USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 58
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688
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
in 1728, the Rev. James Wetmore, his successor, informs the same :- " That at North Castle, a new settlement in the woods, there are more than forty families, most of which are unbaptized, and that he preaches there every fifth Sunday." At this period North Castle, as one of the precincts of the par- ish of Rye, contributed towards the rector's support and poor £3 7 0.ª
For a number of years North Castle was destitute of reli- gious privileges, until it pleased God, through the faithful la- bors of the Rev. Robert Harris to revive His cause in this insu- lated portion of the country. The following account of the or- ganization of this parish is taken from the printed parochial reports of 1843 :- " Episcopal services were commenced in a school-house, in the town of North Castle, in November, 1810, and were held here once a fortnight, until the Summer of 1842, when it was deemed expedient to occupy the log cabin in the village of Mile Square, in said town, as a place of public wor- ship. In this building (eight miles distant from the church of White Plains) a good congregation was gathered, consisting of persons, who, although strangers to our services, were, not with- standing, favorable to the Church, attentive to its ministrations and disposed to aid in its establishment. Immediately after the Convention of 1842, a Church was organized with the title of 'ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, NORTH CASTLE;' and it was de- termined at once to erect, with strict regard to economy, a neat and substantial church edifice. The Lord in an especial man- ner blessed our undertaking. Several providential circumstances, which might be mentioned, if space would allow, occurred to encourage and aid us. The work was accomplished without delay, and in a manner exceeding our most sanguine expecta- tions. A beautiful church of wood, (42 by 36) with a handsome tower and vestry-room (12 by 18) in the rear, and gallery across has been thouroughly finished by day's work, of the most sub-
a For a further account of this precinct, prior to the Revolution, see the parish of New Castle. New Castle was set off from North Castle in 1791.
689
AND CHURCH OF NORTH CASTLE.
stantial materials and workmanship, and completely painted with several coats of paint for the moderate cost of $2000.
" It must be observed, however, that a small lot of ground eligibly situated was given for a site, together with the timber for the frame, and the drawing of the materials. The builder also, (Mr. L. Eggleston) very generously gave off his usual profits.
" The interior of the church has been handsomely furnished by money raised by the Ladies' Sewing Society, of the parish, which, aided by a similar association in my other parish, has furnished blinds for the windows, and paid for the painting of the church. (Two gentlemen in New York presented the church, the one with a chandelier, the other with a pair of lamps for the pulpit, very acceptable gifts, both costly and orna. mental.)
" Without assistance from other parishes this church could not have been built. About $675 were given by them, and we have returned them our sincere thanks.
Indeed the undertaking from the first, has been one of a mis- sionary character ; ministerial services are rendered gratuitously, and were extended in the hope that a region destitute of reli- gious priviliges, might, through the influence of our excellent institutions, be reclaimed from immorality and unbelief, to the fear and obedience of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This hope is daily confirmed."
St. Stephen's Church, North Castle, was first incorporated on the 23d of August, 1844 :- " Israel Townsend and Samuel B. Ferris, churchwardens. John Merritt, Reuben M. Green, Lemon B. Tripp, Joseph Close, Ziel J. Eggleston, Elisha Sutton, Jonathan H. Green and Isaiah Townsend, vestrymen."
THE CHURCH.
'The parochial church of St. Stephen's is situated at Armonck, on the road leading from White Plains to Bedford, and was Consecrated September 13th, 1843, by the Rt. Rev. B. T. On. derdonk, D. D., twelve of the clergy being in attendance.
44
690
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
From 1842 to 1853, the Rev. R. W. Harris, D. D. connected the rectorship of this church with that of his parish of White Plains. To St. Stephen's church is attached a glebe of several acres, on which stands the " Chester Female Institute."
The clergyman now in charge of this school, is the Rev. Isaac Dyckman Vermilye, rector of the parish, who, as well as his wife, has had valuable experience in teaching, and are both admirably adapted to the situations they respectively oc- cupy.
"The Rev. Mr. Vermilye is now engaged with every prospect of successful labor. The congregation increases, and under his care will flourish. The present is with them an important period ; a few individuals have made great efforts to plant our Church firmly, and if they can be sustained in carrying out their judicious plans, the parish will not only soon be beyond the need of aid, but be enabled to assist others. The school is their reliance, under God, for sustaining the church, and for ex- tending its influence widely in the surrounding region, to be reached in no other way."
St. Stephen's Church, North Castle
691
AND CHURCH OF NORTH CASTLE.
NOTITIA PAROCHIALIS.
1844, Communicants, 11.
Baptisms, 11. 1853, 42
8.
