USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 45
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As the attention of the people was called off from the Church by the din of surrounding war, and as the support annually received from England by the Episcopal clergy, was cut off by the seperation of this country from England, the parish was neglected for some time after the withdrawal of Mr. Panton in 1782. No clergyman was called and settled for seven years. During this period, the parsonage continued to be occupied by the widow of Mr. Babcock, with the consent of the Trustees of the Church, and the church was occupied only occasionally by a preacher of the gospel. Ministers of different denominations were permitted to take the pulpit during this melancholy scene of disorder and of distress. About this time, the minister of the Dutch Church at Tarrytown, two miles distant, having made some proselytes in the parish, attempted to obtain possession of the church, and annex it to his own ; but these schemes proved abortive ; Mr. Van Cortlandt, a descendant of Frederick Philipse,
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first lord of the manor of Philipsburgh, procured an extract of Mr. Philipse's will, from which it appeared that the property was given for the building of an Episcopal Church, and other documents being produced, proved that the Church had been built in compliance with the will, and that no other service had ever been regularly performed in it. This fortunately determined the point in debate, though for a short time it left a dissatis- faction in the minds of some of the people.
The principal part of the inhabitants of the town were de- scendants from Dutch families, still this disaffection to the Epis- copal Church soon subsided.
According to an historical sketch of the parish, given by the Rev. Mr. Cooper, we learn :- " That the Methodists took advantage of the dissentions then subsisting, made great inroads and col- lected a number of adherents. Some of these having died and removed, and others having returned to the good old path from whence they had been led astray, they were reduced to a very small number, so that the chief of the inhabitants afterwards professed the Church."
In 1784, Mr. Fowler (afterwards the Rev. Andrew Fowler) collected the congregation, in the capacity of a lay reader. This individual informs us, " that the congregation had been broken up by the war, and was for some time destitute of a reg- ular pastor. Their minister, the Rev. Mr. Babcock, died some time before the Peace took place. His widow and childeen were still living in the parish, and very active in persuading people to attend the services of the Church. I read prayers and ser- mons there with great pleasure, and never saw any other con- duct in the assembly than that which was truly christian and pious. I could go there but occasionally, as I was then princi- pally engaged as lay reader at New Rochelle, and in the mean time had charge of a school in that place."a
a Fowler's MS. Biog. No. iii .. 444-5. About this period, it is said, that Dr. Black- well performed services in this parish, as a lay reader. He died at Philadelphia, 12th Feb., 1831, aged 84.
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AND CHURCH OF YONKERS.
The parish remained destitute of regular preaching until the year 1789, when the
REV. ELIAS COOPER, A. M.,
succeeded Mr. Panton. He was the eldest son of the Rev. War- moldus Kuypers of Holland, a Lutheran minister, who removed to this country and was settled for some time in New Jersey. Mr. Cooper was born at Amsterdam, Holland, on the 5th of January, 1758; received his early education at Hackensack Academy, under the tuition of Dr. Wilson ; studied theology at New York ; was ordained Deacon by the Rt. Rev. Samuel Provoost, in St. Andrew's Church, Staten Island, Sunday, the 21st of June, 1789, and Priest by the same, at East Chester, on the festival of St. Barnabas, June 11th, 1790. He immediately took charge of this parish, where he long remained to the great joy of his people. In 1804, he makes report to the Convention of eighty-six families, as belonging to the Church, fourteen bap- tisms, forty communicants, eight marriages and four funerals. Mr. Cooper was not inattentive to the interests of the Church in East Chester and other places, as appears by his reports. Dur- ing the period of his rectorship, and owing to his untiring exer- tions, the present chapel of St. John's, Tuckahoe, was erected. In 1811, he reported to the Convention :- " That though death has reduced the number of communicants since the last return, there are hopes (from present appearances) that the number will soon be augmented. The church has been better attended of late, than for two years past, and the seriousness and attention exhibited, show that religion is reviving among us."
During the rectorship of Mr. Cooper, the Church increased quite rapidly in the number of her members, and in her influence over the community. The parish gradually recovered from the effects of the Revolution, became more engaged in spiritual things, and by its continual prosperity gave a convincing evidence of the benign effects produced by the restoration of peace and harmony. Though the rector had to struggle with many seri- ous difficulties and discouragements, some of them originating indirectly from the Revolution, and some from sources which are- 33
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found in too many other parishes, still he had the cordial affec- tion and liberal support of a few of his parishioners-the respect and esteem of all.
