USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 20
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We shall now conclude Mr. Bridge's reports with the follow- ing extract from the letter books of the Venerable Society :-
· New-York MSS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. i, 541-2.
206
HISTORY OF THE PARISH MR. BRIDGE TO THE SECRETARY.
Rye, Nov. 14th, 1717.
SIR,
" Many of them being- Quakers and such others as have never shewed any regard to religion, under any denomination whatsoever. Tis our great misfortune here, that our vestries are made up of such persons; especially when they are apprehen- sive that we have any design to raise money for the repair or other services of the church, as it was our case at the last elec- tion, and I doubt will be so at the ensuing one, and is what I think, very much amiss in Mr. Cleator, that instead of being ad- vised by me, he seeks to shelter his neglect under the recom- mendation secretly obtained of professed Quakers, and some other persons of the loosest carriage among us. There are in Stratford, and the neighbouring towns in Connecticut, about 36 communicants of the church of England, and within these few years, I find there have been about 24 adult persons, and between 70 and 80 children baptized by me, and other missionaries of the Society, who have occasionally been there; they seem ex- tremely desirous to have a minister settled among them."a
The Rev. Christopher Bridge, finished his earthly pilgrimage at Rye, on Friday, the twenty-second of May, 1719, and was in- terred in his parish church.
There is this record of the event in the minutes of the vestry :- " The Reverend Mr. Christopher Bridge, died the twenty-second, and was buried on Monday, the twenty-fifth day of May, Anno Domini, 1719, having been minister at Rye, ten years and four montlıs."b
The following obituary, is copied from the Boston News Let- ter, a weekly paper, and the first newspaper published in Bos- ton, where it was commenced in 1704. The date of this num-
· New-York MSS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. i. p. 534. (Hawks'.)
৳ Church Records, p. 15.
207
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
ber is from June 1st to Sth, 1719. " We have an account from Rye, in the government of New-York, of the death of the Rev. Mr. Bridge, M. A. a presbyter of the church of England, and minister of the Gospel in that place, who died on Saturday, the 23d of May last. He was formerly, for many years together, one of the ministers of the church of England in Boston, a re- ligious and worthy man, a very good scholar and a fine. grave preacher, his performances in the pulpit, were solid, judicious and profitable, his conversation was agreeable and improving, and though a strict churchman in his principles, yet of great respect and charity to dissenters, and much esteemed by them He was bred at the University of Cambridge, in England, and was about forty-eight years of age when he died, very much la- mented."a
His last will and Testament was proved on the 25th of June, 1719.
THE WILL OF CHRISTOPHER BRIDGE, CLERK.
" IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. The eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord Christ, one thousand seven hundred and eighteen and nineteen, I, Christopher Bridge, Rector of the parish of Rye, &c., in the county of Westchester, in the Colony of New-York, in America. Although sick in body, yet of good, perfect and sound memory, praised be Almighty God, I therefore do make and ordain this, my present will and Testament, containing therein my last will, in manner and form following : FIRST, I commend myself, and all my whole estate, to the mercy and protection of Almighty God, being fully persuaded, by his Holy Spirit through the death and passion of Jesus Christ, to obtain full pardon and remission of all my sins, and to inherit everlasting life, to which the Holy Trinity, one eternal Deity be known, and glory forever, Amen. And as for the disposal of my worldly estate, I will, and ordain, that after my decease, my debts which I happen to owe, and funeral expenses, shall be first paid. Item, it is my will that all my estate which I have, in this world, either in possession or reversion, or remainder, or otherwise, howsoever, be the same Real or Personal, after my decease, shall be divided into three equal part or parts, which I give, devise and bequeath, as fol-
· Greenwoods Hist. of King's Chapel, Boston, p.72. The Rev. A. Fowler says of Mr. Bridge : " that he laboured himself in all respects, worthy the high and sacred character of a Clergyman, and the members of his parish increased greatly at Rye. He had for several years past an indifferent state of health, and died in 1719 .- Fowler's MSS. Biog. of the Clergy.
208
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
lows, (viz :) one third part thereof, to my dear and loving wife, Elizabeth Bridge : To have and to hold the same to her, the said Elizabeth Bridge, her heirs and as- signees for ever. Another third part to my children, by even and equal portions, share and share alike, to be equally divided amongst them. To go to them each, an equal dividend thereof, and to each of their heirs and assignees for ever. The other third part, I give and bequeath likewise to my children, but to be given or distributed to them, according to the discretion of my said wife, Elizabeth, as she shall see meett ; and to the end, that this, my last will and Testament, may in every particular devise the better to be performed, I make my said loving wife, Elizabeth Bridge, whole and sole executrix, and it is my will, that she in that station, shall bargain, sell and dispose of all my estate above mentioned, and when sold, to give good and sufficient conveyances in the law, for the same, which shall be valid and a barr against my heirs for ever. The consideration money, arising from such sale, being divided in three parts, and paid to the uses above divised and bequeathed ; and that this my said last will, may be the more effect- ually executed ; it is my further will and desire, that if in case my said Executrix should happen to dye, before the full execution thereof, that the said will, and the final full execution thereof, shall be managed and executed by my loving friends, David Jameson, Esq., John Bartow, Rector of the parish of Westchester, &c., and Mr. Elias Neau, of the city of New-York, merchant, and the survivor and survivors of them, whose assistance in the execution of this my last will, and I intrust and depend upon ; and now revoking all other wills and Testaments, heretofore by me made, I declare this to be my last will. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and the year first above written.
CHRISTOPHER BRIDGE. (L. S.)
Signed, sealed, published, and delivered in the presence of us, Joseph Cleator, Samuel Wiley, Samuel Haight." ª
" At a meeting of the Justices and Vestry at the school house in Rye, August 21st, Anno Domini, 1719, to examine the receipts and disbursements of ye late Rev. Mr. Bridge, concerning ye finishing of ye church ; and also to consider of his salary, and what money to be thought necessary to repair the church, and to choose proper persons to see ye same repaired ; there ap- peared :-
Capt. Joseph Budd, Justice.
John Haight, David Ogden, Robert Bloomer,
Vestrymen.
John Brundige,
Caleb Hyatt, Henry Fowler, John Disbrow.
· Record of Wills, Surrogates office, New-York, vol. ix. 72, 73.
209
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
First : They examined the accounts then produced, and there was
found due to Maddm. Bridge, - £200
and for Mr. Bridge's salary, - 16 0 0
£18 0 0
The money designed for the ministers rate and other things as will appear by this book, was £56 3s.
Ordered by the justices and vestry abovesaid, that of ye said sum, thirty three pounds be applyed and made use of for re- pairing of the parish church of Rye, according to Act of Assem- bly."a 1
Mr. Cleator, schoolmaster at Rye, in his report to the Secre- tary for 1719, says : " That he has taught in the last year, about fifty children to read and write, and instructed those that were capable of learning, in the church catechism.27b
Upon the death of Mr. Bridge, we find the enemies of the church, who could without any scruple revile her services and doctrines, coveting her small possessions and accommodations. Their objects, however, were happily defeated by the vigilance of Mr. Vesey, the Bishop's Commissary.
MR. COMMISSARY VESEY'S LETTER TO THE CLER- GY OF NEW-YORK.
( This letter has no date.)
REV. BROTHER,
" I have been credibly informed that since the death of the Rev. Mr. Bridge, late minister of Rye, the Dissenters have made some attempts to possess themselves of the church in that town, and introduce an Independent teacher : wherefore, to frustrate their designs, and to keep our brethren steady in their profes- sion, I desire the favourof you to officiate in that church in your order with the clergy of this province, till my Lord of London,
* Church Records, p. 16.
৳ Printed Abstracts of Ven Prop. Soc.
14
210
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
or the Venerable Society send a minister to supply that vacant parish. This I earnestly recommend to you, and remain,
Yours, &c.,
WM. VESEY."
The order which the Reverend Clergy of the province of New-York will take to officiate in the parish of Rye :
" The Rev. Mr. Bondet,
the 2nd of August,
66 66
Bartow,
66 16th of
66
Thomas, -
13th of September,
66 Poyer,
66 30th of August,
66 66 Mckenzie, -
27th of September,
66
66
Jenney,
11th of October,
66
Vesey,
25th of October." a
Having provided for the immediate wants of the parish, Mr. Vesey addressed the following letter to the Secretary ; requesting that another minister might be sent, and earnestly recommend- ing the afflicted widow and children to the Society's protec- tion.
MR. VESEY TO THE SECRETARY.
SIR,
New- York, Nov. 15, 1719.
" I have lately given you an account of the method I proposed to the clergy for officiating in the church at Rye, now vacant by the death of the Rev. Mr. Bridge, the clergy have officiated at their own expense there in their order, and will continue to do so till the Venerable Society shall please to send a minister to that parish.