In 1782, North Castle contained a population of 558 white inhabitants.
In 1840, the population was 2058.
In 1850,
2191.
The No. of families belonging to this parish in 1853, 33. No. of Souls, 133. No. of Catechists, 4. No. of Catechumens, 13.
HISTORY
OF THE
PARISH AND CHURCH
OF
PELHAM.
Prior to 1788, Pelham formed a district of the parish of West- chester and a portion of the old manor of that name, which originally embraced nine thousand one hundred and sixty-six acres. The name itself is of Saxon origin, and compounded of the two words Pel (remote) and Ham (mansion.) The former being the ancient surname of the manorial proprietors, affords us a very good reason for its adoption in connection with the last.
In the year 1642, Ann Hutchinson, widow of William Hut- chinsona of Newport, R. I., fled here for protection and-com- menced a plantation on Pelham neck, which up to a very late period was distinguished as the " Manor of Ann Hook's Neck." Here in 1643 the Siwanoy Indians murdered her and her whole family, consisting of sixteen persons. b
& William Hutchinson came from England in 1634, and settled at Boston, which he represented in 1635. He died atgNewport, R. I. in 1642.
b Neale's History of N. E. vol. i. p. 178. Weld's Rise, Reign and Ruin of the Antinomians.
1
693
AND CHURCH OF PELHAM.
In 1654, Thomas Pell, Esq. of Fairfield, Conn. purchased from Wampage and other Indians, nearly the whole of the south eastern portion of Westchester county, a part of which was erected by Governor Nicolls, A. D. 1666, into the manor of Pel- ham. The proprietor rendering therefor, yearly, one lamb upon the first of May, (the Festival of St. Philip and St. James) if the same should be demanded.
" The Pells boast a very remote antiquity, tracing their de- scent from the ancient family of that name in Lincolnshire, Eng- land, a branch of which afterwards removed into the county of Norfolk. Of this family was John Pell, Esq., lord of the manor of Shouldam Priory and Brookhall, in that county, who, by his will, dated September 26th, 1554, required to be buried in the church of Dersingham.a John, his son and heir, was 'Steward or Master of the King's cup,' and died in 1607, leaving by his wife, Margaret Overend, six sons and three daughters. One of his sons was John Pell, A. M. in holy orders, rector of South- wyck, Sussex, who died A. D. 1616.b This individual was the father of two sons, the Rev. John Pell, D. D. rector of Fobbing in Essex, and Thomas Pell, Esq. first proprietor of the manor · of Pelham. The latter was born at Southwyck in 1608, he was 'Gentleman of the Bedchamber' to King Charles the First, and emigrated to New England about 1642, in which year he ap- pears by the records to have been a resident of New Haven. Warmly attached to the Royal cause he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the New Haven authoritiesc and removed to Fairfield, where he purchased from the Indians, as before stated, in 1654. Dying without issue in 1669, he bequeathed his lands'in Pelham, to his nephew, John, the only son of the Rev. John Pell, D. D. who was employed by Oliver Cromwell as Diplomatic agent to the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland, and was afterwards appointed chaplain to the then Archbishop
A Hist. of Norfolk Co. vol. v. pp. 127, 128, 129.
b Biographia Brittanica, Vol. v.
· O'Callaghan' Hist. of N. H., vol. i. 283.
694
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
of Canterbury. John Pell, Esq. was born at London on the 3d of February, 1643, where he received his early education. Soon after the Restoration he was appointed 'Sewer in Ordinary? to King Charles the Second. Upon the death of his uncle, he re. moved to this country and took possession of the manor of Pel- ham in 1670. He was a noble benefactor to the French church at New Rochelle, one of the first vestrymen of Westchester par- ish, a representative for the county of Westchester in the Pro- vincial Assembly, and for many years a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He died intestate in 1702, leaving issue by his wife, Rachel Pinckney, two sons and several daughters. His descendants are still very numerous in the State of New York. Upon the 20th of October, 16S7, the lands bequeathed to him by his uncle were by Royal letters patent erected into the lord- ship and manor of Pelham, to be holden of the King in free and common soccage, its lord yielding and paying therefor, yearly, on the Feast day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the sum of twenty shillings good and lawful money of this Province. Under this charter, the Pells were possessed of the impropriation and the patronage of the church or churches erected or to be erected in the said manor. In 1689, John Pell and Rachel his wife sold to Jacob Leisler for the French refu- gees, 'all that tract of land lying within the manor, containing six thousand acres,' which they subsequently settled and called New Rochelle. In this grant to the Huguenots, John Pell did also give ' the further quantity of one hundred acres of land for the use of the French church erected or to be erected by the inhabitants ;' whereupon the French refugees took immediate possession of those glebe lands, and erected a church at New Rochelle, which constituted the only benefice within the manor until 1843.
