MORRISANIA 19 



nanimous patriotic services for our country have caused their 

 names to be placed high on the American Roll of Honor. 



On a tablet in the recess chancel is inscribed the following: 



"The Relics of the Honorable Gouverneur Morris, A name illustrious 

 in his country's annals, were laid by his faithful widow." 



A tablet on the right side of the chancel bears the following 

 inscription : 



Gouverneur Morris, 



born February 9, 1813, 



died August 20, 1888, 



Founder of this Parish, 



To which he gave church and lands for the 



glory of God and in memory of his mother. 



Morrisania was the scene of many a skirmish during the 

 Revolutionary War. General William Heath, who was in command 

 of a picket stationed in that section, relates in his Memoirs an 

 interesting incident that occurred there. A chain of sentinels 

 had been planted near Bronx Kills, the water passage between 

 Morrisania and Montresor's (now Randall's) Island. The sen- 

 tinels on the American side had been ordered not to fire at the sen- 

 tinels on the British side unless the latter began; but the latter 

 were so fond of beginning that shots were frequently exchanged. 

 During an interchange of shots a British officer was wounded. 

 An officer with a flag soon came down the creek and informed the 

 Americans that if their sentinels fired any more the commanding 

 officer of the island would cannonade Colonel Morris's house, in 

 which the officers of the picket were quartered. General Heath 

 sent back the reply that "the American sentinels were instructed 

 not to fire unless they were fired on; that such was their conduct, 

 and as to cannonading Colonel Morris's house, they could act their 

 pleasure." 



For a time all firing ceased until a raw Scotch sentinel was 

 planted who soon discharged his musket at an American sentinel. 

 The shots were instantly returned; whereupon a British officer 

 called to the American officers observing that he thought there 

 was to be no more firing between the sentinels. When informed 

 that the offender was on his side, he immediately apologized and 

 relieved the Scotchman. Thereafter both sides were so civil that 

 when a British sentinel sent over to the Americans for a chew of 



