USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 45
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Marshall Seminary was established in 1863 in the northern part of the village of Easton. It was named after Benjamin Marshall, one. of the original stockholders. In 1850 it was purchased by the Society of Friends. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1873 and the present structure was built in 1874. Its use as a seminary has been discontinued.
The Friends were the earliest Christian body to organize in the town and it is a notable fact that the few of them who were in Easton when the French War broke out, did not leave their homes as did the other settlers. Their meetings at Easton date back to 1773, the first being held in the house of Zebulon Hoxie. In 1775 the first meeting house was built. This was a log structure which was replaced in 1787 by a frame edifice. In 1838 a brick church was built in the village of Easton.
The Reformed Church of Easton was organized in 1803, as "The Reformed Protestant Dutch church of Easton." It was re-organized
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under its present name in 1872. The first church building was com- pleted in 1805.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Easton was organized some time prior to 1835 but the date is not known. In that year they erected a church near North Easton. This was replaced by a fine structure in 1850.
The town records go back to 1793, and following is a list of the supervisors and town clerks from that date up to the close of the nineteenth century :
Supervisors-1793, Philip Smith ; 1794, Stanton Tefft; 1795-98, Thomas Dennis; 1799-1800, Jonathan Mosher ; 1801-02, Daniel Beadle; 1803-04, H. Van Shaick; 1805- 1808, Daniel Beadle; 1809, John Gale . 1810, Jonathan Mosher; 1811-12, John Gale; 1813-14, Charles Starbuck; 1815-16, Calvin Smith; 1817, James Mallory; 1818-19, James Tefft ; 1820, Jonathan Mosher ; 1821-22, John Davenport; 1823, Esek Brownell ; 1824-1826, James Tefft ; 1827-28, Gideon Cornell; 1829-30, Anson Bigelow; 1831, John Davenport; 1832-33, Peleg Thomas: 1834, Aaron Barker; 1835-36, Peleg Thomas; 1837, Aaron Barker; 1838-39, Peleg Thomas; 1840-42, Anson Bigelow ; 1843-44, Allen Gifford; 1845-46, Thomas D. Beadle ; 1847, Job Eldridge; 1848, Anson Bigelow; 1849, Joel Buckley; 1850-51, Peleg Thomas; 1852, Adam Cottrell; 1853, Elihu Gifford; 1854, Adam Cottrell; 1855, Russell S. Borden; 1856-57, Adam Cottrell; 1858, Jesse B. Fursman; 1859, Russel S. Borden ; 1860, Simon Burton; 1861-62, Horace Cottrell; 1863-64, John Wetsell; 1865-66, Edmond W. Hollister; 1867-1869, Warren Crandall; 1870, Andrew Thompson; 1871-72, James B. Allen; 1873-1875, James Hill; 1876-77, J. Warren Fort; 1878-79, Harvey Tubbs; 1880-81, E. R. Hegerman; 1882-83, Frank- lin Silvey; 1884-85, Royal Slocum ; 1886-1888, Harvey Tubbs; 1889, Wilbur Fryer ; 1890, Thomas W. Brownell; 1891, Harvey Slocum; 1892-93, Lewis G. Snell; 1894- 1897, F. D. Thompson; 1898-1900, Albert Pierce.
Town Clerks-1793-94, Richard Macomber; 1795-1797, Gilbert Gardner: 1798- 1800, William Woolley; 1801-1809. Charles Starbuck; 1810-1815, Jacob Van Buren; 1816, Charles Starbuck; 1817, Philander Tobey; ISIS, Calvin Smith; 1819, Luke Chapin ; 1820, Calvin Everest; 1821-22, Stephen Jackson; 1823-1828, Abraham Cor- nell; 1829-1840, Joel Potter; 1841-1844, Russell S. Borden; 1845-1850, Alfred Worth; 1851, Alexander H. B. Potter; 1852, James Barr; 1853, Alfred Worth; 1854, Alexan- der II. B. Potter; 1855, George Osborn ; 1856-1862, Alexander H. B. Potter; 1863-64, Richard L. Eddy; 1865-1868, Charles A. Cornell ; 1869-1876, Elijah S. Anthony ; 1877- 1891, Frederick H. Merrill; 1892-1897, Charles C. Allen; 1898-1900, Frederick H. Merrill.
