THE TOWN" OF WESTCHESTER. 383 



In his second letter, dated 29th of March, 1777, after alluding to the 

 death of Mr. Babcock, he says : — 



"With regard to my own mission, I can only say that it is utterly ruined ; be- 

 fore the King's troops went into that part of the country, the people were robbed 

 of their cattle and otherwise plundered by the Rebels ; and, I am sorry to say, 

 that they suffered greatly in that way from the Royal army. Little or no dis- 

 tinction was made ; no redress could be obtained, and no stop was put to it. As 

 soon as the King's troops withdrew, the Rebels returned in parties, and every 

 party plundered the inhabitants. Many fled to this city, with what little they 

 could carry — many were deprived by the Rebels of every thing but the clothes on 

 their back?, and sent off with only six days provision, because they refused to 

 swear allegiance to the States of America. Children and infants have been de- 

 prived of their clothes, and women in child-bed have had the coverings, even the 

 sheets, torn from their beds, by these monsters, who seem to have nothing of hu- 

 manity left but the shape of men only. Many families of my parishioners are 

 now in this town, who used to live decently, suffering for common necessaries. I 

 daily meet them; and it is melancholy to observe the dejection strongly marked 

 on their faces, which seem to implore that assistance which I am unable to give. 

 To pity and pray for them is all I can do. I shall say nothing more of my own 

 situation at present, than that I have hitherto supported myself and family with 

 decency, and will not distrust the goodness of God which has hitherto preserved 

 me, nor render myself unworthy of it by repining and discontent. ,-a 



In his letter of November 12th, 1777, he observes : — 



" That about a month before, he had visited Westchester, and thought of stay- 

 ing the winter there, but was obliged to drop such intentions on General Bur- 

 goyne's defeat ; as the Rebels upon that event came to that town by night and 

 carried off forty-two of the inhabitants." 



Dr. Seabury concludes with requesting that he may remove to Staten 

 Island if he finds it safer than "Westchester; and the Society, sensible of 

 his great worth, have signified their ready compliance with his request, 

 engaging to continue the salary of ^50 per annum, during the present 

 disturbances. 6 



The abstracts for 1778, state that two letters have been received in the 

 course of the year, from the Rev. Dr. Seabury, Missionary at Staten 

 Island. In the former he acquaints the Society, "that in December, 

 1777, he preached there to a very decent and attentive congregation, 

 of near three hundred people, and baptized twelve infants, &c. That 

 the wretched state of his late mission at Westchester, is beyond descrip- 

 tion ; many of the inhabitants having removed to New York and Long 

 Island, where they want many comforts of life ; and some who have re- 



a New York MSS., from Archives at Fulham, vol. ii. 617.— (Hawks.) 

 b Printed Abstracts of Ven. Prop. Soc. for 1777. 



