USA > New York > New York City > Old New York : a journal relating to the history and antiquities of New York City, Vol. I > Part 25
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Congregational Churches in New York.
merchandise. The number of buildings burned was 648, and the amount of property destroyed was estimated by a committee appointed for the purpose at nearly $18,000,000. The Merchants' Exchange and the South Dutch Church were burned. It is proof of the great wealth of New-York that they were able to bear such a loss without feeling it more. Few failures resulted from it. The burnt district was immediately rebuilt, with additional con- venience and beauty.
GOODRICH, AS ALTERED BY HASKEL, 1844.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES IN NEW YORK.
The era of Congregationalism in New York dates from the for- mation of the present Broadway Tabernacle Church. Prior to that time there had existed in the city several feeble Congregational churches, some of which hardly lived long enough to have a his- tory, or even a name. Most of these enterprises were frustrated by unforeseen circumstances, mainly in consequence of the extra- ordinary pecuniary embarrassments of the times, involving many of the leading Christian men of this city in ruin. Only one or two of this class remain. The Broadway Tabernacle Church was established on a firm basis, and for a time was the only strong and healthy Congregational church in New York. Its prosperity demonstrated the fact that Congregationalism could flourish on this soil: and awakened the merous friends of this system of church polity, the sons of New England. residing in New York and Brooklyn, to the importance of having churches in which they could worship God after the manner of their fathers. Ac- cordingly in the Winter of 1844 (Jannary 29th) a number of gen- tlemen in Brooklyn, partly at the instance, and by the personal influence of Mr. Hale, formed the Church of the Pilgrims, and erected a substantial and imposing edifice of stone (at a cost of $65,000), on the corner of Henry and Remsen streets. To this enterprise Mr. Ilale contributed $2,000. This church is free from debt, and in a highly flourishing condition, under the ministry of the Rev. R. S. Storrs, Jr.
Congregational Churches in New York. 289
On the 12th April, 1846, a church was organized in the upper part of the city of New York, under the name of the Church of the Puritans. It embraced several gentlemen of wealth and enter- prise, who were warmly attached to Congregational principles. and who desired that those principles should be fitly represented in the midst of the prominent churches of this great metropolis. Rev. G. B. Cheever, D.D., was installed the pastor of this church, soon after its organization, and a site was procured on Union Place, where an elegant edifice of marble was erected, at a cost of about $55,000, which was entirely paid for by subscription. In this enterprise Mr. Hale felt a deep interest, and indeed, he did much to originate the whole movement. He subscribed $2.500 toward the erection of the house.
In February. 1848. the Madison street Church, New York (Presbyterian). changed its organization, and adopted the Congre- gational form of government, under the name of the Eastern Congregational Church. This change was made with great unanimity. and has been followed with happy results. Mr. Hale agreed to pay one hundred dollars per ammun for five years, toward the support of the pastor of the church. Its affairs are now in a promising condition under the ministry of Rev. A. B. Crocker.
In the Antiumnn of 1548. the new and elegant edifice on the corner of Hammond and Factory streets. New York. crected by the Hammond Street Presbyterian Church, was bought at public anetion by Mes-rs. S. B. Ilunt and H. C. Bowen, for about fifteen thousand dollars. Publie worship was sustained in the house for several weeks under the direction of the proprietors; and in the mouth of November a church was organized under the name of the Hammond Street Congregational Church. and an ecclesiastical society formed. to which the property was transferred. Rev. W. Patton. D. D., was subsequently installed pastor of the church. The congregation is already large. and its finances are in a prosperous condition. The enterprise has been successful beyond the most sanguine expectations of its friends, and may be re- garded a- established on a permanent basis. 1. this whole move- ment was made during the illness of Mr. Hale. he had no part in it personally, though it gave him great satisfaction.
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New Publications.
