USA > New York > Schenectady County > History of the County of Schenectady, N. Y., from 1662 to 1886... > Part 38
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177
THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.
then and there respectively and unanimously elected and chosen churchwardens of the said congregation or church; and George Wasson, Joel Thompson, Edward Cumpston, John Thornton, Joseph Thompson, Nicholas Righter and William Skeels, also of the said town, and John Dorn, of Corrysbush, were in like manner respectively and unani- mously elected and chosen vestrymen of the said congrega- tion or church: and that it was further then and there unanimously agreed and determined that on Tuesday in Easter week the said offices of churchwardens and vestry- men of the said congregation or church shall yearly forever hereafter cease, and their successors in office be elected and chosen; and, lastly, it was then and there agreed, de- termined and declared, that the said congregation or church shall forever hereafter be known and recognized in law by the name, style or title of the Rector and Inhabitants of the Town of Duanesburgh, in communion of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York. In testimony whereof, the said David Belden, William North, James C. Duane, Edward Cumpston and Joel Thompson have here- unto set their hands and seals this twenty-third day of Au- gust, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.
"Sealed and delivered in presence of us,
JAMES DUANE,
[SEAL. ]
DAVID BELDEN, [SEAL. ] W. NORTH, J. C. DUANE, E. CUMPSTON,
[SEAL. ]
[SEAL. ]
[SEAI .. ]
JOEL. THOMSON." [SEAL. ]
In 1811 a tower and spire was added to the building and a few changes were made in the interior. Since then no changes have been made. The building has been kept in excellent repair, and is the oldest church edifice in the Dio- cese of Albany which has preserved its primitive architect- ural design.
Immediately after the consecration of the church, Judge Duane, "desirous to make some permanent provision for the present and future incumbents of the said church," pre- sented a glebe of eighty acres near the church and parson- age. The land thus designated was a part of the Farm No. 116. Subsequently, the heirs of James C. Duane added a number of acres, increasing the glebe to its present size. Judge Duane also contributed materially toward the build- ing of the parsonage house, and, at his instigation, the vestry applied for further aid to Trinity Church, New York. In answer to the request, Trinity Church furnished 300 pounds for this purpose. Before any further action was taken in the matter, Judge Duane died. It having been deemed inadvisable to place the parsonage on the glebe, a plot of ground was leased on the western side of the public square, at an annual rent equal to the value of five "Span- ish milled silver dollars." The first parsonage was erected on this lot. The present rectory stands in the glebe, facing the turnpike.
On the 28th of January, 1811, Mary Duane, widow of Hon. James Duane, transferred to Robert Troup, of the City of Albany, and Peter A. Jay, of the City of New York, fifty-three shares of the capital stock of the Merchants' Bank of New York City, its income to be applied toward the uses of this parish. At the death of the original trustees, the fund was placed in the trust of the Protestant Episcopal Society for the promotion of Religion and Learning, the present trustee. By wise and judicious management the fund has gradually accumulated, and now provides an an- nual income equal to nearly twice the amount of the origi. nal principal, not a dollar having been lost through bad in- vestment or otherwise. October 17, 1845, the heirs of Elizabeth North, granddaughter of Hon. James Duane, conveyed to the church all transferable interests, in fur- therance of her wish, in the farm known as lot 85, contain- ing 106 acres, occupied by Warren Fuller at a perpetual rent of 8200 a year, to be applied to the needs of this church. She had given the rent to the church since 1834. It was paid regularly until, in 1858, during the anti-rent move- ment, the tenant refused to pay longer, and removed from the farm all the buildings and such other property as he could conveniently secure. Unable to effect an amicable settlement of the difficulty, the wardens and vestry insti- tuted legal proceedings, which eventually resulted favorably
to the church. The entire property was finally disposed of and the proceeds invested in bond and mortgage. By the will of Catharine L. Duane, a fund of $500 was left in trust, its annual income to be divided equally between the Sunday- school of Christ's Church and the Duanesburgh Library Association. The entire fund was lost by the recent failure of Emmet O'Neil. Several small funds obtained by sales of timber are invested, the income from which is applied for specific purposes.
There is no record of the first services held in Duanes- burgh. It is probable that the rectors of St. Peter's, Al- bany, from 1710 to 1770, officiated when there was need. The services of Christ's Church were, from the first, pro- vided for by the parish. The building was erected, the organization effected, and all the essentials appertaining to a formed parish were provided at the outset. The measures then taken to maintain the services have, during the subse- quent history, demonstrated their wisdom and efficacy, there having been no period during the more than ninety years of its life when any difficulty existed in providing the support of a rector.
The first minister after the incorporation under the then new State Law was Rev. David Belden. Mr. Belden had officiated as a deacon in Duanesburgh for some time before the organization and had presided at the business meetings during the formative period. Upon his advancement to the priesthood he was instituted rector. His official connection with the parish is thought to have ceased in the early part of 1797. On the 30th of July, 1798, Rev. Robert G. Wetmore was called to the rectorship, the wardens agreeing "to be- come responsible for the payment of one hundred and thirty pounds sterling. * * * and further to find a house for him to live in from the time he begin to preach in Duanesburgh." The right was reserved on the part of the vestry to make such agreement with the church at Schenectady respecting Mr. Wetmore's officiating there as they might deem advis- able, provided he should not be obliged to officiate in the church at Schenectady oftener than once in three Sundays.
August 23, 1798, the vestry of Christ's Church agreed "to allow, permit and enjoin on the said Robert G. Wet- more to preach in the Episcopal Church in Schenectady one Sunday in three for and through the said year." November 8, 1800, the vestry having passed a resolution commending most highly "the Rector of Christ's Church, Duanesburgh,' for " his zeal, knowledge and integrity," declared that "no deduction of his salary shall be made on account of any disability that may take place during the ensuing year." His health beginning to be impaired shortly after, he re- mained until April, though he was unable to minister pub- licly after the Ist of February, 1801. He died soon after- ward. During his rectorship in Duanesburgh, he baptized one hundred and performed eight marriages, the smallest fee being eight shillings, the largest a guinea.
Between 1801 and 1817, the names of the following clergy appear on the records as having officiated at various times : N. Lilly, Mr. Burtess, R. Hubbard, Dr. Mansfield, Gross Stebbins, F. Clowes. Of these, Mr. Hubbard is thought to have been rector for some time. Rev. Nathaniel F. Bruce, deacon, was called to be minister June 12, 1817, at a salary of $400. He was advanced to the priesthood between the latter part of March, 1818, and April 13, 1819, at which date he signs himself as rector. He resigned about the close of 1819. Rev. Charles W. Hamilton was called to officiate as resident minister September 9, 1820. By mutual agreement his connection terminated May 6, 1822. Rev. Richard Bury began his services February 10, 1823, at $400 per year, which was subsequently increased to $500. He resigned about the last of December, 1827. Kev. William B. Thomas succeeded him early in 1828 and re- mained until 1841. Rev. Kendrick Metcalf appears on the records as rector October 26, 1842, remaining until October, 1850. During the interim the vestry invited Rev. Mr. Bab- cock to officiate at the rate of ten dollars per Sunday. Rev. William O. Jarvis was elected rector August 27, 1851. A suit at law was entered by the Reformed Presbyterian So- ciety against the rector, wardens and vestry, for a portion of the glebe. The issue was in favor of the defendants. The resignation of Mr. Jarvis took effect March 13, 1859. Rev. Robert T. S. Lowell, D.D., was elected rector April 26, 1859. Dr. Lowell's ministry was successful, and he was associated with many important improvements to the parish
178
HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.
property. At the earnest solicitation of the vestry he con- sented to withdraw his resignation, presented December 13, 1866, and remained until Easter, 1869. Dr. Lowell is well and widely known as an author and poet of high rank. Rev. George L. Weide was elected rector October 20, 1869. In the summer of 1877, Trinity Chapel, near Esperance, was erected on land given by Benjamin M. Duane. Ser- vices had been held in a school-house near, by Dr. Lowell and Mr. Weide, for several years previous. A society of women raised the building fund. The chapel was formally deeded to Christ's Church, July 29, 1877, and consecrated August 7th following by the Right Rev. William Crosswell Duane, S. T. D., Bishop of the Diocese. Mr. Weide re- signed in the spring of 1881. Rev. H. L. Zeller was elected rector October 15, 1881, and remained until August, 1883. Rev. Ernest A. Hartman, the present incumbent, was elect- ed January 24, 1884, and assumed his duties March 16th fol- lowing.
Below are the names and terms of service of the wardens of Christ's Church from the foundation of the parish to 1885.
William North, 1795-1821 ; James C. Duane, 1795- 1805 ; George W. Featherstonhaugh, 1805-25 ; Col. Will- iam S. North, 1821-45 ; John B. Duane, 1825-44 ; Benjamin M. Duane, 1844-82 ; Ralph McDougall, 1845-57; Hugh McDougall, 1857-79 ; Alexander McDougall since 1879 ; Ralph McDougall since 1882.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, QUAKER STREET.
