First Post - Thomas Fairchild

My mother was a Fairchild, directly descended from Thomas Fairchild, one of the founders of Stratford, Connecticut. I recently read a new book, Thomas Fairchild Puritan Merchant & Magistrate, by W. Bruce Fairchild. The book is over 500 pages and I would say that it is the definite account of the life of this interesting man and his family.
Thomas Fairchild came to New England as part of the "Great Migration" in the 1630's. A group of settlers under Adam Blakeman first came to Massachusetts Bay, then followed Thomas Hooker to Wethersfield, Connecticut, but finding all the best farmland taken, pushed onto the Long Island shoreline and settled at Stratford, at the mouth of the Housatonic River.
Thomas and his first wife, Emma Seabrook, were with this group of settlers. He became a merchant and was prominent in the new settlement, holding many town offices. After his first wife died, Thomas returned to London, England and married Katherine Cragg. I am descended from Thomas and Katherine's son Joseph, as is the author W. Bruce Fairchild.