USA > New York > Greene County > Catskill > Records of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Leeds, in the town of Catskill, Greene County, N.Y. > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9
5398.15
120.
Consolidated Report of the Building Committee, Mar. 21, 1863. Acct. of R. T. Wilson.
Contract for roof of oh. $160.00 Total of this bill paid as follows :
Taking down steoplo and
repairs to inside ch.
19.65
by Corn: Rouge
¥1109.14
Contract for parsonage
$1600.00
J. Van Vechten 153.60
Extras on parsonage
29.40
J. A. Greena 70.00
Extras on wood house 29.94
N. M. Vedder 1180.82
Barn und out buildings
236.64
Building new steeple
Painting ch. & steeple
·
Acct. of Cor. Rouse.
Receipte am follows:
Shingles
127.50 Sale of old Parsonage $1200.00
Adams * King;, Attorneys 22.94
20.73 Subscriptions, includ- ing E. Blackmar, . .
.
·
Aoot. of il. M. Vedder.
Total of bill, in- oluding loans, $1497.83
Credits
0. Rouse
75.00
Van Vechten
55.00
Vedder's sub-
soription,
14.80
14.80
144.80
1353.03
This scot. settled by loaning on note 1367.00
and a donation of .06
Receipts as follows:
Cost of Land
350.00
By subscriptions
664.00
Paid to Wilson
$158.60
Paid to House, Black-
mar's subscription, 50.00
Paid to Vedder 55.00
Paid to Greene 97.00
·
.
Aoct. of J. D. Greene.
Eundrios
10.41
Paid to Wilson
70.00
Exp. unaccounted 27.00
Paid to himself 37.00
37.41
In Van Vechten's aoctw Greano subscribed 97.00 v.
.
2629.08 766.81
3380.86
2 005. 6. 3. Repitolation.
Cost of personsE 2089.08 40
ugais of old' parsonage 1200.00
Repairs to church
Rubsoriptions 888.80
Borrowed on note
1367.00
3395.86
.
Labor, disbursements and materials, 293.13
Interest on loans of
$1180.82,
23.88
377.98 60.95
2513.56
150.00
Acot. of J. Van Vechten.
Sundries 6.71
365.60
-.
121.
[ Continued from page 119.]
To adjust these balances Henry M. Vedder loaned the Committee, over and above the amount due him, the sum of, $13.97 - -
- and made a donation of, - - - - .06 and there was a credit remaining in the hands of van vechten of 1.69
15.72
This balances all the accounta correctly, with a possible doubtful item on Jeremian D. Greene'a account. On Jan. 10, 1863, John van Vechtan'a account shows that Greene made a subscription of $97.00, which was paid back to him the same day to reimburse him for money he had already advanced. In the record of money expended, Greene'a account is $10.41; he paid $70.00 to H. T. Wilson, which leaves #27.00 unaccounted for, unless he had a bill for that amount him- self. The note for $1367, was due in two years: no doubt the sum of $653.73, raised by the Ladies benevolent Association, which was turned over to the Con- sistory on Deq. 16, 1884, was applied to meeting this note.
The second parsonage was occupied by the pastors, until it burned to the ground in the year 1890. The third parsonage was erected soon after on the same lot ..
THE SEPARATION OF THE CHURCH AT KISKATOM.
In the natural course of events, the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Loods and Kiskatom, with two churches, one in onch village, was bound to sep- arate, as soon as each branch developed sufficient strength. On May 3, 1839, 42 .... the Consistory met at Kiekatom, when the following resolution was passed:
"Resolved, That each part of this congregation keep their temporal concerns seperate after this spring, that each part keep their account - seperate with the minister & pey their respective part of the salary. Vig. Leeds part of the congregation pay at the rate of four hundred dol- lars pr. year, and Kiskatom at the rate of two hundred a year and that each part now settle up their respective proportions of arrosrages with ( 199100200 613 6697
pet th
ads & Kieke-
Hat Greene
CF
122.
