Rye Genealogical Records

Rye Birth & Baptism Records

England & Wales Birth Index (1837-2006)

An index to births registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of birth certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Sussex Baptism Index (1538-1961)

An index to over 350,000 baptisms extracted from the registers of parish churches in Sussex.

Sussex Parish Registers (1538-1910)

An index to over 400,000 baptisms, marriages and burials recorded in Anglican churches in Sussex.

British Birth and Baptism Records (1400-2010)

A collection of indexes and transcripts of birth and baptism records that cover over 250 million people. Includes digital images of many records.

FreeBMD Births (1837-1957)

An index to births registered at the central authority for England & Wales. The index provides the area where the birth was registered, mother's maiden name from September 1911 and a reference to order a birth certificate.

Rye Marriage & Divorce Records

England & Wales Marriage Index (1837-2008)

An index to marriages registered throughout England & Wales. This is the only national marriage index that allows you to search by both spouse's names. Provides a reference to order copies of marriage certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Archdeaconry of Lewes Marriage Licences (1670-1729)

Abstracts of licences filed by those who intended to marry in the Archdeaconry of Lewes.

Vicar General’s Office Marriage Licences (1600-1679)

Abstracts of marriage licences granted by the Vicar-General in London. These licences could be used to marry in any church in the Province of Canterbury.

Archdeaconry of Lewes Marriage Licences (1586-1643)

Abstracts of licences files by those who intended to marry in the Archdeaconry of Lewes.

Sussex Marriage Index (1538-1905)

An index to over 55,000 marriages extracted from the registers of parish churches in Sussex.

Rye Death & Burial Records

England & Wales Death Index (1837-2006)

An index to deaths registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of death certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Rye Burial Registers (1538-1836)

Burial registers are the primary source for death documentation before 1837, though are relevant to the present. They record the date someone was buried, their age & residence.

Sussex Burial Index (1538-1969)

An index to burials in 235 Sussex parishes.

Sussex Parish Registers (1538-1910)

An index to over 400,000 baptisms, marriages and burials recorded in Anglican churches in Sussex.

West Sussex Burial Index (1538-1600)

Transcripts of all surviving burials recorded in parish registers and Bishop's transcripts.

Rye Census & Population Lists

1939 Register (1939)

An index to and digital images of records that detail 40 million civilians in England and Wales. Records list name, date of birth, address, marital status, occupation and details of trade or profession.

England, Wales, IoM & Channel Islands 1911 Census (1911)

The 1911 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

Sussex Election Poll (1820)

A list of freeholders eligible to vote in Sussex, listing their residence, location and nature of freehold, name of the property's occupier and who they voted for in the election.

Sussex Electoral Poll (1734)

A list of freeholders eligible to vote in the county.

Lay Subsidy Rolls of Sussex (1524-1525)

Transcriptions of property tax records for Sussex residents.

Newspapers Covering Rye

Hastings and St Leonards Observer (1866-1941)

A record of births, marriages, deaths, legal, political, organisation and other news from the Hastings area. Original pages of the newspaper can be viewed and located by a full text search.

The Sussex Agricultural Express (1895-1944)

A county newspaper, publishing news, editorials, family notices, adverts, sports news etc.

Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1939)

A conservative-oriented newspaper reporting on local news, births, marriages and deaths in the two counties.

Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1950)

A record of births, marriages, deaths, legal, political, organisation and other news from the counties of Kent and Sussex. Original pages of the newspaper can be viewed and located by a full text search.

Sussex Agricultural Express (1857-1954)

Fully text-searchable articles from a regional newspaper covering the Sussex area. It includes family announcements, obituaries, court proceedings, business notices and more.

Rye Wills & Probate Records

England & Wales National Probate Calendar (1858-1966)

Searchable index and original images of over 12.5 million probates and administrations granted by civil registries. Entries usually include the testator's name, date of death, date of probate and registry. Names of relations may be given.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Admon Index (1559-1660)

An index to estate administrations performed by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The index covers the southern two thirds of England & Wales, but may also contain entries for northerners.

Sussex Will Transcripts (1490-1560)

Transcripts of wills of Sussex regiments, indexed by name & place and ordered by parish.

Consistory Court of Chichester Probate Calender (1482-1800)

A searchable calendar to wills proved at this court. Contains references to order probate documents.

