Welcome to Rye Historical Society’s newest addition– our online image catalog! Because of a generous donation from one of our longtime, loyal members, we are beginning a large photo archival project. The project includes the organizing and digitizing of a large collection of photographs taken by turn-of-the-twentieth century Rye photographers A.R.H. Foss and Clarence Trefrey. The online catalog will be searchable and photographs available for re-printing.
Check back often to learn more about our exciting endeavor!
Also, check out our website www.ryenhhistoricalsociety.org
Rye Historical Society 
As you can probably tell by my name, I’m interested in a little more history of the Sandy Foss Beach that I have seen mentioned. Can you direct me to where I can learn more about where it is and it’s history? I think I might just have to plan a trip there someday just to step foot on it!
Hello Sandy!
First of all, thank you for your comment! As for your inquiry, here is what our director, Alex Herlihy, had to in response:
Sandy Beach was the original name of Rye and it was centered on the “middle crescent beach” of what is now the town we know as Rye, NH.
In the later 1600s, as the people moved inland, the town of Rye grew, but Sandy Beach Road still ran from the center to that original beach.
The Foss family lived on or near Sandy Beach, and so the name of the beach slowly came to be called Foss Beach, the name we refer to it by today.
It is the beach located just north of Rye harbor and is the last to fill up in the summer and the most wild and lovely for not being able to see any cars or houses from the beach because of the sea wall.
Please check back regularly as we add new photos every week!
Sandy
I am researching my Foss line in Massachusetts trying to connect them to the NH Foss’ family.
Marge Armstrong
I was wondering if you could tell me any information about rands spring and what was here before I live here. Thanks for the help
Any history on Francis Jenness family.
I am a descendant of Abraham Perkins son of John Perkins and Mary Wyeth. I am interested in writings or pictures of the perkins family. Any charges please let me know. MY name is Rose Crosier 17 Sanders St. St. Johnsville, ny 13452
i would like to see/purchase a picture of colonel benjamin garland’s tavern on washington road. would also like info on who the patriots were who met at the tavern. i would be happy to come up from mass. to see and or read this information. benjamin’s father john was a great grandfather of mine. thank you.
I’m looking for pictures of typical 1920’s, and 40’s fashion. (preferably from around the seacoast) Do you have anything like that available online?
Hello! I’m curious, I’ve been doing a little family research. It lead me to the name of John Locke. In his history it states, he founded a town named “Locke’s Neck”, which was later changed to “Rye”. Do you know if there were several smaller communities joined to become the town of Rye?
His history also says that he is buried in the Rye cemetery. Thank you for any help you can provide.
My great grandmother born Grace Eliza Jenness. Her father his father and so on were born here in Rye N.H.
In my family tree search I found many founding families names such as Foss Locke Berry and many others.
I have since become very interested in this town.
I was wondering if there are picture of these ancestors and where could I view them…..Thank you.
I am interested in purchasing prints of historical photos of Rye Beach..
William Berry 8th ggf. I hope this finds you well.it is said that he lived on owned a lot of property at and near Sandy Beach. Possibly old greenland.
Would there be any old documents of where he was granted this area or deed paper work? I would love to walk about where his home layer.
Would you be able to direct me?
Hello Joscelyn. My name is Mike Berry and William Berry is my 9th ggf. There are no deeds but there are several references to the area of land he was granted in what would become Rye. Most of the references look like this: William Berry received a lot “upon the neck of land on the south side of the Little River at Sandy Beach on January 31, 1648 that included the area where ‘Locke’s Neck’ is located.” Some analysis of this statement leads us to believe it is the area starting with Rye Harbor State Park and extending north to what is now Foss Beach.