THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT. 1 45 



A union between this church and the old society at Cortlandt-town ' 

 was effected August 2 2d, 1833. Abraham Van Nest and George Doug- 

 lass, Esquires, appear to have been liberal benefactors towards the erec- 

 tion of this church. A silver communion service was also presented by 

 the former individual. The first Reformed Dutch church located in this 

 village, stood on the hill west of the Episcopal church, adjoining the 

 Diven property. Nothing remains at present to mark its site, save a 

 small enclosure containing a few interments. In this cemetery is a plain 

 marble monument to the memory of Lieut. George McChain, which 

 bears the following truly clasical inscription, composed by the Hon. R. 

 R. Pray, Chancellor of the State of Mississippi : — 



Interred 



Near this stone lie the remains of 



George McChain 



Lieutenant in the sixth regiment of the 



United States Infantry, and distinguished 



for his valor in the battles of Chippeway and 



Bridgewater. In him were united the energy 



of the soldier, with the easy politeness of the 



gentleman. Impressed with the great truths 



of religion, he was. hospitable, gentle, sober, just, 



and contemplative. From the ardoui of his 

 love of country, he early devoted himself to her 

 service, where he was brave without vanity, and 



magnanimous without ostentation. To 



perpetuate the memory of so beloved a character, 



his mourning friends have erected this humble stone, 



a frail memorial of their veneration for his virtues, 



and a faint testimony of their grief for a misfortune, 



alas ! indelibly engraven on their hearts. 



He died on the 19th day of October, 1818, 



Aged 32 years. 



Also monuments to the memory of his father John McChain, one of 

 the Westchester guides in the revolutionary war, and the Rev. Allen 

 Blair, who departed this life June 14, aged 72 years; also, Jane, wife 

 of St. John Constant, who died April 2, 181 7. 



The Van Nest Reformed Dutch Church in Peekskill, was incorpora- 

 ted on the 3d of January, 1843, and called by the above name, "in con- 

 sideration of the private virtues and public liberality of Abraham Van 

 Nest of New York." The 1 consistory also resolved to confide the man- 

 agement to a board of nine trustees. The following gentlemen were 

 elected to this office, on the 16th of January, 1843: — James Goetchius, 

 William Leavins, John P. Cruger, Washington S. Whitney, J. Henry 

 Ferris, Thomas Nelson, Hercules Lent, Charles A. G. Depew and N. 



