LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. \

/ ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH, HEMPSTEAD.

Anthony Yelverton Head Workman.

Opened for divine worship Wednesday, April 23, 1735. Rev. Robert Jenney, Rector. ^^^rvij^'^^^^

HEMPSTEAD,

INCLUDING ^ OYSTEKBAY AND THE

ILLUSTRATED FKOM

LETTERS OF THE MISSIONARIES,

AND OTHER AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS.

By henry ONDERDONK, Jr.,

B., University of Cambridge A. ; A. M., Columbia College

•,:-.^ •' A' dm

HEMPSTEAD, N. Y.! LOTT VAN DE WATER, PRINTER AND PUBLISHER, 1880.

I J dl H405% In 1701, some members of the Church of England formed a "Society for

Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts." Their Missionaries were required to report to the Society once a year, or oftener, the state of their several Missions.

This volume contains so much of their correspondence relating to Hempstead as

is indebted to the kindly has been procurable : for which privilege the compiler influence of the Rev. George Williamson Smith and the Rev. Dr. Drovvne, and the obliging courtesy of Bishop Perry, the custodian.

This Venerable Society held its annual meetings in London, and published abstracts from the Reports of its Missionaries. Some of these letters seem to by the Rev. have been subsequently lost or mislaid ; for in the collection made

Dr. Hawks many letters used in making out the Society's Annual Reports are not now to be found. These printed abstracts are now, however, all incorporated in the present volume with the Rev. Dr. Hawks' unabridged transcripts; and they shed additional light on the obscurity of the early history of the Hempstead Church.

After the first selection of these letters had been printed, my generous publisher, Mr. Lott Van De Water, like a true son of the Church, allowed me to go over the field again for a second gleaning. Hence the letters do not independent of follow in a chronological order ; but as the topics are quite

each other this will cause little inconvenience.

Though Mr. Thomas served the parish over twenty years, all remembrance

of him had so faded out that his name does not appear in the list of Ministers

inscribed, in 1823, on a marble tablet in the church. Some extracts from his

correspondence and that of the succeeding Missionaries were published for the

first time in 1841, by the Rev. Dr. Carmichael, in "The Rise and Progress

of St. George's Church."

The Rev. Dr. Moore, the eleventh Minister of this ancienc Parish, has for

some years been gathering materials fur a more connected, full and complete

history of the Church, brought down to the present time, which it is hoped

may see the light at no distant day. IV

John J. Latting, Esq., has kindly copied and verified sundry documents and greatly facilitated my researches.

The author of this compilation has in press: "Antiquities of the Parish

Church, Jamaica, L. I.," which will be a companion volume to this, as the two will embrace an outline of the early history of the entire Diocese of Long

Island. Henry Onderdonk, Jr.

Jamaica, L. I., May, 1880.

Other Contributions to Local History by the Compiler.

Revolutionary Incidents of Queens County," 1846. Letters to J. F. Cooper on the Death of General WoocUiull," 1848. Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties," 1849. Genealogy of the Onderdonk Family," 1852.

' Queens County in Olden Times," 1865.

' Bibliography of Long Island," 1866.

' Reformed Dutch Churches and Ministers on Long Island," 1866. 'Agriculture, Stock-Breediug and Manufactures in Hempstead," 1867.

' Rise and Growth of Friends on Long Island and in New York City," 1870.

' Annals of Hempstead," 1878.

' Antiquities of the Parish Church, Jamaica, L. I.," 1880. |iiiti(ntitics flf Jcmpstciib C|iirc|.

By henry ONDERDONK, Jr.

>«<0-D

Hempstead was settled in 1643, by Presby- " From the want of a minister, now so long terians and Independents, who bnilt a house continued, many of our children are yet un- of worship and maintained a minister by a baptised." Tlie Governor sent (March 12th) town rate. We cannot ^ive a clear account Rev. Samuel Drisius to them, who preached of the early ministers. In 1G51 Rev. John and baptised forty -one children and an aged Moore styles himself " Minister of the Church woman of Hempstead." In 1662, May 16th, the town had voted a In a letter of the Dutch ministers at New salary of £70 to Mr. Jonah Fordham, who " York (1G57) it is stated that At Hempstead had been one year amonst them ; but the magistrates had to send to the Governor for there are some Independents ; also many of the Dutch persuasion and Presbyterians. a warrant against some that refused to pay They have a Presbyterian preacher, Richard the minister's rate. Denton, an honest, pious and learned man, 1670, April 1st. By major vote the minis- who has in all thinojs conformed to our ter of the town is allowed to have free pasture Church. The Independents listen attentively for six oxen. to his preaching, but when he begins to bap 1671, April 25. The town-house or the par- tise the children of parents who are not mem- sonage lot is sold at £9 in corn. bers of the church, they sometimes burst out 1674, November 80. Some of the towns- of the church." people petition the Governor " to install such In IGoT, July 15tli, Gov. Stuyvesant., who authority among us as may be a means under favored the Presbyterian interest, visited God for upholding and maintaining the min- Hempstead in hopes of settling Mr. Denton's istry, the worship of God and the Gospel of " us, the continuance there, and says : It he cannot be the Lord Jesus Christ amongst that persuaded to stay, you must then look for honor of God might be promoted and his Sab- baths observed, for the good of us and our another able and godly man ; but as Mr. Fordham, sometime your minister, left the posterity." place and exercise of the ministry without 1678, January 7th. By major vote it was our wish or knowledge, and for little or no agreed to build a meeting-house forty by reason, we cannot admit of his coming back twenty-six feet, and twelve feet in the stud, again." with a leanto on each side. The quarter's rate for Mr. Denton in 1657 1679, May 26th. Gov. Andros forbids Qua- was £17.10, being a levy of 3i pence to the ker meetings in Hempstead, but to no pur- acre. In 1658 it was paid in wheat at 5s. per pose. bushel, or cats at 2s. 6d. 1680, May 12th. The old meetinghouse In August, 1657, traveling preachers of the and the fort enclosing it were sold at outcry Society of Friends began to visit Hempstead, for £2.12 in meeting-house pay. and by inveighing against paying money to 1682, May 6th. By major vote at town- " liireling priests," in the course of time drew meeting, Rev. Jeremy Hobart is called to be off many from the church. minister. A house eighteen by thirty-six feet

1660, November 10. The town order a is to be built for him to live in. His salary house-end to be set up to Goodman Pearsall's was by subscription, £70 in corn or cattle, house, for the entertainment of young Master and his fire wood brought him at free-cost.

Fordham, and that the meeting house be re- Jeremy Wood is allowed 10s. a year for look- paired and made comfortable to meet in. ing after the opening and shutting of the In 1661, February loth, some people of window-shuts of the meeting-house, and to

Hempstead write to Gov. Stuyvesant that : look carefully after the hour-glass. Though the town had ordered a bell from Amsterdam The Friends having made such inroads into as long ago as 1G56, it seems not to have ar- the Presbyterian Church, there seemed a good rived, for Richard Gildersleeve, Sr.. is hired, opening for establishing a Church of England. at 20s. a year, to beat the drum to announce Accordingly the Rev. George Keith, a con- the hours of worship. verted Quaker, but now an itinerant mission- 1087. The people of Great Neck (then in- ary of the Society for Propagating the Gospel cluded in the town) complain that Hobart in Foreign Parts, resorted to Hempstead sev- don't preach and visit amongst them. In eral times in hopes of gaining over both 1083 they had built a church by themselves Friends and Presbyterians to the Church. and hired Eev. Morgan Jones as pastor, but On one occasion Keith, following the steps of Hobart forbid his preaching there as being in one Samuel Bovvnas, a traveling preacher, to his parish. Hempstead, appointed a meeting at the same 1090, April 20. Samuel Sewall says, "I hour as Bovvnas had, and to preach within rode to Hempstead to hear Mr. Hobart, but hearing distance. Between the two appoint- he was at York. So I staid at Mr. Jackson's, ments there was a very large gathering. read chapters, and Mr. Stoughton, my com- The Quaker champion says: "I being very panion, prayed." young and strong, my voice was plainly In 1090, December 4th, Mr. Hobart bad to heard by the people who were with Keith, resort to the Court of Oyer and Terminer to so that they all left his meeting but the compel the town to pay tlie arrears of his clerk and William Bradford, and came to salary. In 1092 he was constrained to leave ours, for we had room enough for both meet- " Hempstead, by reason of numbers of the ings, it being a very large barn of Nathaniel peoi)le turning Quakers and many others Pearsall. being so irreligious that they would do Keith says: 1702, September 27, (Sunday), nothing toward the support of the Gospel." I preached at Hempstead, in the afterncwn, In 109-1—5, Mr. William Vesey is set down from Luke x, 42. where was such a multitude as an Independent minister here, the same that the church [Independent meeting-house] who in 1007 became first rector of Trinity could not hold them, so that many stood Church, New York.* at the doors and windows to hear, who were We no longer find the names of the minis- generally well affected and greatly desired ters on record, but there must have been such. that a Church of England minister should Roger Gill, a Friend, speaks of having among be settled amongst them. November 20th,

his hearers (August 3d, 1099) a candidate for (Thursday), I preached there on Acts, xxvi, the Presbyterian pulpit, who took notes of his 18 ; and November 29, (Sunday), I preached discourse. there again on Hebrews, viii, 10, 11, 12. In 1708. November 21, (Sunday), I again preached * "lu the year 1697, Gov. Fletcher by his example ii, lodged at Isaac and coniUenance promoted the building of Trinity there on 1st Peter, 9, and Church, in New York, by voluntary contribution, and Smith's, [north side the Plains], four miles placed in it the present incumbent, Rev. William Ve- from the church, where I baptized a young sey, who at that time was a dissenting preacher on woman of his family, and a boy and girl of Long Island. He had received his education in Har- his relations, and a neighbor's child, a boy. vard College, under that rigid Independent, Increase Mather, and was sent from thence hi/ him to confirm This Smith had formerly been a Quaker, and

the minds of those who had removed for their con- was scarce then fully come ofi', but came and

venience from New England to this Province ; for Mr. heard me preach, and was well affected and Mather having advice that there was a minister of the did kindly entertain me. Established Church of England come over in quality " of chaplain of the forces at New York, and fearing 1708, January 12. At a general town- that the Common Prayer and the hated ceremonies ol meeting, John Pine was chosen church warden, our Church might gain ground, he spared no pains oi and Jonathan Smith, Samuel Denton, John care to spread the warmest of his emissaries through Haviland and .vestrymen for Hemp- this Province; but Gov. Fletcher, who saw into thi^

stead : Mr. Jones, church warden, design, took oft' Mr. Vesey ty an invitation to this Thomas living, [Trinity Church], a promise to advance his sti- and Edmund Wright, Isaac Doughty, Samuel pend considerably, and to recommend him for Holy Dickinson, Richard Willis and Nathaniel

Orders to your Lordship's predecessor ; all vi'hich was Coles, vestrymen for Oysterbay. Thomas performed accordingly, and Mr. Vesey returned from Gildersleeve was chosen, April 1st, in place England in Priest's orders."— ^^iWre.v.v to the Bishop of London (about 1714) from Gov. Hunter's friends. of John Pine. The above election was held agreeable to MANDATE FOR THE INDUCTION OF JOHN THOMAS. the Ministry Act of September 22d, 1693, EDWARD, the most illustiious Viticount Cornbury, which seems to have lain dormant hitherto, Captain General and Governoi- of the Province of but was probably revived by the new Gov- New York in America, Vice-Admiral of the same, ernor, Lord Cornbury. By this act Hemp- &c. To ALL and singular the rectors, vicars, chaplains, stead and Oysterbay were constituted one curates, clergymen and ministers whatsoever in and parish, and were required to raise £60 per throughout the \vhole Province of New York, wherever annum for the sujjport of a good sufficient established, and also to the present church wardens Protestant minister. of the parochial church of Hempstead, Greeting. Whereas, I commit to yon jointly and severally successive steps by which a Church of The our beloved in Christ, John Thomas, clergyman, pre- England minister was eventually settled at sented to the rectory or parochial church of Hemp- Hempstead are not well known, but we give stead, now vacant, to be instituted as rector of the same, and flinily enjoining I command that you col- all we have discovered. late and induct, or cause to be inducted, the same The Rev. John Bartow, of Westchester, John Thomas (or his lawful proctor for himself and writes (May 24, 1704,) that " Hempstead has in his name) into the real, actual and corporal pos- session of said rectory or parochial church, and into long expected a Missionary from the Venera all its rights and appurtenances, and that you defend I they will soon bie Society, and hope be an- him so inducted; and what you shall have done in swered." the premises you will (when duly required thereto) or some other competent judge in this The Rev. Mr. Pritchard, of Rye, writes certify me behalf, or he will certify whichever of you being pres- (November 1, 1704,) that " The Venerable So- ent may have executed this mandate. citty would do well to recommend Mr. Stuart Given under the prerogative seal of said Province, to Hempstead, where they stand very much the 26th day of December, Anno Domini 1704. in need of a minister, and complain very Cornbury. Geo. Clarke, Sec'y. much for [want of] a Churchman, it being THE RETURN. the best place in the Province of New York, We whose names are subscribed, by virtue of the and best aifected for the Church. I design to above instrument have inducted the Reverend Domine real, actual and corpor.il possession preach there frequently, (God willing), in Thomas into the of the rectory or parochial church of Hempstead, the order to continue them in a good opinion of 27th oay of December, Anno Domini 1704. our Church till a minister comes. Mr. Vesey William Vesey, Rector of Trinity Church, N. Y. and the people of Hempstead have been William Urquhart, very pressing on me to remove thither, say- Rector of the Parish Church, Jamaica. Thos. Jones, '-Churchwardens. ing Lord Cornbury would willingly consent Giluersleeve, Thos. (

thereto." In a letter of March 1st, 1705, Mr. Thomas Lord Cornbury writing (August 23, 1703,) thus writes of his new situation, to the Ven- " gives Mr. John Thomas a letter of commen- erable Society : After much toil and fatigue,

dation to the Venerable Society. He says he I am through God's assistance safely arrived, is a sober, ingenuous gentleman, and has and have been two months settled at Hemp-

served as lecturer over three years in Phila stead, where I met with civil reception from delphia. I hope you will send him to Ja the people. They are generally Independ-

niaica or Hempstead. Keith says (April 2, ents or Presbyterians, and have hitherto been 1703,) Mr. John Thomas, an ordained deacon, supplied, ever since the settlement of the has set up a school in Philadelphia, and man- town, with a dissenting ministry. aged it well for above two years. He intends " The prejudice and bias of education is the for London a year hence to be ordained pres- greatest difficulty I labor under. The coun- byter. He was assistant to Rev. Evan Evans, try is extremely wedded to a dissenting min- and also preached in the country places about istry, and were it not for His Excellency my Philadelphia. The vestry of Christ Church Lord Cornbury's most favorable countenance commend him to the favor and patronage of to us, we might expect the severest entertain- the Bishop of London, as being discreet and ment here that malice and the rigor of preju- inoffensive to all. Mr. Thoma.s had left Phil dice could afflict us with. All we of the clergy

adelphia by or before April 7, 1704, and had need the influence of His Lordship's most fa- returned from England, in December follow- vorable aspect. Government is our great ing, in priest's orders and with an appoint- asylum and bulwark which My Lord exerts ment to the church at Hempstead. to the utmost when the necessities and inter- :

ests of tlie Charcli call for it. His counte- at another four of the most rigid of the Inde- nance, next to the Providence of Heaven, is pendents, while twelve had just received the inj' chiefest safety. I have scarce a man in holy ordinance of baptism, among whom the parish truly steady and real to the inter- were several adults." est and promotion of the Church any farther 1705, May 26. Mr. Thomas writes: "My than they aim at the favor or dis- is dread the path here very thorny ; all my steps are pleasure of His Lordship. His Lordship's narrowly Avatched ; I am obliged to walk extraordinary respect to the clerjry has set very singuly. I have brought some few of them above the snarlincr of the vulgar and the honestest, best-inclined, to religiou, and secured to them respect and deference from the soberest to the holy communion, and hope the best of the people. The people of Hemp- in titue (if God enable me) to have a plentiful stead are better disposed to peace and civility harvest among them." than they are at Jamaica. 'I'his is the face of 1705, May 30. Governor Cornbury orders, affairs here accordino- to the best observation " the parsonage house and home lot to be re- I could make in the short time I have lived ])aired so that they may be tenantable, and here. the parsonage meadow fenced at the town's " The gall of bitterness of this Independent cost, and the church to be repaired, and what kidney is inconceivable—not unlike that of is needful about them all." Town meetings Demetrius and his associates at the conceived were held in the church. downfall of the great Diana of the Epiiesians. 1705, June 27. "The people here are all

We have a great work to go through, unruly stif}' Dissenters—not above three Church peo- beasts (with Daniel) to encounter, but we ple in tlie whole parish—all of them of the trust that the great God whose cause we rebellious offspring of '42. Brother Urquhart, stand for will enable us to go on. of Jamaica, and myself belong to one county, "The fathers of these people came from and the only English ministers on the Island. New England, and I need not tell you how We are the first that brake the ice amongst averse they of that country are to our C'hurcli this sturdy, obstinate people, who endeavor discipline. The people here being generally what in them lies to crush us in embryo ; very poor, and utterly averse to the service of but, blessed be Gml, by the propitious smiles the Church of England. The inhabitants of heaven and the particular countenance of transported themselves here from New Eng- my Lordship's Government, we keep above land, and have been ever since their first set- water, and, we thank God, have added to our tlement supplied by a ministry from there. churches." " I pulpit anj' one neces- " have neither nor 1706, April 7. Mr. Thomas writes : I sary for the administration of the Holy Eu- have by God's blessing advanced the number charist, and only the beat of a drum to call of my communicants from three to twenty- the people together. His Excellency Lord one, all of them rigid Dissenters, influenced Cornbury is a true nursing father to our against conformity to the Church by the infancy here, his countenance and protection strong bias of deep prejudice, inveteracy, and is never wanting to us, his being by inclina- a contrary education. I have the prospect of tion a true son of the Church moves him a plentiful harvest among them, having al-

zealously to support that wholly. If it liad ready waded, I hope, through the most for- not been for the countenance and support of midible difficulties." Lord Cornbury and his Government, it would 1707, April 22. Mr. Thomas writes that have been impossible to have settled a Church " Common Prayer Books are very much want- on the Island." ing to be given away, for though the people It appears that the possession of the church, cannot be prevailed upon to buy, (were they house and lands at Hempstead were willingly to be sold), yet being given away, they might surrendered by the Independent minister, in time be brought to make use of them. My

when demanded by Mr. Thomas. Lord Cornbury is very countenancing and as-

1705, April 33. Mr. Thomas writes that sisting to me, and it is by an order from him " The church is not only better attended now that this building (a gallery in the church)

than it ever was before, under the Dissenters, gets forward. He is truly our very good

according to their confession, but I have ad- friend : we want nothing that the countenance mitted to the communion at one time three. of Government can make us happy in." , ;

" The inhabitants of this county are gene- versaries, dissenters of all denominations,) [ rally Independents, and what are not so are chiefly through the prayer books sent by the either Quakers or of no professed religion at Venerable Society, whose charity was well all. The generality are averse to the disci- answered in that benefaction, consisting of pline of our Holy Mother the Church of Eng- two dozen prayer books, two dozen " Kings land, and enraged to see her ministers estab- Inventions of Man," two dozen " Dean of St. lished among them. Their prejudice of edu- ' Asaph's Faith and Practice of a Church of their England Man," and one " London Cases cation is our misfortune, our Church i bugbear, and to remove the averseness im- Abridged." " bibed with their first principles must be next 1716, July 21. The earmark of Mr. John to a miracle." Thomas is a crop on each ear." So he seems 1709. Mr. Thomas writes that "Though to have kept creatures to graze on the Plains. Hempstead had been settled above sixty 1717, " I have been a considerable time in tide years before my coming, and the people had these parts, rowing against wind and ; some sort of Dissenting ministers, yet for first in Pennsylvania, against the Quakers, above fifty-five years the sacrament had never and here about twelve years, against rigid In- been administered here. The oldest here dependents. I have always observed that could not remember to have seen or heard of the pious fraud of a caressing, well-modeled

its being celebrated." I have brought thirty- hospitality has captivated and inclined their three to full commanion of the Church, though affections more powerfully than the best-

at the first time of administering I could per- digested discourses out of the pulpit."

suade but three to receive. The young grow 1718, October 1. Mr. Thomas writes: up in miserable ignorance, and I can't cate- " The people did not know it to be their duty chise for want of a schoolmaster to teach chil- to communicate, having never heard it so dren to read." stated, nor seen the sacrament administered

it 1710, January 16. The Vestry pay to Job in any way whatever : nor indeed had ever Bedell 10s. a year for beating the drum on been administered, according to the testimony Sundays and other Church days, and to Daniel of the oldest inhabitants, at any time since Bedell 20s. for sweeping and cleaning the the settlement of the town, till my arrival,

church, taking care of it, and opening and embracing a period of more than half a cen- shutting the doors. tury of j'ears." 1710, December 3. "Nothing new or very 1720, February 17. Mr. Thomas thanks memorable since my last. All is well in my the Society for some books which have had a parish in general, and a happy continuance of very good influence on many of the most mutual accord and affection between me and thinking and solder part of the people. " my parishioners." 1722, April 20. Mr. Thomas writes : My 1712. Mr. Thomas writes to the Venerajjle last summer's sickness has produced a small Society that the children of Hempstead, for Dissenting meeting house in one part of my want of letters and education, are as wild, un- parish, [Fosters Meadow], but I thank God it

cultivated and unimproved as the soil was is only the scum that is concerned in it ; the

when their forefathers first had it, and re- people of figure and sub.stance being entirely quests that Mr. Thomas Gildersleeve be ap- of the Church's side. This seems a great fe- pointed catechist and schoolmaster. The licity to me, who at my first coming among Society grant him £10 yearly to teach the them found not three persons in the whole poorer children (with several others) reading, compass of the parish any way addicted to the writing and to cast accounts, at under 20s. Church, but all of them to the bitterest de-

yearly a head each. The Society also send gree prejudiced against it. It is the opinion paper for the use of the school. The Vestry of my best friends that if God will be pleased " write to the Venerable Society that : With- to enable me with health and strength to go out your bounty our children would have no on in my duty, this novel meeting and place, education. Our people are poor and settled like another phantom, will soon disappear distantly from one another. and come to nothing. The cat in the fable, 1715, February 17. Mr. Thomas writes transformed to a woman, could not at the that: "The Church is in a tolerably thriving sight of a mouse forget her ancient nature

condition (how powerfully opposed by its ad- so it is with some of these people." 6

1723, February 21. Mr. Thomas witliin Within, it is not ceiled overhead, but the eighteen months has baptized at least one sides are boarded with pine. There is no hundred and sixty, many of whom adults. pulpit, but a raised desk only, having a cloth, He inculcates in the people a sense of the and cushion of silk. A large table stands benefit and privileges of the sacraments, and before the desk, where the justices and lead- finds them in the main convinced of the ing men sit when they come to church. wholesomeuess and necessity of these ordi- There are no pews except one for the Govern- nances. or's Secretary, Mr. George Clarke. The rest 1734, October 1. " Pray, Good Sir, give of the church is filled with open benches. my humble duty to the Honorable Society, There is no fence around it, and the burial and assure them of my utmost fidelity in my l>lace is at some distance from it. It stands mission as far as lame limbs and a decrepid in the open road near a small brook which state of health will permit. My heart is runs between it and the parsonage house." warm and sound, though lodged, God knows, 1734, February 19. The Society receive in a crazy, broken carcase. Pray, tell them petitions from a great part of the inhabitants that like Epaminondas I shall fight upon the of Brookhaven for a minister of the Church stumps for that purest and best of Churches of England, which they have been destitute as long as God indulges me with the ieast of hitherto, of whom there is great necessity. ability to do it." While Mr. Wetmore, catechist, of New York, 1737, February 16. "A gratuity of £.jO is was at Brookhaven, he baptized two adults voted by the Venerable Society to the widow and seventeen children. At Easter he had of the late Rev. Mr. Thomas, missionaiyat eight communicants, since which five more Hempstead, in consideration of his long and have been added. In which place a consider- faithful services, upwards of twenty years." able number of the better sort are brought Mr. Thomas' will was made March 17, 1734, over to the Church, and there is a prospect of and proved October 38, 1726. He gives his gaining the whole town if a sober, prudent wife Margaret the management of his farm minister was settled among them. in Harrison's Purchase, Westchester County. 1735, February 18. Mr. Thomas Standard

He leaves a son John* [born October 2:3, 1708,] is appointed missionary to Brookhaven, at and two daughters, Margaret and Gloriana. £50 a year salary. His wife, his brother-in-law Edmund Smith, Cayjtain Jonn Tredwell and John Cornell of Kockaway, are the executors. The witnesses are Jeremiah Bedell, Elias Dorlin and William Willis. Tne last is probably the writer of 1735, May 35. Governor Burnet signs a the will. He had an undated codicil as to the mandate for the induction of Rev. Robert disposition of his negro boy Plato. The wit- Je/iney as rector of the parish of Hempstead. nesses to it were Katharine Cock, John Mor- 1736, February 17. £10 per year is granted ris and Ephraim Golding. to Mr. Daniel Denton, of Oysterbay, for teach- Mr. Thomas appears to have married Mar- ing poor children to read and in.structing garet Floyd, of Brookhaven, who was born them in the catechism. April 35, 1690. Edmund Smith married her 1737, The Society grant £50 gratuity to sister Susanna. Widow Thomas, in consideration of her hus- In 1706 Queen Anne gave the church a silk band's long and faithful services, upwards of carpet for the communion table, a silver chal- twenty years. ice and paten, a pulpit cloth, a large Bible, a 1737, March 37. Mr. Jenney's ear-mark is a Common Prayer, and book of Homilies. crop on the off ear and a slit in the end of the

The church into which Mr. Thomas was near ear and a nick under it. " inducted was described, in 1738, as An ordi- 1737, May 1. Mr. Jenney writes that he nary wooden building, forty feet long and baptized (in 1736) eleven persons, whereof twenty-six wide, the roof covered with cedar two were adults and one negro infant slave shingles and the sides clapboarded with oak. of his own, and has admitted six to the sacra- ment, all persons of piety and strict honesty, * John Thomas married Abigail Sands, a Quakeress, negro slave has all along preserved daughter of John Sands, living at the bottom of Cow one a who Neck, February 19, 1729, and lived at the Purchase. his character unblemished. 1728, February 21. Mr. Jenney, since his is so much increased that the old church can- last, has baptized eight adults and twenty- not contain it, and therefore the people have four infants, two of whom neorro slaves. He come to the resolution to build a new one, and has one negro communicant, and his own es])ecially as the old church is not worth en- two negroes were baptized in their infancy, larging. They have already made great and shall be carefully instructed while he progress in the work, and raised a frame of hath them. timber fifty feet long and thirty six feet wide, 1728, February 21. Daniel Denton reports with a steeple, and hope to finish it so as to about twenty nine scholars whom he teaches, be fit for service by September next. It is with success, and that he likewise teaches to fitted with galleries and will be able to hold read and instructs in the Church catechism the congregation conveniently. He baptized, three negroes as often as they can get time to in 1733, twenty-six children and two adults. come to him. 1734, April 29. Rev. Isaac Brown, mis- 1728, June 27. Mr. Jenney writes that sionary at Brookhaven, writes that he arrived "The Church's right to all this (the parson- at his parish December 14th last, where he age, &c.,) is hotly disputed, and I am often hath continued to perform Divine service threatened with an ejectment, (1) by the heirs twice every Lord's day. He has good reason of one Ogden, from whom the purchase was to believe the church is in a growing state, made; (3) by the Presbyterians, who plead, and that many dissenters who had a dislike from the purchase having been made by them to the Common Prayer are come into a good before any church was settled here, and from liking of it. He wishes some Common Prayer their minister having been long in possession Books sent him to disperse among the poorer (o) by the Qua- people who are not able to buy. He has dis- of it, that it belongs to them ; kers, who are a great body of people, and tributed almost all the small tracts the So- argue that it belongs to them, and ought to ciety sent him, which were received thank- be hired out from time to time, as the major fully by the people. part of the freeholders can agree. The body The church wardens and vestry of Caroline of the Presbyterians live here in the town Church, in Brookhaven, return thanks to the spot, but they are so poor and few that it is Society for sending Mr. Brown there, agreea- with difficulty they can maintain their minis- ble to their request. They find him well ter, and we daily expect he' will leave them." qualified for the work he is engaged in. 1729, February 20. Mr. Jenney writes that They contribute £16, New York currency, he preaches every Sunday morning and cate- towards his better support, and promise to chises, and reads lectures on the catechism advance their subscriptions as soon as they every Sunday afternoon—every third Sun- have finished the church they are now build- day at Oysterbay, and the other two at Hemp- ing. stead, at both which places he has an encour 1735, February 20. Mr. Jenney proceeds

aging number of hearers. He has baptized, with success in the duties of his mission : the last half year, in Hempstead, one woman, preaches two Sundays at Hempstead and every eighteen children, and two'hegro children. third Sunday at Oysterbay. At Hempstead, The Society grant to Mr. Campbell, mission- where he resides, he has a numerous congre-

ary at Brookhaven, £60. gation when the weather permits ; but many 1731, February 18. £70 to Mr. Campbell, live very far from the church, and cannot, missionary at Brookhaven. £10 each to Gil- without great inconvenience and some danger, dersleeve and Denton. attend in very bad weather. The people are 1782, February 16. £10 to Mr. [Thomas] building a new church, the old one being too Keeble, schoolmaster at Oysterbay. £I0 to small and also ruinous. Governor Cosby en- Mr. Davies, missionary at South Hampton. couraged and promoted the work very much. 1733, February 15. £10 each to Mr. Kee- The church is named St. George's, and was ble and Davies, and £60 to Mr. Brown, mis- accordingly opened on that day with Divine

sionary at Brookhaven. service ; on which occasion His Excellency

1734, June 3. Mr. Jenney writes the Soci- and a great number of ladies and gentlemen ety that he proceeds in the performance of his were present. The building is fifty feet long duty with success, both at Hempstead and besides the steeple, and thirty-six feet wide. Oysterbay. In Hempstead his congregation The steeple is fourteen feet square. It has a — ;

8 spire and gilded ball about one liuudred feet ladies of the city of New York, set out for from the ground. The pitch of the ceiling Hempstead, to be present at the consecration within is about twentj'-three feet. It is a of the church lately erected there. About six timber frame covered with cedar shingles; it miles west of Jamaica he was met by the is partly pewed already and soon will be com- troops of horse, who escorted him to Jamaica, pletely pewed. The congregation is very nu- where a handsome dinner was provided for merous, and there are many poor people of it. all the company. In the afternoon he pro- They very much want Common Prayer Books, ceeded to Hempstead, (escorted as before), as not being able to purchase. Several of where he arrived in the evening, and was en- these poor people have been with him beg- tertained in a very handsome manner by the ging books, and some negroes, too, who can Rev. Robert Jenney, minister of that place.

read, were very desirous of having them ; and The next day, being St. George's Day, the lie wishes more sent him. Since his last ac- regiment of militia and troop being drawn up count he has baptized thirty two, whereof one on either side, from Mr. Jenney's house to the adult and one child were negro slaves; of the church. His Excellency, attended by the most thirty remaining, eight were adults and the considerable gentlemen of the county, walked rest children. to the church, where a very excellent sermon 1735, February 20. Mr. Brown, of Brook- was preached on the occasion, before a most haven, writes that he takes diligent care of crowded audience, by the Rev. Mr. Jenney, " his parish ; six have been added to his com- from Psalm Ixxxiv, 1,2: How amiable are municants, and he has baptized fifteen infants. Thy tabernacles," &c. He has lately preached two sermons at South- After Divine service His Excellency re- old, fifty miles distant eastwards, where he viewed the regiment of militia and troops had upwards of one hundred hearers, well- standing under arms, and expressed a partic- disposed persons. ular satisfaction on the appearance both of the officers and men. His excellency was after- Erection of a New Church. wards entertained in a splendid manner by 1734. April 2. John Mott and Thomas Gil- Colonel Tredwell, commander of the regi- dersleeve, by order of the town, set apart half ment, and in the evening by Colonel Corn- an acre for a new church, west of the old one. well, of Rockaway, in the same manner. The carpenter gave the vestry a scantling of The next day the Governor returned, and the timber. Anthony Yelverton, the head arrived in town in good health, pleased with workman on the church, had 4s. Gd. a day the reception he everywhere met with from and found. He boarded at Richard Bedell's. all ranks, with the extraordinary concourse His apprentices had, some 4s., some 2s. per of people from all parts on the occasion, and day. Joseph Hall, Sr., worked with the car with the handsome appearance of the militia, penters, at 48. 3d. a day and found himself. both horse and foot. Neic York Gazette. His sons, Joseph, Benjamin and John also A generous collection was made for the assisted. church on this occasion. The Governor gave

At first the was only half pewed arms," painted and gilded ; Secre- church ; the King's there were eighteen pews, presumably square crimson damask set of furniture ; tary Clarke, a

No. 1 was given to George C'larke, Secretary for the communion-table, pulpit and desk to the Governor, who lived at Hyde Park and and John Marsh a silver basin for baptism. was a benefactor to the church. The Rev. Mr. Vesey and his people had

1734, November 1. At a town meeting the already contributed about £50. majority voted to move the seats out of the old church into the new. 1735, June 27. Name of petitioners for the

charter of the church : Consecration op St. George's Chttrch. IJev. Robert Jenney. Rector, James Albertiis, Robert Marvin, 1735. On Tuesday, April 23, His Excel- George Biilden, Jacamiah Mitchell, lency our Governor, with his lady and family, Gerhardus Clowes, Clerk Joseph Mott, of Vestry. Charles Peters, attended by his son-in-law and lady, Secretary William Cornel l.Sr.& Jr.. James Pine, Sr., John Cornell, Jr., John Roe. Justice Delancey, Clarke, Chief Rev. Mr. Ve- John Cornell. Micah Smith, say, some of the clergy, and a great many of Richard Cornell, Jr., Peter Smith, Jr., William Cornell, Timothy Smith, the principal merchants and gentlemen and Thomas Cornell, Jr., Peter Smith, Isaac Germon, Jacob Smith. ' more than thirty years old and three of hi* Thomas Gildersleeve, Joseph Smith, (}eors:e Gildersleeve, Silas Smith, children, and has baptized in his own parish Daniel Hewlett, Kobert Sutton, twelve infants in the preceeding half year, James Hugins, Richard Thome. Esq., i

Joseph Langdon, Joseph Thome, Esq., i and will always make it the study of his life William Langdon, Thomas Williams. Thomas Lee, to promote the interests of religion to the The Governor, July 23d, presented His utmost of his abilities.

