USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 6
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The present of books the society has sent, was very gratefully received by me and by those to whom they are given.
The common prayer books are the most acceptable to those
« Hawks' New-York M. S. S. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. p. 219, 250, 251.
৳ Printed abstracts of Ven. Soc.
43
AND CHURCH OF WESTCHESTER.
who love the church, and I could not avoid giving offence, hav- ing not enough for all.
The measles have been epidemical throughout the whole county this winter, and having not had them myself, nor one in my family, and the distemper proving very mortal, I declined visiting and baptizing a dying child ; if complaint be made, I hope the society will not be offended. The parent said he would not defer baptizing a child so long again. He is one in the scheme in number of the half Quakers. Sir, in the last clause of the certificate of the vestrymen, you will find that Eastchester was made a distinct parish from Westchester, in 1700 : the reason whereof, I understand, was this, (viz.) the peo- ple of Eastchester being generally Presbyterians, and wishing to have a minister of their own, petitioned the Assembly that they might be made a distinct parish from Westchester, (to which they were before annexed by aet of Assembly,) and ob- ' tained an act of separation ; but when I came among them, they were so well satisfied with the liturgy and doctrines of the church, that they forsook their minister, and have ever since professed themselves members of the Church of England, (ex- cepting a very few who are rigid Independents,) and they pay their proportion of the fifty pounds per annum, as was allotted them by the first act of Assembly.
If the Society would be pleased to send over one of the few youths of the Hospital, with an allowance of five pounds per annum, to teach the children, sometimes at Yonkers, and some- times at Eastchester; I know the inhabitants would allow him £20 per annum more of this country money : and it would be of excellent use, if he proved sober and diligent and well affection- ated to our church.
I most gratefully acknowledge the piety, zeal, and generosity of the illustrious Society, for their repeated and continued in- stances of sincere love unto Christ Jesus, in spreading and sup- porting his religion with indefatigable care and immense charges.
1
And remain, Sir, &c., a
JOHN BARTOW."
* Hawks' New-York M. S. S. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. 473, 474.
44
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
From the society's abstracts we learn :- that "in 1714, by the blessing of God on Mr. Bartow's ministry at Westchester, East- chester, Yonckers, and the manor of Pelham, where there were formerly very few of the church communion, there was visibly a very great reformation of manners."a
MR. BARTOW TO THE SECRETARY.
[EXTRACT.] Westchester, Feb. 9th, 1716.
WORTHY SIR :
" I have preached several funeral sermons since I came here, and have not received anything, save once, a table for the com- munion was given me by a joiner, having preached a sermon at his child's funeral."b
In answer to certain enquiries, Mr. Bartow again addressed the Secretary.
MR. BARTOW TO THE SECRETARY.
EXTRACT.] Westchester, Sept. 12, 1717.
WORTHY SIR :
" The church at Eastchester was built about twenty-two years since, and supplied always by a Presbyterian minister till about one year after my coming here, when they embraced the church of England, and accepted of me for their minister ; and though they had obtained an Act of Assembly under the government of Lord Bellamont, to make them a distinct parish, yet they pay their quota of fifty pound per annum to me, according to the first establishment. This conformity I acknowledge, greatly owing to the measures of my Lord Clarendon, then our Governour.
2. There is no parsonage house nor glebe. The church at Westchester was built about twenty years since, and supplied
a Printed abstracts of Ven. Prop. Soc.
b Hawks' New-York M. S. S. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. 519.
·
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AND CHURCH OF WESTCHESTER.
about two years with a Presbyterian minister, who had left them before I came. There is no parsonage house, but twenty-three acres of glebe given to me and my successors, of the Church of England, which is now well worth one hundred pounds, as im- proved by me ; scarce worth thirty pound, when I had it first. I have likewise obtained for the church a twenty-five pound share of an undivided tract of land called Long Reach, the title of which has been long controverted between the towns of East and Westchester, which will be about thirty acres more if West- chester be possessed, but the dispute holds still without signs of a determination.
3. Yonkers has no church, but we assemble for divine wor- ship sometimes in an house of Joseph Bebts, deceased, and some- times in a barn, when empty, but the people begin to be in a disposition to build a church.
