The Baptist Society was first organized September 22d, 1798, seven of its members having received legal letters of dismission from the Baptist Church of Stamford, to form a new society under the pastoral charge of Elder Jones ; on the eighth of May 1802, elder Ezra Fountain was elected Pastor of this church, an office which he held with great acceptance until his death which took place November 26th, 1837. The Rev. Ezra Fountain was interred on his farm, at present occupied by John A. Miller, in this town, where a monument has been erected to his memory, which contains the following epitapth, written by himself:

" A dying preacher I have been,"

To dying creatures such as you, A dying preacher I rennain,

To all who come my grave to view.

It may be truly said of this good man, though dead he yet sp3aketii. Mr. Fountain was succeeded in the pastoral charge by

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 27

Elder Charles H. Underbill wlio continued for two years. Their successors have been Elder Samuel Covel, and Elder Nathan Reed, the present pastor is a licentiate from the Baptist Seminary of Madison County, New York. Present number of communicants, 250.

The Union Academy of Bedford occupies a prominent situation south east of the Baptist Church ; its principal is Alexander G. Reynolds.

Near the hamlet, are situated the residences of William Hursell and Jabez Robertson, Esqrs.

To the south east lies the Hook farm, the property of Phinehas Barrett Esq., (formerly belonging to Col. James Holmes.) Upon (he 5th of April, 1774, James Smith and Mary his wife sold to James Holmes, "all that messnage lying in Bedford, conmionly called the Hook, containing seventy-three acres.