Page 71
History of Orange County
Town of Newburgh
Page 71
Then came the war, which disturbed and almost discontinued the operations and services of the Established Church throughout the colonies and wholly prostrated it in Newburgh. It remained in this afflicted and trodden-down condition till 1805, when the few remaining friends of the church deemed it expedient to reincorporate it for legal purposes. ‘‘ So fearfully small was the number of her friends here, that it was found necessary to resort to the neighboring parishes for a sufficient number even to form an incorporation. These persons were duly incorporated on the 4th of November, 1805, and adopted the ancient name of St. George’s Church in the parish of Newburgh.’’
In 1810 the Rev. William Powell, then Rector of St. Andrew’s Church, Coldenham, gave one—third of his time to this little band of church men in a building belonging to the Methodist Society. This continued for one year only, when the church became vacant and remained so till 1815, when the present Rector, the Rev. John Brown, D. D., then only in deacon orders and just entered upon his ministerial labors in the town of Fishkill, Dutchess County, performed a third service in this church for many Sabbaths in succession. During this period he administered the holy communion the first time since the Revolution. His services being kindly received, he was induced by personal friends and with the prospects of a large field of usefulness before him, to change his ministerial labors, and settled in this church. Having been previously admitted to the order of Priesthood, he preached the inaugural discourse on the 24th of December, 1815, to a small congregation assembled in a building fitted up as a temporary chapel, the use of which had been bestowed upon the church by the late Thomas Ellison, Esq.— The church began to lift up her head and prosper, and during the first year of his service twenty-eight persons were admitted to the holy communion. At this time the congregation began to build their present large and substantial stone church, and it was a matter of surprise that so small a congregation should have been able by the 10th of November, 1819, to raise an edifice so very creditable to themselves. On that day the building was solemnly consecrated to the service of Almighty God by the Bishop of the Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Hobart.
Dr. Brown, the present Rector of this church, in a printed sermon delivered before his congregation in 1837, from which we have compiled this article, being the most veritable fountain to draw from, remarks:
“We have now reviewed the principal events in the history of this church as far as known, from the origin to the present time. Of those peculiar and exciting circumstances connected with its temporal concerns, which once militated so much against its prosperity I forbear to speak. Happily, the recollection of them is fast hastening to the shades of oblivion and the few who were called to hear a part in them as the defenders of the rights of their church, look forward to more pleasant scenes."
This church establishment has grown up twice from very small beginnings, and to day we seem to realize the planting and growth of the mustard seed, among whose branches the very fowls of the air nestled and lodged in safety.
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
The Theological Seminary of the Associate Reformed Church is located in this place and stands on the crown of the heights west of the village. The building is rough hammered field stone, three stories high above the basement and contains many large and small rooms. Its appearance is grand and noble, standing as it does on so elevated a situation. The view from it is delightful and extensive in all directions. It is well built, neatly finished for a public building of the kind, and cost $20,000, including the land attached, some twelve or fifteen acres.
This Seminary was the first of the kind erected on the continent and founded in 1804. Andover was not erected till 1808 and Princeton not till 1812. The late John M. Mason, D. D. was the efficient agent in accomplishing the object. It was located in New York and placed under his supervision, and removed to Newburgh in 1829. In 1822, The General Synod passed an act transferring the library to Princeton, and in a few days there was not a vestige of the Seminary left. The church itself was almost all transferred at the same time. This is a resuscitation of the first, was incorporated in 1836, and organized the same year.
The present building was erected in 1838. The Rev. Joseph McCarrell, D. D. is the principal member of the faculty at present. Previous to the establishment of this Seminary young men were fitted for the ministry by attending the teachings of private clergymen in their own dwellings.
The library is extensive and contains many old, rare and valuable works, among them what was known as the Mason Library, for many years in possession of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, the whole numbering about 12,000 volumes.
The first board of trustees and those named in the act of incorporation were, Hon. John Willard, of Salem, Hon. W. M. Oliver, of Penn Yan, Archibald C. Niven, Alpheus Diminick, of Sullivan, Robert Denniston, James Waugh, Wm. Wear, James D. Bull, Daniel Farrington, J. W. Brown, David W. Bate, John Forsyth, of Orange, and Benj. Parker, of Kortright.
The Associate Reformed Church are under lasting obligations to D. W. Bate, Esq. and Dr. McCarrell of Newburgh, for their manly efforts and indomitable perseverance in rescuing the Mason Library from the custody of the Princeton Seminary and restoring it to the true owners. The whole was the result of an expensive and protracted lawsuit in the Equity Courts of New Jersey.
HIGH SCHOOL.
