USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 57
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"Secondly. That Churchmen may have some peculiar privili- ges above others. This (if practicable) must be done by Act of Parliament.
"Thirdly. That there may be some measures fallen upon, to get ministers to preach gratis in America, for some time, til there be sufficient numbers of converts to bear the charge, and I presume that may be accomplished this way : let the King, the Archbishop, the Bishops and great men, admit no man for so many years to any great benefice, but such as shall oblige themselves to preach three years gratis in America; with part of the living let him maintain a curate, and the other part let him apply to his own use. By this means we shall have the greatest and best men, and in all human probability, such men must in a short time, have made a wonderful progress in the conversion of these countries, especially when it is perceived the good of souls is the only motive to this undertaking."a
About the same time he informs the Society that :- " The want of a Bishop, and exorbitant power of the several Gover- nors of the Pl. ntations are great hindrances to the propagation of the Gospel."
* New York, MSS. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. p. 106. (Hawks.)
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
The following extract is taken from his next communication to the Secretary :- " I have used some endeavours to persuade the Dutch in my neighborhood into a good opinion of the Church of England, and have had that success, that they would, I believe, join a great part of them in the sacraments and worship, had they Dutch common prayer books, and a minister that understood their language. I have taken some pains with one of their ministers, one Mr. Henricus Beyse, and have prevailed on him to accept of Episcopal ordination. I think him a man of the best learning we have in this part of the world, and I believe he may be ranked among the men of letters in the other, but I must acquaint you that he has had some falling out with his parishioners-For my part I do believe he is most falsely accused, I have observed his life and have found nothing in it irregular or unbecoming his character. The Dutch of best figure have a value for him, and allow him to be the greatest master of the Dutch tongue they have among them, and those in my neighborhood esteem him very much. If the Society think fit to employ him I shall add to what they give £15 per annum for three years, and I believe he will do great service, and I doubt not you will find him worth your acquaintance and favor. If the Society would send about fifty Dutch common prayer books, I believe they would sell, and the money might be returned or paid to their mission - aries as they thought proper. This would be doing a great good at a cheap rate. This sir, is what offers at present from
Sir,
Your affectionat humble servant,
LEWIS MORRIS."a
Colonel Morris was at this time one of the most influential freeholders in the parish of Westchester, and a liberal benefac- tor to its church. The small bell that recently hung in the turret of St. Peter's was the gift of his bounty in 1706. His manor em- braced a large portion of the parish, and contributed annually
aNew York, MSS. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. pp. 159, 160. (Hawks.)
1.
677
AND CHURCH OF MORRISANIA.
a small rate for the support of the rector and poor. The follow- ing extracts are taken from the vestry book of St. Peter's :- " At a meeting held by ye Justices, Vestrymen and Churchwardens on ye 17th of January, 1708-9, it was ordered, yt the two Church- wardens for this ensuing year shall go to Mr. Morris to know if yt he will pay his arrearedges, or otherways to know if yt he will joyne issue with ye parish to try ye title whether his man- nor be in ye parish or not, and make return at ye next meeting." At a meeting of the same body held the 24th day of January, A. D. 1709-10, &c .:- " it being discovered amongst ye vestry- men, &c. yt sometime since Mr. Lewis Morris, a principal free- holder of this parish made some motion and overtures of erect- ing or building at his own proper charge a convenient seat, place or pew, in some suitable part of ye church in this town, for ye accommodation of himself and family ; which generous offer was by some (tho' a diminutive number) of the vestry rejected : yet notwithstanding did conclude them all by a tame acquiescency to ye bare negative voices of but two of them, who not well weighing ye consequences, nor seriously considering ye ration- allity of the offer did refuse giving ye liberty to that worthy gentleman ; which ye vestry now met, having took into con- sideration, and seriously reflecting upon ye miscarriage of ye vestry in yt particular, (which indeed did look a little better than black ingratitude) have unanimously (nemine contradi- cente) agreed and concluded : that ye said Mr. Lewis Morris may if he sees cause at his own proper cost and charge, build, erect, make or set up any convenient pew, seat, &c., capacious enough for ye accommodation of his worthy self and family, within any convenient place (as unto him shall seem best) of ye body of said church."
Among the early benefactors to Trinity Church, New York, occurs the name of Lewis Morris, who contributed the timber for its erection. In return for this act of munificence, the vestry of that church granted the family a square pew. He was also a vestryman from 1697 to 1700. He died on Wednes- day the 21st of May, 1746, aged 73.
