Guilford, Connecticut
New Haven county. This town, the Menunkatuc of the Indians, was first settled in 1639. The town was settled by a party of Non-Conformists from England, at the head of which was the Rev. Henry Whitfield. Mr. Whitfield's house, built of stone, in 1640, is now standing, occupied, and in good repair. The cement used in building it is said to be harder than the stone itself. This building was used by the first settlers as a fort and place of refuge against the attacks of the natives. The first marriage in the town was solemnized in this building. The treat on the occasion was pork and peas. Guilford borough was incorporated in 1815. It is handsomely located two miles from Long Island Sound, on a tract of alluvial plain, and near a small stream called the Menunkatuc. The buildings in the borough are neat, but somewhat antiquated in their appearance.—Guilford is a place of resort for sea air and bathing. The accommodations are very good. The scenery in the vicinity of Sachem's Head is wild and picturesque. The soil of Guilford is well adapted to agricultural pursuits, to which, and some coasting trade, the principal part of the inhabitants are devoted. It lies 16 miles E. from New Haven, and 36 S. from Hartford. Population, 1839, 2,344.
