" Green is the church yard, beautiful and green." •' Ridge rising gently by the side of ridge."

In the south-west corner appears a neat marble slab inscribed to the

M-emory of the

Rev. Solomon Mead,

First Pastor of the Presbyterian

Church in this place, M. 86. He had the charge of this people, 48 years. Ob. September, 1812. While marble monuments decay The righteous live in endless day^ And earthly temples turn to dust. Blest is the memory of the just.

Also a monument erected in

Memory of

(/APT Joseph Webster,

who died

Jan. 16, 1838,

aged 81 years

and 12 days.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 271

A mission of the Church of England was organized in this town sometime prior to the Revolutionary war. Its first trustees are said to have been Gershom Sellick, Mr. Brown and others. Soon after its establishment, Benjamin Brown of Norwalk made a liberal benefaction of one hundred acres of land, as a glebe for the support of a minister. The first church edifice was erected by the inhabitants of Salem, (for the use of the Episcopal mission,) at the commencement of the Revolution. The building was constructed of the very best timber, and contained three hundred and sixty-five braces. It stood upon the land of Jeremiah Keeler; near the road-side leading from South Salem to Ridgefield.

Some of the most active members of the mission having joined the army, (at the commencement of hostihties,) it was found absolutely necessary to dispose of the building to satisfy the claims of the contractor, Mr. Benjamin Chapman. This individual subsequently purchased it and converted the same into a tavern. For many years it was known as the Churcli tavern. Mr. Chapman afterwards sold the property, with the dwelling house, to J. L. Morehouse, from whom it passed to the present Mr.