Sussex Will Transcripts (1622-1917)

Transcripts of Sussex wills. Names of of people occurring in these wills have been indexed.

Rye Immigration & Travel Records

Passenger Lists Leaving UK (1890-1960)

A name index connected to original images of passenger lists recording people travelling from Britain to destinations outside Europe. Records may detail a passenger's age or date of birth, residence, occupation, destination and more.

UK Incoming Passenger Lists (1878-1960)

A full index of passenger lists for vessels arriving in the UK linked to original images. Does not include lists from vessels sailing from European ports. Early entries can be brief, but later entries may include dates of births, occupations, home addresses and more. Useful for documenting immigration.

Victoria Assisted & Unassisted Passenger Lists (1839-1923)

An index to and images of documents recording over 1.65 million passengers who arrived in Victoria, Australia, including passengers whose voyage was paid for by others.

Alien Arrivals in England (1810-1869)

Details on over 600,000 non-British citizens arriving in England. Often includes age and professions. Useful for discerning the origin of immigrants.

17th Century British Emigrants to the U.S. (1600-1700)

Details on thousands of 17th century British immigrants to the U.S., detailing their origins and nature of their immigration.

Rye Military Records

Wartime in West Sussex (1939-1945)

A collection of articles detailing life in West Sussex during WWII. It includes a number of oral histories.

East Sussex Police WWI Roll of Honour (1914-1918)

Biographies of East Sussex Constabulary police officers who lost their lives in The Great War.

Royal Sussex Regiment History (1701-Present)

A history of a regiment in the British Army. Includes information on the regiment's colours, badges, uniform and marches.

Sussex in the great Civil War (1616-1660)

A detailed history of the puritan revolution in Sussex, includes biographies of county men involved in the turmoil.

Southdown Pals Battalions (1914-1918)

A register of several-thousand men of the 11th, 12th and 13th (Service) Battalions, The Royal Sussex Regiment.

Corporation of Rye Records (1568-1662)

A calendar of records kept by the Corporation of Rye.

Sussex Feet of Fines (1190-1509)

Abstracts of records that detail land conveyances.

Sussex Election Poll (1820)

A list of freeholders eligible to vote in Sussex, listing their residence, location and nature of freehold, name of the property's occupier and who they voted for in the election.

Sussex Electoral Poll (1734)

A list of freeholders eligible to vote in the county.

Lay Subsidy Rolls of Sussex (1524-1525)

Transcriptions of property tax records for Sussex residents.

Rye Taxation Records

Sussex Lay Subsidies (1296-1333)

Transcriptions of tax records that name those who had to pay property tax and how much was due. Returns for 1296, 1327 and 1332/3 are included.

Sussex Lay Subsidies (1296-1332)

Transcriptions of property tax records for Sussex residents. The years covered are 1292, 1327 and 1332.

East Sussex Window and House Tax Assessments (1747)

Transcripts of assessments for the taxation of wealthier households in the east of Sussex. Indexed by name.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Land Tax Redemption (1798-1811)

This vital collection details almost 1.2 million properties eligible for land tax. Records include the name of the landowner, occupier, amount assessed and sometimes the name and/or description of the property. It is a useful starting point for locating relevant estate records and establishing the succession of tenancies and freehold. Most records cover 1798, but some extend up to 1811.

Rye Land & Property Records

Corporation of Rye Records (1568-1662)

A calendar of records kept by the Corporation of Rye.

The Book of John Rowe (1597-1622)

A book comprising rentals from twenty-seven manors in Sussex - their customs and information concerning the Borough and Hundred of Lewes.

Sussex Feet of Fines (1190-1509)

Abstracts of records that detail land conveyances.

The Victoria History of Sussex, Vol. 1 (99999 BC-1086)

Notes on Sussex's natural history, early man, the Anglo-Saxon period, earthworks and political history. Also includes a translation of the Sussex portion of the Domesday Book.

Sussex Election Poll (1820)

A list of freeholders eligible to vote in Sussex, listing their residence, location and nature of freehold, name of the property's occupier and who they voted for in the election.

Rye Directories & Gazetteers

Kelly's Directory of Sussex (1938)

An exhaustive gazetteer, containing details of settlement's history, governance, churches, postal services, public institutions and more. Also contains lists of residents with their occupation and address.

