Yates County, New York

Churches for the Town of Jerusalem

From the History of Yates County, NY
published 1892, by L.C. Aldrich

pg.  426-429

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Churches of Jerusalem   

The oldest denomination or sect to find a foothold within the town of Jerusalem was probably that of the Society of Friends, headed by Jemima WILKINSON, or the Public Universal Friend, as she styled herself.  This remarkable woman made the town her home in 1794, and her domicile was the place of meeting for her society.   

As was the case in many towns in this region the Methodists early sowed the seed of their church in Jerusalem, they ear 1793 being announced as that in which the first meetings were held, although it was not until 1838 that any effective organization was made.  Prior to that the meetings were of an embryo character, consisting of class gatherings and informal worship, with an occasional regular preaching service conducted by the circuit preachers of the region.  Prominent among the pioneer Methodists of the town was Uriah TOWNSEND, a resident of the locality called in succession Fox’s and Kinney’s Corners; and in the same relation may be mentioned Isaac TOWNSEND, Peter ALTHIZER, Stephen BAGLEY, Eleanor, wife of John RICE and the wives of the persons already named.  In 1838 was organized “ the First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Jerusalem”, the trustees being John DORMAN, William H. DECKER, James FREDENBURG, Robert C. BROWN, and Rufus EVANS.  AT once measures were taken for the erection of a meeting hose at the Corners, and the result was its construction at a cost of about $850.  The lot for the church was donated by Hixson ANDERSON, a pioneer merchant at Kinney’s Corners.  John DORMAN was the first class-leader, followed by William T. MOORE, Isaac PURDY, and A. J. BROWN, in succession.   

Another class in the town was formed at Brown’s Mills in 1815, Isaac KINNEY being its leader, followed by Daniel BROWN and Benjamin DURHAM.  This class was maintained for many years, and finally moved to Branchport.  In 1866 the organization of a society was perfected at the latter place, the first board of trustees being Solomon D. WEAVER, James GAMBY, Henry LARZELERE, Henry W. HARRIS, William H. DECKER, Nelson BENNETT, Elias MADISON and James SPENCER.  The newly formed society selected Schuyler SUTHERLAND, Joseph ABBOTT, and William H. DECKER as building committee.  They purchased the Methodist Episcopal Church building at Nettie Valley and moved it to Branchport, where it was reconstructed and fitted up into a pleasant and commodious house of worship.  The work cost about $2,500.  The pastors of the Branchport Methodist Episcopal Church have been as follows, 1866, Schuyler SUTHERLAND; 1867, Solomon WETZELL; 1868-69, C. DILLENBECK; 1870, Philo COWLES; 1871-72; A. D. EDGAR; 1873-75, J. J. PAYN; 1876-78,1883-85; R. D. PHILLIPS; 1879; Charles HERMANS, 1880-82, S. C. HATMAKER, 1886, R. N. LEAK; 1887-90, J. N. SACKETT, 1891, G. W. REYNOLDS. 

The Baptist Church and society in Jerusalem dates back to the early years of the present century, and to 1815, when Elder Elnathan FINCH completed an informal organization and held regular meetings in a little log church on Bluff Point.  Elder FINCH and his successor, Elder HOUSE, were the ministers of the church, but their labors were voluntary and without compensation. 

In January 1834, a meeting was held at Branchport for the purpose of organizing a Baptist society at that place.  The result was the incorporation of the First Baptist Society of Branchport, with Erastus COLE, Benajah ANDRUS, William RICHARDSON, Benjamin RUNYAN, Israel HERRICK and John FRENCH as trustees.  Erastus COLE, John FRENCH and Benjamin ROGERS were made deacons.  During the same month the society resolved to built a church, 38 by 50 feet in size, and to cost not more than $2,000.  Jacob HERRICK, Benjamin ROGERS, and Ezra WITTER were appointed a building committee.  This house stood until 1870, and was then radically remodeled and refitted, at an expense of over $1,800.  The succession of pastors of the Branchport Baptist Church has been as follows: E. D. OWEN, A. B. WINCHELL, S. S. HAYWOOD, William FRARY, Reuben P. LAMB, Elder MOSHER, Peter COLEGROVE, M. W. HOLMES, Vincent L. GARRETT, William H. SHIELDS (supply, Daniel DELANO, Levi HICKS, Vincent L GARRETT (for a 2^nd pastorate), George BALCOM, Vincent L. GARRETT (for 3^rd pastorate), John C. ROONEY, George GATES, C. H. PLANCH, Edwin HARD, L. B. ALBERT, I. E. BROWN, C. R. NEGUS, James COOK. 

