The Margeson Family at Trinity Church
A family Bible record and related Trinity Church records documenting the births, christening, parentage, and family relationships of John Margeson, Thomas Margeson, Mary Brundage, and their relatives in colonial New York.
Published 9/14/2026
Report
Only a few fragments of Margeson individuals have survived the ravages of fire and time. These, just quoted, may still be seen at the church. The Thomas Margeson Bible Record here (on opposite page) is presented in the photograph. This brings together the names of THREE generations: Thomas's grandparents, his father and mother, his own birth, date and place, and also that of his wife, Mary Brundage, and her parents. Mary had a brother, named John, a year older than herself. The place of Mary's birth, the Town of Frederstown, then in Dutchess County, N.Y., Fredricksburgh, or -town, was located on the site of modern Carmel, now in Putnam County. Having established these family dates and places, we may now resume our observations on the early history of the two families: The Brundages and Thomas Margeson's birth and early life. Looking ahead in our story, we shall learn both families were well represented in the early to present history of the Towns of Wayne, Urbana, and Bath in New York's Southern Tier. We shall refer back to the two Johns and Thomas in the next related topic. Continuing "New York During the Revolution" we shall pay attention to the role of Trinity Church as described by author Valentine in his History of New York. We learn that the congregation was organized and a church edifice erected in 1696. The interior supporting columns were used to display the Coat of Arms of the families (probably heaviest financial backers). It is reasonable to believe that this first building was replaced by another sometime during the next 100 years. The Church of England, then as now, was a real part of the British Government. The New American System would soon reject that system and substitute constitutional Separation of State and Church and guarantee Freedom of Religion. Page 245 of Valentine describes "William Vesey as the first Rector was invited from England, and preached his first sermon on Sunday the 13th of March 1697. He continued his service for many years, and died in 1746 while still Pastor." It was this Parson Vesey who christened John Margeson in 1716, John being the first Margeson child of our line born in America. Miss Cline, in her letter just quoted, gives 1776 as the year the church, or at least the church records, was destroyed in the "Great Fire of 1776." The cause of the fire was not indicated but, being in wartime, it was one of the "casualties". Some years later, Washington attended Trinity and his pew still may be seen by visitors. The building as it is now located was built after 1776. From the Church of England to the Episcopal Church in the United States.
Method & sources consulted
Excerpt taken directly from 1970s Margeson family history book using OCR