Early Records Presbyterian Church at Oaks Corners NY

Many thanks to Charlotte Grabowski for sharing this wonderful resource with Ontario County NY researchers.

Sessional Records of the Church at Oaks Corners that appeared in The Phelps Citizen, May 1889.
Transcribed by Charlotte Grabowski, August 29, 2010. May not be copied for commercial use.

This was transcribed from digital copies of old micro film. Many of the names were very hard to make out. Undoubtedly I have made both transcription errors and typing errors. Note also that some of the names in the first part are repeated in the second part with a different spelling. I have found other inaccuracies, for example Rahannah Hall married Philander Glover in 1814 however she is shown in the newspaper list as Rahannah Glover in 1810.

The Phelps Citizen. Thursday, May 9, 1889
[Phelps, Ontario County, New York. Authors name not given.]

Sessional Records of the Church at Oaks Corners

A synopsis of the same will only be attempted. I have been unable to obtain any sessional records, as such, till April 1st. 1814, at which time the Society was transformed into a Presbyterian Church. Therefore, the records, printed In the business records from 1804-1814, must suffice.

The record in question opens with a written confession of faith and covenant, as held by the Presbyterian Church. The first recorded meeting, was held at the house of Thaddeus Collins, April 1813.

Resolved, That the church adopt the Presbyterian standards and form of government. Dr, Peter Woodward was appointed delegate to Presbytery of Geneva, to present the notion of the church.

Said action was presented at a meeting of Presbytery, April 23d, 1813, at Housoye, and the church was made a constituent member of Geneva Presbytery.

Rev. Mr. Powell , as far as I know, was the only officiating pastor from 1805 up to this time, 1813.

Lackey Morrow, Peter Woodward, Mathew Denniston and John Burnham were the first board of ruling elders.

A meeting was held at the union school house in Phelps to consider a call to the Rev. Mr. Barritt. Committee: John Burnham, Moses Youngs, Joseph Griffith, M. Denulaton, Thaddeus Collins, Caleb Case, John Griffith, Joseph Hall and Thadeus Oaks.

This committee did not meet with sufficient success, resulting in a failure to call Mr. Barritt.

At the next meeting, August 14th, 1814, the Rev. Ambrose Porter presided, and undoubtedly was the officiating minister, as his name appears as moderator of the session for some length of time.

Peter Woodward was dismissed to join the church at Gorham. George VanAuken was admitted membership, on profession, October 2d, 1814.

During this period John Burham was clerk of session.

At a church meeting, May 14th, 1815, Joshua King and Caleb Case were chosen elders. Charity Humphrey and Betsey Burnett were received into the church. Anthony VanAuken and wife dismissed to join the church in Lyons. September 12th, 1816, Rev. Charles Mosher was Installed as pastor.

December 11th, 1816, Cephas Field, Ruth Hodson and Lydia Hindman were admitted.

January 26th, 1817, Simeon VanAuken was dismissed to join a church in Wolcott.

May 4th, 1817, Lucinda Richards, Louisa Baker and Mercey Humphrey were admitted to the church.

May 9th, 1817, Maria Prescott, and Salmira Webster. Reuben Bardwell and Robert J. Griffith, were received January 16th, 1818.

A number were dismissed to join a new church in the north-west part of the town, Brewer, Post, Sears, VanBlarnacom and others.

May 17th, 1818, James VanAuken, Mary Shattuck and Mr. Rogers were admitted to the church.

August 1st, 1819, received Theodore Partridge and Summit Brown.

Theodore Partridge was a school teacher in Phelps, and became a ruling elder, and prominent in church affairs many years. He was clerk of the session many years. His fine work is still to be seen on the books.

The resignation of Rev. Charles Mosher was accepted September 20th, 1819.

Rev. Samuel Brace was ordained and installed December 29th, 1819. Present, Rev. Axtell, Clark, Stephen Porter, Townsend, Pomeroy, Merrill, Bacon.

January 16th, 1820, received into the church Lucena VanAuken, Loa Wells, Jane and Susan Rees, Mrs. Clark, Charles W. Glover, and Erastus Lonett, William Frisbie and wife, Elias W. Frisbie, Sally C. Deming, and Abigail Glover.

March 23d, 1820, Doctor William Frisbie was chosen Deacon, and Enoch Wing, Daniel Trowbridge, Theodore Partridge, Elders.

