3Q2 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



ministerial side. His influence with his associates and with his party 

 was very great 



Mr. Wilkins's zeal and extreme loyalty, rendered him very obnoxious 

 to the Whigs. Besides his prominent position in the Assembly, he gave 

 utterance to his thoughts, in essays. It is a singular circumstance, that 

 the youthful Hamilton, who was also born in the West Indies, undertook 

 the task of replying ro two of his poetical effusions. One of them, the 

 "Congress Canvassed," &c, which was signed, A. W. Farmer, was ex- 

 tensively circulated ; and as well as that called, " A View of the Contro- 

 versy between Great Britain and her Colonies," was summarily disposed of 

 whenever they fell into the hands of those whose measures they criticised 

 and condemned. 



In 1775 he left the country, and went to England. At the moment 

 of his departure, he issued the following address : — 



New York, Mat 3d, 1775. 

 My Coitntktmen : — "Before I leave America, the land I love, and in which is 

 contained everything that is valuable and dear to me — my wife, my children, my 

 friends and property — permit me to make a short and faithful declaration ; which 

 I am induced to do, neither through fear nor a consciousness of having acted 

 wrong. An honest man and a Christian hath nothing to apprehend from this 

 world. God is my judge, and God is my witness, and all I have done, 

 written or said, in relation to the present unnatural dispute between Great 

 Britain and her Colonies, proceeded from an honest intention of serving my 

 country. Her welfare and prosperity were the objects towards which all my en- 

 deavors have been directed. They are still the sacred objects which I shall ever 

 steadily and invariably keep in view. And, when in England, all the influence 

 that so inconsiderable a man as I am can have, shall be exerted in her behalf. It 

 has been my constant maxim through life, to do my duty conscientiously, and to 

 trust the issue of my actions to the Almighty. May that God, in whose hands are 

 all events, speedily restore peace and liberty to my unhappy country. May 

 Great Britain and America be soon united in the bonds of everlasting unity ; and 

 when united, may they continue a free, a virtuous and happy nation to the end 

 of time. I leave America, and every endearing connection, because I will not 

 raise ray hand against my Sovereign, nor draw my sword against my country ; 

 when I can conscientiously draw it in her favor, my life shall be cheerfully de- 

 voted to her service. ISAAC WILKINS." 



In 1776, he returned to Long Island, where he remained until the 

 peace, when he returned to Shelbume, Nova Scotia. He remained in 

 Nova Scotia several years, and lived a part of the time at Lunenburgh. 

 He was ordained deacon in 1798, and afterwards priest by the Rt. Rev. 

 Samuel Provoost, D.D., of this diocese. In 1799 he was settled, as we 

 have shown, over this parish. 