The Presbyterian Church of Branchport and Jerusalem had its inception in the early meetings and services held by Rev. James ROWLETTE at West Jerusalem and on Bluff Point.  Two years later, or in 1832, a society was organized through the efforts of Revs. Samuel WHITE, William TODD, and Stephen CROSBY, with members as follows: Ira and Abigail GREEN, Wynans and Julia BUSH, Dexter and Sarah LAMB, David RUMSEY, Lydia TETTSWORTH, Sophia RUMSEY, Jane RUMSEY, Eliza RUMSEY, Betsey HOFFSTRATTER, Mrs. Mary MORSE, Miss Mary MORSE, Mrs. Leman DUNNING, Polly DUNNING, Hopestill HASTINGS, and Pamelia JAGGER. The organization was completed on the 24^th of July, 1832, and Rev. James ROWLETTE was the first chosen pastor.  The church edifice was erected in 1833, costing $1,900, and was dedicated in October of the year named.  The building answered the purposes of the society until 1851, when it was removed from the hill to its present location.  At the same time it was thoroughly repaired and remodeled.  

Succession of pastors: James ROWLETTE, Robert L. PORCER, Lewis HAMILTON, John C. MORGAN, Samuel PORTER, Horace FRASER, A. FOSTER, Lewis M. MC GALSHAN, Horace FRASER, Richard WOODRUFF, Lewis M. MC GLASHEN, Rev. FITCH, A. T. WOOD, S. OTTMAN, Theo. O. MARSH, Rev. MC LAIN, Rev. JUDSON, Chauncey FRANCISCO, Charles T. WHITE, E. H. STRATTON, J. CAIRNES, H. B. SAYRE.  M. E. NELSON, acted as supply through the summer of 1872. 

The church and parries of St. Luke’s at Branchport was informally organized in 1863, but prior to that time Episcopal services had been held for several years, and since 1855.  The families in the locality were connected with St. Marks parish and church at Penn Yan, and the early services here were held by the rectors of that church and by lay readers living in the town.  In 1863, upon the organization of the parish, Rev. Henry B. BARTON became rector, but died within a month of his coming to the town.  He was succeeded in 1865 by the Rev. William B. OTIS.  In 1866 the parish was regularly organized according to law, and a church edifice erected.  The first officers were Henry ROSE and Joseph AXTELL, wardens; Solomon D. WEAVER, John N. ROSE, James C. WIGHTMAN, Harris COLE, Lynham J. BEDDOE, John HAIRE, Henry R. SILL and John N. MACOMB Jr., vestrymen; John N. MACOB Jr., clerk; and J. C. WIIGHTMAN, treasurer.  The church is of stone, 28 by 54 feet in size, with recess chancel fourteen feet deep.  Its cost was $4,000.  Succession of rectors, B. W. STONE, Camman MANN, M. TELLER, Henry DENNIS, W. H. LORD. 

from the History and Directory of Yates County, Volume I,  by S. C. Cleveland, published 1873

transcribed by Donna Judge

Church History

Uriah TOWNSEND, who became a resident near what is now Kinney’s Corners in 1793, was a Methodist and the first class leader in Jerusalem. Authentic account is given of Methodist meetings in that vicinity in 1807. No doubt they were held there some years earlier, and probably it was one of the points visited by William COLBERT in 1797. The founders of the Seneca Lake, Lyons and Crooked Lake Circuits made it one of their places for holding meetings, and their names are chiefly mentioned in the Benton history. Uriah TOWNSEND and wife, Isaac TOWNSEND, Peter ALTHIZER and wife, Stephen BAGLEY, and Eleanor, wife of John RACE, were members of the first society of which any record remains. Meetings were held at the log house of Uriah TOWNSEND, which stood near the site of the present residence of James H. CARR. In 1807, Elizabeth, daughter of Uriah TOWNSEND, then fourteen years old, was converted at a camp meeting near Oaks Corners, in Phelps. She still lives, a member of the church. In 1828 the Benton Circuit was formed, in which Kinney’s Corners was included. About that time Denison SMITH and Jonas DODGE were the circuit preachers. From 1833 to 1835 many of the meetings were held in a log house still standing on the farm of Isaac PURDY, then owned by William MOORE. In 1838 the first effective society organization was made. Jonathan BENSON and Asbury LOWREY were circuit preachers, and Abner CHASE Presiding Elder. At a meeting held on the fifth of February, Abner CHASE and William H. DECKER were chosen to preside, and John DORMAN, James FREDENBERG, William H. DECKER, Rufus EVANS and Robert C. BROWN were elected trustees of the society, called “The First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Jerusalem.” The trustees were designated as a building committee for the erection of a church edifice. Hubbell GREGORY, of Benton, built the church for eight hundred dollars, and added a porch for fifty dollars.

