"Received at Yorktown, Nov. 7th, 1789, of Mr. Elvan Purdy, two pounds 19s. 9d. in full of rent due.

"STEPHEN VAN CORTLANDT."

Crompond, the principal village in this township, is situated on the high road leading from Somers to Peekskill; it contains a Presbyterian and a Congregational church, a post office, a store, and several dwellings. The name is undoubtedly derived from the large pond that lies north-west of the village, which, from its pcculiar shape, is sometimes called the crooked pond, crom denoting in the Dutch language, crooked. This beautiful sheet of water covers an area of 200 acres.

The Presbyterian Church is handsomely located on the highest ground of the village, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country; it was built in 1799, on the site of an older edifice erected cir. 1738, and destroyed by fire in July, 1779. At the time of its destruction the old church appears to have been used as a store house by the Continental troops; for, during the year 1839, a select committee appointed by Congress to investigate Revolutionary claims, reported "That Congress pay the Yorktown congregation the sum of three thousand five hundred dollars out of the first unappropriated funds, the government having occupied the church and parsonage as barracks and

store houses during the Revolutionary war." This appropriation, however, was never made by Congress.

The present edifice is constructed of wood, presenting in front a lofty colonnade, above which rises a neat tower, finished with a rich cornice and pinnacles, in which is a large bell weighing over 600lbs., inscribed as follows: "Cast by J. H. Thompson, New York, 1833."

The Presbyterian church in this town, appears to have been first organized under the ministry of the Rev. Samuel Sackett, about 1740. Upon the 2nd of January, 1739, we find a deed for three acres of land given by Joseph Lane, Henry Beeckman and Gertrude his wife, unto John Hyatt, John Haight and David Travis, trustees for the first Presbyterian church, on which land the meeting house was erected (said three acres being part of two hundred and twenty acres leased to Joseph Lane for three lives, 25th March, 1737,) dated 2nd of January, 1739, according to the act of 1784 and the act of 1801."b

On the 26th of May, 1781, it was incorporated under the name and title of the "First Presbyterian Society, upon the plan of the Church of Scotland." Aaron Furman, Gilbert Travis, Ebenezer White, Elijah Lee, Henry Strang and Gabriel Carman, trustees, elected 3d of May, 1784. A re-incorporation of the same occurs on the 4th of March, 1806.c

LIST OF PASTORS AND SUPPLIES.

Occemun the celebrated Indian preacher once addressed a crowded audience

from the pulpit of this church.

b Co. Rec. Religious Soc. Lib. A. 83.

Co. Rec. Religious Soc. Lib. A. 77, 79, 81, 83, 147.

This society is in communion with the Bedford Presbytery. In the grave yard adjoining the church, are buried the remains of the

REV. SAMUEL SACKETT,

who died June 5th, 1784.

He was a judicious, faithful,

laborious and successful minister of Christ.

Thrice blest departed spirit thou art free
From the toils of mortality.

The monument of his son is inscribed as follows: "Here lyes the body of Joseph Sackett, born April 18th, 1735, and departed this life, December, 1757."

"Behold all ye that now pass by,"

As

you are now, so once was I, As I am now, so you must be,

Prepare for death and follow me.

There are also monuments to Captain Samuel Sackett, Deacon Knapp and others. In the south-east corner of the yard, lie the mortal remains of Colonel Green, the hero of the Red bank, and Major Flagg his brave companion in arms, both of whom fell by the hands of cruel treachery, on the morning of the 14th of May, 1781. But where shall we look for a monument or even a stone to mark the spot where these brave patriots lie pillowed in the dust? When will justice be rendered to the memory of the brave and illustrious dead who fell in the noble cause of freedom?

The parsonage is situated at a short distance from the church and stands on the site of the old building which was occupied for some time, during the Revolution, by the Yorktown Committee of Public Safety. Here that tribunal transacted business, disarmed the disaffected, and punished the incorrigible. Here also a Convention of Congress assembled for the purpose of distributing commissions to those officers who were empowered to raise the militia.

a

For the destruction of this obnoxious post, Colonel Robertson obtained of the English governor, a special order and the command of a regiment. From New York, he appears to have proceeded by water to Peekskill, where he landed, swearing he would burn up the d-d committee house, and guided by a spy, named Caleb Morgan, marched to Crompond, where he burnt the parsonage, then used as a store house and arsenal.

Upon the departure of the British troops, the continental guard took possession of the church.

Episcopal services appear to have been occasionally performed in this village, as we find the Rev. Mr. Dibble in company with Mr. St. George Talbot, officiating here in 1762. The following year Mr. Dibble was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Punderson of Rye.

The Congregational society in this town, was first formed during the ministry of the Rev. Silas Constant. The church which had before been Presbyterian, gradually assumed the Congregational form of government.

In 1787, Dr. Elias Cornelius and Mr. Benjamin Haight, were chosen deacons. In 1790, a part of the members withdrew by mutual consent, and formed a new church at Red Mills. About the year 1806, a division occurred in the church, when more than two thirds of her members adhered to Mr. Constant, and maintained the Congregational mode of worship, the remainder resumed the Presbyterian form.

The Loyalists of Cortlandt's manor were disarmed by Zephaniah Platt and others, aided by 600 Connecticut troops, during the winter of 1776.

In 1816, a number of members harmoniously left this society and formed a church at Peekskill.

From the time of Mr. Constant's death, to 1832, this church received stated supplies from the Rev. Daniel Jones and the late Rev. Griffeth H. Griffeth; subsequently the Rev. William Albert Hyde was ordained pastor. The present minister is the Rev. J. B Loring. The Congregational church was incorporated by the name of "the First Congregational Church and Society at Yorktown." It is at present in connection with the Connecticut association, and numbers 70 communicants. Among other monuments in the grave yard, is the following:

In

memory of

the Rev.

SILAS CONSTANT,

who departed this life

March 22, 1825,

aged 75 years, 2 mo.
and 7 days.

The Friends meeting house is situated at a short distance from the village of Crompond, and stands on land jointly given by John Clapp and Joseph Waters, in 1774.

The following is a brief abstract of the conveyance:

"John Clapp of Greenwich, and Joseph Waters of Cortlandt manor, of the first part, convey to John Griffin, John Cromwell, John Cornell, Uriah Field and Thomas Clapp, of the second part, all that tract of land being in Amawalk, in Cortlandt manor, consisting of 2 acres lying and being in the north-east corner of great lot No. 4. Dated 12 day of October, 1774.

The Methodist Episcopal society of Yorktown, was first incorporated upon the 13th of August, 1792, Timothy Oakley, John Oakley, Solomon Fowler, James Haden, Thomas Kirkham and