TOWN OF DRESDEN.
Although comparatively small in population this town is of special interest because of its fine scenery and picturesque surroundings. It lies in the northern part of the county on the western side and is
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bounded on the east by Lake Champlain and South Bay, while its western side is washed by the historic and beautiful Lake George. To the north is Putnam and on the south Fort Ann.
The town as it exists at present comprises parts of six different patents, namely: "Alexander Turner's great patent," subsequently known as the "William's patent," "Turner's little patent," the " Thomas and Turner patent " since known as the " Mitchell patent," "the Stewart patent," the "Lake George tract " and the "South Bay tract."
The conformation of Dresden is rough and mountainous; from the shores of Lake Champlain the hills gradually rise and attain their greatest altitude near the shore of Lake George, toward which they break down sharply, forming precipices in some parts. Among the hills are some noteworthy peaks such as Elephant mountain to the south of Bosom Bay, Sugar-Loaf near the center of the town, Spruce mountain north of Knowlton's Bay, Hog's Back in the southeastern part of the town and Black mountain which rises to a height of 2878 feet above the level of Lake George.
The principal stream in the town is Pike brook which rises near the center and flows in a southerly direction, emptying into South Bay. The town has a notable body of water known as Long Pond which lies somewhat to the southeast of the center of the town.
The cultivated lands lie mostly along the shores of Lake Champlain, South Bay and Lake George. Lumbering and boating are prominent occupations as well as farming.
The settlement of Dresden is of later date by many years than that of several other towns of the county. The first settler was Joseph Phipeny who located at the mouth of South Bay about 1784. Soon other settlers came in and at the beginning of the nineteenth century there were settlements in different parts of the town. Among those who came in between 1784 and 1810 were Ebenezer Chapman, Daniel Ruff. Roger Barrett, James Snody, Palmer Blunt, Abraham Clemons, Doty Allen, Orrin Brewster, Israel Woodcock, John Burgess, Harvey Hullet, Amariah Taft, Elijah Nobles, Amos Slater, Welcome Hulett, Charles Nobles, John H. Waters, Isaac Hurlburt, Dr. Nathaniel Rhoads. Levi Belden, Solomon Belden, Jonathan McIntyre, Elancthan Dunham and Walter Benjamin. The first white settler on Lake George was a Frenchman named Levisee.
This town was formerly part of the town of Fort Ann and was set
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off from that town in 1806, but it and Putnam were one community. On March 22, 1822, the town of South Bay was set off from the town of Putnam and on April 17th of the same year it was re-named " Dresden."
The Delaware & Hudson railroad passes through this town and two stations, Dresden and Chubb's Dock lie within its limits. The village of Dresden is the business center of the town. The First Baptist church at Dresden was organized in 1823 at the house of Deacon Huntingdon.
Knowlton's Bay and Bosom Bay, two popular summer resorts on Lake George, lie within this town. Knowlton's Bay is one of the picturesque places upon this beautiful lake. Dresden also possesses a remarkable cave discovered in 1877 by James Adams and about which interesting legends are told.
The records of the town of Dresden were all destroyed by the fire which consumed the store of George L. Clemons in the winter of 1875-6.
Following is a list of the supervisors and clerks of the town since its organization in 1823:
Supervisors-1823, Isaac Boomer; 1824-25, Daty Allen ; 1826, Elnathan Benjamin ; 1827, Palmer Blunt; 1828-1830, Elnathan Benjamin; 1831-1841, David Barrett; 1842, Hiram Belden; 1843, Darius Jones; 1844, J. F. McIntyre; 1845, Darius Jones; 1846- 1848. Ralph Barber; 1849, Harvey Hulett; 1850, O. Clemons; 1851-52, Samuel O. Welch; 1853-54, Joseph Beebe; 1855, Burr Benjamin; 1856, Oliver L. Steere; 1857-58, Burr Benjamin; 1859, J. Bartholomew; 1860, Oliver L. Steere; 1861-62, Charles Ben- jamin; 1863-64, Israel Woodcock; 1865, Harvey Hulett, Jr .; 1866, Joseph Bartholo- mew; 1867-68, David Barrett; 1869.70, Charles Benjamin; 1871-72, Joseph Beebe; 1873-74, Joseph Barrett; 1875, David Barrett ; 1876, Oliver L. Steere; 1877-78, Daniel L. Flandreau; 1879-1881, Timothy M. Slight; 1882-1884, George L. Clemons; 1885, James Adams; 1886, George L. Clemons; 1887-88, Gardner F. Belden; 1889-1892, J. H. Clemons; 1893, David W. Phillips; 1894-95, Charles Mellon; 1896-1898, Harlan A. Walker; 1899-1900, H. W. Buckell.
