www.Yaphank.org - Yaphank's community web site

P.O. Box 249

East Main Street
Yaphank, NY 11980
631-924-5083

Rev. Richard A. Norris

News and Events
August 16, 2004 - Our first annual golf outing! Our start time is 11:30 registration, 12:00 lunch, 1:00 tee off.

Brown's Jeep is giving a "hole-in-one" jeep. There will be contests and prizes to give out.

Sunday Worship and the services of Holy Communion at 8:30 & 10:00 AM. Sunday School resumed on September 9th and is at 10:00 AM. As of September 16 Bible Study is held on Sundays at 9:15 AM.

History

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church was established in 1853 and it reflects a part of our American heritage. It has received the nation's highest historical award, a place in the National Register of Historic Places.

The church is a wooden frame structure of vernacular, Gothic design. The back extension and side wing were built to complement the original building. Entering the interior one walks into a place of worship that is unchanged from when the Weeks family first worshipped there.

James H. Weeks was a successful businessman and he made his wealth in the logging business. He shipped his wood produce to various locations, but primarily to New York City. Dr. Edgar Fenn Peck, in writing of his travels on Long Island in 1842, stated that the yellow pine trees "stood so close together that a horse could not pass between them."

In 1827, James Huggins Weeks purchased a large tract of land in Yaphank from William Sydney Smith of Longwood. One year later James and Susan Weeks, with their six-year-old son William, moved into their new home in Yaphank later to be called "The Lilacs."

St. Andrew's was built for two reasons. James Weeks felt separated from a home church and wanted a community church for Yaphank. Secondly, and of more importance, his son William James Weeks, who married his wife Mary in 1848, lost their first child at the age of one year, eleven months. Susan Maria was buried on November 30, 1850, Saint Andrew's Day, and so the decision of the Weeks' family was to build a church in the Anglican tradition in memory of "Little Susy."

Shortly thereafter, James and William Weeks surveyed a half-acre of land west of William's octagon house on the south side of the road (East Main Street today), and contracted Edmund Petty to build a church for a total cost of $1250.00. After the church was built, Susy's grave was moved onto the St. Andrew's property.

St. Andrew's Church is a replica of the Grace Church at Fort Neck (Massapequa). Situated in the northwest corner of the sanctuary is a mounted marble tablet memorializing James Huggins Weeks as chief sponsor of the church's establishment.

For twenty years St. Andrews existed as a family chapel, but on July 14, 1873 Bishop Littlejohn consecrated St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, gave an address, celebrated Holy Communion, and transformed what was a chapel into a church. According to Bishop Littlejohn, what... "has been man's property...will be God's property and set apart as the special tabernacle to his glory...."

THE REVEREND RICHARD C. CHAPIN, WHO SERVED AS THE FORMER VICAR OF ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH FOR TWENTY-TWO YEARS AND THE YAPHANK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, PROVIDED HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS HISTORY.

