85-556: The Henry Whitfield House is a historic house located in Guilford, Connecticut , down the street from the town green. This house dates from 1639, having been built just before the town of Guilford was settled. It is the oldest house in Connecticut and the oldest stone house in New England. It also served as a fort to protect the community with its massive stone walls. Henry Whitfield was
170-520: A Puritan minister who had come from England to flee religious persecution, and the settlers built the house for him. The house was remodeled in 1868 and opened to the public in 1899 as the Henry Whitfield State Museum , the first Connecticut state museum. It was restored in 1902–04 and again in the 1930s, and it was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997. It was named a State Archeological Preserve in 2006. The first settlers of
255-681: A Quinnipiac village. The Quinnipiac spoke Quiripi , one of the Eastern Algonquian branches of the Algonquian language family. By 1614, the Dutch had surveyed, charted, and established New Netherland , a colonial province, with claimed territories from the Delmarva Peninsula to Cape Cod . This included claims over the Quinnipiac territory. However, a lack of any significant Dutch presence in
340-628: A car or van, 6.0%; work mainly at or from home, 5.5%; bicycle, 3.1%; train, 3.0%. Westminster Children's Services administers many primary and secondary schools. In addition, there are several state-funded faith schools, primarily Church of England (CE), and Roman Catholic (RC), but Christian non-denominational (ND) schools are also in the borough, and there are several non-profit-making junior and senior independent schools . The city operates two reference libraries; Westminster Reference Library and Marylebone Information Service. Westminster Reference Library holds several special collections: of which
425-500: A caretaker's house in 1923. Kelly's restoration began with the reconstruction of the kitchen in 1930 and the rebuilding of the ell (the wing built perpendicular to the main house) in 1932. The external changes of the house included a steepening of the pitch of the roof, the construction of a chimney at the house's southern end, elimination of the stucco, and the creation of seventeenth century windows with diamond-shaped glass panels held together by lead bars. Interior restorations included
510-694: A city. In 1585 the Westminster Court of Burgesses was established to administer certain judicial powers in an area known as the City and Liberty of Westminster . From 1856 the area was also governed by the Metropolitan Board of Works , which was established to provide services across the metropolis of London. In 1889 the Metropolitan Board of Works' area was made the County of London . From 1856 until 1900
595-516: A few days ahead of that a royal charter was issued conferring city status on the new borough of Westminster from its creation. The Court of Burgesses, which had ceded most practical powers to the newer authorities, was finally abolished in 1901. The modern borough was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963 . It was a merger of the old Paddington, St Marylebone and Westminster metropolitan boroughs, and Westminster's city status
680-429: A home that was easily heated yet still sturdy. The original floor plan of the house included a kitchen and great hall (which could be divided by partitions into two separate rooms) on the first floor, a stair tower leading to the second floor, three bedroom chambers on the second floor, and a small attic above the chambers. The great hall was probably the most used room in the house. It is 33 feet long and 15 feet wide and
765-513: A month and sold it to Joseph Pynchon on November 6, 1772. Pynchon used the house as a summer home, but was forced to flee back to England because of his loyalist sympathies at the onset of the American Revolution . Before he left, he sold the house to Jasper Griffing on June 27, 1776, just a week prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence . Griffing, a patriot from Long Island ,
850-588: A place of worship before the first church was built in Guilford, as a meetinghouse for colonial town meetings, as a protective fort for the settlers in case of attack, and as a shelter for travelers between the New Haven and Saybrook colonies. Today, it is a museum, a State Archeological Preserve, a National Historic Landmark, and a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The architectural style of
935-444: A population of 204,300 at the 2021 census. The original settlement of Westminster was historically a separate urban area to the west of London, growing up around the minster church of Westminster Abbey. Westminster was an important centre of royal authority from Saxon times, and was declared a city in 1540. It was gradually absorbed into the urban area of London, but London's official city boundaries remained unchanged, covering just
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#17328873693771020-716: A shorter network of trails criss-cross the Sugarloaves. Guilford also contains the Westwoods Trail System which covers 39 miles (63 km) of trails on 1,200 acres (4.9 km ) of land. The Shore Line East train stops at Guilford station with service to Branford, East Haven, New Haven and New London , and the Connecticut Transit S bus travels between Guilford and New Haven several times each day. Other minor communities and geographic features in Guilford are Guilford Lakes, Indian Cove, and Old Quarry. As of
