Town of New Baltimore Churches 

As Identified in J.B. Beers' History of Greene County, published in 1884

Retyped by Arlene Goodwin

Reformed (Dutch) Church of New Baltimore
At the commencement or the present century a church stood at what was then Coeymans Square, now Coeymans Junction. The time of its erection cannot now be learned, but it was an old church building in the time of the earliest recollection of the oldest people now living here.

At that time the people of New Baltimore worshipped in this church, but in 1823 it appears that the lot where the present church edifice stands was deeded to the trustees of the Reformed Dutch church which was then in process of erection; the corner stone having been laid July 4^th of that year. It was first a modest brick structure, with an end gallery, and it was 36x40 feet, in size. It was first enlarged by the addition of 12 feet to the rear end, in 1855, and the interior was remodelled during the ministry of Rev. R. G. Strong. It was further enlarged and improved, by an addition to the front, and the erection of a spire.

A lot was purchased in 1861, and a tasteful and convenient parsonage was erected thereon. The estimated value of the church property is $15,000 and the society has no debt.

The following pastors ministered at Coeymans and New Baltimore; Rev. Staats Van Santvoord, 1833-36; J. A. H. Cornell, 1843-48; Philip Peltz, 1848-1851; William P. Davis, 1852-1855; H. B. Gardner, 1856-60; R. G. Strong, 1861-70; J. L Zabriskie, 1870-82; A. M. Arcularius, installed May 15^th 1883.

The membership of the church is 182. The Sunday-school, of which Dr. S. T. Searle is superintendent, numbers 105. 

Grapeville Baptist Church
This church was built in 1815, mainly through the efforts of Rev. Ebenezer Wicks. It was built by the members of the Greenville Baptist church who lived in this vicinity, and remained under the jurisdiction of that church for 10 years after its erection, the Rev. E. Wicks acting as its pastor.

On the 17^th of November 1825, 19 members of the Greenville church made application to be set off as a separate church. Consent was given, and soon afterward they were admitted into the Baptist association under the name of the First Baptist Church of New Baltimore. The name was changed to Greenville church February 27^th 1875. The original members were: Mathew and Phoebe Palmer, William and Sarah Stuart, Stephen and Elizabeth Chichester, Robert and Sarah Baker, E. and Rachel Palmer, Loduwick Hanney, Susan Rundle, Israel Palmer, David Holly, Betsey Tryon, Oliver Blenis, Ransom Losee, C. Vermilyea, and I. R. Powell. The first deacons were Mathew Palmer, William Stuart, and Henry Blenis.

Among the pastors who have ministered to their spiritual wants at different periods, have been: Rev. Levi S. Hill, John L. Thompson, Milo B. Tremain, Timothy Palmer, Peter Brink, A. Burrell, Nelson Palmer, J. C. Weeden, H. C. Longear, J. C. Happy, H. Haines, J. S. Bennett, B. Lounsberg, D. A. Peck, G. W. Slater, and the Rev. A. M. Cole, who is the present pastor. Within its walls, Levi L. Hill and Timothy Palmer were ordained to the gospel ministry and Walter Covey and Oliver Blenis were licensed to preach. In the year 1853, 28 were added to the church by baptism, which was the greatest number during any year. The whole number admitted by baptism and letter since its organization is 237; present membership 80. It has a Sabbath-school with an average attendance of 70 pupils; Miss Alice Palmer, superintendent. It is a frame building, has been kept in good repairs and it will seat about 300. Egbert Thorn is the present pastor. 

First Baptist Church of New Baltimore
Baptist services were held in New Baltimore, in 1868, by Rev. Foster Hartwell and Rev. A. B. Parmatier. In February, 1869, a society was organized under the above name. The first place of worship was the school-house, and afterward the village hall was used. In 1870 the present house of worship was erected, and was dedicated in October of that year. It is a wooden structure, 32 by 46 feet in size, and its cost including site, was $4,000. The society has no debt.

The first pastor was Rev. G. W. Slater, followed by Rev. R. W. Stockwin, and he by the present pastor, Rev. W. Brewster. The church has no debt.

A Sunday-school has been maintained since the organization of the church. The present superintendent is the pastor, Rev. W. Brewster. The number of teachers and scholars is 55. 

Orthodox Quaker Church
The Orthodox Quaker church, on Stanton Hill, was erected in 1833. The builder was Jonathan Head of Oak Hill.

