USA > New York > Orange County > Minisink > Minisink Valley Reformed Dutch Church records, 1716-1830, Vol. V > Part 2
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Whereas it Appeared that there were only two members remaining in Consistory Viz Abraham Westfall Elder and Joseph Ennes Decon it was
Resolved that the meeting proceed to the Election of church officers when the following persons were only chosen Viz
Abraham Westfall and Elders Joseph Ennes Peter Vannest and Benjamin Depui Decons
the Elders and Decons Elect After having been published to the Congre- gation were Installed In there respective offices.
At the same time Also Elizabeth Ogden wife of Samuel Depui on making a satisfactory confession of her faith was received as a member in full Communion with the church.
Q T CHARLES HARDENBERGH Pres."
"September 8, 1829.
The Consistory, trustees of the Minisink Congregation having previously consulted with most of the owners of the seats in the old meeting house, and having given public notice of the meeting this day with the owners of seats to see if there were any objections to selling the old house, the proceeds thereof to be applied by the Consistory for the use and benefit of the congregation.
This day accordingly a number of the inhabitants met with the con- sistory & no one objecting to said sale the Consistory resolved to sell said
* James Stoll.
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house, & gave public notice of such sale on the 26th of September inst. at the old house.
September 26, 1829, the sale of said house was postponed untill Satur- day October 11th, 1829.
C. C. ELTING, Prest & Clk of Consistory."
The old church was finally sold on Nov. 7, 1829, the fund arising from the sale amounting to $148.33.
Abstract of contents of second book, Minisink record :
Baptisms, June 14, 1817 to Jan. 18, 1903. Marriages, Oct. 5, 1817 to Dec. 17, 1902.
Minutes of Consistory, Feb. 16, 1792 to Sept 8, 1866. "The minutes are continued in the new book procured for the purpose November 1866."
Communicants, July 14, 1816 to Dec. 5, 1879.
Donation account, Dec. 15, 1792 to Nov. 25, 1798; salary receipts, etc.
THE MACHACKEMECK CHURCH.
The Machackemeck Church stood on the Old Mine Road, about one quarter of a mile above the point where it crossed the Neversink. This site is at the junction of East Main Street and New Jersey Avenue, in the City of Port Jervis ; it is on the opposite side of East Main Street from the old Machackemeck burying ground, and is at present occupied by a public school. The first church was probably built in the year 1743. We quote the documentary evidence, from the minutes of the Consistory, in the Minisink-Machackemeck record, which concerns the building of this church as well as the first Minisink church.
"The Reverend Consistories of the two churches met together March 7th, 1742, and executed the following :
VIII. Having approved of the object by collection to aid and build up the Low Dutch churches in the States of New York and New Jersey, and that for this object suitable persons should be chosen by Consistories and Justices in these churches.
IX. The Reverend Consistory chose Jan Van Vliet, William Cool, Hannes Westbroeck, Hendrick Kortrecht. Besides, his Majesty's Justices chose Salomon Davids, Peter Keuikendal, William Kortrecht. The following persons were appointed Collectors, viz. Jacobus Swartwood, Jan van Vliet, Hendrick Kortrecht and Derrick Westbroeck.
August 21. The Collectors reported that they had collected £ 13, 9s. od. Their expenses were £2, os. 4d.
January 7, 1743. The Reverend Consistory resolved that of the money collected each church should retain half. That the money should be appro- priated for the upbuilding of one church should they agree to build together, and if not, then each church should retain the amount collected in their bounds. And if it should occur that they should both build, and any money should remain over, it should be used for the benefit of both churches, and if more money should be collected, it would be subject to the above conditions.
I testify to the above minute in behalf of the Consistory of both churches. JOH: CASPARUS FRYENMUTH. Done in Consistory January 7th, 1742/3."
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The first church remained standing until it was burned to the ground, with a good part of the surrounding settlements, by the Indians under Brandt, on the night of July 20, 1779. The second church was probably erected about the year 1786, as various sums of money and some building material were donated in the spring and summer of that year, as it appears in the church record. It occupied the same site as that of the first church. The third church was built in 1833, on the main street of the Village of Port Jervis, about a mile north of the first site. The fourth church was built in 1868, upon the site of the third church. The church of 1833 was then moved to the new cemetery at Carpenter's Point, about one quarter of a mile below the site of the first church, where it now serves as a chapel for conducting funeral services, and for a Sunday school.