' September 23. Rev. Isaac Brown Majesty's Royal Charter of Incorporation, by 1739, the Society that he continues diligent the name of the " Rector and inhabitants of assures the care of his parish and steadily performs the parish of Hempstead, in communion of in

Divine service twice every Sunday ; but he the Church of England as by law established." has some reason to fear that enthusiasm is 1735-6. Thomas Jecocks was clerk and creeping into it, chiefly by means of Barclay's sexton, at 3o8. a year. Apology for the Quakers, which hath lately Mr. Jenney writes (May 5, 1737.) that he been sent over and industriously sjtread among has received the box of Common Prayer Books the people, who seem (many of them) but too and has distributed them where he thought well pleased with the book, which is given them most wanted, and received for the Soci- out among the Quakers to be an unanswera- ety humble thanks from every one of the re- ble piece. ceivers of them. He baptized within the last £10 each are granted to Messrs. Gilder- year thirty-two, viz.: three adults (one a sleeve and Keeble, schoolmasters. negro man slave) and twenty-nine infants. 1739. Money paid for pews: Daniel Kis- 1737 to 1745, Daniel Patrean was clerk for sam, £11 ; Justice Lewis Hewlett. £12 ; Henry setting the Psalms. Allen, £13; John Hewlett, £5 ; Daniel Hew- John Marsh left the church a legacy of lett, £5.

£100 : £25 of it was given for a bell ; the rest 1739—45. Thomas Jones was sexton, at 35s. of the money went toward repairing the a year. church, house and yard fence. 1740. John Rowland finished the steeple 1737, November 14. Mr. Keeble writes and arched it from post to post. from Oysterbay that he has twenty seven 1740, April 21. Mr. Jenney writes that he scholars under his care, and has received the proceeds carefully in his duty, and has a very Society's present of catechisms, and returns encouraging congregation. He has baptized his humble thanks. within the half year twenty persons, of whom 1738, March 25. Mr. Jenney writes that two are adults and ten negro children. He the year 1737 has offered nothing remarkable recommends and transmits a petition of the in his parish. He baptized thirty-five, of inhabitants of Hempstead, that Mr. Thomas whom five were adults and one a young negro Temple* be appointed schoolmaster there in slave. He officiates, as usual, two Sundays at place of Mr. Gildersleeve, deceased. Mr. Tem-

Hempstead and the third at Oysterbay. At ple is well qualified, and has taught school Hempstead he has a large congregation, when many years in the neighborhood, with a good weather permits, the larger part of his flock character. living a great way from the church, many of 1741. Mr. Jenney went to England. them twelve or thirteen miles; but at Oyster- Jenney was born in Ireland, 1688, educated bay he meets not with the same encourage- at Trinity College, Dublin, ordained priest ment, owing, as he supposes, to the want of a 1710, and was chaplain in the navy till 1714, resident missionary among them. when he became an assistant in Christ Church, 1738, May 24. Rev. Isaac Brown, mission- Philadelphia, and in 1715 in Trinity Church, ary at Brookhaven, writes from Boston that New York. From 1717 to 1722, he was chap-

he reads prayers and preaches twice every lain in the Fort at New York ; then rector of Sunday in his parish, and diligently performs the church at Rye, whence, in 1725, he came the other duties of his function. In his jour- * In 17:31, Mr. Temple was schoolmaster at Jamaica. ney towards Boston he read prayers at Shelter From 17:39 to 1753 he was employed in Hempstead. In Island, where, as far as he could learn, the 1744, he married Isabella Thorne. and in 1753 the Widow Denton. In 1756 we find him in the alms- service of the Church of England had never house. In 1706 Mr. Alexander Baird was licensed by been performed, and almost all inhabit- the Lord Cornbury to teach a school [at Fosters Meadow]

ants came to it ; and there he baptized a man in Hempstead. ;1

10 to Hempstead, wliere his wife (Sarah) died, en to secure it from any farther damage, and to Christmas. l7oS. In 1742. he was chosen rec- prosecute those who have pulled and carried tor of Christ Chnrch. Philadelphia, where he away a greater part of it. died Januarv 5, 1762. childless. His second 1744, February 17. Rev. Mr. Brown sends

wife I Joanna Elizabeth) survived him onlv six an account of the increase of his congregation. days. He had a fit of the dead palsy, and for 1745, February 21. Mr. James Lyons, a over five years, owing to his great bodily in- laborious and diligent itinerant missionary in disposition, was allowed an assistant in his Connecticut, was removed by the Society to ministrations. Brof^khaven. and granted £50. 1746, March 26 and September 30. Mr. Seabury writes that the Churcn manifestly gets ground in the esteem of the people, but

that it is with great dilEculty that they are 17-12. December 7. The province of Xew brought to the sacrament of the Lords Sup- York is troubled from Methodism and the per. However, he had gained two new com- Xew Light, in which a deep tincture of enthu- municants within the last half year, and has siasm appeared, which has induced many baptized many adults, after proper instruction, serious-thinking dissenters there also to come as well as a great many children, both white to OUT Chnrch to worship God in sobriety and and black, (viz.: forty-six children and eight truth. Dr. is Jenney removed by the Lord adults), within the preceeding year. It would Bishop of London to Philadelphia, and the be a gentiine work of charity to put Common churchwardens and vestry have called Rev. Prayer Books and Catechisms into the hands Mr. Seabury. missionary at Xew London, to of such as are capable of properly using them, be their minister, in virtue of a law of the the better to enable them to join in the public province, and he has accepted, on condition worship. that it be approved by the Society, which Mr. The Society will send some books immedi- Vesey recommends, as it will very much con- ately.*

tribute I to the peace and edification of the 1747, July 30. The vestry agree to relieve good people at Hempstead. ] James Wood, the clerk, from service in the

' 114.2. December 10. Bev. Samuel Seabury train-bands. was inducted as rector by the Rev. Mr. Col- In 174S, Mr. Seabury informed the Society of gan, Jamaica. Mr. Jenney having resigned that " at Huntington a considerable number on ;?\ ovember 26ih. of people had conformed and built a church Mr. Seabury had been a Congregational for the worship of God according to the lit-

minister : but having doubts of the validity urgy of the Church of England ; that he had of his ordination, he conformed and went to frequently officiated there, and at their re- England to obtain orders at the hands of the quest his son Samuel read prayers and ser- Bishop of London. He took the following tnons for them, under his direction. He re- letter to the Secretary of the Society : quested that his son be appointed catechist, BosTos. 3oD Maech, IT^iW. with some small allowance.'" Sib : —This -waits upon the Sociery in the hand? of The Society grant him £10 a year. one Mr. Seabnrr. a person who npon rme aud regrilar coETicnon is oome into the bosom of our excellenr 1748, February 17. £10 are allowed to Mr. Ctureh, and now hnmblr desires a Mission from the Samuel Seabury, catechist at Huntington. Socierr in her service. £10 are allowed to Thomas Temple, school- Mr acquaintance with him is earlier than my own master at Hempstead. Mission, and I have had farther opportunity of in- forming myself of him from the Dissenters among 1749, September. Henry Lloyd started & whom he has preached, and I find everything in favor subscription, by giving £145, toward building of his sobriety and good conduct, for which reason he a church at Huntington. £5 were paid John haih my ardent wishes of success in tliis afljair, and Davis for the site. my intercessions for him to the Society, with the 14. Chnrch, at Oyster- deepest humility and resj>e>ct due from their and your 1750, June Christ obedient.

11

1751, AogTist 19. A gallery is to be puE in bat &t OvsEerbar pmblSe aeedaffs *r& luiM- Hempei*^ charch, on soath and west aides, plied, and ire ireqneBtly hdi by nif!!^ by a 1751. Aa^oat: 19. Sabecripiicms for aeetinar aeeu callei Separaxe AnabapcKS, ae di^ are a gallery ehieftj m^e ap by a aepaxaskm fni^ tfae did Tjvr.i A"l2&j. £10 Joseph KiiHHK, Anabaptiscc. wboee ^^^ib^ a£ Oy atfetb^ is J -i.:- Mi-:;::. JofaaBrovB, M w^l Bigh bcok^ op by tb^ sepaixtsos, "wiaA. Ri^-ir-i T^ivr::-. 51 James Wood, •-•<-- T,^^-- F §i SdBsel SeaboTT, faatk BO settled teaeker. ba£ is fteqaeBsIy t^ B-rr-;i:i;- Hr-v^e: 2 iaieab Jnhaaon. a.» I.M) Semie! Pm^e. ti;ed by traTeim^ ooes. He had

I VafesGae H. Pewrs, ' thirty-one cfctkLreB. and tMrte^^': /.":: Pe:er-7 Egbert Xarrin, 3 i.ialts in tlie preeeedingr twelve ; ^ - - Joseph Kissam amd Benjamin Hewl n. umber cc _/ ' - -

pied pew No. 10. I75y. 1 -

' 17->j. ilareh. 25. Mr. Seabnry writes that vent a the increase of the conorre^auion at Hemp- 17^ T ^^^^ TT^ P-jier stead had broa^ht them to a resolation ofaret.:

erecting galleries in the charch. which were congr- _

- then almost completed, and his commnnicatnis 17*^ 1 ' - Seabury wrixes thas

had increased to seventy-eight. he ha- : - - _ -^- - bring sevt^al 1755. Febrnary 21. Mr. Seabsiry writes adalts to es wiH adorn i

' that the Cuoreh in the province of Xew York. 'Jz--- - — . _ IS well glled,

is truly militant, being eontinoally artacfced ; ysterbay. though

on one side or the other: sometimesbythe Ren;:~-ei: - tz ^-th an Independent enemies of Revelation, at other times by the preacher, ari in baj Anabaptisc and

wild enthusiasts: but in the midst of them: Separate Baptis" - ire eotiSEantly heid. irue religion gains ground, and his churches The church i _""" "^h^^^ he caa of Hemp'Siead. Ovsterbay and Huntington are attend but seldcm. > crowded in got>i weather. cos members alwaj^ 1756. April 19. Mr. Seabury writes that minister.

* his parish in general is in a gixrd stare, and At Hem^ptstead ar^ - Its : tiie at the request of the petjple of Duchess Coonty namber of aduirs rar was

=-- - he had made them a vist. staid six davs and :— " iren

preached four times to large assemblies. - 1 -

1756-S. Miss Millicent Betts ijccupied half : n-.^. ~e-e:i:7-:-^

of Xo. 1. . . Zn:^Iind. sevez 1757. May 31. £1 a year for the pa!=t year. Ti^e rest ire dis?en:-=r?. exie;; i rU*

and 25s. a year for next year, is allowed to 17'52, Mirrl C ' ^^r >eabary writes tli^

Xewpjrt. the sexton, i probably Mr. Seabury's under Gr-i : t happy astz^n£B<

' slave), for sweeping and keeping the church in hringir r - apasHi. vbo a& ap- clean, and for his service on Sundays in ring- peared pror-er.j a3=cted on theoeeaam. Oae ing the belL He is to demand 2s. for tolling of them in rarticolar. Jceeph ChccgcaHaiL. de- a funeral belx. clared pabliclj "I:ai it was aft^ etresMJarfng 1757. Jaeob Johnson is to build anew the zi ~:

- fence around the church. _ - :h*

175S. April 1-5. Mr. Seafcurv. Sr.. inf<»ms ^ r ' _;uca

the Society that he had extended his misHon : j his wife

and taken I*uches5 Countr onder lus care. an»i - _

He had visited them, four times aad peached He - - to very crowded audiences. y^LT. thir:; 1759. April 5. Mr. Seabozy liad latelv 17S2- S-

visited Duchess County aad fbaad tbem at- that he - tentive to Divine worship. The war pievHits County, wn-. - them from pr'j'viding means for a missionary, very crowded aseenUies. and three week " 1759. April 5. Mr. Seabury writes that at dajs. " -s of the o?uncy.and bap- Hempstead no other place is kept up for pub- tizee _:rtv-three cMIdi^L He

lie worship except a Quaker's nii^CiBg boose : has also j rii.:.^^i :^o Sondajs to the pesfje ,

r of Huntington, whose application for a mis- The vestry beg the Society to consider them sionary lie begs leave to reconunend. The still in the number of their missions, and to people of Huntington, as appears by their permit them to look out for some proper own petition and letters from Dr. Johnson person to succeed their late worthy minister. and others, liave already erected an edifice for In the meantime Mr. Seabury, of Jamaica, the worship of God according to the liturgy promises to give them all the assistance in of the Church of England, and purchased a his power.

valuable house and glebe worth about £200, 1765, October 1. Mr. Seabury writes that New York currency, which they are ready to the parish of Hempstead being vacant bj the make a conveyance of for the use of the death of his father, he has been obliged some- church at Huntington forever, hoping to have times to leave his own people to assist in leave, within a year or two, to send over a supplying that mission, where he has baptized candidate for holy orders. ten children. Mr. Seabury adds that his own people con- Tlie church wardens and vestry have called tinue to attend Divine service in great num- Mr. Cutting, (who was licensed by the Bishop bers, and as usual at Oysterbay, where one of of London, December 21, 1763), and petitioned

the Separate Anabaptist assemblies is broken the Society that he be removed thither ; but up and their credit with the people much de- his removal from New Brunswick, being at- clined. He has baptized, this half year, two tended with some difficulty,, is not yet deter- adults and fifty-three children, making in the mined. whole, since he came into the mission, one 1765, February 15. £10 are allowed Mr. E. thousand and thirty-two baptisms. Kneeland, catechist at Huntington. £50 17G3, April ^10. Mr. Ebenezer Kneeland, are granted to Mr. James Lyons, missionary late catechist at Flushing, has undertaken, at Brookhaven. with the advice of Mr. Seabury, Sr., the office Mr. Seabury has taken one journey to Islip, of reader at Huntington. [Mr. Kneeland died preached there, on a week day, to a large con- in April, 1777.] gregation, and baptized four white children, 1764, February 17. In Huntington, which and one negro adult and five negro children. Dr. Johnson recommends for a mission, there

are about forty families ; and if Oysterbay was annexed, thirty or forty more; but on the south side of Long Island, to which they ex- tend, there are not less than one hundred who have no teacher of any sort. ADMISSION AND INSTITUTION.

The number of inhabitants of Hempstead is I, Sir Henry Moore. Baronet. Captain-General and ^^"^'^""""""-'^"'"'^^ '" """^ °^''^'' ^'^^ Province of New six thousand, of whom seven hundred and i

,. the territories depending thereon, in Aiuer- „. ,, , ,. , ^, , r X-, i York and fifty profess themselves of the Church of Eng- , .^,^ chancellor and Vice-Admiral of the same. * *

land ; the remainder are dissenters, a * * except ; have Admitted our beloved in Christ, Leonard very few heathens and Indians. Mr. Seabury Cutting, clersrymau. to the Rectory of the Parish and j Hempstead, in Queens County, to baptized, within the year, three adults and|P""*h Ch"''cli »f .,.,.... ^ , . ^, ,1 . which he was presented by the Church-Wardens and thirty•' six infants, makinff in the who e,' since i„ . ., . i ^ u» i . '^ Vestrvmen, the true and undoubted patrons ofpasaid

he came into this mission, one thousand and ! parish vacant, it is said, by the natural death of Sam- * * * * eeventy-one ; and his communicants are sixty- ; uel Seabury, the last incumbent there;

three. At his request, a number of Comtiion ' ""fl Have Instituted him into the Rectory of said

' Parish Parish, with all their rights, mem- r)„ ...... -D 1. » 4. 1 J- i -1 .„^ Church and Frayer liooks were sent to be distributed i ^ . , •' bers and, appurtenances, observing the laws and^ canons poor. among the of right iu that behalf requiring to be observed. * * 1764, June 18. Cloth is to be bought for a Given the 24th day of July Anno Domini. 17e6. funeral pall for the church. H. MOORE. 1764, July 12. Rev. Samuel Seabury, of 1766, August 11. Rev. Leonard Cutting Jamaica, acquaints the Society with the death was inducted rector by the Rev. Samuel Sea- of his father, at Hempstead, by whose death bury, of Jamaica, in presence of Daniel Kissam,

that laborious and extensive parish is become Timothy Smith, James Wood, John Peters,

I vacant, and a very large congregation of George Watts, James Turner, Leffert Haga- decent and well-behaved people left desti- wout, George Ryerson, Adam Seabury, Cor- Ostrandt and others. tute. ! nelius Van 13

1767-74. The salary of Jonathan Gilder- that there are in Hempstead eighty or ninety sleeve, sexton, is raised from 27s. a year to £2. families. The new school to the south of 1767, April 9. Mr. Cutting, from Hemp- Hempstead was opened June 22, 1769, by Mr. stead, with pleasure acquaints the Society William Leaky, who had before taught in that his people testify their gratitude for the several places with a good character, and the continuance of the missionaries amonir them, Society have accordingly appointed him, with by endeavoring to render their missionaries' a grant of £10. Mr. Leaky left in 1771, hav- situation in every respect easy and comforta- ing found a more profitable school. ble. Their church is in general well filled, Mr. James Greaton is appointed missionary and persons of different denominations are at Huntington, with an allowance of £40. He very frequent in their attendance, and behave was licensed January 28, 1760, by the Bishop devoutly. There are in Hempstead about of London. eighty or ninety families, professed members 1773, January 13. Mr. Greaton's account of the Church of England, beside the Dutch, of his mission at Huntington was a very ac- who are numerous and declare their regard ceptable one to the Society. They lament his cir- for it. Numbers of adults have applied to death, which has since happened, and the him concerning baptism, whom he hopes soon cumstances of his family, which have been to convince of the sacredness and expediency represented to them as necessitous. of that holy institution. 1773, Died, April 17, at Huntington, after

