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

List of Ministers of the Presbyterian Church, at Rye.

Install, or call A. D. 1753,

Ministers, Rev. John Smith,

vacated by death,

Co. Rec. Religious Soc. Lib. A. 50.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

Inst, or call.

Ministers,

Vacated by

A. D. 1793,

Rev. Isaac Lewis,

resig.

1791,

Rev. Isaac Lewis, jr..

do.

1826,

Rev. Mr. Saxton,

do.

1827,

Rev. W. H. Wliittemore,

do.

April, 1832,

Rev. David Remington,

death.

April, 1834,

Rev. Thomas Payne,

resig.

October, 1836,

Rev. James R. Davenport,

do.

Oct. 9 1838,

Rev. Edward D. Bryan, present

minister.

Church Memoranda. 1836, communicants 20, baptisms 6, 1846, do 88, do 7.

The first religious society of Rye was Congregational, at that time the estabhshed 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.''^-

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