64 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF \VESTCHESTER. 



PARISH OF RYE— TO THE SECRETARY. 



(extract. ) 



' ' Province of New York. Bedford, March 6th, 1744. 

 Rky. Sik, 



The parish of Rye includes the large town of Rye, the town of Maniaroneck, 

 the manor of Scarsdale, and a precinct called White Plains, besides Bedford and 

 North Castle, in which two last places are near four hunched families, and no 

 teacher of any sort in North Castle, but a silly Quaker- woman, and at Bedford 

 one of the most enthusiastic Methodists. Mr. Wetmore comes amongst us but 

 once in two months, and very few of us can go to the parish church at Rye, 

 many living twenty miles distant, and most of us twelve or fourteen miles ; so 

 that for the most part there is very little face of religion to be seen amongst us, 

 and our children are apt to fall in with the customs of those amongst us that 

 have little or no religion, and spend the Lord's day in diversions and follies, 

 which we cannot prevent tho' we much dislike. Mr. Wetmore, our minister, 

 freelj T consents we should endeavour to procure another as an assistant to him, 

 and we are willing to contribute as far as we are able. 



Reverend Sir, 

 Your most obed't and humble servants, 



Lewis McDonald, 

 Daniel Smith, 

 Akthte Smith."* 



In answer to this application, the Rev. Joseph Lamson, A.M., w'as 

 appointed assistant to Mr. "Wetmore in officiating to the inhabitants of 

 Bedford, North Castle and Ridgefield. In his first report to the Society, 

 he writes : — "That he officiates by turns at these three places to full 

 congregations." But his income proved too small for his support, and 

 he removed by the Society's permission to Fairfield in 1747. In Mr. 

 Wetmore's report for 1753, he acquaints the Society, "that his congre- 

 gation at Bedford is large and flourishing, and that the disposition of 

 those that oppose the interest of the Church in that place seems changed 

 for the better. The New Light minister is removed from Bedford, and 

 there are some hopes of the people uniting with North Castle towards 

 supporting a minister in the Holy Orders of our Church, to officiate 

 alternately among them." And it clearly appears from his subsequent 

 reports to the Society, that this precinct continued, upon the whole, in 

 a state of gradual improvement until the time of his death, which took 

 place in May, 1760. The following inscription occurs on a monument, 

 to the memory of his wife, Althea, to be seen in the old burying 

 ground at Fairfield, Conn. : 



a New York, MSS. from archives at Fulhani, (Hawks.) 



