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. II > Part 129
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A branch railroad from this point to Lake Mahopac does a large passenger business through the sum- mer.
In 1865 a railroad was chartered under the name of the White Plains, Danbury and Northern Rail- road, to pass through the town from north to south in the vicinity of Cross River. Considerable money was expended and work done on various parts of the line, but the enterprise, owing to the lack of funds, fell through, and no part of the road in the town was ever completed.
In 1868 the Ridgefield and Port Chester Railroad Company was organized. This road was to pass through the castern portion of the town. After some two hundred and fifty thousand dollars had been ex- pended in right of way, grading, etc., work was sus- pended and the road has never been completed.
POPULATION .- The first enumeration of the pop- ulation of the town occurred in 1782 when it was found that there were-
Heads of families . 130
Males under 16 years of age 200
Males above 16 years and uuder 60 years 62
Males above 60 years 4
Females under 16 years 189
Females above 16 years . 206
Refugees.
Males under 16 years 26
Males above 16 years and under 60 years 36
Males above 60 years . 1
Females under 16 years 45
28
Total 927
In 1835 . 1470
1810.
1619
1845 1541
'1850 1608
1775
1860.
1885
1865
1653
1870 .
1601
1875 1598
1880. 1612
In 1875 the proportion was as follows: Native, 1494; foreign, 104; white, 1596 ; colored, 2; males, 787 ; females, 811 ; aliens, 46, voters, 478.
VITAL STATISTICS .- Notwithstanding it is required that statistics of births, marriages and deaths shall be filed with the town clerk, the law is not complied
1
Jeremialı llowe . 15
Erastus E. Bouton 3
Samuel H. Lawrence 2
MIenry Hoyt . 1
75
Females above 16 years
1855
554
HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
with, or only partially complied with ; consequently the records are very meagre.
1847 : Births, 25; marriages, 19; deaths, 9. 1848 : Births, 29; marriages, 23; deaths, 19. 1849: Births, 33; marriages, 21; deaths, 21.
There are no further records until 1881. Ift that year there were 4 marriages ; 1882, 4; 1883, 3; 1884, 4; only one death recorded in 1883. In 1884 there were seven deaths.
MANUFACTURES .- Boot and shoe-making is the principal mechanical industry of the town. Previous to 1835 Mr. Samuel Grummon carried on the business at the foot of Long Pond Mountain, on the south side, on the road leading from South Salem Meeting- House to North Salem. Mr. Grummon died in 1834, and in the spring of 1835 Mr. Eli Keeler, living in the neighborhood known as Keeler Street, took up the business of boot and shoe manufacturing. In 1838 Mr. Keeler moved his shop and business to South Salem village, where he still carries on the business. Mr. Keeler continnes to manufacture what is known to the trade as hand-made work and his boots and shoes are much sought for on this account. He gives employment to a large number of men and women.
WAR OF THE REBELLION,-The records show that this town was not behindhand in furnishing men and money to assist in prosecuting the war for the pre- servation of the Union.
At a public meeting of the citizens of the town of Lewisboro, called for in anticipation of drafts being ordered to proeure soldiers to assist in put- ting down the Rebellion against the United States government, which was held on the 20th day of Au- gust, 1862, at the Presbyterian meeting-house, South Salem, and which was very largely at- tended, Jeremiah Howe was chosen chairman and Webster B. Hull and Cyrus Faneher secretaries. A committee of eight was appointed to draft resolutions for the consideration of the meeting. Among other resolutions aeted upon by the meeting the following are here recorded as passed by the meeting because they are referred to afterward at a special town-meet- ittg legally called and held,-
" Resolved that the sum of - dollars be raised by tax on the property of the town of Lewisboro for the purpose of procuring the Qnota of vol- unteers for said town muider the last two calls of our government without resorting to a draft.
" Resolved, that a committee of three be appointed to apportion the necessary sum upon the taxable property of the town according to the assessment of the present year, 1802.
" In pursuance of these resolutions, Cyrus Lawrence, James William- son nud David Hunt were appointed a committee.
