The Presbyterian church was rebuilt in 1837.

The Rev. Ezra King having resigned the pastoral charge of these congregations in 1839, continued as a stated supply to this parish two or three years, when from the failure of his health, he was obliged to relinquish his labours.

On the 12th of June, 1844, the Rev. James S. Evans was ordained pastor of this church.

A Methodist church was erected here in 1840.

St. George's Manor-Brookfield-Punk's Hole. This place has been previously mentioned as a stopping place on the L. I. rail road. It is near the eastern line of the town, nine miles from Riverhead. The Peconick river runs a little north of the place, and though the face of the country is here 46 feet above tide-water, it abounds with swamps and streams of water. About two miles west is an extensive swamp, bearing the Indian name of WAMPMISSICK, which the writer would recommend as the name of this village; as he would YAPHANK, instead of Millville, still further west.

The name "BROOKFIELD" is connected with the religious history of the place, which will be found not the least interesting part of the island.

Towards the close of the last century there was a collec. tion of families in this vicinity, whose principal employment was to convert the adjacent forests into cordwood and charcoal. The people laboured hard through the week, and on the Sabbath, being six or eight miles distant from any church, and the roads through deep sand, they felt little inclination to try to reach the sound of the gospel. There was a fair prospect, therefore, that they and their children were to grow up in a state of at least semi-paganism.

About this time, it pleased God by his grace to call one of their number into his kingdom. He was a man of very small powers of mind, but of peculiar humility of heart, and simplicity of character. If ever a christian in modern days merit. ed the appellation of a "child," it was Jonathan Robinson. Deeply sensible of his own weakness, yet having tasted that "the Lord is gracious," he longed to have his neighbours become "partakers of the like precious faith." With much diffidence and trembling, though with a sincere desire to do them good, he invited them to come together at his house. (which was then the largest in the place,) on the Sabbath and they accepted his invitation. He prayed and sang, read the scriptures, and a sermon; and from that blessed hour, his house became the BETHEL of the place.

But Mr. Robinson was not only of a humble and docile disposition he was also the friend of order. And fearing that the course which he had been constrained, by the force of circumstances, to enter upon, might be regarded as disorderly, he early sought an opportunity to lay the whole matter before the Presbytery of Suffolk, and ask their advice. After examining the subject in all its bearings, (Oct. 16th, 1783,) those fathers and brethren felt constrained to regard it as a notable indication of providence, and they expressed their approbation of the course Mr. R. had pursued, and recognised him as a sort of catechist, to lead the devotions of that retired and isolated people; and occasionally, besides reading well. selected sermons, to give them a word of exhortation.

These labours seemed to meet with the divine approbation; souls were hopefully converted to God; and at length a little church was organized in the house of Obededom, which was taken under the care of the L. I. Presbytery, April 19th, 1796, bearing the name of Brookfield.

The Presbytery were induced to regard this as a peculiar case, which could never be made a precedent for lowering the standard of the gospel ministry; and, therefore, after some trials, and an examination adapted to the case, they regularly licensed Mr. R. to preach the gospel, April 20th, 1796.

After some years, on an application from Mr. R. and his people, founded on the exigences arising from their peculiar circumstances, the Presbytery agreed to ordain him to the work of the ministry, with a special view to that place, though not to instal him as the pastor.

Accordingly, on the 26th of November, 1807, the Presby tery met in Brookfield Meeting House-Father Robinson's own house; one of the fathers of the Presbytery preached the sermon from Cant. ii. 15, and the ordination was duly consummated. Although the writer was present on this interesting occasion, he does not recollect that the preacher, who was a man of some dry wit, made any special application of his text to the case in hand, but he could not help thinking, as most of his readers will, that he selected rather a singular theme for an ordination sermon.

Father Robinson continued to labour not only with this people, but elsewhere, as long as his bodily vigour endured; reared up a family, (of which one son is a regularly educated minister of the gospel, and a good instructer;) and though he still lives, at a very advanced age, he is so infirm both in body and mind that he is completely laid aside. But he still loves

to talk of the precious Saviour, and ascribe all his hopes to his abounding grace. The subject of religion is all that his memory retains.

The remark that Father Robinson was a man of small natural abilities, demands some qualification. While there was a child-like simplicity about him that seemed to indicate feebleness of intellect, there was an originality and shrewdness, that oftentimes rendered his performances deeply interesting and impressive. This remark cannot be better illustrated than by giving some notes of one of the last sermons which he delivered a few years ago, when suddenly invited to preach for a brother, whom he called on, as he passed through his congregation. This brother noted down some of his "bright thoughts" after hearing the discourse. His text was:

1 Cor. xv. 47, 48. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from Heaven.

As is the earthy, such are they that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

"1. The text tells us of two men-two Adams. A short history of each, Adam-Christ.

