USA > New York > Ulster County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Ulster County, New York, from its earliest discovery > Part 30
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On the 23d of May the church extended an invita- tion to Elder Hall to become their pastor, and a re- quest to that effect was sent to the Pleasant Valley church, of which Elder Hall was pastor. In June following word was received from the Pleasant Valley church stating that their request was granted, and they might expect Elder Hall. In July following the Pleasant Valley church sent Brethren Jones and Edwards to the Lattintown church to inform them that they had revoked their decision respecting Elder Hall, stating that they could not spare him, even for half the time. The church then appointed a committee consisting of the clerk and four members to arrange supplies for the pulpit; also, to open correspondence with ministering brethren with a view to settling a pastor. Their house of worship had been completed two years before their organization as a separate
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church, and in June, 1810, the Warwick Association held its annual meeting at Lattintown, when, the record states, an abundant provision was made for all the delegates who attended.
In September, 1812, Aaron Perkins, a young man desirous of serving his Master by preaching the gospel, visited the church. After hearing him preach, and becoming acquainted with him, the church invited him to settle with them. He accepted the invitation and in November, 1812, commenced his labors among them at an annual salary of $200, with a positive understanding that if either party wished to rescind the contract, that six months' notice should be given to the other party.
In June, 1813, Elder Perkins was ordained. The church was united under his guidance; he was ardent and faithful, the congregation large and attentive, and Lattintown enjoyed years of happiness, useful- ness and prosperity. Old people used to speak of the time when Elder Perkins preached in Lattintown, when the meeting-house with its capacious gallery proved too small to accommodate the congregation, and those who arrived late drove up to the church and remained in their wagons at the windows and door. Elder Perkins remained with them as their pastor twelve years, during which time he baptized 160 mem- bers. In 1820 an extensive revival took place, when the records show 64 as being baptized. The largest membership during Elder Perkins' pastorate was 128. In the year 1821 Elder Perkins' salary was raised to $250 per annum, as a reward for his services and a token of the respect and confidence of the church. In November, 1824, he received a call from the Berwick Baptist Church in the city of New York, which he felt it his duty to accept. After giving the Lattintown church the stipulated six months' notice of his intentions, and remaining the ensuing six months
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH SOCIETY.
to fulfill his contract with the church, he resigned his charge and took leave of them. After Elder Perkins left the church was supplied in part by Daniel Hill, who had been licensed by the church to preach. Dur- ing the fall of 1826, Elder Draper had been introduced to them, and after having preached to the church with satisfaction, was called to preach for them half the time, for which service they agreed to pay him $75 per annum, and move his family gratis from the West. His term of service commenced on the 1st of May, 1827. A resolution was adopted by the church that each member shall pay twenty-five cents per quarter for the support of the gospel among us. Brother Conklin was appointed receiver to collect and pay over the same to Elder Draper. On the 19th of Janu- ary, 1827, the church passed a resolution that it was improper to take public collections on the Lord's day.
During the history of the church thus far the cove- nant and business meetings were regularly attended on the third Saturday of each month in the afternoon, when the necessary business of the church was at- tended to, after which there was a free conference among the members present respecting their progress in the divine life. The meetings invariably commenced and closed by singing and prayer.
The records state that in April, 1827, the church met to inquire into the reason why our Association neglects and even discards the old practice of ordain- ing deacons, and they by resolution bound themselves to practice as the Association may direct. The church enjoyed good peace and some good degree of pros- perity under the ministry of Elder Draper. Some were added each year to the church, of such as felt constrained to come out from the world and be a separate people.