Town Clerks-1823, Daty Allen; 1824-1826, Abraham Clemons; 1827, Elnathan Benjamin ; 1828, Daty Allen; 1829, David Barrett ; 1830, Amos Slater ; 1831-32, Ralph Barber; 1833-1837, Duthan Benjamin; 1838-1841, Benjamin Benjamin; 1842, Darius Jones; 1843-1845, William Snody; 1846-47. Luther Carter; 1848, Samuel O. Welch ; 1849. David Barrett; 1850-1854, Luther Carter; 1855-57, Reuben J. Hurlburt: 1858, George Bartholomew; 1859-60, Charles Benjamin; 1861, Joseph Bartholomew; 1862- 1864, Roswell C. Beebe; 1865, Israel Woodcock; 1866-1868, Richard W. Phillips; 1869, Amos Walker; 1870-1873, Thomas Bartholomew; 1874, L. D. Carter; 1875-76, George L. Clemons; 1877-1887. James K. Benjamin: 1888, A. O. Clemons, 2d; 1889, A. O. Clemons; 1890, David W. Phillips; 1891-1895, F. M. Bartholomew ; 1896-1900, J. II. Clemons.
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-ARGYLE.
TOWN OF ARGYLE.
This town lies in the central part of Washington County and was named after the Duke of Argyle, a Scottish nobleman and head of a house which still exists. At first this town included not only its present territory but also the towns of Greenwich and Fort Edward. Greenwich was set off in 1803 and Fort Edward in 1818. Argyle is bounded on the north by Kingsbury and Hartford, on the east by Salem and Hebron, on the south by Greenwich and on the west by Fort Edward. It contains nearly 35,000 acres of land which is mostly very fertile. The soil is clay loam which in some localities is mixed with gravel or disintegrated slate.
Argyle is a hilly town and toward its eastern border is quite rugged, the hills assuming proportions which have led to some of them being named mountains; of these Todd's mountain is the principal peak. The principal stream is the Moses Kill, which flows diagonally across the town in a south-westerly course and empties into the Hudson at Fort Edward. Argyle boasts two beautiful lakes, Cossayuna and Argyle lake, the former in the south-east, the latter in the southern part of the town. Cossayuna lake is about three and half miles long by half a mile wide. Its waters are deep, clear end beautiful and its banks are picturesque, rising into hills covered with pines. A fine island near its northern extremity adds to its attractiveness. This lake is a pleasant summer resort.
In 1738 Captain Loughlin Campbell came to this country with a party of Highlanders and intended to settle in or about the present town of Argyle, but Governor Clarke and the Legislature caused him so much delay that Captain Campbell died before he could secure a title to the grant of land promised him. The colony he brought with him was thus forced to break up and each look after his own personal welfare.
On May 21, 1764, Alexander McNaughton and one hundred and six others of the original Campbell settlers and their descendants received a grant of 47,700 acres of land lying between the Fort Edward and Salem grants, and thus began the first official settlement of Argyle. By the provisions of this grant the tract was also made a township and provision made for the election of officers. No individual could obtain more than six hundred acres and a condition of the patent was that "an annual quit rent of two shillings and six pence sterling was
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imposed on every one hundred acres, and all mines of gold and silver, and all pine trees suitable for mnasts for the royal navy, namely, all which were twenty-four inches or more in diameter, twelve inches from the ground, were reserved to the crown."
Overlooking, or disdaining the nature of the country, the patentees. evolved a plan for having a great street run through their domain upon which each man was to have a town lot, so as to enjoy the pro- tection and society of his neighbors. In the rear of the town lots. were to be farm lots where extensive farms might be opened up. The survey was made and the grant alloted upon this plan. One hundred and thirty-three lots were thus laid out, of which sixty were south of the street and seventy-three north of the street.
