of the undivided lands, provided they be such as the town approve." Upon the 13th of July, 1681, the town authorized John Ogden and George Kniffen to purchase a barrel of powder, and three hundred weight of lead of Mr. Budd of Fairfield, or wherever it can be obtained the cheapest. These are to be kept for the use of the town."

At this early period, the Indians were very numerous, and the surrounding country was infested by wolves. On the 15th of December, 1689, a bounty of fifteen shillings was ordered to be raised by a town rate, for the killing of wolves. Whilst under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, the villages of Rye and Hastings sent a deputy to the general court of that colony. The first individual who held this honorable office, was Mr. John Budd, as appears from the following letter addressed to the members of the court then assembled at Hartford.

Much Honored Sirs :

Hastings, the 1st month 26, 1663.

We heer underwritten, being seted upon a small tract of land lying betwixt Greenwich and Westchester, which land wee have bought with our money the which wee understand doth lye within your patent, and whereas, you have already required our subjection as his majesties subjects, the which we did willingly and readily embrace, and according to your desiour, we sent a man to Fairfield, who have there taken the oath of a constable, we have now made choys of our nayghbar John Budd for a depute, and sent him up to your Corte to act for us, as hee shall see good, it is our desiour to have some settled way of government amongst us, and therefore, we do crave so much favor at the hands of the Honble Cort, that they do make us a constable or any other officer, that they would give him power to grant a warrant in case of need, because we be somewhat remote from other places, thus leaving it to your well and judicious consideration, we remain yours to command,

after the date of the above order,) the entire town of Groton, consisting of forty

houses, was burned by the Indians. See Drake's American Indians.

June 26, 1676, Mr. John Banks occurs as deputy to the general court from Rye.

Upon its annexation to the province of New York, Rye was erected into a market town, and enjoyed the extraordinary privilege of holding and keeping a yearly fair, on the 2d Tuesday in October, to end on the Friday next following, being in all four days.

Courts of special sessions were also held in Rye during the colonial dynasty.

Many handsome villas and country residences adorn the village. The mansion of the late David Brooks, is a beautiful specimen of the old English style, only requiring the proper accessories of trees and shrubbery. The gables are enriched with elaborately carved scroll work, and surmounted by finials. The oriel windows present a light and airy effect. The whole structure is elegantly finished, internally as well as externally. The residences of the late Ebenezer Clark and Mr. Halstead, are beautifully situated upon the margin of Blind brook. Embosomed amid luxuriant trees, south of the former, is the residence of Hachaliah Brown, Esq., whose family has for five generations occupied the estate. The present building was erected, A. D. 1774, upon the site of the old homestead. The Browns were originally from the town of Rye, county of Sussex, England. Hachaliah Brown the more immediate ancestor of the family, having been one of the first planters of this town. In 1756, Hachaliah Brown of Rye, con.manded the Westchester levies, under General Lord Amherst. The adjoining estate belongs to Henry Barker, Esq.

is the pro

North east of the village bordering Purchase street, is the perty of the late Josiah Purdy, Esq., now occupied by his son Josiah Purdy. The Purdy family were among the early settlers of Fairfield, Connecticut. Francis Purdy, the first of the family of whom we have any account, died in 1658, at Fairfield.

An inventory of the estate of Francis Purdy, was taken Oct. 14th, 1586. See Probate Records, Fairfield Co.

His sons, Francis, John and Samuel, subsequently removed to Rye.

The old parsonage land is now occupied by Henry Strang, son of the late Daniel Strang, grandson of the worthy Huguenot, Daniel L'Estrange and Mary Hubert his wife, who removed from New Rochelle to this place, in 1697.

The most prominent object upon entering Rye from the west, is the Presbyterian church with its spire, a neat wooden edifice, erected at the private cost of the late Ebenezer Clark, Esq., and dedicated June the 28th, 1842.b It occupies the site of the old church erected A. D. 1793.c The latter was dedicated by the Rev. Isaac Lewis, D. D., of Greenwich, Connecticut, who officiated here for some time, in connection with his own charge. To the Presbyterian church at Rye, is attached the chapel at Port Chester. Service is now regularly held every Sunday morning at Port Chester, and in the afternoon at Rye.

The first Presbyterian church in this town, is said to have been erected upon Pulpit plain, the property of Mr. Billah Theale.

In 1729, the proprietors of the undivided land lying in Rye, between Byram and Blind brook streams, within a certain patent that was granted unto Daniel Purdy, son of John Purdy deceased, Samuel Brown, Benjamin Brown and others, grant unto the Presbyterian Society for ever, one-half acre of land lying on the Plains near unto the house that was the late deceased Thomas Merritt's jun., &c. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, the 15th day of May, in the second year of the reign of King George the second, A. D. 1729.d

a John Purdy was residing at Fairfield, in 1658.

b The cost of this edifice, including certain improvements around the church, was $6000.

• The land was the gift of Mr. Jesse Park.

The first ordained pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Rye, was the Rev. John Smith, who appears to have commenced his labors here cir. 1753. He is said to have been an able and useful minister; he died February 26th, 1771, aged 68 years. In 1793, the Rev. Isaac Lewis, D. D., officiated here statedly for three month's. His son and successor in the church at Greenwich, continued for a short time after. Subsequently at irregular intervals clergymen visited the church of whom no record remains. On the 4th of March, 1829, this church was regularly organized by a commission of the New York presbytery. Upon the formation of the Bedford presbytery in October, 1829, the relations of this church was transferred to that body, in which connection it has ever since remained. The Rev. Mr. Saxton officiated as stated supply until May 17th, 1827, when the Rev. W. H. Whittemore took charge and continued until April, 1832. In July, 1829, the second church edifice was thoroughly repaired, at a cost of $800. For the successors of the Rev. Mr. Whittemore, see list of pastors.

The Presbyterian Church of Rye was first incorporated on the 5th of June 1795; Robert Merritt, Ezekiel Halstead, jun., Nathan Brown, John Doughty, James Hunt and David Rogers, trus

tees.a

List of Ministers of the Presbyterian Church, at Rye.

The first religious society of Rye was Congregational, at that time the established religion of the colony of Connecticut.

"By authority it had been enacted that no person within the colony should embody themselves in church estate without the consent of the general court. The law also prohibited any ministry being attended by the inhabitants, in any plantation distinct and separate from that which was established in the place, except by the approbation of the general court and the neighboring churches.

"One object of these laws was doubtless to prevent Baptists, Episcopalians and others from gaining a foothold."a

As early as 1660, says the historian Trumbull, Rye paid taxes for the support of religion, although no church was formed nor pastors ordained.

Greenwich and Rye, continues the same authority, were but just come under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, and not in circumstances for the support of ministers; they had occasional preaching only for a considerable time.b

At a town meeting held in Rye, November, 1670, the town made choice of Joseph Horton, Thomas Brown, and John Brondig, who are to do their endeavor to procure a minister.

It was also agreed for to allow two pence in the pound for the

Lambert's Hist. N. Haven, p. 189.

Trumbull's Hist. Conn. p. 300.