"With John Birchard, his brother-in-law, John Baldwin was one of the original proprietors of Norwich, Conn., where a home lot was laid out to him in November 1659. (Book of Grants, Norwich, Conn., page 270.) His home lot lay at the west end of the town street, as shown in the 'History of Norwich, Conn.' (1874), facing page 66.
He shared in the first division of lands in April, 1661, had a grant 1674, and other grants at various times. The record of 'The Lands Belonging to John Bauldwen Senior of Norwich,' is followed by that of his son, 'Sergt John Bauldwen' of Norwich. (Book of Grants.)
On March 25, 1673, John Baldwin sold to his 'neighbor John Tracy' half an acre of land between him and Tracy, the sale being recorded in July 1685, by John Birchard, Clerk.
On January 24, 1685, 'John Baldwin Senr and James Fitch Sr., exchanged some lands, Fitch giving one hundred acres 'to the westward of the town bounds' for seventy-five acres lying over 'Showtucket River' (L. Rec. Norwich, Conn., 1-32; recorded again on page 92).
The next deed given by a John Baldwin was on February 8, 1692, the land being bounded by land of Thomas Baldwin, John Baldwin and Ensign William Backus' own land, and as the term 'senior' is not used anywhere in the deed, it is presumed that the elder John Baldwin had died some time between the 24th of January 1685, and the 8th of February, 1692.
January 27 and 31, 1697/8, certain lands were recorded as belonging to Sergt John Baldwin and to Thomas Baldwin, and a number of these are specifically stated to have 'formerly belonged to their father.'
No record has so far been found of the decease of his wife. Of his two sons, Sergt John Baldwin went with his Birchard relatives as one of the first settlers of Lebanon, Connecticut, was selectman there in 1699, and was a deacon of the church. Thomas Baldwin, the younger son, remained in Norwich, and had the home lot of his father, among the rest of his lands."
