A history of the Presbytery of Hudson, 1681-1888

Front matter

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Chapter I

ACTION OF SYNOD CREATING THE PRESBYTERY. — ORIGINAL ROLL OF MINISTERS AND CHURCHES. — GENERAL ANALYSIS OF THE WHOLE SUBJECT FROM 1 68 1 TO 1888.

' ' The Synod of New York and New Jersey, in session at Newark, N. Y., Oct. 22, 1795,

Resolved : That all the ministers belonging to the Presbytery of New York within the following bounds, namely, the middle of the Southern mountains in Orange County, and the Southern bounds of the Presbytery of Albany, on the west side of the river Hudson, and all the ministers of Dutchess Presbytery, together with all the churches within their bounds, be erected into a Presbytery by the name of the Presbyter}'- of Hudson ;

Whereupon : The Synod did dissolve the Presbytery of Dutchess, and erected the ministers" and churches within the above bounds into a separate Presbytery under the name of the Presbytery of Hudson. And

Ordered : That said Presbytery meet the first time in Franklin, on the third Tuesday of November next, at two o'clock in the afternoon, and that Mr. Mead open the Presbytery and preside 'till a moderator be chosen, and in case of his absence, the senior minister present.

Signed by order of Synod,

Wieeiam Boyd, Moderator."

' ' Agreeably to this order of Synod, the Presbytery of Hudson met in Franklin, Dutchess County, (formerly Frederick' s-Burgh, now Patterson, Putnam County,) and, in the absence of Rev. Solomon Mead, was opened by the Rev. Nathan Ker with a sermon from Psalms 46:5. God is 171 the midst of her ; she shall not be moved : God shall help her, and that right early. ' '

The Presbytery thus constituted, consisted of the following ministers and churches : Methuselah. Baldwin, Pastor, Pleasant Valley. Jonathan Freeman, John Joline, Nathan Ker, Andrew King,

Solomon Mead, Jehu Minor, John Close, W. C.

Hopewell and Deer Park.

Florida and Warwick.

Goshen.

Wallkill.

Salem.

Union. (South-east.)

Bedford, vacant.

Bethlehem,

Franklin,

Newburgh,

New Windsor,

Rumbout, (Fishkill,)

Pittsburgh,

Of these ministers seven were pastors; and of the churches seven were vacant. Rev. Messrs. Joline, King, Mead and Minor were absent, and two churches were represented by Elders Reuben Hopkins and Matthias Millspaugh.

Inasmuch as each of these churches had a history extending back, in one instance seventy -five years, and in another, one hundred and fourteen years, — it is evident that a History of the Presbytery without a glance at the antecedents of these churches would be defective and unsatisfactory. Including therefore this very essential part, the History falls naturally into five distinct and well defined periods, as follows :

I. The Period previous to Organization, from 1681 to 1795.

II. The Period immediately after Organization, " 1795 " 1820,

III. The Period of Division, - - - " 1820 " 1840.

IV. The Period of Dual Existence, - - " 1840 " 1870. V. The Period of Re-union, - " 1870 " 1888.

[. PERIOD ANTECEDENT TO ORGANIZATION.

Chapter II

SKETCHES OF THE CHURCHES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER FROM l68l TO 1795.

i. BEDFORD. — Two years before the present boundary between the Colonies of New York and Connecticut was agreed upon, twenty-four men obtained a grant of land three miles square from the Town of Stamford, Conn. , and laid out the Village of Bedford.

They had previously paid ' ' the heathen Indian claimants" ^38, 15s, for the land. They followed the direction of the General Court of the Connecticut Colony, which required the setting apart of " a suitable lot for the first minister of the place, and a lot for the ministry forever." They located the meeting house, 10 March 1681, and proceeded to erect a structure twenty-two by forty feet, completing it in about nine years.

On 2 Dec. 1681, they called Rev. John Prudden of Jamaica, L,. I., to be their pastor, but without success. After three years they settled their first minister, Rev. Thomas Denham, who remained five years, receiving a stipend of ^20, ' ' provision pay, ' ' ' ' with a house and a home lot. ' ' (8)

HUDSON PRESBYTERY.

The pastors of the Bedford Church were as follows :

Rev. Thomas Denham, pastor, 1684 to 1689.

