USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 31
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by whom he had a daughter ; Christian married Sir John Forbes, of Pitsligo. He espoused, secondly, Lady Mary Douglas, third daughter of William, Earl of Morton, and had by that lady, James, who succeeded him, and William, besides a daughter, Margaret, who married first, James Douglas, Earl of Buchan, and secondly, Andrew, eighth Lord Gray. William married Catharine, daughter of Lancaster Sims, of New-York, and had by that lady, William, a lieutenant in the royal navy, who was killed during the Revolution and interred at Albany ; and the Rev. John, who was born in the City of New-York, A. D., 1723. Mary, only daughter of William and Catharine Ogilvie, married Dr. Barent Rourbach. The arms of Ogilvie are :- " Ar. a lion, passant, guardant, gu. armed and langued az., crowned with an imperial crown, ppr .- Crest, a lion, rampant ppr., armed and langued gu. holding in the dex- ter paw a rose of the last, stalked and leaved, vert .- Motto over the crest,-Fortiter et suaviter.
ª Sabine's American Loyalists.
৳ Historical notice of Clergy ordained by Bishops Seabury and Jarvis, from Appendix to Conn. Journal of Convocation. No. xxxix.
· Rye Vestry Book.
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church or opposite side of Blind Brook. He was a tall, noble looking man, a pleasant companion, a good reader and a very respectable preacher. There is a fine portrait of him as a boy, painted by Copley, in the possession of his daughter, Mrs. Com- stock. He is depicted in a long crimson coat with gilt buttons and blue vest. His first wife, to whom he was married 4th of September, 1778, was Amelia, daughter of Cornelius Willett, of Willett's Point. By this lady he had issue,-first, Elizabeth Anne, born July 20th, 1779, who married Thomas Belden, of Fairfield, Conn., and died January 16th, 1846 ; secondly, Amelia Willett, born December 13th, 1780, widow of the late Jabez Comstock, Esq., of New-York. Mrs. Ogilvie died March 18th, 1781. Mr. Ogilvie espoused, secondly, a daughter of the Rev. Dr. McWhorter, the Presbyterian minister of Newark, N. J., by whom he left no issue.
We have already seen that Grace Church, Rye, was first incorporated by royal charter in 1764, under the title of the " Rector and inhabitants of the Parish of Rye, in communion of the Church of England, as by law established. It was now determined to re-incorporate the church under an act of the Legislature of this State, entitled " An Act for the relief of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New-York, passed the 17th of March, 1795, ' by the style and title of CHRIST CHURCH, at the town of Rye, in the County of Westchester and State of New-York;' and Monday (in Easter Week) be observed yearly and every year, forever hereafter, to be the day for the election of officers."a
The
REV. SAMUEL HASKELL, B. A., was chosen Rector in 1797. Mr. Haskell was born in the vi-
* County Rec. Religious Soc. Lib. A. The first officers under the above incor- poration were :- Peter Jay and Isaac Purdy, Church wardens; Joshua Purdy John Haight, Thomas Brown, John Guion, Thomas Thomas, Gilbert Hatfield, Jonathan Purdy and Nathaniel Purdy, Vestrymen.
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
cinity of Boston, Mass., in 1762, and was descended from Ro- ger Haskell, one of the original settlers of Salem, in 1639. His early inclinations led him to adopt a military life. In the sum- mer of 1781, being then an orphan,' he entered the military service of his country. Upon the evacuation of the City of New-York, by the British forces, November 25th, 1783, he was among the troops under General Knox, who took possession of the city. In October, 1781, he received an honourable dis- charge, and subsequently, a sergeant's pension, which he en- joyed to the day of his death. Returning to his native state, he became a student in Philip's Academy, Andover, and in Sep- tember, 1786, entered Yale College, New Haven, where he grad- uated in September, 1790. He was afterwards employed for two years as a tutor in Queen's College, New Brunswick, N. J. In the year 1794, he received deacon's orders, and in 1795, priest's orders from the hands of the Right Rev. Samuel Provoost, Bishop of New-York. From the period of his ordination, (1794,) until May, 1823, he was an officiating clergyman in the Protes- tant Episcopal Church.
At a vestry meeting held on the 7th of August, 1797, it was ordered, " that the Rev. Samuel Haskell have a regular call to take the rectorship of Christ Church at Rye and the White Plains, and that the clerk of this house make the call in writing, and forward the same to Mr. Haskell as early as possible."
