USA > New York > Essex County > Bloomingdale > The New York of yesterday; a descriptive narrative of old Bloomingdale, its topographical features, its early families and their genealogies, its old homesteads and country-seats, the Bloomingdale Reformed church, organized in 1805 > Part 13
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The Church at harsenville
page 8) under the will, and it was a portion thereof which they wished to alienate in favor of the Church. It was thought expedient to accept one of these offers, whereupon Harsen arose and proposed the acceptance of a gift from him of an acre on the Harsenville road, with the liberty of the choice of any one of ten acres thought the most eligible. "After considerable de- bate," continue the minutes, "this offer was accepted and the Consistory agreed to meet at Mr. Harsen's house on Wednesday afternoon for the purpose of looking at the ground and choosing a suitable spot." Thereupon Hopper, Striker, and Harsen were appointed a committee invested with full power to contract for the construction of the building upon such plan as to them should seem most economical and advantageous. By the meeting in May, the subscriptions therefor had increased to $1400, and it was there stated that the site had been selected, certain material had been purchased, and cellar stone had been hauled to the location. Garret H. Striker, the Elder's oldest son, was appointed collector, and two services in the church to continue through the summer season were determined on.
In June it was announced that a stable had been erected on the parsonage property. Harsen stated that the ground was being surveyed and the deed drawn. It was agreed that the children should be catechised every Wednesday afternoon in the church. How interdependent the community and the con- gregation were is shown by the resolution passed to request the schoolmasters to omit school on that afternoon. At the September meeting, the stated sessions of the body were slated for the first Monday in each month thereafter at 4 o'clock, and on the
I66
The new Dork of Desterday
18th of that month the unoccupied pews were to be rented, due notice of which event was to be announced from the pulpit. Harsen was authorized to provide a place in which to hold religious and social meetings during the coming winter. The back room at Barne- well's was again taken for this purpose, with the pro- viso that no carriages enter the yard.
After the admission to membership of Jane Cozine (widow Ackerman), Rachel Cozine, and Sarah Webbers, wife of Jonathan Hardman, in November, it was entered that the Consistory "bless the Lord for what He has already done for His little flock in this place and pray for greater out-pourings of His Spirit upon the congregation." The question as to what the charter of the Church required to be done to preserve its legality had been referred to Isaac L. Kip, Stated Clerk. It was reported at this meeting that it was necessary to make a return of the state of its finances to the Legislature every second year. The first sexton, Isaac Dey, was engaged in December at £3 per annum. On account of the shortness of the days and the cold- ness of the weather it was agreed to postpone further work on the parsonage.
The new year (1810) opened with a regular meeting at Hopper's residence. Nothing of moment transpired. In March, work on the parsonage was resumed. It was announced that $1900 had been expended thereon to date and that $250 additional was needed. The work would be completed by the middle of June. The Consistory met at the "Society Room." Prepara- tions for a garden on the grounds were ordered. Mr. Gunn stated on April 5th that he had received an ap- pointment to proceed to Canada in the interest of the Committee on Missions and requested the opinion of
523
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MAP OF THE "PARSONAGE ACRE," FROM LIBER 85 OF CONVEYANCES, 521
Land on Lease
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The Church at harsenville
the body thereon. A vacation of three months was granted and part of a collection for the benefit of the Church was donated toward his expenses. A horse for the accommodation of the ministers who should supply the pulpit during his absence would be pro- vided. It was agreed that the Lord's Supper should be administered quarterly thereafter instead of three times as theretofore. On December 4th, Harsen an- nounced that during the spring he had deposited with Striker, the Clerk of Consistory, the deed of the par- sonage ground duly recorded. This instrument bore date of Sept. 16, 1809, the parties thereto being Jacob Harsen of the Ninth Ward, Gentleman, and the Trustees of the Reformed Dutch Church at Harsenville re- spectively and conveyed realty by this description, viz .:
Bounded on land of Lemuel Wells, on land of the said Harsen and on Harsen Street, containing in breadth 100 feet and in length on the northerly side 531.4 feet and on the southerly side 523.9 feet, reserving and excepting out of this present grant the ground set apart for streets and as appears noted or dotted upon the said annexed map, upon condition that said tract of land nor any part thereof shall at no time nor in any way nor at any time hereafter be sold nor in any wise be disposed of by any ways or means or under any pretence whatsoever, but that the same shall always and forever be and remain for the use, benefit, and income of the said Reformed Dutch Church at Harsen- ville, and also upon condition that said Church enclose the land in fence (L. 85 Conv., 521).
