148 HISTORY OF THN COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



The next pastor was the Rev. William Marshall, a native of Scotland, 

 who entered upon his duties in the spring of 183 1. His pastorate 

 ceased in the fall of 1843. During his ministry the church was trans- 

 ferred by Synod from the Presbytery of New York, to the second Pres- 

 bytery of New York. The total membership at the close of his ministry 

 was thirty-four. Mr. Marshall died in October, 1865. To his ability 

 and faithfulness, Dr. Halliday, his successor, bears this testimony: — 

 "Few men have led a more blameless life, a life of more exemplary pie- 

 ty. He had the respect and the affectionate regard of all his brethren 

 in the ministry. They looked upon him as one of the best, and in some 

 respects, as one of the most gifted among them. While he was not 

 popular as a preacher, he was yet an able and excellent sermonizer. 

 He had great strength and fertility of mind, and many of his written dis- 

 courses are marked by decided intellectual superiority. He was an 

 evangelical preacher. He preached plain truth. He dwelt much on 

 the great cardinal doctrines of the Bible, apportioning them and apply- 

 ing them with wisdom and with unction. He was not left without wit- 

 ness. The leaven of his influence was felt, and is still felt for good in 

 this church. Its growth and prosperity are (under God), due in some 

 considerable measure to his labors." 



During the ministry of Mr. Marshall, unfortunate dissensions sprung 

 up in the church, which resulted, in 1841, in the withdrawal of nine 

 members, who, together with two members from the second Congrega- 

 tional church of New London, Conn., were organized into a church on 

 Nov. 17th, 1841, by the Presbytery of North River, and became the sec- 

 ond Presbyterian church of Peekskill, in connection with the New School 

 assembly. They began public worship on Sunday, Nov. 21st, 1841, in 

 the old Methodist church on South street. Services were conducted by 

 the Rev. Daniel Brown. Within a few years a church edifice was erec- 

 ted and was dedicated on April 9th, 1845. In 1870, the building was 

 enlarged and rebuilt. 



Soon after the resignation of Mr. Marshall a call was extended by the 

 First church to Rev. D. M. Halliday, then pastor of a large and flourish- 

 ing church at Danville, Pa. The call was accepted by him, and on 

 Nov. 1st, 1843, he was installed by a committee of the Second Presby- 

 tery of New York." "In 1846 the original church edifice, then nearly 

 half a century old, was removed to make way for another of twice its 

 size. Twelve years later, in 1S58, an extension of thirty feet, including 

 the present lecture room, was added — making the present dimensions 

 forty feet by ninety, instead of forty by sixty. The dimensions of the 

 original edifice, were thirty by forty." 



