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The Record of a century of
church life of the Reform
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1904
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DATE MICROFILMED
MAR 26 1996
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CllURCIi LIFK
OF
THK ri:formku church.
WARWICK, N. Y.
PUBLICATION COMMITTEE.
Taber Knox, Chairman.
Samuel Pelton.
Ferdinand Van Derveer Sanford.
Clinton Wheeler Wisner.
Rensselaer Armstrong Demarest.
FOREWORD.
HE Warwick Reformed Church passed the hneof
its first century of life on the eighth of Janu-
ary, 1904, the oldest church organization saving
one in the Village of Warwick. For the past,
with its blessings and the service of its saints, for the
present with its prosperity and enlarging usefulness,
for the future, with its holy hope and glorious oppor-
tunity, we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost. It is a delight to call to remem-
brance the things of the past, to record the labors and
trials and the achievements of those whose works are
our heritage to-day, while it spurs us on to better things
for the days that lie before us.
In taking up the work in hand we find the history of
the Church of Presbyterian Order and Reformed Faith
in Warwick one that is altogether unique. While our
Reformed Church organization dates back only to Janu-
uary, 1804, when the Classis of Paramus organized the
church at the request of forty-four persons, the organi-
zation then effected was in a sense only a transfer of
ecclesiastical relationship from the Presbytery of Hud-
son. Unfortunately, in consequence of the loss by fire
of the records of the Presbytery of New York, with
which the church was first connected, and the absence
of proper records of the local society, the history of the
Presbyterian body is obscure. Unquestionably, how-
ever, a congregation of the Presbyterian order was in ex-
istence in Warwick as long ago as 1750, as is proved by
the records of pastors serving the church from that date
FOREWORD.
conjointly with the Presbyterian Church at Florida,
N. Y. The property where the church stands to-day
was deeded originally to the "Trustees of the Presby-
terian Church of Warwick," and by a curious arrange-
ment continued in the control of such trustees and their
successors of the "Presbyterian Church of Warwick"
until the eighteenth of March, 1890, or eighty-six years
after any worshipping body bearing such a name had
existed. Then the trustees took action by which the
management of the property legally passed into the
hands of the Consistory of the Reformed Church.
Manifestly a very large part of the historical matter
that must be of essential interest in connection with our
church, lies behind the century of Reformed connection
in the earlier days of Presbyterian attachment. Our
historical narrative therefore opens with the carefully
prepared history of the earlier Presbyterian body writ-
ten by the former pastor, the Rev. Vernon B. Carroll, in
1887, and published at that time in the Warwick Ad-
vertiser. This history is the result of most painstak-
ing examination, with true historical spirit, of all avail-
able material, and may be accepted as thoroughly
accurate. The history of the century and of the eight
auxiliary organizations connected with the church at
the time of our centennial celebration follow.
May the perusal of the record thus made as a loving
tribute to the past, bring renown to the great Head of
the Church, who from the beginning saw to-day and the
days to come of our children and our children's children.
Taber Knox,
Samuel Pelton.
F. V. Sanford,
C. W. WiSNER,
R. A. Demarest.
n
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.
|H1S IS TO CERTIFY that we, the undersigned, the Minister,
Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Dutch Church and Congre-
gation of Warwick, in the Town of Warwick, County of Orange
and State of New York, in and by virtue of the act entitled, "An Act to
Provide for the Incorporation of Religious Societies," passed March 27,
1801, do, on this day, incorporate ourselves in conformity to said act,
and shall henceforth consider ourselves as a body politic to be known
and distinguished by the name of the "Consistory of the Reformed Pro-
testant Dutch Church and Congregation of Warwick."
Witness our hands and seals this i8th day of March, 1807.
CHARLES HARDENBURGH, Minister, [l.s.]
Elders —
CORNELIUS DEMAREST,
JOHN PELTON,
EDMOND E. ECKERSON,
JOHN G. ACKERSON.
Deacons —
DAVID C. DEMAREST,
ANDREW ONDERDONK,
ISAAC HALSTEAD,
JAMES MURRAY.
Orange County, ss. :
Be it remembered that on this eighteenth day of March, one thous-
and eight hundred and seven, personally appeared before me John
Wheeler, one of the Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas for said
county, Charles Hardenburgh, minister, and Cornelius Demarest, John
Pelton, Edward P. Ackerson, John G. Ackerson, David C. Demarest,
Andrew Onderdonk, Isaac Halstead and James Murray, being members
of the Consistory of the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church in Warwick,
all came personally well known and acknowledged that they executed
the within instrument of writing for the purposes therein contained. I
having inspected the same do allow it to be recorded.
JOHN WHEELER.
A true record entered March 24, 1836, at 11 o'clock a. m., by
LEBBEUS L. VAIL, Clerk.
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THE ORGANIZATION.
Presbyterian Organization - - about 1750
Incorporation of the Presbyterian Church - 1791
Reformed Dutch Organization - - 1804
Date of Incorporation - - _ . 1807
THE BUILDINGS.
First Church Building begun - - - 1773
Second Church built - - . . 1812
Third Church built .... i848
Present Church built .... 1890
THE PASTORS.
Jonathan Elmer, .... 1750-1754
Samuel Parkhurst, - - - 1762-1768
Amzi Lewis, .... 1772-1777
JohnJoline, ... - 1795-1802
Charles Hardenbergh, - - - 1804-1807
John I. Christie, - - - 1812-1835
Benjamin Van Keuren, - - - 1836-1837
James Stewart, - - - 1838-1842
Ferdinand H. Van Derveer, - - 1842-1876
Vernon Bond Carroll, - - - 1876-1886
Peter Crispell, - . . . 1887-1894
TaberKnox, ... - 1894-
V'/V
OORl^ORA^rE SKAI..
A HISTORY
OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN ORGANIZATION
WHICH PRECEDED THE
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH
OF WARWICK.
1750-1804.
poR many ol the details iu the fulhnving article the writer
was indebted to the Rev. Henry A. Harlow, at the time
Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Hudson. Other
sources of information are indicated in the notes.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WARWICK
BY THE LATE REV. VERNON BOND CARROLL.
HE Reformed Church of Warwick was organized
by a committee from the Classis of Paramus,
January, 1804, (a) For more than a half cen-
tury previous to this date, however, religious
services had been maintained in Warwick under the
direction of Presbyterian pastors and Presbyteries, (h)
The date of the first ecclesiastical organization cannot
be discovered. Ruttenber & Clark's History of Orange
County places it at 1764-5; but upon what data this
statement is founded it is impossible to tell, (b) It is
probable that the church was organized by the Presby-
tery of New York, and was officially connected with this
Presbytery until the organization of the Presbytery of
Hudson in 1795.
Most unfortunately, the minutes of the Presbytery of
New York, previous to 1775, are lost, (c) We find a
memorandum— the source of which we are unable, at
present, to discover— to the eflfect that on Oct. 22, 1784,
the "Presbyterian Church and Congregation of Warwick
was organized (under act of April 6, 1784,) by John
Wheeler, Francis Baird and John Dennison, themselves
being the first trustees, no minister, elders or deacons
existing." (rf) This does not seem to have been the
proper ecclesiastical organization which was, as above
suggested, of much earlier date. Apparently it was the
creation of a corporate body for the purpose of holding
8 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
the church property which, as we shall see, had been in
possession of the church, in part, as early, at least, as
1770 (e); and in other part, since 1773-4. (/) This in-
corporation was legally effected in 1791, the certificate
of incorporation being dated Oct. 24 of that year, (g)
But though we can find no official statement concerning
the organization of the Presbj^terian Church of War-
wick, the record of certain pastors connected with this
church remains. Thus we learn that the Rev. Jonathan
Elmer was pastor over the Presbyterian Churches of
Florida and Warwick 1750-1754. [h) After his departure
the church seems to have been shepherdless for eight
years (i); for it was not until June 13, 1762, that the
Rev. Samuel Parkhurst became pastor of the same two
churches. He ministered to these churches until his
death, which occurred March 8, 1768. (j) Then follows
an interval of four years, during which the flock was
again without a leader, (i) Rev. Amzi Lewis was or-
dained and settled as pastor of Florida and Warwick
April 9, 1772. "In 1777 Mr. Lewis left these places
with the consent of the church." (j) It was in 1770,
just previous to his settlement, that two acres of land
were given to the church for burial purposes, and "for
the use and benefit of the said Presbyterian Church of
Warwick." (e) This gift, and the settlement of a pas-
tor, are indications of a revived interest in church mat-
ters. This interest is further declared by the erection
of a house of worship during the pastorate of Mr. Lewis.
(/■) Nevertheless the ecclesiastical relation, which lasted
five years, does not seem to have been altogether satis-
factory or peaceful. The Presbytery of New York,
under date of May 8, 1776, has this record: (k) "Mr. Amzi
Lewis having laid before the Presbytery a letter to him
from the Committee of the Congregation of Warwick,
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WARWICK. 9
and asked advice respecting its contents, the Presbytery
having duly considered the matter, appoint Mr. Thomas
Lewis, Mr. Hart, Mr. Close, Mr. Chapman and the
Moderator, with each an elder, a committee to meet at
Warwick on Tuesday, the 2nd of July next, at 2 p. m.,
to inquire into the state of that congregation and to do
everything in their judgment necessary to overcome, if
possible, the difficulties at present subsisting among
that people; or if it shall appear necessary, to dissolve
Mr. Lewis' pastoral relation to them. Mr. Chapman to
open the committee with a sermon."
The report of the committee. May 6, 1777, nearly a
year later, was at first deemed by the Presbytery to be
incomplete. ''But upon due inquiry of the members of
the committee now present, the Presbytery are satisfied
that due pains were taken, and that the deficit is only
in their records; and accordingly their judgment is con-
firmed." This judgment was, no doubt, in favor of the
dissolution of the pastoral relationship between Mr.
Lewis and the church of Warwick. Notwithstanding
this action the troubles in the congregation do not seem
to have been removed. The next minute— the final
notice in the records of the Presbytery of New York,
cjncerning Warwick--is under date of June 10, 1777,
at a meeting held at Wallkill: (k) "As the congre-
gation of Warwick is at present destitute of a min-
ister, and has made no application to us of any
kind since Mr. Lewis' dismission, we think it our in-
dispensible duty, from a tender concern for their wel-
fare, to inquire into their present state; and do appoint
Mr. Close to preach there the first Sabbath in Septem-
ber, to take proper measures to inform himself of the
circumstances of that congregation, and to report at our
next stated Presbytery. Mr. Kerr is appointed to
10 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
preach there the fourth Sabbath of June, and Mr. King-
the first Sabbath of August."
After this there is no record of pastoral or Presby-
terial care over Warwick for a period of eighteen years
(1777-1795.) During this interval occurred the organi-
zation by trustees (1784) mentioned above (see text for-
note d) and the legal incorporation of the church in
1791. This incorporation seems to have been the condi-
tion upon which the church received the quit-claim
deeds of the real estate formally granted to the church
in 1793, by William Wickham and the heirs of John
Morin Scott, (e) It is expressly declared in these deeds
— "And whereas the proprietors and inhabitants be-
longing to said church have incorporated the same, as
is by law directed, by certificate of incorporation dated
October 24, 1791, &c., and a survey thereof being made,
by Richard Edsall, surveyor, on August 16, 1791, &c.—
this indenture witnesseth, &c."
The next step was an effort to repair the church edifice
which had been left unfinished since the dismission of Mr.
Lewis, and during the succeeding years of the Revolu-
tionary war. (/) Accordingly, we find that a subscrip-
tion paper, which still remains, (l) was circulated through
the congregation in order to raise the necessary funds.
This paper opens with the preamble— "Whereas the
Presbyterian Church of Warwick has been for a long-
time destitute of a stated pastor, to administer the word
and ordinances amongst them, by reason of which the
meeting house has gone much out of repair," &c. No
doubt the hope of obtaining the ministrations of the
word was a cheering one to the people after their long
deprivation from religious privileges. But though the
house was finished in 1792-3, if ) no pastor seems to have
settled until 1795. (m) In this vear Rev. John Joline
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WARWICK. 11
began his labors in Florida and Warwick, giving two-
thirds of his time to the former place. His installation
was delayed, for some reason, until 1797. The service
was held at Florida, rwi Mr. Joline was dismissed in
1802 and died December 13 of the same year, [o i His
pastorate had thus covered a period of seven years.
We have a copy of an inventory of the property held
by the church of Warwick, about this time, which is
of some importance as well as interest. It reads—
"An account and inventory of all the estate, both real
and personal, belonging to the Presbyterian congrega-
tion of Warwick, taken this 30th day of March, 1796,
by the trustees appointed by law, to have care and
management of the temporalities of said congregation,
viz.: two acres of land, on which there is erected a
meeting house, from which no annual revenue doth
arise." (Signed by trustees.) From this it would ap-
pear that interests other than temporal doubtless ex-
isted, i. e., spiritual interests; in other words, a church,
and a session having care and management of said
spiritual interests; also, that, presumably during the
life of the donors of the land, and therefore with their
full knowledge and consent, a church building had been
erected on this land. This plainly shows that it was not
the intention to limit the use of the land to burial pur-
poses alone, but to employ it more generally, as the quit-
claim deeds suggest, "for the use and benefit of the said
Presbyterian Church." le p. i
The next reference to the church of Warwick in the
minutes of the Presbytery of Hudson, is under date of
April 20, 1802. "The congregations of Warwick and
Pittsburgh ( q i which are within our bounds, but for some
time past have made no application for supplies, iri de-
sired to be considered under our care, and have supplies
12 THP] RECORD OF A CENTURY.
afforded them. The Presbytery agreed to comply with
their request." is) In the same connection we read: (t)
"An apphcation from the churches of Amity and War-
wick was made requesting that Mr. Benjamin Prime
might be ordained at large, and continued as a supply
with them. Mr. Prime joined in the request. Presby-
tery unanimously agreed that such a proceeding was
contrary to their rules and practice, and therefore could
not grant their request." '*Mr. Prime was appointed
supply at Warwick for one-half his time till next stated
meeting of Presbytery"—?', e. till September of the same
year.
''September, 1802, supplies were appointed for War-
wick. Mr. Prime all his time at Deerpark." (u) (Port
Jervis.)
"April, 1803, supplies appointed for Warwick."
"September, 1803," do (v).
"April, 25, 1804." do.
"September, 4, 1804, Presbytery was informed that
the church of Warwick had chosen a candidate to preach
for them without proceeding agreeably to the rules of
Presbytery; whereupon Messrs. King and Baldwin were
appointed to draught a letter upon the subject to be sent
to the church of Warwick." (w)
Evidently ecclesiastical restraints had sat lightly upon
the people of Warwick. It is equally evident that news
traveled very slowly in those days. During the year
beginning April, 1803, the Presbytery of Hudson had
thrice granted pulpit supplies for Warwick, as above
noted. But a Reformed Dutch Church was organized
three months before the close of this period, (in January,
1804,) and negotiations looking toward such organization
had been in progress since Feb. 23, 1803. (x)
Here, then, we begin to look for our historical informa-
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OP^ WARWICK. 13
tion concerning the early church of Warwick, no longer
to the records of the Presbytery of Hudson, but to those
of the Classis of Paramus of the Reformed Dutch
Church. The Stated Clerk of said Classis has kindly
loaned us to copy, the original petition of the people of
Warwick (y) addressed to this Classis, and presented, if
not originally drafted, also, by the Rev. Mr. Eltinge of
Paramus. This petition, bearing date of Feb. 23, 1803,
was received by Classis May 19, 1803. The record is as
follows:
"The following petition of 44 subscribers, supposed
heads of families from Warwick, dated Feb. 23, 1803,
was presented to Classis by the Rev. W. E. Eltinge, re-
questing this Classis to furnish them, from time to time,
with preaching and catechizing, and to organize them in
due time into a congregation.
Resolved, That the request be granted, and that they
be furnished with preaching and catechizing.
Resolved, Further, that either of the above ministers
(supplies) with an elder, be hereby authorized to organ-
ize the above petitioners into a congregation, whenever
it may be done consistently with the rules of the church
and the wishes of the petitioners." (z)
Pending the organization of the church under the care
of Classis, the people of Warwick sent a duly qualified
delegate to Classis to ask for supplies. The wording of
the certificate is curious, as manifesting a want of ac-
quaintance with ecclesiastical laws, and it is valuable as
confirming the statement of Mr. Henry Pelton, in his
"Recollections," (page 5,) that it was the design of the
congregation to organize as the "Reformed and Presby-
terian Church and Congregation of Warwick." (f )
The certificate reads as follows: "At a meeting of the
heads of families of the Reformed and Presbvterian
14 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
Church and Congregation of Warwick, held on Tuesday,
the 27th day of September, instant, it was unanimously
agreed that Cornelius Demarest and John G. Ackerson,
or either of them, should wait on the Classis of Paramus
at their next session, for the purpose of applying to said
Classis for obtaining supplies for said church and con-
gregation. F. Baird, Clerk."
Dated 27th Sept., 1803.
The action of Classis on this petition was taken Oct. 5,
1803. "An application from the people of Warwick was
laid on the table requesting supplies for the ensuing
year."
''Resolved, That their request be granted, and that any
minister belonging to this Classis, with an elder, be
authorized to organize the people of Warwick into a con-
gregation, whenever, in their opinion, a proper oppor-
tunity offers." iz)
Accordingly, within three months after this action,
the organization was effected, January, 1804, as appears
from the Record of the Consistory of the Reformed
Church of Warwick, and from the following classical
minute: "April 4, 1804. Upon request from the people
of Warwick, and according to a former resolution of
Classis, the people of Warwick were, on the second Sab-
bath of January last, organized into a congregation, by
the name of the Congregation of Warwick. Signed.
W. Eltinge, (^i V. D. M.
Stephen Hopper, Elder.
"Andrew Ackerman was the first delegate admitted to
Classis of Paramus." \Z)
The final minute of Classis concerning this new Re-
formed Church is under date of Oct. 2, 1804. "Mr.
Charles Hardenbergh, a candidate for the ministry un-
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WARWICK. 15
der care of this Classis, presented a call made on him by
the Consistory of the congregation of Warwick, in the
county of Orange, which call being approved by Classis,
he then declared his acceptance thereof, and requested
to be admitted to examination."
"After satisfactory examination his ordination was
ordered to take place on the second Sabbath of Novem-
ber next, in the church at Warwick. Committee: Revs.
Solomon Freleigh, N. Lansing, W. Eltinge, Primarii; N.
Schoonmaker, G. G. Brinkerhoff, Secundi. To preach
the sermon— Primarius, Rev. Solomon Freleigh. (^) Se-
cundus, Rev. N. Lansing." iz)
Under Mr, Hardenbergh's pastorate, the church was
incorporated by the law of March 27, 1801, under the
title of the "Consistory of the Reformed Protestant
Dutch Church and Congregation of Warwick." (• ) The
date of the certificate of incorporation is March 18,
1807. It is signed by Charles Hardenbergh, Minister;
Cornelius Demarest, John Pelton, Edward P. Eckerson,
John G. Ackerson, Elders; David C. Demarest, Andrew
Onderdonk, Isaac Halstead, James Murray, Deacons.
It was witnessed before John Wheeler, one of the
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of
Orange. The record was entered "March 24, 1836, at 11
o'clock a. m., by Lebbeus L. Vail, Clerk."
The subsequent history is written in the Records of
the Consistory of the "Reformed Protestant Dutch
Church of Warwick," though, unfortunately, these
records are quite meager in their reference to the early
years of the church.
;i. See "Minutes of Classis of Paranius." "Consistorial Record of
Reformed Cluircb of Warwicli."
h "R. <!<: C. History of Orange Co., i88i."— Page 131. See same
date in ■'Samuel Eager's History of Orange Co., 1846." — Page 435. Per-
16 THE KECOKD OF A CENTURY.
liaps it is confouuded with tlie date of the origin i>t" the Baptist Chuixli
of Warwick, now Old School.
c. So we learn from the Rev. Dr. Alexander, Stated Clerk of the
Presb3'tery of New York, who also informs us that the last reference to
Warwick on the books of that Presbytery is 1777. Warwick was "not in
the official list of ministers and congregations in the Synod of New
York and Philadelphia. 1788."— H. A. Harlow. The period from 1777
to 1795 was one of confusion, and all church records are imperfect. Dr.
Alexander raises the question— "did Warwick secede, with its pastor
and other ministers, to form the Morris Independent Presbytery in
1779?" This is not probable.
</. "As to the organization by trustees even before the existence of
elders and deacons, I would account for it in this way. Through the
colonial period, dissenters, led chiefly by Presbyterian lawyers, had
since 1720 earnestly and repeatedly asked from the colonial government
and from Parliament, incorporation — corporate rights — but always in
vain. When independence was secured, it was not to be wondered at
that the idea prevailed that corporate rights was the principal thing,
and if secured, all other matters would follow as a matter of cour.se."—
Rev. H. A. Harlow, who refers to "Civil Status of Presbyterianism in
the Province of New York," by Charles W. Baird, D. D.
But seven years before this^ i. f , in 1777, the Presbyterian Church of
Warwick was an ecclesiastical organization, subject to the superintend-
ing control of the Presbytery of New York. At this date, 1784, it had
apparently been seven years without a pastor, and so remained desti-
tute till 1795. During the troublous times of the Revolution the church
was thus measurably disorganized, but scarcely could havebeen extinct.
Immediately after the close of the war, this tjuasi organization— or re-
organization — was effected. (1784 )
e. Ouit-claim deeds of William Wickham and of the heirs of John
Morin '"Scott, dated respectively April 23, 1793. and January iS, 1793.
Each deed conveys to P'rancis Baird. John Simson and George Vance,
Trustees of the Presbyterian Church of Warwick and their successors
forever, one acre of groynd. These acres had been expre.s.sly reserved
from two larger and apparently contiguous portions of land sold to
William Wisner bv said Scott and Wickham at that date. r77o, the said
two acres being then reserved "for a burial ground for the use and
benefit of the pVesbvterian Church aforesaid."
/: "Recollection.s of Warwick." by Henry Pelton, Esq., a valuable
pamphlet concerning the early history ai the village. This states on
page 5 that in 1773-4, a rude house of worship had been enclosed, the
completion of whicli was hindered by the Revolutionary troubles till
1792-3- . . , .
>>,. See deeds mentioned in note r, wiiich reter to certificate of this
daTe acknowledged before Judge William Thompson of Common Pleas.
January 26, 1792, and entered in Clerk's Office. Orange county, p-ebru-
ary 14, 1792, in Liber A, <S.'c.
It. Rev. Jimathan Elmer, ordained anil installed at Florida. Octolx-r,
1750. Preached at Florida and Warwick; tlien three years at Florida;
then took a dismissal —Rev. H. A. Harlow.
"Some difficulty arising between Mr. Elmer and the people ot War-
wick, Mr. Elmer left Warwick and continued the duties of his minis-
terial' at Florida for about three years, when he was disrnissed by con-
sent ot the congregation, for want of ability to give him a sufficient
support." — R. iV C. Historv of Orange Co., 5X3.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WARWICK. 17
"There was no organization of either Dutch or English till 1804." —
— (Recollections of Henry Pelton, page 5.) This is no doubt an error,
as also the statement in History of Orange County, 582, that "down to
1764 the people of Warwick Valley had lived wholly destitute of re-
ligious privileges."
/. The lost records of the Presbytery of New York might demon-
strate an error in this statement.
J. Rev. H. A. Harlow and History of Orange County, page 5S3.
"Within a few years after Mr. Lewis' ordination the people of War-
wick became dissatisfied with Mr. Lewis and a committee of the Pres-
bytery of New York met at Warwick. The result was Mr. Lewis was
dismissed from W'arwick. The congregation of Florida continued Mr.
L. as their minister until 1787." — Historv of Orange County, 584.
A-. Rev, S. D. Alexander, Clerk.
A It was in possession of John L. Servin, Esq., in 1880.
111. The first official list published by the Presbyterian (general As-
sembly in May, 1789, was printed in 1794. Under the "Presbytery of
New York" we read — "Florida and Warwick united — both vacant." —
Rev. H. A. Harlow. In official list of General Assembly, published
1798, Florida and Warwick appear in the Pre.sbytery of Dutchess under
the care of Rev. John Joline. As suggested by Mr. Harlow, this is
evidently a printer's error, since this Presbytery was merged into that
of Hudson in October, 1795. It should read "Presbytery of Hudson."
/;. "Rev. John Joline was ordained October 18, 1790. On May 10,
1795, he began to labor as pastor of the church in F'lorida."— Rev. H. A.
Harlow.
The first reference — in the minutes of the Presbyterv of Hudstm— to
the Warwick church is in connection with Mr. Joline''s installation at
Florida, June 13, 1797, and is as follows: "When" the people of Florida
made a call for Mr. Joline, they expressed their consent in the call, that,
if the people in Warwick requested and Mr. Joline agreed, he should
preach one-third of his time at Warwick. There was no one present
appointed to represent the church in Warwick. No act of the Florida
congregation had shown any contrary determination, and Mr. Joline
was in.stalled with that understanding." — H. A. Harlow.
This in.stailation had been preceded by two years' pastoral service on
the part of Mr. Joline. as appears from the records of the church at
Florida: "May 10, 1795, Mr. Joline's stated labors in the mini.stry at
Florida and Warwick began, the former place to have two-thirds of his
time."
The following statement seems to t)e inaccurate. The reference is
probably to the ordination of elders and not to the organization of the
church, which already, us a church, had had at lea.st three successive
pastors :
"The church of Florida was organized 1795, Mr. Joline setting apart
the elders, and preaching from Rom. 12:6,7,8." According to Historv of
Orange Co., 5S3, the organization was as earlv as 1742.
i>. Rev. H A. Harlow.
]>. It is interesting, in this connection, to note the statement of Mr.
Henry Pelton in his valuable pamphlet (page 5:) "It appears from
stones standing in the yard, that this piece of ground had been used for
a burying ground for some years before the gift was made, 1770." This
statement is undoubtedly correct. But at the present date, 1887, the
three oldest .stones which we can discover are marked as follows: Cor-
nelius Pauling, May 17. ,177s. Alida Johnson, July 29, 1777. Anna,
18 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
wife of William Eagles, July S, 1771. Under this last name is a quaint
inscription:
How loved, how valued once, avails thee not;
To whom related, or by whom begot.
A heap of dust alone remains of thee ;
"Tis all thou art, and all the proud shall be.
(]. ■•The Church of Pittsburgh was at Washington Hollow, Dutchess
county, N. Y. In the minutes of General Assembly for 1837, Pittsburgh
church is reported with fifty members. The name is in the list of
churches of N. River Presbytery in 183S, with no report following. It
disappears in 1S39, but so do the majority of the N. R. roll of churches.
