at the same fountain, and to be animated with the same spirit, which distinguished their deceased friend and benefactor.

In the month of April, 1777, Dr. Rodgers returned from Georgia, and joined his family at Greenfield. On his way home, he was informed of his election to the office of chaplain to the Convention of the state of New-York, then sitting in Esopus, and engaged, among other things, in forming a Constitution for the state. On receiving this information, he immediately repaired to the Convention, and entered on the duties of his office. He continued to serve that body in the capacity of Chaplain, as long as it continued to sit. On the dissolution of the Convention, and on the power of the state being temporarily lodged in a Council of Safety, which also, for some weeks, held its meetings at Esopus, the Doctor was chosen to the chaplaincy in that body. And shortly afterwards, when the first Legislature of the state, under the new constitution, convened, he was a third time elected, to serve the legislature in the same office. In fulfilling the duties of these successive appointments, he and his family, which he had now removed from Greenfield, were led to reside at Esopus the

whole of the summer, and a part of the autumn of 1777.

Two or three days before the burning of Esopus, by the British troops, which took place in October of this year, Dr. Rodgers, learning that the enemy's fleet was ascending the river, and fearing those acts of wanton and cruel devastation, which were afterwards so unhappily realized, thought proper to remove his family to the eastern side of the river, to a settlement smaller, and less likely to be the object of hostile operations, than a town which was then the seat of government of the state. Here, in a house near the place of landing, he deposited the trunks containing his books, his plate, and all the most valuable articles of portable property, which the enemy and his frequent removals had left him. In this place he, as well as all whom he had consulted on the subject, considered them as perfectly safe, and supposed all further precaution to be unnecessary. In a few hours, however, after they were thus deposited, an aged and illiterate German, with whom he was but little acquainted, and whom he chiefly knew as a great friend to the clergy and to the American cause, came to him late at night, and with much ap

parent anxiety, asked him where he had left his baggage. The Doctor informed him. He replied, with earnestness, "It must be removed "this night." It was in vain that the distance of the place of deposit, which was several miles; the late hour of the night; the impossibility of obtaining the means of transportation until the next day; and the supposed safety of the baggage in its then situation, were urged. The honest German, to all these suggestions, had nothing else to reply than, "I tell you your things "must be removed this night;" and when he found that no other plan would answer, actually took a wagon and went himself, and brought them to the place where the Doctor and his family lodged. It is remarkable that before the light of the next morning dawned, the house in which this baggage had been deposited, was burnt to ashes by the British troops!

Esopus being burnt, the Doctor was compelled to seek some other place of residence. And considering the towns on the margin of the Hudson as too much exposed to the attacks of the enemy, he determined to select a more retired situation. With this view, he made choice of the town of Sharon, in the state of Connecticut, to which he

removed his family, toward the end of October, 1777, where he spent the following winter. During his residence here, he preached repeatedly for the Reverend Mr. Smith, the minister of the town; but more frequently to a congregation in the town of Amenia, in Dutchess county, NewYork, lying adjacent to Sharon, in which he, shortly afterwards, made a temporary settlement. The following extract of a letter from a Gentleman residing in that neighbourhood, contains the best account that could be collected, of his ministry, during the time that he spent in Sharon and Amenia.

"Dr. Rodgers came to Sharon, with his family, "in the autumn of 1777, and for several succes"sive sabbaths preached in the Rev. Mr. Smith's

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pulpit, to the great acceptance of both pastor "and people. Early in the following winter, in 66 consequence of an urgent application, he con"sented to supply a congregation in the south"east part of Amenia, which had become va"cant by the dismission of their minister, the "Rev. Mr. Knibloe. The parish is composed ❝in about equal numbers of inhabitants from the "the two adjoining states; the southern section "of the town of Sharon, by an early regulation

"having been annexed, for parochial purposes, "to that part of Amenia. The church is of the "congregational denomination, and stands con"nected with the association of Litchfield coun

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ty. At their place of worship, more than four "miles distant from his abode, the Doctor at"tended regularly every Sunday, until the open"ing of the spring, when he removed his family "into that neighbourhood. He has there left "lasting memorials of his usefulness, and his "name will be long held in grateful and affec❝tionate remembrance. The society was agitat"ed by the most unhappy divisions. A spirit "of discord had prevailed for several years be"fore the removal of their minister, and was "far from being quieted by that event. Under "these discouraging prospects, the Doctor com"menced his labours; and by the blessing of "God they were crowned with remarkable sucHis mild and condescending, yet digni"fied deportment, more especially his fervent piety, the energy of his public addresses, and the "sanctity of his life and conversation, effectually "secured him the affection and reverence of all

❝cess.

6.6

parties. Harmony was soon restored ; and has "continued without interruption until the present "time, Shortly after his departure, the people