Among these cordial friends and liberal supporters, the names of Augustus and Frederick Van Cortlandt stand foremost.& They were for a number of years constant at- jendants on the services and ordinances of the Church and in their exemplary deportment gave evidences, that their libe- rality and friendship arose from the purest and most distin- guished motives. Frederick Van Cortlandt in his will left to the Church the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars, the income of which was to assist in supporting the clergyman of said Church. As far back as the minutes of the vestry were kept, which is to the year 1787, we find his name among the promi_ nent men in the Church, and among its officers he continued to act for thirteen years or more until his last illness. It is probable that he was an active and generous member of the congregation some time before the year 1787. At that time his brother Augustus Van Cortlandt and Isaac Honeywell, Jun., gave a notification to the congregation (which had become dispersed during the war) to meet for the purpose of choosing trustees of said Church. The term of " trustees" was then used, and the term wardens and vestrymen not substituted until the year 1795, when the name of St. John's Church was also added. Augustus Van Cortlandt was then chosen one of the trustees, and afterwards annually elected a warden or vestryman for upwards of twenty years. He was particularly attentive in preserving the minutes of the vestry, in keeping order and regularity in all the elections of the congregation, and in endeavoring to advance the pros- perity of the Church by the influence of his good character, as well as by his pecuniary aid. Exemplary in his private deport- ment, charitable and kind to the poor, liberal to the Church, and
"These gentlemen were the sons of Frederick Van Cortlandt and Frances Jay, and grandsons of Jacobus Van Cortlandt aud Eva Philipse, daughter of Frederick Philipse lord of the manor of Philipsburgh
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a steady friend of its ministers, he gained the esteem and affec- tion of all who knew him, and particularly of those who took a lively interest in the prosperity of the Church. Before his decease he ordered in his will, that five hundred dollars should be given from his property (which was very large) to the ves- try of the Church, and be kept at interest for twenty-one years. At the expiration of that time, the interest and principal were to be put out in one sum, and the interest of it to go to the support of the clergyman of this parish. He died in the year 1824, upwards of ninety-six years of age.
During the ministry of Mr. Cooper, the church edifice received considerable repairs, among which was a new and handsome steeple. The money for this purpose was raised by the gift of three hundred dollars from Trinity Church, New York, and by the subscriptions of the parishioners. These repairs were made in the year 1804. A short time after, the Church received a legacy of one hundred dollars from Alpheus Pierson, and some smaller legacies from James Valentine, Shadrach Taylor and Isaac Lawrence.a
Mr. Cooper was first called for a short time, and in a few years after instituted to the rectorship. Though his salary was small, he still persevered in his arduous labors and succeeded, under the divine blessing, in increasing the number of the con- gregation and of the Church, as also in gradually reforming this district of country. He continued the beloved pastor of this Church for twenty seven years, a much longer period than any of his predecessors, and was removed from his labors on earth to his reward in heaven, on Tuesday, January 16th, 1816. His re- mains were interred in the burying ground belonging to this parish.b
The esteem and affection which his congregation expressed
" Among other zealous members of the Church at this period, deserves to be mentioned the names of Frederick Underhill, Isaac Odell, John Warner, John Bowne, Isaac Vermilyea and Elijah Valentine.
> His funeral sermon was preached by his old friend, the Rev. Isaac Wilkins, D. D.
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for him may be perceived by reading his tablet, which, after his decease they erected in the church.
He married Sarah Roome, Sept. 27th, 1780, who died May 3d, 1811. By this lady he had four sons and three daughters, viz : Warmoldus, now living in Brooklyn. Gerardus, M. D., who died in 1832. Frederick Augustus, who died 29th December, 1817. William Henry, died August 30th, 1817. Elizabeth Joanna, who married the Hon. Aaron Vark, of Yonkers, and Aleta Roome.