In April, 1801, Mr. Haskell resigned the charge of this Par- ish, and in the month of May following, succeeded the Rev. William Walter, D. D., as rector of Christ Church, Boston. Here he remained till September, 1803, when he resigned, and accepted an invitation from St. Ann's Church, Gardiner, in the state of Maine.a
At a meeting of the vestry of Christ Church, Rye, held the 18th day of April, 1801, it was on motion resolved, " that an ad- dress of thanks be presented to Mr. Samuel Haskell for his ser- vices to the said Church, and that the clerk draw and lay the
a Hist. Account of Christ Church, Boston, by the Rector. Boston, 1821.
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address before the house, &c." In answer to the petition of the churchwardens and vestrymen of this Parish, praying for a donation to enable them to finish the church and parsonage house, the corporation of Trinity Church, New-York, were pleased to contribute the sum of $750 for a parsonage at Ryc.
" At a meeting of the standing committee, appointed by the wardens and vestry of Christ Church, Rye, August the 27th, 1801, on motion. resolved, that this committee for, and in behalf of the wardens and vestry of Christ Church at Rye, do present their grateful thanks to the wardens and vestry of Trinity Church, in the City of New-York, for the generous donation re- cently received of them ; sincerely hoping, that with the bles- . sing of God, their liberality may be a means of promoting the prosperity of our Church."
On the 18th of October, 1801, the
REV. EVAN ROGERS
received an invitation to the rectorship, and in the month of April following, took the pastoral charge of the Parish. He was the son of Enos and Margaret Rogers, and was born in Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, April 9th, 1766. Though the son of Quaker parents, he joined the Methodist Society in 1790, and became a zealous and laborious itinerant preacher in that connection, in the Maryland circuit. In 1791, he was or- dained by them, and appointed to the City of New-York in 1793. The next year he was appointed to Boston, Lynn, and Marblehead, and subsequently to Middletown, Connecticut. In 1793, he left the Methodist persuasion, was ordained deacon by the Right Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D. D., Bishop of Connecti- cut, June 5th, 1799, and priest by the same, October 6th, 1800. He officiated at Hebron, Conn., until 1802. He was called to this Parish, as we have seen, in 1801, and remained its rector until January 25th, 1809, when he rested from his labors. He was once a delegate to the General Convention from Connecti- cut.a
a Hist. Not. of Clergy, ordained by Bishops Seabury and Jarvis, from Appen- dix to Conn. Journal of Convocation. No. 1v.
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
At a vestry meeting held on the 18th day of October, 1801, it was resolved, " that a call be given to the Rev. Mr. Evan Rogers, of Hebron, in Connecticut, and that a salary of $275, together with the parsonage house and lands, be offered to him for the term of three years, &c." The above call was accepted by Mr. Rogers, on the 16th of January, 1802.
In 1803, it was resolved by the vestry, "that Mr. Rogers, our present minister ; or whoever shall succeed him in the rec- torship, shall hereafter attend service and prayers at Rye and at the White Plains, alternately as usual, provided our brethren in and about the White Plains, shall raise an equal proportion of the salary, or that such rector shall attend at the White Plains, in proportion to the sum of money that shall be raised by our brethren in and about the White Plains."
Upon the 11th of April, 1804, it was resolved by the vestry, " that the Rev. Mr. Rogers have the charge of cleansing the Church the present year ; and that he cause it to be lighted up on Christmas Eve, for which he is to have the sum of ten dol- lars."
In 1807, Mr. Rogers reported to the Convention as follows : -" since the last Convention, nothing remarkable has taken place in this Church ; there appears however, of late, an in- creasing attention to public worship, and also to the holy ordi- nances."
His notitia parochialis for 1808, stood thus :- " Baptisms, nine- teen ; marriages, thirteen ; burials, nine ; communicants about forty ; and the number of families belonging to his church, about one hundred." Upon the 2d of May, of that year, it was resolved by the vestry-" that the Rev. E. Rogers, have the care of the church the ensuing year." It proved alas, the last of his ministry ; for, on the 25th of January following, " he fell asleep."
In vain our fancy strives to paint The moment after death, The glories that surround the saint, When he resigns his breath.
One gentle sigh his fetters break ; We scarce can say, " He's gone,"
1
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Before the willing spirit takes Her mansion near the throne.
Faith strives, but all its efforts fail To trace her heavenward flight ; No eye can pierce within the veil, Which hides that world of light.
Thus much (and this is all) we know, They are supremely blest ; Have done with sin, and care, and woe, And with their Saviour rest.
On harps of gold his name they praise, His presence always view ; - And if we here their footsteps trace, There we shall praise Him too.
The following obituary notice, of this individual, is taken from the Churchman's Magazine.