Jabez Joslyn, Nancy Young, Minerva Wait, Lucy Phillips, Eliza Wing, Abgail Baldwin, Vinera Glover, were admitted. The names of Charity Stephens, Mary and Elizabeth Bedell appear. Cases of discipline occurred which were conducted in a straight forward manly manner, to positive results.

November 24th, 1820, Rev. Mr Brace baptized Christopher, Augustus, Caleb, Lorenzo, and Sophia Dickenson, children of Fanny Bannister, also Samuel B., an infant of Robert J. and Elizabeth Griffith

March 23d, 1821, Elder Nathan Dennisten and wife were dismissed to join the church at Sodus.

April 22d, 1821, Charity Stevens, Robert Harris, Polly Glover, Miller Eddy, Louisa Glover, Milan Glover, Samuel Glover, Conway D. Crosby, were admitted to the church.

August 25th, 1821 Charles Yale was elected elder.

November 13th, 1821, received into the church, Mehitable Sumner, Rebecca Phillips, Elizabeth Humphrey, Robert Cross, George Glover.

February 4d, 1822, Enoch Eddy, Benoni Grover, Harriet Hall, and others.

May 12th, 1822, received into the church, Olive Burnett, Susannah Lansing.

August 11th, 1822, received on profession, Jacob Cooper and Elizabeth Simons.

November 7th, 1822, by S. W. Brace, baptized Willard, child of Henry Farbush; also Nathan, son of Thaddeus and Fanny Oaks.

April 27th, 1823, received into the church, Asahel Bannister, Polly Banister, William Butler, Esther Butler, Benjamin Heartwell, Eli Dickinson, Abigal Parks, Mrs. Harriet Stewart, Jacob and Diantha Lewis.

The Rev. Samuel W. Brace closed his labors with the church February 8th, 1824.

November 10th, 1834, the Rev. Henry P. Strong was installed pastor of the church. Present, Rev's Stockton, Larndsbury, Lansing, Axtell, Pomroy, Wm. Eddy.

October 12th, 1826, Samuel Wright and Charles W. Glover, were chosen Elders, and Doctor Winens Bush, Deacon. Presbytery, Seneca Falls, February 4th, 1830

STEPHEN PORTER, Moderator.

May 10th, 1831, the relation existing between the Union Religious of Phelps, and Presbyterian Society of Vienna, and the Rev. H. P. Strong, is dissolved.

The persons named as follows, constitnted [sic] a new church at Vienna: Lackey Morrow, (Elder,) Richard Van Vranken. Esther his wife, John, Lucy, and Mary Wright, Ann Frazier, Enoch Wing, (Elder,) Elizabeth Bulkley, Rufus Goodale, Samuel Wright, Daniel Peer, David G. Monett, Francis M. Lansing, A. D. Crosby, Ann Johnson, Sally Beman, Robert J. Griffith, E. Willard Frisbie, Minerva Wait, Jane McCormac, Anny Merry, Nancy Gates, Rhoda Crosby, Elizabeth Frisbie, Walter Laidlow, Loa Wells, Orres Frazer, David Sherrill, Wynan Bush, Robert Allen, Elizabeth Hibbard, Julia A. Bush, Mary J. Morrow, Margaret Morrow, Elizabeth Sherrill, Elizabeth Griffith, Polly Woodward, Darius Seager, Eunice Seager, Eunice Wilson, Sarah Deming, Maria Flynn, Wm. H. Thomson, Catherine and Sally Crumb, Andrew Robison, Sophia Schutt, Joseph Bronson, Sarah, Catherine and Mary Brower, Ellen Poe, Joseph Griffith, Peter and John Brower, Cyntha Brower, Lydia Taylor, Julia Hindman, Charlotte and Lydia Hindman, Mary Harmon, Jane Laidlow, Nancy Moody.

The above persons were constituted into a church at Vienna. In addition the following persons were dismissed June 4th, 1831:

George, Betsey, Phoebe, John and Frederick Brown, Betsey, Charlotte and Abigal Brown, Lucretia Bruzee, Elizabeth Goodale, Anna Morse, Anna Hubbard, Wm. and Mary Hutchinson, Mrs. Guilford, Enoch Crosby, Tobias Mercy, Mary Sarah Stoutenburg, and Catherine Loomis, to the Vienna church. Eighty four in all.

The wholesale emigration to Phelps nearly stranded the old church. We may well imagine their feelings, with Minister and some Elders, and a large membership gone. But with courage undaunted, the remnant proceeded to hold up the banner.

June 22d, 1831, Asahel Bannister and Enoch Eddy were chosen Elders. Cha's Glover and Daniel Trowbridge, Deacons.