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
The following notice of his death appeared in the New York Weekly Post Boy for May 26th, 1746 :- " New York, May 23d, Wednesday last departed this life, at Trenton, after a lingering illness, in an advanced age, his Excellency Lewis Morris, Esq., Captain General and Governor-in-Chief of the Province of New Jersey."
The following items are taken from the journal of his son, Lewis Morris. "May 26th, 1746, set out from Trenton with my father's corpse for Amboy ferry ; got there that night about nine of the clock. His corpse was attended by numbers of peo- ple, and his pall was supported by Messrs. Andrew Johnston, James Hide, Peter Kemble, Thomas Leonard, Philip French, Daniel Cox, Philip Kearney and Charles Read. The corpse was put on board of a large peri-augur, which came from Morri- Sania for that purpose, and arrived the next morning at Morrisa- nia, the wind blowing at night at north-west extraordinary hard, and being cold lay that night at the ferry."
" May 29th. My father was buried at Morrisania in a vault built by directions in his will. The materials and workman- ship came to £10 6 73. His bearers were the Chief Justice, Joseph Murray, Robert Walters, James Alexander, William Smith, David Clarkson, Abraham Depeyster and Lewis Johnston. Dr. Standard the minister of the parish of Westchester attended the burial and performed the service of the Church."
By her last will and testament, Isabella Morris, wife of Gover- nor Morris, directs that "her body be decently interred in the vault at Morrisania, near the remains of her deceased hus- band." This lady was the daughter of James Graham, Attorney General for the province of New York.
The subjoined notice of her decease appeared in the Penn- sylvania Gazette for April 9th, 1752. "New York, April 6th; last Monday, died in the SOth year of her age, and on Thursday was decently interred in the family vault at Morrisania, Isabella Morris, widow and relict of his Excellency Lewis Morris, Esq., late Governor of the Province of New Jersey. A lady endowed with every qualification requisite to render the sex agreeable
679
AND CHURCH OF MORRISANIA.
and entertaining. Through all the various scenes of life, she was a pattern of conjugal affection, a tender parent, a sincere friend and an excellent economist.
She was
Liberal without Prodigality.
In Person venerable.
Frugal
Parsimony.
" Conversation affable.
Cheerful
Levity.
" Friendship faithful.
Exalted Pride.
Of Envy void.
That she passed through life, endowed with every grace ;
Her virtues, Olint Destruction can't deface,
Or cruel Envy e'er eclipse her fame,
Nor mouldering Time obliterate her name."
The sons of the Hon. Lewis Morris, were Lewis, who in- herited the lordship and manor of Morrisania, and Robert, who had for his share the Jersey estates.
Lewis Morris, the eldest son was judge of the Court of Admi- ralty, and one of the judges of Oyer and Terminer. His death took place in his sixty-fourth year, July 3d, 1762. By his first wife, Catharine, he had issue three sons, Lewis, proprietor of old Morrisania, Richard and Staats. The descendants of the two for- mer are very numerous in Westchester county. By his second wife, Sarah Gouverneur, he left one son, Gouverneur, father of the present Gouverneur Morris, of Morrisania. Another descendant in the fifth generation is Lewis G. Morris, senior warden of St. James' Church, Fordham.
Prior to the Revolution, Morrisania, as before stated, formed one of the precincts of Westchester parish, and in 1703 paid, as her quota, towards the rector's support and poor, £3 7. In 1720 her rate was £4 10. Morrisania continued to be associated with Westchester in the support of a minister until 1840, when the present parochial church of St. Ann's was founded by Gouverneur Morris, Esq., being the first building devoted to reli- gious worship and instruction ever commenced in Morrisania.
The church with its adjoining grounds were munificently con- veyed to the vestry as a donation, by its founder, Gouverneur Morris, Esq., in a decd securing the holy and beautiful house,
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
which God had moved him to erect, to the service of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, &c.
DEED OF GIFT.
