USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
The Society's Abstracts for 1760, say that-" the Missions of Westchester and New Rochelle are both within the large and populons county of Westchester, as is also the Mission of Rye, to which the worthy and learned Mr. Wetmore was appointed Missionary in the year 1727; but there is come lately an ac- count of his death, to the inexpressible concern, not only of his own, but of the neighbouring congregations of our Church in those parts, and more especially and particularly of those Mis- sionaries, who esteemed themselves happy in his friendship and good counsel, and his loss will be endeavoured to be repaired in the best manner in which it may be done."a
At a Vestry meeting held in Rye, on the 9th of February, 1762, " it was agreed to allow the executors of the Rev. James Wetmore, our late minister, the interest of what is due from the Parish to the estate of the said James Wetmore. Allowed to Timothy Wetmore, on account of his father's salary of £20."
Nearly six months after Mr. Wetmore's decease, Dr. Johnson addressed the Secretary of the Venerable Society as follows :-
MR. JOHNSON TO THE SECRETARY.
[EXTRACT.] King's College, New - York, Nov. 25th, 1760.
"I wish (Mr. Camp) may be appointed at Rye, where we lament the death of good Mr. Wetmore, of the small pox, and a good successor is much wanted, as well as at New Rochelle and Westchester, especially the latter, for which, perhaps, Mr. Milner may do well, or one Mr. Davis, a hopeful youth, who is going in the spring."b
a Printed Abstracts of Ven. Prop. Society, for 1760.
৳ New-York MSS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. ii., p. 282. (Hawks'.)
292
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
Mr. Barclay writing to the Secretary, from New-York, Dec. 10, 1760, observes-" That Westchester and Rye continue still vacant ; religion is at the lowest ebb in that county, and unless some zealous and discrete clergyman be appointed to those mis- sions, the very term of it will soon disappear. As Westchester is a wide extended county, three missionaries can find more than sufficient employment, and I know of no place where they can be more serviceable, provided they have the interest of religion at heart."a
The following extract occurs in a letter from Mr. Timothy Wetmore, to the same :-
Rye, May 6th, 1761.
REV. SIR,
" It is now, I think, six or eight months since we have been favoured with a sermon, or had either of the sacraments admin- istered in this Parish by a minister of the Church. The Parish being in this destitute condition, I have presumed, at the request of the people, to read service every Lord's day, and upon other convenient occasions, which appears to have a tendency, by the blessing of God, to keep up a spirit of religion, and as I have a singleness to the glory of God and the good and comfort of my fellow creatures, I hope it may tend to the furtherance of the glori- ous designs of the Venerable Society. The people are constant in their attendance, decent in their deportment, and the temper of many of the Presbyterian congregation is such, (who have no minister) that I am much inclined to think, if a popular man is settled in this Parish, they will not call another preacher, but many of them may be brought into the Church.
The constitution of this Parish is such, that the minister must be called by the Vestry and inducted by the Governour. The Vestry are chosen by all sects in the Parish, which is thirty miles
· New-York, MSS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. ii., p. 282 (Hawks'.)-" The Society have informed the Vestry (of Rye) that as soon as they shall make appli- cation for a minister, and enter into proper engagements to contribute towards his support, they intend to appoint a missionary."-Society Abstracts, 1761.
293
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
in length. Mr. Thomas, who is one of the representatives in this county, and who, in Governour DeLancey's time, being favoured with all the administration of all offices in the country, eivil and military, by the help of which, he has procured him- self a large interest in the county, especially in the distant and new settlements, which abound with a set of people governed more by vinality than by anything else. This gentleman, though one of the Society's missionaries' sons, is so negligent and indifferent towards religion (in imitation of some of our great men) that it has been a steady method with him for years, not to attend publiek worship, perhaps, more than once or twice in a year, whose example has been mischievous. This man is not only one of our Vestry, (though very little esteemed by the true friends of the Church,) but has procured that the majority of the Vestry are men that will be governed by him ; several of the Vestry are not of the Church, and not one of them a communi- cant in the Church ; accordingly, the Church are not at all con- sulted with regard to a successor. It is, therefore, a mere chance will be pleased in this place, which will really be, if pos- sible, a more melancholy in this Parish than others, from the peculiar circumstance of it. As our Governour depends, from year to year, upon the Assembly for his living, &c., and we have not so fully hopes of relief there, I have thought fit to give the Venerable Society a hint of these things, which they may pos- sibly improve to the good of the Church.