The following is a brief sketch given of his character by the Rev. Andrew Fowler, in his biographical notices of the clergy :- "I cannot tell in what country this worthy clergyman was born, but I am inclined to believe that he was a native of Germany. His father was a respectable Lutheran minister, and when I knew him he was settled in a part of New Jersey, and not far from the North River. I have been told he was highly esteemed by his people, and had several sons who became preachers of the gospel, (one or two in the Protestant Episco- pal Church, and one or two in the Dutch Presbyterian Church in the city of New York,) and bore a very respectable character, both as a clergyman and as a christian. He spelt his name after the German manner Kuyper, which his brother Elias was the translator of into English."
" Mr. Cooper was a married man, and had several children. He was a good looking person, plain, but gentlemanly in his manners, and candid in his conversation. In short, he was a pious, zealous, active and orthodox minister of Christ, and peculiarly well calculated for the parish where he officiated. He died in the year 1816, greatly lamented by his parishioners. His suavity of manners and rectitude of conduct throughout the whole course of his clerical life, endeared him to all who knew him. I loved him in life, and could not forget him in death. He always treated me like a brother, and I have esteemed my ac- quaintance with him a great blessing. He was regular as clock work in all his vocations, and his attention to his public concerns was reduced to a most exact method. For some years Mr. Coo-
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per taught a school, and met with good success in that arduous undertaking."a
The parish having become vacant by the death of Mr. Cooper, the
REV. WILLIAM POWELL, A. M.,
took pastoral charge of the same in May, 1816. In the fall of that year, he makes report to the Diocesan Convention :- " That with regard to the state of the parish, it may in gene- ral be observed, that the services of the Church are extremely well attended, and that the people evince a sincere attachment to her doctrines and liturgy."
During his ministry the congregation continued large, and the church edifice underwent considerable repairs. He resigned his charge, however, the 10th of August, 1819, having officiated here only a few months over three years. Mr. Powell subse- quently removed to Westchester, where he died in 1849. The
REV. JOHN GRIGG, A. M.
succeeded Mr. Powell in 1820. Two years after, the number of communicants had increased from fifty-six to eighty-eight. In the month of August, 1823, Mr. Grigg resigned his charge.
On the 17th of October of the same year, the vestry gave a call to the
REV. JOHN WEST, A. M.,
to take care of the parish for one year, which was accepted .-- The term of his call, however, was afterwards extended to four years. He resigned the rectorship in 1828, and was succeeded by the
REV. ALEXANDER HAMILTON CROSBY, A. M.
He was the son of Darius Crosby and Thirza Paddock, and grandson of Reuben Crosby, whose ancestors were among the
" Fowler's MS. Biog. vol. 3, 444-5. Miss Williams, sister-in-law of Col. Fredo rick Philipse, died in Mr. Cooper's family.
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first settlers of Plymouth, Mass.ª He was born at Somers, in this county, June 15th, 1804, and entered Union College, Sche- nectady, in 1819, where he was graduated A. M. at the early age of eighteen. After reading law one year, he entered the Gene- ral Theological Seminary and was graduated June 30th, 1826. In August of that year he was admitted to Deacon's orders in St. George's church, Fishkill, by the late Bishop Hobart. After this he officiated for several months in St. Paul's church, East- chester. In the spring of 1827, he was called to Grace church, White Plains, and St. Thomas' church, Mamaroneck, and was ordained Priest in the former, July 19th, 1828, by Bishop Hobart.
Upon the 13th of March, 1828, he was married to Julia A., daughter of James Barker, Esq, who with one son and three daughters still survive him. While officiating in the united parishes, he made an effort to clear them of debt, which good work he accomplished, and was also trying to raise money for the erection of a parsonage at White Plains, when called to take charge of this parish. Addressing his congregation in 1837, he says :- " When coming to this parish, I found only about thirty- five communicants, the Church divided in two distinct and hostile parties, by three law suits then pending, the attendance of most of the congregation on Divine Service very irregular, only about twenty dollars annually given to missions, and but little to other benevolent institutions." During his incumbency, the sum of one thousand dollars was raised by public subscrip- tion for repairing the church, and also six hundred dollars ex. pended on the old parsonage, besides other large sums for Mis- sions, &c. In 1835, the communicants had increased to seven- ty-two.