That church being thus supply'd without any charge to the parishioners or to the Society, I presume from hence to recommend the afflicted widow and her poor children, as proper objects of the Society's compassion, earnestly praying that one year's sal-
a New-York, MSS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. i. 557, 558. (Hawks'.)
211
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
ary, commencing from Mr. Bridge's death, may be given for their support. I shall only observe on this occasion, that a mis- sionary dismist by the Society, is allowed, as I am informed, one year's salary after his dismission ; if therefore, one of these missionaries is removed by death, and the vacancy supplied by his brethren, it may be thought charitable at least, to do some- thing of that nature towards the subsistence of his widow and children in their melancholy circumstances, which is neverthe- less humbly submitted to the consideration of the Venerable Society, by your most obedient and humble servant.
WILLIAM VESEY." a
On the 16th of January, 1720-1, it was agreed by the vestry of the parish, " that Capt. Budd, the two churchwardens, Henry Fowler and Daniel Purdy, two of the vestry, should draw up a~ letter to ye Hon. Col. Heathcote and the Rev. Dr. Vesey, desiring their advice and assistance in procuring a minister for the parish of Rye," &c.b
In 1720-1, the Rev. Thomas Poyere appears to have officiated statedly here ; for at an adjourned meeting of the vestry, held on the 2Sth of February, A. D. 1720-1, " It was agreed to pay to the Rev. Mr. Poyer the just and full sum of twelve pound, ten shillings, for his service done to this Parish as a minister, and that he be continued minister of this parish, with this proviso, that the Honourable Society for Propagating ye Gospel in Foreign Parts do allow it."d
In 1721-2, the Venerable Society voted £50 to the clergy
a New-York MSS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. i, p. 559. (Hawks'.)
b Church Records, p. 17.
e " The Rev. Thomas Poyer, was a grandson of Col. Poyer, who fell in the de- fence of Pembroke Castle, in the time of Oliver Cromwell, and was the successor of Mr. Urquhart, at Jamaica. He arrived in the Colony during the summer of 1710, and was inducted by power from Col. Hunter, July 18th, of that year."
d Church Records, p. 17.
212
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
of New-York for supplying the church at Rye, vacant by the death of the Rev. Mr. Bridge.a
MR. POYER TO THE SECRETARY.
Jamaica, Feb. 11th, 1719. HON. SIR,
" I make no doubt of your being informed of the death of the Rev. Mr. Bridge, late pastor of the Church at Rye, and that the Honourable Society have ordered another to succeed him.
I am just returned from serving that church in my turn, ac- cording to an agreement between the ministers of this province ; and cannot but acquaint you that most of the inhabitants, some communicants, are doing what they can to pull down what the established ministers-[sic in MSS.] They have resolved to call one Mr. Buckingham, a Dissenting minister, and have accord- ingly sent to acquaint him of it. I was then at Rye, in company with a great many of them, and did all that I could to bring them into a better mind in that respect, after which they told me their resolution was this, that they were so well satisfied with me and my conduct, that they would call no other than myself, and that if I would not accept of their call, they knew one, naming the aforesaid Mr. Buckingham, that would; so they desired my answer, and I told them I would write home to the Honourable Society about it the first opportunity, (not at all expecting to meet with this ship that I thought sailed some weeks ago,) and I questioned not but they would order me to Rye, on which I find they have resolved to call me ; had I known of this ship in those parts, I would have got the Church wardens and Vestry called, and sent it herewith, but expect this per next conveyance.
I have not time now to write to my Lord of London, my much honoured Diocesan, and pray that this may be communicated to him, and that what is necessary from the Venerable Society,
a Printed Abstracts of Ven. Prop. Soc.
213
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
and that worthy Lord, in order to removal, be sent to me per the next opportunity.
I trust there are none of my most honoured Patrons, do en- tertain so hard a thought of me as to believe I have any pros- pect of a temporal advantage by this removal. No, God knows I have not indeed, I must say that I cannot have, for besides that Jamaica is a much pleasanter place, where I have abund- antly better conversation than can be had at Rye, and then the allowance from the country, for the Minister, is £10 per annum more here than there. I assure you if riches were my aim, I had invitations enough, and between £400 and £500 per annum, offered me if I would have removed from here, into the West Indies, but those arguments, powerful enough to induce some, I thank God, have not been able to prevail with me to leave the church over which, though most unworthy, I was thought fit to be appointed overseer, in so much troubles ; its nothing but the peace of the church that has inclined me to listen to the fre. qnent requests of the people at Rye, they have promised me if I would come to them, they would be united in their affections, and one and all come to hear me.
