USA > New York > Suffolk County > Southampton > The early history of Southampton, L. I., New York, with genealogies, 2nd ed. > Part 10
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11. DAVID S. BOGART.
The Rev. David Schuyler Bogart was born January 12, 1770, in the city of New York. He descended from one of the oldest and most respectable Dutch families. He was graduated from
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Columbia College in 1790, with the highest lionors of his class. After his graduation he studied for the ministry with his pastor, Dr. John H. Livingston, and preached frequently in various churches of New York. In the autumn of 1795 he visited Southampton, and his ministrations proving acceptable to the people, a call was made out. On the 20th of May, 1796, Mr. Bogart removed with his family from New York and intended to accept there the pastorate. Before the Long Island Presbytery met, however, to install him, he received an urgent call from the First Presbyterian Church in Albany. After consultation with his friends he concluded to accept the call to Albany, where he remained from January to August, 1797. His health having been impaired at this place, and the church at Southampton be- ing eneonraged to renew their call, he returned to the church by the sea, and was installed in the autumn of 1798. Dr. Thomas De Witt, in the sermon preached at Mr. Bogart's funeral (from which sermon we have obtained some of the facts herein stated), says that while at Southampton he received several calls but re- fused them on account of the united affection of his people. In- fluenced by the associations of his earlier years he, in 1806, accepted a call from the Reformed Dutch Church of Blooming- dale in the city of New York, but was prevented by circumstances of a domestic nature from moving his family. The Southamp- ton Church then made out a third call and he was re-installed as their minister and so remained till his final dismission, April 15, 1813.
In this year he accepted a call to the two Reformed Dutch Churches of Success and Oyster Bay. He continued in these churches, fourteen miles apart, for thirteen years until failing health obliged him to resign. In 1826 lie returned to New York and there resided until his death on the 10th of July, 1839, preaching as he found opportunity.
The people of Southampton were very warmly attached to him, as'is evident from their repeated invitations to him to settle among them. He is still spoken of by some of his old parishioners in terms of the warmest affection. In the pulpit he used much
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action, was full of vivacity, flowery in style, and graceful in delivery.
During the next three years, from 1813 to 1816. the pulpit was supplied by Mr. Joshua Hart, Messrs. Andrews and Fuller, Her- man Halsey and Amos Bingham, of whom nothing except their names is known to the writer.
Mr. Hart once upset a peddler's wagon which was in his way. The next Sunday morning he found a note on the pulpit enclosing a pistareen with the following distich :
"Eighteen pence to Mr. Hart For overturning a tinman's cart."
Here is another pulpit token found by a minister on his desk one Sabbath morning, an old riddle simple enough in itself, but the pertinence of which is not so evident :
" A certain something there may be, Which earthly kings may often see ; Poor mortal worms may oft desery it, But God Almighty can't espy it."
12. JOHN M. BABBIT.
The twelfth pastor was the Rev. John M. Babbit. He was installed November 19, 1817, and dismissed April 18, 1821.
Rev. James M. Huntting, of Jamaica, says, in reference to the revival in Mr. Babbit's day : "For some time previous to that revival an increased tenderness, fervor and interest in prayer. became manifest in the social meetings generally but seemed to me most manifest in one attended weekly at Miss Harriet Foster's, on the road leading to Bridge Hampton and opposite where the Messrs. Elias and William Woolley then lived. I had for several years greatly desired to see a revival such as I had seen at East Hampton, and which left me, much to my sorrow, without hope and God in the world. Hence I visited all the prayer meetings I could. Others noticed it. On one evening, however, when I was not present at the meeting above alluded to, the joyful news was communicated that Capt. James Post and his wife were rejoicing in hope. The next morning a young friend of mine hastened to me to tell me the joyful news. The whole village
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soon was filled with deep solemnity and on the following Sabbath the sanctuary was unusually full, and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit were very manifest. The prayer meeting that evening was at Mrs. Huntting's, and so many came that the store and all the rooms adjoining were opened and filled with the solemn assemblage. Many not able to find seats, stood the whole evening - prominent among them, and near the front window, stood Capt. James Post. When the meeting closed nearly all remained and many approached him to hear him speak of Jesus. Meetings became very frequent at once, and very full at evening, and the church was opened and largely attended one afternoon and evening each week, when the neighboring ministers came to help Mr. Babbit, and elders and mem- bers from the neighboring churches were often present, and took part in the prayer meetings-prominent among whom was Deacon Stephen Rose, of Bridgehampton. Conversions were constantly occurring among all classes, and the church, which I understood consisted of 70 members when the revival began, received an accession of about 45 among whom were nine husbands with their wives. Many of the most interesting youth of the place had been gathered in Bible Classes, which the Pastor conducted so as greatly to increase the study of the Bible, and make the new members of the church able to give a scriptural and satisfac- tory reason of their Christian hope. The Word of God was the chief theme of conversation in the youthful circles I visited, es- pecially the lessons we recited from it weekly to the Pastor and Elders. Rev. Dr. . McDowell's Question Book was used, and some of the class found out and interlined the answers with pen and ink, from the beginning to the end of that Question Book. The attachment of the new converts to each other and to Christ, made life pass so sweetly along, that deep regret was often ex- pressed when any of them had to leave the place. And on my return to the place to teach school, after a year's absence to study in the Academy at East Hampton, I found that delightful Chris- tian grace ' Brotherly love,' delightfully prevalent. So it re- mained during the two and one-half years that I remained there in the school."