On the 24th of March, 1693, an Act of Assembly was passed by which the manor of Pelham was made one of the four pre- cincts of Westchester parish The first vestryman elected un- der this Act, for the precinct in 1702, was John Pell, Sen. Esq., and the quota contributed towards the rector's support and poor
695
AND CHURCH OF PELHAM.
of the parish was £1 13. " At a meeting of ye churchwardens, vestrymen, freeholders and parishioners of ye Borrough of West- chester, &c. in Westchester, the 10th day of January, A. D. 1709-10, &c., Mr. Thomas Pell was chosen and appointed ye vestryman for ye manor of Pelham." The quota for the pre- cinct the same year was £3 00. In 1720, the quota furnished by Pelham had increased to £4 4 1}.
As early as 1695 a clergyman of the Church of England was settled in the manor of Pelham, but as the freeholders were oblig- ed to pay towards the rector's support at Westchester appointed to him by Act of Assembly, they were rendered incapable cf doing any thing for their own pastor, so that the principal sup- port which the three French ministers of New Rochelle received prior to the Revolution, was derived from the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
In 17SS, New Rochelle was seperated from the manor of Pel- ham, but the latter still remained united for all ecclesiastical purposes with the former until 1840, when the Rev. Robert Bol- ton, rector of the parish of Eastchester, first extended his minis- terial labors to this town, which was as yet, destitute of the ser- vices of the Church. At this time Mr. Bolton, besides his stated duties at Eastchester, held a Sunday service at his residence in Pelham, accommodating in the ample hall a neighborhood pecu- liarly destitute of spiritual culture. Through his instrumentality a parish was finally organized, and the corner stone of a church laid on his own estate, Friday, the 28th of April, 1843, being the first building devoted to religious worship and instruction ever commenced in the town of Pelham. The edifice thus happily begun was finished the same year, and on Friday, the 15th of September, consecrated to the service of Almighty God, by the name of "Christ Church, Pelham."
Prior to this event, the Reverend Founder prepared a deed transferring the church, and the quarter of an acre of land on which it is situated, to a parochial corporation, when one should be there formed, reserving however six free seats, the south-east- ern transept and two vaults beneath the floor of the church.
696
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
INSTRUMENT OF DONATION OF CHRIST CHURCH, PELHAM.
" I, Robert Bolton, of the town of Pelham, county of Westchester and State o f New York, having by the good providence of Almighty God erected in said town a house of public worship, do hereby appropriate and devote the same to the worship and service of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, according to the provisions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in its ministry, doctrines, liturgy, rites and usages, by a congregation in communion with the said Church, and in union with the Convention thereof in the Diocese of New York.
"And I do also hereby request the Rt. Rev. Tredwell Underdonk, D., D. the Bish- p of the said Diocese, to take the said building under his spiritual jurisdiction, as Bishop aforesaid, and that of his successors in office, and to consecrate the same by the name of Christ Church, and thereby seperate it from all unhallowed, worldly and common uses, and solemnly dedicate it to the holy purposes above mentioned.
"And I do moreover hereby relinquish all claim to any right of disposing of the aid building, excepting those rights reserved in a certain deed conveying the said Church to the rector, wardens and vestrymen of the same, or allowing of the use of it in any way inconsistent with the terms and true meaning of this instrument of donation, and with the consecration hereby requested of the Bishop of this Diocese. 2." In testimony whereof, I, the said Robert Bolton, have hereunto attached my seal and signature at Pelham, this fifteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty-three.
ROBERT BOLTON.""
This instrument, at the order of the Bishop, was publicly read in the time of divine service, immediately before the con- secration, by the late Rev. John Milnor, D. D. rector of St. George's Church, New York.
The act of incorporation bears date 25th of September, 1843, Richard Morris and Henry Grenzebach, churchwardens. Isaac Roosevelt, George F. Mills, John J. Bolton, William J. Bolton, Peter V. King, Jacob Le Roy, Cornelius Winter Bolton and Robert Bolton, Jun., vestrymen.b
Upon the organization of the parish the
REV. ROBERT BOLTON
. Copied from the original document in the possession of the Rt. Rev. B. T. On- derdonk, D. D.
b County Rec. Rel. Soc. Lib. B. p. 85. Day of annual election, Easter Monday
697
AND CHURCH OF PELHAM.
