USA > New York > Westchester County > Rye > Chronicle of a border town : history of Rye, Westchester county, New York, 1660-1870, including Harrison and the White Plains till 1788 > Part 29
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Three years more pass by, making fourteen in all, during which Rye seems to have been without a stated ministry. It does not follow that the Gospel was never preached here throughout that period. Trumbull says that Rye and Greenwich ' had occasional
1 Public Records of Connecticut, vol. ii. pp. 142, 143. Oct. 13, 1670.
2 Ibid. p. 150.
275
LAND APPROPRIATED FOR THE MINISTRY.
preaching only, for a considerable time.' They 'were but just come under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, and not in circum- stances for the support of ministers.') The probability is that the pastors of neighboring churches preached here from time to time, during this period, as they did at a later day. Indeed we have Colonel Heathcote's statement to this effect. Speaking of the care that the people of Rye took to provide a parsonage house, 'at such times as they were destitute of a minister,' he mentions the adjoin- ing towns of Greenwich and Stamford, as places ' where they were always supplied.'2 Stamford, Norwalk, and Fairfield had ministers ; and we have seen that as early as 1669 the people of Rye were commended to their watch and care. Mr. Bishop was minister of Stamford, Mr. Handford of Norwalk ; Mr. Wakeman and Mr. Jones were ministers of Fairfield. And undoubtedly also they took pains, according to the General Court's injunction, to seek out and recommend suitable persons for the vacancy at Rye.
A pretty strong proof that the people generally were far from indifferent with regard to a settled ministry, may be seen in the care they took at a very early day to provide a home for their future pastor. On this subject we shall speak fully in another chapter. Eighteen or twenty acres were appropriated, from the foundation of the town, for the benefit of the ministry. This fact speaks well for the early settlers of Rye. It shows that whatever evil reports may have reached the ears of the magistrates at Hart- ford, and however true those reports may have been concerning some of the people, the greater number sincerely desired the ad- vantages of a competent religious instruction.
1 History of Connecticut, vol. i. p. 287.
2 Bolton, History of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Westchester County, p. 158.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE CHURCHES : EARLY MINISTRY.
1674-1700.
INTHIS Court desires Mr. ELIPHALET JOANES to take the paynes to dispence the word of God to the people of Rye once a fortnight on the Lord's Day, till the Court, October next, and then this Court will take further order concerning them and for Mr. Joanes' sattisfaction.' 1
This gentleman was the first who is known to have officiated for any length of time in the ministry of the Gospel at Rye. And it so happens that we are able to glean fuller information concerning him than about any of his immediate successors. Eliphalet Jones was the son of the Rev. John Jones, a man of some note in the early history of the New England churches. He came to this country from Eng- land, in 1635, a clergyman of the Established Church; and was first settled at Concord, Massachusetts, and afterwards at Fairfield, Connecticut, where he became pastor of the church organized there by his efforts. Eliphalet was born at Concord in 1641. He received his education under the care of the learned and pious Peter Bulk- ley, who had been his father's colleague at Concord, and studied at Harvard College, but did not graduate. In 1669, we find him admitted to the privileges of a freeman of Connectient.2 He was at Greenwich in 1674, when the above order was given ; not how- ever as the settled pastor of that town, but as a missionary or evan- gelist. It would seem that he continued in this neighborhood for about three years, preaching at Rye, probably, from time to time, as occasion appeared.3 In 1677, Mr. Jones accepted a call to Hun- tington, Long Island, where he remained and labored for more than fifty years, dying in 1731 at the good old age of ninety. He was never married. He is said to have been 'a man of great purity and simplicity of life and manners, and a faithful and successful preacher.' 4
1 May 14, 1674. Public Records of Connecticut, vol. ii. p. 232.
2 Ibid. p. 106.
8 Mr. Savage (Gen. Dict. of the First Settlers of N. E.) speaks of him as ' having preached at Rye some years ' (vol. ii. p. 561). I find no confirmation of this statement.
4 Thompson's History of Long Island, vol. i. p. 481.
277
REV. PETER PRUDDEN.