Reverend Sir, &c., TIMOTHY WETMORE."a
In answer to this letter the Venerable Society expressed their readiness to send a missionary to Rye, if necessary, and did so, by appointing the Rev. Mr. Palmer, in 1762. From the following communication, however, it seems that the Vestry in accordance with the Act of Assembly, had already called the Rev. Ebenezer Punderson, of New Haven.
· New-York MSS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. ii, pp. 286, 287. (Hawks'.)
294
[HISTORY OF THE PARISH
CHURCH-WARDENS OF RYE TO THE SECRETARY.
Rye, October 5th, 1762.
REV. SIR,
" As we are informed that the Vestry that have preceeded us since the decease of our late worthy minister, the Rev. Mr. Wet- more, have omitted writing to the Venerable Society, which we are afraid may be thought a neglect proceeding from a spirit of ingratitude, and may have a tendency to give that Venerable Body a disadvantageous opinion of the Parish.
We think it our duty to represent to the Society, that the former Vestry did give a call or invitation to two gentlemen, who refused to accept it, and that it seems likely that they omitted writing, expecting from time to time, some gentleman might be procured to recommend to the Society for a missionary in this Parish. But, however their conduct has been, we are well as- sured, that the people of this Church have a most grateful sense of the goodness of the Venerable Society to this Parish.
We, therefore, in behalf of the Parish of Rye, humbly present to that Venerable Board our sincere and hearty thanks for their great expense in promoting the religion of the blessed Jesus in this Parish, and earnestly desire a continuance of their favours. although we blush, yet it is a pleasing blush, to hear the Society (by you to Mr. Timothy Wetmore, dated January 4th, 1762.) express their readiness to appoint a missionary here, be- fore we have made application.
We have, at length, given the Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Punderson, of New Haven, an invitation to be our pastor, which he has ac- cepted, and as the Parish are well united in him, we have good reason to hope he may be very serviceable ; and I hope that his request to the Society to be removed here, will meet with a favourable acceptance. As to a title, we observe to the Society, that by a law of the province, a minister properly inducted into the Parish, is entitled to £50 currency. That we have petition- ed His Excellency, Mr. Monckton, our Governour, to induct Mr. Punderson, and we have no reason to doubt he will comply with
295
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
our request, as every thing that can be required, on the part of the Parish, is done. We have also a parsonage house and lot, which Mr. Punderson has seen and expressed his satisfaction with. We have only to add our thanks to the Venerable Society, and beg leave to subscribe ourselves,
Your most obedient and humble servants, ELISHA BUDD, SAMUEL PURDY, Churchwardens, and others."a
Dr. Johnson, writing to the Secretary, May 10th, 1763, says: - " Mr. Punderson was indeed much urged by that people to Rye, who have, by law, a right to choose their incumbent, but upon my urging the irregularity of it, without the Society's appoint- ment, they desisted, and he did not move and only visited them now and then. But as things were so unhappily embar- rassed by the appointment of Mr. Palmer, then I saw there was no way to accommodate the difficulty but by advising an ex- change between him and Mr. Palmer, who was also desirous of it, and I did not doubt but the Society would readily come into it. If I presumed too far in giving that advice, I humbly ask pardon, but as things are gone so far it will certainly be ex- tremely detrimental to the interest of religion, in both those places, if they are not permitted to exchange. I do, therefore, humbly beg, for once, that the Venerable Board will allow Mr. Punderson to go on and settle at Rye, and appoint Mr. Palmer, at New Haven, who have lately sent their address for him.2b
Mr. Palmerc thus addresses the Secretary in relation to this affair :-
· New- York MISS. from Archives at Fulham, vol. ii., p. 291. (Hawks'.) b Conn. MSS. from Archives at Fulham, p. 447. (Hawks'.)
e The Rev. Solomon Palmer was a dissenting teacher, at Cornwall, Conn. In 175₺ he conformed and went to England for holy orders. He died at his mission of Litchfield, Nov. 1st, 1771, and was interred the Sunday following .- See Conn. MSS. from Archives at Fulham, p. 628. (Hawks'.)
296
HISTORY OF THE PARISH MR. PALMER TO THE SECRETARY.
[EXTRACT.] Litchfield, Coun., June Sth, 1763.
