THE TOWN OF RYE. 1 69 



people, members of the Church of England, have at different times settled 

 there who thought themselves surely entitled, by the very New England 

 Charter, to a liberty of conscience, in the worshipping of Go J after their 

 own way. Yet the Independents (it seems) were not of this sentiment, 

 but acted as an establishment. The members of the Church of England 

 met with obstructions in setting up that form of worship ; and therefore 

 a great number of the inhabitants of Boston, got an humble petition to 

 be laid before His Majesty, King Charles the Second, by Dr. Compton, 

 the Bishop of London — praying that they might be allowed to build a 

 church at Boston, and to perform divine worship according to the 

 Church of England. This petition was granted, a church was soon after 

 built, and frequented by a numerous congregation ; upon this occasion, 

 the members of the Church of England in many other towns in New 

 England, declared their desire of the like advantage of worshiping God 

 after that way ; wrote very zealous lettters to Bishop Compton for min- 

 isters, and now it appeared they were a very considerable body of 

 people."* 



The order of the General Court in October, 1669, appears to have 

 produced but little effect in settling a minister at Rye ; as it was followed 

 by another " on the 13th of October, 1670, more stringent and defin- 

 ite. The matter of the religious destitution at Rye is referred to the 

 County Court of Fairfield. The magistrates there are recommended 

 ' to take an effectual course to setde an able and orthodox minister in the 

 towne of Rye, and to order due and competent mayntenance for such 

 minister in a proportionable way among all the inhabitants, with coertion 

 of payment according to laws, upon complaynt and evidence against 

 any that shall neglect, and the will affected of the sayd towne to a settle- 

 ment of such a mercy among them, are appoynted to adres themselues 

 to themselues to the sayd County Court at Fairfield to that end."' 5 



This action on the part of the General Court appears to have pro- 

 duced the desired effect ; for " at a town meeting held in Rye, Novem- 

 ber, 17th, 1670, the inhabitants made choice of Joseph Horton, Thomas 

 Biown and John Brondig, who are to do their endeavour to procure a 

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

 the maintenance of a minister amongst us ; that is to say an orthodox 

 minister." 



From the following document, however, it appears that the inhabit- 

 ants had not yet succeeded in procuring a minister but were dependent 

 on neighboring churches for occasional supplies : 



a Humphrey's Hist, of the Propagation Society, &c, p. 22. 



b Public Kec. of Conn., voi. ii, pp. 142, 143. Baird's Uist. of Rye, p. 274, 



c Town Rec. of Rye, voL A. (now lost.) 



