USA > New York > Dutchess County > Poughkeepsie > The records of Christ church, Poughkeepsie, New York, Vol I > Part 6
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1 Appendix, Fishkill papers, No. 33.
2 Appendix, Beardsley papers, No. 14.
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This question was, in brief, whether the two hundred acres of commons, added by the charter to the original glebe, belonged to the two Churches jointly, or to Christ Church alone. This was not specifically mention- ed as a point at issue until April, 1784, although there had never been accord and agreement on the subject of the glebe from the time the charter for Christ Church was obtained. But, in the discussion of Trinity's interest in the glebe, that took place in 1773-1774-1775, Mr. Beardsley being, then, still in residence, the two hundred acres are not referred to in any records remaining in the possession of Christ Church.
In 1784, the crux of the situation presented itself as whether Mr. Beardsley, who had conducted the business of the application to the Council for a grant, had, in doing so, intended his action to benefit one or both of the Churches. It is difficult, at the present time, to see why this was not easily determined from him in the three years preceding his removal, or, why this particular difficulty was not referred to then, and it is much to be regretted that more does not appear of the arguments and proof advanced by the congregation at Fishkill.
An arbitration having been agreed to, it was decided in August, 1784, to invite Dr. Samuel Johnson and the Rev. Mr. Leaming, two of the leaders among the clergy of Connecticut, to act as arbitrators. Their inability to serve delayed the matter somewhat, but, finally, on the 8th and 9th of March, 1785, the conferrees met at James Annin's inn at New Hackensack, the arbitrators being Judge Isaac Smith of Lithgow, chosen by Poughkeepsie, Martin Wiltsie, Esq., of Rombout, chosen by Fishkill, and Samuel Verplanck of Rombout, chosen by Messrs. Smith and Wiltsie. The representatives of the two
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Churches were, for Trinity, John Halstead, Daniel Ter- Bos, Dr. Jeremiah Cooper, Benjamin Snider, Philip Pine, Jonas Halstead, Thomas Southard, Obadiah Cooper, "Mr. Cooke" and "Mr. Southard;" for Christ Church, Richard Davis, William Emott, Robert Noxon, John Davis, James Pritchard, Isaac Balding Jr. and Ebenezer Badger.
"When the parties mett at New Hackensack" (to quote the words1 of William Emott), "It was discovered we did not stand on equal ground, they not being. incor- porated. The Articles of Submission2 were therefore executed by individuals, in which they pledged themselves to each other on their honour and good faith."
A brief for Christ Church,3 prepared by John Davis for this occasion, after rehearsing the circumstances under which the charter and grant were obtained, says:
"Since which time an Unhappy dispute has arisen between the Corporation of Christ Church in Poughkeepsie and the Vestry and Congregation of Fishkills, on account of said two Hundred Acres granted as Aforesaid: the people of Fishkill say that the two Hundred acres ought of Right to be a part of the Glebe and that they should be equal to the Poughkeepsie people in it, and do accuse the mem- bers of Poughkeepsie Church of unfair dealing in Obtaining the Land to themselves, and say farther that Mr. Beardsley had said it was for both Congre- gations.
"We, the Members of the Corporation of Christ Church as above said, do deny that we have used any
1 Appendix, Fishkill papers, No. 33.
2 Appendix, Fishkill papers, No. 12.
3 Appendix, Fishkill papers, No. 14.
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unfair or underhanded means in giting the land, but that we have Obtained it Justly and uprightly; furthermore we say that we have added land to the Glebe by which the Fishkill people is benefited as well as we; for, by the purchase of the Glebe they were entitled to part of the Commons, but, when the said Commons was deemed by the Governor and Council unpatented, and Consequently Vacant Land, the right of the Glebe, and theirs with it, fell to nothing. Yet we did obtain a part of the said Vacant Land for the Glebe and which we got annex- ed to it, as will appear by the Map of the Glebe and our Charter; which is the Land Mr. Beardsley told the Fishkill people he had Obtained for both Con- gregations.
"In giting the two Hundred acres we acted for our Church Only, the same as we did in building of it; and we look upon it that a Claim from the Fishkills for the walls of our Church would be as Just as the one they make to the Land; for Can it be supposed that we cannot advance the Interest of our Church without giving theirs a part? Surely, no. What- ever property the Fishkill Members gets for theirs, Can, in our Opinion, in no part whatever be Claimed for the Church at Poughkeepsie.
