USA > New York > Kings County > Flatbush > History of the Reformed Church of Flatbush, N.Y., 1807-1907 > Part 2
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We now turn to view the completed edifice, first without, then within.
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REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH, N. Y.
We have no recorded description of it but must rely upon the recollections and traditions of the fathers and mothers in Israel. For our knowledge of the building we are particularly indebted to Mr. Jacob Snyder, who remembers the original house of worship before any material changes had been made. In width, of course, it was the same as at present, but it was con- siderably shorter at both the north and the south ends. No steeple adorned the plain roof ; no bell summoned the worshippers. Either side had but two windows ; two were at the south end and it is believed that the north end contained two also. The windows had small panes of glass and were arched at the top. Stones inscribed with the names of those prominent in the life of the church were placed in the south wall. When this end was rebuilt these stones were removed. Some, if not many of these, must have been broken or dis- carded. Only three remain and these are partially defaced. One on the east side bears the name of Peter Hendricks and the date of building. Peter Hendricks lived on a farm west of the church now owned by J. Tyler Washburn. He was a brother of John and Francis Hendricks, also of Tjerck Hendricks, who lived on the place which is now the property of Samuel Decker, and was for a long time the southern bound of the Flatbush congregation. The other two
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ORGANIZATION AND EDIFICE.
stones may be seen in the south wall, east side, one having the names of Lawrence and Margaret Oster- houdt, whose descendants are still in this congregation ; the other, the names of John and Christiana Kipp, who are among the first members of the church.
A curious feature of the building must have been the many indentations in the south gable and near the peak, masoned in the wall to provide shelter for birds. Swallows or martins occupied these holes and at times swarms of these birds would cover the wall. There " the sparrow found an house and the swallow a nest for herself." 1507301
The church was entered by a double door at the middle of the south end. These doors were arched at the top and painted a dark red. Directly above this entrance and level with the gallery was a square double door painted the same as the other. The use of this upper door it is hard to conjecture.
At first the doors opened directly into the audience room. Later, and before the alteration at the south end, it is believed a narrow hall was made by a partition from door to stairs on the west side. Let us now step inside. We see a center aisle running to the front of the pulpit. Rows of high back pews with doors are on either side. We find a pew extending along both east and west wall, with board front. Between this front
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REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH, N. Y.
and end of the other pews runs a narrow aisle. Gal- leries, with floor slightly slanting, are on three sides of the church. We enter these by a stairway inside the audience room at the southwest corner. The ceiling above either side gallery is level. Between these gal- leries the ceiling is arched and made of boards painted blue. Rows of eight-sided pillars stand under and above the galleries.
We shall now glance at the pulpit, which is high, round and entered by door on the west side. Back of the first pulpit is a sounding board ; above it, a round canopy top. Such, as nearly as we can ascertain, was the exterior and interior of the church as first con- structed. The changes made will be noted in their order as we proceed.
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T HE Rev. Peter Abraham Overbagh was the founder and first pastor of the Flatbush church and his pastorate the longest in its history of one hundred years.
The call of this church upon Mr. Overbagh was presented to and approved by Classis at Woodstock April 25th, 1809. He signified his acceptance of the call at a salary, it is said, of $300.00. The Rev. John Gosman was appointed to install him at Flatbush on the Sabbath of May 21st. Though the formal pastoral relation began at this time, Domine Overbagh was practically the pastor of the church from its organi- zation, which was due to his interest ande fforts, and he probably held religious services here before that date. He studied theology under Livingston, was licensed to preach in 1803, and his first charge was Bethlehem and Coeymans, 1805-6. In 1806 he became pastor of the Reformed church of Woodstock and appears to have ministered to that church after his call to Flatbush until 1817.
Mr. Overbagh married Maria Van Leuven and
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during his ministry at Flatbush lived on what was known as the Van Leuven place lying along the river at South Saugerties and now the property of Charles A. Spalding. The Overbagh family owned land there west to the Esopus creek and south to what is now Glasco.
The domine had a four mile drive to the church at Flatbush, farther still to Plattekill and much farther to Woodstock. To care for these widely extended parishes must have required much time and strength. He always kept good horses and doubtless needed them for driving these distances over roads often hard to travel.
