USA > New York > Orange County > Montgomery > The history of Montgomery classis, R.C.A. To which is added sketches of Mohawk valley men and events of early days, the Iroquois, Palatines, Indian missions, etc > Part 14
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 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
Two churches were organized at Caroline (Tompkins CAROLINE Co.), the first in 1800, the year of the forma- tion of the Classis, and which continued for a few years, Rev. Garrett Mandeville being a pastor. In 1831 a second Reformed church was formed, Revs. Chas. P. Wack, John G. Tarbell,
115
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Cornelius Gates, and John Witbeck (cf Arcadia) serving as pastors, the last thro the years 1852-1868.
The Reformed Dutch church of Cato was organized in 1818 CATO by the Montgomery Classis and continued as such until
December, 1884, when it was formally received into the Presbytery of Cayuga. For the first few years it was supplied by missionaries or nearby pastors. In 1821 David R. DeFraest became the pastor. In 1824 a church was organized at Sterling (cf Aurelius) and DeFraest preached for a couple years here, as well as at Cato. In 1827 an Independent or "Wyckofite" church ("True Reformed") was organized at Cato in which DeFraest continued to preach until 1828 when he was suspended by the Classis from the ministry. Later he joined the Associate Presbyterian body, and died in 1861. When the seceders left the original church the missionaries, Rev. Richard Wynkoop served the church for several months, and after him Rev. Jas. B. Stevenson for a couple of years, going to Florida (cf) in 1829. Rev. Abram Hoffman was the second pastor serving the church from 1831 thro 1843. He died in 1856. Rev. Richard W. Knight, an English Congregationalist, who had been at Sand Beach (Owasco Outlet) for several years, came to Cato in 1845, also preaching at Lysander. Later Wolcott (Victory) was substituted for Lysander, and Knight continued at Cato until 1852, when he was made pastor emeritus. He died February 9, 1873. Rev. A. G. Morse was at Cato during 1857- 1859. Rev. Thomas G. Watson was ordained and installed over the church by the Geneva Classis, June 25, 1861. He also preached at Wolcott. On leaving Cato in 1869, he entered the Presbyterian church, spending fifteen years in Washington where he died, at Spokane on October 28, 1900. During his pastorate (1865) the con- gregation bot of the Methodists their property for $850, selling the old church and land for $350. At this time there were but thirty- one in the communion of the church. Rev. Watson was drafted for the Civil War, but he bought his release with money given by the two churches and some of his own ($600). In these days L. W. Van Doren, Isaac Van Doren, Morgan Lawrence, Peter Sleight, and David Jones were efficient officers. Rev. Minor Swick came in 1869 and remained two years, to be followed by Rev. Frederick F. Wilson, who came from Mohawk (cf) and remained a year (1872). Rev. T. R. Townsend supplied for a while. On May 26, 1874, Rev. J. Howard Van Doren, who had been in the China mission, was installed and staid until 1876 when he went to Tyre. His last pastorate was at East Albany (Bath) where he died June 6, 1898. His daughter, Alice Van Doren, has been for some years a member of the Ranipettai (India) Mission. Rev. Ransford Wells (cf Canajoharie and Fulton- ville) spent five years at Cato (1876-1880). At this time the church, thro its financial depression, lost its parsonage. For three years it was supplied by Auburn students, Rev. Wilbur O. Carrier leading it at length into the Presbyterian fold. This was no reflection on the Reformed denomination for the Domestic Board gave thousands of dollars thro the years to the work. The first pastor of the Presby- terian church was Rev. John Wileridge. Rev. O. B. Pershing (New Brunswick 1900) was ordained here. The present pastor, Rev. Cassius J. Sargent, supplied the Owasco field from 1905 thro a part of 1910.
