This book has grown out of a discourse prepared in the year 1865, when the two hundredth anniversary of the organization of the town of Rye occurred. The following letter, received soon after its delivery, may serve to account in a measure for the present publication: -<br><br>Rye, December 8, 1865.<br><br>Rev. Charles W. Baird:<br><br>Dear Sir, - The undersigned, appreciating highly the very interesting discourse delivered by you on Thanksgiving Day, and believing that the valuable historical information which by much careful labor and research you have collected, pertaining not only to the Presbyterian Church of Rye, but to the town itself, from its earliest settlement two hundred years ago, ought to be preserved, and will be prized by many in our community besides ourselves, respectfully solicit the manuscript for publication, with such notes or appendix as you may deem necessary.<br><br>The wish to comply with this flattering request, led me to pursue an investigation which had been commenced without a look beyond the occasion in question. This investigation has occupied many of the leisure hours of the last six years; and the result is a book much larger, certainly, than hearers or speaker contemplated when the request was made.<br><br>To the author, at least, the subject has appeared to justify this bestowal of time and pains. As a frontier settlement of New England, as a 'border town,' and as part of the 'neutral ground,' Rye possesses some distinctive claims to historical notice.