Counselor Carroll Whitaker, whose father Egbert Whitaker, Esq., was a member of the Flatbush church and whose grandfather Peter P. and uncle Peter Whitaker, Jr., served as officers of it, tells us that some one would stand in the road on the knoll just north of the church and when the pastor's carriage was seen approaching would blow a horn to summon the congre- gation to the house of worship.
At one time a fence of boards, placed upright and notched at the top, stood on the west side of the church lot. A double gate admitted pedestrians, but wagons were not allowed inside the inclosure, so the attendants hitched their teams along the road or in the yards of
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SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
the neighbors. The lane of John Hendricks was so used, and under the shade of its cherry trees families after service would eat their lunch.
People came long distances to church either afoot or in lumber-box wagons drawn by horses or oxen. Henry Whitaker walked regularly five miles from the Pine Bush district. Some would carry their shoes and stockings and don them when near the church. Wooden side springs consisting of poles fastened to either end of the box wagons helped to make smooth the rough places. Double chairs were also used in the wagons.
Before there was a church at Plattekill many from that section came to Flatbush. They forded the creek at Jacob Kieffer's, also below Glenerie falls before a bridge was built there. In the winter they could often cross on the ice; at other seasons row-boats served as transports.
We must not forget an important officer of the early days, viz: the "church master," whose duty it was to keep out the numerous dogs and to chastise the disorderly.
One of these masters was Martin Post, who used to sit on the pulpit steps or in alcove of window with large cane in hand. It is stated on good authority that one Sunday a man sitting near the top of the
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gallery stairs fell asleep and rolled to the floor. In- stantly the "church master" was on the scene freely using his cane to preserve order.
At first the pews of the church, described as "benches and seats," were sold on seven months' credit and certificate of ownership signed by the pastor, given to the buyer. Mrs. Mary Turck holds one of these for seat No. 9, dated July 5, 1811, made out to Peter Turck, father of her late husband, and signed Peter A. Overbagh.
A long stick with pouch at end was used in taking collections at church.
Domine Overbagh did not preach at Flatbush every Sabbath unless during the latter part of his pastorate. Old subscription lists and treasurer's book show this. The first subscription for preaching service by him is dated December 15, 1808, and is for eight Sundays beginning the following January. Later sub- scriptions in 1817 specify "thirty four Sabbaths of Divine Service by the Rev. Peter Overbagh." Sub scription lists in 1824 call for "two-thirds of the ser- vices of the Rev. Peter A. Overbagh, that is to say forty Sabbath Services annually performed in the church of Flatbush." A liberal two-thirds, we should say, of fifty-two Sundays. He probably preached the
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SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
remaining Sabbaths at Woodstock, and in later years at Plattekill.
In the earliest years the church was without stoves other than foot stoves brought particularly for the comfort of the women. Parents having children to be baptized would bring them to homes near the church. Children from Plattekill were often brought to the old house of John Hendricks, where the minister would baptize them before the church service. Receipts show that the first stove was bought December Ist, 1815, of Nathan Gage. It was a box stove and cost $10 00. However, pipe for the stove, or stoves, bought at the same time cost $26.00. The first stoves were set on a platform laid on top of the seats. The pipes ran along either side of the church and at one time entered a drum near the pulpit. Thence a single pipe ran to the chimney.
The first record of benevolence is a receipt given to Peter A. Burhans for $5.25, the amount of a collection at the Flatbush church January 11th, 1818, for the Ulster County Bible Society.
Just when Mr. Overbagh began to hold services at Plattekill we have no record. Before the building of the church there, these were held in barns and often at the school house. Dr. Henry Ostrander, fifty years pastor of the Kaatsban church, also held meetings
4
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there. Families nearest Kingston would attend church there; those to the north at Kaatsban, but the most of the families appear to have attended and to have been connected with the Flatbush church.
June 24th, 1834, Consistory resolved " That instead of having four elders and four deacons, we will here- after have six ;- three elders and three deacons on the east side and three elders and three deacons on the west side of the Esopus. Under date of June 25th, 1834, the corporate name of the church was made, "The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush and Plattekill." The church at Plattekill was built the same year.
