Saltonstall, Gurdon, 1666 - 1724

Gurdon Saltonstall was the son of Nathaniel Saltonstall and Elizabeth Ward.  After graduation from Harvard College (BA 1684, MA 1687), he became the Congregational minister of New London, Connecticut (1688-1708) and governor of the Colony of Connecticut (1708-1724).  As the minister of New London, Saltonstall acted as secretary and agent to Governor Fitz-John Winthrop.  His ownership of a significant amount of land on the outskirts of New London was one of the causes of the Mohegan complaint to London authorities in 1703.  Upon his accession to governorship, he rigorously defended the colony against the legal attack and shaped its Indian policies in a way to convert the colony's Native population to Protestant Christianity and reduce their sovereignty to eventual dependence on the colonial government.  Saltonstall died in office of apoplexy on September 20, 1724.