Public worship conducted by the civil

authorities, -

Rev. Joseph Morgan, pastor,

' ' John Jones, " -

-Vacant for fifteen years, Rev. William Tennent, Sr., pastor,

Henry Baldwin,

Robert Sturgeon,

Samuel Sackett,

Eliphalet Ball,

Samuel Mills,

John Davenport,

Isaac Foster, Vacant, -

Although no Presbytery had yet been organized on the American Continent, this church was distinctly designated as " Presbyterian " from the beginning : and they are frequently referred to in Colonial Documents and the published official correspondence of the day, as ' ' rigid and avowed Presbyterians. ' '

" The care of public worship " during a vacancy in the pastoral office was regarded as much a duty of the civil authorities as was the gathering of taxes. The long vacancy of fifteen years, from 1705 to 1720, was due to the oppressive policy of the Colonial Government of New York, which, after 29 March 1700, had undisputed jurisdiction over

1689 '

' 1699.

1699 '

' 1700.

1702 '

' 1705-

1705 <

' 1720.

1720 '

' 1726.

1727 '

' 1728.

1731 '

' 1743-

!743

' 1753-

' 1768.

' 1786.

' 1 793-

*793

' 1795-

IO HISTORY OF

the Towns of Rye and Bedford. The entire community was taxed for the support of the Episcopal Missionary at Rye, twenty miles distant. The constable was required to collect the assessment twice a year, with occasional extra collections, " to complete the church and repair the rector's house.''

The people of Bedford found it impossible to bear the expense of supporting also a ministry of their own. *

2. GOSHEN.— It is a long interval from 1681 to 1720, the date of organization of the church of Goshen. But the march of events during that forty years was like the tread of the host of Israel in the desert, — an irresistible sweep of God's purpose to drive out the heathen and plant the vine of his church, prepare room for it, cause it to take deep root, till it should fill the land, covering the hills with its shadow and sending out its boughs unto the sea.f

Persecution for conscience sake, in the Old world, became the chief cause of a constantly increasing emigration to the New. Those settling in the " Highlands," as this region was then Called, were Scotch and Irish and Dutch, with some Huguenot refugees after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, A. D. 1685. They were firm in their religious convictions and strong in their impulses toward civil liberty and ' ' freedom to worship God. ' '

* Baird's History of the Bedford Church. Dodd, Mead & Co. 1882. f Psalm lxxx.

HUDSON PRESBYTERY. II

The Puritans in New England, the Roman Catholics in Maryland, the Quakers in Pennsylvania and the Episcopalians in Georgia, Carolina and New York, had each found a denominational home and secured the favor of the civil power. But " Presbyterians were never fostered by the state;"* and least of all in the province of New York. Religious liberty was secured by the original proprietors of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and there, congregations were first organized into churches, and churches and ministers into a Presbytery in 1705 (or 6). But in the province of New York, whose entire population in 1700 was less than 20,000, the repressive influences of poverty, widely separated settlements with limited means of intercourse, and especially the oppressive policy of the Colonial Government, hindered and delayed the crystallization of Presbyterian elements into organized form. "Not one-tenth of the population of the entire province of New York adhered to the Episcopal Church ;"f nine-tenths were Dissenters, and were almost wholly made up of the Dutch and German Reformed, and Scotch and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians.

While their sinewy arms subdued the wilderness, and their vigilance guarded their settlements, "the dread of lapsing into barbarism ' ' re-enforced their religious impulses. Few log-cabins were without a family altar ; the Bible and the Catechism were

* H. B. Smith, D.D., History of the Church in America. t Bancroft's History U. S. Vol 3, p. 58.

taught in their log school houses, and they hopefully looked forward to the time when they could ' ' praise God in his Sanctuary, ' ' even though that too should, in some instances, be constructed of logs.

Under ' ' the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, ' ' in the midst of these years, and under these apparently untoward circumstances, churches of the Presbyterian order sprang up in this region and continue to this day. It is asserted that as early as 17 15, a congregation of no mean proportions assembled for worship at Goshen, and if no preacher was to be had, those staunch Scotch-Irish immigrants were at no loss to know how to " carry on the Lord's day." There is no uncertainty however about the organization of the Goshen Church in the year 1720. It was presented by the proprietors of the town with land amounting to one hundred and forty acres. * Its first house of worship was begun in 1724, and with repairs and improvements from time to time, continued to accommodate the congregation for eighty-nine years. After occasional preaching by a Rev. Mr. Treat, their first pastor Rev. John Bradner was called, and in 172 1 was duly installed.

The pastors of the Goshen Church were as follows : Rev. John Bradner, pastor, 1721, died 1732.

" John Tudor, stated supply, 1732 to 1737.

Isaac VanDoren. M. S. History, 1807.