" Resolred, that a bounty of two hundred dollars be guaranteed to each resident of the town of Lewishoro who shall enlist before the 34 day of September next, whether the full Quota of the town be made up by enlistment or not. Fifty dollars of such bounty to be paid upon the presoulution of the affidavit of each Volunteer stating the Company and Regiment In which he shall have enlisted, the name of the Recruiting Athcer and the f.ct of his being mustered in, und twenty five dollars monthly thereof to the family of, or order of, such Volunteer."
At a special meeting held at the lecture-room, the usttal place of holding town-meetings, September 2,
1862, pursuant to a eall made by the proper persons to take measures to fill the quota of the town under eall made by the President of the United States for men, Daniel Hunt, chairman, Cyrus Lawrence, 2d, clerk pro tem. the resolutions following were pre- sented and adopted :
" Resolred, that the eleclors of the town of Lewisboro ratify and con- firin so much of the action of the meeting of the inhabitants of said town, held Angust 12th, 1862, as relates to raising money by tax to pay all persons who might enlist in service of the United States to make the Quota of the town under the last two calls of our Government.
" Resolved, that a committee be appointed for the purpose of appor- tioning the tax upon the Valuation of Real and Personal property, as made by the Assessors for the present year, 1862, sufficient for the pur- pose mentioned in the foregoing resolutions as soon as convenient.
" Resolved, that one or more responsible persous be appointed by this meeting for each school district and part district lo Collect the same im- mediately and pay it to the Supervisor of the town, reporting the list of the amount unpaid and of all persons, if any, who refuse to pay. Ont of the money so collected and paid the Supervisor is to pay to Each per- son enlisted the sum of two hundred dollars, who shall be credited to the town when properly mustered in or reimburse themselves for money al- ready paid.
" Ro solred, that application be made to the Legislature of this Slate, al its next Session, lo legalize such tax upon all the property of the town, with an addition of twenty per rent. of said tax upon the property of those who shall refuse to pay."
At a special town-meeting held February 23, 1864, for the purpose of raising money to proeure the num- ber of men necessary to be raised in the town, it was,-
" Resolved, that the town of Lewisboro will pay until its Quota is filled three hundred dollars bounty. If necessary, the Supervisor is nu- thorized to increase this sum from one hundred to three hundred dollars. The money to be raised by tax on the town in five equal installnients, the first to become due March Ist, 1865, and one installment in each fol- lowing year, with interest, until paid.
"The Supervisor to raise the money by issuing bonds to bear a rate of interest not to exceed seven per cent."
Another special town-meeting was held July 28, 1864, at which it was,-
" Resolred, to raise on the Credit of the town twelve thousand dollars, or so much thereof as nmay be necessary to fill the quota of the town, under the cull for 200,000 men, made July, 1864."
The supervisor was empowered to raise the money by issuing bonds. Of this amount, two thousand five hundred dollars was, with the interest on the same, to be paid every year, commeneing in 1870, until the whole was paid. It was also,-
" Resutred, that the sum of four hundred dollars shall be paid to any person in this town that shall furnish a substitute for three years, and three hundred dollars to him who shall furnish a substitute for one year prior to the draft. And that there be paid for Volunteers to fill such Quota n Imudred dollars for volunteers for one year, three hundred dollars for two years and four hundred dollars for three years. And if such Quota be not filled nud the draft takes place, each person drafted and accepted shall be entitled to the sum of four hundred dollars for procuring a sub- stitnte or serving in person.
" Resolved, that every person liable to a draft, In order to be benefited by the bounties mentioned in the foregoing resolutions, shall pay to either of the town anditors, on or before the 8th day of August next, the sum of twenty five dollars.
" Another town meeting was hell August 26, 1864, at which it was Resolved to increase the bonuties to five hundred dollars for each substi- tute, irrespective of his term of service, and for each man drafted six hundred dollars."
