A History of the County of Westchester, Vol. I
Now, we being willing to encourage the pious intentions of our said loving subjects, and to grant this their reasonable request, know ye, that of our especial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, we have ordained, given, granted and declared, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, do ordain, give, grant and declare that the said petitioners and such other person and persons and their successors for ever as now are or shall hereafter from time to time be, as well of the Church of England as by law established, as members of the congregation of the said church in the herein above recited petition called St. Peter's Church, on the manor of Cortlandt, near Peekskill, and also contributors to the support and maintenance of a minister of the Church of England as by law established, to officiate in the said church for the time being, shall, with the rector of the said Church of St. Peter's for the time being forever hereafter be one body corporate and politic in deed, fact and name, by the name, style and title of the rector and members
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of St. Peter's Church, on the manor of Cortlandt, near Peekskill, and them and their successors by the same name. We do by these presents, for us. our heirs and successors, really and fully make, erect, create and constitute one body politic and corporate in deed, fact and name for ever, and will give, grant and ordain that they and their successors, the rector and members of St. Peter's Church, on the manor of Cortlandt, near Peekskill, by the same name shall and may have perpetual succession, and shall and may be capable in law to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended in all courts and elsewhere in all manner of actions, suits, complaints, pleas, causes, matters and demands whatsoever, as fully and amply as any our liege subjects of our said province of New York may or can sue or be sued, implead or be impleaded, defend or be defended, by any lawful ways or means whatsoever ; and that they and their successors by the same name shall be forever hereafter capable and able in the law to purchase, take, hold, receive and enjoy any messuages, tenements, houses and real estate whatsoever in fee simple for term of life or lives, or in any other manner howsoever for the use of the said church ; and also any goods, chattels or personal estate whatsoever, provided always that the clear yearly value of the said real estate (exclusive of the said church and the ground whereon the same is built, and the cemetery belonging to the same) doth not at any time exceed the sum of one thousand pounds current money of our said province ; and that they and their successors by the same name shall have full power and authority to give, grant, sell, lease and dispose of the same real estate for life or lives, or years or forever, under certain yearly rents, and all goods, chattels and personal estate whatsoever at their will and pleasure, and that it shall and may be lawful for them and their successors to have and use a common seal ; and our will and pleasure further is, and we do hereby for us, our heirs and successors ordain and appoint that there shall be forever hereafter belonging to the said church, one rector of the Church of England as by law established, duly qualified for the cure of souls, two church wardens and six vestrymen, who shall conduct and manage the affairs and business of the said church and corporation in manner as hereafter is declared and appointed ; and for the more immediate carrying into execution our royal will and pleasure herein, we do hereby assign, constitute and appoint Beverly Robinson and Charles Moore to be the present church wardens, and Jeremiah Drake, Caleb Ward, John Johnson, Joshua Nelson, Thomas Davenport and Henry Purdy to be the present vestrymen of the said church, who shall hold, possess and enjoy their said respective offices until Tuesday in Easter week now next ensuing ; and for the keeping up the succession in the said offices, our royal will and pleasure is, and we do hereby establish, direct and require that on the said Tuesday in Easter week now next ensuing, and yearly and every year thereafter forever on Tuesday in Easter week in every year, the rector and members of St.