REV. SIR,
" I wrote the Society my most hearty and unfeigned thanks for their appointment of me at Rye, where I would gladly have gone had I not been intercepted by the Rev. Mr. Punderson's being there before that designation was known or expected ; however, I should have made them a visit and offered myself to be chosen by them, had they not taken a seasonable precaution to prevent it, by writing and sending me a letter of the follow- ing contents, which I received in less than a week, after yours of the 6th of November last came to hand, which gave me the first notice of my appointment to that mission."
, REV. SIR,
Rye, February 21st, 1763.
" We, the justices, church wardens and vestrymen of the Parish of Rye, having greatly at heart the preservation of our happy union, that subsists in our church, presume, Sir, that you, a preacher of the gospel of peace, will highly concur with us in opinion of the absolute necessity of gnarding against every event that threatens to impede its continuance. Ever since the decease of the Rev. Mr. Wetmore, our late worthy pastor, an unhappy spirit of discord about a successor to that office, very unfortunately prevailed among us, till the coming of the Rev. Mr. Punderson, in September last, when, by his un wearied endeavours and successful preaching in the several parts of his Parish, it pleased God to reunite the minds of the people in Mr. Punderson, and we did then, with one general voice, give Mr. Punderson an invitation to be our pastor, and he, to our great satisfaction, favoured us with his acceptance of it, and in con. sequence whereof, a petition was imme diately drawn and lodged in the hands of the Honourable Daniel Horsmander, Esq., in New-York, to be presented at a proper time, by him and the
297
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
Rev. Dr. Barclay, to his Excellency the Governour, to induct the Rev. Mr. Punderson into our Church, and on the 5th of Oc- tober last, the Vestry, attended by a number of parishioners, wrote a letter to the Honourable Society, acquainting them with their proceedings, and requested their consent to Mr. Punder- son's establishment among us, and which was transmitted to the Rev. Dr. Johnson, of New-York, to be forwarded by the first conveyance, under cover of the Dr's. letter of recommenda- tion, on this occasion, to the Society, so that both the Dr's. and Vestry's letters have doubtless long ere now, reached the Socie - ty's hands, and we have the greatest reason to expect, from the known pions interest of that Venerable Body, an agreeable an- swer to our request. Mr. Punderson, who is now here, and has once more favoured us with many visits, wherein he has happi- ly revived no inconsiderable spirit of religion among us, and in consequence thereof has gained our greatest esteem ; and in- deed, it now visibly appears that he is actually sealed in the hearts of the people in general, who, with great discontent now lament our misfortune, (excuse the expression) of your appoint- ment for this Parish, before the Dr.'s and Vestry's letters could meet the Society's hand, and on which occasion, a cloud of dis- cord does already threaten onr peace in the Church; and we firmly believe that a disappointment of having Mr. Punderson for our minister, would prove very fatal to her. Thus, sir, we have considered well our duty and our representations of this Par- ish, giving you a faithful information of our proceedings since Mr. Punderson's first coming here, and also our own, as well as the parishioners sentiments in regard to your appointment, which we freely communicate to yon, on no other motive than an ear- nest desire of the parishioners in general, that neither the con- tinnance of our happy reunion in Mr. Panderson, nor his estab- lishment among us may be impeded on your application to Dr. Johnson and other gentlemen of the clergy, who in general, very well know how matters stand here. We presume you'll be convinced to your satisfaction, that we speak the real senti- ments of the Parish in general, as they are also our own, without the least tincture of prejudice or any other motive than the preser-
1
298
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
vation of peace and harmony in the Church, and also his res- toration from his much reduced situation ; and be assured, if things were circumstanced now as they were before Mr. Pun- derson's coming here, we should receive you cheerfully with open arms, agreeable to your character, and with the respect that is justly due to the Venerable Society's appointment. We remain, most respectfully,
Rev. Sır, your very humble servants, ANDREW MERRITT, Churchwardens, EBENEZER KNIFFEN. S and several others."
At the same time I received the above, came to hand the fol- lowing one :--
New Haven, February 25th, 1763. DEAR BROTHER,
" Your letter for Dr. Johnson of the 22d of January, which came not to hand until Wednesday evening last. I am inform- ed the Society have appointed you to succeed the Rev. Mr. Wetmore, deceased. at Rye ; (not having received the united re- quests of the people there, the Doctor's and myself, for my re- moval to that place) as this news was altogether unexpected to us all, it seems not a little to disconnect matters, for had I known of your writing to the Venerable Society for that Parish, I should never have consented to their desires of becoming minister. However, the Doctor gives it as his opinion to the Vestry at Rye, and also in his letter to me, the best method of preserving peace and unity in the Church, is for you to succeed me here, and for me to remove to Rye, and he cannot but think you will give satisfaction here. I have with this, forwarded a letter from the representatives of that Parish, which they com- mitted to my care, as the likeliest method of a direct convey- ance of it, for it is the Doctor's desire that the affair may be settled as soon as possible. I am, your affectionate brother,
EBENEZER PUNDERSON."a
· Conn. MSS. from Archives at Fulham, p. 452. (Hawks'.)
