SC19680
17 boxes (8 cu.ft.)
Open to research
Gift, St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church, Albany, N.Y., November 1990
Susan R. Bertot, Intern, State University of New York at Albany, March 1993
Historical Note:
Anglican services in Albany began in 1708 with the Reverend Thomas Ellison conducting services in the fort at Albany. Services were held in the Lutheran church from 1709 to 1715. The first St. Peter's church was built and consecrated, in 1716, as the first Protestant Anglican church west of the Hudson and north of New York City. The church stood at the corner of State and Chapel streets, one block down from the present building.
During the year 1751 renovations and the addition of a steeple and bell to the church were made under the rectorship of Rev. John Ogilvie. The charter of incorporation was granted by King George III to St. Peter's in 1769.
The Revolutionary War was a time of conflict for the Anglican Church, and the church was closed until 1785, when services resumed. In 1789 the church's original charter with the title of "The rector and inhabitants of the city of Albany in communion of the Protestant Episcopal Church in New York" was confirmed.
Negotiations began in 1796 for a new church building. In 1803, the second St. Peter's church, located on Lodge and State streets, the location of the present church building, was consecrated. Renovations on the land occurred in 1822 with the erection of the steeple and renovations and repairs on the church. In 1831 the building of the second rectory and the renovation of the original building for a Sunday school and lecture room was completed.
The second St. Peter's was declared unsafe in 1857. Services were held in the Geological Hall from 1858 to 1860 until the next church was completed on the site of the 1803 building. The Gothic building stands to this day on Lodge and State streets. A memorial rectory was built in 1895.
Scope and Content Note:
This collection consists of the records of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church in Albany, New York. The bulk of these records consists of financial vouchers and collection lists dating from 1816 to 1915; legal and real estate documents dating from 1791 to 1895; and building records dating from 1803 to 1895. The earliest records are the transcribed letters of Rev. Thomas Barclay from 1708 and the church's financial book from 1718; the latest records are printed services from 1915. Of special interest are the bound volumes of vital records, 1756-1869; vestry minutes, 1802-1888; church financial books, 1718-1828; printed materials of services and hymns, and photographs of the church throughout its history. In addition there are omitted appendices from Joseph Hooper's A History of St. Peter's Church in the City of Albany, the official published church history; the diary of John Ogilvie (1750-1759), and the memorial dedication to Lord Viscount Howe. There is related material concerning the financial crisis of 1842-43, which includes printed statements of the church, and resulting pew leases and rent increases.
Series Description:
- Vital Records, 1756-1883, Boxes 1-3:
Bound volumes containing marriages, births, deaths, communicants, and lists of parishioners. - Vestry Minutes, Church Books, Reports, and Correspondence, 1708-1888, Boxes 4-7, Folder 3:
Bound volumes of vestry minutes, 1802-1888; church financial books of records, 1718-1828; letters of Rev. Thomas Barclay, 1708-1722; diary of John Ogilvie, 1750-1759; letters of appointments and denials to church positions; letters and reports on the state of St. Peter's church. - Printed Material, 1865-1915, Box 7, Folders 4-7; Box 16:
Statement concerning the conflict with Rev. Doane, 1868; services, invitations, Christmas carols, newspaper, 1874-1913; omitted appendices to A History of St. Peter's Church in the City of Albany (1899); dedication of the memorial tablet to Lord Viscount Howe, 1894-1914. - Financial Records, 1718-1910, Box 7, Folders 8-11; Boxes 8-13:
Collection lists, 1816-1842; vouchers and treasurer's reports, 1789-1910; canceled checks; ladies' subscription list and vouchers, 1820; rector's receipts, 1820-25; statements of debt by St. Peter's to parishioners, 1841-1842; pew lists, leases, and sales, 1833-1854; juvenile retreat vouchers and forms, 1853-1866; auditor's reports, 1904-1910. - Building and Maintenance, 1802-1895, Box 14, Folders 1-11:
Reports, vouchers, and orders concerning the property and buildings of St. Peter's Church; vouchers and reports for the building of St. Peter's Church, the excavation of bodies in the cemetery; the rectory, 1802-07; building of steeple, 1822-1823; repairs to the church and the building of a new rectory, 1851-1869; building receipts for the new church, 1859-1861; an article on the church, 1895. - Legal and Real Estate Documents, 1791-1895, Box 14, Folders 12-15; Box 15:
Insurance policies, 1833-1854; church leases, 1791-1842; sale of lands, quit claim deeds, mortgages, legal disputes, 1792-1895; sale of church lots, 1844, 1849-50. - Photographs, 1708-1899, Box 17:
Views of former and current buildings; views of the interior and the exterior of the current church, the Queen Anne communion silver, and the land patent; photographs of ministers.
