Additional information
by Ny Geneal and Biographical Soc (Author)
The "Minisink country" consists of the valley of the Neversink, west of Shawangunk Mountains, and the Delaware valley, as far as the Delaware Water Gap. The settlers in the Minisink Valley were Dutch, French Huguenots and English. Four primary Dutch Reformed churches were established in the Minisink Valley. The Minisink Church was located about eight miles below Port Jervis, on the Old Mine Road, in the township of Montague, Sussex County, New Jersey. The Machackemeck Church stood on the Old Mine Road at the junction of East Main Street and New Jersey Avenue, in the city of Port Jervis. The Walpeck Church was within the Walpeck Bend of the Delaware, about a mile west of Flatbrookville, in the Township of Walpeck Sussex County, New Jersey. Historical information on the Smithfield Church is given in the introduction but the church's records do not appear in this volume.
The introduction of this book is quite lengthy and outlines in detail the history of these four churches, showing the sites they occupied, and briefly citing the group of secondary churches that grew out of them. Part of the records of the Minisink, Mavhackemeck, and Walpeck Churches have been transcribed. The baptisms list the date, parents, child and witnesses; marriages list the bride and groom, their birthplaces, residences and the minister performing the ceremony; also included is a listing of church members.