May the Lord Jesus Christ, the great and good master of the flock, make me under him, a happy instrument in uniting the people in making up the divisions among them, and quenching the flames that blaze out.
I present my utmost duty to my ever honoured Patrons, hearti- ly, earnestly, and constantly praying for them, and to beg Sir, you'll please excuse this haste, and to send an answer per first opportunity, to
Honoured Sir, Your humble servant, THOMAS POYER."
The Rev. John Thomas of Hempstead, L. I., writing to the Secretary, April 20th, 1722, makes the following statement, in regard to the necessity of a minister for the vacant parish :-
" The want of a missionary so long at Rye, has introduced a dissenter to build his nest there, but I believe a discreet gentle --
1
1
214
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
man sent over, would soon unnest him, and discourage him in his undertaking. The people there are very poor, and incapa- ble to maintain two differing ministers, had they a churchman to perform divine service, and preach every Lords day, their dissenter must of necessity give way and be gone." a
About one month after the date of this letter, the Society were pleased to appoint the Rev. Henry Barclay, formerly mis- sionary to Albany, to Rye, with a salary of £50.b Upon the 22d day of - 1722, Mrs Barclay writes from Albany, "that she has received a letter from Mr. Secretary Humphrey's, dated the fifth of September last, whereby your honours signify your having received him, (Mr. Barclay,) to your missionary, and have appointed him the choice of removing either to Rye, or Jamaica, in New-York government, &c., &c."c The same year the Society gave Mr. Barclay £10 in consideration of the hard circumstances he lieth under.d
At a meeting of the Churchwardens and Vestrymen, of this parish, June the 4th, Anno Domini 1722, the following call was given, in accordance with the act of 1693 :-
" WHEREAS, by the death of our late Incumbent, the Rev. Mr. Christopher Bridge, this Parish is become vacant, we there- fore, the Church-wardens of the said parish, pursuant to ye tenour and intent, of an act of General Assembly of this Province, entitled, an act for settling a ministry, and raising a maintenance for them in the city of New-York, county of Richmond, West- chester and Queens county, do call the Reverend Mr. Robert Jenney, to officiate and have the care of souls within this parish of Rye, aforesaid. And the said Mr. Robert Jenney, personally
a New-York MSS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. i. 577. (Hawks'.)
b Printed Rep. of Ven. Prop. Society.
€ New-York MSS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. i. 579. (Hawks'.)
d Printed Rep. of Ven. Prop. Society. "The Rev. Henry Barclay was father of the late Thomas Barclay. Consul General of his Brittanic Majesty, in the U. S. so well known and so highly esteemed by thousands among us, and whose place as British Cons .1, is at this moment so worthily filled by Mr. Anthony Barclay, one of his sons."
215
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
came before this board and informed them, he was ready to ex- ecute the functions he was called unto, when he should be in- ducted into the same. Whereupon it is ordered, that this board do forthwith present the said Robert Jenney, and pray his Ex- cellency, for his induction into ye Church of the said Parish, with all and singular the rights, privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging, or in any ways appertaining. By order of the Churchwardens and Vestrymen.
JOHN CARHARTT, Clerk."a
The following letters were also addressed to the Governor, the Venerable Society, and the Bishop of London :-
TO THE GOVERNOUR.
June 4th, 1722.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,
We, the Church wardens and Vestrymen of the Parish of Rye, being informed by the Rev. Mr. Jenney, that your Excellency has consented to his design of complying with our desire, to settle among us, and has given him leave to divide his time be- tween his duty of the garrison and this parish, till such time as his confirmation can be obtained from the Venerable Society, do take the liberty to present to your Excellency, our hearty thanks for this condescention in our favour, humbly praying your Excel- lency, to grant induction to the said Mr. Jenney, into ye said par- ish of Rye, when, according to law, we have called thereto, as will appear to your Excellency, by ye enclosed. " We are with all duty and submission-May it please your Excellency, your Ex- cellency's most dutyful and most obedient humble servants.
[Signed by order.]
JOHN CARHARTT, Clerk."b
& Church Records, p. 20.
৳ Ibid.
216
HISTORY OF THE PARISH TO THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY.
