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, commanded the Westchester levies, under General Lord Amherst, The adjoining estate belongs to Henry Barker, Esq. ^

North east of the village bordering Purchase street, is the property 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 tlie estate of Francis Purdy, was taken Oct. 14th, 1586. See Probate Records, Fairfield Co.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 49

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 spiie, a neat wooden edifice, erected at the private cost of the late Ebenezer Clark, Esq., and dedicated June the 28th, 1842.^ It occupies the site of the old church erected A. D. 1793.° 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.