USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I > Part 183
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For more than twenty years after the war the vil- lage hotel was opposite the court-house, and was kept by Dr. Graham; he also had a store a rod or two south of the hotel. Both hotel and store passed into the possession of Stephen Barker, who continued them
N. Y. : " The northern part composed of rocks, stones, bills and valleys ; the southern part the hills are less frequent but more flat and extensive ; the surface much broken, with large bodies of solid rock rising a little above the earth and running nearly parallel to it ; the side of which is cold, wet and heavy ; the whole much worn and exhausted, and over- run with two species of pernicious and prolific weeds, very unfavorable to the interests of the proprietors."
1. Meeting-house of Methodist So- ciety.
729
WHITE PLAINS.
until 1812. In that year lic conveyed them to Hyatt Lyon, who retained them but two or three years, when he sold them to Richard Willis. There were then other hotels,-one kept by William Baldwin, in the house now occupied by Mr. Samuel C. Miller ; an- other kept by Isaac Valentine, on the grounds of the present house of Captain Lyon; and the fourth a few rods west from the southeast corner of the Waller place, kept before the Revolution by Abraham Hat- field, and during the war, and for years afterwards, by his son, Joseph Hatfield, and subsequently, down to 1830, by Alexander Fowler. Prior to 1825 most of the traveling was done by private conveyance, and taverns were more necessary then than now. The farmers' light produce was carried to New York weekly by two market-wagons, while the heavy was carried to the rivers and sent by sloops.
In 1828 a number of gentle- inen in White Plains, desi- rous that there should be a school in which their sons might be educated and fitted for college, applied to the Legislature and procured the charter for an academy, which was for many years successfully conducted.
Fifty years ago there were no roads running westerly from Broadway, between the old post road running past the residence of Mr. Samuel Faile and the road to Tarry- town, north of the Presby- terian Church. The business part of the town was on the west side of Broadway, north of the old court-house and FMG south of Railroad Avenue. Opposite the court-house was the principal hotel, at which the daily mail stages met at noon, carrying mails and passengers between New York and Danbury. A little north of the court-house was the law-office of Minott Mitchell, and a few rods northwest from his office was his residence, erected in 1829-30. On the lot on which Mr. Elijah S. Tompkins now resides was the shop and the dwelling-house of Elisha Crawford, saddler and harness-maker, while next-door the dwelling now ocen- pied by Samuel C. Miller was then the liotel of Robert Palmer, and about fifty feet north was the store of Palmer & Fisher. Between the hotel and the store was a building, a part of which was occupied by Purdy Tompkins, the village tailor, the other part being the law-office of Robert S. Hart, Esq., a young gentleman then lately admitted to the bar. He soon after removed
to Bedford, where his clients chiefly resided. He was appointed first judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1846, and was also appointed a master in Chancery.
In a long one-story building, adjoining the store of Palmer & Fisher, were the shoe-shop of Israel Purdy, the post-office, the publishing office of the Westchester Spy and the drug-store of Samuel G. Arnold. The next building was the law-office of Joseph Warren Tompkins, Esq., one of the leading lawyers of the county and a skillful advocate. Adjoining was the lot and house of William Horton, the same now owned by Mr. Merwin Sniffin; on the next lot north was the store and residence of Elisha Horton, afterwards
WESTCHESTER COUNTY COURT-HOUSE, WHITE PLAINS, 1886.
county treasurer of the county, and the next building on the north was the residence of Schuyler C. Tomp- kins, the same in appearance now as then. On the corner of the lot, with its front on Broadway, was the hat-store and factory of Schuyler C. Tompkins, the village latter, and a few feet farther on was the store of Purdy & Fisher (Charles A. Purdy and Nathaniel Fisher). From this store the Red Bird stage started early every morning, excepting Sunday, for New York City. On the adjoining lot the village undertaker, David Miller, with a kind and sympa- thetic nature, conducted his business.
At this time there were two physicians in the town, Dr. David Palmer and Dr. Livingston Roc. The former resided on the Squire place and the latter on
730
HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
the place now occupied by the Misses Miller, in the southern part of Broadway.
South of the court-house was the county clerk's office, and in the house now occupied by Mrs. Prime was the hotel of Benjamin Briggs.