"II. The text tells us of their children, and they are just like their respective progenitors.

"The first Adam's children are like him. State some particulars. 1. They are fond of dress. Adam and Eve were placed in the garden, both stark naked, and were not a grain ashamed. But the moment they sinned, they began to look about for something to cover them, and made a dress of figleaves. Just so their children do. Their hearts are set upon dress. Pride acted out in this way more than any other, and yet to be proud of dress is to be proud of what was occasioned by shame.

Adam

2. They are like their parents in making excuses. said, it wasn't me; it was Eve. Eve said, it wasn't me; it was the serpent. Just so their children. Adam begat a son in his own likeness, and all his descendants are just like him. Ask any little boy, Are you bad? and he says, No, I'm good. "3. They try to conceal themselves from God. Adam and Eve hid themselves among the trees. Just so their posterity try to hide from God.

"But Christ's children are like him.

"1. He was meek and lowly so are they.

"2. He loved to please his father-so do they.

"3. He loved to pray; so his people.

"4. He went about doing good-so do they."

Here he introduced his favourite theme, the scene of Gethsemane and Calvary, and commenting on Heb. x. 14, described how "all-conquering love" makes them children; and they, catching the spirit of their divine Saviour, are transformed into his image.

The whole was closed with a warm exhortation founded on this remark: "The time is coming when an interest in Christ will be felt to be of more value than anything and everything else."

A small but commodious house of worship was erected at Brookfield in 1839. Present number of members is about 25; and the church is not in a thriving condition. They have only occasional preaching.

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RECAPITULATION.

In this large township there are 22 organized churches, viz. 5 Presbyterian-6 Congregational--6 Epis. Methodist2 Protestant Methodist-2 Episcopal and 1 Baptist; which give an average of 339 souls to each.

SECTION 7.-SMITHTOWN.

Number of acres improved,

10,937

Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 20.

This town is bounded on the north by the Sound, on the east by Brookhaven, on the south by Islip, and on the west by Huntington.

The greater part of this territory was given by Wyandanch, the Sagamore of Montauk and Grand Sachem of the Island, under date of July 14th, 1659, to Lyon Gardiner, as a token of gratitude for his agency in redeeming his daughter from captivity. In 1662 a release for this tract was executed by the chief of the Nissequag tribe, within whose limits it was comprehended.

In 1663 Mr. Gardiner conveyed the territory to Richard Smith, who had come from Rhode Island, and was then living in Brookhaven. Smith obtained a patent from Gov. Nicoll, March 3rd, 1665, in confirmation of his title, in which a condition was specified, that ten families should be settled thereon within three years. It was not, however, recognized as a distinct town, till the passage of the act of 1683.

The first settlement was made at Nissequag on the harbour,

near the north shore; and here was the first place of assembling for the worship of God, and the burial of the dead. For a long time this town was called Smithfield; which was at length exchanged for its present names, either of which is extremely appropriate, from the large number of the Smiths who still inhabit it.

CHURCHES.

The first church was erected at Nissequag, but at what time, no satisfactory account has been obtained.

In 1750 it was removed to the village called the Branch, lying on the middle road nearer the centre of the town.

The present building was erected in 1827, and dedicated on the 9th of September in that year.

MINISTERS.

The records of the Presbytery of Suffolk show that a church, consisting of 7 members, was formed in this town Sept. 17th, 1751. Whether there had been a previous organization cannot be ascertained. Nor can it be determined whether the labours of any minister had been statedly enjoyed, previously to the commencement of that century. It appears that in the contract with Mr. Phillips to settle in Brookhaven in 1697, Smithtown was included as a part of his charge; but whether he divided his services between the two places is not known. It was, however, during the life time of Mr. Phillips that the name of the Rev. Daniel Taylor occurs as a resident at Nissequag, where he buried his wife. He was a graduate of Yale in 1707, and after residing here some years, removed to New Jersey where he died Jan. 8th, 1748, at the age of 64. Whether he was employed here in the ministry, and if so, how long, is not ascertained.

A similar uncertainty attends the history of the next individual, who is found here in the character of a preacher. Mr. Abner Reeve, a native of Southold, and a graduate of Yale in 1731, whose history has been given in connexion with the congregations of Moriches and Westhampton, is said to have resided at Nissequag some 12 or 14 years from about 1735. He first received licence from some ministers in Southold, and was not ordained until after he left this town. It must have been during his residence here, that his son TAPPAN REEVE, the late distinguished jurist of Connecticut, and eminent Christian, was born Oct. 17th, 1744. Here also he buried his wife, who died May 6th, 1747. It is not probable