The Society of Friends of Duanesburgh was organized ยท about 1790, when its first meetings were held. Its first meeting for discipline, subordinate to a monthly meeting, was established by a committee sent from Nine Partners Quarterly Meeting in Dutchess County in the fall of 1800. This meeting was then a part of Coeymans Monthly Meet- ing. In 1806, by a division of Coeymans Meeting, Duanes- burgh Monthly Meeting was established and a provision made to hold its meetings one-third of the time at Otego and Burlington, in Otsego County, and two-thirds of the time in Duanesburgh. Some time between 1800 and 1806, a lot of land was deeded to Oliver Briggs, two acres of which was to be held by the Society of Friends. In 1807 this lot was exchanged for part of lot No. 360 in the village of Quaker Street, where the Friends' log meeting-house then stood, by four brothers, named Job, Jeremiah, Robert and Richard Briggs, and was deeded by them to Jedediah Tallman and Zaccheus Mead, who were to hold it in trust for the society " to be used for a burying ground and for the erection of a meeting-house thereon." In 1828 a new deed was given to Nathaniel Wilber, James Shelden, Isaac Gaige, Zaccheus Mead, Benjamin T. Estes, Joseph Moore, Michael Hoag and Isaac Stevens, who were to act as trustees for the society and transfer the property to their successors. A framed addition of ten feet was built to the log meeting-house in 1804, and in 1807 the meeting-house now standing was built. From that time until 1828 the Meeting consisted of about two hundred members. Prominent among these early Friends were members of the families of Gaige, Estes, Hoag, Shel- den, Moore, Briggs, Wilber and Wing, and many of their descendants now live in the vicinity. In tracing the history of this society down to the present time, we find that through the close proximity of other churches, and various other causes, the membership has fallen off to nearly one- fourth its former number. Yet, as a society, it still holds a wide influence for good.
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, DUANESBURGH.
The frame church building of this society is situated a little more than a mile west of the village of Duanesburgh. The cemetery adjoins the churchyard on the west, and the parsonage grounds adjoin it on the north.
The nucleus of the Duanesburgh congregation was formed in 1793 by Rev. James Mckinney, who that year came from Ireland, although the formal organization may not have taken place for two or three years afterward. Rev. Mr. Mckinney was settled as pastor in 1797. The congregation worshipped mostly in a stone church in Princetown. This was a kind of union church, occupied by different denom- inations as they could arrange among themselves, though finally occupied solely by the Presbyterians. Mr. McKin-
ney resigned his pastorate in 1802 and removed to South Carolina, where he died the same year.
For six years the congregation was without a pastor, though not without preaching. In 1804 they built a sub- stantial frame church upon the present site. Before this they often worshipped in private houses, and during the summer in the woods; but more frequently in the barns of Walter Maxwell and Robert Liddle. The land for the church and burying ground was given by the Hon. James Duane. The first elders were Walter Maxwell, Robert Liddle, John Cullings and James Duquid, all natives of Scotland.
The second pastor was Rev. Gilbert MacMaster. He was born in Ireland and came to this country when a boy. He first entered the medical profession and engaged in that work for a time in Pennsylvania, but feeling that he had a call to the ministry, he fitted himself for it. He was or- dained and installed August 8, 1808. He remained pastor of this congregation for nearly thirty-two years and exerted a wide influence, not only in the town where he lived, but throughout the country. He was one of the or- ganizers of the County Bible Society in 1823. He received the title of Doctor of Divinity from Union College in 1828. He wrote several volumes, all on religious topics. He re- signed and removed to Indiana in 1840. His death occurred at New Albany, Ind., in 1854.
In the following year, Rev. Andrew Gifford Wylie became pastor of the congregation, and was ordained and installed August 29, 1841. He was born in the City of New York, and was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, in Phil- adelphia. He remained for nearly thirty years, ending his labors here with the close of 1870, when he accepted a call to a church in Philadelphia. In 1880 he was called to a church in Cincinnati, O , where he remained till his death in December, 1884. Rev. S. M. Ramsey became the next pastor, and is now (1885) occupying the pulpit. He began his labors here in October, 1873, and was installed the 14th of the following month.