When and how the Minisink-Machackemeck church record was secured by the Reformed Dutch Church of Deer Park, we are unable to state, but it is evident that the Rev. Geo. P. Van Wyck thought it prudent to settle any question of ownership, by his writing on the title page in July, 1844. It seems likely that when the Rev. Samuel B. Ayers became pastor of the Minisink church in 1838, that the Rev. Cornelius C. Elting, who had previously been pastor of both churches, retained for the Port Jervis church the old Minisink- Machackemeck record. As stated before, this record was used ex- clusively by the Minisink church, from 1805 to 1816. What is now known as the second book of the Machackemeck church record, but what was really the first book belonging to that church exclusively, contains the following title page, which should appear at the top of page 231.
"Magagkameck church Record bought of Solomon Smith for s16 by Elias Van Bunschooten in A. D. 1795."
Abstract of contents of this book :
Baptisms, June 19, 1803 to Nov. 4, 1871. Marriages, Feb. 8, 1804 to Feb. 7, 1872. Minutes of Consistory, 1817 to 1858. Communicants, 1817 to 1871.
From the Trustees' record book of the Machackemeck church commenced in the year 1789, by the Rev. Elias Van Bunschooten, we copy a part of the records relating to the incorporation of the church, as they were written in his hand.
"It appears from the church record of Menessing and Magagkameck dutch reformed protestant churches, that there were in the church of Magag- kameck regular ecclesiastical officers in August 23th 1737 and that their succession has continued till May 11th, 1785 at the time last mentioned the Elders, Jacob R. Dewitt, Symon Westfaal, Harmanus Van Emwegen and Deacons Jacob Dewitt Gumaar, Thomas Kyte, together with the Elders and
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Deacons of the Churches of Walpeck and Menissing made a regular call upon the Revd. Elias Van Bunschooten which call the said Minister accepted the 9th day of July 1785 and was installed by the Revd. Jacob R. Harden- bergh the 28 day of August the same year, and in the said Hardenbergh's presence, the said Elders and Deacons of the said united churches received and accepted the said Bunschooten for their regular and lawful Minister of the Gospel according to the discipline of the dutch reformed protestant Church in America.
Moreover it appears from the abovesaid church records, that a regular succession of Elders and Deacons of said church of Magagkameck has been continued from the IIth day of May 1785 to the 14th day of March 1789. On the said 14 day of March 1789 a certificate formed according to the laws of the State of New York for religious incorporation passed the 7th day of March 1788 and the 6th day of April 1784 as may be seen in the preceeding copies of the said acts, was signed by the Minister, Elders and Deacons viz
Elias Van Bunschooten
Solomon Kuikendal
Wilhelmus Vredenburgh Jacobus Swartwout
Benjamin Depuy Wilhelmus Cole
Simeon Westfal
Joannes Decker
Samuel Depuy
and according to law the said Sertificate was Acknowledged and recorded the 9th day of June 1789 as may be seen in the said Sertificate.
A copy of the first return March 29, 1793.
An account and Inventory of all the Estate both real & personal with the annual Revenue arising thereon belonging to the Dutch reformed Church of Magagkameck in the county of Orange.
One acre of ground with the Church on it without any annual income from the seats.
The third part of twenty-three acres and some parts of an acre of ground, with a house and barn on it, which the Minister possesses for the time being as part of his salary.
Between forty-four and forty-five pounds subscribed yearly to be paid to the Elders and Deacons of said Church, and by them to be paid unto our present Minister while he resides among us.
One Bible, One Psalm-Book, One Book of Records, Sabbath-Day Collec- tion in Bank, two pounds, fifteen shillings and nine pence, One little Trunk.
This is to certify that on the 29th day of March 1793 the within account and inventory was exhibited on oath to William Wickham one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Orange by the Subscribers being a majority of the Trustees of the Church within named.
Sworn the 29th day of March 1793 before me WM. WICKHAM
BENJAMIN DEPUY
HARMANUS VAN EMWEGEN JOANNES DECKER WILHELMUS COLE MARTEINUS DECKER."
The church was first incorporated as the "Reformed Dutch Church of Mahackamech." In 1838, by an Act of the Legislature, the name was changed to the "Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Deerpark."
THE WALPECK CHURCH.
