Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys

History of The OLD FORT HERKIMER CHURCH
German Flatts Reformed Church, 1723
By W. N. P. Dailey, D. D.
Published by the
St. Johnsville Enterprise and News
Lou D. MacWethy, editor
St. Johnsville, NY (Price 35 cents)

Thanks to Betty Hoagey for sending this for the web site!

Organized in 1723. Land given 1730 and 1773. Present edifice begun about 1730. A story of the Palatine people and their early struggles. Many names of first settlers. By Rev. W. N. P. Dailey, DD. Author of History of the Montgomery Classis, R.C.A.

Fort Herkimer Church Edifice

Over the original entrance to the stone church, facing the river, is still to be seen, carved rudely in the stone, what is supposed to be the initials of Johan or Jost Herkimer, (J. H. E.), and the date, "1767", the date of the completion of the edifice. (The "E" means Erbault," builder.) Undoubtedly the religious services of the people on the south side were conducted in their school house which the 1730 deed of church land expressly states was already built on said land. It probably was a log school house as it was only five years that the Palatines had been settled in the country. We do not know when the present stone church was begun but it was just like the Herkimers not to be satisfied with the rude school building as a house of worship, accustomed to a better one in the old country, as it was indicative of their progressive spirit not to be content with the first house that they had raised in the wilderness for a home but by 1740 had erected a commodious stone house which later was suited as an impregnable defense against any enemy, no matter how many or how strong. When Johan Jost Herkimer built this stone house in 1740 there was a store attached and the place became a river "port" and was known as "Herkimers." When the house was fortified it was inside the defense and the British referred to the post as "Fort Kouari" (Bear). During the French and Indian War the construction of the church edifice had progressed sufficiently to allow it to be used as a place of refuge after being palisaded. Both fort and church played an important part in this war. After Oswego was captured it was the extreme British outpost. This was before Fort Stanwix was built in 1758. Fort Herkimer played a great part in all the military expeditions that traveled through the Mohawk Valley to the conquest of Niagara, Frontenac, Oswego and the planned conquest of Canada by Gen. Amherst's army of 1,000 marching through the valley in 1760.

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