Revolutionary War Heritage Trail

This is one of the oldest churches in the Mohawk Valley. Lutheran Palatine Germans built it in 1770 using limestone taken from the creek nearby. The construction cost $155,000 in 2008 dollars with funding donated primarily by the Wagner, Nellis, Reber and Hess families. The spire was funded entirely by six members of the Nellis family, who also gave the gilded bronze rooster on top.
In October 1780 British Loyalist John Johnson led 875 troops in a devastating raid across the Schoharie and Mohawk Valleys. They burned all the farms along this
road. Legend has it that the Indians were ready to set the
church on fire as well, but a British officer stopped them.
He had promised his good friend, Henry Nellis, to protect the church.
Hendrick W.(Henry) Nellis donated the land for this church. He and his son Robert remained loyal to the British government and fled to Canada. Henry served in the British army throughout the Revolution.
His church may have been spared, but he never returned to the Mohawk Valley. He settled in Canada with many other Loyalists from this area.
The Nellis family experience was typical of the Mohawk Valley, where often the American Revolution
was a civil war that divided families and neighbors. Today descendants from both
sides of the American border gather here to celebrate their faith



and their common heritage.
When the church was restored for its centennial in 1870, workmen found a rare thirteen star
American flag in the building, now on display.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  

Army Camp
Fort Wagner
Fort Klock
Klock Fort
Sand Hill
Sand Hill School
Clinton March
Revolution in the Mohawk Valley
Te-No-To-Ge
Fort Plain War Memorial, a War Memorial

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.