384 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



the Meeting-House at ye Purchase.' " a It was here that the wounded 

 soldiers were brought, immediately after the Battle of White Plains, on 

 the 28th of October, 1776, and laid out on the floor or lower seats. It 

 was probably for the double purpose of protecting the wounded, and 

 securing the communications of the army at the "White Plains ; in that 

 direction, Major Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parson, had a post 

 near the head of Rye Pond, October 29, 1776. "In 1778, the monthly 

 meeting was held in King Street, at the house of Thomas Clapp, on the 

 thirteenth day of eighth month, (August). The reason for this change 

 was, the Meeting-house, at Purchase, being made use of ' for a hospital 

 for the sick of the army.' September 10th, 'the Meeting-house is not 

 yet to be had.' October 8th, the meeting is held as formerly, in the 

 Purchase Meeting-House. 



On the eleventh of February, 1779, it is represented at the monthly 

 meeting, that several young men of the society are now prisoners, and 

 are likely to be brought under great suffering by refusing to bear arms 

 and to do other military service. ' Those in authority are willing to re- 

 lease them, providing they can make it appear that they are members ; 

 a committee is appointed to assure the authorities of their membership.' 



In 1782, a record is made concerning the sufferings of Friends con- 

 nected with this Monthly Meeting, in consequence of their testimony 

 against war. The total amount of loss on this account is stated to be 

 fourteen hundred and forty-five pounds. 



In 1784, on the fourteenth of Tenth Month (October), the following 

 action was taken : 'The Meeting-House in the Parchase having been 

 used for a Court of Judicature, and being likely to be used for that pur- 

 pose again, a committee is appointed to apply to those in authority to 

 prevent such use. 



In 1797, the meeting house was enlarged to its present size by an 

 addition on the east side. 



In 1827 a separation took place in the Society of Friends at the 

 Purchase. The ' Orthodox ' Friends erected a meeting house near the 

 old building which is held by the other branch — termed ' Hicksites ' 

 from Elias Hicks, whose opinions they were understood to approve." 6 



Near the old meeting house is the graveyard, where the founders of 

 the community and several generations of their descendants rest. 



The oldest memorial bears the following inscription : 



R. W. 



March 31, 1731. 



a Records of the Society in narrison. Baird's nist. of Rye, p. 364. 

 b Baird's Hist, of Rye, p. 304. 