became its rector. He was born at Savannah, Georgia, 10th of September, 1788. His father was Robert Bolton, a merchant of that city, the only son of Robert Bolton, the first Post Mas- ter of Savannah, and a grandson of Robert Bolton, senior warden of Christ Church, Philadelphia, Penn. in 1727. The branch of this family to which Mr. Bolton belongs, removed more than one hundred and eleven years since into Georgia, in which State his father was born, A. D. 1757. He was ordained Deacon by Bishop Onderdonk in St. Paul's Church, Eastchester, Monday, 25th of July, 1837, and Priest by the same Prelate on Sunday, 12th of November following. In 1844, he reports to the Bishop fifteen communicants and adds :- " The rector is happy to re- port that the object of forming Pelham into a parish, is so far accomplished, that a congregation regularly attends, and gives hopes that permament good will be done among them." His fourth son, the Rev. Cornelius Winter Bolton, was chosen assis- tant minister in 1847, but resigned in 1850. Mr. Bolton con- tinued rector of the parish until 1852, when he resigned his office. After a short interval (wherein the services of the Church were supplied by the Rev. R. H. Bourne, as assistant minister) the
REV. ALEXANDER SHIRAS
was called as rector.
THE CHURCH.
The parish church, which occupies a beautiful situation near the East River, at no great distance from the Priory, com- prises a nave sixty-five feet by twenty-two, with two small tran- septal buildings, east porch, and a bell turret over the eastern gable. It is constructed of common granite, in a very solid manner.
The style is gothic, and may be called the transitional second pointed. The chancel window, of three lights, is filled with stained glass of exquisite coloring, representing the adoration of the Magi, as described by the Evangelist St.Matthew :-
698
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
" When they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell downand worshipped him : and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense and myrrh." Mat- thew ii. 11. Over this is a circular light bearing the Agnus Dei, with the appropriate legend :- " Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." These windows were executed and presented to the church by the Rev. Wil- liam Jay Bolton, of Cambridge, England. The northern win- dow of the transept bears the arms of Pell :- Ermine, on a can- ton azure a pelican or, vulned gules. While the southern is charged with those of the Reverend Founder :- sable, a falcon argent beaked, jessed, membered and belled or, charged on the breast with a trefoil, slipped ppr. The open rafters of the church rest on half length figures of angels projecting from the wall. The interior contains the following monumental in- scriptions : -
Sacred to the memory of SARAH WILMINGTON NORTON, of Savannah, Georgia, who died in Pelham on the 15th of July, 1854, aged 17 years, " Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Eccles xii. chap. 1 verse. This tablet is erected by her affectionate young friends.
Sacred to the memory of ABBY BOLTON, who slept in peace June 16th, 1849. She was the fifth daughter of the Rev. Robert Bolton, Founder and first Rector of this Church. Loving purity from principle she courted the shade. Her religion dwelt upon the spirit, and was sweetly exhibited in the every-day duties of life.
699
AND CHURCH OF PELHAM.
This is pure and undefiled religion. " Her God sustained her in her final hour, Her final hour brought glory to her God." This tablet is erected by her friends.
In memory of our beloved nurse, ANN GRIFFIN, who after twenty-four years of d :voted service, fell asleep in Pelham, August 26 th, 1854, aged 54. " Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord." Matt. xxv. 21.
acred to the memory of MRS. MARY ANNE THOMAS, who fell asleep in Jesus, March 24th, 1849, aged 36 years. Her dying words were :- " There is a Reality in Religion."
Christ Church, Pelham,
In a vault beneath the chancel repose the mortal remains of William Matthew Evans, Esq., son of William Evans and Sa- rah, (second daughter of Robert Bolton, Esq. of Savan- nah, Geo. and Susannah Mauve) who departed this life in East- chester, on the 18th of November, 1837, aged sixty-three.
700
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
Also, Abby Bolton, fifth daughter of the Rev. Robert Bolton and Anne Jay, his wife, who was born at Henley upon Thames, Oxfordshire, England, February 3d, 1827, and died in Pelham, June the 16th, 1849. Also, her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Rebecca, wife of Robert Bolton, Jun. and second daughter of James Brenton, Esq., of Newport, R. I., who was born at Pittstown, in this State, on the 2d of August, 1814, and died in New Rochelle on the 12th of March, 1852.
In the Roosevelt family vault are the following: Elizabeth Curtenius, daughter of Peter T. Curtenius, (Commissary dur- ing the Revolution) who died May, 1837, aged 80 years. Jane Roosevelt, wife of Elbert Roosevelt, and sister of the above, who died in Pelham, January 31st, 1846, aged 75. Elizabeth Roose- velt, daughter of Cornelius Roosevelt, who died April 25th, 1850, aged 84. Mary Eliza Roosevelt, daughter of the Rev. Wash- ington Roosevelt, and grandaughter of Elbert Roosevelt, who died August 13th, 1851, aged 7 years. .