This Institution was incorporated April 23, 1829, and by the act was constituted the common school, under the school law for District No. 13, and embraces the village of Newburgh. A part of the funds, $1,400, was raised by a vote of the inhabitants of the district, and, by the act, directed to be expended in purchasing a lot and erecting the school house.— The trustees were authorised to loan not over $3,600 at six per cent, to complete the building, etc. The amount loaned was divided into shares of $25 each.
This school is entitled to the school money of the district, which, in 1846, was $894.75 teacher’s money, and $218.24 library. The one half of the latter, by law is paid over to the trustees of the Glebe School. This law is limited in its duration. The number of children in the district, for 1846, between five and sixteen, was 1,247. The trustees of this district have at all times endeavored to effectuate the school law. The whole of the school money has been paid on account of the tuition of poor children. The best commentary that can be made upon this institution is, it has been in successful operation for seventeen years, and two teachers only have graced its walls. Mr. O. M. Smith, the present teacher, has been there same thirteen years. This proves two things:—that the teacher is a good one and that the employers know it. The school averages generally more than three hundred pupils. The building is of brick, two stories high, with a wing on the north end of the same height. It stands on the west side of Grand street, shaded by some young and thrifty elms. The number of teachers employed to conduct the school is about four.
By a special law of the state, procured, we believe, by the special exertions of David W. Bate, Esq., the trustees of District No. 13 are authorized to establish a school for blacks, and to divide the school money pro rata among the blacks, and white children between the ages of five and sixteen in the district, and pay the proportion of the blacks to the teacher of that school. This amount is about $50 per year. For this small sum a colored female teacher has taught the school of thirty or forty children for several years, in her own or her father’s house, to universal acceptance. The parents of the children have never paid five dollars per year tuition money. This is a curious fact in so large a population of blacks; same years, not one cent. We have examined this school several times, and no children of equal age are better instructed.— They are from five to twelve years of age; when beyond this, they are put out to labor to earn something for their parents.
NEWBURGH ACADEMY.
This Institution was incorporated in 1806, under the general law of the state authorizing such incorporation. The records go no farther back than that time, though it would appear from a notice of the Academy published in the public papers, dated April 19, 1805, signed by L. Haight, Daniel Stringham and Isaac Belknap, jun., that the same was then under the care of Joel Cooper, and in operation, and must have been for many years, from the fact that the courts were held there. The first meeting of trustees was held on the 6th of April, 1807, and the trustees named in the charter were Daniel Niven, Esq., Rev. James Scrimgeor, Daniel Birdsell, Esq., Jonas Story, Esq., Abraham Schultz, David Fowler, Ebenezer Burnett, Hugh Walsh, Rev. John Johnston, John McAuley, John Brown, Hugh Spier, Derick Amerman, Daniel C. Verplank and William Ross, Esq., all of whom are dead, except Mr. Story and Mr. Johnston.
The first teacher, as appears from the minutes, was Mr. Bracket, Richard W. Thompson was appointed by the legal trustees to commence May 12, 1807. At this time the trustees of the Academy received from the trustees of the Glebe £80 per annum for Glebe rents, as appears by a settlement for the years 1806-7. They now receive the same sum annually. This institution has property in lands and buildings worth $14,500; library, 401 volumes philosophical and chemical apparatus worth $260.
The academy building is of wood, and two stories high,— two large rooms below and one above. From about 1798 to the erection of the present court house in the village the courts of the county, alternate with Goshen, were held in the large room in this building. The two small rooms above, originally fitted up for jury rooms, still remain.
The boarding house attached to the Academy is a very large and beautiful edifice, and stands on the hill just north and adjoining the Academy ground. It is built of brick, two stories above the basement. On the first floor are four large rooms and a hall; above, the rooms are more numerous, and calculated for boarders. The building cost about $7,000. The location is fine and airy, and the view from the portico is fine and excelled by few in the village.
Besides these incorporated institutions for educational purposes, there are several of private character, of note and celebrity in the village.
The Misses Phillips have conducted a school for the education of young ladies for fifteen or twenty years past, which is still maintained, and is in a prosperous condition. It is conducted at their residence in Smith street.
The Rev. Mr. Phinney has presided over and conducted an institute for young men for many years, with great success and efficiency. The scholars board in his family, and are limited in number. This is still in operation at his residence in the north east part of the village.
The Rev. Mr. Raymond, two or three years since opened a *sceool for young ladies, conducted by himself and lady, which promises to be successful and permanent from the encouragement and patronage thus far bestowed upon it. The school is at his residence in the south end of Colden street.
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*Errata--read school