THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH. 297 



The first pastor of this church was the Rev. George Dubois, who was 

 succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Wilson, who was called in 1845, and Rev. 

 John Mason Ferris, in 1849. The " First Reformed church," was built 

 in 1854, a division having been made in 1852; Rev. Mr. Ferris was 

 installed, January 11, 1852, over the " Second Reformed church," (built 

 1837,) and in July, 1852, Rev. Abel T. Stewart was called to the First 

 Reformed Dutch church, (" the old Dutch church.") Rev. Mr. Ferris 

 was succeeded by Rev. John A. Todd, D. D., in the year 1855, who is 

 the present pastor of the Second Reformed church. Rev. Mr. Stewart 

 was succeeded in the First Reformed Dutch church by Rev. John B. 

 Thompson, D. D., who was called in 1866, and he by Rev. John Knox 

 Allen, Who is the present pastor. 



THE ASBURY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



About 1807 the congregation being of such importance necessitated 

 the building of a church for the growing society. The first class was 

 probably formed at the house of Mrs. Childs, under the hill below what 

 is now known as the Cliff House. Mr. Wm. Requa offered a plot of ground 

 on the corner of Maine street and Windel Park which was accepted, and 

 a society was incorporated to build a church on this spot. They met 

 at the house of Mr. Wm. Requa to take the proper legal measures. The 

 certificate of this incorporation was filed in Westchester County Clerk's 

 Office, March 1st, 1808. Under this the church existed as a body 

 corporate until about the year 1820 or 21, when the annual meeting for 

 the election of trustees seems to have been omitted and the corporation 

 ceased to exist. About August, 1 821, a reorganization took place and 

 the name given to the new corporation was "The Trustees of the 

 Methodist Episcopal Church at Tarrytown in the town of Greenburgh 

 and County of Westchester," which was filed Nov. 14th, 1821. The 

 present title of the church — " Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church " — 

 was probably adopted on the erection of it. At the meeting of the society 

 first named, Mr. Wm. Requa conveyed lots for the building of the new 

 church on the corner of Main street and Windel Park, and on which the 

 first Methodist Episcopal church of Tarrytown was subsequently erected. 



" It was a pleasing sight to see, when this little church was erected, 

 the good old members wending their way to church of an evening with 

 lighted candles in their hands. What a methodistical appearance they 

 presented ! The men seated on one side, and the women and children 

 on the other. Look at these men with their plain shad-bellied coats and 

 white collarless cravats ; and the women in plain quaker garb. Not a 

 ruffle, nor a bow, nor a flower ! A flower ! shades of all saints ! Talk of 



