USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 5
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Jolın Brondish.
The mark of Frederick Hermanson.
'The mark of Thomas Applebe."
To this declaration is appended the following agreement and orders, (showing the bounds of the future township of Hastings.)
" We do agree that for our land bought on the mayn land, call- ed in the Indian Poningoe, and in English the Biaram land, lying between the aforesaid Biaram river and the Blind brook, bounded east and west with these two rivers, and on the north with Westchester path, and on the south with the sea, for a plan- tation, and the name of the town to be called Hastings.
And now lastly we have jointly agreed that he that will sub- scribe to these orders, here is land for him, and he that doth re- fuse to subscribe hereunto we have no land for him."a
a Rye Rec. Lib. A.
46
HISTORY OF THE
Hastings, July 26, 1662. The planters hands to these or- ders.
Benjamin Woypen.
John May.
Samuel Allin.
Robert Hutson. John Brondish. Frederick Harminson.
Thomas Applebe.
August 11, 1662. These orders made by the purchasers of the land with our names.
Peter Disbrow, John Coe, Thomas Stedwell, William Odell.
It was ordered by the General Court of Assembly, holden at Hartford, May 11, 1665,
" That the villages of Hastings and Rye shall be for the future conjoined and made one plantation, and that it shall be called by the appellation of Rye, and Mr. Gold, Mr. Lawes, and John Banks are appointed to go and settle the differences between the inhabitants of Hastings and Rye, and also see the line be- tween Stamford and Greenwich run."a
" A. D. 1666. John Budd, Sen., of Rye, for and in consider- ation of thirty-seven pounds, ten shillings, sells his land, divided by agreement of the men of Hastings now called Rye, to George Kniffen of Stratford, the house being situated in the town for- merly called Hastings, in presence of us, Francis Brown and Daniel Simkins. b
In the main street of the village stands an ancient stone tavern, at present occupied by Mr. Silvanus van Sicklin. This build- ing was erected in the early days of the settlement, when it served the double purpose of a residence and fortification. The remains of embrasures can yet be traced in its walls. The fol- lowing order is presumed to relate to this edifice.
March 5th, 1676. Thomas Lyon and Thomas Brown are ap- pointed to choose a house or place to be fortified for the safety of the town. Also the young men who come into the fortification, and remain during the troublese are to have an equal proportion
a Hartford Rec. vol. ii. 208.
b Probate Rec. Fairfield Co. from 1665 to 1675.
King Philip's war with New England. On the 13th of March, 1676, (eight days
47
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
of the undivided lands, provided they be such as the town approve.ª Upon the 13th of July, 1681, the town authorized John Ogden and George Kniffen to purchase a barrel of powder, and three hundred weight of lead of Mr. Budd of Fairfield, or wherever it can be obtained the cheapest. These are to be kept for the use of the town."
At this early period, the Indians were very numerous, and the surrounding country was infested by wolves. On the 15th of December, 1689, a bounty of fifteen shillings was ordered to be raised by a town rate, for the killing of wolves. Whilst under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, the villages of Rye and Hastings sent a deputy to the general court of that colony. The first in- dividual who held this honorable office, was Mr. John Budd, as appears from the following letter addressed to the members of the court then assembled at Hartford.
Hastings, the 1st month 26, 1663.
Much Honored Sirs :-
We heer underwritten, being seted upon a small tract of land lying betwixt Greenwich and Westchester, which land wee have bought with our money the which wee understand doth lye within your patent, and whereas, you have already required our subjection as his majesties subjects, the which we did willingly and readily embrace, and according to your desiour, we sent a man to Fairfield, who have there taken the oath of a consta- ble, we have now made choys of our nayghbar John Budd for a depute, and sent him up to your Corte to act for us, as hee shall see good, it is our desiour to have some settled way of government amongst us, and therefore, we do crave so much favor at the hands of the Honble Cort, that they do make us a constable or any other officer, that they would give him power to grant a warrant in case of need, because we be somewhat remote from other places, thus leaving it to your well and judicious consideration, we remain yours to command,
Peter Disbrow, Richard Fowler, George Clere, Philip Caspine, John Coe, in the name of the rest.b
William Odell, Jobn Brondig, John Jackson, Thomas Stedwell, Walter Lancaster,
after the date of the above order,) the entire town of Groton, consisting of forty houses, was burned by the Indians. See Drake's American Indians.
a Rye Rec. vol. i. 73.
b Hart Rec. vol. i. no. 66, on towns and lands.
48
HISTORY OF THE
June 26, 1676, Mr. John Banks occurs as deputy to the gene- ral court from Rye.
Upon its annexation to the province of New York, Rye was erected into a market town, and enjoyed the extraordinary privi- lege of holding and keeping a yearly fair, on the 2d Tuesday in October, to end on the Friday next following, being in all four days.
Courts of special sessions were also held in Rye during the colonial dynasty.
Many handsome villas and country residences adorn the vil- lage. The mansion of the late David Brooks, is a beautiful specimen of the old English style, only requiring the proper ac- cessories of trees and shrubbery. The gables are enriched with elaborately carved scroll work, and surmounted by finials. The oriel windows present a light and airy effect. The whole struc- ture is elegantly finished, internally as well as externally. The residences of the late Ebenezer Clark and Mr. Halstead, are beautifully situated upon the margin of Blind brook. Embosomed amid luxuriant trees, south of the former, is the residence of Hachaliah Brown, Esq., whose family has for five generations occupied the estate. The present building was erected, A. D. 1774, upon the site of the old homestead. The Browns were originally from the town of Rye, county of Sussex, England. Hachaliah Brown the more immediate ances- tor of the family, having been one of the first planters of this town. In 1756, Hachaliah Brown of Rye, commanded the Westchester levies, under General Lord Amherst. The ad- joining estate belongs to Henry Barker, Esq. .
North east of the village bordering Purchase street, is the pro- perty of the late Josiah Purdy, Esq., now occupied by his son Josiah Purdy. The Purdy family were among the early set- tlers of Fairfield, Connecticut. Francis Purdy,a the first of the family of whom we have any account, died in 1658, at Fairfield.
a An inventory of the estate of Francis Purdy, was taken Oct. 14th, 1586. See Probate Records, Fairfield Co.
49
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
His sons, Francis, Johna and Samuel, subsequently removed to Rye.
The old parsonage land is now occupied by Henry Strang, son of the late Daniel Strang, grandson of the worthy Huguenot, Daniel L'Estrange and Mary Hubert his wife, who removed from New Rochelle to this place, in 1697.
The most prominent object upon entering Rye from the west, is the Presbyterian church with its spire, a neat wooden edifice, erected at the private cost of the late Ebenezer Clark, Esq., and dedicated June the 28th, 1842.b It occupies the site of the old church erected A. D. 1793. The latter was dedicated by the Rev. Isaac Lewis, D. D., of Greenwich, Connecticut, who offi- ciated here for some time, in connection with his own charge. To the Presbyterian church at Rye, is attached the chapel at Port Chester. Service is now regularly held every Sunday morning at Port Chester, and in the afternoon at Rye.
The first Presbyterian church in this town, is said to have been erected upon Pulpit plain, the property of Mr. Billah Theale.
In 1729, the proprietors of the undivided land lying in Rye, between Byram and Blind brook streams, within a certain pat- ent that was granted unto Daniel Purdy, son of John Purdy de- ceased, Samuel Brown, Benjamin Brown and others, grant unto the Presbyterian Society for ever, one-half acre of land lying on the Plains near unto the house that was the late deceased Thomas Merritt's jun., &c. In witness whereof, we have here- unto set our hands, the 15th day of May, in the second year of the reign of King George the second, A. D. 1729.d
Robert Bloomer, Charles Leish, Thomas Brown,
Daniel Purdy, sen., James Roosevelt, Jonathan Brown,
Joseph Kniffen, Hachaliah Brown, Thomas Purdy,
a John Purdy was residing at Fairfield, in 1658.
b The cost of this edifice, including certain improvements around the church, was $6000.