1768, January 7. Mr. Cutting writes that a short illness, (said to be attended with fits), his new mission is a large one. He thinks the Rev. Mr. James Greaton, Episcopal min- the people of his parish to be civil, hospitable ister at that place, and formerly of Christ and grateful, and mentions one act of their Church, Boston. gratitude, in building a house, at their own 1774, December 29. Last Sunday sennit, at expense, for the widow of their late worthy Huntington, B. Y. Prime, M. D., was married missionary. His church is large and in gen to the amiable Mrs. Mary, [Wheelwright], eral full. The spot where he lives is sur- relict of the Rev. James Greaton. rounded with Presbyterians, who are kind 1775, February 17. Mr. Cutting lives on and obliging neighbors, sober and pious in very amicable terms with the dissenters. In their conversation, and averse to religious the course of the year he has baptized thirty- animosities. Great numbers remain unbap- six children and seven adults, and admitted tized, owing to the principles of Quakerism six men communicants. He hath at last which prevailed there so long. To the south found out a person (Mr. John Lefferts, a per- of Hempstead are many inhabitants who are son of character,) to undertake the school willing to be instructed and among whom he erected by the Society to the south of Hemp- recommendation the Soci- frequently officiates on week days ; but being stead, and upon his a very indigent people they have not the abil- ety have appointed him schoolmaster, with ity to get their children instructed, nor indeed the usual salary, £10. the opportunity, there being no schoolmaster, 1775, February 17. A petition hath very which he thinks would be a real blessing in lately been received from the churchwardens, those parts. The Society, being of the same vestry and professors of the Church in Hunt- opinion, have desired Mr. Cutting to acquaint ington, Brookhaven, Islip and Queens Village, them at what place he wished a school to be requesting the appointment of a missionary room of their late worthy pastor, Mr. fixed ; and if he can procure a worthy and fit in the man, he has their leave to employ him. Greaton, with the former allowance from the At Oysterbay the church (which still re- Society, to which they hope they shall be able considering the mains unfinished) is in general well filled to add £20 ; but the Society, with constant, serious and devout people, but proposed subscription as insufficient, nor prop- not equal in numbers to those of other de- erly engaged for on the part of the petition- [ nominations. ers, have thought it advisable for the present Since April he has at Hempstead baptized to postpone the application. four adults and twenty-seven children, and 1776, January 9. Mr. Cutting says that admitted two new communicants. Mr. Lefferts continued but a quarter of a year 1770, February 19. Mr. Cutting, in a sec- at his school, and that he hath no encourage- ond letter sent within the year, has observed ment to attempt a supply of the vacancy. 14

This cliurch continues in its usual state. He and generously relinquished all pretensions has baptized thirty-three children and eight to it, and said the congregation sbould not adults, and admitted five new communicants. be deprived of public worship for an inconsid- Owing to the general disturbance in the erable inconvenience to the army. The vestry Colonies, the Society say the accounts are thank him for his polite behavior. short and imperfect. 1780. May IG. Mr. Cutting and the church 1777, January 6. The Society have re- wardens waited on Colonel Birch and com- ceived one letter from Mr. Cutting, whence plained of an outrage committed against the they learn that his church at Hempstead had church during Divine service on Whitsunday, escaped better than was expected, but that he May 14th, by Cornet Searle, of the 17th was obliged to shut it up for three Sundays Dragoons, and begged redress for it in the before the arrival of the King's troops, and name of the congregation, and protection in that in the foregoing year he had not attended future, that the congregation may attend the at Huntington, thinking it not advisable to worship of God in peace and security. go out of his own parish. Since his last he The cornet was compelled to send in a has baptized one negro child and twenty-five written apology. whites, and five white adults and one negro 1780, July 20. Mr. John Sayre writes that, woman. in compliance with the wishes of the Society,

1779. John Van Nostrand was clerk, at £5 he went to the assistance of tlie mission at per year, with the vestry's thanks for past Huntington twice, and preached, baptized the services. children, visited the sick, and gave notice of 1779. LefFert Hagawout, treasurer, reported his intention to administer the sacrament on that he had £8 in paper (which was worth- a future day ; but the next night but one after less) and £25 in gold and silver. he was gone, the house where he lodged was 1779, September 30. Rev. Mr. William searclied by an armed party from Connecticut, Walter, a refugee from Boston, writes: "I who having neither plundered nor insulted have visited Huntington once. I was glad to the family, he conjectured that he was the find the state of that mission so much better object of their search, and tlierefore he has than I had expected. The church and par- been afraid to venture there again. sonage house are in good repair, but few of 1781, February 16. Mr. Cutting has writ- the members have been driven away by the ten one letter to the Society, in which he ob- rage of this rebellion, and their places have serves that confusion and tumult are not at been abundantly supplied by refugees from all favorable to religion, and the inhabitants the Continent, who have taken up their resi- of Hempstead being, many of them, in the dence in this pleasing township. If we add King's service, and frequently employed on to this the ruinous state of the meeting-house Sundays, are prevented from their regular and the fliglit of the dissenting minister, attendance on Divine service; but that in many of whose parishioners, I am told, highly time the church is pretty well filled summer ; disapproved of his inflammatory preachments, and upon the whole, he thinks that the church and would willingly join to the more sober has by no means lost ground in these factious and judicious order of the Church of England, times. He goes to Huntington as often as he I cannot help thinking the present a very can consistently with his safety, and baptizes favorable opportunity of building up and es- the children. Since his last he had baptized tablishing a flourishing church in this place, forty-nine, and had five new communicants. if a prudent and sensible clergyman could be He complains of the great advance in all pro- found, who would devote himself to the serv- visions, which bears the more hard upon him ice of the people." as he receives now nothing from his people, 1780, February 4. The British commander nor for two years past the small allowance in-chief asks of Cutting a part of the church that was made by Act of Assembly. for a granary. Dr. Samuel Martin and LefFert 1781. Mr. Cutting writes that the Loyal- Hagawout were appointed by the vestry to ists suffer more from the King's troops than wait on Colonel Birch, the commandant at they did from the Insurgents. " We have Hempstead, and represent the situation and nothing that we can call our own." He order of the church. When informed of the especially complains that, having bought a nature of the building, Colonel Birch politely house and twenty five acres of land, near the 15 town spot, it was taken last winter by the 1785, November 3d, Thursday. Bishop British commandant and used as a hospital Seabury, in St. George's Church, ordained for the 17th Dragoons, till July or August, John Lowe, from Virginia, being the first or- and no rent allowed him. They left it in a dination in this State. The assembly was ruinous condition, merely saying they had no numerous. further use for it. Since then he has repaired 1785-6. Jonathan Gildersleeve is sexton, the house and let it, with one acre, to a tenant, Mr. Throop had been clerk. The bell, being for £50 a year. It had fourteen acres of win- extremely bad, had to be carted to and from ter grain on it, which is much damaged, the Brooklyn. house being in the midst of it. On October 1786. Hendrick Onderdonk, who became 28th, by order of the commanding officer of connected with the church a little before 1770, the 17th Dragoons, the house was a second was sent as lay delegate to the Diocesan Con- time taken, broken open and entered by vio- vention. lence, for a hospital. 1787-9. Jacob Bedell was clerk, at £5 a Mr. Cutting petitions the British command- year. ing officer at New York that the house be re- 1788. John Latham was clerk to the ves- stored or the rent paid, as he bought the farm try. Leffert Hagawout is thanked for his past to eke out his ill-paid salary, and went in services, on retiring from the vestry. debt for it. 1789. Silvanus Bedell is appointed clerk, The 17th Dragoons came to Hempstead in provided he proves satisfactory. 1778, writes Mr. Cutting, and the command- 1790. Mr. D. Kissam offers to be clerk, if ant, after sundry acts of violence and oppres Bedell won't serve. sion by which I suffered, he moved a public 1790, October 3. Died at Brookhaven, the building which he used as a guardhouse to Rev. James Lyons, aged about ninety. He the school-house, and thus broke np the was a zealous advocate for the Episcopal school. Church, and has left a handsome estate to his

1781, December 9. Timothy Wetmore, a surviving relatives. refugee, kept school at Hempstead. At the outbreak of the Revolution, Mr. 1782, April 11. Mr. Cutting complains to Lyons sided with the King, and took every Captain Archdale, commandant at Hempstead, method to seduce the ignorant and counteract of an outrageous insult, on Saturday night the measures recommended by Congress for by violently breaking open the doors of the redress of grievances. August 11, 1775, he was church by Cornet Sinclair, Lloyd, Delancey put under guard in General Wooster's camp. and others. Mr. Cutting's reception was not 1799, May 15. Mr. Rattoone declined a satisfactory. The captain, however, said he call, for sundry reasons which attached him gave the soldiers a severe lecture.* to Jamaica. 1783, February 21. Mr. Cutting has writ- 1804. Richard Wiggins was clerk. ten one letter wherein he remarks that occur- Rev. Mr. Hart, rector from 1801 to 1829, rences in an old mission are not very various. was of an inventive turn of mind and much He continues in his duty, and within the year given to mechanical contrivances. He in- he had baptized one hundred and nine, viz.: vented a machine for shearing cloth, and went sixty-six children and ten adults in his own over to England to secure a patent for it. for making brooms. mission ; nine children and three adults at He also got up a machine boarding school. Among his Huntington ; the rest were the children of He also kept a Hessian Yagers and of the 17th Light Dra- teachers were Adam Empie (1811) and Mr. goons. Noble (1813). These, with Eli Wheeler, (1814), also officiated on Sundays in the church, being in deacon's orders. 1813, March 2. The vestry of St. George's Church need $100 to enable them to pay Rev. March 3, 1785. Thomas Lambert Moore Birdseye Glover Noble for ministerial services, was inducted. and solicit the friends of the church to pay to the several collectors what they think their * Mr. Cutting had, in 1776, removed the furniture of just proportion. The present subscription for the church and the King's coat of arms, and concealed them in his own house. the rector's yearly salary is about |350, the —

16 proportion of eacli will be about one-tliird of 1739, May 24. Extract from T. Keble's their yearly subscription. If " the money col- letter, at Oysterbay : There are six schools lected overruns the sum immediately wanted, kept in this township—one in the town, one the overplus shall be applied to procure other at Norwich, one at Matinecock, one at Mus- assistant services (as opportunity may offer) in queto Cove, one at Cedar Swamp, and one at our churches. Jericho. At times there are several more Subscribers" Names. places where schools are kept. The masters £ 8. d. £ s. d. generally that teach in them are necessitous Dr. Benj. Tredwell, 1 Samuel Poole, 2 8 traveling persons, so that there is seldom John Tredwell, 1 Johu Peters, 4 Benjamin Piatt, 1 Jonas Denton, 2 8 school kept above one-quarter of a year or one- Samuel Valentine, 2 8 half a year at a place. I cannot hear that any

Received May 8, 1813, from Mr. Benjamin of them are of any denomination, and but two

Tredwell, $9, on account of the above sub- of the masters that teach in them ; the one at scription for Itev. Seth Hart. Jericho goes under the denomination of a Qua- Wm. H. Hart. ker, and the other, at Cedar Swamp, calls himself Churchman. Many people of this townspot and township are of no denomina- tion. Some go constant to church and others to all sorts of meetings and sects that fall in

their way ; and some seldom go to any, but One Sunday, as the people were cominor out are so infatuated in the spirit of enthusiasm, of church, an itinerant Methodist preacher, and say that their inward guide will teach who had found his way into Hempstead, them all things without going to hear any standing on a wagon near the door began to religion, which makes some of them run into address them on the subject of religion, and infidelity."— Hawks' MSS., ii, 118. taking advantage of the crowd that the nov- 1742, March 26. Mr. Keble, at Oysterbay, elty of the thing had collected around him, writes: " Since Mr. Jenney went home [on a urged them to repentance and reformation. visit to Europe] there has been here a volun- Such, it is said, was the origin of Methodism tary Anabaptist preacher from North Caro in Hempstead. lina, and tells them there is no other way of baptizing but plunging, and that infant bap-

tism is sinful and mock. His stay here was short. Since, there have been several of the enthusiastic people here baptized in that way, which has increased their meeting, which OMISSIONS. before was so small that there was but little 1735, June 23. Mr. Jenney writes that a notice taken of them, for the less reason there thunder-clap struck the -steeple, which was is in their preaching, the more they are surmounted by a weather-cock, and did con- minded amongst such people." Hawks'

siderable damage, but we are proceeding vig- MSS., ii, 143.

orously in repairing it, and the difficulty is 1744, June 23. Thomas Keble, Oysterbay, " how to get a bell. Governor Cosby com- writes to the Secretary : Since Mr. Seabury mends us and thinks we have done wonders. came he has visited and preached upon We now use Tate & Brady's version of the week days, and has roused them up in all Psalms, having discontinued Sternhold & quarters of his parish, amongst all the denom- Hopkins. inations and others, particularly in this place

1736, July 14. Mr. Jenney complains that where I now live. He has preached three

"Justices of the peace take it on themselves times upon week days, besides several visits, to solemnize the sacred banns of marriage, and has baptized children out of four families, which the constables formerly did also, in the and one adult, in this place, and has preached absence of ministers. Colonel Tredwell vends several times at the Dutch church in the licenses for the Government. In about fifteen bounds of Hempstead, [Success], being invited months he vended forty-four, the greater part by the Dutch people there, and of late has of which were for persons in my parish, of preached at Huntington, an old Independent whom I married but four couples." place within five miles of Oysterbay church. i —

17

beingr invited by some of the people there who I and be as cautious in walking as I know they of late come constantly to church at Oyster- are in watcMng." " the Mr. writes, : I bay and sometimes to Hempstead ; for Thomas (June 27, 1705) am Independent and voluntary preachers have very pleasantly situated here, upon an even, infused false notions into the people in these delightsome plain, sixteen miles long, richly parts, of the discipline of the Church of Eng- furnished with beef, mutton, and fowls of all land, particularly of the Liturgy, which Mr. sorts; the air sharp and severe, and not sub- Seabury takes great pains to explain at all ject to those fulsome fogs so natural to the seasonable times." Hawks' MSS., ii, 168. English climate. The place is sweet and Mr. Thomas writes to the Secretary of the pleasant. I have two distinct churches, fif-

Venerable Society, (March 1, 1705): "Oyster- teen miles asunder, where I preach by turns, bay, thirteen miles from hence, is likewise in but have neither Bible nor Common Prayer my parish, where I preach every third Sun book in either, so I am necessitated to carry day. They 'have generally been canting small ones of my own about with me for to Quakers, but now their society is much broke read Divine service. I know of no place upon and scattered. Deplorable ignorance is their the main that is a truer and more real object great misery, not free from a deep tincture of of 'the Honorable Society's charity than this, obstinacy. the people being generally very poor and ut-

" I want Common Prayer books and some terly averse to the service of the Church of small tracts of controversy between us and England." " tlie dissenters. ' Bennet's Abridgement,' and August 23. The vestry of Oysterbay have

' The Faith and Practice of a Church of Eng- raised a handsome sum to build an addition land Man,' would do very great service, and to the small church there, and the vestry of help blunt the knees of their bias and preju- Hempstead a considerable sum to build a gal- dice. The people are highly sensible and lery in the church, (which the ministers of gratefully accept of the charity of the Honor- their kidney neither wanted nor could bring able Society. The £5 worth of books which them to), as also to repair an old, weather- yoa gave me in trust have been distributed beaten parsonage-house they have here. Be- to the best advantage." tween both they raised about £200. I have

Mr. Thomas writes, (May 26, 1705): " I now a more constant and numerous congregation draw for £10, which i;)lease deduct out of my since I came here than ever was known when allowance for the year 1705, my time having they had a dissenter, one of their own kidney, commenced on Lady day last. I hope my among them. This building will enflame drawing so soon will be no offence, my pres the greatest part of them, and I must expect ent exigencies pressing me to it. Our £60 daily broadsides from them. Though all be- here being paid in ' country pay,' and corn at ginnings are difficult, I hope to live to make present very cheap, makes our allowance here it a post easy enough for my successors. I very poor and dilatory. As for perquisites, I baptized a dozen, Sunday was a sevennight, have none here, marriages being solemnized some of them adults. I am very much put

by the justices of the peace. Buryings and to it here for witnesses ; godfathers, &c., being christenings we have nothing for. They are a great bugbear among them. I am necessi- all dissenters, and being easy with them that tated to qualify the charge given the god- way will be one powerful motive to gain upon fathers, &c., by the words, ' endeavor and as them. I thank God I have a very thronged far as God shall enable me'; for our baptism church, which (were you thoroughly ac- will not go down by any means in the strict- quainted with the inveterate humor of the ness of our Liturgy, for it seems to them, as people) would seem to you next to a miracle. they say, too severe, the charge being abso- It is my misfortune that I have none to an- lute and unconditional." " swer the Responses ; for that anybody should 1705, November 9. Our parishes here are

speak in the church besides the minister is, in widely extensive (being eighteen miles one the sense of these people, confusion. My path way and sixteen the other) and the people here is very thorny— all my steps narrowly much scattered. Besides, two sermons a San- watched—I am obliged to walk very gingerly. day make my private visits and familiar con- I shall endeavor, by God's assistance, not to ferences with them at their own dwellings give them the least occasion to calumniate, fewer than I could wish. However, I em- "

