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 32
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Christ Church owns also the narrow strip of land directly oppo- site the rectory grounds, between the post-road and the brook. In 1832, the trustees of the town of Rye conveyed to the wardens and Vestry for thirty-seven dollars, the tract containing one rood, ' beginning at the south side of the road leading across the brook to the parsonage land, near a poplar tree adjoining the turnpike road, thence south by the turnpike road twenty nine degrees west three chains fifty links, thence west to the brook,' etc. The large willow-tree which stands upon this piece of ground is said to have been planted by the Rev. Evan Rogers, who was rector from 1801 to 1809.
Of the parsonage lands now owned by the other village congre- gations, we shall speak elsewhere. They have been acquired much more recently, and form no part of the old ecclesiastical lands. These we have described at large because so little has been known, hitherto, of their history and location.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE CHURCHES : GRACE CHURCH BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.
1705-1776.
THE Honorable Caleb Heathcote was living in Mamaroneck, near Rye, early in the last century. He had removed from England to this country about the year 1692. He held at differ- ent times several important positions under the government of the province ; and by his wealth, and rank, and personal merits, became one of the leading men of his day. In the county of Westchester, especially, where he resided most of the time, Colonel Heathcote's influence was very great. There was probably no one who ap- proached him in the esteem of our rustic population. He owned a vast landed estate in the neighborhood, which had been consti- tuted by royal charter a 'lordship or manor,' under the name of the Manor of Scarsdale, besides a considerable tract of land within the town of Mamaroneck. He took an active part in the affairs of the county, and was the earnest advocate of various measures for the public good.
To Colonel Heathcote, undoubtedly, more than to any one else, is due the credit of having founded and fostered the Church of England in this country, and particularly at Rye. He was a devoted member of that church, and gave the whole weight of his influence to its promotion here. At his instance, the Society in England ' for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts,' formed in 1701, sent one of its first missionaries to officiate at Rye. The Act of 1693, it will be remembered, had provided that two ministers should be maintained in the county of Westchester, one of whom was to have the care of Rye, Mamaroneck, and Bedford. The governor of the province claimed the right to induct a minister into this charge, upon his being called by the Vestry and churchwardens of the parish. And as the people of Rye had lately chosen Colonel Heathcote himself to be one of their church-
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306
GRACE CHURCHI BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.
wardens, - the other being Captain Joseph Theall, - there was no difficulty in the way of settling any minister whom the Society might send to this field.
In April, 1704, the Rev. Thomas Pritchard, A. M., arrived in New York, having been appointed by the Bishop of London and sent by the Gospel Propagation Society, to officiate in the parish of Rye. Governor Cornbury forthwith issued his mandate for Mr. Pritchard's induction ; and in May the new minister entered upon his duties. He soon proved, however, to be an unsuitable person, and remained but a few months.1 His successor, who may be regarded as the first rector of Rye, was the
REV. GEORGE MUIRSON, A. M.
Mr. Muirson was a native of Scotland, and came to this country in 1703, as a schoolmaster of the Gospel Propagation Society. While laboring in this capacity he won the esteem and affection of many persons, and was soon sent back to England strongly rec- ommended as a candidate for orders. He returned to New York in the summer of 1705, having received ordination from the Bishop of London ; and on the thirty-first of July, Governor Cornbury signed the mandate for his induction as 'Rector of the Parish Church of Rye, Mamerenock and Bedford.'
The 'Parish Church,' however, was yet in the future. Our people had been accustomed to worship in the ' town-house,' dur- ing the ministry of their former pastors, as well as when supplied by the neighboring ministers of Connecticut while without a pastor. The ' meeting-house ' which they had talked of building in 1697, was not yet completed, if indeed begun. Mr. Mnirson's first work was to gather a congregation ; for the people were all ' Dissenters,' ' who never were in a Church of England congrega- tion before.' He soon reports a very large attendance of ' constant hearers,' many of whom he has been enabled to admit into the church by baptism. In May, 1706, he writes, -
' I have baptized about two hundred, young and old, but most adult persons, and am in hopes of initiating many more into the Church of Christ, after I have examined, taught, and find them qualified. This is a large parish ; the towns are far distant ; the people were some Quak- ers, some Anabaptists, but chiefly Presbyterians and Independents ; they were violently set against our Church, but now, blessed be God,
1 Bolton, Church History, pp. 137-146, 156. Mr. Pritchard, it seems, stayed at New Rochelle, and scarcely visited Rye at all.
