Signed before Jacob Griffen and Caleb Griffen, and acknowledged before Samuel Purdy, January 9th, l7o2A

There is also a release (supposed to be much older than the preceding,) from the proprietors of an undivided piece of land, to be annexed to the burying ground, as follows:

" The undersigners, being such as have proprietors' rights in the While Plains, in the township of Rye, <Sj-c. whereas there is a small piece of undivided land lying on the north side of burying yard near the Presbyterian meeting

*■ Mr. Sherman was a graduate of Yale College in 1765, and brother of the diss> tinguished Roger Sherman.

b Daughter of the Hon- James Minott by his secoijd wife Elizabeth Merrick, For account of the Minott family see Lemuel Shatiuck's Hist, of Concord, 379.

c These persons appear to have been trustees of the Presbyterian church.

d From the original iu the possession of the trustees, communicated by the Rev, Elias S. Schenck.

364 HISTORY OF THE

house, being willing that the said piece of undivided land, &c., we are willing that the same should be fenced in to with the burying yard, to be appropriated for the use ot a burying yard, to be under the entire government and management of the said congregation.

Eefore Jonathan G. Tompkins, _ Jonathan Purdy,

" David Horton,

Gabriel Lynch, Caleb Hyatt, Samuel Hunt."

From these docnmcnts it would appear that there was a Presbyterian church standing here someiime prior to 1751. The pastor at this period was the Rev. John S:nith, D. D., who served the Presbyterian churches of Rye and While Plains, and died in the year 1776, leaving flourishing congregations and commodious houses of worship in both places. His remains repose in the burying ground, near those of his wife and daughter, in the rear of the church.