The bell weighing 184 lbs. was presented to the church by Lydig Suydam, Esq. The communion plate which was the gift of Mrs. C. L. Spencer, bears the following inscription :- " Christ Church, Pelham, May 11th, 1844." A chalice was also presented by the late Miss Georgiana C. Pell, inscribed with the appropriate motto :- " This do in remembrance of me." This lovely young lady, who died the 15th of November, 1851, aged only 16 years, was a lineal descendant of John Pell, Esq. second lord of the manor of Pelham. The marble font was presented by Miss Clark, the chandeliers by Miss. Emma Guerard, and the service books by Gerardus Clark, Esq., and a set of beautiful illuminated tablets by John Bolton, Esq. The church is also furnished with an organ built by Henry Erben, of .New- York. In a small cemetery, at no great distance from the church, repose the remains of the Pell family. The monumen- tal inscriptions, which the hand of Time has nearly oblit- erated, are as follows :-
Her lyes Isec Pell, D. Dec. 14, No. 1748.
Body of Joseph Pell, aged 87, D. 1752.
701
AND CHURCH OF PELHAM.
Here lies the body of Salome Pell, born Jan. 13th, 1759, and departed this life Oct. ye 10th, 1760, aged 1 year 8 months and 27 days.
In memory of Phæbe Pell, the widow of Joseph Pell, she de- parted this life on the 22d day of March, 1790 in the 70tlı year of her age.
To Christ Church, Pelham, is attached a parochial school. This building, which was erected by public subscription in 1843, is constructed of common granite, 56 ft. by 29, in the Norman style, and serves the double purpose of a dwelling-house and school. The ceiling of the school is on the beams, showing the main rafters ; the windows, which are faced with brick, are in diamond panes of plain glass. The eastern triplet contains some stained glass. Average number of scholars, 35.
NOTITIA PAROCHIALIS.
1844, Communicants, 15. Baptisms, 9. 1853, 47 9.
In 1712, the population of Pelham was 62.
In 1840, 66
789. In 1850,
578.
No of families belonging to the parish in 1853, 20. No. of Souls, 130. No. of Catechists, 10. No. of Catechumens, 71.
Parochial School of Christ Church, Pelham.
702
HISTORY OF THE PARISH WARDENS OF CHRIST CHURCH.
1843-5.
Richard R. Morris,
Henry Grenzebach.
1846.
Richard R. Morris,
William J. Bolton.
1847.
Richard R. Morris, John Bolton.
1848-50.
Richard R. Morris, Philip Schuyler.
1851-3.
Gerardus Clark,
Robert Bolton, Jr.
·COL. COLL.
HISTORYLIBRARY
N.YORK.
OF THE
PARISH AND CHURCH
OF
WEST FARMS.
West Farms originally constituted a portion of the district of Westchester, one of the four precincts of the extensive parish of that name, and obtained the appellation by which it is still dis- tinguished, prior to 1680.
In 1663 Edward Jessup and John Richardson, both of West- chester, purchased from the Sachem Shawnarockett and other Indians, "a certain tract of land, bounded on the east by the river Aquehung or Bronx, and on the west by a little brook called Sackwrahung, &c." Upon the 25th of April, 1666, Ed- ward Jessup and John Richardson procured a patent for the same from Governor Nicolls.
Edward Jessup, like most of the original settlers of West. chester, emigrated from Fairfield, Conn., for as early as 1653 his name occurs in the records of that town as a proprietor of lands on Sascoe neck. He died in 1666, and left issue by his wife, Elizabeth Bridges, a son Edward, and two daughters. Elizabeth, the eldest, married Thomas Hunt, patentee of the Grove Farm, Westchester, from whom the Hunts of Hunt's Point descend. John Richardson died in 1679, leaving three daughters as co-
704
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
heiresses. Elizabeth, the youngest, married Gabriel L and left a numerous posterity, some of whom are still residing in the parish.
West Farms was seperated from the ancient borough town of Westchester, and incorx rated on the 13th of May, 1846, by an act of the Legislature, bu. it still remained associated for all ecclesiastical purposes, with the parish of Westchester until 1844. In 1842, the Rev. William Powell, rector of the parish, reports to the Diocesan Convention :- " That divine service is held re- gularly at West Farms every Sunday afternoon in a school- house. About $1900 have been already collected towards build- ing a chapel there in connection with St. Peter's Church."
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