USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 32
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" This Lady had the goodness to present two elegant communion cloths to the Church, in 1833.
৳ Trinity Church, in 1800, presented the sum of $750 for a parsonage, at Rye. In 1813, $500 for Christ Church, Rye. The old Prayer Book, which is still used in the service of the Church, was presented by Mrs. Peter A. Jay, Aug., 1831. It is entitled " The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacra- ments and other rites and Ceremonies of the Church, New-York. By Direc- tion of the Gen. Con. Printed by Hugh Gaine, at the Bible, Hanover Square, M,DCCXCV."
350
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
border,-SACRED To the dear Memory of JAMES, beloved son of Timothy and Jane Wetmore, who changed this Life for a better, Nov. the 25th, 175S, Aged 13 months and 4 ds.
RECTORES DE RYE.
TEMP. INST. RECTORES. VACAT. PATRONS. April, 1704, Rev. T. Pritchard, Cl. A. M. pr mort. War. and Ves 31 July, 1705, Rev. Geo. Muirson, Cl., A. M., per mort.
17 Oct., 1710, Rev. Christopher Bridge, Cl., A. M., per mort. 7 June, 1722, Rev. Robert Jenney, Cl., A. M., per resig. 66
June, 1726, Rev. James Wetmore, CI., A. M., per mort. 17 Nov., 1762, Rev. Ebenezer Punderson, Cl. A. M., pe mort.
9 Sept., 1765, Rev. Ephraim Avery, Cl., A. M., per mort. 1777, Rev. Isaac Hunt, Cl., A. M., per resig. 5 Sept., 1787, Rev. Richard C. Moore, Presb. A. M. per resig 66
15 Dec., 1790, Rev. David Foote, Presb., A. M., per mort. 66
5 Dec., 1793, Rev. John J. Sands, Presb., A. M., per resig. 26 Oct., 1796, Rev. George Ogilvie, Presb., A. M., per mort. 7 Aug., 1797, Rev. Samuel Haskell, Presb., B. A., per resig. 18 Oct., 1801, Rev. Evan Rogers, Presb., per mort.
27 Feb., 1809, Rev. Samuel Haskell, Presb, B. A., per resig. " 8 Dec., 1823, Rev. William. Thompson, A. M., per mort. 60
1830, Rev. John Forbes, Presb., per resig.
1832, Rev. W. M. Carmichael, A. M. Presb., pr resig. " 8 Sept., 1834, Rev. Peter S. Chauncey, A. M. Presb. pr resig. " 13 May, 1849, Rev. Ed. C. Bull, A. M., Presb., present rector. "
NOTITIA PAROCHIALIS.
A. D. 1705, Baptisms 200, Communicants 30
1710, ditto 8,
ditto 43
1722, ditto 60,
ditto
26
1727, ditto 50,
ditto
31
1739, ditto 118,
ditto
50
1763, ditto
111,
ditto
50
1766,
ditto
ditto
40
351
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
A. D. 1773, Baptisms 101, Communicants 9
1804, dittto 5,
ditto 30
1810, ditto 14,
ditto 55
1S17, ditto 22, ditto 112
1853, ditto
4, ditto
63
In 1712 the number of persons belonging to the church in this Parish were 313. In 1853, number of families were 64.
In 1703, the population of the Parish was
S00
1712,
774
1840,
1,803
1850,
2,590
THE SOCIETY'S SCHOOLMASTERS AT RYE.
Time of App't.
Schoolmasters.
Salary.
1707,
Joseph Cleator,
£15 per ann.
1714,
Thomas Huddlestone,
ditto.
1723,
Jolın Carhart,
ditto.
172S,
Flint Dwight,
ditto.
1733, Samuel Purdy,
ditto.
1745, William Sturgeon, B. A.,
ditto.
1754,
Timothy Wetmore,
ditto.
1769,
John Rand,
ditto.
1770,
John Avery,
£10 per ann.
1771,
James Wetmore,
ditto.
NOTITIA SCHOLASTICA.
1711, Number of Scholars,
30.
1718,
66
- - 55.
1738,
66
21.
1776, 66
- 60.
