Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III

Cliurcli Wardens who are to call within one yea,r after a Vacancy, a sufficient protestant Minister of tlie Gospel whom they are to present to the Governor or Commander in Chief of the Province for Induction & as Dissenters compose a great majority of tlie Parish, they are careful to admit none into those Offices, but such as are opposed to calling & presenting a Minister of the Cliurch of England and in order to evade paying the Salary (which being raised by tax they complain of as a burthen) L at the same time comply with the law, they some years ago called & presented to the Govern a Minister of the Presbyterian persuasion but he was refused induction : & as the act only specifics that he who is called, shall be a sufficient Protestant Minister of the Gospel, without confining them to any particular denomination, they imagine that the Law has been complied with on their parts & absolutely refuse paying me any money raised by Virtue of that Act, notwithstajiding my being inducted, by Authority from liis Excejlency the Governor, as I am destitute of a caU from them, who being dissenters & chiefly Presbyterians are averse to the supporting of the Church of England.

This dispute has been once detf3rmined by a due course of Law in favor of Rev^ M'^ Poyer, one of my predecessors, since wliicli time they have constantly raised & paid it without trouble, but B9W appear resolved to stand another trial.