Rev. James Wetmore, I

GEDCOM Note

Dr.CHW (8 Nov 1893) places James as 3rd son.

Letter Posted by Joyce Wetmore of Alberta Canada Rev. James Wetmore was born 31 December 1695 at Middletown Conn., educated at Saybrook Academy and Yale University, receiving from the latter the degree of A.B. and A.M. He was ordained in 1718 as first pastor of the Congregational Church of New Haven, Conn., and continued his labors there for about four years. Doubting the validity of his ordination, he resigned his charge and in 1723 went to England where he was ordained deacon and priest of the Church of England. He embarked for America arriving at New York, 24 September 1723. In 1726 he was inducted as rector of the parish of Rye, N. Y., which then extended considerably beyond the present confines of the town. This charge included the villages of White Plains, Mamaroneck, North Castle and Bedford., besides missionary labors in Connecticut. He remained rector at Rye until his death of smallpox, 15 May 1760.

It is said of the Rev. Mr. Wetmore that, such was his zeal for episopacy, he once declared that he would rather join in worship with a Jewish synaqgogue then with a Presbyterian church. He must have been a man of no inconsiderable intellectual attainment, having published a letter against Dickinson in defense of Waterland's discourse on regeneration; a vindication of the professors of the Church of England, in answer to Hobart's sermon in favor of Presbyterian ordination; a rejoinder to Hobart's seropis address; an appendix to Beach's vindication and other papers.

Children of Rev. James and Anna (Dwight) Wetmore--all born at Ryne, Westchester Co., N.Y.

1. James b. 19 Dec 1727, ; d. 10 Feb 1798, Hammond River, N.B.; m. c1749 Elizabeth Abrahams 2. Alethea b. c.1731, ; m. 1747 Joseph Lamson 3. Anne, b. 1732, ; d. 1759/60; m. c.1750, Gilbert Brundage 4. Charity, b. 1734 d. 1760; m. c.1738 Josiah Purdy 5. Esther, b. 1736, ; m. c.1752, Jesse Hunt 6. Timothy, b. 1737; d. Mar 1820, New York, N.Y.; m. 21 Oct. 1756, Rye, N.Y., Jane Clement Haviland

The Bar of Rye Township Wetmore Memorial---James C. Wetmore