D.^ The first notice of this parish, occurs in a letter addressed by the Rev. Samuel Auchmuty, D. D., Rector of Trinity Church, New York, to the Venerable Propagation Society in England, dated October 17th, 1767, enclosing a petition from the chnrch people of Salem, wherein " they represent their want of religious instruction and the regular administration of God's word and sacraments according to their religious profession, there being no minister of the church nearer than Rye, which is between thirty-eight and forty miles distant. They have erected a decent church with galleries, on a convenient spot given them by Mr. Stephen de Lancey, the present proprietor.^ They have already purchased six acres of good land for a glebe, and promise to build a convenient house, and in conjunction with some neighboring places engage to contribute a certain sum annually toward the support of a minister." Upon the receipt of this petition, the society granted their request, " and appointed the Rev. Epenetus Townsend missionary, a gentleman educated in Kings college, and whose exemplary life and sober conversation, they have already had experience of." From the church records we make the following extracts.

" Whereas, St. James's church North Salem was founded and

» The old site was exchanged for the present location.

b This gentleman also gave three quarters of an acre of land bordering the Somers town road for the same purpose, and by his last will bequeathed the church a b^ll.

480 HISTORY OF THE

first organized by our ancestors, previous to the revolutionary ^var; and, the Rev. Epenetus Townsend, the missionary (a candidate for holy orders) went to England with the necessary credentials, about the year 1767, where he was ordained as a missionary : the parsonage being purchased before he went. He also officiated at Ridgefield and Ridgebury a part of the time, (fee.