The parsonage was built in 1829. The lot (some eight acres) was given by Miss Catherine Duane. The present church building was erected in 1836 and 1837, and was first occupied for worship June 18, 1837. A Sabbath-school was opened about 1834, and has been steadily carried on since. Mr. Robert Liddle occupied the position of superintendent for thirty-three years. 'The following persons have held the office of Ruling Elder: First Elders, Walter Maxwell, Robert Liddle, John Cullings, George Duquid; elected in 1811, James Young, James McBean; in 1825, John Tulloch, John Liddle, James Maxwell, Charles McClew; in 1839, Alex. Liddle, Daniel Stuart, James Turnbull, Ebenezer Cullings; in 1856, Robert Liddle, Robert Cessford. Charles L. Tul- loch, John Cullings; in 1867, Daniel Stuart, Richard Hunter, James McCallum, Andrew Hunter. The following named persons have held the office of Deacon in the con- gregation: 1811, John Liddle, James Maxwell, John Tulloch, Thomas Kelly, Wm. Cummings; 1825, Daniel Stuart, Ebenezer McMillan, Simon Kennedy; 1826, Alex. Liddle, Samuel Young, James Ingersoll; 1839, Robert Cessford, Walter Maxwell, Robert Liddle, Thomas Liddle, John Cul- lings; 1856, Daniel Stuart, Richard Hunter, Peter Cameron, Andrew Hunter, James McCallum; 1867, Thomas R. Mc- Clew, James Liddle, Alex. Liddle, John E. Cullings, Richard I .. Hunter.
Dr. Alexander McLeod, who for thirty-two years, from 1801 to his death in 1833, ranked among the leading minis- ters of the City of New York, was for six years a member of this congregation. Dr. E. D. McMaster, who in 1838 be- came President of Hanover College, Ind .; in 1845, President of Miami University, Oxford, O .; in 1850, Professor in the Presbyterian Theological Seminary at New Albany, Ind .; and at the time of his death, in 1866, was at the head of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Chicago, Ill .; spent his boyhood days here, and early became a member of this congregation. Dr. A. S. MacMaster, for nearly fifty years a gifted Presbyterian minister, as also his brother Benjamin J. MacMaster, editor of The Freeman's Journal, New York City, were also members of the congregation. Through Divine grace this congregation has been a blessing to many, and the names of Maxwell, Cullings and Liddle, Tulloch, Stuart and McCallum, McClew, Hays and Young, Cessford, Hunter and Turnbull, with many others, will long be pre. cious in Duanesburgh.
179
THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DUANESBURGH.
Concerning the origin of the First Presbyterian Church of Duanesburgh, usually designated the Mariaville Presbyterian Church, the records show that on May 11, 1842, an appli- cation was made "TO THE REV'D CLASSIS OF MONTGOM- ERY," by the following named persons, for the organization of a church agreeably to the Constitution of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of North America. George Lasher, S. H. Marsh, J. D. Brown, J. M. Lasher. Daniel Nellis, James Haver, James Frost, Hiram Hansett, F. J. Quackenbush, Alex. McGaugh, Jacob M. Pulver, Henry Pulver, Philip Bronk, James Love, Thomas Gifford, Jere- miah Murray, Charles Dorn.
An entry in the records relates that,
" Whereas, by virtue of an act entitled ' An Act making such alterations in the Act of Incorporating Religious Socie- ties, as to render the same more convenient to the Reformed Protestant Dutch Congregation,' passed the 7th day of March, 1788, we, the subscribers, Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, or Congregation, formed or established in Duanesburgh, in the County of Schenectady, having assembled together at the school-house in Mariaville, on the 19th day of July, 1842, by virtue of the said act, do by these presents certify that the Trustees of said Church or Congregation, and their successors forever, shall, as a body corporate, be called, distinguished and known by the name, style and title of the Minister, Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church at Mariaville, Duanesburgh, in the County of Schenectady.
" In witness whereof, we, the Elders and Deacons, have hereunto set our hands the day and year above mentioned. "George Lasher, Philip Bronk, Elders; Henry Pulver, Hiram Hansett, Deacons.
"The above-named consistory were ordained to their re- spective offices after a sermon was preached from Phil. 2: 15, by Rev. James Stevenson, of Minaville, Montgomery County, on the 19th day of July, 1842."
George Lasher was elected President of the Consistory, and Philip Bronk, Stated Clerk.