" This indenture made this seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord ono thousand eight hundred and forty-one, between Gouverneur Morris, of Morrisania, in the county of Westchester, in the State of New York, Esquire, of the first part, and the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Ann's Church at Morrisania, of the second part : Whereas the said Gouverneur Morris with a view to the prono- tion of Religion and Piety, has at his own expense erected on his estate at Morris- ania aforesaid, a church or edifice intended for the public worship of God according to the rites and ceremonies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America ; and whereas a religious society has lately been formed and incorporated according to law, by the name and style of the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Ann's church at Morrisania, which corporation are the parties hereto of the se- cond part, and the said Gouverneur Morris has promised to give to them the said edi- fice with the land hereafter described to be attached thereto, with the exceptions, and on the conditions hereinafter expressed. Now this indenture witnesseth that the said Gouverne Morris, in consideration of the premises and of one dollar lawful money of the United States of America, to him in hand paid by the said parties of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, sold and conveyed, and hereby doth grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said parties of the second part, their successors and assigns, all that certain piece or parcel of land situate in Morrisania aforesaid, whereon the said church edifice hath been erected, and bounded as follows, to wit : Beginning at a stake situate south sixty-six degrees and forty-five minutes, east sixty-eight and a half feet from an iron bolt in the south corner of a large rock, which stake is the south-west corner of the lot herein described, and running thence north twenty-three degrees and fifteen minutes, east two hundred and eighty feet six inches, thence south sixty-four degrees and forty-five minutes, east three hundred and ninety-five feet and two inches, thence south thirty degrees and thirty minutes, west one hundred and twenty-six feet and eight inches, thence south forty-ono degrees and.thirty minutes, west one hundred and forty nine feet six inches, thence south forty degrees, west nine feet and two inches, thence north sixty-six degrees and forty-five minutes, west three hundred and twenty-six feet and six inches to the place of beginning, the last mentioned course being par- alell with the front of the said church or edifice, and distant therefrom one hundred and sixty-two feet and eight inches, together with the said church or edifice and the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, but excepting and reserving thereout the two vaults hereafter mentioned. To have and to hold the said premises hereby intended to be conveyed to the said parties of the second part, their successors and assigns forever, but nevertheless on the conditions and subject to the stipulations and covenants herein contained ; that is to say, first, that the said church or edifice shall be devoted to the worship of God according to the rites and ceremonies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and shall not be used for
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AND CHURCH OF MORRISANIA.
any other purpose. Second, that such of the pews in the said church as are marked in the plan hereto annexed with the word Frce, shall never be sold or rented, but shall remain free, so that all persons comming to the said church to worship therein may freely occupy and use the same. Third, that none of the pews within the said church or edifice shall ever be sold, but that all except those intended to be freo as aforesaid, may be rented for terms not exceeding threo years, and that the rents aris- ing therefrom shall be forever applied for the support of the rector or minister for the time being who shall officiate in the said church, and for no other purpose except for necessary repairs of the said church, and for fuel and other necessary expenses for the services of the same. And whereas a vault hath been constructed which is under the said church, and in which are interred the remains of the mother of the said Gouverneur Morris. and whereas there is another vault within the boundaries above described. but not beneath the said church, in which are interred the remains of the father of the said Gouverneur Morris and of others of his family, now it is hereby declared that each of the said vaults, and the ground whereon they are built, is hereby reserved and excepted from the above grant and conveyance (and it is one of the ex- press conditions of this conveyance) that the said Gouverneur Morris, his heirs and assigns, shall at all times have access to the said two vaults with the privilege of opening and using the same for the burial of their dead. And whereas the said Gouver- neur Morris has also caused to be constructed under the said church other vaults, it is also a condition of this conveyance, that if the parties hereto of the second part shall sell or grant the right of using the same, they shall invest all money to arise from such sales or as compensation for such grants so that it may produce an annual interest or income, and shall apply snch interest or income to the support of the rec- tor or minister for the timo being officiating in the said church, and for no other pur- pose whatever. And this conveyance is on this further condition, that the land here- by conveyed, and not covered by the said church, shall be used for the purposes fol- lowing and none other : that is to say, a part not exceeding one half thereof may be used as a site for a parsonage or dwelling house for the use of the rector or minister for the time being officiating in the said church, and for a garden to be attached thereto, and for a site for sheds for the protection of horses and carriages of persons attending worship in the said church, and the residue of the said land shall be used as a cemetry or burial ground, and for no other purpose, and it is a further express condition of this conveyance, that no rector or minister shall be called or employed to officiate in the said church during the life of the said Gouverneur Morris without his previous consent in writing, and further, that neither the premises hereby conveyed or any part thereof, nor any of the said pews or vaults, or any of the rents or income to arise therefrom from any part of the said premises, shall ever on any pretence, be mortgaged, or in any way or manner be made liable for any debts or engagements of the parties of the second part, or of their successors. And the said parties of the second part, for themselves and their successors, hereby covenant with the said Gouver- neur Morris, his heirs and assigns, that they the said parties of the second part and their successors, shall and will faithfully observe and perform all and every of the said conditions, and it is hereby expressly declared and agreed, that if default shall at any
682
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
time be made in the performance or observance of any of the conditions above men- tioned, or of the said covenants, it shall be lawful for the said Gouverneur Morris, his heirs and assigns to re-enter into, and upon the said premises, or any part thereof, in the name of the whole, and the same to have again re-possess and enjoy as in his first and former estate, anything herein contained to the contrary thereof notwith- standing. In witness whereof, the said Gouverneur Morris hath hereunto set his hand and seal, and the parties of the second part have caused their corporate seal to be hereunto affixed the day and year first above written.
GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, of Morrisania.""
Sealed and delivered ¿ in the presence of
H. M. MORRIS.
THE CHURCH.
The church of St. Ann's is situated in a picturesque position, near Old Morrisania, on rising ground, overlooking a clear and rapid little stream, hastening to join the more expanded waters of the East River. It is a pleasing gothic structure of marble, and comprises a nave with two aisles, small recess chancel, and a spire over the southern end. "It was erected by the present Gouverneur Morris, Esq. in a field on his own estate, which had for some time been hallowed, as containing the sepulchre of his parents. In a vault constructed to receive his remains, as ap- pears by a tablet in the chancel, the relics of the Honorable Gouverneur Morris, a name illustrious in his country's annals, were laid by his faithful widow. In the year of our Lord 1837 she joined him with the dead, and over her remains has arisen this beautiful sanctuary, which, in remembrance of her, and with respectful regard to two other valued relations of the name, was called St. Ann's, from the blessed St. Anna of the Gospel, and consecrated by that name on the 28th of June, 1841, by Bishop Onderdonk." The following notice of the conse- cration occurs in the address of the Bishop to the 57th Annual · Convention of the Diocese :- " Monday, 28, consecrated St. Ann's Church, Morrisania, Westchester county, of which the
* Copied from the original in the possession of Gouverneur Morris, Esq., Secretary and Treasurer of the vestry of St. Ann's Church, Morrisania .??
683
AND CHURCH OF MORRISANIA.
laying of the corner stone, but little more than eight months previously was mentioned above. In that short period, this substantial marble edifice was erected, finished and furnished, in a beautiful, neat and commodious manner, at the sole cost of Gouverneur Morris, Esq. on his own estate. This is the fourth instance of such pious munificence in the history of our Dio- cese, and one which every true friend to his country will de- light to regard as eminently worthy of a name already illustri- ous in that country's annals. God grant that it may not be the last addition to the list which hands down to the grateful re- membrance and veneration of the Church, the names of Duane, Van Zandt and Pierrepont. It were much to be desired that our wealthy and benevolent men would duly consider the perpetual and inestimable good that may be done by the erection -- and let me add, moderate endowment-of churches. Before pro- ceeding to the consecration of St. Ann's Church, Mr. Morris had cheerfully given every security that the church should be per- manently devoted to the worship of our communion, and with that view transferred to a parochial corporation, when one should be there formed."
The act of incorporation of this Church bears date 20th of July, 1841 ; Robert Morris and Lewis Morris, wardens. Jacob Buckhout, Daniel Devoe, Benjamin Rogers, Benjamin M. Brown, Edward Legget, Lewis G. Morris and Henry W. Morris, vestrymen.
The interior of the church contains a well arranged chancel and the tablet before mentioned, inscribed as follows :
Conjugal affection Consecrated this spot where THE BEST OF MEN was laid until a vault could be erected to receive 1 his precious remains.
A beautiful purple altar cloth adorned with the sacred mono- gram, surmounted with the glory, together with a silver com- munion service, consisting of a flagon, two chalices and paten,
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
have been recently presented to the church by the ladies of the congregation. There is also an additional paten which bears the following inscription, " Stæ. Annæ Altari Voverunt Tres, J. H. C. Fest Pentecost, 1742." The bell is inscribed, " Presented to St. Ann's Church by Gouverneur Morris. J. P. Allaire, New York. 1841."
