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.

Domine Spinner's Family Record

To show the individualistic way that Domine Spinner had of recording vital statistics, we present his records of the birth of his four sons "January 21st, 1802, Thursday, in Germanflatts, about four o'clock in the morning in the sign of the Virgin, (two days and twelve hours before the full moon), was born Francis Elias, legitimate child, first born of John Peter Spinner, pastor of Germanflatts and Herkimer, and Maria Magdalena Fidelis, born Brument, the sponsors being the uncles of Francis Spinner. . . . both residing in German. Their places were supplied by William Clapsattle, Colonel, in the same. A destructive fire occurring on the 8th destroyed my pleasing project and under pressure of necessity William Clapsattle alone acted as sponsor in the house of the widow Shumacher on the 12th of February, 1802. The domine records the births of the second son, John Daniel, as taking place "August 23rd, 1803, in Herkimer at 11:45, noon, in the sign of the Scorpion (the sun entering the Virgin two days and three hours before the first quarter of the moon.") The third son, John Peter Benedict, was "born May 16, 1805, in the sign of the archer, the third hour after breakfast." A fourth son, Jacob William, "was born October 27, 1808, at 3:30 A.M. in the sign of the water carrier (Aquarius), the moon being full.

Rev. Spinner's financial troubles at German Flatts were unceasing, while at Herkimer the question of English preaching would not down. For two years Domine Spinner (while at German Flatts) preached at Riemensnyders Bush. Rev. Ketchum organized a rival church both at German Flatts and at Herkimer. The Herkimer church was burned in 1834, and Mrs. Spinner withdrew from it May 1, 1841. But there are records kept by him up to the time of the decease almost, May 27, 1848.

"The records do not show that any final settlement was ever made of the arrears of salary owed him. Domine Spinner was a really great man; there was a humanness about him common to all; perhaps his records, while complete yet caustic in severe condemnation of his enemies, were meant to be a private diary in keeping with priestly customs; our Christian charity will overlook much but our sense of justice will ever lead us to appreciate the unwritten story of his Christ and the Herkimer and Fort Herkimer churches. Classis on May 18, 1843, directed that supplies be sent to the church to preach in English, and out of the glebe rents $75.00 was recommended to pay for the same. Rev. Mr. Spinner at this time was receiving $100.00 a year, and the consistory was even at that behind in his pay. Consistory agreed to this arrangement, the same to begin in May, 1843. On April 14, 1844, the consistory voted to call Rev. Jediah L. Stark to preach in the English language. Classis approved the calls on Mr. Stark from German Flatts and Mohawk on April 16, 1844, and he was installed the third Wednesday in May. Mr. Spinner presided at the meetings of Consistory at German Flatts until Sept. 21, 1845. From April 19, 1846, Rev. Stark signed the minutes as President of that body, Until the decease of Mr. Spinner, 1848, the statistical reports of the Classis of Montgomery carried the names of both men as co-pastors at German Flatts. Mr. Stark was the last settled pastor at Fort Herkimer. After a ministry of nearly a decade he left the church but returned to it for a two years' service in 1862 and 1863, in which latter year he died. In the interim the church was supplied by nearby pastors. The statistical records for 1865-1885 are missing. An old subscription lists shows that Rev. Stark gave a year's salary toward repairs to the church. Later this same thing was done by Rev. John H. Brandow and Rev. C. W. Kinney. These men were entitled to the glebe rentals but when they were collected and paid over to them, they in turn, paid them back for said repairs. Rev. Jeremiah Petrie, a native of Herkimer and living there at the time, supplied the pulpit through 1864-1865. He was present at the Consistory meeting April 20, 1863 and Rev. Mr. Gardiner of Herkimer was present March 12, 1863.

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