Container List:
Box | Folder/ | Contents |
|---|---|---|
Vital Records, 1756-1883 | ||
1 | 1 | Register, 1756-1768
|
1 | 2 | Register, 1768-1775
|
1 | 3 | Register, 1787-1809
|
2 | 1 | List of Parishioners, 1816 |
2 | 2 | Register of marriages, 1810-1855 |
2 | 3 | Register of baptisms, 1810-1855 |
3 | 1 | Register, 1855-1869
|
3 | 2 | Register, 1870-1883
|
Vestry Minutes, Church Books, Reports, and Correspondence, 1708-1888 | ||
4 | 1 | Vestry Minutes, 1802-1816 |
4 | 2 | Vestry Minutes, 1816-1851 |
5 | 1 | Vestry Minutes, 1852-1888 (1v.) |
6 | 1 | Church Book, 1712-1770 (1v.) |
6 | 2 | Church Book, 1819-1828 (1v.) |
6 | 3 | Church Book extracts, 1910 (1v.) |
7 | 1 | Typed transcripts of letters of Reverend Thomas Barclay, 1708-1722 |
7 | 2 | Copy of Rev. John Ogilvie diary, 1750-1759 (Original in vault -V19680) |
Church correspondence, 1785-1841 | ||
7 | 3 | Resolution of Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, 1785 |
7 | 3 | Statement of intention to build St. Peter's church, 1788 |
7 | 3 | Preparation of church for consecration, 1803 |
7 | 3 | Letter from C. Stebbens concerning a guest lecture, 1809 |
7 | 3 | Appointment of William Freyer to the position of treasurer, 1815 |
7 | 3 | Report on the state of St. Peter's, 1816 |
7 | 3 | Appointment of Messrs. Ford, Trowbridge, and Meads to the Committee of Accounts, 1816 |
7 | 3 | Report on accounts, 1820 |
7 | 3 | Resignation of Rev. Timothy Clowes, 1817 |
7 | 3 | Letters from Rev. Joseph Parry, Rev. Bruce, Rev. Johnson, and Amos Baldwin for Rev. Davis denying rectorship of St. Peter's, 1817 |
7 | 3 | Appointment of Ira Porter to the position of treasurer, 1820 |
7 | 3 | Letter concerning keys for the new rector, 1828 |
Printed Material, 1865-1915 | ||
7 | 4 | Booklet entitled To the Parishioners of St. Peter's Church, from the Majority of the Vestry, concerning the conflict with Rev. Doane, (66 pages) 1868 |
7 | 5 | Services, invitations, book of Christmas carols, 1874-1913 |
7 | 6 | Newspaper article on the building of St. Peter's Memorial Rectory, 1895 |
7 | 6 | Albany Journal, Albany, N.Y., November 28, 1902, containing Rev. Battershall's Thanksgiving sermon (2 copies) |
Financial Records, 1718-1910 | ||
Collection Lists, 1816-1818 | ||
7 | 7 | February, May, December, 1816 |
7 | 7 | February, May, August, 1817 |
7 | 7 | February, May, August, November, 1818 |
Collection Lists with receipts, 1819-1822 | ||
7 | 8 | Collection Book, 1819-1822 |
7 | 8 | February, July, October, 1820 |
7 | 8 | January, April, August, October, 1821 |
7 | 9 | Collection Lists with receipts; January, April, July, October, 1822 |
7 | 10 | Collection Lists with receipts; January, April, July, October, 1823 |
7 | 11 | Collection Lists with receipts; January, April, May, November, 1824 |
8 | 1 | Collection Lists with receipts; February, May, August, November, 1825 |
8 | 2 | Collection Lists with receipts; February, May, August, November, 1826 |
8 | 3 | Collection Lists with receipts; January, April, August, October, 1827 |
Collection Lists with receipts, 1828-1829 | ||