Among the prominent members and early supports were Thomas Bedell, Solomon Carman, Jesse Powell, Peter Stove, Hallet Titus, and Samuel F. Powell. Early preachers were Joseph Bowne and Christopher Healy. Later, among its supports are Henry Halstead, Lewis Bedell, Egbert Stove, Joseph Bedell, and John W. Stover. There are no stated periods for services, and they are held there only occasionally. It is under the jurisdiction of the Poughkeepsie conference. It has a Sabbath-school, with an attendance of about 40 pupils. It is a frame building, and in good repair. 

Hicksite Quaker Church
Friends meeting-house (or Hicksite) was erected about 1840. The builders were Benjamin Tryon and William Smith. The principal contributors were Benjamin Gurney, Jacob Gurney, Benjamin and Charles Lisk. It has services once a month, called monthly meetings. The first preachers were Samuel Cary and Joseph Green. The present trustees are William Bedell and John Halstead. It has a Sunday-school numbering 30 pupils.

The present superintendent is Arthur Powell. Previous to the present year, John Stover was superintendent for several years. It is a small sized wooden structure, and located near the center of town. 

Methodist Episcopal Church of New Baltimore
It cannot now be learned when the first class was organized here. The early records are lost, and the memory of the oldest member of the denomination here does not extend to the beginning of Methodism in this region. The earliest class leader, of whom tradition tells, was a Mr. Hilton, but when he assumed his duties is not known. From the origin of Methodism here till 1876, New Baltimore was a charge on the Coeymans circuit, or a portion of the Coeymans charge, but beyond the names of the officiating clergymen, no data concerning the history of the society prior to 1855 are accessible.

In the latter part of that year, and in the spring of 1856, the first church edifice of the society was built, during the pastorate of Rev. J. D. Macomber. The building committee were Alanson Scott, William M. Scribner, and William C. Hinman. The board of trustees consisted of Evert Van Slyck, Alanson Scott, William C. Hinman, William M. Scribner, and James Smith. The building was completed in 1856, and dedicated on the 20^th of March in that year. Its cost was $1,400. In 1865, it was remodelled, frescoed, and otherwise beautified, at a cost of about $400.

In the spring of 1873, a new site was purchased of William Wheat Esq., and work was commenced on the present church edifice. The contractors were James H. Case for the carpenter work, and Hubbard Harris, of Coeymans, for the mason work. The board of trustees consisted of Jacob Burger, Paul Jones, Gilbert Van Zandt, William B. Wheat, and William C. Hinman. The building committee consisted of this board and Rev. R. H. Kelley and Thomas H. L. Lockley. The corner stone was laid August 26^th 1873, and the house was dedicated May 27^th 1874. Its cost was $8,575. Of those who were contributors toward the erection of this church, the names are remembered of Rev. James A. H. Cornell, D. D., of the Reformed church, who gave $500; his brother, Dr. T. F. Cornell, $100; Dr. King, of Brooklyn, $200; Henry Crandell, Henry Slingerland, Henry Springsted, James W. Jolly, J. B. Sheffield, William R. Dibble, Ex-Governor Alonzo B. Cornell, and others who gave various liberal sums.

In 1876 a parsonage, near the church, was purchased from Jacob Burger.

A Sunday-school was organized in 1856, and it has been in successful operation since. George W. Nelson is the superintendent, and the number of teachers and scholars is 113.

