Here’s a Pair of 1860’s Autograph Documents Signed by Pioneer Clergyman of the Oldest Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States

DR. REV. HENRY N. POHLMAN, D.D.

(1800 – 1874)

·       PASTOR OF THE FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA AT ALBANY, NEW YORK, 1843-1874, THE OLDEST CONGREGATION IN AMERICA,

·       SERVED AS A LUTHERAN PASTOR IN THE ZION CHURCH IN NEW GERMANTOWN, PA 1822-1843,

·       SERVED AS A PASTOR AT SADDLE RIVER and RAMAPO, NEW JERSEY, and GERMAN VALLEY and SPRUCE RUN, NY,

·       PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK MINISTERIUM, NEW YORK SYNOD, and NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY SYNOD (ALL LUTHERAN BODIES),

·       PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL SYNOD OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

·       AUTHOR OF “THE GERMAN COLONY and LUTHERAN CHURCH IN MAINE: AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, AT ITS MEETING IN WASHINGTON, D.C., MAY 14th, 1869,” and

·       UNCLE OF WILLIAM H. POHLMAN, CIVIL WAR LIEUTENANT and ADJUTANT OF THE 59th NEW YORK INFANTRY, KILLED-IN-ACTION AT THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, and SON OF DANIEL POHLMAN (1768-1843), A CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY MURDERED BY PIRATES!

Doctor Reverend. Henry N. Pohlman came to Albany in the early 1820s to become the Pastor of his home church. Pohlman had the distinction of being the first theological student at Hartwick Seminary, in upstate New York. He left a detailed record of his time in the church.

The ADsS represent receipts for Pohlman’s salary for service to the Evangelical Lutheran Ebenezer Church, dated at Albany 1864 & 1868.  A 2c “Bank Check” US Internal Revenue Tax Stamp is applied to each document.

One of the Documents is signed in pencil by

JASPER VAN WORMER

(1822 – 1907)

·       AMERICAN INDUSTRIALIST, MANUFACTURER, BANKER and FINANCIER,

·       PRESIDENT OF “J. VAN WORMER & COMPANY” – A PROMINENT IRON STOVE MANUFACURER IN ALBANY, NEW YORK,

·       PRESIDENT OF ALBANY COUNTY SAVINGS BANK 1870s-1907,

·       DIRECTOR OF THE MERCHANT’S NATIONAL BANK OF ALBANY 1878-1901,

·       CO-FOUNDER, 1st MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, and TREASURER OF THE YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION IN 1867-1907

·       MEMBER OF THE HOLLAND SOCIETY 1885-1910s, and

·       TRUSTEE OF THE FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, ALBANY.

 

First Lutheran Church is a Lutheran congregation in Albany, New York. Founded in 1649 as Ebenezer Lutheran Church, First Lutheran is the oldest congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the only congregation in the ELCA to be founded while New York was under control of the Dutch, and the oldest Lutheran congregation in the United States. When the congregation was founded, it was a part of the Dutch settlement of New Netherland; it later adopted German and then English in 1808 for use during worship. The congregation began to use the name First Lutheran Church in 1871.

The congregation has worshipped in five different buildings; the current building has been in use since 1929. In 1926, another Lutheran congregation, the Church of the Redeemer, was consolidated with First Lutheran Church. First Lutheran is currently a part of the Upstate New York Synod of the ELCA. The current pastor is the Reverend D. Lowell Chilton.

Dating from 1649, ours is the oldest congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (link opens in new window) , and the second oldest church in Albany. It is the only ELCA church which came out of the Dutch period of American history, and its services were originally held in the Dutch language. The center design of the church seal dates from the 18th century and depicts a swan, the old Dutch symbol for a Lutheran Church.

As the early years passed, Dutch gave way to High German as the language of our worship services, and this in turn was supplanted by English in 1808. There must be very few congregations which have worshipped in three different local languages in the course of their history.

Over the centuries, the congregation has worshipped at four different sites in Albany. The first church was built in 1670 at what is now the southwest corner of South Pearl and Howard Streets, then just inside the stockade. The second edifice of 1786 also stood at that site. Later, from 1816 to 1934, we had two successive church buildings at the northwest corner of Pine and Lodge Streets, also in the downtown business section. 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES: JASPER VAN WORMER

Jasper Van Wormer, son of Peter Van Wormer and Mary Van Dyke, was born near Crane's Village (Glenville), Montgomery county, New York, May 23, 1822, and for the greater part of his life resided in Albany, where he became one of the leading men of the city.

He was of the old Dutch stock which settled the provinces of New York and New Jersey, and in the line of descent, extending over more than two centuries since arriving in America, he lost none of the best traits of their sturdy character — was energetic, progressive, strictly honest and most companionable.

Henri Van Wormer was the original American ancestor of this family, who came with a brother from Wormer, Holland, about 1655, and first settled in New Jersey; but later on moved up the Hudson river and located in this locality, after which time the descendants spread throughout the northern part of New York state. The same family was ably represented in the revolution by Lieutenant Henry Van Wormer, of the Continental army, of the Fourteenth Albany County Regiment, and his son Abram served in the war of 1812 with distinction. In this way the family turns to imperishable records connected with the founding of the nation.

