History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 61

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

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. II > Part 61

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During the term of Governor Hoffman he was ap- pointed port warden of the city of New York and he served as president of the board two years. He was also engaged for five years in the coal and lumber business at Dobbs Ferry, together with George B. Taylor, under the firm-name of Taylor, Willsca & Son.

For eight years Captain Willsea served as treasurer of the Greenburgh Savings-Bank, of which he was one of the fonnders. He was a charter member of Masonic Lodge, Diamond, No. 555, and was its first Master. He was formerly a trustee of the Methodist Church of Dobbs Ferry. He married, April 17, 1847, Miss Catherine Irving Odell, daughter of William Odell. He has four children, - Frederick W., Amanda, Ida May and Francis Eldorado.

Probably no gentleman in or about Dobbs Ferry has had more to do with its substantial progress or good government than has Captain Willsea.

Nearer the centre of the village of Tarrytown is the prominent place of Mr. Peter S. Hoe; on an elevation, farther east, the Italian villa of Mr. Charles Rockwell, the well-known astronomer ; and west of Broadway is the grand old place, with its fine trees and prospects, formerly owned by General James Benedict, but now owned and occupied by his son-in-law. Captain Ed- ward B. Cobb. It was here that General Benedict's son, the late Hon. Theodore H. Benedict, a gentleman of fine intellectual ability and cultivation, who had served in the State Legislature and won for himself the public confidence and respect, died Jnne 15, 1885.

Farther np on the hill, to the northeast, is the splendid residence of Mr. A. S. Hatch, formerly pres- ident of the New York Stock Exchange, and well known at once for his large business relations and for his benevolent and philanthropic efforts. "The Cas- tle " which he ocenpies was built of stone some thirty years ago by Mr. John J. Herrick, afterwards im- proved by successive owners, and now, standing on the height, presents a noble appearance to the beholder, and looks down over the village, and, indeed, over the whole region-north, west and south.

There are several pleasant places on the elevated land north of the Castle, among them that of James S. Millard, Esq., a prominent lawyer ; and north of the Upper Main Street road, running cast to the Northern Railroad Depot, the residence of Mr. John H. Hall; the late residence of Captain Jacob Storm, now occupied by Mount Hope Ladies' Semin- ary ; the Sgobell place, on the east; Mr. Charles J. Gould's residence, on the west; the house of Mr. J.

Rice, who is now in California; and the houses of Messrs. William S. Wilson, the late Frances Brown, William Smith Brown, George Silver, H. A. Grant and the stone mansion built by Philo H. Perry, but now owned by the cstate of the late Ambrose C. Kingsland. From nearly all these places there are fine views of the river. On the western slope of the ridge is the pleasantly-sitnated residence of the late Sanford Cobb, having south of it the recently-com- pleted residence of Mr. John Rockwell, and a little to the north of it the delightful home of Mr. E. J. Blake, through whose grounds flows the Andre Brook, thus dividing his premises between Greenburgh and / Mount Pleasant.

CHURCHES IN TARRYTOWN.

There are five churches in Tarrytown proper, which, following the dates of their origin, respectively, may be mentioned in the following order: 1. The Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church. 2. The Protestant Episcopal Church, known as "Christ Church." 3. The Second Reformed Church. 4. The First Baptist Church. 5. The African Methodist Episcopal Church.

ASBURY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- It is said that as early as 1788 the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson, an eminent Methodist minister, formed a circuit eni- bracing the south and west sides of Westchester County and the towns along the river as far north as the countics of Putnam and Dutchess. In 1808 the ap- pointment at Tarrytown had become so important as to require the crection of a church building to accom- modate the growing society. Mrs. Dr. Beekman of- fered for the purpose a lot on Broadway, near Wildey Street ; but, as most of the members lived under the hill, near the river, it was not viewed as a desirable place, and the offer was withdrawn. Mr. William Requa having then offered a lot of ground just west of where Dr. Linson now lives, south of Main Street and in Windle Park, as it is now called, the offer was accepted. On April 20, 1807, measures were taken to give the society a legal incorporation, and to erect the church building on the lot thus proposed.