18

brace all occasions of converse with them, and earthly that they cannot discern the ad- that are consistent with my studies." vantage, worth and excellency of education 1707, April 23. Mr. Thomas writes: "I for their children's present and future welfare. have often laid before my vestry the necessity In vain I preach to them the superstructures of a register book in the parish, but to no of Christianity when they are destitute of the purpose. Having no method of raising a groundworks and fundamentals of religion fund to defray that and such like public exi- by education. I have bought catechisms to gencies, since I came here, I have converted give away among the children, and hope in the communion offerings (the poor here being some time to have a set of catechumens. very few and provided plentifully for by a While the Honorable Society are pleased to public tax from the government) to buy some continue to us their allowance, we may live requisite necessaries for the communion table, upon honorable terms, independent of our &c., and out of our late Easter offerings I hope people and not subject to either their scorns

to buy a register book, which I bespoke al- or contempts. When it is once withdrawn,

ready ; and then I shall take particular care we must expect to be assuredly miserable and to register all christenings, marriages and subject to their insolencies. burials, according to our instructions from the 1709, Jane 12. Mr. Thomas having prose- Venerable Society. I have baptized some lyted some [thirty-five] rigid dissenters to the scores of infants and adults since my arrival unity of the Church, the Venerable Society here, and married some dozens of couples, but desire of him "a list of rigid debauchees, de- would never receive a farthing perquisites for moralists and rigid heathen converted to the them hitherto. It was customary here for the faith, that being the chief design of the estab- justices to solemnize marriages, who are very lishment of the Society." Mr. Thomas con- tenacious of that addition to their offices, and ceives himself "sent here as the minister of in order to bring marriages to the church I the parish. He has to prepare for preaching have solemnized all gratis; first, in order to every Lord's-day twice, besides visiting and reconcile them to our way, and then to take instructing the poor, ignorant people dis- off that grand aspersion so often in their tantly scattered about the wilderness. Is not mouths against the Church of England's min- this employment enough for one man consci-

isters, that they greedily covet the fleece and entiously to perform ? I have within my neglect the flock. I have received four pieces district infidels of my own color, too many

of eight [f 4] for one funeral sermon, the per- upon whom I bend my whole force. To con- son dying being a bachelor and ordered it to vert a heathen into Christianity is a very

me in his will ; and 12 shillings from one good and pious work : but to reconcile the married couple, who going out of my parish English, in a great degree sunk into pagan- to be married into the city, Mr. Vesey reserved ism and infidelity, to the principles of the oue-half of his perquisites for me ; and that is Christian faith, is a far worthier employ, all I accepted of since my coming to this par- especially since I find the one practicable, the ish. The people I live among are poor, and other morally impossible. As to the infidels from their cradles prejudiced and disaffected whose conversion you press home on me, they to our constitution, and should I have screwed are of two sorts, negroes and Indians. I have them up to perquisites I should assuredly many negroes who are constant hearers, but have nipped the church in the bud. I have the native Indians are very few hereabouts,

been strictly brought up in it, and shall spare all whalers, sottish, debauched, wholly given no pains to propagate it. I allow my clerk a up to drink. They are incapable of any small salary out of my own annually, and Christian impression. Rum and strong liquors without that I could have none. I have being the only deities they care to worship. raised a school in the town since my coming, " We had a schoolmaster settled among us and allow towards it (in conjunction with the for two and a half years. Now we are desti- inhabitants) £20 a year. We are now build- tute, the people being utterly weary of the ing a schoolhouse and settling a piece of land subscriptions I had engaged them in, I hope upon it, which I have contributed unto. A in God's due time to induce them to settle an- good precedent of that nature, I presume, is other. I shall not be wanting to contribute

the most moving rhetoric I can use to per- towards it, both by purse and persuasion, as suade those whose intellectuals are so mean heretofore." 19

1723, April 1. Mr. Thomas writes that be was settled some time before they bad any has baptized ninety children and adults, minister or house for Divine service. The thirty-seven whereof at one time. 18 of whom first church was very small, much less than were adults, upon which occasion (it being the small one we have now. Traveling performed in a distant private house) he dis- preachers, sometimes Independents, some- coursed at larjre, ex tempore, upon the subject times Presbyterians, (for the most part from and great necessity of the sacrament of bap- New England), did now and then officiate, tism. "I have all along inculcated into the without any covenant with the people or set- people here a sense of the benefit and privi- tlement by law. In 1680 tlie town agreed to lege of the sacraments, that particularly of build a better house by name of a meeting

' the Lord's supper. The word damnation,' so house ; but after it was built there arose a rendered in our English translation, is a great controversy between the Presbyterians mighty bugbear to weak, scrupulous con and Independents, in which the Presbyterians sciences, which by public y)reacliiug and pri- got the better, and one Denton was covenanted vate conferences I have endeavored to explain. with to be their minister; but he soon left, as " My necessary hospitality has all along in did several others that were afterwards cov- a very great measure amounted to the height enanted with after the same manner, till the of my salary both here and at home, much arrival of Mr. Thomas from the Honorable beyond those more cautious limits consistent Society. Him they inducted into the posses- with the welfare of my family. I have served sion of the church, parsonage-house and glebe. my public view by it, though to the detri- * * * The church is not kept in good ment of my private self. Burthening the repair, which occasions thin congregations in purses of the new converts to the Church cold weather. There is a cloth, said to be would soon render our ministry of little effect. presented by Queen Anne, which seems de- I find affability and hospitality, next to a con- signed for a table in front of the desk, which scientious dischargeof duty, to be very sinewy, we are forced to make use of when we receive prevailing arguments to mollify their innate, the sacrament. The minister's salary is £40 inveterate principles. It promotes my public from Hempstead and £20 from Oysterbay, by designs. an agreement among them. I have in pos- '• I have had a severe return of my distem- session an old, ruinous house, much out of per this last March, which for some time un- repair, near the church, with three acres of qualified me for my duty, and the service of poor, worn-out land, the pasture of which will the church was wholly unperformed, for here not support one horse. There belongs to the are no supernumeraries to assist us when God parsonage a farm, about five miles distant, of is pleased to afflict us with sickness." one hundred and seventy-two acres of upland 1724, October 1. " I am truly sorry," writes and twenty-five of meadow. I have put a " Mr. Thomas, in his last letter, that Brook- poor man upon it, but whether to any advan- haven is not likely to have a missionary. It tage to me I can't yet tell. These two have lies forty miles distant from me, but I am been surveyed by Mr. Samuel Clowes, of Ja- tolerably acquainted with the place, having maica, who underwrites his draft that the married my wife from thence, and am morally church has a title to a hundredth part of the assured that a discreet gentleman settled whole township. Besides this there is, about there would be of the highest consequence to seven miles distant, a small lot of meadow, the interest of the Church in that country. which I did lease out but got nothing by it. They have three times petitioned for a Church " But I am threatened with an ejectment, minister, once above twenty years ago. first, by the heirs of one Ogden, from whom the purchase was made, in what year I can-

not find, for it is not in the records, and the deeds are lost, and all those concerned in the

purchase are dead ; second, by the Presbyte-

rians ; third, by the Quakers, who say it JENNEY. belongs to the town. " " Mr. Jenney writes, June 27, 1728 : Our As to the number of inhabitants at first, past winter has been very severe. Mr. Gil- I can't meet with any information, from the dersleeve, our schoolmaster, says Hempstead oldest men here being at a loss in this point. :

20

But it is certain it is niucli greater now, for But most of all of latitudinarians, who run the whole parish is settled very thick. In from one congregation to another and hold 1732 the governor ordered a census. The to that religion whose preacher pleases them constable gave in best. Hempstead. Oysterbat. " Both the towns of my parish extend across WUITES. the Island, sixteen miles from north to south, 475 Men, 532 Boys I 325 Men, 331 Boye 472 Women, 472 Girls | 325 Women, 268 Girls from east to west about twenty miles, from NEGROES AND INDIAN SLAVES. corner to corner near thirty miles. The roads

116 Men, 76 Boys 1 41 Men, 17 Boys 76 are good in good weather, but yet traveling Women, 51 Girls | 27 Women, 26 Girls Total, 3,629 in my parish. is very troublesome in the heat of summer " At the first coming of Mr. Thomas, I am and the cold of winter, which are both ex- told, not above five or six adhered to the treme. For great part of my parish being a Church, and they brought their religion from plain of sixteen miles long, without shade or England, where they were born. The rest shelter, the wind and sun have their full were Presbyterians or Independents, and the strength, and sometimes in winter the snow most Quakers. Our congregation now is very is so deep as to make traveling impossible, uncertain, being greater or smaller according and so it has been for a great part of this to the weather. In summer we are generally winter. crowded entirely, especially in the afternoon, " There is nothing more inconstant than

and also in winter when there is snow enough schools here, excepting those from the Honor-

upon the ground to carry their slays (a very able Society. The usual custom is for a set convenient and easy way of traveling at such of neighbors to engage a schoolmaster for one seasons), but they are but rare at other times. year. 'Tis seldom they keep the same longer, Our church is generally full, but not crowded. and often they are without for several years. Most of the professed members of the church The only master that has staid long with his livii at a distance from it ; the body of the employers is one Thomas Keble, upon a neck Presbyterians, at least the much greater part, of land called Musqueto Cove, where he live here in the town spot. The people's behaves very well and does good service. manner of living is scattered up and down, The common rule for payment for the masters

excepting that there are a few very small is by subscription, £20 with diet, or £30 villages, as Hempstead, Jerusalem, Success, without. But Mr. Gildersleeve has five shil- Bungy or Westbury, Oysterbay, Bethpage, lings per quarter for each scholar. " Norwich and Wheatly. Those who live in The church has no donation ; the minister the villages are the poorest of the people, the and schoolmaster no benefactions ; the library

more substantial farmers finding it for their is only that from the Venerable Society. intei'est to live at a distance from each other. "The negroes are so dispersed that it 'is There are but two churches in my parish, one impossible for me to instruct them, and scarce at Hempstead and a very small one at Oyster- any of their masters or mistresses will. bay, where our congregation increases, but is " There is in the town spot Mr. [Gerardus] yet very small. Clowes, who about three quarters of a year " The Quakers have two meeting houses, ago began a school, spent the Sunday even- one at the Head of Cow Neck, another at ings in catechising those negroes which would

Bungy ; but they meet at many places in go to him, during the winter; but in summer barns or houses, according to the bigness of he has no time, the evenings being short and their congregation. the day taken up with the service in the

" In the town spot of Hempstead is but one church being twice performed, and then there Presbyterian meeting house, the only one in went but a few to be instructed by him. I

the parish ; but they are so poor and few that have one negro a communicant, and my own it is with difficulty that they maintain their were baptized in their infancy, and they minister. We daily expect he will leave (being two) shall be carefully instructed them. while I have them. " The religions in my parish are a very few " At my first coming here several of the Presbyterians in Hempstead, and rather fewer leading men of the town pressed me earnestly

Baptists ; at Oysterbay more of the Church, to represent to the Society the necessity of a more than both together of the Quakers. successor to Mr. Gildersleeve. Then Mrs. : : :

21

Thomas was amonjr them, who assured me SEABURY. that her husband designed to do so if he had Mr. Vesey writes, (November 22, 1742): " recovered. I enclose a memorial recommend- The precinct of Hempstead, as I am credibly ing Mr. Clowes. He thereupon has wrote me informed, (though they have several dissent- a letter, which is also enclosed. He is the ers among them), are inclined to call the Rev. son of a very active friend of the missionaries, Mr. Seabury, of New London, to officiate

Mr. Samuel Clowes, of Jamaica, whose ser- there ; which if they should do and he accept vices, especially to the two parishes of Ja- of their call and be inducted, on condition of maica and Hempstead, are upon record." the approbation of the Honorable Society, it is Mr. Jenney writes, (September 8, 1729): "A the opinion of the wisest among us that it few Presbyterians at Hempstead have an un- wf)uld be the most effectual means to preserve ordaiued preacher, as probationer, to officiate that infant church from disturbances and for them, whom they could not support were lawsuits, confusion and ruin." it not for the assistance which they receive Mr. Seabury writes. (September 30, 1746) from their brethren in the neighboring parish "The people have imbibed Quaker notions, of Jamaica. They don't gain on me. So and are loth to come to the sacrament. I had prevalent is Quakerism, that it is difficult to two new communicants, and want copies of persuade constant hearers to be themselves the ' Reasonable Communicant.' I have bap- or have their children baptized. This is more tized many adults and a vast many children visible in Oysterbay, and I believe the weak- since my mission at Hempstead,* many of ness of religion there proceeds greatly from whom are grown to years to join in the public the want of a minister resident among them. worship. It is a genuine work of charity to My indispensable engagements to Hempstead give thera prayer books. I want catechisms restrain me from visiting them oftener than with questions, to try whether the catechu- every third Sunday. I have a dozen cate- mens understand the answers." " chumens at Hempstead, and would be more Mr. Seabury writes, (March 26, 1746) : The if I had books. I have been out of pocket for sectaries of all sorts (who abound in this par- catechisms and prayer books. My circum- ish) and professed infidels exert themselves stances won't permit me to answer all the to the utmost to hinder the growth of the diligence I use, the demands on me. I beg the version of Psalms church ; and the more by Tate & Brady may be bound in the prayer more the infidels particularly seem to be

books, for that version only do I use in the inflamed, yet the church manifestly gets congregation. Some negroes who can read ground." are desirous of using prayer books in Divine Mr. Seabury writes, (September 30, 1748) " service. I believe it would tend to promote My son is now studying physic, and before decency in the public service if they were he be of age to present himself to the Society, supplied." I intend he shall spend one or two years at

Mr. Jenney writes, (December 5, 1739) Edinboro' in the study of physic. I wish the

"The justices yet marry. I formerly wrote Society to give him a place in their books, you that Colonel Tredwell, who lives not a and grant what C-ommissary Vesey may rec- half of a quarter of a mile from me, and vends ommend in regard to Huntington. He is not licenses for the government, in about fifteen yet nineteen. He may be employed at some months vended forty-four, by much the small allowance, as I presume to hope at greater number of which were for persons Huntington, in reading prayers and sermons,

living in my parish, and of them I married and in catechising, to good purpose, before he but four couples. I yesterday saw a new will be of age for Holy Orders." book of Bonds for Licenses of the same Colo- 1750, October 5. " Religion prospers, though nel Tredwell, wherein were but ten, all but infidels try to weaken it. The new church one being to persons living in my parish, of at Oysterbay. which has been some years in con- which I married but one couple. The first building, is so far completed as to be was September 29, 1739. I am satisfied that venient for use, and was dedicated to the justices marry, if not all, at least very near service of God according to the Liturgy of all that are not married by me." England, on the 14th of June last.

* In compliance with prevailing notions, Mr. Sea- bury, when requested, baptized by immersion. 22

" The cliurcli at Huntington is also ren- will laugh at every jest cracked upon religion dered very commodious, and a conprregation and revelation, and seem pleased with blas- of fifty or sixty persons, and sometimes more, phemy which infidels call wit, he will find constantly attend Divine service there, who himself caressed by many ; but a grave coun- behave very devoutly and perform their part tenance and serious rebuke will not fail to in Divine worship very decently. They had get him implacable enemies." taken from them in the late mortal sickness Mr. Seabury writes, (October 13, 1752): four of their most substantial members, who " My son laid down his place as catechist at bore the principal part of building the church, Huntington, in July last, and embarked from which has very much weakened their ability, New York for Edinburgh in August, to spend and they have desired me to ask of the one year in studying of physic and anatomy, Society a folio Bible and Common Prayer the church has gained ground in Huntington Book, for the use of the church." by his assistance, and under a discreet minis- 1752, March 26. " Religion has gained but ter it would be a flourishing church, notwith- little in our bounds, the winter past, the standing the loss by death of its best mem- church having been troubled with some dis- bers. turbers from a pretence that could hardly " In Hempstead the church holds its ground have been suspected. The increase of our in spite of the great variety of sectaries and congregation had brought us to a resolution the implacable malice of infidels, who are not to build galleries in the church, which were ashamed to scotf at the whole scheme of sal- accordingly erected by subscription, are well- vation by a mediator. " nigh completed, and are commodious to en- October 2, 1759. Mr. Seabury says : The tertain one hundred and fifty people, which last time I wrote I sent the Society a pam- some restless spirits, enemies to the Church phlet containing " Animadversions' upon my and Revelation in general, envying (as I fear) letter to the Society, and under the form of the church's prosperity, have made an occa- 'A Letter from a Gentleman to his Friend,' in sion to raise a party who seem zealous for Duchess County with my reply. 1 purpose nothing bat contention ; but I hope, by the to make another visit to that County this moderation of those who have the good of instant October. the church at heart, that the ill eflfects and " I attend a full church at Huntington mischief intended will be obviated. twice a year, on Sundays ; and at Huntington " Never did any place need the means of South, which is sixteen or seventeen miles religion more than this, or perhaps deserve it from any church or meeting house except less, a few compared to the whole excepted. Quakers, I have preached sundry times on Religion meets with no support from the week days, to a congregation of one hundred Government, except the establishing a sup- people, generally poor, who express great port for it by some former laws, nor is it at thankfulness." all considered in the characters of those 17. 1, October 21. " Although the Indepen- intrusted with commissions, in which ' party' dent meeting house in Hempstead has been (with which the country is terribly harassed) constantly supplied with a preacher, and seems to have the greatest influence. Pro- Anabaptist and Separate Baptist meetings be faneness meets with no frown from the civil held constantly at Oysterbay, our church is magistrate, there being none to put any man well filled at both places, and they perform

to shame for anything ; nor doth the civil Divine service far more regularly than for- Governor seem to have anything in view but merly. When I can attend Huntington to secure interest and property, and though (which is but seldom) we have generally a iniquity is not established by law, it is by full church, and the zealous members always

custom ; against the prevalence of which we lament their want of a minister, and beg me have nothing to oppose but the public exer- to mention them to the Society by way of re- cise of our religion and the example of a few. membrance." "But the church gains ground, maugre all BOARDING SCHOOL. " opposition ; but then the comforts of such a 1762, March 25. The Rev. Mr. Seabury, Mission, where a man must always be strug- in order to enlarge his school for the instruc- gling with gainsayers, must be in the pros- tion of youth in Latin, Greek and the mathe-

pect of a future reward. Indeed, if a man matics, (or, if desired, in reading, writing and 23 arithmetic), has engaged a young gentleman, the house in convenient repair, and endeavor who is a candidate for Holy Orders, to be his at present to render my situation easy and usher, and to give constant attendance in his comfortable. The Mission is very extensive, school, both in the day time, and also, from and as the severity of the weather came on

November 1 to March 1, till 9 o'clock in the before I was well settled, I could not take evening. such a circuit round the country and can't " Mr. Seabury will entertain young gentle- give so perfect an account as I could wi«h. men at his own house, in a genteel manner, The church is in general well filled. It is at £30 per annum, schooling, washing and difficult to form any proper judgment of the wood for their school-fire included, they find- real members from the numbers of those that ing their own bedding. Whatever gentle- attend, as I find persons of different denomi- men or ladies shall be so good as to entrust nations pretty constant in their attendance, him with the education of their children, may and apparently devout during the perform- depend on their being used in the politest ance of Divine service; but according to the calculation I have as yet been able to manner ; and the strictest regard will be had best to their morals, by their humble servant, make, there are about ninety families, in " Samuel Seabury." Hempstead township, profest members of the prize in a lottery. Church of England. The Dutch are numer- powerful, declare to their 1763, June. Mr. Seabury says, in his diary : ous and and me

' The ticket No. 5856 in the Light house and regard to our Established Church.* The Public lottery of New York drew in my favor, Quakers and their adherents are, I think, the by the blessing of God, £500, (of which I re next in number. The Presbyterians appear ceived £435, there being a deduction of fifteen to me at present to be the fewest. I find it

per cent.), for which I now record to my pos for the interest of religion and the Church to terity my thanks and praise to Almighty God. make in regard to my external behavior no the Giver of all good gifts. A7nen." difference betwixt the members of my own 1764, March 26. Mr. Seabury writes that and other congregations. " Great numbers of people can't be brought " I have baptized at Hempstead fifteen to attend any sort of public worship, under a white children. I find it very difficult to de- pretence of spending the Sunday as well at mand godfathers. Necessity, I hope, will of home ; and this sort of people seems to be excuse me if I accept frequently the pa- upon the increase, from the conversation of rents. I must go to their houses and comply some deistical people, the spreading of deisti- sometimes with their humors, or the children cal books, and the disposition of people of will go unbaptized.