A committee was appointed to present the matter to Classis. The applica - tion was presented at the meeting of Classis on Nov. 1, 1840. Classis met at Leeda on Deo. 2, 1840, in special session, to consider the matter. It was,
"Resolved that such request be granted, to take effect when the church at Leeds shall present the Hev'd. b. Hoff a call equal in amount of support to that which he has hitherto received."
On Nov. 20, 1840, a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions for the additional two hundred dollars for Mr. Hoff's salary, to make the soparation effective. They wore still soliciting, on Feb. 7, 1842, when the Rev. B. Hoff applied for a dissolution of his call. The application was granted at a meet- ing of Classis, on Feb. 11, 1842. At the same meeting, an application was re- ceived from the members of the church at Kiskatom, requesting a separation from Leeds. The reasons assigned were :
"1. We consider it a disadvantage both to our temporal and spiritual interests to remain in this connection.
2. Because we believe that it is essential to the spiritual interest of our church am well as our growth numerically to have a minister reside among us.
3. We believe that with the blessing of Almighty God we will be able to sustain a minister."
No objection being made by the Elder from Leeds, the application was grant - ed, and the Hov. B. Hoff was appointed to organize the church of Kinkstom, which was duly secomplished, on Sunday, Peb. 13th, by the ordination of the Elders and Deacons from Kiskatom, who had been in office in the Consistory of Leeds and Kiskatom. An extract from the Statistical Report of the Classis of Greene, for April 11, 1843, is as follows:
Leeds Kiekatom
Number of families: 60 50 In Communioni 90 10%
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.
The memoranda of incorporation are taken, not from the Greene County record of Incorporations, but from the respective church records."
Har. 88, 1838. "We the subscribers, Eldere & Dascons of the Protes- sant Reformed Dutch Church of Leeds & Kiskatom, being duly assembled, de captify whomsoever it may opngerne that by leave of the proper coolestan- tlesi authority we have assumed the title of the Protestant Reforwod Dutch Church of Losda aKistotom, "& mocording to the statute in such case ande a provided, will be known wdistinguished in law as a body corporate by
11 200
-
E
2
0
rearys
.
:
.
Kell brook or sabato jis I've
wiffiOch,OS
123.
124.
that title. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & soals this Twenty Fifth day of karch in the year of our Lord One Thousand Fight hundred # Thirty three."
Feb. 11, 1842. "he the subscribers, Elders & Deacons of the Pro- testant hoformed Lutch Church of Leeds, being duly assembled, = [ Same form as above. ]
Mar. 17, 1842. "Te the subscribers, Elders and deacons of the reformed protestant dutch church of Kiakatom, being, duly appointed do Certify whomsoever it may concern that by leave of the proper ecclesi - astical authority we have assumed the title of the [ Same form as above. ]
ABSTRACT OF LAND TITLES.
When the Old Reformed Dutch Church of Catskill was divided in 1833, the northern section of the old congregation was awarded the old parsonage lots or the avails thereof and the site occupied by the first church edifice. It is therefore proper to give as much of an abstract of the title to these lands, as is possible from the data at present available.
