Theophilus Eaton (1591-1658)

He was born at Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire. He helped organize and finance the Great Puritan Migration to America. He co-founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the New Haven Colony, the latter of which he served as Governor. He co-founded Boston, Massachusetts; Greenwich, Connecticut; and Eaton's Neck, New York. His grandfather was one of the eight founding Fellows of Jesus College at Oxford University. His brother, Nathaniel, was the first headmaster of Harvard College who oversaw the construction of Harvard Yard and the Harvard Library. His son, Samuel, became one of the seven founders of the Harvard Corporation. His stepson, David Yale, was the father of Elihu Yale, for whom Yale University was named. He was married twice and had four children (listed) who lived to adulthood. They lived at the mansion (see images) he built c.1640 at New Haven. He is the ancestor of many notable Americans.