116
now currytou wych ofiter 6. 5. 183
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
The First Reformed Protestant Dutch church of CHARLESTON Charleston was a charter member of the Classis. It was organized in 1795. In 1803 the Second Charleston church was organized by the Classis, the first settled pastor being Rev. Henry V. Wyckoff (1803-1820), who lived in the town of Charleston for thirty-five years, serving various churches, regular, independent, and secession. In the Particular Synod Albany Minutes of 1817 he is reported as without charge. A brother, Rev. Isaac N. Wyckoff, was at Albany Second for thirty years, receiving a thousand souls into that church. Wyckoff came to Glen and Charleston from the Seminary in 1799: During the quarter-century following the first organization there were four others according to the records, but nothing is known of them. Wyckoff seems to have been the moving genius in each but the first. Another church under date of August 13, 1803, was incorporated, which Wyckoff served twenty-five years. The consistory of this last church was, Timothy Hut- ton, Sr., John Jamison, Garrett Lansing, Cornelius Van Olinda, elders, and Edward Montaney, Francis Stile, Wilhelm Fero, and Henry Disbro, deacons. There was also a "Reformed_Calvinist church of Canajoharie and Charleston," incorporated in 1806. The building used by the Second church finally came into use by the followers of Wyckoff, who were termed, and to this day, "Wyckofites." This edifice was burned in 1860. This church was re-incorporated Novem- ber 24, 1823. Wyckof was suspended in 1820 and at once organized a "Truth Reformed" church (cf Note), which, with another seceding church he served for ten more years. Other men serving the regu- lar churches in the town of Charleston were, Revs. Benj. Van Keuren, Peter Van Buren, ordained by Montgomery Classis in 1805, J. R. H. Hasbrouck, Jonathan F. Morris, and Alanson B. Chittenden. Van Keuren was also at Mapletown (cf). Hasbrouck was, later, at Curry- town (cf). Morris was a classical misionary in the twenties. He died July 11, 1886. Mr. Chittenden died in 1583. 253
This is said to be the first church organized by the
CHENANGO Board of Domestic Missions after the Revolution, but in Todd's "Life of Peter Labagh," it is recorded to have been organized in 1796 by Labagh, who was temporarily serving the Particular Synod of Albany as a missionary. It was formed by Rev. John Cornelison. He died in 1828 after a pastorate of twenty odd years in the church at Bergen. The date was 1794, a charter member of the Classis. It was situated near the present site of Binghamton, and continued as a Dutch church for nearly thirty years, when it became Presbyterian. The building was torn down in 1911. Corwin's manual says the men who served this church were, Revs. Sylvanus Palmer (cf Amsterdam), Samuel Van Vechten (cf Fort Plain), John Van Derveer (cf Canajoharie), John W. Ward, A. Henry DuMont, Douw Van Olinda (cf Fonda). Ward was the first Presbyterian pastor. Excepting Mr. Ward these men served the Union church in Montgomery county (Johnstown) organized by the Classis in 1810. Corwin's Manual errs in associating them with the Chenango Church so far distant. Another church nearby was called the "Union" Reformed Dutch Church, because here Gen. Clinton on August 28, 1779, made a union with the forces of Gen. Sullivan in the latter's campaign against the Iroquois.
117
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Chittenango was settled in 1793 and was called CHITTENANGO Chittenango Falls. A Presbyterian church was organized here in 1799 and Rev. John Leonard was the first pastor. The Reformed Duich church of Chittenango (an Indian name meaning "sunshine") was organized January 12, 1838, and the building dedicated January 15, 1829, by the Cayuga Classis. The founders of the church were Rev. Andrew Yates, David R. Austin, Jas. A. Van Voast, Jacob Slingerland and Stephen Alexander. At a public meeting held February 28, 1828, a committee of thirteen, with Rev. Yates was appointed to erect the church. Hon. John B. Yates, an attorney at Chittenango, gave $2,500 toward the project. The first work done in Chittenango was by Rev. Hutchins Taylor (1828), but on the coming of Rev. Yates, a New Brunswick man, to the principalship of what became the Yates Academy (a work of the Dutch church) and which, later, and is now called the Yates High School, the Reformed church was organized. Originally there were but five members, and at the close of the first year, but twelve, tho after the dedication some twenty from the Sullivan Presbyterian united. Even after forty years, in 1864, when Rev. Jas. R. Talmage was pastor, there were but seventy-nine. Rev. Taylor remained eighteen months, after which Dr. Yates served as supply for a year. Rev. Dr. Yates is again called, and declines, but secures for the church Rev. William H. Campbell (later Professor and President at Rutgers), who remained a year. Rev. Dr. Yates now accepts a call to the church, still retaining his position in the school. But the burden of work is too great so he secures Rev. Elbert Slingerland, but he remained but two months. Rev. Daniel E. Manton, a graduate of Andover and Princeton, supplied the pulpit after this until April 22, 1836, when Rev. John Cantine F. Hoes is installed over the church, remaining until 1837, when he resigned to go to Ithaca (cf). Rev. Hoes was born in Kinderhook, and a sister married President Martin Van Buren, while another married Rev. L. H. Van Dyck (cf Stone Arabia). His only son was a chaplain in the navy. The Board of Domestic Missions was making annual grants of $200 to aid in pay- ing salary.