Peu Holders in 1792 .- The following names appear on the minutes, of individuals who purchased pews in 1792, viz. :- The widow of Josiah Brown, Peter Jay, Joshua Purdy, Isaac Brown, Andrew Lyon, Thomas Brown, Robert Kennedy, Jesse Hunt, Esq., Joshua Purdy, Jr., Thomas Lyon, Ezekiel Hal-
352
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
stead, the widow of William Griffen, Samuel Marvin, Benjamin Griffen, Deborah Horton, John Griffen, Roger Purdy, Jr., Gilbert . Brown, John P. De Lancey, Bartholomew Hadden, Isaac Purdy, John Haight, Jr., Ezrahiah Wetmore, Samuel Purdy, John Gui- on, Sylvanus Purdy, John Haight, Daniel Haight, Tamer Bar- ker-nine seats reserved by the Vestry.
Ephm avery
'NAMES OF PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED WARDENS OF GRAGE CHURCH (NOW CHRIST CHURCH,) RYE :-
1695-6.
George Lane, John Brondig. No records from 1696 to 1703. 1703-10.
Caleb Heathcote, Joseph Theall.
1710.
Joseph Theall, Johathan Hart.
Cornelius Seely, 1711.
Joseph Budd, Isaac Denham.
1712.
John Brundige, Jonathan Miller.
1713.
John Brundige, David Ogden.
1714.
David Ogden,
Moses Knapp.
1715.
Moses Knapp,
Jacob Haviland.
353
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
1716.
Jacob Haviland, Henry Disbrow.
1717.
Henry Disbrow, George Lane.
1718.
Ebenezer Theal, George Lane. 1719-20.
John Haight, Isaac Denham.
1721.
Samuel Purdy,
Henry Fowler,
George Lane,
Benjamin Brown.
Henry Fowler,
1724.
Jonathan Haight,
Jacob Haviland.
1725.
Benjamin Brown.
Daniel Purdy,
John Budd.
William Fowler,
Abraham Miller.
David Ogden
Daniel Purdy.
Daniel Purdy,
John Glover.
1731.
James Woods, John Budd.
1732.
Daniel Purdy, sen., Joseph Kniffin.
1733.
William Willett.
Daniel Purdy, 23
Francis Doughty.
Samuel Purdy,
1726.
1727.
1728.
1729-30.
Daniel Purdy, sen., 1734.
1722.
1723.
John Horton.
354
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
1735. Daniel Purdy, Benjamin Brown.
1736-7.
Samuel Purdy, Francis Doughty.
1738-9.
Hachaliah Brown,
Andrew Merritt.
1740.
Daniel Purdy,
John Thomas.
John Thomas,
Daniel Purdy.
Daniel Purdy, John Thomas.
1744.
Samuel Purdy, Samuel Tred well.
1745.
Samuel Tredwell, Samuel Purdy.
1746-7.
Elisha Budd, Charles Theall.
1748.
Charles Theall,
Elisha Budd.
1749.
James Horton, Jeremiah Fowler.
1750-1.
Jeremiah Fowler, Joseph Sherwood. 1752.
Joshua Purdy, Roger Parks, jun.
1753-5S.
William Willett, Jonathan Brown.
1759.
Jonathan Brown, William Willett.
1760-1.
William Willett,
Jonathan Brown.
1762.
Ebenezer Kniffin.
Elisha Budd,
1741.
1742-3.
355
AND CHURCH OF RYE.
Ebenezer Kniffin, 1763.
Andrew Merritt.
1764.
John Thomas,
Ebenezer Kniffin.
1765-6.
Gilbert Bloomer,
Joshua Purdy.
Hachaliah Brown,
Timothy Wetmore.
1768.
Timothy Wetmore,
Hachaliah Purdy.
1769.
Joshua Purdy, James Horton, jun.
1770-75.
Joshua Purdy,
Benjamin Griffen.
Joshua Purdy,
James Horton, jun. 1788-95.
Peter Jay,
Isaac Purdy.
Isaac Purdy,
1797.
Isaac Purdy.
Isaac Purdy,
Joshua Purdy.
1799.
Isaac Purdy.
1800.
Isaac Purdy.
Andrew Lyon,
John Haight.
John Haight,
Andrew Lyon.
John Haight,
John Guion. 1805.
John Guion,
John Haight.
1796.
John Barker.
Peter Jay,
1798.
Joshua Purdy,
John Haight,
1801.
1802.
1803-4.
1776.
1767.
356
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
1806-7.
John Haight,
John Guion.
1808-23.
John Guion, Jonathan Purdy.
David Brown, 1824-5.
Jonathan Purdy, David Brown.
1825-33.
David Brown,
Hachaliah Brown.
1834.
David Brown, Samuel Purdy.
