David Atwater

History

Was a founder of the Colony of New Haven, Connecticut. Was the first of the New Haven Colony who was sworn a freeman of the United Colony.

Born in 1615 Royton, Lenham, Kent, England son of John Atwater and Susan Narsin, came to North America June 26, 1637 when he was 22. He sailed to America on a ship named Hector. Traveling with him was John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton (founders of New Haven). Joshua and Ann his sister and brother where also aboard.

From Boston the group made their way to the Quinnipiack (home of the Quinnipiack Indians). But returned to Boston due to their lack of preparedness of the New England winter, His Brother and 7 others remained in New Haven. Returning in the spring of 1638 and settled there. On June 4, 1639 he signed the plantation covenant in Francis Newman's barn along with 20 others. The valuation of their land was £500 and up.

A farm was assigned to him in the "Neck" the tract between the Mill and Quinnipiac Rivers. In 1685, David Atwater, Jr. inherited his father's home, now believed to be on View and Ridge Streets. The will described it as an "old House, Barn and Orchard, [...] and twelve acres, lying on both sides ye creek, adjoining to meadow of Isaac Turner's, and twenty acres of upland, ten to ye Cornfield and ten in ye Neck, soth halfe that peese of land fensed in on ye west side of Road and ye Rock." The rest of his property was bequeathed to his son Samuel Atwater, including David's "dwelling house, barne and other buildings, with the Orchard". Remnants of the apple orchards and plants from gardens long ago are thought to still be in the area.