"We never Negociated this matter Secretly, it was agitated publickly and openly at New York, and we believe not without your knowledge. If Mr. Beard- sley told you it was for both Congregations we can't help that. He had no authority from us for saying so.
"We are of opinion that if Mr. Beardsley was present he would easily set all Right in that affair, and we make no doubt but that his evidence would .
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tend verry much in our favour; but, as that Cannot now be Obtained we are Constrained to do without it. Mr. Beardsley always told us that what he meant by telling you it was for the benefit of both Congregations was Only the Gore1 annexed to the Glebe and not the two Hundred acres.
"Gentlemen Arbitrators
"This we think to be a true State of the matter in dispute between us and to your Determination we most willingly submit it, both for peace, and the Churches sake, which we most ardently wish."
Davis's statement that the Fishkill Church charged unfair dealing on the part of Christ Church is repeated in a vestry minute 2 of earlier date, in which it was said the opinion at Fishkill was "that there must have been a fraud or Collusion in that Affair." In a letter' from the vestry of Christ Church to the Rev. John Beardsley in New Brunswick is this paragraph also: "One hundred acres of the New Land will probably be given up to Fishkill; we can make peace upon no other terms; they stand ready with a number of witnesses to make appear your positive engagements to them in this affair."
Over against the testimony of the Fishkill witnesses must be set that of Mr. Beardsley in a letter 4 he wrote John Davis from Maugerville, September 9th, 1788,- "that ye two hundred acres of new land was designed for ye use and benefit of Christs Church at Poughkeepsie, ye Charter and Grant will fully evince."
1 The gore was a 30 acre sub-division of the 87 acres of the original glebe, as exhibited on a map of October 30th, 1784.
2 Appendix, Fishkill papers, No. 10.
3 Appendix, Beardsley papers, No. 10.
4 Appendix, Beardsley papers, No. 8.
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The decision of the arbitrators, 1 rendered at New Hackensack on March 9th, 1785, was that each Church was entitled to a full and equal half of both the original glebe and of the two hundred acres (the twenty-three acre lot always excepted), that the Corporation of Christ Church were trustees for the share of the Fishkill con- gregation, and that the latter were liable to pay the said Corporation for one half of the expense incurred in obtaining the lands and the charter.
The handicap under which Trinity Church labored, that of the want of incorporation, was removed soon after the arbitration. One of the first matters taken up by the Legislature of the State of New York upon the formal conclusion of peace, was that of relief to con- gregations whose affairs had been thrown into confusion by the change from dependent to independent govern- ment, and in April, 1784, an act was passed "to enable Churches to appoint Trustees," etc. This opportunity Trinity availed itself of on October 13th, 1785, two of the vestry certifying2 on that date that trustees had been "elected for the Congregation of Trinity Church in Pre- cinct of Rombout, to take charge of the estate and proper- ty of the Congregation."
When the tide of war receded, Episcopal congregations throughout the country were left stranded, as so many units. Their first need was now felt to be the establish- ment of some bond of union, and some arrangement for concerted action. To this end the vestry of Trinity Church, New York City, invited3 all the congregations
1 Appendix, Fishkill papers, No. 13.
2 Dutchess County Clerk's records, Book of Incorporation of Churches, p. 258.
3 Dix: History of Trinity Parish, Vol. 2, p. 103.
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in the state to send delegates to a meeting which was held in June, 1785, in New York. The purpose of the meeting was declared to be the determination of some plan of organization, and also the appointment of depu- ties from New York to a general meeting of clerical and lay deputies from the several Episcopal congregations within the United States, which general meeting had been announced for the following autumn.
This gathering in June, 1785, ranks as the first meeting of the body which became the Diocesan Convention of New York. Christ Church, Poughkeepsie, was repre- sented in it by John Davis, and it is gratifying to record that he was elected by it one of the three lay delegates from New York State to the first General Convention of the Church, held at Philadelphia in September-October, 1785. At this first General Convention there was adopted a constitution for the Episcopal Church in the United States; revisions were made in the liturgy, and a Proposed Book of Common Prayer put forth; and steps were taken to procure the Episcopate in the line of the English Succession.
As a result of the Philadelphia Convention, a summons was issued in 1786 by the clergy of New York City for another meeting of representatives of the Churches of New York State. In acknowledging the invitation2 to send delegates, which was extended by the Rev. Messrs. Samuel Provoost (then become Rector of Trinity Parish), Abraham Beach and Benjamin Moore, the vestry of Christ Church referred to the important business matters which the State Convention would
1 Dix: History of Trinity Parish, Vol. 2, p. 104, and Journal of the Convention of the Diocese of New York, 1785.
2 Original letter, Christ Church Parish Mss.
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have before it. It is interesting to note, in their expres- sion of a desire for Church unity, an echo of the dis- cussion in the General Convention at Philadelphia of the Federal idea of the Church in the United States. This was a conception which the New England congregations had not yet assimilated.