The other of your letters is dated 14th May, 1716, wherein you say the Society have ordered you to acquaint me, and the rest of the brethren, the clergy, that at our next meeting we should inform them if any of our brethren are disaffected to the gov- ernment of King George; and having had a meeting since, not long before, can only say, that I am well assured there is not one clergyman in this Province, but what is well affected to the gov- ernment of his Majesty, King George, whom God bless."a
Mr. Bartow baptized in the year 1718, "thirty-two persons, two of whom were grown persons, and one negro man."b
The Society's abstracts for 1719 say :- " To Mr. William For- ster, schoolmaster at Westchester, who has been recommended as a person very well qualified to instruct the youth in the principles of religion and virtue ; ten pounds per annum is allowed, and a gratuity of £10 has been given him in consid- eration of his past services, and his present circumstances."c
From the Rev. Mr. Bartow, minister of Westchester, in the same Province, " that in the year 1719, he had baptized twenty- two, one of which was an ancient woman."d
· Hawks' New-York M. S. S. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. p. 524, 525.
৳ Printed abstracts of Ven. P. Soc. for 1718.
e Ibid. 1719.
Ibid.
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH
From Mr. Forster, schoolmaster at the same place, "that he has at present thirty-five scholars, whom he catechises every Saturday, and also every Sunday, that Mr. Bartow goes to ano- ther part of the parish; together with all others who will attend, and has good success: which is also attested by the Minister and chief inhabitants of Westchester."a
In 1720, the different quotas for the church and poor of the Parish stood thus :-
Westchester, £37 10 02
Eastchester, £12 14 11}
Yonckers, 11 12 101
New Rochelle, 12 14 13
Pelham, 4 4 12
Morrisania, 4 10 0
The Society's abstracts for 1720, say :- " That letters have been received from the Rev. Mr. Bartow, minister at Westchester, in the Province of New-York; that the number of his Communi- cants increases, though some are dead or removed to other towns, and that he baptized in the year 1720, twenty-five, five whereof were grown persons."
Also, " from Mr. Forster, schcolmaster at Westchester, in the Province of New-York, that he takes all the care he can of the children, which are sent to him, and has upwards of thirty scholars, which he instructs in the Church Catechism."b
In 1721, Mr. Bartow informs the Society :- " That since the death of Mr. Bondett, he preaches at four towns; Eastchester, Westchester, Yonkers, and New Rochelle, and does other occa- sional offices, and that the number of the baptized in the year 1721, was twenty eight, two whereof were grown persons.c
The next year the Society allowed " Mr. Bartow, for his ser- vice at New Rochelle, ten pounds." In his report for 1722, Mr Bartow says :- " That they are repairing the church there (West- chester) with the voluntary contributions of the people, procured chiefly by the zeal and care of Mr. Forster, the schoolmaster there; that in the year 1722, he baptized twenty-one persons
· Printed abstracts of Ven. P. Soc.
৳ Printed abstracts of Ven. P. Soc.
¢ Ibid.
47
AND CHURCH OF WESTCHESTER.
four whereof were adults, one a Negro man."a "In the year 1723, he baptized forty-five, four whereof were grown persons."b Mr. Forster reports :- " That the number of his scholars is as usnal, and that he has very good success in his teaching, and that they are this summer building a new school house : and that he is raising a annual subscription for repairing and finish- ing the church."c
REV'D. JOHN BARTOW'S ANSWERS TO THE QUE- RIES OF THE BISHOP OF LONDON.
QUERIES TO BE ANSWERED BY EVERY MINISTER.
Westchester, in the Province of New- York, in America, July 13, 1724.
Q. How long is it since you went over to the Plantations as a missionary ?
A. Twenty-two years.
Q. Have you had any other church before you came to that which you now possess ; and if you had, what church was it, and how long have you been removed ?
A. No other here : but I was inducted to the vicarage of Pampsford, in Cam- bridge, May 28th, 1697, and removed here by leave of Dr. Patrick, then Bishop of Ely.
Q. Have you been licensed by the Bishop of London to officiate as a mission- ary, in the government where you now are ?
A. I was licensed by the Right Rev. Father in God, Henry, Lord Bishop of London, June 22nd, 1702, to officiate as a missionary.
Q. How long have you been inducted into your living ?
A. I was inducted to my living here, Nov. 19, 1702, Lord Cornbury being then Governor.
Q. Are you ordinarily resident in the parish to which you have been inducted ?
A. I have been resident in Westchester ever since I came.
Q. Of what extent is your parish, and how many families in it ?
A. My parish is in length about twelve miles, in breadth about seventy : about two hundred families.
Q. Are there any Infidels, bond or free, within your parish, and what means are used for their conversion ?
A. We have Infidels, bond and frec, who have liberty to come to the churches,
· Printed abstracts of Ven. P. Soc.
b Ibid.
c Printed abstracts of Ven. P. Soc. for 1723.
48
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
and are not denied baptism when fit and desirous of it; some of which I have baptized.