1835-40.
Hachaliah Brown, Josiah Buckley.
1841-2.
Peter Jay, Hachaliah Brown.
1843-4.
Hachaliah Brown, William Bush.
1845-51.
William Bush, Josiah Buckley.
1852-3.
John C. Jay,
John A. Dix.
ECCLESIA
C
II
ST
SIGI
IN RIPA.
HISTORY
OF THE
PARISH AND CHURCH
OF
EASTCHESTER.
EASTCHESTER, which formerly constituted one of the four precincts of the extensive parish of Westchester, was at first called " Hutchinson's" (from the celebrated Anne Hutchinson, who, to avoid the bitter persecutions of the Puritans, fled into this neighborhood for protection, in 1642, and commenced a plan- tation,) and subsequently " The Ten Farms," an appellation de- rived from its ancient division among ten proprietors. The present name was conferred as early as 1666.
The lands of Eastchester were originally included in the In- dian grant of 1610, whereby the Indians conveyed to the Dutch West India Company, all the territory situated between the town of Norwalk and the North River.
Upon the 14th of November, 1654, Thomas Pell, of Fairfield, ' Conn., obtained a second grant from the Indian Sachem Wam- page and others, which also embraced the present parish.
" On the 24th of June, 1664, Thomas Pell granted to James Eustis and Philip Pinckney, for themselves and their associates, to the number of ten families, to settle down at Hutchinson's,
358
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
that is, where the house stood at the meadows and uplands, to Hutchinson's River, they paying according to ye proportion of the charges, which was disburst for the purchase, &c."
The above grantees were Puritans, from Fairfield in Connec. ticut, who claimed Westchester as laying within their jurisdic tion.
The first settlers of Eastchester, like the people in general o: that day, paid early attention to religion, to the support of the gospel, and the institutions of the religious society to which they belonged. It appears that a Congregational or Indepen dent Society was organized here in 1665, for in that year it wa: ordered :- " That all and every one of us, or that shall be o us, do pay unto the minister according to his mead ;" also " That we give new encouragement to Mr. Brewster each other week, to give us a word of exhortation."a In 1670 it was fur. ther enacted :- " That whereas, we being a Society of Chris tians, living together, have agreed that all those of our associa tion shall join together in meeting on Lord's days, to tell abou the worship of God." It was also resolved, " That whereas Mo ses Hoit, being deserter, and being behind, and not seeming to be willing to contribute unto our minister, whereupon the in habitants of Eastchester, have agreed that the said Moses Hoi shall be presented unto the next Court of Sessions, &c."b
Upon the 29th of July, 1674, "Richard Shute was chosen for to go to our honoured Governour as a representative from the village of Eastchester, upon the occasion that we may have the Rev. Ezekiel Fogge to be established and confirmed by our honourable Governour, and also the humble request to have the liberty or grant to build a Chapel of Ease, and not to be paying toward Westchester church's building."c
. Town Records.
b Town Records .- " On the 13th January, 1672, it was resolved to pay £10 per annum to Mr. - , as his salary, by [rate, by the inhabitants and sojour- ners." Persons were allowed to protest against the collecting of church rates .- See protest of John Jackson, Moses Hoit and others, Feb. 11. 1674.
· Town Records.
359 -
AND CHURCH OF EASTCHESTER.
The following day, at a public meeting of the inhabitants of Eastchester, it was resolved by vote, " 'T'o go jointly unto West- chester, and so speak with the Rev. Mr. Fogge, by reason we heard that Mr. Fogge did express himself to be desirous, and also willing to live and settle among us in Eastchester; in con- sideration whereof, we are willing to manifest our acceptance to embrace his good company, and shall provide for his present comfort, and likewise for his future livelihood." a
Upon the 5th of September, 1677, it was agreed, " That if it be the will of God to bring a minister to settle among us, we pay him £40 a year for his subsistence, and also provide him a house and land for his use, during the time he stays here as our minister." At this meeting it was resolved, " To send Philip Pinckney and Samuel Drake, sen., as representatives to West- chester, to the town meeting, to treat with that town for the providing a minister."b
The following year it was determined, "That we will meet together on Sabbath days, for time to come, to celebrate the worship and service of God, in the best manner that we can at- tain unto." It was also decided by vote, " That we will pay to- wards the carrying on the said Sabbath days' services, by a free will offering for the ensuing year, the following sums :-
s. d.
s. d.