Kelly's Directory of Sussex (1930)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Sussex (1918)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Sussex (1915)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Sussex (1913)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key historical and contemporary facts. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions. Also contains a list of residents and businesses for each place.

Rye Cemeteries

East Sussex Church Monuments (1530-1830)

Over one thousand photographs of monuments inside Sussex churches.

Sussex Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Sussex's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

Sussex Monumental Inscriptions (1750-2000)

Abstract details of over 2,000 monuments in Sussex; includes photographs of some monuments.

Deceased Online (1629-Present)

Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Rye Obituaries

iAnnounce Obituaries (2006-Present)

The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection (1882-Present)

A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.

Quakers Annual Monitor (1847-1848)

A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.

Musgrave's Obituaries (1421-1800)

This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.

British Medical Journal (1849-Present)

A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.

Rye Histories & Books

Picturesque Sussex (1906)

A guide to the county and its settlements, focusing on topography, history and architecture.

Sussex Postcards (1890-1930)

A collection of Sussex postcards, all of which have been geographically referenced.

West Sussex Photographic Database (1860-Present)

5000 digital images which cover the social, agricultural, industrial and historical development of West Sussex from the Victorian era to the present day.

Sussex Postcards (1708-1920)

A collection of over 13,000 postcards and other images.

West Sussex Past Pictures (1640-2004)

A database of over 12,000 heritage photographs, prints, drawings and paintings depicting scenes and life in West Sussex.

Rye School & Education Records

The Victoria History of Sussex, Vol. 2 (1000-1900)

A volume produced by one of the foremost authorities on English history. It covers religious houses, maritime history, industry, agriculture, forestry, education and sport.

National School Admission & Log Books (1870-1914)

A name index connected to digital images of registers recording millions of children educated in schools operated by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. Records contain a variety of information including genealogical details, education history, illnesses, exam result, fathers occupation and more.

Teacher's Registration Council Registers (1870-1948)

A name index linked to original images of registers recording the education and careers of teachers in England & Wales.

Oxford University Alumni (1500-1886)

A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge University Alumni (1261-1900)

A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Rye Occupation & Business Records

Corporation of Rye Records (1568-1662)

A calendar of records kept by the Corporation of Rye.

The Book of John Rowe (1597-1622)

A book comprising rentals from twenty-seven manors in Sussex - their customs and information concerning the Borough and Hundred of Lewes.

The Victoria History of Sussex, Vol. 2 (1000-1900)

A volume produced by one of the foremost authorities on English history. It covers religious houses, maritime history, industry, agriculture, forestry, education and sport.

Sussex Photographers (1841-1910)

A directory of photographers who plied their trade in Sussex. Some studios are given lengthy profiles, complete with biographies, genealogical information and examples of work.

Sussex Apprentices and Masters (1710-1752)

Abstracts of apprenticeship details collected by tax authorities. The abstracts usually contain genealogical information and details on the nature and terms of the apprenticship.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Rye

Victoria County History: Sussex (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Pedigrees of Sussex Families (1066-1830)

Hand-draw genealogical charts covering Sussex's gentry. Includes descriptions of coats of arms.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Rye Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Victoria County History: Sussex (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Pedigrees of Sussex Families (1066-1830)

Hand-draw genealogical charts covering Sussex's gentry. Includes descriptions of coats of arms.

East Sussex Church Monuments (1530-1830)

Over one thousand photographs of monuments inside Sussex churches.

Post Mortem Inquisitions in Sussex (1485-1649)

Abstracts of records detailing the deaths of landowners in Sussex and the inheritance of their lands.

Post Mortem Inquisitions in Sussex (1558-1583)

Abstracts of records detailing the deaths of landowners in Sussex and the inheritance of their lands.

Rye Church Records

Rye Parish Registers (1538-1836)

The parish registers of Rye are a collection of books essentially documenting births, marriages and deaths from 1538 to 1836.

Sussex Parish Churches (600-Present)

A study of the architectural development of each Anglican parish church in Sussex.

East Sussex Church Monuments (1530-1830)

Over one thousand photographs of monuments inside Sussex churches.

West Sussex Protestation Returns (1641)

The names of over 12,000 males who signed oaths of loyalty to the Crown and Church of England.

West Sussex Protestation Returns (1641-1642)

The names of over 12,000 males who signed oaths of loyalty to the Crown and Church of England.