Q. How oft is divine service performed in your church, and what proportion of the parishioners attend it ?
A. Divine service is performed in one of our churches every Sunday, when I have about seventy auditors in the afternoon, there being not quite so many in the morning, by reason that those who live at a distance seldom come in the morning.
Q. How oft is the sacrament of the Lord's supper administered ; and what is the usual number of communicants ?
A. The Lord's supper is administered by me, in the church at Westchester, on Christmas day, Easter, and Whitsunday, and at other times, occasionally in other places of the parish, and we have usually eighteen communicants, more or less.
Q. At what times do you catechise the youth of your parish ?
A. I have been wont to catechise the youth on Sundays in the afternoon, before we had a settled school ; but now I leave that office to Mr. Forster, the Society's schoolmaster, who not only catechizes in the school, but in the church, when I am absent, all that will come.
Q. Are all things duly disposed and provided in the church, for the decent and orderly performance of divine service ?
A. We have all things decent, excepting the surplice.
Q. Of what value is your living in sterling money, and how does it arise ?
A. The value of my living is £50 sterling !of New-York money, which is almost £32 10, sterling, paid not without some difficulty and loss.
Q. Have you a house and glebe : is your glebe in lease or let by the year, or is it occupied by yourself ?
A. I have twenty-three acres of glebe in my occupation, but no parsonage house. I lived at my first coming in an hired house, in expectation of a par- sonage house, though talk't of to be built, but finding it would not be effected, two years ago I purchased one.
Q. Is due care taken to preserve your house in good repair, and at whose ex- pense is it done ?
A. I live in my own house, adjoining the glebe, and have always repaired it at my own expense.
Q. Have you more cures than one; if you have, what are they, and in what manner are they served ?
A. I have four towns under my cure, Westchester, Eastchester, Yonkers, and the Manor of Pelham, of which New Rochelle is a part, in whose churches I officiate on Sundays, according to their several quotas, on the payment of £50 per annum. I preach at Westchester every Lord's day, excepting every fourth Sunday at East- chester, three times in the year at Yonkers, and so often as I can at New Rochelle.
Q. Have you in your parish any public school for the instruction of youth ; if you have, is it endowed, and who is the master ?
A. We have a public school in Westchester, of which Mr. Forster is the so- ciety's school master, and we have private schools in other places ; no endow- ment ; some family of the name of Pelham that are adjacent, come to Eastchester church.
Q. Have you a parochial library ; if you have, are the books preserved and
49
AND CHURCH OF WESTCHESTER.
kept in good condition ; have you any particular rules and orders for the preser- ving of them ; are those rules and orders duly observed ?
A. We have no parochial library.
John Bartow Rector, S.c., of Westchester.a.
In his report to the Secretary, Mr. Bartow observes :- " That the church is much in the same condition as when he wrote last ; and that in the year 1724, he baptized thirty-nine, two whereof were grown persons."b
The subjoined extract is from a letter of his to the Secretary. The Rev. Mr. Talbot mentioned in the beginning of it, was dis- missed from the society's service for alledged Jacobitism :-
MR. BARTOW TO THE SECRETARY.
Province of New- York, May 4th, 1725. SIR :-
" I am creditably informed that the Society have discharged the Rev. Mr. Talbot from being any longer their missionary ; whereby the fruits of the pious bequest of the late Archbishop of Canterbury do descend to me, as being the next oldest in their service, of that province, till by the providence of God we have bishops here lawfully established. Nothing is too great for God to give, even to the undeserving, and therefore I humbly and thankfully should accept it of his gracious providence ; but be at the disposal of the most Rev. and Honorable Society, as seems by an abstract of their proceedings, Anno 1714-I should not presume to ask it of them, nay, scarce desire it in my private
* Hawks' New-York M. S. S. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. 635.
b Printed abstracts of Ven. Soc.
4
50
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
thoughts, being conscious of my unworthiness, and enjoined to be content in my condition, in which I remain, still praying to God for his blessings on their christian labors.
Sir, Your most obedient, &c.
JOHN BARTOW. "a
Probably the last communication the Society ever received from Mr. Bartow, is the following :-
MR. BARTOW TO THE SECRETARY.
Westchester, October 6th, 1725.
WORTHY SIR :-
"There being nothing happened extraordinary here, relating to the church since I writ last ; (saving the death of the late Rev. Mr. Thomas, of Hampstead, which church with that at Rye, are supplyed by the zealous labours of the Rev. Mr. Jenny) I can only, as in duty bound, repeat my thankful acknowledgement for the Society's allowance, which is always duly paid by their treasurer, and informing you that the pulpit and wainscoat of the church at Eastchester, was since decently painted, and a new gallery built, and the Presbyterian minister when he comes, not permitted to officiate therein. That God would bless the labours of the most Rev. and Honorable Society, is &c.