In September, 1831, Elder Draper requested a letter
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of commendation, which was granted and the church was left without a pastor. Again the church, as usual on such occasions, appointed a committee to wait on Elder Perkins and obtain his views, and get him to recommend a supply, with a view to settling another pastor. Until July following the church was sup- plied by Brethren Bishop and Duxbury, when the church received a letter from Elder Archibald Me- Clay of Kingston, recommending Brother Hadow, recently from Scotland, to preach for them. After a month's trial, he was invited to settle as their pastor. In September, 1832, a council was called to assemble at the meeting-house on the 10th of October to ordain him; also at the same time and place to ordain their deacons. The council consisted of Elder McClay of Mulberry street church, New York, Elder Perkins, and Brethren Roper and Briggs of Poughkeepsie, Elder Barlow of Poughkeepsie, and Davis from Ire- land. After his ordination he continued as their pastor until January 19, 1833, when the church in- formed him that in the succeeding spring they should make an effort to obtain Elder Perkins as their pastor, and that he might seek some other field of labor. Brother Hadow left the church in May and in the meantime Elder Perkins had been written to and in- vited to again become their pastor, which he de- clined, and again they were left destitute.
In June following, John Alison -who had been a prominent member of the Presbyterian church at Marlborough, and also a student for the ministry - applied for baptism and admission to the Lattintown church. He was received and also obtained a license from the church to preach. After satisfying the church respecting his call to the ministry and his ability to preach, a council was called to ordain him. The council consisted of Brother Barlow of Kingston, Brothers Warren and Ballard of Carmel, Brother
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH SOCIETY.
Burns of Fishkill, Brothers Covert, Cosman, Mitchell, Maxim, and Rand of Lattintown. On the 24th of Sep- tember, 1833, after a long and satisfactory examina- tion respecting his call to the ministry and doctrinal views, he was ordained. During the next few months he preached for the church with great acceptance. In the spring of 1834 Brother Alison resigned, after which a letter was sent to Elder Perkins, inviting him to settle with them again as their pastor. Elder Perkins writes in reply that he must decline, and also that the church owes him $50.16 for services rendered ten years since; a collection was taken and the debt discharged. On the 20th of December, 1834, the Newburgh church, situated ten miles south of Lattin- town, was constituted. The Lattintown church being in a country place, and its members scattered about the country, many of them residing nearer Newburgh than Lattintown, several such, and among them some of the officers and more prominent members, took letters and joined the Newburgh church, which greatly reduced the Lattintown church in means, strength and numbers. In the spring of 1835 Elder Powell di- rected to them Elder Jeremy H. Dwyer, and after hearing him preach, in June, 1835, the church extended him a call to become their pastor, which he accepted. During this year several more members took letters to join the Newburgh and Pleasant Valley churches, which still further reduced the Lattintown church. In the month of August it was resolved to hold a pro- tracted meeting and Elder Powell was invited to come and assist Brother Dwyer in conducting the meeting. A committee consisting of Brothers D. Cosman and N. Merritt was appointed to wait on the innkeeper, to request him to desist from selling liquor during the continuance of the meeting. He cheerfully com- plied with the request and on the 20th of August, the meeting commenced. It was a busy season of the year
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
for farmers, the attendance was small, and the pros- pect gloomy and disheartening. The church humbled themselves in the sight of God, and after earnestly beseeching God to vouchsafe his blessing, they solemly ordained their deacons, and concluded, not- withstanding the discouraging cirenmstances, to pro- veed with their meeting-to labor and pray earn- estly - and leave the result with God. A glorious harvest of souls was the result, in which surrounding churches also largely participated. On the 2d of Sep- tember, 1835, thirty-three willing converts repaired to the Hudson and there, in the presence of many hundreds, perhaps thousands of spectators, they were buried by baptism in the placid waters. Soon after the close of the protracted meeting Elder Dwyer tendered his resignation, which was accepted by the church, and again Elder Perkins was appealed to to furnish them with a pastor. In February, 1836, Brother Samuel Barrett was directed to them. The church gave him a call, which he accepted. He was young, ardent, intelligent and pious, and under his watchful care the church steadily grew in grace and strength. They were united, useful and happy. Near the close of his ministry with the church, a large number of members took letters and moved west, where they formed a new church which eventually became a flourishing society. In April, 1839, Brother Barrett preached his farewell sermon and went to Port Jervis. After Brother Barrett left, Brother Davis preached for them until 1841. The church at this time was in a low state, very few attending the house of worship. In 1844, Brother David Morris was invited to preach for them half the time. He divided his time between them and the Hyde Park church. In 1846, Brother S. Barrett was again in- vited to preach for them. He accepted the call, and again became their pastor. The records state that he
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH SOCIETY.
