3 15 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER 



an orthodox minister in the town aforesaid, as soon as possible may be; 

 and to allow him forty or fifty pound per annum, equivalent to money, 

 for his maintainance. It is also voted and agreed upon, that a man shall 

 go to the Honorable Colonel Heathcote, and see if he can prevail with 

 him for to procure us a minister, in his travels in New England, other- 

 wise, that Captain William Barnes shall go and procure us a minister."* 1 



Upon the 21st of September, 1693, the Act of Assembly for settling 

 a Ministry, was passed. By this Act, Westchester County was divided 

 into two parishes, viz., Westchester and Rye. Tne parish of Westches- 

 ter included the town or precincts of Westchester, Eastchester, Yonckers, 

 and the Manor of Pelham ; and was required to raise ^50 per annum 

 for the support of the minister, and to elect on 2d Tuesday in January, 

 ten vestrymen and two church-wardens. There was also to be called, 

 inducted, and established, a good sufficient Protestant minister, to 

 officiate and have the care of souls within one year next, and after the 

 publication hereof. In Westchester two ; one to have the care of West- 

 chester, Eastchester, Yonckers and the Manor of Pelham, &rc. 3 



But so few persons were properly qualified at this time, to accept the 

 call of the vestry, that the act remained dormant in Westchester nearly 

 two years. An attempt, however, was made by some of the vestry to 

 have Warham Mather inducted, as appears by the following extract from 

 the town records : 



"At a meeting held in Westchester, the 7th of Ma}', 1695, present, Justice 

 Barnes and Justice Hunt. Capt. William Barnes, President of the trustees: 

 "Whereas, the freeholders and inhabitants of this town of Westchester and 

 precincts, att this meeting have exprest their desires for the settling of Mr. War- 

 ham Mather amongst us as our minister for one whole year or longer ; its there- 

 fore voated and agreed upon, that Mr. Justice Barnes, and Mr. Justice Hunt, and 

 Mr. Edward Waters, church-wardens, with as many of the vestrymen as con- 

 veniently can be gott together, should agree with the said Mr. Warham Mather, 

 and settle him with all expedition. Endorsed, 



EDWARD COLLIER, Clerk."' 



The Rev. John Miller, describing the Province of New York, in 1695, 

 says : " There is a meeting house at Westchester, and a young man 

 coming to settle there without orders. There are two or three hundred 

 English and Dissenters, a few Dutch.' v 



Mather's call appears to have been confirmed, with all due expedition 

 by the Dissenters, probably in 1695; but, after Col. Caleb Heathcote 



.1 Town Rec 



b Acts of i'mv. Assembly, N. Y., from 1591 to 1726. 

 r Town Rec, Lib. 



Province of New York, by Rev. John Miller. 



