John G. Klinck’s First Albany Church Exhibit

In 1852, John G. Klinck sponsored an exhibit of artifacts from the original First Church of Albany, or, as it was originally known, The Protestant Dutch Church of Albany.  Founded in 1642 in what began as a Dutch Fur-trading post, the original structure (shown here) eventually became too small for its congregation and was demolished in 1806 to make way for a bigger gathering place.  While the history of the congregation itself provides an interesting glimpse at the formation of a city, for my family the interesting question is: How did John obtain these relics in the first place? Especially considering that John himself – and most of his siblings – was baptized at the First Presbyterian Church of Albany. This little article launched a substantial research path for me that continues to this day. My strong suspicion is that John’s mother, Catherine Graham, was raised in the First Church of Albany. Proving this theory has been VERY difficult as researching a woman in the 18th century is far more complicated than searching for a needle in a haystack. While I continue searching, enjoy this article for what it is – a man sharing the treasures of one of the nation’s first churches with his pre-Civil War neighbors in Memphis.