THE TOWN OF NORTH SALEM. 753 



for a man with a small family who had removed from the seat of war at the 

 White Plains, and had as yet no settled habitation, by taking this family into my 

 house about Christmas, Mrs. Townsend had a friend of Government, though 

 under some disguise, who, living under the same roof, was able to do many things 

 for her benefit. To this, as well as many other instances during my imprison- 

 ment, the good providence of God always found some method, unforseen by us, 

 to support us under the greatest difficulties, and after he had thus continued us 

 under the Rebel discipline for near six months, he then granted us a happy deliv- 

 ance ; for on the 31st of March, in consequence of my refusing the oath of alle- 

 giance to the State of New York, I received an order to depart within eight days 

 with my family, apparel and household furniture, to some place in possession of 

 the King's troops, on penalty of my being confined in close jail and otherwise 

 treated as an open enemy of the State. With this order I readily complied ; and 

 after procuring a flag from a Rebel general to transport my family and furniture 

 to Long Island, I set out. The Convention taking a genteel house which my 

 father had enabled me to build, sixty acres of land which he had bought for me, 

 with thirty acres of wood land, a horse and a small stock of cattle into their pos- 

 session. At Norwalk, where I had procured a boat to cross the Sound, I was 

 stopped four days, most of my furniture after being put on board was relanded, 

 and all of it ransacked under pretence of searching for letters, prohibited articles, 

 &c, whereby many things were much damaged, and others stolen. I was then 

 obliged to pay the expenses of these abuses in detaining, searching, &c, which 

 amounted to nine pound currency, and then was permitted to proceed. On the 

 11th of April we landed on Long Island, with hearts full of gratitude to God for 

 having at length delivered us from the malice and cruelty of the Rebels. 



I am, Rev. Sir, &c, Epenetus Townsend."* 



In 1779, Mr. Townsend was appointed chaplain to one of the loyal 

 battalions then stationed at New York. Here he remained until it was 

 ordered to Nova Scotia, when himself and family embarked on board a 

 vessel bound for that Province. The ship foundered in Boston bay, and 

 every soul on board perished. Thus terminated the short and sad ca- 

 reer of the first rector of this parish, whose " only crime was, that he was 

 a clergyman of the Church of England, and of course attached to the 

 government and the constitution of Church and State." The names of 

 Townsend, Avery and Babcock, belong to the catalogue of worthies, who 

 once faithful soldiers of Christ's Church Militant, are now singing praises 

 to Him who redeemed them with His Blood, in the Church Triumphant 

 above. The last account the Venerable Society received of their faithful 

 missionary was the following : 



MS. INGLIS TO THE SECRETARY. 



" New York, Nov. 26th, 1779. 

 Rev. Sib : — Mr. Townsend, the Society's missionary for Salem in this Pro- 

 vince, after being driven within the King's lines by the Rebels was appointed 



a New York, MSS. from archives at Fulliam, vol. ii. 621, 622, 623, 624. (Hawks.) 