In January, 1838, Rev. James Abeel came to the field and staid nearly twenty years, during all of which time the organization was straightened financially. Other preachers or supplies were, Rev. Seth P. M. Hastings, who died at Accord in 1876, and Jas. R. Tal- mage, who died a decade later. His brothers were Rev. John V. N. Talmage, a missionary to the Chinese for forty years, Rev. Goyn Talmage of the same class ('45) at New Brunswick, and Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, the famous preacher (cf Syracuse 1st). Rev. Jacob H. Enders who was pastor for ten years (1869-1880). Rev. Otis C. Thatcher was the last pastor of the Reformed church. A Mr. Fisher supplied the pulpit after Rev. Thatcher left, who later entered the Methodist ministry. At the Fall meeting of the Presbytery of Syra- cuse, held in the Reformed church at Chittenango, the organization, on application of the congregation was received into the Presbytery, which also took over the valuable property rights into which the Board of Domestic Missions had invested thousands of dollars, and endowments given to the Dutch church by its former members. Rev. Charles H. Walker (now of Troy, N. Y.) was the first Presbyterian pastor, installed in 1889. A year after this transfer the Particular
118
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Synod of Albany placed the Chittenango church in the Classis of Montgomery, and said church was listed among those of the Classis until 1894.
The Classis of Montgomery in 1825 gave leave of CINCINNATUS absence to Rev. Mr. Labagh that he might go to this place, which is in Cortland county, to organ- ize the Reformed Dutch church there. Mr. Van Horne and Rev. Mr. De Voe were to supply his pulpit. The church is mentioned after this only in the reports of the Missionary Society.
This church, as that of Andriestown (cf) was COENRADSTOWN given a place in the 1800 list of the Montgom- ery Classis. They have been placed at times among the Canadian churches of early missionary activity organized by Rev. Robert McDowell, who was commissioned by the Classis of Albany to labor in both Upper and Lower Canada, and whose regular field of service was nearly three hundred miles long. Both of these churches were developments of the German Flatts church. Reference is made under Andriestown to the settlement of that name, seven miles south of Fort Herkimer. After a few years of prosperity, a number of these settlers went five miles further west and formed a new settlement and called it Coenradstown (Coonrodstown) because that family surname predominated among the first settlers. In the "Mission Field" of December, 1912, is a view of the Coonrod Orendorf barn where the people of Coenradstown usually met for worship, and where, in 1798, the church of Columbia was organized. In the records of the German Flatts church in calling Rev. Pick to their joint pastorate (April 9, 1798) the consistories of German Flatts and Herkimer, besides demanding of Pick a statement as to his debts and his creditors, also agreed, on request of a representa- tive from Coenradstown, that Pick should preach at that place six Sabbaths every year, and four times a year during the week at Oren- dorf's barn or in the church erected. No records of these two churches, Andriestown and Coenradstown are extant, tho references are made to them in the records at Gernian Flatts.