In March, 1811, Holmes declined leading the singing for a longer term and Wade was appointed to that office. As he was found unable to give punctual
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The new Dork of Desterday
attendance, another was engaged three months later to officiate as chorister. Striker was selected in April to attend at the pastor's residence on the Thurs- day preceding the administration of the Lord's Supper to hear the confessions of such as may apply for ad- mission into the communion. A commission from Brunswick came to the pastor in June necessitating his absence for a few weeks in order to discharge the duties imposed thereby, and in August Webbers sub- mitted his resignation as deacon, which, after serious consideration, was not accepted. In October it was ordered that the afternoon service be dropped on the first Sabbath in November and that in its stead an evening meeting be held alternately in the Church "and the lower part of the congregation." It should be recalled that the streets were not lighted at this time and the above resolution was passed in order to enable members to attend service with less incon- venience. On these occasions the congregation met at the residences of communicants in the fifties, some- times at Hopper's, again at Webbers's, at Horn's at 5Ist Street and the Road, or at the Cozine house at present Eighth Avenue near 54th Street. Hopper and Harsen were to make provision for these meetings. In November the place of evening meetings "in the upper part of the congregation" was changed from the Church to "Mr. Harsen's room above Tyson's shop."
Some little debt having remained after the building of the stable and the parsonage, Striker and Harsen in February, 1812, were deputized to accompany the pastor in soliciting donations to liquidate the burden. In April it was resolved to offer Mr. Ufford, the prin- cipal of the Bloomingdale Academy, a pew for the use
THE OLD PARSONAGE
THE ORIGINAL PARSONAGE 73d Street, near Columbus Avenue ; from The History of Eighty Years
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The Church at harsenville
of his family if he would lead the singing. " The abuses of the Sabbath day" in the neighborhood became so open that it was suggested some exertion be made to ameliorate the conditions. On second thought, however, it seemed imprudent to interfere. A request was made to the Moderator to "exhort" at funerals. He preferred to act at his own discretion on such oc- casions, according to the circumstances which might exist at any particular time. An additional sum, subscribed by Messrs. Harsen, Striker, Lemuel Wells, James Boggs, Gerard W. Livingston, and Dr. John G. Adams, was added to the pastor's salary in June. Wm. B. Holmes was appointed collector. Under the article of the constitution requiring an inquiry to be made into the walk and conversation of members, a number of cases were investigated during the year 1813. These arose because of non-attendance at Church, of irregular attendance at communion, and of intoxication. Some of these individuals were sus- pended. A generous donation was received from the Collegiate Consistory and a letter of thanks was pre- pared and forwarded by the pastor and Harsen. In February, 1814, Striker and Harsen were appointed to ascertain what alteration could be made for the better accommodation of communicants on sacra- mental occasions, and to make such changes as they deemed advisable. In April it was announced that the alteration undertaken in front of the pulpit had been made. Samuel Adams Lawrence became a member in February and had tendered his assistance in collecting subscriptions for a new House of Worship. The following resolutions in this connection were passed on April 29th:
Whereas, it is the earnest wish of this Consistory to
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The new Dork of Desterday
promote, as far as may be in their power, the precious interests of the Gospel in this place, and whereas they believe that a new and larger building than the one in which Public Worship is at present performed, would contribute to that object,
Resolved that the Rev. Alex. Gunn, our Pastor, and Mr. Samuel Lawrence be and they hereby are appointed a com- mittee, in our name, to solicit subscriptions of the members of our own congregation and the friends of the Redeemer of all denominations to whom they may think proper to apply for the purpose of building a new church to belong to this Consistory and our successors.
Resolved further that the Committee be and they hereby are authorized to proceed to the building and enclosing of the church when they shall have obtained subscriptions to the amount of $3000. They are also authorized to select a situation for the Church provided it be not far one way or the other from the present church, and provided also that the building and premises belong to the Consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church of Bloomingdale and their successors.
