Philip Pell of the Manor of Pelham Helped Complete the Stone and Brick St. Paul's Church in Eastchester

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Construction began in 1763 on the beautiful stone and brick church building located today at 897 South Columbus Avenue in Mount Vernon.  The structure replaced an earlier late 17th century square wooden meeting house that stood nearby, roughly 70 yards west of the present structure.  Today, the beautiful church building is the centerpiece of St. Paul's Church National Historic Site, an important historic jewel in the midst of our region.

The Ancient Church Building at St. Paul's Church National Historic Site

at 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York.  The Church

Served the Manor of Pelham and Surrounding Region for Much of the

Late 18th and Early to Mid 19th Centuries.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

When construction on the stone and brick church began, the building stood at the edge of Eastchester village green, important in its own right as the location of the Great Election of 1733.  Later the spectacular church building became the principle church for those who lived in the Manor of Pelham during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Once construction on the new church building began in 1763, progress was exceedingly slow.  At the time, Eastchester and the Manor of Pelham were sparsely populated.  Residents of the region found it difficult to fund completion of such a grand and substantial church building.

The church was still not complete when the American Revolution began.  Though the exterior was finished, the interior was incomplete.  For example, it had only a dirt floor and virtually no furnishings.  The beautiful bell tower of the church that we admire today was only about two-thirds complete.  Parishioners at the time still worshiped in the old wooden meeting house nearby.

Given the central location of the church as well as the fact that it was the largest and finest stone and brick structure in the region, the church was used repeatedly by the American, British, and Hessian armies during the Revolutionary War.  Indeed, after the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776, British and Hessian troops used the unfinished church building as a military hospital.  During the war, the wooden meeting house seems to have been dismantled, likely for firewood.

After the war ended in 1783, the citizens of Eastchester, the Manor of Pelham, and the surrounding region resumed efforts to complete construction of the church.  Famed Patriot Philip Pell Jr. of the Manor of Pelham played a critical role in completion of the church building.  I have written before about Philip Pell Jr., one of the most significant residents ever to live in Pelham.  See, e.g.: 

Fri., Nov. 25, 2016:  A Pelham Resident Rode With General George Washington on Evacuation Day in 1783.

Mon., Feb. 15, 2016:  More on Revolutionary War Patriot Philip Pell, Jr. of the Manor of Pelham.

Fri., Jan. 30, 2015:  Stained Glass Window Honoring Philip Pell of the Manor of Pelham in St. Paul's Chapel of Columbia University.

Mon., Jan. 27, 2014:  What is that Memorial Tablet Next to Pelham Memorial High School and Who Was Col. Philip Pell?

Tue. Feb. 9, 2010:  1755 Census of Slaves Older than Fourteen in the "Mannour of Pelham."  

Fri., Jan. 9, 2009:  Another Brief Biography of Philip Pell of the Manor of Pelham.  

Tue., Dec. 4, 2007:  Philip Pell of Pelham Elected to Chair Meeting of Supporters of the New York Gubernatorial Candidacy of George Clinton in 1789.  

Mon., Nov. 5, 2007:  References to Philip Pell in the Minutes of the Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies in the State of New York.  

Fri., Mar. 30, 2007:  Biographical Information for Philip Pell Published in 1895.  

Fri., Mar. 9, 2007:  Abstract of Will of Philip Pell, Sr. of the Manor of Pelham Prepared in 1751 and Proved in 1752.  [This is an abstract of the will of the father of Col. Philip Pell.] 

Wed., Oct. 18, 2006:  18th Century Statutes Appointing Philip Pell, Sr. of Pelham To Collect Taxes on "Strong Liquors Retailed in This Colony."  [This is the father of Col. Philip Pell.]

Thu., Aug. 24, 2006:  Philip Pell of the Manor of Pelham: An Early Victim of the "Spoils System" in New York at the Turn of the 19th Century.  