preached on the 5th of April, 1846, to a crowded house, and all were happy to hear him again speaking forth the words of life from the sacred desk at Lattintown. The two intervening years the church steadily grew and prospered. In April, 1848. Brother Barrett re- signed, to take charge of the church at Middletown, Orange county, N. Y., where he spent his remaining days. In May following Brother J. Q. Adams com- menced laboring with them, while at the same time prosecuting his studies in order to prepare himself more fully for the gospel ministry. After he left, in February, 1849, a letter was sent to Rev. J. I. Grimly, who came and preached for them, and in March was engaged as their pastor. On the 15th of August a council was called consisting of N. Reed of Franklin- dale, J. Warren of Fishkill, Scott of Newburgh, Bene- dict of Rosendale, Adams of New Jersey, Brothers Gerow and Mitchell of Newburgh, and Deacon Staples of Lattintown, to sit in council and aid in ordain- ing Brother Grimly. After his ordination he preached acceptably and profitably to the church until Sep- tember, 1850, when he resigned and went to Union- ville. During the thirteen years up to August, 1863, the church became very much reduced by deaths and removals. Brother Cole preached part of this time, and occasionally other pastors supplied the pulpit. In 1863 a building committee was appointed consist- ing of D. W. Woolsey, Deacon G. B. Morgan and David Cosman, who raised by subscription a sufficient amount to repair the church and put it in good order. Joseph I. Grimly was installed as pastor of the church and did good service for several years, but for the last ten years or more there has been but occa- sional preaching in the church.
The old church building is as strong and substan- tial as ever, and with little repairing it could be made serviceable. It is hoped that some society will or-
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ganize a church there, as so large and so populous a community as now reside about Lattintown corners should have some place to worship near at home. The traditions of the past should ineite the community to stand by the old church. It could be used for a hall or lecture-room on all publie occasions. Around the old church cluster many saered memories; the an- cestors of the present generations worshiped there, and are buried in the churchyard. Their names are the representatives names in their day in the town and the names of their children and grandchildren who reside all about in the community.
CATHOLICS AND CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
Abont the year 1850 many Irish Catholics began to arrive in the town, and there was no regular place of worship for them. They were from parishes in Ire- land where places of worship in their faith were plenty, and where it was the custom for all good Catholics to regularly attend church, thus they felt a great loss upon their arrival in a land among strang- ers without the blessings of their mother church. The nearest church was close to Wappingers Falls, at a place called "The Hollow," and the church was known by the name of " The Hollow Church." There was at the time a horse-boat at Milton which afforded ready means of crossing the river, and the people for miles about used this means of getting to church, and they also used the ferry to go to Poughkeepsie - some attending both churches, and a few in the lower part of the town went to Newburgh. Their dead were in- terred chiefly at the Poughkeepsie cemetery. This continued until about 1865, when both Milton and Marlborough became missions - Milton of the Rosen-
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dale church, and Marlborough of the Port Ewen church.
Milton was first supplied by Father O'Toole and then by Father Patrick Brady, both from the Rosen- dale church. They celebrated mass every two or three weeks, services being held in the old village hall and in Marlborough at different places until 1867, when the Rev. Michael Phelen, pastor at Port Ewen. purchased the old Methodist meeting-house at Marlborough. He officiated there most of the time until Father Mee came to Milton. The first pastor either church had was in 1874, when the Rev. James Francis Mee was appointed pastor of the Milton parish by the then Archbishop of New York, Most Reverend John Mc- Closkey (afterward Cardinal). He was the first resi- dent pastor of Milton. There was no Catholic church then, but a house for a parochial residence had al- ready been secured by the parishoners. Upon his arrival. Father Mee immediately took up the work of securing funds to build a church, and with such suc- cess that during the early part of 1876 he completed the present church, and afterward made some im- provements and additions to it. It was dedicated by Archbishop McCloskey the following year, on the occasion of his administering the Sacrament of Con- firmation there. It was a great day with the people here, and many Protestants were present at the ser- vice. Father Mee officiated at the Milton parish, Marlborough mission and Ireland Corners mission. He repaired and put on an addition at the Marl- borough church ; and the building at Ireland Corners, which had been a barn, he remodeled into a church.
