He was ordained by the Presbytery of Long Island, and served the congregation of Southhold as stated supply for two years. From Southhold he came to Bedford, and settled May 18th, 1786, and remained here a faithful and godly minister for five years. Leaving here, he was called to Deerfield, New Jersey, and settled there Aug. 1 2th, 1795. He remained there ten years, and was dismissed on account of failing health. He finally became a home missionary in Western New York, and died in Lysander, July 13th, 1821, an amiable and excellent man.

In June, 1792, Rev. Isaac Foster was settled here, and remained not more than two years. We are in possession of the original subscription list, with the amount promised by each subscriber for the support of Mr. Foster for one year, commencing March 22d, 1792, in £. s.d., and here we find the names of ancestors of families still residing in Bedford -- the Millers, Mills, Holmes, Clarks, Lyons, Benedicts, French, Ambler, etc Mr. Foster remained probably two years and left, as tradition reports, with his name and that of his wife in bad repute. But we know nothing of the place whence he came, or whither he went, or where he died. Then came a most excellent man, the Rev. Samuel Blatchford, who preached here for some time as stated supply, refusing

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

to settle permanently. He was an Englishman, and was invited here by a committee appointed by the church, from Topsham, England, to settle here with the people in Bedford. He resigned his charge in Topsham, and sailed at once for this country. The captain of the vessel on which he sailed was present and heard his farewell sermon in Topsham, and so deeply was he affected by it, that he immediately offered to take him and his family at a greatly reduced price, that he might have the benefit of his instructions during the passage; though previous to that, the price talked of was so much beyond Mr.