The first settlers of Guilford, Connecticut came to America as passengers on the Saint John. The company of settlers on the Saint John was led by the Reverend Henry Whitfield, who had been the rector of St. Margaret's at Ockley in Surrey since 1616.
They sailed from England on 20 May 1639 under the command of a Captain Richard Russell, and arrived at New Haven (then Quinnipac), Connecticut, between the 10th and 15th of July 1639.
While still at sea the settlers organized a single communal plantation; this was outlined in a document now known as thePlantation Covenant. It was signed by twenty five men.
Guilford, CT Plantation CovenantWe whose names are herein written, intending by God's gracious permission, to plant ourselves in New England, and if it may be in the southerly part, about Quinpisac [Quinnipiac, later named New Haven], we do faithfully promise each for ourselves and families and those that belong to us, that we will, the Lord assisting us, sit down and join ourselves together in one entire plantation and to be helpful to the other in any common work, according to every man's ability and as need shall require, and we promise not to desert or leave each other on the plantation but with the consent of the rest, or the greater part of the company, who have entered into this engagement.
As for our gathering together into a church way and the choice officers and members to be joined together in that way, we do refer ourselves until such time as it shall please God to settle us in our plantation.
In witness whereof we subscribe our hands, this first day of June 1639.
The names of the Guilford settlers that came to New Haven in the second ship in July, 1639, are believed to be as follows: