NYSULLIV-L Archives

From: "gary dufel" <>
Subject: [NYSULLIV] Grahamsville, Sulliavn County or Denning Ulster County Baptism Records
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 23:11:51 -0400

Do Baptism records exist for the Grahamsville Reformed Dutch Church or any
churches nearby, such as in Denning for the period 1845 - 1863? I have seen
a few early records of the Grahamsville church but I don't recall there were
consistent records of baptisms, or consistent records of anything for that
matter.

My great great grandparents were Jacob Hornbeck and Sophia Tompkins
Hornbeck, and I have never been able to connect her to any parents.

She is known to have joined the Grahamsville Church along with other family
members in 1845, shortly after it was founded. She and Jacob lived sometimes
in Neversink, Sullivan and sometimes in Denning, Ulster according to
subsequent census periods until he died in 1864 and she in 1868.

They had several children whom I have identified and I have birth dates
based on pension applications filed when Jacob was killed in the civil war.
These records even list when and where the couple were married - Chapman's
Hotel in Prattsville, Greene County, August 3, 1844 with a Rev Heddiston
officiating (presumed to be a traveling minister). But no records of the
marriage or a Chapman's Hotel, or a Rev. Heddiston have ever been found.

Unfortunately, Sophia fits into that period when it is very hard to find
records. She wouldn't show up in her own right in the census before 1850
(she was born in about 1826) and by 1850, she is married. All census
records list her as being born in Greene County, but there are quite a few
Tompkins families throughout Greene County during that period. Since I
haven't been able to connect Sophia to any parents as a result of vital
records or census records, I was hoping to get a look at baptisms and names
of baptism sponsors.

But do the records exist anywhere for the Grahamsville church or nearby
churches for that time frame? Or does someone who knows the area records,
know of a possible idea for searching - I have run out of ideas. [No wills,
no land records, no birth records, no obituaries showing family members, no
tombstones, and no mention of her family in the rather extensive pile of
pension records. - Some people seem to live, get married, and die, leaving a
lot of descendants but nary a useful record of existence.]

Gary

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• [NYSULLIV] Grahamsville, Sulliavn County or Denning Ulster County Baptism Records by "gary dufel" <>