Theophilus Eaton, Esq., First Governor of New Haven Colony

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_Eaton

http://ia331409.us.archive.org/3/items/descendantsofjoh00inbroc/des...

"Also with them came Theophilus Eaton, a prosperous merchant, Deputy Governor of the East Land Company, and who for several years had resided in Denmark as an agent of King Charles I. On his return to London he left the Established Church and became a member of the Puritan congregation of the Rev. John Davenport. He had been one of the original patentees of the Charter of Massachusetts. Not only the people of Boston, but the whole Colony of Massachusetts were desirous that this company should settle within its Commonwealth and made liberal proposals to them, but this was not in accord with the purposes of either Davenport or Eaton. Davenport's idea seemed to be to found a colony which should be absolutely controlled by the church; only church members eligible to office, or even allowed to vote, transferring to this country the English idea of "Church and State"; only, instead of the Episcopal Church, it must be a Church of the Congregational order with which he was identified."

Co-founder and first governor of New Haven Colony, Connecticut.

His epitaph reads:

Theophilus Eaton, Esqr. Govr. dec'd Jan'y 7, 1657, Ætat. 67.

   Eaton so fam'd, so wise, so just,

The Phœnix of our world, here lies his dust,
This name forget, N. England never must.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_Eaton

Theophilus Eaton (1590 – January 7, 1658) was a merchant, farmer, and Puritan colonial leader who was the co-founder and first governor of New Haven Colony, Connecticut.

He was born at Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England in 1590, to the Vicar of Great Budworth, Chester – Richard Eaton (1569–1616) and his wife, Elizabeth Shepheard (1569–1630). He was married to a Grace Hiller in 1622, and at least had a daughter (Mary), and a son (Samuel) before her death (some authorities think that he also had a son by the name of James).

In 1625 he remarried, this time to a widow, Anne Yale, who was the daughter of George Lloyd, the Bishop of Chester (some authorities say Anne Morton, the daughter of Bishop Thomas Morton of Chester). The couple had three children (Theophilus, Hannah, and Elizabeth), but the household raised eight children. Besides their three, and Mary and Samuel, it included Anne, David, and Thomas Yale from Anne's first marriage to Thomas Yale.

Thomas Yale, son of Thomas and Ann (Lloyd) Yale, settled in the New Haven Colony and signed the Fundamental Agreement of the New Haven Colony on June 4, 1639. Anne Jr. married Edward Hopkins in 1631, later the governor of Connecticut; and David, who married Ursula Knight in 1641, became the father of Elihu Yale, namesake of Yale College.

The Governor's daughter, Mary Eaton, married Valentine Hill of Boston in 1647, to which his brother, Nathaniel Eaton, the first schoolmaster of Harvard, was present as a witness; Samuel Eaton married Mabel (Harlakenden) Haynes in 1654, but both of whom died in the small pox epidemic of 1655; Hannah Eaton married the Lt. Governor William Jones (1624–1706) in 1659; Theophilus Eaton Jr., or Ellis as he was known, settled in Dublin, Ireland and married an Anne King; and Elizabeth died in London in March of 1637 before they had departed for the colonies.

For several years Theophilus was an agent for King Charles I to the Danish Court, then a merchant in London. He was a Puritan interested in colonial development and was one of the original patent holders and president of the Massachusetts Bay Company.

His group of colonists had John Davenport as their religious leader and they wanted to start their own settlement – probably due to Winthrop's persona who also caused the Rev. Thomas Hooker and others to go off and form their own colonies and was termed "an object of great fear in all the colonies."

In the spring his group moved from Boston and when they arrived on April 14, 1638 they named the site New Haven.

That fall, Eaton led an exploration to the south, and located a site at Quinnipiack on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. On November 14, 1638, he and his company entered into an agreement with the chief sachem Momauquin agreeing that in exchange for protection from the Quinnipiack Indians' ancient enemies, the Mohawk and the Pequot, Momauquin would relinquish his right, title, and interest to the lands that both parties agreed would not later evolve into feelings of animosity, hate, or regret. [Cf. J. W. Barber, History and Antiquities of New Haven, (Conn.) (1831) pp. 25–29].

