Editing New Haven, Connecticut (section)

=== Pre-colonial foundation as an independent colony ===
Before Europeans arrived, the New Haven area was the home of the [[Quinnipiac]] tribe of Native Americans, who lived in villages around the harbor and sustained an economy of local fisheries and the farming of maize. The area was briefly visited by Dutch explorer [[Adriaen Block]] in 1614. Dutch traders set up a small trading system of [[beaver]] pelts with the local inhabitants, but trade was sporadic and the Dutch did not settle permanently in the area.
[[File:Atwater1881 p10 Map New Haven in 1641.jpg|thumb|left|The 1638 nine-square plan, with the extant [[New Haven Green]] at its center, continues to define New Haven's downtown.]]

In 1637, a small party of Puritans did a reconnaissance of the New Haven harbor area and wintered over. In April 1638, the main party of five hundred Puritans, who had left the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]] under the leadership of Reverend [[John Davenport (Puritan)|John Davenport]] and London merchant [[Theophilus Eaton]], sailed into the harbor. It was their hope to set up a theological community with the government more closely linked to the church than that in Massachusetts, and to exploit the area's potential as a port. The Quinnipiacs, who were under attack by neighboring [[Pequot people|Pequots]], sold their land to the settlers in return for a pledge of protection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Haven's History {{!}} New Haven, CT |url=https://www.newhavenct.gov/government/about-new-haven/new-haven-s-history |access-date=July 5, 2023 |website=www.newhavenct.gov |language=en |archive-date=July 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703045417/https://www.newhavenct.gov/government/about-new-haven/new-haven-s-history |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Wikisource|Government of New Haven Colony}}
[[File:Theophilus Eaton house in New Haven.png|thumb|right|House of New Haven Founder [[Theophilus Eaton]] as it stood at Orange and Elm streets in the 17th century]]

By 1640, "Quinnipiac's" [[theocracy|theocratic]] government and nine-square grid plan were in place, and the [[New England town|town]] was renamed New Haven, with '[[wiktionary:haven#Etymology|haven]]' meaning harbor or port. However, the area to the north remained Quinnipiac until 1678, when it was renamed [[Hamden, Connecticut|Hamden]]. The settlement became the headquarters of the [[New Haven Colony]], distinct from the [[Connecticut Colony]] previously established to the north centering on [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]]. Reflecting its theocratic roots, the New Haven Colony forbade the establishment of other churches, whereas the Connecticut Colony permitted them.

Economic disaster struck New Haven in 1646, when the town sent its first fully loaded ship of local goods (the "Great Shippe") back to England. It never reached its destination, and its disappearance hindered New Haven's development as compared to the rising trade powers of [[Boston]] and [[New Amsterdam]] (modern day New York City).

In 1660, Colony founder John Davenport's wishes were fulfilled, and [[Hopkins School]] was founded in New Haven with money from the estate of [[Edward Hopkins]].

In 1661, the [[Regicide of Charles I of England|Regicides]] who had signed the death warrant of [[Charles I of England]] were pursued by [[Charles II of England|Charles II]]. Two of them, Colonel [[Edward Whalley]] and Colonel [[William Goffe]], fled to New Haven for refuge. Davenport arranged for them to hide in the [[West Rock]] hills northwest of the town. A third judge, [[John Dixwell]], later joined the others. None of the three were ever returned to England for trial; Dixwell died of old age in New Haven, the others likewise elsewhere in New England.