THE TOWN OF WESTCHE5TER. 327 



some going out, some seemed amazed, not yet determined to go or stay ; in the 

 meantime, some that were gone out returned again for their seats, and then we 

 had a Bhameful disturbance, bawling and tugging of seats, shoving one the other 

 off, carrying them out and returning again fur more ; so that I was fain to leave 

 off till irba nee was over, and a separation made, by which time I had 



lost about half of the congregation, the rest remaining devout and attentive the 

 whole time of service ; after which we lock't the church door, and committed 

 the key into the hands of the sheriff. We were no sooner got into an adjoining 

 house, but some persons came to demand the key of their meeting house, which 

 being denye-d, they went and broke the glass window, and put a bo} r in to open 

 the door, and so put in their seats and took away the pew cushion, saying they 

 would keep that, however, for their own minister ; the scolding and wrangling 

 that ensued are by me ineffable. The next time I saw my Lord Cornbury, he 

 thanked me, and said he would do the church and me justice : accordingly, he 

 summoned Mr. Hobbart and the head of the faction before him, and forbade Mr. 

 Ilobbart evermore to preach in that church ; for in regard, it was built by a 

 publick tax, it did appertain to the established church, (which it has quietly re- 

 mained ever since, and is now in possession of our Rev. Brother, Mr. Urquhart). 

 My Lord Cornbury threatened them all with the penalty of the statute, for dis- 

 turbing divine service ; but upon their submission and promise of future quiet- 

 ness and peace, he pardoned the offence. Not long after this, my Lord requested 

 me to go and preach at Eastchester : accordingly, I went, (^ though some there 

 had given out threatening words should I dare to come), but though I was there 

 very early, and the people had notice of my coming, their Presbyterian minister, 

 Mr. Morgan, had begun service in the meeting-house, to which I went straight- 

 way and continued the whole time of service without interruption, and in the 

 afternoon I was permitted to perform the Church of England service; Mr. M r- 

 gan being present, and neither he nor the people seemed to be dissatisfied, and 

 after some time of preaching there afterwards, they desired me to come oftener; 

 and I concluded to minister there occe a month, which now I have done for about 

 three years, and Mr. Morgan is retired into New England. The winter drawing 

 on, and finding it too hard for me to ride from Mr. Graham's to attend on my 

 ministry on all occasions, I returned to Westchester ; and there being no very 

 suitable place for me to board at, I hired a house for a half a year, where I lived 

 alone, and had my victuals dressed at a neighboring house ; and at the end of 

 half a year, being not permitted to renew my lease, I bought a house of my own, 

 and five acres of land, at £100, where (I bless God) I have inhabited ever since 

 in the conscientious discharge of my duty, hardly ever missing to officiate on the 

 Lord's Day in my parish, and there have dischargee! that duty either in the Jerseys, 

 at Rye, or at some other place, excepting thrice by reason of sickness, and twice 

 for coldness anel foulness of the weather, wanting a congregation; always 

 preaching twice a day in the summer, and once in the winter. I have 

 always ready to visit the sick when sent for, and before frequently, if I k;: 

 it, not refusing in the time of very mortal diseases, which we have frequently had 

 since I came here, few houses escaping either sickness or death, being by night 

 and by day, frequently riding more than ten miles a day, I may any twenty. I 

 have administered the sacrament of Baptism to a great number of people, young 

 and old, and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper publickly, three times a year 



