[J. Thomas Scharf (1886)] Presbytery a supply, which was granted for two months. It is evident that a church edifice was built within a few years from that time, as mention is made of the Presbyterian meeting-house in 1779. It also appears to have been a sort of an independent organ-ization, inclining to the Congregational in its govern-ment and form of worship. This has been the fact in nearly all the Presbyterian Churches in the northern part of the county. The church records are entitled "Records of the Congregational Church at Upper Salem," and under the date of August 20, 1779, the following is found : " At a meeting of the church members living in Upper Salem, Cortlandt's Manor and other places adjacent, to consult whether they were desirous of uniting for forming into church order, there were present Peter Benedict, Jehiel Tyler, Jonathan Rogers, Thaddeus Crane, Solomon Close, Ezekiel Hawley, Jesse Truesdale, Joseph Doo-little, John Piatt, James Wallace and Peter Ferris." Peter Benedict was chosen moderator. Five days afterward it was voted to unite and form into church order. The matter was taken in hand at once, as the sturdy farmers were determined to perfect a church organization as speedily as possible. This was the Revolutionary period, and delays were dangerous.