William Haiden, 14 0 Will. Gregier, 05 0
Richard Shute, 12 0 Henry Fowler, 04 0
Nat. Tompkins, 10 0 Henry Creway, 02 0
John Pinckney, 10 0 Samuel Drake, 15 0
Richard Hoadly, 10 0 John Drake, 10 0"e
John Tompkins, 08 0
Upon the 17th of December, the inhabitants of Eastchester " Agreed to pay £40 a year unto Mr. Morgan Jones, minister of Newtown, L. I ; that is to say, to be paid unto the said min-
« Town Records.
৳ lbid.
· Ibid.
360
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
ister, for his encouragement to administer the word of God unto us, as our minister ; and that we, the said inhabitants, do en- gage to pay the abovesaid sum of £40 in good provincial pay, at the price according to the same of this government, provi- ded that the said Mr. Jones do come and live among us, and perform the office of a minister, and to pay it by vote."a
Feb. 11th, 1680, we find the Rev. Morgan Jones officiating in the village of Westchester.b
During the year, 1684, Eastchester appears to have been uni- ted with Westchester in the support of a pastor, for in the Spring of the same year, it was resolved, " That the justices and vestry- men of West and Eastchester, and Yonkers, do accept of Mr. Warham Mather, as our minister for one whole year."c
At this period, Mr. Samuel Goding received instructions to read in the Bible, and other good sermon books, and so to car- ry on the Sabbath exercises in Eastchester, according to the Hon. Col. Fletcher's order.d
On the 30th of Nov., 1692, the inhabitants of Eastchester agreed to pay the following sums towards the support of Mr. Goding :-
"Henry Fowler, one bushel of good winter wheat,
s. d.
s. d.
John Tompkins, 3 0 Jno. Pinckney, 5 pecks
John Clark, 2 0 of Indian corn,
Joseph Drake, 4 0
William Gray, 20
Thomas Pinckney, 3 0 John Shute, 3 0
Isaac Taylor, 2 0 Benjamin Taylor, 20
John Drake, 4 0
Thomas Shute, 4 6"
Upon the 9th of May, 1693, it was resolved that a meeting
¿ Town Records.
b Westchester Town Records .- " On the 17th day of Dec., 1680, the inhabitants of Eastchester agrced by vote, to pay £40 a year unto Mr. Jones, minister of Newtown, L. I."
· Westchester Town Records.
d Eastchester Town Records. "In 1692 Richard Shute, and Samuel Goding, were chosen to carry on the Sabbath day services, &c."
361
AND CHURCH OF EASTCHESTER.
house should be built according to the dimensions agreed upon. At a meeting of the inhabitants, held on the 16th of May, " It was agreed that the whole charge of building the said house, shall be paid according unto the estates of every particu- lar person's list taken." "The same day Capt. William Hayden, John Drake, John Pinckney, Richard Shute, and Henry Fowler, sen., were chosen overseers to superintend the building of the meeting house, &c."a
By an Act of Assembly, passed 21st Sept., 1693, Eastchester became one of the four precincts of the parish of Westchester.
On the 1st of January, 1693-4, " William Haiden, John Drake, and Richard Shute, were chosen to receive forty pounds, as according to the free-will offering, and to act and do and lay out the said several sums for the town ;" also, " It was agreed, that these men have full power to receive the said sums and lay them out towards building the said meeting house and to render account thereof to the town."b
At a town meeting held the 23rd day of January, 1694-5, the inhabitants " Agreed by vote to lay out half an acre of land to be set out for a parsonage lot, to be reserved for the use of the town, to be reserved for that use for ever, which abovesaid land is lying in, and being upon the green in Eastchester." c
On the 31st of July, 1696, it was determined " To lighten the meeting house by a lantern to every seat of the same."ª
At a town meeting held 22nd July, 1697, " It was agreed by vote to meet at the meeting house on the 10th day of Au- gust next ensuing, at sun half an hour high in the morning, in order to the cutting brush abont the commons in Eastchester woods, and to appear at the beat of the drum."
On the 2nd of January, 1698-9, the inhabitants agreed by
ª Town Rec. " At a town meeting on the 15th of December, 1693, Moses Hoit, jun., and others, were chosen to take a list of estimation according to the town's agreement, for making a rate for the payment of the carpenter's work in building the meeting house."
৳ Ibid.
· Ibid.
¿ See Hist. of the County of Westchester, vol 1. page 143.