Five of these lots were in what is now the town of Greenwich and ten of them constituted what is now the town of Fort Edward.
A large number of the grantees settled upon their lands, but many did not and their allotments after being unoccupied for a time became the property of squatters or other settlers. Among the grantees who settled upon their land were: Duncan McArthur, James Gillis, Dun- can Taylor, Archibald McNeil, John Todd, John Gilchrist, Dougall McKallor and the Robertson family. Other early settlers were: George Kilmer, Dr. Andrew Proudfit, Judge Ebenezer Clark, who was a son of Dr. Clark of Salem, Edward Riggs, Joseph Rouse, John Smith, Daniel Reid, William Bishop, Adam Dings, Peter and Neal McEachron, also the Lester, Austin, McDougal, Patten, Clapp, Fen- ton, Harsha, McKalpin, McQuarrie, Lindsey, Tinkey and Gifford families.
Not until after the beginning of the nineteenth century did the population of Argyle begin to grow with any rapidity.
The record of the first town meeting is dated April 2, 1771, but the town did not receive state recognition until March 23, 1786. This first meeting must therefore have been called under the provisions of the Argyle patent.
Following is a list of the supervisors of the town since 1771 :
1772-1780, Duncan Campbell; 1781-82, Roger Reid; 1783, James Beatty, John McNaughton, Peter Fiers; 1784, Duncan McArthur, James Beatty; 1785-86, James Beatty, Duncan McArthur, John McKnight; 1787, Adiel Sherwood, William Reid; 1788-1800, William Reid; 1801, John Hay; 1802, William Reid; 1803-04, Alexander Cowan; 1805-06, Alexander McLangall; 1807-11, Neal McConnellee; 1812-15. John Reid; 1816, Alexander Gillis; 1817-18, John Robinson; 1819-22, William Reid; 1823-
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-ARGYLE.
27, Ranson Stiles; 1828, William R. Mills; 1829, Ransom Stiles; 1830-32, Anthony MeKallor; 1833-34, David Sill; 1835-36. James Savage: 1837-38, Jesse S. Leigh; 1839, Ransom Stiles; 1840-41, Freeman Hopkins; 1842-43, John Robertson; 1844-45, Wil- liam Boyd; 18.46-47, James Stewart, Jr .; 1848-49, William Congdon: 1850, Archibald M. Rowan; 1851-52, William Clapp; 1853, Ransom Stiles: 1854, David Hall; 1855, Edward Riggs; 1856-57. William Lendrum; 1858-59, Alex. P. Robinson; 1860-61. Robert G. Hall; 1862-63, Charles G. Harsha; 1864-66, David Hall; 1867-70, John G. Sill: 1871-72, George Shannon; 1873-74, David McDougall; 1875 78, William Lend- rum: 1879, William D. Robertson: 1880 81/ Ezra H. Snyder; 1882-83, Albert Stewart; 1884-85, Robert B. Scott; 1886-87, David H. Stott; 1888-89, William D. Stevenson; 1890, Robert C. McEachron; 1891-92. J. B. Conway; 1893, Albert Stewart; 1894-95, David Tinkey: 1896-97, Theodore Gilchrist ; 1898-1900, Ezra H. Snyder. v
The town clerks of Argyle for the same period have been :
1772-74, Archibald Campbell; 1775-77, Edward Patterson; 1778-79, John McNeil; 1780-84, Duncan Gilchrist; 1785, Alexander McDougall: 1786-92, John McNeil: 1793- 96, John White, Jr .; 1797-1804, John McNeil: 1805, Edward Riggs; 1806, Peleg Bragg: 1807-14, Anthony M. Hoffman; 1815-17, Daniel McNeil; 1818-19, Ransom Stiles; 1820- 22, David McNeil; 1823-26, John Ross; 1827-28, Charles McKallor; 1829, John Ross; 1830-32, Duncan Taylor; 1833-36, James Carl; 1837-38, Freeman Hopkins; 1839-40, Henry K. White; 1841-42. Lucius Cottrell; 1843-44, Archibald M. Rowan; 1845-46, Alexander McFadden; 1847-48, William S. Ashton; 1849-50, John C. Rouse ; 1851, John I. Taylor; 1852, John C. Rouse; 1853-54, Alexander McFadden; 1855, George M. Robinson; 1856-57, Boyd Madden; 1858-60, Andrew J, White; 1861-62, David C. Crawford; 1863-66, Charles W. Taylor: 1867-68, Daniel M. White; 1869-70, John E. Rextraw; 1871, Theodore Ross; 1872, James K. Henry; 1873-76, James W. Taylor; 1877, Boyd Madden; 1878.82, John Wellman; 1883-84, H. A. McEachron; 1885-87, James Harper; 1888-90, John Armetage; 1891-95, G. M. Hall; 1896-1900, Samuel Guthrie.