Robert C. BROWN, of precious memory, bore the largest burden in the construction of the church, and labored against many discouragements. He superintended the building, collected the subscription, and paid the debts. He worshiped in the church he struggled so hard to build about ten years, when he moved to the vicinity of Dresden, where he died about twenty years ago. The lot for the church was given by Hixon ANDERSON, who was also a good contributor. John DORMAN was the first class leader in the new society. In 1842 Abner CHASE and Rev. Mr. STACEY preached on the Jerusalem circuit, which included Prattsburg, Harmonyville, South Pultney, Stewart’s Corners, Bardeen School House in Italy, Block School House, Italy Hollow, Italy Hill, Ingraham’s School House, Fort School House, Nettle Valley, Yatesville, Larzelere’s, North Italy Hill, Branchport, Kinney’s Corners, and Bluff Point. In 1842 William T. MOORE was class leader. In 1843 and 1844 Enoch CRANMER and William SANFORD were the circuit preachers. In 1845 Isaac PURDY was appointed class leader, which position he held till 1867. A. J. BROWN is his successor. Chandler WHEELER and George WILKINSON were the circuit preachers that year and the next. In 1847 Joseph CHAPMAN supplied the circuit; in 1848 and 1849 James HALL and William BRADLEY, and A.H. SHURTLEFF.

The stewards in 1849 were Dr. Elisha DOUBLEDAY, Robert MILLER, Henry LARZELERE, Isaac PURDY, Joseph ABBOTT, J. F. HOBART, Jephthah A. POTTER, and Albert R. COWING. The class leaders, William C. DEAN, William GENUNG, Alexander L. PARKER, George G. WYMAN, Amos GENUNG, John ARDELL, Abraham PALMER, Enoch BARKER, Isaac PURDY, and Isaac ADAMS. In 1850 James DURHAM was circuit preacher; in 1857 Jordan ASHWORTH and James DURHAM; 1852, Joseph ASHWORTH; 1854-5, Charles GOLD and Henry BOARDMAN; 1856-7, A.D. EDGER; 1858-9, James HERMANS; 1860, D. LEISENRING; 1861-2, Robert PARKER; 1863, John KNAPP; 1864, Myron DEPEW; 1865-6, Schuyler SUTHERLAND; 1867, Solomon D. WETZEL; 1868-9, C. DILLENBECK; 1870, Philo COWLES. In recent years the charge has only included Branchport and Kinney’s Corners.

The Methodists had a class at George Brown’s Mills as early as 1815, and Isaac KINNEY was class leader. Reuben FARLEY and Elder POTTER were local preachers. Isaac KINNEY left in 1817, and Daniel BROWN was made class leader. Benjamin DURHAM was afterwards class leader. The class was kept up in this place many years, and finally moved to Branchport. In 1866 the first regular church organization was effected at Branchport. The first Trustees were Solomon D. WEAVER, James GAMBY, Henry LARZELERE, Henry W. HARRIS, William H. DECKER, Nelson BENNETT, Elias MADISON and James SPENCER. A building committee consisting of Schuyler SUTHERLAND, William H. DECKER and Joseph ABBOTT, purchased the Methodist Church edifice at Nettle Valley, which they moved to Branchport, where they have fitted up a comfortable house of worship, at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars. The present class leader is Daniel SHERWOOD. Isaac ADAMS was many years the Branchport class leader. He was followed by David MILLER, and he by John C. RAYMOND, who was the leader when the church was built.

Baptist Church at Branchport

In the early years of the present century, when Simon SUTHERLAND was a young evangelist of the Baptist faith, there were occasional meetings at private houses in Sabintown and elsewhere in East Jerusalem. There were in that section members of the Baptist Church, in the Second Milo Church, among whom was the father of Jeremiah S. BURTCH and others.

