"In sure and certain hope, if we never meet in this world, of a glorious resurrection to eternal life, in that which is to come, I subscribe myself, very dear sir

"Your truly affec. sympathizing friend, and willing servant, in our common never failing Lord,

"G. WHITEFIELD."

Of all this, connected with that prince of preachers, Shelter Island may be justly proud. Here, again, Newtown, my former beloved charge, grasps hands with Shelter Island, as Newtown was likewise honored with the presence and preaching of this celebrated evangelist. There, like here, he preached in a neighboring grove, to an immense audience, that was deeply moved by his message. Among those who were then converted was a young man by the name of Peter Fish, who afterwards became pastor of that very church. Something akin to this was the conversion of Samuel L'Hommedieu, Esq., of Sag Harbor, when he was a young man, in connection with Whitefield's preaching on this island. He often spoke of this with delight, and also of his having assisted in making a raft that conveyed the evangelist with his horse and carriage from Southold to Shelter Island.

Before leaving Mr. Thomas Dering it is worthy of note that his family claims to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, Saxon family extant, whose history can be traced in a direct line back to Ethelward, King of Diera. Originally the Derings were powerful leaders or petty kings of Diera, in Saxony, whence one of them, a warrior, came to England, and settled first in Lydd, in Romney, Marsh, Kent. One of the more remote ancestors, Dering Miles, appears as a witness to a deed by which King Ethelwuff conveyed certain lands to a church at Rochester, A. D. 880. The American branch of the Dering family came to this country through the person of Henry Dering, Esq., of Croscome, by Bumister, near Dorchester, in Dorsetshire, England, who was born in August, 1639, and came to Boston, New England, about 1660.

Among other possessions Mr. Dering owned a number of slaves, one of whom, by the name of Cato, was once caught in his wine cellar imbibing. Mr. Dering had him immediately brought before him for punishment, and, in order to make his punishment as effective as possible, both on the guilty one and the rest of the slaves, had them all summoned, with all the whites whom he had in

his employ, in the large servants' kitchen. Among the other slaves was one named Comus, who was remarkable for his keenness of intellect as well as for his immense stature, he being six feet and six inches tall. While the sin and punishment of Cato was being discussed, this giant of a slave rose up and asked permission to plead for Cato, and having received permission from his master, proceeded as follows: "Massa, you have pigs and you have corn, 'spose them pigs get in and eat some of that corn. The pigs are yours, and is not the corn yours just the same, if the pigs have eaten it? Now Cato is yours and the cider he drank was yours before, and is it not still yours after he has drank it? I do not see why Cato should be punished." Mr. Dering rose and said: "Comus, thou reasoneth well. Cato, thou art discharged."

CHAPTER IV.

Through the kindness of Mrs. William Rysam Sleight, of Sag Harbor, I am able to give an exact copy of the original census list of Shelter Island, taken in 1771. It is an interesting and valuable addition to our work, showing the growth of the community since the organization of the Town in 1730. During these years the community has doubled in population. Its complexion has remained about the same. A few of the names registered in 1730 have disappeared and are not recorded in the list of 1771. These are Sylvester, Hudson, Tuthill, Vail, Hopkins and Gilman. In their place appear Dering, Sawyer, Case, King, Duval and Horton. The name of Havens is still vastly in the majority, as at the organization of the Town. Some names on the list of 1771 are identical with those of 1730. These are William Nicoll, Daniel Brown, Thomas Conkling, Joel Bowditch, Abraham Parker, Jonathan Havens, George Havens and Joseph Havens.

Only two of them, however, represent the same person, namely, Daniel Brown and Thomas Conkling. Forty years have now passed since the Town was fully organized, and with their passing have transported nearly all of the founders into eternity.

The census list of 1776 is also here given, being copied out of one of the volumes of Colonial Documents. It shows a slight change in the personnel of this community from the list of 1771.

To return once more to ecclesiastical matters. The first reference to religious matters in the records of the Town occurs in the minutes of 1771, under the following resolution: "It is voted that Messrs. William Nicoll and Nicoll Havens, inspect the accounts of those that have the care of the moneys left by Brinley Sylvester, Esq., towards the support of the Gospel on this island, and to make report next Town meeting."

As we have already seen, the Rev. Mr. Adams came to this island about 1737. He continued to reside here, with a short interregnum of two years, until the early part of the American Revolution, when he left with Mr. Dering, whose private chaplain he was, Mr. Dering feeling constrained for sake of safety to take refuge with his family within the American lines, and moved to Connecticut. The people on this island must then have enjoyed in some

The above account of the number of the people on Shelter Island was taken the 18 day of February, 1771. JONATHAN HAVENS, JR., Constable.

In compliance of a requisition to me from George Murison, Esq., High Sheriff of ye said County of Suffolk, as also in pursuance of a warrant to him from His Excellency, the Right Honorable John Earl, of Dunsmore, etc., I send the above as an exact account of all the inhabitants within my District, the heads of the families being included in the number of one hundred and forty Whites.

sense the labors and privileges of a resident preacher up to that time. The resolution of 1771 likewise gives evidence of religious interest. It then is hardly probable that such a religious dearth existed among them during the last century as has been pictured

1776. Capt. Sam'l Case appeared before me, and made oath to the within list, that it contained a true and faithful account of the inhabitants of the Township of Shelter Island. THOMAS DERING,

Chairman Town Committee.

by some writers regarding Shelter Island. With a meeting house. erected by the citizens of the place; with a resident clergyman in the home of one, who likewise was called by the community to be its pastor; with a fund or legacy of five hundred dollars (a considerable sum in those days), the interest of which was to help in the support of a regular orthodox Presbyterian minister; with the care and oversight of Long Island Presbytery, kindly bestowed in occasional supplies, of preachers in Presbyterial meetings and ordination; with a community largely made up of Pilgrim and Puritan descendants, visited by renowned preachers and mighty evangelists,