I pres- loose education to throw off all restraint ; be- "The communicants that have seen sides, many seem to interpret the Act of Tol- ent have been about thirty-five at one time.

eration a toleration to be of no religion at all. The long interval betwixt the death of the From whence, and from a firm attachment to late Mr. Seabury and my being appointed has the Established Church being no recommend- been of some disservice to the church. ation to the public honors of the Government, " I officiate at Oysterbay every third Sun-

and most of all from the Quakers' leaven, it day. The greatest numbers there are Ana-

comes to pass that it is an arduous task to baptists and descendants from Quakers. bring people to the sense of their Christian This town is of large extent. As the weather oljligations to attend the two sacraments now grows moderate, I propose visiting every which Christ has ordained in His Church." part of the Mission as often as I can on week- days, that I may be enabled to give a more perfect account to the Society in my next." " 1768, January 7. Mr. Cutting writes : I have not transmitted an account of my Mission in the limited time, owing to my being inca- CUTTING. pable of giving so perfect information as I

Mr. Cutting (April 9, 1767,) writes; "It is * It was about this time that Hendrick Onderdonk, with pleasure I can inform you of the civil grandfather of the two bishops, joined the Hempstead behavior of the congregation of Hempstead church, which proltably drew forlli the above pleasant towards me. They have built a barn and put remark.^ of Mr. Cutting. ;

24 could have wislied. The parisli is large, and devout, though not equal in numbers to those I was prevented in the summer, by several of other denominations." accidents, from visiting every part of it, as I Mr. Catting writes, (December 28, 1768): expected, nor is it an easy matter in so short " As we are not in this parish disturbed with a time to form a certain judgment of so great a variety of itinerant preachers, a greater a number, so dispersed. I have, however, appearance of regularity, with its happy con-

found I the people civil and hospitable, and sequences, prevails ; and as no animosity (that

may venture to say, are grateful. As a proof I can discover) reigns amongst those of differ- of this, on the death of their late worthy Mis- ent persuasions, no considerable change in sionary, Mr. Seabury, they at their own ex- any short time can be expected. Persons of pense built a handsome house and made it a all denominations attend Divine service, and

present to his widow ; but I am afraid they the church here is much esteemed, and is cer- are opinionated and not very easy to be per- tainly, both in respect to the number and im- suaded. The church at Hempstead is large portance of its friends and professors, superior

and in general full ; but that is an imperfect to the sects. Amongst the friends to the

way of judging of the number of a congrega- church I include the Dutch, (who are a

tion, as several of other denominations pretty very respectable congregation), and it is with

constantly attend Divine service. The secta- pleasure I observe that the disputes which ries here have no settled teacher amongst some evil-minded persons (to serve a present them. Many of them, therefore, frequent particular turn) have raised concerning our the church, and appear devout and attentive. earnest desire for Episcopal government in

The spot where I live is surrounded with the Church, has been of real service, as it has Presbyterians. I find them kind and obliging opened the eyes of the people, made them neighbors, sober and pious in their conversa- examine more closely the principles of the tion, and no friends to religious animosities Church, and habituated them to the name of though I am confident the number of those a Bishop, and taught them to reflect upon who profess themselves members of the that sacred office without terror or suspicion."

Church are superior in number to those of Mr. Cutting writes, (January 8, 1774): " The any other denomination, the Dutch excepted. dissenting teacher who was settled to the Great numbers of every profession, however, south of Hempstead made no long continu- remain unbaptized, owing, I imagine, to the ance here. He married, and from the inability principles of Quakerism which prevailed here of the people to support him was obliged to so long, nor are there so many catechumens remove. They now depend (as they have for as I might have hoped from so large a parish. a long course of years) on those who are I have proposed to some to attend for that sometimes sent by the Presbytery from the purpose on evenings, at houses properly situ- other congregations. When their meeting-

ated, and hope that plan will succeed. To house is shut, numbers attend Divine service the south of Hempstead, for several miles, are at church, and we live on very amicable great numbers of inhabitants, in general in terms. very indigent circumstances. They say they " As to the wild set at Oysterbay, they must can't procure conveniences to come so far to dwindle. They already disagree amongst church. I frequently on week-days go among themselves. Opposition would raise them to

them to officiate. I find large numbers of a character they can't attain of themselves,

them assembled, who appear glad of my ser- and as it is not worth while for any artful form vices and willing to be instructed ; but are person to make himself their head and

totally illiterate, great part of them not being them into a regular sect, they will, I trust, able to read, nor have they abilities or oppor- soon sink into their primitive insignificance. tunity to get their children instructed. A The masters of the slaves and the near inhab- school there would be a real blessing. itants feel the principal inconvenience."

" At Oysterbay, the church is not finished, Mr. Cutting writes. (January 6, 1777): "la

nor are they able to do it. It is indeed in the turbulent and precarious situation tliis general well filled, as neither have the dis- county has been in since January last, the senters there (who are mostly Anabaptists church here and at Oysterbay has escaped and Quakers) any settled teacher. The mem- better than was expected. The people in bers of the church are constant, serious and general in this parish and through the whole 25

county were profest steady Loyalists and op- " I have not attended the vacant Church at posed to the utmost of their power the choos- Huntington this last year, as the principal ing Delegates, Committees, &c. They were persons of my congregations thought it by indeed harassed by parties from almost every no means advisable for me to go out of my

Province ; our houses often filled with an own parish. " I written armed rabble who lived at free quarters ; the have some particulars to the men forced to quit their habitations and con- Rev. Dr. Chandler, which (as he knows the people) may be agreeable to him." ceal themselves in woods and swamps ; some were seized and carried prisoners to Connect- icut. These frequent incursions, however, Mr. Cutting was a graduate of Cambridge, and this temporary distress they rather chose England, 1747 ; a tutor of Greek and Latin to suiFer than submit to the hourly tyranny in Columbia College, New York, from 1756 of a Committee of the basest and vilest among to 1763 ; rector of Hempstead and Oysterbay,

they persisted till the 1766 to 1783 ; rector successively of churches themselves ; and in this King's troops happily landed on this Island. at Snow Hill and Newbern. He returned to In this distracted state the church was often New York, where he died, January 25, 1794, threatened by banditties from the Jerseys and aged sixty-nine, beloved equally by his pu- other Provinces. I continued, however, as pils, parishioners and friends. He, as well as usual. Divine service was uninterrupted for Messrs. Seabury, Moore and Hart, kept a some weeks after Independence was declared classical school. by the infatuated Congress, and the church An obscurity hangs over the life of Rev. was in general much better filled than I John Tliomas and the circumstances of his could expect from the perilous situation the family. Colonel Morris says of him, in 1708 : y)eople were in. Orders were often issued " He has the reputation of being a good man. from some distant parts, to take me out of the He has a great deal of warmth in his temper, church, but never executed. At last I re- but I have not heard of any prejudicial trans- ceived intimation that as this was the only ports of it." The date of his marriage is not church in this and the neighboring Provinces known, nor what became of his widow and that was kept open, it would be particularly two daughters. His son John, who lived on marked for vengeance ; and as the succeeding the farm in Purchase, is complained of as not Sunday several armed men were sent from being a church-goer, attending only once or various districts, we were advised, though twice a year. In the Revolution he was a with reluctance, to shut the doors. I ab- Whig, and was carried off to the Provost, stained from performing Divine service three where he was inoculated for the small-pox, Sundays at Hempstead and one at Oysterbay, but died May 2, 1777, aged seventy, and was when we were (by the blessing of God) re- buried in Trinity churchyard. lieved by His Majesty's forces, since which In 1709, the Rev. John Thomas (by the time we have been secure and undisturbed, help of his wife's money, doubtless,) bought a suffering now only, in common with others, half of two-twenty-eighths part of a tract of the natural though great inconvenience that land in New Jersey, for £200. How he ac- must attend every place Avliich is the seat of quired ownership of the farm in Westchester war, the scarceness and dearness of the neces- County we know not. " sities of life. Bishop Hobart says : On Friday, Septem- " The church here has rather gained, I ber 19, 1823, I consecrated St. George's think, during this unnatural tumult, for it is Church, Hempstead. This building has been with pleasure said, I can assure you that in erected near the site of the former church, the whole parish there were not above three which was built about eighty years ago, and who called themselves Churchmen amongst the decayed state of which rendered it neces- the malcontents, and as there was no settled sary to take it down. The present church is Presbyterian preacher to influence the minds of larger dimensions than the former, very of the people, the dissenters were left to their neat in its style, and commodious in its ar- own cool judgment, attended the church- rangements, and reflects great credit on Mr. service, and in general approved of and joined Hart, the rector, and parish, by whose exer- their neighbors in the opposition to the Con- tions and liberality its erection has been ac- gress. complished." 26

.Mr. .lenney write.s from Hempstead, July ^vhule, when an unha])i)y acciilcnt ]»ut a stoj)

30, IToO: My congregation had grown too for a while to our proceedings. On the 2-id bio- for the house I officiated in, whicli is also of June a thunderclap struck our steeple and

' very much gone to decay, and too old and did it considerable damage, but we are now crazy to be repaired and enlarged to any tol vigorously proceeding to repair it, and at

, erable purpose. So we resolved to build a present the greatest difficulty we apprehend new one. We now make use of it. When 1 is how to get a bell of such size as to be ser- first set about it I consulted Mr. Commissary viceable to so large a parish. His Excellency Vesey, and he proved very serviceable, by and all his company have been pleased to ap- contributing largely out of his own purse, prove our proceedings. They commend the and by the interest he has, of a long standing, workmanship and think we have done won- amongst my people, whom he encouraged ders, considering our circumstances and the and spurred on to the business, and by recom time we have been about it. mending the affairs to his own people, from 1767, May 1. The Methodists now began vvhom I have above £50. His Excellency itinerating on the Island. Mr. Auchmuty " Governor Cosby* and his lady (under whose writes from New York that : There is one influence and encouragement the church Lieutenant Webb here who has commenced flourishes continually) have appeared for us preacher. The man iS turned mad and does in a public and remarkable manner, so as to a good deal of mischief about the country. influence others. They have done us the His mad zeal is such that I shall not be sur- honor to name our churcli St. George's, and prised if he lays aside his red coat and en- appointed St. George's day for the opening of deavors to get into holy orders, which would it. There were present at the Divine service be another affliction to the clergy here." His Excellency and lady, with their Excel- 1776, July. Judge Thomas Jones says " lencies' son in-law, with his lady, attended by that : Colonel Cornell, of the Rhode Island Secretary Clarke, Chief Justice Delancey, Line, by Washington's orders established his Rev. Commissary Vesey, some of the clergy quarters at Hempstead when hunting for and a large company of gentlemen and ladies tories. He converted the Episcopal church from New York, and some from other parts of into a store house, forbid the parson to pray the Province. At the same time a collection for the King or Royal family, and made iise was made after the sermon, in which the of the communion table for a conveniency for Governor and lady and the gentlemen and his Yankees to eat their pork and molasses ladies present were remarkably generous. upon." Mr. Cutting says nothing of this. Mr. John Marsh, a gentleman from Jamaica, 1781, December 9. Mr. Cutting writes: W. I., now in this Province for the recovery " My situation obliges me to trust my letters of his health, gave us a silver bason, to serve to a friend, generally to the gentleman who for baptism in the place of a font, which we takes my bills. In respect to the schools, Mr. are not provided with. His Excellency also Timothy Wetmore is at present provided for.

has made us a most noble present of His Mr. James Wetmore* I know not ; and if I Majesty's Royal charter to make us a corpor- * James Wetmore writes from New York, (Novem- ation, &c. Mr. Secretary C'larke has gener- ber 1, 1779): "I continued my school at Mnsqueto ously remitted the fees of his office. Mr. Cove until the first of August last, to the satisfaction of employers; but a number of my neighbors Attorney General Bradley has given his fee, my being captivated by the Rebels, and I very Providen- and Messrs. John Chambers and Joseph Mur- tially escaping, and the Loyal inhabitants being ray, counsellors and attorneys at law of great obliged to lodge in the fields for safety, I have thought reputation, have prepared and engrossed the it consistent with my duty, and prudent to quit the present unsettled. wife and a charter gratis. The chancel is railed in. school, and am at My number of my younger children barely subsist between Our pulpit and desk is completely finished, the lines, living in continual fear and subject to fre- and half the church is pewed. We design to quent depredations. I long to see the time that Rebels pew the other half. The east end window to God and King may be sensible of their folly and return to a true sense of their duty and happiness, a only is as yet glazed, and no plastering done ; prospect that seems yet at a distance. I have been but we were in a fair way of completing the three years separated from my wife and children by the inhumanity of the times. I had forty scholars, at * Governor Cosby had a rural villa on the Edge of 6 shillings, currency, per quarter. I could art'ord my Hempstead Plains (1736) at or near Hyde Park, and family but little relief were I not assisted by the attended Mr. Jenney's church. Society." (lid, it woiiM l)e to no puipose, as tlie rapacity my family having been much impaired by of an officer of rank [('ol. Birch] has put an the present times, I some time since made a end to all hopes of that kind. When the 17th purchase of a dwelling house and about Lifjht Dragoons came to Hempstead in 1778, twenty-five acres of land near the town-spot the conimandinof officer, after various acts of of Hempstead. During the last winter, while violence and oppression too tedious to mention, I was proprietor of it, the house was occupied (and by which I suffered considerably in my as a hospital for the 17th Regiment of Light property), at leno^th moved a public building Dragoons ; that no rent being allowed by

[tlie cage] which he had used as a guard- them, I applied to Your Excellency for allow-

it house he had seized ance of rent, or for the removal house, and joined to a of the troops ; with some land, (the owner [Mr. Samuel Pin- that the troops continued in it till July or tard] being then in England), converted the August last, and then left it in a ruinous con- school to a guard-house, and appropriated to dition, saying they had no further use for it. his own use three acres of land allotted for Wishing since to make the most advan- the benefit of the schoolmaster. In 1780 this tageous use of it for the support of my fam- officer was removed to a very high command ily, I have been at considerable expense in in New York. We then had assurance that repairing the house, and have let it to a the school and land should be restored. In tenant for the ensuing winter, who was put this expectation I wrote to the Society ; but in possession of it. I have also on- the land as [yet] his worse than useless regiment has upwards of fourteen acres of winter grain, been scarce out of the smoke of Hempstead and have contracted to let the bouse and one since its first arrival. He still keeps posses- acre of land for a year from next spring at a sion of all. This is one, and perhaps the most rent of £50. On October 38th, by order of trifling instance of a thousand, that might be the commanding officer of the above-said reg- produced of the tyranny we groan under. iment, said house was broken open and en-

Where the army is, oppression (such as in tered into by violence, and possession taken

England you have no conception of) univer- of it, for the purpose of a hospital ; and I am sally prevails. We have nothing we can call the more astonished at a measure so injurious our own, and the door to redress is inaccessi- to me, after sustaining last winter the burden ble. What a state must that people be in of having the same house employed for the who can find relief neither from law, justice public use without receiving any compensa-

nor humanity, where the military is con- tion for it. At present my winter grain, in

cerned ! This is the case of the inhabitants the midst of which is the house, will be ex-

within the King's lines. In regard to myself posed to destruction if the hospital is contin-

I have often applied for redress; first in 1778, ued in it. I beg leave to complain of an un-

to Mr. Eden, one of the Commissioners, from j ustifiable violation of my property and of an

whom I had a letter to head-quarters, which, unreasonable imposition on me ; nor can I however, was ineffectual. On other occasions help feeling the distresses to which my fam- I tried memorials to as little purpose. Neces- ily must be exposed when stript of so consid- sity obliged me to apply more attentively to erable a part of the slender means I have for the earth for subsistence, and an advantageous their support. I hope for redress from your purchase presenting, a friend kindly lent me humanity and your well-known justice, and

the money to secure it. I now hoped to pro- pray Your Excellency will order the house to vide for my family in spite of oppression. be restored to me or rent given for the use