In 1820 or 1821, the incorporation having lapsed by neglecting to choose trustees, the church was, in August, 1821, re-incorporated. The building that was erected on Main Street, and within Windle Park, is described as exceedingly unpretentious in appear- ance, but in harmony, no doubt, with the views of church architecture which were held by the Method- ists at that day. In 1837 the church had so in- creased as to require a new and more suitable edifice. A lot was accordingly purchased from Dr. Scribner; in Washington Street. for the sum of five hundred dollars, and upon it the congregation proceeded to build the new church. The corner stone was laid April 17, 1837, by the Rev. Marvin Richardson, pre- siding elder. The building was to be forty by sixty feet and the cost to be five thousand three hundred

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

and ninety-four dollars. The building committee were S. Swartwout, Pierre Wildey and Andrew D. Archer. At the completion of the church it was ded- icated to the service of Almighty God by the Rev. Noah Levings, D.D., who also preached the sermon on Hebrews xi. 1. The Rev. J. Young and the Rev. D. Sutton were the preachers in charge. It was prob- ably at this time that the church took the name of " the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church," a name by which it had not been known before. A debt of two thousand dollars upon the edifice at the time of its completion was canceled two years later by subscription.

The parsonage, adjoining the church on the north, was built in 1854. It cost, together with the lot, the sum of forty-eight hundred dollars.

In 1857 the church was enlarged by an addition of twenty-five feet to its length, at a cost of thirty-eight hundred and fifty-seven dollars, of which amount Allan G. Newman gave one thousand dollars. In 1865 the entire indebtedness of the church, amount- ing to fifty-six hundred and twenty dollars, was hap- pily cancelled. Since 1845 there has been a succes- sion of twenty-one pastors, during whose terms of service there have been several, and in some cases powerful, revivals. The present pastor is the Rev. W. F. Hatfield, D.D.

CHRIST CHURCH (Episcopal) .- Christ Church, Tar- rytown, was organized as a parish in 1836, and the church erected the following year. The Rev. William Creighton, D.D., was the first reetor, who was also the rector of Zion Church, Greenburgh, Dobbs Ferry and afterwards of St. Mary's, Beechwood, in the township of Ossining, just north of the Mount Pleasant line. On the death of the Rev. Dr. Creighton, in 1865, he was succeeded by the present rector, the Rev. J. Sel- den Spencer, who had been his assistant since 1853.

The church edifice has been twice enlarged and will seat about five hundred persons. It is especially in- teresting as having numbered among its members, from an early date, Washington Irving, who was for many years a warden of the church and a devout wor- shipper and communicant at its altar. Since his death, in 1859, Christ Church has been a kind of Mecca to the admirers of our great American author. His pew is still preserved, and a beautiful mural iab- let, erected by the vestry, marks the tender apprecia- tion in which he is held by the parish.

The following account of the tablet, together with a copy of the inscription upon it, as of other interest- ing memorials in the church, has been kindly fur- nished by the rector:

" In the rentre la the Irving coat of arms-two royal supporters hold- Ing a shield emblazoned with holly leaves, having as a rest a hand holding a lunch of holly. The tradition Is that when Robert Bruce, uf Scothund, was n fugitive from King Edward, he, with William Irvine - the first Irving of whom we have any record- took refuge In a copse of holly and escaped detertion. On coming ont, Bruce plurked off the top- most branch of the holly, and adopted it as his own Freed with the motto, anb sole, mub mubra rirena- 'thriving in sun or shade '-in prosperity or diversity. On nsending the throne, he Knighted William de Irvine, his faithful friend in adversity, gave hho the Castle of Drum, in Aberdeen,

and also this, his own coat of arms, in memory of his perilous escape. Holly leaves and berries are beautifully interwoven on the taldet.

" Underneath the coat of arms is the inscription -

' Washington Irving Born in the City of New York, April 3d 1783.

For many years a Conunnuicant and Warden of this Church,

and Repentedly one of its Delegates to the Convention of the Diocese. Loved, Honored, Revered, He fell asleep in Jesus, November 28, 1859.' "

There are two tablets by the east doors of the church, which preserve the memory of two Christian women, who were among the earliest communicants of Christ Church. The inscriptions arc,-

memory of Maria Philips (Relict of Frederick Philips,) of Philpstown, I'ntnam Co., N. Y. who departed thi- life the 13th day of November A. D. 1839, nyed 68 years. Her remains rest within the walls of the tower of this church. "The memory of the Just is blessed '- Prov. x. 7."

memory of Cathrine Kemlde, Born October, 1765, and departed this life the Ifth day of July A. D. 1843. Sist r to Maria Philips. In death they were not Divided." Monument in the Chancel to the memory of Dr. Creighton. . " In memory of William Creighton, D. D. Founder of this Parish, A. D. 1836. Who as Rector from that time until his death Devoted the faithful service of nearly 30 years a free will offering, holy and acceptable uuto God. Born Feb. 22d, 1793. Died April 23d, 1865.

