First Congregational Church, Paterson, NJ Accession Number: 1998.5.1
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Collection: First Congregational Church, Paterson, NJ Accession Number: 1998.5.1 (formerly First Free Independent Presbyterian Church) Finding Aid Date Range: 1839-1973 Creator: Unknown Containers: 6 flip-top document boxes Storage Location: PCHS Library and Archives Aid Created By: Helen F. Berkenbush, Volunteer Biographical Information: Information gleaned from Ecclesiastical History of Paterson, NJ, indicates that the original First Congregational Church of Paterson was founded in 1836 as the First Free Independent Presbyterian Church. The church changed its name several times over the next several years and in early 1853 the membership voted to join the Congregational Association. The name was legally changed to “The Congregational Church of Paterson” and was officially reorganized on May 4, 1853. A large classic brick church was built at 113 Auburn Street, corner of Van Houten Street, in 1870. In 1882 the corporate name of the society was “The Auburn Street Congregational Church” and amended to the “First Congregational Church” October 10, 1917 and in 1921 the congregation was reincorporated. On January 14, 1973 the congregation voted to disband. The Paterson Board of Education purchased the 137 year old landmark building and the church was formally dissolved on September 1, 1973. Individuals mentioned in this collection include: Ackerman Blauvelt Blundell Butler Collection: First Congregational Church, Paterson, NJ Accession Number: 1998.5.1 (formerly First Free Independent Presbyterian Church) Chase Chiswell Crane Crosby Day Demarest Derrom Doerflinger Doremus Driscoll Garrison Griffith Griggs Halsted Hart Heywood Holden Hopper Irish King Marshall Merselis Collection: First Congregational Church, Paterson, NJ Accession Number: 1998.5.1 (formerly First Free Independent Presbyterian Church) Rowe Ryle Terhune Thurston Tuttle Van Blarcom Vanderhoven Van Gieson Van Peer Van Winkle Westervelt Wurts Businesses and organizations mentioned in this collection include: Passaic Water Company First National Bank Paterson Gas and Light Company Merchant's Loan and Trust Company Ladies Hospital Association of Market Street Curran Bowering Manufacturing Co Union Methodist Church of Totowa Erie Railway Company Collection: First Congregational Church, Paterson, NJ Accession Number: 1998.5.1 (formerly First Free Independent Presbyterian Church) Passaic Brick Company Fuller's Paterson Express Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co J. R. Smith Coal Yard Totowa Presbyterian Church Ladies Aid Society Young Woman's Guild Y.M.C.A. Phoenix Silk Mills Sigma Alpha Phi Sorority Young Peoples Fellowship Girl Scout Troop #13 Middle Atlantic Conference of Christian Churches Boy Scouts Paterson Council of Churches First Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood Cedar Cliff United Methodist Church, Haledon NJ Broadway Baptist Church Paterson School Board Scope Note and Content: Collection: First Congregational Church, Paterson, NJ Accession Number: 1998.5.1 (formerly First Free Independent Presbyterian Church) This collection contains a variety of materials including letters of dismissal and reception, marriage records, financial documents, bills, minutes of the meetings, bonds, membership lists, commemorative programs, ledgers and correspondence. Series: At the writing of this finding aid, the collection had already been organized topically and organized into folders by subject matter and date organization. While compiling this finding aid, some of the material was reorganized to make the date order complete. According to the accession record for this donation, the collection originally included photographs. The photographs are no longer included with the other archival material. It is believed that they were removed and housed with the photograph collection. If they are found and identified in the photograph collection while will be given the 1998.5.2- accession numbers. Collection: First Congregational Church, Paterson, NJ Accession Number: 1998.5.1 Collection: First Congregational Church, Paterson, NJ Accession Number: 1998.5.1 (formerly First Free Independent Presbyterian Church) Box List BOX 1 File 1 – Mortgage of First Free Independent Presbyterian Church, May 22, 1840 1. Photocopy of 3 pages referring to the First Free Independent Presbyterian Church from the Ecclesiastical History of Paterson NJ, published by the Passaic County Historical Society Genealogy Club, 2011. 2. Mortgage papers issued May 21, 1840 between The First Free Independent Presbyterian Church of Paterson and Cornelius G. Garrison of the Township of Paterson, in the amount of $1700.00 for property on Congress Street. 3. Statement for building supplies from Issac Van Blarcom dated January 5, 1850 for supplies delivered in 1848 in the amount of $ 33.20 and receipt of payments. 