The clergymen who served the Coeymans circuit and charge, of which this was a part, till 1876, were: Revs. John Crawford, 1789; James Campbell, 1790; Samuel Wighton, John Crawford, 1791; Robert Green, David Vallean, 1792; Samuel Wighton, John Crawford, 1793; David Bartine, Jonathan Newman, Thomas Woolsey, 1794; Samuel Coats, Daniel Johns, 1795; Robert Green Joseph Covell 1796; Robert Greerson, H. Jefferson, D. Storms, 1797; William McLenahan, Anning Owen, 1798; Robert McCoy, Eben Cowles, 1799; Matthias Swain, William Williams, 1800; Bazilai Willey, Smith Arnold, 1801; William Vredenburgh, Alexander Morton, 1802; William Vredenburgh Robert Dillon, 1803; Gideon A. Knowlton, John Crawford, 1804; Henry Stead, Seth Crowell, 1805; Andrew McKean, Griffin Sweet, 1806; Zenas Covil, John Finnegan, 1807; Darius Ensign, Samuel Howe, 1808; Nathan Bangs, Isaac Smith, 1809; John Crawford, Jacob Beeman, 1810; Ephraim Sawyer, John Crawford, 1881; Jesse Hunt, Andrew McKean, 1812; Henry Stead, John Celine, 1813; John B. Matthias, William M. Stillwell, 1814; Luman Andrews, John B. Matthias, 1815; Isaac Lent, Phineas Rice, 1816; Arnold Schofield, James Young, 1817; Andrew Mc Kean, Bela Smith, 1818; Gershom Pierce, J. Crawford, 1819; Gershom Pierce, John Moriarity, 1820; John Moriarity, Daniel T. Wright, 1821; Friend Draper, Daniel I. Wright, 1822; Bradley Sellick, John C. Greene, 1823; Gilbert Lyon, Bradley Sellick, 1824; Coles Carpenter, Gilbert Lyon, 1825; Coles Carpenter, Jesse Hunt, 1826; Jesse Hunt, John Bangs, 1827; Harvey Brown, John Bangs, Ely Denniston, 1828; Ely Denniston, Harvey Brown, 1829; D. Howe, Cyrus Silliman, 1830, 1831; Rodman Lewis, J. Carley, 1832, 1833; Ely Denniston, J. Nixon, S. S. Strong, P. Cook, 1834; J. Nixon, J. Crawford, 1835; J. D. Sizer, D. Holmes, J. M. Pease, 1836; J. D. Sizer, Elbert Osborn, 1837; William S. Collins, E. Cook, 1838; A. C. Fields, William S. Collins, O. G. Hedstrom, 1840; R. S. Scott, D. B Turner, H. H. Smith, 1841; R. S. Scott, H. H. Smith, Daniel I. Wright, 1842; Daniel I. Wright, Aaron Rogers, R. H. Bloomer, 1843; Jason Wells, Reuben H. Bloomer, 1844; R. H. Bloomer, Jason Wells, 1845; William Lull, William F. Gould, 1846; William Lull, Silas Fitch, 1847; D. J. Wright, Aaron Rogers, 1848; D. J. Wright, . L. Hoyt, 1849; P. L. Hoyt, Ira Ferris, 1850; Ira Ferris, W. F. Gould, 1851; W. F. Gould, William Blake, 1852; William Blake, 1853, J. W. Macomber, 1854, 1855; A. F Selleck, 1856, 1857; O. P. Matthews, 1858, 1859; D. S. Stilwell, 1860, 1861; William Goss, 1962, 1863; Ananias Ackerly, 1864, 1865; Charles Gorse, 1866, 1867; J. M. Burger, 1868-70; R. H. Kelley, 1871-73; H. Ackerly, 1874, 1875.

In 1876 New Baltimore became a separate charge, and H. G. Earl was the pastor in 1876, 1877; E. F. Barlow, 1878; O. A. Merchant, 1879-81; J. M. Cornish, 1882, 1883.

Since 1844, the class leaders at New Baltimore have been: Stephen Ayrauolt, John E. Gibbon, Moses Carey, Alanson Scott, Robert Scott, William H. Scribner, William H. Slater, Lester Dunbar, A. J. McLaughlin, James Reed, H. W. Smith, George Van Steenbugh, Thomas Albright, Paul Jones, Mrs. Sarah A. Jones, and D. Melvin Hinman.  

Methodist Episcopal Church of Medway
The Methodist church at Medway is a moderate size frame building of unpretentious appearance, and was built in 1832.

The principal contributors to its erection and its early supporters were: Thomas Smith, William Cochrane, Joshua T. Smith, Isaac Titus, Mr. Van Der Zee, Francis Oconor, Hiram Garret, Mrs. Lee Wheeler and others. Among the early ministers were the Revs. Mr. Hedstrom, Sizer, Collins, Turner, Eagers, and Selkirk. Latterly, Revs. J. M. Cornish, William H. Ackerly and O. K. Banton, who is the present pastor. Services are held every alternate Sabbath. The first service held in it after the dedication was the funeral of Mrs. John H. Robins. The cemetery, near by, is neatly laid out, but it has been used for burial purposes only a few years. No records have been kept and but little could be learned of its past history. 

Sylvendale Methodist Church
This church was erected in 1854. It was dedicated the same year by Elder Miller, of Broome, Schoharie county. Among the first ministers were Elder Peterson, John Shoe, Elder Mathews, and Slater. The present class leaders are: Abram Wingard, Luther Travis, and I. Thompkins. But little can be learned of this church as no record has been kept and no regular services are held. Here. It is a small size wooden structure with good sheds attached. 

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