From "Abraham Cruttenden of Guilford, CT., and his Descendants", by Ralph D. Smyth

Abraham Cruttenden was one of the first settlers of Guilford, CT., and was one of the twenty-five signers of the Plantation Covenant in 1639. It is said that he came from the county of Kent in England and had been a neighbor of William Chittenden, whose widow he afterwards married. He was probably married in England about 1622, and was probably about 28 or 29 years old at the time of the settlement of Guilford. He died in January, 1683, about 73 yrs. old. None of his children's births are recorded at that place, though some of them at least must have been born there. On April 30, 1676, he was appointed "overseer of the mill, bay dams, or floodgates." On June 6, 1651, he was chosen assessor and on June 9, 1653, townsman. In addition to his home lot he owned "a parcel of upland 20 acres abutting to the common woods," and "a parcel of marshland to the south 10 1/2 acres"; also a "parcel of upland over against the mill"containing 19 acres. The name is also spelled Crittenden. He married first Elizabeth, who d. 1664; second, widow Joanna Chittenden, 5-31-1665. She died August 16, 1668. His children were all by his first wife:

1. Mary
2. Abraham
3. Thomas
4. Elizabeth
5. Isaac
6. Hannah

His will was dated 14 September 1681, proved 13 June 1683. Most sources list his wife's name as Mary, but the baptisms of his children in Hawkhurst, England list a wife Elizabeth for daughters Hannah and Elizabeth. [NEHGR 160: 231]

Here is a copy of the Plantation Covenant he signed below:
["Guilford Covenant" signed 'on shipboard' June 1639]

"We, whose names are hereunder written, intendending by God's gracious permission to plant ourselves in New England, and, if it may be, in the southerly part, about Quinnipiack: We do faithfully promise each to each, for ourselves and families, and those that belong to us; that we will, the Lord assisting us, sit down and join ourselves together in one intire plantation; and to be helpful each to the other in every common work, according to every man's ability and as need shall require; and we promise not to desert or leave each other or the plantation but with the consent of the rest, or the greater part of the company who have entered into this engagement.

"As for our gathering together in a church way, and the choice of officers and members to be joined together in that way, we do refer ourselves until such time as it shall please God to settle us in our plantation.

"In witness whereof we subscribe our hands, the first day of June 1639. Robert Kitchell, John Stone,
Thomas Norton, John Bishop, William Plane, Abraham Cruttenden, Francis Bushnell, Richard Gutridge, Francis Chatfield, William Chittendon, John Hughes, William Halle, William Lute, Wm. Dudley, Thomas Naish, Thomas Joanes, John Parmelin, Henry Kingsnorth, John Jordon, John Mepham, Henry Doude, William Stone, Henry Whitfield, Thomas Cooke, John Hoadly"

Sources: History of Guilford and Madison Conn by Steiner - 1897; Families of Early Guilford CT by Talcott, Alvan - 1984; Family Histories and Genealogies .. by Salisbury, Edward Elbridge - 1892; Savage; History of Guilford Connecticut from its first settlement in 1639 by Smith, Hon. Ralph O. - 1877; Commemorative Record of New Haven County Conn - 1902; The Parmelee Family Homepage - Walters, Jim

• Married: ABT 1622 in England

1. Thomas CRUTTENDEN c: 22 FEB 1623/1624 in Hawkhurst,Kent,England
2. Abraham* III CRUTTENDEN c: 24 DEC 1626 in Hawkhurst,Kent,England
3. Isaac CRUTTENDEN c: 1 NOV 1629 in Hawkhurst,Kent,England
4. Mary CRUTTENDEN c: 29 APR 1632 in Hawkhurst,Kent,England
5. Elizabeth CRUTTENDEN c: 30 NOV 1634 in Hawkhurst,Kent,England
6. Hannah CRUTTENDEN c: 15 JAN 1636/1637 in Hawkhurst,Kent,England

• Married: 31 MAY 1665 in Guilford,New Haven,CT ^{7 5 8 9}

1. Repository:
   Name: Beverly McGuire
   3138 Waialae Ave,
   Honolulu, Hawaii 96816-1549
   
   Title: Guilford, CT.
   Author: Talcott
   Abbrev: Guilford, CT.
   Page: p. 260
   Note: Says about 1610
2. Repository:
   Name: Beverly McGuire
   3138 Waialae Ave,
   Honolulu, Hawaii 96816-1549
   
   Title: NEHG Register
   Abbrev: NEHG Register
   Page: 160: 213
   Note: says 1600
3. Repository:
   Name: Personal Library
   
   Title: A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England
   Author: Savage, John
   Publication: Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1990
   Abbrev: A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England
4. Title: New England Marriages Prior to 1700
   Author: Torrey, Clarence Almon
   Publication: : Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997
   Abbrev: New England Marriages Prior to 1700
5. Repository:
   Name: Beverly McGuire
   3138 Waialae Ave,
   Honolulu, Hawaii 96816-1549
   
   Title: Guilford, CT.
   Author: Talcott
   Abbrev: Guilford, CT.
   Page: p. 260
6. Repository:
   Name: Beverly McGuire
   3138 Waialae Ave,
   Honolulu, Hawaii 96816-1549
   
   Title: NEHG Register
   Abbrev: NEHG Register
   Page: 160: 213
7. Title: CD504, Early New England Settlers, 1600's - 1800's, "Notes on the Founding of New England", American Genealogies
   Abbrev: CD504, Early New England Settlers, 1600's - 1800's, "Notes on the Founding of New England", American Genealogies
8. Repository:
   Name: Beverly McGuire
   3138 Waialae Ave,
   Honolulu, Hawaii 96816-1549
   
   Title: NEHG Register
   Abbrev: NEHG Register
   Page: 160: 214
9. Repository:
   Name: Online database. NewEnglandAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009
   
   Title: The American Genealogist
   Author: D. L. Jacobus, c1937
   Publication: New Haven, CT
   Abbrev: The American Genealogist
   Page: 22:90