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.

Some Fort Herkimer Church Records

We copy two that are commentary of the temperance issue of that day. In the temperance issue of that day. (Obviously there is a problem with the book in this place; this is exactly what it says. ajb) In dolph Steal were sent to Albany as lobbyists to secure legislation favorable to the legal acquisition by the German Flatts church of the Glebe that they might collect the rents. On their return from a successful errand they presented the following bill to the church: "1797 February 7th, to Liquors at Different places, 4 shilling; Paid John Fondays for 3 suppers 3 quarts Cyr; 8th 3 Lodgings 1-2 gill of gin, 10 shillings, six pence; from Schenectady paid Johnson Schenectady 1 grog 1 supper & lodg., 3 shilling; 9th, 1 glass bitters & Stage to Albany (8 p 17 shillings, six pence; to and in Albany 2 dinners and glass punch 9 shillings; to Cash paid Baxter and Printer for receit., 3 pounds, 3 shilling; to Cash paid Meyers for getting the papers from New York 8 shillings; from 10 to 16th Included to sundries in liquors 8 shillings; to 1 1/2 days boarding and liquors at Grain's in Albany as per Receit 5 pounds 11 shillings; for shafing 1 shilling, 6 pence; to one plain writing book 12 shillings (back of vill shows it was paid less this item); to bread and Cheese for on way home 2 liquor to Schndy, 4 shillings 6 pence; at Alsober's Schonecy for Liquors and Lodgings 3 shilling 6 pence; to passage from Albany home 9 shillings; my shay and horses to Schonecy 3 days, 2 pounds 1 shilling 4 pence; to Cash paid for a Letter from Gold 10 pence; Total bill: 16 pounds 8 shillings, 8 pence."

Early Bookkeeping

Another account is found in a bill rendered to the Consistory by Domine Spinner, in an effort to get the Church to square up accounts with him. The bill was rendered in June, 1815, and goes back to the time of the beginning of his work at German Flatts, July 4, 1801. This fourteen years' account is most minute in the details of receipts and expenses and begins with the above date, which marks the actual contract between the church and Rev. Mr. Spinner.

"1801 on the 4th of July--11 weeks' lodging in the City of New York at $4 per week, $44; 77 days' Boarding at $1 pr day $77; 1 Barrel of Beer--$5; 24 Bottles Claret $9, for washing twelve shillings per week, $16.50; 1-2 Coard fire wood & splitting, 25 cts; for transporting house furniture to the ship, paying freight and expenses incurred in my voyage to Germanflats $25, ($177), on quarterly salary advanced; & paid in part $125. Res, $52 * * * etc. etc. * * * all of which is generously Submitted by a much neglected but honest Man."

When the general religious corporation law was enacted April 8, 1784, the German Flatts church took steps at once to conform to it, and on July 9, 1784, declared their corporate title to be, "The Trustees of the Reformed Church of the German Flatts District in the County of Montgomery." The officers of the church who signed were Jacob Beshorn and Marcus M. R. Rasbaugh, the witnesses being Christian Hess and James Yule. It was acknowledged before Jacob G. Klock, Jun 21, 1785 and recorded August 13, 1785. When certain amendments were made to the Religious Corporation Law, Mar. 7, 1788, the German Flatts Church redeclared their trusteeship, and title as "The Ministers, Elders and Deacons of Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of German Flatts, in the County of Herkimer." The officers signing are: William Clapsattle, John Eiseman, John Frank, Frederick Frank, Rudolph Steele, John Rasbach, Lawrence Shoemaker and Nicholas Steel. It was acknowledged before Hugh White on Jan. 30, 1797, and recorded the same day by A. Breese, Deputy Col. Clerk. The County Clerk's office at Herkimer was burned in April, 1804 and this certificate of incorporation was again recorded May 24, 1827.

In the coverless and dilapidated record of the consistory of the German Flatts church, covering the period of 1802 through 1824 there are not many minutes recorded, and those that are there are mainly financial discussion. The clerk did not think it necessary, often, to give more than the month and year. The elders in the 1802 meeting were, George Rosencrantz, Jacob Casler, Andrew Calpsattle, and the deacons were Jacob C. Folts, Christopher Shoemaker, and Andrew Piper. The next meeting recorded is of April, 1804, the next of May, 1805 and the next undated. There was a meeting on July 2, 1806 and another Jan. 18, 1807. Just prior to the Jan. 3, 1810 minutes the minister, Rev. Mr. Spinner, writes, "Consistory minutes have either been concealed or mislaid by the treasurer, John Frank, for a series of years. . . . congregation matters being recorded in the Herkimer minutes." In 1805 the German Flatts church decided to engage a singing master and secured the services of Philip P. Cowder at $15.00 a year to teach the youth and lead the choir. But they neglected to pay him for five years, so at the meeting of Sept. 19, 1810, they voted to pay the singing master out of the money that had been collected for alms.