The chancel screen and organ were also furnished by the ladies. In a vault near the church, repose the remains of the Hon. Gouverneur Morris, who died at Morrisania, November 5th 1816, aged 64. On the west side of the church is a neat par- sonage.
RECTORS OF ST. ANN'S CHURCH, MORRISANIA.
INST. OR CALL. INCUMBENTS. VACAT. BY.
1841, Rev. Arthur C. Cox, Deacon, resig.
1842, Rev. Charles Jones, Presb. resig.
1843, Rev. Charles Aldis, Presb. resig.
1 Sept. 1847, Rev. Abraham B. Carter, Presb. resig.
20 Mar. 1852, Rev. J. Pinckney Hammond, Presb. present rector .
St. Ann's Church, Morrisania.
-
AND CHURCH OF MORRISANIA.
NOTITIA PAROCHIALIS.
1847, Communicants, 60. Baptisms, 17. 1853, since division, 50. 19.
In 1712 the population of Morrisania was 62.
In 1840, Westchester, West Farms, Morrisania and Fordham contained 4,154.
In 1850, West Farms, Morrisania and Fordham contained 4,268.
WARDENS OF ST. ANN'S CHURCH.
1841.
Robert Morris,
Lewis Morris.
1842-9.
Robert Morris,
William H. Morris.
William H. Morris,
1850-3.
Edward G. Faile.
685
HISTORY
OF THE
PARISH AND CHURCH
OF
NORTH CASTLE.
North Castle was at first styled the White Fields, a name de- rived from the White Balsam, and subsequently upon its di- vision into several patents, the Liberty of North Castle.
Upon the 19th of October, 1696, Caleb Heathcote obtained a release from the Indian Sachems, Wampus, Patthunck, and others, of all that tract of land :- " Bounded north by Croton River, easterly with Byram River and Bedford line, northerly by the land of John Harrison and his associates, and the line stretching to Byram River aforesaid, and westerly by the land of Frederick Philipse." The above sale included the west patent of North Castle. In 1702 the eastern portion of what is still. known as the Middle Patent, was granted by royal char- ter to Col. Caleb Heathcote and his associates. The western portion of the same was confirmed by Queen Anne, on the 25th day of September, 1708, to Anne Bridges and her associates. In 1766 a partition of the middle and west patents took place.
The settlement of North Castle was commenced about 1752,
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AND CHURCH OF NORTH CASTLE.
principally by descendants of the Long Island Quakers, and a few Churchmen, who gave it the name it now bears. At this time it was united with Rye, and enjoyed with her, for nearly sixty-two years, the services of a succession of devoted and faithful missionaries.
Sometime prior to 1753, a site was selected for a church edifice, on the undivided land of the Middle Patent, not half a mile from the spot now occupied for this purpose, and was designated by the letter C, inscribed on a rock. This letter is still legible. The present proprietor of the farm has the an- cient deed for the lot of ground in his possession. For some reasons, now unknown, it was determined to erect the church on another site (then in the same town, now in New Castle,) five miles distant from the former.a This was done, and that building, being since taken down, was called "St. George's Church, North Castle."
The Rev. Robert Jenney, rector of Rye, (who first began to take pains with the people of North Castle, and preach among them) thus writes to the Venerable Propagation Society, in 1722 :- " I have lately been to a settlement in the woods, where I had good success, having baptized a whole family, parents and children." This evidently refers to the present parish, for
a On the 10th of October, 1755, John Hallock of North Castle for the sum of £10 conveyed to Joseph Fowler and Caleb Fowler of the same place, " a certain piece of land lying in North Castle, bounded as followeth : beginning on the east side of the highway that leads from the said John Hallock's house to Aaron For- man's, sen. at a certain neck, which lyes at the south-west corner of the said Aaron Forman's home lot, with the letter C cut thereon, and from thence extending south 65 degrees, easterly or thereabouts along by the land of the said Aaron For- man's as the fence now stands 3 chains and 50 links (of Mr. Gunter's chain) to a stake stuck in the ground, with stones about it ; from thence running south-eastorly about 47 degrees 2 chains to a marked chesnut tree, standing on the edge of the brook, a little to north-end of the said John Hallock's new grist mill, from thence running west 2 chains and 80 links to the aforesaid road, and from thence running something to the east of the north 3 chains and 10 links to the first bound, contain- ing 2 of an acre, &c." Copied from the original deed in the possession of Mr. Job Sands, of North Castle.
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