Mon., Jul. 17, 2006:  1780 Letter to George Clinton from American Patriot Philip Pell of Pelham Manor, Commissary of Prisoners of the State of New York.   

Thu., Apr. 20, 2006:  1788 Campaign Broadside Urging Support for Candidate Opposing Philip Pell of Pelham Manor.  

It seems that enactment of a new statute in New York State in 1786 played an important role in efforts to complete the interior of the church.  On April 6, 1784, New York enacted a law entitled "An Act to Enable all the Religious Denominations in this State to Appoint Trustees Who Shall Be a Body Corporate, for the Purpose of Taking Care of the Temporalities of Their Respective Congregations and for Other Purposes Therein Mentioned."  After enactment of the statute, the parishioners of the church nominated and elected Philip Pell Jr. of the Manor of Pelham and Benjamin Drake of Eastchester as Trustees to hold an election of a group of parishioners to serve as more permanent "Trustees of the Episcopal Church in Eastchester in the County of Westchester and State of New York."

On Monday, March 12, 1787, the "male persons of the Congregation" gathered and elected as Trustees of the church the following:  John Bartow, John Wright, Isaac Ward, Elisha Shute, Lewis Guion, and Philip Pell Jr.  The new Trustees met on July 2, 1787 in the home of Charles Guion of Eastchester.  The Trustees appointed Thomas Bartow as Clerk, Treasurer, and Collector of the Board.  They then drew lots to create three classes of Trustees with terms of one-year, two-years, and three-years:  (1) one year terms:  John Wright and Lewis Guion; (2) two year terms:  Elisha Shute and Thomas Bartow; and (3) three year terms:  Isaac Ward and Philip Pell Jr..

The Board of Trustees set out to sell to various families "seats" within the Church that consisted of private, high-walled pew boxes that still can be seen today.  These sales were intended to fund final construction costs and permitted completion of such furnishings as a pulpit and clerk's desk.  

The Trustees met at the home of William Crawford Jr. of Eastchester on Saturday, December 15, 1787 "for the purpose of disposing the pew ground" of the church.  Charles Guion purchased "Seat No 1" which was the pew box just inside and to the left of the main entry door of the church as one enters.  It remains there today.  He paid seventeen shillings.

For about the next seven months or so, the Trustees sold pews to members of the church.  Some members purchased a single "Seat" (pew).  Others purchased more than one.  Prices ranged from eight shillings to two pounds and one shilling.  A pew plan showing pew ownership as of 1790 appears immediately below.

Plan of Pews in St. Paul's Church, Eastchester, New York 1790.

Source:  Coffey, William Samuel, Commemorative Discourse Delivered

at the Centennial Anniversary of the Erection and the Sixtieth of the

Consecration of St. Paul's Church, East Chester, West Chester Co., N.Y.,

October 24th, 1865, p. 43 (NY, NY: Perris & Browne, 1866). To Read

More About the 1790 Pew Diagram of St. Paul's Church, see:

Wed., Aug. 15, 2007: Plan of Pews in St. Paul's Church, 1790.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Apparently confident in their ability to sell the pews and raise the money needed to complete the interior of the church, on December 10, 1787 the Trustees entered into an agreement with a local carpenter named William Hoskins.  Hoskins agreed to build a "pulpit reading desk" and a clerk's seat "in a workman like manner" like those at a church in Yonkers within two months of the date of the agreement for the sum of fourteen pounds.  

The Trustees, including Philip Pell Jr., wrote proudly to their pastor to announce their success.  They wrote:

"Reverend Sir

We have this day disposed of the pew ground in our Church in a manner that promises success to our religious endeavors we have a prospect of completing our Church in a respectable manner.  New Rochell [sic] will Join us in engaging a Gentleman of the profession of the Gospel to officiate in the two places from a reliance on your pious wish to promote the Christian religion, be beg leave that when ever a Gentleman of Character and qualified in your opinion for our purpose may come to our knowledge and whose Condition may be adapted to our Situation that you'll please to signify the same to us.

