The uprising in 1764 -- call it mob, if you will -- against the impressing of four fishermen, and the gathering of the people as one man on the 1st day of November, 1765, in opposition to the stamps, which are often spoken of as the first steps toward revolution, were long antedated by a religious controversy which was certainly not without its influence in preparing the people for the great events soon to follow. Leading Presbyterians had formed an association bearing the name of the " Whig Club," in organized opposition to the Church of England and the English government.

In the year 1719 Thomas Smith, with three other Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, purchased a piece of land on Wall Street, upon which to erect a church edifice. They subsequently applied for a charter of incorporation, to secure to them their estate for religious worship, but were defeated by the violent opposition of the Church of England. After years of unsuccessful solicitation, the land was finally conveyed to the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, up6n which the Church of Scotland de-

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

clarecl that the property was held for the purposes for which it was originally purchased and designed.

The opposition of the Church of England, instead of crushing out the Presbyterians, stimulated them to increased efforts, and developed a force that eventually drove English sway from the country. Much that is entertaining and instructive in regard to these men and their followers may be found in the " The Sons of Liberty in New York," by Henry B. Dawson, Esq., a book that should be in every district school library, instead of being a rare volume found only in our best libraries. These Presbyterian Sons of Liberty were William Smith, Sr., William Smith, Jr., William Livingston, John Morin Scott and others.