Perhaps it may be traced further in the minutes of the Presbyterian
Church, N. S. 1839-1S69."— H. A. Harlow.
"As to the origin or exact application of the name Pittsburgh, I have
no data. In the old records it is spelled variously — Pittsberry, Pitts-
bury, and finally Pittsburg and Pittsburgh being, if I remember cor-
rectly, its successive developments. The old church there was, at one
time, a most important center of religious interest. The name Pitts-
burgh applied only to that district at present covered by the name
Washington Hollow. Charlotte Precinct is an older name than either,
and seems to have embraced Pleasant Valley, or at least a part of it, as
well as Pittsburgh." — Rev. A. B. Richard, late pastor at Pleasant Valley,
now of Brooklyn, N. Y.
/•. Possibly Warwick may have been deprived of the stated ministra-
tion of the word for a considerable period previous to the death of Mr.
Joline, whose resignation may have been due to failing health, a moni-
tion of his death which speedily followed the close of his pastoral labors.
s. Rev. H. A. Harlow. The pastors at Warwick to date had been,
so far as recorded: Johnathan Elmer. 1750-1754; Samuel Parkhurst,
1762-1768; Amzi Lewis, 1772-1777; John Joline, 1795-1802.
t. Rev. H . A. Harlow.
II. This Mr. Prime seems to have been a favorite in Orange county.
Whether he ever became an ordained minister of the word we do not
know. In 1S04 he preached again at Warwick. A receipt which he
gave for his .salary, dated Feb. 23, 1804, .still exists among the papers of
the Reformed Church. — H. Pelton, 5. See also History of Orange Co..
585-
In the session book of the church at Amity we find — "In 1^07 the con-
gregation employed the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Prime to preach half the
time for one year. After which the congregation was again vacant till
the spring of" 1809, when they were supplied by D. C. Hopkins " It is
scarcely possible that tills refers to the statement of Presbytery Aj^ril,
1S02.
V. The official list of the General Assembly, 1803. under the head of
Presbytery of Hudson, has "Warwick and Amity vacant; if united, able
to support a pastor."
w Mr. Harlow has kindly furnished us with an outline of said letter.
"The Presbytery much concerned for the welfare of vacant churches.
Informed that you have a prospect of settling a young man — Classis —
of good report-^contributes to our happiness to hear — regular go.spel
ministry — yet neglect of rules of church — treated Presbytery with much
neglect' If you designed to leave— gratitude dictates that you sh(juld
at least have'asked our approval. We wish you God .speed. We would
not be strenuous — yet reason dictates that the preacher should come to
the people and not the jieople to the preacher — you are of age — you have
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WARWICK. 19
an undoubted right — but you ought to have had a due respect to good
order. We prav vou niav be guided by the unerring wisdom of the
Most High."
Mr. Harlow adds also a copy of a paper prepared by order of the Gen-
eral Assembly, and dated August 30. 1807, by the Rev. Isaac VanDoren
— ordained June 2q, 1S03, and installed pastor of Hopewell Church.
THK CO.NGREGATION OK WARWICK,
"The congregation was for many years in connection with that of
Florida, and enjoyed the ministerial labors of Messrs. Elmer, Parkhurst
and Lewis (and Joline— V. B. C.) In consequence of a considerable
number of families educated in the Reformed Dutch Church removing
within the bounds of this congregation, they made application, about
four years ago to the Classis of Hackensack (should be Classis of Para-
mus. — V. B. C. ) for supplies. A short time afterward they settled a
young gentleman in this connection, and placed themselves under care
of the above mentioned Classis."
A'. Yet, as late as 1S09, five years after the organization of a Re-
formed Dutch Church at Warwick, and the formal surrender of the
church by Presbytery, as in preceding note, we find the Warwick peo-
ple applying to both Presbytery and ('lassis for pulpit supplies. There
is a quaint mixture of sincerity and business shrewdness in their appli-
cation. Evidently the people still held to the idea that their purpose of
organizing a Presbyterian Reformed Church had been effected. What
had been effected was the organization of a Reformed Church with its
Consistory — its legal trustees — and the continuance of the corporation
(not church) represented by the Presbyterian trustees. The following
is the api)lication referred to;
Warwick, February i, 1S09.
Rev. Sir: — The Consistory and Trustees of the church and congrega-
tion of Warwick have recently had a meeting and requested me to in-
form you that it is their wish to have supplies appointed by Presbj^terv.
if they should think proper.
In order to obviate the supplies of Classis and Presbytery being on
one day, I have to request that the Presbvtery will not assign supplies
on the first nor second Sabbaths of May, July and September. These
are the days appointed by the Rev. Classis. I am sir, with respect,
your humble servant, J. Whkei.er.
To Rkv. Isaac Lewis, Goshen
.r. To the Reverend Classis of the Reformed Dutch Church of Para-
mus;
The petiti(jn of the petitioners, subscribers, humbly showeth that.
Whereas, We, the inhabitants of Warwick, professing an attachment
to the Reformed Dutch Church, being destitute of the regular adminis-
tration of the ordinances which God hath appointed for the salvation o('
sinners, and being desirous to have said ordinances regularly adminis-
tered amongst us and to us, that we, with our children, may be in-
structed in the true religion ot Jesus Chrisr, and by use of the said
means of (jrace (being sanctified to win souls) be made heirs of ever-
lasting life, and whereas we have not h.ad sufficient opportunities of
being instructed in the Reformed religion, and consequently are not
members in full communion.
Therefore, We humbly request of the said reverend Classis to take
us under their special care, and from time to time to appoint their
ministers, not onlv to preach the gospel to us. but also particularly to
20
^HE RECORD OF A CENTURY,
Warwick, February
Ananias Rogers,
Thomas Sproul,
Garret Vandervort,
John Demorest,
Jacob Feagles,
William T. Weeden,
Micah Mills,
James Ackerson,
Samuel Bertholf,
John T. (I ?) Gurine,
John Simmons,
William Jones,
Aaron Taylor,
William Johnson,
Cornelius Demerest,
Cieorge Vance,
Henry Elyea,
Nicholas Demorest,
Josiah Feagles,
Garret Ackerson, Jr.,
John Vance,
Richard Johnson,
John Bertholf,
Crines Bertholf,
Samuel Smith,
Samuel Vance,
John (i. Ackerson,
John Blaine,
Joseph Totten.
teach us by catechetical instructions, and by that means prepare us to
make confession of our faith, that so we may become members in full
communion with said church, and, as soon as possible, may be organ-
ized into a church state, and thus be enabled to have the regular admin-
istration of the ordinances introduced amongst us, which is the sincere
desire of our souls, and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever
pray.
!3, 1803.
Abraham Genung,
Samuel Demerest,
Gilliam Bertholf,
David Demorest,
John Magie,
John MalDee,
Andrew Ackerman.
John Feagles,
Cornelius Vandervoi
John Baird,
Garrit Post,
Simon Vanse,
Jacob Mabee,
Samuel Johnson.
Garret Ackerson.
z. Ofificial minutes of the Classis of Paramus. Mr. Pelton's "Recol-
lections," page 5, state — "The church building and ground were given
for a Presbyterian church and neither party — Dutch or English — was
able to support a minister of themselves, which, could they be united,
might possibly succeed. The Presbyterians, owning the property, had,
therefore, the advantage. But about this time several young' Dutch
ministers, lately licensed, preached here to the great acceptance of the
people. A consultation was held about organizing a church, and the
matter was warmly discussed till finally the Dutch element prevailed,
and the Presbyterians agreed to organize under the name and style of
the Presbyterian and Dutch Reformed Church of Warwick. The Trus-
tees were to have charge of the church * and the Consistory of all the
spiritual interests of the church. And this plan has worked' admirably
thus far, and without clashing or dissatisfaction on either side."
[* The church, of course, here means the church building. The
spiritual interests refer to the ecclesiastical organization and its work-
ing.— V. B. C]
f. Such an anomalous organization was, of course, never recog-
nized. The church was organized as the Refcjrnied Pi\)testant Dutch
Church. It could not be both Reformed and Presbyterian. See min-
utes ot Consistory January, 1804; also the wording of the petition,
(note.i-) and of the cla.s.sical actions Oct. 5, 1803 and April 4, 1804. The
Cla.ssis would act only "consistently with the rules of the church."
+. Rev. Wilhemus Elting, D. D., Paramus, N. J. It is stated, on
good authority, that he was subsequently called as pastor to Warwick,
but declined the invitation.
ji. Afterwards noted as the leader of a secession movement in tlie
Reformed Dutch Church at Hackensack and vicinity, out of which grew
the "True Dutch Church," who are hyper-Calvinistic in doctrine.
" . This is the corporate title of the church at the present day, ( 1SS7. )
The act of Legislature which changed the title of the denomination to
that of the "Refoimed Church in America," made special provision so
that the corporate titles of individual churches should not be affected.
^■:l
THE REV. WILHELMUS E. ELTINGE.
(Chairman Coinmittee of Classis that orsran-
ized Warwick Reformed Church.)
THE RECORD
OF thp:
HUNDRED YEARS.
1804-1904.
I love Thy kingdom, Lord,
The house of Thine abode,
The Church our blest Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.
I love Thy Church, God;
Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye,
And graven on Thy hand.
THE RECORD OE THE HUNDRED YEARS
BY THE REV. TABER KNOX.
ORTHY of note is the loyalty to the church of
their ancestral faith that characterized the
first sons of the Dutch Church that came into
the Warwick Valley in the latter part of the
eighteenth century, and enabled them to put the stamp
of the Dutch upon the Presbyterian congregation that
they found already here. Similar loyalty to the Dutch
Church has continued always a characteristic of the or-
ganization that they launched upon its career the eighth
of January, 1804. The activity of the congregation
already here had evidently been exceedingly spasmodic;
the Dutch element coming from more vigorous bodies
had brought into the Christian community a new life and
churchly ambition, and not unnaturally they won the fol-
lowing of those who appear to have been needing just
such leadership. Yet these early founders of the Re-
formed Church did for a time evidently think that a dual
connection could exist with both the Presbytery of the
Presbyterian Church and the Classis of the Reformed,
as is evidenced by their application even so late as 1809
to the Presbytery of Hudson for supplies, but not for
certain specified dates, because, as with unconscious
humor they added, "these are the days appointed by the
reverend Classis !" Though for half a century services
had been held and a building had baen commenced in
1773, it was not until the Reformed connection began,
24
THE KECOKD OF A CENTURY
that there had been any such thing as a continuous min-
istry (so far at least as records go to show.) During the
fifty-four years preceding the organization of the Re-
formed Church, there were thirty-nine years when the
congregation appears to have been without any regularly
settled pastor; and at the time of its accepting gifts of
property it was officially recorded that the Church had
''no pastor, elders or deacons." At that moment it cer-
tainly could not be claimed that there was evidence of
marked vitality.
The church edifice that in these early days
THE FIRST ^iqq^ upon the ground where the congrega-
tion has always worshipped, has been thus
described: "It was an ill-shaped uncouth looking build-
ing; built nearly four square, with gambrel roof in the
end in which was the en-
trance, fronting the road.
The seats were very
clumsy affairs. An aisle
led from the entrance to
the pulpit with one tier
of seats on each side, and
around the outside there
were box pews, four-
square, according to the
old style. The gallery was never finished, more than a
floor laid and a breastwork put up in front. There were
loose boards placed on blocks for seats. Such was the
church our fathers and mothers worshipped in, and we
would see them going through the storms or coldest
weather, to enjoy what was then thought a blessed privi-
lege, without any fire to warm at when arriving at
the house, and sit through the entire service, their bodies
ll;ST KDIKICK
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 25
and limbs almost stiff with cold." This was the house
that was begun in 1773, and occupied until it gave place
to the then spacious edifice of 1812.
It was on the nineteenth of
ORGANIZATION OF THE i\t i oao ..i ^ ^i i- ^•
May, 1803, that the application
of ''the people of Warwick," as
they designated themselves, first was presented to the
Classis of Paramus of the Reformed Church to be sup-
plied with preachers and "in due time to be organized
into a congregation." The organization was authorized
at that time and again at the Fall Session of Classis,
October 5th. The body to whom this application for or-
ganization was made is one of the thirty-four groups into
which the Churches of the denomination are arranged
by the General Synod of the Reformed [Dutch] Church
in America. It was less than four years before the
organization of the Warwick Church that the General
Synod had divided the old Classis of Hackensack into two
parts, one to be known as the Classis of Bergen, the other,
as the Classis of Paramus. The Church at Warwick was
the first Church organized by the new Classis, and its
first pastor was the first minister ordained by the Classis.
In the hundred years that have passed, Classis has held
seventeen meetings with the Church. The Church has
been represented in Classis by twenty-six of its elders,
the first, Cornelius Demarest in 1805, whose great-grand-
son, Henry P. Demarest, was the elder representing
the Church at the Centennial meeting of the Classis in
the Fall of 1900.
Classis appointed a committee consisting of the Rev.
Wilhelmus E. Eltinge and the Elder Stephen Hopper to
organize the Church. It is interesting to note who these
men were, who thus presided over this important event
26 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
in the history of our Church. Rev. Mr. Eltinge was one
of the most conspicuous ministers at the time in the
Classis; he was pastor of the Churches of Paramus and
of Saddle River, and was from 1800 to 1808 the Stated
Clerk of the Classis. At the very beginning of his min-
istry (at Paramus) he had been very remarkably used
of God in a revival that began with his first sermon, and
which continued with wonderful power for two years at
the least, during which period he received two hundred
and seventeen persons into his Church. The Elder,
Mr. Hopper, was the Elder delegate to Classis from the
Churches of which Mr. Eltinge was pastor.
On the seventh of January (Saturday), the committee
met with the Warwick people and received into the
Church, as its first members, Cornelius Demarest, Aaron
Taylor, John G. Ackerson and Andrew Ackerman. These
were received "on giving satisfactory evidence of experi-
mental and doctrinal religion," or as we would say on
the confession of their faith, but all of them had been
members of other congregations, and some of them, and
perhaps all communicant members. Mr. Ackerman
came from the Church at Schraalenburgh, N. J., and
Messrs. Demarest, Ackerson and Taylor from the Church
at Paramus. These men were then designated by the
organizing committee elders and deacons, as follows :
Elders, Cornelius Demarest and Andrew Ackerman;
Deacons, John G. Ackerson and Aaron Taylor. As it
was reported later to Classis that the Church was organ-
ized on the 8th of January, it is probable the first com-
munion was administered to the newly officered Church
on that day (Sunday), and not unlikely is it, that then
the elders and deacons were ordained. It is a question
whether the wives of Elder Demarest and Deacon Tay-
lor were received at that time. The minutes of that
THE RECOKD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 27
day seem to say so, but they are also mentioned as hav-
ing been received by the officers of the Church at the
next communion, six months later. The presumption
would seem to be that only the men, who were to be
designated as officers, were received into the Church by
the Classical committee.
It is a matter of peculiar interest that all of the origi-
nal members constituting the first consistory are repre-
sented in the congregation of to-day by their descen-
dants or, in the case of Mr. Taylor by his brother
Elihu's, descendents as follows: The Elder Demarest by
the households of Mrs. Cornelius H. Demarest and her
sons, C. M. and Henry P. Demarest and their descen-
dants; the Elder Ackerman by Mrs. Charles W. Stevens
and Mr. W. D. Ackerman, and their descendants; the
Deacon Ackerson by Mrs. F. 0. Beattie and her descen-
dants, and the Deacon Taylor (through his brother) in
the persons of Mrs. Bradner Van Dervort, Mrs. T. H.
Demerest, Mrs. J. H. Van Duzer and their descendants.
As still further linking the Church of to-day with the
first consistory, is the fact that with the exception of
four years in the sixties, the Elder Cornelius Demarest
has never been without a direct descendant in the Dem-
arest line in its consistory, and for much of the time by
two, as follows: Cornelius Demarest (first), 1804-1815;
David C, 1806-1808; David, 1810-1827; Cornelius C, 1824-
1861; Frederick, 1820-1853 (with intervals); Cornelius
H., 1865-1890; Charles M., 1881-1896; Henry P., since
1896; Rensselaer A., since 1900. This very unusual
circumstance has been quite as remarkably duplicated
by our beloved senior elder, Samuel Pelton, and his for-
bears. On Christmas Day, 1805, Rebecca Pelton and her
son John, with his wife Deborah, were received into the
Church and eleven days afterward John Pelton was elect-
28 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
ed an elder, at which time the first full consistory of
eight members was chosen. The young elder had but
recently brought his bride to Warwick from her New
England home, both of them riding on the back of the
same horse and carrying with them the wedding trou-
sseau in a tiny hair trunk, preserved to-day as a much
prized heirloom in the family of one of their descendants.
Since that time the Church has never been without the
service of one of his descendants, a Pelton, among its
most honored officers; and still more noteworthy is the
fact that owing to the long terms of service on the part
of each, the succession including the present elder has
come down through only three persons, viz: John Pelton,
1806-1843; Henry Pelton, 1836-1872, and our venerable
elder of to-day, Samuel Pelton, since 1872. Robert
Pelton, a brother of John, also served in consistory for
seventeen years, from 1815 to 1832.
The first full consistory, as just noted, was elected
January 5th, 1806. On that date the first elders and
deacons were re-elected to their respective offices, who,
with Edward P. Eckerson and John Pelton, elders, and
Andrew B. Underdonk and David C. Demarest (a son
of Cornelius), deacons, constituted this first full consis-
tory; its members were ordained January 16th, 1806.
Through the descendants of the Deacon David C. Dema-
rest, just mentioned, the first Elder Demarest is still
more largely represented in the Church of to-day in the
family of Augustus Demorest, Esq., as also he is in yet
another line, through another son, Frederick, in the per-
sons of Mrs. Thomas E. Howe and her children, and of
Miss Anna Pelton and her brother, Henry Pelton, Esq.,
these latter two uniting in themselves both the consis-
torial families of Demarest and Pelton.
Other names, familiar in the church life of to-day, that
JOHN PELTON, in Consistory 1806-1843.
SAMUEL PELTON, in Consistory 1872, (still serving.)
HEXRY PELTON, in Consistory 1836-1872.
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 29
we find on the roll of the church in its first ten years
are those of Welling, in the persons of John Welling and
his wife Anna, (April, 1810); Bradner, in the person of
Charity Bradner, (August of the same year); Minthorn
(Minturn), July, 1813, in the person of Nathaniel Min-
thorn, and DeKay, in Elizabeth, wife of Thomas DeKay,
(Oct. 1814).
The first minister ordained as
THE FIRST PASTOR ^^g^^^, ^^ ^^^ ^^^^.^^ ^^^^^ -^^ ^^_
formed organization was the Rev.
Charles Hardenbergh, a licentiate of the Classis, who
was ordained to the ministry and installed pastor
Sunday, November 11, 1804. Mr. Hardenbergh was the
great grandson of Johannes and Catherine (Rutsen) Har-
denbergh of Rosendale, Ulster County, N. Y. To this
Johannes Hardenbergh, with six others. Queen Anne of
England gave a royal grant in 1708 for the large tract
in the State of New York, which has been known as the
Great or Hardenbergh Patent. Charles Hardenbergh's
parents were Johannes and Rachel (DuBois) Harden-
bergh of the Wallkill Valley. His father was a cousin
of the Rev. Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, D. D., the first
President of Queen's, now Rutger's College, of which
institution he was elected a trustee in 1812. The Rev.
Charles Hardenbergh studied under the Rev. Solomon
Froeligh, D. D. Mr. Hardenbergh served the Church
until the close of 1807. He was greatly beloved by the
people, was a man of unusual ability and earnestly devoted
to his work. He resigned the Warwick charge to become
pastor of the Reformed Church at Bedminster, Somerset
County, N. J., where he remained twelve years. In 1820
he accepted the call to the Greenwich Reformed Church,
corner of Bleecker and Amos (West 10th) streets, New
York City, and died in the following year.
30
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
More than four years elapsed be-
CHURCH EDIFICE ^^^^ ^ successor to Mr. Hardenbergh
^^ ^®^^" was selected. A call was presented
to Mr. Eltinge of Paramus, the Elder John Pelton
riding in a two-wheeled gig over the mountain to
take it to him; but Mr. Eltinge did not accept. Dur-
ing this interval the congregation was ministered to by
supplies, but the leaders of the church were by no means
devoid of the liveliest interest in its welfare. The
erection by the Baptist
Church in 1811 of a new
house of worship inspired
the people to a like effort.
The sum of three thous-
and dollars, considered
sufficient to build the
new church, was easily
raised and the work un-
dertaken. The contract
was given to William
Culver. Mr. Thomas
DeKay, who was about to
clear off a piece of land
near Vernon, offered to
furnish all the principal
sticks of timber, if the
congregation would draw
them; an offer promptly
and appreciatively ac-
cepted. The work was
commenced in the follow-
ing spring and completed in a year. During the time the
church was building, the congregation worshipped in
*'the long room" of the hotel then owned by Isaac Dol-
CHrKcn i:i)in( i: or 1M2.
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS.
\1
son (now the Hotel Welling). The Rev. Mr. Eltinge, of
Paramus, conducted the dedicatory service of the new
church upon its completion. For twenty-five years this
building was the home of the congregation, its ecclesias-
tical exterior a happy contrast to the utterly unattrac-
tive building which gave place to it. The building orig-
inally had a high steeple which, however, in 1832, had to
be removed, because found to be in an unsafe condition.
It was taken down to the foot of the octagonal section,
and a low open belfrj^ was substituted for the comely
steeple.
The dedication of the new church
was shortly followed by the call-
ing of the Rev. John I. Christie
Though originally a licentiate of the
THE SECOND PASTOR
CALLED.
to the pastorate.
cuiMSTii: iior
32
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
Classis of Bergen of the Reformed Church, he had
for ten years served in the pastorate of Presbyterian
churches at Amsterdam and Galway. He was the
son of James and Martha (Banta) Christie, and was
born at Schraalenburgh, N. J., Oct. 17, 1780; was
graduated from
ColumbiaCol-
lege in 1799, and
was Hcensed to
preach the gos-
pel in 1802. His
wife was Sally
Welles, of Heb-
ron, Conn. Mr.
Chris tie re-
mained pastor of
the Church for
twenty-three
years. On the
first of October,
1835, the pastor-
al connection was
severed, owing to
the limitations
set upon his la-
bors by the con-
dition of his
health, which
had been im-
paired for some years. A faithful minister and a care-
ful sermonizer, a man of godly life, of strong force of
character and deep sincerity, winsome of heart, always
the friend of the children, he was most affectionately
knit to the hearts of his people. The congregation
p|r_^
k
i * " '"'>"■'
wm
\ii;s. .loiix
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 33
rallied under his leadership and prospered abundantly
so long as he was able to give to its work the re-
quisite strength. When this was no longer possible
and its absence manifest in the life of the church, Mr.
Christie resigned and the congregation reluctantly
united with him in applying for a severance of the pas-
toral relation. It was during this pastorate that the
Bible School was organized. Mr. Christie continued
a resident of the village, living, as he had previously
done, in his own house, on the property where now
stands the residence of the Hon. John J. Beattie, the
dwelling then standing near the well curb, so familiar
a landmark to us all to-day. To the end he was held in
the most affectionate regard by the people he had served,
and was always to the church a valued counsellor, and a
frequent occupant of the pulpit. His son, James Rus-
sell Christie, a long time served the church in the elder-
ship, whose daughter, Mrs. Morris Rutherfurd, though
not in the church of her ancestors, lives their worthy
representative in the community.
Mr. Christie's death occurred in March, 1845, his
funeral being held in the church March 17, on which
occasion the sermon was preached by Dr. Van Derveer
from the words occurring in Acts 20: 37-38. Mrs. Chris-
tie continued to reside in the village in the Christie
residence until her death in 1881.
The Rev. Benjamin Van Keu-
THE THIRD PASTOR ^.^^ bccamc pastor in May, 1836.
He was a graduate of the semi-
nary at New Brunswick, Class of 1824. Before coming
to Warwick he was pastor at Esopus from 1825 to
1836, during part of which period he was also pastor
of the churches of Hurley and Bloomingdale, N. Y. Mr.
34 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
Van Keuren was installed May 31, Mr. Christie and Dr.
Cummins of the Presbyterian Church at Florida conduct-
ing the services. Mr. Van Keuren's pastorate covered
only a period of a year and a half, closing in the fall of
1837. His later pastorates were in connection with the
Presbyterian Church. He died in 1865.
Though the church was
PURCHASE OF THE PARSON- ^^^ -^ ^ flourishing COU-
SONACE PROPERTY. ^^.^^ ^^ ^^^ ^-^^^ ^^^^_
thing of the heroic spirit was manifested in the decision
in February, 1838, to purchase property for parsonage
uses. The property selected was the farm of Mr. Henry
Johnson, which consisted of a tract of fifty-one and a
half acres, including the present manse property, and
also a wood lot of twenty-two acres on the mountain.
The purchase price was $5,200. The officials at the time,
as since, were evidently good financiers, and at once
began selling off sections of the estate, until the final
indebtedness was very small and was paid at once by sub-
scription. Eventually enough was sold to more than pay
the original cost. The property had upon it what was
deemed a suitable residence for the minister, and served
as such for twenty years; this old building stood a hun-
dred feet or more to the rear of the present dwelling.
The original farm as purchased included the properties
now owned by (1) Frank Dunning (sold originally to
Mary Herrick) ; (2) J. A. Wisner (sold orginally to J. and
S. Welling, afterwards successively the property of J. M.
McJimsey and W. R. Welling); (3) J. A. Chamberlain
(sold originally to J. R. Christie); (4) George W. Sanford
estate, lying between the present manse property and the
residence of F. V. Sanford (originally sold to the trus-
tees of the Baptist Church); (5) T. P. Fowler (sold orig-
inally to Hannah Burt).
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 35
After securing a parsonage the
THE FOURTH PASTOR church sought a permanent pas-
tor, the choice falhng upon the
Rev. James W. Stewart, who had previously held pastor-
ates in Salem and Jackson. He was installed May 15,
1838. Mr. Stewart was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, himself
a native of the north of Ireland, whose prejudices and
ideas were not wholly in harmony with the people of the
Church; a serious difference of opinion arose regarding
the propriety of inviting the newly organized Methodist
congregation, which until cold weather had held services
in a tent, to worship in the church building, while their
own was being finished (the building that was afterwards
sold to St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church, when the
brick church on Main street was erected). The lack of
harmony that resulted from this discussion made a
separation desirable, as both the pastor and the Church
well knew; accordingly in the spring or summer of 1842
the pastoral relation was dissolved.
