• This gentleman is the well known author of " Travels in South America."

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 105

The present church of Cortlandtown is situated southeast of Verplauck's Point, near the edge of the Albany and New York Post road. It is a neat building of wood, with a tower and cupola, but its interior contains nothing worthy of particular notice. In the cemetery surrounding the church are several monuments to the Lents, Montross's, Brinckerhoffs, (fee. &c. Also a plain headstone inscribed as follows : --

" Sacred

to the memory of

Dr. Peter Goetchius,

who died the 21st of Sept., A.D. 1S2S,

aged 70 years, 5 months,

and 20 days,

having been for 35 years an elder

of the Reformed Dutch Church in

Cortlandtown, and died, as he lived,

a Christian.

" ' The silent tomb and rising hillocks show' The way, the end of mortals here below ; But silent tombs nor hillocks can affright The soul of him whose ways are just and right. How calm the righteous man with God his friend ; Peace crowns his life, and happiness his end.' "

The following minutes are extracted from the records of the New York Classis :

Flatbush, April 24, 1792, the Rev. Classis "appointed the Rev. Mr. Jackson ^ to visit the congregation at the Cortlandi's manor between this and the next session, and to report to Classis the state of that congregation."^

September 4, 1792, Mr. Jackson reports to Classis that he has fulfilled his commission, and finds the congregation have lost their church, diminished in number, and greatly dispersed.