The union thus formed was not destined to last long. July 2, 1838, the joint consistory met in the church of Plattekill, all the members being present. when it was unanimously agreed that if sufficient money were raised to discharge indebtedness to the pastor, Rev. Overbagh, by October Ist, "Classis shall be asked to divide the church and congregation and to organize a church in Plattekill, provided, Dr. Jacob Brodhead (then pastoral colleague of Domine Over- bagh) shall agree to the same." Arrears of salary was paid by date named. The Classis acted favorably on the above request, and the Reformed Church of Platte- kill was organized December 7th, 1838, by committee
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REV. JACOB BRODHEAD, D.D.
-
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consisting of the Revs. Peter A. Overbagh, Dr. Jacob Brodhead and Dr. Henry Ostrander. That church was incorporated February 6th, 1839. The Flatbush consistory, April 6th, 1839, gave a quit claim for the lot on which the Plattekill church stands to the con- sistory of that church. The elders and deacons residing on the west side of the creek and other mem- bers united with the new organization, and the Flatbush consistory returned to its original number of elders and deacons.
Before the division of the church, the Rev. Nanning Bogardus was for a time associated with Mr. Overbagh in pastoral work. He was stated supply at Plattekill in 1835 and 1836, after which he became pastor of the Woodstock church.
At one time Domine Overbagh had an extended discussion with certain Baptist ministers at Glasco concerning the mode and subjects of baptisms. At the close of the controversy he called upon Dr. Gos- man-who preached an able sermon-convincing to his non-Baptist hearers, if not to the others.
November 8th, 1837, those who still owned pews and seats waived their right to these in behalf of the church, and thereafter these were rented annually to the highest bidder.
In 1837 and 1838 extensive repairs and alterations
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were made to the interior of the church edifice. The nature of these repairs we do not know except that the pews and pulpit were altered. One item is as fol- lows : "To three days' work in shop at pulpit." Tjerck Myer, Henry Huyck and Peter I. Schoonmaker present bills for work done for church amounting to $106 39 ; Overbagh and Hendrix are paid $60.25 for days' work at the church ; February, 1838, the sum of bills for " altering the Flatbush Church " is $234.21.
Rev. Peter A. Overbagh " closed his regular minis- trations as pastor of the Church of Flatbush in 1838," but the pastoral relation was not formally dissolved by action of Classis until August, 1841. The 8th of April preceding, his son, Major John V. L. Overbagh, then a deacon, laid before consistory his father's request for such dissolution. Thus closed his long pastorate of more than thirty years of active service. We see the most of his ministry of nearly forty years was spent with the church he organized and fostered.
His was a fruitful ministry. He received 380 per- sons into membership of the church, nearly all on con- fession of their faith. The accessions constant from year to year were at times large. During the years 1817-1819 many were added to the church. The years 1831-1834 were " times of refreshing from the presence
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SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
of the Lord "-126 confessing their faith during that period, 43 of whom were received July 15th, 1832.
The church begun in 1807 with seventeen mem- bers reports to Classis in 1842; "No. of families, 97; total in congregation, 515 ; total in communion, 180' No. of Sunday Schools, 3 ; No. of pupils, 100."
The domine was a man of affairs and did consider- able business outside of his pastoral work. Besides looking after his extensive acres he and Judge Jacob Snyder had a brick yard and store at Glasco, where Mr. Hoyt Weeks now resides. They used oxen to mix the sand and clay. This property was burned, the in- mates barely escaping, after which the partnership was dissolved and the business given up.
Rev. Peter A. Overbagh is described as of medium height and rather stout. His nature was social and sympathetic. His life and labors are thus summed up in the Manual of the Reformed Church by Dr. Corwin : " He was a useful and faithful man. Through his in- fluence the character of the community in which he spent his ministry was greatly changed. His labors while unknown to the world were persevered in and resulted in the conversion of many souls. His sudden summons to depart was received by him with calm composure as might have been expected from his life."