299
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
The
REV. EBENEZER PUNDERSON, A. M.,
Mr. Wetmore's successor, was the son of Thomas Punderson, of New Haven, where he was born in the year 1704. His grandfather, John, was the only son of John Punderson, who emigrated from Yorkshire to New England in 1637, and was one of the " seven pillars" who formed the first Congregational Society at New Haven.a Mr. Punderson was educated at Yale College, where he graduated in 1726. He also received the de- gree of Master of Arts from King's College in New-York, in 1753. Studying theology in the dissenting way, he was in- stalled pastor over the Second Congregational Society at Groton, December 25th, 1729.b In 1732, he came into the Episcopal Church, and in April, 1734, crossed the Atlantic to be ordained.c On his return, he reorganized a church at the village of Poque- tannuck, North Groton, 1738, which has ever since existed, though it has always been small, and has never been able to sustain a pastor of its own, but has principally relied on Nor- wich for ministerial supply. Mr. Punderson was, for some years, an itinerant missionary of the Society, for the Propaga- tion of the Gospel, and preached at Groton, Hebron, and other places adjacent, from 1740 to 1750. He was the first regular
a John Punderson sailed from England on the 25th of July, 1637, in company with John Davenport and others. He died 11th February, 1680. His only son, John, was born in 1643, and died in 1729. The name originally was Punchardon. The arms of Punderson are :- ar. a fesse within a borduro gu. charged with eight escallops of the first. Crest-a unicorn's head, erased, gu., bezantee and armed or. b 'Trumbull's Hist. of Conn., vol. ii. p. 530
. Mr. Seabury writing to the Sec. from New London, March 30th, 1734, says :- " Mr. Punderson, who is going to England, about five years ago was called to preach in a Presbyterian or Independent way at Groton, near New London, where he even received ordination, but falling under doubts and scruples concerning their form of ordination and method of Church government, and at the same time ac- quainting himself with the Church of England, he found himself obliged upon true and regular conviction to embrace her communion, and thereupon he laid down his ministry, in which he was settled to good advantage."-Conn. MSS. from Archives at Fulham, p. 189. (Hawks'.)
300
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
officiating clergyman at Norwich, upon the erection of their church in 1750.
The Venerable Society's Abstracts for the year ending 1753, say :- " The Rev. Mr. Punderson, the Society's itinerant mis- sionary in Connecticut, having petitioned the Society to be set- tled a missionary, with only a part of his salary, (which is £70 per annum) to the members of the Church of England in New Haven, the place of his nativity, (where a new Church is built, to which Mr. Punderson gave the greatest part of the timber,) and to those of the neighbouring towns of Guilford and Bran- ford ; the Society, ont of regard to the advanced years of Mr. Punderson, and to his past good services, and to the great trou- bles he has met with from some oppressive persons in Connect- ient, have granted his request, and have appointed him their missionary to the three towns of New Haven, Guilford, and Branford, with a salary of fifty pounds per annum ; and de- sired him to recommend some proper young person, educated in one of the colleges there, to succeed him in the remaining part of his itinerant mission." Mr. Punderson was presented to the Governor for induction, in the following manner :-
THE PRESENTATION OF THE CHURCHWARDENS AND VESTRY. MEN OF THE PARISH OF RYE OF MR. EBENEZER PUNDERSON TO THE RECTORY OF SAID PARISH.
" To the Honourable Cadwallader Colden, Esq., his Majesty's Lieuten- ant Governour, and Commander in Chief of the Province of New- York, and the Territories depending thereon, in America :
The Churchwardens and Vestrymen of the Parish of Rye, including the districts or precincts of Rye, Mamaroneck, and Bedford, in the County of Westchester, in the Province of New-York, the true and undoubted patrons of the said Parish, with- in your Honour's government ; in all reverence and obedience to your Honour, due and suitable, send greeting, in our Lord God everlasting, and certifye that to the said Parish of Rye, including the districts or precincts of Rye, Mamaroneck, and Bed- ford, now being vacant by the natural death of James Wetmore, the last incum- bent of the same, and to our presentation of full right belonging, we have called our beloved in Christ, Ebenezer Punderson, Clerk, to officiate in the said Parish church of Rye, called Grace Church ; and him, the said Ebenezer Punderson, sends by these presents to your Honour, present, humbly praying that you would vouchsafe him to the said church and Parish of Rye, including the districts or precincts aforesaid, to admit, institute, and cause to be inducted, with all its rights, members, and appurte-
301
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
nances, and that you will, with favour and effect, do and fulfill all and singular, other things which in this behalf are proper and fitting for your Honour to do.
