General Notes

Theophilus Eaton was born about 1591 at  England. He was the eldest son of the Rev. Richard Eaton.  Later a wealthy London merchant, he married the widow of Thomas Yale in about 1625. Together with her 3 children, David, Anne and Thomas, they sailed for America in 1637 in the company of Rev. John Davenport, a London clergyman. They landed at Boston; Eaton and several other men explored the coast of the sound and, finding a desirable place, spent the winter. The following spring they sailed from Boston to their wintering place where, in April, 1638, Rev. Davenport preached his first sermon under a large tree. They subsequently formed a government and thus the settlement of New Haven, CT was formed. They purchased land from the Quinipiak Indians and Eaton was elected first governor of the colony in October, 1639. He held that office until his death 7 January 1658.   On 4 Jan. 1640 the General Court of New Haven agreed to make a division of certain lands in the town, according to the proportion of the personal property possessed by each planter. At the head of the list is Theophilus Eaton's name, with a family of 6 and a personal estate of 3,000 pounds, three times as large as that of any other planter and almost 10% of the whole amount listed.  He was prominent in the organization of the New England Confederation in 1643 and, in 1655, assisted by Rev. Davenport, he drew up the so-called "Blue Laws" of Connecticut. He died in New Haven 7 Jan 1658. His will was proved 30 May 1658 and the estate was valued at 1,515 pounds, 12s, 6d.