Sir, Your most obedient, &c. JOHN BARTOW."b
This excellent minister died at Westchester, in 1725. His re- mains, according to the custom of that day, were interred under the communion table in the old parish church of St. Peter. Since the removal of that ancient edifice, however, nothing serves distinctly to mark the site of his tomb, but one thing is
« Hawks' New-York M. S. S. from archives at Fulham, vol. 1, p. 664.
৳ Ibid, vol. 1, pp. 664, 665.
51
AND CHURCH OF WESTCHESTER.
certain, " that he who was with him in his last hour, and made his bed in his sickness, will watch over the precious dust till he shall bid it rise."
" So pious, just, and even, as if he mean't His name should be his marble monument."
" Mr. Bartow (says Dr. Hawkins) continued in the discharge of his important duties for the long period of a quarter of a cen- tury. He was the instrument of bringing many separatists back to the church, and admitting into it many hitherto careless adults. He likewise gave much of his time to the instruction of the poor negroes. By such long and faithful services he secured the general esteem of his people."a In 1705 he married Helen Read, second daughter of John Read, Esq., of Middrew Castle, parish of Kirkleston, Scotland; by this lady he left issue, six sons. b Theophilus, his second son, was the father of the Rev. Theo- dosius Bartow, of New Rochelle, whose grandsons are the Rev. Theodore B. Bartow, Chaplain in the U. S. N., and the Rev. Henry B. Bartow, of Whitestone, L. I. A grand-daughter of Theodosius married the Rev. Geo. A. Shelton, of Newtown, L. I.
The Society's abstracts for 1725, say :- that among other sums granted, was " a gratuity of fifty pounds which the society have made to Mrs. Bartow, the widow of the late Rev. Mr. Bar- tow, a missionary of the society at Westchester, in the Province of New-York, in consideration of her husband's good behaviour and diligence in the society's mission for twenty-three years and upwards, and having six sons and a wife unprovided for."c
Mr. Bartow's last will and testament was made on the 24th of January, 1725, but not proved until the 1st of April, 1727.
. Hawkins' Historical Notices of the Miss. of the Church of England, 277. b At a meeting of the trustees for the Borough of Westchester, &c., the 6th day of March, 1726-7-according to ye last meeting (21st March, 1725-6,) the commit- tee appointed to make report of the persons who had made encroachments upon the sheep pasture, gave in the name of[Mr. Bartow and others. " Whereupon, Mr. Forster appeared in behalf of ye orphants of Mr. John Bartow, yt what they have taken in upon ye sheep pasture ; yt they will leave out when they rectify ye fences." Westchester Town Rec. Lib. ix. 187, 188.
· Printed abstracts from 18th Feb. 1725, to 17th Feb. 1726.
52
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
THE WILL OF JOHN BARTOW, CLERK.
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN, the twenty-fourth of January, in ye twelvth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, King George, Annoq Dom. one thousand seven hundred and twenty-five, I, John Bartow, of the Burrough Town of West- chester, in the County of Westchester, and Province of New York, Clerk, being sick and weak in body, but of sound and perfect memory, praise be given to God therefore, and considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, do make this my last Will & Testament in manner and form following, that is to say : First, and principally, I commend my soul to Almighty God my creator, assuredly believing that my sins will be remitted, and that I shall be saved by the precious death and merits of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer, Christ Jesus : and my body to the earth, to be buried at the discretion of my ex'tors, hereafter named : and touching such worldly estate as God hath been pleased to bestow upon me; I do hereby give and dispose of the same in manner and form following, that is to say : First, I hereby give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Helena, one equal third part of all my personal estate for the use of her, her heirs, and assigns for ever. Item, I hereby will and order that my funeral charges, and all my just debts be paid out of the remainder of my personal estate within convenient time after my decease, by my executors hereafter named. Only it is hereby provided, that whereas, John Mash, of Westchester above said, boatman, for and in consideration of my be- coming bound together with the said John Mash, at his special instance and re- quest, and for the proper debt of the said John Mash, by a certain obligation in the penal sum of four score pounds, currant money of New York, with condition for the payment of forty pounds of like current money, at a certain day in the said condition exprest, and for other considerations, did by a certain deed, indented under his hand and seal and the hand and seal of Rosamond, his wife, dated the sixth day of April, anno dom. one thousand seven hundred and twenty-two, con- vey unto me a certain Home Lot, scituate in said Westchester, with its appurte- nances, and a twenty-five pounds priviledge of commonage in said town. If the said John Mash, his heirs, executors, or administrators, do not well and truly dis- charge and pay off the said obligation and all sums of money due thereon, within one year next after my decease, I hereby order my executors to sell the said lott and priviledge, and to apply the money arising by the said sale, towards discharg- ing of my debt. Item, I give unto my beloved wife, the use of all the remaining part of my personal estate, except what is herein afterwards expressly disposed of during her widowhood. And if my said wife shall marry again, (if her husband shall immediately, upon their marriage, give good security to my children or their guardians, that all such part of my personal estate as shall remain in my wife's hands over and above her third part given unto her as aforesaid, immediately at and before her marrying again, shall not be wasted or embezzled, but that the same, or value thereof, shall be made good at her decease,) then I give unto her the use thereof during the term of her natural life, and at her decease, or if upon her marrying again, the aforesaid security shall be refused to be given ; then at her re-marriage, I give the same equally between my six sons, Thomas, Theophilus, Theodosius, John, Anthony, and Basil Bartow, for the use of them and their sev- eral heirs and assigns. Item, in consideration that my beloved wife bring up my children I give urto her the sole use and benefit of my dwelling house and home-
53
AND CHURCH OF WESTCHESTER.