the Site of the First Church and First Parsonage. 1% The land was given by Gerrit Van bergen, though the title did not pass by
deed. The land then reverted by inheritance to "illiam Van Bergen, his son, under the will of his father, dated July 25, 1758 and proved Feb. 5, 1759. Cf. New York County Wills, 21: 366; and Calendar of wills, page 417. William Van ... Bergen conveyed the land to the church by two instruments: a "lease and a re-
t The land consisted of two traote. According to Dr. Thompson, the larger tract was the parsonage lot and the smaller, the church lot; of. Photo- stat Articles, page 28. Abstracte of the two instruments follow; for map and eye inc .. .. IN therate di on the opposite page: 1. Lease for one year, dated Oct. 30, 1787. William Van Bergen to the absergpustles of 'the Reformed Dutch Church of Catskill; consideration, five shillings and the rent of one pepper corn, if demanded. Conveys 11 acres,
5. s recall 38 perches. . Also that lot, bounded by "a line begtningvatra stone'set in the Ground on the south side of the Road neaptto whereraohouse fallsdlthe-School"House some years ago stood and runing from the saldostone Lunch courteen degrees and thirty minutes . West .. . . 1048 ebotsteobtaining. 3 saoperohedi - Por . courses and dimensions of both treaba, @seebaaptop- Witnessed dy Willm Brandom Junf and Jacob Van Vechten. »isigned, Brittan Van Bergen! /Not'acknowledgedoor recorded ??? Conveyed Va Dillian
2. Were Dead or Release; dated: Oct. 35//1787;">> William Vankbarron to=theory' Ztr of the Reformed Duteh Church of Catskill; consideration, ten shil- Engast Cleo for divers other good Causes and Considerations. Conveys the the lots as described above ind"In the maper ichonfrautool agree to in (eeryand maintain a fence about the whole of the first described lot. Wit- wini Bindo Juni and Jacobutan Vechten.irmSigaedy Willem Van
rgeny plao contains's seal duly affixed, for another signature, which is renk Ho Not woknafisaged or recorded. ina naner of the sid
Thortwo faregoing instrukenti were handsomelyangrowmed.
Thio Instrument now in the possession of the Reformed Church in Catskill.
125.
on parchment ; a copy of the enprossor's bill follows : "The Trustees of Catskill Church To Ja? Barker DE Out" 27th 1787 ffor drawing Lease & Release from Mr wh van Bergen to them of two Lots of Land at Catskill -
1: 4: 0
Recª June 224 1789 of Samuel Van Vechten Esq. the Contents of the above Account. JA: Barker."
In the minutes of the Consistory of the old Catskill church, under date Aug. 13, 1803, the following appears:
. "The Consistory received a Deed or Quit-claim from Casper Van Housen for a piece of land in their possession altho not included in the Deed given by mil" Van Bergen for the Parsonage in the year 1787, which piece of Land is bounded on the North-East and West by the Catskill Creek and on the south by the Parsonage Lot. In consideration whereof the Consis- tory agreed to give Mr. Van Hoesen a convenient waggon road along the South East side of the Parsonage Lot'to where the Etony Ridge ends. or- dered that the Treasurer Deposit this Instrument among the papers belong- ing to the Church. "
By reference to the map, it will be observed that the land lay north east of the Parsonage lot and between it and the Catskill creek. It abutted that part of the larger Van Bergen tract, the description'of which onds in the deed with, "Te a white pine Tree markt and then with a streight Line to the place:" of begining: "" It will be noted in the map that this white pine tree was on the bank of Catekill'oreek." The Van Hoesen lot, as quit-claimed, may have includ- ed the site of the first parsonage, which was certainly very near it. ":" An'" abstract of the deed followme:
3. >cuitsolsin dendy dated Aug. 13, 1803. Casper Van Hoesem, to the . Minister, Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of .pl.(Catskill;"consideration, 95:00 .; >"Conveys to the party of the second part, "in their sotual Possession now being, . ., all that Certain Lot ...... on the South West side of the Catte till'Greek Bounded.on theshortheast- eriy side by the said Catts Kill Greek and on the southwesterly side by Land, thatcimadon'the Thirty firstenay'of October 1787 conveyed bysutiliem Van Bergen to the Trustees of said Church, 4
Witnessed by Abranmi Wimenderph And'Harmonus Vedder ; acknowledged byćAbraham"EImendorph, on Sept, 9, 180%; not recorded.
This lot of land is not conveyed by the church in any deed that is now in my hands, It would naturally form a part of the first traet conveyed in Item No 4 :page 188. Casper Van Hossen became the omar of the old parsonage, event- when one doun buget and it any further woolved that .. ic
ually, but I am unable to give the chain of title, from the data at my command.
It is impossible for me to have, or to present to the reader a clear idon of
1
1 1
i i
1 1
1
126.
these various lots of land without having been on the spot, and without a com- prehensive search of the county records. The best that I can do now is to quote from Dr. Thompson, who had a visual picture of the scene before him, when he wrote.
