THE TOWN OF RYE. 1S5 



sectaries in new Methodism. He had baptized within a year sixty-nine 

 children and six adults, &c." a 



In 1745 Mr. Wetmore writes ''that he is fully occupied in performing 

 duty at Rye. Scarsdale and the White Plains, and begs for an assistant 

 to officiate under him. At Bedford and North Castle there are four 

 hundred families, &zc."* 



The same year Mr. Joseph Lamson was appointed assistant to Mr. 

 Wetmore with a salary of jQ2o ; a gratuity of ^20 was also made by the 

 society, '"out of compassion to Mr. Lamson's sufferings and necessities, 

 who was taken prisoner, shipped and carried into France on his voyage 

 towards England ; and afterwards, on his way from Port Louis in France, 

 to London, was detained seven months by a fever at Salisbury. Mr 

 Lamson undertook the voyage to England for the purpose of obtaining 

 Episcopal ordination. c In his first reports dated May 12th, 1746. Mr. 

 Lamson writes, <; that he officiates by turns at Bedford and North Castle 

 to full congregations, and had then baptized eleven children and three 

 adults."'' At a vestry meeting of this parish, held at Mr. Benjamin 

 Brown's, Sen., in Rye, January 16th, 1749, the Rev. James Wetmore de- 

 livered the following letter, from the Rev. Philip Bearcroft, D.D., secre- 

 tary to the Honorable Propagation Society: 



London, Charter HorsE, June 27, 1749. 

 Gents : — It is with much concern that the Society for the Propagation of the 

 Gospel in Foreign Parts are informed that your church and the parsonage house 

 are very much out of repair, and that even the possession of the glebe is disputed 

 against your very worth}* pastor "Sir. Wetmore, whose great pains and abilities 

 in the cause of God's church, cannot hut recommend him to every worthy mem- 

 ber of it. Therefore the Society hope and expect that upon due consideration 

 you will give orders for the full repair of the church and the parsonage house, 

 and defend Mr. Wetmore in the maintenance of all his just rights, as you desire 

 his longer continuance among you. 

 I am, Gentlemen, 



Your very humble servant, 



PHILIP BEARCROFT, Secretary. 

 To the Churchwardens and Vestry of the 

 Church of Rye, New York. 



Mr. Wetmore, in his report of 175 1, mentions "that the church had 

 lately been repaired, and is made neat and beautiful." 



a Reports of Propagation Soc. 



b Reports of Propagation !>oc, 



c Some idea (says the Rev. ML Ft. Henderson) of the great disadvantages trader which the 

 Church labored during our colonial existence, may be formed from the fact that beside the 

 great expense of the voyage (£100). an expense which candidates for holy orders could ill af- 

 ford to bear, nearly one-fifth of all that went to England for ordination died, either from 

 small-pox, or the dangers of the deep. "The number who had gone to England for ordination 

 from the northern colon! « up to 1 tot, was fifty-two ; of these forty-two only returned safely. 

 — Heri'l arse. 



d Rep. of Propagation Sjc. 