After regretting that an engagement for a conference with the Fishkill vestry would prevent their being in attendance at the New York Convention, the vestry's reply reads:
"It has been reported with us that the New Book of Common Prayer will be brought forward at this convention. It is impossible for this Congregation to judge of its merits, it not having made its way among us, and this probably is the case with most of the congregations in this State. Should this be a true state of facts, We are of Opinion it would be for the Interest of the Church to have the matter postponed.
"The success of the application made to the Mother church for the Consecration of American Bishops will depend much upon our Prudence. That the unity of the Church may be preserved is the fervent wish of, Gentlemen, your Very humble Servant
"By order of the Vestry "William Emott, Secretary. "N. B.
"Any letters directed to the Church of Poughkeep- sie will come safe by our Sloops, one or more of them sails from N York every Saturday in the Season, they are to be found at Crugers Wharf."
The parish was still without its Rector when this letter
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was written, although Mr. Van Dyck had been ordained by Bishop Seabury in August 1785. After his ordina- tion had taken place, the vestry supposed all occasion for delay was over, but, to their requests that he should remove himself and his family from Stratford to Pough- keepsie, he returned excuses which somewhat nettled them. Mr. Van Dyck, on his part, was loath to tell the real difficulty, but finally he made known to the vestry that he owed a debt to a creditor in New York City, which he had not funds to meet, and that the laws, in force in the State of New York, regarding debtors, rendered him liable to arrest and imprisonment if he came within the state to live.
By the agency of Egbert Benson, to whom the vestry entrusted the matter, a settlement was ultimately reach- ed with the creditor, and, as it fortunately happened that the Legislature of New York modified the State code concerning debtors at about this time, it became possi- ble for Mr. Van Dyck to enter upon his charge.
An amendment made to the original terms agreed upon with him provided that he was to divide his time equally between Christ and Trinity Churches, and on Whit- sunday (May 27th), 1787, his rectorate began. The correspondence and proceedings relating to his call are printed in full in the Appendix, as they contain local color which it is worth while to preserve.
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CHAPTER IV
1787-1798
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES. THE RELATION OF CHRIST CHURCH TO EXTRA- PAROCHIAL CONDITIONS. THE DEBT ON THE CHURCH BUILDING. THE SALE OF THE GLEBE. SETTLEMENT WITH TRINITY CHURCH, FISHKILL.
LAW SUITS WITH TRESPASSERS ON THE GLEBE. SHORT RECTORATES.
THE BELL. THE STEEPLE. ADOPTION OF NEW SEAL. NAME OF CORPORATION ALTERED. VESTRY BY-LAWS. EPISCOPALIANS AT RED HOOK. ST. ANN'S CHURCH, BEEKMAN. CHANGES IN CONGREGATION OF CHRIST CHURCH. GIFT FROM TRINITY CHURCH, NEW YORK. NAMES OF PEWHOLDERS, 1785-1798.
I N the years immediately succeeding the first General Convention, the attention of Episcopalians in the United States was centered upon the three chief subjects which had occupied the deliberations of that assembly, those being the constitution, the Prayer Book, and the procurement of an American Episcopate.
Dr. William White, Rector of Christ Church, Phila- delphia, had been the constructive force in the Conven- tion, and continued many years as a leading influence in the Church. To his statesmanlike ability is due the drafting of its constitution, and to his foresight and clear vision we owe the formation of a united Church of National scope, rather than an aggregation of separate State bodies.
The latter condition is what would, approximately,
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have resulted, if the policy of Bishop Seabury of Connec- ticut had prevailed, a policy moulded by certain under- lying facts which affected his point of view. He had obtained his consecration from nonjuring Bishops in Scotland, whose status, so far as Apostolic Order was concerned, was valid, but who were under the proscrip- tion of the State. They were the ecclesiastical de- scendents of certain Bishops of the Established Church of England, devoted adherents of the House of Stuart, who, when the Stuarts were overthrown, refused to take the oath of allegiance to their successors, and thereby came under a political ban, and put themselves out of union with the State Church.