"The parsonage is still standing on the South side of the creek, nearly opposite 'The Fall', on the terrain which marks the boundary of the first of the five fertile plains spoken of in the early Indian deeds, all of which were obviously once the bottom of mountain lakes. The
- building is of grey sandstone from the neighboring ledge. These stones were quarried and laid in their present position by the willing hands of the people of the Church. Many of them still show the figures and letters inscribed by .these builders. The date of the erection is over the door, and near it the initiale of Martin Van Bergen. The old house is failing to pieces, and the coming generation will look for it in vain. As one stands and listen to the muffled rumble of 'The Fall' as it comes up from the deep gerge below, it falls upon his ears (as it fell upon the ears of the dwellers within these walls a century and a half since) like the deep sub-bass of a mighty organ far away. Looking toward the North- West; the ore roste upon the graceful sweep of the creek, as beautiful mowcasiin the long ago. Away in the distance Black Head and the Windham
Hills. boundethe horizon with their mighty forms. Bearer rises the Hooge
Berge( the High Hill), with its wooded slopes, where the trees cast their
i be deep shadows in the afternoon. : On the terrain immediately oppositeto the hall Dostoonge stood the picturesque old church with its four gables culminating "" ""inthe belfry." :" 5 .
.thus, Thespireumstances' under which the old parsonage was sold are in part, as follows. a.att'appears; from the minutes of the Consistony, Feb. 13y 1838;ethat, imgdo sad Ram/application: was made for the purchase of the parsonagev .. . Where- ani vapomswResolved: That : it>>istexpedsent tosell at present, ;That the mint- ?
BY013 sampostsdoshall be:#1400. That. Bs? vPosergen &.vivieetterbe a'com-40 ..
1883.
churda \tngchebi on_Na#:/17;31838y/it ' wastdecided;to purchase andther
sentantuto ihrerchurch ta'the village of Madison- (now Leads),
naatartad further resolved that the money to be re- 1 solved ofdeparture should beusedcaride , and pledged to Afavorder in Chancery, I cannot way.
127.
the purchase of a parsonage for the church in Madison. On April 6, 1832, an order in Chancery was issued by Reuben H. Walworth, Chancellor, at a Court of Chancery held in the city of Albany, which authorized the sale. Un xay 14th, the committee reported that they had obtained the Chancellor's order and were ready to execute the conveyance. On June 4th, they reported no progress and asked for further time. In the fall of 1832, a committee was appointed to select a new parsonage, but the division of the old congregation took place be- fore the new parsonage was purchased. The Treasurer's report, on Jan. 26, 1833, shows $1,400., due on contract for the sale of the parsonage property. At the last meeting of the Consistory of the old Catskill congregation, on March 8, 1833, the following action was teken;
"Resolved, That the committee on the parsonage be authorized at their discretion, to take back the old parsonage or purchase another, without further, reference to Consiatory & that B. James Elting be placed on the com." of the parsonage fund. "
Thus, the deed of sale must have been executed in the early part of the year 1835: ! : On March 25, 1833, the Consistory of the church of Leeds and Kie- katom, at their first meeting, authorized the committeea appointed by the old Consistory of Catakill to procure a parsonage and execute their commission. I have no accounting or report of the committee available. The sale price of the old parsonage was probably 81400. Of the avails, $950., was applied to the purchase of a parsonage at Leeds, from Henry Person and wife; and $230, to the purchase of 6.40 acres of land from Wary Van Bergen, in the rear of the said parsonage and bordering on the Athens Turnpike. An abstract of the title of the land thus purchased will be found under title of the Parsonage Land at Leeds, which see pages 131 and 132.
At a meeting of the Consistory of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Loods and Kiskatom, on Apr. 9, 1833, it was "Resolved that Elders Schuneman
and Van Deursen be a committee to take charge of the old church lot and to make such disposition of it as they may think proper." In the minutes dated Nov.,
1833 @@the following appearsi "The committee appointed to dispose of the old @burch.lotstape:minutesuefaApl. 9th 1835) reported that they have told said lot
to Wr Camper Van Boesen.for .Fifty-Beven.50/100 Dollarsin The report waslao- gde. 200, 50-1 1788.
ceptad and the committee discharged."
