Since it is by your charitable assistance and concurrence that the company of New Rochelle find themselves provided with the ministry, that your prudence and wise management hath hitherto composed and aswaged our difficulties about these matters of Church settlement ; we have thought that it was our duty and that it should be your pleasure of charity, to assist us with your presence and directions, that we may come to some terms of Resolution for to ha^e our church in full conformity with the national Church of England ; and for to have the protection and assistance of the rules and encouragers of the same, that the service

a New York, MSS. from archives at Falham, vol. 1, pp. 167, 16S, 169. (Hawks).

6 14

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

of God may be established in our place according to that holy rule, and the weakness of our place considered, that she may be enabled to support the charges of the ministry, as your Honor knows enough of our circumstances, be upon that trust of your candour, sincerity and charity, for refuge Protestants, well meaning in the duties of our holy religion. We remain, Honor'd Sir, Your most humble and dutiful servants,

Elias Badeaf, Andrew Rexeau, J. Levillaixe.

[Signed by twenty-six others, "a ]

The services on this occasion were held in the old wooden church, erected in 1697, upon Monday, June the 13th, A. D. 1709.6 Mr. Bartow, the rector of the Parish, who was present and read prayers, gives the following account to the Secretary of the Venerable Propagation Society :