""In the parish register of St. Petrock's. Exeter, are recorded the following: Baptisms … 1633 William the sonne of Thomas and Elizabeth Trawbridge Septem: 3"
"100. William Trowbridge (Thomas1), baptized September 3, 1633, in Exeter, Devonshire, England; died November __, 1688, in West Haven, Conn.; married March 9, 1656-7, in Milford, Conn., Elizabeth (Lamberton) Sellivant, widow of Daniel Sellivant, and daughter of Capt George and Margaret (_____) Lamberton, born __, 163_, in London?, England; died ____, 1716, in West Haven.
William, Trowbridge was brought in childhood by his parents from England, first to Dorchester in the Massachusetts Bay colony, and then, to the plantation of New Haven. When his father was called back to England, he and his brothers were left in charge of his father's former servant, Henry Gibbons. The latter mismanaged the property left for the boys' support, and after a time they were taken away from him by the town authorities and put under the care of Sergt. Thomas Jeffrey and his wife, and in their home William and his brothers passed their boyhood. His schoolmaster was Mr. Ezekiel Cheever. Soon after reaching his majority William Trowbridge made an attempt to bring Gibbons to an account for his stewardship. His efforts were continued over a series of years, but gained little result during his father's lifetime. A few years after the latter's death Gibbons made some restitution, …
William Trowbridge is usually described in the public records of that time as a 'planter,' and later on as a 'husbandman,' In 1664 he appears to have been master of the sloop Cocke, making voyages out of New Haven. In July, 1667, he sold his house and lot in the village of New Haven, and probably about that rime became one of the first residents in the parish of West Haven. He probably built a house on that part of the 'Lamberton Farm' that through his wife eventually came into his possession. His share was one-sixth of the Lamberton farm, and it included all the land between the present Campbell and Washington avenues from Brown street (the site of the piano factory) nearly to Long Island Sound. He also owned 144 acres on the Sound near Oyster river.
William Trowbridge was nominated a freeman of the colony of Connecticut on May 13,1669. He lived on his farm in West Haven the remainder of his life. He made gifts to his children during his lifetime of much of his real estate, so that the inventory of his estate mentions but 55 acres of 'second division' land and a small amount of personal property. He made no will. He and his wife were admitted members of the First Church in New Haven on April 28, 1686."