1105-402: A technique developed by the lack of more conventional building materials. Inside the great hall, the "joists and rafters were hand-hewn oaken timbers; the inside partitions were formed by wide planks of pine or white wood joined with feathered edges." The Whitfield House served primarily as the home for Henry Whitfield, Dorothy Shaeffe Whitfield, and their nine children. The house also served as
1190-645: Is a London borough with city status in Greater London , England. It is the site of the United Kingdom's Houses of Parliament and much of the British government . It contains a large part of central London , including most of the West End , such as the major shopping areas around Oxford Street , Regent Street , Piccadilly and Bond Street , and the entertainment district of Soho . Many London landmarks are within
1275-540: Is a town in New Haven County , Connecticut , United States , that borders Madison , Branford , North Branford and Durham , and is situated on I-95 and the Connecticut coast. The town is part of the South Central Connecticut Planning Region . The population was 22,073 at the 2020 census . Prior to European colonization , the area that became Guilford was the site of Menunkatuck ,
1360-508: Is at 14 St James's Square . Many countries' embassies or High Commissions are in Westminster. The current Westminster coat of arms was given by an official grant on 2 September 1964. Westminster had other arms before, which had a chief identical to the chief in the present arms. The symbols in the lower two thirds of the shield stand for former municipalities now merged with the city, Paddington and St Marylebone. The original arms had
1445-408: Is land and 2.7 square miles (6.9 km or 5.39%) is water. The primary settlement in Guilford, known as Guilford Center, is located in the southern part of town around the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and Connecticut Route 77 . It is served by three exits of Interstate 95 , which passes just north of the town center. The Guilford Center census-designated place had a population of 2,597 at
1530-400: Is noted for its rolling farmland, its avoidance of the density and sprawl that has occurred from land use regulations of its neighboring communities, and its numerous historic homes and sites. The town is home to one of the most well-preserved and intact central villages in the region. Its historical significance is further underscored by the presence of over 450 historical houses dating from
1615-718: Is one of the oldest wooden framed private dwellings in Connecticut, and one of the few houses remaining of the original signers who settled Guilford. In June 1781, during the American Revolution, a skirmish was fought on Leete's Island between the Associated Loyalists and local militia under Captain Peter Vail. According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 49.7 square miles (129 km ), of which 47.0 square miles (122 km )
1700-746: Is served by the Guilford Public Schools district, which provides comprehensive education from kindergarten through high school. The district comprises four elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school, offering a range of academic and extracurricular programs. The Guilford Free Library is a resource for the community, providing access to a vast collection of books, digital media, historical materials about Guilford’s history and genealogy, and educational programs for all ages. The library hosts numerous events, workshops, and activities aimed at promoting literacy and lifelong learning. The town government operates these parks: Guilford, Connecticut
1785-550: The Colonial Dames of America , and it was completed on October 20, 1937. The Henry Whitfield House was formally opened as a museum in 1899, after the first official remodeling was completed, making it Connecticut's first state museum. The museum is operated by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. The creation of the museum reflected a trend toward nativism amongst old American families during
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#17328873693771870-450: The Diocese of London in 1540, by letters patent which also granted city status to Westminster, a status retained after the diocese was abolished in 1550. The area was historically part of the county of Middlesex . Whilst an important centre of royal authority from Saxon times, Westminster was not formally incorporated as a borough for local government purposes until 1900. However, it
1955-451: The East Haven colony instead. Upon Whitfield's death in 1657 the ownership was passed on to Dorothy. Before her return to England in 1659, the town of Guilford, led by future Governor of Connecticut, William Leete , and William Chittenden, attempted to purchase the house as a grammar school for the settlement. The transaction never occurred because the town lacked sufficient funds to purchase
2040-512: The Guilford colony began construction of their minister's home in September 1639, shortly after their arrival in the area. However, they had begun construction too late in the year, and winter weather prevented them from finishing anything more than half of the great hall and the north fireplace. By the summer of 1640, the settlers had completed the rest of the hall, the second floor, and the attic, and Whitfield and his family moved in. Accounts of
