USA > New York > Ulster County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Ulster County, New York, from its earliest discovery > Part 26
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The first bench of ruling elders ordained and in- stalled here in 1810, when the church was organized in a Presbyterian form, was composed as follows, viz .: Charles Millard, Leonard Smith, Allen Lester, Andrew Ely, and Nathaniel Bailey. Of these, Charles Millard departed this life April 30, 1827. He was a man of blessed memory, a devout Christian, and ready for every useful work. His character and not wealth made him a controlling spirit among the people. Andrew Ely was a soldier of the Revolution. Of Allen Lester we have the following record: "He departed this life July 24, 1834, in the 78th year of his age. He was the first deacon (he was bothi deacon and elder) in this church; had lived a useful life and
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
died lamented." We have no doubt, from the busi- ness intrusted to Col. Smith, and the fidelity with which he discharged it, that he was a man of worth.
In November, 1829, this church extended a call to the Rev. John H. Leggett of Peekskill, and he was in- stalled their pastor the 7th day of January following. Next spring it pleased God to visit the church with "a time of refreshing," and it received an addition of more than forty members. Again, in the autumn of 1832 the Lord poured out His Spirit among them, and about forty more were added to the church. In April, 1833, Mr. Leggett having received a call from the church at Hopwell, Orange county, the pastoral relation between him and this church was dissolved. It may seem strange that a revival of religion was followed so soon by such a result. Mr. Leggett continued his labors in Hopewell till 1854, when feeling his health inadequate to such a charge, he accepted a call to the church in the village of Middletown.
On the 16th day of September following, this church made a call for the services of the Rev. Leonard John- son, who was installed their pastor on the 2d day of October, 1833. He labored here a little more than one vear, and on the 29th day of January, 1835, his rela- tion to this church being dissolved, he removed to Broome county, where, after a long pastorate of nearly a quarter of a century, he died in 1859.
Weary with changes, the people began to turn their minds again toward their old pastor, who had left them seven years since; and they resolved now to extend him a call, offering a larger salary than before and seeking to induce him to return. This call he accepted, and was installed again over them in the spring of 1835. This time, however, his stay among them was brief, being but little more than three years, yet he left behind some substantial results. He was
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THE PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY AND CHURCH.
instrumental in leading the people to erect a cheap parsonage, which has greatly increased the comfort and usefulness of his successors. In July, 1838, Mr. Ostram having received a call from the Fourth Free Presbyterian Church in New York city, the pastoral relation was again dissolved. Here he continued to labor till 1852, when, under the infirmities of age, he left the city and retired to the village of New Wind- sor. Here he continued to reside, performing more or less pastoral labor as his health permitted.
At the time of the division of the General Assembly, which took place this year, this church was found in the new school body. Accordingly, Mr. Henry Belden, a licentiate of the Third Presbytery of New York, came among them and supplied the pulpit from Janu- ary 1, to April 15, 1839. At that time he received from them a call, and was installed their pastor the second day of May. He continued his labors here about seventeen months, and was instrumental in adding about forty to the church. But his doctrinal views, and the measures which he adopted, were such that a large majority of the congregation became dis- satisfied, and in October, 1840, the pastoral relation was dissolved. The church had a hard time to get rid of Belden. "Had to call Presbytery to get rid of Mr. Belden on account of his abolition principles. Presbytery decided for him to leave, and he appealed to the Synod and congregation changed to the Old School to get rid of it." Mr. Belden was afterward suspended from the functions of the gospel ministry by this Presbytery for want of doctrinal soundness. Soon afterward, having received a license from Ober- lin, he built a church at Washingtonville, Orange county, of his own order, in which he labored for a short time. Thence he removed to the city of New York.
A portion of this congregation, who sympathized
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
more strongly with the New School body than others, at this time erected a house of worship in Milton; September 27, 1841, certificates were granted to fif- teen of these persons, residing in and near Milton, for the purpose of being constituted a separate church. The remainder of the congregation appointed dele- gates to meet the Old School Presbytery of North River and to renew their connection with that body.
