Robert Beacham (or Beauchamp) was a founding settler of Norwalk,

Connecticut Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...

. He originally settled at Ipswitch,

Massachusetts Bay Colony The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1628–1691), more formally the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of North America around Massachusetts Bay, one of the several colonies later reorganized as the Province of M ...

in 1648. His land in Norwalk was immediately south of the present day site of the

East Norwalk Historical Cemetery __NOTOC__ Established in , the East Norwalk Historical Cemetery is Norwalk's oldest cemetery, and many of the area's first settlers are buried there. The cemetery is owned and maintained by the Third Taxing District, formally known as the East Nor ...

, and the bridge leading south from that area was formerly called ''Beacham's Bridge''. Due to his location being in between the main area of the settlement and the area then called ''The Neck'' where cattle grazed, he served as a "gate-keeper." He left Norwalk in 1657 or 1658,Norwalk: Vol. 1.
/ref> and settled near Green's Farms in present-day Westport. He was made a

freeman Freeman, free men, Freeman's or Freemans may refer to: Places United States * Freeman, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Freeman, Illinois, an unincorporated community * Freeman, Indiana, an unincorporated community * Freeman, South Dako ...

of Fairfield in 1664. He is listed on the Founders Stone bearing the names of the founders of Norwalk in the East Norwalk Historical Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beacham, Robert 1600s births 1600s deaths American Puritans English emigrants to pre-Confederation Canada Settlers of Norwalk, Connecticut First settlers of New England