Rev. Silas Leonard, pastor, J 737i died 1758.

" Abner Brush, " 1 75& to 1766.

" Nathan Ker, " 1766, died 1804.

At the beginning of Mr. Ker's ministry in 1766 this congregation consisted of one hundred and fifty families and sixty communicants.*

3. WALLKILL. 4. BETHLEHEM.— The simultaneous appearance of two other churches within this decade, justifies the statement that the ever-living Head kept these scattered members of his body alive "by his Spirit dwelling in them" during this famine of the Ministry of the word.

The names of Wallkill and Bethlehem are coupled from their earliest history. Those people of ' ' Wallakill ' ' whose petition to the Synod of Philadelphia 20 Sept. 1729, "for supplies of preaching among them," resulting in their recommendation to the Presbytery of Philadelphia, cannot be thought of as irreligious. They were simply destitute of the outward and ordinary means of grace. About forty families from the North of Ireland, | all of whom had come into the neighborhood within eight years, sent a messenger to distant Philadelphia, with this Macedonian cry for a preacher ! Doubtless some rude house of worship, which yielded to a better one in 1735, was the first work of their hands. During that six years they were supplied by such ministers as could be obtained.

* VanDoren.

J Rev. J. M. Dickson's History of the Goodwill Church, p. 20. Ruttenbor. 1880.

The same statements serve to describe the process by which the Presbyterian element a few miles east was at the same time crystallizing into the Church of Bethlehem. And while there is a nebulous indistinctness about the day and month and even the year of organization, these churches appear in conjunction in a call upon the Rev. Isaac Chalker

Owing to "groundless" jealousies conceived against Mr. Chalker after the call was made out, " it is certain he never became pastor " at " Wallakill, "f The inference is just as legitimate from the record of the proceedings of the Synod of Philadelphia, 23 Sept. 1735,1 that he did become pastor at Bethlehem.

The pastors of the Wallkill Church were as follows : Rev. Isaac Chalker, pastor elect, 1735 to 1740

" Joseph Houston, " 1740, died 29 Oct. 1740 Vacant, with various supplies, I 74° to 1751

Rev. John Moffat, pastor, 1751 to 1767

" John Blair, " 1769, died 8 Dec. 1771

Rev. Andrew King, pastor, 1776, died 16 Dec. 1815

During the pastorate of Rev. John Moffat, a new Meeting House was completed, a glebe of one hundred acres, adjoining, was purchased, and a small parsonage built.

f Ibid. p. 19.

Notwithstanding this improvement in material things, the latter part of Mr. Moffat's ministry was much disturbed and possibly terminated, by the secession of a portion of the congregation to form the Associate church of Neelytown, under the Rev. Robert Annan ; and the exact date of his resignation is not known.

The Rev. John Blair, ordained 20 Dec. 1742, a pastor for sixteen years in Pennsylvania, then Vice President of the College of New Jersey and Professor of Theology in Nassau Hall, finished his brilliant career in the pastoral office at Wallkill. He died 8 Dec. 177 1, and was buried in the rear of the church beside the first pastor, Rev. Joseph Houston. His judicious management and amiable character did much toward healing the breach and allaying the spirit of discord and division which had prevailed.

After a vacancy of five years, and amid the civil tumult of the period, Mr. Andrew King became pastor. He was called 9 Oct. 1776, and on 11 June 1777, the Presbytery of New York met at Wallkill and proceeded to ordain and install him in the pastoral office. This relation continued unbroken for a period of forty years, and closed with his death 16 Nov. 1S15.

The pastors of the Bethlehem Church were as follows :

Rev. Isa.ac Chalker, pastor, - 1735 to 1743.

Vacant, seven years, - - - 1743 " 1750. Rev. Enos Ayres, pastor, - 1750, died 1762.

Vacant, five years, - - - 1762 to 1767

Rev. Francis Peppard, pastor, - ■ 1767 " 1771 Vacant, two years, - - - I77i u i773

Rev. John Close, stated supply, T 773 " J 7&5

Vacant, thirteen years, ... - - 1785 " 1798

The fact that the Bethlehem church had a meeting house in 1730* is strong evidence of the truth of the statement that it was contemporaneous with Wallkill in origin.

Like that people, they were obliged to be content with '" such supplies as could be obtained" until their joint call upon Mr. Chalker. The loss of the Records of the ' ' Presbytery of East Jersey ' ' make it impossible to state that Mr. Chalker was installed. As however that Presbytery ordained him in 1734, and he continued his labors at Bethlehem for eight years, the presumption is that he was regularly installed. He removed to Connecticut in 1743, settled at Eastbury, and died 28 May 1765.