Rertor of St. Mark's Church, New York, 1816 to 1836. Rector of Zion Church, Greenburg, N. Y., 1836 to 1847. Founder, 1850, and Minister of St. Mary's Church, Beechwood. President of the Diocesan Convention 1843-1872 and 1854. Elected to, und declined, the Episcopate of New York, 1851. President of the Ilonge of Deputies in the General Convention, 1833- 1876, 1859.

The Wardensund Vestry of Christ Church erect this monument Is the Holy l'lace where their beloved Pastor broke the Bread of Life to the people of his charge, HA a record of their love and veneration for one who, in a long and faithful ministry, and in the noblest exercise of the charities und duties of the Christian life, blessed this Parish and the neighborhood, and obtained the highest offices of trust in this Dioces, and in the church at large.

' Remember them that have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.'"

Tablet in memory of Nathaniel B. Holmes. Inscription on a bor i chis.

Blessed memory of Nathaniel B. Holmes, lay Founder of this l'arish, 1×36-18>1. Entered into Rest, October 31st, 1881."

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GREENBURGH.

The parish of Christ Church numbers about one hundred families, five hundred souls and one hundred and fifty communicants. A very fine rectory, adjoin- ing the church on the west, was built in 1875, and is now occupied by the rector and his family.

SECOND REFORMED CHURCH .- The Sceond Re- formed Church of Tarrytown is somewhat peenliar, as having a church edifice that was built nearly fif- teen years before the church eeelesiastieal had an or- ganized existence. The explanation lies in the faet that almost to the close of 1851 the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow, dating back to the latter part of the seventeenth century, while it consisted of a sin- gle church organization, had, from 1837 onward, really two church buildings, and, in a certain sense, two congregations. One building was known as the North Church, or the Old Church aeross the Pocan- tieo Bridge, and the other as the South Church, on the east side of Broadway, fronting the river, not far above the intersection of Main Street. The South Church was built in 1837 upon land given for that purpose, together with a lot adjoining for the ereetion of a parsonage, which now stands upon it, by the late Abraham Storms and Julia Martling Hart, who after the decease of her first husband, William Hart, be- came the wife of Abraham Storms. Mr. and Mrs. Storms also gave the bell, upon which their names were cast. When this bell was replaced by a larger one, weighing one thousand two hundred and twenty- nine pounds, on December 4, 1873, that the striking of the town clock in the steeple might be heard all over the village, their names were re-cast upon it. They were always warm friends to the church. Mr. Storms died January 22, 1862, and Mrs. Storms, who continued to reside on the homestead nearly opposite the church, died May 25, 1878, in the eighty-fifth year of her age.

After the opening of the Hudson River Railroad, in 1850, there was an influx of people moving in from the city of New York, and it soon began to be evi- dent that the inerease in numbers and the variety of tastes and preferences would ultimately lead to the division of the Old Church into two bands. While many of the long-time residents elung tenaeiously to the Old Church edifiee on account of a thousand sa- cred associations, a large proportion of those who had lately come in from the city felt that it was too far from their homes and therefore too inconvenient. Instead of having a morning service in the Old North Church and an afternoon or evening serviee in the South Chureh, an arrangement was made to have simultaneous services in both churches, and the re- sult was, finally, that instead of there being one or- ganization there eame to be two. (See the history of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow, under the head of MOUNT PLEASANT.)

The formal separation took place in 1851. That part of the congregation that remained and con- tinued to worship in the Old Church across the

Poeantieo took the name of the First Reformed Dutch Church of Tarrytown, and the other part, that bought the South Church cdifice, with its grounds and parsonage on Broadway, took the name of the Second Reformucd Dutch Church of Tarrytown. The Second Church was duly organized on Monday, No- vember 24, 1851, by a committee of the Classis of Westehester, consisting of the Rev. John L. See, of Unionville; the Rev. Philip Phelps, Jr., of Hast- ings ; and the Elder William See, of the First Re- formed Church. The sermon was preached at half- past two P.M., by the Rev. John L. See, on Isaiah lx. 15 : " A joy of many generations." After the usual religions serviees seventy-five members presented certifieates of dismission from the First Reformed Dutch Church of Tarrytown and were duly organized as the Second Reformed Duteh Church of Tarrytown. The male members present then eleeted the following officers by ballot :

Elders .- Abraham Storms, Jacob Storm, Sanford Cobb, Jr., and Andrew See.

Deacons .-- William A. Wildey, Fenelon Hasbrouck, M.D., Charles F. Harrison, Andrew D. Archer.