During the summer following the
"""^ CAL^Er^"''"' ^^^' Fe^di^a^d H. Van Derveer
preached a number of times with
particular acceptance; having signified his willingness
to become the pastor, he commenced to preach regularly
on December 4, 1842, and was formally called Decem-
ber 16, and installed February 14, 1843. His long and
successful ministry covered a period of almost forty
years. Dr. Van Derveer was the revered and beloved
father of the Warwick Church of to-day. He gradua-
ted from Union College in 1821, and from the seminary
at New Brunswick in 1823. Prior to coming to Warwick,
his pastorates had been at Hyde Park, New Hurley and
Newburgh. He was a man of commanding presence.
36 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
tall and dignified in bearing, scholarly and refined, an
independent thinker, an earnest speaker, clear and logi-
cal in statement, and personally illustrated the truths
he proclaimed by his holy and consistent behavior.
Though a man of strong decision of character, he was
peculiarly social in disposition. Dr. Van Derveer's
ministry was blessed in the conversion of souls and in
the sowing of seed that has borne its fruitage all the
years since. The impress of his personality is distinctly
seen in the congregation of to-day. He received the
degree of Doctor of Divinity from Rutgers College in
1858.
In the early years of Dr. Van Der-
THE CHURCH OF ^qq^^ ministry the church building
of 1812 proved inadequate for the
purposes of the congregation. Accordingly a new edifice
was erected on the old site, which was completed and
dedicated in 1848. The contract for building was given
to Walter Brooks. At the dedication service, con-
ducted by Dr. Van Derveer, the sermon was preached
by the Rev. Dr. Ten Eyck, of Montgomery, from Ps.
27:4. The church, proving too small, was enlarged a
few years later, and additional doors on either side of
the central front door were made in the fall of 1865.
Its final cost, exclusive of material taken from the old
church, was $2,200. In 1870 a pipe organ was purchased,
Elder Van Saun acting as the purchasing agent, after
the money necessary had for the most part been raised
by subscription, through Miss Mary Cooper (Mrs. L. H.
Sanford). The beautiful old Church, set among the an-
cient trees, with its overreaching roof supported by the
four massive Doric columns, forming the spacious portico
where for so many years the congregation were wont to
iicKDiXAM) iii:m;v \'a.\iii:i;\'i:i:i;.
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS.
37
gather for the interchange of greetings, before and after
the services within,— has a large place in the hearts
of the congregation of to-day, and is sacred because of
their many years of worship within its walls, as the
church of their childhood, the pride of their fathers,
and hallowed by the association with it of kindred long
Jfe-^^^^^^^
K'CII OF 1S4S.
since passed away. When the new church was entered
the system of renting pews was practically inaugurated.
Previously the pews had been owned by the families occu-
pying them, and in many cases the owners had died or
moved from the community, and the pews brought no
revenue to the treasurv.
38
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
THE NEW
PARSONAGE
The next material evidence of progress
was the building of a new parsonage,
which was done shortly after the enlarge-
ment of the church building, and which continues to be
the comfortable residence of the minister. One of the
features of the house then constructed was its large
and sunny parlor on the south side, built with special
regard to the holding of the donation parties, so essen-
tial a feature of the social life of a Church a generation
ago; and many still recall the old days when the genial
domine received his parishioners on their annual visit of
gift-bringing, in the spacious rooms. Dr. Van Derveer's
pastorate closed only when the limitations of age dis-
■m: .\i:w i-aksonai
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS.
39
SONS OF THE CHURCH
IN THE MINISTRY.
qualified him for the arduous duties of the pastorate, on
the eleventh of September, 1876. He died in the home of
his son-in-law, the Rev. Thomas S. Dusinberre, at Liv-
ingstone, N. Y., July 10, 1881. Dr. Van Derveer had
one daughter, who is the wife of the Rev. Thomas S.
Dusinberre. Mrs. Van Derveer, (nee Mary V. Gilder-
sleeve) was a woman of rare excellence of character,
and was greatly endeared to the people of the Church.
She died August 2, 1868.
Dr. Van Derveer's gifted son,
Cyrus Gildersleeve Van Der-
veer, following the example of
his father, chose the vocation of the gospel ministry; he
was ordained by the
Classis of Paramus, at a
meeting held in the
Warwick Church, No-
vember 9th, 1859. On
that occasion the Rev.
W. H. Campbell, D. D.,
preached the sermon
from II. Cor., 4: 1-2, and
the charge to the can-
didate was given by his
father. He married
Sarah McCarrell, the
daughter of the Rev.
Joseph McCarrell, D. D.,
of Newburgh. Mr. Van
Derveer was pastor of
the Reformed Church at
Davenport, Iowa; and
during his pastorate there also served as chaplain in the
Civil War; at the time of his death he was secretary of
;. VAX i)Ki;vKio
40 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
the Board of Domestic Missions of the Reformed Church.
He died in Warwick in April, 1868, and was buried in
the Wanvick Cemetery, on the dedication of which
he had made the address of the occasion.
Another son of the Church to give himself to the
ministry about the same time was Thomas S. Dusinberre,
a son of the Elder Peter Dusin-
berre. He married Ella Van
Derveer, the daughter of Dr.
Van Derveer. Mr. Dusinberre
graduated from Rutgers College
in 1861, and from the Theolog-
ical Seminary at New Bruns-
wick in 1864, and the same year
was licensed to preach the gos-
pel by the Classis of Paramus.
For some months he supplied
the Presbyterian Church at
Amity, N. Y. In 1865-66, he
was engaged in teaching the classics, and during a por-
tion of the latter year he served as missionary at Park
Chapel, Albany. His first regular pastoral charge was
at Prattsville, N. Y., where he remained four years.
Then for nineteen years he labored with much success
in the Church of Linlithgo, until, in 1889, he was called to
West New Hemstead, N. Y., which pastorate was con-
cluded in 1900, on account of impaired health. His
present residence is Pine Plains, N. Y.
The third son of the Church to enter the ministry,
and like the others, doing so during the pastorate of Dr.
Van Derveer, was James Henry Bertholf, the son of
James Holly Bertholf. He was ordained to the gospel
ministry by the Classis of Westchester, and installed
pastor of the Church at Unionville, Westchester County,
H).MAS S. I)T-SIXH
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS.
41
N. Y. He afterwards served as pastor of the DeWitt
Chapel, in connection with the
Collegiate Reformed Church of
New York City; later of the Re-
formed Church at Nassau, N. Y.,
and of the First Freehold, Marl-
boro, N. J, Mr. Bertholf mar-
ried the daughter of the late
revered pastor of the Yonkers
Reformed Church, the Rev.
David Cole, D. D. Mr. Ber-
tholf 's present home is Yonkers,
N. Y., his condition of health
making continuance in the pas-
torate no longer possible.
None of the sons of the Church have since entered
the ministry, but Mr. George A. Sanford has devoted
himself to Christian work among young men. From
the Secretaryship of the War-
wick Young Men's Christian As-
sociation, he has served as Sec-
retary at Newburgh, Washing-
ton and Philadelphia. At the
close of his first three years of
service at Newburgh, the records
showed that one hundred young-
men and boys had united with
churches of that city, and that a
troublesome indebtedness of
$13,500 had been paid. Later,
when that association became
financially involved, Mr. Sanford was again appealed
to and again brought relief, securing also an endow-
ment of over $5,000. He organized the association at
\
■^.jL^'
OEOrfOIC A. SANFOKI)
42 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
Catskill, N. Y., which was recently presented with a
$25,000 building in recognition of its usefulness; also
the Prospect Park Branch of the Brooklyn Association.
For two seasons he conducted the association work at
the National Guard Encampment at Peekskill, creating
new standards. With fifteen assistants, he also had
charge of the Army work at Camp Wikoff, Montauk
Point, L. I., in 1898. Mr. Sanford was the Lay Assist-
ant Minister of the West End Collegiate Church of
New York City, from which office he was relieved to
conduct the work of the Army Branch of the New York
City Association, which he was instrumental in organ-
izing at the close of the Spanish-American War, and of
which he is still in charge. His work is now carried
on at Forts Wadsworth, Wood, Jay and Schuyler, New
York Harbor.
On December 7, 1876, the Church
THE SIXTH PASTOR ^^^j^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ pastorate the
CALLED. ^^^^ Vernon B. Carroll. The ser-
vice of installation took place on December 28, on which
occasion the sermon was preached by the Rev. Jam.es M.
Ludlow, D. D., of the Collegiate Church, New York City,
the Rev. Drs. John H. Duryea and W. H. Clark, of Pat-
erson, participating in the services. Mr. Carroll re-
mained at the head of the Church for ten years, or until
January 1, 1887. Mr. Carroll was born in Baltimore, in
1846; was graduated from Rutgers College in 1868, with
the honor of salutatorian, and from the Seminary at New
Brunswick in 1871. His previous pastorates had been in
Pottersville, N. J., and in New York City, in connection
with the Seventh Avenue Chapel of the Collegiate
Church. His later pastorates were in connection with
the Presbyterian Church at Tenafly, N. J., and at Ame-
nia, N. Y. His death occured as the result of accident.
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 43
Dec. 21, 1899, the funeral services being held in the
Warwick Church, his teacher and devoted friend, the late
Rev. Jacob Cooper, D. D., of New Brunswick, pronounc-
ing a most beautiful and appropriate eulogy; Dr. Lea-
vins of Passaic, and Rev, Mr. Knox, Pastor of this
Church, participating in the service. The interment was
in Warwick Cemetery. Mr. Carroll had married Miss
Mary Emerson, of Bridgeport, Conn., whose death occur-
red during his Warwick pastorate. In 1883 he married
Miss Cordelia Burt, the daughter of Thomas Burt, Esq.
Mr. Carroll was a man of profound conscientiousness, of
scholarly attainments and of large capacity for work; as
a preacher he was able and spiritual. He brought into the
Church a thoroughly modern spirit. Progressive in his
ideas and alive to the pressing needs of the day, the
Church under his preaching and leadership made marked
progress along all lines of development and activity; its
membership was largely augmented; its benevolences,
systematized and greatly increased, the fraternal spirit
toward other churches in the community to a marked
degree extended. During Mr. Carroll's pastorate the
Womens' Missionary Society (auxiliary to both the
boards) was organized. The need of the organization
of the young people was recognized, and was met by
organizing conjointly with the representatives of the
other churches of the village, the Young Men's Christian
Association, which for a number of years was practically
the union young people's society of the village. That
there might be better facilities for Bible School and
prayer meeting than the church building afforded, a
room was leased in the G. A. Miller building, of which
Mr. John L. Servin was lessee. Largely through Mr.
Carroll's efforts union monthly Sunday evening services
with the Methodist and the Calvary Baptist Churches
44
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
OFFICERS AND LONG TERM MEMBERS
OF CONSISTORY.
were inaugurated, beginning February, 1879, making
our centennial year the twenty-fifth anniversary of this
outward manifestation of christian fellowship and comity
among the churches of the community.
Early in 1877 the
church met with
a conspicuous loss
in the death of its faithful and competent clerk of con-
sistory, the Elder Maurice Hoyt. Mr. Hoyt's last en-
trance in the record book
was January 8, 1877; the
first record signed by his
name bears date of Octo-
ber 18, 1837. His serv-
ice, therefore, covered a
period of almost forty
years, during all of which
time his records were
kept with peculiar neat-
ness and care. His serv-
ice in the Consistory
covered almost a half
century, (four years as
deacon and forty-one as
elder), during which
period "with conscien-
tious, consistent, un-
wearied and uncomplain-
ing faithfulness, great
wisdom, courage, gladness and hope, he had performed
his duties." The office of clerk was next held by the
Elder Cornelius H. Demarest, a man of earnest piety
and force of character, whose service to the Church was
for long years of inestimable value, and whose faithful-
MATRIPE HOY'
VERNON P.OKl) CARROLL
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS.
45
ness and consistent character has left an impress on the
Church markedly felt in its life to-day. His last entry
as clerk was of a
meeting held on
November 9, 1889,
shortly before his
death, completing
a term in the office
of Clerk of Consis-
tory of nearly thir-
teen years. He
was followed by
Mr. John McWill-
iams, who was in
turn followed, in
1891, by the com-
petent and pains-
taking clerk of to-
day, the Elder Fer-
dinand V. Sanf ord,
whose versatile
ability has made
him of invaluable
Church.
The second consistorial office, that of treasurer, was
first held by David C. Demarest, who was elected Janu-
ary 5, 1806. For a time Thomas Sproull, who was in
Consistory, 1827-1837, served as treasurer; the record,
however, is very incomplete, until the office was held by
Mr. Thomas Welling, who has been succeeded in order
by Messrs. Cornelius H. Demarest, Charles M. Demarest,
Sylvester Case, and Deacon Ira A. Hawkins, the treas-
urer of to-day, worthy of his predecessors and alive to
every spiritural interest of the Church.
COKMOLirS H. DKMARES'I
helpfulness in all the work of the
46 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
In making record of the long service in the Consis-
tory of the Elders Hoyt and C. H. Demarest, the fact
is thrown into prominence that the Church has had the
devoted service for unusually long periods of many
others of its venerated members. In addition to Mr.
Hoyt and the Demarests and Peltons already referred
to, the following have served in the Consistory for
periods of twenty years or longer: John G. Ackerson,
twenty, three as deacon and seventeen as elder; Aaron
Taylor, twenty-eight, nine as deacon and nineteen as
elder; Peter Dusinberre, thirty-eight, fourteen as dea-
con and twenty-four as elder; Alexander H. Calla-
way, ("Deacon Galloway,") thirty-eight, all in the dia-
conate; Thomas Welling, thirty-seven, sixteen as deacon
and twenty-one as elder; Nathaniel R. Bradner, twenty-
one, all as deacon; and of the living our honored elder,
James Wisner, who is serving his twenty-third year in the
eldership; and H. C. Dusinberre, who gave faithful ser-
vice in the Consistory for twenty years, fourteen as dea-
con and six as elder.
May 28, 1887, Consistory voted
THE SEJ^ENT^H^ PASTOR ^^^^i^^USly tO Call the RcV.
Peter Crispell to the vacant pas-
torate. The call was formally made June 4, and the
new pastor was ordained and installed August 3. The
sermon was preached by his brother, the Rev. C. E. Cris-
pell, D. D., of Spring Valley; the charge to the Pastor
was made by the Rev. J. C. Van Deventer of Nyack, and
the charge to the people by the Rev. John A. Van Neste
of Ridgewood, N. J. Mr. Crispell is a native of Hurley,
Ulster county, New York, where he was born in 1862.
the son of Dr. Peter Crispell, and the half-brother of the
Rev. C. E. Crispell, D. D., formerly president of Hope
College, and now for many years pastor of the Church
PETER CRISPELL.
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 47
of Spring Valley, N. Y. The family is of Huguenot
ancestry, descended from Antoine Crispell, who came to
America in 1660 from the province of Artois, France,
and settled in Ulster county, N. Y. Mr. Crispell gradua-
ted from Rutgers College in 1884, and from New Bruns-
wick Seminary in 1887, in which year he married Miss
Marie Dupuy Schoonmaker, the daughter of L. E. Schoon-
maker, Esq., of New York City. In 1894 he resigned
the pastorate of the Church to accept the charge of the
Reformed Church at Utica, N. Y., which he served until
the summer of 1902, resigning to accept the pastorate of
his present charge, the Reformed Church of Montgom-
ery, in this county. During the seven years of Mr. Cris-
pell's ministerial care of the Church, it continued to make
marked progress. His social character, so manifest in
all his relations with his people and especially expressed
in his regular and untiring visitation in their homes,
coupled with his incessant efforts in behalf of the
Church's growth, bound him, as well as Mrs. Crispell,
very closely to the hearts of the congregation.
Early in January following his installation, Mr. Cris-
pell had the assistance of the Rev. Dr. Barr of New-
burgh, in holding a series of special services, which were
very much owned of God. The additions to the mem-
bership of the Church that followed v/ere the largest,
for any similar period, in the history of the Church; in
fact, the pastorate was characterized by a large addition
to the roll of members. The young people's society of
the Church was organized during Mr. Crispell's min-
istry.
In 1889 it was evident the Church
THE CHURCH OF ^^^ ^^^ large enough for the people,
and the question of enlargement or
rebuilding was settled in favor of a new edifice. Plans
48 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
submitted by Mr. E. G. W. Dietrich, architect, of New
York, calHng for a handsome stone structure, altogether
unique in character, were adopted. The building com-
^^ ---\ mittee was appointed,
/ \ very naturally with Elder
/ '\ Thomas Welling as chair-
\ man, who for over forty
/ \ years gave to the Church
c*^' •'■' \ unstinted care, solicitude
/ ^^< ^ \ and love; and whose word
jH&jl^"'' i and wisdom carried un-
. ^^CJH^^^U ' usual weight in its coun-
^^^^^^R^E^^B||^^/ sels. The other members
■J^^^^HJ^^^^^HHhV of the committee were
^^^^^^^B^^^^^^^v Deacon C. W. Wisner,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^W whose artistic sense finds
^mU^m^^^ / everywhere in the edifice
\ ■ / characteristic expression;
^v.,^ ^^^ Deacon F. V. Sanford,
TFio.MAs wKi.i.ixd. wlio hcld the arduous
ofhce of secretary and treasurer of the committee, and
Mr. Richard Wisner representing the congregation at
large, on whose most capable shoulders was placed the
onerous responsibility of superintending the work of con-
struction, to which he gave constant and zealous attention.
The corner stone was laid August 6, 1889, in the pres-
ence of a large audience; the service was conducted by
the Pastor; F. V. Sanford, Esq., made the historical
address; the Rev. N. H. Van Arsdale, D. D., delivered
an addrass on the ''Scriptural Significance of the Corner
Stone." The corner stone is located on the southwest
corner of the building, and is a great weather stained
lime stone, three feet square; in it was placed a copper
box containing the following articles: a sermon by the
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS.
49
Rev. C. E. Crispell, D. D., on the ''Supply of the Gospel
Ministry"; address by the Rev. N. H. Van Arsdale, D. D.;
sermon by the Rev. John I. Christie, on occasion of the
funeral of Richard Pel-
ton, in May, 1830; copy
of Christian Intelligen-
cer, New York Tribune,
Sower and Mission Field,
Mail and Express, illus-
trated edition Warwick
Valley Dispatch, contain-
ing Rev. Peter Crispell's
sermon on the need of the
new church, preached in
February, 1889, also of
July 31, 1889, Warwick
Advertiser of July 14, 21,
28, 1887, containing Rev.
Mr. Carroll's History of
the Church, also of July
16, 1889, containing the history of the Welling family, and
also of Aug. 1, 1889, showing the cut of the new church and
the New York Herald's article about it; copy of a Scran-
ton paper; a pen sketch of the original churches of 1774
and 1812, made by J. M. Pelton from memory; photo-
graph of the church of 1846, by H. F. Morley; also of
the Rev. Peter Crispell, the Pastor; business card of E.
G. W. Dietrich, the architect of the church being built;
copy of the Signs of the Times; the Bellvale Rising Star;
copy of certificates of incorporation of the Presbyterian
Church, and of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church;
list of teachers and officers of the Sunday School; the
subscription list for the new building aggregating at the
time $21,545.00; an envelope containing the current pos-
IMCIIAIM) WIS.M
50 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
tage stamps, silver and copper coins and a postal card.
The entire cost of the building complete, with furnish-
ings and sweet-toned organ, was $36,000, besides the value
of work done and material furnished gratuitously. By
the personal exertions of Mr. Crispell and the liberal
response of a most united people, the church was dedi-
cated without a cent of encumbrance, on June 26, 1890.
On this occasion the sermon was preached by the Rev.
Dr. V. V. Mabon, Professor in the Theological Seminary
at New Brunswick, and addresses were delivered by the
Rev. Professor T. S. Doolittle, D. D., of Rutgers College,
the Revs. V. B. Carroll, T. S. Dusinberre, J. W. Bertholf,
and Robert H. Barr of Newburgh.
The building is in many respects an unique structure.
Its architectural style is Byzantine, its walls and arches,
towers and buttresses are built of the rough stones gath-
ered from fields and fences, which, when first built into
the structure, were still green or black with growing-
lichen and moss and the mould and weather stains of
years, and are still most beautiful covered now with
growing ivy. Our seating capacity is five hundred.
The interior decoration and glass is the work of J. & R.
Lamb of New York City; the organ was built by George
Jardine and Son, the latter presiding at the organ at the
dedication service.
During the erection of the church the congregation
accepted the hospitality of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. No changes of moment have been made in
the church since; additional heating facility was pro-
vided in 1898, electric lighting installed in 1900, and in
the fall of 1903, just passed, the choir space was enlarged,
a new room for the Junior Department of the Bible
School provided, the walls redecorated, and the floors
recarpeted, at an expenditure with improvements on the
•RONT VIEW FKESKXT CHURCH, WINTER 1904.
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 51
parsonage at the same time, including electric lighting,
of $1,900. The care of the church ever since its build-
ing, as well as of the old church for five years before,
has been in the hands of our courteous and faithful sex-
ton, Mr. Thomas Nesbit, who
has ministered with unfailing
kindness to the comfort of his / JE"" '%. -M
fellow members for over nine-
teen years.
When the stone church was
erected the old graveyard on the
north, was converted into a lawn.
A plot was purchased in the
Warwick Cemetery to which
were removed the remains and
the stones marking the graves
of 116 persons; others to private thomas xnesbit.
burial plots. The oldest stone was memorial of Anna,
wife of William Eagles, 1771; the latest, of Daniel Sin-
sabaugh, 1869. Among others is the grave of Jacob
Gaul, for twenty years sexton of the church; of William
Culver, whose monument appears to have been erected
by the Church as "a memorial to his attachment and mu-
nificence" to the Church; also members of the early Con-
sistory, Revolutionary soldiers and other prominent per-
sons are here interred.
LEGACIES ^^' ^^® ^^^^ ^^ ^^- William R. Welling, the
Church came into possession of a generous
legacy in 1885, the last gift toward its endowment fund
to date. From time to time since 1846 the Church
has been the occasional beneficiary of her sons and
daughters, who passing away from the opportunity to
render personal help, have left a permanent token of
their love, that to-day materially helps us in meeting
52 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
the financial demands of our worlc. Those who have
thus made the Church one of the beneficiaries of their
wills are as follows:
(1) William Culver, the builder of the second church
building, who gave $400 as early as 1823.
(2) The Rev. John I. Christie, in 1845, leaving $100.
(3) John Magee, in 1846, giving $500.
(4) Sarah Demarest, in 1858, who gave $300.
(5) Hannah Palmer, wife of James R. Christie, in 1858,
leaving $1,000, half of which was to be a perpetual mis-
sionary fund.
(6) James Magee, (son of the former), in 1859, also
giving $500.
(7) Samuel Denton, in 1874, who gave to the Church
$500.
(8) W. R. Welling, 1885, leaving $5,000.
In making this record, however, it should certainly be
remembered that the much longer list of those still liv-
ing, as well as of those passed away, who have given as
generously to the building of the splendid edifice in
which the congregation worships to-day, should not be
forgotten. The structure itself speaks as eloquently of
their affection as does the annual income accruing from
the gifts of the others, and their names, were it practic-
able, could certainly be as worthily recorded.
We now reach the last period in
THE EIGHTH PASTOR ^^^ ^^^^^^^ j-^^ ^f ^^^ century,
CALLED. in the calling to the pastorate the
present pastor, the Rev. Taber Knox, who was unani-
mously elected to fill the vacancy, July 14, 1894; was for-
mally called July 23; began preaching Sept. 16, and was
installed Oct. 23, 1894, on which occasion the sermon was
preached by the Rev. David J. Burrell, D. D., of the Col-
legiate Church, New York; the Charge to the Pastor
TABER KNOX.
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 53
was made by the Rev. Anson DuBois, D. D., and the
Charge to the People, by the Rev. R. B. Clark, pastor of
the Presbyterian Church at Goshen. Mr. Knox was
called from the Fourth Reformed Church of (Manayunk)
Philadelphia, of which Church he had been pastor since
1889. Previously to becoming pastor of that Church, he
was pastor of the Second Reformed Church of Tarry-
town, N. Y. (1887-1889). He was born in New York City
in 1863, the son of the late Calvin E. and Lorinda (Taber)
Knox, and the grandson of the Rev. John Knox, D. D.,
who for forty years was one of the ministers of the Col-
legiate Church of New York City, and a great-grandson
of the Rev. John Mitchell Mason, D. D., prince of Pres-
byterian preachers of his day, and Provost of Columbia
College, 1811-1816. Mr. Knox is a graduate of Columbia
College, class of 1883, and of Union Theological Seminary,
New York City, class of 1886. After leaving the Semi-
nary he had temporary charge, in the absence of its
pastor, of the Presbyterian Church at Schaghticoke, N. Y.
He was ordained to the ministry when installed pas-
tor of the Church at Tarrytown, July 12, 1887. On Oct.
18, 1890, he married Ada Quinby, daughter of Joshua
S. and Martha (Stephenson) Quinby of Mt. Kisco, N. Y.
In the spring of 1896 the beauty of our
THE MEMORIAL already attractive church was enhanced
by the gift, by Charles I. McBurney,
Esq., of New York City, of three handsome memorial
windows, in memory of his mother, Mrs. Isabella Scott
McBurney. The windows, most beautiful in color and
conception, are among the choicest work of the Tiffany
Studios of New York City. They are the centre group
of three windows on the north side of the church,
and portray the "virtuous woman" as described in the
closing chapter of the Book of Proverbs; the windows
54 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
illustrate in order the description given in the three
statements: "With the fruit of her hands she planteth
a vineyard;" ''She reacheth forth her hands to the
needy;" ''Like the merchants' ships, she bringeth her
food from afar." The windows were placed in the
church the week preceding Sunday, March 22, 1896. In
making reference to the windows on that Sunday, the
pastor said in part, as follows: "As, owing to the charac-
teristic modesty of their giver, we may be deprived of
the pleasure of any special presentation service, I feel
as though we should make at least some small reference
to them on this, the first Sunday that God's sunshine
comes to us through them. They are placed here in
memory of Isabella Scott McBurney, the eldest child of
the late Israel 0. Beattie, who was for the few years of
his residence here, prior to his death, an active and hon-
ored member of this Church; and Elvira (Scott) Beattie.
[Since then also deceased]. Mrs. McBurney was a mem-
ber of one of the Presbyterian Churches of Middletown,
N. Y., but as her dust lies in the Warwick cemetery, and
as more of her family and friends are now resident here
than at Middletown, it is a fitting and to us a most
delightful thing, that these memorial windows should be
placed in our church, the church home of her father and
mother, and of her brothers [Hon. John J. Beattie and F.