His successor, Enos Ayres — first on the roll of the first class that graduated at the College of New Jersey, in 1748, — was ordained soon after graduation and supplied the pulpit of the Wallkill Church during the winter of 1749-50. The date of his installation is uncertain. His death occurred in 1762.

The same obscurity veils the beginning of the ministry of Rev. Francis Peppard. He was a faithful and successful pastor, closing his labors in this field in 1771.

* Gillett. Vol. 1, p. 153.

HUDSON PRESBYTERY. I J

After an interval of two years, Rev. John Close began to supply Bethlehem one half his time, but was never installed. There were twelve additions to the membership during the twelve years that he supplied them. He also acted as Chaplain to the Continental troops stationed near Newburgh. He relinquished the charge of the Bethlehem Church in 1785, and the pulpit remained vacant until 1798. Such ministrations as they received, however, were greatly blessed, and more than twenty souls were added during this vacancy of thirteen years.

5. NEW WINDSOR.— In May 1766, Rev. Timothy Jones, D.D., of the Presbytery of New York, organized the church of New Windsor. In 1767, Rev. Francis Peppard began to minister to them in connection with Bethlehem. In 1773, Rev. John Close began to supply them one half his time, and continued to do so until Nov. 1796.

6. NEWBURGH. — A congregation was incorporated at Newburgh in 1784. In 1785 Rev. John Close, leaving Bethlehem, devoted half his time to this new enterprise in connection with New Windsor. His labors ceased in 1796, and on 19 April 1797, he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Albany. He died in 1813.

7. FRANKLIN.— This church, in which the Presbytery of Hudson met for the first time, 17 Nov. 1795, should, for this reason, if no other, be rescued from oblivion. After the opening sermon and prayer, Rev. Nathan Ker was chosen Moderator and Rev. Methuselah Baldwin, Clerk. The minute of Synod was read, by whose authority the Presbytery was formed, and then the first and only business for that day was to entertain ' ' the following question from the trustees of the Presbyterian church and congregation of the Village of Fredericks-Burgh in Frederickstown in Dutchess County namely : ' is it the opinion of the Presbytery that the church which was in this place during the ministry of the Rev. David Close, deceased, does still exist ? ' The Presbytery adjourned, and the next day, after some preliminary business, the answer was returned that ' the said church does still exist' "

Now this church and congregation of Fredericks- Burgh seems to have been the very one in whose meeting house the Presbytery was convened ; and which was properly called Franklin. This appears from the following official record :

LAWS OF NEW YORK ; XVIII SESSION ; CHAPTER 21. An act to divide Frederickstown and South East Town in Dutchess County into four towns.

One of these four towns was named Franklin in honor of Dr. Franklin ; and it included the Village of Fredericksburgh where this church was located. This act of the legislature is dated 17 March 1795, the same year in which the Presbytery was formed, eight months later.

On the 6 April 1808, the name of this town was, by the same authority, again changed to PAT-

TERSON, so that the present church of Patterson appears to be identical with the church of Franklin, "the second church in Philipse Patent."

' ' The first Presbyterian meeting house in the Town of Patterson, was constructed of logs somewhere about 1730."* This makes that church almost cotemporaneous in its origin with Wallkill and Bethlehem. Among its earliest ministers are Rev. Messrs. Joseph Peck and David Close, the latter of whom was ordained by the "Dutchess County Presbytery " in 1773, and died in 1783. Rev. Samuel Mills, pastor of Bedford, which lay in ashes, f supplied them from 1783 to 1789, although his pastoral relation to Bedford Church was not dissolved until 1786.

8. UNION. — "A church was built and an organized congregation gathered in the plain log building — before the coming of the first pastor, Rev. Elisha Kent;" who was installed in 1743 and died in that office, 17 July 1776.

On 11 October 1769, Rev. Ichabod Lewis became colleague, and after the death of Mr. Kent, was duly installed in the pastoral office, continuing sole pastor until 1790.

In February 1792, Rev Jehu Minor, who had for a short time assisted Mr. Lewis, became sole pastor on his voluntary retirement, and was installed in February 1792, by the "Dutchess Presbytery." Mr. Minor continued there until his death,

* Smith's History of Dutchess Co. Appendix A. f Baird's History of Bedford Church.

