230 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



Chester was 400, who being Presbyterians, obtained an act, by which 

 they were formed into a separate parish, and obtained a minister of 

 their own persuasion; but on Mr. Bartow's coming among them, they 

 were so well satisfied with the liturgy and doctrine of the Church, that 

 they forsook their minister and conformed to the Church of England." 



In an address to the venerable and honorable Society for Propagating 

 the Gospel, the following account is given of the building of the church 

 at Eastchester : — 



" May it please the venerable and honorable Society for Propagating 

 the Gospel — we, whose names are subscribed, do hereby certify that the 

 Church of Eastchester was built in the year of our Lord, 1692, by sub- 

 scription of the inhabitants of said town ; and that Mr. Matthews, a 

 Presbyterian minister, for about three years, and after him Mr. Morgan, 

 a Presbyterian minister, did preach till such time as Mr. Bartow began 

 to preach unto us in the year 1703, since which time it has been in his 

 possession, and he comes and preaches at Eastchester once in four 

 weeks during the winter, and once in eight weeks during the space of 

 six months in the summer. 



" And we further certify that the town of Eastchester was made a dis- 

 tinct parish from Westchester in the year 1700." 



About this time the inhabitants addressed the following petition to 

 Governor Cornbury, asking for an abatement in their annual quota and 

 thanking him for directing Mr. Bartow to preach among them : — 



PETITION FROM EASTCHESTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, &o. 



"The Humble Petition of John Drake, Joseph Drake and William Chadderton 

 in the behalf of themselves and the inhabitants of Eastchester, 



Sheiceth : 



That Col. Heathcote, did, at the request of your Excellency's Petitioners, move 

 your Excellency to give directions that what the Vestry had layd on the parish 

 of Westchester for incidental charges over the minister's rate and constable's 

 allowance for allowing the same, might be abated from the quoata layd on our 

 place, we being burthened with much more than our just proportion of that tax; 

 that Col. Heatcote did thereupon inform your Excellency's Petitioner's, that 

 your Excellency had been pleased to direct that some of the Justices which lived 

 without the precincts, should make inquiry into that matter and make report 

 thereof to your Excellency, but the Justices not being able before this time to 

 get in the list of estates was the cause of the delay of that return, so hope your 

 Excellency will pardon our not leavying what was layd upon us, by the late 

 Vestry, and will, in your great goodness and justice, protect us from paying 

 more than our fair and equal proportion, which we shall always most readily do, 

 so long as your Excellency shall think fitt to continue us joyned to that Parish. 

 We are exceeding thankful that your Excellency hath been pleased to direct 

 Mr. Bartow to preach sometimes amongst us, for we assure your Excellency that 

 'tis our earnest desires to come under the Regulation of the Church of England 