Subsequently two streets were opened, one called the New Post Road, the other Railroad Avenue. The extension of the Harlem Railroad to White Plains, in 1846, attracted the business to Railroad Avenue, which is uow lined with stores, offices and public buildings, presenting daily a scene of bustle, activity and hurry. Places of business thus ceased to exist on Broadway, which is now bordered on each side with fine dwellings, making it, with its great width, the finest avenue in the State.
TOWN OFFICERS .- The White Plains Precinct, as it was called until 1788, held meetings of the freeholders on the first Tuesday of April in each year, for the election of a clerk, supervisor and other officers for the man- agement of the public affairs, independent of the town of Rye, of which, however, it continued to be a part. The most important officer was the clerk, who was selected on account of his superior educa- tion. The next officer in importance was the super- visor. In the early history of White Plains changes in these officers were rarely made; the principle of rotation in office had no advocates there.
The first election was held in April 1727. Caleb Hyatt, Jr., was chosen clerk, and continued to be re- elected annually until 1776, when Miles Oakley was chosen. From 1776 to 1783 there were no elections. The following persons then were successively elected and served as clerks :
Daniel Horton . 1783 to 1787
Joseph Prior. 1787 to 1788
William Barker, Jr. . 1788 to 1800
Stephen Barker . 1800 to 1804
David Falconer 1:04 to 1806
Stephen Barker
180G to 1810
Joseph Ilorton. 1810 to 1812
Minott Mitchell 1812 to 1838
Joseph S. Mitchell .1838 to 1842
John W. Mills . . 1842 to 1844
Schuyler C. Tompkins. . 1×44 to 1819
Enoch Dick and Elias P. Purdy 1849 to 1850
The following served as supervisors :
Caleb Hyatt . 1727 to 1735
Moses Owen 1735 to 1736
Jonathan Purdy
1736 to 1750
Elisha Budd . 1,50 to 1753
Elisha Hyatt 1753 to 1755
Elisha Budd 1755 to 1758
Abraham Ilatfield . 1758 to 1769
Dr. Robert Graham 1769 to 1775
Samuel Purdy
, 1775 to 1776
In 1776 Anthony Miller was elected, and thereafter there were no elections until 1783. From that time down to 1850 the supervisors were,-
Daniel Horton .
. 1783 to 1787
Richard Hatfield
1787 to 1796
John Falconer 1796 to 1801
Jacob Purdy . 180I to 1810
Jouathan Purdy 1810 to 1816
Joseph Ilorton 1816 to 1818
Jolın Falcouer 1818 to 1831
Elisha Horton . 1831 to 1838
Henry Willets. 1838 to 1-44
John W. Mills 1844 to 1846
Lewis C. Platt 1846 to 1847
John W. Mills
1847 to 1848
John Dick 1848 to 1$49
Henry C. Field 1849 to 1850
From 1850 to the present time the following super- visors and town clerks have been elected :
VIEW OF WHITE PLAINS IN 1855.
SUPERVISORS.
TOWN CLERKS.
1850.
Jolın Dick.
Elias P. Purdy.
1851.
Gilbert S. Lyon.
Carlton l'alner.
1852. Gilbert S. Lyon.
Elijah Guion.
1853. Gilbert S. Lyon.
John Banta.
1854. Robert Cochran.
W'm. H. Huestis.
1855-56. Jolın J. C'lapp.
Wm. H. Huestis.
1857-59. Gilbert S. Lyon.
W'n. H. Huestis.
1×60-61. John W. Mills.
Wm. H. Huestis.
1×62-66. E. G. Sutherland.
Wm. H. Huestis.
1867. John D. Gray.
Caleb Morgan, Jr.
1868 Jolın D. Gray.
A. J. Hyatt.
1869-70. Michael Donohue, Jr.
A. J. Ilyatt.
1871-72. E. G. Sutherland.
D. B. Stevens.
1873. E. G. Sutherland.
Wm. H. Cutter.
1874. Elisha Ilorton.
Win. H. Cutter.
1875. Robert Cochran.
E. Baxter and A. J. Hyatt.
1876. Elisha Horton.
1877. Stephen S. Marshall.
1878. E. G. Sutherland.
A. J. Ilyatt.
1879-SI. Artemus Eggleston.
Ilenry A. Maynard.
1882. Elisha Horton.
Henry A. Maynard.
1883-84. Lewis C. Platt.
W. A. Maynard.
1885. Lewis C. Platt.
Chas. P. Paulding.