On the 25th day of January, 1841, the Presbytery appointed the Rev. John H. Carle as stated supply of the church of Marlborough. He continued his labors here till the spring of 1842, when he went to the church at Rondout to officiate in the same capacity. After a few years in that place, he returned to the Dutch church, and labored for some time near Cana- joharie.
In the spring of 1842 the congregation sent to Princeton for supplies and were directed by the pro- fessors, among others, to Rev. S. H. Jagger, then a licentiate of the Presbytery of Long Island. He com- menced preaching here on the 15th day of May, and on the 27th day of June the people gave him a unani- mous call to become their pastor, which he accepted. He found the church much divided, owing to the re- cent change of ecclesiastical relations and other mat- ters. Many having deserted their own church, were worshiping elsewhere. Although in a short time most of these breaches were healed, the pastor labored eighteen years without witnessing any extensive re- vival and was instrumental in adding but one hundred to the church during this long period. At the begin- ning of his pastorate, the parsonage was mortgaged for nearly its full value. This debt was soon paid; and the house, barn and grounds have since been much enlarged.
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THE PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY AND CHURCH.
Some of the earlier supplies were: Rev. Abner Brush, Rev. Wheeler Case, Rev. Mr. Peppard, Rev. Mr. McCallah, Rev. Nathan Kerr, Rev. Mr. Anning, Rev. Mr. Close, Rev. J. Moffatt, Rev. Stephen Gote- chius, Rev. Mr. Ganse, Rev. Andrew King, Rev. Chauncey Graham, Rev. Samuel Sackett.
A list of pastors of the church are; September, 1806, Rev Ambrose Porter was ordained pastor. The sub- sequent pastors have been Rev. James Ostram, 1810- 1829; Rev. John H. Leggett, 1830-33; Rev. Leonard Johnson 1833-35; Rev. James I. Ostram, 1835-38; Rev. Henry Belden, 1839-40; Rev. John H. Earl, stated supply, one year; Rev. Samuel H. Jagger, 1842-69; Rev. Charles W. Cooper, 1870-75; Rev. Dun- can C. Niven, 1875-83; Rev. Charles E. Bronson, 1884-92; Rev. Charles L. Carhart, 1892-99; Rev. William Coombe, 1900-08.
The elders of the church since its organization in 1810: Gen. Leonard Smith, Charles Millard, Andrew Ely, Allen Lester, Nathaniel Bailey, Michael Wygant, Joshua Conklin, Gilbert Kniffin, Daniel Wygant, Jonathan Cosman, Bernard Bailey, Peter V. Fowler, Thomas D. Bloomer, James O. Conklin, Asbury Wy- gant, Augustus G. Clark, Charles E. Bingham, Charles M. Purdy, Joshua Ward, William D. Barnes, Cornel- ius D. Bloomer, John Bloomer, Daniel Lockwood, Francis R. Shrive, Richard B. Norton, and William J. Burrows. The present deacons are: Levi D. McMullen, A. B. Eckerson, Samuel B. Wygant. The trustees are Richard B. Norton, J. Foster Wygant, Eli Harcourt, Frank Sands, Benjamin Harcourt, Edwin W. Barnes, William Y. Vellie, J. Calvin Wy- gant. The present membership is 322. The church is one of the strongest and richest in the county of Ulster.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
THE FIRST BAPTISMS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS.
Aug. 8th 1263. First subscription for Marlborough Church.
April 5th 1764. Deed was given by Lieut. Lewis Du Bois for one & half acres.
Aug. 26th 1764. First sermon preached in M Church by Rev. Charles J. Smith.
March 3d 1:64. First person buried namely an infant of James Merritt. Another infant of James Merritt & also one of Thomas Silkworth.
Jan. 22d 1766. Rev. Abner Brush preached & baptised a child of Thomas Quiek named Sarah. One of Peter Pompell named Charlotte. One of Zadwiek Miller named Peter & one of John U. Wygant named Sarah.