The site of the first church of the Walpeck congregation was within the Walpeck Bend of the Delaware, about a mile west of the
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present village of Flatbrookville, in the township of Walpack, Sussex county, N. J., near the fork of the road leading down to Rosencrantz ferry. This site was upon the Old Mine Road. * "The original deed for the ground (containing four acres), upon which the church was erected, was made by Thomas Brink and Nicholas Schoonhovan, in the tenth year of His Majesty, King George, February Ist, 1737. This deed was never recorded, and on February 26th, 1744, another genuine deed was made and recorded, a note of which is made on the Church Records. The church edifice was erected prior to 1741 (though its exact date is not known), since Rev. Mr. Fryenmoet was
preaching in it at that time. * The second church edifice of Walpack was built a half-mile further up the river road, near where Jacob Smith now lives. The date of its erection is unknown, but it was previous to 1800. In this building Rev. Mr. Van Benschoten and Rev. Mr. Force preached. It was occupied down to 1816, when the third edifice was erected, on the original foundation.
This third building was erected by the German Reformed people, who had at this time a church organization there. It was dedicated on Christmas day (1819), the services being conducted in both German and English. After its erection, the Reformed Dutch con- gregation, on account of their own building having become old and dilapidated, purchased one-half of the edifice built by the Germans. The two congregations occupied it on alternate Sabbaths. Soon after the commencement of Mr. Pitts' labors, the members of the German Church mainly united with the Reformed Dutch Church. The Germans however continued to own a half interest in it so long as it stood. Two Trustees were chosen biennially, to have charge of their half of the building."
The above is quoted from Dr. Mills' Discourse, because as much reliable information is not available at present. The occupants of the Jacob Smith farm now are Isiah and Elijah Gariss ; their mother was a relative of Jacob Smith and they have lived on this farm for the past thirty years. The house occupied by Jacob Smith is three- quarters of a mile north of the original site of the Walpeck Church, on the river side of the road. About two hundred yards north of the Smith house, on the opposite side of the road, and some distance back from it, are the foundations of an old building. So far as the recollections of the Gariss brothers can be relied upon, this building was a house and never a church. It is probable that Dr. Mills drew some of his information from the Trustees' book of the Walpeck
* See Historical Discourse of Reformed Dutch Church of Walpack, by Rev. S. W. Mills, pp. 23-24.
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church, of which further mention will be made. The fourth church was built on the original site, in 1855. The corner stone was laid August 22nd, 1855, by Rev. Robert Pitts; the church was dedicated on Dec. 20, 1855, the Rev. David A. Jones, of Montague, preaching the sermon. This church supplied the needs of the congregation until 1897, when the fifth church was erected in the village of Flat- brookville, about a mile east of the original site. The land for the present church was given by John S. Smith. The Flatbrookville congregation still uses the old burying ground, conveyed by the deeds of 1737 and 1744. At the present time it occupies less than two acres, bordering on the side road leading down to Rosencrantz ferry. There are a few very old gravestones in the graveyard, but all traces of inscriptions have vanished long ago. The oldest stone with an inscription shows the date 1793; nothing more. Another reads "M. W. B. May 2, 1795."
The only book of records at the present time known to exist, con- cerning the Walpeck congregation, is transcribed in this volume, covering pages I to 94. The parts of this record not printed are the Minutes of the Consistory, 1741 to 1793, which are not very com- plete, and a small list of members admitted, covering the years 1745 to 1827. We quote from this record, written in the hand of the Rev. Elias Van Bunschooten, the following relating to the incorporation of the church :
"Dec. 14, 1793. The Rev. Consistory, meeting in fear of the Lord, after calling upon God's name, have deemed it proper and resolved to be incor- porated and therefore signed a certificate, December 14, 1793.
The same was registered, through Jacobus Cermer and Andries Ding- man Jr. by Chas. Rhodes Clerk on Dec. 26, 1793.
The above matter has been noted in the Corporation book, dated Febru- ary 14, 1795."
