42 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



scendants are numerous and reside chiefly in Morris Co., N. J.; some 

 of whom are said to have been distinguished as worthy and useful mem- 

 bers of society."* 



Jan. 28th, 1688, the Rev. Thomas Denham was called and settled in 

 Bedford, and the town ordered that ^20 be raised for his salary. He 

 was son of John Denham, deacon, and one of the first purchasers of 

 Dartmouth ; preached at Sheepscott in Massachusetts colony (now in 

 Maine), and suffered great losses in the destruction of that settlement 

 in 1675 during King Philip's war. He came to Rye in 1677 and re- 

 mained till 1684. Says a historian, "He was advanced in life when he 

 came and was held in great respect by the people here who gave him 

 proprietary rights, which descended to his son Isaac who became one of 

 the principal men of the place. Mr. Denham had preached a long time 

 in the town of Rye previous to his settlement here." This was evidently 

 his last settlement, for it is reported that he died in Bedford after a few 

 months' labor, aged 67. His will is said to be on record in the Court 

 House at White Plains, and his grave is on the hillside in our old grave- 

 yard in the village. 6 



During the next eight or ten years the people seemed to be supplied 

 with the labors of intelligent laymen in carrying on the Sabbath and 

 conducting their religious services. 



September 23d, 1689, the town by vote agreed that "in case Mr. 

 Abram Ambler, senr, will come up and carry on the Sabbath as God 

 shall enable him, we will give him the sum of ^20 a year as long as he 

 shall perform the work among ais." October 15th, 1689, we have this 

 minute which somewhat modifies the former vote : 



" At a town meeting the town doth agree to build Mr. Abram Ambler 

 Senor, a frame fortey foots long & twenty-two foots wide and to set it up 

 fit for clabording & shingling and to rais it up by the last of March to 

 come after the deate thereof & the house above mentioned is to be teen 

 foots & a half between ioynts and the frame above mentioned is to be 

 set up upon the consideration that Mr. Abraham Ambler, Senor, will 

 com up as often as he can conveniantly to cary on the Lord's day 

 amongst us one year yt he may settle with us." May 14th, 1690, seven 

 months after the former vote, at another town meeting we have the 

 following minute: "The town doth by uote chuse Zachariah Roberts 

 for to cary on the Sabba th day whill they can be othexvvays provided." 



Jannewary, 1694, we have this vote: "The town by vote doth agree 

 that as much land e medow as can be spaired e not predigous to high- 

 ways yt lyeth one the norwest sid of whiping-post brook shall be keept 

 for a ministar e to be disposed to now man els but a minister." 



a Hist. Presbyterian Ch. Jamaica, L. I., by Jas. M. Macdonald. 

 6 Hist of Presbyterian Ch. Bedford, by Rev. P. B. Heroy. 



