It appears, however, that although many of the inhabitants might have been well disposed towards the Church yet the ubiquitous Zacha In ItisO the proprietors of Bedford laid out a town lot or parsonage land to be set apart for a minister (without naming to what particular denomination he should belong) of said town : contrary to law, this land which of right belonged to a minister settled by thr oommi in law, was given at a town meeting in 1704 to one John Jones a violent Dissenting minister "to encourage him to settle and preach among them.'' The parsonage land seems t>> have embraced 40 acres in 1099.

b 1st Boot of Bedford Rec, p. 10.

6o

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

ariah Roberts, Justice of the Peace and keeper of the town records, was determined otherwise, and stirred up the Dissenters to oppose the newly inducted rector, Thomas Pitchard ; so that when Joseph Morgan resigned, they called One John Jones -- so determined were they to free themselves from New York in the ministry.

From the first report issued by the venerable Propagation Society, in 1704, we learn: -- "That since their incorporation, June the 10th, 1701, they had appointed the Rev. Alexander Stuart, missionary at Bedford, with a salary of ^50 per annum, besides two sums of jT 20 and ^15 for books.

To this appointment Mr. Pritchard (who was inducted into the rectory of Rye, in April, 1704) thus alludes in a letter to the Secretary: -- "I perceive by the account of the Society, that one Mr. Stuart is recommended to Bedford, and ^50 per annum allowed him; whereas Bedford is a part of my parish, as settled by an act of Assembly, so that he can't be inducted there. Hoping, therefore, that the Society will be so condescendingly pleased to allow it me, as also to send per next conveniency, the ^£15 worth of books, of which mention is made in the account.