" Departed this life on Thursday, the 25th of January, 1809, after a few days illness, the Rev. Evan Rogers, Rector of Christ Church at Rye, New-York,-In the death of this excellent man society has suffered a real loss, because his life was an exem- plification of the doctrines he preached. He was endeared to a numerous acquaintance by his deep piety, the mildness of his temper, the profitableness of his conversation and the purity of his morals ; such a life must produce a happy death. He died in the full exercise of his reason, happy and resigned to the will of God and confident of a joyful resurrection."a
His remains repose in the ancient village burying ground, near the entrance of the Neck proper. The following is the in- scription on his grave stone :-
The Masonic Society in the town of Rye, have erected this monument sacred to the memory of their beloved brother, the
· Churchman's Magazine vol. vI. p. 80.
3.12
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
REV. EVAN ROGERS, pastor of Christ Church, in this town, who departed this life January 25th, 1809, in the 12d year of his life, extremely lamented.
" My flesh shall slumber in the ground, Till the last trumpet's joyful sound ; Then burst these chains with sweet surprise, And in my Saviour's image rise."
At a meeting of the wardens and vestry of Christ Church at Rye, held at the house of Nathaniel Penfield, 25th of February, 1809, it was resolved, "that Messrs. John Guion, Gilbert Brown, and David Rogers, Jr., be a committee to settle all ac- counts, between the Parish and the late Rector, &c,, and that the same committee be authorized to present a call to the Rev. Samuel Haskell, Rector of St Ann's Church, Gardiner, Maine, to remove and take the Rectorship of our church, &c."
The
REV. SAMUEL HASKELL, B. A.,
accepted the invitation and on the last Sunday in June, 1809, delivered his first sermon in the Parish, after an absence of nearly eight years.
At a meeting of the wardens and vestry of the Episcopal Church of Rye and the White Plains, held at the church in the town of Rye, 12th of August, 1809, on motion resolved, "that whereas we the wardens and vestry of the aforesaid church of Rye, have called the Rev. Samuel Haskell, to take the retorship of said church, we do hereby guarantee or secure to him, the said Rev. S. Haskell, the use and occupancy of the parsonage house and the glebe belonging to said church, during his residence with us ; we also insure to him three hundred dollars per annum, the sum stipulated in our call to him for the first three years, and the monies which may from time to time be subscribed for- his maintenance. We also agree that he be regularly inducted in-
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to the Church agreeably to the constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the State of New-York, whenever the Bishop of said Church shall be disposed to attend to such in- duction ; also resolved, that the salary of the Rev. S. Haskell, commence the first of June, the time he left his church at the Eastward."a
On the 26th of August, 1809, it was resolved, " that the clerk (of the vestry) request Bishop Moore to attend to the induction of the Rev. Mr. Haskell."b The following passage appeared in the Churchman's Magazine for September, 1809. " The Rev. Samuel Haskell has been duly instituted rector of Grace Church, Rye, and White Plains, which had become vacant in conse- quence of the much lamented death of the late rector, Evan Rogers."c
At a meeting of the vestry of Christ Church, Rye, in 1809, it was resolved, " that the pulpit and pews in the Church be altered, and that the standing committee be authorized to hire the sum of £50 to defray the expenditures of the proposed al- terations, &c."d
The Rev. Samuel Haskell, in his report for 1809, says :- " Christ Church, Rye, appears to be in a flourishing state ; since the 1st of July last, baptisms-adults, 4, infants, 4-S; marri- ages, 2; deaths, 9; communicants, about 50."
At a meeting of the wardens and vestry of Christ Church, August 30th, 1810, it was on motion resolved, " that the propo- sals from Peter Jay Munro, and John Peter de Lancey, to erect an Episcopal Church, be postponed until the next meeting, for future consideration.27
In his report for the above year, Mr. Haskell observes, " that the Parish of Rye and the White Plains, by the grace of God, is in a peaceable and harmonious state. The congregations are large, increasing, and in good fellowship among themselves and with each other."
a Church Rec. of Rye.
৳ Ibid.
c Churchman's Magazine.
d Church Records.
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
Upon the 27th of June, 1811, "the vestry went into a dis- cussion of the subject of building a chapel on Rye neck, to be connected with the Church at Rye, came to no decision-but resolved to postpone the subject for further consideration, &c."
In his parochial report for 1816, Mr. Haskell observes, " that the wardens and vestrymen of Christ Church, Rye, judged it expedient to withdraw from the White Plains, and to have the stated services of the rector limited to the Church in Rye, and have acted accordingly ; so that the White Plains are now destitute.»