Like other towns of the county Argyle suffered some depopulation at the time of Burgoyne's raid which scared many people into seeking a safe locality. In July, 1777, when Burgoyne was at Fort Edward, Le Loup, an Iroquois chief, left the vicinity of Salem to join him. In passing through the town of Argyle, this band murdered the family of John Allen, consisting of himself, his wife, three children, his wife's sister and three slaves. This atrocity so alarmed the peo- ple of the town that many left their homes to seek shelter until the war was over.
The early settlers of Argyle and their descendants were strongly religious, the Sabbath was revered and a stringent law was passed against Sabbath breaking. Besides the legitimate settlers there were in the early days quite a number of squatters and adventurers in the town and it was to hold in check the irreverant among these that this
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law was passed. There was, however, slavery in the town and records were kept of the births of slave children.
Some years after the settlement in Salem of Dr. Clark's colony, some members thereof came into Argyle and took up land. Dr. Clark visited these people from time to time and held religious services and this was the beginning of the Presbyterian body in Argyle. The United Presbyterian congregation was organized in 1792, as soon as they had erected a church. Rev. James Proudfit of Salem officiated at first. In 1793 Rev. G. Mairs became the regular pastor, having also in his charge the Hebron congregation. This body was incor- porated about 1790 as the First Incorporated Congregation of Argyle. In 1801 a new church was built and in 1845 this was supplanted by a more modern one, in which the congregation worshipped until 1876, when the present fine edifice was completed.
The United Presbyterian church of South Argyle was organized in the summer of 1785 by the Rev. Thomas Beveridge, under the spread- ing branches of a tree. In 1788 the congregation completed their first rude church building. The congregation was incorporated Octo- ber 28, 1801.
The second church building was erected in 1852. This congregation was depleted by the withdrawal of some members who formed a new congregation at North Argyle in 1830 and by the secession of others who formed a new society in East Greenwich in 1849. In 1858 the union of the Associate and the Associate Reformed churches was affected and at that time this church took its present name.
In 1830 the United Presbyterian church of North Argyle was organized as the Associated Congregation of North Argyle. The first meeting was held in the school-house, but a church was erected at once. In 1846 this building was enlarged and improved. In 1856 this congregation withdrew from the new Associated Presbytery of Cambridge and asked to be received into the old. This act hastened the union of the two Presbyteries, which took place in that year. In 1866 a substantial church building was erected.
The Reformed Presbyterian church, commonly known as the Cam- eronian church, existed for a time in Argyle subsequent to 1828.
The First Presbyterian church of Argyle was organized in 1873 under the Troy Presbytery and in 1874 their church building was completed.
The following history of Methodism in Argyle, also including North
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Greenwich, is from the pen of Rev. J. W. Presby, Ph. D., and we are indebted to Rodney Van Wormer, Esq., for the same:
An investigation of the origin of Methodism in this vicinity carries us back very nearly to the beginnings of Methodism in America. Late in the autumn of 1769, or about the beginning of 1770, Philip Embury came from New York City and settled in Washington County about seven miles from Ashgrove. Between that date and 1773, Embury, in company with Barbara Heck, made an evangelistic tour through this region, holding meetings in almost every neighborhood. In what neighborhoods, or on what dates, neither records nor tradition now informs us; except that it is known that on this trip they went as far north as Hampton, where they organized the first Methodist class.
The old Cambridge Circuit first appears in the minutes as a confer- ence appointment in the year 1788, with Lemuel Smith as preacher. Immediately after this Methodism rapidly spread over this region, and classes were organized in nearly every neighborhood where ten, or an even smaller number of Methodist people could be gathered. In 1789 a Methodist local preacher was residing in Argyle, as is shown by the obituary of Stephen Jacobs, in the minutes of 1819. The local preacher's name was Richard Jacobs, and his son Stephen, above referred to, was born in Argyle, February 23, 1789. Thus it appears, so far as the writer can learn, that the first preacher of any denomina- tion who ever resided in the town of Argyle was a Methodist preacher; and the first person born in the town who became a preacher was the Rev. Stephen Jacobs, above referred to.