The Union Reformed Dutch church of this place COBLESKILL was received into the Montgomery Classis on the second Wednesday of February, 1826. It became extinct in 1855, for most of the time being in the Schoharie Classis. A church was at once built, and Rev. William Evans conducted services in it during the summer months of 1827. Other pastors or supplies were, Revs. H. A. Raymond, A. H. Myers, J. E. Quaw, Benj. Bassler, H. E. Waring, William Lochead, Cyril Spaulding, and D. B. Hall. Roscoe's History of Schoharie County refers to the church, but the only correct statement made is to the effect that the building was later occupied by the post office. This church has no relation whatever to the present Cobleskill church.
"The Duanesburgh Dutch Church-Anno Domini DUANESBURGH 1800-Thomas Romeyn, V. D. M.," is the record on the fly leaf of the old consistory book of this church. This organization had apparently but a few years of life, the records beginning in September, 1798, and ending in June, 1804. Among the ministers whose names occur in the records are those of Rev. Winslow Paige of Florida (cf), Rev. Thos. Romeyn, Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck, Rev. Robert McDowell. Romeyn was also at Florida
119
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
(1800-1806), and Ten Eyck was at Amsterdam (first organization), while McDowell was one of the early missionaries of the denomina- tion, doing a large work in the Canadian settlements near the border. A meeting house was built, but the work was given up in 1805. A second church was organized in 1824. Records of these churches are to be found at Fonda. On April 5, 1801, an "Association of Florida and Duanesburgh" was incorporated, and trustees chosen at the house of Thomas Crawford. Later a Duanesburgh Presbyterian church was organized in 1804, and in 1806, Classis dismissed the Dutch church to Albany Presbytery. Still another Associate church was organized at Scotch Bush in 1795, and a church was built. This last church was rebuilt in 1846 and in 1851 it became Presbyterian. The old book to which we refer contains several pages of marriages, baptisms, and a church membership register, of which typed copy has been made. This church was in Seneca county; originally the town was called "Washington." The church was formed in FAYETTE 1800. It was a missionary church, and was supplied for a decade by Revs. John Van Derveer and Jonathan F. Morris. In 1855 the county histories report two Reformed churches in this town. Classis admitted the Fayette church in 1821.
Called also RaMsonville (corporate name in 1815),
FONDA'S BUSH "New Harlem" and "Broadalbin," it was situated in what is now Fulton Co. on Kennyetto Creek, and is now called Vails Mills. Rev. Romeyn began services here in 1790. The church was organized in 1795, and incorporated in 1800, and ran thro an existence of some thirty years, when (1823) it was dis- missed by Classis to the Albany Presbytery. The first consistory was made up of Dick Banta and Samuel Demarest, elders, and Abraham Westervelt and Peter Demarest, deacons. Mr. Ten Eyck staid until 1811, Palmer came in 1818. Rev Conrad Ten Eyck and Rev. Sylvanus Palmer were pastors of the church and Rev. Samuel Van Vechten, the missionary, also served it. (In 1804 there was an incorporation as "The First Presbyterian Congregation in Broadalbin under the inspection of the Associate Reformed church").
This church was situated in the town of Minden FORD'S BUSH (Montgomery Co.) just south of St. Johnsville, and was incorporated April 26, 1801. The incor- poration, signed by Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck, bears date of May 18, 1800 and is on file at Fonda. Jonathan F. Morris is put down as a mis- sionary, serving this church as late as 1829. Robert Sybert, Martin Blessing and John Monk were trustees.
While the Reformed church never had any or- FORT HUNTER ganization at Fort Hunter yet on the estate of Rev. Jacob H. Enders (for years a member of the Montgomery Classis, cf Chittenango) a commodious house of worship (still standing) had been built by J. Leslie Voorhees of the Auriesville church, and services for the people of the community had been held in it for many years. Fort Hunter was originally called "I-can-der- a-go" or "Te-on-de-lo-ga" i. e. "two streams coming together." Here was the familiar palisaded Indian Mission spoken of in the Note on Indian Education. The lower Mohawk Castle was built here. Fort Hunter was built in October, 1711, but at the close of the French War in 1763, it was abandoned, and the Indian Mission given up a decade later. Soon after the Queen Anne chapel was built in the
120
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
fort, the Dutch built a log meeting house near what later became known as Snook's Corners, about two miles distant from the fort.