362
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
vote, "That the address which is drawn up to be presented unto His Excellency, concerning indockin (inducting) a minister, the said inhabitants have and do agree that the officers of said town shall asign (sign) the said address in the behalf of them- selves and the rest of the inhabitants or any of our adjacent neighbours."
The Governour, however, refused to induct a dissenting minis- ter, on the ground that such a one was not qualified to accept, and that the law intended no other than an orthodox minister, for if otherwise, nothing but confusion would ensue about the dispo- sal even amongst the Dissenters themselves.
The inhabitants of Eastchester finding the Governour bent up- on the settlement of a national ministry, next attempted to annul the act of 1693, by making themselves a distinct parish from Westchester. This appears by the following extract from the town records :- " April 11th, 1699, it was agreed upon, by a full and free vote, to petition unto His Excellency and Honourable Council and General Assembly, in behalf of ourselves and the rest of our neighbours in the Yonkers and Mile Square, to de- sire that we may be taken from Westchester and have liberty to call a minister of our own."
On the 26th of December, 1699, it was resolved, at a public meeting held in Eastchester, " To haste and erect the meeting house, and that it shall be finished at or before the 31st of May, in the year of our Lord, 1700, and in case the said work be not finished, that then John Drake and Jeremiah Fowler shall set men at work and finish the said work on the town account."a
At a meeting of the inhabitants, 20th of February, 1700, we find them setting aside a small quantity of land as a provision for a minister, according to their constant method, and which was used in all other townships within the Colony, as fol- lows :- " The said inhabitants have laid out one piece of land
a Town Records. " By an act of Assembly passed this year, the trustees of each town were to make a yearly rate for building a church where wanting, &c." 2 Will. III. A. D. 1699. Laws of N. Y. vol. 1. Chap. 83, p. 37.
363
AND CHURCH OF EASTCHESTER.
containing 18 rod in length, and easterly 5 rod, and at the western end it is 5 rod in breadth ; the said land is set, lying and being in Eastchester, 1 rod off from John Lancaster's mea- dow, and at the west end half a rod by the home meadow of the said John Lancaster's, which land is for the use of the town for a parsonage lot, which said lot was laid out by the consent of Mr. Thos. Pinckney, justice of the peace, and Richard Shute, as witnesseth that the said land is given to be so ner (near) his ineadow.
The mark of JOHN LANCASTER." a
Upon this occasion it was agreed " That the minister's salary be paid by rate for time to come."
The same year, " Ten acres of land were voted to Nicholas Concklin, in consideration that he shall part with his house, home lot and orchard, for the use of a minister, in case the said minister do accept of this abovesaid house and home lot." Mr. Henry Fowler at the same time was directed to " Write a letter to Mr. Morgan to come over and see whether he doth well ap- prove of what the inhabitants have done for his maintenance."b
It was also "Agreed to pay Mr. Morgan £30 current, for salary," which sum was ordered to be raised upon all rateable estates.
At a public town meeting, held about this time, " Mr. Joseph Morgan did declare, that he did not like that home lot of Nicholas Concklin's, and also that the said piece of land is not a whole home lot."c
Upon the 12th of June, 1700, twenty acres of land were voted to Mr. Morgan.
" At a public town meeting, called by order of the inhabitants, Oct. 4th, 1700, the said inhabitants directed Mr. Henry Fowler and Richard Shute, (with the rest of the intended church,) to
· Town Records.
b Town Rec.
· Town Rec., vol. i. p. 4.
364
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
write unto the Reverend ministers in New England concerning the ordination, they having the assistance of the Rev. Mr. Morgan ; also, that Mr. John Pinckney, Henry Fowler and Richard Shute, shall write unto His Excellency for his approba- tion, that he will be pleased to induct (the word induct is mark- ed out in the original MS. and the letters app written over it) our minister, the Rev. Joseph Morgan." At the same time " Joseph Drake and Thomas Pinckney were authorized to agree with a carpenter to build a pulpit on the town's account."
Having now obtained the services of a minister, and finding the Church pouring in upon them, the inhabitants once more determined to petition the Assembly for an act to seperate them from Westchester. Whereupon, at a town meeting, 14th of October, 1700, " Mr. Henry Fowler, sen., was authorized by the inhabitants to proceed to New-York to petition the General Assembly, for the calling and settling a minister with ourselves, and that we may be freed from Westchester in the ministry.".