2125-555: The Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) and Big Ben . Charing Cross is the notional centre of London and the location where distances from London are measured. This custom appears to have begun with the set distances of the 12 Eleanor crosses to Lincoln, England in the north, and expanded even after destruction of most of the crosses. These include Green Park , Hyde Park , Kensington Gardens , Regent's Park and St James's Park . In addition to parks and open spaces within
2210-520: The Pequot grand sachem Sassacus near Menunkatuck. At a neck of land known today as Sachems Head, they captured and executed three Pequot sachems before continuing on west in pursuit of Sassacus. In 1639, after landing in the plantation of Quinnipiaic (later known as New Haven) via ship from England, a group of 24 English Puritan families led by Rev. Henry Whitfield chose to settle almost 13 miles away near Menukatuck. During their voyage from England,
2295-496: The census of 2000, there were 21,398 people, 8,151 households, and 6,039 families residing in the town. The population density was 454.8 inhabitants per square mile (175.6/km ). There were 8,724 housing units at an average density of 185.4 per square mile (71.6/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 96.04% White , 0.93% African American , 0.05% Native American , 1.65% Asian , 0.41% from other races , and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of
2380-534: The 17th to the 19th centuries. Among its notable designations, Guilford includes a National Historic Landmark, four designated areas, and 11 individual structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Additionally, the town features two local historic districts encompassing a total of 226 buildings within the downtown area, highlighting its rich historical and architectural legacy. Historic districts include: * Consolidated borough and town City of Westminster The City of Westminster
2465-474: The 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 61.02% of the town vote, against 38.06% for Republican John McCain . In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton carried the town with 59.2% over Republican Donald Trump with 37.1%. American Cruise Lines has its headquarters in Guilford. There are many small businesses throughout the town, including the shops on the Guilford Green . Guilford
2550-695: The 2010 census. The northwest side of Guilford is flanked by the Metacomet Ridge , a mountainous trap rock ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound to nearly the Vermont border. Important features of the Metacomet ridge in Guilford include Totoket Mountain ; its most notable peak, Bluff Head; and two eastern high points on the Totoket Mountain ridge named East Sugarloaf and West Sugarloaf. The 50-mile (80 km) Mattabesett Trail traverses Bluff Head;
2635-710: The Church of England persecuted Separatists and Puritans who opposed the liturgy and ecclesiastical structure of the English church. Whitfield's sympathies shifted to the Puritan movement following persecutions ordered by Archbishop William Laud . Laud established a network to spy on and break up nonconforming religious groups. In 1633, Whitfield hosted a meeting in his home in Ockley to persuade John Cotton and Thomas Hooker to conform to Laud's dictates so that they could keep their positions in
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2720-624: The City of Westminster also have a large concentration of hedge fund and private equity funds. The West End is known as the Theatre District and is home to many of the leading performing arts businesses. Soho and its adjoining areas house a concentration of media and creative companies. Oxford Street is a busy shopping destination. The City of Westminster contains some of the most famous sites in London, including Buckingham Palace , Westminster Abbey ,
2805-570: The County of London was reorganised into metropolitan boroughs . The parish of Paddington became the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington , and the parish of the St Marylebone became the Metropolitan Borough of St Marylebone . The various territories within the old City and Liberty of Westminster became the Metropolitan Borough of Westminster . The new boroughs came into being on 1 November 1900;
2890-587: The Henry Whitfield House occurred in 1868, under the ownership of the Mary Chittenden. Mrs. Chittenden devoted a great deal of her inheritance from her late husband, Henry Ward Chittenden, to the remodeling and repair of the house. This initial renovation was directed by her son-in-law, Henry D. Cone. By the year 1868, the house's roof was beginning to cave-in and a great deal of the southern wall had collapsed. Several repairs were necessary in order to make
2975-461: The Henry Whitfield house is unique for its time period and location. It is styled in the tradition of the estates of northern England and Scotland , rather than the lower English and London style found in the rest of New England . The settlers built large rooms, ignoring the fact that smaller rooms would be easier to heat. They also ignored the abundance of wood available to them to construct
