Theophilus Eaton was the son of Rev. Richard Eaton and Elizabeth Sheapheard/Sheppard. He married Grace Hiller on December 3, 1622 at Saint Mary Woolchurch Haw in London. They were the parents of two children, Mary and Samuel. Grace passed away in 1626. Theophilus married Mrs. Anne (Lloyd) Yale, the widow of Thomas Yale, Sr in 1626 and was buried in England. Anne and Theophilus raised the three Yale children, Anne, David, and Thomas. Anne and Theophilus were the parents of three children, Theophilus Jr, Hannah, and Elizabeth (died 1637). Anne and Theophilus and their seven living children emigrated to New England with other Puritans on the ship 'Hector'. The ship arrived at Boston on June 26, 1637. The group had John Davenport as their religious leader but there were disagreements and and they wanted to relocate. On April 14, 1638, they arrived in Connecticut and named the site, New Haven. John Davenport and Theophilus Sr made an agreement with Chief Momauquin, a Quinnipiack Indian, about some land at Quinnipiack on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. They agreed to protect the Quinnipiack Indians from the Mohawks and the Pequot and give them clothing and equipment in exchange for right, title, and interest to their lands. An agreement was legally signed by Chief Momauquin, John Davenport, and Theophilus Eaton, Sr. Theophilus turned to farming for a living. New Haven eventually established an administration. Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport, Robert Newman, Matthew Gilbert, Thomas Fugill, John Punderson, and Jeremiah Dixon were chosen as the "seven pillars of the church." On June 4, 1639, Theophilus Sr was elected as the first Governor of the New Haven Colony and was reelected every year until his death. He died on January 7, 1657 and was buried in the Center Church on the Green Churchyard. His remains were later removed to the Grove Street Cemetery. His epitaph reads: "Theophilus Eaton, Esqr. Govr. deceased January 7, 1657, Age 67. Eaton, so famed, so wise, so just, the Phoenix of our world, here lies his dust. This name forget, New England never must."∼First Governor of New Haven Colony

Son of:
Richard Eaton
Birth 1565 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England
Death 14 Jan 1616 in Great Budworth, Cheshire, England
and
Elizabeth Sheapheard
Birth Abt 1570 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England
Death 11 Nov 1636 in Stratford, Warwickshire, England