Ralph DAYTON

Born probably in County Kent, England, circa 1588, died in East Hampton, Long Island, NY, between 25 Jul and 22 Sep 1658.

Same sources as Robert de DEIGHTON.

Ralph and his two young sons, Samuel and Robert, possibly with his brothers Thomas and Nicholas, were the first of the name ot land on these shores, arriving in Boston in 1636. Ralph was a widower at the time, his wife Agnes, daughter of Henry POOL, having died in London a few years before. One authority thinks that Ralph had lived in Bedfordshire a few years previously to his departure for America.

Some confusion arises in the family records at this point. One chronicler of the Dayton family says that a Ralph DAYTON (it is spelled first DRAYTON and later DAYTON in the record), of Ashford, County Kent, accompanied by two sons, Samuel and Robert, and a daughter Alice, journeyed to America at about the same time as the above-mentioned Ralph of London. This Ralph of Kent was the husband of Alice TRITTON, a widow, and in addition to Samuel, Robert, and Alice, he had issue by her of a son Ralph and a daughter Ellen. Neither Ralph's wife, Alice, nor his daughter, Ellen is mentioned as making the voyage to America, and it is stated that the eldest son, Ralph, remained in England. That this Ralph of Kent was identical with Ralph of London seems likely for only one Ralph DEIGHTON or DAYTON appears hereafter in the records.

In 1639 this Ralph moved with his sons, Robert and Samuel, to New Haven, Connecticut. Ralph is lkisted as a signer of the Fundamental Agreement and Covenant of Habitancy, the original governing instrument of this town.

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