There are no records in the town clerk's office showing the names and number of men sent to the
555
LEWISBORO.
front from this town during the Civil War. Mr. Hunt, the supervisor, who had the whole charge of the matter, died in 1884, leaving no list ; therefore it is impossible to give a perfect record of them. The following is a list of those who are known: Andrus Hull joined Company I, Forty-fourth Regiment New York Volunteers, at the Normal School, Al- bany, where he was completing his education. After two years' service he was appointed a captain and assigned to the Twentieth Regiment of United States Colored Infantry. After serving to the elose of the war he went to Chicago, Ill., where he was appointed paymaster by the Chicago and Northwestern Rail- road Company, in whose service he now is. W. HI. Ambler was killed instantly by a cannon-ball at the battle of Gettysburg, Pa. Samuel Ambler, John Burr Smith, Ebenezer Selleek, Lyman Addis, Thomas Cunningham, Sylvester Keeler, George A. Hoyt and John O'Brien were other soldiers whose names are remembered.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
The Presbyterian Church edifice is a plain wooden structure, forty by sixty feet, with tower and spire, orna- mented with a handsome gilded vane. A large bell hangs in the tower. The building occupies a command- ing position in the village. It appears that for some time previous to the year 1752 the Rev. Solomon Mead, an Independent minister, from Greenwich, in the Colony of Connecticut, had been preaching to the people of Lower Salem, in the neighborhood of the present church, and had gathered together a goodly number of those who had no desire to worship accord- ing to the ritual of the Church of England. In 1751, probably through the influence of the Rev. Mr. Mead, the proprietors of the undivided lands in the Ob- long executed a deed, conveying to the first Presbyte- rian or Independent minister who should be settled and ordained in Salem, two tracts or pareels of land situ- ate and lying in the lower ten miles of the Oblong. The deed was as follows :
" To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, greeting : " Know ye that we, the signers of this Instrument, for and in consid- eration of our love and good-will to & for ye Inhabitants of Salem, in ye County of Westchester & in ye Province of New York, and for ye Re- domer's Interest among them, Have by these Presents Devoted, Re- leased and Quitted, and do by these presents freely, fully and absolutely Devote, Release and quit our claims in and unto two certain tracts or pieces of Land lying in ye lower released ten miles of ye Oblong or Equiva- lent Lands which is yet undivided, to and for ye uses and Improvement of ye first Presbyterian or Independent Minister that shall be settled and ordained in sd town of Salem, and to his successors forever. Sd Land is bounded as followeth, viz. : One piece Bounded North by Highway ; West, Nathan Northrop's Land ; South, by ye Land of James Brown ; East, Nothing. The other plan Lying by Bedford Road, and is Bounded South by sd Road and ye Land of Thomas Hyatt ; East, by ye Land of Thomas IIyatt and James Brown ; North, by T. Hyatt's Land, and West by ye Land of gd Thomas Hyatt & Ephraim Coly. To Have & to Hold gd Devoted, quited & Released Premises, with all ye privaliges & appur- tinances to ye same belonging or in any wise appertaining. We say we have & by these presents Do Devote & Release yo same unto him ye gd Minister & to his successors in ye Ministry in Sd town forever, from ns, our heirs, Excentors and Administrators for him ye sd Minister & his i successors, to Hold and Improve to their Benefit and Behoof.
" In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this
twenty-third day of December, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty- one, and in ye twenty-fifth year of ye Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George ye Second, King, &c.
"Signed, sealed and delivered In ye presence of
Benjamin Rockwell. his
John Souton. Benjamin X Benedict.
her
mark.
Adalı X Smitb.
Timothy Keeler.
mark.
Thomas Smitb.
her
Jonah Keeler.
lidy X tongue.
Mathew Semor.
mark.
Samnel Smitb.
who sce Benjamin.
Benjamin Hawley.
Benedict sign.
Nathan St. John.
Ezekil Hawley.
Thomas Rockwell.
Joseph Kceler.
Joseph Northrop.
Thomas lyatt.
Thaddeus Crane.
Josiah Smith.
Benjamin Ilayt.
James Benedict.
Salick Smith.
Samuel Smith.
Ebenezer Smith.
Nathau Olmstead.
Benjamin Keeler."
SEAL.
