HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 189

89th year. He was a learned but eccentric man, and for this reason, perhaps, was sometimes considered “deficient in sound judgment.”1

With Messrs. Van Sinderen and Rubel, the European Dutch ministry in Rings County ceased.2

In 1785, the Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker, who was then officiating at Harlem and Gravesend, accepted a call to take charge of the collegiate churches of the county, to which the church at Gravesend was then added; and, on the 28th of October, 1787, the Rev. Peter Lowe was ordained at New Utrecht as his colleague. The former officiated in the Dutch language until his death, in 1824; and the latter, in the English tongue. In their regular rotation through the county, four churches would be closed, and two open, for divine worship on the Sabbath. Such, however, is the peculiar position of the county, and the easy communication between the several towns, that, with the exception of Bushwick and Gravesend, each of the others could quite conveniently follow the ministers, who consequently preached to full and crowded houses.

The Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker, second son of Joachim and Lydia Schoonmaker, was born at Rochester, Ulster County, N. Y., March 1, 1737; commenced his classical studies with Domine Goetchius, of Schraalenburgh, N. J., 1753; and his theological, with the Rev. Mr. Marenus, of Aquackanock, in 1759. On the 27th of June, 1761, he married Mary (daughter of Stephen and Ann) Basset, of that place; and was licensed to preach in 1763, first accepting a call from the congregations of Harlem and Gravesend. In 1781, he accepted a call from the particular churches of Gravesend, Success, and Wolver Hollow, which charge he retained until

1 The following is the inscription on his gravestone at Flatbush: “Hier leyt het Liechaem van den Wel-Erwaede Heer Ulpianus Van Sinderen, in zyn leeven Predicant in Kings County. Overleeden den 23 July, 1796, oud Zynde 88 Jaeren 7 Maanden en 12 daegen.” (TRANSLATION): Here lies the body of the very worthy Mr. Ulpianus Van Sinderen, in his lifetime preacher in Kings County. Died, July 23, 1796, aged 88 years 7 months and 12 days.

2 During the pastorship of Rubel and Van Sinderen, “the seats in churches were all numbered in the pews or ranges. Men and women sat separately, and it rarely happened that two persons of the same family sat together. In several churches women oat in their own chairs, in the ranges of chairs. Every church had a free pew for justices and judges.”