by Robert Wheatley,22 of said Newport, in his last will and testament, we will join with the heirs of the other half part of said house. and lot in disposing of the same, and do hereby signify our approbation that Mr. Bours, Administrator to the estate of Mary Wheatley, widow of said Robert, execute a deed to Thomas Hudson, in conjunction with the said heirs to the other half part of said house and lot, for the consideration of eight hundred dollars, the whole

sum.

Voted: that Messrs. Bours and Auchmuty be appointed trustees, together with the Rev. Mr. Dehon, in conformity to Robert Wheatley's will, to appropriate the interest money arising annually on four hundred dollars, being the one-half part the house and lot of land said Wheatley bequeathed to the poor of the Church, was sold for; and the said $400, loaned by the said trustees to the Church for the purpose of repairing and enlarging the parsonage-house, agreeably to a vote passed by the congregation on the 30th day of June, 1799, and that the Wardens give a bond to said trustees for the same; and that they, the said trustees, make report of their doings annually to

228

His will was proved February 1, 1762. His first wife was Mary Young, to whom he was married May 4,

"Robert Wheatley."""

1746. She died, and December 17, 1747, he then married Mary Read. She outlived him. In his will he gave his estate to his wife during her natural life, or until she married, should she take another husband. Then the property was to go to his son William; but if his son died before his wife and without issue, then one-half of the estate was to go to the heirs of John Jepson, and the other half to the poor of Trinity Church, "to be distributed to such persons as the Minister of said Church, and any pious communicants thereto, shall judge the most proper objects." Jepson died during the lifetime of Mrs. Wheatley, leaving a daughter, whose heirs united with the Church in transferring the estate to Thomas Hudson, March 19, 1800, he paying for the same "eight hundred Spanish milled dollars."

the Vestry, the first distribution to commence on Christmas day

next.

Voted and resolved: that the Rev. Mr. Dehon and Mr. Auchmuty be a committee to make inquiry for a suitable person to take charge of the Church school, qualified agreeably to Mr. Kay's will, and that they be authorized to assure him the tuition of forty scholars at fifteen shillings per quarter, from his entering upon the charge until the 25th day of September next, from which time he will be entitled to receive $300 per annum, the amount of rent paid by Richard Harrison, Esq., of New York, for the house and land. left in trust by the said Mr. Kay, for the support of a school-master Episcopally ordained, to the Rector, Wardens and Vestry, for the instruction of ten poor boys, in grammar and the mathematics, and assist the Rector in some part of the service of the Church, as occasion may require.

April 14, 1800. Mrs. Mary Brett,229 widow of Dr. John Brett, was buried.

229

"Mary Brett

was an exceedingly conscientious and good woman. Her maiden name was Howland, a daughter of Rowland Howland, and she

was married to Dr. Brett February 10, 1739. But little is known of Dr. Brett, other than that he was a native of Germany, and a graduate of the University of Leyden. He was a scholarly man, and contributed to the collection of books forming the Redwood Library.

The name of Mrs. Brett is associated with a free school for negroes before the Revolution. A society in London, composed of a number of benevolent clergymen of the Church of England, had taken up the subject, and had offered to furnish means to sustain schools of this kind. Each school was to number thirty pupils, negro children, who were to be taught reading, writing, sewing, etc. Such a school was opened by Mrs. Brett at her residence on High Street, Newport, in March, 1773. At the time of her death she was in her 86th year.

CHAPTER XV.

1800-1803.

EASTER MONDAY, April 15, 1800. William Crooke and William R. Robinson were elected Wardens.

Voted that the number of vestrymen for the future be thirteen. Vestrymen: Francis Brinley, Christopher Champlin, George Gibbs, John Bours, Francis Malbone, Benjamin Brenton, Henry Sherburne, John Handy, William Littlefield, Robert N. Auchmuty, William R. Robinson, Saunders Malbone and William Crooke. John Bours, Clerk of the Vestry; Joseph Dyer, Clerk of the Church; Daniel Vernon, Sexton.

Voted: that the Wardens continue the present organist, Mr. John Berkenhead, in his office during good behavior, and that they allow him one dollar and twenty-five cents for every Sunday, and other holy days, that he officiates.

August 3, 1800. Voted and resolved: that Mr. Benjamin Brenton be requested to communicate to the daughters of Capt. Jahleel Brenton, at Leith, in Scotland, the thanks of the Rector, Wardens and Vestry of this Church for the elegant damask table-cloth, spun and presented by them for the altar thereof, and to express to them. their admiration of this specimen of female industry, piety and

benevolence.

August 18, 1800. Whereas, the Rev. Mr. Abraham Brunson, of Cheshire, in the State of Connecticut, has undertaken the charge of the Church school, on the Kay foundation, voted: that the committee who were chosen in March last to make inquiry for a person