8 | 4 | February, April, August, October, 1828 |
8 | 4 | February 1829 |
Collection Lists, 1832-1835 | ||
8 | 5 | July, November, 1832 |
8 | 5 | February, June, August, 1833 |
8 | 5 | February, May, November, 1834 |
8 | 5 | February, May, August, November, 1835 |
Collection Lists, 1836-1840 | ||
8 | 6 | February 1836 |
8 | 6 | May, August, November, 1837 |
8 | 6 | February, May, August, November, 1838 |
8 | 6 | February, May, August, November, 1839 |
8 | 6 | February, May, July, October, 1840 |
Collection Lists, 1841-1842 | ||
8 | 7 | January, May, August, November, 1841 |
8 | 7 | February, May, August, 1842 |
8 | 8 | Vouchers, 1789-1800 |
8 | 8 | Report on expenses, 1797-1800 |
8 | 9 | Vouchers, 1801-1802 |
8 | 9 | Rev. Thomas Ellison's Receipt of salary, 1802 |
8 | 9 | Vouchers for Rev. Thomas Ellison's funeral, 1802 |
8 | 10 | Vouchers, 1803-1810 |
8 | 10 | Rev. Beasley's receipt of salary, 1803-1808 |
8 | 11 | Canceled checks from the Bank of Albany, 1803-1806 |
8 | 11 | Promissory notes, 1803-1815 |
8 | 12 | Treasurer's reports, 1802-1805; 1805-1808 |
9 | 1 | Vouchers and Treasurer's report, 1808-1810 |
9 | 2 | Vouchers and Treasurer's report, 1810-1812 |
9 | 3 | Vouchers and Treasurer's report, 1812-1813 |
9 | 4 | Vouchers and Treasurer's report, 1813-1814 |
9 | 5 | Vouchers and Treasurer's report, 1813-1815 |
9 | 6 | Treasurer's Accounts, 1804-1816 |
9 | 7 | Vouchers, 1816-1817 |
9 | 8 | Rev. Timothy Clowes receipts of salary, 1816-1817 |
9 | 9 | Vouchers, 1818 |
9 | 10 | Vouchers, 1819 |
9 | 11 | Committee reports on finances, estate, lamps, and clock, 1820 |
9 | 12 | Ladies' subscription list and vouchers, 1820 |
9 | 13 | Rector's receipts, January 1820-March 1821; September 1824-August 1825 |
9 | 14 | Rev. William Lacey orders and receipts of salary, March 1822-August 1824 |
Financial Records, 1820-1826 | ||
10 | 1 | Promissory note due, 1820 |
10 | 1 | Rev. William Lacey to John Gott requesting money, 1821 |
10 | 1 | Notice regarding organist's salary, 1826 |
10 | 2 | Vouchers, 1819-1820 |
10 | 3 | Vouchers, 1821-1823 |
10 | 4 | Vouchers, 1824 |
10 | 5 | Vouchers, 1825 |
10 | 6 | Vouchers, 1826 |
10 | 7 | Vouchers, 1827 |
10 | 8 | Vouchers, 1828 |
10 | 9 | Canceled checks, 1826-1828 |
10 | 10 | Vouchers, 1829 |
10 | 11 | Vouchers, 1830 |
10 | 12 | Vouchers, 1831 |
11 | 1 | Vouchers, 1832 |
11 | 2 | Vouchers, 1833 |
11 | 3 | Vouchers, 1834 |
11 | 4 | Vouchers, 1835 |
11 | 5 | Vouchers, 1836 |
11 | 6 | Vouchers, 1837 |
11 | 7 | Vouchers, 1838 |
11 | 8 | Vouchers, 1839 |
11 | 9 | Vouchers, 1840 |
11 | 10 | Vouchers, 1841 |
11 | 11 | Vouchers, 1842 |
11 | 12 | Vouchers, 1843 |
11 | 13 | Vouchers, 1844 |
11 | 14 | Vouchers, 1845 |
12 | 1 | Vouchers, 1846 |
12 | 2 | Financial Reports, March 1836, May 1839 |
Finances, 1839-1846 | ||
12 | 3 | Treasurer's statement, 1839 |
12 | 3 | Treasurer's statement, 1841 |
12 | 3 | Unpaid bills, 1840-1846 |
12 | 3 | Unpaid subscriptions on pews, 1842 |
12 | 3 | Resolution to give Bible and Common Prayer Society money, 1843 |