Feb. 12th 1266. Was buried Mrs. Elizabeth Platt first grown person, wife of E. Platt.
July 1st 1766. Baptised a child of Urian Mackey named Elias.
June 8th 1266. Rev. Wheeler Case Preached & baptised a child of E. Platt. Elizabeth.
July 13th. Rev. A. Brush preached & baptised child of David Smith. David.
Nov. 23d 1766. Mr. Brush baptised a child of Israel Platt. Named Edmund.
Feb. 18th 1:61. Rev. Wheeler Case baptised a child of Gilbert Denton named Johanna & also one of Burris Holmes named Thomas.
Feb. 25th. Rev. Wheeler Case preached & baptised child of Stephen Case. Name Wheeler.
May 3d. Rev. A. Brush preached & baptised a child of Hugh Gambb named Hugh.
July 30 1767. Rev. A. Brush married Daniel Kniffin & Martha Thurston.
July. 12th. Mr. Brush baptised two children of Joshua Conklin named Rachel & Joshua.
Same day child of Lemnel Conklin named Benjamin Hairs. July 26. Mr. Brush baptised a child of Tunis Dolson named Mary. Same day one of John Simpson named Samuel.
Aug. 30th 1767. Rev. Mr. Brush baptised a child of Lieut. Lewis Du Bois named Jonathan.
Nov. 3d. This day buried Joseph Taylor: No. 5.
Nov. 24th. This day was buried Mrs. Rachel Du Bois wife of Lieut. Du Bois.
Dec. 1464. This day married Henry Little & Kasiah Smith.
THE FIRST BAPTISMS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. 365
Jan. 27th 1268. Married Richard Albertson to Rebecca Sim- son.
Jan. 2ith 1:68. William Durkee to Anne Weekam.
Feb. 2d. 1768. This day buried Jonathan son of Lieut. Lewis Du Bois.
May 8th. Rev. Mr. Brush baptised a child of Peter Pom- prises named Mary.
Sept. 25th was buried an infant of Lemuel Conklin.
June 19th 1:69. Buried Joseph a son of Henry Deyo.
Aug. 14th 1:69. Buried James Norton & also an infant of Delwrance Banker.
Aug. 19th 1769. Buried a daughter of James Norton.
Ang. 28th. Buried Samuel son of John Dolson.
Nov. 13th. Buried Sarah daughter of William Waring.
Dec. 17th. Burried Ann wife of William Dun.
Dec. 25th. Buried Jemima wife of William Mosier & also an infant one coffin.
April 16th 1270. Buried Isabel wife of John Davis.
July 15th. Buried Robert Quimby who died with the small pox.
Aug. 16th. Rev. Mr. Peppard preached & baptised two children of John Wygant one named Jane the other Elizabeth.
March 11th 1771. Buried Martha wife Isaac Folwer, Jur.
March 13th. Buried an infant of Isaac Folwer, Jr. in the same grave with wife. Both died with small pox.
May 15th 1:42. Buried an infant of Benjamin Woolsey.
July 29th 1222. Buried a son of Samuel Townsend.
Oct. 18th. Buried an infant of Doct, Abijah Perkins.
Oct. 18. Also the same parent a male infant.
June 1st 1423. Rev. Mr. Brush married Alexander Cropsy to Elizabeth Valentine.
June 2th. Buried Amy Miller.
Sept. 11th. Buried an infant of Silas Purdy.
Sept. 19th. Rev. Mr. McCallah preached & baptised a son & daughter of Stephen Case named Gabriel & Easter, also a daughter of Doct. Abijah Perkins named Hannah & a daughter of John Bond named Elizabeth.
Sept. 25th 1:73. This day engaged Rev. Mr. McCallah to preach six months.
Sept. 26th. Mr. McCallah preached & baptised a child of John Stevins named Mary.