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Mr. Babbit says in answer to an invitation to be present at the celebration of the 225th Anniversary of the settlement of the town, December 13, 1865:
" The meetings held frequently, for the special benefit of those seeking an interest in Christ and indulging recently obtained hopes that they had found it, were very useful. The counsel given in them and from house to house was well adapted to lead all to build their hopes of heaven entirely on Christ. The views of the converts were elicited, and when erroneous, thoroughly corrected, and advice given adapted to make their practice also correct. Town meeting day had often been a day for social rec- reation by the young. On its approach that spring, some ex- perienced Christians counseled us to take care and not let it be in- juriously spent. To the delight of many it was suggested that the young who were not needed among the clectors, should meet in the north school-house for social prayer. The house was soon filled and word reached the clectors' meeting of it, and several of the good deacons and elders came to the school-house and de- lighted us, and seemed delighted themselves, as they addressed us and prayed with us.
The church which had for a long time before seemed languish- ing, from that time grew so that I found the last time I preached there just four times as many members in it, i. e. 280 instead of 70.
May the Lord ever bless that church, as dear to my heart then and ever since, and make your anniversary a soul refreshing time."
In 1815 Mr. Babbit founded the Education Society of South- ampton, which has since done much good in educating pious young men for the ministry.
13. PETER H. SHAW.
The thirteenth pastor was the Rev. Peter H. Shaw, who was ordained and installed September 19, 1821, and dismissed June 2, 1829. His grandfather, John Shaw, came to this country in 1785, with two sons, John and William, the latter of whom was the father of Rev. Peter H. The grandfather was a ruling elder in the Associate Church in Greenock, Scotland, and the two sons,
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with their wives, were members of the same church. They settled by the advice of Dr. Witherspoon, of Princeton, N. J., in Barnet, Vt. His great grandfather, Rev. John Shaw, together with Rev'ds Ralph and Ebenezer, formed the first Seceding or Associate Presbytery of Scotland. The library of this worthy minister brought to this country by his son, contributed much to moulding the mind and shaping the principles of his great grand- son in his youth. He graduated at Dartmouth College.
Mr. Shaw, while pursuing his education in New York, came under the influence of two eminent Christian ladies, Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Hoffman, and from their pious efforts in establishing Sabbath schools for the instruction of the poor, he learned the value of this institution. On his instalment in Southampton, he first instituted the Sabbath school here, which, however, soon embraced all the children in the community. He also, in 1826, was the originator of the temperance reformation in Southampton. Under parental training his mind had been directed to the evils of intemperance, and the publication of Dr. Beecher's sermons on this subject, opened the way for action. With characteristic modesty he obtained these sermons, and at his third meeting on Sabbath evening, he read them on three successive Sabbaths. They caused much excitement and even opposition. Many said they could as well do without bread as ardent spirits. The fol- lowing spring the General Assembly recommended the clergy to preach on the subject. After a reluctant consent of the session, a day was appointed when Mr. Shaw would preach on the evil which was increasing in the community to a fearful extent. On the day after the appointment was made, he was informed that none of the neighboring ministers had co-operated with him on the subject, and went over immediately to Bridge Hampton, Sag Harbor and East Hampton, and asked the clergy to countenance him at least so far in the movement as to be present. But they all declined - he stood alone, the youngest member of the Presbytery, but determined, under divine assistance, to go on. He says of this - " The day came. It was a cold, uncomfortable day, I think, of November. I had endeavored to prepare myself with what care I could. As I entered the pulpit I saw the house
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was filled to overflowing. Every drunkard was staring me in the face I saw not only that attention, but that feeling was awake on the matter before me. I quailed under it ; but it was to be met. I never had had such a sensation before nor since. But God sustained me. I preached a sermon in the morning an hour and a half in length, and in the afternoon better than an hour. The object was to present the whole subject so far as I was able. And so large and attentive an audience I had not seen before nor sinee in Southampton. And before the blessing was pro- nounced, a motion was made to adjonrn to my house that even- ing, to draw up a constitution and form a society on the principle of total abstinence."