The Revd Benj Moore

We are Revd Sir, with much respect your Nble Servants  The Trustees"

Philip Pell Jr. played yet another important role in his life when he worked so hard to help finish what we know today as the lovely church building at St. Paul's Church National Historic Site.  At the time, Pell's critical efforts benefited not his nation but his Manor of Pelham community.  

The Homestead of Colonel Philip Pell III that Once

Stood Near Today's Colonial Avenue (the old Boston

Post Road) and Today's Cliff Avenue. Source:

Montgomery, William R. & Montgomery, Frances E.,

Colonel Philip Pell (1753-1811) Abridged from "The Pells

of Pelham," The Pelham Sun, Oct. 21, 1938, pg. 11,

col. 3.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"Page 4

Whereas at a meeting of the male persons of the Congregation of the Episcopal Church in Eastchester in the county of Westchester and State of New York held on Monday the twelfth Day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Seven at the said Church in pursuance  of an Act of the Legislature of the said State, entitled an Act to enable all the Religious Denominations in this State to appoint trustees Who shall be a Body Corporate, for the purpose of taking care of the Temporalities of their respective Congregations and for other purposes Therein Mentioned passed April the 6th 1784 in Order to elect nominate and appoint Trustees of the said Church the said persons (     ) did previously proceed to nominate and elect two members of the Said Church to preside at and hold the Election for the date as aforesaid.  And Whereas Philip Pell & Benjamin (Drake) were appointed and elected to preside at and hold the said Election and the same being duly held, at the close thereof (     ) Bartow, John Wright, Isaac Ward, Elisha Shute, Lewis Guion and Philip Pell Junr were elected to serve as Trustees of the Episcopal Church in Eastchester in the County of Westchester and State of New York at the Election held as aforesaid, and we do accordingly return the said persons as duly elected, Witness our Hands and Seals the twelfth of March One thousand Seven hundred and eighty seven

Signed and Sealed in the presence of

(Jacob) Sahw [sic]
(     ) Crawford Junr
Philip Pell
Benjn Drake
(A Copy)
(Original document filed with the Chr papers vide overleaf)

Page 5

Westchester County Fs.  Be It Remembered that on this fourth day of April One thousand seven hundred and eighty seven personally appeared before me Stephen Ward Esquire first Justice of the Superior Court of Common Pleas for the County of Westchester William Crawford Junior who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was a subscribing witness to the execution of the within writing and that he saw the within named Philip Pell and Benjamin Drake Sign and Seal the same as their voluntary Act, and at the Same time saw Jacob Shaw . . . the other subscribing witness sign his name as a witness thereto and having examined the said writing do allow the same to be Recorded. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Stephen Ward

Entered on the Records of Westchester County
in Lib A of religious Societies pages 10  11  &  12
this 4th June 1787     Richrd Hatfield Clk

(a copy)
(The original is filed with the Church papers)"

Source:  REGISTER OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF ST PAULS CHR at East Chester June 1787 to 1834 For contents of this book vide pe. The property of St. Pauls Church East Chester Parish Register 1787, pp. 4-5 (Typewritten manuscript transcribed by The Eastchester Historical Society, 1966; copy in possession of the author).

"Page 2

At a meeting of the Trustees of the Episcopal Church in Eastchester in the County of Westchester and State of New York held at the House of Charles Guion in the said Township of Eastchester on Monday the 2 day of July one thousand seven hundred and Eighty Seven.

Present

Thomas Bartow
John Wright
Isaac Ward
Elisha Shute
Lewis Guion
Philip Pell Junior

The said Trustees proceeded to appoint a Clerk, Treasurer and Collector of the said Board.

