settlement in the southern part of the town, on the turnpike road leading from Williamsburgh to Jamaica. This place is remarkable as being the site of the first Methodist Church erected on Long Island. It was built in 1785, and is still standing, though it has been converted into a dwelling.

A new edifice was built about a quarter of a mile from the former site, in 1836, and stands directly on the turnpike road. This building was erected principally by the liberality and personal efforts of Mr. Joseph Harper, (the father of James Harper, late Mayor of the city of New-York,) who was born, and has lived nearly 80 years, in this immediate vicinity. Mr. Harper was one of the earliest members of the Methodist church, and has been a consistent professor of religion and devoted member of the church about 60 years.

Summary. In this town are about 7 religious organiza. tions, and 8 houses of worship, viz:-1 Presbyterian, 2 Reformed Dutch, 2 Episcopalian, 2 Methodist, and 1 Friendsthe last not occupied.

SECTION 15.-JAMAICA.

Number of acres improved

66

"unimproved

Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 8 nearly.

This town is bounded on the north by Newtown and Flushing-east by Hempstead--south by the Bay, and west by Flatlands and Flatbush.

The town was first called Rusdorpe, and the present name is said to have been derived from an Indian word of similar orthography.

The first settlement was made in 1656, by a company from the adjoining town of Hempstead. They purchased the land of the natives, and obtained a grant from Gov. Stuyvesant, in that year, giving them "free leave to erect or build a town," and to have the choice of their own magistrates, as in the other villages or towns, as Middleborough, Breucklin, Midwout and Amersfort."

The first town meeting was held in Feb. 1657, from which time their records have been carefully preserved: the first volume of which has been faithfully transcribed, by the voluntary labour of an individual. These records contain the only history of the ecclesiastical as well as civil proceedings of the town, for a long series of years, as both were transactcd in the town meetings.

The first purchasers of the town were about 17, but in the course of 4 years, the number of landholders was increased to 60. There is reason to believe that public worship was established at an early period, though they do not appear to have enjoyed the labours of a stated preacher for 4 or 5 years.

In 1664, a small colony from this town passed over into Jersey and commenced the settlement of Elizabeth Town. The purchase of the Indians there, was made by John Baily, Daniel Denton and Luke Watson. Gov. Nicolls gave a pa. tent to John Baker, of New-York, John Ogden, of Northampton, John Baily and Luke Watson. Several other towns in New Jersey, are indebted to Long Island for their original settlers, or for subsequent accessions to the number of their inhabitants.

CHURCHES, &c.

In Aug. 1663, the town voted to build "a meeting house," 26 feet square, which was carried into effect--a house for the minister having been erected in the preceding year, the dimensions of which were 26 by 17 feet, and 10 feet posts.

A new stone Church was erected somewhere near the close of the 17th century. The precise date is not known. A vote for its erection was passed in 1689 or '90. It is supposed that the date on the vane, was designed to mark the period of its completion. This however was so much defaced by the bullets of the British soldiers, who had made it a target, dur ing the revolutionary war, that it was difficult to determine whether the figures were 1693 or 1699. This building was 40 feet square, with a pointed roof, and, according to the taste of the age, was placed in the middle of the main street, a lit tle distance west of the present Presbyterian church. A new parsonage house was erected about the same time.

The present Presbyterian Church was erected in 1814, with a parsonage on the adjoining lot.

Somewhere about the year 1701 or '2, the Reformed Dutch Church was organized in this town, which was the first of that order in Queen's County. The church edifice, an octagon of 34 feet diameter, was erected in 1715. It was used by the British in the time of the war, as a military store house. Upon the return of peace, it was thoroughly repaired, and oc cupied by the congregation till the erection of the present neat and commodious building of modern construction, in 1833.

This town, not less than that of Hempstead, suffered severely under the tyranny of Lord Cornbury, though they were more fortunate in finally securing their rights, after many years' privations. No Governor of the province was ever more obnoxious to the mass of the people; and the highest virtue that his friends could claim for him, was his exceeding madness and zeal for the established church. And it appears to have been for the promotion of its interests, that his oppressive measures were imposed upon this and other towns of the island.

In the summer following his Lordship's arrival in the province (1702) the city of New-York was visited with an alarm. ing sickness, (since supposed to have been the yellow fever,) which was attended with a dreadful mortality. The Governor, for his own safety, and that of his family, retreated to the pleasant village of Jamaica. The minister of the Presby. terian church, being in the occupancy of a parsonage house recently built by the congregation, and said to be "the best house in the town," in compliment to the supreme magistrate of the province, kindly offered to give up his dwelling, for the accommodation of the Governor's family, while he should be compelled to reside among them. The offer was readily accepted. Smith says, in his history of New-York, Cornbury "requested" the use of the house, and the favour was readily granted, though at the great inconvenience of the pastor. The difference is not material.

