35S HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



frame is put together they fill up the vacancies under the said frame, which they 



call underpining ; then they raise the top part or roof in like manner as we do 



with rafters, applying upon them laths, and upon them they nail some split 



.. commonly cedar, that being the most in esteem, of about half an inch 



thick, and half a foot wide, and sometimes two, sometimes three foot long, 



according to the intention of the builder, of being either more saving in charge, 



or more secure against the weather. The wall part is likewise covered with 



. and upon them are nailed, as on the roof, split wood which they call shin- 



and they are placed perpendicularly, but then not so thickly placed one by 



the other as on the roof, where they resemble our tiles. 



"The church of Westchester was built by the Quakers, (who were the first 

 settlers in this place, and are still the most numerous party in and about it ; and 

 indeed the whole parish, as to their manners, are somewhat Quakerish) and by 

 them was given to Colonel Healhcote, for the use and service of the Church of 

 England.* 1 



"The Church is endowed with thirty acres of land at £3 per annum; besides 

 which the minister hath a salary of £50 of this currency, raised yearly by virtue 

 of an act of Assembly, of and for this Province. The second church is that of 

 Eastchester, built by the Independants, and by them delivered up to Mr. Bartow, 

 who was formally inducted into the same, and kept quiet possession of it all his 

 time, permitting the Independants sometimes to assemble in it. 



"The third, is Xew Rochelle, where Mr. Stoup officiates, and where a certain 

 number of the French nation have divine service according to the form and 

 maimer of the Church of England ; but the greatest number of that nation, flock 

 to a meeting house of their owu erecting, who are particularly fond of the Ma- 

 hometan doctrine of absolute deerees, as the Dutch likewise of this country are. 

 who where they have no minister of their own, will establish a reader in order to 

 hinder their people from assembling with the English. 



"To the second enquiry, I answer, that the number of those well affected to the 

 Church of England, were not above three or four families at the utmost ; those 

 that now frequent the church at West and Eastchester in the Summer-time, and 

 especially at the afternoon service, are about one hundred; but in the winter, not 

 half that number, though the number of inhabitants in my parish are computed 

 to be about six thousand. Their employments is husbandry, even innkeepers, 

 shopkeepers, smiths, and shoemakers not excepted ; so that we pray, pay, and 

 wait too, for everything done in this country. 



As to their religion, those who first settled in Westchester town, some were 

 Quakers, those in Eastchester were New England Independants, who were in 

 love with extemporary prayers, and who remain so in some degree after they are 

 reconciled to our Church; so that the chief hope of making proselytes, lyes 

 amongst tin younger sort -and in order to this, I believe the reading of some of 

 our defences to the objections of the Dissenters particularly, and especially the 

 ises abridged by Bennet, would be of singular use. 



As the people of this country are all farmers, they are dispersed up and down 

 the country : and even in towns every one has a plott of at least ten acres, which 



« These Statements are certal ; for we have sliown, 1st, thai, the early Lnhabi- 



P intao Independents: W, the cbnrch was limit by a public tax, Levied on all the 



Inhabitants; and Brd, all put, He prop i rested In tbe Church established bylaw 