It appears that the movement toward the erection of a house of worship somewhat preceded the petition to the Classis of Montgomery asking the organization of a church. A record of the proceedings of the Building Committee is preserved, and opens as follows:
"At a meeting of the inhabitants of Mariaville and vicin- ity, held at the school-house on the 24th day of June, 1841, convened for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety and necessity of erecting a church edifice in said village, Silas H. Marsh was called to the chair and James M. Lasher appointed secretary.
"On motion, it was resolved that a committee of six persons be appointed to ascertain the terms upon which an eligible site can be procured, and to report to the next meet- ing; and that said committee consist of the following named persons, viz .: Silas H. Marsh, James Frost, Daniel Nellis, Jeremiah Murray, Henry Pulver and James M. Lasher."
This committee reported, at a meeting held soon after, that one of their number, Mr. James Frost, had tendered them a square half acre in a locality so suitable that they thought it unnecessary to make farther inquiry. Where- upon the donation of Mr. Frost was gratefully accepted by the meeting At a meeting held in the same place five days later, July 2, 1841, a committee of eight were appointed to solicit subscriptions. This committee pursued their work with varying success until they had secured sufficient to warrant the commencement of the work.
"Whereupon Silas H. Marsh, James M. Lasher and Daniel Nellis were appointed a building committee, with authority to contract for the erection of an edifice upon the best model they could find."
November 10, 1841, the committee entered into a contract with Mr. Thomas Gifford for the erection and completion of an edifice 38 x 50 feet, containing a gallery on three sides, and furnished with pulpit and pews of the best style of such country churches of that time.
The corner-stone was laid in June, 1842, and the building completed in November following. The house was dedi- cated December 7, 1842.
Rev. James Donald, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, and a member of the Presbytery of Albany, was
called, and by the Classis of Montgomery duly installed as pastor of this church on Wednesday, June 7, 1843. The Rev. Charles Jukes preached the sermon and gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. James Stevenson gave the usual charge to the people. The first communion service of the church was held June 11, 1843. Previously to this the communion roll had been prepared, and was as follows:
Received by certificate, from the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Florida (the Minaville Church), Helen Lasher, Margaret Pulver, Ann Hansett, Margaret Pulver, Charlotte Pulver, Catherine Wiggins, Jemima Patterson, Elisabeth Bronk, Mrs. Catherine Bronk, Miss Catherine Bronk, Dorothy Dorne, Jesse Platt, Elsy Platt, Hannah Conklin, Israel Scriver, Rebecca Green, Dorothy Conklin.
From the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Sche- nectady, Daniel Nellis and Mary Nellis.
Received on confession of their faith and satisfactory evi- dence of their piety, Agnes Conklin, James Brown, Mar- garet Brown, Ann Maria Ryne, Margaret Templar, John Dougall, Hannah Dougall, Maria Dennison, Susan McMas- ter, Eliza Clark, James M. Lasher, Catherine Clogston, James H. Patterson, Prudence Patterson, making a com- munion roll of thirty-one members, exclusive of the four members of consistory-a membership in all of thirty-five.
The Rev. Mr. Donald closed his services on the last Sabbath of April, 1851. From this time until 1859 the church had no pastor, depending altogether upon such pul- pit supply as could be obtained from Classis and otherwise. At this point the records show the following:
"The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Duanes- burgh having obtained leave of Classis to change their ecclesiastical relation, made application to the Presbytery of Albany to be received under their care at their annual meet- ing in January, 1859.
"After this they obtained leave of the Court to be known by the title and to hold their property under the incorporate title of the ' First Presbyterian Church of Duanesburgh.'
"On June 15, 1859, said church was fully received and entered on the roll by the Presbytery of Albany.
"On February 13, 1861, the ecclesiastical name was, by Presbytery, for the sake of convenience, and without inter- fering with the corporate title, changed on Presbytery Roll to the church of Mariaville."
During the year 1859 the Rev. David Edgar served the church as stated supply. In 1860 the Rev. David Lyon was called, and remained until March, 1876.
In June, 1877, the church secured certain ministerial ser- vices of Rev. R. A. Hill, pastor of the Princetown Presby- terian Church. Mr. Hill retained his pastoral relation to the Princetown Church, and in addition preached at Maria- ville on Sabbath afternoons, and performed such pastoral services as lay in his power, continuing for five years, and as long as he remained at Princetown. In June, 1882, he received a call from the Seventh Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Pa., which he accepted, and so sev- ered his connection with Princetown and Mariaville.
Again the church was dependent upon temporary supply until November, 1883. At this time Rev. J. W. Johnston became stated supply, and has so acted until the present time.
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