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.

Spinner Volumes of Vital Records

Perhaps we might better continue the description here of the vital statistics of both churches. In the interim between Rev. Rosencrantz and Rev. Spinner no records were kept by Rev. Pick. But Mr. Spinner took up the records so scrupulously kept by Mr. Rosencrantz and pursued his task until 1848. There are three Spinner volumes of vital records, namely, the Birth and Baptismal records for both churches (1801-1810), the Confirmation records for both churches (1802-1840), the Marriages for each church (1801-1829) and the Deaths (1802-1831). A second volume of Fort Herkimer statistics alone covers the Baptisms of 1811-1847, the Marriages for both churches during 1831-1847, and the Deaths covering the period of 1832-1847. Then there is a third volume for German Flatts only that covers the Births and Baptisms from 1811 to 1847. Rev. Spinner frequently employed a cross in his records, thereby indicating a death.

Rev. Mr. Cox says in his history that at the beginning of the pastorate of Mr. Spinner the German Flatts congregation was the larger owing to the people who attended from Columbia, Warren, Manheim, Little Falls and other places.

Why Baptisms Were Not Recorded

Under date of December 1814, in a Latin note of record, Mr. Spinner deplores the fact that so few persons are willing to have the birth of their children recorded, partly through fear of cost of the same, which was tow shillings, and also because certain "fanatics" think that baptism is an absolutely senseless act. It is noted that while the German Flatts baptisms from 1802 through 1810 averaged one hundred and twenty annually, in 1811 they had fallen off to forty-four. At least that was the number registered but undoubtedly the birth rate had kept up. Under date of Dec. 17, 1835, the thirty-fourth year of his pastorate, Domine Spinner tabulates the statistics as follows.-- Received into the church, 1000; Married 692; Funerals 649; Baptized 3449. In this same 1813 report Mr. Spinner reported 750 children in the German Flatts congregation and 60 Africans. In 1824 Herkimer reported 395 members and German Flatts 290. After this the congregations declined so that in 1834 Herkimer had 210 members and German Flatts 121.