In a summary account of the state of the church in the province of New York, as it was laid before the clergy, convened October 5di, 1704. at New York ; it is therein stated that " there is an independent church at Bedford where the minister designs to leave them ; they are well affected to the church, and it is hoped when he is gone they will be in communion with Iier.''^

The following year Col. Caleb Heathcoate informs the secretary of the Propogation Society, " that sometime prior to his coming into the Province, Rye and Bedford had a minister, one Mr. Denham, and afterwards one Mr. Jones at Bedford. ^

A LIST OF MI.MSTERS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,

BEDFORD.

Install or call, Ministers. ''' -

1681 ; ..r- Rev. Peter Prudden,

1688 ■ r Rev. Thomas Denham, ^

Oct. 1689 ' Rev. Abraham Ambler,

1699 Rev. Joseph Morgan,

1704 ' Rev. Eliphalet Jones,^

a November 14, lfi99, the town agreed to give sixteen acres of ploughed land to Mr. Copp, in condition he would inhabit among them.

b See Church Rec Francis L. Hawks, D. D. vol. i. No. 16. ^^ .

c Church Record 1841, vol. i. No. 29.

d Styled in the Co. Rec. minister of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in Bedford.

e Son of the Rev. John Jones, of Fairfield, born at Concord, January 11, 1641.

2 2 HIISTORY OF THE

A^ V

The first regularly installed Presbyterian pastor of Bedford, ^vas the Rev. Wihiam Tennent ; this individual upon his first i^rrival in America, (in 1716,) settled at East Chester, A. D. 1720 ; the exact date of his removal to Bedford has not been determined ; it probably took place in 1721. a