Argyle and North Greenwich being comparatively near Ashgrove, the headquarters of Methodism at that time for all the country north of New York City, and in the direct line of travel for the early itiner- ants as they went to the regions farther north, must have received the benefit of their ministrations very early in the history. As early as 1796 Argyle is mentioned on the minutes of Cambridge Circuit as a class and preaching place. In 1797 the circuit preachers were Timothy Dewey, and the eccentric Lorenzo Dow. Dow has recorded in his Journal (page 49) that in the latter part of November, 1798, he preached in Argyle, where they "had a very solemn season.'
In 1801 the Presiding Elder districts were for the first time named in the minutes, and Cambridge Circuit appears on Pittsfield district, Shadrach Bostwick, Presiding Elder. Previous to 1802 there was only one annual conference in America; but that year the work was.
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divided into seven conferences, viz .: Western, South Carolina, Vir- ginia, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and New England Con- ferences. In 1803, and again in 1805, Bishop Asbury held the New York Conference at Ashgrove. Bishop Asbury passed through this region of country several times, and expressed himself as delighted with it. In his Journal, in speaking of this region, he says: "It is prettily environed with hills, a carpet of green spread beneath, and fields that promise abundant harvests." In 1804 Cambridge Circuit appears as a part of Ashgrove district, which was organized that year. That year, also, Greenwich, which had been set off from Argyle and made a separate town in 1803, appears on the records of Cambridge Circuit as paying "quarterage " for the support of the circuit preach- ers. About the beginning of the present century Phineas Langworthy and Eleazer Woodworth, with their families, settled in the town of Greenwich, the former on the farm now occupied by William Fisher, and the latter near the farm now owned by Charles Rogers. Both these families were devout Methodists, and Phineas Langworthy was a class leader and held class meetings in the school house near where Woodworth lived. Mrs. Maria Congdon, ninety years of age, and living at South Argyle, was brought up in the neighborhood where Eleazer Woodworth lived, and recollects the family, the old school house, and that meetings were held in it. In the year 1814 the third Quarterly Conference for Cambridge Circuit was held at Argyle, which was about the center of the Circuit. January 16, 1815, the first Methodist Episcopal church in Argyle was organized and legally in- corporated. The meeting at which this was done was at the house of Ichabod Davis. Ichabod Davis lived on the Hartford road above Evansville, on the farm where Isaac Milliman lived many years, and which is now owned by Moses Milliman, and occupied by Peter Holmes. The copy of the certificate of incorporation in the county clerk's office informs us that Rev. Gershom Pierce, one of the preach- ers on Cambridge Circuit at that time, was chosen chairman of the meeting, and James Thompson secretary. Joseph Allen and Ichabod Davis were chosen inspectors of the votes. Five trustees were elected, viz. : Joseph Allen, Thomas Carl, James Stewart, William F. Swift and John Sprague. In the year 1816 the first Methodist church in the town of Greenwich was built. The exact date of the building of this church has not been ascertained, but Brother Stephen Newberry says that he has so many times heard his father and mother say that
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it was built in 1816, that he is certain that it was that year, and that is no doubt correct. At any rate, it is certain that the church was there and being used October 20, 1818, because on that date Titus Hall deeded the land to the trustees, and in describing it the deed refers to the meeting house owned and occupied by the Methodist Society. This old church stood on the hill a little east of where Judson Edie now lives. The church is now one of Mr. Edie's barns. Titus Hall, who gave the land on which this church was built, was a black- smith, and hammered out the hinges, latch and handle for the door, and they may still be seen on the door of the barn. The building was 26x36 feet, with fourteen feet posts. On the twentieth day of April, 1818, the M. E. Church in North Greenwich was legally incorporated. A meeting was held for the purpose at the school house in district No. 6. Rip Van Dam Sybrant and John Seely were chosen presiding officers, and John Sprague, Derastus Hanks and Phineas Langworthy were elected trustees.
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