Biographical Directories Covering Rye

East Sussex Police WWI Roll of Honour (1914-1918)

Biographies of East Sussex Constabulary police officers who lost their lives in The Great War.

Sussex in the great Civil War (1616-1660)

A detailed history of the puritan revolution in Sussex, includes biographies of county men involved in the turmoil.

Glimpses of our Ancestors in Sussex (1878)

Biographies of county persons mixed with past incidents.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Rye Maps

Old Sussex Mapped (1695-1840)

Good quality digital images of early Sussex maps. They vary in scale, from plotting major roads and settlements, to individual fields.

Printed Maps of Sussex (1575-1900)

A book containing reproductions of around 30 maps of Sussex, with detailed information on their background and cartographer.

Sussex: With Maps Diagrams & Illustrations (1909)

A description of the county, some of its settlements and sights.

Maps of Sussex (1579-1900)

Digital images of maps covering the county.

Sussex Parish Map (1841-1974)

A map delineating parishes and probate jurisdictions in Sussex.

Rye Reference Works

A Dictionary of the Sussex Dialect (1875)

A work that attempted to record the provincial Sussex dialect due to its perceived erosion. Includes etymologies.

England Research Guide (1538-Present)

A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in England.

Parish Register Abstract (1538-1812)

Compiled in 1831, this book details the coverage and condition of parish registers in England & Wales.

Building History Research Guide (1066-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.

Surname Origins (1790-1911)

A service that provides advanced and custom surname maps for the British Isles and the US.

Historical Description

Rye, so named from the British word Rhy, signifying a ford, and importing the place where the rivers of Rother and Ree were yet fordable. This is one of the cinque ports, enjoying like privileges with the rest. It sends two members to parliament; the town, which is built on a hill, consists of several streets. In the time of Edward III. it was enclosed with walls, part of which, on the west side, were long standing, as likewise the land, or north gate, leading into the country towards Kent; the postern gate leading to the New Conduit; the strand or south gate, leading towards Winchelsea, where the old harbour was, and the gun-garden, adjoining to Ipres Tower, built by William de Ipre, Earl of Kent, and from him so called; since purchased by the corporation of one Mr. Newberry, about the 10th year of Henry VII. and used to keep court in till the building of the town hall, (whence it acquired the name of Court House), and then was converted into a prison. Besides the chapel of St. Clare (now used for a powder house), and the chauntry of St. Nicholas, the chancel of which is still kept for an ammunition house, there was a monastery of the Friars Heremites of St. Augustine; the chapel is standing.

The parish church is built of stone, and is one of the largest in England.

The harbour, which is on the south-east side of the town, is at present in an indifferent state; notwithstanding it admits vessels of two hundred tons burthen, which come quite up to the town key, on the north side of the town, one mile and a half from the entrance. The town, at spring high tides, is encompassed about two thirds round with water, which, with the river Rother, that washes it on the east side, before its influx into the sea, and the branch of the tides called Tillingham water, on the north-west side, form together a sort of peninsula, which was formerly a ferry, but has now a bridge. The mackerel and herrings taken in the bay in their seasons are reckoned the finest of their kind. All the rest of the year they troll for soles, plaice, and other flat fish, which are also excellent in their season, and which are frequently carried up by the rippiers to the London markets, which they perform in three stages. Rye is well supplied with water by pipes from two hills on the land side. The principal business is in hops, wool, timber, kettles, cannon, chimney-backs, &c. which are cast at the iron works at Bakely, four miles to the north-west, and at Breed, five miles to the south-west of the town.

There was a small settlement of French refugees here, who had a minister of their own, paid by the archbishop of Canterbury.

The corporation is held by prescription, and consists of a mayor, jurats, and freemen. The mayor is chosen out of the jurats the Monday after St. Bartholomew, by a majority of the freemen. The jurats, who must not exceed twelve in number, in case of a vacancy, are chosen by the mayor with the consent of the jurats, on his election day, or at the general yearly sessions, which are on Monday after the feast of St. Andrew.