12 | 3 | Subscription list for painting church, 1844 |
12 | 4 | Financial crisis and pew increase, 1841-1843 |
12 | 4 | Resolution of Vestry to ask for money from parishioners, 1841 |
12 | 4 | Publishing and printing of book concerning financial troubles of St. Peter's, 1842 |
12 | 4 | Pew lists; Book of pew owners; Agreement of current pew owners to raise rent; Sale notices of pews, 1842 |
12 | 5 | Subscription book and pew lists, 1845-1846 |
12 | 6 | Pew leases, 1836, 1846 |
12 | 7 | Pew leases, 1849-1853 |
12 | 8 | Pew items, 1849-1851 |
12 | 9 | Pew rents and payments, 1853 |
12 | 10 | Vouchers, 1852 |
12 | 11 | Vouchers, 1853 |
12 | 12 | Vouchers, 1854 |
12 | 13 | Vouchers, 1855 |
12 | 14 | Vouchers, 1856 |
12 | 15 | Vouchers, 1857 |
12 | 16 | Vouchers, 1858 |
12 | 17 | Vouchers, 1859 |
13 | 1 | Vouchers, 1860 |
13 | 2 | Vouchers, 1861 |
13 | 3 | Canceled checks, 1860-1861 |
13 | 4 | Vouchers, 1862 |
13 | 5 | Gas and Insurance receipts, 1854-1862 |
13 | 6 | Vouchers, 1863 |
13 | 7 | Vouchers, 1864 |
13 | 8 | Vouchers, 1865 |
13 | 9 | Choir list, 1847; Music vouchers, 1852-1860 |
13 | 10 | Juvenile Retreat vouchers and receipts kept by Miss Knapp, 1853-1864 |
13 | 11 | Juvenile Retreat report forms, 1865-1866 |
13 | 12 | Reports on finances, 1860-1864; 1868 |
13 | 13 | Auditor's reports, 1904-1910 |
Building and Maintenance, 1802-1895 | ||
Building records of Rev. William Freyer, 1802-1807 | ||
14 | 1 | Subscriptions for building St. Peter's, 1802-1804 |
14 | 1 | Vouchers for work upon church and cemetery, 1802-1807 |
General building and maintenance, 1802-1804 | ||
14 | 2 | Transfer of remains to new cemetery site, 1802-1804 |
14 | 2 | Report on removal of pews, 1803 |
14 | 2 | Work orders for removal of clay from grounds, 1804 |
Repairs, 1804-1805 | ||
14 | Contract to repair vestry house, 1804 | |
14 | 3 | Vouchers concerning repairs, 1804-1805 |
14 | 3 | Notes on past due subscriptions for repairs, 1804 |
14 | 4 | Vouchers concerning removal of clay from grounds, 1808-1812 |
General building, 1820-1828 | ||
14 | 5 | Allowance for repairs to William Crapo, 1820 |
14 | 5 | Measurements taken on ground to be dug off the sidewalk, 1821 |
14 | 5 | Agreement to rebuild Hugh Culling's stables; subscriptions to remove ground, reports on removal of ground, 1824 |
14 | 5 | Release of land to St. Peter's, 1828 |
Building of steeple, 1822-1823 | ||
14 | 6 | Subscriptions for St. Peter's steeple, 1822 |
14 | 6 | Receipts and vouchers for steeple, 1823 |
14 | 7 | Subscription to build new rectory and Sunday school building and vouchers, 1830-1831 |
Repairs on church, 1842-1853 | ||
14 | 8 | Agreement to repair ceiling of church, 1842 |
14 | 8 | Vouchers for general repairs on church, 1851-1853 |
14 | 9 | Vouchers, subscriptions, and contributions for repairing rectory, 1855-1869 |
14 | 10 | Building receipts and orders for new St. Peter's Church, 1859-1861 |
14 | 11 | Agreement with mason and builder for grading, flagging, and sodding, 1895 |
Legal and Real Estate Documents, 1791-1895 | ||
14 | 12 | Insurance policies, 1833-1854 |
14 | 13 | Leases of church lots, 1791-1794 |
14 | 14 | Leases of church lots, 1795-1797 |
14 | 15 | Leases of church lots, 1803-1821 |
15 | 1 | Leases of church lots, 1825-1829 |
15 | 2 | Leases of church lots, 1835-1842 |
Legal papers concerning St. Peter's and Mr. Glen and Dickenson, 1792-1794 | ||
15 | 3 | Sale of land to Cornelius Glen and John, 1792 |
15 | 3 | Release of land between Abraham Lansing and Jonathan Shepard, 1794 |
15 | 3 | Bond of St. Peter's to Isaac Freyer |
Legal papers concerning St. Peter's and Cuyler land, 1807-1810 | ||
15 | 4 | Mortgage to John and Lydia Cuyler, 1807 |
15 | 4 | Bond to John Cuyler, 1808 |
15 | 4 | Interest on Bond, 1808 |
15 | 4 | Bond to Lydia Cuyler, 1810 |
Bonds, Quit Claim Deeds, and Mortgages, 1814-1821 | ||
15 | 5 | Quit claim deed of Judith Watkins to St. Peter's, 1814 |
15 | 5 | Quit claim deed of Hetty Halenbake to Andrew Halenbake, 1814 |
15 | 5 | Bank of Albany promissory note to William Freyer, 1816 |
15 | 5 | Application of Nathaniel Higley for renewal of lease, 1817 |
15 | 5 | Quit claim deed of Thomas Ford and John Meads to St. Peter's, 1818 |
15 | 5 | Bond to Meads and Ford, 1819 |
15 | 5 | Treasurer's certificate for cancellation of mortgage of St. Peter's, 1821 |
15 | 5 | Bond to Henry Trowbridge, 1819 |
15 | 5 | Quit claim deed of Frederick Ramsey to St. Peter's, 1819 |
15 | 5 | Bond to George Uplot, 1819 |
Bonds, Deeds, Leases and Mortgages, 1820-1828 | ||
15 | 6 | Release of land claim by Silvester Wilcott, 1820 |
15 | 6 | Bond and mortgage to Samuel Farquhar, 1821 |
15 | 6 | Release from bond and mortgage of Samuel Farquhar, 1825 |
15 | 6 | Official release from bond and mortgage, 1828 |
15 | 6 | Lease between St. Peter's and Henry Lathrop, 1823 |
15 | 6 | Deed to land for burial ground, 1826 |
15 | 6 | Counterpart of deed to Nathaniel Skinner; contract to Nathaniel Skinner, 1828 |
Bonds, Deeds, and Mortgages, 1830-1838 | ||
15 | 7 | Deed to John Archer, 1830 |
15 | 7 | Bond to John Archer, 1836 |
15 | 7 | Bond and mortgage to John Hendrickson, 1831 |
15 | 7 | Bond to Catherine Burton, and Rebecca, Mary and Elizabeth Eights, 1832 |
15 | 7 | Bond and mortgage to James Porter, 1833 |
15 | 7 | Bond to Trustees of Albany Waterworks, 1834 |
15 | 7 | Deed and bond to Lyman Chapin, 1838 |
Conflict between St. Peter's Church and Porter family, 1808-1860 | ||
15 | 8 | Release of land from Giles Porter to Ira Porter, 1808 |
15 | 8 | Deed to Ira Porter, 1812 |
15 | 8 | Official report of St. Peter's on Porter claim to land, 1830 |
15 | 8 | Mortgage and bond to Giles Porter |
15 | 8 | Court decision on conflict, 1860 |
Bonds and mortgages for Albany Bible and Prayer Society and Merchants Insurance Company, 1824-1849 | ||
15 | 9 | Bond and mortgage to Albany Bible and Prayer Society, 1824 |
15 | 9 | Bond and mortgage to Albany Bible and Prayer Society, 1843 |
15 | 9 | Bond to Albany Bible and Prayer Society, 1849 |
15 | 9 | Bond and mortgage to Merchants Insurance Company, 1840 |
15 | 9 | Breaking of mortgage for the Merchants Insurance Co., 1840 |
15 | 9 | Mortgage of Merchants Insurance Co. to Henry Webb, 1848 |
Sale of Church lots, 1842-1850 | ||
15 | 10 | Statements concerning sale of church lots, 1842-1843 |
15 | 10 | Documents of lots sold, 1844; 1849-1850 |
Bonds, Deeds, and Mortgages, 1860-1863 | ||
15 | 11 | Bond and mortgage to Commerce Insurance Co., 1860 |
15 | 11 | Bond from Dexter Reynolds to Gilbert Wilson, 1861 |
15 | 11 | Court judgment on the early release of mortgage for St. Peter's, 1862 |
15 | 11 | Bond and mortgage to Alexander Johnson, 1862 |
15 | 11 | Satisfaction of mortgage for Alexander Johnson, 1862 |
15 | 11 | Warranty deed from Henrietta Chapen to Moses Patten, 1863 |
15 | 12 | Blank bond sheets, 1876 |
Conflict between St. Peter's and Horace Paine, 1860-1895 | ||
15 | 13 | Document on property on Maiden Lane, 1860 |
15 | 13 | Executor's deed to Horace Paine, 1874 |
15 | 13 | Bond and mortgage of Horace Paine to Maunsell van Rensselaer, 1882 |
15 | 13 | Survey of land between St. Peter's and Horace Paine, 1885 |
15 | 13 | Agreement of boundary line between St. Peter's and Horace Paine, 1886 |
Conflict between St. Peter's and Master's Lodge, 1895 | ||
15 | 14 | Letters between St. Peter's and Master's Lodge concerning lease problems; judgment on conflict |
Oversize Printed Material | ||
16 | EL | Omitted appendices from A History of St. Peter's Church in the City of Albany by Rev. Joseph Hooper, 1899 |
16 | EL | Dedication of Lord Viscount Howe Memorial Tablet; letters of receiving memorial booklet; postcards of re ceiving memorial booklet, 1894-1914 |
16 | EL | Original list of contents in archives, 1905 |
Photographs | ||
17 | 1 | Queen Anne communion plate, 1712 |
17 | 2 | Land patent with King George seal, 1714 |
17 | 3 | S t. Peter's Charter of Incorporation, 1769 |
17 | 4 | Page of Church Book containing entry of Lord Howe's burial, September 5, 1758 |
17 | 5 | Print of first St. Peter's Church, 1800 |
17 | 6 | Book owned by Thomas Barclay entitled A Defence of Diocesan Episcopacy in Answer to a Book of Mr. David Clarkson Lately Published Entituled [sic] Primitive Episcopacy by Henry Maurice, DD. |
17 | 7 | Copy of Thomas Barclay's will, 1764 |
17 | 8 | Two photos of Rev. Thomas Ellison from old engraving, 1805 |
17 | 9 | Picture of painting of Rev. Fredrick Beasley from original at University of Pennsylvania |
17 | 10 | Picture of Rev. William Snively |
17 | 11 | St. Peter's exterior, built 1860; photo, 1890 |
17 | 12 | St. Peter's interior, built 1860; photo, 1899 (2 copies) |
17 | 13 | St. Peter's parish house, 1875 |
17 | 14 | Tweedle memorial tower, 1876 |
17 | 15 | Pruyn memorial altar and reredos (decorative screen behind an altar), 1885 (2 copies) |
17 | 16 | Tibbits memorial pulpit, 1886 |
17 | 17 | Macdonald memorial lectern, 1892 |
17 | 18 | Potts memorial rectory, 1895 (2 copies) |
17 | 19 | Meads memorial bas-relief of faith, built 1850 |
17 | 20 | Pruyn memorial alms basin, built 1877 |
17 | 21 | Elevation showing alteration to choir stalls |