During the Burning of Fairfield, Reverend Sayre pleaded with British commander General Tryon on behalf of his church and its members to stop the burning of homes. His church, which stood where Old Post Road and Old Field Road meet, was burned to the ground as the troops departed Fairfield. Reverend Sayre fled with General Tryon and the British, and relocated out of America.
“The ungovernable flames soon extended on all sides and in a few minutes left me with a family consisting of wife and eight children destitute of food, house and raiment … My loss included my little all.”