Some years later the influence of a large congregational element from Connecticut gave great dissatisfaction to some who preferred the faith and government of the Presbyterian church, and in 1826 a division took place. Those who remained were finally merged into the Dutch Reformed Church. Those who withdrew founded the present Presbyterian Society." We give the details of the organization in the words of the first entry that appears upon the record of the session :

" The Presbyterian church in the town of Peekskill was organized June 25th, in the year of our Lord 1826, by the Rev. ElihuW. Baldwin, of the Presbytery of New York, according to the book of discipline of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America." It consisted at the time of its organization of sixteen members, viz : Benjamin Illingworth, an Elder of the Presbyterian church in Yorktown, with a letter of dismission from the same; Daniel Merritt, Nancy Conklin, Elizabeth Oakley, Elizabeth Campbell, Ann Conklin, Caroline Strang, Mahala Gilbert, Rebecca Hawes, Maria Jones, Jemima Brown, Sarah Dusenberry, Mary Oakley, Rachel Buskirk, Ann Budd and Susan Shaw, being a succession of members from the Independent Congregational church in Peekskill. Benjamin Illingworth and Daniel Merritt were elected elders." " In October of the same year, the church became connected with the Presbytery of New York, and at the same time extended a call to the Rev. John H. Leggett, then a member of the Second Presbytery of New York. The call was accepted and Mr. Leggett was installed first pastor of this church on December 14th, 1826. This pastorate continued three years, and was marked by a gradual increase in the number of communicants. Ten were added to the church under his ministry, seven on profession of faith and three by certificate, making a total of twenty-six; which was reduced to twenty-four by the death of one member, and the dismissal of another.