One or two other churches remain to be spoken of. The Fourth Congregational Church in New York, which was formed in 1543. after struggling. in faith and patience, with many trials, sometimes meeting in a hall, sometimes in a private house, some- times ready to disband-has at length procured, on favorable terms. a neat and comfortable house of worship in Sixteenth street. between Sixth and Seventh avenues, and has encouraging prospects of success. This feeble church was an object of the sympathy and benefactions of Mr. Hale.
The First Free Congregational Church, worshiping in Chrystie street. was a remnant of the church formerly worshiping in the Chatham street Chapel. It has always had to contend with pecuniary embarrassments and popular prejudices ; and notwith- standing the zeal. perseverance, and self-denial of its members, may be compelled to yield to the force of circumstances, and dis- band. Mr. Hale gave large sms of money to this church, and, just previous to his last illness. he had devised a plan to extricate it from all embarrassment. which. had he lived. would probably have been successful.
THOMPSON'S LIFE OF DAVID ILALE. 1850.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
" Le Vieux Lachine et le Mas acre du 5 Août 1689." is the title of an address delivered by De-irf Girouard. Queen's Counsellor, before the parish of Lachine, of the two hundredth recurrence of the day. It contains a history of this ma-acre, more dreadful, perhaps, than any other which either French or Eng- lish colonists encountered. with the single exception of that of Schenectady, now very near its two hundredth year, and also a history of the events which led up to it. The Marquis de Denonville in the Winter of 16-7 invited the Five Nations to a feast which would take place the next June at Fort Frontenac. The Indians saw the preparations which were made, and believing they were in good faith, attended. They were, however, treacherously seized. and taken in irons to the prisons of Quebec, where they were placed in the dungeons. Forty were put on vessels and sent to the gallery in France, where they almost all perished. But one of the Indians had escaped from Fort Frontenac, and carried the news to his tribe. They decided to organize in silence for 16-8, and then begin hostilities. In the meantime, they professed to be humiliated. and to be without thoughts of war. On the night of the 4th and 5th of August, 1659, in
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the midst of a tempest of rain and hail, fifteen hundred Iroquois crossed Lake St. Louis and descended in silence upon Lachine, then a little village of between three and four hundred persons. The night was so black and stormy that the soldiers in garrison heard nothing. Before the break of day every house was surrounded by hostile Indians, and at a signal they were fallen on, the inhab. itants slaughtered, their effects pillaged, and the houses set on fire. All this was accompanied with the most fiendish actions. More than two hundred French were killed, and the few who escaped carried terror with them every- where. Such, in brief, is the story of the slaughter which Dr. Girouard tells with fullness and perspicnity. He has apparently neglected no source of infor- mation, and his pages are enriched with extracts from the parish registers of Lachine and Montreal, showing who were killed, who escaped, and who were absent. There are several illustrations, together with a map, and there are many explanatory notes. Altogether this address is one well worth having.
Mrs. Morris P. Ferris, of Garden City. has written and published an humorous poem upon "The Schepen's Dream." The schepen, a good, worthy man, falls asleep in our old city two hundred years ago, and dreams of the changes that have come about. when the ground is covered with blocks of stone, the streets gridironel with railroads, and the houses built against cach other. In his dream le could find no one who knew him, nor could he understand why things were so queer. The inhabitants asked his name, and when he told it, Verplanck. they found it in a list. evidently that of McAllister's Four Hundred. Then they told him that the other names, which were chiefly Dutch. were tho-e of the people who lived without work. He denied it, said that he knew all of them as honest men, and that each lund a trade or occupation. In a wrangle about the matter he woke up. The conceit is a good one, and is neatly worked out. The poem is handsomely printed on orange paper, presumably from Hol- land, and the Dutch words are correctly spelled, a very uncommon thing.
We have received from Mr. A. P. C. Griffin, of the Boston Public Library, a copy of the Catalogue of Books relating to New York which are contained in that collection, the most complete and most easily accessible of all in America. It has not so many books as the Congressional Library, but in availability far surpasses it. This is done very thoroughly, and the pamphlet constitutes an important addition to the working tools of one who desires to study our history.