Note .. what kind of a deed Me. Van Hossen received, or whether the vitesslowanamade.pursuant tojamsorder in Chancery, I cannot say. In his
188.
historical address, Rev. C. P. Ditmars seems satisfied that this minuto of the Consistory disposes of the old church lot; cf. Photostat Articles page 7. Dr. Thompson also mentions the aale of the old church lot to Caspar Van Housen: cf. Photostat Articles, page 16. Howover, the old church lot was conveyed again, in a dead dated Feb. 1, 1056; of. Item No. 4, below. Whether this last conveyance was accidental or intention- al, I cannot say without an examination of the Greene County records.
On Apr. 30, 1852, an order was issued in the County Court of Greene County, granting permission to the church to sell certain lande and to apply the proceeds to the payment of the debt incurred by the purchase of a site and the building of a new parsonage. By virtue of this order, the second paraonage and lot were wold about Way 6, 1862; and the original parsonage lot, embracing possibly the site of the first parsonage, was sold on Feb. 1, 1856. The latter transaction is mentioned in the minutes, on Feb. 1, 1856, as follows: "A Deed for the par- sonage wood lot was Executed by Consistory to Isaac Flank for the Consideration of One hundred and fifty dollars." An abstract of the deed follower
4. Quit-Claim Deed, dated Feb. 1, 1888. The Minister, Elders and . Doa- cons of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Leeds, to Iwaso Plank; consideration, $150. Recites conditions of order of the County Court, issued Apr. 30, 1858. Conveys two tracte of land as described in Lease and Release from William Van Bergen; of. Itema Nos. 1 and 2. Digned by the minister, Elders and Deacons; witnessed by William vedder; acknow -. ledged by William Vedder, , same day; recorded, Feb. 2, 1856, in Greene County Deeda, b1: pp. 399, 400.
Note. Particular attention is directed to the fact that this conveyance does not include the lot of land between the first tract and Catskill oreek, which was quit-claimed by Casper Van Housen, on Aug. 13, 1808; of. Item No. 3, page 125.
THE SALISBURY DEED OF GIFT.
The original instrument and the copy in the minutes of the Consistory of - the award of the Committee of Reference, pursuant to which the old congregation was dividedy awarded "the Parsonage Lotts or the availa thereof" to the Leeds 5 congregation. : " There was another parsonage lot, which may account for the use i of the plural in the minutes. . I have no information available concerning the second: lot beyond the deed) which is-a Very interesting document, and which 18 now in the possession of the Birst Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Catskill. The back of the dead .bears;the following indorsement;
fri:"Abraham Ballsbumy Sigt torthe Elders & Deacons of Catskill Churchi Deed of Gift."
$1st Below .this, writtenin pemail, mow indistinct with age, the follow"* ing memorandum appears: $70 4lDa.4.Frat :Bmwnei acSalisburysto.the Elders & Demcons of the R; Pp- Dutoh Church of Catskill & Coxsackie in trust for the Minister of this.
The omil for Johannen Bchunoman was dated Noy. 18, 1752; one the
Horas an por su "vej
1
£
129.
"Secondly: That we will give his Rev. a suitable dwelling, with a barn, a garden and a well, and keep them in repair, in such manner as shall be agrecable to his Rov. and the churches; together with twenty acres of land at Catskill, not far from the church."
Cf. Ecclesiastical Records of New York, page 3200.
