This document packet is the abstract of the title to a tract of land located near the southeast corner of Meeting Street and Cunnington Street. St. Matthew's Lutheran Church (then the German Evangelical Lutheran Church) purchased the land from the Northeastern Railroad Company (N.E.R.R. Company) in 1883 for the purpose of creating a cemetery. The cemetery became known as Bethany Cemetery. The abstract lists the property's previous owners and the means through which they acquired the land. It also includes legal documentation showing the N.E.R.R. paid taxes on the land and other confirmation that they had the right to sell the land.
1900, 1901, 1850-1859, 1890-1899, 1880-1889, 1870-1879, 1860-1869, and 1840-1849
Description:
This German-language ledger book contains the records of marriages and deaths within the community of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church from 1840 to 1900, with a few additional entries for 1901. The book is divided into two sections. The front portion contains marriage records while the back portion contains death records.
1900, 1850-1859, 1890-1899, 1880-1889, 1870-1879, 1860-1869, and 1840-1849
Description:
This German-language ledger book contains the records of baptisms and confirmations within the community of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church from 1840 to 1900. The book is divided into two sections. The front portion contains baptismal records while the back portion contains confirmation records.
A program about the services for the reopening of St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, with Paster H.B. Schaeffer on Sunday, December 6th, 1925. The eighty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the congregation dated from December 3, 1840 to December 6, 1925.
Church Constitution of St. Matthew's Lutheran Congregation in Charleston, SC, translated from the original German into English. Originally published in 1859. This revised edition was printed in 1876.
Church Constitution of St. Matthew's Lutheran Congregation in Charleston, SC, in German. Originally published in 1859. This revised edition was printed in 1876.
German-language court brief listing German citizens indicted on charges of refusing to appear for their mandatory service in the military. Found guilty, they were sentenced to pay a fine of 200 marks and may face 40 days in prison.
Contract with terms of a one-year contract for Professor Otto Muller to serve as the organist for St. Matthew's congregation. Terms include, payment of $50 per year, leading and training the choir and children in preparation for becoming members of the choir, and giving a public organ concert to benefit the church (and receive $25 for his efforts). Signed by Otto Muller and members of Church Council.
Letter in German from H. Bode to the President and Council of the German Church asking for financial assistance. Bode stated that since times have become so bad and workers can only work three quarters and half times, he would like to receive a small gratuity in recognition for singing in the choir. He further states he does not neglect his duties when he is healthy, and it has been three-quarters of a year since he last sang.
Letter in German from V. von Lintig to Mr. Ufferhardt requesting claim for $200 from the church. V. von Lintig indicates he no longer lives in Charleston and no longer visits the Church, but since he has supported the Church vigorously, is requesting the amount of $200 plus interest.
Newpaper clippings in German and English commemorating the fortieth anniversary of arrival of one hundred and thirty five German immigrants in Charleston in 1849 aboard the Johann Frierich ship.
A document signed by A.O. Norris agreeing to lend the North Eastern Rail Road Company money to purchase a tract of land. It also outlines the purchase of land north of the city limits, by the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. And it includes a note signed by notary Joseph Ballard affirming that Francis J. Winkler, Henry Stender (President of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church), and William Ufferhaurdt (Secretary of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church) signed the document.
A document conveying a tract of land to the German Evangelical Church. The document describes how the court auctioned the land to the church so the previous owner, Jacob Williman, could settle a bill of complaint in the Court of Equity in the District of Charleston.
A title to real estate conveying a tract of land from John N. Tideman to George Dispau. This document also includes a notation by widow Lydia Whittmore conveying rights to George Dispau.
A document signed by Cephas Whittmore, agreeing to pay back eight-thousand dollars in eight-hundred dollar installments in return for a loan from George Dispau. This money was taken out for a tract of land.
A document conveying a tract of land to George Dispau. The document describes how W.D. Porter, a representative of the court, auctioned the land to the church so the estate of previous owner, Cephas Whittmore, could settle his debt.
The abstract to a title to a tract of land conveyed to the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. The document lists previous owners of the property, when they acquired the land, how they acquired it.
A legal document signed by representatives of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church agreeing to pay back two-thousand eight hundred and sixteen dollars for a loan from James Tupper.
A document signed by John A. Wagener, John Hurkamp, and H.H. Hoops, agreeing to pay back seven-hundred and fifty dollars in return for a loan from Edward R. Laurens. A note on the back indicates that Laurens received a payment "in full of the within bond" in April 1842. The note also refers to John Hurkamp as the treasurer of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church.
A document signed by John A. Wagener, John Hurkamp, and H.H. Hooks, agreeing to pay back seven-hundred and fifty dollars in return for a loan from Edward R. Laurens. A note on the back indicates that Laurens received "the principal [sic.] and interest to date of the within bond" in February 1843.
