IRISH settlers are found in Connecticut at a very early period. Some of them participated in campaigns against the Indians. Captain Daniel Patrick, who had served in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, came here dur­ing the Pequod war, 1637, and rendered effective service.

He is believed to have been an Irishman. One writer inclines to the opinion that his name was originally Gill-patrick or Fitzpatrick, and that he probably went from Ireland to the Low Countries and rendered military ser­vice there before coming to America.

Capt. Patrick became one of the founders of what is now the town of Greenwich, Ct. He eventually swore allegiance to the Dutch government and was granted the rights of a "patroon" in Greenwich and vicinity. His wife was a woman of Dutch blood.

A number of Irish soldiers from Connecticut partici­pated in "The Great Swamp Fight," in 1675, during King Philip's war. This fight took place in southern Rhode Island and resulted in a severe defeat for the Indians. Among the Connecticut soldiers mentioned as taking part in the battle were: James Murphy, Daniel Tracy, Edward Larkin, James Welch and John Roach. The latter is referred to in the Norwalk records as "a soldier in the late Indian war," and was granted a tract of land as a gratuity.


From: HISTORY OF THE NINTH REGIMENT, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, "THE IRISH REGIMENT," IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, 1861-65.
Complete text: http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofninthre00mu...nthre00murr_djvu.txt

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Captain Daniel Patrick1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
M, b. circa 1605, d. 2 June 1644
     Daniel was born circa 1605 at England. He was serving in the Prince of Orange Guards in the Netherlands at the time of his marriage.10 Daniel married Anneken van Beyeren, daughter of Albert Sebastiaens van Beyeren and Maritgen Pauwels Sterlinex, on 3 March 1630 at The Hague, Holland, Netherlands.11 On 23 March 1630 [the Tuesday after Easter], he, son-in-law & guardian of Anna von Beyeren [his wife], appeared in the Orphan's Chamber with Maritgen Pauwels Stewicx, widow of the late Albert Sebastiaens von Beyeren, and others. They were there to provide proof of his wife & her siblings' paternal inheritance.12 On 20 April 1630, Daniel and his wife Anna immigrated on one of the ships of "Winthrop's Fleet" from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, county Norfolk, England along with Captain John Underhil. They arrived at the Boston Harbor in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. John & Daniel had been hired by Govenor John Winthrop to train the militia. He and John Underhill were declared freemen of the Bay Colony at Watertown 18 May 1631. As part of his compensation as military trainer, Daniel was granted land in Newtown, where he initially settled. Soon though, he began to make plans to move to Watertown, and on 20 October 1635, he sold his last property in Newtown. Less than a month later, 14 November 1635 he was considered a resident of Watertown. On 9 March 1637, the town granted him the title of Captain as he was in charge of the military protection of the town.13 Daniel and his friend, Robert Feake, purchased land at Norwalk, on 20 April 1640, the first purchase from the Indians in that locale. Daniel did not settle there however, as 3 months later on 18 July 1640, he and Robert Feake purchased land at what was to be Greenwich. They were of the first settlers there and were founders of that town. Elizabeth, Robert's wife, made a purchase there as well of adjoining lands. Shortly after the settling at Greenwich trouble again was stirred up with the Indians, which led to the town asking for military support from the Colony and eventually to the confrontation with the Dutch soldier.14 He was killed because he had become engaged in an arguement with Hans Frederick, a Dutch soldier. He spit upon his face & turned to leave and the Dutchman shot him in the back of the head. He was in Stamford at Captain Underhills home, having fled from the Indians.15
Wife:
Anna van Beyeren b. 1610, d. Apr 1656
Children:
◦ Anna Patrick b. c 1634
◦ Patientia Patrick+ b. c 1636
◦ Daniel Patrick+ b. c 1642, d. b 30 May 1721
◦ Samuel Patrick b. b 17 Jul 1642, d. b 1700

see: http://mccurdyfamilylineage.com/ancestry/p241.htm#i32899