In the reign of Richard the Second, this town was burnt by the French, and again in that of Henry VI. in which it is supposed the old records and charters of the town perished; because none older than his 27th year, except, some fragments, are to be found. By the same conflagration, the old church also is supposed to have suffered, and the present one to have been built since; the former stood near Ipres Tower, on the spot still called the Old Church-yard. Henry VII. visited Rye in the third year of his reign; as did Queen Elizabeth in 1573. In the year 1563 a pestilence carried off 562 persons. It was afterwards replenished by the French, who sheltered themselves here from the massacres in France in 1572. And in 1582, the French inhabitants in Rye consisted of 1534 persons. In the year 1596, Rye suffered very severely by another plague, and again in 1625; and by the small-pox in the years 1634 and 35; and again in 1654 and 55. Many vessels were lost belonging to this place in the time of the wars between the king and parliament, all which have added much to its decay.

King Charles II. visited Rye in May 1673, when the English and French fleets lay in the bay, in sight of the town.

King George the First, being obliged to put into this port, after a very tempestuous passage from Holland, in January 1725, when he could not make Dover, was under great difficulties in landing here, and the larger ships were unable to follow him.

The Rev. D. Pape, L L. B. vicar of Penn, about twenty years since, made a considerable improvement in Rye harbour, by cutting a new channel to the sea, and by putting in a dam of a singular construction across the old channel; a work that had long been deemed impracticable, as it must necessarily be exposed to a very heavy sea, and a rapid influx and reflux of the tide.

Near Rye in the parish of East Guilford, which is the utmost boundary of the county of Sussex eastward, they have a peculiar method of tithing their marsh lands, whereby they only pay threepence per acre to the vicar while in pasture, but if ploughed five shillings.

A Grammar School was built here, in the year 1636, by Thomas Peacock, gent one of the jurats of the town, and endowed by him with the yearly revenue of 45l. The S. W. —S. —S. E. —E. and N. E. sides of the town have been much wasted by the sea, especially the latter; from whence have been washed some streets, with the Boddings gate, and the wall leading therefrom to the Land gate.

Topography of Great Britain (1829) by George Alexander Cooke

RYE is a Cinque port and seaport, municipal borough market and union town and the head of a county court district, situated on the navigable river Rother, with a station on the Ashford and Hastings branch of the South Eastern railway, 63 miles from London and 10 north-east from Hastings, in the Eastern division of the county, Hastings rape and rural deanery of Hastings (second division), archdeaconry of Lewes and diocese of Chichester. On the grant of Parliamentary representation to the Cinque Ports Rye returned two members, or, at all events, did so from 5 Rich. II. (1381). By the “Reform Act, 1832” (2 & 3 William IV. c.45) the representation was reduced to one member, and the place was wholly disfranchised as a town by the “Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885” (48 & 49 Vict. c. 23). The earliest known charter of incorporation is that of Rich. I. which recites and confirms privileges granted by preceding kings; this charter was confirmed and extended by succeeding monarchs up to Charles II. but under the Act of 1835, the town is now governed by a mayor, four Aldermen and twelve councillors. The borough has a commission of the peace and a court of quarter sessions. It is lighted with gas by a company, and supplied with water from works at Cadborough, the property of the Corporation. Vessels of 300 tons can now enter the harbour, and the trade is considerable, Rye being the port for Tenterden, Cranbrook and the valley of the Rother, and having access by the Royal Military Canal to Romney Marshes. A railway, called the Rye Harbour line, extends from the town to the harbour, and is open for goods traffic and cargoes of coal brought to the station for transmission to Hastings. A steam tram line from Rye to Camber was opened in 1895, and there are frequent services of trams.

