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

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...

. He originally settled at Ipswitch, Massachusetts Bay Colony 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, or variant, may refer to: * a member of the Third Estate in medieval society (commoners), see estates of the realm * Freeman, an apprentice who has been granted freedom of the company, was a rank within Livery companies * Free ...

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 British North America Founding settlers of Norwalk, Connecticut First settlers of New England