Upon consulting my Church wardens & vestry what measure it was most prudent for me to pursue at this critical juncture -- they unanimously advised me, that as the Kings Army lay at Staten Island & was daily expected to march into my Parish from whom I should obtain relief, to shut up my Church -- I agreed witli tliem in opinion as if I did not take that measure I was persuaded that I sliould be sent to some remote part of New England from whence perhaps it would be a long time before I could be relieved -- My Church was accordingly shut up for five Sundays when the Kings troops landed whose success has restored us to those religious principles of which we were deprived by Tyranny & persecution -- I hope my conduct in this as well as all other matters will gain the approbation of the Venerable Society as their displeasure would give me the greatest pain ; their approbation tlie highest satisfaction.

The Church in this Province has suffered greatly by the death of its Ministers viz : D^' Auchmuty at New York M^' Avery at Rye & Mr Babcock at Pliillipsburgh

I am Rev*i Sir &°

Joshua Bloomer

*REV» M^ BLOOMER TO THE SECRETARY.

Jamaica Feby 12th 1779

Rev^ Sir

* * * * I have in a former letter acquainted the Society that the Congregations of this Mission had raised the sum of .£800 New York currency by Lottery which they intend to lay out for a Glebe for the use of tlie Missionary residing at tliis place as soon as a convenient one could be procured -- Agreeable to this design we have purchased a Farm of Seventy Acres of Arable Land a Deed for which is given to the Vestry & Church