Under the provisions of section I. of the “Local Government Act, 1894” (56 and 57 Vict. c. 73), the ancient parish of Rye has been divided into two, known as Rye and Rye Foreign, being respectively the within and without portions of the municipal borough. The church of St. Mary is of stone with some Norman portions, and other parts of Early English date, and has a tower containing 8 bells and a clock: the church was restored about 1882, at a cost of about £8,000: there are 1,000 sittings, 500 being free. The register dates from the year 1538. The living is a vicarage, net income £300, with residence, in the gift of the Duke of Devonshire K.G. and held since 1889 by the Rev. Arthur John William Crosse B.A. London University, and surrogate. The church of the Holy Spirit, Rye Harbour, a chapel of ease to Icklesham, is of stone, and has a tower containing a clock and one bell: there are 200 sittings. There are Baptist, Calvinistic, Wesleyan and Congregational chapels. Rye Cemetery, opened in 1855, comprises 7 acres, with two mortuary chapels, and is under the control of a joint committee of 9 members, appointed by the Rye Urban District Council and the Rye Foreign Parish Council. Horsfield's charity of £4 yearly is distributed in money, and 10s. from other sources in bread. The Diamond Jubilee Almshouses, on the Green, were erected in 1897 by public subscription. The Town Hall, in Market street, is an edifice of brick with stone dressings. The Ypres Tower, at the top of Gun Gardens steps, and overlooking the river, is supposed to have been built in the reign of Stephen (1135—54) by William of Ypres, or Ipre, Earl of Kent. Kettle nets are erected on the sea shore, near Rye harbour, during the summer months, and at times very large quantities of mackerel and other fish are caught; ship building is carried on to some extent and there is a considerable trade in wool, corn, timber, hops and oak bark; here is also a custom house. The corn and stock markets are held at the Market hall. Station yard, every alternate Wednesday. Part of the town wall yet remains, together with the land gateway in a good state of preservation. The E Company of the 1st Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteers, now 90 in number, has an armoury in the town. The Rye Dormy House Club Limited is a residential club largely used by members of the Rye Golf Club, founded in 1894, and which had in 1898 350 members. The links are situated at Camber. In 1550 Alexander Welles gave to the Corporation a piece of land for the erection of a house for aged, sick and infirm poor; instead thereof cottages were built, but in 1849 the South Eastern Railway Company pulled these down, and in their places erected certain almshouses in Military road, for persons selected by the Rye Town Council. The area of the municipal borough and new parish of Rye is 973 acres of land; rateable value, £12,405; the population in 1891 was 3,871, including 145 officers and inmates in the workhouse.

The area of Rye Foreign parish is 1,452 acres of land; rateable value, £2,537; the population in 1891 was 583.

The Mayor of Rye & the Chairman of Rye Rural District Council are ex-officio magistrates.

Clerk to the Magistrates, Walter Dawes, Bank chambers Petty Sessions are held at the Town hall every alternate Wednesday at 11 a.m. The following places are in the Petty Sessional Division:-The parishes of Rye Foreign, Winchelsea, Peasmarsh, Playden, Iden, East Guldeford, Icklesham, Udimore, Brede, Beckley, Northiam & Broomhill.

Borough Petty Sessions are held at the Town hall every Monday at 10 a.m. Quarter Sessions are held at the Town hall; recorder, Robert Henry Hurst, Goldsmith building, Temple, London E C; William Dawes, Watchbell chambers, clerk of the peace.

RYE UNION

Board day, alternate Mon. at Board room, Bye bill, at 2.30 p.m.

The Union comprises the following parishes:-Beckley, Brede, Broomhill, East Guldeford, Icklesham, Iden, Northiam, Peasmarsh, Playden, Rye, Rye Foreign, Udimore & Winchelsea. The population of the union in 1891 was 11,590; area, 38,179 acres; rateable value in 1898, £57,700.

Clerk to the Guardians & Assessment Committee, Theodore John Smith, Flushing house, Market st.

Rye Workhouse, Rye hill, a brick building with stone dressing in the Domestic Gothic style & will hold 436 persons; at the present time there are 120 inmates.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with times of services

St. Mary’s Church, Rev. Arthur John William Crosse B.A. vicar; 8 & 10.45 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; 10 a.m. & 7.30 p.m. daily; litany, Wed. & Fri.; Rev. Parsons E. F. Berry, curate.

Church of the Holy Spirit, Rye Harbour; 3 p.m.

Baptist, Mermaid st.; 10.45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Mon. 7 p.m.

Baptist, Military road, 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Calvinist, Spring pl.; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Thur. 7 p.m.

Congregational, Conduit hill, Rev. Alfred T. Saville; 10.45 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Wesleyan, Gun garden, Rev. James J. Bosward; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Tues. 7 p.m.

SCHOOLS

Rye Grammar School was built & endowed In 1638 by Thos. Peacock, & has incorporated with it a school for instruction in navigation, founded under the trusts of the will of James Saunders; it was formerly a Free Grammar school, but was reconstituted by the Charity Commissioners in 1884; attached to the school are four scholarships, the owners of which receive a free education; entrance examinations are held as vacancies occur, the tuition fees of the most successful candidates being remitted; the school will hold 80 boys; average attendance, 75; J. Molyneux-Jenkins M. C. P. headmaster; Herr F. Rapee & F. Phillips, assistant teachers. Boarders are received at Ascham hall, the residence of the headmaster.

