THE TOWN OF WESTCHESTER. 33 1 



Another obstruction has been in the manor of Pelham, the inhabitants of which 

 are French Protestants, -who have Mr. Bondctt for their minister; a gent in 

 Episcopal orders, (but not using the liturgy of the Church of England) and there- 

 fore they have the greater plea to sue for an exemption ; but the Quota, West- 

 chester, intends to lay annually upon them (viz., £5) is so inconsiderable, and 

 the people many and wealth}', that my Lord Cornbury would not hear of any 

 alteration; and my Lord has prevailed with Mr. Bondett to cease from any 

 further endeavours. 



That land which my Lord of London obtained of her Majestic for the church 

 at Westchester, is now claimed by an heir ; the case iu short is thus : — 



John Richardson, of the parish of Westchester, married his daughter Mary to 

 Joseph Hadley ; the said John Richardson some time time after in his sickness 

 whereof he tiled, makes a will and bequeaths to his said daughter Mary, one 

 hundred acres of land. The said daughter dyes also soon after her father, but 

 left issue by the said Joseph Hadley, her husbaud. After her death, she dying 

 without a will, Joseph Hadley, the husband of the deceased, sells this land to 

 Thomas Williams ; and the said Thomas Williams dyes in the possession of the 

 said land, intestate, and without heirs, and by that means the land by the judge 

 and the jury, was determined to be escheated to the crown. But now George 

 Hadley. the son and heir of the said Jos. Hadley, which he begot of the said 

 Mary, the daughter of John Richardson, puts in his claim for this land as his 

 mother's heir ; alledging that his father could not dispose of his mother's in- 

 heritance, (altho' it was not settled upon her by deed of jointure, nor yet be- 

 queathed to her and her heirs,) and the heir who was also his father's exect 1 ". 

 & admi 1 '., has (as I am informed) received part of the said purchase money 

 of the said Williams. I humbly beg you would lay this matter before the 

 Society, that they may assist us with timely advice yt ye Church may not loose 

 any of her rights. I have been at great charges since I left England, but doubt 

 not God Avill provide things necessary for my subsistence ; my earnest desire is 

 to answer the glorious ends of my mission, and my greatest circumspection is 

 to behave myself so as becometh one employed by so many great and good men, 

 that I may never give a reason to reflect ; I have been upon duty ever since I 

 came out of England, but as for the proportion and commencement of my salary, 

 I thankfully submit it to the pleasure of the Society, for whose health and pros- 

 perity 1 shall ever pray, who am worthy sir.« 



Your most humble and obliged servant, JOHN BARTOW." 



The subjoined letter, from Colonel Heathcote to the Secretary, will 

 serve to throw additional light upon the early history of this parish : — 



COLONEL HEATHCOTE TO THE SECRETARY. 



Maxok of Scarsdale, New York, lOTn April, 1704. 

 Sir: — "Mr. Bartow showed me the copy of a letter (the original, as he told 

 me, being sent to my Lord Cornbury) wherein you acquaint him that the Society 



a Hawks' New York MSS from archives at Fulham, vol. i. 18, 19. 20. In 1704 Mr. Bartow 

 received from tho Society £50 per annum, and a benevolence of £30 —see Urst report of Ven- 

 erable Propagation Society, issued in 1704. 