But four years afterwards the faithful pastor was summoned, " Well clad in the panoply of righteousness, wielding the sword of the Spirit, and fighting manfully under the banner of the
"The Crossbys or Crosbys were formerly seated in the county of Yorkshire, Eng- land, from whence they emigrated to this country about 1634. Simon Crosby was a freeman of Cambridge, Mass. in 1635, and one of the selectmen from 1636 to 163.
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Cross, he sank consumed by his own zeal." He left his be- loved flock for a little season, in the faint hope of repairing his shattered frame in a more genial clime, and with the prayer that if it were the will of his heavenly Father, he might return. to labor once more among them. But he was removed from the winter of life to a summer of never ending mildness and glory. Wafted to the haven of eternal rest in a better country, he hath. entered a temple, not made with hands, in the which, he shall chant in richer melody than when on earth, the blissful praises of Jehovah Jesus. He died at St. Croix, on the evening of the 4th of January, 1839, in the 34th year of his age. According to his request, his remains were subsequently conveyed to Yon- kers, and interred in the cemetry belonging to this parish, near the old parsonage. Well may his people have reared for him the marble tablet, that tells of the beloved brother and faithful minister. It was a favorite saying of his :- " First my Church, and then my family."a
Upon the death of Mr. Crosby, the Rev. William M. Carmi- chael, A. M. was called to the rectorship, which he declined. Whereupon the
REV. SMITH PYNE, A. M.
was chosen rector of the parish, May 4th, 1839, and resigned in 1840. The
REV. HENRY L. STORRS, A. M.,
was elected to the rectorship in March, 1841. " He was the el- dest son of the Hon. Henry Randolph Storrs, a very distinguished member of the Bar of New-York, and of the National Legisla- ture. He was born on the 1st of July, 1811, at White's Town, in the County of Oneida, and was educated at Hamilton Col- lege and at Union College. After his graduation, at the latter of these institutions, he passed some time at Utica, where under
" See sermon preached in St. John's church, Yonkors, on Sunday, March 10th, 1839, by the Rev. Robert William Harris, D. D., of White Plains.
.
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the instructions of the Rev Dr. Anthon, at that period the rector of Trinity Church, he became a communicant of the Episcopal Church, and commenced his preparation for its ministry. His studies were further prosecuted at the Gen. Theological Semi- nary ; and having completed the usual course, and received his testimonial at the commencement in 1836, he was immediately after admitted to holy orders, and took charge of the parish of Cold Spring. He was soon after married to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Leonard Kip, Esq. of New York, who with two young daughters, and a still younger son, is left to lament his loss, and to guide them by his example.
Having resigned his charge at Cold Spring, and officiated for a little while at Yonkers, in the absence of the rector, the Rev. Mr. Crosby, who was seeking health abroad, he was invited, on the death of that exemplary clergyman, to become his succes- sor, but had just accepted an invitation to the congregation at New Hartford, in the region of his birth and early associations. After three years, the parish at Yonkers again became vacant, and he was again called to the place which, for the remaining eleven years of his life, he held to the honor of God, the exten- sion of the Church, and the deep, and grateful satisfaction of his people.
The spot where his lot was cast has become, within those eleven years, in many respects, like a suburb of the great neig- boring city, though without losing as yet its pleasant rural aspect. He found an ancient church, with a very respectable congregation of limited number, scattered over a distance of several miles. One service only was expected at the parish church, another was held in a remote part of the parish. Anticipating and watching the growth of the village around the church, on the banks of the Hudson, he procured the necessary aid for the es- tablishment of a second service, and at length, the consecration of the chapel of Tuckahoe, and its separation from his charge. The old glebe being at a distance from the village, he obtained from a willing congregation, the erection of a modest and beau- tiful parsonage of permanent material, on the ground adjoining
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the church; and by the care of a few years made it one of the most delightful scenes from which a pastor could ever be called away to Paradise. His church itself, found too small for the in- creasing congregation, was enlarged by the construction of a transept, and without losing its venerable plainness, became a very spacious and convenient, and particularly impressive struc- ture. In the meantime, the strength of the parish was doubled ; the communicants had largely increased in number ; jarring opinions and feelings were harmonized, through the discreet and faithfulf assiduity of the rector ; in every good work, and in the view o many who visited his vineyard, he realized all which a servan t of God could have a right to seek for himself, of pastoral peace and pleasantness."
