THE TOWN OF PELHAM. 95 



borhood peculiarly destitute of spiritual culture. Through his instrument- 

 ality, a parish was finally organized ; and the corner stone of a church 

 was laid on his own estate, Friday, the 28th of April, 1S43 — being the 

 first building devoted to religious worship and instruction ever com- 

 menced in Pelham. The good seed has spread since then, for there are 

 now no less than three Episcopal churches in this town, viz : Grace 

 church, City Island ; the Church of the Redeemer, Pelhamville ; and the 

 Parish church. The edifice thus happily begun was finished the same year, 

 and consecrated the 15th of September by the name of ' ; Christ church, 

 Pelham." Prior to this event, the Reverend Founder prepared a deed 

 transferring the church, and a quarter of an acre of land on which it is 

 situated, to a parochial corporation, when one should be there formed — 

 reserving, however, six free seats, the southeast and northwest transepts, 



Christ Church, Pelham. 



and two vaults beneath the floor of the church ; and, further, it provides 

 that no rector or minister can be called or employed to officiate in the 

 said church without the written consent of a majority of his heirs resid- 

 ing in America be given thereto." The act of incorporation bears date 

 25th of September, 1843. Richard Morris and Henry Grenzabach, 

 church- ward ens ; Isaac Roosevelt, George F. Mills, John Bolton. William 

 J. Bolton, Peter V. King, Jacob LeRoy, Cornelius Winter Bolton, and 

 Robert Bolton, Jun., vestrymen. a 



Upon the organization of the parish the Rev. Robert Bolton became 

 its rector Ke was born at the family residence in Oglethorpe Square, 

 Savannah, Georgia, 10th of September, 1788. His father has already 



a County Rec Eel. Soc. Lib. B, p. S5. Day of annual election, ilonday in Easter week. 