0. Beattie, Esq.], and of so many friends. As you will
observe on close inspection, the three windows are one
in idea, representing the description of the virtuous and
successful woman given in the latter verses of the last
chapterof Proverbs. We read in the Book of Revelation
that the overcomers shall be 'pillars in the temple of our
God!' Surely it is fitting that the earthly sanctuary of
our God should be beautified with that which shall ever
remind us of those excellencies of character which by
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 55
God's grace and through the operation of His Spirit
shall fit either man or woman to become a 'pillar' in the
higher temple. As the light of God's sunshine streams
through those beautiful figures, may it be to us a con-
stant reminder that just so must the light of the God of
Heaven shine upon all our characters and pervade all
our being, if we are to be made truly beautiful and vir-
tuous and successful."
It is highly interesting to note the dif-
THE AUXILIARY f ereuce in the Church lif e of a century
ORGANIZATIONS. -. 4? , i j-re ^^ \.
ago and oi to-day; a difierence that
results from the larger conception of the province of the
Church and a wider vision of its work. Bible schools
then were unknown; young people's organizations prac-
tically as unknown in churches generally; children's
organizations would have been considered utterly foolish,
while the modern missionary movement that has given
birth to the missionary societies everywhere had not
begun. The electric lighting of modern churches is in
no greater contrast with the tallow dip of a century ago,
than are the modern activities of the same churches with
the church work of a similar time. The prayer meeting
itself was not an institution in our church until some
time during the earlier years of Dr. Van Derveer's pas-
torate; prior to that, neighborhood prayer-meetings had
been held with no reference to denominational lines.
The organization of the Bible School, as has already been
stated, dates from 1830, the Women's Missionary Society
only from 1880 (though there is a record that a mission-
ary society of some sort was organized as early as Nov.
2, 1839; what it was the present generation does not
know, and its life was probably not long). The Young-
People's Society of Christian Endeavor is of the modern
period, the society that was its forerunner being organ-
56 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
ized, as has been said, in 1887. The last decade of the
century has been marked by the forming of additional
agencies in the Church to meet discovered or developing
needs: the Junior Christian Endeavor Society, the
Heart and Hand Society (the missionary society for
the young ladies) and the Brotherhood of Andrew and
and Philip, all in 1895 (the latter re-organized for younger
men in 1902), and last on the list, the Builders, the social
organization of the Young Men's Bible Class of the
Bible School, dating from the present year. [The history
of all these organizations, as well as of the choir, have
their separate departments in this history.]
From time to time the spiritual life of
HELPERS FROM the Church has been quickeued, apart
OUTSIDE. from the ordinary ministrations, by the
co-operation of men particularly fitted to give help along
special lines. During the pastorate of Mr. Carroll, much
evangelistic work was carried on in co-ojoeration with
other village pastors, at one time such meetings being
conducted by Rev. Mr. Nicholls. The visit of Dr. Barr
of Newburgh, during Mr. Crispell's pastorate, and the
large accession to the Church, following, has already
been noted. More recently the Church has had the
labors of the evangelist, the Rev. Arthur J. Smith, assist-
ed by the singing evangelist, the Rev. Frank Miller, in
the fall of 1895, in union services with Calvary Baptist
and the Methodist Churches, a memorable feature in
connection with which was the holding for eleven con-
secutive weeks of ten neighborhood prayer-meetings at
the same hour, with uniform topics; these were very large-
ly attended and exceedingly helpful in character. In the
winter of 1899 the Church enjoyed a series of meetings
of great importance, on "Child Study," conducted by Mr.
George H. Archibald; and later in the same season
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 57
the rare privilege of a series of meetings for deepening
the spiritual life, addressed by the Rev. Arthur T. Pier-
son, D. D., the Rev. F. F. Walton, and the Rev. Cornelius
Woelfkin, D. D.
The Church has had a lively
BENEVOLENT INTERESTS. . , , ^ .
interest lor many years m
world-wide missions; her enthusiasm has from time to
time been kindled by the visits and burning words of
missionaries from the wide field and the secretaries of
our mission boards; and her contributions have given her
a commendable place among the churches of the denom-
ination. Our missionary societies are well organized
and full of vitality, and our Christian Endeavor Socie-
ties are their worthy seconds in missionary interest.
The Church feels that hers is a cherished part in the
work being done in the broad territory of our own grow-
ing new West, in the work for the Indian, in the moun-
tains of Kentucky where she is represented in the little
organ that leads God's praises at McKee, or farther away
in the lands beyond the seas, where she has tried to clasp
the hands of some of God's precious ones and lead them
into the light. Yet is there not a still larger part that
can be hers in hastening the coming of the King? "The
Fresh Air work" has very strongly appealed to the inter-
ests of the Church in recent years, and in the past seven
years she has given to about 175 children the inestimable
benefit and joy of a two weeks' outing in the middle of
the summer's heat.
The Church has been repre-
DELECATES TO CLASSIS ^^^^^^ -^ ^j^^^.g ^^^- ^^^
AND SYNOD. , , j-,.-, ^ ^
century gone by blders Cor-
nelius, David C, Frederick, Cornelius C, Cornelius H.,
and Henry P. Demarest; Edward and John C. Eckerson;
John, Robert, Henry and Samuel Pelton; Aaron Taylor;
58 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
Sylvanus Fancher; Thomas Sproull; James Bell; Daniel
C, Peter, and Henry C. Dusinberre; Maurice Hoyt;
James R. Christie; Samuel J. Van Saun; Mahlon Cooper;
Thomas Welling; James Wisner, and Ferdinand V. San-
ford. The Church has been represented in General
Synod by elders as follows: Maurice Hoyt, 1837 and
1870; Frederick Demarest, 1840; Daniel C. Dusinberre,
1841 and 1848; Henry Pelton, 1863; Thomas Welling,
1878, 1893 and 1894; Cornelius C. Demarest, 1881 and
1886; James Wisner, 1889; Ferdinand V. Sanford, 1899
Henry P. Demarest, 1903; and by its pastors as follows
Mr. Christie in 1815, 1818, 1820, 1823, 1824, 1828 and 1831
Mr. Van Keuren in 1837; Mr. Stewart in 1841; Dr. Van
Derveer in 1845, 1848, 1855, 1856, 1859, 1863, 1867, 1870,
1872 and 1876; Mr. Carroll in 1878, 1880 and 1884; Mr.
Crispell, in 1893, and Mr. Knox in 1899 and 1903.
The Church has entertained the Classis of Paramus on
seventeen occasions, and the Particular Synod of New
Brunswick twice, namely, in 1884 and 1899. The Orange
County Bible Society, the Orange County Sunday School
Union, and the Orange County Christian Endeavor Union
have all of them been on several occasions the guests of
the Church.
The Church has carried on her roll
OUR MEMBERSHIP, gg^ j^gj^bers, 534 uniting on con-
fession and 360 by letter; there remain to-day on the list
288 members resident or in communication with the
Church. Her oldest surviving member, in length of mem-
bership, is Mrs. Hannah L. (Dator) Galloway, who united
with the Church in March, 1845, and is nov/ resident
in Hackensack, N. J., most of the time. Our resident
member whose continuous membership is the longest, is
Mrs. George W. Sanford (Frances A. Baird), who united
with the Church December, 1851; though her length of
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 59
membership would have been exceeded by that of Mrs.
Mary Wood, who originally united with the Church Sept.
1849, had not the latter transferred her membership
for many years because of residence elsewhere and did
not restore it until September of 1902. Our senior mem-
ber in years is Mrs. Mary Herrick, who has passed her
ninetieth year. The last person uniting with the Church
on confession of faith in the old century (at the Decem-
ber communion, 1903), was Henry Toland Demarest, the
great-great-grandson of the first member received into
the Church January, 1804; while the first members
uniting with the Church on confession of faith in the
new century just begun (March, 1904), are John Farries
Winslow and Charles Francis Hawkins, the latter the last
name now on the roll of members, and, in years as well,
the youngest member of the Church. The youngest
persons in covenant relation with the Church are the
children baptized at the last preparatory service held in
the old century (Dec. 12, 1903), namely: Margaret Dem-
arest, Catherine Bevans Shimer and Charles Victor Knox,
the first of the trio being actually the youngest person in
covenant relation with the Church, at the close of the
century, and, singularly, another of the descendents of
the Church's first member and elder, being a great-great-
great-granddaughter of the Elder Cornelius Demarest.
The first report made by the Church to
OUR GROWTH. ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ -^g^g^ ^^^^ ^^^ families
of the Church were reported to be 78 in number and the
membership at 72. Apparently the first full report
made to Classis that has been preserved in our records,
was that of 1877. That year there were 100 families
connected with the Church, 133 communicants; 95 Bible
School scholars, $161 contributed for benevolence, and
$1,450 contributed for congregational purposes. The
60 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
last report made to Classis (April, 1904), was as follows:
Families in the Church 160; total number of communi-
cants 288; total Bible School enrollment 275; benevo-
lent contributions $1,538, and contributions for congre-
gational purposes $4,903.47. [This includes special con-
tributions for repairs on church property; the average
offerings for five years exclusive of such unusual contri-
butions, have been for congregational purposes $2,833;
for benevolent objects $1,627.]
The communion service now in
COMMUNION SERVICE. ^^^ -^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^j^^ ^-^^
to the church of Benjamin F. Dunning, Esq., of New York
and of Warwick, long the valued friend of the Church,
and who passed to his reward in 1888. The gift was
made some time during the ministry of Mr. Carroll.
There are in the possession of the Church two of the
goblets of an older service, that formerly had been in
use. Those who, like the Levites of old, have been the
caretakers of these utensils of the sanctuary during the
more recent past, have been James R. Christie, John
McWilliams, F. V. Sanford, and at the present, R. A.
Demarest.
To the life and development and service
OUR FUTURE. ^^ ^-^q past, how many have worthily
contributed!— ministers that have given their best work
and some of them the work of the best and most mature
years of their lives,— laymen and women, who have loved
and have labored for the Church's welfare according to
the fullness of their ability, some of them with some-
thing approaching adequate appreciation, many per-
chance most inadequately recognized. Much of the
work we can see and record, but the work no man can
measure is that done in building into character divine
elements, and this, unwritten— unknown— is the best.
THE RECORD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS. 61
The record on high includes this; there it is written, there
it is known. The Church has tried to serve the old
Warwick, and it is the prayer of those who are seeking
the welfare of Zion to-day that she may be girded with
strength and baptized with the divine Spirit, so that she
may serve the new Warwick of coming days at least as
well. The old Church, however, has served more than
Warwick. Out into the activities of the world, away
from the Church of childhood and of ancestry have
gone her sons and her daughters, and through their
christian work and worthy character the Church of
Warwick has served the larger world. But farther yet
has her influence and service reached; her saints have
passed through the valley into the eternal light of the
heaven of the redeemed; and some, grandsires, and sires
and sons together sing the song of the redeemed and
enjoy the beatific vision and the unwearying service
of the Redeemer, because in the old home church in our
lovely valley they caught the glorious vision of their
King. But greater than her service is the unspeakable
gifts to her of the unfailing presence and guidance of
the divine Spirit, of the blood that has purchased the
redemption of her children, and of the love that has
streamed from the cross and throne of her adorable
Lord. As she peers into the future and resumes the
labors for that Lord, she knows that to whom much is
given, much shall be required, and prays that larger power
and wisdom and love may be given her to win and to
train immortal souls, to the glory on earth and in heaven
of her Lord.
ITho (late of till' ilcatli of Mr. I>,. F. Dniiiiiiiji-. jiafjc lU). should read ISJ)-,.]
62 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
THE CONSISTORY OF THE CENTENNIAL YEAR.
The Rev. Taber Knox, Pastor.
Samuel Pelton.
James Wisner.
Ferdinand Van Derveer Sanford.
Henry Pelton Demarest.
DEACONS.
Clinton Wheeler Wisner.
Ira Alden Hawkins.
James Bonnyman.
Rensselaer Armstrong Demarest.
OFFICERS OF CONSISTORY.
The Rev. Taber Knox, President.
Ferdinand V. Sanford, Clerk.
Ira A. Hawkins, Treasurer.
THE ROLL OF ELDERS.
63
ROLL OF ELDERS
Who have served during the hundred years:
Cornelius C. Demarest. .. 1843-1861
Henry Pelton 1848-1872
Peter Dusinberre 1853-1S77
James R. Christie 1861-1865
Samuel J. Van Saun 1865-1872
Mahlon Cooper 1872-1881
Cornelius H. Demarest . . . 1872-1890
Andrew Ackerman 1S04-1807
Cornelius Demarest 1804-1815
Edward P. Eckerson 1806-1810
John Pelton 1806-1843
John G. Ackerson 1S07-1824
David Demarest 1810-1827
Aaron Taylor 1813-1832
Richard Johnson 1824-1826 Samuel Pelton 1877*
Sylvanus Fancher 1826-1828 Thomas Welling 1878-1899
[837 James Wisner iSSi'^
[832 John McWilliams 1890-1S91
[848 Henry Coe Dusinberre. .. 1S91-1S97
[836 Ferdinand V. San ford. . . . 1S97*
[877 Sylvester Case 1899-igoo
[853 Henry P. Demarest 1900*
ROLL OF DEACONS
Who have served during the hundred years:
John Ackerson 1S04-1807 John F. Randolph 1841-1853
Thomas Sproul 1S27
Robert Pelton 1828
Daniel Dusinberre 1832
James Bell 1832
Maurice Hoyt 1836
Frederick Demarest. ..... 1837
Aaron Taylor 1804-1813
Andrew B. Underdonk. . .1806-1808
David C. Demarest 1S06-1808
Isaac Halstead 1807-181 1
James Murray 1807-1813
Selah Mapes 1808-1823
Belding Burt 1813-1815
John Welling 18 12-1820
Robert Pelton 1815-1828
Peter Weed 1815-1820
Frederick Demarest. .... .1820-1839
Not continuous
John Roy, Jr 1820-1824
Sylvanus Faneher 1823-1825
Joseph Roy 1823-1832
Cornelius C. Demarest ... 1824-1843
James Bell 1825-1831
Maurice Hoyt 1S32-1836
Reuben Randolijh 1832-1837
Henry Pelton 1836-1848
Archibald Slaughter 1837-1841
Peter Dusinberre 1837-1853
Cornelius Van Dervort.
Alexander H. Galloway
1843-
r846-i884
James R. Christie 1848-
Benjamin S. B. Dolsim. .. 1852-
:86i
[864
Nathaniel Pelton 1855-1865
Thomas Welling 1862-187S
Nathaniel R. Bradner 1864-1 88 5
Cornelius H. Demarest. . .1865-1S72
Samuel Pelton 1872-1877
John McWilliams 1877-1890
Not continuous
Henry Coe Dusinberre. . . 1877-1891
Charles M. Demarest 1881-1896
Ferdinand V. Sanford. . . . 1885-1897
William S. Smith 1890-1893
Thomas R. Ennis 1891-1S93
Clinton W. Wisner 1893*
Sylvester Case 1893-1899
Henry P. Demarest 1896- 1900
Ira A. Hawkins 1897*
James Bonny man 1899*
Rensselaer A. Demarest . . 1900*
servmg, 1904.
Clinton Wheeler Wisner.
Ira A. Hawkins. James Bonnyman.
Rensselaer A. Demarest.
THE DEACONS OF 1904.
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NOTE — Since the above diagram was made, the following pews have
been rented: Second half No. 33 to Mrs. Anna M. Baird, No. 113 to
Mr. Asa J. Baxter, and half of No. 83 to Miss Cora E. Farnham.
HISTORIES
OF THE
AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS
OF THE
CHURCH.
66 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
WE ARE LABORERS TOGETHER WITH GOD.
The household of God, built upon the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Him-
self being the chief corner stone: in
Whom all the building fitly framed
together groweth into an
holy temple in the
LORD:
in whom you also are builded together
for an habitation of God
through the
SPIRIT.
HISTORY OF THE BIBLE SCHOOL.
BY MISS JULIA DEMAREST.
HE Bible School of the Reformed Church of War-
wick was organized on the eighth day of Au-
gust, 1830, during the pastorate of the Rev.
John L Christie, with a total enrollment of
sixty-five scholars. The sessions of this school were
held only during the summer months, and continued
until 1842, when for a short period it was abandoned and
catechetical classes were held at the parsonage every
Saturday afternoon, by the pastor, the Rev. Ferdinand
H. Van Derveer. A little later, during the same pastor-
ate, the school was again started and has continued to
the present time. April 13, 1869, the school was re-
organized with constitution and by-laws; and at a meet-
ing held April 28, 1869, at the home of Miss Emma Mc-
Ewen (Mrs. William Bradner), the following officers were
elected: Mahlon Cooper, Superintendent; John L. Ser-
vin. Assistant Superintendent; S. S. Van Saun, Secre-
tary and Treasurer; Charles M. Demarest, Librarian;
Walter K. Vail, Assistant Librarian. At this meeting
the Librarian reported 345 books on hand, and the Treas-
urer was requested to purchase one hundred copies of
the Compendium. This catechism is still taught in the
school. At a meeting held May 1, 1872, was carried the
following resolution: ''That the Sabbath School collec-
tions for the ensuing year be devoted to missionary pur-
poses, and that we rely on the Church for the support of
the school." Since 1872 our school has given all its col-
lections to foreign and domestic missions and has been
68 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
supported by the Church. For twenty years it has main-
tained two scholarships, one in China, and one in India.
For better accommodations the Bible School, about 1877,
left the church building and held its service in the Y. M.
C. A. rooms. In 1879 these rooms were burned, thus
obliging the school to return to its old home minus its
library and hymn books.
Children's Day has been observed since 1886. A
picnic in summer and some suitable Christmas exercises,
with gifts, have been held almost without exception,
since the school was organized.
During the summer of 1890 Mr. Peter Zwemer, through
the kindness of Mrs. William R. Welling, came as a mis-
sionary to the people of our Warwick mountains, and
since then our Church has been interested in portions of
our town without any Sunday school advantages. But
long before this, in 1831 or earlier, there were two
schools connected with the Church— one was held in the
district school building situated where is located the
present cemetery lodge, and the other in the Wheeler-
ville, now known as the Sanfordville, school. Mr. Henry
Pelton was the superintendent of these schools.
In 1896 a school was started in the Raynor district.
It was in the charge of the pastor's wife, Mrs. Taber
Knox, and Miss Carrie Pierson. Another school was
organized soon after in the Belcher district and one in
the Miller district. During the winter the Raynor school
is conducted as the Home Department of our school.
During the winter of 1899 Mr. George H. Archibald was
invited to give addresses in our Church concerning Bible
School work and Child Study, and aid us in grading
our school. The present system was then arranged and
consists of Primary, Junior, Intermediate and Senior
Departments, with the pupils ranging from three to nine-
HISTORY OF THE BIBLE SCHOOL. 69
teen years of age, and the adult Bible class to include
all beyond this age. Each department has an additional
course of Bible study to pursue beside the weekly lessons
and catechism. At the end of each year the scholars of
suitable age are promoted from one grade to the next,
after passing satisfactory examinations and receiving
diplomas. We also have an Honor Roll for faithful
attendance at school and church, good scholarship and
good deportment. We have at the present time 291
volumes in our library.
The secretary of the school reports the following en-
rollment:
Officers and Teachers ----- 27
Students in Bible Department, - . _ 37
Students in Intermediate Department, - - 56
Students in Junior Department, - _ _ 33
Students in Primary Department, - - 48
Total enrollment of Home School, - - 201
Enrollment of Summer Schools (1903), - - 56
Total, ------ 257
The contributions of the school for the year 1903 were
$70.74 for Domestic Missions, and $59.10 for Foreign
Missions. The congregation contributed for the current
expenses of the school for the year $103.58.
For many years the primary children of the school
were taught by Mrs. Malven Hotalen, whose devotion to
the little ones was untiring, and whose quiet, conscien-
tious life and work came to an end early in 1899. Since
then Miss Carrie Pierson, who was previously assistant
superintendent of the department, has been superinten-
dent of both Home and Primary Departments of the
school. Miss E. A. Demarest is the superintendent of
70 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
the Junior Department. Mr. F. V. Sanford has been
musical director since 1883. The following persons were
superintendents from 1830 to 1842: Maurice Hoy t, Arch-
ibald Slaughter, Dr. L. W. Lynn and John F. Randolph.
From 1842 to 1869 there are no records. During part of
this period James Christie and C. H. Riggs served as super-
intendents, the latter from 1866 to 1869. From 1869 to
1904 the following have been superintendents: Mahlon
Cooper, E. S. Colwell, Dr. H. Warren, John McWilliams,
John L. Servin, George A. Sanford, Henry P. Demarest
and F. V. Sanford. Mr. Demarest served ten years and
Mr. F. V. Sanford since 1891.
A HISTORY OF THE CHOIR.
BY HENRY PELTON.
ROM the date of its organization, there seems to
have been a hvely interest in good music in our
church. Although the records give us little in-
formation about the early history of the choir,
we are able to gather many facts from the older
members of the congregation. From Elder Samuel Pel-
ton I learn that his earliest recollection is that of seeing
his father, Henry Pelton, acting as chorister to a good-
sized choir. This was at least as far back as 1825 or
1830, and he says that he has heard that Mr. James
Hoyt preceeded his father.
Mr. Hoyt, the first choir leader of whom we can learn,
was the grandfather of Mrs. John J. Beattie, and at that
time lived in the house now owned by Mrs. M. D. Has-
brouck. How long he served, we do not know. Mr.
Henry Pelton, who followed Mr. Hoyt, held the position
for ten or fifteen years with the exception of a short
time, during which Mr. William Crissey acted as leader.
Mr. Pelton had a tenor voice but always sang the air in
church as was customary in those days. Of course no
musical instrument was used, and for many years no
books having tunes, so it was the duty of the chorister
to rise after the minister had read the hymn, and an-
nounce the name of the tune he had selected— "Dun-
dee", ''Mear", ''China" or ''Old Hundred", as the case
might be, then after catching the pitch of "A" from his
tuning fork, he would sing the tones of the fundamental
chord. Others getting the pitch of his first note, he
would start the hymn. Sometimes a dozen or more of
72 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
the choir would be in their places and the classic old
tunes would roll out in a good strong chorus; or it might
be a stormy Sunday and the leader would be alone and
except for the scattered voices in the congregation, it
would be a solo. The tuning fork used by Mr. Pelton in
those old days is now in the possession of his grandson.
Among the few names which we can gather of those
who sang under Mr. Pelton's leadership were Mary Hoyt,
Delia Hoyt, Hannah Kieran, Mary A. Bradner, Archibald
Slaughter, David Demarest, Dr. James Heron, N. R.
Bradner, Willliam Bradner, Benjamin Ross, Gamaliel
Russell, Joshua Smith and William Plumsted.
About the year 1837, Mr. Pelton was succeeded by
Edward V. Colton, a finely educated man, a graduate of
Dublin University, who taught a private school in War-
wick. Mr. Colton did not sing, but was an expert player
of the flute, and he led the singers with his instrument.
This was the first time that any instrument of greater
range than the tuning fork was heard in our church,
and it took some time before the older people became
reconciled to the innovation. It was during Mr. Colton's
term that a Mr. Converse conducted a singing school in
Warwick. A very enthusiastic musician, he aroused the
young people's interest in singing and did much to
stimulate its study, and his influence was felt for many
years in the improved singing in the village churches.
The flute was soon joined by the violincello in the hands
of Jeremiah M. Pelton, a son of the former leader.
Mr. Colton left Warwick in the latter part of 1838,
and the choir was then conducted for a number of years
by Mr. William H. Hoyt, a son of the first mentioned lead-
er. Mr. Hoyt played the violin, sang tenor and was accom-
panied by Mr. J. M. Pelton on the 'cello. He remained
in charge until about 1842, being succeeded by his
A HISTORY OP THE CHOIR. 73
nephew, Mr. Edward Crossen, who only acted as leader
a short time. Mr. J. M. Pelton became leader in 1843,
playing the 'cello and singing bass. He was a very en-
thusiastic student of the best music, taught singing-
school in Warwick and neighboring villages a number of
years, and was one of the organizers of the Orange
County Musical Association.
In January, 1857, Mr. Pelton went to New York to en-
gage in the piano and organ business, and from that
time until October, 1865, the choir was much of the time
without a regular leader. Part of this time Mr. Albert
Hoyt acted in that capacity with the able co-operation of
Mr. Charles W. Stevens. In 1865 Mr. Robert A. Wheat
was engaged to conduct the singing. He was one of the
most widely known singers in the county, having taught
singing school in nearly every
village within a large radius of
Warwick, and at the time of his
selection for the leadership of
the choir was leader of the choir
of the Second Presbyterian
Church of Middletown, of which
Dr. Charles Beattie was pastor.
With a strong voice and an in-
tensely enthusiastic spirit and
manner, Mr. Wheat kept a good-
sized choir together and inter-
ested in their work. At some kobkrt a. wheat.
periods of his management, good judges pronounced his
choir the best in Orange County. After a faithful ser-
vice of twenty-six years, he was succeeded by the pres-
ent leader, Mr. Sherman Rightmyer. It has been Mr.
Rightmyer's aim to raise the musical taste of our singers,
and by his careful selection of the best music for an-
74 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
thems and cantatas has kept alive the interest of his
choir. Selections from the best composers have been
given at the special services held each Christmas, Easter
and Thanksgiving. Among them have been the follow-
ing cantatas: *'The Risen King", Mane}^; Gounod's
''Gallia", Brewer's ''Holy Night", Buck's "The Coming of
the King", "The Risen Lord", Schnecker.
The first instrument larger than a 'cello used in our
church was a melodeon, which was purchased sometime
during the leadership of Mr. J. M. Pelton, and was
played in succession by himself, by Misses Mary and
Ella Van Derveer, Miss Elizabeth Benedict, Misses Chris-
tina and Julia Cowdrey. Soon after Mr. Wheat took
charge of the choir, a small reed organ was purchased.
This was replaced later by a larger pipe organ. The
credit for raising a fund for its purchase is given entire-
ly to Miss Mary Cooper (Mrs. L. H. Sanford), who played
it very acceptably for a number of years. Since her
marriage the following organists have served: Mrs. Will-
iam B. Bradner, (occasionally relieved by Miss Anna
Pelton), Miss Mattie Welling (Mrs. C. W. Wisner), Mr.
Fred Bradner, Mr. D. W. McCartney, Mr. Edward Voll-
mer, Mrs. Thomas Welling, Messrs. Frank B. and Ferd-
inand D. Sanford, the latter being the present organist.
The organ now used in the church was built in 1890,
by George Jardine & Son of New York, and has two man-
uals, fifteen stops and over fifteen hundred pipes.