Resolved that Thomas Barton [sic] be the Clerk Treasurer and Collector of the said Board for the purposes by Law directed

The said Trustees then proceeded under the Act of the Legislature for their Incorporation, to divid [sic] themselves by Lott into three Classes as directed by the said Act where the Classes respectively were driven out as follows viz.

John Wright       Lewis Guion     Whose seats become vacant at the end of the first year.

Elisha Shute      Thomas Bartow      Whose seats become vacant at the end of the second year

Isaac Ward        Philip Pell Junior      Whose seats become vacant at the end of the third year

Page 3

At a Meeting of the aforesaid Trustees held at the House of William Crawford Junior on saturday the 15th day of December 1787 (present all the aforesaid Trustees) for the purpose of disposing the pew ground of the aforesaid Church.  The pew ground being exposed to sale according to a plan or draft exhibited on such day were sold to the persons and under the conditions under mentioned.

paid     Charles Guion     Having purchased of the Trustees of the Episcopal Church in Eastchester Seat No. 1 in said Church agrees to erect a pew thereon in six months from the date hereof according to the form to be directed by the said Trustees on performance to have conveyance for the same under the Seal of the aforesaid Trustees on failure to forfeit the seat of ground so purchased nevertheless liable to pay seventeen shillings being the purchase money on demand dates the day above mentioned

s/s Chas Guion

paid     James Morgan     having purchased of the said Trustees Seat No 2 agrees in like manner as above, the purchase money being twenty shillings

s/s James Morg----

paid      Lewis Guion     Having purchased of the said Trustees Seat No 3 agrees in like manner above the purchase money being twenty one chillings [sic]

s/s Lewis Guion

paid     Samuel Webb      having purchased of the said Trustees Seat No 4 agrees in like manner as above the purchase money being nine shillings

s/s Saml Webb

paid     Stephen Ward     having purchased of the said trustees Seat No 5 agrees in like manner as above the purchase money being two pounds one shilling

s/s Stephen Ward

Page 3 (con't)

Philip Pell Junior having purchased of the said Trustees Seat No 6 agrees in like manner as above the purchase money being one Pound"

Source:  REGISTER OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF ST PAULS CHR at East Chester June 1787 to 1834 For contents of this book vide pe. The property of St. Pauls Church East Chester Parish Register 1787, pp. 2-3 (Typewritten manuscript transcribed by The Eastchester Historical Society, 1966; copy in possession of the author).

"Page 6

paid     Isaac Ward having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 30 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being ten shillings

s/s Isaac Ward

paid     Benjamin Drake having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 37 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being 10 shillings

s/s Benjn Drake

paid     Benjamin Morgan having purchased of the trustees aforesaid Seat No 36 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being ten shillings

s/s Benjn Morgan for C. Morgan

paid     William Crawford Junior having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 35 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being nine shillings 

s/s Wm Crawford juner

paid July 28  89     Maj. Daniel Williams having purchsed of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 31 in the Said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen Shillings

s/s Daniel Williams

paid     Israel Honeywill [sic] having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 32 in the Said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase Money being Sixteen shillings Decmr 19    87

s/s Israel Honeywell

paid     Lancaster Underhill having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 20 in the Said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen Shillings     January 12, 1788

s/s Lancaster Underhill

Page 7

entered in his act     William Pinkney having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No (     ) in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Twenty three shillings

s/s William Pinkney

paid     Thomas Bartow having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 9 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Twenty Shillings

s/s Thomas Bartow

paid     Anthony Bartow having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 10 in the Said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Seventeen Shillings

s/s Anthony Bartow Jun

entered in his account     John G. Wright having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 13 in the Said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being fourteen shillings

paid     Philip Rhinelander having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 26 in the Said Church Agrees in like manner as aforesaid.  the purchase money being Twenty shillings

s/s Philip Rhinelander

paid     Benjamin Morgan having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 27 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being ten shillings

s/s Benjn Morgan

paid     Elisha Shute having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 28 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being eight shillings

s/s Elisha Shute

paid     Daniel Townsend having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 29 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being eight shillings 

s/s Daniel Townsend

Page 8

paid     Alexander Fowler having purchased of the Trustees aforesd Seat No 21 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being sixteen shillings     January 15, 1788

s/s Alexander Fowler

Gilber [sic] Valentine, having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat N [sic] 12 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being sixteen Shillings     February 12, 1788

