THE TOWN OF EAST CHESTER. 239 



Tbank and marsh, until it comes to the fence by the salt meadows, at a monu- 

 ment stone ; from thence easterly along said fence, until a line be drawn parallel 

 from the first mentioned boundaries, at the distance of 20 feet from the east side 

 of said church will touch the said fence, and along that line to the first mentioned 

 bounds. Nevertheless, always reserving to the proprietors of salt meadow, 

 adjoining said land, and those who have meadows southerly of said land, their 

 usual right of way in going to and coming from said meadows with their hay, 

 through the land above described. 



Witness our hands and seals, the 28th day of April, 1792. 



Ben. Morgan, [l. s.] 



James Morgan, [l. s.] 



Nehemiah Marshall, [l. s.] 

 "Witnesses, Williarn Crawford, Dorcas Crawford. " a 



Now, although the origin of the first church edifice in the town of 

 Eastchester is clearly traceable to the action of the town, yet it is very 

 evident that it was first commenced in 1692-3, by a tax levied on 

 Churchmen and Dissenters, promiscuously, according to their real estate, 

 and not finished until the act of 1699 was passed, which provided, that 

 " The trustees of each town were to make a yearly rate for building a 

 church where wanting." According to the principles of common law, 

 at this period, meeting houses erected by public tax belonged to the 

 Church established by law. Hence, we find Mr. Bartow and his suc- 

 cessors after their establishment and induction, by the then Governors, 

 claiming the chapel or meeting house at Eastchester as their own, and 

 not only so, but keeping the Dissenters out of it. The parsonage or 

 glebe with all its rights and appurtenances was likewise voted for public 

 purposes, and belonged to the rector ex-officio ; for, say the rules of com- 

 mon law, concerning glebes, " Every church of common right is entitled 

 to house and glebe," and " After induction the freehold of the glebe is 

 in the parson." Whilst the wardens and vestrymen, who were the choice 

 of the people, elected the rector and provided for his support, the rate- 

 payers appear to have regulated the burial ground, voted repairs to the 

 church when necessary, and appointed the sexton, as was done in many 

 other parishes. This was the state of things prior to the Revolution. 

 After peace was established and New York was finally organized as a 

 State, an act was passed in 1784 for the incorporation of religious socie- 

 ties; and under this act, we have seen, the church at Eastchester was in- 

 corporated. Now this act conferred on trustees the right, " Lawfully, to 

 have, hold, use, exercise and enjoy all and singular the churches, meeting 

 houses, parsonages, burying places and lands, thereunto belonging, with 



a Town Records. " In 1808, the town granted one hundred dollars to be laid out in fencing 

 -the burial ground of the church of Eastchester, and supervisors and overseers were directed 

 to see it expended." " At the same time a vote was taken to alter the right of way through. 

 Ihe burial ground to the verge thereof, and that of the salt meadows belonging to the town." 