MINOR PARAGRAPHIS.
GOVERNOR'S ISLAND .- This island in New York barbor was known in colonial times as " Nut Island." or " Nutten Island," and was hehl for the Governor's use. By an act passed March 29th, 1784, its name was changed to " Governor's Island," and it was continued for the Governor's nse until other- wise dispo-ed of by the Legislature.
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By an act passed March 31, 1790, for the enconragement of literature, this island was (with other lands forming military reservations upon Lake George and Lake Champlain) granted to the Regents, unless needed for military purposes, and the same day a committee was appointed by the Board, con- sisting of General Schuyler, Mr. L'Hommedien and Mr. Benson to prepare a plan for the management and disposal of these lands.
On the Gth of. April, 1790, this committee reported as to Governor's Island as follows :
That a committee be appointed and authorized to enter into contracts with any person or persons who may be willing to take a lease or leases of Governor's Island, on such terms and conditions and in such manner as the committee shall deem proper, so as no such leasc shall be for a longer term than twenty-one years, and so as that said island shall not be leased in more than two parcels, and the leases shall in other respects be conformable to an act of the Legisla- ture granting the said island to this corporation.
This report was agreed to, and Mr. Verplanck, Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Benson were appointed a committee for carrying this plan into effect.
On the ed of August of that year. Mr. Verplanck reported from this commit- tee that in consequence of a sale at public auction the committee had entered into a contract with John Price ; that the Regents would lease the said island to him for the term of twenty-one years, from the 4th day of May previous, at an annual rent of ninety-three pounds ($232.50), without any deduction for taxes. This being confirmed, leases were ordered to be prepared and sealed in dupli- cate, one for each party. A charge of £9 11s. for expenses of the transaction was allowed and paid.
On the 26th of March, 1794, commissioners were appointed for erecting forti- fications in New York Harbor, and works were commenced upon Governor's Island. The title of the Regents became void by this proceeding. The island has from that period been exclusively devoted to military purposes. excepting that from 1794 to 1:07 the Quarantine was located upon it. Jurisdiction was coded to the United States February 15. 1800, with Fort Jay then partly erected upon it .- F. B. Hough, in Historien, and Sta'istied. Record of the University of the State of New York. pp. 82. 83.
BOARDING HOUSES A HUNDRED YEARS AGO .- When Congress sat here, most of the members were quartered at private boarding houses. These were on the street - named below :
Broad street-37-John Langdon. Senator. N. H .; Tristam Dalton. Senator. Mass. ; Samuel Livermore, N. 11. ; Benjamin West. N. H. ; 4-Paine Wingate, Senator. N. Il .: Benjamin Goodhne, Mass. : Jonathan Grout, Mass .: George Thatcher, Ma-s. : Jonathan Sturgis, Conn.
Broadway-34-James Gunn. Senator. Ga .; 33-James Jackson, Ga .; George Matthews. Ga .; 63-James Jackson. Ga .; George Matthews, Ga .: opposite the French embassador's. Richard Izard, Senator. S. C .: corner Thames street. Elbridge Gerry, Muss. ; at the White Conduit House, near the hospital, Samuel Griffin. Va. ; next the Spanish minister's, William Smith. S. C.
Chatham Row. 24-at Rev. Mr. Kunze's, F. A. Muhlenberg. Speaker. Peun. Peter Muhlenberg. Penn.
.
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Cherry street-3-George Washington, President.
College -- William Samuel Johnson, Senator, Conn., at the College.
Great Doek street-15-Caleb Strong, Senator, Mass. ; Fisher Aines, Mass .; George Leonard, Mass .; George Partridge, Mass. ; Theodore Sedgwick, Mass. ; 37-Pieree Butler, Senator, S. C .; 39 -- Robert Morris, Senator, Penn. ; 48- Jonathan Ehner, Senator, N. J .; 51-William Paterson, Senator, N. J.