€ The land was the gift of Mr. Jesse Park.
d Rye Rec. Lib. C.
VOL. II. 7
50
HISTORY OF THE
Abram van Wyck,
Joseph Purdy, John Carhart,
Nathan Kniffen,
Andrew Merritt,
Timothy Knapp,
Samuel Lane, sen.,
Nathaniel Sherwood, Jonathan Haight,
John Disbrow,
Thomas Howell,
Justus Bush,
Benjamin Brown,
Ebenezer Kniffen, John Coe,
John Roosevelt,
Daniel Purdy,
Joseph Lyon,
Joseph Sherwood,
John Lyon, jun.,
Joseph Stedwell.
George Kniffen, James Brown,
The first ordained pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Rye, was the Rev. John Smith, who appears to have commenced his labors here cir. 1753. He is said to have been an able and useful minister ; he died February 26th, 1771, aged 68 years. In 1793, the Rev. Isaac Lewis, D. D., officiated here statedly for three month's. His son and successor in the church at Greenwich, continued for a short time after. Subsequently at irregular inter- vals clergymen visited the church of whom no record remains. On the 4th of March, 1829, this church was regularly organized by a commission of the New York presbytery. Upon the forma- tion of the Bedford presbytery in October, 1829, the relations of this church was transferred to that body, in which connection it has ever since remained. The Rev. Mr. Saxton officiated as stated supply until May 17th, 1827, when the Rev. W. H. Whit- temore took charge and continued until April, 1832. In July, 1829, the second church edifice was thoroughly repaired, at a cost of $800. For the successors of the Rev. Mr. Whittemore, see list of pastors.
The Presbyterian Church of Rye was first incorporated on the 5th of June 1795; Robert Merritt, Ezekiel Halstead, jun., Nathan Brown, John Doughty, James Hunt and David Rogers, trus- tees.a
List of Ministers of the Presbyterian Church, at Rye.
Install. or call
Ministers, vacated by
A. D. 1753,
Rev. John Smith, death,
& Co. Rec. Religious Soc. Lib. A. 50.
51
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
Inst. or call.
Ministers,
Vacated by
A. D. 1793,
Rev. Isaac Lewis,
resig.
1794,
Rev. Isaac Lewis, jr., do.
1826, Rev. Mr. Saxton, do.
1827, Rev. W. H. Whittemore,
do.
April, 1832,
Rev. David Remington, death,
April, 1834,
Rev. Thomas Payne, resig.
October, 1836,
Rev. James R. Davenport, do.
Oct. 9 1838, Rev. Edward D. Bryan, present minister.
Church Memoranda.
1836, communicants 20, baptisms 6, 1846, do SS, do 7.
The first religious society of Rye was Congregational, at that time the established religion of the colony of Connecticut.
" By authority it had been enacted that no person within the colony should embody themselves in church estate without the consent of the general court. The law also prohibited any min- istry being attended by the inhabitants, in any plantation distinct and separate from that which was established in the place, except by the approbation of the general court and the neighboring churches.
" One object of these laws was doubtless to prevent Baptists, Episcopalians and others from gaining a foothold."a
As early as 1660, says the historian Trumbull, Rye paid taxes for the support of religion, although no church was formed nor pastors ordained.
Greenwich and Rye, continues the same authority, were but just come under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, and not in cir- cumstances for the support of ministers; they had occasional preaching only for a considerable time.b
At a town meeting held in Rye, November, 1670, the town made choice of Joseph Horton, Thomas Brown, and John Bron- dig, who are to do their endeavor to procure a minister.
It was also agreed for to allow two pence in the pound for the
Lambert's Hist. N. Haven, p. 189.
b Trumbull's Hist. Conn. p. 300.
52
1
HISTORY OF THE
maintenance of a minister amongst us, that is to say an orthodox minister.
