The territory which included modern day Wallingford was purchased under treaty on December 11th, 1638 by Theophilus Eaton, Rev. John Davenport and other English planters at Quinnipiock (New Haven), from Mantowese, son of Sowheag, an Indian sachem at Mattabeseck, (Middletown).

 

This territory was called “Coginchauge” by these Indians.

The Davenport company gave in payment, eleven coats of trucking cloth and one coat of English cloth for Mantowese, who signed the treaty with his totem, a bow and arrow. Here in lies the history of the town motto, "Textum Emit Terrum" which translates into "The fabric purchased the land"

This tract of land extended from Long Island Sound northward twenty miles, covering most of what is now Wallingford, Meriden, Cheshire and Prospect.
The name of “Quinnipiock” was soon changed to New Haven, so Wallingford was New Haven, from 1638 to 1667.

In 1660 the colony of New Haven wishing “to set out the bounds with lasting marks“ between them and Connecticut (Hartford), appointed Mr. Thomas Yale, William Andrews, John Cooper, John Brockett and Nathaniel Merriman to do it with the help of Mantowese.

Two years later, New Haven Colony, never having had a Royal Charter, was obliged to give up its independent existence and in 1664 became a component part of the colony of Connecticut. After 1664 the “General Courte“ was held at Hartford, and all laws governing New Haven issued from that court.