Dominick Lynch was a prominent man during the Revolution, and after the election of Washington as first President of the United States, was one of the signers of the Catholic address to Washington, ' which received a generous reply, and was followed by a memorial to Congress representing the necessity of adopting some constitutional provision for the protection and maintenance of civil and religious freedom, which hadco>^tsomuch blood and treasure of all classes of citizens. It was through the influence of Washington that this memorial was favorably received, and it resulted in the enactment of that article in the constitution which declares that Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof, and which has since been incorporated in the fundamental law.

1 History of the Irish Settlers in North America, by T. D'.\rcy JIcGee, p. 77.

Dominick Lynch, of New York, in 1795, purchased the farm of Lewis Graham, on Throgg's Point, and it was in his house on this farm that the first Mass in Westchester County was said.

In 1839 Throgg's Point and Sawpits (now Port Chester) were missions attended from Harlem, the former every second Sunday in the month, the latter occasionally, by Rev. M. Curran and Rev. Bernard O. Farrell. In 1842 these missions were attended from St. John's College, Fordham. In 1843 and 1844 Rev. Father Yilanus, D.D., of St. John's College, Fordham, attended New Rochelle once a month; also- Sawpits, Westchester, Throgg's Point and Sing Sing. In 1845, Rev. William O'Reilly, of Westchester, had chai'ge of these missions. In 1846 and 1847, Rev. Matthew Higgins, of Westchester, attended New Rochelle and Port Chester. In 1848, Rev. Valeuive Burgos resided in Port Chester, and was succeeded towards the end of 1848 by Rev. Edward J. O'Reilly.