June 4th, 1722.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS,
"We, the Church wardens and Vestrymen of ye Parish of Rye, in ye province of New-York, in America, having taken ye lib- erty soon after ye death of our late incumbent, the Rev. Mr. Christopher Bridge, humbly to pray that your honours would continue your usual bounty to our poor church, and supply us in our destitute condition, with a church of England minister in the room of our late incumbent ; do take this opportunity to return your honours our hearty thanks, as well for the constant supply, which by your honour's favourable recommendation we had from the clergy of this province, as for your resolution, ap- pearing in print, to supply us with a minister to reside among us, as soon as one whom your honours can approve of, shall of- fer. We have been to our great detriment, destitute about three years, and now having the opportunity of one whom we are universally pleased with, ye Rev. Mr. Robert Jenney, chaplain of the forces of this province, who is willing to relinquish his place in the forces, to settle amongst us and become our minis- ter, provided he can have your honours favour and bounty for his encouragement. We have taken the liberty to give him a call, as ye act of Assembly of this province empowers us, (which is enclosed to your honour) humbly praying for your approba- tion, of what we have done, and that you will please to grant unto him as our minister, your favour and bounty, being a per- son whose conversation, preaching, and diligence in his holy func- tion we are well acquainted and satisfied with. We are confi- dent that his residence amongst us, will effectually reconcile all our differences, and heal all our breaches, occasioned by our being so long in want of a faithful and prudent pastor, to guide and instruct us. That God Almighty will prosper your honours pious and charitable endeavours for the service of his Church, in this Wilderness, and that he will grant unto every one of you,
217
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
the choicest of his blessings, temporal and eternal, is the hearty prayer of-
May it please your Honours, Your Honours most dutyful And most obedient and humble servants, [Signed by order.]
JOHN CARHARTT, Clerk."a
The letter to the Bishop of London was as follows :-
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, 1
" The necessity of our Church requiring a speedy relief, and the favourable opportunity offering of the Rev. Mr. Jenney's in- clination to settle amongst us, we the Churchwardens and Ves- trymen of the Parish of Rye, in New-York, in America, have readily accepted thereof, and given him a call as required by the laws of this Province, hoping what we have done, will prove agreeable to your Lordship and the Venerable Society, with whom we beg your Lordship's kind offices for ye contin- uance of their bounty to our parish in ye person of the said Mr. Jenney, as our Minister-we humbly presume to subscribe our- selves,
May it please your Lordship, Your Lordship's most dutyful Sons, and most obedient humble Servants, [Signed by order.]
JOHN CARHARTT, Clerk."
" The above letter to the Bishop of London, was enclosed to the Rev. Mr. William Vesey, in New-York, giving him an ac- count of our proceedings, and to pray his furtherance of our let- ter, to the Bishop, and his recommendatory one with it.2b
The Society were pleased to confirm the call of the Vestry, on the 30th of August, 1722, by appointing the
* Church Records, p. 21.
b Church Records, p. 22.
218
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
REV. ROBERT JENNEY, A. M.
Missionary to Rye, with a salary of £50, in the room of Mr. Barclay. Mr. Jenney was the son of the Venerable Henry Jen- ney, of Wanney Town,a in the North of Ireland, (Archideacon of Armagh,) descended of the Jenney's, formerly of Knoddis Hall in Suffolk county, England.b He was born in the county of Armagh, A. D. 1688, and educated in Dublin, under Dr. Jones. On the 13th of October, 1704, he was matriculated, as a pen- sioner at Trinity College, Dublin, and selected for his tutor, Mr. John Wetherby, a fellow of that College. In 1710, he was ad- mitted into holy orders, and soon afterwards appointed to a chaplaincy in the royal navy, in which service he continued un- til 1714 ; from thence to 1717, he was in the employ of the Ven- erable Society, as an assistant to the Rev. Evan Evans of Phila- delphia, and subsequently to the Rev. Mr. Vesey, of New-York. From 1717 to 1722, he was Chaplain to the Fort and Forces at New-York, and was then, as we have seen, appointed by the So- ciety to this parish.c
The new Incumbent was regularly inducted as Rector of
a See America Dissected, in Updike's History of the Narraganset Church, p.495.
b This family, originally of France, assumed its surname from the town of Guisnes, near Calais. It probably came into England, with the Conqueror : for Bloomfield states that proprietors of the name of De Gisnelo, De Gisne, or Gy- ney, were soon after the Conquest possessed of the Manor of Haverland, in Nor- folk, and that they held it until the time of Henry V. From that honse it would appear that the one before us branched, and that the name in process of time changed from Gyney to Jenney, the mode in which it has been spelt, since the beginning of the 15th century at least.
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