Lewis C. Platt.
Francis H. Hessels.
J. E. Underhill.
A. J. Ilyatt.
VILLAGE OF WHITE PLAINS .- By an act of the Legislature of the State, passed April 3, 1866, and amended by an act passed April 22, 1867, that part of White Plains particularly bounded and described in Section 1 of said act was declared to be the " Village of White Plains," and the inhabitants resideut within the boundaries were declared to be a body corporate, to be known by the corporate name of "The Village of White Plains."
Originally there were seveu trustees, two of whom were elected each year for a term of three years; they chose the president from amongst their own uumber. In 1878 the charter was amended, dividing the village into three wards and providing for election of one trus-
731
WHITE PLAINS.
tee annually from each ward for a term of two years; and the board of trustees elected a president from outside their own body, who had no vote except in case of a tie.
At the first election of officers, in 1866, the follow- ing persons were chosen :
President, John Swinburne ; Clerk, John M. Rowell ; Trustees, Gilbert S. Lyon and Edward Sleath for one year : H. I' Rowell and J . P. Jenkins, two years ; J. W. Mills, John Swinburne and Harvey Groot, three years. 1867 .- President, John Swinburne ; Clerk, John M. Rowell ; Trustees, lliram P. Rowell, John P. Jenkins, John W. Mills, John Swinburne, Harvey Groot, Gilbert S. Lyon and John D. Gray. (As the records previous to 187I are lost, a complete list of officers cannot be obtained.)
1868,-President, John Swinburne; Treasurer, Gilbert S. Lyon ; Clerk, llenry C. Jenkins ; Attorney and Counsel. A. Jackson Hyatt ; Col- lector of Taxes, Charles E. Jalinson ; Chief Constable, Henry B. Ford ; Trustees, John W. Mills, John Swinburne, John D. Gray, Edmund G. Sutherland, Gilbert S. Lyon, John P. Jenkins, Harvey Groot.
1869 .- President, Gilbert S. Lyon ; Treasurer, Elisha P. Ferris ; Clerk, Charles E. Johnson ; Attorney and Counsel, Jackson O. Dyckman ; Col- lector of Taxes, Valentine M. Hodgson ; Chief Constable, Elisha C. Clark ; Trustees, John D. Gray, Elisha P. Ferris, Richard C. Downing, Ed- mund G. Sutherland. Gilbert S. Lyon, John P. Jenkins, Harvey Groot. 1870 .- President, Edmund G. Sutherland ; Treasurer, --; Clerk, C. E. Johnson ; Trustees, Edmund G. Sutherland, Elisha P. Ferris, R. C. Downing, J. P. Jenkins, Harvey Groot, Elisha Horton, Jr., L. C. Platt.
1871 .- President, Richard (. Downing ; Treasurer, Thoodore Van Tassel : Clerk, Valentine M. Hodgson ; Attorney and Counsel, Hiram Paulding; Chier Constable. David P. Barnes ; Collector of Taxes, W. II. Hnestis ; Trustees, Elisha P. Ferris, Harvey Groot, Elisha Horton, Jr., J. M. Rowell, Lewis C. Platt, Theodore Van Tassel, Richard C. Downing.
1872 .- President, Elisha P. Ferris; Treasurer, Elisha Horton, Jr. ; Clerk. Valentine MI. Hodgson ; Attorney and Counsel, Hiram Paulding ; Collector of Taxes, Alexander W. Russell ; Chief Constable, David P. Barnes: Trustees, Artemus W. Eggleston. Elisha Horton, Jr., Lewis C. Platt, J. M. Rowell, Theodore Van Tassel, Chas. Wiegand, Elisha P. Ferris.
1873-74 .- President, Elisha P. Ferris; Treasurer, Elisha Horton, Jr. ; Clerk, Valentine M. Ilodgson ;} Attorney and Counsel, Hiram Paulding ; Collector of Taxes, James Rice ; Chief Constable, David P. Barnes; Trustees, Artemus W. Eggleston, Elisha Horton, Jr., John M. Rowell, Theodore Van Tassel, D. M. Underhill, Charles Wiegand, E. P. Ferris.
