06/21/2026
The First Families of Unionville Presbyterian Church
Though the Unionville Presbyterian Church was built in 1825, it was not until 1831 that it was officially recognized as a church by the Hudson Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.
The first entry in the minutes of the church lists all the founding members of the church.
Unionville Sept 20th, 1831
The committee appointed by Presbytery to meet in Unionville and organize a Church in that place convened agreeable to previous arrangement. Present Rev.nd William Timbour , & Daniel L. Wood
Absent Rev.nd Charles Cummins D.D. The committee in connnexion with Rev.nd Christopher Corey proceeded to constitute said Church composed of the following persons Viz. Samuel Van Fleet, Richard Whitaker, Sarah Van Fleet, Jane Van Fleet, Hannah Pierson, James Van Fleet, Mary Van Fleet, Sarah Middaugh, Benny Middaugh, Caty Middaugh, Leonard Middaugh, Sarah Middaugh, Moses D. Rodgers, Mary Clark, Susan Whitaker, Deborah Smith, Samuel Y. Myers, Phebe M. Smith, Stephen G. Smith, Jacob Whitaker, Martha Whitaker, Julia Meyers, Daniel V. Myers, Hannah Meyers, William A Smith, Catharine Meyers, Isaiah Clark, Samuel Van Fleet Junior, Belinda Van Fleet, Jane V. Pierson, Elizabeth M. Pierson, Elizabeth Pierson, Joseph A. Bonnell, Joanna Bonnell, Timothy Scidmore, Alfred Bullock, Hannah Bullock, Mary Austin, Theophilus H. Pierson, Elijah Middaugh, Nancy Watkins, Anna Scidmore, Elizabeth Kimber, Caty Kimber, Jane Shepherd, Eliza Jane Shepherd, Lewis Whitaker, Samuel Clark, John Whitaker, Phebe Whitaker, James Clark, Abraham Clark, Catharine Clark, Jane Miller, John C. Wisner, Sally Conyers, Frances D. Clark, Jane A. Clark, Harminda Smith, Joanna Smith, James W. Decay, Thomas Miller, Abigail Miller, Mary Carr, Lydia Fuller, Hannah Clark, Abraham Inoin, Mary Inoin, Jonathan Clark, Elijah Middaugh was not a member at the time of signing the petition (it was Presby mistake) but has since united with the Church. After which the following persons being duly nominated and chosen by the Church were ordained as ruling Elders Viz. Samuel Van Fleet, Moses D. Rodgers, Samuel Van Fleet Junr, Lewis Whitaker, and Alfred Bullock. Signed in behalf of the committee. Daniel L. Wood. The above is a true copy of the extract taken from the minutes of the Presbytery of Hudson along the organization of the Church at Unionville. Theron C De Pew Stated Clerk of U.C.
There are 22 family names represented among the founders.
1. Van Fleet (7 – Samuel, Sarah, Jane, James, Mary, Samuel Jr., Belinda.)
2. Whitaker (7 – Richard, Susan, Jacob, Martha, Lewis, John, Phebe)
3. Pierson (5 – Hannah, Jane V., Elizabeth M., Elizabeth, Theophilus H.)
4. Middaugh (6 – Sarah, Benny, Caty, Leonard, Sarah, Elijah*)
5. Rodgers (1 – Moses)
6. Clark (10 – Mary, Isaiah, Samuel, James, Abraham, Catherine, Frances D., Jane A., Hannah, Jonathan)
7. Smith (6 – Deborah, Phebe M., Stephen G., William A., Harminda, Joanna)
8. Myers (5 – Samuel Y., Daniel V., Julia, Hannah, Catherine)
9. Bonnell (2 – Joseph, Joanna)
10. Scidmore (2 – Timothy, Anna)
11. Bullock (2 – Alfred, Hannah)
12. Austin (1 – Mary)
13. Watkins (1 – Nancy)
14. Kimber (2 – Elizabeth, Caty)
15. Shepherd (2 – Jane, Eliza Jane)
16. Miller (3 – Jane, Thomas, Abigail)
17. Wisner (1 – John C.**)
18. Conyers (1 – Sally)
19. Decay (1 – James W.)
20. Carr (1 – Mary)
21. Fuller (1 – Lydia)
22. Inoin (2 – Abraham, Mary)
*As noted in the minutes above, “Elijah Middaugh was not a member at the time of signing the petition (it was Presby[tery] mistake) but has since united with the Church.”
**John C. Wisner was apparently only at the meeting as an observer, and was mistakenly recorded as a member. Unionville Church minutes note “mistake. Not set off from WT [Westtown] Church.”
A total of 69 constituent members were listed (68 not counting John C. Wisner). It is also evident that these are the adult members; the children are not listed. So the full group was much larger.
Though there were 22 family names listed, it is notable that some of the families were connected by marriage. The Clark’s, Kimber’s, Van Fleet’s, Myer’s, Shepherd’s, and Pierson’s were connected as one family through a number of marriages. Together they constituted almost half of the church. Likewise the Whitaker’s and Austin’s were connected by marriage.
