Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow

Apr 20, 2026 - 15:47
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Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow

← Previous revision Revision as of 10:15, 20 April 2026
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The early history of the church and its members was recorded by [[Dirck Storm]] in his book ''[[Het Notite Boeck der Christelyckes Kercke op de Manner of Philips Burgh]]''.{{Cite book|title=First Record Book of the "Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow", Organized in 1697 and Now the First Reformed Church of Tarrytown, N.Y.: An Original Translation of Its Brief Historical Matter, and a Copy, Faithful to the Letter, of Every Personal and Local Name, of Its Four Registers of Members, Consistorymen, Baptisms, and Marriages, from Its Organization to 1791|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/First_Record_Book_of_the_Old_Dutch_Churc.html?id=KV1IAAAAYAAJ|publisher=Yonkers Historical and Library Association|date=1901|language=en|first=David|last=Cole|first2=|last2=}} It continued to serve as the church of Philipsburg Manor through the [[American Revolution]], when New York's revolutionary government confiscated the lands of the [[Philipse family]], who were staunch [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]].
The early history of the church and its members was recorded by [[Dirck Storm]] in his book ''[[Het Notite Boeck der Christelyckes Kercke op de Manner of Philips Burgh]]''.{{Cite book|title=First Record Book of the "Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow", Organized in 1697 and Now the First Reformed Church of Tarrytown, N.Y.: An Original Translation of Its Brief Historical Matter, and a Copy, Faithful to the Letter, of Every Personal and Local Name, of Its Four Registers of Members, Consistorymen, Baptisms, and Marriages, from Its Organization to 1791|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/First_Record_Book_of_the_Old_Dutch_Churc.html?id=KV1IAAAAYAAJ|publisher=Yonkers Historical and Library Association|date=1901|language=en|first=David|last=Cole|first2=|last2=}} It continued to serve as the church of Philipsburg Manor through the [[American Revolution]], when New York's revolutionary government confiscated the lands of the [[Philipse family]], who were staunch [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]].


On July 2, 1781, [[George Washington]] and the [[Continental Army]] made a stop at the church (which Washington mentioned in his diary as "the Church by Tarry Town"{{Cite news |title=Diary Entry: July 1781 |url=https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0007-0003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250617164659/https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0007-0003 |archive-date=June 17, 2025 |access-date=January 10, 2026 |work=Founders Online, National Archives |publisher=Original source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 3, 1 January 1771–5 November 1781, ed. Donald Jackson. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978 |language=en}}) during an attempted overnight attack aimed at seizing British outposts at [[Kingsbridge, Bronx#History|Kingsbridge]]. The troops rested near the church "till dusk," before continuing their march overnight. (The attempt failed, and Washington's army returned to its [[Odell House#Philipsburg Encampment|Philipsburg Encampment]].)[https://archives.westchestercountyny.gov/images/stories/contentdm/TimelineGuide.pdf Experiencing the Neutral Ground of the American Revolution / The McDonald Interviews: Timeline Guide. Westchester County Archives]. pp. 36-37.
On July 2, 1781, [[George Washington]] and the [[Continental Army]] made a stop at the church (which Washington mentioned in his diary as "the Church by Tarry Town"{{Cite news |title=Diary Entry: July 1781 |url=https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0007-0003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250617164659/https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0007-0003 |archive-date=June 17, 2025 |access-date=January 10, 2026 |work=Founders Online, National Archives |publisher=Original source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 3, 1 January 1771–5 November 1781, ed. Donald Jackson. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978 |language=en}}) before an attempted surprise attack on British outposts at [[Kingsbridge, Bronx#History|Kingsbridge]]. The troops rested near the church "till dusk," before continuing their march overnight. (The attempt at surprise failed, as the American troops were spotted by the British.)[https://archives.westchestercountyny.gov/images/stories/contentdm/TimelineGuide.pdf Experiencing the Neutral Ground of the American Revolution / The McDonald Interviews: Timeline Guide. Westchester County Archives]. pp. 36-37.


After [[Frederick Philipse III]] was officially stripped of his lordship title in 1779,{{Cite web |title=''An American Loyalist: The Ordeal of Frederick Philipse III'', Stefan Bielinski, New York State Museum (1976) |url=http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/library/pdfs/articles_books_essays/americanloyalist.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031829/http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/library/pdfs/articles_books_essays/americanloyalist.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-24 |access-date=2019-05-06}} the special pews for the [[lord of the manor]] were removed from the church, and the plain [[oak]] benches built for the Philipses' tenants were replaced with pine [[pew]]s. Thereafter, the church continued without the manorial patronage. "The people were poor in those days and... some carried their shoes in their hands until they arrived at the Pocantico [River], when they would wash their feet, put on their shoes and enter the church."Allen, p. 16.
After [[Frederick Philipse III]] was officially stripped of his lordship title in 1779,{{Cite web |title=''An American Loyalist: The Ordeal of Frederick Philipse III'', Stefan Bielinski, New York State Museum (1976) |url=http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/library/pdfs/articles_books_essays/americanloyalist.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031829/http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/library/pdfs/articles_books_essays/americanloyalist.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-24 |access-date=2019-05-06}} the special pews for the [[lord of the manor]] were removed from the church, and the plain [[oak]] benches built for the Philipses' tenants were replaced with pine [[pew]]s. Thereafter, the church continued without the manorial patronage. "The people were poor in those days and... some carried their shoes in their hands until they arrived at the Pocantico [River], when they would wash their feet, put on their shoes and enter the church."Allen, p. 16.
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