Dec. 1st 1:43. Married Thomas Cambell to Elizabeth Cropsie.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
Dec. 5th. Baptised a child of Benjamin Carpenter named Jacob.
Dec. 12th. Married John Duffield to Jerusha Knowlton.
Dec. 19th. Buried Cornelius son of Lient. Lewis Du Bois.
Jan. 23d 1724. Buried Theodiaca Smith.
Jan. 30th. Buried Elsie Rudgers wife of Danl. & mother of Thadeas Smith.
April 11th. Buried Daniel son & brother to the above.
July 21st. Buried William son of David MeMinn from Scotland.
16th Nov. Buried a male infant of Dr. Abijah Perkins.
Nov. 28th 1424. Paid Mr. McCallah in full for six months preaching.
Dec. 26. Buried two children of Jacob Degroot who were burned to death.
Jan. 3d 1725. Buried Rumbont Bogardus.
Jan. 7th 1225. Buried John Corbit.
Jan. 22d. Baptised by Rev. Samson Occum a son of Lewis Du Bois named Lewis.
Same day a daughter of Wm. MeKinney named Sarah.
Feb. 24. Buried Charlotte daughter of Stephen Case aged 5 mo. 21 days.
March 5. Buried a daughter of John Polhemus named Phebe.
April 22d. Buried an infant daughter of Benjamin Wool- sey.
April 23d 1775. Rev. Nathan Kerr administered the Lord's Supper for the first time to this Church to six persons, same day baptised a child of Isaac Fowler Jr. named Caleb. Father of P. V. B. Fowler.
May 23d. Buried Jacob Dolson who died with small pox.
May 30th. Buried Elizabeth Silkworth daughter of Thomas Silkworth.
Ang. 15th. Rev. Mr. Anning preached & baptised John a son of Samuel Hannah, & also Elizabeth daughter of David Mc- Minn.
Aug. 27. Rev. Mr. Close preached & baptised Joseph a son of John Stevinson.
Nov. 12th. Rev. J. Moffatt married James Leonard to Massah Townsend.
Nov. 24th. Buried Mr. Hannah Collins. No. 43 in the graveyard.
Nov. 25. Buried Appollos Case No. 44.
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THE FIRST BAPTISMS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS.
Feb. 12th 1776. William Wight married to Jane Conklin by Mr. Lewis.
Apr. 14. Rev. Mr. Kerr preached & baptised a child of Benj. Carpenter named William & one of Dr. Abijah Perkins named George Whitfield, & one of Solomon Warring named Derrick & one of Lewis Du Bois named Margaret & one of Joseph Dun named Juliana. Make 38 infants baptised, in all. June 14th 1276. Buried Thomas Pembrook. No. 45.
Aug. 18th. Buried Sibba Scott daughter of William Scott.
Aug. 24th. Buried Mary Caniff & a female infant in one coffin.
Ang. 25th. Buried Gloriana daughter of Wm. Quick.
Sept. 5th. Buried Henry son of Henry Decker.
Sept. 17th. Buried Pernino Springer.
Sept. 29th. Buried Catharine Smith. No. 52.
Oct. 27th. Buried James son of Joseph Carpenter.
Nov. 25th. Buried Elizabeth daughter of Henry Hide.
Nov. 26th. Buried Doct. Abijah Perkins. A friend to this society & a good man.
Dec. 5th. Buried three children of George Langly within a short time. .
Feb. 23d 1177. Buried Jeremiah Barnheart.
June 21st. Married by Rev. Stephen Goetchius Benj. I. Frear & Anne Parker.
June 22d. Baptised by Rev. S. Goetchius a son of Benj. I. Frear named Benjamin. Also by Rev. S. Goetchius Hannah daughter of Henry Terbush.
June 29th. Rev. J. Moffatt preached & baptised Jane Frank- lin a daughter of Stephen Case. Also a child of Absalom Case named Jane & a son of John Wygant named George. Also a son of Thomas Wygant named Barnard & a daughter of Joseph Degroot named Susannah. No. 45.
