The Churches 275 



Shortly before annexation, a series of incendiary fires oc- 

 curred in the town; and barns, stables, and outhouses began 

 to burn up with alarming frequency. The incendiaries had a 

 regular organization, with president, secretary, etc., and stated 

 meetings at which the places to be fired were selected and lots 

 drawn as to who should light them. The incendiaries were 

 recruited from the tough element of the town, who set the 

 fires for the sake of the excitement, and, incidentally, to 

 pillage. Among the buildings so fired were the two Quaker 

 meeting-houses. A more flagrant and wanton piece of van- 

 dalism it is hard to imagine. An attempt was also made to 

 fire the Sunday-school building of St. Peter's, and it was 

 suspected that the church itself might be a probable subject. 

 The gang of firebugs was finally broken up. Whether some of 

 them belonged to the volunteer fire company or not, is still 

 a question with the respectable inhabitants. 



The Dutch were members of the Established Reformed 

 Church. We therefore look to the manor of Fordham, 

 principally settled by Dutch from Harlem, for the beginnings 

 of the Reformed Dutch Church. 



"Little is known concerning the early history of religion 

 in the manor, except that in 1671, 'the inhabitants residing 

 between the two Kills of Harlem and the Broncks, ' were 

 obliged to contribute towards the support of a minister when 

 one should be settled or called to the manor of Fordham" 

 (Bolton). 



In 1673, the Dutch recaptured New York, and the inhabi- 

 tants of John Archer's village of Fordham immediately pe- 

 titioned Governor Colve and his council for relief from the 

 exactions of their "land-heer, " or manor-lord. The following 

 was granted : 



