On the first day - of September in the same year, the Rev. Benjamin Akerly was called asthe first Rector. Up to this time tlic services had been maintained by

498 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF \VESTCHF.STER.

Rev. A. B. Carter and Rev. J. Pinckney Hammond, Rectors of St. /Viin's. TI1C Rev. Mr. Akerly continued Rector of the neu- parish, tii! some time in 1857 or 185S. During his Rectorship, a commodious Rectory was built on the church grounds.

In April, 1858, the Rev. Samuel G. Appleton was elected Rector. During his Rectorship, the church was enlarged by the addition of a transept. The parish was gaining fast in numbers and strength, when an unfortunate di\ision of opinion took place and a new parish was organized. The Rev. Mr. Appleton resigned soon afterwards -- early in 186S, and was succeeded on the first of Nov. of the same year, by Rev. Fredk. B. Van Kleeck. On May ist, 1S70, the Rev. Dr. Van Kleeck's resignation took effect, as he had accepted a call to Grace church, "WTiite Plains; and on the same day his successor. Rev. Thomas R. Harris, began his duties as Rector. In 1S7 1 the church was raised and a lart^c

St. Paul's Morrisania.

Basement Sunday-school room added. In 1879, large repairs were made to the church buildmgs and the interior of the church was decorated.

At the commencement of the Revolutionary struggle, Gen. Heath's division of the American army was stationed at Morrisania. From his memoirs we gather the following particulars : "A picket from our general's division, of four hundred and fifty men, constantly mounted, by relief, at J/brrisariia, from which a chain of sentinels, within half gunshot of each other, were planted, from the one side of the shore to the other, and near the water passage, between Morrisania and Montresor's island. whJch in some places is very narrow^ The sentinels on the American side were ordered not to presume to fire at those of the British, unless the latter began ; but the British were so fond of beginning,