Person:Abraham Cruttenden (7)

William and Abraham (brothers) came to the colonies in 1638 (I have another text that indicates it was 1639) with the party of Rev. Henry Whitfield who was married to Williams sister in-law. They were among the 25 signers of The Plantation Covenant which founded The New Haven Colony on June 1, 1639. The Whitfield party was a Puritan group originated in Cranbrook, Kent county, England. The Crittenden family and name are descendants of the Druids who were native English people who are best known for building the famous Stone Hedge Solar Observatory. The Covenant reads as follows: We do faithfully promise each to each other, for ourselves and families and those that belong to us, that we will, the Lord assisting us, set down and join ourselves together in one entire population to be helpful each to the other in any common work according to everyone's ability, as need may require.
NOTE: William and Abraham were not brothers; they were William Chittenden and Abraham Cruttenden who came in 1639. William Chittenden was, at that time, married to Joanna Sheafe, first cousin of Dorothy Sheafe, wife of Rev. Whitfield. After William's death, Abraham, who was also widowed, married the widow Joanna.

They left Cranbrook on April 26, 1639 and is was another two weeks before they were assembled aboard the ship to begin their passage to the New World. They landed in the harbour at New Haven on July 10th. This seems like a rather speedy voyage for the time. They formulated and signed the famous "Plantation Covenant" during the voyage. The original document was signed on June 1, 1639 and is in possession of the Boston Historical Society.

Abraham served served in many upstanding positions, such as Officer of the General Court, Deputy of the Court, Treasurer, Court Trustee and many others from 1646 to 1665.

Abraham Crittenden died January 1683, aged about 73 years, and is recognized in Guilford records as one of the original settlers. His allotment included a house lot on what is now York and River Streets on the bank of the West River. The property remained in the Crittenden family for 200 years.

His first wife, Mary, died in 1664. His old neighbor, William Chittenden being also dead, he married the widow Joanna Chittenden, May 31, 1665. She died August 16, 1668 and Abraham followed in death during the summer of 1683. Of his character, it is evident that much might be said. Among his neighbors, he was known by the title "Goodman Abraham Cruttenden".
NOTE: The prefix "Goodman" means only that he was not of high enough social status to be called "Mr."

Abraham Crittenden Senior was a colorful and respected figure of the new community of Guilford, Connecticut. The town records for the community begin at about 1640 and contain many references to Abraham and his heirs.

There is a photocopy of The Henry Whitfield House, built by Abraham Crittenden Sr. and other members of the party. It is the oldest standing English stone structure in the United States. Built in Guilford, Connecticut 1639.

The Crittenden Clan in the Druid Order were keepers of the Crit and tended the eternal flame along with handing down the punishment for wrong doers. The name Crittenden came from Crit Tendons. Until not too many years ago Cranbrook was not accessible by road. You had to exit the train about a quarter of a mile from town and enter the town on foot. The Crittenden name is still very well renowned and well known in that town and there is still a building there with the name Crittenden across the top front of the building.

Abraham Cruttenden's First Marriage

"No marriage record for Abraham Cruttenden has been found in Kent in the printed indexes to Cowper, Canterbury Marriage Licenses, 1619-1660 or the prior volume, Joseph Meadows Cowper, Canterbury Marriage Licenses, First Series, 1568-1618 (Canterbury: Cross and Jackman, 1892). The records for all parishes in East Kent (Diocese of Canterbury) 1538-1753 have been indexed by Jane Jones. A search in her private index was requested by Dr. Geoffrey Swinfield, but no marriage was found. West Kent and Sussex records have not been searched. A Thomas Cruttenden had children baptized at Hawkhurst in 1561 and 1563, and further work may provide clues to the ancestry of Abraham Cruttenden."^[1]

Abraham Cruttenden's Estate

He left a will dated 14 September 1681, proved 13 June 1683 [New Haven Probate, 1:2:94 (will); New Haven County Court Minutes, 1:138 (probate)], mentioning sons Thomas, Abraham and Isaac Cruttenden; grandchildren Daniel Bartlett, John Grave, Abraham Cruttenden, and Samuel Cruttenden; daughters Elizabeth Grave and Hannah Hiland; grandchildren Daniel and Abraham Bartlett; Lydia, Elizabeth, Deborah, and Hannah Cruttenden, daughters of Isaac Cruttenden. Executors were to be son Thomas and Isaac Cruttenden. A codicil dated 27 June 1682 added son Abraham as an executor. The inventory of his estate was dated 8 June 1683.^[1]

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} Lynes, Martha A. The Ancestry of William¹ Chittenden of Guilford, Connecticut. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Jul 2006)
   (at 160:213).

   Abraham(1) Cruttenden was born say 1600, and died (presumably at Guilford) in January 1683, probably closer to 83 years of age than to the 73 years of age given in various sources.

2. ↑ Lynes, Martha A. The Ancestry of William¹ Chittenden of Guilford, Connecticut. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Jul 2006)
   (at 160:213).

   The surname Cruttenden frequently appears as Crittenden in the Guilford records.

3. ↑ Mahler, Leslie. The English Ancestry of Elizabeth Usborne, First Wife of Abraham(1) Cruttenden of Guilford, Connecticut. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Jan 2011)
   165:23.

   Abraham¹ Cruttenden … was probably the Abraham son of Thomas Cruttenden. bp. in the … parish of Etchingham. Sussex. 30 Sept. 1599 [Parish registers of Etchingham, Sussex, 1561-1882 (FHL 1,067,148)].