1874-75 .- President, Elisha P. Ferris ; Treasurer, Elisha Ilorton, Jr. ; Clerk, Charles H. Purdy ; 2 Attorney and Counsel, Hiram l'aulding : Collector of Taxes, Edward Shirmer ; Chief Constable, David P. Barnes ; Trustees, Artemus W. Eggleston, Elisha Horton, Jr., D. Morgan I'nder- hill. T. Van Tassel, Chas. Wiegand, Michael Riordan, E. P. Ferris.
1875-76 .- President, Elisha P. Ferris ; Treasurer, Ehslia Horton, Jr .; Clerk, John Birch ; Attorney and Counsel, Hiram Paulding ; Collector of Taxes, John O'Rourke ; Chief Constable, David P. Barnes ; Trustces, Artemus W. Eggleston, Elisha Horton, Ir., D. Morgan U'underhill, Theo- dore Van Tassel, Charles Wiegand, Michael Riordan, Elisha P. Ferris.
1876-77 .- President, Elisha P. Ferris; Treasurer, Elishia Horton, Jr. ; Clerk, John Birch ; Attorney and Counsel, Hiram Paulding ; Collector of Taxes, Timothy Murphy ; Chief Constable, David P. Barnes ; Trustees, Artemus W. Eggleston, Elislia Horton, Jr., Michael Riordan, D. Mor- gan Underhill, Theodore Van Tassel, Charles Wiegand Elisha P. Ferris.
1877-78 .- President, Elisha P. Ferris : Treasurer, Elisha Horton ; Jr., Clerk, Jolın Birch ; Attorney and Counsel, Hiram Paulding ; Collector of Taxes, Andrew O'Rourke ; Chief Constable, John Birch : Trustees, Artemus W. Eggleston, Elisha Horton, Jr., Michael Riordan, D. Morgan Underhill, Charles Wiegand, Henry P. stewart, Elisha P. Ferris.
1878-79. 3-President, Gilbert S. Lyon+ and D. Morgan Underhill : President pro tem., none elected; Treasurer, Elisha Horton, Clerk, Jolin Birch ; Attorney and Counsel, Hiram Paulding ; Collector of Taxes, none elected ; Chief Constable, John Birch ; Trustees, David Verplanck. for two years, and Michael Riordan, for one year, First Ward; Artemus W. Eggleston, for two years, and S. W. Faile, for one year, Second Ward ; G. II. Mead, for two years, and Leonard Miller, for one year, Third Ward.
1879-80 .- President, D. Morgan Underhill ; President, pro tem., Daniel J. Tripp ; Clerk, John Birch ; Attorney and Counsel, William .1.
1 Valentine MI. Hodgson resigned his position as village clerk January 17, ISTI, and was succeeded by Charles HI. Purdy.
2 Charles H. Purdy resigned his position as clerk, and was succeeded, Angust 14, 1874, by John Birch.
3 The new charter, dividing the city into wards, went into operation this year, and two trustees were elected from each ward, instead of seven from the whole village, as formerly. The president was chosen from outside the board for a term of two years, and his powers were some- what curtailed. The election of Gilbert S. Lyon was reached after a long and obstinato contest between Elisha P. Ferris and William II. Albro. Ferris sat as president during this balloting, having been presi- dent the year before, and, finally, when he saw his own election impos- sible, and after there had been a number of ballots with Lyon and Albro as candidates, in which each received three votes, he threw the deciding vote l'or Lyon. His right to do so was contested in the courts, and
Woodworth ; Collector of Taxes, Orlando W. Eggleston ; Chief Con" stable, Henry A. Maynard ; Police Justice, 5 James II. Moran ; Trustees, David Verplanck and Michael Riordan, First Ward ; Artemus W. Exgle- ston and Samnel Faile, Second Ward ; Daniel J. Tripp and Leonard Mil- ler, 6 Third Ward.
1880-81 .- President, Elisha P. Ferris ; President, pro tem., Edmund G. Sutherland ; Treasurer, Henry T. Dykman ; Clerk, John Birch ; Attor- ney and Counsel, Charles W. Cochran ; Collector of Taxes, Daniel F. Leary ; Chief Constable, James Brogan; Trustees. Michael Riordan 7 and David Verplanck, 7 First Ward ; Samuel Faile and Henry B. Ford, ? Second Ward ; Daniel JJ. Tripp and Edmund G. Sutherland, Third Ward.
