MEMOIR

OF

THEOPHILUS EATON.

"No character in the annals of New England, (says Savage,) is of purer fame than that of THEOPHILUS EATON, governor of the colony of New Haven, from its settlement to his death, by twenty annual elections; the only instance of such an honor ever conferred. That his talents were adequate to the station, might be confidently concluded, from the fact of his prior service, several years, as representative of Charles I., to the court of Denmark; and the long administration of an infant state without a rival, is irrefragable proof of his prudence and virtue. All the original writers of our history are abundant in his praise, and the later and more judicious inquirers are satisfied with their evidence."*

Of the family of Governor Eaton, the accounts which have been transmitted to us are meagre. His father was the 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 characterises him as a faithful and famous minister."

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THEOPHILUS EATON was born in the year 1590, at Stony Stratford. He was placed in school at Coventry, to which town his father had removed, and there the young pupil became noted for proficiency in his studies. It is said of him,

*Savage's Winthrop, i. 228.

+ Stony Stratford is a market town on the river Ouse, in the hundred and deanery of Newport, county of Buckingham, some 52 miles distant from London, on the old Roman road, called Watling street. Lyson's Britannia.

also, that he possessed a memory so tenacious, that he could repeat whole sermons which he had heard at church.* The father of Mr. Eaton observing his capacity, desired that he should make preparation to enter upon the work of the ministry, his own cherished calling: but the son had adopted other views, and ultimately decided to qualify himself for commercial pursuits. He was accordingly apprenticed to the business of a merchant. After the accustomed service, he became a freeman of the city of London, and engaged successfully in "the east-country trade," that is. the trade with countries on the shores of the Baltic. Thus brief are the accounts which have come down to us, of the early life of this remarkable man; but they are sufficient to convey a strong impression of his character.

It was not long before the abilities of Mr. Eaton, which had been rendered conspicuous by his successful enterprises, attracted the attention of the East Land Company. and he was chosen deputy-governor of that corporation. In carrying out their plans, he visited the northern countries of Europe. He succeeded in making arrangements materially to increase the traffic of the company with the ports on the Baltic; and became so well known for his energy and success, that he was shortly afterwards appointed the agent of Charles I., at the court of Denmark. In the fashion of the times, and under the reign of a Stuart, there was nothing incompatible in this double employment; and it is known that he conducte the affairs of his two-fold agency in such a manner as to win the confidence of the king, and the respect of the sovereign to whose court he had been accredited. He was equally successful in promoting the interests of the great commercial company of which he was the representative. Resuming business in London, after his return from Copenhagen, as might naturally be inferred, under the most favorable circumstances, Mr. Eaton was eminently successful, and Mather says of him, that he "spent many years, a merchant of great credit and fashion in the city of London."

Mather's Magn. b. ii. 26.

+ Kingsley's Hist. Disc. 11.

A commercial company in London, established in 1579, under the title of the Company of Merchants of the East," simular to the great Hainburgh Company, incorporated by Edward I., in 1296, and the oldest trading establishment in the kingdom. The Eastland Company consisted alone of merchants who had trafficked through the Sound before 1568, into Denmark, Norway, Sweden, &c. It was complained of as a monopoly, and its privileges were curtailed in 1672; and since the revolution of 1688, it has existed only in name.

Mr. Eaton was a puritan in faith, and took a deep interest in the emigrations to America, which marked the beginning of the seventeenth century. He was one of the patentees of Massachusetts, and one of the magistrates or assistants, chosen in 1629. He took an active part in the proceedings of the company, before its transfer to New England, and contributed liberally towards providing the means for the settlement of the colony. It has been sup

posed that Mr. Eaton had no original purpose of going to New England; but that when proceedings under the act of uniformity became so oppressive as to induce his beloved pastor and particular friend, Mr. Davenport,* to retire into Holland, and afterwards prepare for emigration to America, he determined to throw up his pursuits and prospects in England, and accompany his friend to the shores of the new world. Of their preliminary arrangements, unfortunately, no account has been preserved, such as marks the progress, step by step, of the pioneers of New Plymouth and Massa

Rev. JOHN DAVENPORT was born in Coventry, in 1597. At the age of fourteen he entered Merton College, then in Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and before he was twenty, entered upon the duties of a preacher, first as domestic chaplain at Hilton Castle, near Durham, and afterwards as vicar of St. Stephens, in Coleman street, London. In 1625 he received his degree as bachelor of divinity. By great application to study he had become distinguished as a scholar, and as a preacher, he held the first rank. Becoming a conscientious non-conformist, he was obliged to retire into Holland in 1633, to escape the persecution of Archbishop Laud. At Amsterdam he became colleague pastor of the English Church in that city, but resisting the promiscuous baptism of children, then practised in Holland, he was compelled to withdraw from the church, and in 1636 he returned to London. Here, joining the company of his friend, Theophilus Eaton, he prepared for emigration to America. He became the minister and spiritual guide of the people of New Haven, on the establishment of the colony, and remained with them until after his cherished colony had been merged in that of Connecticut. In April, 1668, just thirty years after the commencement of his ministry at New Haven, he accepted the invitation of the first church in Boston, to succeed the Rev. Mr. Wilson, who had deceased. But his labors there were of short duration. He died suddenly, of apoplexy, 15th March, 1670, at the age of 72, and was buried in the tomb of his friend Cotton. Ample accounts of this excellent divine are contained in Professor Kingsley's and Dr. Bacon's Historical Discourses.

Several of the descendants of Mr. Davenport became distinguished as clergymen in Connecticut and New York. Hon. Abraham Davenport, of Stamford, was distinguished for his vigorous understanding, integrity, and firmness. Dr. Dwight relates the following anecdote: "On the 19th May, 1780, (the memorable dark day.) the legislature was in session at Hartford. A very general opinion prevailed, that the day of judgment was at hand. The house of representatives being unable to transact business, adjourned. A proposal to adjourn the council was under consideration; when the opinion of Col. Davenport was asked, he answered, "I am against au adjournment. The day of judgment is either approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause of adjournment; if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish, therefore, that candles may be brought."