From the following document it appears that the town had not succeeded in procuring a minister, for May the 11th, 1671, at a court of assembly held at Hartford, Capt. Nathan Gold, Thomas Fitch, Mr. Holly, Lt. Richard Olmstead, and Mr. John Barr, they, or any three of them, are desired to repair to the said Rye, as soon as may be, and to endeavor a comfortable composure and issue of such differences as are among the people there, and to use their endeavors in the procuring of an able and orthodox minister to settle in that place, and if the people of Rye shall not concur with their endeavors in procuring a minister and comfort- ably settling of him in the plantation of Rye, then the court doth empower the aforesaid committe to agree with a suitable man for that work in that place, and to agree with him for maynte- nance to the value of £40 per annum, which the treasurer, by warrant to the constable of said Rye, shall order for the gather- ing and payment thereof with the county rate.a
October 8th, 1674. The general court again empowers Cap- tain John Allyn, Mr. James Bishop, Major Robert Treat with Mr. Gold, " to endeavor also the obliging and settling of a minis- ter at Rye."b
At a court holden at Hartford, May 17th, 1675, Major Nathan Gold, Major Robert Treat, and Mr. Jehu Burr were nominated and appointed a committee to treat with the inhabitants of Rye and those concerned in lands there, and labor to accommodate matters, as that there may be suitable encouragement for Mr. Prudden to settle in the ministry, and such other suitable inhabi- tants with him as may promote the settlement of said town of Rye and the ministry therein ; and if they shall find any averse- ness or difficulty with the inhabitants or proprietors in so just and necessary publique good of the town, they are empowered to doe what they see meet for the end aforesaid, and make reports to the court in October next, for approbation ; and for the en- couragement of the ministry at Rye, this court, for this year,
3 Hart. Col. Rec. vol. iii. 12.
b Hart. Col. Rec. vol. iii. 53.
53
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
grants them a penny of the pound upon all the ratable estate of their town, to be payd out of their country rate, and shall be ready as need requires to continue such necessary encourage- ment as they shall judge suitable.a
Upon the 27th May, 1675, the town orders that the home lot of Peter Disbrow, adjoining Timothy Knapp, be taken by the town in exchange for the land by the Blind brook, south of Jacob Bridge's. The above lot to be for Mr. Peter Prudden for a par- sonage lot ; if not thus disposed of, this agreement to be void.
February 26, 1676. 'The town released Peter Disbrow's lot, and cancels the above agreement.
February 26th, 1677. John Brundige and John Purdy are empowered to sell the frame intended for a parsonage house.
The same year the Rev. Thomas Denham appears to have been minister here, for, June 15, a house lot is ordered for Mr. Thomas Denham, and on November the 22d, we find the same individual admitted an inhabitant of the town of Rye. June 21 1678, Mr. Thomas Denham is to have all the grass on the high- way at the old town, besides an equal share with the proprietors of Poningoe neck.
March 5th, 1679. 50 poles of land lying before his door, to- ward the brook, are granted to Mr. Thomas Denham, and the ensuing year he is to have all the grass in the highway at the first of the old town lots; also £30 allowed for his maintenance. The general court of Connecticut, October 14th, 1680, ordered that thirty pounds per annum agreed by Rye to be paid to the minister, Mr. Denham, shall be gathered by the constable with the country rate, in the same specie and prices as the country rate, and by him to be paid to the said minister.b A.D. 16S2, the town confirms the sum of £30 as salary to Mr. Denham, and orders the same to be paid in provisions.
The historian Trumbull informs us that about the year 1688, the Rev. John Bowers removed from Derby and settled at Rye.c
April 22d, 1690, Captain Horton, Joseph Theall, and John
a Hart. Col. Rec. vol. iii. 59.
c Trumbull's Hist. Conn. p. 523.
' Hart. Col. Rec. vol. iii. 59.
54
HISTORY OF THE
Brondig are chosen by the town to procure a minister, and, if possible, a schoolmaster.
27th June, 1693. Hacaliah Brown, George Lane, and Timothy Knapp were added to the above committee to procure a minister as soon as possible.