The place was named after Lawrence Frank, an FRANKFORT early settler. A church was organized in the pres- ent village of Frankfort (Herkimer Co.) in 1830. At the beginning the Rev. Henry Snyder (cf Herkimer) preached here, and at Schuyler and Herkimer 2nd. Other ministers were, Rev. Amos W. Seeley (cf Cicero), Rev. James Murphy (cf Herkimer), and Rev. Jedediah L. Stark (cf Mohawk).
GREENWICH notin Morta. cl
This church was organized in 1812. It was some- times called "Union Village," and was in Washing- ton county. Nothing else is known.
Sometimes called, "Warren," this church was situ- HENDERSON ated near Jordanville (Herkimer Co.), some six miles east of the Columbia church. It was settled between 1750 and 1756. Its name was, doubtless, derived from Dr. Henderson, after whom Andriestown was also called (cf). Services were conducted in this church, built in 1829 (building still standing, 1915) up to May 22, 1887, a communion service conducted by Dr. Daniel Lord. In 1895 Classis sold the building for $25. A First Church of Henderson was organized about 1798, at the time of the organiza -. tion of the Columbia church. This seems to have been dropped, and this second one formed in 1823, the pastors at Columbia usually sup- plying Henderson, among whom were Revs. Jacob W. Hangen (cf Columbia), David De Voe (supplied for a year-cf St. Johns- ville), John P. Pepper, Davis B. Hall, John Witbeck, Daniel Lord (supplied often during twenty years, cf Fort Herkimer), and James M. Compton (cf Stone Arabia). Henderson reported one hundred families and a congregation of five hundred in 1842, but in 1854, the report read, forty families and one hundred and fifty in the congregation." Reported vacant until 1895 when the name was dropped.
It was about a century after the forming of the origin- HERKIMER SECOND al Herkimer church that a second church was or- ganized by Montgomery Classis in the east end of Herkimer. This was done in 1824 and continued with more or less success until 1836, when it was merged into the mother church. In December, 1823, Simeon Ford and others wanted to organ- ize but Classis objected. Gen. Synod in June, 1824, directed it should be done. Among the men who served the Second Herkimer church were Revs. Samuel Centre, Isaac S. Ketchum, Joshua Boyd, Jonathan F. Morris, Henry Snyder, and John H. Pitcher. In 1912 a Sunday school was started by members of the Herkimer church in East Herkimer, and the outlook is excellent for an organization in this prosperous suburb of Herkimer.
A Reformed church was organized at Ilion in 1862, and in ILION 1866 reported thirty families to the Classis. Rev. Jeremiah Petrie (cf Herkimer) was the pastor from 1864 thro 1868. The church later went over to the Presbyterians, who built a beauti- ful new structure in 1912.
Sir William Johnson is said to have built the INDIAN CASTLE church at Indian Castle, costing $1,142.75 (also called "Danube") in 1769 in order that the Indians at the upper Mohawk Castle might have religious training.
121
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
In the beginning of the work Rev. Mr. Hale was called, but declined. In 1772 Sir William Johnson complained to Rev. Dr. Burton, that he can get no preacher for the Castle church. On March 12, 1800, a Reformed Dutch church was incorporated. Rev. David De Voe, Rev. Joseph Knieskern of St. Johnsville, and Rev. D. C. A. Pick of Stone Arabia often supplied the pulpit. In 1823 Rev. Samuel Ketchum was preaching here. The consistory at this time were Andrew Dingman, Jacob Overacker, Robert Spoor, Henry Moyer, elders, and William Ostrander, Thomas J. Mesick, Jacob I. Cramor, and Rudolph Wal- rath, Jr., deacons. A second church was formed in 1861 to which Rev. R. M. Stanbrough, at the time the Manheim pastor ministered. Stanbrough usually walked from Manheim to the Mohawk at a point opposite the church site, then crossed in a skiff, with frequent dangers, and after service made the return trip for the evening service at Manheim.
