The local committees every where were supreme, and manifestations of an unfriendly nature, even in the form of disfavoring remark, were pretty certain to involve the culprits in difficulty. The name of one bold spirit, who for three weeks persevered in a public attitude of defiance, has come down to us; and before proceeding with the narrative of the momentous events which now crowd thick upon us, this interesting local episode should be recorded. a clergyIt is not surprising that the aggressive individual was by name, man of the Church of England, the Rev. Epenetus Townsend PropaVenerable the of missionary a as officiated had who since He was a man of ability, gation Society in the Parish of Salem. Parson Seabury, of Westlike talents hed though not of distinguis chester. For inveterate devotion to the king and scorn of all rebels He he certainly yielded to none in all our County of Westchester. relates in one of his letters thai as early as the end of the year 1773 he began to strongly suspect that - the leaders of opposition to governwhereupon he unment in America " were aiming at independence; dertook to do all that lay in his power, - by preaching, reading the Homilies against Rebellion," and the like, to persuade his people "And blessed be a<»'ainst countenancing such wicked tendencies. Church people the that on satisfacti the have "I exclaims, he God," , and RidgeRidgefield [Salem, parishes my all in ians] [Episcopal bury] have almost unanimously-- there being three or four exceptions--maintained their loyalty from the first." In .May, 1776, he says the " Rebel Committee of Cortlandt's Manor" before he was called and - invited " to join their association. This he indignantly declined to do. Next, he was ordered to furnish blankets for the " Rebel soldiers," and, refusing, was sent under guard to the committee, which, failing to persuade him on the same point, gave orders to search his house^and appropriate the desired goods; but happily his wife had Then he was directed to pay - upsafely secreted all they possessed. wards of thirty shillings " to the mortified searching party, refused to obey, and was detained under guard until he produced the money.