In May, 1823, as before stated, Mr. Haskell relinquished the charge of this Parish, and never afterwards accepted a paro- chial cure. He went from this place to New Rochelle, where, on the 24th of August, 1845, in the 83d year of his age, he was call- ed to give an account of his stewardship. His remains are in- terred in the burying ground of Trinity Church, New Ro- chelle, a short distance from the sacred edifice, in which, du- ring the last twenty two years of his life, he had attended the services of the Church. His tombstone bears this epitaph :-
Sacred to the Memory of the REV. SAMUEL HASKELL, who died Aug. 24th 1845 aged 83.
The
REV. WILLIAM THOMPSON, A. M.,
who succeeded Mr. Haskell, was a'native of Enniskillen, in the north of Ireland, and came to America about 1816-17. After obtaining holy orders, he was for a short time rector of Trinity Church, Pittsburgh, Penn., and on the 1st of October, 1823, he took charge of this Parish.
He fell asleep in the arms of his Saviour, on Thursday, Au- gust the 26th 1830. His remains were interred in the old vil- lage burying ground, near those of Mr. Rogers. The following
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notice of his death appeared in the Christian Journal of 1830. " Died, at Rye, Westchester County, New-York, on Thursday, August 26th, the Rev. William Thompson, rector of Christ Church, in that town.
Mr. Thompson was a native of Ireland, and came to this country about twelve or fourteen years ago. Soon after his ar- rival here, he reviewed a determination which he had previous- ly cherished at home, but abandoned on account of delicate health, of entering the holy ministry; and after completing a course of study with that view, was ordained deacon by the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, in Christ Church, in this city, on the Thursday before Easter, April 19th, 1821. He soon after removed to the charge of Trinity Church, Pittsburgh, Penn., and at the convention of that diocese, in St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, on Wednesday, May Sth, 1822, he was admitted by the Right Rev. Bishop White, to the holy order of priests. Two or three years afterwards, Mr. Thompson returned to this Diocese, and settled in the Parish, in the charge of which he continued until his death. He was a man of great piety, and kind and affectionate dispositions, and most sincerely devoted to his Master's service. He understood well, and therefore highly prized the distinctive principles of the communion at whose altars he ministered, and happily illustrated the natural union of the sound and good churchman, the truly pious man, and the faithful and evangelical preacher. His health was de- clining for a long time before his death. He was conscious of it ; but was supported and consoled under that consciousness, by the grace of God strengthening his faith, and brightening his christian hopes. Mr. Thompson was in the prime of life ; when in the ordinary course of Providence, many years might have been expected to be added to his ministry."a
A neat monumental tablet, on the north side of the chancel of Christ Church, perpetuates the memory of this excellent man.
The Rev. John M. Forbes, was called to, and accepted the rec-
a Christian Journal, vol. xiv. p. 286.
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
torship in 1830. This gentleman, who is a son of the late James Grant Forbes, Esq., and a grandson of the Rev. John Forbes, one of the Venerable Society's missionaries for the Propa- gation of the Gospel, has recently apostatized to the Church of Rome, and is now officiating in his appropriate character as a priest of that Communion.
For the successors of Mr. Forbes, see list of rectors.
THE CHURCH.
Christ Church, Rye, is agreeably situated upon rising ground, overlooking the village and vale of Blind Brook. This building erected in the year 17SS, upon the site of the old stone edi- fice, called Grace Church, is a plain edifice of wood, surmount- ed with an embattled tower, and a small vestry room attached to the rear. Its interior consists of the nave, two aisles, galle- ry and chancel. The two following tablets are placed on the walls :-
In memory of WILLIAM THOMPSON, Rector of Christ Church at Rye, a native of Enniskil'en, Ireland, ordained April, 1820, appointed to the charge of this Parish, September, 1823, Died August 26th, 1830. " Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace"-Psalm xxxvii. v. 37. Erected by his affectionate Widow.
Our Father and Mother, DAVID BROWN who died Sept. 7th, 1850, aged 88 years and Sophia his wife
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who died March 21th, 1851, Aged 80 years. " Rejoice, because I said I go unto the Father."
Beneath the floor of the church, lie pillowed in the darkness of the grave, the Rev. George Muirson, who died rector of this Parish in 170S, and his successor, the Rev. Christopher Bridge, who departed this life, A. D., 1719.