These circumstances evolved among them a tendency to lay stress upon Apostolic Order to the exclusion of all other considerations. Bishop Seabury showed himself influenced by their school of thought in his belief that Churchmen in this country had no right to proceed in the adoption of a constitution until full Episcopal organiza- tion had been effected, and he administered his diocese for some years without much regard for the proceedings of the congregations of the Middle and Southern States in Convention assembled.
Dr. White, on the other hand, held that the exigencies of the time demanded that the congregations should be held together by some definite action toward union, and that the Convention, with the formulation by it of the constitution, was a prime necessity. He considered it equally essential to the well being of the Church that it should be in harmony with the mother-Church of Eng- land, and, at the same time, adapt itself independently to new political conditions and assume a National char- acter, and, to secure these ends, he advocated that appli-
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cation be made at once to the Archbishop of Canterbury for the bestowal of the Episcopate upon the Church in America.
The Convention agreed with Dr. White's opinions, and prepared an address to the English Primate, setting forth its desires. The address was entrusted for pre- sentation to John Adams, Minister to St. James', and his able offices in its behalf led, in time, to its being favorably acted upon.
The congregations in New York State, on June 13th, 1786, elected Samuel Provoost as Bishop, and those in Pennsylvania, on September 14th, chose Dr. White. These two candidates sailed together for England in November, 1786, and, on February 4th, 1787, were con- secrated at Lambeth, the consecrators being the Arch- bishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishop of Bath and Wells and the Bishop of Peterborough. A little later Virginia elected James Madison, who also went to England for consecration, receiving the same September 19th, 1790. Bishop Madison being the necessary canonical third for the perpetuation of the English Succession, the foundations of the infant Church in the United States were laid; all its Bishops, since, trace back to White, Provoost and Madison. Some trace to Seabury also, as he joined with the other three in the consecration of Bishop Clagett in 1792, and Clagett thereafter joined in four consecrations.
Although much had been accomplished toward placing the Church upon a sound basis, its progress lagged for a generation. Men and means had been exhausted by the Revolutionary struggle, and a period of transition had to be undergone both by Church and Nation. The con- dition of the Church as a whole was reflected by that of a
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single diocese, and the condition of a diocese by a single parish. In New York the episcopate of Bishop Pro- voost (1787-1801) is almost coterminous with one of the natural divisions of time into which the history of Christ Church falls of itself, and which is considered in this chapter. Bishop Provoost had been an ardent patriot in the Revolution, and his identification with the Ameri- can cause gave him an influence tending to allay popular distrust of the Episcopal Church. He spoke no dis- tinctive word to the Church, however, in doctrine or in spiritual teaching, and his administration of the diocese is marked chiefly by the encouragement which, as Rector of Trinity Parish, he was able to give the rural congregations in timely donations from Trinity's treasury. His long residence at East Camp had given him greater familiarity with the Church at Poughkeepsie than he would otherwise have had, and this was supplemented by the fact that his daughter and her husband, Cadwallader D. Colden, made their home at Poughkeepsie for a few years. Colden joined the coterie of able lawyers gather- ed in Poughkeepsie, and is said to have prepared himself among them for his later distinguished work at the bar, and as Mayor of New York, and Congressman and Sena- tor. While here, he served Christ Church as a vestry- man, and as lay delegate to the Diocesan Convention; in 1793 and 1794 he was elected to the standing committee of the diocese, the Rector of the parish (the Rev. George Hartwell Spierin) also being a member of that com- mittee in 1794.
In the first Diocesan Convention held after Bishop Provoost was consecrated (that of October 1787), the Book of Common Prayer was under consideration, but Christ Church Vestry Minutes record on December 4th,
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that "William Emott reported that nothing was done at the Convention respecting the Book of Common Prayer. The matter was left for the consideration of the next General Convention; the Churches meanwhile are at liberty to use the Old or New Book at their discretion. * Bishop Provoost signified his intention of Visit- ing our Church early in the Spring in order to administer the Ordinance of Confirmation, and to enquire into the state of our Church."
This is the only mention of confirmation in the records of the parish until 1805, and whether a visitation were actually made in 1788, as proposed, does not appear.
