Guilford Center in New Haven County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Guilford
Photographed By Michael Herrick, June 17, 2012
1. Guilford Marker
Inscription.
Guilford. .
Guilford. This town, the seventh oldest in Connecticut, was founded in 1639 by an oppressed but optimistic band of English Puritans. Henry Whitfield, a minister in Ockley, near London, was the moving spirit behind their emigration. About forty of his friends and sympathizers formed a joint stock company to sail across the Atlantic. They were mostly young and energetic men, farmers, well-educated, and all of them persons of high standing in their community. In a deed of sale dated September 29, 1639, the Whitfield Company purchased the lands between Stony Creek and East River from the Squaw Shaumpishuh, Sachem of the local Menunkatuck Indian tribe. Whitfield’s stone house at first served as a fortress and meeting place. Guilford Green was inspired by the typical 17th century English common. In the fall of 1641 the settlers purchased from the Indians land beyond East River that included most of what became East Guilford. [ back ] East Guilford, now Madison, was set off as a distinct church society in 1703, North Guilford in 1720, and North Bristol (North Madison) in 1753. Two good harbors and two tidal rivers assured success to Guilford in Connecticut – New York coastwise shipping and the West India trade during the 18th century. In the American Revolution, British troops landed several times and burned two houses. The famous Sachem’s Head Hotel (1832-1865) and Guilford Point House (1797-1897) made this town the center of society for many years. John Beattie’s granite quarries at Leete’s Island employed as many as three hundred workmen and supplied stone for the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. Famous sons of Guilford include William Leete, an early Governor of Connecticut; Fitz-Greene Halleck, one of the noted Knickerbocker Poets; and Abraham Baldwin, a signer of the United States Constitution and a Senator from Georgia. Erected by the Town of Guilford The Guilford Foundation The Guilford Keeping Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1980
Guilford
This town, the seventh oldest in Connecticut, was founded in 1639 by an oppressed but optimistic band of English Puritans. Henry Whitfield, a minister in Ockley, near London, was the moving spirit behind their emigration. About forty of his friends and sympathizers formed a joint stock company to sail across the Atlantic. They were mostly young and energetic men, farmers, well-educated, and all of them persons of high standing in their community. In a deed of sale dated September 29, 1639, the Whitfield Company purchased the lands between Stony Creek and East River from the Squaw Shaumpishuh, Sachem of the local Menunkatuck Indian tribe. Whitfield’s stone house at first served as a fortress and meeting place. Guilford Green was inspired by the typical 17th century English common. In the fall of 1641 the settlers purchased from the Indians land beyond East River that included most of what became East Guilford.
[ back ]
East Guilford, now Madison, was set off as a distinct church society in 1703, North Guilford in 1720, and North Bristol (North Madison) in 1753. Two good harbors and two tidal rivers assured success to Guilford in Connecticut – New York coastwise shipping and the West India trade during the 18th century. In the American Revolution, British troops landed several times and
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burned two houses. The famous Sachem’s Head Hotel (1832-1865) and Guilford Point House (1797-1897) made this town the center of society for many years. John Beattie’s granite quarries at Leete’s Island employed as many as three hundred workmen and supplied stone for the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. Famous sons of Guilford include William Leete, an early Governor of Connecticut; Fitz-Greene Halleck, one of the noted Knickerbocker Poets; and Abraham Baldwin, a signer of the United States Constitution and a Senator from Georgia.
Erected by the Town of Guilford The Guilford Foundation The Guilford Keeping Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1980
Erected 1980.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is September 29, 1940.
Location. 41° 16.969′ N, 72° 40.864′ W. Marker is in Guilford, Connecticut, in New Haven County. It is in Guilford Center. Marker is at the intersection of Park Street and Boston Street, on the left when traveling north on Park Street. Located on the Guilford Green. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Guilford CT 06437, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . 1. Guilford, Connecticut. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 7, 2012, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. The Town of Guilford. Town website homepage (Submitted on July 7, 2012, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
3. Shoreline Chamber of Commerce. Website homepage (Submitted on January 21, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Michael Herrick, June 17, 2012
3. Guilford Marker
The Guilford marker in front of Guilford Town Hall
Photographed By Michael Herrick, June 17, 2012
4. Guilford Marker
The Guilford marker on the edge of the Guilford Green.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2012, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 698 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 7, 2012, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