"This excellent man, whose ministry of eleven years will ever be cherished with grateful remembrance by all that came be- neath its influence, rested from his labors on Sunday, 16th of May, 1852."a His remains were interred in the parochial cem- etry.
On the 12th of June, 1852, the vestry gave a call to the
REV. ABRAHAM BEACH CARTER, A. M.
present incumbent.b
St. John's Church was first incorporated (under the Act of 1784,) on the 15th of September, 1787, Augustus Van Cortlandt, Israel Honeywell, jun., and J. Warner, trustees. In accordance with the Act passed for the relief of the Episcopal Church, March 17th, 1795, it was again organized on the 7th of Sep- tember of that year, 'Augustus Van Cortlandt and William Constable, churchwardens; John Warner, Thomas Valentine, Isaac Vermilyea, Frederick Underhill, Shadrach Taylor, Isaac Lawrence, Stephen Oakley and Jacob Post, vestrymen. In the first Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the Dio-
· See Protestant Churchman for May, 1852.
Mr. Carter is the son of the late Rev. Abiel Carter, Rector of Christ's Church, Savannah, Geo., and a grandson of the venerable Abraham Beach, D. D., for many years Assistant Rector and Minister of Trinity Church, New York.
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cese of New York, held in the city of New York, June 22d, 1785, this Church does not appear to have been represented. To the Convention of 1787, she sent her first delegates, viz : Augustus Van Cortlandt and Israel Honeywell, Esq'rs.
THE CHURCH.
The parish church of Yonkers, together with its gothic par- sonage, stands pleasantly situated on the south bank of the Saw Mill or Neperah.
This edifice has been enlarged and beautified within a few years, and is an interesting specimen of Provincial architecture. The ground plan consists of a Tower, Nave, Transept and Apsis. The effect of the tower, which is of three stages with narrow lights, is fine. The belfry and wooden spire are modern. The church is of native stone, with quoins of ashlar and ashlared work around the doors and win- dows, which are round headed. It was built, as we have seen, by Col. Frederick Philipse in 1753, nothing however re- mains of the original structure, except the walls and tower, the roof and wood work having been destroyed by an accidental fire in May, 1791. In 1792, it was repaired, and on 21st of Au- gust of that year, consecrated to the service of Almighty God, under the name and title of St. John's Church, Philipsburgh, by the Right Rev. Samuel Provoost, first Bishop of the State of New-York. The principal entrance is by a circular headed door in the south-west transept. During the rectorship of the Rev. Mr. Cooper, there were some changes made in the interior arrangement of the building, the pulpit being removed from the north to the east end, and some few other necessary alterations made. In 1831, Mr Crosby raised the sum of one thousand dollars for repairs. Nothing more was done until Mr. Storrs became the rector, when the whole of the interior was first remod- elled, a new chancel arrangement made, and the church newly seated. The increasing population rendered the enlargement of the building necessary and in 1849, the transepts and chancel were added at the cost of about one thousand five hundred dollars.
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The improvement just made consists in opening the chancel, making a new desk and pulpit, with several additional pews, and in painting in frescoe work the walls and ceiling. A vestry room, opening into the north side of the chancel, has also been erected, and a large and very superior organ, built by Messrs. Hall & Labaugh, of New-York, has been put up ; to accomodate this the gallery front has been extended about six feet, in an octa- gonal form, and finished with open panel work, correspond- ing with the desk and chancel rail.a
The following monumental tablets are placed in various parts of this church :-
In memory of REV. LUKE BABCOCK, Born July 6th, 1738. Rector of this Church from 1770 to 1777, when he departed this life in the 39th year of his age. «
To perpetuate the memory of the REV. ELIAS COOPER, twenty-seven years Rector of this Church, who departed this life, Jan. 16th, 1816, aged 58 years and 11 months.
He laboured industriously to promote the happiness of mankind, by advancing the influence of the Christian religion. Pious without superstition, and zealous without bigotry ; a friend to the poor, and an ornament to the Church ; exemplary in the discharge of every relation and professional duty ; respected and honored through life by those who knew his virtues, and in his death universally lamented. This humble monument (not of his praise) is erected by his faithful flock, who knew him, loved him, and lamented their loss, and are desirous of recording in this inscription their esteem, affection and regret.
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