As early as 1815 a Baptist Church was organized on Bluff Point by Elder Elnathan FINCH, one of the early settlers there. Deacon John MOORE settled there in 1815, and found the Church fully organized, with a log meeting house for public worship. This church edifice was located a little south of Hugh HERRICK’s, who occupied lot 4, now the place of Howland HEMPHILL. The church was warmed by two fire-places, and was used for meetings, and sometimes for schools, for about seven years. John FINCH, who was a brother of the minister, and a resident on lot 6, was one of the first deacons, and Silas NASH, who occupied lot 1, was the other. After a few years the meetings were held at the school house near the residence  of Judah CHASE (one of the early members), now known as Heck’s School House. Jacob HAIGHT was one of the members, and the church was quite respectable in numbers. William SLAWSON, a son of Ebenezer SLAWSON, was clerk. John MOORE joined the society in 1815, and was afterwards ordained a deacon at Branchport. John BEAL was a Baptist, but belonged with the Milo Church, where he usually attended meeting. After about ten years a Mr. HOUSE succeeded Mr. FINCH as pastor. These preachers were themselves laborious farmers and received but little pay for their ministerial work. Elder E. D. OWEN succeeded Mr. HOUSE.

The first meeting to organize a Baptist Church in Branchport was held in the Presbyterian meeting house, January 21, 1834. Rev. E. D. OWEN and Henry G. ANDRUSS presided. It was on that occasion resolved to incorporate the First Baptist Society of Branchport, and the following trustees were chosen: Benajah ANDRUSS, Erastus COLE, William RICHARDSON, Israel HERRICK, Benjamin RUNYAN and John FRENCH. The first deacons were Erastus COLE, Benjamin ROGERS and John FRENCH. Mr. ROGERS moved away in 1839, and the others served as deacons while they lived. The trustees held a meeting at the house of Solomon D. WEAVER, January 29, 1834, and resolved to erect a house of worship, thirty-eight by fifty feet in size, with twenty-four feet posts, a gallery, belfry and steeple, at a cost not to exceed two thousand dollars. Ezra WITTER, Jacob HERRICK and Benjamin ROGERS were the building committee, and the house was built by Roswell H. HALL, for the sum voted. Elder OWEN remained pastor till 1836, and was followed by A. B. WINCHELL, who remained three years. S. S. HAYWOOD followed one year, and William FRARY two years, leaving in November, 1842. Elder Reuben P. LAMB preached upwards of three years for the church leaving in April, 1846. Elder MOSHER followed, remaining about five years, and Peter COLEGROVE two years, leaving in April, 1853. M. W. HOLMES followed one, and Vincent L. GARRETT two years. Then for two or three years William H. SHIELDS, a theological student, and others, supplied the pulpit, except for a short time that Daniel DELANO served as pastor. Elder Levi HICKS served about a year, and in January, 1863, Elder Vincent L. GARRETT again took charge and staid one year. Elder George BALCOM held a three weeks revival meeting in the autumn of 1856, and served as pastor from March till November, 1866. Elder V.L. GARRETT became pastor for the third time in March, 1867, and remained two years. He was followed by Rev. John C. ROONEY, who remained until September, 1870. This year the house has been remodeled, modernized and furnished anew, at an expense of $1825. It was rededicated August 30, 1870. A Sabbath School has been maintained with few interruptions by this Church.

When Elder Samuel WIRE and John MUGG were Free Will Baptist preachers in this region, there were numerous adherents of that faith in East Jerusalem, but no record exists of any organized society.

Branchport Presbyterian Church - On the 24^th of July, 1832, Rev. Samuel WHITE of Pultney, Rev. Stephen CROSBY of Penn Yan, and Rev. William TODD of Dresden, organized the Presbyterian Church at Branchport. The place of meeting then and for a few weeks afterwards was in a barn still standing near the Branchport House. A room in the tavern was used for some time to hold meetings in, and for one year the old Red School House, now between the Baptist and Methodist Churches. That old structure has been successively the cradle of the Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal and Methodist societies. Two years before the organization of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. James ROWLETTE, of Irish birth, the first pastor, preached in the school houses of West Jerusalem and on Bluff Point. It was due to his labors, in a large degree, that the church was founded. The first church edifice in Jerusalem was erected by this society in 1833, at a cost of $1890, and dedicated in October of that year. In 1851 it was moved from the hill where it stood to its present location near the center of the village. The galleries were also taken out, and it was rebuilt with a basement. The eighteen original members were Dr. Wynans BUSH and Julia BUSH, his wife, Ira GREEN and Mrs. Abigail GREEN, Dexter LAMB and Mrs. Sarah LAMB, Mrs. Lydia TITTSWORTH, David RUMSEY, Mrs. Sophia RUMSEY, Miss Jane RUMSEY, Mrs. Eliza RUMSEY, Mrs. Betsy HOFFSTRATER, Mrs. Mary MORSE, Miss Mary MORSE, Mrs. Leman DUNNING, Mrs. Polly DUNNING, Mrs. Pamelia JAGGER, and Hopestill HASTINGS. These were previous members of the Penn Yan, Pultney, Rushville and Vienna Churches. Mrs. Harriet GREEN, and Miss Olive CARR were also received on the day of organizing. Dr. Bush and wife and Mrs. Abigail GREEN are still members of the church. Dr. BUSH and David RUMSEY were chosen Ruling Elders. The present Elders are Dr. BUSH, John G. LOWN, William HERRIES and Matthew HENDERSON. Others who have held the office are Lewis STEBBINS, Morris ROSS, Dexter LAMB, Abraham SLINGERLAND, Harvey HOFFSTRATER, Spencer BOOTH, William D. HENRY—the latter now a Congregational minister in Jamestown, NY. Mr. BOOTH was for a long time the principal trustee, and from the first the treasurer of the society. The present number of members is forty-two. In 1836 it was fifty; in 1843, fifty-four. The number who have been members is two hundred and twenty. The present pastor remarks that “this church, like the State of Vermont, has been a good place to emigrate from.” Many of its former members have been founders or prominent members of other churches in distant parts of the country, and some have been missionaries, among whom is the daughter of Dr. BUSH, who died at Alexandria, Egypt.

