Middlesex Parish - History 101

In 1776—the year of our nation’s founding—Darien and Rowayton did not yet exist as separate entities. At the time, the area was known as Middlesex Parish, a community that had gradually taken shape as an outgrowth of Stamford and Norwalk.

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Settlement in the region began in the late 17th century, as families established homesteads in areas such as Noroton Cove, Gorham’s Landing, and the head of the Five Mile River. By 1737, Middlesex Parish was officially recognized as a distinct ecclesiastical district, and in 1744, a meetinghouse was constructed—what is now the First Congregational Church of Darien. This church became both a spiritual and civic center for the growing population, offering a local alternative to the long journey into Stamford or Norwalk for worship and town affairs.

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Though still under Stamford’s governance, Middlesex Parish developed a strong sense of local identity rooted in cooperation, worship, and stewardship of the land. Life in the mid-18th century centered on farming, fishing, and small-scale trade, with children attending one-room schoolhouses scattered throughout the rural countryside. By the mid-1700s, the population likely numbered a few hundred, clustered around churches, harbors, and crossroads.

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​During the Revolutionary War, Middlesex Parish was divided between Patriots and Loyalists (Tories). While many residents supported independence, Loyalist sympathies remained strong. The area endured repeated raids by Tory raiders from Long Island Sound, targeting Patriot homes, churches, and supplies. Well known raids include the 1781 raids on the Mather Homestead and the Middlesex Parish meetinghouse where ~50 men were taken prisoner. Middlesex Parish’s Patriots organized local militia, defended the coastline, and provided resources to the Continental Army. The war fractured communities, with families split in allegiance, and left lasting scars on the once-peaceful shoreline settlements.  

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Fast forward, in 1820, after decades of self-definition, Middlesex Parish formally separated from Stamford and became the town of Darien. While Rowayton had once fallen within the parish boundaries and shared in its community life, it ultimately became part of Norwalk.