260 The Story of The Bronx 



The Reverend Samuel Seabury succeeded to the rectorship 

 near the end of 1766, after a vacancy of nearly a year. He was 

 a native of Groton, Connecticut, a graduate of Yale with the 

 degree of A.M., 1748, as well as an A.M. of King's College, 

 1 76 1. He was for some time a catechist of the Society, 

 and upon being recommended to the cure of New Brunswick 

 in East New Jersey, he went to London for holy orders. He 

 served at New Brunswick from 1754 to 1757, when he was 

 promoted to the living at Jamaica, Long Island. He became 

 rector of Westchester, December 3, 1766. He is spoken of 

 "as a youth of good genius, unblemished morals, sound prin- 

 ciples of religion and one that hath made as good proficiency 

 in literature, while in America, as the present state of learning 

 there would admit of ; and he has gone for his improvement to 

 the University of Edinburgh. " 



In a letter to the secretary, dated June 25, 1767, he writes: 



"With regard to the income of this parish, the salary, by an 

 act of Assembly is £50 currency. The exchange from N. Y. 

 to London being generally from £70 to £80 for £100 sterling. 

 Burial fees here, there are none; but the more wealthy families 

 sometimes give the minister a scarf, on these occasions. Mar- 

 riage fees from one to four Spanish dollars; but far the greater 

 number go to an Independent teacher in the Parish of Rye, 

 because the ceremony is short, and they have nothing to say. 

 Possibly these fees may amount to £5 or £6 a year. ... But 

 there are many families, especially among the lower classes, 

 who do not pretend to be of any religion at all." 



Of his school, of his participation in the discussions pre- 

 ceding the Revolution, and of his capture by Sears, accounts 

 will be found elsewhere in this volume. Upon his return from 

 his captivity in Connecticut, he took up his residence at the 



