New Horizons Genealogy

"Specializing in New England and New York Colonial American Ancestry"


Pastors Of The
Reformed Dutch Church
Town of Durham
Greene County New York


Try our genealogy search engine


PASTORS OF THE CHURCH


VAN VLIERDEN, Petrus, 1794 to 1797? He supplied Oak Hill, while pastor at Katsbaen (?). There is no evidence in the church record that he was at Oak Hill, 1792-1794, as stated in the Reformed Church Manual. The first evidence of his labors at Oak Hill, was when he received members on July 7, 1794; see page 52. His first baptisms in the congregation were administered on Aug. 7, 1794. It is not possible to determine from the data available when his labors came to a close, as his handwriting does not appear in the record. He received members for the last time on July 16, 1796. In the absence of information to the contrary in the record of baptisms, it may be assumed that his last baptisms were administered on Feb. 18, 1798.

LABAGH, Peter, Mar. 2, 1798 to May 21, 1809. Called by Catskill and Oak Hill, Feb. 20, 1798. Received members at Oak Hill, Mar. 2, 1798. Commenced his regular ministerial labors in May, 1798. Dismissed, May 21, 1809.

SCHERMERHORN, Cornelius D., Nov. 1809 to May 21, 1818. These dates appear on page 1. During this pastorate Mr. Schermerhorn was in a peculiar position. He was a member of the Classis of Montgomery and the Oak Hill congregation was probably a member of the Classis of Albany. He was pastor of Schoharie Kill, Blenheim and Dyse's Manor, neighboring churches in the Classis of Montgomery, beginning in the yr. 1802. He took his dismission from Blenheim, Apr. 17, 1807; from Schoharie Kill, Nov. 27, 1809; and from Dyse's Manor, Jan. 1, 1814. Because his salary was not settled, the Classis of Montgomery did not approve the dismission from these charges, until Sept. 24, 1816. At the meeting of the Classis of Montgomery on May 6, 1817, it was "ordered" that Rev. John F. Schermerhorn install Rev. Cornls D. Schermerhorn in the congregation of Oak Hill before the next meeting." The fact that he had not been regularly dismissed from his charges had prevented his installation before. His dismission from Oak Hill was approved by the Classis, on May 29, 1818.

Thereafter, the congregation was supplied by Winslow Paige, Jacob Van Vechten, Peter Van Zandt, Abraham Fort and possibly, others.

OSTRANDER, Stephen, Feb. 12, 1824 to Mar. 1, 1831. At first, he supplied the church as Missionary from the Missionary Society of the Reformed Dutch Church. He presided at a meeting of the Consistory on Feb. 12, 1824, when a Consistory was elected and ordained the members in office, on the 29th. He made an agreement with the Consistory to serve the church, in Mar. He states in his own handwriting that he called in Apr.; see p. 1. The minutes state that the call was made out, presented and approved, on June 3, 1824; see orig. p. 241. He was installed Pastor, on Sept. 9, 1824. Mr. Ostrander's entire pastorate at Oak Hill was attended with severe labor and great hardship, owing to the small congregation and correspondingly meagro (?) salary. The minutes appear to indicate that Mr. Ostrander had to work hard all the week [probably at farming] to support himself. Several times during his pastorate, an effort was made to establish another church in adjacent fields, in order to obtain more financial support. On Sept. 25, 1824, a committee was appointed to secure a lot of land and erect a house of worship in the southern part of the Town of Durham. On June 25, 1825, the committee reported that they had agreed on the site, obtained the ground and raised nearly $400. It was recommended that the new church (when built) be united with Oak Hill and be under the care of the same Consistory. On Feb. 9, 1828, it was decided to circulate two subscription lists, as alternative proposals. The first for the continuation of the whole of the regular services at Oak Hill. The second to have half the services at Oak Hill and the other half at Potter's Hollow, Preston Hollow, or in the Town of Durham, depending upon which of these three subscribed the most. The largest of the two subscriptions was to be acccepted. On Apr. 7, 1830, the Consistory found that they would be unable to support the whole of the Gospel service, for the ensuing (?) yr. A committee was appointed to confer with Westerlo as to the prospects of a union. On May 1, the committee reported that Westerlo had made other arrangements. It was resolved to circulate a subscription amounting to $84.00, for 12 Sabbaths, in the yr. commencing Apr. 19. On Mar. 1, 1831, Mr. Ostrander was dismissed after a friendly settlement of accounts.

STRYKER, Peter, June to Aug. 1832, Supply. He was engaged for 3 mos., from the 2nd Sun. in June. He administered baptisms on June 24 and July 1.