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Note: It is likely they came to America between 1635 and 1639. Atwater states it was in the second ship to New Haven Colony, which arrived in July 1639.
From 1639 to 1649 Ralph was a member of the New Haven Colony. While Ralph was not among the original signers of the "Fundamental Agreement and Covenant of Habitancy", his signature was appended in the year 1639, upon his arrival in the young colony.
Leaving New Haven in 1649, tarrying by way in Southampton, the same being true of Thomas BAKER and his family, Ralph and the Bakers were on the ground in East Hampton, Long Island in 1650. His son Robert would join them later.
Ralph has been credited with being "the founder of East Hampton", he was unquestionably one of its early settlers, and he, Thomas Baker, and Robert Dayton signed "the Original Compact or Civil Combination." It is also true that in 1650, Ralph went by appointment to Connecticut "to procure the evidence of their lands and a code of laws." The report he brought back was adopted.
In the Town Records is this entry: "Oct. 7th 1651 Ralph Daiton is chosen constable for this yere."
On 13 Feb 1655, Ralph turn over the use of certain property to his son Robert, in this document we find the following paragraph: "And after the decease of me Ralfe Daiton and my wife I do give all the other partes of my land, meadoe and housing that be above mentioned to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever. In witness whereof I set to my hand." Since Ralph marries Mary Haines, the widow of James Haines of Southold in the middle of 1656, we must presume that his first wife Alice, died in East Hampton, Long Island either in 1655 or early 1656.
Ralph's will is dated 25 Jul 1658. Then on 22 Sep 1658, "At Quarter Court, the will of the late deceased Ralph Dayton was brought into the Court and approved by the magistrates." In this document he remembers his "Son Robert", his "son baker", his "son Samuel, and his "son Linlye's children"; and returns to his wife the portion she brought with her. It would appear further from the will, that Ralph and his wife were at that time living in the house he owned at North Sea and bequeathed to his son Samuel. Ralph is buried in South End Cemetery, East Hampton, Long Island, New York.
It can be said, that the Ashford shoemaker, having migrated to America, became one of the early settlers of New Haven, an "interpreter to the Indians", and a trusted founder of East Hampton, Long Island.
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