Having thus provided for their occasional supply, the General Court still urged upon the people the necessity of securing a regu- lar pastor. October 8th, 1674, a committee is appointed ' to en- deavour the obteyning and setling of a minister at Rye.'1 This effort appears to have met with partial success ; for in the spring of 1675 we find the people making some arrangements for the settlement of a pastor. The Rev. PETER PRUDDEN was called, and preached here apparently with a view to a permanent charge. The General Court strongly recommended him. A committee was appointed, May 17th, to visit Rye, and ' treat with the inhabitants - so that there may be suiteable encouragement for Mr. Prudden to setle there.' If they find ' any aversness or dif- ficulty with the inhabitants or proprietors in so just and neces- sary publique good of the towne, they are impowered to doe what they see meet.' For the support of the ministry, the Court grants for this year ' a penny upon the pownd upon all the rateable estate of their towne.' 2
Mr. Prudden must have preached at Rye for some months, as in 1678 the Court allowed him ten pounds for his former services there.3 But he did not remain as pastor ; and the obstacle to his settlement seems to have related to the parsonage house and lands. The people had set apart a lot for the minister's house, and certain other lands for a glebe. The house-lot was situated in the village ' by the Blind Brook.' It would appear that Mr. Prudden objected to the location ; for on the twenty-seventh of May, 1675, the town exchanged this lot for the home-lot of Peter Disbrow, which Mr. Prudden was to have ' for a pasonage lot' if he remained. A building was commenced on this new site for the minister. But in 1676 the agreement for the exchange of lots was cancelled, and next year the ' frame intended for a parsonage house ' was ordered to be sold.4 This doubtless was owing to the fact that the negotia-
1 Public Records of Connecticut, vol. ii. p. 240.
2 Ibid. vol. ii. p. 252.
3 Ibid. vol. iii. p. 121.
4 Rye Records, vol. A (now lost), quoted by Bolton, Hist. of the Prot. Episc. Church in Westchester County, p. 133. ' Upon the 27th May, 1675, the town ordered 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 parsonage lot : if not thus disposed of, this agreement to be void. February 26th, 1676. The town released Peter Disbrow's lot and cancelled the above agreement. February 26th, 1677. John Brundige and John Purdy were em- powered to sell the frame intended for a parsonage house.'
The name Jacob Bridge is evidently a clerical mistake. It should be Jacob Pearce, one of the first settlers, whose lands were located near this spot.
278
EARLY MINISTRY.
tions with Mr. Prudden had failed. We hear nothing more of him, except that in 1681 the people of Bedford called him to be their minister.1
The Rev. THOMAS DENHAM followed. He was the first min- ister actually settled at Rye. He came in the year 1677, and remained with the people until 1684, perhaps longer. He was a man past the meridian of life, highly esteemed by the ministers of Fairfield and Stamford, and recommended by the General Court of the colony. Mr. Denham appears to have come but lately into Connecticut. He had sustained losses during the re- cent war,2 - that of King Philip, in 1675, - a fact which, with other considerations, leads ns to conjecture that he came from Massachusetts, where the chief sufferings in that war were felt.3
The first mention of Mr. Denham in our Town Records occurs on the fifteenth of June, 1677. This was probably before his arrival here. A house-lot is appropriated to the new minister.4 On the twenty-second of November, he is admitted an inhabitant of Rye. June 21st, 1678, ' Mr. Thomas Denham is to have all the grass on the highway, at the old town, besides an equal share with the pro- prietors of Peningo neck.' March 5th, 1679, ' Fifty poles of land lying before his door, toward the brook, are granted to Mr. Thomas Denham.' His salary, concerning which orders are given from year to year, was to be thirty pounds, ' to be gathered, annually in the way of rate, provided ' he ' continue amongst ns and preach the Gospel.' The same provision, granting him ' all the moveable grass in the highway, lying by the old town,' is repeated, to stand ' so long as the said Mr. Denham shall continue a preacher of the Gospel amongst us.' 5
These provisions for the minister's support were not very ample,
1 Rye Records : Bolton, History of Westchester County, vol. i. p 20.
2 Public Records of Connecticut, vol. ii. pp. 321, 322. 'This Court being informed that Mr. Thomas Denham is likely to settle at Rye as minister there, who is declared to be a suitable person for that worke by the ministers of Fayrefield and Standford, for his incouragement to setle there, and in regard to his late loss by the war, this Court hane granted him the sunnie of ten pownds to be payd out of that towne's rate this yeare.'
3 See note at the end of this chapter.
4 This allotment was not designed for a parsonage, but as a special gift to Mr. Den- ham himself. In 1696, Isaac and Mary Denham sell to Stephen Sherwood, junior, a two-acre lot, 'which formerly did belong to our honoured father, Mr. Thomas Den- lam.' (Rye Records, vol. B. p. 62.)