307
MR. MUIRSON.
they comply heartily, for I have now above forty communicants, and only six when I first administered that holy sacrament.' 1
The Society was certainly fortunate in the selection of its first missionary at Rye. Mr. Muirson was a man of amiable and genial nature, well qualified to ingratiate himself among the people. He had also ' a very happy way of delivery ' in the pulpit; making little use of his notes in preaching, a rare practice among the clergy of the Established Church in those times, and 'extremely taking,' says Colonel Heatlicote, with his hearers in these parts. ' For argument,' he adds, ' few of his years exceed him.' 2
The new rector was all activity, catechising on week-days in the remote towns, preaching at Bedford every fourth Sunday, and soon undertaking missionary work in Connecticut colony, where he met with great encouragement. At Rye he is constant in parochial work. 'Catechising . ... and frequent visiting is of great service, and I am sure I have made twice more proselytes by proceeding after that method, than by public preaching.' His ' congregations are very great ; ' the people ' seem to like the ways of the Church very well, but, as in all other places, there are some stubborn, ill-natured persons among 'em,' whom nevertheless he hopes in time to bring over to a better opinion.
' By the aid and assistance of ye good Colonel Heathcote,' Mr. Muirson soon persuaded the people to engage anew in the effort to build a house of worship. This was to be done by the act of the town of Rye.3 Our records contain a full account of the initia- tory steps in the matter, which we give as follows : -
' At a Lawfull town meeting held in Rye September the 26, 1705, Coll. Heathcote apears at this meeting and declears that in casse that this town of Rye doe goe on in boulding of a Church that he will give towards boulding the same all the nails for shingling of the rouf and for the church doors and making of windows shutt with all the hooks and hinges thereunto belonging. CALEB HEATHCOTE.
' At this above said meeting the towne hath agreed by voat to bould a church for the worship of God.
"'Tis voated and agreed that this above said church shall be boult thirty three foots within the said church to be boult four square.
' At this above said meeting the town hath by a voat agreed to bould the walls of the said church with stones and to be 16 foots in height above ground up to the pleats.
1 Bolton, History of the Prot. Episc. Church in the County of Westchester, pp. 151, 166.
2 Ibid. p. 159.
3 Ibid. ''Tis only the town of Rye, and not the parish which hath built it.' (Let- ter of Col. Heathcote, Dec. 18, 1707, in Bolton, p. 178.)
308
GRACE CHURCH BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.
' At this above said meeting the town hath agreed by a voat to put in Cap. Horton Jus. Purdy Isaac Denham and Samuell Lane with the townsmen to have the management and the oversight of boulding the above said Church.
' At the above said meeting the town hath by a voat agreed to sett this above said Church at the east end of the Lot which was formerly M' Collers in the street.' 1
At a subsequent meeting, a tax was laid upon the inhabitants, to raise funds for this purpose. February 18, 1706, it was agreed that ' all male persons from sixteen years and upward be assessed at twelve pound per head in all charges for the building of a Church.' 'Liberty is given for to get stone and timber upon any particular men's land, provided you get not within a fence, for the building of a Church.' 2
The people did not show as great alacrity in assuming some other burdens. The parsonage was old, and sadly in need of repairs. This, they thought, was the proper business of the parish, and not of the town. At a meeting held February 25th, 1706, they agreed ' that the parish of Rye shall repeare the towne house fit for a minister to Live in and to keep the said house in repeare for the use of the ministree.' 3 Six years after this, we read that ' the town hath past a voat that they will not repeare the house which Mr. Bridge now dwells in.' 4 This seems to have been a cause of frequent conten- tion between the town and the rectors.5 We shall see what the dispute led to in the end.
The church ' will be finished next spring,' writes Mr. Muirson, November 21, 1705, to the Society's Secretary in London : ‘so that we shall want pulpit cloaths and furniture for ye communion table.' The work, however, did not go on so fast. In April, some preparations had been made by carting stone, and most of the tim- ber had been brought. In October, the stone-work was finished and the building covered. 'But the winter approaching and the people being extremely poor and having exhausted what little money they had on what is done already, we cannot proceed any further this fall,' writes Mr. Muirson, 'but hope next year to finish all, with a steeple, which when completed will make a large
1 Town Meeting Book, No. G., p. 10. 2 Ibid. p. 13.
3 Ibid. p. 17.
4 Records of Town Meetings, p. 4.
5 ' There is no care taken to preserve the house in good repair. . . . . We cannot hope that where the Dissenters so much prevail, any persons would be chosen who would repair either the church or the house, so that if I will live in the house I must keep it in repair myself.' (Rev. R. Jenney, 1724. Bolton, Church History, p. 229. See also pp. 246, 279.)