The deed is indorsed as follows :
" Be it Remembered, tbat on ye sixteenth day of November, 1774, there appeared before me, Caleb Knowles, Esq., one of ye Jndges of ye Supe- rior Court of Common Pleas for ye County of Westebester, Benjamin Rockwell, one of ye witnesses to ye witbin deed of sale, and on bis Oath declared that he see all ye Grantors to ye sd deed, excepting Benjamin Benedict, seal and deliver ye same as their frec, voluntary act & deed for ye nses therein mentioned ; and likewise Ezekiel lawley, one of ye witnesses to sd deed, appeared before me at yo same time, & on bis Oath declared he see ye sd Benjamin Benedict seal and deliver yo sd deed as his free, Volente act and deed, for ye uses therein mentioned; and I, having inspected sd deed and find no material mistake or interlination therein, and I allow ye same to be recorded.
" CALEB KNOWLS."
The next thing in order was to settle a minister. The proceedings to this end are shown in the first book of church records, kept by the Rev. Solomon Mead, as follows :
" Records of ye Church of Christ, in Salem, ye first "urch in sd town, with some places adjacent.
"As this people belong not to any Presbytery or association, it was agreed by sd society that ye committe of sd society, with ye Candidate then on Probation, viz., Mr. Solomon Mead, Jointly should send for some of ye Neighboring Ministers, to perform ye work of authorizing of him, ye sd Mr. Mead, and invest him with ye Ministerial charge over them. The ministers sent for were those ye following, viz. : Rev. Messrs. Abraham Todd, Elisha Kent, William Gaylord, Jonatban In- gersoll, Robert Silliman and Samnel Sacket, Which convention was agreed to be called on May ye 20th, 1752. Accordingly, on yo 19th, met those and there sat down in convention, which I transcribe from ye doings of sd Convention, and is as followeth :
" At a convention of Ministers at Salem, on ye 19th of May, Anno Domini 1752, met npon ye Desire of ye People of Salem and places ad- joining, in conjunction with Mr. Solomon Mead, a candidate for ye Gos- pel Ministry, in order to ordain ye Sd Mr. Moad a Gospel Minister among orover sd People. Present of ye Revd Messrs. sent for, -Abra- ham Todd, Elisba Kent, Jonathan Ingersol and Samnel Sacket. Mr. Todd chosen Moderator ; Mr. Iugersoll, Scribe. The meeting opened by prayer performed by ye Moderator, Mr. Todd. The Rev. Mr. James Davenport being l'resent, was voted in as member of ye convention. Procceded on Mr. Mead's trial. Examined him in ye Languages, in his experience, acquaintance with religion, his doctrinal Knowledge of Div- inity and his Orthodoxy. Then Meeting adjourned till tomorrow morning. Met according to adjournment. Mr. Mead presented and read a Sermon to ye convention, and, upon an unanimously agreed on Vote, to proceed in ye ordination of Mr. Mcad. Voted, that Mr. Inger- soll make ye first prayer and give ye right hand of followship ; that Mr. Todd should preach ; that Mr. Sacket make ye ordination prayer ; that Mr. Kent give ye charge, and that Mr. Davenport conclude with prayer and a word of exhortation. At which time a church was Gathered, con
556
HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
sisting of Eighteen Members, viz., Josiah Gilbert, Solomon Close, Stephen Brush, Jonah Keeler, Noah St. John, Daniel St. John, Nathan Northrop, Andrew Bishop, Ebenezer Scofield, John Bonton, Ebenezer Grammond, Lot Keeler, Paul Keeler, Abraham Northrop, Benjamin Bishop and Elijah Keeler, and ye ordination performed accordingly.
" Test, " JONATHAN INGERSOLL, Scribe.
" This was ye first Ordination in Salem, and ye first church gathered in Sd Salcm.
" Signed,
" SOLOMON MIEAD."
" The first Sabbath after Sd Ordination, -viz., May ye 24b, I took a vote of ye Chh., whether we should join with ye Western Association in Fairfield County. Voted in ye affirmative ye whole Chh., except Nathan Northrop. Accordingly I joined as a Member of Sd Association, on ye next Tuesday,-viz., ye 26th of May, there being an Association of Fair- field County then sitting. A Con. Association as yet not meeting, the Chh. as yet have not joined, but propose so to do as soon as opportunity dos present.
" At a meeting of &d Chih., on July 24 1752, voted, our Brother Solo- mon Close be our Deacon.