At the meeting in May it was announced that the amount above specified had been obtained, and it was recommended that an address be sent to the Con- sistory in town soliciting a donation. Striker and Harsen, having already conversed with members of that body, were appointed to draft and forward the address. A building committee was thereupon appointed. Harsen of that committee stated on July 19th that he had contracted with James Westerfield for the mason work for $5300, and with King and Hoogland for the carpentering for $4500, making $9800. The plan of the Church was then presented. From Hardie's Description of New York, 1827, we learn that its size was 57 X 72, containing 4104 square
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The Church at harsenville
feet. The Collegiate Consistory resolved on June 16th, in consideration of the application of the Church for aid in building the new edifice, to donate therefor $2500. On August Ist a copy of this resolution was presented and the Board voted to "most gratefully accept of the donation which their Brethren have been pleased to make them, on the conditions mentioned in said resolutions, and that Mr. Gunn and Mr. Harsen be a committee to prepare and deliver to the Con- sistory of the Reformed Dutch Church of New York, a letter of thanks for their generous donation." Although the Constitution provided for the election of officers every two years, it was not until August 11th- a matter of nine years and nine months-that action was taken, at which time it was decided to add two more to the number of the Consistory. When the ballots were counted Harsen was found elected Elder, and Henry Post and Samuel A. Lawrence, Deacons. The Consistory was consequently composed of
Andrew Hopper, James Striker, Elders.
Jacob Harsen, Philip Webbers,
Samuel A. Lawrence, &Deacons. Henry Post,
A report to the Legislature was ordered to be pre- pared and Post appointed Treasurer, vice Striker.
The pastor and Lawrence, in carrying out the di- rections of the Board, selected property fronting on the Bloomingdale Road at present 68th Street, a part of the Somerindyke Farm which fell to the daughter Margaret, wife of Wm. A. Hardenbrook. The deed (L. 107, Conv. 632) thereof, bearing date Sept. 26, described the property as follows:
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The new Dork of Desterday
Beginning at a point in the easterly side of the Bloom- ingdale Road, so called, where the same is intersected by the middle of Sixty-eighth Street, which point is distant westerly from the westerly side of the Ninth Avenue 469 feet and running thence along the middle of the said street easterly 163.65 feet, thence at right angles to the same northerly 130 feet, thence at right angles to the same westerly 236.35 feet to the easterly side of the Bloomingdale Road aforesaid and thence along the same southerly to the place of beginning.
The consideration expressed was $596.00, with full covenants. This deed was received by the Consistory October 17th, and put in the Treasurer's hands for record.
And now came a defection which cast a damper over the joy caused by the inauguration of the new enterprise. It came to the knowledge of the Consistory this month that their brother Webbers, since the last meeting, had attached himself to the Baptist Church in Gold Street, and had been baptised. This fact was deeply lamented and it was felt to be a duty, in a spirit of Christian love, to notice it. Accordingly their delegates to Classis were instructed to lay the case before that Reverend Body with the request that the seat of the brother as a deacon be vacated and that advice be given as to the proper course to pursue. The matter was not brought to their attention by the pastor and Harsen, the representatives to Classis, when they assembled the following morning in the Consistory Chamber in Garden Street (Exchange Place), because the Committee of Overtures were of the opinion that the local Board had power to act. On this announcement the delinquent's seat was vacated and he was suspended from the communion
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The Church at harsenville
"until he shall manifest due repentance and renounce the errour he has embraced." A long period of time elapsed-fourteen years-before this hope was realized. Finally on March 18, 1828, notification was made that he."wished to return " and this minute was adopted:
Philip Webbers, who in the year 1814 embraced the errour of the Baptists and left this Church and his seat as an officer therein to connect himself with a Baptist Church in the city, having solicited to be received again into the fellowship of this church,
Resolved that the suspension voted in the case of Mr. Webbers at the time he left us, be and is hereby removed and that he be restored to the enjoyment of his privileges as a member of this Church in good standing.
Resolved that Mr. Webbers be asked at the next pre- paratory service, or sooner if he wishes it, if he freely and sincerely renounces the errour he had embraced and, upon his answering in the affirmative, that his restoration be publickly announced and that it be recommended to the members of the Church to receive and treat him as a brother who deeply laments his errour and is now sin- cerely desirous to live and die in the faith of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church.
Resolved that the Pastor and Mr. Harsen be a committee to inform Mr. Webbers of the proceedings of Consistory.
