THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT. 1 29 



and parish church, with all their rights, members and appurtenances, (observing 

 the laws and cannons of right in that behalf required, and to be observed :) To 

 you therefore, jointly and severally, I do commit, and firmly enjoining do com- 

 mand, each and every of you, that in due manner, him the said John Doty, 

 Clerk, or his lawful proctor in his name, or for him, into the real actual and 

 corporeal possession of the said Rectory, parish and parish church of St. Peter's, 

 and of all the rights and appurtenances whatever to the same belonging, you 

 induct or cause to be inducted ; and him so inducted, you do defend ; and of 

 what you shall have done in the premises thereof, you do duly certify unto me or 

 other competent judges in that behalf, when thereunto you shall be duly required. 

 Given under my hand and the Prerogative seal of the Province of New York, 

 the 16th day of July, 1771. a William Ttron." 



During this year Governor Tryon also granted a special charter, in 

 virtue whereof the vestry held a certain glebe 6 of two hundred acres of 

 land given by Colonel Beverly Robinson, senior warden of this parish, 

 for the use of the Rector officiating one half of his time at St. Philipse's 

 in the Highlands. This property was subsequently sold, as we shall 

 have occasion to show, under an order of the Court of Chancery in 183S, 

 and equally divided between the two churches. Out of these funds 

 (aided by a liberal donation from Trinity Church, New York, amounting 

 to $1,000,) the present chapel was erected in the village of Peekskill. 



Beverly Robinson, Esq., the noble benefactor of this parish, was a 

 son of the Hon. John Robinson of Virginia, who was president of that 

 Colony on the retirement of. Governor Gooch, in 1734. He emigrated 

 to New York, and married Susannah, daughter of Frederick Philipse, 

 Esq., Lord of the manor of Philipsburgh. By this connection, Mr. 

 Robinson became rich. When the Revolutionary controversy com- 

 menced, he was living upon that portion of the Philipse estate which 

 had been given to his wife, and there he desired to remain in the quiet 

 enjoyment of country life, and in the management of this large domain. 

 That such was his inclination, is asserted by the late President Dwight, 

 and is fully confirmed by circumstances and by his descendants. He 

 was opposed to the Measures of the ministry, gave up the use of imported 

 merchandise, and clothed himself and his family in fabrics of domestic 

 manufacture. But he was also opposed to the separation of the Colonies 

 from the mother country. Still, he wished to take no part in the conflict 

 of arms ; but importunity of friends overruled his own judgement, and 

 he entered the military service of the crown. His standing entitled him 

 to high rank. Of the loyal American regiment, raised principally in New 

 York by himself, he was accordingly commissioned the colonel. He al- 



es Vestry book. 



& The old church glebe is now the property of Mr. David McCoy. 