12th of King William III, A. D., 1700, occurs an act of the General Assembly, entitled as follows :--
AN ACT FOR DECLARING THE TOWN OF EASTCHESTER IN THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, A DISTINCT PARISH FROM THE TOWN OF WESTCHESTER IN THE COUNTY AFORESAID.
Passed the 29th of October, 1700.
" Whereas, by an Act of the 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, Westchester and Queens County, it is amongst other things declared and enacted, that the towns of Westchester, Eastchester, Lower Yonkers and the Manor of Pelham, in the county of Westchester, should be a parish together, for the better maintaining of a good and sufficient Protestant minister ; and, whereas, since the making of said act, it has been found incon- venient, and to the great discouragement of religion and the public worship of God, for the inhabitants of Eastchester to travel to Westchester aforesaid, to be present at the preaching of the word of God ; wherefore, the said Inhabitants and Freeholders of the town of Eastchester aforesaid, have, by their humble Petition to the House of Representatives, now convened in General Assembly, most hum- bly prayed, that it might be declared and enacted.
I. AND BE IT DECLARED AND ENACTED, by His Excellency, the Governour and Council and Representatives, now convened in General Assembly, and by the authority of the same, that the said town of Eastchester, in the County of West-
365
AND CHURCH OF EASTCHESTER.
chester be for henceforth, and forever hereafter, separated from the parish of Westchester, Eastchester, Lower Yonkers and the Manor of Pelham, to all in- tents, constructions and purposes whatsoever ; the said act, entitled An Act for settling the ministry and raising a maintenance for them, in the City of New- York, County of Richmond, Westchester and Queens County, or any other act to the contrary hereof in anyways notwithstanding.
II. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, by the authority aforesaid, that the said Town of Eastchester, in the County of Westchester, be, and is hereby declared to be and remain forever a distinct parish from the parish of Westchester, Eastchester, Lower Yonkers and the Manor of Pelham, by the name and style of the parish of Eastchester, in the County of Westchester : Provided, that the Freeholders and. Inhabitants thereof do maintain a good orthodo.c Protestant minister in the said town of Eastchester; any law, usage or custom to the contrary hereof, in any- ways notwithstanding."ª
March the 6th, 1701, the inhabitants "exchanged 4 rods of land with Joseph Morgan, pastor of the Church of Eastchester."
Upon the 3rd of April, 1702, John Drake and Thomas Pinckney were authorized, " To agree with a carpenter to make a pulpit, and set up the gallery and repair the window shut- ters, &c."
At the same time, John Tompkins, jun., was also chosen " To beat the drum constantly, every Lord's day if occasion require, and at other times when it is needful, and to keep the drum in repair ; and the said inhabitants do promise to pay him therefor 9 pence a piece, every one."
Upon the 19th of November, 1702, the Rev. John Bartow was inducted by Governour Cornbury, into the parish Church of Westchester, Eastchester, Yonkers and the Manor of Pelham, notwithstanding all the means used to prevent and disturb his settlement by the Independents ; and as no " good orthodox Pro- testant minister " had been maintained in this parish, in accord- ance with the late act, Mr. Bartow was considered as legally in- ducted, and settled over all the rights and appurtenances of West- chester parish, of which the church at Eastchester formed a part. This fact the Independents or Presbyterians themselves acknowledged by paying their quota of £50 per annum, towards Mr. Bartow's support, according to the first settlement in 1693.
· Laws of New-York, vol. 1, Chap. 90, page 40.
366
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
On the 18th of May, 1703, the inhabitants of Eastchester ap- pointed Mr. 'Thos. Pinckney and Mr. Edmund Ward, " To draw an obligation with Mr. Joseph Morgan, minister, for one year, for his encouragement, and to see who will subscribe thereunto for the payment of the town."
The following extract, from a letter of Mr. Bartow to the Sec- retary, in 1707, shows, however, that the inhabitants finally em- braced the Church of England and accepted of him as their minister :-
" My Lord Cornbury requested me to go and preach at East- chester ; accordingly I went, (though some there had give out threatening words, should I dare to come,) but tho' I was there very early, and the people had notice of my coming, their Pres- byterian minister, Mr. Morgan, had begun service in the meeting house, to which I went straightway and continued the whole time of service without interruption, and in the afternoon I was permitted to perform the Church of England service ; Mr. Mor- gan being present, and neither he nor the people seemed to be dissatisfied, and after some time of preaching there afterwards, they desired me to come oftener; and I concluded to minister there once a month, which now I have done for about three years."
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