About 1882 he purchased the extensive grounds for the Catholic cemetery at Lattintown, which was duly consecrated. It has been a source of great benefit to both churches and saved great trouble and expense, as interments had been made previously at the ceme-
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tery back of Poughkeepsie. The land is all that could be desired and is in general use by both churches, and contains numerous costly monuments. Until the year 1886, Father Mee ministered faithfully to the three churches; in that year he was transferred by the late Archbishop Corrigan to Rye. Westchester county, where he erected the present church. After three years, upon his request, he was transferred to his present pastorate at St. Mary's church. Rosebank, Staten Island.
The truth is no praise or flattery. When Father Mee came here the parsonage was in debt, there was no money to build a church at Milton and no money to repair Marlborough church. He went zealously to work to secure funds, and his people responded to his endeavors and gave liberally of their means. In this work he was generously assisted by many who were not members of his church. He was so earnest, un- selfish and unobtrusive, that everyone felt kindly toward him and helped him. His twelve years of pastoraté resulted in great prosperity to both churches. Money came freely and large numbers joined the churches. The parsonage was paid for, the Milton church built and paid for, the Marlborough church enlarged and improved, and the cemetery paid for. There were no debts when he left. which was a source of great satisfaction to him, as he often said he wished that all debts might be cleared before he would be transferred to another parish. Debts were paid before they were due, many of the comforts of life being relinquished to accomplish that end. Self- denial, earnestness, and zeal were shown in the cause. What can be said more? He came to the churches in their poverty and departed in their prosperity.
An eminent prelate has said, " The pioneer who did the burden of the work and had the greatest slavery with fewest people and little means was Father Mee."
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CATHOLICS AND CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
It may interest the numerous friends of Father Mee to know of the great work carried on by him at Rose- bank. By the church report of December 31, 1907, it is shown that the receipts were $12,696, expenditures $11,560, showing a balance on hand, January 1, 1908, of $1,136. The church, rectory, schools, etc., are in- sured for $60,000. The congregation assists in the support of a seminary, supports its own schools, has a cemetery, and helps various causes. The priest has helped materially to accomplish this and is worthy of it.
Ireland Corners was made a parish and Father Hoey, its pastor, built a church at New Paltz. He then came to Milton and finished the church at Rose- ton which had been commenced. He remained at St. James' church, Milton, from April, 1888, to August, 1894. He had the St. Mary's church, Marlborough, and the Roseton church in charge. His assistants were the Revs. T. J. Mackey, J. P. Donohue, M. J. Mulhall, J. P. Lennon and W. J. Donohue.
The next pastor was Rev. William P. Kenney, who served from October, 1894, to February, 1896, with Rev. Thomas B. Kelly as assistant. Rev. Edward J. Kenney was pastor from May 4, 1896, to January, 1900, his assistant being Rev. Edward P. Murphy. In 1900 he became pastor of St. Mary's church. with the mission at Roseton and is such at the present time. Rev. James A. Dooley has been resident pastor at St. James' church and the mission at Highland from 1900 to the present time.
The church of St. Mary's, Marlborough, was legally incorporated January 3, 1900, with Rev. E. J. A. Kenney as pastor, he being the present pastor. The incorporators as a board of trustees were Most Rev. Michael A. Corrigan, Archbishop; Right Rev. Bishop John M. Farley, Vicar General ; Rev. E. J. A. Kenney,
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
pastor; and Thomas O'Connor and James N. Wyms as lay trustees. There have been changes since. The Vicar General on the death of Archbishop Corrigan taking the first place as Archbishop John M. Farley, and his place as Vicar General is filled by Right Rev. Joseph F. Mooney. The Archbishop is president of the board. the Vicar General, vice-president, and the pastor secretary and treasurer. The membership of the Marlborough church is 350. Marlborough church has the mission of Our Lady of Mercy at Rose- ton with a membership of 150. Although the church at Marlborough began its legal existence as a church corporation in the year 1900, it was a regularly or- ganized church body for a long time-as far back as the establishment of the Milton parish. It had its regular board of trustees, but the form of legal incor- poration was not used. The church at Roseton was legally incorporated at the time of its formation 'in the year 1888. The church of St. Augustine, High- land, was formed from Milton parish, and was legally incorporated September 21, 1899.