After the Diocesan Convention of 1790, at a vestry meeting December 21st, "Messrs. Emott and Badger reported that they, on the first Tuesday of last month attended the Convention held in Trinity Church in the City of New York, and took their seats as Representa- tives from this Church. Bishop Provoost en- joyned upon the Churches belonging to his Diocese to present the State of their respective Congregations, thro' their deputies, at the next Convention. The writ- ing to be delivered in under the hands of the Minister and Churchwardens. Those Churches which have no clergy- man, by the Churchwardens only, or Trustees, as the case may be. He has it in contemplation to visit the Churches on the Hudson whenever circumstances will permit. The Convention have deliberated upon ways · and means for a Temporary Supply of Clergymen to the vacant congregations in the Country; for which end they are endeavoring to establish a Fund. All monies that are to be raised for that Pious purpose to be paid into the hands of their newly elected Treasurer, Mr. Hubert Van Wagenen, together with the yearly donations for Support-
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ing the Episcopate, so as to enable them to send forth an Itinerant Minister, or Ministers."
In compliance with the request of Bishop Provoost, this report of the state of Christ Church was prepared by the vestry, for presentation to the Convention of 1791:
Right Rev'd Sir
We, the Church wardens of Christ Church at Poughkeepsie, in conformity to your request, signified to our delegates at the last Convention, make known to you the State of our Church.
The Church here, is a very decent building, erected at the eve of the late war. It was judged expedient at that period to loan £200 to forward the building, on the credit of our sub- scriptions; but the Convoultions of the Country prevented their collection, whereby we have lost upwards of £300, and the debt still remains to be discharged. Destitute of other resources for the immediate payment of so large a sum, we have advertized our Glebe for sale.
Since the peace, we have repaired and pewed the Church, and purchased a bell. At present the congregation are desti- tute of a clergyman by the removal of the Rev'd Henry Van Dyck last Spring. Arrangements are making for procuring a Pastor; no person has yet been fixed upon.
From the exertions of our people, our Local Situation, and the Friendly disposition of the Dutch Minister and his Con- gregation, hopes are entertained of our Church becoming respectable here. The Town of Poughkeepsie and its vicinity contain 40 Episcopal families and 20 Episcopalians not in- cluded in the above families; from this enumeration it is ob- vious that at present a Minister can not be supported here un- less a junction is formed with some other Congregation. This we have assurances of.
The Countenance of the Bishop and his Clergy upon us will no doubt be attended with Sallutary effects.
We are, Right Re'd Sir, with sentiments of Respect,
Your Humble Servants
The Right Rev'd Sam'l Rich'd Davis
Provoost D.D. Bishop of Wm. Emott Wardens. the Episcopal Church, N. Y.
Accompanying the report are the names of "Heads of
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Families and individual Episcopalians in Poughkeepsie Town and its Vicinity." Thirty-nine families, and seventeen individuals, only, are listed; the fortieth householder is easily discovered in John Davis, who made the list and omitted to include himself, but the three missing names of individuals cannot be supplied.
Names of Heads of Families belonging to the Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie Town and Its Vicinity September 6th, 1791
Ebenezer Badger
Peter Mesier
Nathan Bailey
Henry Mott
Isaac Balding
Daniel Nash
Willm. Balding
Robert Noxon
-Balding
Samuel Pinkney
Thomas Beyeaux
John (Pioner?)
Henry Beyeaux
Thomas Poole
James Callow
Nicholas Power
Jas. Callow Junr.
James Pritchard
Francois Chandonet
Henry Relay
John Cooke
Samuel Smith
Richard Davis
Abel Smith
John Davis
Frederick Smith
William Emott
Daniel Smith
John Ferdon
Joseph Southard
Abraham Ferdon
Stephen Stevens
Captain Gill
Archibald Stewart
John Gullen
Asahal Thrasher
Daniel Lefferts
Joseph Willemey
John Medlar
Isaac Wood
Persons names Episcopalians not Heads of Families
Mrs. Baker William Lowder
Mrs. Barber
John Mott
Mrs. Beckwith
Mrs. Sloan
Mrs. Billings
Cath'n Sloan
James Cooper
George Smith
John Crooke
Samuel Thompson
Henercha Horner
Mrs. Williams
Mrs. Kettletas
Richard Warner
Mrs. LeRoy
1
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The outline of the financial affairs of the parish, given by the vestry in its statement to the Bishop, while brief, is comprehensive, and affords a clear understanding of the crisis that had been reached. This is seen to have been caused by the debt remaining on the church building, which was owed to Richard and John Davis. They, in conjunction with Mr. Crannell, had in 1775 borrowed £200 from Elias Desbrosses of New York, one of the wardens of Trinity Church, and applied the money to the building fund. Later, Richard Davis personally cancelled the note to Mr. Desbrosses, and himself became the creditor of the Church; but it was not until 1796 that the Church paid its indebtedness to him in full.
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