The ministers have been as follows:

Mr. TODD, who preached the sermon at the organization of the church, after serving a short time at Bellona, Dresden and Tyrone, was one of the founders of the Madura Mission in South India, where he arrived in 1834. The present pastor is a son of Rev. Samuel WHITE, one of the founders of the church, and he too was thirteen years a member of the Madura Mission.

Branchport Episcopal Church  -  In 1855 those families residing at or near Branchport, who had previously attended religious worship at St. Mark’s Church, Penn Yan, began to hold services in the north room of a house then occupied by Col. William KREUTZER’s select school. This was a house built by George BROWN about 1820, near the Lake, and moved in 1829 by John N. ROSE to its present position near his residence. Lay readers and visiting clergymen continued to conduct services in this house till the next year, when the Baptist house of worship in Branchport was rented for a part of each Sunday. Services were kept up in the Baptist, Presbyterian or Universalist edifices until St. Lukes’s Church was erected. From 1856 to 1863, Reverends William B. OTIS, John LONG and Timothy F. WARDWELL were rectors successively of St. Mark’s, Penn Yan, and missionaries at Branchport, holding services on Sunday afternoons at Branchport. In 1863 St. Luke’s Church, Branchport, assumed the responsibilities of an independent parish, and called Rev. George N. CHEENY, of Trinity Church, Rochester, to be the rector. He officiated but once, and died in less than a month, of typhoid fever. In November, 1863, Rev. Henry B. BARTON became rector, and remained till the following May. The parish was vacant till the autumn of 1865, when Rev. William B. OTIS took charge for six months. In 1866 the church was erected, and Rev. B.W. STONE was called as Rector, and the parish was organized under the State law. The first officers were Henry ROSE and Joseph AXTELL. Wardens; John N. ROSE, Solomon D. WEAVER, Harris COLE, James C. WIGHTMAN, M.D., Lynham J. BEDDOE, John HAIRE, Henry R. SILL and John N. MACOMB Jr., Vestrymen; John N. MACOMB Jr., Clerk; James C. WIGHTMAN, Treasurer.

The corner stone of St. Luke’s Church was laid with appropriate ceremonies by the Rev. S. F. DUNHAM, Assistant Rector of Christ Church, New York City. In 1867 the Right Rev. A. Cleveland COXE, Bishop of the Diocese, consecrated the church to the service of God, assisted by Dr. STONE, the Rector, Abner JACKSON, D.D., President of Hobart College, who preached the sermon, and by Reverends D.C. MANN, Timothy F. WARDWELL, Gustavus W. MAYER and S.F. DUNHAM. In 1868 the parish was admitted into the Convention of the Diocese of Western New York. John N. MACOMB Jr. has been a delegate each year to the Diocesan Convention. Henry R. SILL in 1867, Clark RIGHTER in 1868 and 1869, and Harris COLE and Dr. James C. WIGHTMAN in 1870. The present officers are, Henry ROSE and Joseph AXTELL, Wardens; John N. ROSE, Solomon D. WEAVER, Harris COLE, Clark RIGHTER, John HAIRE, Henry R. SILL, Robert GERMAN and John N. MACOMB Jr., Vestrymen; J.N. MACOMB Jr., Secretary and Treasurer. Gideon P.HOARD has also been a Vestryman. The church is built of stone, is 28 by 54 feet, with a recess chancel 14 feet deep. Levi MILLSPAUGH was the builder, and the cost of the church was $4,000.

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