THE TOWN OF BEDFORD. 



49 



shaped, cut out of the woods from the very spot where the house was 

 erected; and being skilled in the Latin language, so as to speak and 

 write it almost as well as his mother tongue, he continued his school, 

 and educated some of the first and most eminent ministers that ever 

 adorned the American pulpit. This was called the Log College, out of 

 contempt, by its enemies. Every vestige of it has long since passed 

 away, but this was the germ whence sprung Princeton College, with all 

 its vast influence and renown, giving character in a great measure to the 

 intelligence and usefulness of the learned men in this country. Mr. 

 Tennent continued till the close of life in Neshaminy, where he died 

 May 6th, 1746, aged seventy three years. 



While Mr. Tennent was settled in Bedford, through the munificence 

 and liberality of the people, he became possessor of some land, which 

 his son Gilbert, in his last will and testament, gave to the Trustees of 

 the Presbyterian Society of Bedford; for on the records of the town we 

 find the following minute : 



"May 16: 1749. Gilbert Tennent of Philadelphia in the Colony of 

 Pennsylvania, Gentlemen; Son and heir at law unto Rev. William Ten- 

 nent, formerly of Bedford in Westchester County, in the Colony of New 

 York, but lately of Neshamina, in the Colony of Pensilvania, deceased, 

 for the promoting and supporting of the Gospel of Jesus Christ accord- 

 ing and under the Presbyterian Discipline, in the above said Bedford, 

 gave to John Holmes, John Miller and Zebediah Mills, trustees, and 

 their successors, several pieces of land formerly possessed by his Rever- 

 end Father for the use and support of the ministry. 



DEED OF GIFT TO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



To all those people to whom, these presents shall come sendeth greeting. 

 Know yee, that I, Gilbert Tennent, of Philadelphia, in Colony of Pennsylvania, 

 gentleman, son and heir-in-law unto Rev. Mr. William Tennent, formerly of 

 Bedford, in Westchester County in the Colony of New York, but lately of Nash- 

 amina, in the Colony of Pensylvania, deceased, have for divers good reasons to 

 me there unto moving, but more especially for the promoting and supporting 

 the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to and under the Presbyterian Discipline 

 in the above said Bedford, given, granted, quitted, devised, enfeofed, quit claim 

 and make over unto John Holmes and John Miller, Esqs. , Zebediah Mills, yeo- 

 man, all of the above said Bedford as hereafter mentioned, formerly possessed 

 by my Reverend Father, viz. , one house and home lot containing by estimation 

 about ten acres ; two lots in the east field containing eight acres each ; one piece 

 on the south side of Mahanns River, containing by estimation twelve acres ; 

 three acres on a plain called South Plain ; one acre and a quarter in a meadow 

 called Theal's meadow ; one and a half acre in a meadow called David's Hill 

 meadow, two acres and a half in a meadow called the great meadow, &c, &c. 



Dated 16th May, 1749. « 



a Bedford's Records, Book No. 3, p. 99. 



