the Rev. Alexander H. Crosby, a laborious student and earnest preacher. He remained but two years, and was followed by the Rev. John W. Curtis, who continued here for two years. Mr. Curtis was a Christian gentleman, of fine personal appearance and of a cheerful and social nature, which endeared him to all within his influence. His health failing, in 1831 he applied to the bishop for a change, and be- came the editor of the Churchman, then first es- tablished. The change from the country to the city, however, operated for the worse ; he declined rapidly in health, and died in 1835.

The Rev. Robert W. Harris took charge of the parish in 1831, and for nearly a quarter of a century faithfully served his Master and his foek. About him there was no sectarian bigotry ; deeply taught by the Spirit, he belonged less to any human school of divinity than to the one great body of Christ's true disciples. He was an Episcopalian by birth, education and preference, but in his highest aspira- tions a member of the general assembly and church of the first born. He was ever bold in opposing error, and ever zealous in defending truth. In preachı- ing he was earnest and impressive rather than elo- quent. He loved the church and its order, and did not undervalue its external and formal arrangements. His catholicism was broad enough to cover all who rested their hopes for salvation on the same Jesus whom he served, whether in or out of his church. Few are now living who can remember the time when he first appeared here in the fresh glow of youth ; and of the wardens and vestrymen who then dirceted the affairs of the church not one remains.

In the year 1855, Dr. Harris resigned so far as to have an associate rector appointed. Under this ar- rangement the Rev. Theodore Rumney was elected associate rector, and commenced preaching on the

first Sunday of October, 1855. Soon afterward Dr. Harris resigned the whole charge of the parish, and for nearly fifteen years Mr. Rumney faithfully, labo- iously and warm-heartedly devoted himself to his church and people.

In 1870, having received a call from Christ's Church, Germantown, Pa., he resigned, and the present rector, that genial Christian gentleman, the Rev. Frederick B. Van Kleeck, began his labors here, and for sixteen years has gone about doing good; and everywhere, whether in the pulpit, the social circle or beside the sick-bed, his presence is most acceptable.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- Prior to 1727 the people of White Plains were members of, and attended, the Dissenting or Presbyterian Church of Rye. In that year a church edifice was ereeted in White Plains, chiefly through the efforts of the Rev. John Walton, a native of New London, and a graduate of Yale College, who came to Rye in 1723,1 and to White Plains in 1726.

Mr. Walton was highly gifted as a preacher, and although self-willed and erratic, did much tostrengthen the Presbyterians, and induced many, who had been drawn over to the Church of England, to return. His eloquence and persistent efforts as a preacher provoked the hostile criticism of the Rev. Mr. Wetmore, the English minister at Rye, who, in his letter to the secretary of the Propagation Society,2 calls him "a bold, noisy fellow, with a voluble tongue, drawing the greatest part of the town after him."

A church was erected in 1727 on land given by Mr. Walton, on the spot where the present church stands. In 1728 Mr. Walton was succeeded by the Rev. Ed- mund Ward, also a graduate of Yale College, and a native of Killingworth, Connecticut.

Mr. Ward remained but two years, when he removed to Guilford, Connecticut, and the pulpit was vacant for several years after liis departure, during which time occasional preaching was had by ministers front Connecticut.

On the 30th of December, 1742, a council of the Eastern Consociation of Fairfield County met at Rye and ordained the Rev. John Smith as minister. We are under great obligations to Dr. Baird for procuring and giving us a particular account of that occasion, and of the life and services of this eminent man.

Mr. Smith, like his predecessors, was a graduate of Yale College. His father, Mr. Thomas Smith, was one of the little band of Christians who organized the first Presbyterian Church in New York City. His brother, William Smith, and his nephew, William Smith, Jr., were leaders among the Sons of Liberty in New York City, and organizers of the "Whig Club," from which came the first utterances in favor of liberty. Previous to his coming to Rye, Mr. Smith had mar- ricd a daughter of Mr. James Hooker, a grandson of the famous Thomas Hooker, the founder of

1 Dr. Baird's "Rye, " 322.

2 Bolton's "Church| llistory," 246.

734

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

the colony of Connecticut. After a few years' resi- deuce in Rye, Mr. Smith removed to White Plains. The house in which he lived and died is still standing.