" Voted, 24, Our Brother John Bonton be our Deacon.
" Sept. 14h, 1752 (new stile), at a meeting of Sa Chh., voted to contri- bute 4 pence a man and three pence a woman for ye year ensuing. Also agreed on it, by yedesire of ye chh., to have the Sacrament administered once in two months.
" Immediately the following persons were reed by ye church : On re- comendation of Revd Mr. Silliman, Ebenezer Bonton and Abigal his wife ; by Revd Mr. Ingersol, Jolin Loder and his wife; Keziah, wife of Timothy Canfield and Rebecca ye wife of Benjamin Rockwell and Peregrina ye wife of Nathan Northrop; Jane, ye wife of Noah St. John ; Sarah, ye wife of Daniel St. John ; Mary, ye wife of David Canfield ; Deborah, ye wife of Ebenezer Grammon ; Elizabeth, ye wife of Josiah Gilbert ; Deborah, ye wite of solomon ('lose; Mary, ye wife of Joseph Os- born ; Jeliul Tiler and Jemina his wife. Also, Phebe ('anfield, Hannah, yo wife of Andrew Bishop ; Mary, ye wife of Stephen Brush ; ye widlow Rebecca St. John ; Mary, ye wife of John Bonton ; Mary, ye wife of Ebenezer Scofield ; Abigal, wife of Abraham Northrop ; Patience, wife of David Sanford ; ye wives of l'ant and Lott Keeler ; David Crissey and his wife, Unice ; and James Bishop recomended by Revd Mr. Wells."
June 17, 1753, Nathan Finch and his wife were recommended by Rev. Mr. Silliman. July 23, 1752, Epenetns Howe and his wife were admitted. August 30, 1752, the wife of Benjamin Bishop was admitted. From this time to 1802 one hundred and sixty-eight united with the church.
"Sept. 8th, 1757. At a meeting of ye Chb to hear reasons of Deacon Bonton's resigning his Office. After hearing and agreeing he had a right to lay down, ye ('hb proceeded to a new choice, again make choice of ye Deacon. lle desires 3 weeks from ye Lord's Day ensning for consider- ation ; ye petition granted, ye deacon accepts.
"Sept. 29th, 1763. A meetinge of ye Chh of ('hrist in Salem at ye Mectinge honse considered whether this Chh would ndopt ye l'resbyte- rian form of Chh government ; Voted in ye affirmative.
" 2d. Agreed to chose five ruling elders.
"34. That these should stand bnt for one year.
"4 4tb. Voted the following persons for the above term :
"I. Dencon Solomon Close.
"2. Deacon John Bouton.
"3. Josiah Gilbert, Esqr.
"4. Joseph (sborn.
"5. Thaddeus Crane.
" April 10th, 1765. At a meetinge of ye Chb in Salem, Voted to con- tinue ye same Elders as were above voted Joseph Benedict wus Chose Ehler in room of Joseph Osborn, Deceased.
"On September 30%, 1778, was Elected Nathaniel Wicks, Deacon, in ye room of Ivacon Close, deceased.
" The same date Mr. Wicks was Elected Elder.
" May 28th, 1752, Elected two Elders,-Nathan Rockwell and Capt. Gould Bonton.
that he might have an opportunity of vindicating lris innocence and that some ministers might be called in to Join with the Session. The request was complied with and agreed to call in Messrs. Lewis, of Wilton, Lewis and Mills belonging to the Presbytery and also to call all members of the Church to hear, and appointed the 7th of January insuing.
"VIet Jannary 7th, 1783, according to appointment, but of Ministers, only the Rev. Mr. Lewis, of Wilton, attended and some papers of Mr. (tose were wanting ; therefore adjourned mmtil February 11tb ensning.
" Met according to adjournment and Moosis. Lewis & Mills present. Mr. Lewis of Wilton did not attend. After collecting all the evidence and hearing over Mr. Close's full vindication concluded nothing Scau- delous found against him, but for some reasons did not come into a full determination until the month of March, when he was received into the Communion of the church."
At a meeting of the trustees, February 14, 1797, it was unanimously agreed to petition the Legislature to authorize them to sell parsonage lands not to ex- eeed fifty acres, that a more eligible site might be purchased for a parsonage house.