5 Rye Records: Bolton, Hist. of Westchester County, vol. ii. p. 53 ; Prot. Episc. Church, pp. 133, 134.
279
REV. THOMAS DENHAM.
but doubtless they were all that the inhabitants could afford to make. The grant of proprietary rights especially testified the esteem in which Mr. Denham was held. These rights descended to his son, Isaac Denham, and proved valuable.1
No record remains of the labors of this first minister of Rye. His home, as we have seen, was the parsonage house in the vil- lage, 'at the south-east corner' of the parsonage lot.2 Here we may picture him, in the ' small framed' dwelling,8 which must have afforded very narrow accommodations for the minister's family - his wife and six children - when all gathered together. One of the two rooms below stairs must have been the pastor's study as well as the family ' living room.' Here good Mr. Denham had his 'Library of Bookes,' the treasures perhaps which he had saved with the utmost pains in his ' late loss by the war : ' particu- larly prized among which were his ' Commentary upon the Revela- lations,' and his ' Epistle upon the Romans.' And here, doubtless, suspended from the walls, were the trusty, weapons of the pioneer pastor, his 'musquett,' and his ' longe Gunn,' and his ' two-edged sword.'
Not far from the parsonage house, on the opposite side of the post-road, was the house of Timothy Knapp, where, for want of a church, the little community were accustomed to meet on Sabbath days for public worship. They were called to the meeting by the sound of the drum.4 The service began early, and lasted several hours. Evening meetings were unknown. The Sabbath was observed from sunset to sunset. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper was rarely celebrated, but baptism was administered very generally.5
Mr. Denham's ministry ended about the year 1684. He re- moved to Bedford, and became pastor of the church in that place.
1 Other grants of land seem to have been made to Mr. Denham, which did not so descend. In 1683, Peter Disbrow sold to Stephen Sherwood a traet in the field at Rye, with the following reservation : 'It is to be noted that the said Stephen is not to take possession of a bit of salt meadow lying in this above said land until the deeease of Mr. Thomas Denham.' ( Records, vol. B. p. 53.)
2 ' The house-lot having the house at the south-east corner, contains a little above two acres.' (Letter of Rev. Mr. Jenney, Dee. 15, 1722; Bolton, History of the Prot. Episc. Church, p. 221.)
8 Ibid. pp. 205, 229, 245.
4 Ibid. p. 134, note.
5 ' The greatest part of them,' says Mr. Bridge, ' were baptized before the Church [of England] was settled here.' (Ibid. p. 196.) Several of the 'Dissenters' as he calls them, 'are serious people.' 'Some still Presbyterians or Independents in their judgment, but are persons well disposed and willing to partake of the Sacrament in what way they can, rather than not at all.'
.
280
EARLY MINISTRY.
He died there in 1688, at the age of sixty-seven years.1 Various allusions to him in our records lead us to believe that his memory was cherished by the people here with peculiar veneration.
The Rev. JOHN WOODBRIDGE succeeded Mr. Denham as pastor of Rye in 1684. He appears to have preached here for several years, with interruptions, during which the place was without a minister. In 1690 and 1693, persons were appointed to procure one ; and in 1697 a committee was chosen ' to discourse [with] Mr. Woodbridge concerning his settling amongst us.' 2 . We know
1 His will is on record in the office of the County Clerk at White Plains. (Vol. B. p. 184.) We give it in full as a curious memento of this our first minister.
' May the 2d 1688.
' The Last Will and Testament of me Thomas Denham Minister of the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ in Bedford. I doe bequeath my soul to God, and my body to a decent buriall, my goods and chattels as followeth.
' In the first place I do give unto my Sonn Isaac Denham all my Lands and Right in Lands that I have in Rye. And my
' 2ly I do give unto my sonn Nathaniell Dunham the westermost of my Plaine Lotts and my 12 acre lott and that Meadow lott that was layd ont in the Last Division of meadows ; and my musqnett and my Commentary upon the Revelations.
'3ly I doe giue unto my son Josiah Dimham at my Deccase the eastermost of my plaine lotts, and my 8 acre lott in the east Field, and my Epistle upon the Romans, and my longe Gunn, and my white horse and my Read heafer yeareling, and my two- edged sword, and after his mother's derease I do giue him thats to say my sonn Josiah all my houseing that I have here with my home lott and the rest of my meadows, and lands that I have here in Bedford or shall have, and my tooles that I have for manage- ing my farme.
' 4ly All my right that I have in houseing and land and meadow and what els may be found that is mine in . I do give unto my sonn and daughter Simon and Rebecca Hinckson, that is to say my Land and Meadows and housing with any other part or parts of my Estate in Sheep's Gutt
' 5ly I doe give unto my Daughter Sarah Palmer my black two years old heafer.