The Mohawks and the Pequots had all but wiped out the New Haven Indians, leaving but 40 surviving males, and to that end Theophilus and his company also covenanted to protect them when unreasonably assaulted and terrified, that they would always have a sufficient quantity of land to plant on, and by way of free and thankful retribution that they give to the sachem and his council and company: twelve coats of English cloth, twelve alchemy spoons, twelve hatchets, twelve hoes, two dozen knives, twelve porringers, and four cases of French knives & scissors.

This agreement was signed and legally executed by Momauquin and his council as well as by Theophilus Eaton and John Davenport.

Some still say, however, that Theophilus simply traded thirteen coats to the local Indians for seven townships of land; but what is a fact is that in the following December of 1638 he and his company did also purchase the usage of a large area of land from Monotowese, son of the sachem at Mattabeseck, which was 10 miles in length and 13 in breadth. He did pay 13 coats to Monotowese as per their agreement, but again, the English gave the Indians ample grounds to plant on and free usage of all the lands for hunting. Further, even though Monotowese's tribe consisted of but 10 males with their women and children, it was understood that the English would also protect them from the Mohawk and the Pequots.

Upon arrival in the new colony, Theophilus at first attempted to resume his trade as a merchant. He was not successful, however, since the colony was too new to afford imports and the Indian fur trade was more successful at the Dutch outposts at Hartford, so he soon turned to farming.

When the New Haven Colony established its administration, he was chosen as one of the "seven pillars of the church" acting as one of the 7 councilors who formed the body of freemen and elected civil officers.

Their names were: Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport, Robert Newman, Matthew Gilbert, Thomas Fugill, John Punderson, and Jeremiah Dixon. Career as governor He was elected as the first governor on June 4, 1639 and reelected each year until his death on January 7, 1657/8 (Julian Calendar timing). He was buried on the green in New Haven and later his remains were removed to Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven. One of his major accomplishments as governor was the creation of a written legal code for the colony in 1655 later to be known as the Blue Laws of Connecticut. For this, and the fact that he was the first president of the Massachusetts Bay Company, he is sometimes thought of as being the Father of American Law, but this is arguably an example of hyperbole. Epitaph Theophilus' epitaph reads as follows ... "Theophilus Eaton, Esqr. Govr. dec'd Jan'y 7, 1657, Ætat. 67. :Eaton so fam'd, so wise, so just, :The Phœnix of our world, here lies his dust, :This name forget, N. England never must." Siblings Although deposed in 1639 by the then Governor John Winthrop in what some have considered to be Massachusetts' first Witch Trial, Theophilus' younger brother Nathaniel Eaton (1609–1674) was the first schoolmaster of Harvard College. Another brother, Samuel Eaton (1597–1665), was a minister who accompanied Theophilus to New Haven, but then later chose to return to England.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Theophilus Eaton (c. 1590—January 7, 1658) was a merchant, farmer, and Puritan colonial leader who was the co-founder and first governor of New Haven Colony, Connecticut.

Contents 1 Early life and first marriage 2 Second marriage and children 3 Early career in England 4 Emigration to New England 5 Foundation of New Haven 6 Career as governor 7 Epitaph 8 Siblings 9 See also 10 References 11 External links Early life and first marriage He was born at Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England about 1590, to Rev. Richard Eaton and his wife, Elizabeth.[1] His father may have been the curate at that time, but later became Vicar of Great Budworth, Chester. Theophilus married Grace Hiller, and had at least a daughter (Mary), and a son (Samuel) before her death (some authorities think that he also had a son by the name of James).

Second marriage and children In 1625 he remarried, this time to a widow, Anne Yale, who was the daughter of George Lloyd, the Bishop of Chester (some authorities say Anne Morton, the daughter of Bishop Thomas Morton of Chester). The couple had three children (Theophilus, Hannah, and Elizabeth), but the household raised eight children. Besides their three, and Mary and Samuel, it included Anne, David, and Thomas Yale from Anne's first marriage to Thomas Yale.

The three Yale children all had notable places in the history of Connecticut. Thomas Yale (son of Thomas and Ann (Lloyd) Yale) settled in the New Haven Colony and signed the Fundamental Agreement of the New Haven Colony on June 4, 1639. Anne Yale (the daughter) married Edward Hopkins in 1631; he later became the governor of Connecticut. David Yale, who married Ursula Knight in 1641, became the father of Elihu Yale, namesake of Yale College.