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The last year of his life was spent at Poughkeepsie. He died there on Sunday, February 20th, 1842, in the 63d year of his age. His remains were brought to Saugerties, to the home of his son, Hon. J. V. L. Over- bagh, where appropriate services were held in the presence of many parishioners and friends. On Sun- day, March 13th, the Rev. D. D. Demarest, then pastor of the church at Flatbush, preached a memorial sermon from the text, Isaiah 40 : 6-8, which was published by request of the consistory.
His body rests in the family burying ground on the farm where he so long resided. His grave is marked by a stone bearing an appropriate inscription. The best memorial of his worth and work is the church that he founded and of which he was for so many years the devoted and beloved pastor.
REV. JACOB BRODHEAD, D.D.
The Rev. Jacob Brodhead, D.D., began his pastor- ate at Flatbush and Plattekill in October, 1837. He was installed November 15th. His salary was $500.00. We have already stated that he was the colleague of the Rev. Peter A. Overbagh, of whom he was an intimate friend. Dr. Brodhead discharged the active duties of pastor having the advice and occasional assistance of
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SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
his associate until his removal to Poughkeepsie. Dom- ine Brodhead had bought a farm by the river south of the Overbagh property, where he built a house. He was pastor of the Reformed church of Broome street, New York, before his removal to Saugerties, where he came for the benefit of his wife's health. He was pastor of Plattekill till November 7th, 1840, when the Rev. Martin I .. Schenck was called to that charge. June 25th, 1839, the pastor was authorized to procure a communion set of Britannia ware, the cost not to exceed $15.00. The fathers did not forget to minister to the needy. December 29th of this year a collection of $5.00 was taken in the church for Betsy Manton and paid to her by Abram Hendricks. June 6th, of the next year, Elders Martin Snyder and Cornelius Osterhoudt were appointed "a committee to attend to the repairs of the church." October 5th consistory resolved, " That the pews of the church be offered for one year to the highest bidder and that Elder Tjerck Wynkoop and Deacon Peter Davis be a committee to lay an assessment, one of $500.00 and one of $450.00, on the pews, and that on the day of sale the question be put to the congregation, which of the two assess- ments they will adopt." The matter of church dis- cipline was not overlooked, for at the same meeting Elders Snyder and Overbagh were appointed a com-
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mittee "To call on such members of the church as have backslidden and that they be empowered to cite such members before the consistory." Later Messrs. Wynkoop and Davis were added to this committee " to call on such members as have absented themselves from the church."
Dr. Brodhead, with an elder, often Martin Snyder, would go regularly through the congregation and give lectures in the afternoons, after which he would catechise the children. His teaching was so simple that it was easily understood by them and they all loved him. A meeting of the consistory was held at the home of Dr. Brodhead March 8th, 1841, at which he resigned his charge, having accepted a call to the Central Reformed Church of Brooklyn. Mrs. Brod- head's health had not improved with their change of residence. She died early in May, 1841. The consis- tory expressed "regret that the Doctor had concluded to separate himself from a church whose people were so much attached to him." As before noted Domine Overbagh also asked for dissolution of the pastoral relation at this meeting. Elder Snyder was appointed delegate to Classis and instructed to ask supplies of that body for the pulpit now vacant. Dr. Brodhead was born at Marbletown, Ulster county, and died at Springfield, Massachusetts, aged 73 years. Before his
SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
pastorate at Flatbush he was a minister of the Collegi- ate Reformed Church of New York, He had also organized and served several Reformed churches in Philadelphia.
In physique he was large and stout. He was an instructive and effective preacher; the close of his sermons often being very eloquent. Many came to hear him outside of the congregation. In the memo- rial of him we are told that " He was distinguished by great tenderness of feeling which characterized his pulpit ministrations and pastoral intercourse. He preached the gospel in its simplicity with clearness and sweetness." At the time of his death, his ministry was thought to have been " more successful than that of any other minister in the annals of our denomina- tion." During his labors here about thirty members were received on confession of their faith.
REV. DAVID D. DEMAREST, D.D., LL.D.
At a meeting of consistory held April 19th, 1841, it was resolved, " That a call be made on the Rev. David D. Demarest, of Catskill, at a salary of $450.00. Before his acceptance of this call Mr. Demarest was assistant of Rev. James Romeyn, pastor of the Re- formed church of Catskill. In the summer of 1841 he
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became pastor of the Flatbush church, this being his first separate charge.
