THE TOWN OF YONKERS. 64I 



by law established, on the farm near and to the northward of the house 

 then in the tenure of William Jones, sen., unless he should build the said, 

 church in his lifetime ; and he devised all the said farm with all the 

 buildings thereon, unto all his children, and their heirs, in trust, for the use 

 of such ministers of the Church of England as by law established, as 

 should be from time to time admitted or instituted in the said church ; 

 and so for ever to remain for a glebe to the said church."* 



That the building was commenced in 1752, there is no doubt; for 

 among the family papers, occurs an account of the expenses on the 

 church at Philipsborough to the estate of Frederick Phillipse, debtor, 

 commencing Nov. 1752, closing December, 1753; whole amount, ^623 

 6s. gd. This sum shows that his executrix had exceeded the original 

 bequest in the will, £2 23. The curious reader will not be displeased with 

 one or two more of these accounts, showing the expenses attendant on 

 building a church at that early period : — 



BENJAMIN FOWLER'S ACCOUNT IN FULL FOE YE CHURCH. 



May 11th, 1753, dito 6£ days works at geting timber 

 for the dors and the winder trains for the church, 

 at 5 shillings per day, - - - - - £1 12 6. 



September the 20th, tr> working and going to ask the 

 peple to come to work at the church, 8 days, 

 &c, &c 



John Underbill's receipt for supplying the workmen 

 at the church with beef, commencing Aug. 31st. 



Madame Philipse, dito, 69 pound of beef, at 2s 3d per 



pound, £15 10 3. 



Received of Beveely Robinson, the above amount in full, 



JOHN UNDERHILL. 



Nothing remains of the original structure, except the walls and tower, 

 the roof and wood-work having been destroyed by an accidental fire, 

 May, 1 791. When the ruins of the church came to be examined after 

 this melancholy accident, the skeleton of a full sized man was discovered 

 behind the remains of the pulpit. In 1792, it was again repaired; and 

 on the 21st of August of that year, consecrated to the service of Al- 

 mighty God, under the name and title of St. John's church, Phillips- 

 borough, by the Right Rev. Samuel Provoost, first Bishop of the State of 

 New York. The edifice consisted of a square tower surmounted with a 

 wooden cupola and spire, body and vestry-room in the rear. 



The principal entrance was by a circular-headed door on the south. 



a Surrogate's office, N. T. No. xviii. 3. 