When the Minisink, the Machackemeck and the Walpeck churches were incorporated, the duty of making proper records of incorporation fell to the pastor at the time, the Rev. Elias Van Bun- schooten, and a more painstaking and accurate recorder could not have been found, as the Trustees (or Corporation) books of the Minisink and of the Machackemeck congregations bear witness. He bought at least four durable record books, of uniform size, bound in full calf. Two of these books are now in the possession of the Port Jervis church. The third is the principal record now in the possession of the Minisink church. And the fourth was prob- ably in the possession of the Walpeck church, up to the year 1902. This fourth book is referred to a few lines above as "the Corporation book." It was undoubtedly consulted by Dr. Mills, when he wrote his historical discourse on the Walpeck churches; it is probably referred to by Mills, when he mentions that a note of
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the deed of 1744 "is made on the Church Records." It is reported that this book was burned at Flatbrookville, in the year 1902, in a fire of the store of John S. Smith, who for many years had been Treasurer of the Lower Walpack congregation, and who had in his possession almost all of the papers and records of both the Upper and Lower Walpack congregations. This book probably contained, in addition to the Corporation records, the baptisms, marriages, etc., beginning at the time the first book of records was completed. The present records of the Lower Walpack churches will be found ab- stracted under the heading of the Bushkill Church, see page xxii. Nathaniel Van Auken, living about two miles north of Flatbrook- ville, on the river road, has in his possession some unimportant Sunday school records of the Flatbrookville church, covering about twenty years, commencing about 1865.
THE SMITHFIELD CHURCH.
As the records of the Smithfield church do not appear in this volume, it has not been thought necessary to give much information concerning it, beyond what appears in Dr. Mills' Historical Dis- course on the Walpack church, pages 22 and 23, a copy of which follows :
"Before speaking of the Church edifices in the bounds of the Walpack Church, it may not be amiss to allude to the Old Log Church, in which the Smithfield congregation first worshiped. This was, so far as we can learn, the first house of worship of any description erected in this region of coun- try. It was built below the 'Mine Holes', on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware, opposite Tock's Island, near the present village of Shawnee. It is supposed to have been built about the year 1725. It was probably erected for the purpose of furnishing the miners, and those settled around the mines, with a place for holding religious services, while as yet there was no Church organization. When the Smithfield Church was organized (in 1737), they worshiped in this Log Church, and for many years subse- quently. The evidence, from the original Records of the Reformed Dutch Churches of Machackemeck and Menissinck, during the ministry of Fyren- moet, is clear and decisive that this Smithfield Church was Reformed Dutch, with its Consistory composed of Elders and Deacons, the names of whom from time to time are recorded in that Book, with those of the three other Churches. We deem it important to state this, since the intimation has been made, in a History of the Shawnee Presbyterian Church (by Rev. J. Kirby Davis), that this was originally a Presbyterian Church; they are called 'Dutch Presbyterians', i. e., Presbyterians using the Dutch language. The Church first in existence known as the Smithfield Church, at what is now called Shawnee, was Reformed Dutch, and not Presbyterian. Its officers signed the 'Act of Subordination to the Classis of Amsterdam', with those of the other three Churches, April 19th, 1746. Their names were, Benjamin Depuy and Moses Dupuy, Elders, and Lambart Brynck and James Hyndshaw, Deacons.
This Church continued in connection with the other three Churches in enjoying the services of the same minister, as before remarked, until about the year 1753, when it withdrew. The cause leading to this withdrawal was probably the erection of a 'Presbyterian Meeting-House' there in 1752,
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the land for which had been given by William Allen, in 1750. This was a stone building (known as the Old Stone Church), and after its erection was occupied by various denominations-Presbyterians, Reformed Dutch, and Lutherans. Notwithstanding the Smithfield Dutch Church withdrew from the other three Churches, still Fryenmoet and Romeyn both preached from time to time in this Stone Church, which was now used by the Dutch con- gregation, on account of the Old Log Church having become unfit for use. But while the Presbyterians had their house of worship, it appears from the History by Mr. Davis, just referred to, that there was no organization of a Presbyterian Church until 1816, when the Rev. John Boyd ordained the first Elders. Previous to this, Presbyterian ministers preached here occasionally to those preferring that form of worship and organization. Meantime the Reformed Dutch Church, having no house of worship of its own, declined and at length died out, and those who had been connected with it fell in with the Presbyterian Church when its organization was effected."