July 31, received into the church, Othniel Hall, Peter Brizee, Sally Brizee, Eliza Bigelow, Dudley L VanAuken, Reuben Worthy Stevens, Mary Doty, Elwin Thompson, Elizabeth Brown, Lucinda Crittenden, Chloe Humphrey.

April 8th, 1832, Eli Dickenson was chosen Elder, Osee Crittenden and Reuben Stevens, Deacons.

September 1832, Rev. Wm. R. Betts was ordained and installed pastor.

John Whipple elected Elder January 20th, 1833.

Osee Crittenden and George VanAuken elected Elders July 25d, 1833.

The pastoral labors of Wm. R. Betts closed April 14th, 1834.

Rev. Isaac Crabbe appears on the record, July 13th, 1834. At this point the records are missing from page 70 to 93. 1836, Isaac Crabbe is still pastor, but closed his labors in the autumn.

November 27th, 1836, Hiram Armstrong was received by profession into the church.

Wm. Young chosen Elder February 16th, 1837.

August 27th, 1837, were received into the church, Sylvanus Burtis, Oscar Heartwell, Victoria Bannister and others.

Rev. Ezra Scoville installed pastor Febraury 20th, 1838.

March 11th, 1838, Cotton Dickenson, I. Clinton Stevens, Catlin Webster, ordained Ruling Elders.

September 7th, 1840, Rev. Mr. Scoville closed his labors.

February 15th, 1842, Rev. Mr. Everett installed.

I. C. Stevens, November 17th, 1842, was dismissed, at his request, to join the church at Vienna.

May 26th, 1843, Hiram Armstrong was ordained Elder.

Twenty years elapsed without any more additions to the Eldership.

Rev. Mr. Everett was succeed by Rev. J. R. Moser in 1843, he by John R. Young in 1847, A. G. Moore in 1849, Rev. Ira Ingram 1853, Chester 1857, Stoutenburg 1860, A. T. Young 1864, twelve years, Rev. Mr. Werner 1876, Rev. Mr. Salmon 1880, Mr Richardson 1884, Rev Samuel Murdock 1887.

The Phelps Citizen, May 16, 1889

Sessional Records of the Church at Oaks Corners.
(Continued from last week)

List of members of the Union Religious Society of Phelps, located at Oaks Corners, with time of their admission:

Names.                 Date.

Lackey Morrow, Elder,    Aug 7,    1806
Caleb Case.    "
Letitia Harris,
John VanAuken,
Catherine Myers,
Joseph Griffith,
Mary Griffith,
John Griffith,
Jane Baggerly,
Margaret Morrow,
Eunice Seager,
William Hutchinson,
Mary Hutchinson,
Sally Barnard,
Catherine Carae,
Ebenezer Fields,
Anna Deit,
Mathew Denniston, Elder
Henry Farbush,
Phoebe Farbush,             1807
Elizabeth Howell            1806
Phoebe Doty,
Mercy Benton            1807
Esther Hobart,             1808
Caleb Phillips,
Sally Phillips,
Walter Norris,
Mary Moffatt,
Rahannah Hall,
Nancy Maynard,
Osee Crittenden, Elder
Lydia Maxwell,
Abraham D. Spoor,             1809
Amy Merry,
Irene Cooley,
Polly Parker,
Mary Moore,
Amanda Flint,
Caroline Melvin,
Fanny Bannister,
Temperence Jones,
Polly Woodard,
Hannah Moore,
Jacob Brazee,
Bildad Brooks,             1810
Rahannah Glover,

An intermission occurs of four years to the next admission.