For many years during the term of Mrs. Bradner at
the organ, she was accompanied by Mr. Joseph Muth, a
very fine flutist, and for a short time each by Messrs.
Jessup Miller and Charles Florence on the cornet.
Most of the time since the present church has been
built, the sweet tones of Mr. Harry P. Smith's cornet has
blended with the organ. Mr. Smith is a cornet soloist
A HISTORY OF THE CHOIR. 75
of wide reputation, and on special occasions, when joined
by Messrs. Thomas and Jeffrey Wisner on the flute and
violin, we have an orchestra which adds much to the
effect of our church music. Messrs. George W. McEl-
roy and Frank J. Gardner have also given splendid as-
sistance with the violin.
It would be impossible to give anything like a list of
the singers who have freely given their services during
all these years, and we hesitate to mention any for fear
some of the most deserving will be overlooked. Only
those whose unusually long term of service make them
especially noticeable will be given. Among them Mr.
and Mrs. Albert Hoyt, Miss Louise S. Hoyt (Mrs. J. J.
Beattie), Mrs. Joseph Muth whose fine soprano voice was
heard for many years, Mrs. M. H. Pelton, alto, Mr.
Charles W. Stevens, who sang a very sweet tenor for
thirty-eight years. Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Holly, Mrs. R. A.
Wheat and Mrs. J. M. Morehouse.
For ten years the leading soprano was Miss Blanche
Muth (Mrs. Anson H. Bingham), whose sweet tones were
always enjoyed by all who heard them, in solos or above
the other voices in the congregational singing. After
Miss Muth left town in September, 1901, Miss Irene Car-
penter of Monroe, was engaged as leading soprano and
soloist. She has filled the position since that time and
her rich cultivated voice is fully appreciated by all our
congregation. The present choir is composed of the
following: Sopranos, Misses Irene Carpenter, Alein
Demerest and Caroline Bradner ; Contraltos, Mrs. John
R. VanDevort, the Misses Gertrude Sly and Margaret
Minturn ; Tenors, Sherman Rightmyer, Leader, and Paul
Winslow ; Basses, Henry Pelton, Frank Wilson, Fred P.
Ermann and Cornelius Lazear ; Organist, Ferdinand D.
Sanford, and Cornetist, Harry P. Smith.
THE WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
BY MRS. IRA A. HAWKINS.
N Sabbath morning, November 21st, 1880, Eev.
V. B. Carroll announced from the pulpit, that a
meeting of the ladies of the Church would be
held at the parsonage on Saturday, November
27th, for the purpose of forming a society auxiliary to
the Woman's Board of Foreign Missions. Eight ladies
responded to this call and organized the ''Woman's Mis-
sionary Society of the Reformed Church of Warwick,
New York."
The first regular meeting of the society was held at
the parsonage on December 8th, 1880, with the following
charter members:
Mrs. V. B. Carroll,
Mrs. William R. Welling.
Mrs. John Burt.
Miss Eleanor Dusinberre
Mrs. Theodore Cooper,
Mrs. C. H. Demarest,
Mrs. S. A. Van Saun.
Mrs. George W. Sanford
Mrs. James Wisner,
Mrs. Mahlon Cooper,
Miss Mary Carroll,
Mrs. T. G. Pierson.
Miss Carrie A. Pierson,
Mrs. Thomas Welling.
Miss Marianna Welling,
Miss Alice Wisner,
Miss Cordelia Burt.
Miss Carrie Dusinberre,
Miss Annie Burt.
During the first year of its organization the society
increased to thirty-six members, the following ladies
having united with the society during the year:
Mrs. John Ackerman,
Miss Sarah Van Dnzer,
Mrs John L. Servin,
Mrs. Charles M. Demarest,
Miss Kate McEwen,
Mrs. Samuel Pelton,
Mrs. Emily Ellis,
Mrs. John Clason,
Mrs. C. Stouten berg.
Mrs. Alex. H. Galloway,
Mrs. John L. Welling.
Mrs. Ellen Armstrong,
Miss Annie Pelton,
Miss Hattie Wisner,
Mrs. John Palmer,
Mrs. Malven Hotalen,
Mrs. Frank H. Camiibcll,
THE woman's missionary SOCIETY. 77
The first officers of the Woman's Missionary Society
were: President— Mrs. V. B. Carroll; Vice President-
Mrs. W. R. Welling; Secretary— Mrs. John Burt; Treas-
urer—Miss Eleanor Dusinberre.
The secretary writes in her first annual report: ''Al-
though the number was small, there was an earnestness
among those who were present that gave encouragement
to the permanent establishment of a society." At the
first annual meeting it was resolved to support a girl at
Vellore Seminary, India, and the society still maintains
the scholarship in India. The meeting in June, 1882,
was of especial interest, owing to the presence of the
Misses Mary and Kitty Talmage, who told of their work
in China, as a result of which it was decided to maintain
a scholarship at Kolongsu, China, for which the society
is still responsible.
In March, 1883, the third annual meeting was held at
the home of Mrs. S. A. F. Servin, and it is worthy of note
that all the annual meetings since, with the exception of
1891 and 1892, have been held at Mrs. Servin's home.
On April 4th, 1883, the constitution was amended making
the society auxiliary to both the Woman's Board of For-
eign Missions and the Woman's Executive Committee of
Domestic Missions. The society became identified with
the Missionary Union of the Classis of Paramus in Octo-
ber, 1892. A bazar for the benefit of missions was held
at the home of Mrs. J. J. Beattie in December, 1892, and
$147.03 realized. In June, 1894, a fair was held in the
Church parlors. The proceeds, $160, was voted to be
divided equally between the Foreign and Domestic
Boards, as a special offering, to be applied toward paying
off the debts of said boards. These two are the only
entertainments ever held by the society for the purpose
of raising money. During the summer of 1893 the ladies
78 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
gave $121.50 to complete the furnishing of the new
church parlors.
As the young ladies of the Church were not attending
the meetings of the Woman's Pvlissionary Society, our
pastor's wife, Mrs. Knox, suggested that a separate
society for the young ladies be organized. The idea was
most favorably received and in September, 1895, the
society appointed a committee consisting of Mrs. Taber
Knox, Mrs. L. W. Hoffman, Miss Carrie A. Pierson, and
Mrs. Ira A. Hawkins, to organize such a society. The
organization was effected September 26, 1895, with a
membership of thirty-four, and adopted the name of
"Heart and Hand Society."
The Woman's Missionary Society celebrated its twen-
tieth anniversary on November 27, 1900, by a meeting at
the parsonage, where the ladies held their first meeting
twenty years before. Written invitations were sent to
all the members and former members of the society. A
roll was called by the secretary, and many former mem-
bers who could not be present sent letters of greeting
and congratulation. It was a privilege to have present
at the anniversary ten of the charter members of the
society— Mrs. C. H. Demarest, Mrs. Marianna Welling
Miller, Mrs. Thomas Welling, Miss Carrie A. Pierson, Mrs.
Alice Wisner Berry, Mrs. S. A. F. Servin, Miss Annie
Pelton, Miss Kate McEwen, Mrs. R. Wisner, Miss Carrie
Dusinberre. A report of the work of the society for the
twenty years was read by the secretary, Mrs. Ira A.
Hawkins. The Treasurer, Miss Julia Demarest, gave a
report of the money received and expended during these
years. Refreshments were served by a committee of
ladies and an hour of social intercourse brought to its
close the anniversary, long to be remembered in the his-
tory of the society.
THE woman's missionary SOCIETY. 79
Much inspiration has been gained b}^ the society from
the visits of missionaries and workers. The following
have been heard under its auspices: In 1882, Misses
Mary and Kitty Talmage; 1883, Rev. N. H. Demarest
and Rev. Dr. Cobb; 1884, Mrs. Leayyah Barakat, late of
Syria, then residing in Philadelphia, and Rev. Daniel
Rapelja, of Amoy, China; 1886, Rev. Dr. Myer; 1887,
Rev. Mr. Zabriskie; 1891, Mr. Oi, a Japanese student;
1893, Miss 0. H. Lawrence and Miss Cornelia Anderson;
1894, Miss Maggie McCarroll; 1896, Mrs. E. B. Horton;
1898, Miss Cornelia Anderson; 1899, Mrs. E. B. Horton
gave a stereopticon lecture; 1902, Miss Harriet Lansing
of Japan, spoke in native costume; 1903, Mrs. John H.
Wyckoff of Tindivanum, India; 1904, Mrs. Alfred R.
Page. Among the earliest work of the society was the pre-
paring of boxes for missionaries, and this has continued
to be one of the principal activities of the society and
has brought them in vital touch with the work on the
home iield. Fourteen boxes have been prepared and
sent to pastor's families in the far west. During the
summer months the society have usually assisted the
Summer Sewing Guild by making garments for the wo-
men and children of India. They have frequently sent
offerings toward the Christmas boxes for Mrs. J. H.
Wyckoff, Tindivanum, India, besides contributing regu-
larly to the high caste girls' school in India. Regular
offerings are sent to the Student Missionary Work, and
at different times contributions have been sent to the
Indian work and work among the white settlers in
Oklahoma. Each year unspecified offerings are sent to
both of the Woman's Boards. The society has given for
missions through the Woman's Board of Foreign Mis-
sions $2,067.00, and through the Woman's Executive
Committee $1,447.08.
80 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
The meetings of the society were held at the homes
of the members until July, 1890, after which time they
were transferred to the chapel of the new church build-
ing; there they continued to be held for twelve years
or until March, 1902, when parlor meetings were again
held. This has continued to be the custom to the present
time. After the program of the meeting a social hour
is spent that adds much to the enjoyment of the occa-
sion. During the past few years printed programs of
the meetings have been prepared by the society and dis-
tributed among the members; they provide for a paper
and items of interest on the different branches of mis-
sionary work, and with the untiring zeal of our presi-
ident, Mrs. Taber Knox, have made the meetings of
special interest. It is a pleasure in looking over the
records of the society to note the faithfulness of those
who have been officers of the society. Miss Carrie
B. Wheeler served the society as secretary in an able
and painstaking manner for eleven years, from 1889 to
1900. Miss Julia Demarest was elected treasurer at the
third annual meeting in 1883, and still holds that office.
The society at the present time has seventy-three mem-
bers; the largest membership in its history. The atten-
dance at the meetings is larger and more regular than
ever before.
The present officers are— President, Mrs. Taber Knox;
Vice President, Mrs. J. J. Beattie; Secretary, Mrs. Ira A.
Hawkins; Treasurer, Miss Julia Demarest; Secretary of
Literature, Mrs. S. A. F. Servin.
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Miss Julia Benedict, Miss Elizabeth Burt,
Miss Annie Burt, Mrs. W. B. Bradner,
Mrs. H. B. Berry, Mrs. J. J. Beattie,
Mrs. F. O. Beattie, Mrs. James Bonnyman,
Mrs. C. M. Bartlett, Mrs. A. J. Baxter,
THE WOMAN S MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
81
Mrs.
Mrs.
Miss
Mrs.
Mrs.
Miss
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Miss
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Miss
Mrs.
Mrs.
Miss
Mrs.
F. H. Campbell,
Marcellus Drew,
Julia Demarest,
C. M. Demarest,
Henry Demarest,
Carrie Dusinberre,
Albert N. Gale.
Frank F. Holmes,
Ira A. Hawkins,
W. E. Jenkins,
J. W. Lippincott,
Wilbur Lazear,
J. M. Morehouse,
J. A. Montross,
Carrrie Pierson,
S. W. Perry,
W. A. Preston,
Sherman Rightmyer,
George W. Santord,
F. V. Sanford,
Pierson E. Sanford,
M. L. Sanford,
S. J. Sly,
C. W. Stevens,
S. S. Van Saun,
C. A. Van Duzer,
J. C. Wilson,
Annie Wisner,
W. R. Welling,
C. W. Wisner,
C. B. Wheeler,
John W. Welch.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Miss
Miss
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Miss
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Miss
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Miss
Mrs.
Miss
Mrs,
Vernon B. Carroll,
C. H. Demarest,
Annie Demarest,
Elizabeth Demarest,
Mary Demorest,
Dwight Dutcher,
Alex. H. Galloway,
T. E. Howe,
G. W. Hyatt
Taber Knox,
J. B. Lawrence,
M. A. Lay ton,
J. E. V. Miller.
J. Harvey McPeek,
Annie Pelton,
John Pelton,
M. M. Quinby,
S. A. F. Servin,
Mary E. Sanford,
John W. Sanford,
S. H. Sanford,
Lewis J. Stage,
W. S. Sheldon,
S. A. Van Saun,
J. H. Van Duzer,
J. H. Vealey.
Richard Wisner,
May Wisner,
Thomas Welling,
J. V. Wheeler,
Mary Wood,
HEART AND HAND SOCIETY.
BY MISS ELLEN D. DEMAREST.
YOUNG ladies' missionary society was organized
as an auxiliary to the Ladies' Missionary So-
ciety, on September 26, 1895, with a member-
ship of thirty-four, choosing for a name " The
Heart and Hand Society,"
The first officers elected were: Miss Ellen D. Demar-
est, President ; Miss Sara Servin, Vice President ; Miss
Alice H. Ruton, Secretary ; Miss Annie G. Hulse, Treas-
urer ; Miss Susan Ackerman, Pianist.
One other ofRce has been added since, that of Secretary
of Literature.
The same President has continued to hold office to the
present time, and the Secretary served faithfully until
she moved from town in 1900. The present Secre-
tary, Miss Blanche Demerest, succeeded her. The other
officers have been changed nearly every year. The
present ones being: Miss Sara M. Drew, Vice President ;
Miss Alein Demerest, Treasurer ; Miss Annie Ermann,
Pianist ; Miss Gertrude Sly, Secretary of Literature.
The time and place for meeting was arranged for after
school hours on the last Thursday of each month in the
church lecture room. The first plan was that each
might learn to know our mission fields and the work by
corresponding with the workers at the various stations.
Each member was given the address of a missionary and
agreed to write, and later to read the reply at one of the
meetings. The interest aroused by that personal touch
is still evident, and some continue to correspond.
Five committees were appointed: Sewing, Missionary,
HEART AND HAND SOCIETY. 83
Music, Paper, Mission and Social. There are no dues,
but a collection is taken at each meeting. The first
sewing was the making of two hundred candy bags for
the Tenement House Chapter of King's Daughters in
New York; now all the summer meetings are for sewing
and the making of scrap books, and when there is extra
work in the winter the meeting is called for an earlier
hour and the additional time spent in sewing, etc.
Near the first of each year, the officers meet at the
parsonage with the pastor's wife, and they together
plan out the work for the ensuing year, subject to the
vote of the members later.
In 1897 came the first programs, little booklets with
covers of water color paper, tied with orange ribbon.
They contained the names of the officers and committees
and the work for the year, and were written by two of
the members, the Misses Eleanor and Susan Ackerman.
For 1899 and the two following years the programs
were printed, and besides the officers, members and
work, there was a committee for each meeting with
some special subject. This is still kept up. These sub-
jects have included Arabia, Japan, India, China, and
work among the sailors, Kentucky mountaineers, hos-
pitals, Freedmen, Indians, lepers, prisons, Mormons, city
missions and frontier work. Books for clippings, etc.,
have been made for most of them, and new clippings are
added each year and so kept for further reference.
In 1902 there were no programs but each had access
to a Mission Gleaner and thus kept in touch with the
fresh news.
In 1903 written programs were again used but placed
in long heavy envelopes, designed to hold all clippings
and information until wanted for use. Opposite the
name of each member was the name of the missionary
84 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
about whom she was to gather special information, and
a blank side to the sheet was left, on which to jot down
all that was of interest concerning that one. This year
new sheets have been placed in those same envelopes.
The society has met a few times at the homes of the
members and three times have entertained the Ladies'
Missionary Society and other g-uests. Miss 0. H. Law-
rence addressed such a reception on March 11th, 1896,
and Mrs. H. V. S. Peeke on May 8th, 1900. On May
27th, 1897, we prepared a program of our own and had
no speaker. The subject was Japan. Curios and pictures
were borrowed from the Woman's Board of Foreign
Missions in New York, and one of the Reception Com-
mittee appeared in real Japanese costume.
In 1899, as guests of the Ladies Missionary Society,
we had the privilege of hearing Miss Cornelia Anderson
and Mrs. E. B. Horton of the Womens' Executive Com-
mittee of Domestic Missions.
On June 13, 1902, friends of the society were invited
to meet with us, and Miss Lansing, dressed in Japanese
costume, gave a most interesting talk. Thirty-one of
our members were present, the largest attendance since
the auxiliary was started.
On October 21st, 1903, the Heart and Hand members
were invited, with the Ladies' Society, to hear Miss
Grace Hoekje speak, and on the evening of February 17,
1904, a public meeting was held under the auspices of
the society, at which Mrs. A. R. Page told of the Indian
work.
During these years comfort bags have been made and
filled for the sailors; dolls have been dressed; quilts and
comfortables tied for the Indians and Kentucky moun-
taineers; marble-bags and work-bags made for Christ-
mas boxes; baby-slips for India; cushion covers for
HEART AND HAND SOCIETY. 85
Japan; scrap-books, scrap-fans and envelopes of clip-
pings for the hospitals, also tiny aprons, dresses and
jackets; and members have been obtained for the Re-
formed Church Baby Roll. After having embroidered
scripture texts on white muslin blocks for a hospital
quilt, the members enjoyed an old-fashioned quilting-
bee at the parsonage in February, 1898. Gentlemen
were invited for the evening and all had a delightful
time.
The membership is still thirty-four. A few of the
number are away at school. Some have left town and
new ones have taken their places. There is great in-
terest in the work and an earnest desire to serve the
Master with Heart and Hand even as our motto sug-
gests: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with
thy might,"
HISTORY OF SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
BY LEWIS J. STAGE.
HE movement to train the young people of our
Church to become working members was begun
by the Rev. Peter Crispell, who was instrumental
in organizing a young people's society during
the year 1887. This society held its business meetings
at the houses of its members, the social being a promin-
ent item at each meeting.
Christian Endeavor, coming prominently before the pub-
lic, it was later determined to organize into a Young Peo-
ple's Society of Christian Endeavor. The meeting effect-
ing the change took place in the old church September 7,
1889. Thirty-three active and five associate members
signed the pledge. Our first President was Mr. Henry
Pelton. The other officers were R. A. Demarest, Vice
President; Anna Demarest, Recording Secretary; Carrie
Welling, (Mrs. A. W. Edsall), Corresponding Secretary;
Fred C. Bradner, Treasurer. Of the original members
four remain as active members of the present society.
Since that time the society has been training the young
people to work for the Church and doing the things that
came to it. For three years, beginning in 1890, it sup-
ported a student in the Northwestern Academy; since
which time it has made contributions to the work of the
Church through its various boards. On May 7, 1891, it
joined the United Society, subscribed for the Golden
Rule, now the Christian Endeavor World, which is still
taken by the society, and the system of contributing five
cents a month for topic cards and other expenses of the
society was begun.
On June 28, 1891, the first of the union meetings of
HISTORY OF SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 87
the young people's societies of the village, which have
been a source of great pleasure and profit to all, was
held in the lecture room of our church. In that same
year delegates were sent to the State Convention, then
held at Utica. Orange County as an organization of
Christian Endeavor was unknown to the State officers at
that time, so the delegates were put in the choir. But
from this came the organization of the Orange County
Union at Washingtonville, April 23, 1892, of which our
society was a charter member, and in which organiza-
tion it has taken a prominent part. From its beginning
some office of the Union has always been held by a
member of the society. The convention of the Orange
County Union was held in our church on May 27, 1893,
and again in 1895 and 1901.
On December 12, 1894, it was resolved to form a
Junior Society, and Mrs. Taber Knox was elected super-
intendent. The preliminary work of organization was
done during the winter, and on March 8, 1895, the or-
ganization was fully completed. This society has been
of the greatest help to the Christian Endeavor Society,
graduating into its ranks a large number of active work-
ing members fully trained in Christian Endeavor work,
and these members are now taking the places of the
older members, whose other duties in the work of the
church prevent their taking as active a part in the so-
ciety as formerly.
On August 1, 1895, it was resolved to open a Sunday
School at the Raynor school house, and a committee
called upon the owner, who informed them he would be
glad to let them have the building for their meetings
just as soon as the hen got through setting. In due
time the hen and her brood marched out of the door and
the Endeavorers marched in with their brooms, cast that
88 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
hen's nest into outer darkness, and since that time have
maintained a Sunday School there during the summer,
inchided among the schools of the church. The society
has always provided transportation for the teachers
working there as well as at the Belcher summer school.
The society has been represented at a number of the
International and State Christian Endeavor Conventions.
But the reader says: ''This society has been in exist-
ence fifteen years; what has it done ? " That is only a
fair question. In considering the answer it must be
borne in mind that this work is not like that of a store;
this year you sell so many goods of a certain kind for so
much money, profit so many dollars and cents. The
object of this society is to place young men and women
in the Church, trained to do its work, who will do their
best to advance the welfare of the Church and the people
of the community in which they may be placed. No
mere figures can show this work, and only those who
are familiar with these young men and women and their
work can correctly estimate the result. As showing
some indication of these results there has been gradu-
ated from this society three deacons and one elder, who
are now members of the Consistory of our Church. It
has helped a large number of our young people in their
church life, having had on its rolls one hundred and
forty-two active and sixty-seven associate members.
The society now consists of fifty active and sixteen as-
sociate members— its strength being greater than at
any time in its history. It has contributed $1,202.74 to
benevolent objects in addition to supporting itself and
has never failed to do its share of the work of the
church allotted to it; and there are many of its members
who can call to mind a certain meeting at which the
word was spoken that opened the way to Christ for
HISTORY OF SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 89
them. Young men and women almost afraid to speak
out their own name in a meeting have been trained to
take part in the meetings so that now they are a power
in the church, well qualified to do its work. Figures of
conversions are not given because no one, except the
person converted, can know just where and when the
word was spoken that pointed the way.
The society at present is officered as follows: Presi-
dent, Miss Sara Drew; Vice President, Mr. Fred P.
Ermann; Recording Secretary, Miss Alein Demerest;
Treasurer, Mr. R. A. Demarest; Corresponding Secre-
tary, Cornelius S. Lazear.
[From the organization of the society until March,
1904, Mr. Lewis J. Stage continuously served as cor-
responding secretary of the society, and from the be-
ginning of its organization has been either treasurer or
corresponding secretary of the Orange County Christian
Endeavor Union.— Editors.]
,^1/vt^i,
^=^*^'i^
THE JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY
BY MRS. TABER KNOX.
INE years ago a meeting was called on the after-
noon of March 1, when parents and children
came together to hear about the Junior Christ-
ian Endeavor Society. The pastor, the Rev.
Taber Knox, explained the work of the society and its
pledge. Pledge cards were given out to be returned
signed on the following Friday, March 8, 1895, when the
society was organized with a membership of twenty-
seven.
The first officers were: President, Edward S. Howe ;
Vice President, Alein Demerest ; Secretary, Annie
Ermann ; Treasurer, Mary Sly ; Missionary Treasurer,
John Wisner.
Mrs. Taber Knox had previously been elected by the
Senior Society of Christian Endeavor to superintend
this society. Miss E. A. Demarest was later elected
Assistant Superintendent. For several years Miss
Carrie B. Wheeler regularly presided at the piano and
rendered most valuable service to the society. After
Miss Wheeler found it impracticable to continue this
service Miss Annie Ermann assumed the duty and
played every Friday for several years; later Miss Addie
Hulse became our pianist, and she is still aiding the
society in this capacity. Miss Alein Demerest leads the
singing.
From the very first the Junior Society has been con-
ducted on strictly Christian Endeavor lin^s so that those
who should pass from its ranks into the Senior Society
would there find the same line of work and not feel at
THE JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY. 91
all unprepared for immediate and efficient participation
in all its activities.
A prayer meeting has been regularly held on Friday
afternoons; these are well attended, and are led by the
members ; a business meeting is held once a month.
Much time has been given to object lessons, Bible
drills, memorizing Scripture chapters and alphabetical
texts, and learning hymns.
At first there was but one committee, the Lookout, but
as the work opened new committees were appointed. For
most of the time there have been six, viz: The Staff,
Reserves, Prayer Meeting, Lookout, Whatsoever and
Sunshine. Frequent meetings of the committees have
been held at the Manse with the superintendent, when
scrap-books and pastime cards have been made, in addi-
tion to hours spent in studying of mission fields, or plan-
ing how best to increase the efficiency of the society, the
winning of new members, and the better keeping of
their own pledges.
The society has ever had an interest in missionary
work ; from the very beginning the members were led
to be interested in Miss Winn's work in Japan and have
yearly contributed $10 toward its support, while in 1896
they began to contribute the same amount for work
among the blanket Indians at Colony, Oklahoma, and for
the past three years have sent $30 for the support of
Yesuadial Simon, a little girl under Miss Kitty Scudder's
care in the Ranipettai School, India.
In order to bring us all into closer touch with our
home field, when the Woman's Missionary Society have
been sending boxes to Western ministers, we have put in
scrap-books and candy for their children and one year
sent handkerchiefs and an umbrella to the pastor.
A weekly offering for missions is taken, beside an
92 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
offering once a month for our own society. In this way
and through mite boxes the society has contributed for
missions $294.98 and for the society expenses $55.27, a
total of $350.25.
The social side has not been forgotten and from time
to time sociables have been held, some at the Manse and
others at the church. Three of these were of specially
missionary purport: the first was a Foreign Sociable,
when the Manse parlor was made to resemble an Eastern
room; the second, the Manse parlor was again trans-
formed, but this time an Indian wigwam decorated with
skins and drawings and surrounded by small evergreen
trees was most prominent; while the third was a Re-
ception of Nations, when the countries we had been
studying about were represented by members in native
costume.
An annual picnic, too, has been very greatly enjoyed
and many pleasant memories are treasured of days thus
spent together in the woods.
The hearts of our members have been touched by the
knowledge of many poor, sick and lonely, and they have
ever tried to bring cheer into many otherwise cheerless
lives. During the summers thousands of bouquets have
been sent to our great city to be distributed in hospitals
and the poor tenement districts, and for several years at
Christmas time a box of toys, scrap-books, fruit, books
and games have also been sent for distribution, and one
year seventy-five glasses of jelly were sent. The near-
by needy have not been overlooked and many a fine
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner has been provided
by these young givers.
Quite an amount of genuine interest has always cen-
tered in our anniversary day, when an evening public
meeting is held to which the parents and friends of the
THE JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY. 93
members are most cordially invited. These meetings
have been addressed by the following: Mrs. John L.