Owing to the feeble health and declining strength of Mr. Smith, the Presbytery, on the 11th of October, 1769, ordained Mr. Ichabod Lewis, also a graduate of Yale, as pastor. It is supposed that Mr. Smith con- tinued to preach until a short time before his death, which took place on the 26th of February, 1771. His remains lie nnder the pulpit of the present church.

Soon after the battle of White Plains, and on the night of the 5th of November, 1776, the church was bnrned, and the congregation, owing to the tronbles of the times, was scattered ; many of them, being stanch Whigs, removed from this disputed territory, in order to escape the depredations of Tories and the British troops. The Rev. Mr. Lewis removed to Bedford.

In 1784 an act of the Legislature enabled religious societies or congregations to become corporate bodies, in pursnance of which this church, on the 12th of De- cember, 1787, became incorporated under the name of "The Trustees of the Presbyterian Church in the White Plains in Westchester County ;" from 1784 to 1821 the congregation enjoyed only irregular preaching, the scr- vices being held in the court-house, which stood in front of the present residence of Mr. Fiero.

From 1821 to 1823 the Rev. Thomas G. Smith offi- ciated as stated supply. He was succeeded by the Rev. Marcus Harrison, who soon resigned, and the Rev. Mr. Ely supplied the pulpit until October, 1823, when the Rev. Samuel Robinson was installed as pastor. A new church was erected in 1824 on the foundation of the old one.

From 1825 to 1834 the Rev. Chester Long was the acceptable pastor, and on his resignation the Rev. John White was called, but remained only one year, when he resigned. In 1835 the Rev. Edward Wright was installed, and continued for nine years to fill the pnlpit acceptably, till failing health compelled him to resign, and in July, 1844, the Rev. Elias S. Schienk was installed and supplied the pulpit for five years.

From January to July, 1850, the Rev. Bronson B. Beardsley officiated as stated supply ; and from July, 1850, to July, 1853, the Rev. Joseph Forsyth was pastor. He was succeeded in 1853 by the Rev. David Peese, who served as stated supply for sixteen years.

In Juue, 1871, the Rev. T. C. Steele was called as pastor, and continued until ill health compelled him to resign, in November, 1873.

On July 19, 1874, the congregation called the Rev. E. L Heermance, who has since faithfully discharged his duties, never having failed to be at his post either in person or by proper representative.

By an act of the Legislature passed May 5, 1863, the name and title was changed from "The Trustees of the Presbyterian Church in the Town of White Plains, Westchester County," to "The White Plains Presby- terian Church."

THE METHODIST CHURCH .- There is no record

evidence of an organized Methodist society or church in White Plains until after the Revolutionary War, but there is unquestionable proof that there was a Methodist society in White Plains as early as 1741. At this time the people, who were Dissenters, had no regular minister of their own persuasion, and no means wherewith to provide a support for one, being compelled by taxation to sustain the Church of Eng- land, which they regarded as little better than the Church of Rome, and the pulpit of the White Plains Church was vacant.

In the fall of the year 1740 George Whitefield visited and preached in Rye, and although he only passed through the town withont stopping a night, the good seed sown by him on that October day brought forth an hundred-fold.

At this time John Wesley was organizing his followers iu England in classes, appointing over each a leader who was to look after their spiritual inter- ests ; and a Methodist society, as it existed iu England in 1740, was composed of Gospel Christians in a town or village drawn toward each other by their common trust in Jesus the Christ, formed into a class, with a leader, and governed by the rules laid down by Wes- ley for their guidance.

The people having no acceptable minister, neglected religious worship, and a general decline and deadness in matters of religion followed. While in this sad condition the new Methodism in England, with its simple, social and informal worship,which was exactly suited to the condition of the people, naturally attracted their attention and enlisted their feelings.