When Mr. Van Wormer was twenty-one years of age he came to Albany to make his way in the world, that is, expecting better opportunities than in mid-state, and he not only found these, but made excellent use of them as they were presented to his attention, for his life work was a success. His more active business career dates from the year 1847, when he became associated with Michael McGarvey in the retailing of stoves. About twenty years later, in 1866, the firm then known as Van Wormer & McGarvey built a foundry of some size and commenced the manufacture of stoves. At this time Albany was becoming recognized throughout the country as a great stove manufacturing center, and in large measure it was due to the factory of this firm, who were practically among the pioneers and supplied the enormous western trade. After the death of Mr. McGarvey, in 1876, the business was conducted under the title of J. Van Wormer & Co., and it then expanded considerably until it was regarded as one of the prime industries of the city. In 1905, Mr. Van Wormer, in advanced age, retired, but continued his interest in banking affairs.

Upon the organization of the Albany County Savings Bank in 1874, Mr. Van Wormer was made a member of the board and was elected its vice-president. In 1883 he was chosen president of this bank, which office he held up to the time of his death, and three years after his election the bank took steps towards erection of its handsome edifice on the historic site of the birthplace of General Philip Schuyler, which ancient building then gave way for this step in improvement of property. Mr. Van Wormer was regarded by the leading business men of Albany as an excellent adviser in banking matters, one who could be progressive and at the same time hew close to the line of conservatism so as not to involve the institution with undue risk, and he was made a director of the Merchants' National Bank of Albany. He was also an incorporator of the Albany Trust Company, and retired from the board to be succeeded by his son. For more than twenty years he served as an inspector at elections of the New York Central railroad, which meetings were always held in Albany, and on retiring was again succeeded by his son.

He was deeply interested in the religious activities of the city, and was a member of the First Lutheran Church. He was an incorporator of the original Young Men's Christian Association, in 1867, and when he died there was only one survivor of that board. He was its treasurer from 1886 until his death. He was one of the earliest members of the Holland Society of New York, joining it October 25, 1886. He was a member of several other organizations, and held in highest respect by all his business associates in the most prominent affairs of the city. Although a man advanced in years and at times not enjoying very good health, he was to be seen nearly daily on the streets, and gave the appearance of one possessing considerable energy, active in movement, and keeping abreast of public matters up to the last. His residence, No. 252 State street, was among the handsomest in the city, and it was here that he died November 4, 1907.

Mr. Van Wormer married at Albany, New York, September 20, 1848, Mary Louise, daughter of John T. and Gertrude Bridges, and she was residing at No. 252 State street in 1911. Children, born in Albany, New York:

1.    William Henry, married, at Albany, Belle McGarvey.

2.    Julia, married, at Albany, Nicholas Swits Walls.

3.    Emma, educated at Albany Female Academy.

4.    Frederick, died at Albany, September 29, 189—; received his early education at the Albany Academy; graduate of Williams College, afterwards graduating from the School of Mines of Columbia University, and engaged in architecture with Marcus T. Reynolds, at Albany.

5.    Edwin, married Helen Adams, at Albany; educated at the Albany Academy.

6.    Mary Louise, married at Albany, April 18, 1895, George Comstock Baker, born at Comstock, New York, April 29, 1868, died there, February 2, 1908; attorney; was son of Hon. Isaac V. Baker, Jr.; graduate of Union University; post-graduate course at Cornell; engaged in law department of Delaware & Hudson railroad; member of Masters' Lodge; deputy attorney-general of New York; president of Albany Camera Club; president of New York Society of the Second War with Great Britain; member of Society of Colonial Wars; regent of Philip Livingston Chapter, Sons of the Revolution; member of the Fort Orange Club, Psi Epsilon and Phi Delta Phi societies.

Source: Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs: Van Wormer

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Excerpt from Biography of Rev. Charles Augustus Stork: Recollections

Having become sufficiently advanced in years and knowledge, he was sent to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to prepare himself for entering College, and later to Hartwick Seminary. At the latter place he came under the influence of Dr. Irving Magee, now of Rondout, New York, who was his Bible-class teacher. To a few words, fitly spoken by him after one of the cottage prayer-meetings at Hartwick, Charles attributed under God his conversion. From Hartwick Seminary he passed to Williams College, entering the class of 1857. Here he found himself one of the youngest and smallest boys in the institution, and perhaps, partly for this reason, a general favorite. During his collegiate course he was thrown in especial intimacy with Horace E. Scudder, the litterateur, with Dr. Irving Magee, his old Hartwick friend, with James A. Garfield, and with Henry M. Alden, the latter of whom has furnished for this volume a short account of his life there and at Andover Theological Seminary. These intimacies were kept alive as far as circumstances of time and place would permit, during the whole of his subsequent life. 

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