Scudder, (1896), Miss 0. H. Lawrence, (1897-1902), Fanny
Lev, (1897), Miss Cornelia Anderson, (1898-1899), Miss
Leila Winn, (1900), Mrs. John S. Bussing, (1901), Dr. and
Mrs. John H. Wyckoff, (1903).
At these meetings the members of the society are
graduated into the Senior Society and during the nine
years fifty-two of its members have been thus graduated.
It is worthy of note that this year finds three of our
graduates serving as officers in the Christian Endeavor
Society and three others chairmen of committees.
The present roll shows a membership of forty-two
with quite a waiting list.
The present officers are: President, Charlie Hawkins ;
Vice President, Marion Sanford ; Secretary, Laura
Aldrich ; Treasurer, Allan Carroll ; Missionary Treas-
urer, Charlie Hawkins.
Whatever has been wrought, whatever impetus to
true living obtained through the society must be shown
by the lives of those who pass out from its ranks, and
we trust that as a result the spiritual life of the Church
will be strengthened ; its young members more faithful
in the study of the Word, more conscientious in attend-
ance upon every service of the sanctuary, more full of
usefulness and sacrifice for others, more purposeful and
earnest in the winning of souls.
BROTHERHOOD OF ANDREW AND PHILIP.
BY MORRIS B. CARROLL.
HE Warwick chapter No. 89, of the Brotherhood
of Andrew and Phihp, was founded February
16, 1895, its object being the spread of Christ's
Kingdom among men, by definite prayer and
definite personal service.
The chapter had seven charter members and elected
the following officers: Rev. Taber Knox, President;
Thomas Welling, Vice President; F. V. Sanford, Record-
ing Secretary; L. W. Hoffman, Corresponding Secretary;
R. A. Demarest, Treasurer. Sylvester Case and L. J.
Stage were the other charter members. The member-
ship increased until twenty-six were enrolled in its
membership.
On April 15th of the same year the chapter received
its charter, signed by the president and general secre-
tary of the Brotherhood. Business meetings were held
generally at the close of the monthly men's prayer meet-
ing, conducted under the auspices of the chapter.
In May, 1896, the chapter gave a supper to the men
of the congregation, tables being laid in the lecture room
of the church. It was very largely attended and was a
very successful occasion. In September of 1897, a re-
ception was given by the chapter to the pastor, to which
the men of the congregation were invited.
In November of the same year Mr. F. B. Sanford was
sent as delegate to the convention of the Brotherhood
held at Reading, bringing back an enthusiastic report.
A re-organization of the chapter for younger men was
effected March 26, 1902. The charter members of the
chapter thus re-organized were the Rev. Taber Knox,
BROTHERHOOD OF ANDREW AND PHILIP. 95
Paul Winslow, Cornelius S. Lazear, John Lawrence and
Morris B. Carroll, who held the offices of president, cor-
responding secretary, recording secretary, treasurer and
vice president in the order named. Monthly meetings
have since been held regularly and the members have
worked quietly in co-operation with the pastor along the
Brotherhood lines. The character of the society neces-
sarily limits its membership; at present it has nine mem-
bers. The following are its officers: President, Rev.
Taber Knox; Vice President, Fred P. Ermann; Record-
ing Secretary, Paul V. Winslow; Corresponding Secre-
tary, Cornelius S. Lazear; Treasurer, John F. Winslow.
THE BUILDERS.
BY WILL C. COMPTON.
ELIEVING that a class organization would tend
to create a better and increased attendance,
more interest in Bible study, and bring teacher
and student into closer touch, them embers of
the Young Men's Bible Class of the Reformed Church
Bible School unanimously voted to organize their class
under its own officers. On the evening of March 2,
1904, twenty young men out of a class of twenty-four,
met for that purpose and chose for their class name
"The Builders;" for their text, "Let every man take
heed how he buildeth;" and for their class motto, "Our
to-days and yesterdays are the blocks with which we
build."
After adopting a constitution a president, vice presi-
dent, secretary and treasurer were elected by ballot to
serve six months, and the following committees ap-
pointed: a Look-up Committee, to keep a record of the
class attendance and look up absentees; a Visiting Com-
mittee, to call upon the sick; a Social Committee, to have
charge of all the social gatherings of the class; a Music
Committee, to furnish music at all social gatherings and
business meetings ; a New Members Committee to help
build up the class and secure new members, and a Lesson
Committee to advise ways of adding to the lesson in-
terest.
The Builders meet the third Monday of each month to
transact all necessary business, discuss lesson work and
timely topics of the day, and with music, song and re-
freshments spend a most enjoyable and profitable even-
ing.
THE BUILDERS. 97
The Builders also meet each Sabbath morning with the
main Bible school and take part in the general opening
exercises, but apart from this, they have their own class
exercises which are conducted by the president of the
class, and are made possible by their having a room of
their own ; a privacy which the model Bible class of the
future will always have. The roll is called by the secre-
tary to which each member present responds with a
Bible verse pertinent to the lesson; the lesson questions
assigned the previous Sabbath are called for and dis-
cussed, while the remaining minutes are given to the
class teacher to talk over the aims of the lesson.
This new departure in conducting the work of the
class has brought them out of the beaten and sunken
track and has proved a most gratifying change and
many things which but a few short weeks ago were very
disappointing are beginning to assume a brighter aspect;
more interest is being manifested ; class spirit has in-
creased ; members have become better friends ; and we
believe the primary object of our organization will be
attained, while the Builders hope to prove to the Bible
School and the Church that they are Builders in some-
thing other than name. The officers this centennial year
are: Patron, Will C. Compton ; President, Cornelius S.
Lazear ; Vice President, Thomas W. Wisner ; Secretary,
Ferdinand D. Sanford ; Treasurer, Fred P. Ermann.
For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, Jesus, be forever blessed.
blessed communion, fellowship divine !
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all art Thine.
THE ROLL OF MEMBERS
FOR THE
HUNDRED YEARS.
1804-1904.
N asterisk (^') after a name indicates having
united with the Church by letter; all others
united on confession of faith. Persons now
members of the Church in recognized standing
have the letter (m) printed after their names.
January 7, 1S04.
Cornelius Demarest.
Elizabeth Demarest, wife of Cor-
nelius.
Aaron Taylor.
Jennie Taylor, wife of Aaron.
John G. Ackerson.
Andrew Ackerman.*
June 28, 1S05.
David C. Demarest.
Getty Demarest, wife of David C.
Isaac Halstead.
Caroline Halstead, wife of Isaac.
James Murray.
Fanny Murray, wife of James.
Letty Etzel.
Annie Underdonk.
Maria Onderdunk.
Isaac Elyea. *
Annatje Elyea,* wife of Isaac.
Andrew B. Onderdonk.*
Phoebe Onderdonk,* wife of An-
drew B.
December 25, 1805
Abigail Rumsey, wife of David.
Leah VanDeVixjrt, wife of Gar-
ret.
Rebecca Pelton* (widow.)
John Pelton.*
Deborah Pelton,* wife of John.
Edward P. Eckerson.*
Hetty Eckerson,* wife of Ed-
ward P.
Hannah Eckerson,* wife of Peter.
Phoebe Crout,* wife of John.
June 20, 1806.
Elizabeth Smith, wife of Samuel.
Phtebe Tenyke Probasco,* widow
of Simon.
March 6, 1807.
Selah Mapes.
September 25, 1807.
Hannah Palmer,* wife of John.
Harry* (Bondman to Crinis Bar-
tholf. )
September 10, 1809.
Polly Westervelt.
April '14, 1810.
John Welling.
Anna Welling, wife of John.
August 19, 1810.
Deborah Bruster.
Charity Bradner.
Katherine Culver.
October 6, 18 10.
Caleb Bruster.
Sally Raymond, wife of Edmond
W.
Abigail Sproull, wife of Thomas.
Julianna Mapes, wife of Selah.
"Elizabeth VanDervoort.
April 4, 1812.
Darcas Taylor.
October 25, 1812.
Hezekiah Howard.
Sarah Townsend Eckerson, wife
of Cornelius.
November 14, 1812.
Darcas Eckerson, (widow.)
Willempe Bartholf.
100
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
April 17, 1 8 13.
Belding Burt.
Robert Pelton.
Mary Pelton, wife of Robert.
Elizabeth Mead, wife of Isaac.
Sarah Eckersou, wnfe of James.
Hannah Austin, wife of Alanson.
Joanna Roy, wife of Alexander.
vSally Roy.
Tabitha Howard, wife of Heze-
kiab.
Ruth Hawly.
Sally Christie.*
May 12, 1813.
Andrew Hathorn.
Ji:ne 23, 1813.
Susan Dolson, wife of John.
July 3, 1813.
Nathaniel Minthorn.
March 16, 1814.
Martha Bartholf, wife of Crinis.
October 13, 1814.
Richard Johnson.
Susan Johnson, wife of Richard.
Michael Baily.
Maria Dolson, wife of James.
Elizabeth Christian Dekay, wife
of Thomas.
Sally Demarest.
Rebecca Demarest.
John Roy.
Mary Weed,* (widow.)
October 22, 1814.
Peter Weed.
Nancy Ackerman, (widow.)
Abigail Johnson.
Else Bartholf, (widow.)
Rachel, (a black woman.)
Ketura Reeves, (widow.)
April 15, 1815.
Nancy Roy Buckbee,* wife of
Samuel.
Fanny Roy,* wife of John.
Robert Roy.*
Arietta Clark,* wife of James D.
October 31, 1815.
Sally Mather, wife of Raymond.
April II. 18 16.
Jonathan Pierson.
April 26, 1 8 16.
Ph(Tebe Pierson, wife of Jonathan.
Joshua Arkils.*
Hannah Arkils.*
Maria Arkils.*
Elizabeth Sacket.*
June 26, 1816.
John Burt.
Ryer Ryer.*
Elizabeth Minthorn,* wife of
William.
April g, 1817.
Sally Magee, wife of John.
Maria Onderdonk Finn,* wife of
Benjamin.
July 2, 1817.
Margaret Bradner, wife of James.
October 29, 1S17.
Sarah Minthorn, wife of Joseph.
Annis Sellick, wife of Shadrach.
April I, 18 1 8.
Moses Mather.*
Martha Holland, *wife of William.
July II, 1818.
Abigail Mead,* wife of Nathan.
Jane Dodge Roy.*
October 29, 181S.
Henry Pelton.
Lucretia Tucker Conklin, wife of
Peter.
Nellie VanDervoort Dusinberre,
wife of Daniel.
Nancy Wood.*
April 15. 18 19.
Ann Wheeler, wife of James.
Sally Wheeler, wife of John.
Maria Demarest,* wife of Cor-
nelius.
Henry Scofield.*
June 30, 1819.
Gamaliel Rupel.*
October 20, 1S19.
Frederick Demarest.
Elvira Smith Catlin,* wife of
David.
April 14, 1S20.
David Catlin.*
August I, 1820.
Maria Probasco Van De Voort,
wife of Cornelius.
Anna Coleman Welling, wife of
Thomas.
Mary Brooks, wife of William.
Catharine Daty, wife of Henry.
October 25, 1820.
Thomas Day.
Lilla Mead Patterson, wife of
Mills.
Catharine Nagle Gehagan,* wid-
ow of Dennis M.
November i, 1820.
Cornelius C. Demarest.
ROLL OF MEMBERS FOR THE HUNDRED YEARS. 101
November i, 1820.
Betsy Johnson Pelton, wife of
Henry.
Ann Welling.*
Rachel Dubois.*
Benjamin Hawkins.
Isabel Hawkins Day, wife of
Thomas.
Rebecca Fancher.
Ruth Mclnnes.
Elizabeth Finn Taylor, wife of
Garrit.
Joseph Roy.
January 31, 1821.
James Bell.
Pollv Si Hick Bell, wife of James.
Julia Bell, (Mrs. Randolph.)
Sophia Slawson Hoyt, wife of
Augustus.
Rebecca Pelton.
Martha Gannon.
February 7, 1821.
Abigail Hoyt, wife of Frederick.
Charity Eckerson Smith, wife of
John.
Polly Taylor.
Garrit Taylor.
April 4, 1821.
Cynthia Blain.
Sylvanus Fancher.
Sarah Fancher, wife of Sylvanus.
Polly Pelton.
Phoebe Dulin.
April 27, 1822.
Nancy Crossin, wife of Charles.
Mary Smith,* (widow.)
Henry Snitselaer.*
Jane Snitselaer,* wife of Henry.
August 10, 1822.
Elizabeth Forshee.*
November 17, 1S22.
Martin L. Edwards.
January 23, 1823.
Maria Arkle Fancher,* wife of
David.
May 7, 1823.
Peter Elyea.
Sally Edward,* wife of Martin L.
Isaac Tice *
October 22, 1823.
John,* (a colored man.)
October 31, 1823.
Sally Ann Tice, wife of Isaac.
January 28, 1824.
Jacob Gaul, (a negro.)
Peter Mitchel.
February 7, 1824.
Clarinda Boylan, (widow.)
April 22, 1824.
Hannah Fancher Stevens, wife
of George.
April 24, 1824.
Joshua Boyd.*
Dorcas Sarah Dickinson Boyd,*
wife of Joshua.
Augu.st 2, 1S24.
Polly Welling, widow of Richard.
October 21, 1824.
Benjamin Burt.
Darcas Eckerson Burt, wife of
Benjamin.
February 2, 1825.
Thomas Sproull.
Dr. John I. Wheeler.*
May 3, 1826.
Margaret Roe Bradner,* wife of
James.
Mav 5, 1827.
Clarissa Sharp DeKay,* wife of
Thomas.
May 3, 182S.
Mary VanDuzer Crissey,* wife of
Ebenezer.
William Welling.
August 17, 1828.
Elizabeth Potter.*
August 4, 1829.
Agnes Taylor.
October 28, 1829.
Else Van Der Voort Bartholf,
wife of Gilliam.
February 6, 1830.
Harriet Batchelor.*
May 30, 1830.
Maurice Hoyt.*
Julia Slau.son Hoyt,* wife of
Maurice.
August 2, 1830.
Martha Gerachte.
August 7, 1830.
Jesse Rodes.*
Maria Rodes,* wife of Jesse.
August 15, 1831.
Deborah Reed,* (widow.)
Abbe Ann Taylor,* wife of John.
Mary Pelton,* wife of John.
October 24, 1831.
Julia Roe.
Sally Dusinberre.
Elizabeth Dusinberre.
October 29, 1831.
Daniel Dusinberre.
102
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
October 29, 1831.
Catharine Dusiuberre.
Keturah SprouU Dusinberre, wife
of Peter.
Sally Welling Heron, wife of Dr.
Heron.
October 30, 1831.
Eleanor SprouU Wheeler, wife of
Dr. Wheeler.
Coe Roe.*
November 21, 1831.
Sally Ann Welling.
William S. Jack.*
Louisa Jack,* wife of William S.
November 24, 1831.
Peter Dusinberre.
February 6, 1S32.
Mary Ann Dusinberre, (Mrs.
Joseph Bell.)
Ludlow Cooper.
Reuben Randolph.
Adelia Hoyt.
Nancy Bell.
Thomas Collard.
August II, 1S32.
Hannah Bull Roy,* wife of Jo-
seph.
October iS, 1832.
Eliza Wisner, wife of William R.
Maria Mills Johnson, wife of
Samuel.
November i, 1832.
George B. DeKay.
Jane Eliza Dolson.
February 2, 1833.
Martha Bertholf Ackerman, wife
of John.
Susan Holbert Van Der Voort,*
wife of Cornelius.
August 10, 1833.
Ann Smith,* widow of Joshua.
September 22, 1S33.
Aaron Hill.*
November 7, 1833.
Julia Ann Tidd.
April 30, 1S34.
Phoebe Ann McCambly.
Henry Johnson.*
July 29, 1835.
Sally Ann (Dolson) Miller,* wife
of Joseph.
Polly Allen Gregory, wife of
Abram.
Rhoda Austin.
Phoebe Probasco.
June 18. 1836.
Mary Welling, wife of H. D.
October 8, 1836.
Susan Linn.* wife of Dr. Linn.
December 2, 1836.
Emeline Wright Pelton, wife of
John, Jr.
March 11, 1837.
John Pelton, Jr.
June 3, 1837.
Archibald Slaughter.*
Hannah Morford.*
September 3, 1837.
Eliza R. Falls.*
June 2, 1838.
Mary W. Stewart,* wife of Rev.
J. W. Stewart.
Rebecca Scofield Johnson,* wife
of Henry.
Betsey Scofield Gregory, wife of
George.
August II, 1838.
Eliza Roe.
September i, 1S38.
Jemima Demarest, wife of Fred-
erick.
Margaretta Demarest.
Hannah Palmer.
December 9, 1838.
Phoebe Dusinberre,* wife of
Daniel.
December 10, 1S38.
Samuel Youmans.
Hannah Youmans, wife of Sam-
uel, (Mrs. Thomas C. Jennings.)
Abby Baird, widow of Nathaniel.
March 2, 1S39.
Cornelius Vandervoort, Jr.
August 31, 1839.
Hester Irwin.*
November 30, 1839.
vSarah Ann Davids.*
Martina Bertholf,* (Mrs. W. H.
Hoyt.)
Alvira SprouU.
February 28, 1840.
Dr. Leander W. Lynn.
Reuben L. Smith.
John F. Randolph.
Catherine Randolph, wife of
John.
Joseph S. Bell.
Hezekiah D. Welling.
Sally Ann Pelton.
February 29, 1S40.
Pamelia Roe.*
ROLL OF MEMBERS FOR THE HUNDRED YEARS.
103
June 6. 1840.
Phoebe W. (Aldricb) Clark,* wife
of John.
September 5, 1840.
Ellen Conklin,* (widow.)
December 12, 1S40.
Jane Ann Baird.
March 5, 1S41.
Nathaniel Pelton.
Sarah (Baird) Pelton, wife of Na-
thaniel.
John Wisner.
September 4, 1841.
Edward Crosson.
September 5, 1841.
Jane McDaniel Smj'th, wife of
Reuben.
December 4, 1841.
SophroniaR. (Wheeler) Oakley,*
(Mrs. Dr. J. D. Bevier.)
Benjamin S. B. Dolson.*
March 4, 1843.
Lorenzo Coburn.*
Sophronia Parmelie Coburn,*
wife of Lorenzo.
Mary V. (Gildersleeve) Vander-
veer*, wife of Rev. F. H.
Henry F. Vanderveer.*
June 3, 1843.
Thomas C. Jennings.*
Keziah Robertson Morehouse,*
wife of George.
Cynthia Robertson Vandevort,*
wife of Jesse.
Ann L. Jennings, (Mrs. John S.
Seely. )
December 7, 1S44.
Catherine Gahagan Humphrey,*
widow of Solomon.
March 8, 1845.
Mary Wanamaker.*
Alexander H. Galloway.*
Hannah L. (Dator) Galloway,
wife of A. H. (m.)
Ann Maria Allison.
March 15. 1845.
Charles G. Winfield.
Harriet Pulis Dolson, wife of B.
S. B.
May 31, 1845.
James R. Christie.
September 6, 1845.
William H. Pelton.
Sarah Louisa Hoyt Pelton, wife
of W. H.
Helen Ann Bertholf.
September 6, 1845.
Sarah Ann Early McElroy, wife
of John.
March 7, 1846.
Albert M. Hoyt.
June 6, 1846.
Sarah Crosson.*
December 5, 1846.
Samuel Pelton Demarest, Jr.
Charles M. Crissej'.
Martha Wood Crissey, wife of
C. M.
January 14, 1848.
Mary Stams.*
Mary Norman Vanderveer.
June 10, 1848.
Jane Mills Wheeler,* wife of J. B.
September 2, 1848.
Dr. Hiram Upson.*
Sarah Gildersleeve Upson,* wife
of Hiram.
Frances E. Upson,* (Mrs. Rev.
James Piatt.)
December g, 1S48.
Sarah Slaughter.*
June 9, 1S49.
Elizabeth VanVorhis,* wife of
Zebulon.
Catherine VanVorhis,* wife of
James.
September i, 1849.
Mary Abigail Dusinberre, (Mrs.
Wood,) dismissed; reunited
September 6, 1902, (m.)
Edward Stewart.*
Maria Stewart,* wife of Edward.
December i, 1849.
Muville Saunders.*
Elizabeth W. .Saunders,* wife of
Muville.
June I, 1850.
Hannah Welling Winans, widow
of Isaac.
Elizabeth Welling.
Mary Welling.
November 30, 1S50.
Catherine Felter,* wifeof Theron.
March i, 1851.
Mary (Stratton) Cunningham,
wife of T. C.
May 31, 1851.
Sarah Louisa Fitzgerald.
December 5, 185 1.
Joel J. Bishop.
December 5, 1851.
John Ackerman.
104
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
December 5, 1S51.
Sheba Ann Van Cleft Bishop,
wife of Joel J.
Sarah Welling VanDuzer, wife
of Vincent.
Sarah J. Ackerraan, (Mrs. James
R. Christie.)
Elsie Ackerman.
Erminda O. Hoyt, (Mrs. Albert
M. Hoyt.)
Frances Amelia (Baird) Sanford,
wife of George W. (m.)
Mary E. Vanduzer, (Mrs. John
McEwing. )
Sarah Frances Vanduzer, (Mrs.
Charles Demarest;) dismissed;
reunited May 28, 1859.
December 6, 1851.
Theodore S. Smith.
March 5, 1853.
Elihu Taylor.*
March 3, 1854.
Henry C. Dusinberre. (m.)
Thomas S. Dusinberre, (in the
ministry. )
Eleanor Dusinberre, (Mrs. C.
Kendall.)
Mary A. Yeomans.
September 2, 1854.
Nathaniel R. Bradner.*
Harriet Bradner, wife of Nathan-
iel R.*
December 2, i8s4.
Sarah A. Potter, (Mrs. H. C.
Dusinberre. )
Matilda A. Potter.
Eunice Strickland.*
December i, 1855.
Margaret Bruyn McEwen, wife
of Milton.
Phcebe M. Randolph.
March r, 1856.
John N. Ersham.*
September 6, 1856.
Hannah Hoyt Demorest, wife of
David D.
Jane Maria Clark McEwen, wife
of Thomas.
Sarah L. Jennings Smith, wife
of Thomas.
Marietta McEwen.
December 6, 1856.
Phoebe Ann (Bull) Wheeler,*
wife of Isaac V. ; died January
21, 1904.
Cyrus G. VanDerveer.* ( Rev. )
September 5, 1857.
Elizabeth DuBois Reeve,* wife
of Dr. Reeve.
December 5, 1857.
Elizabeth A. (Pelton) Demarest,
wife of C. H. (m.j
March 6, 1858.
Jonas Seely.*
Tempe Ann Seely.*
Harriet P. Seely.*
June 5, 1858.
Hannah (Demarest) Pelton, wife
of Samuel.
Eleanor VanDerveer, (Mrs.
Thomas Dusinberre.)
Caroline (VanDuzer) Welling,*
wife of Thomas, (m.)
December 4, 1858.
Thomas Welling.
Louisa S. Galloway, (Mrs. Maid-
ment. )
Jemima Demarest.
Isaac Cary.*
March 5, 1859.
John Welling.
May 28, 1859.
Catherine I. Dusinberre, (Mrs.
Jacob Sly.)
Phoebe A. Dusinberre, (Mrs.
Stephen Pierson.)
Mary T. Janes,* (Mrs. Roe.)
September 18, 1859.
James Henry Bertholf,* (in the
ministry. )
March 3, i860.
G. W. Tompkins.*
Mrs. E. Tompkins.*
June 2, i860.
Louisa Post Ackerman,* wife of
John; dismissed; reunited De-
cember 4, 1868, and December
2, 1888.
Sarah C. Dusinberre, (Mrs. Den-
nis Sly. )
September 2, i860.
Spencer Palmer.
Margaret C. McEwen.
December i, i860.
Phoebe Jessup Palmer, wife of
Spencer.
June I, 1861.
AbbyN. Sanford, (Mrs. Gabriel. )
August 31, 1 86 1.
Lydia Howe Bertholf, wife of
Henrv.
ROLL OF MEMBERS FOR THE HUNDRED YEARS.
105
March i, 1862.
Nathan R. Wheeler.*
Jesse Dolson.
James Dolson.
Elizabeth Dolson.
Mary Burt,* wife of John.
April 2, 1862.
Frances C. Johnson Wheeler,*
wife of Nathan R.
May 31, 1S62.
Samuel J. VanSaun.*
Sarah Ann (Stevens) VanSaun,*
wife of S. J. (m.)
Mary E. Wisner, (Mrs. William
F. VanDerveer. )
Sarah C. Galloway.
May 30, 1863.
P. Jane Woodhull,* wife of F.
Margaret E. Wilcox Sly, wife of
Ross, (m.)
September 5, 1863.
James T. Knowls.*
June I, 1864.
Margaret Shuart.
John L. Servin.*
Lucinda Peck *
December 2, 1864.
Charles Post Demorest.
December 3, 1864.
Anna Fitzgerald,* wife of James.
(m. )
Huldah Cuddeback Case,* wife
of Sylvester, (m. j
March 4. 1865.
Sarah Post Demorest, wife of
Samuel.
Frances E. Demorest.
Cornelius H. Demarest.
June 3, 1865.
Euphelia (Welling) Wisner, wife
of Richard.
Susan Denton Ackerman, wife of
James.
Julia E. Ackerman, (Mrs. Charles
W. Stevens, (m. )
Charles H. Riggs.*
Sarah Peck,* wife of James.
Deborah R. VanDuzer,* wife of
Charles R.
September 2, 1865.
Walter Vail.
December 2, 1865.
Henry Bertholf.
Sarah E. Van Houghton McEwen,
wife of A.
Sibyl Welling, (Mrs. Wyckoff.)
December 2, 1865.
Edward Gullifar.*
Abigail Gullifar,* wife of Ed-
ward.
Mary J. Winchester.*
Alice Wisner,* (Mrs. H. B.
Berry;) dismissed; reunited
March 4, 1S88. (m.)
March i, 1S66.
Charles Demorest.
Sarah C. (Hynard) Arnot, wife
of Samuel, (m. )
March 3, 1866.
Samuel Pelton. (m.)
September r, 1866.
Mary J. Sly.
Margaret Traver.*
November 30, 1S66.
David Hynard. (m.)
Ann (Welling) Hynard, wife of
David, (m. )
March i, 1867.
Mahlon Cooper.*
Margaret M. Cooper,* wife of
Mahlon.
Edward Howe.
Cornelia T. Vandevort, wife of
Thomas.
Louisa C. Vandevort.
Mary P. Cooper, (Mrs. L. H.
Sauford.)
Louisa S. Hoyt, (Mrs. John J.
Beattie.) (m. )
March 2, 1867.
John Palmer;* dismissed; reunit-
ed December 6, 1S79.
