tenant Governor and Commander-in-chief of our Province of Newr York and the territories depending thereon in America, in Council did set forth that the inhabitants of the said parish of Rye, in communion of the Church of England as by law established, have by voluntary contributions erected and finished a decent and convenient church in the town of Rye, in the said parish, for the celebration of divine service according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, but that from a want of some persons legally authorized to superintend the same and manage the affairs and interests thereof, the said church is greatly decayed, and the petitioners discouraged from contributing to the repair thereof, least the moneys given for that purpose may be misapplied, and that on that account also charitable and well disposed people are discouraged in their design of establishing proper funds for the future support of the said church and the better maintenance of the ministry, and therefore humbly prayed in behalf of themselves and the rest of the inhabitants of the said parish in communion of the church of England as by law established, our letters patent incorporating them and the rector and inhabitants of the said parish in communion of the Church of England as by law established, for the time being a body corporate and politick, with such rights, privileges, and immunities, as should appear proper and expedient to answer the purposes aforesaid, Now We being willing to encourage the pious intentions of our said loving subjects and to grant this their reasonable request, Knoio 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 they the said petitioners and the rest of the inhabitants of the said parish of Rye in communion of the Church of England as by law established, and their successors the inhabitants of the said parish of Rye in communion of the Church of England as by law established, with the rector of the said parish of Rye for the time being, for ever, shall for ever hereafter be one body corporate and politick in deed, fact and name, by the name, stile and title of the rector and inhabitants of the parish of Rye, in communion of the Church of England as by law established, 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 politick and corporate in deed, fact and name for ever, and will, give, grant, and ordain, that they and their successors the rector and inhabitants of the parish of Rye in communion of the Church of Eno-land as by law established, 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 other 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