Its first founder and patron was the Honorable Frederick Philipse, for some years speaker of the house of Assembly in the province of New York, 1721-8.

There is every reason to believe that this distinguished indi. vidual took some steps towards the erection of the church previous to his death, which happened in 1751 : (he died of consumption at the age of 53.) In his will, which is dated the Glh of June, of the same year, he directs,

" That out of the rents that were, or should thereafter be due to him, from the manor of Philipsborough, the sum of £400 be by his executrix laid out in erecting a building or finishing a church of England as bylaw established, on the farm near and to the northward of the house then in the tenure of William Jones, sen., unless he should build the said church in his lifetime ; and he devised all the said farm with all the buildings thereon, unto all his children, and their heirs, in trust, for the use of such ministers of the church of England as by law established, as should be from time to time admitted or instituted in the said church ; and so for ever to remain for a glebe to the said church."^ That the building was commenced in 1752, there is no doubt, for among the family papers, occurs an account of the expenses on the church at Philipsborough to the estate of Frederick Philipse, debtor," commencing Nov. 1752, closing December, 1753, whole amount, £623 6s. 9d. This sum shows that his executrix had exceeded the original bequest in the will, £223. The curious reader will not be displeased with one or two more of these accounts, showing the expenses attendant on building a church at that early period :