At this time the Rev. James Wetmore, a minister of the Church of England, sent by the Propagation Society, placed over this people by the power of the Governor, and supported by oppressive taxa- tion, was the minister of Ryc and the White Plains- the White Plains being then, and until 1783, within the town bonnds of Rye.

Mr. Wetmore was required to report to the society several times a year the condition of his parish, and it is from his communications, which follow, that the existence of an organized Methodist society in this town as early as 1741-43 is established.

Under date of September 28, 1741, not quite a year after the Whitefield visit, the Rev. Mr. Wetmore, in a letter to the secretary of the Propagation Society, says : "The efforts of the sectaries in this parish have been various the past year, and their endeavors inde- fatigable to weaken and destroy the Church. How- ever, by God's help, we maintain our gronnd, and though some of our members are corrupted with the wild enthusiasm of the new sect, I hope the measnres I use to strengthen and establish my people in the faith of Christianity according to the doctrines of the Church of England, will by God's blessing prevent this new Methodism, or, rather, down-right distrac- tion in the shape it now appears among the itinerant sectaries, from gaining much ground among us."

"WOODSIDE."

RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH H LEWIS, WHITE PLAINS, N. Y.

735

WHITE PLAINS.

In another letter, written cighteen months later, dated March 25, 1743, he complains that the people "are unsettled in their principles, and go after all sorts of teachers that come in their way, and many of them are much confused by the straggling Method- ist teachers that are continually among us." From these letters it appears that the "new Methodism " was fast gaining ground.

In Mr. Wetmore's letter in September of the same year he writes : "As to the state of my parish, nothing very remarkable has happened since my last, but I find my eares and labors much increased by having two (probably one at White Plains and the other at Rye) Independent Methodist teachers settled by that party in my parish, besides exhorters and itinerants that frequently call people together and instil wild and enthusiastic notions into them ; they have made much confusion in the remote parts of my parish, but chiefly among those who always were Dissenters."

Ouly two years had elapsed since his first letter complaining of the corrupting influences of the new sect of Methodists, and already this " wild sect " had become organized, and had two " Independent Meth- odist teachers " settled in his parish. He called them "teachers ; " he would not call them " minis- ters," for he recognized no minister outside of the Church of England, and these were " settled " in his parish.

Although no record has been preserved of that lit- tle society, with the name of the teacher or of the members who composed the class or congregation, or in what commodious farm-house they assembled for worship, the fact that such a teacher and such a class or congregation. in an organized shape, existed in White Plains in 1743 cannot be controverted ; aud this was seventeen years before Philip Embury and Barbara Heck came to America, and twenty-three years before Philip Embury organized his class-meet- ing or society in his house in Barrack St., New York City, which the learned historian, Dr. Abel Stevens, states was the foundation of Methodism in America.

During the American Revolution no regular meet- ings for public religious worship by any denomina- tion of Christians were held in White Plains, but very soon after the war, little companies were gath- ered without any formal organization, one of which met at the house of Mrs. Aun Miller, in North Cas- tle (Washington's headquarters). When the New Rochelle Circuit was organized, in 1787, Mrs. Miller's house was one of the regular appointments on the circuit ; the Rev. Samuel Talbot, who organized the first class, consisting of six persons, was preacher. In 1792 and 1793 some six members were added to the little society, three of whom-Abraham Miller, Abra- ham Davis and John Hatfield-were men of influence in the neighborhood; and through their efforts the embryo church grew vigorous and strong.

A> a church it had no corporate existence until July 20, 1795, when Elijah Crawford, John Lynch,

Nicholas Fisher, Abraham Miller, Azariah Horton and Abraham Davis were elected trustees. The title of the corporation was "The Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the town of White Plains, in the County of Westchester." 1

Owing to failure to hold the annual meeting and clect trustees, it became necessary to, and thic church was, re-incorporated on November 24, 1834, under the title of the " Trustces of the First Method- ist Episcopal Church of the town of White Plains, in Westchester County." 2

The church cdifice being located on the extreme limit of the village, a new society was organized and incorporated October 20, 1834, under the name or title of " The Trustees of the Second Methodist Epis- copal Church in White Plains, Westchester County,"3 and a house of worship was erected on the central part of Broadway.