309
THIE PARISH CHURCH BUILT.
and beautiful Building.' It is fifty feet long and thirty-six feet wide, and twenty feet high - ' a very fine church,' writes Colonel Morris, in 1708. But the sanguine hopes entertained for its speedy completion were sadly disappointed. Indeed, neither Mr. Muirson nor his successor lived to see it finished. Eleven years later - in 1717 - Mr. Bridge reports, 'In the year 1706, some extraordi- nary methods were used to induce the town to raise a tax for build- ing a Church, and they raised a handsome outside, and covered and glazed it, but found nothing done to the inside, not so much as a floor laid. When I had for a year or two preached upon the ground, I got subscriptions for about £50, among the inhabitants towards finishing the inside.' 1 And in 1722, Mr. Jenney states, ' The Church, though built in Mr. Muirson's time, is not yet fin- ished ; the roof decays, but if not quickly fitted np, is not likely to stand long.' It was finished about the year 1727.2
This building was placed where Christ Church in our village now stands. As usual then, it stood 'in the street ' -at the junction of Grace Church Street and what is now called Rectory Street. It was known as GRACE CHURCH in 1736,3 and probably many years before. This, however, was not a corporate name, but one in popular use. The legal designation was ' The Parish Church of Rye.' 4
Mr. Muirson's ministry was short. He died Tuesday, October 12th, 1708, but a little more than three years from the commence- ment of his labors in Rye. He was only thirty-three years of age; and it appears highly probable that his course was shortened by the fatigues and privations he underwent while here. 'He was a very industrious and successful missionary,' says Colonel Heathcote, his brother-in-law, 'and had it pleased God to have preserved his life, would have been able to have given a wonderful account of his labours. By his constant journeys in the service of the Church, and the necessary supply of his family, lie expended every farthing he got here and of the Society.' 5
His removal was a great loss to the people of Rye. A large proportion of them had been drawn by his efforts, and those of Colonel Heathcote, to attend upon his ministry. 'Though they
1 Bolton, History of the Prot. Episc. Church, pp. 151-205. 2 Ibid. p. 244.
3 The name of ' Gracious' or Grace Church Street first occurs in a deed of this date. (Rye Records, vol. C. p. 136.)
4 The earliest document in which the church is otherwise described, is one relating to the presentation of Mr. Punderson for induction, in 1763. It mentions ' the Parish Church of Rye, called Grace Church.' (Bolton, Ilistory Prot. Episc. Church, p. 300.) 5 Ibid. p. 187.
310
GRACE CHURCH BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.
were generally Presbyterians,' says Mr. Wetmore in 1728, ' by Colonel Heatlicote's influence, and Mr. Muirson's industry and good behaviour, and the Governor of the province being zealous to encourage the Church, they all united in building the Church, and frequented the worship in it, as long as Mr. Muirson lived.' ]
His successor was the Rev. Mr. Reynolds, who came to Rye in October, 1709. He had officiated but a few times, however, when orders came from the Society, removing him from his post, and forbidding him to preach. The reasons for this proceeding are not known. Mr. Reynolds was superseded by the
REV. CHRISTOPHER BRIDGE, M. A.,
an English clergyman, who had previously been settled in Boston as assistant minister of King's Chapel, and afterwards in Nar- ragansett. He came to Rye in January, 1710.2
The records of the Vestry of this parish commence soon after the beginning of Mr. Bridge's ministry, January 9, 1710-11. It does not appear that any account of the proceedings of that body had been kept until then. The opening pages show how its affairs were conducted, and there seems to have been little deviation from the method down to the Revolution.3
1 Bolton, History of the Prot. Episc. Church, p. 246.
2 Ibid. p. 191.
3 ' At a Lawfull meeting of the Parishioners at their Parish Church in Ryc To Elect & Choose Churchwardens & Vestry men ffor the Year Ensuing, were Elected & Chosen '
Capt ,Joseph Theall Capt Jonathan Hartt Cornelins Scely
Churchwardens.
Andrew Coc
John Merritt Senr
George Lane Jun" Joseph Lyon
Daniel Purdy Cordwr
Vestrymen
George Kniffin John Disbrow . . Mamark
Thomas Purdy Thomas Merritt Junr
John Miller . Bedford and Joseph Cleator Clerk of the Vestry for this Year.'
The officers thus elected next meet with the Justices of the Peace for the transaction of business.
' May the Seventh Anno Domi 1711.
' At a meeting of the Justices and Vestrymen at the Church this Day were present the Honrble Coll. Heath Coate
Deliverance Brown Joseph Budd Isaac Denham
Esqrs
Andrew Coc Jolin Merritt Sent Thomas Merritt Jun" Thomas Purdy
Vestrymen
George Lane Jun™ George Kniffin John Miller
311
MR. BRIDGE.