Only two months intervened between the removal of Dr. Brodhead and the labors of the new pastor, who worked with energy and system. He first enters in minutes of consistory its annual report to Classis, in the spring of 1842. . During his pastorate, the Female Benevolent Association, account of which will be given later, was organized. He gave particular atten- tion to the instruction of the youth. In one of the books of record, we find his "Register of Families within the bounds of the Congregation visited by the Pastor in 1842." This register is arranged alphabeti- cally and gives, " Heads of the Family, Children, Other Members and Remarks." At this time of the seven- teen original members of the church only three were living and these " bowed down with age." In Novem- ber following the installation of Mr. Demarest, consis- tory ordered that quarterly collections be taken for benevolent objects, viz: one for Board of Education, one for Domestic Missions and two for Foreign Missions of the Reformed church. About this time steps were being taken to procure lot for a parsonage. April 23d, 1842, Elders Tjerck Hendricks and Martin Snyder and Deacon J. E. Hendricks were made com- mittee to ascertain whether a part of the farm of the
REV. DAVID D. DEMAREST, D.D., LL.D.
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SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
late John Hendricks could be purchased and on what terms. A committee also was appointed to examine in what manner the church should be repaired and to furnish an estimate of the cost. June 2d, Committee on Purchase of Lot reported that the heirs of John Hendricks would dispose of part of the lot adjoining the church at the rate of $60.00 per acre. Their report was adopted. Deacon J. V. L. Overbagh of Committee on Church Repairs reported a draft and estimate of cost. The minutes do not show what this estimate was, but a subscription paper drawn in 1842, names $400 00 as deemed necessary for such repairs. Among the list of the subscribers, we see the name of Pastor Demarest for sum of $10.00. The reports of these committees were submitted to the congregation at meeting held June 7th, 1842, when consistory resolved that " in the sale of pews that afternoon, they be sold to the highest bidder without the usual assessment," and the congregation by "a unanimous vote approved of the proposition to purchase a lot of the heirs of the late John Hendricks." Consistory met in the house of J. E. Hendricks September 21st, 1842, and ap- pointed Abraham L. Osterhoudt, Jacob P. Hendricks and James Hendricks, a committee "To undertake, superintend and conduct the business of repairing the church, and that in performing this work they be
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directed to conform as nearly as possible to the wishes of a majority of the congregation."
The first mention of church sheds is found under date of March 3d, 1843, when Messrs. J. V. L. Over- bagh and John S. Wigram are given permission to build a shed on the north side of the church lot. At the same time the like permission is given to any member of the congregation, who may apply, provided the location of the sheds be subject to the decision of the consistory.
March 31st, consistory resolves to cooperate with the pastor in the design of the Ulster County Bible Society in supplying all the families of the county with the Scriptures, and that a collection be taken for this society. Again we find a committee was appointed to call upon delinquent members and to admonish them to resume their duties as church members.
Mr. Demarest held singing school in the church one evening in the week. One of the hymns then sung is given us from memory, by Mrs. Charles Burhans, as follows :
" How vain are all things here below, How false and yet how fair. Each pleasure hath its poison too, And every sweet a snare.
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" The brightest thing below the sky, Gives but a flickering light. We should suspect some danger nigh When we possess delight."
Rather sober lines we admit, but the young domine may have used them to calm the exuberant spirits of his pupils.
James Hendricks was probably leader of the church choir at this time. He played the bass viol, the first musical instrument used in the church, aside from the tuning fork.
Consistory met October 26th, 1843, the Rev. M. L Schenck, presiding. Rev. Mr. Demarest made request for dissolution of the pastoral relation, which was granted. At this meeting it was resolved that measures be taken to learn the sentiment of the congregation, in regard to presenting a call to Dr. Jacob Brodhead, of which no further mention is made.
Mr. Demarest was called to be pastor of the Second Reformed Church of New Brunswick, N. J. His min- istry at Flatbush was marked by harmony among the people, large congregations and a steady increase in membership. Seventeen were received the second year of his pastorate.
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