How I was disappointed the enclosed memo- of it." rial [to Governor Robertson] will show. It " However, the house and barn being a

had no effect. Whether it proceeded from second time ruined, the fences torn away and want of power or something else in the Gov- the winter grain exposed to certain destruc- ernor is not for me to determine. Hospitals tion, will put me even in a worse state than I

and everything of that kind are, I know, fully was before, as I shall be destitute of grain, charged to governments, and when private and the land will not only be useless, but I

property is thus violently seized, it is only to shall be encumbered with the loan of the fill the purse of the oppressor." purchase [money]. I am advised to transmit " The memorial of Leonard Cutting humbly a copy of my last memorial to the gentleman showeth that the means for subsistence for who presides over American affiiirs, with a 28

circumstantial account of the violence and in- Meadow pulled down, the materials brought dignities both myself and the church have away and converted to his own use. This suffered. Various complaints from various sacred edifice was built by the villagers for persons are on their passage home. If they the sake of Divine worship. Every inhabit- gain admittance they may, perhaps, raise a ant there was remarkably loyal. A minister suspicion that more pains have been taken to who had prior to the rebellion occasionally subjugate the Loyalists within than to reclaim preached in it was a Rebel. This, Birch made the Americans without the lines. The army a pretence for robbing the loyal inhabitants has done more essential injury to the King's of their church. cause than the utmost efforts of his enemies. Samuel Pintard, a soldier at Oswego (1755) " As to the church, it is in the same state and wounded at Minden, had retired to Hemp- as when I wrote last. The building at Oys- stead, where he bought a genteel, snug house, terbay is in and a neat little a ruinous condition, as I men- farm adjoining the parsonage ; tioned in my last, and, as it is exposed to but being tired of the thieving soldiers, he

every storm, must grow worse ; nor have the removed his furniture to Mr. Cutting's, a rela-

people spirits or opportunity to repair it at tion of his, and then locked up his house and present. The congregations of Hempstead embarked for Madeira, where he had rela- and Oysterbay attend Divine service in as tions. Birch soon fixed his eyes upon the

great numbers as the circumstances of the place. He forced open a window ; creeping times will permit, and appear remarkably se- through, he opened the door and took posses- rious and devout." sion, sent his compliments to Mr. Cutting, and Rev. Charles Inglis writes from New York, begged the use of Mr. Pintard's furniture for " (November 26, 1779) : Rev. Epenetus Town- a few days, till his own could be brought send's battalion was ordered to Halifax, and from New York. Mr. Cutting, not willing he embarked at New York with his wife and to disoblige so powerful a neighbor, acquiesced five children. A most violent storm arose and delivered up tlie furniture, which the soon after the fleet in which he sailed left colonel afterwards refused to return, claiming

Sandy Hook. The fleet was dispersed and it as rebel property ! A Mr. Hewlett, five several ships perished. He has not been seen miles from Hempstead, had laid in shingles

since. for building a house ; these Birch brought

" The only vacant mission on Long Island is away without leave or license. When Mr. that at Huntington ; but no loyal clergyman Hewlett, a noted Loyalist, applied for pay- dare settle there. That part of the Island is ment, he was called a Rebel, threatened with infested by Rebels who are constantly making the provost and turned out of doors ! Birch incursions across the Sound, plundering the next cast his eyes upon a small building " inhabitants and carrying many of them off called The Cage," erected by the inhabit- captives. The only place on the Island where ants to confine persons convicted of drunk- a clergyman would be safe and have hearers enness, swearing and petty larcenies. He (besides Hempstead and Jamaica, where mis- thought it would do for a wash-house. On sionaries are fixed,) is Brooklyn, where Mr. Justice Clowes' refusing to give consent to its " James Sayre officiates three Sundays out of removal, the colonel ordered it removed, For four to a pretty numerous congregation, in a ' The Cage' he would have." Birch's soldiers Dutch church of which he is allowed the use." were expert at plundering, and nothing es- 1779. Judge Jones says that Colonel Birch caped their hands. In the course of six sent a party to Secatogue, twenty miles east weeks not a lamb nor a calf, a duck nor a of Hempstead, to pull down a Quaker meeting goose, a turkey, a pig nor a fowl, was to be house and bring away the materials for his seen in the town, nor a potato, a turnip nor a own use. On their return they also took out cabbage in the fields. all the sash windows of a house of Thomas Jones, at Fort Neck. Every Sunday when J udge Jones went to church he had the mor- tification of seeing the windows of his house EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BROOKLYN. fixed in a barn which Birch had converted into a barrack. The same year Birch had The earliest account of any attempt to or- the Presbyterian meeting-house at Fosters ganize a church in Brooklyn is found in the — : — :

29 following advertisement from Rivington's tion of English, who obtained for this purpose Gazette of March 17, 1774 an order from the Commandant of New York LOTTERY to make use of the Dutch Church whenever raising for a cliurch at Broolclyn- For £600, building the Dutch people had no service in it them- ferry, under the patronage of Trinity C'hurcli, New selves, which was as often as three Sundays Yorlc, there being no place in King's County for pub- in five. This summer the Rev. Mr. Sears lic worship where the English Liturgy is used. Tlie inhabitants (having long submitted to inconveniences [James Sayre] has officiated there in the same [in crossing the river to New York] from the inclem- manner, and still continues to do so. Next ency of the weather in the winter season and other [summer] I shall probably reside far down causes) intreat the assistance of the Public in pro- upon Long Island, and then I propose to be a moting this laudable method of raising money for the erection of a decent building for the service of Al- frequent visitant to the Society's vacant mis- mighty God. sion of Huntington, and the people of that There are £4,000 in prizes, 4,000 tickets at 20 shil- neighborhood, who are at present totally des- lings each, 1,332 prizes and 2,668 blanks. titute of all public worship." Managers, Alexander Colden, Esq., Capt. St. Payne Ayde, Messrs. Matthew Gleaves, John Carpenter, Thomas Everlt, John Crawley, Whitehead Cornell and Thomas Horsfield.

1774, March 81. Many persons have been Mr. Thomas, the first rector of Hempstead, misled by an opinion that the church proposed was careless in keeping Records. He, how- to be erected by Lottery at Brooklyn is to ever, left the following memorandum in a be under the ministry of the Rev. Jlr. Bernard Register Book Page.* It will be a truly orthodox church, " I. John Thomas, of Jesus College, Oxford, strictly conformable to the doctrine and disci- was inducted Rector of Hempstead, December pline of the Constitutional Church of England 37, 1704, and since my induction to the pres- as by law established, and under the patron- ent, July 13th, 1707, have baptized the under- age of the Rev. Rector and Vestry of Trinity written persons and children. The distinct Church. Rivingto/i's Gazette. time of their initiation into the Church by 1778. On Sunday morning, April 5th, to baptism I cannot particularly and precisely the great satisfaction of the inhabitants, the notice, this Register Book being lately church* at Brooklyn was opened, and Divine brought and delivered into my hands. But service according to the ritual of the Church all christenings hereafter shall (God willing) of England, performed by the Rev. Mr. James be duly and precisely registered." who preached an excellent sermon Sayre,f BAPTISMS. and baptized a child, which was the first Children of Thomas and Mary Gildersleeve, baptized infant admitted to that sacrament within said 1705: Asa. born March 19, 1685 I Richard, born April 7, 1695 George, " Elisha, " M;iy church, where there will be Prayers and a Oct. 22, 1687 | 7, 1697 " Thomas," May 16, 1690 I Elizabeth, ApriU, 1701 sermon next Sunday and on Good Friday, " " Maiy. March 12, 1693 | Dorcas, May 17, 1704 also on the three Sundays, following : every Dorothy (wife of Samuel) Smith, aged 35, and all their seven children, baptized August 18, 1707: fourth Sunday, afterwards, the church will be Dorothy, b'n Oct., aged 13 I Abraham, b'n June, aged? •' " occupied by the congregation. Samuel, June, " 12 •lohn, Feb., •" 5 Dutch Gaine's " Jonas, " Oct., " 9 I Isaac, Dec, " 4 Mercury. Josias, born January, aged 2 years.

1778, December 23. Rev. Mr. Walter writes Sons of Samuel Syren : Daniel, James, born SepK. 23. 1708 | born June 10, 1706 " from New York : I have resided more than John, born November 23. 1707. two years in this city and neighborhood. John, son of John and Margaret Thomas, was born October 23, 1708, and baptized November 29th. The first summer I spent in Brooklyn, where John, son of Asa Gildersleeve, born May 23, 1706. I occasionally officiated to a small congrega- Hannah Flower, aged 19.

Daughters of Samuel VV^illiams : 1703 Mary, born March 26, | Miriam, born Dec. 17, 1705 * Mr. Page was licensed by the Bishop of London, August 24th, 1772, for Wyoming. lie was evangelical, Here end Mr. Tbomas' records, as far as can of the Whitefleld school. He died in Virginia. See be now ascertained. "Meade's Virginia," ii, 259.

+ Mr. Sayre lived in the large white house of Isaac 1741, October 19. Mr. Brown writes from Cortelyou, on the Bay side of New Utrecht, which was " Brookhaven : My church was never more burned November 15, 1779. He published " God's flourishing. Some sober religious persons Thoughts of Peace in War." He went to Nova Scotia. have been lately added to the communion. but returned to Fairtield, where he died, 1798, aged 53. His brother John died in New Brunswick, 1784. I baptized one brought up a Quaker, and five 30 of his cliildren, and a woman over seventy. bread, it is more unreasonable that the Society and several infants. Another Quaker has should be burthened with them, when ample come over to the Church, the father of a large provision is made for the poor by law." family, who attends steadily public worship 1768, November 30. The church wardens on Sundays. I have lately been on the East and vestry of Huntington lay before the end of the Island, fifty or sixty miles east- Venerable Society '• their unhappy circum- ward. In passino: through the villages I stances." In Huntington and Queens Village, preached six or seven times in eight days to five miles distant, are upwards of thirty heads large congregations, and in the meeting- of families, professors of the Church of Eng- house at East Hampton, a large building land, who are destitute of the administration with two rows of galleries, one above the of God's Word and Sacraments. We era- other. The house seemed full from bottom ployed Mr. Kneeland to read prayers and to top. There never was so glorious a pros- sermons to us and sent him to England for pect of increasing the Church as at this day, orders. Henry Lloyd, of Boston, recommends if a missionary could be sent among them. Mr. Greaton, of Boston, at a salary of £30, Slielter Island (where are several families with firewood, a house and glebe. His ser- favorably disposed to the Church, whom I vices to include Islip and Queens Village. myself have baptized) lies in the middle of He may revive the Church at Brookhaven, three towns— East Hampton, Southampton which is almost ruined and come to nothing, and Southold. They are too far oif for me to through Mr. Lyons' misconduct."* visit, and then there is the expense of time 1769, August 8. Mr. Greaton, at Boston, and money in traveling. In five years past [on a visit], writes that at Huntington I have I don't three persons would have know who a very decent congregation, who almost con- gone in a church sooner than in a Turkish stantly attend. Frequently a laimber of dis- mosque. I the first person performed am who senters come to hear me, who behave with the service of the of England there. Church the utmost decency and seem much pleased. In Southampton and a neighboring village Several times I have had the church so full the teachers and people conducted me into that it could not conveniently hold more, and their meetinghouses unanimously, and they many were obliged to go away for Y'ant of everywhere behaved with becoming decen- room. I flatter myself that in time a flourish- cy."* ing church may be raised up there, if the 1748. Barclay visitation Mr. Henry made a people are so happy as to continue to enjoy as Commissary, and writes, October 5th, that the smiles of the Society. The people have " Mr. Seabury had preached several times at Huntington, where he found a good prospect * 1767, April 23. The Society will continue their salary to Mr. Lyons till Michaelmas next, and of making a considerable congregation. On no longer, as his mission is dwindled down under his the good people's solicitation the ministers ill conduct [eccentric habits] to almost nothing. Mr. recommend Samuel Seabury, Jr., to be their Lyons replies: "I fling myself on the mercy of the catechist for the present, to read the Church Society. My enemies would deprive me of bread and service and sermons, with such encourage- cliaracter. They say my behavior is sordid, that I go to church in a lay dress, with blue cloth cloak tliat I ment [pay] as the Venerable Society think ; wear a threadbare coat on week days. This old coat proper. The schoolmasters at Hempstead and harmonizes with my house, ready to tumble down, Oysterbay are incapable of further service, the having for several years been propjjed within and one being deaf and the other deprived of the without, and no assistance from the people. IIow much two or three bold leaders will influence a multi- use of his reason. Their salaries might be tude ! They are Churchmen in words, but Congrega- paid to it Huntington ; although may seem tionalists in discipline. They can't charge me with hard to turn a superannuated servant out of omission of duty or immorality. I have been twenty- flve years in the Society's service. I've preached every * Rev. John Sharpe, Chaplain, had written from Sunday since my last letter, baptized four infants, had

Foit Anne, N. Y., (November 24, 1705), " I think mis- nine communicants last Christmas and seven this sionaries are wanting. Two for Suffolk Coiuity, in Easter. I've drawn a set of bills for £25 in favor of the East end of Long Island, might do good service." Garret Kapelye." Mr. Lyons thanked the Society Lord Cornbury also writes, November 22d: "I was (March 25, 1747) for a gratuity of £10, has baptized (on a tour to the East end of Long Island) last eight in his new mission, wants Clark's sermons and summer, at Brookhaven, and my chaplain (Sliarpe) some tracts in opposition to Methodism, as enthusi- preached twice there. The minister and people came asm prevails in these dark regions, through the hot in to hear him." zeal of canting preachers. 31 purchased a new glebe, with a good house, at stable then said he would get me the money in a few days. When I called upon liim he told me he was not a cost of £344, currency, which they propose prepared. I went to him a second lime. He then told over to the Society in lieu of the old to make me it was necessary that I should have an order frona glebe, which cost only £120. the clerk of the Vestry. I accordingly waited upon 1780, May 18. Rev. Mr. Walter writes from you twice, but had not the pleasnre of finding you at home. Since that I have been very ill, and can scarce New York that : "I was last Sunday at Hunt- now sit to write. I have therefore sent my son to beg for the first time this ington, and officiated the favor of you to give an order for the years 1781 season at that church, to a small but attentive and 1782. You must think it hard for services through congregation. The church, which till last all weathers for so long a time, attended with fatigue myself and expense in horses, should pass unre- winter had remained untouched amid the to warded. Depending therefore entirely upon your desolations of war, was then taken by the humanity and justice for giving me that satisfaction [British] army for barracks, and, according to which the Vestry at that time agreed to, I with pleas- custom, greatly abused and damaged. The ure subscribe myself your very humble servant and friend, Leo'd Cutting. parsonage house is in tolerable repairs, but the barn has suffered in common with the church. Several of the principal families 1705, June 14. Lord Cornbury to the Gen- have gone into the rebellion, but their places eral Assembly: " The ditHculties which some are supplied by a number of refugees from very worthy ministers of the Church of Eng- Connecticut, who, uniting with the remaining land have met with, in the getting the main- families, are desirous, notwithstanding their tenance settled upon them by Act of General discouragements, to keep the service of the Assembly of this Province, passed in the year to Church among them. I have promised 1693, moves me to recommend to you the visit them once a month till winter, and I passing an Act explanatory of the above- hope to prevail on some of our refugee clergy mentioned Act, that those worthy, good men, here to do the same." who have ventured to come so far, for the service of God and His Church, and the good LOTTERY and edification of the people, to the salvation For the benefit of Cniolint; Church, Sotauket; 9.S0 of their souls, may not for the future be vexed, pi-izesi, 2,070 blauki^, being 3,000 tickets at $4 each niMkinj; $12,000, with a deduction of 15 per cent. It is as some of them have been, but may enjoy in purely for the assii^tnnce of an infaut community, not quiet that maintenance which was by a law able to assist themselves, and for the promotion of provided for them. I further recommend to the Christian religion. It is hoped every charitable you the passing an Act to provide for the and well-disposed person will cheerfully contribute their mite for the completion of so laudable and de- maintenance of some ministers in some of the sirable an end. As soon as full, the drawing will com- towns at the east end of Long Island, where I mence at Brookhaven, under tlie direction of the do not find any provision has yet been made Warden and Vestry, and under the immediate manage- for the propagating religion."—JouR. Ass., ment of Selah Strong, Esq., John Moore, Esq., Joseph Brewster and Henry Nicoll. Tickets to be had of the i., 196. printers, V. P. Ashfleld, and of said Manajjers.—ii«p- 1717, April 13th. The memorial of Rev. i7tgtun's Gazette, January 22, 1783. Robert Jeuuey, master of the Grammar School, New York, was by order of Council laid be- MR. CUTTING'S SALARY NOT PAID. fore the House of General Assembly and Nov. 5, 1783. To Mr. Antony Van Nostrand, recommended to their consideration, which WoLVER Hollow: proposed that a sufficient fund may be raised I believe you remember that at a meeting of Sir— for building a school house and dwelling the Vestry and Justices of Osyterbay, in April last, I house for the master, and to allow him a attended, and that it appeared both from my book and thirty- the receipts produced by Mr. Van Wyck that there salary of £70 per annum for^eaching was two years' salary due to me from the loth of five boys.—JouR. i., 393. January hut. Mr. Van Wyck paid up to 1779. Mr. Rev. John C. Rudd, deacon, was a mission- Isaac Hewlett was then chosen church-warden, and ary for several months in 1806, to the desti- the constable paid into the hands of Mr, Justice John congregations of Huntington, Oysterbay, Hewlett 20 shillings for the year 1780. The years 1781 tute

and 1782 are therefore still unpaid ; and this present Setauket and Islip. The three former con- year, 1783, is not reckoned. All this, as you remem- gregations before the Revolution were nu- ber, appeared plain to the Vestry, who agreed that merous and respectable, but since, having they thought it right that the back salary should be only occasional services, were fast dwindling paid, but desired that the present year might not be brought to account. To this I agreed, and the con- away. In Huntington he found it difficult to 32 arouse the dormant zeal for the Church of Allen. Henry $40 Kissam, Dnn.Whiteh'd$18 Allen, John 2d 5 Kissam, John 120 the few scattered families ; but the ministra- Allen, Richard 30 Kissam, Joseph 25 Allen, David 105 Kissam, Joseph, Jr. 5 tions of the Church revived their former at- Allen, Jame8 30 Lawrence, Stephen 2 tachment, and they arranged to repair their Allen, Gideon 1 Marston, Lawrence 1 Allen, William, Jr., 2 Mitchell, Allen 20 decayed church. Allen, Philip, Jr., 6 Mitchell, John 100 Allen, Jacamiah 5 Mitchell, At Oysterbay the church w^as totally de- Robert 5 Allen, Charles P. 60 Mitchell, Samuel T. 10 cayed, the few materials that remained were Allen, Dobson 2 Mitchell, Singleton 5 Allen. Maria, daughter Mitchell, Sing. & Jos. 35 sold, and an Academy was built on the Church of Philip 50 Mitchell, Uriah 10 Allen, Mary, d'ter of S. 10 Mitchell, Whitehead 3 lot, the right being reserved to use it as a Allen, Daniel 10 Mitchell, William 100