14. DANIEL BEERS.
The fourteenth pastor was the Rev. Daniel Beers, who was in- stalled June 8, 1830, and dismissed April 21, 1835. On leav- ing Southampton he was called to the Presbyterian Church of Greenport, where he was installed, December 2, 1835, and re- mained till January 31, 1839. Thence he removed to Orient, preaching, as stated supply, for a number of years, having com- meneed his labors there in February, 1839. He was a laborious, painstaking and useful pastor, and his labors in Southampton were abundantly blessed. It was in some measure owing to his energy and ardor in pushing on the enterprise, that the Academy was erected in 1831.
15. HUGH N. WILSON, D. D.
The fifteenth pastor was the Rev. Hugh N. Wilson. His father was James Wilson, Esq., of Elizabeth, N. J. He was born May 7, 1813, was graduated at the College of New Jersey, in Princeton, in 1830, and elected tutor there in 1832. He studied theology in the Seminary at Princeton, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Elizabeth, April 23, 1835. He commenced his labors in the ministry in this place in September, 1835, and was ordained October 7, 1835, and installed June 29, 1836. In 1837 he was married to Jane, the daughter of Capt. James Post of this village. He had children Eleanor, Henrietta, Julia
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A., and Mary P. The pastoral relation was dissolved in the spring of 1852. Sorrowfully the people parted with their pastor, for during his long ministry of seventeen years, his labors had been abundantly blessed in extensive revivals and large accessions to the church. In April, 1852, he departed with the good wishes and prayers of his congregation for his success in a new field of labor in Hackettstown, New Jersey. From Hackettstown he was called to the Second Dutch Church of New Brunswick, whither he went in the year 1858. Having been dismissed from this charge, he was invited to preach as a stated supply, once more to the people of his first charge, in Southampton, in the summer of 1863. Here he continued with acceptance, the Lord blessing his labors, until a call was made out for his settlement, which having accepted, he was again installed the second Sabbath of October, 1864 .* The sermon of installation was preached by the Rev. William H. Dean, of Amagansett, and the charge to the people delivered by the same. Rev. Charles Sturgis, M. D., gave the charge to the minister. He resigned his second charge here May 1, 1867, and removed to Germantown.
16. JOHN J. A. MORGAN
The Rev. John J. A. Morgan was first employed June 26, 1852, and installed as pastor, January 20, 1853. The installation sermon was delivered by Rev. Edward Hopper, of Sag Harbor, the charge to the pastor and ordaining prayer by Rev. E. C. Wines, D. D., of East Hampton, and the charge to the people by Rev. Mr. Edgar of Bridgehampton. Mr. Morgan was dismissed in September, 1855, and ministered to a church as pastor in Bridesburg, Pa. ; afterwards he accepted a call to the pastorate of the church in Hempstead, L. I. In 1871 he connected himself with the Episcopal church.
From 1855 to 1863 the congregation had no settled pastor, be- ing supplied by various individuals of whom the principal were Messrs. Crane, Kennedy and Cleveland. Rev. Elias N. Crane labored as stated supply from November 4, 1855, to April 3, 1856.
* Church Manual 1870 says his reinstallment took place September 25, 1864. Which is cor- rect ? I will not change this as it was not here recorded without reason or care.
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The Rev. David Kennedy began his labors here as stated sup- ply November 23, 1856, and continued till October 24, 1858. Rev. Abijah Green was employed by Mr. K. as substitute from December 10, 1856, to February 7, 1857.