They were ordained to their respective offiees by the Rev., John Mason Ferris, on December 14, 1851.

The Rev. Mr. Ferris having resigned his position as pastor of the Old Church and having accepted the call of the Second Chnreh, just organized, was in- stalled as its first pastor on Sabbath evening, January 11, 1852. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Abel T. Stewart, of Greenville, afterwards pastor of the First Church. The charge was delivered to the pastor by the Rev. John L. See, of Unionville, and the charge to the congregation by the Rev. Abra- ham V. Wyckoff, then laboring at Greenburgh (now known as Elmsford). The congregation of the Second Church, after a few months, not only enlarged their house of worship, but erected a Sunday-school and lecture-room in the rear, and went on prosperously until late in the fall of 1854, when their pastor, the Rev. John Mason Ferris, resigned, in order to accept an appointment from the Board of Domestie Missions to labor as a domestie missionary in Chicago. Dur- ing the comparatively brief period of his service there were sixteen added to the church on confession and, including the seventy-five received at the or- ganization, one hundred and fourteen on certificate.

The sum of $1356.46 was contributed to benevolent purposes.

After the removal of the late pastor to Chicago the church ealled the Rev. John A. Todd, of Griggstown, New Jersey, who accepted the call in 1855, and, hav- ing already entered upon his duties, was, about the 1st of May of that year, indueted into the pastoral office, in which he continues to serve. The sermon was preached by his former pastor, the Rev. Abraham Messler, D.D., of Somerville, New Jersey. The See- ond Reformed Church, as much as any other in the community, has shared the fluctuations of prosperity

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

and adversity that have passed over the place, but it | ford Cobb, for 25 years an Elder of this Church." Mr. has kept on the even tenor of its way. Beginning Cobb died on May 22, 1876. with the first report under the present pastorate, sub- mitted in April, 1856, and including the last annual report in April, 1885, there have been received into the church three hundred and fifty-seven members on confession of faith and two hundred and ninety-three on certificate, making a total of six hundred and fifty. During the same period the church has contributed to various benevolent objects, outside of itself, the sum of $41,145.05, and it has raised for its running ex- penses, repairs and incidental needs the sum of $120,- 327.25. The church is happily out of debt.

About the beginning of 1865 the interior of the church was reconstructed by the removal of the front gallery, and very much beautified, and a large new organ provided and set up, which was used for the first time in public worship on Sabbath, March 19, 1865.

On December 26, 1866, it was resolved by a large majority, at a meeting of the congregation, to relieve the pastor and consistory of some of their burdens, by the election of seven trustees to take charge of the temporalities of the church. The persons chosen were Jacob Storm, Sanford Cobb, John S. Mitchell, William Hoge, John Butler, Jr., William B. Hatch and Charles T. Harvey. The necessary legal steps having been taken, the new board of trustees was duly organized on January 1, 1867, by the election of the following officers: President, Jacob Storm ; Treasurer, Sanford Cobb; Secretary, Charles T. Har- vey. The present board, in February, 1886, consists of Dr. John J. Linson, president; David A. Rowe, treasurer ; Dowah D. Tallman, secretary ; and Isaac B. Lovett, Edmund R. Vanderbilt and Lucius T. Yale as members. There is one vacancy.

In 1868 an addition was made to the lecture and Sunday-school rooms which afforded increased accom- modations, and the parsonage adjoining was also im- proved by building on an extension toward the east. In 1875 the whole church edifice was renovated and put into a more attractive condition through the spirit and energy of the ladies of the congregation. At the same time a bequest left to the church by John S. Mitchell, a beloved member and trustee, who died on February 1, 1875, was appropriated to putting in ten beautiful stained-glass windows in place of the old ones. Upon the third window on each side of the church was inscribed, by direction of the commit- tee, the monogram of the donor, "J. S. M.," with a text of Scripture under it ; on the north side, " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord," and on the south side, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." In front of the pulpit, as a me- morial of Sanford Cobb, an honored elder, stands a massive baptismal font of polished Vermont marble, presented by his widow. It bears around the bowl the inscription, " One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism," and around the shaft and base, " In memory of San-