A letter from Tristram T. Hyde to Captain C.G. Ducker, President of the St. Matthew's congregation. The letter describes a 2.08-acre tract of land Hyde wishes to purchase on behalf of a client. He states he's authorized to offer $1000 per acre.
A document conveying a tract of land to the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. The church purchased this land from the North Eastern Rail Road Company.
A letter from Tristram T. Hyde to Captain C.G. Ducker, President of the St. Matthew's congregation. The letter states Ducker's counter offer of $2000 per acre is too high, and that Hyde is authorized to offer $3000 for the roughly two-acre plot.
A fire insurance policy taken out for the chapel of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church situated at Bethany Cemetery. The policy was with the Pacific Fire Insurance Company in New York City.
A survey of land the German Evangelical Lutheran Church sold to the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Company. The tract of land in question is outlined in yellow marker.
Land Survey of a lot near the corner of Meeting and Cunnington Streets. The survey describes the land as consisting of 9.45 acres, and that a representative of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church requested the survey.
A land survey showing a tract of five acres north of the Charleston city limits in 1903. The document states the land was formerly part of Dispau Farm.
A letter from representatives of the Confederate Survivors Association to the vestry of the German Lutheran Church, asking them to set aside an area in their cemetery for veterans of the Civil War.
A letter from attorney Carl E. Renken to T.T. Mappus, Jr., Treasurer of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, referencing a Deed from Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Company. Renken requests payment from the church for services rendered.
A note acknowledging receipt of a congregational member's letter regarding their proposal to create a monument for soldiers who died in a war and guaranteed burial plots for those who survived the war. It also discusses a potential location in Bethany Cemetery.
A letter from Rutledge, an attorney, to Captain C.G. Ducker, President of the German Evangelical Church. Rutledge mentions enclosing a document for an agreement between "Newman" and the church, allowing Newman to lay pipes across cemetery grounds.
Vocation (or Call) addressed to Johannes Heckel by the Call Committee, advising him that they are inviting him to take the position. It refers to their unanimous agreement to the call - subject to the approval of the Bishop. "It was God's will that we were made aware of you and that we had you in our midst and will get to know you even better. We are convinced that you will be able to support our Honorable Pastor Dr. Mueller in his difficult work and in the internal and external building of our St. Matthew's Parish. So we recognize clearly and happily the finger of God and call you unanimously as our second preacher." The letter continues to express that, as a servant of the parish, he will preach God's word, help guide and lead the Church, educate children, etc.
Print document containing list of German immigrant passengers' names and the region or town they were from in Germany. In print is the date October 13. Handwritten notes add the year 1858 with further notes: "Passanger list aboard SS Gauss on 9 October. Sailed from Bremen to Charleston, Captain H. Wieting."
This German-language booklet contains a list of names of people who purchased plots in and were buried in the Charleston, South Carolina Hampstead cemetery. The top of each page reads "Begräbnis Paltz / Burial Place/Plots" and lists the plat number. The purchasers' names are listed below the header with the half of the plot they purchased. Many purchasers are annotated with “1/2” or “1/4.” Some purchasers are crossed out. The people buried in the plot are listed on the page's lower half. Each name is marked with a cardinal direction to indicate the half of the plot in question. "N" indicates Norden / North, "S" indicates Süden / South, "W" indicates Westen / West, and "O" indicates Ost / East.
Letter in German from Pastor Muller to Pastor Johannes Heckel of Nashville, Tennessee inviting Heckel to visit St. Matthew's and enclosing a draft for $50 for travel expenses. The letter is cosigned by members of the Call Committee, the Secretary, and other officials of the parish.
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church members of the congregation obligating themselves to financially contribute to purchase a plot of real estate for the construction of a church. One third of the sum due when lot is purchased, the second third payable after one month and the remaining third after the second month following the first payment.
Letter in German from John Heinemann, organist and member of the church, to Church Council asking to renew his contract as organist with German Evangelical Lutheran Church and stating reasons for his request.
Letter from Heinrich Emil Eckel, organist, to President and Council Members of St. Matthew's Church requesting permission to use the Sunday School building to teach music to the children of the congregation.
An act to amend the charter of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church with the South Carolina General Assembly, authorizing holding property in the amount of one hundred fifty thousand dollars.
Rev. Louis Muller's recognition of fifty years of service at St. Matthw's German Lutheran Church, including his first service on Easter Sunday in 1848 and his record of service including, 4,402 baptisms, 1,440 confirmations, 1503 marriages, and burials of 4,163 friends, inlcuding the period in 1854 when the yellow fever epidemic swept through Charleston.