The Rev. E. J. A. Kenney, while pastor at Milton, built the Highland church. In January, 1900, the large and excellent parsonage and grounds, through the in- strumentality of Father Kenney, was purchased for the benefit of St. Mary's church, since which time numerous and costly improvements have been added to the parsonage; it is a pride to the village, and almost an equal to any parsonage and grounds in the county. The membership of the Milton church is about 400. It is hardly necessary to speak of the good work being done by the present pastors of these churches. It speaks for itself and is known of all men. They have done several years of good and faithful work in the town, and it is hoped that they may continue here for many years.
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THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Christ church, Marlborough, was the third Epis- copal church organized in the county.
In 1836 the village of Marlborough contained be- tween 400 and 500 inhabitants, most all of whom were descendants of the English families who had moved there from Westchester county and Long Island; and many of them were members of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist churches. The Episcopalians up to that time were so few that they made no at- tempt to organize a church. The Rev. Robert Shaw, rector of St. Andrew's church, Orange county, at the request of Gilbert O. Fowler of Newburgh, visited Marlborough, and remaining several days made the acquaintance of numerous people and informed him- self of their condition. Several families living in the neighborhood of Middlehope, members of St. George's church, Newburgh, became interested, and offered to contribute to sustain a mission church at Marlborough, and services were held in the school house of Sunday, the 12th day of February, 1837. Edward Armstrong, John Buckley, Gabriel Merritt, Leonard S. Carpenter and others attended this ser- vice. It was then decided to organize a church in the village; permission was obtaind to occupy the Methodist meeting-house and public notice was given that there would be services on Sunday mornings the 19th and 26th of February at that place, according to the forms of the Protestant Episcopal church, and all were invited to attend to assist in organizing a church. At the time appointed Mr. Shaw found a large congregation, almost all of whom had never visited an Episcopal church. The sermon was suit- able to the occasion and very interesting. The male members of the congregation met in the village at Miles J. Fletcher's house and elected Edward Arm- strong and Miles J. Fletcher Wardens, and Thomas
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
Fyfe, Dennis H. Doyle, Leonard S. Carpenter, David E. Fowler, Andrew Oddy. Joseph Hepworth, Richard R. Fowler, and William Cushion Vestrymen, and they chose the Rev. Robert Shaw rector of the parish- the church to be known as Christ Church, in the vil- lage of Marlborough. The church was duly admitted into church fellowship September 26, 1837, and Bishop Onderdonk visited the parish the following spring. During the summer, services were held in the school- house at Hampton; in the fall and winter, in the Methodist meeting-house. Dennis H. Doyle donated an acre of ground in the south part of the village, on which a wooden building 24 feet front, 48 feet deep, with tower and belfry in the western end, was built. It had a seating capacity of about 150, and cost with the organ and bell $2.500. The church was con- secrated by Bishop Onderdonk September 10, 1839. At the close of the year Rev. Mr. Shaw resigned and went to Fishkill. The services were continued by the Rev. George B. Andrews and William Walsh, and the following summer Rev. George W. Fash was chosen rector. He entered on his duties in July, 1840; he organized a Sunday school and gave his entire time to the duties of the parish. Rev. Mr. Fash resigned in July, 1843. Services were con- tinued by the neigliboring clergy until the spring of 1844, when Rev. Samuel Hawksley became the rector. He was born in England, and came to this country when a child. Friends afterward sent him to Trin- ity College, Hartford, from which he graduated in 1839. He then entered a theological seminary. His sight becoming affected, he became a tutor to the son of Mrs. Armstrong. and also a lay reader in the church. In 1845 he was ordained deacon in Christ Church, Hartford, and then came to Marlborough. After two years of incessant labor, holding services in different places, and by his kind and sympathizing
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