The Rev. Willian Neal Cleveland, remained here as stated supply, from January 1, 1859, to July 2, 1863. He was a grad- nate of Hamilton College and Union Seminary of New York city.
17. HUGH N. WILSON, D.D.
See notice before given of him as fifteenth pastor.
1S. F. E. SHEARER, 1867-1870. 19. ANDREW SHILAND, D. D.
20. WALTER CONDICT.
This church has raised up an unusual number of ministers, the most of whom are still laboring on earth in the Master's canse. Their names are : Jonah Fordham, Walter Wilmot, James M. Huntting, Robert Shaw, Samuel Hunt, Samuel Hampton Jagger, Samuel Huntting, Henry M. Parsons, Edward Halsey Sayre, Samuel Edward Herrick and George Rogers Howell, and from the Methodist Society, Barnabas F. Reeve.
Dr. Lyman Beecher (Antobiography, vol. 2, p. 510) says in ref- erence to Edward Herrick, who was then in Yale College prepar- ing for the ministry, and a man of brilliant talent and shining piety : "Oh, how I remember that day when God first flashed deep conviction upon my soul, and tore away the veil from my heart, and set my sins in order before me! I was overpowered, and broken down with grief and confusion; and when I went out of my room, whom should I meet but Edward Herrick of Sonthampton, Long Island, who was a student with me at Yale College. How he happened to know of my feelings, I can't tell, unless he saw it in my face, but he came up to me, and kindly taking my hand, began to talk with me upon the subject of religion. Oh, he was an angel sent from heaven to my soul ! You ought all to be ministering spirits too."
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Mr. Herrick was a brother of Mr. Micaiah Herrick. and an early death prevented him .from entering upon that labor of love which he coveted. He graduated in the class of 1796.
REV. PAUL CUFFEE.
The following account of him is derived substantially from Priine's History of Long Island. He was the second of seven sons of Peter Cuffee, a native Indian of the Shinnecock tribe, and grand- son, on his mother's side, of the Rev. Peter John, who was also a Shinnecock and a faithful and successful preacher of the gospel to the native Indians of the Island. He was born in the town of Brookhaven, March 4, 1757. His mother was said to have been an eminently pious woman, and a member of the native Indian Church at Wading River. She being of African descent, Paul was, of course, not of pure aboriginal blood. At. an early age he was indentured as a servant to Major Frederic Hudson, at Wading River, with whom he labored until twenty- one years of age. During his minority he was reckless and much addicted to such low pleasures as presented themselves to him in his sphere of society. But it pleased the Lord to call him to a nobler career. During a revival in 1778-9, he was converted, and at once felt an ardent desire to labor for the salvation of his brethren on the Island. Though possessing a very limited edu- cation, he early commenced preaching - upon what authority, or licensed by whom, it does not appear. Removing from Wading River he went to Moriches, where he remained about two years ; and thence to Poosepatuck, where, in 1790, he was ordained to the work of the ministry, by a council of ministers from the Connecticut Convention. He afterward removed to Canoe Place, which continued to be his residence till his death.
On the 17th of October, 1792, he was admitted a member of the "Strict Congregational Convention of Long Island " (what- ever that was), which had been organized about a year before, in fellowship with the "Strict Congregational Convention of Con- necticut."
In 1798 he received a commission from the " New York Mis- sionary Society " to labor with the remnants of the Long Island
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Indians, in whose employ he continued till his death, and annu- ally received a liberal compensation. The principal field of his labor was Montank, Canoe Place, and Shinnecock, though he oc- casionally visited Poosepatuck and Islip, where there were then a few scattered remnants of the native tribes.
He had a retentive memory, a fertile imagination, a musical voice, a graceful manner, and, as Mr. Prime narrates, a most un- affected humility of heart. He died as he had lived under the smiles of his Savior. His grave marked with a plain white slab, and enclosed with a paling, is on the borders of the old country road leading west from Canoe Place, and about one mile from that settlement. The headstone bears the following inscription :
Erected | by | The New York Missionary Society | In mem- ory of | The Rev Paul Cuffee | An Indian of the Shinnecock tribe | who was employed by that Society | for the last thirteen years of his life on the | Eastern part of Long Island | where he labored with fidelity and success. | Humble, pious and indefati- gable | in testifying the gospel of the grace of God | he finished his course with joy, | on the | 7th of March 1812 | aged 55 years and three days.
