Compiled by Stephen Dodd, Pastor of the Congregational Church in East-Haven
Published in 1824 for the author and originally sold by
A.H. Mattby & Co., N. 4, Globe Building, T.G. Woodward & Co.

THE EAST-HAVEN REGISTER: IN THREE PARTS

During the reign of James I and Charles I, kings of England, the Puritans were subjected to a destructive oppression, and a furious persecution for conscience sake; and seeing no end to their sufferings, projected settlements in the wilderness of America, as a place of retreat for the Church of God, and where the salvation and freedom of themselves and of their posterity might be promoted and secured. Hence, large companies left their native land and crossed the Atlantic. Among them were persons of wealth, learning, and distinguished piety and eminence.

On the 26th day of July, 1637, Rev. John Davenport, Mr. Samuel Eaton, Theophilus Eaton, Edward Hopkins, Thomas Gregson, and their company arrived at Boston. They were invited to continue there or in that vicinity. This proposal they rejected, for they were determined to settle a new colony. Accordingly, in the fall of that year, Mr. Eaton and others explored the country along the sea-coast, west of Connecticut River and finally fixed upon Quinipiack, as the place of their settlement. On the 30 Mar 1638, the company sailed from Boston, and in about two weeks arrived safe at the place of their destination.

On the 18th April, the first Lord's day after their arrival, the people attended public worship under a large oak, and Mr. Davenport preached to them from Matth. vi, 1. Soon after their arrival, they held a day of fasting and prayer, at the close of which, they solemnly entered into a plantation covenant, finding themselves, "That as in matters that concern the gathering and ordering of a Church, so also in all public offices which concern civil order; as choice of magistrates and officers, making and repealing laws, dividing allotments of inheritances and all things of like nature, they would all of them, be ordered by the rules which the scripture held forth to them." By this covenant they were regulated the first year.

On 24 Nov 1638, Theophilus Eaton, Esq., Mr. Davenport and other English planters, made their first purchase of Momauguin, sachem, of that part of the country, and his counselors. The English promised to protect Momauguin and his Indians from his enemies, and that they should have sufficient planting ground between the harbor and Saybrook fort. The purchasers also gave the sachem and his counselors -- "12 coats of English cloth, 12 alchemy spoons, 12 hatchets, 12 hoes, two dozen knives, 12 porringers, and 4 cases of French knives and scissors." This contract was signed by Momauguin and his council on the one part, and Theophilus Eaton and John Davenport on the other part. Thomas Stanton was interpreter. By the oppression of the Mohawks and Pequots, this tribe was then reduced to about 40 men.

On the 11 December, 1638, they purchased another large tract, which lay principally north of the former purchase. This was bought of Montowwese, son of the great Sachem at Mattabeseck, (now Middletown). It was 10 miles long, north and south, and 13 miles in breadth. For this tract, they gave 13 coats and allowed the Indians ground to plant, and liberty to hunt on it. These purchases "included all the lands within the ancient limits of the old towns of NEW-HAVEN, BRANFORD and WALLINGFORD, and almost the whole contained within the present limits of those towns, and of the towns of EAST-HAVEN, WOODBRIDGE, CHESHIRE, HAMDEN and NORTH-HAVEN.

On the 4 June, 1639, all the free planters of Quinipiack convened in a large barn of Mr. Newman's and formed their constitution. Sixty-three names were subscribed to it on that day, and about fifty more were added soon after.

Among the subscribers who settled in EAST-HAVEN, or were concerned in that settlement, were: William Andrews, William Touttle (or Tuttle), Garvis Boykim, John Potter, Matthew Moulthrop, Matthias Hitchcock, Edward Patterson. To these were added: Thomas Morris and John Thompson.

On 7 Mar 1644, the Colony Constitution was revised and enlarged; and then were added the names of Matthew Rowe and John Tuthill.

Jul 1644: Alling Ball, Thomas Robinson Sr., Thomas Robinson Jr., Edward Hitchcock, Edmund Tooly, William Holt, Thomas Barnes.

Aug 1644: Peter Mallory and Nicholas Augur.

3 Jul 1648: Thomas Morris was admitted a free inhabitant.

4 Apr 1654: George Pardee and John Potter Jr.

May 1654: John Davenport, Jr., John Thompson and Jonathan Tuthill.

19 Feb 1658: John Chedsey.

1 May 1660: Nathanial Boykim and Thomas Tuttle.

16 Jun 1662: George Pardee.

1674: Robert Augar.

The town was named New Haven in 1640. The first division of lands was made within the town plat, and that vicinity, for home lots. But several enterprising farmers turned their attention to the lands on the east side of the Quinipiack, and began to settle there, when the second division was made.

(Names listed: William Tuttle: had 5 sons, all removed except Joseph).

In 1649, "It was ordered that Mr. Davenport, pastor of the Church, shall have his meadow, and the upland for his second division, both together, on the East side of the East River, where himself shall choose, with all the convenience the place can afford for a farm, together with the natural bounds of the place whether by creeks or otherwise." He accordingly, laid out a tract of land of about a mile square, and containing about 600 acres, above Dagon.

In 1650, Alling Ball became his farmer, and was exempted from militia service, while he continued in Mr. Davenport's employment.

The following list of polls and estates, by which the first division was regulated, will show the relative wealth of some of those who first had their farms in this town: