Town of Athens Churches
As Identified in J.B. Beers' History of Greene County, published in 1884
Retyped by Arlene Goodwin
The Lutheran Church
This is one of the oldest churches in the county. It was organized in1704. At
that time and for many years after, it formed one of the stations of circuit
embracing Albany and New York, and the places between. The first minister who
officiated among the little congregation at Loonenburg, was Rev. Justus Falkner.
The records in the church book in this place, up to the year 1723, are, so far
as they relate to the congregation at Loonenburg and vicinity, copies of entries
made by Mr. Falkner in the New York church book. Of Mr. Falkner’s history but
little is known. The names of his wife Gerritje, and his children Sarah,
Benedictus, and Anna Catherina, appear in the church records, in notices of
their births and marriages. Mr. Falkner was the author of a little book printed
in Dutch by William Bradford in 1907, the subject being the “Christian
Religion as Based upon the Corner Stone of Jesus Christ and His Apostles.” A
copy of this work is now in the possession of Nicholas Van Hoesen of Athens. He
died in 1723.
Mr. Falkner was succeeded by Rev. Willem Christoph Berkenmeyer, who took charge of the church in 1725. The name of his father and date of his death are made known by a curious incident. A negro slave, for some misdemeanor, was to be sold to get him out of the neighborhood. Moved by pity for him, Mr. Brekenmeyer wished to baptize his child before his departure, and as he states, “I gave him the name of Jurge, after the name of my father of blessed memory, who died in 1706.” And he adds the pious exclamation, “May the God of my father be the God of this Jurge.” He served five years as an itinerant minister, in the circuit, after which he became the settled minister of Albany and Loonenburg. In 1727, the church of the Palatines at West Camp, agreed, that in his going to and from Albany, he should come twice a year among them. “to minister to us in his holy function,” for which they proposed to give him the proceeds of the glebe lands. Mr. Berkenmeyer’s wife was Benigna Sibylla, daughter of Rev. Joshua Kocherthal, minister of the a Palatines, who came to this county and received letters of designation August 25th 1708.* (Mr. Kocherthal had wife Sibylla Charlotte, and children Christian, Joshua, Benigna Sibylla, Susanna Sibylla.) No mention is found of any children, and probably his name perished with him. To the end of his life he was a faithful and zealous laborer among a people by whom his labors and virtues were not fully appreciated. With the exception of this register of baptisms and marriages, the only document written by him which has been discovered is the following, written in Dutch and translated by Rev. Herman Vanderort:
“IMMANUEL.-In order to keep the peace among some of our church people, as far as is possible and christian, therefore the Lutheran minister at Loonenburg, I Willem Christoph Berkenmeyer, do declare to the Reverend Consistory and trustees there, that in no way, I further meddle, nor shall meddle with myself, with the small piece of school ground, about which, through my selling of the school house in 1745, trouble has arisen. Much less shall I prevent or stop it when said Consistory or Trustees shall see fit to present to the buyer of the school house, this small piece of ground. Morover also I do not care to hold in safe keeping any longer the papers, touching the entire school ground, and all the church and school land, only and above all, with this condition, that if it be not demanded of me, to give any further consent or ratification of the Consistory and Trustees concerning this small piece of school ground: unless I find that the Consistory is sure enough, according to my opinion, to be able to erect a school as heretofore. An if any thing else is desired, I do declare above board, before I will ratify whatever is contrary to a good conscience and before God, that I rather give up both preaching and church, and my house at Loonenburg, as well as the school, as soon as I can get from said Consistory, real satisfaction from back salary of 1742, and other lawful claims. This is my firm purpose and resolution, in regard to excluding myself from the Consistory and Trustees, at Loonenburg. Agree about the occupied small piece of ground with the buyer of the school house.
“Done at Loonenburg,
in the county of Albany, March 30th, 1750, as signed by my hand and
seal
Willen Christoph Berkenmeyer
“Minister”
It seems to have been the custom of Mr. Berkenmeyer to place the word Immanuel at the head of all his writings. He died in the fall of 1751, in his 69th year. His library, which was large for those days, was left to his church, and suffering from neglect, the books were soon scattered. Many of them were finally collected, and for some years stored in the loft of the Episcopal church. They are now in better hands, in the library of Wirtemberg College, Springfield, Ohio. His remains were buried in the church in front of the altar, and a tablet place over his tomb, bearing an inscription prepared by himself some years before his decease, and evidently with the dates written by him, unchanged. This tablet is now in the front wall of the present church, and the following is a copy of the inscription:
Immanuel.
Dormitorium
Bekenmeyerianum
Pio mortalitatis sensu praeparatum
Anno.
Aetatis, Bodendict in Ducatu
Lunaeburgensi Coeptal LVIII.
Ministerli inter Americanos
Boreales Ambulatorii
XVIII.
Officii apud Albanienses
Et Loonenburgenses fixi XIII.
Reparatal
Omnibus omino quot quot fuere sunt erunt que
hominibus
Solaque in OE ANOPOLION fide obtinendae.
Salutis, _/_ /_ CCXLIIII.
E_E_E_ATO EN XPI_T_I IIPO
KATABO_H_ KO_OY.
OY_EN APA NYN KATAKPIMA
TOI_ EN ZPI_T_I IH_OY
This being translated would read as follows:
“Immanuel.—The resting place of Berkenmeyer, prepared through a pious sense of his mortality, in the year of his life, begun at Boden in the Dutchy of Lunaberg, the 58th; of this itinerant ministry in North America, the 18th; of his settled pastorate at Albany and Loonenburg, the 13th; and in the year of the salvation prepared for all mankind, however numerous, they have been, are, or shall be, and to obtained through faith alone in the God-Man, 1744.
“Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. There is, therefore, now no condemnation for them in Christ Jesus.”
After the death of Mr. Berkenmeyer, there seems to have been no settled pastor for a long time. There is a list of baptisms by Domine M. C. Knoll, up to 1774, when he was succeeded by Rev. Johan Christian Leps. In 1783, Rev. Frederick A. Walberg was in charge and continued until 1791, when a joint call was made, October 1st, to Rev. Frederick Ernst by the combined churches of Loonenburg and Claverack, they agreeing to be served by the same minister. He continued here till about 1800, when he was succeeded by Rev. Frederick H. Quitman, D. D., who remained only a short time. September 19th 1803 a call was given to Rev. Philip E. Mayer, and the church agreed to pay him annually “$400, 20 loads of good wood, and the use of our old parsonage house and lot, and 8 acres of land.” It was also stipulated that he should exchange, as often as convenient, with Rev. Dr. Quitman, in order that that gentleman might preach to them in the Dutch language. Mr. Mayer continued till 1808, and from that time till 1813 there was no settled pastor.
Rev. Adolphus Rumpff was settled here from the spring of 1833 to the spring of 1837. He was a native of Germany, was born in 1806, came to this country in 1828, and at first was assistant to Rev. Dr. Lutrius in Schoharie. After remaining there two years, he moved to West Camp. He is still living, though now a clergyman in the Episcopal church. A very pungent letter written by him to Major Nicholas I. Van Loon, for non-payment of his salary, now among the church papers, shows that he was a man “who knew his rights, and knowing dared maintain.” Rev. Thomas Lape was called March 31st 1838, at a salary of $450, and continued in charge until 1845.
Rev. Lysander Curtis, son of Levi and Elizabeth Curtis, was born in Cumberland, Maryland, and was educated in Pennsylvania College and Seminary. Having finished his studies, he took charge of the Athens church in 1845. He remained here until 1848, when he was called to Berne, Albany county. He subsequently preached in several other places in this State, was at one time in Altona, Blair county, Pennsylvania, and was called a second time to this church in 1874. Mr. Curtis is now spending the evening of his days in the place where he commenced his ministry, and throughout his life has “sought not his own but other’s good.”
Since 1848 the church has had the following ministers: Mathew Walternire, 1848; Augustus L. Bridgman, 1851; Isaac Kimball, 1853; William H. Emerick, 1855; W.N. Scholl, D. D., 1858; Henry Keller, 1865; William Hull, 1866; Philip A. Stroebel, 1869 (died at Danville, Livingston county, 1882); William H. Emerick, 1872; Lysander Curtis, 1874; William E. Travers, 1875; Philip Graib, 1883; William Emerick, who was twice called to minister to this church, was born at West Camp, Ulster county, February 7th 1806. He studied under Dr. Ostrander, and experiencing a change in his belief, he joined the Lutheran church, and studied under Mr. Rumpff. Previous to coming to Athens he was at Sharon, Schoharie county. During his stay in Athens he organized a small congregation at Jacksonville. Coming here in 1855, he found the church in a distracted condition. He left in 1858, going to Livingston, Columbia county, and thence to West Camp. In 1872 he received a second call to Athens. In 1874, after a prosperous term of service, he left Athens, going to Pine Grove, Ulster county. After 20 years of active service in the ministry he was taken suddenly ill, at the residence of his son Benjamin, at West Camp, and died January 2d 1876, aged 71 years, and was buried in the Lutheran church at West Camp.
The glebe lands of this church are held by a deed given by Jan, Albert, and Matthias Van Loon, three of the sons of the original patentee, to Jacob Hallenbeck Arent Van Schaick, and Gerrit Van Hoesen. As the deed recites:
“For the all trust
and confidence in them and their successors, and the great zeal and good will
they bear to the Ministers, elders, and deacons of the Lutheran church at
Loonenburg, in the county of Albany, to the intent that the ground and premises
hereby to be conveyed, with all buildings built or to be built, may forever
remain to the only, and common, and general use of the Minister, Elders, and
deacons of the Lutheran Congregation, which now are, or hereafter shall be, at
Loonenburg. Have granted and given to the said trustees and their successors.
All that certain piece or parcel of land in Loonenburg. Beginning at the north
on the Hudson River at the south side of a small creek which is behind the
orchard of the said Jan Van Loon, thence running along the said river to a small
hill or rising ground near the house of the said Albert Van Loon, thence
westerly from the said river to an oak tree marked by Jan Loon near the fence of
Albert Van Loon, thence easterly along the same as it runs to the river, where
it first begun. Together with 15 morgens of land on the west side of the road
which is between the said Albert and Jan Van Loon, and leads from thence to the
Flats. 10 morgen thereof to be for the use and behoof of the Lutheran minister
for the time being. Also 20 yards square of land at the north corner of the land
of Albert Van Loon within the fence thereof for a garden for the use aforesaid,
and 5 morgen thereof for the use of a schoolmaster for the time being; with all
the appurtenances, &c., to said trustees and their successors to be chosen
by the minister and members of the Lutheran congregation at Loonenburg,
professing the unalterable Augsburg Confession of Faith, who are in this
congregation and communion of the Rev. William Cristoph Berkenmyer, present
minister. That is to say the church made or to be made, and erected on the said
ground, for the public and solemn worship of God, according to the principles of
the Augsburg Confession; and the remainder of the said grant for the use of the
minister which now is, or at any time hereafter shall be, in said church, except
the five morgen for the use of a schoolmaster. Yielding and paying there for the
yearly rent of one shilling on the 25th day of March, if lawfully
demanded.”
The Van Loons bound themselves in the sum
of 900 Pounds to defend all suits, and in case of such suits being recovered
against them,
“Then they are to refund to each person
4 Pounds with interest to such as are so much in arrears for building said
church. Also to be free if the Patentees of the Flats and the heirs of Staats
and Provoost shall release the same for the use aforesaid.” “June 2, 1727”
“Albert Van Loon.
“Matthias Van Loon.
“Jan Van Loon.”
“In presence of
“Matthias Van Alstyn.
“Abraham Van Alstyn.”
On the 29th of June 1744, Johannes Van Loon conveyed to Rev. Willem
C. Berkenmeyer and the trustees of the church,
“All his undivided right a share in a
small hill or rising ground, near the house of Albert Van Loon, as the same is
now fenced around the minister’s house, and the place appointed for a church,
and also in and to a small swamp, stretching from the garden spot that was given
formerly by three brothers Van Loon, to the church, at the north corner of the
land of Albert Van Loon, to the west side of the path that leads from Albert Van
Loon’s to the house of his brother deceased Jan Van Loon, and beginning from
the said garden spot to the path that leads from the Albert Van Loon uses to go
to the flats, thence along the path up the hill, and church land now fenced.”
Attached to this document is a curious
seal. As a sort of a crest appears a man with a high-crowned, pointed hat, with
a scythe over his shoulder; below is a kind of shield, having on one side a
vessel like a chalice, and on the other something like a graduated semicircle.
January 29th
1785, a new deed, confirmatory of the foregoing, was given by John Van Loon,
Albertus Van Loon, Jon M. Van Loon, Jurry Van Loon and Helena his wife, Johannes
Brandow, William Groom, Caspar Van Hoesen, Stephen Haight, John Caspar Van
Hoesen, Conradt Flaack, John G. Voght, and Benaiah Strong.
“To Jacob H. Van Hoesen, in trust for
the minister and members of the Lutheran Congregation of the Church of
Loonenburg, professing the Augsburg Confession of faith, A certain piece of
ground within the Patent of Loonenburg, beginning at Hudson river at a fence
standing on rising ground to the south of a house called the minister’s house,
and running thence westerly along the fence to the road leading from the church
at Loonenburg to the dwelling house of John N. Van Loon, thence along the east
side of the road till opposite the north east corner of the fence of Albertus
Van Loon, standing south of said line, thence to the said corner, then along the
fence as it runs west northwest, north and west, to the east bounds of Lot No.
12, belonging to John G. Voght, then northerly along such east bounds to the
road leading from the Flats to the Church of Loonenburg, then to the north side
of that road, then up the north side of said road to where that road, and the
road leading from the dwelling house sometime ago, of Peter Van Loon join, then
along the south side of the last mentioned road to Hudson river, and then down
the river to the place of beginning, Excepting the house, barn, orchard, and
land heretofore sold by Robert Patterson to Johannes Provoost deceased.”
And on May 18th 1785, Jacob F. Van Hoesen conveyed to the trustees of
the Lutheran church, the premises thus conveyed to him in trust. These lands
were divided into lots and leased in perpetuity to individuals for a small
annual rent, the church having an income from that source of about $200.
In 1703 the church officers were as follows:--Jan Hendrickse Bruyn and Andreas Van Buskir, elders; Peter Van Woptom, kert meester [sexton]; Lawarence Van Buskire, voor stander; Hans Lagrancie and John Vick, deacons; Samuel Beekman, chorister.
The first church building was erected in 1724. This statement rests upon an entry made by Rev. Adolphus Rumpff, May 29th 1733, at which time it was moved back from the road about 12 feet. There is a picture of it, probably the only one in existence, on the church seal.
It was a square building with four roofs meeting nearly at a point, and supporting a steeple with a spire with ball and vane. It was torn down in 1853, when the present edifice was built. Its internal arrangements were slats running around the walls, with a vacant space in the middle. On the west side was the altar, and before it the tablet that covered the tomb of Berkenmeyer.
There is still in
existence a small pocket communion service used by this holy man. It consists of
a brass chalice for the communion wine, a box of the same material for
containing the wafer, and a plate for use in dispensing it, which also serves as
a cover for the chalice. It bears the inscription, “Loon, Kerk 1746.”
Trinity Episcopal Church
Many of the settlers who founded the
villages of Esperanza and Athens, were members of the Episcopal church, and
steps were taken at a very early date to organize a society. The first
formal notice to be found of this is dated April 19th 1806, at which
time a meeting was held in the school-house at Loonenburg for the purpose of
choosing two wardens and eight vestrymen. Divine service had been held for two
Sundays preceding. At this meeting, Deluana Backus and Edward Hinman were chosen
wardens, Simeon Franklin, Henry Ritter, John L. Lacy, Abraham Van Buskirk, John
Thomas Netterville, Henry White, Aaron Reed, and Henry Wells were chosen
vestrymen, and it was agreed that Wednesday in Easter week annually, should be
the time for choosing their successors. The following letter which is entered on
the church records will explain itself:
“I take the liberty to introduce to your usual politeness Mr. Joseph Prentice, the young gentleman whose name I mentioned to you, as a candidate in our church, who wishes to confer with you upon the subject of the charge of your Church.
“Yours Respectfully,
“Hudson, Aug. 12th, 1806.” “R. Judd.”
At a meeting held August 20th,
Mr. Prentice was called to officiate for “one year from the first Sunday in
Oct. next,” and he was duly notified and accepted the call, and was a delegate
to the convention in New York, held September 25th.
John George Voogd, an old resident in the upper village, provided in his will, that a considerable portion of his estate should go to assist in the formation of the new church, and in 1807, the available funds for support of a minister and for building purposes were $6,655,39. Lots of land had been donated, and as the Lutheran church had no settled minister at that time, an effort was made to unite with them. An excellent understanding seems to have existed between the two churches. The trustees of the Lutheran church were authorized, by act of 1813, to apply the whole or part of the proceeds of their glebe land to the use of the Episcopal church. On August 20th 1807, a proposition was made to pay Mr. Prentice $400 per annum and he was to preach at Coxsackie part of the time.
Mr. Prentice was ordained deacon October 7th 1806, and admitted to the priesthood in 1808. A portion of the real estate left to the church by Mr. Voogd was sold in 1809. A committee was appointed to fix upon a site for a church, and agreed October 26th 1810, upon “two lots in Ambrose Spencer’s inclosure, 50 feet south of Goodrich street, and fronting on Montgomery street.” The church building was begun in April 1813, and to raise funds, a portion of the pews were sold in advance, and $1,921 realized therefrom. The highest price paid was $275 by General Samuel Haight. The church was sufficiently advanced to sell the rest of the pews September 2d 1814. By an arrangement made with the Lutheran church, they were to pay $150 and the Episcopal church $450 toward salary to Mr. Prentice, and application was made to Bishop Hobart to order his institution as rector. Rev. Dr. Quitman, whose services in the Dutch language were so highly appreciated by the descendants of the old settlers, was invited to preach in the new church when he came to Loonenburg. In September 1815, a bell was procured, and in 1817 a committee was appointed to procure an organ. A Sunday-school was organized in 1829. Mr. Prentice resigned his charge September 25th 1831, and a call was extended to Rev. John Grigg of the diocese of Maryland, who accepted, and was instituted June 13th 1832. He preached every other Sunday at Coxsackie. He resigned September 27th 1833, but remained a year longer. For a while the pulpit was vacant, the church having only occasional services.
Rev. Lewis Thibou accepted a call, July 17th 1835 and remained until 1838. The sudden death of Rev. Joseph Prentice who was killed by the overturning of a stage near Coxsackie, was greatly lamented, and a committee was appointed to draft a letter of condolence to his family. Rev. Thomas Malloby was the next pastor, and remained until 1845. He was succeeded in 1846 by Rev. Stephen Douglass, and from 1847 to 1852 the church was supplied by Rev. Norman C. Stoughton. Rev. Jonathan Coe was called July 26th 1852. In 1853 Nathan Clark was appointed a committee “to have the remains of John G. Voogd looked after, and see that they be suitably interred in some suitable place under the body of the church.” This was in accordance with a provision in Mr. Voogd’s will, that the trustees of the church to be built should have his remains interred under the church. And a suitable tablet placed to his memory. This was done and in the vestry room of the church is a tablet with the following inscription. “To perpetuate the memory of John G. Voogd, a native of Wirtemberg in Germany, who died March 4th 1802. From whose liberality important aid was derived, in the organization of Trinity Church, in the village of Athens, and in the erecting of this building. The vestry under a sense of gratitude have placed this monument in the year of our Lord 1814.”
We find it recorded, that the thanks of the vestry were given to Mrs. Jane Woolsey for the gift of a fine carpet, and to Edward Clark for the elegant baptismal font now in use. Memorial tablets, bearing the following inscriptions, were also placed in the church to the memory of two men who had been aiders and helpers of the church at a time when friends and assistance were most needed:
“Major Gen. Samuel Haight, born May 26 1766, died Nov. 9 1817, aged 51 years 5 months 14 days. As a private citizen, industrious, charitable and humane. He respected integrity and cultivated the social virtues. In relation to the commonwealth he was an advocate and patron of the principles and institutions of civil and religious liberty. Patriotic in his feelings he connected his own with prosperity and happiness of his country.”
“In Memory of Abraham Van Buskirk, who died Feb. 15, A. D. 1826, aged 61.”
A very beautiful memorial window has also been placed here to the memory of deceased pastors, with the following inscriptions:
“In Memoriam. Rev. Joseph Prentice, First Rector, and for 25 years serving in this Parish. Born April 2d 1779. Ordained by Rt. Rev. Bishop Moore 1806. Entered into Life January 7, 1836.
“In Memoriam. Jonathan Coe, born June 1st 1815. Fell Asleep April 15th 1866. In the 14th year of His Rectorship.”
“In Memoriam. Rev. John Grigg, Born December 9th 1796. Fell Asleep May 27th 1868. Rector from 1833 to 1835.
The following are the names of the first communicants of this church: Deluana Backus, Edward Hinman and wife, Henry Ritter and wife, Eliza Backus, Laura Hamilton, John T. Nellerville, Sally Prentice, Mrs. Wells, Mrs. Van Buskirk, Ira Canfield, and Mrs. Tinker.
Rev. J. E. Johnston, who was rector from 1869 to 1875, was succeeded by the present minister, Rev. James Wilkens Stewart, who was graduated from the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the city of New York, July 1st 1842. He was ordained deacon the same year, and on the 17th of July took charge of St. Paul’s Church, Oak Hill, and remained there five years. During the whole of his life he has been active and devoted laborer in the service of the church and the Redeemer. He became rector of this church October 1st 1875.
The present officers of the church are, Samuel Hamilton Nichols and Nathan Clark, wardens; W. H. Van Loon, George S. Nichols, Richard G. Low, Elbridge G. Nichols, H. C. Nichols, Frank Beardsley, and Henry C. Van Loon, vestrymen.
This church had always
been one of commanding influence in the village.
Dutch Reformed Church
This church was organized May 22d
1826, the following being the list of original members: David Shaw and wife Mary
Debzel, Leonard Whitbeck and wife Rebecca Van Loon, Jane Whitbeck, William A.
Brandow and wife, Isaac Collier and wife, Garret W. Sager and wife, Joseph
Groom, Magdalena Salisbury wife of John Hamilton, Elizabeth Netterville, wife of
John Reed, Elizabeth wife of Caspar Van Loon.
The church lot was given by Isaac N. Northrup, and the building was erected and dedicated September 9th 1826. The first pastor was Rev. David Abeel, who came here June 11th 1826. He was a son of David Abeel, and was born June 12th 1804. When he commenced his labors here the church was not completed, and services were held in the school-house. He remained here two years and six months. He was the first missionary to China, and after laboring there some years, he returned to his native land. He died September 4th 1846, and his remains rest in Greenwood Cemetery, where there is a monument to his memory. A memoir of Mr. Abeel was published in 1848 by Carters, New York.