As a matter of historic interest it should be stated that the "Gold Street Meeting House" was constituted June 19, 1762, and was the first Baptist Church in New York City. Elder John Gano of Huguenot descent was the first pastor. The edifice was turned into a stable for British cavalry during the Revolutionary struggle. In 1802 a new building was erected on the same site. The Rev. William Parkinson, A.M., from Fredericktown, Maryland, became minister Feb. 8,
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The new Dork of Desterday
1805, and held that position for thirty-five years. He resigned in 1840.
Caspar Meier was elected deacon in the place of Webbers, which office, by the way, he declined to accept at this time.
The Mercantile Advertiser of July 23, 1814 an- nounced that "The corner stone of a Reformed Dutch Church was laid at Bloomingdale on [Thursday] the 2Ist inst., by the Rev. Alexander Gunn."
Through a misunderstanding or otherwise the new site of the Church did not prove an immediate blessing -instead it became the cause of manifold vexations. The committee appointed to examine the records- and why it was not done before payment was made surpasses comprehension-reported in November that a mortgage of $2400.00 had been found thereon. Lawrence and Post were thereupon deputed to wait on the grantor primed with the queries: Had it been cancelled and if not, What arrangement could be effected to extricate the property from the incum- brance? In January, 1815, it is noted that this in- terview was far from satisfactory. Hardenbrook's property was ascertained to be weighted with an in- cubus of $5300.00. A staggering blow indeed. What was worse no arrangement could be made. In this situa- tion it was finally agreed that a joint bond of Harsen, Striker, Hopper, Post, and Lawrence should be executed secured by a consistorial bond, pledging all the prop- erty of the Church, on which to raise sufficient money to purchase the mortgage, which covered twelve and one half acres of land and included the new site, the title to which latter plot should revert to the Con- sistory. The net proceeds of the sale of the mortgaged land should be appropriated to the payment of the
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The Church at harsenville
joint bond and claim. The following day, two of the members were selected to wait on Mr. Dey, attorney for the mortgagee, Miss Eleanor Ellison, for further inquiry, and in February the questions asked and the answers thereto were read and proved satisfactory. The mortgaged lands other than the Church lot, were sold at auction-a quick turn showing a demand for village property-and on June 24th, statement thereof was rendered. Hardenbrook returned the three hun- dred dollars which had been paid down on the signing of the contract of purchase-a partial compensation for the annoyance he had caused. It appears from the above account that an actual deficiency of $528.00 existed for which the Church must provide in order to indemnify the individual members and be released from their several claims upon it. So it turned out that eventually the new site cost $1124.00.
The above mentioned members of the Consistory did, on the eleventh of September, release said Harden- brook from all personal liability and from all actions or causes of action for or on account of said deficiency " because there appeared to us but little prospect of recovering the sum without distressing his family, and for this reason we had agreed to hold the premises as our security for the whole amount due to us on said Bond and Indenture of Mortgage." He relin- quished his right to a pew in the new church.
On January 5, 1815, the building committee re- ported that the contractors had not completed the work according to the terms specified. This was viewed as a favorable circumstance inasmuch as adequate funds had not as yet been provided. The pastor stated that he and Striker had examined and received into the communion Ichabod Prall and Hannah
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The new Dork of Desterday
Thompson his wife. He was elected to fill Webbers' place on April 11th. As a number of the members of the Haerlem congregation had frequently expressed a wish to be connected with the Church so far as to have a part of Mr. Gunn's services there, it was moved that a committee be appointed to endeavor to effect such an arrangement by conferring with that Con- sistory. Striker and Lawrence were selected. The Haerlem people proposed to give $500 for one half of the pastor's services and would consider whether they would not pay $600. From their conversation it appeared that they very favorably entertained the
arrangement. Nothing seems to have come of this. At any rate no further reference is made to the subject.
In the view (Frontispiece) of the new church edifice it will be noticed that a marble tablet is inserted over the main entrance. The pastor and Lawrence were appointed to carry into effect a resolution passed on May Ist, which provided that the names of the present Consistory be inscribed thereon. The stone accordingly read :
THE CHURCH AT HARSENVILLE Founded in 1805 Rev. ALEXANDER GUNN, Minister
Andrew Hopper, Samuel A. Lawrence, 1 Deacons.