Belonging to this Church is a silver paten and chalice, pre- sented by her Majesty, Queen Anne, A. D. 1706. The former is perfectly plain-the latter is bell mouthed, will hold about one quart of wine, and stands nine inches and a quarter high. They bear the following inscription, viz :- " ANNÆ REGINA.""" These articles have been used in the administration of the Holy Communion, nearly a century and a half. It appears from the following, that the royal donation consisted of other articles :- " At a monthly meeting of the Society, in 1706, the Lord Bish- op of London, reported that her Majesty, of her princely grace and favour, had been pleased, (through his Lordship's hands) to allow five large Bibles, Common Prayer Books, and Books of Homilies, as also pulpit cloths, communion table cloths, silver chalices and patens, for each of the five churches in the gov- ernment of New-York, viz :- Hempstead and Jamaica, in Long Island, Westchester, Rye, and Staten Island. So far may the prophecy and the fulfilling of it be applied to the Church of Christ arising in America :- 'Kings shall be thy nursing fath- ers, and Queens thy nursing mothers.' " a
Three pieces of communion silver, viz :- a flagon, chalice and alms plate, are inscribed as follows :- " Presented to Christ Church at Rye, by Mrs. Mary Jay, 1818."b
* An account of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign · Parts, &c., printed by order of the Society-John Chamberlayne, Sec., London, 1706.
b At a meeting of the vestry, held 29th Oct. 1818, it was resolved, " That the wardens and vestry of the Church, in their behalf, and in behalf of the congre-
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
There is likewise a chalice bearing the following inscription : -" Presented to the Parish of Christ Church, Rye, by their affectionate friend, P. S. J. Chauncey, 1848."
Upon two copper alms bowls are inscribed :- " Presented to Christ Church, at Rye, by James Meadows, 1769."
Besides a fine toned bell, manufactured by E. Meneely, of West Troy, in 1842, the Church contains a neat organ. The old bell presented by the Rev. James Wetmore, and knolled for the first time on Christmas Day, 1732, fell with the tower when the Church was burnt during the Revolutionary War.
The decayed state of the present edifice erected, as we have seen sixty-five years ago; and the increasing population of the Parish, render the erection of a new and more commodious church absolutely necessary. For the accomplishment of this desirable end, the vestry have already taken active measures ; a subscription list has been freely circulated, and upwards of ten thousand dollars subscribed towards the good work.
The present glebea was purchased by the vestry in 1794, upon which a neat parsonage has been erected. To Christ Church, Rye, was formerly attached St. Peter's Chapel, at Port- chester.
PRINCIPAL BENEFACTORS.
Queen Anne, Edward Viscount Cornbury, Hon. Caleb Heath- cote, Rev. George Muirson, Hon. Samuel Purdy, Isaac Denham, Esq., St. George Talbot, Esq., Peter Jay, Esq., Ann Jay, Mary
gation, gratefully acknowledge the same, and return her their unfeigned thanks, with their best wishes and ardent prayers that she may long live in the enjoy- ment of health, and after this life ended, may participate in the pleasures of a blessed immortality."
* Jno. Denham, of Rye, in County of Fairfield, sold " a certain half lotment of land, lying within the field of Rye, near the upper end of the field, being in esti- mation four acres, &c. ; bounded as followeth :- northerly with the parsonage land and easterly with the highway, and southerly with the land of John Frost and easterly with the highway."-Town Rec., Lib. B, 74. At a town meeting held at Rye, Feb. 26th, 1693-4, " The town doth order that what hath been done for the repairing of the parsonage house the townsmen shall have power to make a rent and appoint every man his pay."-Town Rec., Lib. D.
Christ Church, Rye-Erected A. D. 1855.
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Ground plan of Christ Church.
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Jay, Mrs. Philemon Halsteada the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and the Corporation of Trinity Church, New-York.b
The first delegates from this Parish to the Diocesan Conven- tion in 1785, were William Miller and Alexander Hunt, Esqrs.
TOMBSTONES.
The following inscription is taken from a tombstone found in the wall on the west side of the church :-
Sacred to the Memory of Mrs. Martha Marven, late consort of Mr. Lewis Marven, of Rye, who exchanged this life for a better, Feb'y 5th, 1767, in the 39th year of her age.
" Let us since life can little more supply- Than just to look about us and to die, Hope humbly, and with trembling pinions sore, Wait the great teacher, death, and God adore."
Many other persons were interred near the church, as I have been eredibly informed. The following memorials are from the village burying ground :- Mary, daughter to Samuel and Mary Kniffen, deceased, January ye 12th, 1707. In memory of Mr. Joseph Lyon, who deceased February the 21st, A. D., 1761, in the 84th year of his age. In the Blind Brook cemetery, opposite the church, is a gravestone inseribed to the memory of a grand- son of the Rev. James Wetmore, with a figure curiously carved in the similtude of a cherub, surrounded with a rich foliated
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