June 29th 1722. Rev. J. Moffatt married Thos. Quick Jr. to Peninah Springer.
July 28th. Buried Sarah Woolsey wife of Noah.
Aug. 23d. Buried George Langdon. No. 61.
Aug. 31st 1971. Rev. John. Moffat preached and baptized a daughter of Benjamin Carpenter named Jane. Also a daughter of Isaac Fowler (sister of Caleb Fowler and sister of D. Fowler married Stephen Baker, N. Y.) named Martha and also a son of John Smith named Thomas and another son of same Michael and a son of Francis Gaine named George Washington.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
Sept. 30th. Rev. Mr. Ganse preached, and was buried a male infant of John Lester.
Oct. 23d. Buried Thomas son of Charles Mackey.
Nov. 16th. Buried Sarah wife of David Benins.
Nov. 16th. Buried John a son of Jacob Degroot.
Nov. 25th. Buried an infant daughter of John Quick.
Dec. 23d. Buried John Taller.
Feb. 15th. 1228. Buried Miss Nancy Brown daughter of Jonathan.
March 8th. Buried an infant daughter of Benj. I. Frear. May 23d. Buried George Platt. No. 20.
Oct. 8th. Rev. Mr. Brush baptized a son of John Wygant named Nathaniel, also a son of Thos. Wygant named Matthew and a daughter of John Mobery named Rebecca.
Nov. 25th. Buried Mary daughter of Capt. Silas Purdy.
Dec. 3d. Buried an infant female of John Mullender.
Feb. 14th. 1729. Buried a male infant of John Lewis. No. 13.
Feb. 15th. Buried Isaac son of Benjamin I. Frear.
May 4th. Buried Sarah Smith daughter-in-law of Andrew Young.
June 20th. Rev. John Moffat baptized a son of Stephen Case named Whitfield.
June 23d. Buried a male infant of James Merritt.
July 18th. Rev. Mr. Andrew King baptized a son of Isaac Fowler Jr. named Charles (Dr. C. Fowler of Montgomery.) Oct. 6th. Buried a male infant of Elijah Ferris.
Oct. 9th. Buried a male infant of Samuel McKeys.
Oct. 11th. Buried a male infant of Reuben Tooker.
Oct. 21th. Buried a male infant of David Finch.
Nov. 15th. Buried a male infant of William Scott. No. 81.
Jan. 6th. 1290. Buried Mary wife of Thomas Quick.
April 16th. Rev. John Close baptized Rebecca daughter of John Wygant.
May 31st. Buried Hannah Lucas a very aged widow.
June 21st. Buried a daughter of Stephen Case.
Aug. 13th. Rev. Chauncey Graham baptized a son of Benj. Carpenter named Joseph, also two daughters of Abraham John- son, Jane and Mary, also a daughter of Absalom Case named Glorianna. No. 60.
Oct. 15th. Baptized by Rev. C. Graham a daughter of John M. Smith named Jane, also five children of widow Mary Gilles, widow of Jacob, oldest Jonathan, 2d. Sarah, 3d. Malli- chia. 4th. Elias, 5th. Elizabeth by Rev. Chauncey Graham.
THE FIRST BAPTISMS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. 369
Oct. 22d. Buried Phebe Quick daughter of William Quick.
Nov. 2d. Married by Rev. John Close Daniel Kelsy to Hannah Lyneson.
Nov. 30th. Married by Rev. Andrew King Doct. Benjamin Ely to Elizabeth Brown. No. 12.
March 18th. 1281. Buried two female children of Peter Quick. No. 86 and 87.
March 29th. Buried Isaac Cropsy. No. 88.
March 25th. 1481. Rev. Samuel Sackett preached and baptized 3 children of Wolvert Ecker Esqr., Deborah, Su- sannah & William, also a son of Capt. John Quokenboss named Nicholas. No. 69.