Fundraising

  Cemetary

??, Irving, d. Sep 6, 1875, On top of stone 'OUR BABE', Irving appears to be a given name, No surname is listed
Cole, Clarence Kenneth, b. 1925, d. 1984
Croswell, Harry, d. Oct 5, 1857, age: 7 months, Son of W.J. and Mary C. Weeks
Davis, Jackson B., b. 1901, d. 1939
DeLappe, Dorothy, b. 1901, d. no date, Also in grave Walter A. DeLappe, There is no date of death for Dorothy, Possibly living
DeLappe, Eva, b. 1869, d. 1949, Also in grave Fred C. DeLappe
DeLappe, Fred C., b. 1968, d. 1953, Also in grave Eva M. DeLappe
DeLappe, Walter, b. 1895, d. 1966, Dorothy P. Delappe names is on the stone but without a date of death, Possible she is still living
Dew, Edward, b. 1848, d. 1924
Dew, Janet T., d. Jan 21, 1894, age: 54 years, age 54 years
Dew, Mary J., b. 1903, d. 2000, Daughter of Edward Dew, Beloved Teacher
Dickieson, Edward F., b. 1887, d. 1949, Also in this grave Nathalie L. Dickieson
Dickieson, Nathalie L., b. 1887, d. 1986, Also in this grave Edward F. Dickieson
Dickieson, Robert Winslow, b. 1913, d. 1984, Flat grave marker
Dion, Honore, b. 1843, d. 1928, Husband of Marie Dion and sister of Desiree Dion Royere
Dion, Marie, b. Dec 5, 1843, d. Jul 3, 1094, 'Dearest Loved One We Have Laid Thee In The Peaceful Grave's Embrace, But Thy Memory Shall Be Cherished Til We See Thy Heavenly Face', Wife of Honore Dion
Gerard, William Smith, b. Jul 30, 1858, d. Sep 7, 1923, I have finished my work, I have kept the faith, Henceforth is prepared for me a crown of Salvation, with my saviour in Heaven, Beloved husband of Susan Weeks Gerard and seventh son of Nelson B. Gerard and his wife Keziah Leek
Graber, Christian, b. Aug 28, 1837, d. Apr 24, 1895
Greeley, Juliette, b. Jan 3, 1906, d. Jul 18, 1990, Forever in our hearts, Flat grave marker
Hadel, Adolph W., b. 1848, d. 1920, At top of Stone 'FATHER'
Hadel, Anna E., b. Sep 29, 1879, d. Jan 21, 1905, At Rest
Hadel, Bertha C., b. 1900, d. 1906
Hadel, Catherine, b. Dec 27, 1856, d. Dec 27, 1903, wife of Adolph W. Hadel, At Rest
Hannon, John, b. Jul 3, 1849, d. Jul 23, 1901
Hawkins, Jonah, b. Sep 11, 1790, d. Dec 3, 1856, age: 0, In Memory of ….'When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord'
Hawkins, Robert H., d. Dec 16, 1855, age: 38 years, To my husband……who fell asleep in Christ
Hawkins, Robert Hewlett, d. Feb 18,1852, age: 1 year 1 mo. 26 Days, 1 year 1 mo. 26 days, In addition to the age there is a long inscription on this stone that is illegible
Hawkins, Sarah, b. Aug 8, 1787, d. May 31, 1857, age: 0, In Memory of Sarah Hawkins wife of Jonah Hawkins, This stone has been knocked down and cracked, There is additional writing, The only part of this writing that is readable is PSALM CXLX
Heisser, Robert, b. May 24, 1934, d. Nov 17, 1979, He will be remembered always
Hesselberg, Laura Antoinette, b. Sep 23, 1864, d. Feb 27, 1937, Daughter of Mary Croswell and William Jones Weeks and widow of Daniel L. Hesselberg, Hope at the Rising of the Sun, Peace at it's setting
Holden, Ann Margaret, b. Apr 9, 1792, d. Dec 29, 1878, wife of E.H.S. Holden, MD
Horlocher, Annie, d. Jan 1, 1905, age: 72 Years, Wife of Joseph Horlocher , At Rest, On top of stone - AUNTIE
Irwin, Laura Lawles, b. Jan 30, 1904, d. Aug 13, 1995, In Loving Memory, Also in this grave William T. Irwin
Irwin, William T., b. Apr 11, 1904, d. Dec 13, 1944, In Loving Memory, Also in this grave Laura Irwin
Jackson, Antoinette S., b. Apr 24, 1848, d. Apr 27, 1924, On top of Stone WEEKS, Also in this grave James Edward Weeks
Jackson, Emma R., b. Oct 16, 1849, d. June 8, 1941
Jackson, Henry, b. Sep 1803, d. Feb 12, 1886, Father
Jackson, M. Auga, b. Feb 7, 1853, d. May 12, 1880, wife of Charles Griffith, On top of stone 'GUSSIE'
Jackson, Sarah Stevens, b. Jul 19, 1812, d. Aug 6, 1879, wife of Henry B. Jackson, Top of stone MOTHER
Kane, Elizabeth Hannon, b. 1864, d. 1950
