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THE TOWN OF BEDFORD |
53 |
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| & Delivered the same as his
free & Voluntary act & Deed and having Examined the same and finding
no material mistake, Erasure or Interlineation Do allow the same to be recorded. |
| EBEN LOCKWOOD." |
The records of the town inform
us that the town meeting of 1784 and 5 were held in the meeting house. The
judges of the court of common pleas and the supervisors of the county held
their meetings May 9th, 1786, in the Presbyterian meeting-house in Bedford,
so that we have conclusive proof that this second house of worship was built
where it now stands, but which has been vacated by the people for one larger
and more commodious, built on the ground owned by the church next to the
parsonage.
In 1785 the Presbyterian Society was incorporated by the
name of the Trustees for the Presbyterian Church and Congegration of Bedford,
to be governed in Discipline and Worship according to the Directory of the
now established Church of Scotland. The first Trustees elected were Zebediah
Mills, Israel Lyon and Joseph Owen. These were men, no doubt, who were prominent
in erecting the church in 1789.
The next minister called here was Rev. John Davenport,
May 18th, 1786. He was born in Philippi, New Jersey, Aug. 11th, 1752, graduated
at the college of New Jersey, in 1769, and studied theology partly under
Dr. Bellamy and partly under Dr. Buel, of East Hampton, Long Island. He
was ordained by the Presbytery of Long Island, and served the congregation
of Southhold as he stated supply for two years. From Southhold he came to
Bedford, and settled May 18th, 1786, and remained here a faithful and godly
minister for five years. Leaving here, he was called to Deerfield, New Jersey,
and settled there Aug. 12th, 1795. He remained there ten years, and was
dismissed on account of failing health. He finally became a home missionary
in Western New York, and died in Lysander, July 13th, 1821, an amiable and
excellent man.
In June, 1792, Rev. Isaac Foster was settled here, and
remained not more than two years. We are in possession of the original subscription
list, with the amount promised by each subscriber for the support of Mr.
Foster for one year, commencing March 22nd, 1792, in £.s.d.,
and here we find the names of ancestors of families still residing in Bedford
--the Millers, Mills, Holmes, Clarks, Lyons, Benedicts, French, Ambler,
etc. Mr. Foster remained probably two years and left, as tradition reports,
with his name and that of his wife in bad repute. But we know nothing of
the place whence he came, or whither he went, or where he died. Then came
a most excellent man, the Rev. Samuel Blatchford, who preached here for
some time as stated supply, refusing |
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