5 July 1808, having been forty years in the ministry and eighteen years pastor of the "Union" church, " the first church of Philipse Patent," (the present church of South East.)!

In April 1797, the Presbytery of Hudson "adjourned to meet at Mr. Minor's, in South East Town, on the first Tuesday in September, ' ' and on "5 Sept. 1797, the Presbytery met at "Union" according to adjournment."

9. PITTSBURGH. 10. PLEASANT VAL- LEY. — These two churches evidently stand in the relation of parent and child to each other, of which Pittsburgh is the parent. As in many other instances, their origin is found in the erection of a house of worship, rather than in a distinct ecclesiastical organization.

The first building was erected in 1747, at Washington Hollow, Dutchess County. Here for a period of sixteen years the gospel was preached from time to time by various ministers among whom survive the names of licentiate Deliverance Smith and a Rev. Mr. Thompson.

In 1763, a board of trustees was elected, "assistant to the old one," and its members were constituted "a committee to invite candidates — and should one be called, to represent the affair to Presbytery — and, until there be a regular church, to advise the supplies," etc.

Application to the "Presbytery of Dutchess," 2 May 1764, was made in connection with Pough-

X Rev. A. R. Macoubry. Historical Sermon. 1877.

keepsie, "for a candidate to preach ontryal," and for supplies until such a candidate could be obtained. Organization was probably effected the next year, as Mr. Wheeler Case was called, ordained and installed 12 Nov. 1765, "pastor of Pou'- keepsie and Charlotte ; ' ' Pittsburgh being the only church in Charlotte Precinct.

Four years later in 1769, the house of worship was rebuilt and there were ' ' thirty-five male members of the congregation. ' '

In 1770 a house of worship having been erected and inclosed at the growing village of Pleasant Valley, five miles west, on the road to Pou' keepsie, Mr. Case obtained a release from his relation to the Pou' keepsie congregation and held services in the new meeting house. Although it was neither plastered nor furnished with pews for sixteen years, it was nevertheless destined to outgrow the Pittsburgh congregation at Washington Hollow.

On 26 January 1785, the new church began its corporate existence, and Mr. Case continued pastor of the double charge, Pittsburgh and Pleasant Valley, during the rest of his life, which terminated 31 August 1 791. This long pastorate of twenty-six years, through troublous times, in which he was ' ' robbed of nearly all he possessed by British soldiers," was fruitful in the results of a faithful ministry. He was cheered towards the close of his labors by an extensive revival of religion and a general awakening, especially among the young people, f

t Mr. VanDoren.

From 1 79 1 to 1793, the pulpit was supplied by- Presbytery as often as practicable. On 6 Nov. 1793, Rev. Methuselah Baldwin was duly installed, and continued pastor until 4 Sept. 1798.*

11. FLORIDA. 12. WARWICK.— These churches are associated from their earliest reliable history. An extant M. S. history of the ' ' Presbytery of Hudson" by Rev. Isaac Van Doren, 1807, states that " this church was organized about 1750, and had for their first settled minister Rev. Jonathan Elmer, who preached about four years in this place and at Warwick. After this time he confined his labors to Florida alone for about three years. " " After a vacancy of five years in Florida — and of eight years in Warwick — in 1762, Rev. Samuel Parkhurst became the pastor of the two churches. Mr. Parkhurst died 2 Mar. 1768. In 1770 "two acres of ground were given for the use and benefit of the ' Presbyterian Church at Warwick." "On 9 April 1772, Mr. Amzi Lewis was ordained and installed pastor of the churches of Florida and Warwick. ' ' He served both churches for five years, when the ' ' Presbytery of New York," by a commission, released him from his pastorate at Warwick. He remained ten years longer at Florida, during which time Warwick was partly supplied by Presbytery. Mr. Lewis was one of four ministers who formed the ' ' Associated Presbytery of Morris County" on 1 May 1780.

Rev. A. B. Prichard. Historical Discourse. 1882.

There is no evidence however that Florida, or any other church west of the Hudson, ever withdrew from the care of the ' ' Presbytery of New York. ' ' Mr. Lewis alone, belonging to the ' ' Presbytery of Morris County," will account for the informality in his departure from Florida. Mr. VanDoren makes no allusion to any action of Presbytery, but simply states that he withdrew with the assent of the congregation, and removed to North Salem. During his pastorate there were two revivals of considerable extent : and during the following long vacancy of seven years the place was again visited with an outpouring of the Spirit, so that forty were added to the membership in the first year of the ministry of the Rev. John Joline, which began 10 May 1795, although he was not installed until 13 June 1797.*

13. SALEM. — This church was organized in 1752, with 28 members. The Rev. Solomon Mead was ordained and installed 19 May in that year, and continued their pastor until 4 Sept. 1800, a period of forty-eight years. He died in 1812, at the advanced age of eighty-six years.