Greenwich Village-Riehard Henry Lee, Senator, Va.
Greenwich road-John' Adams, Vice-President.
King street, corner Nassau street-Egbert Benson, N. Y.
Little Dock street, 47-James Sehureman, N. J .; Thomas Sinniekson, N. J.
Maiden Lane-19-Thomas Hartley, Penn .; Daniel Heister, Penn .; John Brown, Va .; James Madison, Jr., Va .; John Page, Va .; Alexander White, Va. ; 45-Peter Sylvester, N. Y .; 57-William Grayson, Senator, Va .; Theodore Bland, Va. ; Isaac Coles, Va. ; Josiah Parker, Va.
Pearl street-at Mr. Anderson's, George Clymer, Penn .; Thomas Fitzsim- mons, Penn.
Queen street-27-John Henry, Senator, Md. ; William Floyd, N. Y.
Smith street-32-Charles Carroll, Senator, Md. ; Daniel Carroll, Md .; George Gale. Md. : William Smith. Md.
Wall street -- 12 -- Elias Boudinot. N. J. : 14-John Lawrence. N. Y. : Richard Bassett. Senator. Del. : George Read, Senator, Del. ; Lambert Cadwallader. N. J .; Benjamin Contee, Md .: Joshua Seney, Md .; Michael Jenifer Stone, Md .; Richard Bland Lee, Va. : Andrew Moore, Va .; 19-John Vining, Del. : 40- Thomas Sumter, S. C .; at Mr. Huck's, Edanus Burke, S. C .: Daniel Huger, S. C .; Thomas Scott, Penn. : Nicholas Gilman, N. Il. ; Thomas Tuder Tueker. S. C.
Water street-50-Benjamin Ihintington, Conn .; Roger Sherman, Conn .; 193-Oliver Ellsworth. Senator, Conn. ; Abraham Baldwin, Ga .; 195-Jonathan Trumbull. Conn : Jeremiah Wadsworth. Conn.
William street-90-William Few, Senator. Ga.
At Strongd', near the Albany pier, John Hathorn, N. Y .; Jeremiah Van Rensselaer. N. Y. .
At Mr. Vandolsen's, near the Bear market-William Maelay, Senator, Penn. ; Henry Wynkoop. Ponn.
The fewness of streets will at once be remarked. There were eighty-one per-on- in the legislative and executive departments, of whom John Adams, Richard Henry Lee, Jonathan Trumbull. Jeremiah Wadsworth, Abraham Baldwin and Oliver Ellsworth lived in the country, doubtless driving in night and morning. The streets near the present Washington market could not have been well known by name, for it is recorded that two gentlemen were near the " Bear market." Others lived near the Albany pier. Mr. Huck, at the corner of Wall street and the present. William street, had no number. The Rev. Dr. Kunze. a learned divine, took two boarders.
THE SALE OF MANHATTAN ISLAND .- Samuel II. Thayer, United States Minister at the Hague, hassent to the Minnesota Historical Society a photograph of a letter which he saw in the archives there, which translated readsas follows: "To the High and Mighty Lords of the States-General at the Hague: My
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Lords: There arrived here yesterday the ship called The Arms of the Amsterdam, which sailed from the River Mauritius (now the Hudson), in New Netherland. on the 23d of September. Report is brought that our people there are diligent and live peaceably. Their wives have also borue them children. They had purchased the Island of Manhattas from the Indians for the sum of 60 guilders. It contains 11,000 morgens of land. They have sown all kinds of grain in the middle of May, and reaped it in the middle of August.
" I send you smell samples of the Summer grains, as wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, canary seed, beans and flax. The cargo of the ship consists of 7.216 beaver skins, 17.812 otter skins, 43 mink, 36 cat-lynx, 33 mink, 34 small rat, together with a considerable quantity of oak timber and nut wood. Com- mending your high and mighty Jordships to the favor of the Almighty, I am your High Mightinesses' humble servant, " P. SCHAGEN.