A School Board of 5 members was formed 12 Jan. 1871; Theodore John Smith, Market street, clerk to the board; J. Bourne, Rye, attendance officer.

Board, Mermaid street (boys), erected in 1867, & enlarged in 1893, for 300 children; average attendance, 245.

Board, Lion street (girls & infants), erected in 1874, at a cost of £2,250, for 395 children; average attendance, 200 girls & 185 infants.

National (mixed), Rye Harbour, erected in 1861 & enlarged in 1898, for 130 children; average attendance, 100.

The charitable funds for educational purposes amount to £125 10s. 3d. of which £34 10s. belongs to the Grammar school, from Peacock’s gift.

Kelly's Directory of Sussex (1899)

Most Common Surnames in Rye

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Goldspur Hundred
1Smith851:551.34%1
2Clark621:764.94%26
3Standen491:969.19%130
4Pope471:10011.03%196
5Wood451:1041.96%7
6Bourne441:10611.43%232
7Rhodes411:11420.60%480
8Foster391:1203.85%45
9Williams351:1342.89%29
10Hicks341:13817.00%475
11Hoad321:1468.14%223
12Miller311:1512.88%38
13Martin301:1561.31%8
13Tiltman301:15655.56%1,463
15Paine291:1615.81%149
16Edwards281:1671.89%16
16Baker281:1670.90%2
16Phillips281:1672.56%36
16Fuller281:1672.80%46
20Bayley271:17318.37%642
20Igglesden271:17362.79%1,738
22Watson261:1803.97%98
22Hollands261:1807.93%276
24Cook251:1872.57%50
25Dunk241:1957.38%278
26Masters231:20411.73%491
26Neeves231:20433.82%1,250
28Bryant221:2134.79%175
28Gammon221:21318.18%766
28Gasson221:2137.51%315
31Noakes211:2233.63%117
31Curd211:22312.96%585
33White191:2460.74%3
33Barham191:24610.33%522
33Carman191:24670.37%2,437
36Robinson181:2601.81%47
36Turner181:2601.03%11
36Moore181:2601.53%31
36Allen181:2602.02%60
36Sims181:26010.98%577
36Sherwood181:26016.98%878
36Jarrett181:26011.92%630
43Mills171:2751.31%21
43Sutton171:2755.48%296
43Stocks171:27562.96%2,437
43Riddle171:27517.00%927
43Catt171:2753.21%134
43Axell171:27585.00%2,940
49Skinner161:2932.12%83
49Hinds161:29347.06%2,074
51Taylor151:3120.60%4
51Walker151:3122.41%106
51Clarke151:3122.02%85
51Jordan151:3128.57%551
51Southerden151:31231.91%1,623
56Jones141:3340.89%14
56Simpson141:3345.13%336
56Collins141:3340.88%13
56Russell141:3341.10%24
56Fletcher141:3348.14%555
56Butler141:3342.62%128
56Ashdown141:3343.93%253
56Crowhurst141:3343.36%205
56Welfare141:3345.83%392
56Morphey141:33477.78%3,162
66Wright131:3601.68%77
66Bennett131:3601.12%33
66Knight131:3600.55%6
66Kemp131:3601.71%81
66Waters131:3602.82%174
66Sheppard131:3604.06%281
66Apps131:3603.92%270
66Playford131:36012.62%903
66Jempson131:36012.62%903
75Wilson121:3901.16%41
75Campbell121:3903.64%273
75Elliott121:3901.18%44
75Stone121:3901.71%89
75Field121:3901.42%65
75Head121:3902.26%132
75Lever121:39021.43%1,433
75Larkin121:3908.51%665
75Barden121:3905.63%448
75Britt121:3907.69%611
75Goodsell121:3904.14%321
75Batcheler121:39092.31%3,977
75Brickland121:390100.00%4,211
88Morris111:4261.14%51
88King111:4260.59%10
88Mitchell111:4260.56%9
88Palmer111:4262.35%166
88Saunders111:4260.91%28
88Warren111:4264.89%429
88Hayward111:4262.78%222
88Jeffery111:4262.72%215
88Phipps111:42612.94%1,039
88Ames111:42634.38%2,162