1881-82 .- President, Klisha P. Ferris (died February, 1882) ; l'resident, pro tem., Daniel J. Tripp ; Treasurer, Henry T. Dykman; Clerk John Birch ; Attorney and Counsel, Charles W. Cochran ; Collector of Taxes, Daniel F. Leary ; Chief Constable, George W. See ; Police Justice, Elisha Horton ; Trustees. Michael Riordan, one year, and David Verplanck, two years, First Ward ; William J. Sutton, one year, and Samuel Faile, two years, Second Ward ; Daniel J. Tripp, two years, and Edmund G. Sutli- erland, one year. Third Ward.
1882-83 .- President, William Reynolds Brown ; President, pro tem., Daniel J. Tripp ; Treasurer, Henry T. Dykman; Clerk, John Birch ; Attorney and Counsel, Charles W. Cochran ; Collector of Taxes, John P. Moran ; Chief Constable, George W. See ; Police Justice, Elisha Horton ; Trustees, Michael Riordan and David Verplanck, First Ward ; Samuel Faile and William J. Sutton, Second Ward ; Daniel J. Tripp and James D. Wright,8 Third Ward.
IN83-84 .- President, Wm. Reynolds Brown ; President, pi tom., Charles HI. Tibbits; Treasurer, Win. B. Tibbits ; Clerk, Jolin Birch ; . It- torney and Counsel, A. Jackson Hyatt ; Collector of Taxes, Chester P. Little ; Chief Constable, George W. See ; Police Jnstice. Elisha llorton ; Trustees, Michael Riordan and David Verplanck, First Ward ; Wni. J. Sutton and Chas. II. Tibbits, Second Ward ; Isaac V. Fowler" and James D. Wright, Third Ward.
1884-85 -President, Henry T. Dykman ; President, pro tem., Charles 11. Tibbits ; Treasurer, Win. B. Tibbits ; Clerk, John Birch ; Attorney and Counsel, not elected : Collector of Taxes, not elected : Chief Consta- ble, not elected ; Police Justice, Minott M. Silliman ; Trustees, David Ver- planck and Richard Dowdall, First Ward ; Win. J. Sutton and t'has. II. Tibbits, Second Ward ; Jas. D. Wright and Isaac V. Fowler, Third Ward.
1886 .- President, Henry T. Dykman ; President, pro tem., Edward B. Long ; Clerk, Engene Archer ; Treasurer, J. Henry Carpenter ; Police Justice, Minott M. Silliman ; Collector of Taxes, John P. Moran ; Chief Constable, George W. See ; Trustees, Richard Dowdall and John Mc- Ardle, First Ward ; Mark Lyons and Charles H. Tibbits, Second Ward ; Edward B. Long and James D. Wright, Third Wurd.
HIGHWAYS .- The first highway was laid out on the 13th of April, 1708, leading from Rye to White Plains, six rods wide, and was called the Queen's Highway; the present North Street road is on the same route.
Broadway was in existence in 1697, but was not for- mally laid out and recorded until November 22, 1734, when it was described as "Beginning between the home lots formally laid out to Thomas Brown and Caleb Hyatt, where the road is laid out that goeth down to Eastchester; from thence northerly by the fronts of said home lots on each side of the street ; said street or highway to be the same as now left until it cometh to the great meadow brook."
The old New York road, or road to East Chester,
during the contest no public business was transacted. The suit was not decided for many months, but was finally settled in favor of Lyon.
+ Lyon died early In 1879, and was succeeded, April 22, 1>79, by D. Morgan Underhill for the unexpired term.
5 Police justice, an office established in ls78, was not filledl till 1>79, owing to the litigation over the presidency in the former year. It was for a term of three years. Moran was elected for the nnexpired term ot two years.
6 Leonard Miller was elected for one year in place of George II. Mead, resigned.
; Michael Riordan, David Verplanck and Henry B. Ford all three re- signed in March, 188I. April 4th Charles J. Quinby was appointed trustee in place of llenry B. Ford, and Harvey Groot in place of David Verplanck, until the ensuing election. Michael Riordan's place was not filled.
" James D. Wright resigned July 19, 1882, and was succeeded by Samuel Hopper.
" Ilenry P. Stewart was elected to the unexpired term of Sammel Hopper, but failed to qualify, and I. V. Fowler was elected in his place.
