Records of
Second Presbyterian Church
later
Brick Presbyterian Church
now
Downtown United Presbyterian Church
Compiled by Anah Babcock Yates
As published in the Rochester Post-Express
(March 25, 1911; April 1, 1911; April 22, 1911)

This society was organized Nov. 18, 1825 with twenty five members. The first place of worship was a frame building on the west side State (then Carroll) Street. A brick church was completed in 1828 on thecorner of Fitzhugh and Allen (then Ann) Streets, which was used until April 1, 1860, when it was closed with impressive and appropriate ceremonies.

The present church was dedicated June 30, 1861. The corporate name of the church was changed Nov. 10, 1833, from the "Second" to the "Brick Presbyterian Church in Rochester." No Sunday school records are found previous to 1827 but the school was organized at an earlier period. The first records give thirty nine scholars, seven teachers, and a library of "eight hundred volumes and a few tracts."

The first pastor was Rev. William James, D. D., a graduate of Princeton. He preached for a time at Clarkson, N. Y. assumed the pastorate of the Brick Church 1826 and resigned 1830 to go to the Third Presbyterian Church at Albany, where he died Feb. 16, 1868, aged 61. For a year the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Daniel N. Merrit and Rev. Ferdinand DeWilton Ward. Dr. Ward was afterwards a missionary to India, 1836 to 1846, and a pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Geneseo for Twenty years. He died August 11, 1891 aged 79.

The second settled pastor was Rev. William Wisner, D. D. The third was Rev. Rev. George Beecher, son of Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D. The fourth was Rev. James Boylen Shaw, D. D., born in New York City. He came to Rochester 1840 and for forty eight years prosecuted here his ministry with a fidelity and success seldom equalled and lamented by all.

Original Members
Timothy L. Bacon, Elder.
Silas Hawley, Elder.
Linus Stevens, removed to New York.
Thomas Shelden.
George Hollister.
Drick Sibley, removed to Cincinnati, Ohio.
Seth Case, removed to Glenbula, Wis.
Richard Gorsline.
Asa Carpenter.
Nabby Sibley, died December 1827.
Mary Rust.
Lydia Bacon.
Sarah Hawley, died November 1828.
Thankful Stevens, removed to New York.
Delia Stevens, removed to New York.
Jane Shelden.
Sally Hollister.
Irene Sibley, removed to Wisconsin.
Paulina Case.
Aurelia Gorsline.
Elizabeth Cherry.
Letty Cherry, married William Hendricks.
Lydia W. Blanchard.
Catharine S. Russell, married Dr. Wright.
Catharine Brown, died July 1829.
Chauncey Cook, clerk.

Members - Jan. 12, 1826
John H. Brown, from First Presyterian Church.
George Hedge, from Troy.
Widow Deborah Byington, from Manlius, died in 1828.
Lyman Granger, from the First Presbyterian Church.
Abraham Cherry, from Auburn.
Aaron and Betsey Hall.
Alanson C. Hall.
Jonathan and Ursula Brown; Jonathan died Nov. 12, 1827.
Timothy Burr.
A. W. Riley.
Henry Kennedy.
Franklin and Amanda Cowdrey.
Mrs. Anna Lott.
Jacob and Mary Schenck.
Mrs. Joann Needham.
Moses and Sally Sperry; Moses died Sept. 1829.
Olive H. Barker, died March 1827.
Oliver Noble.
Charlotte Porter.
Elizabeth Kempshall, married Lyman Granger.
Elizabeth Horton.
Abijah Blanchard.
Mrs. Sarah Emons.
Worthington Wright.
Mrs. Margaret Hemenway.
Patrick P. Dickenson and wife Huldah.
Mrs. Olive Hill, from Williamston, Mass.
Mrs. Kennedy.
Benjamin and Sophronia Campbell, from First Pres. Church;
      Benjamin died in Buffalo, March 25, 1883;
      Sophronia, his wife, died Feb. 25, 1882.
Ela Burnap, from First Pres. Church.
Miss Julia Brewster, from First Pres. Church;
      married Mr. Andrus or Andrews.
Orpha Crane, from First Pres. Church.
Mrs. Betsey Ballard, from First Pres. Church.
Silas Clapp, from from the United Church of Kingsbury and Queensbury.
Calvin H. Warren, from Lockport.
Caleb Morgan, from LeRoy.
Lydia Byington, from Manlius.
Mrs. Catharine Norton, from Cambridge.
Virgil A. Bogue, from Paris Union Church.
Mrs. Mary Robinson, from Ireland.
Mrs. Huldah Hunt.
Mrs. Pamelia E. Cutler.
Mrs. Clarissa Tibbals.
Mrs. Lucy Bicknell.
Charles R. and Mary Ward.
Mrs. Eddy Smith.
Mrs. Roxana Granger.
Miss Ann Eliza Duncan; married Mr. Aldridge.
Angeline Van Buskirk.
Nathan Aldlridge.
Miss Aurelia Allridge.
Martha Lyon.
Eliza Manson.
Mary Fitch.
Marina Fitch.
Aurelia Fitch.
John H. Thompson and his wife, Electa, from First Pres. Church.
Czar and Abigail Dunning, from First Pres. Church.
Crossman Clark, from Carlisle, Schoharie County.
Timothy E. Haskell, from Monson, Mass.
Melissa B. Haskell.

Members - Aug. 1, 1827
Mrs. Marcia L. James, from First Church, Albany.
Miss Frances R. Dudley, from Richmond, Mass.
Theodore P. Clark, from Skaneateles.
John McBride, from Geneseo.
Alexander Kelsey, from Hector.
Harvey and Phebe Ann Raymond, from Charlton, N. Y.
Alexander McKibbon, from Lecumpher?, Ind?
William Stebbins, from Perinton, Monroe County.
Ira and Eliza West.
Miss Sabra Cook.
Miss Cornelia Noble.
Mrs. Charlotte Dake, from Saratoga Springs.
Mrs. Julia A. Baldwin, from Bridgeport, Conn.
Mrs. Sarah Collins, from Stillwater.
Mrs. Ruby Abel, from First Pres. Church.
Mr. Alvira? H. Blake, from Volney?
Phinehas B. Cooke, from Litchfield, Conn.
Enos and Sarah Pomeroy.

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© Richard T. Halsey, 2003