The History of Greenwich Part of New England Lore (1986)

by Jeffrey Bingham Mead

Greenwich Time, Greenwich, Connecticut
Wednesday, July 16, 1986

Crossroad Farm, North Greenwich. Photo: November 10, 2014.

On Friday Founders' Day arrives again marking Greenwich's 346th anniversary. It was nearly three and a half centuries ago today in the year 1640 that local Indians sold the land between Asamuck, which is the stream flowing through Binney Park, and Patamuck, the river dividing Stamford and Greenwich.

The buyers, Capt. Daniel Patrick and Robert Feaks, by today's real estate prices received quite a bargain for 25 English coats. Robin Feaks's wife, Elizabeth, bought what is now Greenwich Point. Jeffrey Ferris, who claimed some land to the west of Patamuck Cove, is the early settler who gave Greenwich its name, after the town in England famous as the site of the prime meridian line.

During these last 346 years the town has been under the rule of three nations; the Netherlands, England and the United States, all of which, coincidentally, have flags colored red, white and blue. Ever since the Declaration of Independence in 1776 the town of Greenwich has been a part of United States of America, an incorporated town in the State of Connecticut, one of the original thirteen colonies the formed the basis of the new nation.

The entrance to Putnam Cottage. August 2014. 

Both fact and fiction are intertwined in the many of the rich stories of early Greenwich featuring its settlers and landmarks. As we pause for just a moment landmarks such as Putnam Cottage, the Bush Holley House, Laddin's Rock, Put's Hill and the many historic burial grounds that dot the town come to mind. We are reminded of people like Cornelius Labdin, General Israel Putnam and General Lafayette, of the founding proprietors of the town, and of men who at the call of duty fought for those who died for their country.

Situated on Long Island Sound, our town enjoys a superb natural setting over rolling wooded hills framed to the south by its shoreline. It is a town whose people have over the course of time made many contributions to the life and progress of our state and nation.

Along with our love for achievement and advancement many of us, like many Americans in general, reserve in our hearts a romanticized wish for the small town. Just picture for yourself portraits of white clapboarded houses enhanced by majestic oak and red maple trees amid rolling hills in autumn, or if you prefer, on old saltbox shut snugly against a cold, windy winter snowfall, with an open hearth whose blazing fire within invitingly warms the body and soul.

The importance of history and safeguarding our valuable heritage is part of what Founders' Day in Greenwich is about. The desire to preserve is for the most part motivated not only by a sense of tradition but also out of practical necessity due to the commercial and residential building boom over recent years. Many historic buildings and land exist no more except in the volumes of local history books and in the fond memories of the old timers. It is for this reason that historical societies in their members are emissaries of a counter-movement that has brought about the restoration and safeguarding of many landmarks around the town.

It is a people's movement, whose love and dedication for history of the quality-of-life this town offers is motivated by tradition and purpose joining men and women together to work for the common good.

It is indeed quite a task to summarize the spirit of Founders' Day Eve evokes. I have to wonder sometimes what Captain Daniel Patrick, Jeffrey Ferris and Robert and Elizabeth Feaks would think and say if they saw Greenwich today. Could they ever imagined that a simple transaction involving 25 English coats would have paved the way for the town we know, honor and endeavor to preserve today?

Jeffrey B. Mead, who lives in Greenwich, is a direct descendent of one of the founding families of the town. He is a freelance writer and a member of the Greenwich Historical Society.