Governor Eaton's five children fared as follows. Daughter Mary Eaton married Valentine Hill of Boston in 1647. (His brother, Nathaniel Eaton, the first schoolmaster of Harvard, was present as a witness.) Samuel Eaton became one of the five founding Fellows of Harvard College, one year after graduating,[2][3] then, in 1654, married Mabel (Harlakenden) Haynes. Both of them died in the small pox epidemic of 1655. Hannah Eaton married the Lt. Governor William Jones (1624–1706) in 1659. Theophilus Eaton, Jr., or Ellis, as he was known, returned to England with his mother after his father's death, settled in Dublin, Ireland, and married Catherine (daughter of Captain Thomas Maunsell and Alphra Crayford) in 1649, and their daughter Anne married Colonel Thomas Maunsell. Their daughter Elizabeth died in London in March 1637 before the family departed for the colonies.

Early career in England For several years Theophilus was an agent for King Charles I to the Danish Court, then a merchant in London. He was a Puritan interested in colonial development and was one of the original patent holders and president of the Massachusetts Bay Company.

Emigration to New England He emigrated to New England with other Puritans in the ship Hector, arriving in Boston on June 26, 1637.

His group of colonists had John Davenport as their religious leader, and they wanted to start their own settlement – probably due in part to the commanding persona of John Winthrop, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony at the time (1637 to 1640, and many other terms). Winthrop was termed "an object of great fear in all the colonies," and caused the Rev. Thomas Hooker and others to go off and form their own colonies as well.

Foundation of New Haven In the spring his group moved from Boston and when they arrived on April 14, 1638 they named the site New Haven.

1832 map of New Haven by J.W. Barber That fall, Eaton led an exploration to the south, and located a site at Quinnipiack on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. On November 14, 1638, he and his company entered into an agreement with the chief sachem Momauquin agreeing that in exchange for protection from the Quinnipiack Indians' ancient enemies, the Mohawk and the Pequot, Momauquin would relinquish his right, title, and interest to the lands that both parties agreed would not later evolve into feelings of animosity, hate, or regret. [Cf. J. W. Barber, History and Antiquities of New Haven, (Conn.) (1831) pp. 25–29].

The Mohawks and the Pequots had all but wiped out the New Haven Indians, leaving but 40 surviving males, and to that end Theophilus and his company also covenanted to protect them when unreasonably assaulted and terrified, that they would always have a sufficient quantity of land to plant on, and by way of free and thankful retribution that they give to the sachem and his council and company: twelve coats of English cloth, twelve alchemy spoons, twelve hatchets, twelve hoes, two dozen knives, twelve porringers, and four cases of French knives & scissors.

This agreement was signed and legally executed by Momauquin and his council as well as by Theophilus Eaton and John Davenport.

Some still say, however, that Theophilus simply traded thirteen coats to the local Indians for seven townships of land; but what is a fact is that in the following December 1638 he and his company did also purchase the usage of a large area of land from Monotowese, son of the sachem at Mattabeseck, which was 10 miles in length and 13 in breadth. He did pay 13 coats to Monotowese as per their agreement, but again, the English gave the Indians ample grounds to plant on and free usage of all the lands for hunting. Further, even though Monotowese's tribe consisted of but 10 males with their women and children, it was understood that the English would also protect them from the Mohawk and the Pequots.

Upon arrival in the new colony, Theophilus at first attempted to resume his trade as a merchant. He was not successful, however, since the colony was too new to afford imports and the Indian fur trade was more successful at the Dutch outposts at Hartford, so he soon turned to farming.

When the New Haven Colony established its administration, he was chosen as one of the "seven pillars of the church" acting as one of the 7 councilors who formed the body of freemen and elected civil officers.

Their names were: Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport, Robert Newman, Matthew Gilbert, Thomas Fugill, John Punderson, and Jeremiah Dixon.

Career as governor He was elected as the first governor on June 4, 1639 and reelected each year until his death on January 7, 1657/8 (Julian Calendar timing). He was buried on the green in New Haven and later his remains were removed to Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven. One of his major accomplishments as governor was the creation of a written legal code for the colony in 1655 later to be known as the Blue Laws of Connecticut.[4] For this, and the fact that he was the first president of the Massachusetts Bay Company, he is sometimes thought of as being the Father of American Law, but this is arguably an example of hyperbole.