Church on Sundays. The Church families Allen, Eliz , wid. John 5 Morrell, Ann 5 Allen, Richard K. 5 Morrell, John 85 had become extinguished or joined other de- Allen. Benjamin & Co. 20 Mott, Jacob 10 nominations. Mr. Rudd could do nothing, as Appleby, Epenetus 25 Onderdonk, Hendrick Barton, John 2 & Sons 150 the establishing a church would (as they Baxter, Israel 5 Onderdonk, Peter 5 Beadle, Uriah 10 Peters, John 3 feared) divert the property from the acad- Blades, John 1 Piatt, Benjamin 100 emy.* Blossom, Elisha 20 Poole, James 5 Burtis, John 10 Reeve, Isaac T. 5 At Setauket the Church people being nu- Cash, ,1 Heeve, Jonathan 1 Cheesman. Benjamin 2 Hemsen, Daniel 2 merous, destitute tliough of public worship, Cheesman, Richard 2 Salts, Maurice 4 yet retained a love for the Liturgy, welcomed Cheesman. Timothy 3 Silts, William 1 Coles, Abram 1 Sands. John 50 Mr. Rudd, attended his ministrations, and Cornwall, Charles 20 Sands, Johi?. Jr. 50 Cornwall, James 50 Sands, Ray & Griffin 10 joined in the responses, so that the prospects Cornwall, Richard H. 20 Schenck, Rulef 10 of the revival of the Church were flattering. Coniwell. Daniel 10 Sealey, William 1 Cornell, Hannah, 1 Sealey, Daniel 2 At Islip the congregation was small and Cornell, Hannah, wid. 1 Searing, Mary 5 Cornell, Hannah, wid, Sell, James 55 had no money, yet were zealous and tried to of Japhet 1 Smith, Hannah 1 put their church in decent repair. A family Cornell, Henry 2 Smith, James 20 Cornell, Hewlett 50 Smith, John M. 85 prevented its being desecrated, and though Cornell. Joseph 4 Smith, Jos. i& Silvauus, 25 Cornell, Smith. Richard 35 there were no services there, they cleaned out Joshua 3 Cornell, Morris 2 Smith, Richard R. 5 the church yearly and decked it with Christ- Cox, William 1 Smith, Thomas 10 Crominelin, Charles 2 Smith, Timothy 20 mas greens. In 178G, Mr. Andrew Fowler <;ro(nmelin, Charles, Jr. 5 Smith, Timotliy 8 Dayenport, Newbury 20 Smith, William (iO had been reader at Islip. Brookhaven and Davenport, Samuel H. 5 Tatterson. Rich:ird 10 Oysterbay. Denton, Jonas 7 Thorne, Henry W. 10 Denton, Lawrence 7 Thorne, John 80 Denton. Samuel 6 Thome, John, Jr. 20 CHRIST CHURCH, MANHASSET. Dodjje, Thomas 2 Thorne, Richard 100 Dodt,'e, Tristram 2 Thorne, Richard, Jr, 30 Dodge, William 3 Thorne, Thomas C. 55 For many years the congregation living Dodge, William (i Thorne, William 65 Ellison. John 5 Thorpe, John B. 3 north side the Plains (especially on the Ferguson. David 1,50 Toftey, Daniel 20 Hagner, Henry 20 Tofloy, Rebi'cca 2 Necks) felt it a great inconvenience to ride Hagner, Henry, Jr. 15 Town send, Hewlett 20 over to the Hempstead church. To relieve Ilains, Daniel 1 Townsend, Jost'ph 2 Ilaviland, William 5 Townsend, Jotham 2 in them some measure, occasional services Hawxhurst, Townseiid 4 Townsend. Rich (Hills) 18 were held in the Dutch church at Success. Hewlett, Benj. & Sons 50 Townsend, Ruth and Hewlett, Benjuniin 85 Freelove, 10 In 1799, June 26, Rev. J. H. Hobart preached Hewlett, George 150 Tredwell, Dr Benjamin 30 Hewlett, Hannah 10 Tredwell, Benjamin 100 at Major Kissam's, Flower Hill. On June Hewlett, James 60 Tredwell, John 70 22d, 1803, the vestry of St. George's Church Hewlett, James. Jr, 20 Tredwell. Thomas 80 Hewlett, Joseph L. 75 Utton. Charles P. 30 consented that a church should be built at Hewlett, Lewis S. 45 Vaieiitine, Cah-b 2 Hewlett, Samuel 45 Valentine, Jacob 5 Cow Neck, and on December 2d, George On- Hewlett, Sarah 10 Valentine, Philip 10 derdonk, farmer, and Sarah, his wife, for Hewlett, Susan P. 5ll Valentine, Richard 10 Hewlett, Whitehead II Van Wyck, Barnt 10 $195.47 sold two acres and ninety-seven Hewlett. William 10 Van Wyck, Cornelius 5 Hicks. Samuel 5 Williams, John H. 5 square rods, at the Head of Cow Neck, to Hicks, Sarili, w. Morris 2 Williams, William 4 John M. Smith, Benjamin Tredwell, William Hicks, William 1 Williams, Wil.-on 2 Hoogland, Daniel 1 Willis, Townsend 15 Mitchell and Thomas C. Thorne, farmers, in Hutchings, .lolin 4 Woolli'}, Bfiij:Miiin, Jr. 1 Hutchings, Stephen 1 Woolley, IJeiijainin 24 trust for an Episcopal church and cemetery. Hutchings, William 4 Wool ley, Henry 20

Hutching^;. Sam'l "1 p* Woolley, John 17 Mott, Benj. B. -iJ Woolley. Samuel 20 SUUSClflPTIONS FOR BUILDING THE CHURCH. I ,„ Ross. Charles {T< Woolley, Thomas 15 Akerly, Jacaniiah $5 | Akerly, I'rit^cilla ^5 Weeks, Nicholas J j Kei-Ier, Ebenrzer 20 $3,725.50 * Tho Ac'idemy wa? opened April 1st, 1802, under Kissani, Henjainin T. 35 Trinity Ciiurch, 2.000.00 the cure of Rev. Marmp.duko Earl, a Bapti.-t, who was Kissain. Daniel (PI.) 35 Kissam. Daniel 23 Total, $5,725.50 boin Miinh 1, nfi'J, and died July 13, 185(i, 83 SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR CHURCH FURNITURE. Dobsou Allen built a store and inn near by, Haiiner. Mary Sands, Anna 3 and in 1806 William was sexton and enter- Hejieinan. Catharine { Sands, Kezia 3 Rebecca ) Sands, Sarah 3 Hesoman, tained the rector and cared for his horse on Hewlett, Plu'be Smith, Jane 5 Kissiitn, Elizabetli Smith, Rebecca 5 Sundays.

Kissam, Pliebe ) Sell. Catharine 3 The rector. Rev. Seth Hart, officiated in the Kissam, Rebecca f Townsend, Sarah 2 Sarah B, Tiedwell, Hannah 3 Kissam, church every other Lord's day till 1818, when Mitchell, Jane H. Tredwell, Pegiry 3 Mitchell, Kebecca J. Tredwell, Marian 3 Mr. Wheeler, (ordained deacon May 8th, 1814.) IMitchell, Sally WooUev, Susanna 3 who been Ondeidonk. Maiia had a private tutor in Wynant Van Piatt, Eliza and Sarah Total, $116 Zandt's family, became his assistant ;* and Reeves, Caiuliiio A. thereafter the church was open every Sunday. Christ Church was separated from St. At the raising of the clmi'ch a bountiful George's, March 29, 1819,f and incorporated, dinner was served up in the open air, on Mr. Wheeler remaining sole minister till No- tables made of rough boards.*

vember 1, 1823 ; and Mr. Clarke was called On Sunday, November 20th, 1803, Bishop December 1st, and resigned in June, 1832 Moore consecrated the new edifice by the ; and Joseph F. Phillips was called August name of Christ Church, and also confirmed 20th, who was ordained priest in this church, fifty persons. Mr. Hart read prayers and the October 17, 1833. In 1835, Nov. 30th, Moses Bishop preached. In 1804, $14 was paid Mr. Marcus came, and left in 1837, when Mr. Sell, sexton ; and in 1805, $9.37 was paid Clarke was recalled. May 9th. Mr. Clarke Daniel Corn well, parish clerk. f William and resigned again, October 17, 1849. The rec-

* In 1818, Christ Church Academy (the first in North tors thereafter were Samuel Cox, 1849; Gt.W. Hempstead) was erected by the vestry on the Chiircli Porter, 1854 ; (t. F. Bugbee, 1805 ; and James land, and opened in October, under the care of Rev. E. Homans. 1869. Eli Wheeler, who was assisted in succession by James P. Cotter, William Shelton and Harry Finch, candi- as it was in St. Paul's, New York. This arrangement

dates for Holy Orders, and Ebenezer Close. In May, was after the ancient manner, but it prevented the 1824, the Rev. J. P. F. Clarke (ordained deacon in St. congregation from having a fair view of the most in- George's Church, December 10, 1820,) succeeded him, teresting ceremonies of the Divine office.

among whose assistants were William J, Barry, Fred- * To THE Rector, Churchwardens and Ves- i

erick Craft, Henry Ondcrdonk, Jr., (1827-8), and Rev. TRY OP St. George's Church, Hempstead, f William Ernenpentch. I now have the pleasure of informing you that I t Mr. Cornwel! sat in a little box under the reading accept the call to the office of Assistant Minister in desk. He made the responses, gave out the Psalms to the parish, which you were so kind as to give me in be sung, and led the singing, there being no musical your meeting held at the Court House. instrument as yet in the church. The pulpit was a I am, Messrs,, Your Ob't H'ble Ser., gift from St. George's Church, New York. It was July 17, 1818, Eli Wheelek. made of mahogany, being the spar of a ship repaired t The writer hereof was present when Mr. Hart in the Bay of Honduras. It was quite too large for preached his farewell sermon. He shed abundant the chnrch. It was covered by a sounding-board of tears. Several respectable families had so deep- exquisite workmanship, on the summit of which was seated an affection for their old pastor that thej' were perched the emblematic dove with the olive-sprig in loath to part from him. For a while he met them on it« mouth. The chancel and communion table were Sunday afternoons in the Reformed Dutch Church at between the three-story pulpit and the rear window, Success, IIsTIDJaiK.

Aoadomy, 3-2, 33 Delancey, 8, 15, 2S Kissam, 9, 11, 15, 32 Rockaway, Adults, 4, Denomination, 16, 24 Kneeland, Rev. E., 12, 30 Albertiis, James 8 Denton, 1, 2, 6, 7, 16 Langdon, 9 Allen. 9, 33 Desk, 6, 26, 33 Lady-day 17 Allgeo, David 11 Dickinson, Samuel 2 Latham, John 15 Anabaptists, 11, 16, 2d Dinner, 8 Latitudinarians, 20 Ai'chdale, Captain 15 Dis.senters, 4, 13, 21, 30 Leaky, William 13 Ashfleld, V. P. 31 Distemper, 19 Lean-to, 1 Ayde, St. P. 29 Donation, 2n Lectures, 7 Baird, Alexander 9 Dorland, 6, 10 Lee, Thomas 9 Baldwin, George Doughty, Isaac 2 Lefferts, John 13 B.ill, 8 Dragoons, 14, 37 Library, 20 Baptism, 2,4,6 Drisius, Rev. Samuel 1 License, 21 Baptists, 11 Drum, 2,4, 5 Liturgy, 17, 29, .33 Barn, 23. 27 Duchess Co., 11, 33 Lloyd, Henry 10, 15, 30 Barracks, 28,31 Dutch, 1, 13, 23, 39 Lord's day, 7, 18 Bartow, Rev. John 3 Earmarks, 5.6 Lord's supper, 10, 19 Bason, 26 Easter, 6, 18, 30 Lottery, 23, 29, 31 Bedell, 5, 6, 15 East Hampton, 30 Lowe, John 15 Bell, 2, 9, 15, 16, -26 Education, 5, 18 Loyalist, 25, 28 Benches, Ellison, Richard 11 Lyons. 10, 12, 15, 30 Benefaction, 20 Einpie, Adam 15 Mandate, 3. 6 Bethpage, 20 Enthusiasm,9, 10, 11,16,30 Maintenance, 31 Betts, Millicent 11 Ei)iscopal, 34 Marriag'es, 16, 17, 18 Bible, 6, 17. 22 Eucharist, 4 Martin, 11, 14 Birch, Colonel 14, 37, 28 Evans. Rev. Evan 3 Marvin, 8, 11 Bishop, 34 Everit, Thomas 29 Marsh. John 8, 9, 26 Boarding school, 23 Flower, Ilauuah 29 Mather, 3 Books, 5, 17 Floyd, 6 Matin ecock, 16 Bovvnas, Samuel 2 Fogs, 17 Meadow, 19 Bradford, William 2 Fordhara, 1 Meeting-house, 1, 23 Brewster, Joseph 31 Fort. 1 Methodism, 10, 16, 26 Brookhaven, 6, 7, 30 Fort-neck, 28 Michaelmas, 30 Brooklyn. 28, 29 Posters Meadow. 5, 2» Minister, 6, 17, 20 Brown, 7, 8, 9, 11, 39 Fowler, Andrew 33 Missionary, 30 Bungy, 20 Friends. 1, 2 Mitchell, 8, 33 Burying-place, 6 Funeral bell, 11 Moore, 1, 15, 31 Buryings, 17, 18 Funeral pall, 13 Morris. 6, 35 Cage, 27, 28 Funeral sermon, 18 Mott, John 8 Campbell, 7 Gallery, 4, 7, 11, 23 Musqueto Cove, 16 Canting, 17, 30 Gernion, Isaac 9 Negroes, 6, 8, 18, 20 Caroline cliurch, 7, 31 Gildersleeve, 3, 3, 5,9,13,29 New England, 4 Carpenter, John 29 Gill, Roger 2 New Light, 10 Carpet, 6 Gleaves, Matthew 29 Nicoll. Henry 31 Catecliise, 20 Glebe, 18, 30, 31 Noble, 15 Catechist, 5, 6, 10, 22, 30 God-father, 17, 23 Norwich, 16, 20 Catechisms, 10, 18 GoUliug. 6, 11 Ogden, 7, 19 Catechumens, 18, 21, 34 Good Friday, 39 Onderdonk. 15, 23, 33 Cedar Swamp, 16 Great Neck, 2 Ordination, 15 Chalice, 6 Greaton, 13, 30 Outcry 1 Chancel, 26, 33 Guard-honse, 27 Oyst'rb'y, 3.6.10,13.16,28,33 Chandler, 25 Hagawout, II, 14, 15 Page, Rev. Bernard 29 Charter, 9, 36 Hall, 8 Pall, 12 Cheeseman, Joseph 11 Hart, 15, 33 Paper, 5 Christ Cliurch, 10. 33 Havilaud, John 2 Parish, 3, 16, 17, 20. 24 Christenings, 17, 33 Heathen, 12, 18 Parish Clerk, 14, 15 Christmas, 30 Hewlett, 9, 28, 31 Parsonage, 1, 4, 19 Church, 4, 14, 30 Hobart, 1, 2, 25, 33 Paten, 6 Church-days, 5 Holy Orders, 21, 23 Patrean, Daniel 9 Ch. of England. 4. 5,29.30 Homilies, 6 Pearsall, Nathaniel 1, 3 Churchman, 3, 16. 25, 30 Horsfield, Thomas 29 8, 11, 16 Churchwarden, 2, 7, 10 Hospital, 27 17, 18 Clap-board, 6 Hospitality, 5, 19 6, 8, 36 Clarke, George 3, 6, 8 Hour-glass, 1 21,23 Clowes, 8, 11, 19 Hugins, James 9 3,8 Clerk, 2, 9, 10, 18 Huntington, 10. 11.12,14,30 27, 28 Cloth, b, 19 Huntington South, 33 5, 17, 20 Cock, Katharine 6 Hyde Park, 8, 36 16 Colgan, Rev. Thomas 10 Immersion 21 16 Cohlen, Alexander 29 Independents, 8,3 Coles, Nathaniel 3 Indians, 11, 18 Cotnmissary, 21, 26. 30 Induction, 3, 6. 10. 13 Communicants, 4, 23 Infidels, 18, 31 Communion, 5 Institution, 13 Comm'n table, 18, 19, 26, 33 Insurgents 14 Congregationalist. 30 Islip 12, 13, 30, 33 Consecration. 8, 10, 25, 33 Itiner.tnt, 3, 16, 34 Cornbury, Lord, 3, 30 Mr. Jackson, Cornell, 6, 8, 26, 29, 33 Jamaica, Cosby, Governor 7, 16 Jecocks. Thomas Cow Neck, 20, 33 Jenney. Crawley, John 29 Jericho, Cutler, Rev. Timothy 10 Jerusalem, Cutting, 12, 14, 23, 25, 31 Johnson, Jacob Cushion, 6 Jones, Damask. 8 Justice Damnation, 19 Keble, Davies, V Davi.s, 10 Deists, 23