Until Mr. Bridge's time it would appear that the Justices and Vestry held their sessions without the presence of the minister. An order now came - July 29, 1712 - from the government, directing that 'every orthodox minister be one of the vestry in his parish.'1
The number of communicants varied little from that reported by Mr. Muirson. In 1710 there were forty-three ; in 1711, forty- four ; in 1712, forty-two. The ' number of those who professed themselves of the Church of England,' in the same year, was three hundred and thirteen ; the Presbyterians numbered four hundred and sixty-six. There were some twenty ' heathens that are ser- vants of families.' The number of inhabitants in the parish was seven hundred and ninety-nine. 'Many of the Dissenters come sometimes to church.' 2
Much of Mr. Bridge's attention appears to have been given to the Friends, who were now quite numerous, especially in 'the Purchase.' From his own account, he met with marked success in a disputation, held in the year 1712, with some whom he calls ' ranting Quakers.' A preacher among them was convinced by the rector's arguments, and came sometimes to church ; 'but it pleased God, soon after, to take him out of the world.' In 1717, he writes, ' It is my constant care to watch the motions of the Quak- ers, to prevent their seducing any of my parishioners - for they come frequently in great numbers from Long Island and other places, to hold their meeting of the out parts of my parish. - I take all occasions in my public discourses, and my private exhorta-
' Voted and agreed by the Above said Justices and Vestrymen, the Sum of fifty five pounds five Shillings to be Levyed on the Parish.
' That is to say - ffor the Minister £50. 0.0
For Beating the Drum 1. 0. 0
For the Clark 1. 0. 0
For Charge of Express to Bedford 0. 10. 0
For ye Constable for Collecting 2. 12. 6
£55.2.6
' Voted also on ye other side that Warrants be Issued out for half the Above said Sum to be paid on the Tenth Day of July next Ensuing, and for ye other half, one moiety thereof, which is one fourth part of said Snm, be paid on the Tenth day of October next, and the fourth part to be paid on the Tenth day of Jannary next - and that the moyety payable on the Tenth day of July be Laid in proportion to the Last Quota - That is to say
Rye £17. 6. 6
Mamaroneck 3. 13. 6
Scarsdale 1. 11. 6
Bedford 5. 5. 0
1 Bolton, History of the Prot. Episc. Church, p. 203.
2 Ibid. pp. 196, 199, 202.
312
GRACE CHURCH BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.
tions, to show the great enormity and dangerous consequences ' of their practices.1
Mr. Bridge also took an active part in the temporal concerns of the town. He became one of the Proprietors of Peningo Neck as early as 1713 ; 2 and shortly before his death obtained a patent for two hundred and eighty-one acres, 'in twenty small parcels,' situ- ated in different parts of the town of Rye.3
Mr. Bridge died at Rye on Friday, May 22, 1719, and, like his excellent predecessor, was buried in the parish church. He was forty-eight years of age. The memory of these first rectors well deserves to be cherished. There is reason to believe that they were faithful, conscientious, and earnest ministers of the Gospel, and were successful in promoting the religious welfare of the peo- ple.
The good feeling that prevailed while Mr. Muirson lived, con- tinued during Mr. Bridge's ministry. The people of other de- nominations 'frequented the worship in the Church,' propitiated by the friendly ways and the upright character of the rector, who ' though a strict Churchman in his principles ' was 'yet of great respect and charity to Dissenters, and much esteemed of them.' 4
But this harmony was now interrupted. A vacancy of three years occurred between the death of Mr. Bridge and the induction of his successor. For the first few months the church was sup- plied by clergymen from New York and other places, under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Vesey ; but after this, it appears to have been occupied by the Presbyterian congregation.
The Gospel Propagation Society, in 1722, appointed the Rev. Henry Barclay as their missionary at Rye. Meanwhile, however, the churchwardens and Vestry had called the -
1 Bolton, History of the Prot. Episc. Church, p. 202.
2 This was either by purchase or by gift from the heirs of Jacob Pearce, one of the early proprietors. In a list dated September 7, 1713, we find the name of Christopher Bridge 'for Daniel Pierce in right of Jacob Pierce deceased.' (Town Meeting Book, G. 20.) Jacob Pearce (see page 48) left Rye about the year 1689, and was never heard from. His widow married Isaac Denham. In 1694, the Court of Sessions of Westchester County confirmed her in the possession of her first husband's lands, etc., ' till the right heir appears.' The mention of Daniel Pearce in the list above quoted, is the only allusion to such an heir, that we have met with.
