THE TOWN OF WEST FARMS. 519 



The ancient Dorp, or village of Fordham, according to the annexed 

 survey, still preserved among the land papers at Albany, stood on or 

 near that part of the Westchester shore of Harlem River now called 

 Kings Bridge, or as the Royal Patent recites — " near unto ye passage 

 commonly called Spiting Divil, upon which land ye New Dorp or village 

 is erected, known by the name of jFordham." Here John Archer, the 

 first mesne lord, " at his own charge, and with good success began a 

 township in a convenient place for the relief of strangers, circ 1668, it 

 being the road for passengers to go to and fro from the main, as well as 

 for mutual intercourse with the neighboring colony." The old village 

 has long since disappeared — not a vestige remains behind, save a few 

 bricks and stones which serve to mark its site. The present village of 

 Fordham is situated on the line of the Harlem and New Haven Rail- 

 road, where is a depot of the former road, twelve and a half miles north 

 of the City Hall. Near the depot stands the civil and police courts for 

 the Twenty-third and Twenty fourth Wards of the city of New York, al- 

 so one of the largest and best arranged public schools of the city. Here 

 are four churches, numerous stores and manufactories, &c. A short dis- 

 tance north of Fordham is a depot for Jerome Park which borders on the 

 Croton Aqueduct. Here is located a large race course and club house 

 belonging to the American Jockey Club. 



Little is known concerning the early history of religion in the manor 

 except, that as early as 167 1 "the inhabitants residing between the two 

 Kills of Harlem and the Broncks " were obliged to contribute towards 

 the support of a minister when one should be settled or called in the 

 Manor of Fordham. 



In May 1696 a society was organized here by the Collegiate Dutch 

 Reformed congregation of New York. The Rev. John Montaigne being 

 minister ; and Henricus Selyns, William Beekman, Johannes Kerbyle, 

 Johannes Depyster, Jacobus Kipp, Isaac de Forrest, and Isaac de 

 Reyner elders and deacons. The next minister seems to have been the 

 Rev. Henricus Beyse, who about 1709 resigned his pastorate and joined 

 the Church of England. For Colonel Lewis Morris writing to the 

 venerable Propogation Society in 1709, says: — 



" I have used some endeavours to persuade the Dutch in my neigh- 

 borhood into a good opinion of the Church of England; and have had 

 that success, that they would, I believe, join a great part of them in the 

 sacraments and worship — had they Dutch Common Prayer Books and a 

 minister who understood their language. I have taken some pains with 

 one of their ministers, one Henricus Beyse, and have prevailed on him 

 to accept of Episcopal ordination." 