3060-593: The New Haven Colony, and purchased land from the Quinnipiac tribe halfway between the New Haven and Saybrook colonies. Quinnipiac land stretched from New Haven on the west to Madison on the east and north to Meriden . Each party in the land transaction was ignorant of each other's culture. Whitfield and his followers started establishing the Guilford colony in September. They began constructing his house, although it
3145-859: The Sherlock Holmes, Arts and Business collections are the most comprehensive. In addition to the collections in Westminster Reference Library the city has two specialist libraries: the Westminster Music Library , the largest music library in the UK and the Westminster Chinese Library in the Charing Cross Library. Free City of Westminster operated public lending libraries in Westminster include: The London Library , an independent lending library funded by subscription,
3230-525: The South Coast including Clapham Junction , Sutton , Brighton , Eastbourne , Gatwick Airport ( [REDACTED] ), Guildford , Portsmouth , and Southampton . Services operated by Southern . Gatwick Airport [REDACTED] Services operated by Gatwick Express . The City of Westminster is served by 27 London Underground stations and 10 of the 11 lines. By 2009 Westminster City Council had electric vehicle charging points in 15 locations through
3315-521: The State of Connecticut, $ 3,000 from the town of Guilford, between $ 500 and $ 1,000 from residents of Guilford, and as much from the members of the Connecticut Society of the Colonial Dames of America ." It was transformed into a museum after several renovations and as of 2021 is operated by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. The first unofficial renovation and remodeling of
3400-413: The adjoining fields, eventually absorbing nearby villages such as Marylebone and Kensington , and gradually creating the vast Greater London that exists today. Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries abolished the abbey at Westminster, although the former abbey church is still called Westminster Abbey . The church was briefly the cathedral of the Diocese of Westminster created from part of
3485-497: The area called the City of London , broadly corresponding to the medieval walled city. From the 19th century some metropolis -wide administrative bodies were introduced. The County of London was created in 1889, replaced in 1965 by the larger administrative area of Greater London , which since 2000 has been led by the Mayor of London . The cities of London and Westminster retain their separate city statuses despite having long been part of
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3570-535: The area gave English settlers an opportunity to settle in the Quinnipiac territory. Dutch claims over land that included Menunkatuck (and would later include Guilford) remained until the 1674 Treaty of Westminster that ended the Third Anglo-Dutch War . In June 1637 during the Pequot War , a force of 100 English soldiers and Narragansett , Mohegan , and Montauk allies arrived from Long Island in pursuit of
3655-403: The average family size was 3.04. In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males. The median income for a household in the town
3740-516: The border with the City of London formed the Strand District . Beyond the liberty to the north, the two parishes of Paddington and St Marylebone were also governed by their vestries. The Westminster District was renamed the St Margaret and St John Combined Vestry in 1887, and unsuccessfully petitioned to be incorporated as a borough in 1897. In 1900 the lower tier of local government within
3825-437: The borough, including Buckingham Palace , Westminster Abbey , Whitehall , Westminster Cathedral , 10 Downing Street , and Trafalgar Square . The borough also has a number of major parks and open spaces , including Hyde Park , and most of Regent's Park . Away from central London the borough also includes various inner suburbs, including St John's Wood , Maida Vale , Bayswater , Belgravia and Pimlico . The borough had
3910-653: The borough, the City owns and maintains East Finchley Cemetery and crematorium in the London Borough of Barnet . Four National Rail stations serve the City of Westminster: [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Heathrow Airport [REDACTED] Services operated by Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line ( [REDACTED] ) . [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] South London, Sussex and
3995-515: The church. Ultimately, Whitfield did not conform to the dictates and religious ceremonies required by Laud, and he published a book of religious persuasion and instruction entitled “Helps to Stir Up Christian Duties.” He was censured as a dissident by the High Commission Court in 1638, so he resigned from his post in Ockley. In early 1639, Whitfield sold his estate and established plans to emigrate to America with his family and followers. He
4080-410: The city (13 car parks and two on-street points). Users pay an annual fee to cover administration costs to register and use the points. By 2018 there were 60 electric vehicle charging locations. In March 2011, the main forms of transport that residents used to travel to work were: underground, metro, light rail, tram, 21.0% of all residents aged 16–74; on foot, 9.3%; bus, minibus or coach, 9.3%; driving
