THE TOWN OF NEW CASTLE. 575 



Harts, Pinckneys, Tompkinses, Carys, Seamans, Forshays, Haineses, 

 Millers, Carpenters, Clapps, Merritts, Montrosses, &c. 



The Methodist Episcopal church of this place was first incorporated 

 in 1824. Caleb Kirby, James Fish, John B. Fforton, Tyler Fountain 

 and Benjamin Kirby, trustees. a 



The second church was enlarged in 1843, and the present church 

 was erected in 1867. 



During the war, this part of the country was greatly annoyed by the 

 enemy, who frequently made sudden inroads, plundering and capturing 

 the defenceless inhabitants. Religious services were consequently sus- 

 pended ; and, for a long time, St. George's church was occupied as a 

 guard-house and hospital by the Continental troops. 



The first incorporation of this church, subsequent to the Revolution, 

 took place on the 19th of April, 1784, under the style and title of " The 

 Trustees of. the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the townships of Bed- 

 ford and North Castle."' 5 



In consequence of an Act passed for the relief of the Protestant 

 Episcopal church on the 17th of March, 1795, this church was again 

 incorporated under the name and title of " the Protestant Episcopal 

 church in the united towns of Bedford and New Castle, to continue by 

 the regular name of St. George's church." Charles Haight of New 

 Castle, and William Miller, Esq., of Bedford, church- wardens ; Samuel 

 Raymond, Gabriel Smith, David Haight, James McDonald, Marma- 

 duke Foster, Gilbert Martin, Nicholas Haight and Samuel Smith, 

 vestrymen.*' Chas. Haight gave the site for the church ; and, being a 

 carpenter and vestryman, built the church. At this period the Rev. 

 Theodosius Bartow appears to have been officiating minister for the 

 united parishes of Bedford and New Castle. From 1804 to 181 9 ser- 

 vices were performed here by the clergy of Bedford. At a meeting of the 

 vestry, November 12th, 1796, it was ordered "that William Miller, Esq., 

 be empowered to commence and carry on a suit against Philip I. Liv- 

 ingston, for money left by St. George Talbot to the churches of Bed- 

 ford and North Castle." At a meeting of the same, held on the third 

 of March. 1803, "Mr. Miller informed the board, that the money be- 

 queathed to the united churches by the late St. George Talbot, had 

 been recovered by a judgment, obtained in the Supreme Court, against 

 Philip I. Livingston ; and the said money, after deducting charges, will 

 probably amount to about twenty-five hundred dollars." In 1804,, Trin- 

 ity church, New York, liberally endowed the united parishes with the 



a Religious Soc. Co. Rec. Lib. A. 188. 



b Incorporation of Religious Societies, Lib. A, 12. 



c Incorporation of Religious societies, Lib. A, 64. 



