THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT. 139 



the gift of his son Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt. The organ pre- 

 sented by the ladies of the parish in 1849, was also built by the 

 Messrs. Holbrook & Co., and cost twelve hundred dollars. The corner 

 stone of this edifice, which was organized under the title of St. Paul's 

 church, in 1829, was laid by Bishop Onderdonk in 1838 ; and upon Sat- 

 urday, June 1 6th, of that year, it was consecrated and set apart to the 

 worship and service of Almighty God, under the title of "St, Peter's 

 chapel, &c," by the same Prelate. 



The site of this church was formerly occupied by the military maga- 

 zine, destroyed by the British army in 1777. Large quantities of grape 

 shot have been found in the immediate vicinity. Adjoining the building 

 on the south, is situated the family vault of the late Ward B. Howard, 

 Esq., at one time president of the village corporation, in which repose 

 the mortal remains of himself and wife Lucia, daughter of the late Hon. 

 Robert Johnston, who died Mar. 8th, 1834. Also the remains of their 

 nephew, William J. Mitchell, Esq., who was unfortunately killed by the 

 explosion of the steamer General Jackson, off Verplanck's Point, June 

 7*, 1 83 1. 



The church was first incorporated 19th July, 1838, under the title of 

 the " Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Peter's chapel, in the village of 

 Peekskill," on which occasion Pierre Van Cortlandt and Samuel Marks, 

 were elected wardens, and Daniel D. Smith, Samuel T. Wood, John 

 Collett, Elihu E. Baker, Alex Fairly, Wm. B. Birdsall, Nicholas Cruger 

 and Isaac Seymour, vestrymen. a 



A third incorporation occurs under the title of St. Peter's church of 

 Cortlandt," 28th August, iS4o. & 



PRINCIPAL BENEFACTORS. 



Catherine Van Cortlandt, Col. Beverly Robinson and Susannah 

 Phiiipse, his wife, the Ven Propagation Society, Andrew Johnson, Gen. 

 Pierre Van Cortlandt, Col. Pierre Van. Cortlandt, Nicholas Cruger, Esq., 

 Isaac Seymour, Esq., Col. John Williams and the Corporation of Trinity 

 church, New York." 



William Dunning and Jarvis Dusenbury were the first delegates from 

 this parish to the Diocesan Convention in 1791. 



a Religious Societies Lib. B. p. 56. 

 5 Ditto Lib. B. p. 60. 



c Trinity Church in 1T9T presented the sum of 8750 to St. Peter's church. In 1807, $1,250 for 

 St, Peter's ana St. Philip's. In 1826, $750. In 1837, $250, and in 1839, $1,000. Total $1,000. 