4165-409: The construction state that the local Menunkatuck Indians aided the settlers in the construction of the house by transporting stone from nearby quarries to the building site on hand barrows. The walls of the house were made nearly two feet thick because there was so much stone available for construction. The original mortar used to cement the stones was composed of yellow clay and crushed oyster shell,
4250-482: The ethnic group of respondents in the 1991 to 2021 censuses in Westminster. The borough ranks highest on one standard criteria in analysing housing supply and demand, the proportion of private rented accommodation relative to other types of housing in England. A study in 2017 by Trust for London and The New Policy Institute found that Westminster has the third-highest pay inequality of the 32 London boroughs. It also has
4335-530: The former Roman city with its still-existing Roman walls, was repopulated and Lundenwic declined, becoming pastoral and partly known as Aldwych (Aldwic—'old village'), the name of which lives on for a section of Westminster. The origins of the City of Westminster pre-date the Norman Conquest of England. In the mid-11th century, King Edward the Confessor began the construction of an abbey at Westminster, only
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#17328873693774420-408: The foundations of which survive today. Between the abbey and the river he built a palace, thereby guaranteeing that the seat of Government would be fixed at Westminster, and inevitably drawing power and wealth west out of the old City of London. For centuries Westminster and the City of London were geographically quite distinct. It was not until the sixteenth century that houses began to be built over
4505-462: The founders of Saybrook Colony near New Haven Colony . Whitfield initially studied law after graduation, but he found it undesirable and promptly changed his focus to ministry studies. He was ordained a minister of the Church of England in 1618 and soon took up the post of vicar of St. Margaret's Church in Ockley , Surrey, where he remained for the next 18 years. Contemporaries noted that people throughout
4590-473: The house habitable. During this time much of the south wall was rebuilt, the south chimney was removed, the roof was rebuilt, and much of the interior walls were re-plastered. However, the house was not completely changed from its original state. Historical accounts from the Library of Congress state, "as much as half of the ancient wall was not disturbed, the larger part of that being north of the door." In addition,
4675-440: The house's various restorations. It was constructed with six fireplaces, the largest of which is ten feet four inches across and is positioned on the north end of the great hall. This fireplace remains mostly unchanged today, other than the addition of an oak mantel and some masonry. The smaller five have been remodeled several times since their construction. Henry Whitfield was one of Guilford's founders and its first minister. He
4760-414: The house. Though minor restorations continue today, the most extensive renovation occurred during the 1930s, directed by J. Frederick Kelly . The purpose of this renovation was to conduct archeological and architectural analyses and restore the house to its condition in 1639. Prior to this extensive renovation, Kelly had experience with the house through his conversion of one of the barns on the property to
4845-405: The house. After much deliberation, in September 1659 the house was sold to a London merchant named Major Robert Thompson. Thompson and his family remained in England throughout most of their ownership, which lasted over a century, renting the house to tenant farmers. The Thompson family sold the house to Wyllys Eliot, a Guilford resident, on October 21, 1772, though Eliot owned the house for less than
4930-400: The immigration influx in the early twentieth century. Though some of the artifacts in the museum were found in the cellar, many are not original to the house and were gathered from other historic sites of the same time period in order to show visitors what life was like for the early colonists of America. The renovation by J. Frederick Kelly had also restored the house near to the condition it
5015-596: The latter two being separated from Westminster by the River Thames . Charing Cross in Westminster is the notional centre of London, being the point from which distances from London are measured. After the depopulation of Roman London in the 5th century, an Anglo Saxon agricultural and trade settlement likely developed to its west, associated with the Middle Saxons , sometimes called Lundenwic ('London village' or London port'). Over time, Lundenburh ('London fort'),
5100-494: The lower tier of local government within the metropolis comprised various parish vestries and district boards . Within the City and Liberty of Westminster, the three parishes of St George Hanover Square , St James Piccadilly and St Martin-in-the-Fields were governed by their vestries , whilst the parishes covering the central part of Westminster formed the Westminster District and the parishes and territories adjoining
5185-530: The name Menunkatuck with the Quinnipiac village. On July 6, 1643 (O.S.), records of the General Court session held at New Haven note that Menunkatuck changed its name to “Guilforde,” although no reason for the change was recorded. It is assumed that Guilford was named after the town of Guildford , England, the native home of a share of its first English settlers. In early maps of the Connecticut Colony ,
