General Notes

"A History of the Plantation of Menunkatuck" by Bernard Christian Steiner 1897
page 88

As early as October 9, 1645, four men are fined for neglecting to keep up a fence against cattle, and on May 28, 1646, the  second civil case recorded was heard, that of Relf vs. Bishop & Jordan, for trespass by "hoggs" on the plaintiff's corn.  Thomas Relf claimed that he was damnifyed to the value fo fifty shillings, by injury done by the defendants' animasl to 2 acres of Indian Corn in the East Creek quater. John Bishop confessed that the hogs were his and was fined 5 bushels of Indian corn and 7 shillings in wampum; but Thomas Jordan denied ownership of the hogs and was, apparently, acquitted.
This suit led to another, Bishop vs. Sheaffe, in which the plaintiff claimed that the hogs had gotten into Relf's corn, through the "default" of Mr. Sehaffe's fence, and that the fine should be repaid him by the defendant. Mr Sheaffe, by his attorneys, Messrs. Kitchel and Chittenden, acknowledged that his fence was unmade, but claimed that Mr. Bishop;s "hoggs were disorderly, viz: unyoked, &c." As no proff of neglect on Mr. Bishop's part was given, the Court sentenced Mr. Sheaffe to repay the fine.

page 247
(chapter on fences)
At the same meeting (December 30, 1647), "the Court", being willing to show tenderness & respect to Mr. Bishop", granted for a year his petition to be "foreborne fencing of the way (Boston Street) from his lands by Thomas Relfe's," provided "he be carefull to keep convenient gates for passage."

Title: The Bishop Genealogy pages ix thru xi.
The vessel St. John, carrying John Bishop and his family, together with 24 other original settlers of Guilford, sailed from London 20 May 1639. They landed at Quinnipiack around 10 Sep 1639. His name is the second signature on the Guilford Compact.
They then relocated to Menunkatuck, now Guilford. John Bishop was on the the six original trustees of the community land, and one of the four original justices of the peace.
His date of birth is not known, but he is assumed to have been near 50 when he came to America since he already had grandchildren. He was a farmer and owned a large tract of land in addition to his seven acre home lot.
He died in Jan 1660. He will was probated 7 Feb 1660 (New Haven Colonial Records, p 449 and Guilford Records, Book A page 185). He wife died at the home of her son-in-law, John Steele in Hartford in April 1676.
Title: The Guilford Covenant - 1639
We whose names are here underwritten intending by God's gracious permission to plant ourselves in New England,and if it maybe in the southerly part of Quinnipiack ,do faithfully promise each, for ourselves and those that belong to us that we will the Lord assisting us sit down and form ourselves together in one entire plantation and be helpful each to the other in any common work according to everyman's ability and as need shall require and we promise not to desert or leave each other or the plantation but with the consent of the rest or the greater part of the company who have entered into this engagement. As to our gathering to be joined together in that way we do refer ourselves, until such time, as it shall please, God to settle us in our plantation. In witness where of we subscribe our names, this first of June , 1639.

Robert Kitchell - Thomas Jones - William Plane - John Mepham - Thomas Naish
JOHN BISHOP - John Jordan - Richard Guttage - Thomas Norton - Henry Kingnoth - Francis Bushnell - William Stone - John Housefol - Abraham Cruttenden - Henry Dowde - William Chittenden - John Hoadely - William Dudley - Francis Chatfield - Thomas Cooke - William Leete - John Stone - John Pemely - William Halle - Henry Whitfield.