On the 13th of April, 1871, some of the members of the First Church united with those of the Second Church in forming a new society, which is iu a pros- perous condition. The name was changed from the "Second " to "The Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church of White Plains," + and a commodious house of worship was erected on Railroad Avenue.

White Plains was embraced in the New Rochelle Circuit from the time of its organization, in 1787, until 1832, and the ministers on the circuit were as fol- lows :

Sammel Q. Talbot 1787

Peter Moriarty . . 1788

Peter Moriarty and Samuel Smith 1789

William Phu.bus, M. Swain and J. Brush 1790

Jacob Brush, T. Everard and T. Lovell . 1791

James Bell and Benjamin Fisler 1792

Peter Moriarty and David Vallean 1793

Sylvester Hutchinson, Peter Moriarty and D. Dennis . 1794

Thomas Woolsey, Albert Van Nostrand and Jacob Perkins 1795

Joseph Totten, David Brown and Ezekiel Caulfield . 1796

David Brown, John Wilson and John Baker 1797

Joseph Totten and John Clark . 1798

John Clark, Timothy Dewey and Epenetus Kibby 1790

David Brown, John Wilson and Elijah Chichester 1800

1801

William Thacker and George Dougherty

1802

James Coleman

1804

James Coleman and Joseph Sawyer

1805

Joseph Crawford and Henry Redstone

1806

Billy llibbard, Mitchel B. Bull, H ury Redstone and Eze- kieł Caulfield 1807

Billy Ilibburd, Zalmon Lyon and Ezekiel Caulfield 1808

1.mn Andrus and Phineas Peck 1809

Noble W. Thomas und Henry Ames . 1810

Eben Smith, W. Swayze and Henry Ames 1×11

Eben Smith and Jonathan Lyon 1×12

William Phu-bus, William Thacker and O. Sykes. 1813

William Thacker and Jonathan Lyon 1×14

1815

Nathan Emery and Smith Arnold

1816

Nathan Emery and Charles Carpenter 1817

Daniel Ostrander and Charles Carpenter 1818

Samuel Bushnell and M. Richardson 1819-20

Elijah Woolsey, William Jewett and Robert Seney . 1821

Elijah Woolsey. William Jewett and Noble W. Thomas 1822

Heman Bangs, Noble W. Thomas and Richard Seaman . 1823

Stephen Martindale, Hemian Bangs and L. Andrus 1824

Stephen Martindale aud Phineas Rice . . 1×25

1. P. Sandford, Ph. Rice and J. M. smith 1826

1 Rel. Incorp., A, page 52, ( clerk's office. º Ibid, p. 23.

" Ibid, page 25.

+ Ibid, B. 1. 452.

John Wilson, James Campbell and William Pickett

William Thacker and Aaron Hunt

1803

Smith Aruoll and Samuel Bushnell

736

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Peter P. Sandford, Josiah Bowen and J. M. Smith 1827

Elijah Woolsey, S. Cochiran and Josiah Bowen 1828

Samuel Cochran and Elijah Hibbard 1829 Elijah Hibbard and Daniel De Vinne 1830

Ebenezer Washburn and Daniel De Vinne 1831

In 1832, White Plains and Greenburgh were set off from the New Rochelle Circuit and constituted a separate charge, and the preachers were as follows:

Robert Seney and Harvey Husted 1832

Robert Seney and Jolın B. Merwin . 1833

Peter P. Sandford and Zachariah Davenport 1834

P P. Sandford and S. C. Davis. 1835

Horace Bartlett and Ezra Jagger 1836

Stephen Martindale and Daniel I. Wright 1837

Stephen Martindale and John A. Sillick 183S

Valentine Buck and Jolin A. Sillick 1839

Valentine Buck

1840

In 1841 White Plains became a separate charge, and the preachers were, --

Valentine Buck. 1814

Peter P. Sandford. . 1853

Buel Goodsell. 1842-43

William S. Stilwell . . 1854-55

Richard Wymond. . 1814-45

Benjamin Griffin . 1856-57

Julius Field . . 1846-47

Henry Lounsbnry 1858-59

Paul R. Brown 1848-49

William M. Chipp . . 1860-61

Charles B. Sing

1850-51

William H. Evans 1862

John Luckey . . 1852

In 1863 White Plains became two separate charges, -namely, White Plains and White Plains village-and the preachers were,-

WHITE PLAINS (Old Church).