Hannah Grover,             1814
Seth Chase,                 1815
Letty Barden,                1812
George VanAuken, Elder        1814
Jamison Glover,             1815
Hamilton Bell,            1816
Thomas Bruce,
Sophia Bruce,
Elijah Case,
Cephas Field,
Ruth Hudson,
Lydia Taylor.
Laura Mosher,             1817
Mercy Humphrey,
Eunice Lang,
Margaret VanAuken,
Abigal Winter,
Busnell B. Downs,
Eunice Chase,
Enoch Wing, Elder,
Daniel Trowbridge, Elder,
Robert J. Griffith,
Maria Prescott,
Sabrina Webster,
John Partridge,             1818
Sally Trowbridge,
Reuben Stevens,
Mrs. Stevens,
James VanAuken,
Elizabeth VanAuken,
Freelove Beals,
Elizabeth Griffith
Mary Shattuck,
Mrs. Rogers,
Electa Partridge,
Sarah Ashley,
Thomas Eckley,
John Rose,
Susan Moore,
Anna Hubbard,             1819
Lucy Pullen,
Theodore Partridge, Elder,
Submit Brown,
*John Gates,             1808
*Archelaus Gates            1810
Arena Staats,             1816
*Deborah Flint,             1808
Lucena VanAuken,            1820
Loa Wells,
Jane Rees,
Sarah Rees,
Mrs. Clark,
Charles W. Glover, Elder,
Erastus Lovett,
William Frisbie,
Elizabeth Frisbis,
Elias W. Frisbie,
Sally C. Deming,
Abigal Glover,
Henry Hubbard,
Rhoda Crosby,
Jabez Joslyn,
Nancy Young,
Minerva Walt,
Abigal Baldwin,
Lucy Phillips,
Eliza Wing,
Ninera E. Glover,
Richard Smith,
Hannah Smith,
Elizabeth Disbrow,
Mary Hubbard,
Maria Paralee,
Persis Dickinson,
Jerusha Benjamin,
Mary Case,
*Chairty Humphrey,            1815
*Betsey Bennett,
Abel B. Hobart,            1820
Sophronia Gould,
Lovica Bigelow,
Betsey Stevens,
Mary Bedell,
Elizabeth Bedell,
John Jones,
Orrilla Grover,
Betty Densmore,
Mary Smith                1821
Harriet Brace,
Charles Yale,
Sally Yale,
Luana Bedell,
Charity Stevens,
Robert Harris,
Polly Glover,
Miller Eddy,
Lemerce Glover,
Milan Glover,
Samuel Glover,
Conway Wing,
Sarah Crosby,
Alfred D. Crosby,
George Bedell,
Mary Ann Williams,
Benjamin F. Hough
Mehitable Sumner,
Rebecca Phillips,
Elizabeth Humphrey,
Robert Cross,
George W. Glover,
Peter Cook,                 1822
Rachel Cook,
Mary Hathaway,
Catherine Cook,
Nellie Kanouse
Silas Hathaway,
Sarah Beeman,
Diadema Brown,
Louisa Baker,
Experience Field,
Benoni Grover,
Enoch Eddy, Elder,
Samson Loyd,
Joanna Russell, (now Sheckels,)
Roana Nichols,
Harriet Hall,
Minerva Hickey,
Zachariah Drumb,
Hannah Drumb,
Caty Hathaway,
Jacob Hickey,
Francis M. Lansing,
Susannah Lansing,
Olive Burnett,
Samuel Wright,
Isaac Hathaway,
Elizabeth Simmons, (now Green,)
Jacob Cooper,
Jacopa Hovey,
Mary Hovey,
George Kanouse
Betsey Kanouse,
Ann Patterson,
Persis Baker,
Murana Hoburt,
Mary Lane,
Nancy Ford,
Parmela Foster,
John Whipple, Elder,
Elizabeth Hibbard,             1823
Asa Hovey,
Almira Hovey,
Ruth Hubbard,
Maria Guilford,
Mary Bigelow,
Peter Brower,
Catherine Brower,
John Brower,
Joseph Brower,
_inche Brower,
Joseph Brower,
Leah Brower,
Abram Crumb,
Catherine Crumb,
Abigal Wright,
Damaris Hall,
Catherine Christian,
Sophia Schutt,
Elizabeth Bruzee,
Lurena Sears,
Lucretia Bruzzee,
Rachael VanVoorhees
Sally Monet,
Peter VanBlaircum,
Mary VanBlaircum,
Enoch Crosby,
Nancy Colton,
Wealthy Burgess,
    _10 in    commision at this time.
Asahel Bannister,
Polly Bannister,
William Butler,
Esther Butler,
Benjamin Heartwell,
Jane Heartwell,
Eli Dickinson,
Abigal Parks,
Jacob Cook,
Harriet Stewart,
Diantha Lewis,
_ethuel Dodd,
Anna Dodd,
Eunice Merrill,
Nancy Gates,
Lucy Kellogg,
Sarah Dickinson,             1824
David G, Monet,
Jacob Hollenbeck,
David Shirrill,             1825
Elizabeth Shirrill,
Robert Allen,
Andrew Robison,
Jacob Gaul,
Darius Seager,
Mary Spafford,
Phoebe Stephenson,
Mrs. Whipple,
Girty Christler,
Sarah Lyons,
Mary Jane Morrow,
Dolly Covil,
Eleanor Bartholf,             1826
Winans Bush,