April 19th. Buried a male infant of William Pembroke. No. 89.
May 21th. Rev. Mr. Brush baptised a daughter of Matthew Wygant named Phila, also a son of John Wygant named Michael & a son of Thomas Wygant named Michael. No. 72.
June 10th. Buried a male infant of William Quick.
Oct. 26th. Buried Charity wife of Joseph Carpenter.
Oct. 28th. Rev. Mr. Graham baptised a son of Lieut. John Bond named Barnard.
Jan. 11th 1282. Buried an infant of Thurston Wood. No. 92.
Jan. 21st. Rev. J. Moffatt married Wm. McCrary to Sarah Stevinson. No. 13.
May 25th. Buried Sarah wife of Nathaniel Bake. No. 93.
June 23d. Rev. Mr. Graham baptised a son of Ezra War- ring Jr., named Ezra.
12th. Rev. Mr. Brush baptised a daughter of J. M. Smith named Ruth.
Sept. 16th. Buried a son of Thos. Wygant named Michael. No. 94.
Dec. 31st. Buried Phebe wife of Peter Purdy. No. 95. May 25th 1783. Rev. Mr. Brush preached & baptised William son of Thos. Wygant; Teperance daughter of John Wygant & Johannah daughter of Nathaniel Hull. No. 90.
Aug. 7. Buried an infant of Daniel Tooker. Male.
Sept. 5. Buried Hannah wife of Charles Tooker. a respect- able character.
Sept. 15th. 1783. Buried a daughter of John Case & grand- daughter of Stephen Case, Clerk &c.
Sept. 19th. Buried a son of William Pembroke named Isaac.
Sept. 22. Buried Mary widow of Jacob Dolson.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
Oct. 15th. Buried Mary daughter of John Fowler. No. 102.
Dee. 21st. Rev. John Close baptised Charlotte daughter of Stephen Case.
Dec. 28. Buried a male infant of Peter Bices. No. 103.
March 18th. 1284. Buried a female infant of Jonathan Woolsey.
Aug. 19th. Buried Jane Fell (alias) Pell aged near 100 years.
Nov. 9th. Rev. Mr. Brush baptised a daughter of Matthew Wygant named Rebecca.
Nov. 22d. Buried Sarah wife of Thomas Silkworth. No. 10%.
Oet. 1st. 1785. Married by Wolvert Eckert Esqr. Joseph Mory to Glorianna Merritt.
Jan. 1786. Buried Sarah wife of Alexander Mackey.
Jan. 12th. Rev. Stephen Goetchius baptised twin daughters of Benj. Frear named Wyntye & Unice Wygant.
Also Stephen son of Solomon Waring. Also James son of Thos. Wygant.
April 27th. Buried John Lyon.
May 31st. Married Gilbert Barker to Phebe Brown a daughter of Jonathan.
July 8th. Rev. Stephen Goetchius baptised twin children of Hugh Deyo named Henry Bush & Susannah.
Aug. 16th. Married by Atherton Peter Thorp & Jemima Turner.
Nov. 22d. 1786. Rev. Andrew King baptised Edmund Hurin son of Peter Thorp.
Aug. 11th. 1788. Rev. John Close baptised Hannah only child of Nathaniel DuBois, deceased.
July 21st. 1993. Baptised Isaac son of John, Polhemus.
Oct. 13th. Baptised Mary Olford daughter of Dareas.
Feb. 16th. 1794. Daniel son of Allen Lester.
Feb. 16th. Mary, Jesse. Jacob & John children of Timothy Wood.
April. Phebe daughter of Jacob Polhemus.
June 22d. Betsy Ely daughter of Matthew Wygant.
Oct. 26th. Elizabeth daughter of Timothy Wood.
May 10th. 1295. Elizabeth Duffield daughter of Andrew Cropsy.
June 8th. Jotham son of Mary Sherwood.
Oct. 25th. Child of John Polhemus.
April 10th. 1796. Elizabeth daughter of Jacob Polhemns.