William H. Evans . 1863

Asa P. Lyon. . . . 1874-75

Darins D. Lindsley . . 1864

Ezra Tinker . 1876

Albert H. Wyatt . . . 1866-67

Thomas W. Chadwick . 1877

Thomas B. Smith . .. 1868-70

O. V. Haviland. . 1878-79

Jolin E. Gorse . . 1871-73

Thomas Lodge . 1880

In 1881 the Old Church disbanded and nnited with the Village Church.

VILLAGE CHURCH.

Gideon Draper . 1863-64 William F. Ilatfield . 1873-75

William M. Chipp . 1865-66

Phineas Hawkshurs . 1878

John P. Hermance . 1867

James Y. Bates . 1877-79

John W. Beach . 1868-69 Gilbert H. Gregory . . 1×80-81

E. B. Othaman 1870

F. Mason North . 1882-83

Richard Wheatley . . 1871-72 De Loss Lull . . . 1884-86

ST. JOHN'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH-The first Mass said in Westchester County was said at the house of Dominick Lynch, on Throgg's Point, in the town of Westchester, where the Academy of the Sacred Heart is now located. Dominick Lynch was a prominent man during the Revolution, and after the election of Washington as first President of the United States, was one of the signers of the Catholic address to Washington, 1 which received a generous reply, and was followed by a memorial to Congress representing the necessity of adopting some constitu- tional provision for the protection and maintenance of civil and religious freedom, which had cost so much blood and treasure of all classes of citizens. It was through the influence of Washington that this mem- orial was favorably received, and it resulted in the enactment of that article in the constitution which declares that Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof, and which has since been incorporated in the fundamental law.

Dominick Lynch, of New York, in 1795, purchased the farm of Lewis Graham, on Throgg's Point, and it was in his house on this farm that the first Mass in Westchester County was said.

In 1839 Throgg's Point and Sawpits (now Port Chester) were missions attended from Harlem, the former every second Sunday in the month, the latter occasionally, by Rev. M. Curran and Rev. Bernard O. Farrell. In 1842 these missions were attended from St. John's College, Fordham. In 1843 and 1844 Rev. Father Vilanns, D.D., of St. John's College, Ford- ham, attended New Rochelle once a month; also Sawpits, Westchester, Throgg's Point and Sing Sing. In 1845, Rev. William O'Reilly, of Westchester, had charge of these missions. In 1846 and 1847, Rev. Matthew Higgins, of Westchester, attended New Rochelle and Port Chester. In 1848, Rev. Valenive Burgos resided in Port Chester, and was succeeded towards the end of 1848 by Rev. Edward J. O'Reilly.

Father O'Reilly was the first Catholic priest to con- duct services in White Plains. He began to hold meetings there about the year 1848. At this time he had charge of the Roman Catholic mission in Port Chester. In 1849 or the early part of 1850 he re- moved to New Rochelle, having been appointed pastor of St. Matthew's Church, at that place, in addition to his Port Chester charge.

Father O'Reilly was a zealous worker for the ad- vancement of the Roman Catholic faith, and a man of more than ordinary ability and force of character. For several years after the beginning of his ministra- tions in White Plains, the Catholics there were with- out a house of worship of their own. Father O'Reilly, anxious to supply this need, solicited subscriptions from Catholics and Protestants, and was finally able to effect his wish. A plot of ground, located where Hamilton Avenue and Spring Street afterwards crossed each other, was purchased in the latter part of 1852, and shortly afterward the church was erected.

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 184

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1354

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354