People: Community

Rev. William S. Coffey
Rev. William S. Coffey, longest serving minister at St. Paul's Church, in a studio photograph, circa 1860.

NPS

A profile of the inspring story of the life of Benjamin Turner, patriarch of an African American family that lived for three generations, from slavery to freedom, near St. Paul's Church.

Read about the life and work of William S. Coffey, who presided over vast religious and structural changes as the rector of St. Paul's Church from 1852 to 1909.

Explore the interesting and significant story of the life and work of Rev. William H. Weigle, rector of the church from 1929-49 who played the major role in developing St. Paul's as a historic site.

Born during the American Revolution, Rebecca Turner’s life in the shadows of St. Paul’s Church illustrates a local journey from slavery to freedom, the continuity of African American life in the vicinity, and the heartening story of a remarkable woman’s efforts to sustain herself and family for nearly a century.

An examination of the life and struggles of Sarah E. Nelson, who in the 1930s was the last heir of land, located in the shadows of St. Paul's Church, that her family had possessed, from slavery to freedom, since the early 19th century.

Read about the story of a New York State Trooper, Theodore Dobbs, who was killed in the line of duty in 1924, and is buried at St. Paul's. By chance, St. Paul's staff learned about Trooper Dobbs' story in July 2023. He was one of the first State Police offers who died on duty in New York.

A profile of the life and military service of Morris Link, who served with the legendary Harlem Hellfighters in World War I. Corporal Link was killed in action in France in 1918, adn is buried at St. Paul's.

Learn about Sophie Mee, 'A Splendid Teacher,' whose life and work shed light on the history of women and education in America in the period from the Civil War to World War I.

An exploration of the life and work of Edward Gay, a prominent landscape painter in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who is buried at St. Paul's.

A chronicle of the life and work of Minnie Dupree, who held leading roles in Broadway plays for 50 years, from the 1890s through the 1940s, and also appeared in several films. Her story helps to illuminate the history of women and the theater in America. Ms. Dupree is buried at St. Paul's.

An account of the life and career of Mary E. Gedney, a successful businesswoman and leader of women's voluntary organizations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, whose burial at St. Paul's is marked by a large, three-tiered granite monument.

Read about the story of Alfred H. Duncombe, a 19th century millionaire manufacturer buried at St. Paul's, whose vast estate was the subject of a major battle among his family members.

Explore the interesting story of the lives and military service records of John and Ramsey Flynn, who served in the American Expeditionary Force in the First World War. Both of the brothers are buried at St. Paul's.

Profiles of the lives and service of two soldiers -- one who survived, and one who didn't -- of the American Army in the First World War, and are buried at st. Paul's.

The First World War and St. Paul's Church

Immigration, Tragedy, Military Service & Mobility: The Story of an American Family Buried at St. Paul's

Last updated: September 1, 2023

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897 South Columbus Avenue
Mount Vernon, NY 10550

Phone:

914 667-4116

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