The Rev. Solomon Mead continued pastor of the church until 1800. Old age and infirmities rendering him unfit to longer preside over the church. he resigned his eharge after having been pastor for forty- eight years. On December 24, 1799, at a meeting of the trustees, it was resolved to retire Mr. Mead on one hundred dollars and his firewood for a year. This offer he accepted.
Mr. Mead died in September, 1813, as appears from the following eutry of September 5, 1813, in the church book of records :
" Departed this Life the Revd Solomon Mead, Aged 86 years, 9 months and 2 dnys. Ile Officiated in the ministry 48 years, 3 Months & 15 days. In his ministry he baptised children & adults, 912, Married 666 couples and attended 328 burials. There we Sec ended a long life of a Venerable Minister, Who may well be remembered by this Church for his great zeal in the enuse of Religion, for his planting a church in this place and letting his light shine in such a manner as to be imitated safely by all."
In the year of Mr. Mead's retirement, 1800, it was determined to settle Rev. Robert Porter over the con- gregation as pastor and to pay him three hundred and seventy-five dollars a year.
In March, 1800, permission was granted by the Legislature to the trustees to sell fifty acres of land. It was accordingly sold in several parcels as follows :
Arres. Roods. Rundls. Price. 2% $119.00
" Andrew Massey 111
G 12.50
" l'hilander Lawrence
0
30 $1.89
" Jolin Bonton .
1
13 69.52
" Joseph Webster
6.75
" Giles Malery .
3
9 61.55
" Nathau Olmstead 1
0 8.00
" Samnel B. Isaacs .
0
11
66.00
To Elisha Avery . 7
April 5, 1802, Rev. Robert H. Chapman was called to preach for one year, at a salary of three hundred and seventy-five dollars, a house to live in, and the church to move his goods.
December 21, 1803, Rev. Mr. Oshorn was invited to preach for six months. October 29, 1804, a call was extended to Rev. John Ely. Mr. Ely accepted, and "on the 27th of November, 1804, was convened at Salem, by letters missive from the Moderator of the
" Det. 34, 1782. There mct the Session at my house, to hear the request of Lient. Solomon Close, who was by ye Congregational Church in U'pper Sahne excommunicated. Hesired the session would meet at hls house, . Presbytery of Hudson, for the purpose of receiving
557
LEWISBORO.
from the Ch. and Society in Salem their call to the Rev. John Ely, to take the Pastoral charge of them and to proceed to installation if the way was prepared. Present-Ministers: Revs. Solomon Mead, John Minor, John Clark and Ebenezer Grant; Elders ; Gould Bouton, Salem ; Samuel Hall, South East ; Mr. Flagden, Peter Flemming, Bedford; Corre- spondent members from Connecticut, Rev. Samuel Goodrich, Rev. John Clark, Rev. Israel Ward, Dan- bury."
In 1801 the land where the parsonage now stands was purchased of Mr. Thaddeus Rockwell.
December 4, 1804, it was voted to build a barn ; also voted that William Townsend should have twenty shillings to sweep the house, put in the glass and fix the east door.
The church records do not show when the first church was erected or when the first meetings were held. It is supposed they were held in a log house that stood just west of the present residence of Mr. Milo Webster, on the road leading from South Salem to Poundridge. Probably a church edifice was erected soon after Mr. Mead was installed. The first mention of a meeting-house occurs in the church records Sep- tember 29, 1763, when a "mecting of ye church of Christ in Salem was held at ye Meeting-House to consider whether this Chh. would adopt ye Presby- terian form of Clih. government. Voted in ye Affirma- tive." The next mention of a meeting-house occurs in the town records, 1775, when a town-meeting was called to assemble at ye meeting-house in Salem to consider some " Resolves " in regard to the war. The first meeting-house stood a few feet north of the present building and was a barn-like structure without a fire-place, and benches instead of pews. In 1795 an inventory was made of the church property, in which a church edifice was included. In April, 1796, it was agreed to take the old seats out of the meeting-house and have pews erected in- stead. The pews were completed the following Oc- tober and rented as follows :
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