stead, and all my land adjoining thereto, and of all my land at Scabby Indian, bounded southeasterly by the land of John Williams westerly by the country road northerly by the road that goes to Thomas Haddon's saw mill, and by Daniel Turner's land, also of about two acres of land lying within said Daniel Turner's land, and of my orchard land, salt and fresh meadow, at the place commonly call- ed below, which was formerly Edward Collier's, David Huestiss and Horseman Mullinder, and also a twenty-five pounds privilege of commonage in said West- chester, for and during the term of her natural life; and I also give unto my wife, until my son John shall attain to the age of twenty-one years, the use of all such part of my land in said Westchester, which I lately purchased of David Heustis, Nathaniel Underhill, Daniel Clark, and Thomas Haddon, and John Heustis, as I have not already let out upon lease, and the rents of all such part thereof as I have leased. Item, I give unto my son, John Bartow, his heirs and assigns for ever, all those tracts of land I lately bought of David Heustis, Nathaniel Underhill, Daniel Clark, and Thomas Haddon, and John Heustis, a twenty-five pound priv- iledge of commonage in said Westchester, together with all my right, title and interest in a tract of land called the Long Reach ; also four acres of salt meadow in Westchester abovesaid, which I purchased of James Morris, by a deed passed under his hand and seal, dated the fifteenth day of January, Anno Dom. 1722; also all my tract of land and meadow at Barnagat, in East New Jersey, being about sixty acres ; also two-eighths of a moyety of a sixteenth part of a twenty-fourth part or propriety in East New Jersey, granted by Gowen Drummond to John Reid, senr., and by said John Reid to me, and my least gold ring, and a new English Bible in Quarto. Item, I give unto my son, Theophilus Bartow, his heirs and assigns for ever, my saw mill, situate and being in Monmouth County, in East New Jersey, and all my tracts of land and purchase adjoining, containing about one thousand acres, be they more or less; also a twenty-fourth part of a tenth part of an undivided twenty-fourth, or a propriety in East New Jersey granted by Mari- on Cambell to John Reid, senr., and by said John Reid to me, and my heaviest gold ring, and an English Bible in Quarto. Item, I give unto my son, Thomas Bartow, his heirs and assigns for ever, all my tract of land in Monmouth County, in East New Jersey, on Milstone brook, joining to Coll. Anderson's land, contain- ing about eleven hundred acres, granted to me and my wife Helena, by my father- in-law, John Reid, by deed bearing dæte the tenth day of November, Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and five ; also one half of a fortieth part of a propriety in East New Jersey, granted to me by said John Reid, by deed, dated the fourth day of April, Anno Dom. one thousand seven hundred and fourteen, and all my Greek and Latin books, my watch, and a new English Bible, in Quarto. Item, I give unto my son, Theodosius Bartow, his heirs and assigns forever, all my tract of land situate in Monmouth County, in East New Jersey, on the east branch, con- taining five hundred acres, joyning to James Edwards, also all my meadow on the south side of said branch, from the lower end of the timber swamp down to the mouth of said branch ; also all my tract of Indian purchase land to the' northward of this tract; also two-eighths of a moyety of a sixteenth part of a twenty-fourth part or propriety of East New Jersey, granted to John Read, senr., by Gowen Drummond, and by John Read to me, my other gold ring, and a new English Bible in Quarto. Item, I give unto my son Anthony Bartow, his heirs and assigns for- ever, all my tract of land on Monlapau River, beginning at the head of Mount- brook, and runs thence southeast fifty-two chains, thence north northwest half a
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