Letter in German from Heinrich Emil Eckel to the President and Council Members of the German St. Matthew's Church offering himself as a candidate for the customary annual selection for the position of organist. He references his experience playing his own works at two concerts given to celebrate the founding of the church. He also states other churches in the city have offered him a ten-year position as organist, which speaks best to his qualifications.
Letter in German from Johannes Heckel to William Ufferhardt referencing his recovery from an illness caused by the long railroad trip and thanking Ufferhardt for Heckel's stay in Charleston. He asked Ufferhardt to review a vocations formula he has written and advice on whether Heckel should also write Dr. Mueller.
Letter in German from Johannes Heckel to William Ufferhardt, Secretary of St. Matthew's Parish, warmly accepting the invitation to visit and stating he will request from his church permission for a two week absence to make the trip and will advise of the date of his departure.
Document detailing the raising of $20,000 to complete the construction of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- here under its original name, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- through the mortgage of the church's land and sale of bonds, with the lot's mortgaged deed to be held by trustees J.C.H. Claussen, G.W. Steffens and B. Bollmann, and signed by John A. Wagener.
Resolution from October of 1841 stating the intention to form a religious society, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- eventually, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- and the appointment of a committee, chaired by John A. Wagener, to collect the funding necessary to construct the church. Includes Wagener's mortgaging of a property to secure a loan of $1,600 from the State Bank of South Carolina for this purpose.
Title granting a plot of land, described within, to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- here under its original name, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- for $12,010. After the property was auctioned by the estate of Reverend Patrick O'Neill, the title was conveyed to the church by Master in Equity James W. Gray.
Document detailing the contractual agreement and payment conditions between "architect contractor and builder" John H. Devereux and Jacob H. Kalb, chairman of the Building Committee, for the construction of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church for a total of $53,000.
Bill of sale detailing the $600 sale at auction of an enslaved man named Elick to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, here referred to as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, by the executors of the estate of Thomas Gates.
"Title of Real Estate" indicating the sale of a plot of land "situated on the North side of Radcliffe Street" from Jacob H. Kalb to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, represented by Chairman of the Vestry Henry Stender, for $1,500.
Bond agreement for $18,067 between "Master of the Honourable Court of Equity, for Charleston District" James W. Gray and St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, here named as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, including payment dates and deadlines. Also included, document detailing the church's payments against this loan, signed by John B. Gray, "receiver," in 1870 and 1871.
Mortgage document which indicates St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- here under its original name, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- is bound to Charleston's Court of Equity for the sum of $18,016, and mortgages their property as described in the document to Master in Equity James W. Gray as collateral.
Letter from "your friend" J. Heinz to Capt. C.G. Ducker thanking him for help after the tragedy that "has stricken our congregation" and Dr. Muller's offer to hold German services at St. Johannes every second Sunday.
German-language letter from the Vestry in recognition of the Ladies Bell and Clock Society for enabling the chime bells and tower clock to be installed in the Church steeple and the gift of a small table-bell as a symbol of high appreciation from the Church.
English-language letter from the Vestry in recognition of the Ladies Bell and Clock Society for enabling the chime bells and tower clock to be installed in the Church steeple and the gift of a small table-bell as a symbol of high appreciation from the Church.
A survey map of the area known as Desperker Farm, followed by a deed indicating the area's sale to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, under its original name the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. The sale for $5,650 was finalized by E.L. Freeman and D.L. Goff, based on a resolution by the stockholders of the First National Bank of Pawtucket. The conveyance of the deed was certified by the law firm Ficken, Hughes & Ficken. The date of the original survey is July 16, 1892.
Letter outlining the devastating financial situation of the church, interest burdens and $1300 difference in income and expenditures along with the recommendation that the Assistant Pastor can only be funded from private means.
A letter to Captain C.G. Ducker from the law offices of Ficken, Hughes & Ficken enclosing the deed to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, executed by the First National Bank of Pawtucket. The recording of the deed by Captain Cogswell was free, and Captain Ducker is encouraged to keep the deed, title and other property documents in his records.
Letter to the "gentlemen" of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church from Thomas E. Miller indicating a reduction in interest on mortgage payments to 5% for the span of a year, from January 12, 1934 to January 12, 1935.
Memo by Captain C.G. Ducker on the letterhead of his company Carolina Mutual Insurance Co. noting a range of events related to the property history of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, beginning in 1860 and ending in 1906.
Letter to Captain C.G. Ducker from attorney John D. Cappelmann detailing his pro bono receipt of signatures on a bond by two representatives of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church.
Bond document detailing a $6,400 loan to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- here under their original name, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- from Charles Voigt, "Trustee of Wilhelmina Mertens and children," including conditions like payment timeline and interest rate.
Envelope containing bond of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- stylized with an abbreviation of its original name, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- from Henry Ruus.