' 6ly I do give unto my Daughter Hannah Dunham a heafer calf. Further my household moveables I doe give to my two youngest daughters Sarah & Hannah, that is to say after my Wife's Decease.
'Further the rest of my Books I doe will that they be as equally divided into several parts according to their worth and divided to my wife and six children by lott, the rest of my Estate I do leave with my Wife for to dispose as God shall direct her. This in my right and perfect sences through God's goodness, is my last Will and Testamt. THOMAS DENHAM.
' Witness JOSEPH THEALE,'
The inventory of his estate, appended to the above, mentions ' A Library of Bookes,' valued at six pounds. The whole estate is estimated at eighty-seven pounds twelve shillings sixpence.
In 1691, Sarah, widow of the Rev. Thomas Denham, had become the wife of John Hendrickson (Co. Rec., B. 184).
In 1693, Hannah Dunham, perhaps the daughter mentioned above, married Sam- nel Clason, of Stamford. ( History of Stamford, p. 157.)
2 Bolton, Ilistory of the Prot. Episc. Church, etc., p. 136.
281
REV. NATHANAEL BOWERS.
nothing more about him save through the following statements in the Town Records, from which it seems that a difficulty respecting his salary remained unadjusted many years after his departure from the place.
' At a town meting in Ry Feberawary 14, 1699-1700, the towne hath given the townsmen full power to gather the Remainder, of the mony which is due to M' wood Bridg from the several persons which are behind in their dues to M' woodbridg and also to constitute an atturny to sue any that shall neglect or refuse to make payment of their just dues.'
ยท At a towne meting in Rye March 1, 1699-1700, the towne hath past a vote that they will not stand tryal with Mr. Woodbridg. At the same towne meting the towne hath by vote agreed that what shall be waiting of the mony that is due to M' Woodbridg from the several persons that hath not yet paid the Remainder of the mony the town will make it up by way of supply in the next towne rate.' 1
He was followed by the Rev. NATHANAEL BOWERS,2 who came to Rye in 1697, and remained until 1700. He was called from this place to Greenwich. A committee from that town was ap- pointed, July 23, 1700, ' to enquire of the townsmen of Rye whether the town of Rye intended to settle Mr. Bowers, and if not to make known to him the town's desire to have him settle at Greenwich.' He accepted the invitation, and continued with that people until some time in the year 1709.3 He appears to have
1 Town and Proprietors' Meeting Book, No. C. pp. 6, 11.
2 A singular mistake has occurred with reference to this minister. Cotton Mather, in his famons Magnalia Christi Americana, mentions among the ministers of New England in 1696, ' Mr. Bowers, II. C.,' [graduate of Harvard College] as then settled at Rye. Dr. Trumbull, in his History of Connecticut, written about the close of the last century, names ' John Bowers ' as minister of Rye, and adds this statement : ' Mr. Bowers removed from Derby and settled at Rye about the year 1688.' ( Vol. i. p. 494.) Mr. Bolton, probably following Trumbull, speaks of him as John Bowers. Mr. Savage (Gen. Dict. of First Settlers of N. E.) does the same, and supposes that he was a son of the Rev. John Bowers of Derby, who could not have removed to Rye in 1688, as Trumbull states, for he died at Derby the year before. Of this son Mr. Savage says : ' He may have gone to Derby where his death is recorded 23 Sept. 1708; or the Rye minister may be another man, though it is not probable.' (Ibid. i. 223.) He was, however, a different man, and not John, but Nathanael. The full name occurs three times in our extant records, twice as the signature of a witness. The mistake proba- bly arose with Dr. Trumbull, hastily inferring that the 'Mr. Bowers' mentioned by Mather as at Rye must have been the same with the well known John Bowers of Derby. It is singular that this error should wait so long to be corrected, inasmuch as though we know nothing of Nathanael's antecedents, he comes distinetly to view after leaving Rye, in connection with the history of the church of Greenwich. (See Dr. Linsley's Historical Discourse, p. 22. Also, Public Records of Connecticut, vol. iii. p. 508.)