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#17328873693775270-414: The original foundation of the house remained unaltered. The second major renovation of the house occurred in 1902, shortly after the museum was opened, led by architectural historian Norman Isham . Isham's main purpose in the restoration was to make the house and museum attractive to visitors and suitable for tours. His renovation included a re-plastering and mortaring of the walls and ceilings, as well as
5355-407: The population. There were 8,151 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. Of all households 21.6% were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and
5440-477: The re-creation of a corner window facing the harbor, the restoration of the stair tower to the second floor, the rebuilding of the second floor (which had been essentially removed sometime during the 1700s), and the reconstruction of the partitions that had been used to separate the great hall into several rooms. The final cost of Kelly's restoration was $ 26,000, financed by the Federal government and individual patrons of
5525-404: The remodeling of the five smaller fireplaces of the house. Isham's restoration plan was based on what he stated to be, "tradition, inherent reasonableness, and likeness to old English examples." His approach led to the criticism of many architectural experts, including the next renovator, J. Frederick Kelly , who believed Isham was more concerned with the aesthetics than the historical accuracy of
5610-539: The rest of the citizens in the community. When Henry Whitfield returned to England in 1650, his wife, Dorothy, and some of their children continued to live in the house. It is suggested by historical records that during this time John Winthrop the Younger , son of the founder of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and future Governor of Connecticut, expressed interest in purchasing the house. However, he ended up moving to
5695-519: The same urban area. The modern borough was created in 1965 as part of the same reforms which created Greater London, covering the area of the three former metropolitan boroughs of Westminster , Paddington and St Marylebone . The local authority is Westminster City Council . To the east, Westminster borders the City of London , with the boundary marked by Temple Bar . Other neighbouring boroughs (anti-clockwise from north-east) are Camden , Brent , Kensington and Chelsea , Wandsworth and Lambeth ,
5780-406: The second-least affordable private rent for low earners in London, behind only Kensington and Chelsea . In education, 82% of adults and 69% of 19-year-olds having Level 3 qualifications. The City of Westminster covers all or part of the following areas of London : Many global corporations have their global or European headquarters in the City of Westminster. Mayfair and St James's within
5865-593: The settlers drafted and signed the Plantation Covenant on June 1, 1639 ( O.S. ). The text of the covenant is memorialized by an engraved pink granite slab at the corner of Old Whitfield and Whitfield streets. On September 29, 1639 ( O.S. ), the colonists secured a land grant for their settlement from Shaumpishuh , the female sachem of Menunkatuck. Guilford was admitted to New Haven Colony in 1643. In 1664, New Haven Colony, including Guilford, joined Connecticut Colony . The English settlement originally shared
5950-399: The surrounding countryside converged to hear his sermons. He was known for being dignified, courteous, scholarly, eloquent, and gentle. Whitfield married Dorothy Sheafe who was the daughter of Dr. Edmund Sheafe from the county of Kent. Henry and Dorothy had nine children together. It is believed that three of the children died before reaching adulthood. Under the rule of King Charles I ,
6035-641: The town is seen on several maps as "Gilford." Guilford is considered by some to have the third largest collection of historic homes in New England , with important buildings from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. There are five historic house museums , including Dudley Farm and the Henry Whitfield House (1639), the oldest dwelling house in Connecticut and the oldest stone house built by English settlers in North America. The Comfort Starr House (1695)
6120-418: Was $ 76,843, and the median income for a family was $ 87,045 (these figures had risen to $ 90,026 and $ 104,852 respectively as of a 2007 estimate ). Males had a median income of $ 60,623 versus $ 40,307 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 37,161. About 2.3% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over. In
6205-465: Was a descendant of the early Guilford leader, William Chittenden. The Griffing and Chittenden families owned the house for over a century, and during their ownership the remodeling of 1868 occurred. Not until September 28, 1900, did the Whitfield House become the property of the State of Connecticut, when Sarah Brown Cone sold the house and property for $ 8,500. The purchase was financed by "$ 3,500 from
