Charleston in Montgomery County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Baptist Church

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, February 7, 2009

1. Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. Baptist
Church
Erected 1793
Elijah Herrick 1st Pastor

Erected 1932 by New York State Education Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1793.

Location. 42° 50.925′ N, 74° 20.684′ W. Marker is in Charleston, New York, in Montgomery County. Marker is on Polin Road (County Route 128) north of Oak Ridge Road (County Highway 129), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fultonville NY 12072, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. William McConkey Grave Site (approx. 0.4 miles away); Samuel Tallmadge Grave Site (approx. 0.4 miles away); Town of Charleston (approx. 2.9 miles away); Early Militia Training (approx. 2.9 miles away); Friends Meeting (approx. 4.2 miles away); Margaret Houck (approx. 4.3 miles away); Christian Church (approx. 4.3 miles away); Burton House (approx. 5.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.

Regarding Baptist Church. Though the historic marker states the church building was "erected 1793" the paperwork

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submitted for inclusion in the National Register states that "The First Baptist Church, believed to have been built during the 1820s and remodeled during the 1860s, is a rural vernacular frame church executed in the late Federal/early Greek Revival style." Local tradition asserts that the church (or parts of it) may date from the late eighteenth century; however there is insufficient evidence to verify the speculation. For the purposes of National Register documentation, the church is presumed to have been built during the early nineteenth century. The church was organized in 1793 and the burial plot behind the church was established then also.

Charleston Town Historian Lorraine R. Whiting has stated that restoration of the church was taken on by Edythe Meserand of Esperance who founded the Charleston Historical Society in 1978. Meserand passed away June 2, 1997. The society purchased the church from the American Baptist Convention for $1,500 and finished restoration, including rebuilding the shattered altar and an original choir chair, in June 1983. While the building was vacant between 1955 and 1978 it was subject to a great deal of vandalism.

"There were 10 retirees who had been trustees of the church who cleaned up the mess after thieves broke in and stole the church bell," Whiting said. "In the process, the ceiling fell down."

She said it is still

Charleston First Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, February 7, 2009

2. Charleston First Baptist Church

Marker is located directly across the road from the church building.

unknown who took the church bell.

Also see . . .
1. The Charleston Baptist Church Cemetery on Find A Grave.com. (Submitted on November 14, 2013, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)
2. First Baptist Church - National Archives. National Register of Historic Places documentation (Submitted on March 24, 2024, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

Additional keywords. Ryder's Corners Baptist Church Ryders Corners Baptist Church Riders Corners Baptist Church Charleston First Baptist Church Cemetery Charleston Baptist Church Cemetery First Baptist Church Cemtery

Photographed By Nysdprhp

3. Charleston First Baptist Church

Charleston Baptist Church NRHP and Charleston Historical Society Plaques image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, February 7, 2009

4. Charleston Baptist Church NRHP and Charleston Historical Society Plaques

The site of the Charleston Historical Society is the former First Baptist Church which was closed in 1955.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, February 7, 2009

5. Charleston First Baptist Church

Charleston Baptist Church - Main Entrance Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, February 7, 2009

6. Charleston Baptist Church - Main Entrance Detail

The NRHP and the Charleston Historical Society plaques are to the right of the entrance door.

Baptist Church Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 5, 2013

7. Baptist Church Cemetery

Rev. Elijah Herrick image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 5, 2013

8. Rev. Elijah Herrick

Soldier/Pastor Elijah Herrick is buried at the back door of the Baptist Church.

Elijah Herrick, Jr. First Pastor,
First Baptist Church 1793-1843
4th Reg. Dutchess Cty. Militia 1776-1780
Reg. of NY Levies 1781-1787

Elijah Herrick Jr. was born July 22, 1760 in Amenia, Dutchess County. He married Rhoda Cissen and began to serve as a Baptist preacher in Schenectady and Montgomery Counties, starting in 1793 and served 50 years, died September 25, 1847.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 29, 2010, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 1,000 times since then and 42 times this year. Last updated on November 14, 2013, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 29, 2010, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 7, 8. submitted on October 6, 2013, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.