Editing Fairfield, Connecticut (section)

=== Colonial era ===

In 1635, [[Puritan]]s and [[Congregationalists]] in the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]], were dissatisfied with the rate of [[Anglican]] reform, and sought to establish an ecclesiastical society subject to their own rules and regulations. The Massachusetts General Court granted them permission to settle in the towns of [[Windsor, Connecticut|Windsor]], [[Wethersfield, Connecticut|Wethersfield]], and [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]] which are now within a state known as [[Connecticut]].

On January 14, 1639, a set of legal and administrative regulations called the [[Fundamental Orders of Connecticut|Fundamental Orders]] was adopted and established Connecticut as a self-ruling entity.  By 1639, these settlers had started new towns in the surrounding areas. [[Roger Ludlowe]], framer of the Fundamental Orders, purchased the land called Unquowa (presently called Fairfield), and established the name. The name "Fairfield" is commendatory.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA332|year=1903|work=Connecticut Magazine Company|page=332}}</ref>

According to historian John M. Taylor:
{{blockquote|Early in 1639, the General Court granted a commission to Ludlowe to begin a plantation at Pequannocke. He was on that errand, with a few others from Windsor, afterwards joined by immigrants from [[Watertown, Massachusetts|Watertown]] and [[Concord, Massachusetts|Concord]]. He stole a large tract of land from the Pequannocke sachems – afterwards greatly enlarged by other purchases to the westward – and recalling the attractive region beyond (Unquowa), which he had personally seen on the second Pequot expedition, he also "set down" there, having purchased the territory embraced by the present town of Fairfield.<ref>Taylor, John M., ''Roger Ludlowe the Colonial Lawmaker'', 1900, Google Book Search, Retrieved May 27, 2008</ref>}}