Examined him in the Languages, in his experimental acquaintance with Religion, his Doctrinal knowledge of Divinity and his orthodoxy. Then meeting adjourned till to-morrow morning. Met according to adjournment. Mr. Mead presented and read a sermon to the Convention,

a Ridgefield Town Rec, 1746, p. 3.

* A Hist, of the Presbyterian church in America from its origin nntil the Tear 1760, bv Kev. Richard W ebster, Philadelphia, 1857, p. 546. It is more than probabl.-, however, that inn supply of Salem and cortlandt manor refers to upper Salem now North Salem.-- ^Editor.

44°

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

upon a deliberate consideration unanimously agreed and vote to proceed in the ordination of Mr. Mead. Voted that Mr. Ingersol make the first prayer and give the right hand of fellowship ; that Mr. Todd should preach, that Mr. Sacket make the ordination prayer, that Mr. Kent give the charge, and that Mr. Davenport conclude with prayer and a word of Exhortation. At which time a church was gathered consisting of eighteen members (viz.)Josiah Gilbert, Solomon Close, Stephen Brush, Jonah Keeler, Noah St. John, Daniel St. John, Nathan Northrup, Andrew Bishop, Ebnr. Scofield, John Bouton, Ebnr. Grummond, Lot Keeler, Paul Keeler, Abraham Northrup, Benjamin Bishop, and Elijah Keeler, and the ordination Performed accordingly. Test.,

Jonath. Ingep.sol, Scribe."

" This was the first ordination in Salem, and the first church gathered in said town.* Solomon Mead."

" The first Sabbath after the ordination," says Mr. Mead, " (viz.) May the 24th, I took a vote of the church whether we should join with the western association in Fairfield County ; voted in affirmative the whole church, except Matthew Northrup. Accordingly I joined as a member of said association on the next Tuesday, viz., the 26th of May, there being an Association of said county then setting, a consociation as yet not meeting the church.