The Smithfield Presbyterian church was organized before 1816. Mr. Samuel Turn of Bushkill, Pa., has in his possession the original subscription list, to raise money for the calling of the Rev. John Boyd. It is dated November 4, 1813, and commences as follows :
"Whereas the Honorable Mr. John Boyd of the State of New Jersey has offered his Services to preach the Gosple in Middle Smithfield and Lower Smithfield, * *"
The organization of the Presbyterian church was effected on Jan. 3, 1814, as it appears in the church record. The minutes of the Consistory as recorded in the Minisink-Machackemeck record, con- tain a number of references to the Smithfield church, before it with- drew from the other three churches. The withdrawal of this church did not mean that it ceased to exist as a Dutch Reformed church. After the separation of the churches, the Smithfield church sold their rights in the parsonage occupied by Domine Fryenmoet. Men- tion of this will be found in the Acts of the Coetus of Oct. 7-14, 1755, an extract from which follows:
*"5. James Hyndshaw, elder at Smithfield, and Johannis Westfael elder at Minnesink, presented to our Assembly for our consideration and our decision, a certain difficulty existing between the Consistory of the three churches of Rev. Fryenmoet, and the Consistory at Smithfield. This arose out of a misunderstanding about certain ecclesiastical action taken by the Rev. Consistory of the four churches on April 16, 1750. Both sides have promised to acquiesce wholly in our decision to be given thereon.
The Rev. Assembly, having heard the reasons for and against, and having carefully considered the action itself, found itself in conscience bound to give the following unanimous decision : That, whereas it appears that the church of Smithfield has been legally and ecclesiastically separated from the three other churches, the Rev. Consistory of Rev. Fryenmoet's three churches are, according to the contents of the aforesaid action, obliged to pay to the Rev. Consistory at Smithfield thirty pounds. It will have to make every effort to secure that amount from the churches; and, should anything be lacking, to supply the deficiency out of the elders' treasury. Whereupon both parties thanked the Assembly for this decision."
For further particulars concerning the Smithfield church, see History of Wayne, Pike and Monroe counties, Penn., page 1096.
* See Ecclesiastical Records of the State of New York, page 3598.
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Abstract of contents of the Smithfield record :
Baptisms, May 22, 1741 to July 1, 1807. Marriages, July 4, 1742 to Feb. 16, 1752.
Minutes of Consistory, Record of Resolutions, and Record of Church Councils.
Members admitted, by confession and credentials.
Record of Expenditures.
THE PARSONAGE AT NAMENACK.
Within a few years after Domine Fryenmoet was settled as pastor of the four congregations, arrangements were made to secure him a suitable parsonage. The site of the parsonage was selected so as to be as nearly central as possible for the four congregations. It was in the present township of Montague, about three miles below the Minisink church, on the Old Mine Road, opposite Nominack Island and near the old Nominack Fort, which was erected during the French and Indian War. The land was originally owned by the Westbroecks. At the present time the land is a part of a farm owned and occupied by James B. Fuller, the son of Eli Fuller. The old building and well were not far from the present Fuller house, and one of the stones now in the foundation of the Fuller house was once the corner-stone of the parsonage. It has carved upon it the monogram of Domine Fryenmoet, in fac-simile of his handwriting. As the nearest church to the parsonage was the Minisink church, it was sometimes known as the Nominack church. The Consistory frequently met at the parsonage, and the words "Done in Consistory at Namenack," often appear in the minutes as recorded in the Mini- sink-Machackemeck record. We quote from this record as follows :
"February 4, 1745. The Reverend Consistories of the four churches, assembled together, passed the following resolutions : * * *
3. The Consistory of the three churches have resolved to provide a suit- able dwelling house for their minister so soon as practicable, and for this end have appointed Derrick Westbroeck as Superintendent. They have fixed the first Monday in April to begin the work, or sooner. For this purpose he should notify the people to aid in the work, and those who did not do ·work should pay money. The Superintendent should provide all the mate- rials; he should keep a true account of the same, which should be repaid to him by the Consistory of the four congregations, to which, by their signatures, they have bound themselves. Each Consistory shall bear the fourth part of the expense."
The minutes of the Consistory as recorded in the Minisink- Machackemeck record, contain frequent reference to the Domine's house and repairs for it. On April 16, 1750, a resolution in Con- sistory was passed to the effect that, if any of the four congregations wished to separate from the others, the fourth part of the house and lot should be purchased by the remaining congregations, or sold at auction. It was also resolved that "by the present dwelling of the
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Domine there shall be built of stone another house twenty feet long and twenty broad, or the same breadth of the present house with a cellar underneath and a study above." It is probable that the corner- stone, referred to above, is from this stone house.
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