February 26th, 1694, it is ordered that the townsman make a rate to defray the expense of repairing the parsonage house. 22d July, 1697 ; Captain Theal, Hachaliah Brown, George Lane, and Thomas Merritt are chosen by vote for the procuring of a minister for the town of Rye.
Colonel Caleb Heathcote writing to the secretary of the Pro- pagation Society in 1705, observes, " that there is no parish in the government but what is able to pay twice as much as they do. For Rye parish, which is not by one-half so large as the least parish established by law in the government here, since my liv- ing here, maintained two dissenting ministers, viz. one at Rye and Mamaroneck, and one at Bedford, and gave the former £50, and the latter £40, a year."a
A LIST OF MINISTERS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,
RYE.
Instal or call. 16S1. 1677.
cir. 1684. 1688.
Ministers. Rev. Peter Prudden.
Rev. Thomas Denham. Rev. John Woodbridge.
Rev. John Bowers.
Christ Church, Rye, is agreeably situated upon rising ground, overlooking the village and vale of Blind brook.
The building itself is a plain edifice of wood, surmounted with an embattled tower, and a small vestry-room attached to the rcar.
a See Scarsdale, for Heathcote's letter.
55
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
&FAY
Christ Church, Rye.
Its interior consists of the nave, two aisles, gallery and chan- cel. On the north side of the latter there is a neat monumental tablet, erected
In memory of WILLIAM THOMPSON, Rector of Christ Church at Rye, A native of Enniskillen, Ireland. Ordained April, 1820, Appointed to the charge of this Parish, September, 1823, Died August 26, 1830. " Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."-Psalm xxxvii. v. 37. Erected by his affectionate Widow.
His remains are interred in the village cemetery. Beneath the floor of the church lie pillowed in the darkness of the grave se- veral of the early rectors.
56
HISTORY OF THE
The present building was crected at a cost of $5500, in the year 1788, upon the site of the old stone edifice called Grace church.
It was designed at first to have erected a steeple in place of the present tower, as appears by an act of the vestry, dated Sept. 17, 1791.
" Wherein it was ordered to remove the work projected for a steeple on the top of the roof, at the west end."
Annæ Regin
The Queen's paten and chalice.
Belonging to this church is a silver paten and chalice presented by her Ma- jesty Queen Anne, A. D. 1706.
These articles have been used in the administration of the holy sacrament nearly one century and a half. The royal donation originally consisted, (to- gether with the above,) of a large church bible, common prayer book, book of homilies, cloth for the pulpit, and a communion table.
Upon two copper alms bowls are in- scribed, " Presented to Christ Church at Rye, by James Meadows, 1769."
Besides a fine toned bell the church contains a neat organ.
'The first notice of this parish occurs in the two acts passed by the Assembly of New York in 1693 and 1697.
The first entitled " An act for settling a ministry and raising a maintenance for them in the city of New York, and counties of Richmond, Westchester, and Queens."
The second ordered, "That there shall be called, inducted and established a good sufficient Protestant minister to officiate and have the cure of souls within one year next ensuing, and after the publication hereof. In the county of Westchester two ; one to have the cure of souls within Westchester, &c .; the other to have the cure of Rye, Mamaroneck and Bedford."a
a Acts of Assembly, Pro. of N. Y. 1691 to 1725, p. 23.
57
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
Pursuant to these acts of Assembly a town meeting was held, February 28, 1695, by virtue of a warrant granted by Justice Theal, when George Lane and John Brondig were elected churchwardens, and Jonathan Hart, Joseph Horton, Joseph Pur- dy, Timothy Knapp, Hachaliah Brown, Thomas Merritt, Deliv- erance Brown and Isaac Denham, vestrymen, the two last being chosen for Bedford.
The whole number of the appropriated precincts, belonging to the parish of Rye in 1725, were as follow ; Bedford, Scarsdale, Mamaroneck and North Castle, to which were subsequently add- ed White Plains and Harrison.
For collecting the minister's maintenance, writs of mandamus were issued to the justices and vestries, empowering them to make a rate for raising the rector's tax.