Catherine Amelia Palmer,* wife
of John; dismissed; reunited
December 6, 1879.
February 28, 1868,
Samuel Welling.
December 4, 1868.
Joseph Roy.*
Delia A. Bradner,* wife of N. R.
John Ackerman ;* dismissed ; re-
united December 2, 18S8.
March 5, i86g.
Charles A. Crissey.*
John McWilliams.*
Edwin S. Colwell.*
vSarah (McCarrell) VanDerveer,*
wife ot Rev. C. G., (Mrs.
William R. Welling.)
Elizabeth Satterly Seely,* wifeof
Jesse.
106
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
March 6, 1869.
Harriet Wisner.*
Sept. 5, 1S69.
Mary Dolson.
Nov. 14, 1S69.
Susan Montross Baird, wife of
S. D.
March 11, 1870.
Benjamin Taylor.
Eliza P. Taylor, wife of Benja-
min.
Thomas C. McEwen.
Emma G. McEwen, (Mrs. Wil-
liam B. Bradner. (m. )
Caroline A. Dusinberre. (m. )
April i6, 1870.
Joshua E. Dumond.*
Margaret A. (Van Waggoner)
Dumond, wife of Joshua E.*
Sept. 2, 1870.
Hannah Richards.*
Dec. 2, 1870.
William C. Eager.*
Mary Eager,* wife of William C.
(m.)
June 2, 1871.
Ellen Armstrong.*
Anna E. Demarest.*
Isaac Van Houten.*
Catherine M. Van Houten.*
March i, 1872.
Maggie E. ( Willersdorf ) McWil-
liams, wife of John.
May 31. 1872.
Sarah A. Thompson Houston,
widow of W^illiam W.
August 30, 1872.
Jane F. Bertholf.* (m.)
Kate E. McEwen.*
November 29, 1S72.
Charles M. Demarest, (m. )
February 28, 1873.
Kittie J. P. Cooper.
May 30, 1873.
Almeda Seymour.*
September 6,' 1873.
Thomas Grier Pierson.*
Sarah Pierson,* wife of T. G. (m. )
December 5, 1873.
James C. Sly.*
Eliza Sly,* wife of James C.
Feb. 27, 1874.
Mary (Hand) Muth, wife of Jo-
seph.
April 4, 1874.
Jennie Anderson.
April 4, 1874.
Mary E. Demarest (Mrs. C. Ro-
maine.)
Martha Welling (Mrs. C. W.
Wisner;) dismissed; reunited
March 5, 1886. (m.)
June 6, 1874.
Frances E. Cooper,* wife of Dr.
T. H. Cooper.
Mary Ann Sanford.*
Emily E. VanDuzer.*
wSept. 4, 1S74.
Cornelius J. Lazear.*
Elmira Ferrier Lazear,* wife of
C. J. (m.)
Ida A. Lazear. (Mrs. James B.
Lawrence. ) (m.)
June 4, 1S75.
Anna M. Kelly Rix, wife of C. F.
June 12, 1875.
Lydia Howell Roy, wife of Jo-
seph.
March 5, 1S76.
Kate C. Case.
Ella C. Stevens, (Mrs. T. E.
Howe.) (m.)
Abbie B. Cooper.
Fannie Cooper.
June 2, 1876.
Samuel Goble.*
Aletta Goble,* wife of Samuel.
John Dumond.
September i, 1876.
Leon L. Mirabeau Ebierll.
Marianna Welling, (Mrs. J. E.
V. Miller. ) (m. )
Mary E. Belcher.
Emeline (Taylor) VanDervort,*
wife of C. B. (m. )
March 2, 1877.
John L. Welling.
Martha (Van Duzor) Welling,
wife of John L.
Caroline A. Bradner, wife of
James E. ; dismissed; reunited
Sept. 7. 1S90. (m. )
Annie (Geraghty) Baker,*wifeof
Charles M.
Sally A. (Forshee) Servin, wife
of John L. (m.)
Mary A. (Goble) Holly, wife of
James H. (m. )
Anna Pelton. (m.)
Lavinia L'^tter.
Catherine M. Van Houten (Mrs.
S. B. Dolson.)
ROLL OF MEMBERS FOR THE HUNDRED YEARS.
107
March 2, 1S77.
Amanda M. Nichols,* (Mrs. H.
C. Dusinberre. ) (m.)
Amelia M. Nichols.* (m.)
Catherine L. Demerest* (m.)
Mary Emerson Carroll,* wife of
Vernon B.
March 3, 1877.
Henry P. Demarest. (m.)
Juliet V. Wheeler, (m.)
Sarah (VanDervort) Bradner,
wife of Jacob H.
Eliza (Francisco) VanHouten,
wife of Noah, (m.)
Sarah W. Curtis.*
June I, 1877.
James Wisner. (m.)
Hannah Welling Wisner, wife of
James.
Louisa Baker Ogden, wife of
William L.
Rowena Herrick, (Mrs. F. V.
Sanford. ) (m. )
George A. Sanford,
September i, 1877.
Mary Howe Burt, wife of Thomas
H. ( Mrs. De Motte. )
Emily Ward Ellis, wife of Fran-
cis, (m.)
Mrs. Howard M. Benedict.*
November 30, 1877.
Bella M. Wells.* (m.)
Harriet E. Howe.*
Emily C. Jennings.* (m.)
March r, 1878.
Clara Millspaugh Demerest, wife
of Joel W. (m. )
Joel W. Demerest.* (m.)
Isaac Gary.*
Sarah L. Lazear Demarest,* wife
of James V. ; dismissed ; re-
united September 3, 1886.
Alice A. Finn Thomas,* wife of
William C.
Anna E. Wisner.* (m.)
Mary Jane Wells.*
June I, 1878
Israel O. Beattie.*
Elvira M. Beattie,* wife of I. O.
Nellie M. Beattie.*
Jacob H. Vreeland.*
Agnes Edwards.
August 30, 1878.
Frances Maria Powell Jenkins,
wife of William E. (m.)
November 29, 1878.
T. J. Hotalen,* wife of Malvin
February 28, 1879.
Malvin Hotalen. (m.)
James Benedict Lawrence, (m.)
Thomas Edward Howe, (m.)
Caroline Stoughtenburg.
August 31, 1879.
Harriet Louisa Anderson.
September 5, 1879.
Julia Demarest. (m.)
December 5, 1879.
Hannah Elizabeth Demorest.(m. )
Emma L. Campbell,* wife of F.
H. (m.)
David Gass*.
Julia Gass,* wife of David.
March 5, 1880.
Mary Alice Van Waggoner.
Margaret Ann Van Waggoner.
September 3, 1880.
Cordelia Burt, (Mrs. V. B. Car-
roll ; ) dismissed ; reunited
March 2, 1901. (m.)
Anna Burt. ( m. )
William R. Welling, Jr. (m.)
September 4. 1880.
Ferdinand V. Sanford. (m. )
April 4, 188 r.
Wilbur L. Paddock.*
April 24, 1881.
James Benedict Wheeler.
Dec. 3, 1881.
George Hart.
Dec. I, 1882.
Mary S. Mapes,* wife of Andrew
J. (m.)
Evalina Blauvelt.
March 2, 18S3.
J. D. M. Blauvelt.*
Bridget Christie Blauvelt,* wife
of J. D. M.
Catherine Willersdorf.*
Marv Emma Jenkins, (Mrs. G.
Schooley.)
Caroline A. (Wilson) Van Duzer,
wife of Charles R. (m.)
May 4, 1883.
Isaac Taylor.*
Margaret Taylor,* wife of Isaac.
June r, 1883.
J. H. Van Duzer,* dismissed; re-
united March 4, 1888. (m.)
Sarah A. (Taylor) Van Duzer,*
wife of J. H.; dismissed; re-
united March 4, 1888. (m.)
108
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
June I, 1883.
Sarah Elizabeth Paddock,* wife
of James., (Mrs. J. W. Lippin-
cott;) dismissed; reunited
March i, 1895. (m.)
Lewis Dickinson.*
Sarah Jane Dickinson,* wife of
Lewis.
August 31, 18S3.
Sarah H. Wilson,* wife of J. C.
(m.)
November 30, 1883.
Hannah T. Sanford,* wife of Sid-
ney H. (m.)
February 29, 1S84.
Gertrude W. Hulse. * (m.)
May 30, 1884.
Mamie L. Bell.*
September 5, 1884.
Mary T. Stewart.* (m.)
December 7, 1884.
Sarah (VanDuzer) Wisner,* wife
of Richard, (m.)
Joseph Jackson Fitzgerald.
February 27, 1885.
M. C. Ennis,* wife of Simon C.
Anna A. Ennis,* wife of T. R.
Belle Ennis.*
Dec. 5, 1885.
Lydia Burt, (m.)
Francis Baird Sanford. (m.)
March 5, 1886.
Clinton Wheeler Wisner. (m.)
John Randolph VanDevort; dis-
missed; reunited June i, 18S8.
(m.)
Caroline (Hyatt) VanDevort,*
wife of John R. ; dismissed; re-
united June I, 1888. (m.)
Mary Euphelia Wisner. (m.)
Sara Servin, (Mrs. Stephen W.
Perry. ) (m.)
Caroline Howell Welling, (Mrs.
A. W. Edsall.) (m.)
Elizabeth Anna Demarest. (m. )
Malvina Hynard. (m.)
June 5, 1886.
Mary E. Carroll.*
Carrie Bull Wheeler, (m.)
Caroline Augusta Pierson. (m.)
Vernon E. Carroll.
September 3, 1886.
James Bonnyman.* (m.)
William Kennedy.*
Mrs. William Kennedy.*
William Kennedy, Jr.*
September 3, 1886.
Augusta Kennedy.*
Eva Kennedy.*
Catherine Amelia (McPeek) Bon-
nyman, wife of James, (m. )
November 30, 1S66.
Sylvester Case.
March 5, 1887.
James H. McConnelL*
Sarah E. (Drew) McConnell,*
wife of J. H. (m.)
June 3, 1887.
Ella (Toland) Demarest,* wife of
H. P. (m.)
December 2, 1S87.
Marie D. P. (Schoonmaker)
Crispell,* wife of Peter.
Frank E. Smith.*
December 2, 1887.
Eva (Tuck) Smith,* wife of Frank
E.
March 4, 1888.
Mary E. Taylor.*
Elizabeth (Wisner) Buckbee,*
wife of William, (m.)
Mary (Hallock) Nesbit,* wife of
Thomas, (m.)
Carrie Hallock.*
Sarah A. Dolson (Miller) Vail,*
wife of James.
Martha (Post) Bradner,* wife of
E. M. (m.)
Addie Cooley.* (m. )
Jennie (Smith) Lazear,* wife of
Wilbur C. (m.)
Henry Pelton. (m.)
John Wheeler Sanford. (m. )
John Powers.
Thomas Nesbit. (m.)
Frederick Taylor Van Dervort.
Julia (Shorter) Wheat, wife of
Robert A. (m.)
Frank Isaac Van Houten. (m.)
John Magie Servin. (m.)
.Sarah Cassie McWilliams.
Annie Gertrude Hulse. (m. )
Annie M. Wheeler, (Mrs. W. A.
Hynard. )
Alice Wheeler, (m.)
Rensselaer Armstrong Demarest.
(m.)
Fanny DeKay Hynard. (m)
Jane Henrietta Bertholf. (m.)
Margaretta A. Demorest. (m.)
Fred H. Demorest. (m. )
Floyd Clinton Van Duzer. (m.)
ROLL OF MEMBERS FOR THE HUNDRED YEARS.
109
March 4, 1888.
Bessie Ives Sanford, (Mrs. E. W.
Everitt.) (m.)
March 4, iSSS.
Mary L. Van Duzer (Mrs. Thom-
as Welling, Jr. ) (m.)
Anna L. Quackenbush (Mrs. C.
S. Bates.)
Laura Gertrude Dolson.
Ellen D. Demarest. (m.)
Fred Clark Bradner.
Anna Demarest. (m.)
Clara Westbrook.
June I, t888.
Celeste W. Arnout. (m. )
Clifford Scott Beattie. (m. )
Harriet Batchelor Bradner. (m.)
George V. Dusinberre; dis-
missed; reunited June 5, 1891.
Frances L. (Wisner) Buckbee,
wife of John R. (m. )
Anna Buckbee. (m.)
William Prentiss Stage, (m. )
Anna (Burt) Sanford, wife of
Pierson E. (m.)
John W. VanDevort.
Robert Bonnyman.*
Mary Augusta (Robbins) Cris.s-
man,* wife of A. S.
Viola (Rich) Fitzgerald,* wife of
Robert Johnson.*
Fred A. Van Devort.* (m.)
Isabell C. (Conklin) Van De-
vort.* wife of F. A. (m. )
Mary R. Wisner.*
Matilda A. (Wisner) Wheeler,*
wife of William F. (m.)
September i, 1888.
Frank Marcoe Cummins.* (m. )
Mary D. (Cooper) Cummins,*
wife of F. M.
Hannah (Wood) Coleman Dem-
erest,* wife of P. W. ( m. )
Anna (Holly) McAllister, wife of
A. G.
Frances M. (Nanny) Snyder,
wife of William.
Maria Theresa Steele.
Harriet Elizabeth Miller.
Mary Ann Hoyt.
Edward L. Welling.
Lewis J. Stage, (m. )
December 2, iSSS.
Eunice K. (Hazen) Smith,* wife
of W. D.
December 2, 1888.
Rebecca J. (Kohler) Hynard,
wife of W. H., (Mrs. W. L. Og-
den. (m. )
John B. Lavender.
William D. Smith.*
March 3, 1889.
David Roe, Jr.*
Mary Burt Roe,* wife of David
Cordelia Burt Davis.
Emma J. Babcock. (m.)
Rowena Marie Demorest, (Mrs.
William P. Knapp.) (m,)
Clinton C. Demarest,
June 2, 1889.
Thomas Ridgeway Ennis.
Mary (Benedict) Demerest. (m.)
Mary Burt Herrick. (m.)
Julia Benedict, (m. )
Phcebe A. Miher.*
Hattie Miller.*
November 30, 1S89.
Julia B. Lippincott.*
Sarah A. (Welling) VanSaun,
wife of S. S. (m.)
Maggie (DeKay) Hasbrouck. (m.)
Annie Marie (Jones) Demorest,*
wife of Agustus. (m.)
Mary C. Demerest. (m.)
Lettie More DeKay.
Jennie S. Mapes.
Mabel S. Mapes, (Mrs. John C.
Drew. ) (m. )
Blanche Muth, (Mrs. A. H. Bing-
ham.) (m.)
March 2, 1890.
Richard Wisner. (m.)
Ferdinand A. Stevens, (m.)
Jennie May Stage, (m.)
Josie (Case) Benedict, wife of
William S. (m.)
Elizabeth DeKay.* (m.)
Olive S. Moulton.*
July 5, 1890.
Nellie DeKay,* wife of Milton.
Hattie Eugenia Howe.
September 7, 1890.
Eleanor (Howe) Bradner,* wife
of Henry K. (m.)
December 7, 1890.
Harriet W. McConnell.*
Simon C. Ennis.
Marie E. (Taylor) Demerest,
wife of T. H. (m.)
Blanche E. W. Demerest. (m.)
110
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
December 7, 1890.
Annie McConnell.
Gertrude G. Mapes, (Mrs, Ed-
ward W. Pearson.)
Lizzie Mae Van Houten, (Mrs.
Charles Seely Baird.) (m.)
March i, 1891.
Bertha M. Furman, (Mrs. John
W. Sanford. (m.)
Josephine (Jenkins) Schooley,
wife of Ricliard.
Annie (Welling) Sanford, wife of
Milton L. (m.)
Annie Elizabeth Westfall.
Ella Lena Westfall.
Helena Caye.*
June 5, iSgi.
Mary (De Kay) Dusinberre,* wife
of George V. (m.)
December 5, 1891.
Hattie E. (Benedict) Willers-
dorf. (m.)
March 6, 1892.
Elizabeth Price, (m.)
Wilbur C. Lazear. (m.)
Sarah McCarroU Welling, (Mrs.
F. B. Sanford. )(m.)
Jennie T. Wisner. (m.)
June 4, 1892.
Wilbur L. Lawrence, (ra.)
Susie J. Sly. (m.)
WiUianiT. Sly.* (m.)
Josephine (Drew) Sly,* wife of
William T. (m.)
Charles Gale.*
Laura M. (Nichols) Gale,* wife
of Charles.
Anna Stewart.*
Marie L. E. Sweet,* (Mrs. George
Rumsey.)(m.)
December 4, 1892.
Louisa (Watkins) Case,* wife of
Frank D.
March 5, 1893.
John Bingham.*
Eleanor L. Bingham,* wife of
John.
Thomas Bingham.*
Margaret Bingham.*
John Lamb Bingham.*
Sarah A. Baird.* (m.)
Sue A. Baird, (Mrs. Pierson Dem-
erest.) (m.)
Anna Welling Davis, (m.)
Cornelius H. Demurest.
Sarah Catherine Davis, (m.)
March 5, 1893.
Edward L. Nanny, (m.)
June 3, 1893.
Nancy (Davis) Nanny, wife of J.
H. (m.)
Cordelia Burt Nanny, (Mrs. Geo.
VanKeuren. (ra.)
Hattie (VanDevort) Drew, wife
of Marcellus.
John V. D. Benedict, (m.)
Helen Cady.
Mrs. R. C. Cadv.*
Charles R. Baird.*
Anna M. (Jayne) Baird,* wife of
Charles R. (m.)
Minnie C. Baird.* (m.)
Mrs. Sarah J. Sly.* (m.)
Gertrude Sly.* (m.)
Benjamin Scott.*
Mrs. Benjamin Scott.*
September 3, 1S93.
Frank De Forest Case.
Mary Louisa Warner Simms,
wife of John.
Margaretta Rightmyer,* wife of
Sherman, (m.)
Jenkins C. Thomas.* (m.)
Nina D. (Randall) Thomas, wife
of J. C. (m.)
March 4, 1894.
Anna G. Deming, wife of John.
(ra.)
Lillian M. (DeKay) Wisner, wife
of Victor, (m.)
Linnie C. (Horton) Bonnyman,
wife of Alexander, (m.)
Mary (Sayer) Quackenbush, wife
of Daniel, (m.)
Stephen Timms.
Mrs. Stephen Tirams.
James H. Vealey.* (m.)
Lucile (DeKay) Vealey,* wife of
James H. (m.)
June 3, 1894.
Jessie M. (Lawrence) Stage,*
wife of Lewis J. (m.)
Ira A. Hawkins.* (m.)
Anna (Seaman) Hawkins,* wife
of Ira A. (m.)
William P. Knapp. (m.)
Mertie A. Stage.
vSeptember i, 1894.
L. W. Hoffman.*
December i, 1894.
Ada (Quinbv) Knox,* wife of
Tabe'r. (m.")
ROLL OF MEMBERS FOR THE HUNDRED YEARS. Ill
December i, 1894.
James Harvey McPeek. (m.)
March i, 1895.
William Batchelor Bradner. (m.)
Frederick Vollmer. (m.)
Mary Louise (Lansing) Hoff-
man,* wife of L. W.
]\Iav 31, 1895.
Elizabeth (Seely) Wood.
William Lewis Ogden.
November 22, 1895.
J. Fred Hulse.
Harriet Lillian Morehouse, (m.)
Martha Stephenson Quinby.
November 23, 1894.
William V. Ruton.*
Laura L. Ruton,* wife of Wilham
V.
Alice H. Ruton.*
Walter C. Longwell.*
Lizzie (Bailey) Longwell,* wife
of W. C.
February, 28, 1896.
Charles Seely Baird. (m.)
Mary Elizabeth Sanford. (m )
Ruth Bradner. (m.)
John Mix Deming. (m.)
John James Beattie. (m.)
Sylvester Mott Wood, (m.)
Georgie Ackerson Hegeman,*
wife of David T. (m.)
Anna W. Hirst,* wife of Albert
W. (m.)
February 29, 1896.
Jennie Van Devort. (m.)
March i, 1896.
Albert William Hirst.* (m.)
Robert A. Wheat, (m.)
April I, 1896.
Joseph Elijah Vail Miller, (m.)
Alice Slaughter (Pierson) Miller,
wife of J. E. V.
June 5, 1896.
Frederick Oakley Beattie; dis-
missed; reunited March 2, 1901,
Minnie (Dator) Beattie, wife of
F. O.; dismissed; reunited
March 2, 1901. (m.)
Ida Beatrice ( Bradner) VanDer-
vort, (Mrs. G. M. Clark.) (m.)
Mary P. Wilder,* wife of Mariner
A. (m.)
June 6, 1896.
Hiram Bartlett Berry, (m.)
September 4, 1896.
Willard Bradner VanDervort.
(m.)
Thomas Bowen.*
Sarah (Evans) Bowen,* wife of
Thomas.
September 5, 1896.
Charles Reeve Van Duzer.
December 4, 1S96.
Philetus W. Demerest.
George Henrv Springer, (m.)
Carl Frederick William Ludkey.*
Frederikke Sophie (Jess) Lud-
key, wife of C. F. W.
March 5, 1897.
Isabel Case.
Victor Audubon Wilder, (m. )
March 6, 1897.
Clarissa (Decker) Springer, wife
of G. H. (m. )
June 4, 1897.
Edward Stevens Howe, (m.)
John Lawrence, (m.)
September 5, 1897.
Anna B. (Philcox) Holmes,*wife
of Frank F. (m.)
December 4, 1897.
Hannah Sly, (m.)
March 4, 1898.
Grace H. Campbell, (m.)
Frances E. Campbell, (m.)
Sarah J. Springer, (Mrs. Fred
Vance.) (m.)
Clara Whitfield (Hewitt) Wis-
ner,* wife of Charles E. (m.)
Tune 3, 1898.
Caroline Margarete Bradner. (m.)
Aimee E. Hyatt, (Mrs. W. L.
Spicer. )*
September 3, 1898.
Alein Roberta Demerest. (m.)
Richard Wisner, Jr. (m.)
December 3, 1898.
Marv Estella Hyatt.*
Bertha (Smith) Arnout,* wife of
Frank H. (m.)
Edith A. Drew,* wife of Marcel-
lus. (m.)
March 4, 1S99.
Dora Menshen, (Mrs. Harry Mil-
ler.) (m.)
Paul Case.*
Mary Hyatt* (m.)
Frances M. Hyatt.* (m.)
Emma L. Ruton.*
112
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
June 2, iSgg.
Ellen E. Morehouse, wife of J. M.
(m.)
Will C. Compton. (m.)
Eleanor Rebecca Dolson.
Annie Margaret Ermann. (m.)
Ruby Simms. (m.)
Nellie Spear, wife of Lewis R.
(m.)
E. Pauline Quackenbush, (Mrs.
John Rone.) (m.)
Arthur V. Turner, (m.)
Lillie Pellew (Mrs. F. M. Fields.)
(m.)
Mrs. Joseph Quackenbush. (m.)
Edith Quackenbush. (m.)
Nellie V. Williams.* (m.)
Mary Edith Williams.* (m.)
Charles M. Houston.* (m.)
Ella (Case) Houston,* wife of C.
M. (m.)
Wah Lee (Tom Mon Ling.)*(m.)
June 3, i8gg.
Grace M. Winans (Mrs. Abram
B. Shinier.) (m.)
Hylah Hasbrouck. (m. )
Alexander Bonnyman. (m.)
June 4, i8gg.
Lewis Roe Spear, (m. )
September i, iSgg.
Augustus H. Blake.*
Jesse B. (Devoe) Blake," wife of
Augustus H.
December 3, i8gg.
May M. Ruton.
March 3, igoo.
Grace Ethel Wisner (Mrs. Burton
J. Berry.)
Paul Winslow. (m.)
June 2. igoo.
Harriet Lillian Demarest. (m.)
Emma Gertrude Ostrom,* wife
of Dr. Joshua Ward Ostrom.
(m.)
May Gertrude Lu Gar* (Mrs.
William Haley.) (m.)
Ida May (Jenkinsj McPeek,* wife
of J. H. (m.)
September i, igoo.
William Q. Minturn.* (m.)
Mary Libbie (Miller) Minturn,*
wife of William Q. (m.)
December i, igoo.
Emma (Bonner) Demarest,* wife
of R. A. (m.)
Joseph W. Woodruff.* (m.)
March 2, igoi.
Albert N. Gale, (m.)
Emma (Young) Gale,* wife of
Albert N. (m.)
Cora E. Farnham.* (m.)
June I, igoi.
Anne Carroll, (m.)
Morris B. Carroll, (m.)
Mary Irons (Mrs. Jacob Tomer.*)
(m.)
Jennie Young, (m.)
Joanna Winslow, wife of Peter.
(m.)
November 30, igoi.
Cornelius Smith Lazear. (m.)
Margaret Minturn. (m.)
May 31, igo2.
Sarah Minturn Drew. (m. )
Amelia C. Nesbitt. (m.)
Martha Morgan, (m. )
Aimee Minturn. (m.)
June I, igo2.
Lizzie Hebsacker. (m.)
December 6, igo2.
Grace Eager Paddock, (Mrs.
Jesse Thompkins Brown. )
Frederick Philip Ermann. (m.)
Robert Simms. (m.)
Nellie Stevens.* (m.)
John A. Simms.* (m.)
February 5, igo3.
John C. Van Orden.
February 28, igo3.
Mary Augusta Layton.* (m.)
Charles M. Bartlett.* (m.)
Alice E. Bartlett,* wife of Charles
M. (m.)
Hattie A. Fisher.* (m. )
June 6, igo3.
Emma Wisner Buckbee. (ra.)
Ethel Demarest Howe, (m.)
Alice Josephine Miller, (m.)
June 7, igo3.
Thomas Welling Wisner. ( m. )
Jeffrey Amherst Wisner, Jr. (m.)
Ambrose Sly. (m.)
September 5, igo3.
Helen M. Nesbitt. (m.)
Harry Hewitt Wisner. (m. )
Grace M. Stidworthy,* wife of
Edward T. (m.)
December 12, igo3.
Henry Toland Demarest. (m. )
Martha S. (Hetzel) Pelton,*wife
of John. (m. )
STATED APPOINTMENTS. 113
March 5, 1904. March 5, 1904.
Dwight Dutcher.* (m.) Alice B. Montross,* wife of James
Clara Dutcher,* wife of Dwigbt. A. (m.)
(m. ) Charles Francis Hawkins, Jr.
Jessie Dutcher.* (m.) (m-)
John Parries Winslow. (m.)
"H^k. -^k ■^I'k. "^Ik "i!^ "^Ik "*!<• ■^^k
^i<* ^i«* ^ji* ^1^ ^i^ ^i«* ^j^^iV
STATED APPOINTMENTS.