But this noble and generous exhibition of respect and kindness was speedily requited, with one of the grossest acts of usurpation, that ever disgraced a tyrant. On a sabbath afternoon, not long after, as the generous pastor, with his people, entered their church, at the usual hour, for the worship of God, to their utter astonishment, they found the pulpit occupied by an episcopal minister, (one of the Society's missionaries,) and a few of the principal seats, by the Governor and his dependents. The pastor and his congregation peaceably retired to a neighbouring orchard, where, under the open canopy of heaven, a temple made without hands, they worshipped the God of their fathers. And for many years afterwards, they were not permitted to occupy the house of worship, in the erection of which, it is asserted, on unquestionable authority, that only two individuals of the episcopal order had ever contributed a dollar.

But this act of perfidy and base ingratitude was even thrown into the shade, by the Governor's subsequent conduct. When

he returned to the city, instead of restoring the parsonage to its rightful occupant, he left it in the possession of the episcopal missionary, who with his successors, continued to occupy it, under the protection of gubernatorial authority, for the space of 25 years.

In addition to all this, the early settlers of this town had appropriated a valuable glebe, for the support of the gospel. This was seized by the Sheriff, doubtless by direction of the Governor, divided into lots and leased out, for the maintenance of episcopal worship.* All these acts of gross injustier, the people were obliged to submit to, for a long series of years. And it was not till the year 1728, after a most protracted and expensive course of litigation, adroitly managed for the delay, if not for the defeat of justice, that they were finally put in possession of their property, and the secure enjoyment of their rights. When the final decision was made, in favour of the rightful owners, the independent Judge,† who ventured to do justice in the case, was made the object of the most severe, vituperative abuse; by which, he was compelled to come out, and publish a full disclosure of the disgraceful facts, by which the tongue of scandal was finally silenced. As a finale to these acts of oppression, it is added, that the Sheriff, who acted a conspicuous part in their progress, being afterwards accused of some crime and imprisoned, died the death of the traitor Judas, by becoming his own executioner. After the final adjudication of this case, Episcopal service was main tained in the Court House till 1734, when the first Church edifice of that denomination was erected in this village. The present edifice was built in 1820.

The first Methodist preaching on Long Island was commenced in this place, and was coeval with its introduction into this country. "The first Methodist sermon preached in America was delivered in 1766, in the city of New York, to an assembly of 5 persons." The circumstances attending this

* Smith says "Jamaica was mostly settled by New England emigrants, encouraged to settled by the Duke of York's conditions for plantations; one of which was, "that every township should be obliged to pay their own ministers, according to such agreement, as they should make with him; the minister being elected by the major part of the freeholders and inhabitants of the town. These people had erected an edifice, and enjoyed a handsome donation of a parsonage house and glebe, for the use of the minister. A few Episcopalians crept into the town, &c."

+ LEWIS MORRIS, Chief Justice of New-York and New Jerseyafterwards Governor of New-Jersey :-a name to be held in lasting remembrance.

event, are so intimately connected with the first labours of that denomination in this town, as to warrant a brief recital.

A little before the time above-mentioned, a few individuals, who "had been attached to Wesleyan Methodism at home" had emigrated to New York. Among these was Philip Embury, a mechanic, who had been a local preacher in that connexion in Ireland. But upon coming to this country, "not finding any pious acquaintances with whom they could associate, they gradually lost their relish for divine things, sunk away into the spirit of the world, and came very near making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience." These were found by a "pious mother in Israel" (who had subse quently arrived.) "mingling in the frivolities and sinful amusements of life." Having ascertained the place of their resort, "she suddenly entered the room, scized the pack of cards with which they were playing, and threw them into the fire. After reproving the company, she said to Embury, "You must preach for us, or we shall all go to hell together, and God will require our blood at your hands. Arrange. ments were immediately made, and Embury "accordingly preached his first sermon in his own hired house, to 5 persons only. This, it is believed, was the first Methodist sermon preached in America."

The year after Embury commenced preaching in the city, a new and more attractive labourer came to his aid. This was Capt. Thomas Webb, a British officer stationed as barrackmaster at Albany. He had been a convert at Bristol, under Mr. Wesley's preaching, and finding more pleasure in serving the King of kings, than the king of England, he relinquished his post, and zealously engaged in calling sinners to repentance. But still retaining his regimentals and arms, he attracted no little attention. "The novelty of a man's preaching in a scarlet coat, soon brought great numbers to hear him."

As some of the relations of Capt. Webb's wife resided at Jamaica, he took a house there and commenced preaching in that town and its vicinity. He seems to have been what is called "a rough hewer" and employed himself, to use his own language "in felling trees on Long Island." "Within six months, about 24 persons received justifying grace, nearly half of them whites-the rest negroes.

If a regular Methodist society was established here, at this early period, there is no record or other evidence of the fact. Even the erection of the existing house of worship belonging to that denomination in this village, has not been ascertained