James Striker,
Jacob Harsen, 7 Elders. Henry Post,
Ichabod Prall,
In July it was announced that the pastor had drawn the inscription and Lawrence had had it prepared. The Consistory met at Prall's residence in Greenwich Street, for the first time on June 14th. John Somerin- dyck, the original owner of the farm, having died Oct. 11, 1790 left him surviving his widow Sarah, who
I Trall
Portrait and signature of Ichabod Prall, Esq., by courtesy of Miss Ida Benjamin
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The Church at harsenville
released her dower in the plot on which the Church was being built. This conveyance was delivered to the Treasurer this date to be recorded. She did not die until July 2, 1830. Alderman Harsen was re- quested to ask Col. Harsen his son, the Treasurer of the School Fund, to advance $250 for the uses of the Consistory. Prall was added to the building com- mittee. The pastor, with Harsen and Lawrence, was appointed to draw up resolutions respecting the future sale of the pews and after retiring submitted the following :
As it is but reasonable and right that this Church should pay for itself in the sales of the pews as other churches in the city have done, your committee beg leave to propose that this Consistory in the first place resolve, that when the Church is completed, the pews shall be so valued ac- cording to their situation and size as that they shall, when- ever they are all sold, bring, in the aggregate, as much as the Church shall have cost or thereabouts. In the second place that all pews which do not bring their valuation at the first auction, shall then or afterwards, as the Consistory may at the time determine, be sold for a term of years, not exceeding ten, at a certain price which they shall fix upon or at auction.
Subscription papers were thereafter circulated bearing this caption: " When the Church is built' the pews will be valued and sold at auction and every person's subscription will be credited as purchase money." The names of such subscribers as have been preserved follow :
John Goodwin
$25 William Jauncey $25
Daniel Mack
25
Samson Benson 25
Frederick Beinhauer
25
Wm. Rhinelander 25
Dr. Gamage
25
N. Prime 25
I2
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The new Dork of Desterday
William Paldwin (?) $25
David Cargill
$25
Rich. Harison
IO
Hannah Lee
5
Corns. Ray 20
A. Forman IO
J. J. Diedericks
IO
Peter R. Post
5
T. A. Emmet
IO
George Mckay
IO
C. McEvers IO
Samuel Van Verden, Bloomingdale I5
Henry S. Dodge
30
Nathan Sanford
20
Catherine Teller, Kip's Bay I5
Alexander Hamilton
IO
Benjamin Benson
20
John G. Brevoort
20
R. Riker
30
John G. Coster
IO
Joel Bridge
30
Daniel D. Tompkins,
Mrs. McAdams
I5
Albany
25
William Ogden
I5
P. G. Hildreth
IO
Nicholas Fish
IO
James Boggs
I5
Joseph Houston
IO
Henry McFarlan
I5
Jno. H. Talman
IO
Benjamin Desobry
I5
Henry Cheriot, Jr.
5
Clement C. Moore
IO
Abrm. Brinckerhoff
20
Henry S. Williams
I5
Mary McCrea IO
Jacob Horn IO
Joshua Barker
5
Jno. Hegeman
8
B. Livingston
25
Nicholas Fish
IO
Saml. Borrowe
IO
William Edgar
IO
John Thompson,
Naphtali Judah
IC
203 Pearl Street IO
George Janeway
20
W. R. Stewart
IO
The signatures of the above individuals
are attached to the two lists now in existence.
At different times during the year (1815) some kind of an arrangement had been sought with the con- tractors whereby progress could be made on the church building. In September the minister and Lawrence undertook to see King in the hope of finishing the contract this season. On his expressing a willingness to complete the interior for the original estimate of
John Taylor
20
D. S. Jones IO
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The Church at harsenville
$2700 provided the portico and stoop were omitted, the Consistory agreed and such contract was entered into. The same committee was then authorized to deal with the master mason. It was reported in October that a front gallery and stairs could be added for an additional $400 and this was ordered. As to the mason work Westerfield suggested the matter be submitted to arbitration. The building committee agreed to meet them both at the site. Satisfactory settlement of the dispute was effected. An order for $61 against the Consistory, which Westerfield had delivered to Hardenbrook, was by him given to the Church, as an off-set in some measure to what had been lost through him.
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