In my opinion, the twenty acres of land referred to in the call is the same land as conveyed in the Salisbury deed, although by a survey made in 1801, the tract contained only about thirteen acros. Francis Salisbury died about 1758; he left a son namod Abraham; of. Calendar of "1lls, page 345. The Salisbury deod, which is abatracted bolow, appears to be in confirmation of the deed dated November, 1752; its phraseology was probably copied, in part, from the old deed,
#Deed of Gift, dated Sept. 10, 1802. Abraham Salisbury Esqr. to the Fldere and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church situate and being at old Catskill. "For' and in Consideration of the Veneration, Love & Affection which he the said Abraham Salisbury hath & beareth unto the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church aforesaid, as for their perseverance ! increase of Christianity, as also for the better maintenance, Support, Live- lihood & Preferment of an Orthodox Minister of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church", conveys "for the Use of a Dutch Reformed Protestant Minis- ter of the Gospel ordered according to the Bynods of the Hoformed Dutch Church in North America, . . .... All that certain Piece of Land laid out for the Church of Catskill being part of a Lot called Lot Number Kleven Lying partly on Bast side and partly on the Hill oallad Hoge-Bergh, Begin- ing at a black Oak Sapling standing at the South west Corner of said Lot Number Eleven at or near the Foot of said Hill and runing along the South side of said Lot North eighty two degrees West fifteen Chains to a black Oak Tree and Heap of Stones, Then North eight degrees Fast eight Chains, Then South eighty two degrees East seventeen Chains & Seventy-four Links to a black Oak Tree marked C standing at or near the Foot of said Hill, Then along the Foot of said Hill to the Place of Begining, "[as per survey ]" "performed in the Fall, in the Year 1801 as the Needle then pointed, by Samuel Van Vechten Esq! Full warranty deed. Conveyance "for the only Use and Benefit of a Dutch Reformed Protestant Minister as before said, who im now, or hereafter shall be standing Minister of Catskill Church aforesaid:" Bigned, Abraham Salisbury. Witnessed by Peter Overbagh and Catharine Black; mot acknowledged or recorded.
Moto. This appears to beadeed of perpetual trust, for the benefit of the Reformed Dutch Minister at what is now Leada; I do not know how it would be legally disposed of, if recorded, without an order of the Court, if it can be disposed of at all.
The Salisbury lot is mentioned but once in the minutes of the Con- sistory of the old Catskill church, as follows:
"On the 10th September 1802 Abraham Salisbury Enqr, signed and deliv- ered to the Connistory of this Church a dead for a Lot of Wood Land con- taining about 13 Acres being part of Lat No. 11 lying partly on the East side and partir on the hill Called Boga Bergh. Consistory resolved that the dendice delivered to the Treasurer to be filed among the papers be- Jonsing to this Church,"
in ereressing this degd ther iappearsto be a line omitted where the have been fraesteds the moreage of the lot should be on the onttes
130.
. P
Bronk or Liverka. Kyllach, R .. }
1:35 :2-40.9.2- 1
there it with ( Oh to My phone ofingwoning
Luge ...
2
1 Nu.JO'S -87795
0
:
Bracing Containing & For Microsoft fond
115
131.
The final disposition of tho Salisbury lot, I have not been able to dater- mine from the information now at my disposal; and without an inspection of the Greene County recorded deeda. Abraham A. Enlisbury was one of the partners of the firm of Martin 0. Sohunemen & Co., and consequently he was involved in the debt assumed by that firm in the erection of the stone church. The minutes of the Consistory for Oot. 5, 1829, read as follows:
"the President and Mr. Van Vliet were appointed a committee to pre- pare a deed for Mr. Abm. A. Salisbury and to obtain the Rest in full of M. G. Achuneman & Co." Cf. page 111.
THE PARSONAGE LAND AT LEEDS.
The map reproduced, opposite, gives a general view of the land occupied by the present church at Leeds and the first Leeds parsonage. An abstract of the title of the land is presented, compiled from such deeds as are now in my hands . Thin abstract is made without an examination of the County Clerk's records in Greene county, and undoubtedly does not present a complete chain of the title.
1. Quit-Claim deed, dated 1822: acknowledged Sopt. 14, 1822. James Bogardus and Eggie Bogardus, his wife, to Henry Pierson. Conveya two lota formerly owned by John Wolcott, in the town of Catskill; con- sideration, $300. First lot, on the north east side of the Suaquehan- nah Turnpike, being one hundred feet square and including the house for- merly owned by John wolcott. Second lot, being behind the first lot, 7 .beginning at the south east corner of said first lot, 40 x 90 feet, in form of a rectangle.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.