PROCLAMATION from Fred Camillo, First Selectman
WHEREAS, On July 18, 1640, Watertown, Massachusetts neighbors Robert Feake and Daniel Patrick jointly purchased land in Old Greenwich from the local Munsee Indians; and
WHEREAS, The Munsee agreed to the occupation of their land in exchange for 25 coats or bolts of cloth; and
WHEREAS, The aforesaid land lay outside the western boundary of the puritanical English town of Stamford; and
WHEREAS, Captain Patrick and Elizabeth Feake were forced to recognize Dutch sovereignty over their property in 1642; and
WHEREAS, The New Haven Colony did not confederate Greenwich until 16 years after its founding, thereby placing Greenwich under English sovereignty; and
WHEREAS, The land known by the native inhabitants as Monakewego was the particular purchase of Elizabeth Feake, and was thus referred to as Elizabeth's Neck and subsequently as Tod's Point and Greenwich Point; and
WHEREAS, The small and exceedingly beautiful peninsula was purchased in 1944 by the Town of Greenwich as a preserve, park and beach for all to enjoy; and
WHEREAS, The preservation of Greenwich Point's natural beauty and history is emblematic of the Town of Greenwich's respect for our environmental heritage and the rich tapestry of our history.
NOW, THEREFORE, l, Fred Camillo, FIRST SELECTMAN OF THE TOWN OF GREENWICH, do
hereby proclaim July 16, 2023 as
Greenwich Founders Day
I call upon all citizens to join the Town of Greenwich, the Greenwich Historical Society, the First Congregational Church of Old Greenwich and The Greenwich Point Conservancy in commemorating the founding of our Town 383 years ago.