Statesman; born in Copford Hall,
Essex, England; accompanied
Rev. Edward Hooker to
Boston in 1633 and in 1635 was chosen governor of
Massachusetts.
He was one of the best educated of the early settlers in
New England, and possessed the qualities of an able statesman.
He went to the
valley of the Connecticut with
Mr. Hooker in 1636; became one of the most prominent
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founders of the
Connecticut colony; was chosen its first governor, in 1639; and served alternately with
Edward Hopkins until 1654.
Mr. Haynes was one of the five who drew up the written constitution of
Connecticut, the first ever framed in
America (see
Connecticut). He was a man of large estate, spotless purity of character, a friend of civil and religious liberty, and was always performing acts of benevolence.
He probably did more for the true interests of
Connecticut than any other of the earlier settlers.
He died in
Hartford, March 1, 1654.