First Presbyterian Church in Lyons records, 1799-1946.
Collection Number: 6098
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
First Presbyterian Church in Lyons records, 1799-1946.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
6098
Abstract:
One volume of annual meeting minutes (1799-1870); three volumes of session minutes
(1809-1825, 1825-1840, 1840-1865) dealing heavily with discipline and pew rent and
documenting increase in membership; one volume of treasurer's records (1826-1848)
indexed to names; and a register of members, baptisms and marriages (1809-1946).
Creator:
First Presbyterian Church in Lyons (Lyons, N.Y.)
Quanitities:
2 microfilm reels.
Language:
Collection material in English
On December 10, 1799 public notice was given for a meeting to be held on January 2,
1800 to elect trustees for a "Presbyterian Church to be established in the village
of Lyons in the town of Sodus." Services were first held in a farm and later in a
storehouse which was moved to a lot "set aside for gospel purposes." On October 23,
1809 Rev. John Lindsley, a missionary of the General Assembly organized the church
further, and the session began meeting. Until 1820 the original name of the First
Presbyterian Church in Sodus was retained. At that time the legislature was petitioned
to change the name to the First Presbyterian Church and Society of Lyons.
In 1825 the church had outgrown its quarters and a new brick church was completed.
Between 1826 and 1834 a series of revivals added 224 new members. A Sunday school
was established in 1814 and in 1825 the Female Missionary Society of Lyons began.
In 1805 Charles Williamson had given the church 150 acres, the income of which was
used to pay the pastor. An act of the state legislature was required to allow the
church to sell the lot in 1866. In March, 1849 construction was begun on a new building
which was dedicated the following February. In 1851 there was another revival season
and again in 1870 and in 1880-1881.
Between 1866 and 1872 a strong effort was made to have the owners of the pews release
their titles to the church in order to increase church income. See the anniversary
booklets in the accessions folder for additional historical information, a list of
pastors and biographies of prominent members.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
First Presbyterian Church in Lyons records, #6098. Division of Rare and Manuscript
Collections, Cornell University Library.
One volume of annual meeting minutes (1799-1870); three volumes of session minutes
(1809-1825, 1825-1840, 1840-1865) dealing heavily with discipline and pew rent and
documenting increase in membership; one volume of treasurer's records (1826-1848)
indexed to names; and a register of members, baptisms and marriages (1809-1946).
Names:
Lindsley, John.
First Presbyterian Church in Sodus (Sodus, N.Y.)
Female Missionary Society (Lyons, N.Y.)
Places:
Lyons (N.Y.) -- Religious life and customs.
Wayne County (N.Y.) -- Religious life and customs.
Subjects:
Presbyterian church buildings.
Presbyterian Church -- Membership.
Presbyterian Church -- Missions.
Presbyterian Church -- New York (State) -- Lyons.
Form and Genre Terms:
Baptismal certificates.
Minutes.
CONTAINER LIST
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Container
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Description
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Date
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| Volume I |
Presbyterian Church in Lyons, New York Minutes of Trustees,
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December 10, 1799-February 17, 1873 | |
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Scope and Contents
Minutes record the election of trustees and their term of office, the date and location
of the annual meeting, the business of administering church property, lengthy discussions
of pew rent policy, reports and resolutions. Extra entries surround the construction
of new meeting houses in 1823 and 1849. After the February 2, 1866 entry is a pew
rent diagram.
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| Volume II |
Minutes of the Session of the Presbyterian Church in Sodus,
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1809-1825 | |
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Scope and Contents
Session minutes record the organization of the church by the Rev. John Lindsley, the
reception of members, attendance of members of the session and disciplinary cases.
Somewhat illegible in places. At the end of the volume is a list of baptisms which
includes date, parents, subject and date of birth (1809-1823) and another list of
member's contributions.
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| Volume III |
Record of the First Presbyterian Church in Lyons, Session Minutes,
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1825-1840 | |
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Scope and Contents
Minutes contain the same information as Volume II. Large numbers of baptisms occurred
from April 3, 1831-November 1832 and in April 1333, 34 and 38. Items of note include:
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Page 6,
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Sept. 17, 1826 | ||
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Scope and Contents
A woman pleads guilty to intemperance.
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Page 18,
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June 6, 1828 | ||
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Scope and Contents
A brother claims he has absented himself from worship because he was offended by the
use of a bass viol.
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| Dec. 15, 1840 | |||
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Scope and Contents
Trial for a rape.
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| Volume IV |
Records of the First Presbyterian Church in Lyons, N.Y.",
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1840-1865 | |
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Scope and Contents
Minutes contain the same information as in Volume II. Items of note include:
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Page 1
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Scope and Contents
Account of the church's founding.
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Page 1-2
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Scope and Contents
List of pastors.
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Page 2
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Scope and Contents
List of elders.
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Page 5-9,
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July 30-Dec. 15, 1840 | ||
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Scope and Contents
Trial for "laviceous conduct."
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Page 13,
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Dec. 28, 1840 | ||
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Scope and Contents
Member excommunicated for owning a gambling establishment (billiards and bowling)
.
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Page 14-17,
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January 1-25, 1841 | ||
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Scope and Contents
Resolution of trial above pp. 5-9.
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Page 53-83,
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Aug. 12-Oct. 12, 1844 | ||
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Scope and Contents
Trial of an elder for dishonesty, covetousness, un-Christian and abusive treatment
of the pastor, slanderous treatment of the church and violation of Christian covenant.
Issues raised in the trial include equalization of church expenses and preparation
of the annual report to the Presbytery.
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Page 87-88,
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Feb. 6, 1845 | ||
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Scope and Contents
Account of the elder's appeal to the Presbytery.
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Page 99,
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March 1, 1846 | ||
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Scope and Contents
Resolution against gambling and card playing and making them reason for church discipline.
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Page 155,
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Dec. 2, 1853 | ||
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Scope and Contents
The church endows a chair at Hamilton College.
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Page 215
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Scope and Contents
Last minutes.
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Page
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Scope and Contents
List of Benevolent Collections listing date (1849-1864), cause and amount collected.
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| Volume V |
Treasurer's Records,
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1826-1848 | |
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Scope and Contents
Contains two lists of subscriptions due (1826-41, 1840-48), each indexed by names,
showing date, amount paid, purpose (1 yrs. subscription), cash or draft for each member
and the accounts of the treasurer with the trustees (p. 239).
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| Volume VI |
Register of Church Members, Baptisms and Marriages,
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1809-1946 | |
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Pre-printed register
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Scope and Contents
Apparently contains material from old registers copied sometime after 1844. A note
from Albert J. Thomas, pastor in 1846 states that many baptisms, marriages and deaths
were not recorded by his predecessors, so the list is incomplete.
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Register of Church Members
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Scope and Contents
Includes a number, when received, name, wife or widow of, how received, if baptised,
and remarks for 2,543 members. An alphabetical index follows the register.
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List of infant baptisms
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Scope and Contents
Includes date, name, time of birth, names of parents (1811-1891) alphabetically arranged.
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Marriages list
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Scope and Contents
Contains date, name of the parties, and, (after 1848), includes the residence of the
parties and some witnesses.
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