732
HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
was formally laid out in 1717. It followed the old Indian Path, which led from the native settlement on the hill on the Fisher farm, south of the Fisher homestead, corner of Lexington Avenue and the post road, by a winding course over the hill, as it now runs, past Mr. Faile's and around the Waller corner to its junction with Broadway, opposite the Mitchell homestead. On the east side of the road, opposite the Waller corner, was the Indian burying-ground.
The road to the Hudson River from White Plains was laid out in 1730, along the north side of the Presbyterian Church. In 1764 the terminus of this road on Broadway was changed to its present loca- tion of Spring Street.
The road now called Lake Street was laid out in 1762.
The road to Mamaroneck was laid out the 11th of November, 1725, and commenced at the old post road. At that time James Travis owned the Sam- uel Faile place, and Moses Knapp owned what is now the beautiful property of Mrs. E. L. Carhart.
The highway leading from Broadway and passing the residence of Mrs. Ellen T. Donahue was laid out the 24th of April, 1735.
The road beginning at Broadway nearly opposite the road last mentioned, and now running south of the cemetery, was laid out May 22, 1740.
These are all the principal roads that were in ex- istence prior to 1830 in what is now the village of White Plains.
White Plains was at the time of its purchase the planting-ground of the natives, and derived its name from the white balsam, a plant then covering its surface, which, although not level, presented the ap- pearance of a plain when seen from the surround- ing hills.
CHURCHES.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND AND PROTESTANT EPIS- COPAL CHURCH IN WHITE PLAINS .- The history of the Protestant Episcopal Church in White Plains has been carefully written by Robert Bolton, in his " His- tory of the Church in Westchester County," and much that follows is derived from his very interesting work.
From the time of the conquest of New Netherland by the English (in 1664) down to the arrival of Gov- ernor Fletcher (in 1692) the inhabitants of the town of Rye (which then, and until 1784, included the White Plains) were Presbyterians or Dissenters, and there existed "no trace of the Church of England in the Colony."
Through the efforts of Governor Fletcher, the Col- onial Assembly, which was composed almost entirely of Dissenters, was induced to pass a bill "For the maintenance of a Ministry." A similar law existed in Connecticut, under whose ecclesiastical jurisdic- tion Rye was at this time. After the passage of this bill the Governor declared that there was no ministry but of the Church of England; and through his power, with the aid of the "Society for Propagating
the Gospel in Foreign Parts," a minister of. the Church of England was inducted into the church at Rye in the year 1704, but Episcopal services were not intro- duced into White Plains until 1724, when the Rev. Mr. Jenny preached there three or four times a year ; and such services were held down to the time of the Revolution, which utterly ruined the mission.
During the war the clergy were placed in an em- barrassing position. Not to pray for the King, ac- cording to the litany, was to act against the dictates of their consciences, while to have used the prayers would have been to draw upon themselves persecution and destruction. The only course left them was to suspend the exercise of their functions and shut up their churches. After the war the church became an independent branch of the Church of Christ, and having organized an ecclesiastical union, free from alliances with human sovereigns, demonstrated its congeniality with our free institutions.
·
In 1787 White Plains and Rye united in erecting a church edifice at the latter place, of which the Rev. Richard C. Moore was chosen rector, September 5, 1787. Pursuant to the requirements of the laws of the State of New York relating to the incorporation of religious societies, a meeting of the congregation of Rye Church was held and a certificate of incorpor- ation made, dated the 21st day of February, 1795, in which "the rector and two of the congregation of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the towns of Rye and White Plains, in the County of Westchester, certify that Peter Jay and John Barker were elected church wardens, and Joshua Purdy, Jr.," and seven others were elected vestrymen ; and that "the style and title shall be ' Christ's Church in the town of Rye, in the County of Westchester and State of New York.'"
An act of the Legislature having been subsequent- ly passed " for the relief of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the State of New York," the church de- termined to re-incorporate under that act, and a meet- ing for the purpose was duly called and held, and a certificate of incorporation, dated June 7, 1796, was made and filed, by which it appears that the officers of the Rye and White Plains Episcopal Church, chosen under this incorporation, were Peter Jay and Isaac Purdy, church wardens ; and Joshua Purdy and seven others, vestrymen-the same corporate name being retained. Under this organization the church of Rye and White Plains continued services in each town-two-thirds in Rye and one-third in White Plains-until 1816, when the wardens and vestrymen resolved to discontinue services at White Plains ; and accordingly such services were discon- tinued, although White Plains had contributed to the erection and support of the church.
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