REGULAR MEETINGS.
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is administered
quarterly, on the first Sunday in March, June, Sep-
tember and December.
The Service Preparatory to the Lord's Supper is held on
Saturday afternoon preceding the Communion Sun-
day.
The Sacrament of Baptism is administered at Prepara-
tory Service.
Services are regularly held on Christmas Day, the week
of Prayer in January, and during Passion Week.
Consistory meets quarterly on Saturday afternoon prior
to the first Sunday of March, June, September, and
December. The Board of Elders the same after-
noon.
Public Worship, Sunday at 10.30 (April to September) and
11.00 (October to March) a. m. and 7.30 p. m.
Bible School, Sunday morning 9.15 (April to September)
and 9.45 (October to March).
Mid- Week Service: Every Thursday evening.
Christian Endeavor Society Prayer Meeting: Every Sun-
day evening.
Junior Christian Endeavor Society: Every Friday after-
114 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
Choir Meeting: Every Saturday evening.
Christian Endeavor Business meeting and Social: Tues-
day evening, after first Sunday in each month.
Women's Missionary Society: First Wednesday after-
noon, each month.
Builders: Third Monday evening, each month.
Heart and Hand Society: Last Thursday afternoon, each
month.
Brotherhood of Andrew and Philip: Thursday evening,
after first Sunday of each month.
SCHEDULE OF OFFERINGS.
The Regular Offerings for benevolence are made as
follows :
Foreign Missions: Second Sunday, January, May, Sep-
tember.
Education: Second Sunday, February.
Domestic Missions: Second Sunday, March, July, No-
vember.
Board of Publication and the Widows' Fund: Second
Sunday, April.
Support of Church, Bible School: Second Sunday, June.
American Tract Society: Second Sunday, August.
Church Building Fund of Board of Domestic Missions:
Second Sunday, October.
Disabled Ministers' Fund: Second Sunday, December.
Theological Seminary at New Brunswick: First Sunday,
March.
Deacons' Fund: First Sunday, June, September, Decem-
ber.
Christmas Festival of Bible School: Fourth Sunday,
November.
Arabian Mission and Orange County Bible Society by
Subscription.
THE VALE AND VILLAGE OF WARWICK.
BY CLINTON WHEELER WISNER.
In all the river counties of New York, there is none
to my mind which presents such a combination of all
natural beauties, pastoral, rural, sylvan and at times
almost sublime as old Orange, nor any part of it to me so
picturesque, or so much endeared by early recollections
as the fair vale of Warwick. * * *
Throughout its length and breadth, it is one of the
most fertile and beautiful, and the most Arcadian re-
gions of the United States; poverty in its lower and
more squalid aspects, if not in any real or tangible
shape, is unknown within its precincts ; its farmers, the
genuine old solid yeoman of the land, the backbone and
bulwark of the country, rich as their teeming pastures,
hospitable as their warm hearts and ever open doors,
stanch and firm as the everlasting hills, among which
in truly pleasant places their lines have fallen, would be
the pride of any nation, kingdom or republic ; its women
are among the fairest daughters of a country, where
beauty is the rule rather than the exception. * * *
Sweet vale of Warwick, sweet Warwick, loveliest
village of the vale, it may be I shall never see you
more, for the silver cord is loosened, the golden bowl is
broken, which most attached me to your quiet and se-
questered shades. * *
May blessings be about you beautiful Warwick, may
your fields and forests be as green, your waters as
bright, the cattle on your hundred hills as fruitful as in
the days of old.
— From the Writings of Frank Forester.
HE Village of Warwick contains about two thou-
sand people. Built on rolling land in the valley
west of the Warwick mountains, it is an ideal
spot for country homes. The land is well-
drained, the Wawayanda Creek flowing through the
centre of the town, in a southeasterly direction. The
mean elevation of the valley is 550 feet, and the near-by
116 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
mountains rise to a height of 1,200 to 1,400 feet. The
varied pastoral scenes of wood, stream and meadow,
with here and there a lake, and the tall peaks of the
Catskills in the distance greeting the eye from these
heights, are said by travelers to equal if not surpass
anything else of the kind in all the wide world. Fine
roads, affording delightful drives, extend from Warwick
in every direction, some among the neatly kept farms in
the valley, and others through winding ways among the
hills.
With such an unrivalled environment Warwick has
grown famous for its own peculiar beauties. One can-
not say that our village is quaint or old-fashioned, with
swinging gates, grassy lanes and moss-covered roofs.
Rather, it has an air of smartness, blended with a pol-
ished repose. It is a pretty park, with velvety lawns,
showing to vast advantage groups of flowering shrubs,
unmarred by fences, and with the houses well apart,
giving an air of freedom from cramped conditions.
Not only the fine mansions that have been built by
prosperous country merchants, professional men, and
city folk, but also the modest homes of the village
mechanics and artisans, all show the same individual
public spirit, not to be outdone in keeping things spruced
up and freshly painted.
"Here and there are old homesteads where son has
succeeded father for generations, yet the old homes look
well and becoming in their new and airy clothes. The
advent of broad avenues and flag walks have forever
effaced the winding trails, and with them much of the
sweet Indian legendary has been obliterated. For all
these rolling hills were once covered with chestnut,
birch, maple and pine trees. There is something pa-
thetic in the passing of the redman— the type of years
THE VALE AND VILLAGE OF WARWICK. 117
gone by— as the impress of civilization unrelentingly,
step by step, crowded upon his tepee and forced him
westward,
*Ah me, when I parted from him.
Round my neck he hung the wampum.
As a pledge, the snow-white wampum,
my sweetheart, my Algonquin.'
"Yet the maples, as planted by our fathers, forming
bowers over streets, are more beautiful than the pine
tree. We have no 'Unter den Linden,' but we might
claim an 'Unter den Maples.' Our maples are well-
trimmed, admitting abundance of light and air, but not
to an extent that distorts their graceful outline.
"Warwick has been called the Queen Village, also a
village of homes. If she is not truly the former, she is
easily and far away a village of homes."
Sensibly realizing that local conditions were not fav-
orable for the introduction of manufactures, they have
never been encouraged; but a constant effort, lately
pressed with much vigor, has been made to develop the
town as a place for summer homes. Following the in-
troduction of the electric light and telephone, the build-
ing of a new high-class hotel, (the Red Swan Inn,) has
been the latest step in this direction, and our village sees
now a bright future with the influx of new blood from
the metropolis.
One of the distinguishing features of Warwick Village
and of the whole community, which seems to appeal
strongly to people from the city, is that our town is still
essentially American, in that so many of its inhabitants
are direct descendants from Revolutionary sires. This
brings us to speak of the past, quoting from the writings
of Livingston Rutherf urd, Esq. :
"The town and village of Warwick derived their
118 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
names from the plantation of Benjamin Aske, one of the
original proprietors of the Wawayanda patent. Aske's
share of the patent was a tract nearly in the form of a
parallelogram which extended from Clark's Lake on the
north to the farm now owned by Mr. Sidney H. Sanford
on the south, with an average width of a mile and a-half ,
containing about three thousand acres of land. It is in-
teresting to note in this connection that one of the first
boundary lines established between New York and New
Jersey ran about two hundred rods north of the house
occupied by Mr. George W. Sanford, thus making War-
wick a part of New Jersey, which may account for so
many Jerseymen locating here.
"It appears from the earliest records obtainable that
until about 1718 the surrounding country was a track-
less forest inhabited only by Indians and wild animals.
In 1719 the names of Lawrence Decker and Thomas
Blaine appear as taxpayers. Decker lived on a part of
the Wilder farm and Blaine on the M. L. Sanford farm.
These were probably the first purchases from the Aske
tract. The pioneers of Warwick were principally Eng-
lish families who came hither from Long Island, Con-
necticut and Massachusetts. Among them we find the
names of Armstrong, Baird, Benedict, Blaine, Bradner,
Burt, Decker, Demarest, Ketchum, Knapp, McCambley,
Post, Roe, Sayer, Sly, Sanford, Welling, Wheeler, Wis-
ner, Wood and Van Duzer. Most of these settlers have
left descendants who now live in or near the village.
The men were bold, active and hardy. The women were
patient, faithful and capable. Life in the settlements
in those early days was a struggle for existence, a sur-
vival of the fittest. To do the work cut out for him it
was necessary for a man to indeed be rugged both in
body and mind.
THE VALE AND VILLAGE OF WARWICK.
119
"During the Revolution there were a few Tories near
Warwick, but the majority of the people were loyal to
the country of their adoption and many of them enlisted
for service under the banner of liberty. Washington
passed through Warwick twice during the war. Once
he was entertained by Col. Hathorn at the P. E. Sanford
house. At another time he is said to have halted for
lunch under the large elm on the road to New Milford,
whence it took the name of the Washington elm.
"For some time after the Revolution there were not
more than thirty houses in the village and these were
grouped together on the upper part of Main street. In-
deed there are many of our citizens who can readily
remember when there were not more than three houses
within the present village limits on the easterly side of
the creek. In 1763 Daniel Burt built the shingle house
Pt
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120 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
now owned by Mrs. Servin, which is the oldest house in
the village. In 1766 Francis Baird built the stone house^
now occupied by W. B. Sayer, which was long used as a
tavern. Indeed in some old maps Warwick is called
Baird's Tavern. The next oldest house is the one stand-
ing just north of the house occupied by F. C. Gary.
"Before the advent of the railroads the produce of the
country was all hauled to Newburgh, and taken thence
by boat to New York. Warwick was then a favorite
place with the teamsters to stop for the night. They
had the choice of three hotels, the stone tavern above
mentioned, a hotel on the site of the present Wawayanda
House, and another on the site of the Warwick [Welling]
Hotel. Later there was a hotel on Main street facing
the little park, [now Fountain Square,] called the United
States. The old Demerest House [National Hotel] was
not built until 1862." [The present Demerest House was
built in 1888.]
* 'There being no easy means of transportation in the
early days, each community supplied its own wants so
far as it could, and Warwick was no exception to the
general rule. Woolen and fur hats were manufactured
here for many years by Morris and Foght Burt, who
sold to Oscar Welling. A man by the name of Dikeman
was in the same business. There was a pottery on the
Geraghty property above the Wawayanda House, es-
tablished by Amos and Lewis Haines, and a tannery on
the Mills Bradner farm (now owned by Mrs, J. D. Picks-
lay), its latest proprietor being Smith Bradner. There
was a brick yard in the meadow of the Servin farm
nearly opposite the house of Daniel Wood, and another
*The old stoue house shown in the photograph of Fountain Square
was built in 1766 by Francis Baird, one of the trustees of the Presby-
terian Church, and the first clerk of that organization.
THE VALE AND VILLAGE OF WARWICK. 121
tannery just in the rear of the present Savings Bank,
carried on by Samuel Smith. A few rods above the site
of the National Bank there was a cider mill which was
run by Samuel Ketchum. Near the Main street bridge
there was a fulling mill conducted by Ariel Chase, who
also looked after a toll gate near by. Down the stream
about a quarter of a mile a grist and saw mill was run
by a man named Dolson. The dam of this mill flooded
the adjoining low lands so far that fever resulted, and a
fund of money was subscribed to buy out the proprietor
and to secure to the people of the valley forever the un-
obstructed flow of water in the Wawayanda Creek."
(See writings of Samuel Pelton).
The building of the railroad in 1862 marks the be-
ginning of the modern development and growth of the
village. In 1864 the National Bank was incorporated.
In 1867 the Village and Cemetery Associations were in-
corporated, and the Advertiser was founded. In 1868
Union Free School District No. 12 was formed by the
consolidation of several districts and a graded school es-
tablished. In 1871 the reservoir was completed and the
fire department organized. In 1876 the Savings Bank
was incorporated. The Dispatch was founded in 1885.
The second reservoir was built in 1891. A new brick
school house was built in 1892, and a high school in 1901.
The picturesque station of the Lehigh & Hudson Riv-
er Railway Company, built of white limestone, was erect-
ed in 1893, and the adjoining land made into a park.
This improvement was effected under the direction of
the late Grinnell Burt, President of the railway compa-
ny, who had devoted the greater part of his life to the
co-operative task of developing the railroad, the village,
and the resources of the valley.
Among the recent notable improvements is a hand-
122 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
some drinking fountain presented to the municipality
by the heirs of the late George W. Sanford as a memo-
rial to their father, which was erected last year on Foun-
tain Square.
In 1901 the special charter of the village was repealed
and the village was re-incorporated under the General
Village Law; its officials are elected and its affairs ad-
ministered on a non-partisan basis, the present officials
being: Clinton W. Wisner, President; Sidney H. Sanford,
Charles Wutke, Trustees; Fred C. Gary, Glerk; James
A. Montross, Treasurer; Gharles T. Hane, Collector: Ja-
cob Quackenbush, James T. Wisner, John B. Rogers, As-
sessors; Edwin F. Still, Police Justice.
The future of Warwick seems assured as a beautiful
homespot, within easy journey of the great metropolis,
yet far enough removed among peaceful and restful
surroundings to make absent ones yearn for its quiet re-
pose. This sentiment is best expressed in the following
hues by Mrs. C. E. Timlow, on "The Vale of Warwick":
" Fair, lovely vale I to thee my heart
Turns, like a song-bird to her nest ;
For many days my home has been,
Upon thy quiet, sheltering breast ;
And thou hast lured me with sweet tones,
From every glade and tree and flower ;
That, like dear memories in my heart.
Shall brighten many a future hour,
vf * * * *
" We met as strangers, lovely vale 1
Far may the day of parting be;
And time make strong and bright the chain
Whose love-links bind my soul to thee;
And when these quiet, peaceful hours
Have fled on time's unresting sea,
Their tender memory shall come back.
In light and love, sweet vale, to me."
\
■**.
OTHER VILLAGE CHURCHES.
Brief summaries of the history of other Warwick
churches are herewith appended:
The Old School Baptist Association was organized in
Warwick by settlers from Connecticut October 19, 1765,
the first pastor being James Benedict. The Church was
incorporated November 23rd, 1791. The first meeting
house was built at the corner of Hudson and Galloway
streets, near the old Baptist burying ground in 1774.
It was a building 36x40 feet, with galleries and movable
seats, some of which can still be seen in the present edi-
fice. In 1810 the present building was erected in the
village and is still in excellent condition. There has
been no resident pastor in charge since the death of
Elder W. L. Beebe in 1901, but services are still con-
ducted by elders from other places.
The first Methodist service was held at the house of
David McCamley, Warwick, 1786. A class was organ-
ized at Sugar Loaf at the house of Samuel Ketchum
1789. It was not until 1839, however, that a society was
formally established. The pioneer in this later organi-
zation is said to have been John Ketchum, who came to
Warwick in 1837. Meetings were held in the tavern of
Thomas Ward in Warwick village, and in the house of
Cornelius Lazear at New Milford. In 1842 a building
was erected and known as the Wesleyan Chapel of
Warwick, and later known as the Methodist Church. In
September, 1866, this church was sold to the Roman
Catholic Church of the village and a new church was
erected on Main street and dedicated March 5, 1868.
124 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
This building having been improved from time to time,
is the present house of worship, the present pastor being
the Rev. David McCartney.
The Rev. John Steinmyer, known as *' Father Farm-
er," visited Warwick and other points in Orange County
in 1786, baptizing seven in this town. Other represen-
tatives of the church occasionally visited Warwick until,
in 1849, the Reverend Ward, residing at Goshen, came to
Warwick every month. Services were held in the
houses of different parishoners until, in 1867, they pro-
cured from the Methodists their old church building on
Church street, where services were regularly held. The
first resident pastor (1884) was the Very Reverend D.
O'Callahan. A new site was purchased at the corner of
South and Second streets in 1893, and the present fine
stone edifice erected in 1903, through the efforts of the
present pastor, the Rev. P. J. Minogue, is known as the
new Church of St. Stephen.
The services of the Episcopal Church were first held
in Warwick in the year 1854, under the ministry of the
Rev. William H. Carter, who commenced with evening
prayer in the Methodist Church in April, 1854. In 1857
an attempt was made to build a church edifice at the
corner of Main and Church streets, but the effort was
abandoned. Services were not regularly held until in
1865, when under the ministry of the Rev. Nicholas F.
Ludlum, a church was erected at the corner of South
and Second streets, and the consecration of the church
took place July 3, 1867. The present pastor is the Rev.
W. A. Pickslay.
Calvary Bai^tist Church was organized with nine con-
stituent members, January 4th, 1866, through the efforts
OTHER VILLAGE CHURCHES.
125
of the Rev. George F. Love, who Hved to see the church
reach a membership of over two hundred. The grounds
now owned by the church were secured the same year,
(1866) and a church building and parsonage were erect-
ed. The church has recently been enlarged and a com-
modious Sunday School room added. The present pas-
tor is the Rev. D. W. Shepherd.
The Young Men's Christian Association of Warwick
was organized in 1879, for the mental, moral and physi-
cal w^elfare of young men. It was incorporated in 1883;
present membership 119 ; equipment— owns a property
on Main street worth $6,000; indebtedness $1,400; pub-
lic library 1,100 volumes ; gymnasium building. Pres-
ident-Dr. G. F. Pitts; Secretary-H. V. Rulison.
CENTENNIAL SERVICES.
HE CENTENNIAL Anniversary Day of the or-
ganization of the Reformed Church was marked
by the giving of a reception in the church par-
lors to the congregation by the Pastor and Con-
sistory of the Church and their wives, on the evening of
Friday, January 8, 1904. The occasion was greatly en-
joyed. An historical paper presenting a picture of con-
ditions ecclesiastical and historical a hundred years be-
fore was read by the Elder F. V. Sanford. Vocal solos
were sung by Miss Irene Carpenter and Mrs. John R, Van
Devort; instrumental music was rendered by Mrs. Thomas
Welhng, Jr., Miss Harriet Morehouse, Mrs. John R. Van
Devort, and Messrs. Harry P. Smith, F. J. Gardner,
Thomas W. Wisner, Jeffrey A. Wisner, Jr., and Ferdin-
and D. Sanford.
The more elaborate celebration of the anniversary was
arranged to take place from the twelfth to the fifteenth
of June, 1904. It is expected that the following pro-
gram will at that time be carried out :
SUNDAY, JUNE 12.
MORNING.
Cornet Solo Mr. H. P. Smith
Doxology.
Invocation and Salutation
Anthem — "Praise the Lord" ( 'li;i(lwk-k
Reading of the Law. —Response
The Psalter Rev. J. H. Bertholf
Apostle.s' Creed — Gloria Patri
Scripture Les.son Rev. T. S. Dusinberre
Hymn— "The Church's One Foundation." No. 776.
Prayer Rev. Peter Crispell
Offertory Solo— "I Will Extol Thee" Cost;/
Mi.ss Irene Carpenter.
Hvmn— "For all the Saints, who from their Labors Re t." No. 7S1.
PROGRAM. 127
Sermon — "The Days that are Gone" Rev. Taher Knox
Prayer Rev. Graham Taylor, D. D.
Hymn — "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing-." No. 529.
Benedicti(jn.
Postlude in F /. Concoiic
Mrs. Welling.
EVENING.
Prelude— "The Last Hope" (iottsvhnlk
Orchestra.
Opening Sentence.
Invocation and Salutation Rev. T. S. Dusinberre
Anthem— "O Death, Where is Thy Sting" Mnm\v
Hymn — "Thou to Whom the Sick and Dying." No. 230.
Psalter— Gloria Patri.
Scripture Less(;n Rev. J. H. Bertholf
Prayer Rev. Taher Knox
Offertory — "Turn Thee O ! Jerusalem" (loiuiod
Hymn— "The Son of God Goes Forth to War." No. 562.
Sermon — "The Social Ministry of the Church". .
Rev. Graham Taylor, D. D. , Chicago Theological Seminary
Prayer Rev. Peter Crispell
Hymri — "A Charge to Keep I Have." No. 566.
Benediction.
Postlude— "L'Adieu" Schnhcrt
Orchestra.
MONDAY, JUNE 13.
AFTERNOON — 2 O'CLOCK.
Organ Prelude — Agnus Dei 11. (J. G;iiJ,S!i
Mrs. Welling.
Invocation.
Hymn — "In the Cross of Christ I Glory." No. 490.
Scripture Lesson.
Prayer.
Anthem— "Send Out Thy Light" Gounod
Address— "The Power of the Church" Rev. W. H. Vroom, D. D.
Reformed Church, Paramus, N. J.
Greetings— Rev. William C. Isett
Presbyterian Church, Florida, N. Y.
Hymn — "Far Down the Ages Now." No. 772.
Address — "A Glance Backward" Rev. Peter Crispell
Reformed Church, Montgomery, N. Y.
Offertory Duet— "The Lord is my Light" Dudley Iluck
Miss Carpenter and Mr. Rightmyer.
128 THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
Address Rev. T. S. Dusinberre
Pine Plains, N. Y.
Address Rev. J. H. Bertholf
Yonkers, N. Y.
Address Mr. George A. Sanford
Secretary Army Branch Y. M. C. A., New York City.
Hymn— "Blest Be the Tie That Binds." No. 770.
Benediction.
Postlude— Gloria in G C Wels
Mrs. Welling.
EVENING.
Congregational Sociable and Reception.
Greetings from Pastors of Village Churches and others.
Music.
TUESDAY, JUNE 14.
EVENING — 8 O'CLOCK.
Prelude — "Adeste Fideles" Vogvl
Orchestra.
Hymn — "Christian, See, the Orient Morning." No. S19.
Prayer.
Duet — "In Heavenly Love Abiding" I'ontius
Tenor and Baritone — Messrs. S. Rightmyer and A. H. Snyder.
Scripture.
Hymn — "Hark ! the Song of Jubilee" No. 817.
Address — "The World Evangelistic Mission of the Church"
Rev. Mancius H. Hutton, D. D., Second Reformed
Church, New Brunswick, N. J., President Board of
Foreign Missions, R. C. A.
Anthem — "Abide With Me" Schneckev
Address Mr. William Phillips Hall, New York City
Prayer.
Hymn — "O God, Our Help in Ages Past." No. 126.
Benediction.
Postlude— Gloria C. Welfi
Mrs. Welling.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15.
EVENING — 8 O'CLOCK.
MUSICAL SERVICE.
PART L
Selection — Orchestra and Organ Gruon wnld
Duet— Tenor and Baritone— "Meekly May My Soul" Millet
Mr. S. Rightmyer and Mr. A. H. Snyder.
PROGRAM.
129
Solo — Biiritoiu
Trio
Solo— SoiM-ano— ••Why Art Thou Cast Down.O My Soul"..,U;/.v Spickrv
Miss Irene Carpenter.
The Chords of Life" Lloyil
Mr. Snyder.
Soprano, Tenor and Baritone — "Sweet is the Work" \\'ri<^;iii<l
Miss Carpenter, Mr. Rightmyer, Mr. Snyder.
PART II.
RUTH— A Sacred Cantata liy A. li. (inul
For Soli, Chorus, Orchestra and Organ.
Mr. Sherman Rightmyer, Conductor.
Mrs. Thomas WelHng, Jr., Organist.
Miss Emma Vernon, First Violin. Mr. Thomas Wisner, Second Violin.
Mr. JeftYey Wisner, Flute. Mr. H. P. Smith, Cornet.
Rutli — Miss Irene Carpenter.
Naomi — Mrs. John R. VanDevort.
Orpah— Miss Gertrude Sly.
Boaz — Mr. A. H. Snyder.
CHORU.S.
Sopranos.
Miss Alein Demerest,
Miss Caroline Bradner,
Miss Harriet L. Morehouse,
Miss Myra Smith.
Tenors.
Rev. Taber Kno.\,
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Paul Win.slow,
Arthur Rifenbary,
F. Freeman Boas,
Fred W. Still.
Miss Margaret Minturn,
Mrs. M. Charles Houston,
Mi.ss Luella Col well.
Basses.
Mr. Henry Pelton,
Mr. Frank C. Wilson.
Mr. F. V. Sanford,
Mr. Cornelius Lazear.
Mr. Fred Ermaun.
Mr. Frank Clark.
Mr. Eugene Sly.
^^^^$-
INDEX.
Page
Buildings, Dates of 3
Bible School, History of 67-70
Brotherhood of Andrew and Phillip 94-95
Builders, The 96-97
Certificate of Incorporation — Opposite 3
Centennial Services, Program of , 126-129
Choir, History of The 71-75
Consistory of the Centennial Year, The 62
Corporate Seal 4
Deacons, Roll of 63
Elders. Roll of 63
Foreword 1-2
Heart and Hand Society S2-85
Junior Christian Endeavor Society, History of 90-93
Organization, Dates of , 3
Other Village Churches 123-125
Pastors, the Roll of 3
Presbyterian Church of Warwick, The 7-20
Publication Committee Opposite i
Reformed Church, History of— Record of the Hundred Years. 23-61
Roll of Members for the Hundred Years 99-113
Stated Appointments 1 1 3-1 14
Warwick, Vale and Village of 11 5-1 22
Woman's Missionary Society 76-81
Young People's vSociety of Christian Endeavor, Historj^ of the. 86-89
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page
Bird's Eye View of Oakland avenue Opposite
Bible School, The Opposite 70
Bertholf, The Rev. James H 41
Carroll, The Rev. Vernon Bond Opposite 44
Chapel and Bible School Room, Interior View of Opposite 51
C har t of Pews 64
Choir of 1904, The Opposite 74
Crispell, The Rev. Peter Opposite 46
Christie House, The Old 31
Christie, Mrs. John 1 32
Church Edifice, The First 24
Church Edifice of 18 12 30
Church of 1848 37
Chi:rch of 1890, Interior View Opposite 2
Corporate Seal 4
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS- (Continued.)
Page
Deacons of 1904, The Opposite 64
Demarest, Cornelius H 45
Dusinberre, The Rev. Thomas S 40
Elders of 1904 Opposite 64
Eltinge, The Rev. Wilhelmus E Opposite 21
Fountain Square and Maple avenue Opposite 122
Frontispiece, Exterior of Church
Front View Present Church Opposite 50
Hoyt, Maurice 44
Knox, Mrs. Taber Opposite 60
Knox, The Rev. Taber Opposite 52
McBurney Memorial Windows Opposite 53
Nesbit , Thomas 51
Old Shingle House 119
Parsonage, The 38
Pelton — John, Samuel, Henry Opposite 28
Sanford, George A 4i
Van Derveer, The Rev. Cyrus G 39
Van Derveer, D. D., The Rev. Ferdinand H Opposite 36
View of Linden place Opposite 119
Welling, Thomas 48
Wheat, Robert A 73
Wisner, Richard 49
Y. M. C. A. Building 125
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