88Filmer111:42645.83%2,593
88Hearnden111:42661.11%3,162
88Amon111:42647.83%2,650
88Rubie111:42652.38%2,840
88Gallup111:42623.91%1,651
88Books111:42691.67%4,211
88Hait111:426100.00%4,522
105James101:4682.47%215
105Bailey101:4681.10%59
105Gibbs101:4682.16%172
105Bull101:4683.68%337
105Stokes101:46813.70%1,172
105Bray101:4685.81%555
105Monk101:4685.05%486
105Hook101:4682.38%200
105Wren101:4684.12%381
105Pankhurst101:4684.02%371
105Murphey101:46876.92%3,977
105Sellman101:46818.87%1,488
105Gladwish101:46812.66%1,104
105Coussens101:46814.29%1,222
105Ney101:468100.00%4,853
105Feldman101:46890.91%4,522
105Fryman101:468100.00%4,853
105Henbrey101:46840.00%2,536
105Gafford101:46890.91%4,522
124Barnes91:5200.98%58
124Page91:5200.71%23
124Gilbert91:5201.99%180
124Chandler91:5202.10%193
124Swan91:5207.63%787
124Browning91:5203.24%333
124Stephen91:52032.14%2,379
124Locke91:52012.16%1,157
124Baldock91:5204.92%524
124Dann91:5203.06%313
124Burnham91:52042.86%2,840
124Swaine91:52014.75%1,347
124Boreham91:52047.37%3,051
124Bones91:52012.33%1,172
124Kimpton91:52032.14%2,379
124Care91:52021.43%1,766
124Brooman91:5209.28%955
124Furner91:52012.50%1,189
124Fairhall91:52010.98%1,072
124Vincett91:52017.65%1,529
124Wellfare91:52020.45%1,710
124Senden91:52045.00%2,940
146Roberts81:5851.03%75
146Richardson81:5850.52%15
146Marshall81:5851.03%76
146Ellis81:5850.81%48
146Dawson81:5852.96%340
146Harvey81:5851.90%199
146Reynolds81:5852.36%264
146Stevenson81:5852.14%239
146Bates81:5852.23%251
146Frost81:5852.36%264
146Howell81:5851.85%190
146Croft81:5852.86%332
146Carey81:5852.56%293
146Dunlop81:58547.06%3,294
146Ballard81:5852.85%328
146Dawes81:5853.02%348
146Boon81:5858.08%936
146Petty81:58550.00%3,425
146Bridger81:5851.09%86
146Bartholomew81:5853.79%450
146Godden81:5854.04%486
146Whiteman81:5855.93%687
146Wait81:58513.56%1,380
146Morrow81:58588.89%5,261
146Dunster81:58513.11%1,347
146Taverner81:58540.00%2,940
146Blackhall81:58542.11%3,051
146Hatter81:58572.73%4,522
146Sellen81:58561.54%3,977
146Pellett81:58511.59%1,231
146Stonestreet81:58510.81%1,157
146Milgate81:58544.44%3,162
146Crosskey81:58515.38%1,507
146Brackpool81:58517.39%1,651
146Tittman81:58572.73%4,522
146Exale81:585100.00%5,744
146Fitsearl81:585100.00%5,744
183Young71:6690.73%54
183Graham71:6694.76%642
183Booth71:6692.88%381
183Cole71:6691.36%143
183Whitehead71:6698.86%1,104
183Willis71:6693.48%473
183French71:6690.91%78
183Austin71:6691.61%189
183Atkins71:6693.91%539
183Small71:6694.79%647
183Bannister71:6693.70%512
183Weller71:6690.73%52
183Moor71:6698.86%1,104
183Saville71:66923.33%2,261
183Luck71:6692.34%309
183Sherlock71:6694.35%591
183Uren71:669100.00%6,433
183Milsom71:66963.64%4,522
183Colville71:66953.85%3,977
183Pulford71:66943.75%3,425
183Sinden71:6691.71%211
183Woollett71:66935.00%2,940
183Osbourn71:66921.21%2,116
183Boots71:6698.05%1,017
183Harnden71:66953.85%3,977
183Firrell71:66930.43%2,650
183Huggitt71:66963.64%4,522
183Forbs71:66987.50%5,744
183Sinead71:669100.00%6,433
183Ailsworth71:669100.00%6,433
183Vren71:669100.00%6,433
183Sharpey71:669100.00%6,433
183Burrd71:669100.00%6,433
183Haryey71:669100.00%6,433