Called also "Johnsburgh," it was organized by
JOHNSBOROUGH Rev. Samuel Centre (cf Herkimer) who sup- plied the field in 1823. The church was in Warren county and was organized in 1819.
A Montgomery county church, formed in 1816. It JOHNSTOWN was also called "Kingsboro." It was in the Kings- land tract of sixty-six thousand acres of land that the King gave Sir William Johnson a few years before the latter's death. Johnstown was originally the county seat of Tyron and later of Montgomery county, and it was the removal of the county seat to Fonda that caused a division in the county and the formation of Fulton county. The title on record is "The Kingsborough Reformed Dutch church." At first it was connected with the Caughnawaga church. The men who preached here were, Rev. Albert Amerman, who also supplied Mayfield, and who was on this field, in regular and independent Reformed churches for a quarter century (1817- 1843). His only other field was Hackensack (1843-1871). He died as pastor of the Presbyterian church of Hackensack in 1881. The next ministers were, Rev. Samuel Van Vechten (cf Mapletown), Rev. Douw Van Olinda (cf Mapletown), and Herman B. Stryker (cf St. Johnsville). The work was given up about 1835, and it was not until 1894 that the present Johnstown church was organized. The Fonda records are dated 1800, Philip Miller and Christian Yaney being elected elders. A re-incorporation is recorded in April, 1813. Rev. Peter Domier, a Lutheran, organized on Christmas day, 1821, a Dutch Lutheran church at Johnstown (cf Palatine Stone Dutch church). Rev. John Taylor (1802) speaks of the "elegant Scotch Presbyterian church" in Johnstown, Rev. Simon Hoseck, pastor; also of the Epis- copal church and its organ, Rev. John Erquahart, rector, and of the Reformed Dutch church where Domine Van Horne preaches.
Tho this church was in Schenectady county it was
MARIAVILLE in the Montgomery Classis, being near to the Flori- da church at Minaville, if not, indeed, an outgrowth of this church. It was organized in 1843, its only pastor of whom we have knowledge having been James Donald, who served the church from 1844 thro 1850. Mariaville first reported to the Fall meeting of Classis in 1845.
122
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CLASSIS
Situated in Lewis county, organized in 1827. MARTINSBURGH It was near Lowville on the Black River Rail- road. Known only thro mention of it in the minutes of the Synods.
The Reformed Protestant Dutch church of Mayfield MAYFIELD was organized in 1793, Abraham Wells, Abraham Romeyn, Lucas Brinckerhoff, Peter Snyder, David Becker, Elisabeth Turner and Mary Van Buren being charter mem- bers. On February 20, 1795, it was determined to build the church on the "nole" at or near the road leading from Mayfield to Romeyn's Mill (building still standing near the F., J. & G. R. R.). Mayfield cemetery now covers the original tract of land that was used for building the church. The first church was thirty by twenty, built on a half acre of land, given by Abraham Wells. Originally Mayfield, with New Broad Alban, Johnstown, and Amsterdam, formed the Caughnawaga "Square." Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck was the first preach- er, also at Amsterdam (cf) and remaind until 1812. Rev. John Taylor's "Journal" of 1802 speaks of the old Dutch church at May- field and its pastor, Ten Eyck. After Mr. Ten Eyck left a dissension arose resulting in a number withdrawing and building another church at what is now called Munsonville. These people were called "Pal- merites" after their pastor, Rev. Sylvanus Palmer (cf Amsterdam), who was with them so many years. This second church building was taken down many years ago. Rev. Albert Amerman (cf Amster- dam) was here for four years (1817-1821), and Revs. Douw Van Olinda, and Samuel Van Vechten, of whom we have spoken under Amsterdam. In March, 1823 (Fonda Records), the church withdrew from Montgomery Classis and became the Central Presbyterian church of Mayfield. Rev. Jeremiah Wood began preaching here in 1826, and continued until 1870. He died in 1876. The present Presby- terian church was built in 1828.
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.