In testimony whereof, we, the Churchwardens and Vestrymen aforesaid, have to these presents put our hands and seals, this day of November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three.
EBENEZER KNIFFEN, { Churchwardens, ANDREW MERRIT. and seven Vestrymen."a
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOUR COLDEN'S ADMISSION OF MR. PUN- DERSON AS RECTOR OF THE PARISH CHURCH OF RYE, &c.
" I, CADWALLADER COLDEN, Esquire, his Majesty's Lieutenant Governour, and Commander in Chief of the Province of New-York, and the Territories depending thereou in America, do admit you, Ebenezer Punderson, Clerk to be Rector of the Parish Church of Rye, commonly called Grace Church, and of the Parish of Rye, including the several districts or precincts of Rye, Mamaroneck, and Bedford, in the County of Westchester, within the said Province.
Given under my hand and the prerogative seal of the Province of New-York, at Fort George, in the City of New-York, the seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three.
CADWALLADER COLDEN."
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOUR COLDEN'S INSTITUTION OF MR. PUN- DERSON AS RECTOR OF THE PARISH CHURCH OF RYE, &c.
" I, CADWALLADER COLDEN, Esquire, his Majesty's Lieutenant Governour and Commander in Chief of the Province of New-York, and the Territories depending thereon, in America, do institute you, Ebenezer Punderson, Clerk, Rector of the Parish Church of Rye, commonly called Grace Church, and of the Parish of Rye, including the several districts or precincts of Rye, Mamaroneck, and Bedford, in the County of Westchester, in the said Province, to have the care of the souls of the parishioners of the said Parish ; and take your cure and mine.
Given under my hand and the prerogative seal of the Province of New- York, at Fort George, in the City of New-York, the seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three.
CADWALLADER COLDEN."
MANDATE FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOUR COLDEN TO IN- DUCT MR. PUNDERSON INTO THE RECTORSHIP OF THE PAR- ISH OF RYE.
" The Ilonourable Cadwallader Colden, Esquire, his Majesty's Lieutenant Gover-
¿ Copied from the original document in the possession of John C. Jay, Esq., So- nior Warden of the Parish.
৳ Ibid.
302
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
nour and Commander in Chief of the Province of New-York, and the Territories de- pending thereon in America. To all and singular, Rectors and Parish Ministers whatsoever, in the Province of New-York, or to Andrew Merrit and Ebenezer Knif- fen, the present Churchwardens of the Parish of Rye, in tho County of Westches- ter, and to the Vestrymen of the said Parish, and to each and every of you, greet- ing :- Whereas, I have admitted our beloved in Christ, Ebenezer Punderson, Clerk, to the Rectory of the Parish Church at Rye, commonly called Grace Church, and of the Parish of Rye, including the several districts or precincts of Rye, Mamaro- neck, and Bedford, in the county of Westchester within this government, to which the said Ebenezer Punderson was presented unto me by the Churchwardens and Vestrymen of the said Parish, the true and undoubted patrons of the said Parish, va- cant, as is say'd by the natural death of James Wetmore, the last incumbent there, on or about the nineteenth day of May, one thousand seven hundred and sixty ; and him, the said Ebenezer Punderson, I have instituted into the Rectory of the said Parish Church and Parish, with all their rights, members, and appartenances, observing the laws and canons of right, in that behalf required and to be observed. To you therefore, jointly and severally, I do commit, and firmly injoining, do com- mand each and every of you, that in due manner, him. the said Ebenezer Punder- son, or his lawfull Proctor, in his name and for him, into the real, actual, aud corpo- ral possession of the Rectory of the said Parish Church and Parish, including the districts or precincts aforesaid, and of all their rights and appurtenances, whatsoever, you induct, or cause to be inducted, and him so indneted, you do defend : and of what you shall have done in the premises thereof. you do duely certify unto me or other competent judge, in that behalf, when thereunto you shall be duely required.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.