The next pastor was Rev. C. Von Cleef, who was installed May 6th 1828. His pastorate which was very prosperous, terminated November 4th 1833. Rev. Joseph Wilson, became pastor July 1st 1834, and during his term, a lot was procured, and a parsonage erected. He resigned May 9th 1836. Mr. Wilson was succeeded by Rev. Jefferson Wynkoop, October 19th 1836, who remained until April 29th 1840. Rev. Edwin Holmes was pastor from September 15th 1840 to July 21st 1841. Rev. Joseph Watson had charge of the congregation until April 17th 1844. Rev. William A. Cornell succeeded in 1844. During his pastorate a bell was procured, through the efforts of William H. Morton. Mr. Cornell’s pastorate ended January 18th 1849. The next pastor was Rev. J. R. Talmadge, who was here from November 21st 1849, to July 29th 1850. Rev. Mr. Betts was a stated supply for two years, when July 16th 1855, Rev. W. D. Buckalew assumed the charge. The next pastor was Rev. C. Spaulding, who remained until March 29th 1868. He was succeeded by Rev. Alan D. Campbell, who was installed August 30th 1868. During his term the church was repaired and remodeled, and a chapel and new parsonage erected, on a new lot which was bought from Mr. Lewis Wolfe. Mr. Campbell resigned November 6th 1882. The present pastor, Rev. Herman Vanderwort, is a native of Holland, and came to this county with his parents, Jacob, and Catherine Vanderwort, in 1853. He was graduated from the Albany Normal School, and from Mount Hope College, Michigan, as also from the seminary at New Brunswick, 1876. He was settled first at Scotia, Schoharie county, where he remained seven years, to January 1883, when he took charge of the church here.
The Baptist Church
On the 2d of October 1832, a meeting
was held at King’s school-house to take into consideration the propriety of
erecting a Baptist church. A church society was duly organized at a meeting held
in the same place, November 12th 1832, at which the 18 articles of
faith were read, and G. S. Turner and Ethan S. Fox were chosen deacons. A
committee consisting of G. S. Turner, Henry Delanoy, Castle Seeley, William P.
Alcott, and Ethan S. Fox, was appointed to fix upon a site. On Sunday the 13th,
divine services were held in the Episcopal church, and a vote of thanks was
given for the use of that church. At a meeting held November 27th,
John, Rachel, Margaret and Amelia Delanoy were received into the church. A
communion service was presented by the “Athens Female Baptist Mite Society.”
The first immersion was that of the Delanoy family December 9th 1832,
“at the river side.” The first trustees, elected December 11th,
were John Sanderson, Ethan S. Fox and Henry Delanoy. The church lot is at the
west end of Lot No. 7 of the Conradt Flaack estate, and on the west side of
Warren street. This was sold December 14th 1832, by George Woolsey to
the trustees of the church., the deed being for “parts of lots 7 and 8 in the
second tier of lots of the Flaack estate.” In that year the church had 34
members, and a Sunday-school with 70 and 13 teachers. The church edifice,
estimated to cost $2,500, was then in progress of erection. The frequent change
of ministers in this church forbids more than a simple list:
William Richards, 1834; Samuel B. Willis, 1836; I. W. Gilles, 1837; S. S. Wheeler, 1840; Stephen Jones, 1842; Henry L. Grose, 1844; Henry O. Hagar, 1850; George Syle, 1852; Benjamin Wheeler, 1855; Ashur Day, 1859; A. H. Falwell, 1864; N. Palmer, 1870; George Abrams, 1875; F. H. Rea, 1875; H. W. Wilber, 1882.
This church has
recently built a parsonage, and the congregation, though small, is one of
considerable influence.
Roman Catholic Church
This denomination has a small, but neat
and convenient house of worship. Before it was built services were held in the
house of Matthew Breasar, on the northeast corner of Warren and Third street.
Father Kilbride, of Albany, was the first priest who officiated here. A lot was
bought April 19th 1871, of David Whiting, by Alexander O. Hamlin,
James Brennan, John Gill, and James Dunn, the deed covering “All the irregular
shaped block of Lots No. 12, 14, 16, 18, in Esperanza, on the south side of
Goodrich St., and between Shingle and Timber streets.” The present membership
is about 40, and the present pastor of the church is one whose influence for
good is generally acknowledged.