The Phelps Citizen, May 23, 1889
Sessional Records of the Church at Oaks Corners
(Continued from last week)

List of members of the Union Religious Society of Phelps, Located at Oaks Corners, with time of their admission:

Names                Dates

Julia Ann Bush,             1826
Adeline Warner,
Sarah Glover,
Caroline Whipple,
Rhoda Wright,
John W. Klepeattle
Laura Strong,
Selah B. Wilder,
Tobias W. Stoutenburg,         1827
Mary Hill,
Maria VanFleet,
Betsey Burt,
Erastus Burt,
Caroline Porter,
Thankful Glover, [sic]
Betsey Brower,
Richard VanVranken,         1828
Esther VanVranken
Martha Maria Flynn,
Lemuel Trussdale Nichols,
____________ Bevier,
Oris Frazer,
Catherine Frier,
M. Frazer,
Betsey Goodale,             1829
Ann Frazer,
Mrs. Kniffen,
Rufus Goodale,
Mary Ann Glover,             1831
Elvira Armstrong,
Mrs. Morse,
Nancy Moody,
Julius Babcock,
John Wright,
Lucy Wright,
David Pies,
Eleanor Pies,
Catherine Brower,
Maria Brower,
Phoebe Brower,
John Brower,
Frederick Brower,
Betsey Brower,
Abigal Brower,
Julia Hinman,
Charlotte Hinman,
Lydia Hinman,
Lydia Webster,
Ann Eliza Case,
Peter Bruzee,
Reuben W. Stevens,
Dudley L. VanAuken,
Lucinda Crittenden,
Mary N. Doty,
Chloe Humphrey,
Mrs. Roaman Cooper,         1832
Mrs. Philomela Cooper,
David S_tfris,
Lois Cooper,
Rachael Burnett
Rousona Bainbridge,

This finishes up to the time that the church was organized at Vienna.

SOME EARLY MARRIAGES BY REV. C. M. MOSHER.

John Melvin and Catherine Flint,             1815 [or 1816 very hard to read]
Imley Prescott and Maria Cross,
Stuart Parker and Charlotte Gates,
Rufus Streeter and Orpha Brusee
Desbrow Taylor and Mary Jacobs,
Noah Crittenden and Mrs, Shattuck,         1817
Freeman Robers and Rebecca Woolson,
Kellogg and Wetmore,
Robert Halliday and Rhoda Ward,
Thomas Smith and Pamelia Landon,
Wm. Hubbard and Sopia Gates
W. Partridge and Miss Crum
J. Hovey and Polly Harris
Joseph Annis and Sally Widham
Lettie Paine and Salome Phillips,
Daniel Trowbridge and Sally Blenplay
Andrew Haville and Jane Miller,
John Elman and Esther Olmstead,
Thomas Annis and Sarah Brace,             1818
H.D. Williams and Mary A. Bardwell,
John Turnbull and Mary Cahonen,
John Humpgrey and Pollina Wiggins
Eli Dickinson and Mary Pullen,
Name obliterated and Dolly Dickinson,
Daniel Gates and Maria Boyd,
Wm. Parmalee and Atherine Wright,         1819
Harvey Dean and Mary Crosby,
Carpenter and Smith,
Hugh Humphrey and Phoebe Wiggins,
Nathan Raid [or Rald or Bald] and Sally Chase
Daniel Shattack and Chloe Crittenden,

Many of the above names were obliterated and consequently there will be mistakes.

These marriages were all performed by the Rev. Charles Mosher during his pastorate from 1816 to 1819.

There seems to be no record of marriages during the incumbency of pastors Brace and Strong.

It is exceedingly desirable, in this, our centennial year, that as much of our town's past history as possible may be preserved.

An original Town Historical Society with a paid Secretary, would be the proper thing, to insure thorough work and permanency, with preservation of records.

We thus close the hasty glance of our early religious history, and cannot but admire the sturdy manhood, and strict Integrity tenacity of purpose, and conscientious devotion to religious principles, of the noble men and women, who founded and left unto us so rich a heritage.

It would be befitting as we take leave of the century, to erect a suitable monument to their memory, so that in the generations to come, it may be said that we were not "degenerate sons of Noble ancestry." and we enter upon another century, may we be stimulated to higher and nobler endeavors, ever sustaining the right and condemning the wrong, reaching out to a pure and ennobling citizenship.

A PHELPSTONIAN

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