THE TOWN OF NEW ROCHELLE. 667 



dal, chancel and vestry-room, with a square tower and spire — the whole 

 a very elegant design by Upjohn. The windows of the chancel contain 

 memorials of the Rev. Daniel Bondet, Pierre Stouppe and Michael 

 Houdin. Near the site of the present edifice stood the French school 

 house, while a few rods to the eastward, close to the highway, is the site 

 of the second French church of stone, under which repose the remains 

 of the three French clergymen last mentioned. While a little west of 

 the church, formerly stood the second wooden church, erected in 1724, 

 the old French parsonage, or "parish house," which was rebuilt in 1761. 

 The original bell presented by Sir Henry Ashurst, of London, to the 

 French church Dieu St. Esprit, of New York, a we are sorry to say, was 

 loaned some years ago by the vestry, to the fire department of the vill- 

 age, and now hangs in their engine house. It bears the following in- 

 scription : — 



"SAMUEL NEWTON MADE ME, 1706." 



The noble donor of this bell, Sir Henry Ashurst, was the eldest son of 

 Henry Ashurst, Esq., of London, eminent for great benevolence, human- 

 ity and piety, and a chief person in founding the corporation for prop- 

 agating the Gospel in foreign parts temp, of Charles II., to whom he 

 acted as treasurer, and died 1680. Sir Henry was created a baronet by 

 King James II, 21st July, 1688; he sat in Parliament in the reigns of 

 Charles II and AVilliam III, for the burroughs of Truro, in Cornwall, 

 and Wilton, in Wilts. He was the intimate friend of the Honorable 

 Robert Boyle, to whom he was executor and trustee for founding the 

 lecture which bore that gentleman's name. He acted as agent for 

 Massachusetts until 1702, and died at Waterstock, 13th April, 17 10, 

 and lies buried there. By his wife, Hon. Diana Paget, daughter of Wil- 

 liam, 5th Lord Paget, he had one son — Sir Henry Ashurst, M. P. for 

 Windsor, in 17 14 — who died in 1732, without issue, whereby the title 

 became extinct 



Suspended in the tower of the church, is a large bell weighing 1863 

 pounds, cast by Meenely of West Troy, and presented by the ladies of 

 the parish, Anno Domini, 1864. 



"Chime joyfully, at the first dawn at Christmas and Easter morn. 



Ring out gladsome lays on our festal and bridal days. 

 Strike the passing knowl of the dying and dead to toll. 



Toll with sad and mourninar cast at our burials and solemn fast." 



a In 1823 it was ordered by the vestry of the church Dieu St. Esprit, that this bell, then in 

 the care of St. Stephen's church, New York, be presented for the use of the French church 

 at New Rochelle. 



-b Hist. Mg. vol. iv. second series, No. iii, p. 137. Burke's Extinct and Dormant Baron- 

 etcy. Col. Hist. N. Y., London Doc, vol. iv. p. 631. 



