344 HISTORY OK THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



the Latin tongue, provided he comply with the society's rules, in send- 

 ing certificates of the number of his scholars."* 1 



The next year, Mr. Bartow writes as follows :— 



MR BARTOW TO THE SECRETARY. 



Westchester, April 14, 1714. 



Sir :— "I have sent you enclosed, an account of the building of our churches, 

 and how they have been supplied, signed by those who were yesterday at our 

 vestry meeting, and have not leisure to get more hands: the ship (as we hear) 

 being ready to sail. 



I have had some old arrears, £ 9 6 9, due to me, which I have been often try- 

 ing to get, but could not ; until our present governor, upon my complaint, was 

 pleased to send a threatening letter to our vestry, which made those readily com- 

 ply to annex it to the church rate for this year, which said sum I have given to 

 the Church at Eastchester and Westchester, towards making and rectifying of 

 pews and seats. 



The present of books the Society has sent, was very gratefully received by me 

 and by those to whom they are given. 



The Common Prayer Books are the most acceptable to those who love the 

 Church ; and I could not avoid giving offence, having not enough for all. 



The measles have been epidemical throughout the whole county this winter — 

 and having not had them myself, nor one in the family, and the distemper prov- 

 ing very mortal, I declined visiting and baptizing a dying child ; if complaint be 

 made, I hope the society will not be offended. The parent said he would not 

 defer baptizing a child so long again. He is one in the scheme, in number, of the 

 half Quakers. Sir, in the last clause of the certificate of the vestrymen, you will 

 find that Eastchester was made a distinct parish from Westchester, in 1700 ; the 

 reason whereof, I understand, was this, (viz.) the people of Eastchester being 

 general^ Presbyterians, and wishing to have a minister of their own, petitioned 

 the Assembly that they might be made a distinct parish from Westchester, (to 

 which they were before annexed by act of Assembly,) and obtained an act of 

 separation ; but when I came among them, they were so well satisfied with the 

 liturgy and doctrines of the Church, that they forsook their minister, and have 

 ever since professed themselves members of the Church of England, (excepting 

 a very few who are rigid Independents,) and they pay their proportion of the 

 fifty pounds per annum, as was allotted them by the first act of Assembly. 



If the Society would be pleased to send over one of the few youths of the 

 Hospital, with an allowance of five pounds per annum, to teach the children, 

 sometimes at Yonckers, and sometimes at Eastchester, I know the inhabitants 

 would allow him j£20 per annum more of this country money ; and it would be 

 of excellent use, if he proved sober and diligent and well affectioned to our 

 Church. 



I most gratefully acknowledge the piety, zeal, and generosity of the illustrious 

 Society, for their repeated and continued instances of sincere love unto Christ 

 Jesus, in spreading and supporting His religion with indefatigable care and im- 

 mense charges. And remain, Sir, &c., b JOHN BARTOW." 



a Printed abstracts of Yen. Soc. 



b Hawks' New York MS3., from Archives at Fulham vol. i, pp. 473, 474. 