Epitaph Theophilus' epitaph reads as follows ...

Theophilus Eaton, Esqr. Govr. dec'd Jan'y 7, 1657, Ætat. 67.

    Eaton so fam'd, so wise, so just,

    The Phœnix of our world, here lies his dust,

    This name forget, N. England never must.

Siblings Theophilus' younger brother Nathaniel Eaton (1609–1674) was the first schoolmaster of Harvard College. He was deposed in 1639 by the then Governor John Winthrop in what some have considered to be Massachusetts' first Witch Trial. Another brother, Samuel Eaton (1597–1665), was a minister who accompanied Theophilus to New Haven, but later returned to England.

See also New Haven, Connecticut History of Connecticut Robert Seeley Louisa Caroline Huggins Tuthill References

'Parishes : Stony Stratford', Victoria History of the Counties of England, A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 4 (1927), pp. 476-482, citing D.N.B.

The Harvard Charter of 1650 The Charter of the President and Fellows of Harvard College, under the seal of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, and bearing the date May 31st, A. D. 1650, Harvard College. Accessed October 9, 2017.

Sibley, J.L. Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Volume 1, by John Langdon Sibley, Johnson Reprint Corporation, 1642, p. 171.

"Hinman, Royal Ralph (1838). The Blue laws of New Haven colony: usually called Blue laws of Connecticut; Quaker laws of Plymouth and Massachusetts; Blue laws of New York, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina. First record of Connecticut; interesting extracts from Connecticut records; cases of Salem witchcraft; charges and banishment of Rev. Roger Williams, &c.; and other interesting and instructive antiquities. Compiled by an antiquarian." Hartford: Case, Tiffany. pp. 130 External links New Haven's Fundamental Agreement

September 3, 2011 Founding Family: Theophilus Eaton of New Haven Colony This is a well known Eaton progenitor, perhaps you can claim descendancy from him.

Theophilus, first Governor of the New Haven Colony, was born in the year 1590, at Stony Stratford in England. Theophilus and his brothers, the Revs. Samuel, and Nathaniel Eaton were among the children of the Rev. Richard Eaton, of Over-Whetley, Co. Chester, England, who died not long after July 1616. Rev. Richard Eaton, who was born in 1563, received his education at Lincoln college, and became vicar of the parish of Great Budworth, in Cheshire. He afterwards removed to Stony Stratford, where he was for some time pastor of a church, and from thence he removed to Coventry, where he died in the pastoral office, in 1617, at the age of 54. Mather characterizes him as "a faithful and famous minister."

Governor Eaton was twice married. Of his first wife we have no other account than that she died after becoming the mother of two of his children. His second wife was Ann, the widow of David Yale, Esq., and daughter of Dr. Thomas Morton, the bishop of Chester. [Note: Ann was daughter of George Lloyd, bishop of Chester.] At the time of this marriage, she had three children, David, Thomas and Ann Yale, to whom, says Mather, Mr. Eaton "became a most exemplary, loving and faithful father." Edward Hopkins married Ann, and the three children came to New England with their mother.

Governor Eaton, in his will, names three children only--doubtless all who were at that time living. Mather says that two of his children died of the plague in London. Of those who died before him, his son Samuel was the most distinguished. He was born in 1629, came with his father to New England, graduated at Harvard college in 1649, and was chosen a magistrate of New Haven colony in May, 1654. He and his wife died with two days of each other, in June, 1655."(42)

The three children named in the Will, were Theophilus, Mary, and Hannah. Theophilus, a son by the first marriage (Incorrect: Theo Jr. was son of second marriage -- his mother was Anne Lloyd Yale Eaton), came to this country, but returned and settled in Dublin. Mary was married to Valentine Hill, who, in 1658, removed to Pascatawqua in New Hampshire. He had been a deacon in the First Church of Boston. Hannah, after the death of her father, accompanied her mother to England, where, in 1659, she was married to William Jones, an English barrister, son of Col. John Jones (this may also be incorrect), brother-in-law of Cromwell, and one of the regicides executed on the Restoration in 1660. Source: Memoir of Theophilus Eaton by Jacob Bailey Moore (1797-1853) Posted by Barbara Lee Fitzsenry