Kollett, Beatrice A, b. 1915, d. 1981, Also in grave Charles Kollett
Kollett, Charles, b. 1906, d. 1967, Also in grave Beatrice A. Kollett
Kollett, Eugenie, b. 1869, d. 1948, Also in grave John C. Kollett
Kollett, John C, b. 1871, d. 1954, Also in grave Eugenie Kollett
Lawles, Dudley, b. Mach 28, 1892, d. Feb 16, 1917, son of Julia E & J.H. Lawles, As long as life and memory last we will remember thee
Lawles, Joseph H., b. Jan 13, 1861, d. Dec 7, 1936, son of Elizabeth Mary & Silas Lawles, His Deeds Yet Live
Lawles, Julia E., b. May 9, 1862, d. Jan 29, 1937, dau. Of Mary Croswell and William Jones Weeks, In loving memory
Overhoff, Aenne, b. 1899, d. 1949, Also in grave Henry Overhoff
Overhoff, Henry, b. 1800, d. 1986, Also in grave Aenne Overhoff
Potts, Ophelia, b. March 12, 1894, d. no dates, age: 83 years 9 mo, age 83 years 9 mo
Ramshaw, Edward, b. May 22, 1922, d. Jan 25, 1979, PFC US ARMY WORLD WAR II, Flat Grave Marker
Ribble, Phebe, b. 1825, d. 1909
Royere, Desiree Dion, b. 1850, d. 1939, Also in this grave, her husband, Jules Royere, Desiree was born Jan 06, 1850 and died March 18, 1939, Sister of Honore Dion."
Royere, Jules, b. 1852, d. 1930, Also in this grave, his wife, Desiree Dion Royere, Jules birthdate is Feb 11, 1852, Date of death Jul 21, 1930."
Skowron, Scott D., b. 1963, d. 1989
Smith, John H., b. 1879, d. 1928
Taylor, Mary E., b. 1919, d. 1979, Also in grave William Taylor
Taylor, William, b. 1906, d. 1970, Always in our hearts, Also in grave Mary E. Taylor
Vogel, Katherine E., No Dates
Webber, Hettie, b. Apr 30, 1875, d. no dates, age: 5 days, dau. Of John & Georgiana Webber, age 5 Days, There is rest in Heaven
Weeks, Archibald C., b. 1850, d. 1927
Weeks, Evelyn E., b. 1855, d. 1927
Weeks, Francis William, b. Jan 8, 1867, d. Feb 13, 1884, Son of Wm. J. and Mary Croswell Weeks, Intelligent and promising he was taken in the bloom of his youth
Weeks, James Edward, b. Aug 24, 1853, d. Sep 16, 1924, On top of stone WEEKS, Also in this grave Antoinette S Jackson
Weeks, James H., d. Sep 7, 1879, In this grave also is Susan Maria Weeks, The tombstone has a cross on top
Weeks, Mary Croswell, b. Sep 13, 1826, d. Jan 7, 1883, Wife of William J. Weeks, The faithful + affectionable wife, The loving and devoted mother, The intelligent and Christian woman, This stone has been knocked down and cracked
Weeks, Reginald C., b. Aug 28, 1868, d. Apr 3, 1935, Son of William J and Mary Croswell Weeks
Weeks, Susan Amelia, b. Dec 7, 1851, d. Nov 26, 1934, Widow of William Smith Gerard, third child of William Jones Weeks & Mary Croswell Weeks, She hath done what she could, Father into thy care we commend her spirit
Weeks, Susan Maria, d. Jan 24, 1888, Wife of James H. weeks, Daughter of Major William Jones, Born at Cold Spring Harb, 'Whosoever liveth and beliveth in Christ shall never die', In this grave also is James H. Weeks
Weeks, Susan Marie, d. Nov 29, 1850, age: 23 months, Daughter of W.J. and Mary C. Weeks
Weeks, Theodore Francis, b. Nov 21, 1882, d. Jul 17, 1883, Son of Archibald C. and Evelyn E. Weeks, Additional inscription cannot be read
Weeks, William J., b. 1881, d. 1904
Weeks, William Jones, b. Feb 21, 1821, d. Sep 2, 1897, only son of James H & Susan M. Weeks, 'The days of our age are threescore years and ten, and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow so soon passeth it away and we are gone, so teach us
Weeks, Willie, d. Oct 21, 1856, age: 17 months, Son of William J and Mary C. Weeks
Willington, Emma, d. Aug 16, 1906, Also in this grave Samuel B. Willington
Willington, Samuel B., Also in this grave Emma Willington, No dates on stone
Winslow, Clara, b. Sep 15, 1860, d. Jul 31, 1929, dau. Of Mary Croswell & William Jones Weeks, Many shall arise and call her blessed

Re-printed with permission: Copyright (c) 2001 by Stacey E. Kerr (staceyKerr@nyc.rr.com) and aunt.