" At AMSTERDAM, Nov. 5, 1626."
DENNIS'S .- " Denice's Ferry" is on the Long Island side of the Narrows, and is shown on William Faden's Map of East Jersey. 1771. W. H. B. THOMAS.
The Dennis inquired about in your October number is on Long Island. above the Narrows a little distance. The ferry ran from this place to Staten Island. It is perhaps a half mile north of Fort Lafayette. The location as Denyse's is shown on a map published in London in 1277, showing lowe's military opera- tions, and in other maps of the day. A. G.
NATAL OFFICERS. -- The following are the persons, says the Brooklyn Eagle, who have held the position of Naval Officer of the Customs in New York from 1789 to the present time:
Benjamin Walker. August 3, 1759: Richard Rogers, February 20. 1998; Sam- uel Osgood. May 10. 1803: John Ferguson. August 23, 1913: Enos T. Throop. January 10, 1:33: William S. Coo, March 20, 1834: Thomas Lord. March 19, 1-41; Jeremiah Towle, April 15, 1843; Michael Hoffman, May 3. 1845: Cor. neliu. S. Bogardus. September 30, 1848: Philip Hone, April 16, 1849: David A. Bokce. July 2. 1851: Heman J. Redfield, March 3, 1:53; John R. Brodhead, October 22, 1 53: Ausburn Birdsall. February 15, 1858: George Denison, May 10. 1-61: Mes F. 00A1. Aug12 31. 1965; John A. Dix. September 25, 1856: Cornell :. Franklin meetings, November 24, 1866: Edwin A. Merritt, March 29, IN60: Meses H. Grinnell, Judy 18, 1820: Addison HI. Laflin, April >, 1871; Alonzo B. Cornell. January 23. 1877: Silas W. Burt, July 16. 1528: Charles K. Graham. March 15. 1:83; Silas W. Burt, July 1, 1955; Theodore B. Willis, October 1, 1589.
TARGET COMPANIES IN NEW YORK. - There are a great number of military companies in New York, and some of them are really very martial looking in- deed. I am told there is a company of Highlanders. formed by the sons of far Caledonia : and there are German, French, Italian companies, etc. There are a number of target companies, cach known by some particular name -- usually, I believe, that of a favorite leader who is locally popular among them. Others take their appellation from some celebrated historical character, and others from anything that happens to occur to them, it would seem. A few of
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them are " The Washington Market Chorder Guard " (chowder is a famous dish in the United States), " Bony Fusileers," " Peanut Guard." " Sweet's Epicurean Guard" (surely these must be confectioners), " George R. Jackson and Com- pany's Guard," " Nobody's Guard, " "Oregon Blues," " Tenth Ward Light Guard," " First. Ward Magnetizers," " Tompkins' Butcher Association Guard," " Mustache Fusileers." "Henry Rose Light Guard," "Atlantic Light Guard." "Junior Independence Guard," and multitudes of, others. The militia numbers about one hundred companies, which comprise six thousand inen. The target companies are said not to fall short of ten thousand men. I am informed that the passion of arms is beginning to manifest itself very much here, and the youths are not happy until they are enrolled in some of these bands. It is said that thousands of the boldest spirits in the Mexican campaign, who were ever in the van, and at the post of danger, rushing to the cannon's mouth with fiery valor and storming with irresistible intrepidity the strongholds of the enemy, Were those who had figured in such "target companies" as these. Generally a target, profusely decorated with flowers, is carried before the company, borne on the stalwart shoulders of a berenlean specimen of the African race, to he shot at for a prize. or for glory, and the "bubble reputation " alone. On its return from the excursion and practice the torget will display muy an evidence of the unerring skill and marksman ship of the young and gallant corps. I remarked before that it is supposed that the love and desire of military distinction is increasing. In corroboration of this, I find it observed in one of their papers that the Ameri- can hoy, after delightedly firing off his pistol or bis miniature cannon on " Inde- pendence Day," or other national anniversaries and festivals, in commemoration of particular events, res's not now on his budding laure's till he becomes a member of one of these target companies. Fired with youthful patriotism, and glowing with a boyish embirion. he de-ires ardently in some way to distin- guish himself among bi- follow striplings ; and once admitted as a member. he strives hard to attain the post of lieutenant or captain among his companions in arms. Subsequently ho aspires to join a more regular militia corps ; but it is said there are many instances where their devotion to the Target Company, which originally inspired them with military enthusiasm, is so strong that they will not de ert its ranks for those of the most brilliant and best appointed mili- tia company in New York. There are so many of these enrolled brands that they and the eventlitres share the heart of filling and rousing the echoes of busy Broadway. - Loop JE cy Wrhy Montuose.