The following are specimens of the original taxation rolls of this benefice in 1725.
Bedford, £16 2 0. Mamaroneck, £18 0 0. Scarsdale, £5 3 0. North Castle, £2 90. Total with Rye, £67 18 0.
The first inducted rector of the parish was the Rev. Thomas Pritchard. In a summary account of the state of the church in the Province of New York, as it was laid before the clergy, con- vened October 5th, 1704, at New York, &c., it was stated, that " at Rye, of which the Rev. Thomas Pritchard is rector, there is no church, but the minister preaches in the town house ; the parish is divided into three districts, viz. Rye, Bedford and Ma- maroneck.
" There is a salary of £50 per annum, established by act of Assembly ; the number of communicants are considerably in- creased, since the first celebration of the sacraments, &c."a
In a letter addressed to the Propagation Society, dated Rye, November 1st, 1704, Mr. Pritchard proposes to that body the Rev. Mr. Stewart then missionary at Bedford, as a most suitable person to fill the vacant parish of Hempstead, Long Island.
The Rev. Thomas Pritchard married Anna Stuyvesant, daughter of Nicholas William, and grand-daughter of the illus-
& Church Rec. Vol. i. No. 16. Francis L. Hawks, D. D., editor. VOL. II.
8
58
HISTORY OF THE
trious Peter Stuyvesant.a Mr. Pritchard appears to have been inducted in 1702. He died A. D. 1706.
His successor was the Rev. George Muirson. Of this gentle- man the Rev. Mr. Evans thus writes in a letter to the Bishop of London, under date of October 17th, 1704. "This comes by the hands of the ingenious Mr. George Muirson to receive holy orders from your Lordship, by the approbation of his Excellency my Lord Cornbury. I find that he is very well beloved and es- teemed by all sorts of people, a man of a very sober and blame- less conversation. He seems to be indued with great humility of mind, and has the character of being very prudent in his con- duet. I give him this recommendation not to gratify himself, nor any body else, but because I sincerely believe he may be very instrumental of doing much good in the church,"b
Mr. Muirson having been ordained, was appointed to the mission of Rye. In his first report to the Society he states " that he had a very great congregation every Sunday and that those were his hear- ers who never were in a Church of England congregation before. Though the people were of almost all persuasions, he had ad- mitted into the church, by baptism, eighty persons young and old ; hundreds however in the parish remain unbaptized.c
He further remarks to the Society, " I have lately been in the Government of Connecticut, where I observe some people well affected to the church, for those that are near come to my parish on Sabbath days ; so that I ani assured an itinerant missionary might do great service in that province. Some of their ministers have privately told me that had we a bishop among us, they would conform and receive holy orders, from which as well as on all the continent, the necessity of a bishop will plainly ap- pear."d
" In these visits and in every effort for the good of the church, Mr. Muirson was heartily supported by Colonel Caleb Heathcote,
a Rep. of Propagation Soc.
b N. Y. Hist. Collections, New Series, vol. i. 455.
e Hawkins' Hist. Not. of Col. Church, vol. ii. MS. letters, No. 34.
d Hawkins' Hist. Not. of Col. Church, p. 277.
59
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
who also wrote to the Society on the subject, confirming the ac- count of the opposition which the missionary had encountered, and stating that the justices had forbidden him to preach, and even threatened to put him and all his hearers in jail.
Of his own parish, Mr. Muirson reports, " I have baptized about two hundred young and old, but most adult persons, and am in hopes of initiating many more into the church, after I have examined, taught, and find them qualified. This is a large par- ish ; the towns are far distant ; the people were some Quakers, some Anabaptists, but chiefly Presbyterians and Independents ; they were violently set against our church, but now (blessed be God !) they comply heartily, for I have now above forty com- municants, and had only six when I first administered that holy sacrament. I find that catechising on the week days in the remote towns, and frequent visiting is of great service, and I am sure that I have made twice more proselytes by proceeding after that method than by public preaching.c
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