6290-581: Was an itinerant preacher, so he met many younger nonconformists who agreed with his teachings. He recruited 25 families, mostly farmers from Surrey and Kent, to travel to the New Haven colony. Also among the party was Edward Jones, an indentured builder who agreed to help the newcomers construct houses for three years in exchange for passage. Dorothy Whitfield's brother Jacob Sheafe and two of her sisters emigrated with them. Upon arrival in June 1639, Whitfield consulted Fenwick and Reverend John Davenport , founder of
6375-401: Was arrested on charges of treason in 1641 and executed on January 10, 1645. By 1650, England had become more tolerant of religious differences and more attractive to New Englanders who were wearying of life in the wilderness. Many prominent citizens and clergymen were returning to England. Whitfield received invitations to return and he told his parish that he intended to leave. A public meeting
6460-439: Was believed by him to be in when it was first built. On site, visitors are allowed to explore the house through either historian-guided or self-guided tours, as well as through interactive tours online at the museum's webpage. The museum gained national recognition when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997. Guilford, Connecticut Guilford
6545-521: Was born sometime between June 8 and October 1, 1592 in Greenwich in the English county of Kent . His father Thomas Whitfield was wealthy and influential during the reigns of James I and Queen Elizabeth, and he was an eminent lawyer in the courts of Westminster in London. Henry's mother Mildred Manning was descended from the family of Geoffrey Chaucer . Henry Whitfield attended New College, Oxford , where he befriended George Fenwick ; Fenwick became one of
6630-440: Was built in a perpendicular ell to the rest of the house. This was the room used for church services, town meetings, feasts, and housing travelers. The Whitfield family slept on the second floor, with the room directly above the kitchen used for the younger children because it was kept the warmest in the winter by the rising heat from the kitchen fireplace. The original roof had a sixty degree pitch, though it has been steepened during
6715-418: Was declared a city in 1540 on the elevation of Westminster Abbey to being a cathedral . From at least 1545 there was also a Westminster parliamentary borough (constituency). The Anglican Diocese of Westminster was short-lived, being absorbed back into the Diocese of London in 1550. Despite having no borough corporation and having ceased to be the seat of a diocese, Westminster continued to be described as
6800-413: Was held in Guilford on February 20, 1649. Whitfield's reasons for wishing to leave were read in public. The assembly approved of inducements to encourage him to remain, including increasing his salary and exempting his two sons from guard duty (night watches to protect the town) for one year. In the end, Whitfield decided to return in spite of his flock's objections. George Hubbard observed that Whitfield
6885-487: Was not finished until the following spring due to winter weather conditions. In the early years of the Guilford colony, Whitfield served as both the minister and community leader, delivering sermons, conducting marriage ceremonies, and settling civil disputes. In 1641, the colony of New Haven expanded to include Guilford as well as several other settlements under the New Haven General Court's jurisdiction. New Haven
6970-624: Was not suited to life in the wilderness. His fragile body could not handle the harsh winters and physical labor, and these factors affected his health. Hubbard noted that Whitfield lost money on the Guilford venture, and colleagues in England were urging him to return. Whitfield left the colony and his followers on August 26, 1650. His son John accompanied him. Dorothy and the majority of their children remained in Guilford. She continued to live in their stone house in Guilford and looked after their property. Three daughters were married in New England. Three children ultimately returned to England. Whitfield
7055-642: Was officially recognized as a colony by the English Parliament under Oliver Cromwell. Beginning in 1642, several leaders of the New Haven Colony returned to England to join in the political struggles over religious freedom. By the late 1640s, Whitfield was reconsidering whether to remain in the New World. Seven founding members of Guilford had died between 1646 and 1648, most of them young men. Political conditions in England had changed. Archbishop Laud represented King Charles I's unyielding religious policies, but he
7140-481: Was reinstated in the Church. He died in 1657 and was buried in Winchester Cathedral on September 17. The entirety of his estate was left to Dorothy who returned to England in 1659. She died in 1669. The first residents of the house were Henry Whitfield, his wife, and their children, for whom the house was originally built. Throughout their occupancy, they extended their welcome to travelers, church-goers, and
7225-564: Was transferred to the enlarged borough. In 1966 the city was granted the right to appoint a lord mayor . The local authority is Westminster City Council, which meets at Westminster Council House (also known as Marylebone Town Hall ) and has its main offices at Westminster City Hall on Victoria Street. Since 2000, for elections to the London Assembly , the borough forms part of the West Central constituency. The following table shows
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