Ram [sic] Rapeljay [sic] having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 34 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being sixteen shillings     feb 25, 1788

paid     David Huestic [sic] having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 22 in said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sicteen [sic] Shillings     Feb. 28, 1788

paid     Moses Fowler having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 23 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen Shillings     feb. 28, 1788

paid     William Fowler having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 33 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen Shillings     April 1st 1788

s/s Wm Fowler

Page 9

paid     William Stanten [sic] having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 24 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being sixteen shillings     April 21st 1788

s/s William Stanten [sic]

paid     James N. Roosevelt having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 11 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen Shillings     April 21, 1788

paid     Moses Hunt having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 25 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen shillings      April 29, 1788

paid     Theodosius Bartow having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 38 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being fourteen Shillings     May 26, 1788

paid     William Vartow [sic] having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 19 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase Money being fourteen Shillings     May 26 1788

paid     Israel Underhill having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Seat No 18 in the Said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Sixteen shillings     May 27 1788

Page 10

paid     Lewis Guion having purchased of the Trustees aforesaid Set No 14 in the said Church agrees in like manner as a aforesaid the purchase money being Twelve Shillings     June the 2th 1788

paid Sepr 9     Charles Morgan having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 15 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being Twelve shillings     June 14 1788

s/s Charles Morgan

paid Sep 5     Augustus Van Cortlandt having purchased of the aforesaid Trustees Seat No 16 & 17 in the said Church agrees in like manner as aforesaid the purchase money being One pound Twelve Shillings     July 15, 1788

Page 11

Articles of agreement entered into the tenth day of December 1787 between lewis Guion  Elisha Shute  Isaac Ward  Thomas Bartow  and  Philip Pell Jun a majority of the Trustees of the Episcopal Church in Eastchester of the one part and William Hoskins   Carpenter of the other part.  1st the said William Hoskins agreed to erect and build a pulpit reading desk and Clerks seat in the said Church at East Chester according to the dimentions [sic] in the plan by his exhibited to the said Trustees and the form of of the pulpit in the church in Yonkers in the space of Two months from the date hereof.  2d the said Trustees are to furnish the materials for the aforesaid purpose and to pay the said William Hoskins the sum of fourteen pounds when the said work shall be completed he the said William Hoskins during the time he shall be at work to find himself with necessaries  3d the said William Hoskins engages to perform the above job in a workman like manner

In Witness whereof the parties hereto have set their hand the day and year above written

Witness
Ward Hunt
Stephen Ward
Lewis Guion
Elisha Shute
Isaac Ward
Thomas Bartow
Philip Pell Junier [sic]
William Hopkins

(A copy)

Reverend Sir

We have this day disposed of the pew ground in our Church in a manner that promises success to our religious endeavors we have a prospect of completing our Church in a respectable manner.  New Rochell [sic] will Join us in engaging a Gentleman of the profession of the Gospel to officiate in the two places from a reliance on your pious wish to promote the Christian religion, be beg leave that when ever a Gentleman of Character and qualified in your opinion for our purpose may come to our knowledge and whose Condition may be adapted to our Situation that you'll please to signify the same to us.

The Revd Benj Moore

We are Revd Sir, with much respect your Nble Servants  The Trustees
(copy)"

Source:  REGISTER OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF ST PAULS CHR at East Chester June 1787 to 1834 For contents of this book vide pe. The property of St. Pauls Church East Chester Parish Register 1787, pp. 6-11 (Typewritten manuscript transcribed by The Eastchester Historical Society, 1966; copy in possession of the author).

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