Mr. Mead withdrew from the "Association of Fairfield," Conn., and with Rev. Messrs. Blisha Kent and Joseph Peck, organized the ' ' Presbytery of Dutchess County," 27 Oct. 1762, the first ecclesiastical body constituted in that region. The next year, on 29 May, they were recognized and

Min. Presb. Vol. 1, p. 28.

received in a Presbyterial capacity by the " Synod of New York and Philadelphia, ' ' with Rev. Messrs. Samuel Sackett, Eliphalet Ball, Chauncey Graham and John Smith additional members. This Presbytery had a brief and troubled history. It embraced all the churches east of the Hudson and north of New York City, including also Cherry Valley and Albany on the west, sixteen in number. Many of these were greatly enfeebled during the war of the Revolution ; in 1790, the "Presbytery of Albany" was formed on the North, and in 1792, the " Associated Presbytery of Westchester " drew off about half the remaining congregations. It was the means however of strengthening Presbyterianism in that region ; and the thirty-three years of its existence included much that is interesting and important in our church history. It is certainly a matter for deep regret that the Records of " Dutchess Presbytery ' ' have not been found. The last trace of them yet discovered was in Newburgh, N. Y., 27 Dec. 1844. The purpose of this work however includes no further reference to its roll of churches or ministers, than to note those which were merged into the ' ' Presbytery of Hudson. ' '

14. Rumbout or FISHKILTv.— This church like many others, originated in an effort to build a meeting-house. The building was so far completed as to be ready for dedication in 1748, when the church was duly organized on 3 July. On 29 Jan. 1749, Rev. Chauncey Graham was ordained and installed by a " Council. ' ' According to Mr.

VanDoren, he was released in Sept. 1768. Dr. Gillett affirms that he was released in 1773, and that he died in 1784.*

After Mr. Graham's release, the pulpit was vacant until 1784, after which time a neighboring minister of the R. D. Church — Rev. Mr. Blauvelt — supplied them for six years. Rev. Daniel Marsh, of the ' ' Associated Presbytery of Morris County, ' ' was supply from 1791 to 1796.

On 18 Nov. 1795, they requested to be taken under the care of this Presbytery and asked supplies, both which requests were granted, f

15. DEER PARK.— The germ from which this church grew, was the gift of fifty acres of land to the " first regularly organized religious society in the town. ' ' This was given by Oliver Delaney, Esq., of New York City, 25 March 1770. At that time and during that decade the voice of the preacher of the Gospel was seldom heard on the Eastern Slope of the Shawangunk Mountain. The Rev. Amzi Lewis of Florida made occasional visits, and after a time gathered a congregation. It was natural that they should sympathize in his views of church order. Mr. VanDoren says, that he organized a Congregational Church which in his day remained in connection with the ' ' Associated Presbytery of Morris County." On the 9 Feb. 1785, the "First Presbyterian Church of Deer Park ' ' was incorporated.

f Min. ofPresb. of Hudson. Vol.

In 1 791, the first house of worship was erected upon an additional plot of ground, five acres in extent, given by Lewis A. Scott, Esq., of New York City. In May 1791, and in May 1792, Rev. Messrs. Ker, of Goshen, and King, of Wallkill, were appointed by the " Presbytery of New York," to supply New Shawangunk or Deer Park. Mr, VanDoren says Mr. Ker organized the church. Licentiates Baldwin and Freeman were directed to spend some time there in June and in September. Mr. Jonathan Freeman was called and installed, 29 August 1793, and remained pastor of Hopewell and Deer Park churches until April 1797, when_ his relation to this church was dissolved.

16. HOPEWELL. — The Hopewell church originated in a spontaneous movement on the part of the increasing population, to build for themselves a house of worship. It was in the year 1779. The pastor of the Wallkill church had maintained an outstation in that neighborhood for a number of years. But thirteen years more elapsed before their modest structure was plastered and furnished with pews. Then in 1792, a board of trustees was chosen, and on 28 August 1793, Mr. Jonathan Freeman was ordained and installed pastor : although it was not until the following November that the Hopewell church was regularly organized, with twenty members. Twenty more were received at their first communion. Mr. Freeman's pastoral relation was dissolved 18 April 1798.