4. First indenture made this fifteenth day of February 1843 between the First Free Independent Presbyterian Church in Paterson and Benjamin Crane of Paterson in the amount of $1140.00 for land and premises on Congress Street. File 2 – Indenture of May 20, 1850 1. Indenture dated May 20, 1850 between the First Free Independent Presbyterian Church of Paterson and Mr. John Ryle in the amount of $2,500.00 for a parcel of land on Congress Street, Paterson NJ. 2. Receipt dated July 2, 1857 indicating final and full payment of above referred Indenture of May 20, 1850. File 3 - Letters to Trustees Collection: First Congregational Church, Paterson, NJ Accession Number: 1998.5.1 (formerly First Free Independent Presbyterian Church) 1. 4-sided letter to the Trustees and Members of the Free Presbyterian Church from John Cunningham dated February 3, 1851 submitting his resignation as pastor due to health and a desire to secure additional time for further studies. 2. 2-sided letter from Samuel D. Cochran to Messrs. B. Crane and O. Vaughn, dated April 15, 1851 referring to a letter he received from them advising him of his being invited to be their pastor at a salary of $600 a year paid monthly. The letter indicated it was “almost unanimous” but he would like further information as he would like to be pastor to “all” of the members, he would accept their call. File 4 – Mortgage and Bond of 1857 1. Copy of an Indenture dated July 1, 1857 between the first Congregational Church and Cornelius I Merselis of the City of Paterson in the amount of $2800.00 for what appears to be additional property on Congress Street. 2. Receipt Mr, Blauvelt for $100.00 for services rendered dated July 2, 1857 for processing above mentioned Indenture. 3. Formal Bond contract made between the First Congregational Church and Cornelius Merselis in the amount of $5,600 dated July 1, 1857. Notations on attached sheet indicate dates of interest paid. File 5 – This file consists of various financial papers and receipts of the 1850's: 1. Treasurer's report from Wright Flavell dated April 12, 1854. 2. List of bills in arrears and to be paid dated Nov. 23, 1854. 3. Statement from Connecticut Clock Company, New York dated January 19, 1855 in the amount of $6.00 for an 8-day church clock. 4. List of “subscribers” with promises to pay sums for a leader of the choir dated May, 1855. 5. List of subscribers promises to pay the sums indicated to the Trustees for the purpose of paying the choir, dated May 1855. 6. Receipt from C. B. King & Co. dated April 10, 1857 in the amount of $5.00 for printing services. 7. Receipt of payment from Francis J. Manson dated May 25, 1857 in the amount of $10.00 for 5 weeks of Board Minutes. 8. Statement from the Paterson Gas Light Co dated June 1, 1857 in the amount of $5.32 for consumption from March 1 to June 1, 1857. Collection: First Congregational Church, Paterson, NJ Accession Number: 1998.5.1 (formerly First Free Independent Presbyterian Church) 9. Two receipts on one sheet from Albert A. Prince dated June 8, 1857 in the amounts of $50.00 and $75.00 respectfully for pulpit supply services. 10. Statement from Vanderhoven, Irish & Co dated July 1, 1857 in the amount of $1.00 for advertising of meetings. 11. Receipt from Albert A. Prince dated July 8, 1857 in the amount of $105.00 for pulpit supply services. 12. Statement from Israel Minor & Co dated August 1, 1857 in the discounted amount of $3.55 for paint supplies. 13. Statement from the Paterson Gas Light Co. dated September 1, 1857 in the amount of $6.84 for consumption from June 1 to September 1, 1857. 14. Payment from Albert A. Prince dated September 10, 1857 in the amount of $75.00 for what appears to be an overpayment. 15. Receipt from D. Romaine dated November 6, 1857 in the amount of $4.50 for a cord of wood. 16. Receipt from John Burkanz dated November 12, 1857 in the amount of $2.25 for ½ cord of wood. 17. Statement from the Paterson Gas Light Company dated December 1, 1857 in the amount of $4.75 for consumption between September 1 to December 1, 1857. 18. Statement from Flavell & Co dated January 5, 1858 in the amount of $12.00 for three cords of wood. 19. Receipt from Cornelius Marselis dated January 10, 1858 in the amount of $100.00 for full interest up to the first of January 1859. 20. Statement from Phelps, Dodge & Co dated January 13, 1858 in the amount of $10.98 for metal materials. 21. Statement from E. B. King & Co dated January 22, 1858 in the amount of $1.00 for gas fixtures/supplies. 22. Receipt of payment for posters and tickets for a lecture dated January 28, 1958 from Guardian 23. Steam Job Printing Office in the amount of $4.88. 24. Invoice dated February 6, 1858 from Mr. Johnson to W. West, city bell ringer and bill poster for the posting of 75 bills. 25. Statement from Vanderhoven, Irish & Co dated February 6, 1858 in the amount of $3.00 for 100 ½ sheet posters. 26. Receipt from H. I. Marselis dated February 22, 1858 in the amount of $50.00 as part interest on bond dated July 1, 1857.