Evening star., 1909-07-19
Interesting History of the Place
Recalled.
SETTLEMENT BY REFUGEES
Some Of the Curious Early Customs
Described-one Of the Most I'm
portant Places in Country.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Specia! Correspondence of The Star aud ta
Chicago Record-Herald.


ston will be celebrated during the third
week of September next. beginning Sun.
day. the 18th. and continuing until Thurs
day, the 10th Kingston was founded In
1858, ard the 25Oth anniversary Of the
town was celebrated year ago. This
church was organized a little more than
one year after the settlement of the place
which was originally called Esopus. and
for many years was one of three Dutch
churches in New Netherland having a
clergyman of it's own.
, 1t was In 1909 that Hendrix Hudson
kingston point, at the mouth OF Rond-
out creek. In 1910 the first trading ship
followed. In 1852 party of Dutch
and English refugees from political and
religious oppression in the old country
revolted against the tyranny of the
Pstroon Of Rensselaerwyck. and. led by
Thomas Chambers. an Englishman, pur
chased tract Of land lying along the
Esopus creek and settled here. They or
gsnized a town IN 1858. Gov. Stuyvesant
/, granted them charter In 1861, under the
| name Wildwyck. which signifies Indian
place Eighteen years later 1t was
changed to Kingston. in honor Of the
! home town of Lovelace. the colonial gov.
ernor OF the New Netherlands.
| The first settlers were pious people, but
they were hard fighters. They organized
their church as soon as they built their
houses. and In 1875 the New Netherland
Company erected one of its three forti-
fed trading posts ON the Hudson here.
! Until after the revolutionary period
Kingston was one Of the most important
lature Of New York held it's first sessions
here in what Is known as the Senate
House. the dwelling of that sturdy pa
triot, Abraham Van Gasbeck, built by
Col. Vessel Ten Brock In 1876, and
afterward the home Of Gen. John Arm.
strong. Madison's Secretary Of War and
| later United States minister to France. A
few years ago the property was bought
by the state and has since been pre-
colonial and revolutionary relies, in
charge of Mr.. Lucius Schoonmaker,
| descendant Of one of the most prominent
local families.
This was the first statehouse OF New
ernor Of the state. was inaugurated with
In its walls. in 177T The fourth pro-
yincial congress which met at White
Plains: Westchester county. July 9. 1776.
independence. adjourned to Kingston.
The constitution of New York state was
written in this building by John Jay.
after consulting with Robert r. Living
Norris and other patriots The constitu-
tion was adopted afterward at the old
Bogardus Inn at the corner Of Maiden
Lane and Fair street In New York city.
The centennial anniversary Of Clin-
toms Inauguration was celebrated in the
senate house July o., 1877. with appro-
pirate ceremonies. The Supreme Court
Of the United States, with John jay as
chief Justice. held its flrst term at Kings
ton. Gov. Clinton married Corneiia Tap.
pen at Kingston. and their son was edu-
Gated here.
The Kingston Academy. In which De-
witt Clinton. Edward Livingston. Thomas
Dewitt, Steven Van Rensselaer,. Abra-
ham Van Vechten and other revolution
airy worthless received their education. IL
| still standing. and portion OF the pres
ent courthouse and city hail dates back
gether the most interesting Of the many
venerable buildings In the city ia the old
Dutch Church.
The Old Dutch Church.
1t occupied unique position. because
Of the fact that it was entirely inde.
pendent OF the synod from 1859 until
1908. and called it's ministers from Hoi-
land. 1t is probable that public wor.
ship has been held on this spot longer
than In any other place in the United
States. It has never been interrupted
since the beginning except for q few
weeks after the British general
Vaughan burned the town. Many OF
the pews are still owned by descendants
of the original owners and In the last
reconstruction Of the ediflce their pews
| were placed over the burial vaults of
their ancestors In the crypt, SO that
each family now worships sitting upon
the graves Of Its own dead. When the
old Dutch Church on Nassau street, New
York. the first to be established on Man
| haitian Island, was torn down. the tab
let's bearing inscriptions were taken to
Kingston and set In the walls OF this
n nayxp tn S9ao
communion service was presented by
Queen Anne.
The church occupies the center Of a
large square in the business section of
| stately old trees surrounding It. The
graves were placed in even rows, with the
head toward the church. which gives the
| tombstones a regular and symmetrical
| appearance. They date back to the lat
| ter part Of the seventeenth century. and
| some of them have crumbled so that the
inscriptions are defaced. The church is
| built of irregular stone; the walls are
roof is low. while the spire rises from the
| rear instead of the front.
History Inscribed on Tablet.
ciety Is related In an inscription upon a
door. as follows:
| 'Tbe Reformed Protestant Dutch Church
| OF the town Of Kingston,
| IN Ulster County.
| This church was organized In 1863
| And chartered Nov. II, 17l0, under
| His Majesty, George, King Of Great
| Britain; was served until Dec. 1903.
by pastors educated In the Univer-
| sity OF Holland. who preached in
| Dutch. The first sermon by the
| first pastor was delivered Sept.
| II, 1860. by whom the Lords supper
| was frst administered on the 26th
| Of the following December. 4 min
| listers house was built in 1861.
! which subsequently used both
for religious dutys and civil
a6ayres. In 1879 stone church
erected on the southwest cor
| ner Of this lot. which edifcc
was notably improved in 1721 ard
rebuilt and dedicated Nov