The Methodist Episcopal church in Peekskill was first incorporated 2d August, ISOS ; Bethune Washburn, Gilbert Weeks and John Spock, trustees.^ The Methodist society must have been in existence, however, some time previous to the above incorporation, for on the 26th February, 1795, we find John Drake and Catharine his wife conveying three-quarters* of an acre of land in this place to William Hallock, Thomas Clark, William Weeks, Abraham Travis and Stephen Newby, managers of the Methodist society. The present church edifice, erected A. D. 1837, occupies the site of a still older building erected in 1811 : to it is attached a small grave yard. The communicants of this church number two hundred.

The Protestant Methodist society was first established here in 1827, and incorporated 23d November, 1836 ; John Spock, William R. Steel and Thomas Blackney trustees. b

The Wesleyan or Primitive Methodists originally belonged to the old Methodist society, from which body they seceded in 1839* Their first pastor was the Rev. John Miles. The church edifice was erected in 1839. and incorporated A. D. 1842.

The society of Friends was first organized here in 1804, and the oldest house erected in 1811, upon land given for that purpose by Nathaniel Brown, Esq.

One of the most interesting objects in the village of Peekskill is the old Birdsall residence, situated directly opposite the Bank. This house during the American Revolution was occupied occasionally by General Washington as head-quarters when the army happened to be stationed here. In this time honored mansion the visitor is still shown the sleeping apartments of Washington and his noble companion in arms La Fayette. The furniture occupies nearly the same position as at that day, and the old clock still marks the passing liour as it did seventy-seven years ago. The colored woman who waited upon the illustrious visitors died in 1841.