From Jamaica he went to Rye in 1675, and came here as we have seen in 1681. He subsequently returned to Jamaica, and "on the 23d of Aug., 1692, received a call from the First Presbyterian Church of Newark, N. J., to succeed Mr. Pierson, which he accepted. He continued minister of this church until Jan. 9th, 1699, when for some cause, not now known, he was dismissed. He died at Newark, Dec. nth, 1725. His epitaph is as follows :

Here lies the body

OF THE

REV. MR. JOHN PRUDDEN minister of the Gospel, who departed this life 11 Dec, 1725, Aged 80 Years.

"He sustained a worthy character as a man of sense and religion, though he does not appear to have been a popular preacher. His dea Hist, of Presb. Oh. Jamaica, L. I., by Jas. M. Macdonalu, p. 21.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

scendants are numerous and reside chiefly in Morris Co., N. J.; some of whom are said to have been distinguished as worthy and useful members of society. "a

Jan. 28th, 1688, the Rev. Thomas Denham was called and settled in Bedford, and the town ordered that ^20 be raised for his salary. He was son of John Denham, deacon, and one of the first purchasers of Dartmouth ; preached at Sheepscott in Massachusetts colony (now in Maine), and suffered great losses in the destruction of that settlement in 1675 during King Philip's war. He came to Rye in 1677 and remained till 1684. Says a historian, "He was advanced in life when he came and was held in great respect by the people here who gave him proprietary rights, which descended to his son Isaac who became one of the principal men of the place. Mr. Denham had preached a long time in the town of Rye previous to his settlement here." This was evidently his last settlement, for it is reported that he died in Bedford after a few months' labor, aged 67.