May 22d. Michael son of Matthew Wygant.
M
MARLBOROUGH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
371
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT MILTON.
Jan. 29th. 1997. Abijah Perkins son of Andrew Ely.
May îth. William son of Timothy Wood.
Dec. 17th. Cornelia daughter of John Polhemus.
June 16th. 198. Cornelius son of Jacob Polhemus.
Nov. 16th. 1800. Daniel Thurston son of Timothy Wood.
Sept 12th. 1803. John son of Betsy Clark.
Sept. 12th. 1803. Elmira & Mariah children of Timothy Marvin.
Sept. 12th. Josiah Web son of Cornelius Polhemus. March 13. 1804. Catharine daughter of Charles Millard.
July 15th. Charles Lester son of Timothy Wood.
Nov. 25th. Lydia daughter of Cornelius Polhemus.
Nov. 25th. Eliza daughter of John Polhemus.
May 12th. 1805. Polly Eliza daughter of Michael Wygant. July 21st. Miram, Letty, Cornelius, Wiliam & Oxford chil- dren of Valentine Lewis.
Ang. 18th. Franklin son of Charles Millard.
March 2d. 1806. James son of Elam Clark.
May 25th. Eliza Jane daughter of Mr. Freeland.
May 25th. Also Gilbert & Charlotte children of Timothy Wood.
June 8th. Rachel, Jonithan, Sally Ann, & Samuel Watts, children of Jonathan Cosman.
April 19th. 1804. Edward son of Michael Wygant. Apr. 21st. Timothy Crosby son of Timothy Marvin.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT MILTON.
A portion of the congregation of the Marlborough church who sympathized more strongly with the New School body than others, erected a house of worship at Milton. The society was incorporated August 23, 1841. Luther Pratt and Sumner Coleman presided at the meeting for organization. The trustees chosen were Luther Pratt, Nathaniel Clark, Sumner Cole- man, Clark Smith, Daniel Lewis and William Soper. The meeting was held at the district school house. Rev. James G. Ostrom was present and assisted. The congregation resolved that they sympathize with that branch of the Presbyterian church known as Consti-
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
tutional. In May, 1843, during a fire, the earlier rec- ords of the church were burned.
Rev. M. F. Liebenau was the first pastor of the church. He was installed in October, 1841, and re- mained for two years. He was succeeded by Rev. W. K. Platt. The pulpit was supplied by others after Rev. Mr. Platt left until the first Sabbath in March 1849, when Rev. M. F. Liebenau returned to the church ; he remained until about 1861, when Rev. Sum- ner Mandeville came as a stated supply. Rev. Edgar W. Clarke took charge of the church in 1862 and re- mained until the summer of 1866. He was carrying on a large seminary at Milton at the time. Rev. Mr. Liebenan returned again in 1865 and remained until the spring of 1867. Mr. Liebenau had preached here at three different periods, and occupied the pulpit for many years. He also preached a part of, if not all of this time at the Lloyd, now Highland, Presbyterian church. He was a minister of great power and elo- quence. People came long distances to hear him. A man of no more ability has ever preached in the town. He delivered many lectures throughout the country at lyceums, and on lecture courses. He was very zealous and patriotic during the War of the Rebellion, and made many patriotic addresses, spoke to large assemblies, and by voice and act encouraged enlist- ments in the army and was zealous in all patriotic work. He lost one son in the army which, I believe, was his only son. He died several years since at an advanced age,-loved, honored and respected every- where he was known. After Rev. M. F. Liebenau left. Rev. Edgar W. Clarke again took charge of the church and preached for about a year when his health failed. Mr. Clarke, however, continued his school until 1872. He was also justice of the peace for many years; he was a graduate of Williamstown college, an eminent scholar, and a man of pleasing manners
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THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT MILTON.
and address. He made friends readily and had no enemies, and, to the regret of the entire community in 1872 moved to Illinois, where he is now living at Paina at an advanced age.
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