On July 17, 1877, about half-past one o'clock in the afternoon, while a terrific thunder shower was passing over the village, the church steeple was struck by lightning, which scattered the broken frag- ments far and wide, and, in & curious manner, cut the letters "VII " out of the dial of the town clock as if doue with the keenest knife. The lightning set fire to the steeple, which was soon wrapped in flames. Fortunately the rain was falling in torrents, which prevented the fire from spreading to the roof and to the parsonage near the church on the north. The firemen with great energy and effort finally extin- guished the flames, but the church presented at the close a most doleful appearance with its steeple burned to the roof and everywhere covered with blackened cinders. The lately frescoed ceiling was deluged with water, and it became necessary to reno- vate the entire church, as well as to erect a new stee- ple. The fire occurred on Tuesday. By the follow- ing Sunday the debris had been somewhat cleared up, and the pastor preached to a large congregation on Exodus iii. 2, 3: " And the Angel of the Lord ap- peared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush ; and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." A bank of white flowers, having in the centre the word "SAVED" wrought in flowers of scarlet color, was placed on the table in front of the pulpit by a lady who loved the church, Mrs. Edmund R. Vanderbilt, thus expressing her thankful feeling.

The consistory of the church at the present time consists of the following officers : Elders, John Van- derbilt, Ward Carpenter, Israel C. See, Isaac B. Lovett aud George Silver; Deacons, James Martin, George Bailey Powell, James T. Trevillian, Louns- bury Finch and Harry W. Linson.

The consistory in 1885 reported on its church roll three hundred and thirty-six members.

In describing the church Bolton says: "This build- ing is constructed of brick. The front presents a colonnade of the Ionic order, surmounted with a wooden tower and spire." Above the entrance is placed the following inscription engraven into a white marble tablet inserted into the front wall :

" Reformed Protestant Dutch Church. Erected A.D. 1837.

"In all places where I record my name I will come nulo thee, and I will bless thee.'-Exodus xx., 24."

There has been in connection with this church during its history, either as officers, members, pew- holders or attendants, a succession of men remarkable for character and ability in their several spheres. Among them may be mentioned Abraham Storms, Jacob Storm, Benson Ferris, Sanford Cobb, Charles Starr, Andrew D. Archer, Stiles P. York, Charles F. Harrison, Willinm P. Lyon, Samuel Wood, John C.

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GREENBURGH.

Mallory, John Butler, Jr., Hon. Joshua M. Van Cott, Edward C. Delavan, John S. Mitchell, William Hoge, J. G. Dudley, William H. Townsend, Dr. Alexander N. Gunn, Dr. Horace Caruthers, Dr. Fenelon Has- brouck, Dr. John J. Linson, Dr. Horace Hatch, Hon. L. E. Chittenden, William B. Hatch, Henry L. Clapp, A. S. Hatch, Frank Vincent, Captain Edward B. Cobb, Edward S. Jaffray, Henry L. Douglas, Hou. John W. Douglas, E. J. Blake, James S. Millard, Justice Elias Mann, L. T. Yale, Robert Sewell, Samuel B. Schieffelin, Ralph Wells, Professor Robert C. Flack, Robert M. Pease, Robert Warnock, Col. Latham C. Strong, the poet, Edward K. Mott, Captain Jacob B. Odell, Captain F. Frost, M. D. Raymond, editor, David H. Paige, Edward J. Peters, John B. Sardy, Col. Nicholas Smith, Ward Carpenter, Isaac B. Lovett, Professor David A. Rowe, S. J. Minasian, George Silver, General Alexander Hamilton.

A number of clergymen also have either been attendants upon its services or have entered the Christian ministry from it, among them Rev. Francis C. Woodworth, editor, and author of the "Snow-Bird Song," "So inerrily singing his chick-a-dee-dee;" the Rev. Oliver E. Cobb, of Flushing, Long Island ; the Rev. Henry N. Cobb, D.D., formerly missionary to Persia, but now corresponding secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in America; the Rev. Sanford H. Cobb, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; the Rev. William J. Hill, the Rev. Henry H. Rice, of Sacrament , California; the Rev. Frederick J. Jackson, the Rev. and Professor John A. Paine, formerly of Robert College, Constan- tinople, and the Rev. George Rockwell.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH .- What is now " The First Baptist Church of Tarrytown " was organized under the name of " The Beekman Baptist Church of Tarrytown," by a council of delegates representing several Baptist Churches in New York City and in Westchester County, toward the latter part of Novem- ber, 1843. The number of original members received on certificate from other churches was only twelve altogether. Its first place of worship was in a small building on the southeast corner of Cortlandt Street and College Avenue. Its first pastor was the Rev. Charles H. Underhill, of Carmel, Putnam County, New York. His salary consisted of two hundred dol- lars in money from the congregation, his fuel and a donation visit, and two hundred dollars promised hin by the Hudson River Baptist Association.

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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. II, Part 61

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286