3 Town Records of Greenwich.
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EARLY MINISTRY.
enjoyed their confidence and esteem. A letter from the church of Greenwich to his successor in the pastorate, dated September 13th, 1709, speaks of him as ' Ye Respected and worthy Mr. Bowers, who had seen cause to Desert us.' 1
The period of his stay at Rye was an eventful one to our peo- ple. It was the season of their 'revolt ' from the government of New York. From January 19, 1697, till October 10, 1700, they claimed to belong to the colony of Connecticut. During these four years they appear to have put forth more earnest efforts to improve their religious condition. This may have been due, in great part, to the influence of Mr. Bowers ; in part, also, doubtless, to the new and satisfactory relations into which they had been brought back.2
The inhabitants now, at last, undertake the work of building a church. 'At a towne meeting in Ry September 20, 1697, Capt. Theall, John Horton, Joseph Purdy, Hacaliah Browne, John Lyon, Thomas Merit, Isaac Denham, are chosen as a Commity for. the management and carrying on the worke of building of a met- ing house for the town of Ry and also for the appointing of a place where it shall set and the above said meting house shall not acsed [exceed] above thirty foot square.' In November, 1698, another committee is chosen ' for the building of a house for minester.' January 25th, 1698 [1699], the town resolves that ' whereas a commity was appointed at a former town meting for the Build-
1 Ecclesiastical Records of Connecticut (MS.), Hartford, vol. ii. p. 25.
2 Mr. Bolton conceives that the renewed zeal of our inhabitants in the pursuit of a minister was occasioned by the Act of the New York Assembly in 1693, 'for settling a Ministry.' ' The people doubtless were becoming alarmed,' he observes, 'lest the Governor should nominate under the new act.' (History of the Prot. Episc. Church in Westchester County, p. 135.) This remark follows an account of the town's proceed- ings on the twenty-seventh of June, 1693, appointing a committee ' to procure a minister as soon as possible.' The Act of the Assembly was not passed till the twenty- second of September in that year. So that unless gifted with prophetic vision, our inhabitants could not well anticipate its provisions. Still less could they fore- see what the bill when passed did not contain. For, as we shall find, it gave the governor no such right as he claimed, to present and install ministers in vacant parishes. His proposed amendment to this effect was rejected by the Assembly, who passed the bill without it. Governor Fletcher's intrigues to secure an ecclesiastical establishment in the province of New York appear highly praiseworthy to Mr. Bol- ton. But they were as yet scarcely suspected. And they were not very successful after all.
Besides, the people of Rye were at this time eagerly looking to be received back into Connectient. Their zeal in matters of religion revived as this hope gained strength. Neighboring ministers and churches, too, were doubtless the more diligent in those efforts which they continued so many years to put forth for the spiritual good of this community.
283
TAX FOR BUILDING A CHURCH.
ing of a towne house for the yose of the minestere, and the towne hath further impowered the above-said commity to proceed in the building of ye house with all speed, - the above said house is to be as followeth thirty foot in length and twenty foot in breadtli, and two story in haith and a Leanto joyning to it.' In the same year, February 27th, ' the Proprietors of Peningo neck grant unto the towne of Rye a parcell of land of four rods square for the said towne [to] set a house upon lying as convenient as may be on that lot where the town house now stands.' 1
The ' town house' in the parlance of our settlers, meant some- times the parsonage or minister's dwelling, and sometimes the ' meeting house ' or place of worship. The above orders evidently relate to the building of the latter. Other action was taken with a view to the raising of money for this purpose. August 30th, 1700, Isaac Denham and Joseph Budd were ' chosen collectors for the gathering of the monys which is due for the building of the towne house - Isaac for the east side of Blind brook and Joseph for the west side.' May 30th, 1701, the persons appointed to build the town house are authorized ' to call those collectors to an account which was chosen to collect the monys for the building of the above said house ; ' should they refuse to give an account, they are to be presented to the next court. June 3d, in the same year, Isaac Denham, who ' was formerly chosen collector for the east side of Blind brook,' is to be ' collector for the whole towne of Rye for the gathering of the monys which is due for the build- ing of the towne house.' 2
This money was to be raised in the customary way, - by a tax levied on the inhabitants of the town. Thus it was that all expenses for the support of public worship were then provided for in New England. At first, indeed, the ministry had been main- tained through voluntary contributions. The people of each plan- tation were to be called upon to 'set down' what they were 'will- ing to allow for the encouragement of the ministers.' Any, however, who should refuse ' to pay a meet proportion,' were ' to be rated by authority in some just and equal way ; ' and if after this any man should withhold or delay due payment, ' the civil power ' was ' to be exercised as in any other just debts.' 3 But this method
1 Town and Proprietors' Meeting Book, C. pp. 2, 6, 8.
2 Ibid. pp. 10, 13, 14.
3 Order of the United Colonies concerning the Maintenance of Ministers, Septem- ber 5, 1644 ; adopted by Connecticut in the same year : Public Records of Connecticut, vol. i. pp. 111, 112.
284
EARLY MINISTRY.
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