the first place dwelt on the joys of the righteous, and in strains of heavenly wisdom he portrayed the joys that awaited them beyond the grave, but, said he, verily He is a God that judgeth in the earth, and all who will not put their trust in Him will eventually be judged with divine retribution. Mr. Vannist returned with Mr. Terbush from church, and after partaking of dinner, he remarked that he felt chilly and an aching similar to that of the preceding evening. He seated himself close to the fire, endeavoring to seek relief from the heat it produced, but the pain increased until he was unable to sit up, when Mr. Terbush helped him in bed. He had a very restless night, and Mr. Terbush thought it advisable to send for a physician, who, on visting him, found him suffering from a violent fever. He left medicine, with instructions as to how it should be administered, and said he would call again the next day. The physician was prompt as to time, and found his patient rather more comfortable, but his fever was unabated, and after giving instructions to Mr. and Mrs. Terbush as to care and treatment, he left him. The assistance of kind neighbors, who volunteered their services to help take care of their pastor, contributed much to alleviate his sufferings, but when the physician arrived the next morning and examined his patient, he was somewhat alarmed. His disease was typhus fever, which now had assumed a violent character, and he thought it advisable to dispatch a messenger to Poughkeepsie to procure a consulting physician and inform Mr. Vannist's people of his illness. He then wrote a note, addressing it to Paul Schank, informing him of the sudden illness of Mr. Vannist, and stating

the nature and character of the disease, and if the fever continued as violent a few days longer he should consider him dangerous. The messenger arrived at the Van Kleek House at eleven o'clock, and informed the proprietor that Dominie Vannist was very sick at the house of Mr. Terbush, in Fishkill Village. He then gave his horse in charge of the hostler and proceeded to the store of Paul Schank, and handed the note to his son Isaac, his father having just gone to the house. Isaac immediately took the note to his father, who opened it and read the contents to himself, in the presence of his family, and while perusing it he betrayed considerable emotion, which was perceived by Rebekah, who anxiously inquired if anything was the matter. Her father then handed her the note, and she commenced reading it, but before finishing, it fell from her hand to the floor. Bursting into tears, she left the room, and there all alone she gave vent to excessive grief. Paul, too, had commenced weeping, and his wife and son stood gazing on the mournful scene, not yet having learned the cause of their sorrow. After recovering a little, Paul informed them of Mr. Vannist's illness, and then all wept, and after an interval of a few minutes, Isaac said that the messenger was at the Van Kleek House, and as soon as his horse was rested he was going to return to Fishkill with a physician who had been sent for in consultation. Paul then went to Rebekah's room and found her weeping violently. He informed her of what the messenger had said, and that probably the next news that they would hear from Mr. Vannist might be encouraging, but Rebekah wished to see him very much, and then

her father offered to go with her immediately to Fishkill, which offer she accepted.

They did not set out for Fishkill until the next morning, for Paul had to look for a conveyance, he having none suitable, owning only one horse. Finally he procured a chaise, and they started early for Fishkill, and at eleven o'clock they arrived at Mr. Terbush's. Mr. Vannist was more comfortable, and he inquired of the physician from Poughkeepsie if Mr. Schank had been informed of his sickness, who replied in the affirmative, and then said that himself and daughter had just arrived, and they would be in presently. A gleam of joy illuminated the sick man's face, and in a few moments Rebekah and her father stood before him. Mr. Vannist had strength sufficient to extend his hand, and then said "Rebekah," who placed her hand in his, and the scene was so solemn and impressive that all present were overwhelmed with sorrow. Mr. Vannist expressed himself to her that his Saviour was precious, and with a feeble voice said, "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast." Paul, after taking an affectionate leave of his minister, who trusted that if not permitted. to meet here again they would meet in Heaven, returned to Poughkeepsie, leaving Rebekah at Mr. Terbush's, who watched almost incessantly at the bedside of her dying husband. He commenced sinking rapidly, and Rebekah soon saw clearly his approaching dissolution, and when the physician gave up all hope of his recovery, she calmly resigned herself and bowed in submission to the will of Him who doeth all things right. His last words to her were, "We will meet in

Heaven," and the 10th of April, 1761, he breathed his last.

Mr. Vannist's funeral took place at the church at Fishkill, the third day after his decease, and the whole surrounding country came to pay their last respects to one who held so strong an affection in the hearts of his people. His congregation from Poughkeepsie, New Hackensack and Hopewell, were all present. At ten o'clock the funeral procession commenced moving slowly from Mr. Terbush's to the church, headed by the clergy, physicians, and pall bearers, who were the officers of the church at Fishkill and Poughkeepsie. The floor of the church had been taken up from under the pulpit, and the earth removed and deposited on the floor beside the grave, and there the remains of the Rev. Jacobus Vannist were deposited. This custom of burying ministers beneath the floor, under the pulpit, in the Dutch church, died out in the year 1800. Rebekah, who had been with Mr. Vannist in his last sickness, and had stood beside his dying couch until his death, was now viewing the last mournful scene with her parents and brothers. It was not customary to preach funeral sermons in those days; a brief prayer and then an exhortation was delivered by the Rev. Hermanus Meier, of Esopus, who alluded to the short period Mr. Vannist had labored amongst his people. "Only two years and a half," said he, "since his settlement with them. God took him in the very Spring time of life, but his work is done, and the loss to his people is irreparable." During the address, the speaker alluded to the uncertainty of life and the necessity of a preparation for death, and the loss of their minister

drew tears from many of the congregation. The coffin was then lowered into the grave, and the pall bearers commenced removing the earth from the floor, and as it sounded on the coffin, Rebekah's heart wrung with anguish, and when the grave was filled with earth, and the mournful throng slowly dispersed, she remained there with her parents for some time. At last they slowly left that hallowed spot and wended their way homeward. A tombstone was erected to his memory, and placed in the churchyard at Fishkill, bearing the following inscription in the Dutch language: "Jacobus Vannist, preacher of the Holy Gospel in Poughkeepsie and Fishkill, died the 10th of April, 1761, in his 27th year." This tombstone, in process of time had disappeared, but was accidentally discovered when digging a grave, where it had been placed. This stone is now placed against the rear wall of the church.

Until 1783, the old Dutch burying ground in Poughkeepsie remained undisturbed, and Paul Schank's burial plot was where Smith's restaurant is now located, and where the tombstones of Rebekah and her parents could be seen. The congregation then abandoned that ground and built their church on the opposite side of the street. Market street was then laid out through the burying ground, intersecting Cannon street, which then had just been opened. The remaining portion of the burying ground was leased for fifty years, in lots, to individuals. The leases prohibited the leaseholders from having cellars underneath the buildings erected thereon. These leases expired in 1833, when new leases were given, with the privilege of putting cellars underneath the buildings that stood on the old