LINES BY DR. COOPER. - The following lines were written by Dr. Cooper, in England, on the 10th of May. 1326. the anniversary of his departure from New York. As it is descriptive of his precipitate flight from the college. to avoid the outrages of a mob. this effusion, remarks the editor of Curwon's journal, may be regarded as a document of historical interest. aside from the beauty of the poetry ;
To thee, O God ! by whom I live. The tribote of my soul I give.
On this revolving day :
To thee. O God ! my voice I raise. To thee address my grateful praise, And swell the duteous lay.
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Nor has this orb unceasing run Its annual circle round the sun, Since when the heirs of strife, Led by the pale moon's midnight ray, Meanwhile along the sounding shore, And bent on mischief, urged their way Where Hudson's waves incessant roar, To seize my guiltless life.
At ease my weary limbs were laid, And slumbers sweet around me shed The blessings of repose : Unconscious of the dark design, I knew no base intent was mine, And therefore fear'd no foes. When straight a heaven directed youth" Where free from terror and affright, Whom oft my lessons led to truth, I calmly wait the coming night, And honor's sacred shrine, Advancing quick, before the rest, With trembling tongue my car addrest, Where all the amities abide Yet sure in voice divine :
Awake ! Awake ! the storm is nigh -- This instant rouse-this instant fly- The next may be too late : Four hundred men, a hostile band, Access importunate demand,
And shake the groaning gate. I wake-I fly-whilst loud and near Dread execrations wound my ear. And sore my soul dismay ; One avenue alone remain'd, A speedy passage there I gain'd And wing'd my rapid way. That moment all the furious throng An entrance forcing. pour' along Aud fill'd my peaceful cell :+ Where harmless jest, and modest mirth, Yet still for many a faithful friend And cheerful laughter oft had birth, And joy was wout to dwell. Not ev'n the Muses' hallow'd fane, Their lawless fury can restrain. Or check their headlong haste ; They push them from their solemn seat. Nor yet for friend alone-for all Profane their long rever'd retreat. And lay their Pindus waste. Nor yet coutent-but hoping still. Their impious purpose to fulfil, They force each yielding door : * Mr. Nicholas Oplem. + King's. now Colunabia. College.
And whilst their curses load my head, With piercing steel they probe the bed, And thirst for human gorc.
I work my weary way ; And skirt the windings of the tide, My faithful pupil by my side,
Nor wish the approach of day. At length ascending from the beach, With hopes reviv'd by morn, I reach The good Palemon's; cot ;
My every fear forgot. 'Twas then I scaled the vessel'sS side,
That mortal worth can boast ; Whence, with a longing, lingering view, I bid my much loved York adieu, And sought my native coast. Now all compos'd, from danger far, I hear no more the din of war, Nor shudder at alarm- ;
But safely sink each night to rest, No malice rankling through my breast, In freedom's fostering arms. Tho' stripp'd of most the world admires, Yet torn by few untam'd desires, I rest in calm content ; And humbly hope a gracious Lord Again those blessings will afford Which once his bounty lent.
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