THE TOWN OF EAST CHESTER. 24X 



In 1798, the connection between this parish and Yonkers was dis- 

 solved,* and an association formed with Westchester in order to procure 

 a minister. Upon the 9th of March, 1799, Mr. Isaac Wilkins, then in 

 deacon's orders, was called to officiate as minister of the united parishes 

 of West and Eastchester. 



In 1 80 1 the Vestry addressed the following letter to the Rector, War- 

 dens and Vestrymen of Trinity Church, New York : — 



TO THE RT. REV. RECTOR AND THE WARDENS AND VESTRY- 

 MEN OF THE CORPORATION OF TRINITY CHURCH IN 

 THE CITY OF NEW YORK. 



"The wardens and vestrymen of St. Paul's church at Eastchester, in the County 

 of Westchester, from a firm belief of the disposition of the corporation of the 

 Trinity Church to aid and assist their sister Churches in every undertaking or 

 design for encouraging and advancing the interest and increase of their respective 

 congregations ; and also from the consideration of their having heretofore ex- 

 tended their liberality to other Churches whose circumstances were not more 

 needy, are induced to make the following Representation of the situation of the 

 said Church, viz : that it was built some few years before the Revolution, but 

 left unfinished. That by the depredations commonly attendant thereon, it was 

 greatly injured, the wooden part of it being taken away, whereby the walls were 

 exposed and so much impaired, that shortly after the retnrn of peace, the little 

 remaining part of the former congregation exerted their best, the war having 

 enfeebled their abilities, to put the church in some sort of order for public wor- 

 ship, and engaged a minister, and in conjunction with Westchester do still re- 

 tain one who promises by his talents as a teacher, with an exemplary conduct, 

 to promote the cause of religion and enlarge the congregation, &c." 



In April, 1817, the Rev. Ravaud Kearny, A. M., succeeded Mr. 

 Wilkins as minister of this parish. He was the son of Philip Kearny, 

 whose grandfather, Michael Kearny, emigrated from Ireland to this 

 country in 1706. He was born at Newark, N. J., 22d of August, 1791, 

 entered Columbia College in 1808, and graduated Bachelor and 

 Master of Arts in 181 2. In 181 6 he was ordained deacon, and the 

 year following Priest, by the Right Rev. John H. Hobart, and soon 

 afterwards commenced his labors here. In 1821, he relinquished the 

 rectorship of this parish, and confined himself to the Church at New 

 Rochelle, to which benefice he was called in 18 19. Sometime in i82 2 ; 

 he resigned the charge of the latter, and accepted a call to St. Mary's 

 Parish, Maryland, from whence he removed to St. John's church, Can- 

 andaigua, West New York, and in 1828 took charge of St. Paul's church, 

 Red Hook, Dutchess County, of which he remained rector until the day 



a Mr. Cooper's farewell sermon was delivered in St. Paul's church, June 16, 17 

 Cor. xiii : 11. In the course of it he alludes to nine years of service at Eastchester. 