3 Book of Patents, Albany, vol. viii. p. 182. Mr. Bridge's patent must not be eon- founded with that given in 1708 to Mrs. Anne Bridges, widow of Dr. Bridges of New York, which formed a part of the Middle Patent, now included in the town of North Castle. (Bolton, History of Westchester County, pp. 454, 455.)
Bolton, Ilistory of the Protestant Episcopal Church, etc., p. 207.
313
MR. JENNEY.
REV. ROBERT JENNEY, A. M.,
at that time chaplain to the royal forces in New York. The Society confirmed the call, and Mr. Jenney was inducted as rector of Rye, by an order from Governor Burnet, dated June 7th, 1722. He found the congregation very much weakened. The communicants were ' but few,' and the temporalities of the church were in no flourishing condition. A portion of the church lands had been alienated by patent to his predecessor Mr. Bridge, and was now possessed by his family. This was ' the lot called Parsonage Point, containing about five acres.' The other lands, the ' home-lot' in the village, and the glebe in the Town Field, were held by the pro- prietors of the town, most of whom desired a dissenting minister ; and but for the governor's intervention, they would have pre- vented the rector from taking possession. The parsonage house was much ont of repair; the lands needed fencing; and the church was likely to fall into ruin if not speedily fitted up. The people were not willing to contribute for these purposes ; and Mr. Jenney was ' forced to demand of the Vestry to raise for that use so much of the salary' as had fallen due since the death of Mr. Bridge. The Vestry refused, and Mr. Jenney resorted to the law, for a writ requiring them to raise and pay into the hands of the churchwardens all arrearages since the year 1719. These measures did not tend to conciliate the people. 'Many that be- fore came to the church, and some who had been communicants in Mr. Bridge's time, now became ' disaffected.' The money, how- ever, was raised, and spent in repairing the house and glebe ; and Mr. Jenney also succeeded in obtaining a survey of the remaining parsonage lands, with a view to prevent any further encroachments upon them.
On the whole, Mr. Jenney's ministry in Rye appears to have been less happy than that of either of his predecessors. The cir- cumstances were unfavorable ; at his coming he found the people much divided ; the Presbyterian congregation had gained strength during the vacancy sinee Mr. Bridge's death, and the church prop- erty was in jeopardy. His course, under these disadvantages, was perhaps not the most judicious ; dissatisfaction and alienation in- creased ; ' the greatest part of the town' frequented the services of the other congregation. Mr. Jenney finally left Rye in 1726, having been minister here four years. He removed to Hempstead, Long Island, and afterwards to Philadelphia, where he became rector of Christ Church, and died in 1762, at the age of seventy- five. The
314
GRACE CHURCH BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.
REV. JAMES WETMORE, A. M.,
the fourth rector of the parish, was called on the seventh of June, 1726, but a few days after Mr. Jenney's resignation. He was a native of Middletown, Connecticut. He graduated in 1714 at Yale College, and in November 1718 was ordained and settled at North Haven, as the first pastor of the Congregational Church in that place. Within four years of that time, however, he relinquished his charge, and soon after went to England, where he was ordained to the ministry of the Established Church. His induction by order of Governor Burnet, to the rectorship of Rye, took place soon after the call of the Vestry, which was approved by the Gospel Prop- agation Society, who in due time appointed him their missionary at Rye. In acquainting the Society with their action, the Vestry express the hope, ' now we are once more peaceably settled,' 'to see religion revive among us, which by contentions and divisions is sunk to a very low ebb. As Mr. Wetmore has been born in this country,' they add, 'and long known among us, . ... we doubt not but ye people of this Parish will continue their affection to him.' 1
Mr. Wetmore soon reports several converts from the ' Dissent- ers.' He continues the services maintained by his predecessors, in the remote parts of the parish ; preaching 'three Sundays in the church of Rye ; then one at North Castle ; then three again at Rye; then one at White Plains.' Besides these services, he has a lecture the first Wednesday in each month at Bedford, and preaches occasionally in the neighboring towns of Connecticut. At White Plains, in 1739, for want of a house large enough to receive the people, he preaches in the open fields ; and at Rye, 'if the congregation increases as it has done the year past, we must be forced to enlarge the parish church.' In 1748, he adds to these Sunday services a monthly lecture at North Castle, and an occa- sional lecture at Mamaroneck. The church, however, 'the only one in the parish, is much out of repair, which after several years' endeavouring to bring my people to a scheme to make decent and ornamental, I am yet unable to effect.' The parsonage house he had enlarged and repaired at his own expense some years before ; it is now grown so old and decayed, as to be scarcely worth repair- ing.2
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