THE METHODIST SOCIETY.
In 1845 the old Presbyterian Church, erected in 1707, was pur- chased and repaired for a house of worship for a Methodist soci- ety, which was then organized.
In 1884 the Methodists sold the old church to an incorporated company for a village hall and built a new house of worship on land purchased of Mr. Albert J. Post to the north of his resi- dence.
This society, commencing with small numbers, has grown largely, chiefly, however, by immigration, and at present is vigorous and prosperous. It has done a good work in the village, and the re- lations between its members and the older church have always been marked with good feeling. The tolerant spirit of the fathers has descended to the sons, and both churches have labored cordially side by side for the promotion of piety and good morals in the community.
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CHURCHI EDIFICES.
The first church edifice was erected in 1640 or 1641, within a twelve-month from the settlement of the town. Its site has been a matter of doubt till recently, when a deed was discovered in the office of the Town Clerk by Mr. William S. Pelletreau, for a lot described as the " Old Meeting House Lot" bounded on the east by Old Town street, and north by the highway ; showing the site to be what is now the homestead of Mr. Joseph T. King. This house, according to tradition, was thatched, as probably were many of the first dwelling houses.
In 1652 (N. S.), March 20, at a General Court, steps were taken to build a church thirty by twenty-four feet; posts to be set in the ground and to be eight and a half feet from the ground to the plate. This was the second church. October 14, 1667, John Tennison acknowledges receiving part "pay to the building of the Meeting House." From the records of the town again (Liber A, No. 2, p. 51) it appears that this church was not com- pleted until some time between 1669 and 1672. As to the loca- tion of this church, there is no doubt whatever. It stood on what is now the homestead of Mr. Edwin Post. Its location is given in a record of a settlement of a dispute between Isaac Willman and the town, on November 29, 1672.
The third was erected in 1707, and stood on the south-west cor- ner of the land of the late Captain Albert Rogers, facing the main street and the lane. (See frontispiece.) It is still standing, after having been used as a house of worship by the Methodist society from 1844 to 1884. The steeple of this church, pulled down by ropes in 1842 or 1843, was built in 1751.
The fourth was erected in the year 1843.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BRIDGEHAMPTON.
1. The first minister was the Rev. Ebenezer White, who was ordained here October 9, 1695. He served as a supply here for some time previous to this and in April of that year purchased ten acres of land having thereon a residence and other buildings, in Sagg. On May 27, 1695, the town granted him fifteen acres
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of land. Mr. White labored here fifty-three years and died Feb- ruary 4, 1756, aged eighty-four.
2. The second pastor was the Rev. James Brown, who was ordained June 15, 1748. He resigned his charge March 27, 1775,* and removed to a farin at Scuttle Hole, now owned by George Strong. He died April 22, 1788, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and was buried in the cemetery in Scuttle Hole.
3. The third pastor was the Rev. Aaron Woolworth, a brilliant scholar and one loved by all his people for his many excellent traits of character. He was a native of Long Meadow, Mass., and a graduate of Yale. He married a daughter of Rev. Dr. Samuel Buel of East Hampton, and one of his sons, Samuel Buell Woolworth, LL. D., was long the secretary of the Regents of the University of the State of New York. Dr. Woolworth was ordained August 30, 1787, and continued here in the minis- try for thirty-four years and died among his people.
4. The fourth pastor was the Rev. Amzi Francis, who was or- dained April 17, 1823, and continued here for twenty-three years until his death on October 18, 1845, at the age of fifty-two.
5. Rev. Cornelius Edgar came to this place November 21, 1845, and was ordained June 10, 1846. He resigned his charge October 2, 1853, and removed to Easton, Pa., where he still re- mains as pastor of the Reformed church.
6. Rev. David M. Miller was installed April 27, 1854, after having preached about three months as stated supply. He mar- ried Isabel, only daughter of Judge Hugh Halsey, of this village, and died in June, 1855.
7. Rev. Thomas M. Gray, son of Rev. John Gray, of Easton, was installed April 23, 1856. He resigned April 10, 1866.
8. Rev. William P. Strickland, D.D., preached from May, 1866, to October 5, 1875, as stated supply, when he was installed as pastor. He resigned in October, 1878.
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