The Lynde Farm on the "Western Neck"

In addition to the 13 acres owned by Colonel George Fenwick within the Town Plat on Saybrook Point, he also owned the land known as the "western neck", today known as the land occupied by the Borough of Fenwick, Fenwood, Knollwood, Cornfield Point and partially north along Plum Bank. The record of ownership can be traced through numerous owners all of the way through to the development of the Borough of Fenwick as it is known today. Although no record exists to confirm this, it is thought that the Lynde Farm - the location of the home that Nathaniel, Susanna and their extensive family occupied - was likely located within what is now the Borough of Fenwick. Although Colonel Fenwick originally owned the the Lynde Point land, it is thought that Fenwick, Lady Fenwick and their family lived in the "Great Hall " on Saybrook Point, the building that was later deeded to the Saybrook Collegiate School by Nathaniel Lynde. The Lyndes could have presumably given up this structure to the school because they didn't live there - their primary home was over at Lynde Point.

The "western neck", containing about 800 acres, was one of the most valuable farms in Saybrook, on account of the sea weed and fishing privileges enjoyed by the owners and the large quantities of valuable fertilizers that could easily be obtained. The land was originally part of the Fenwick landholdings given to Elizabeth Cullick, Fenwick's sister, by a codicil added to his will (Colonel Fenwick died in England in 1657 after leaving the Saybrook Colony behind following the 1645 death of his wife, Lady Alice). The property was eventually given to Elizabeth's daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Benjamin Batten of Boston. In 1674, approximately 17 years after Fenwick parted with his property, it was sold to Simon Lynde, also of Boston, who in 1685 transferred the land to two of his sons, Nathaniel and Benjamin. It is thought that only a portion of the 800 acres went to Nathaniel as Benjamin spoke in his diaries of visiting "his Neck " as early as 1720, approximately nine years before Nathaniel's death in 1729.

In summary, the land of the "western neck" was owned in succession by Colonel George Fenwick, Colonel Fenwick's sister Elizabeth Cullick, Elizabeth's daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Batten, Simon Lynde and then to Nathaniel and Benjamin Lynde. The land remained in the Lynde family from the time Simon took possession in 1674 until 1850 when the property was sold to Gilbert Pratt, a total of approximately 176 years. After holding the property for several years, Pratt sold the land to an I. S. Otis. After Otis' death the property was sold to Messers John F. Bushnell, R. M. Chapman and D. C. Spencer, well known Saybrook names. Together, and after only a short time, the trio sold the property to the New Saybrook Company.

In the summer of 1870, the attention of a few citizens of Hartford was called to the "LYNDE Farm" or "Light House Point," as a desirable location for a seaside resort, which would be made more available by the completion of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which was then projected. After a careful examination of the property, it was bought, and a joint stock company was formed under the laws of the State, so that the stockholders should be gentlemen well esteemed in their respective communities, and that there should be none likely to disturb the harmony which should exist in a large company gathered for a few months in the summer for purposes of health and recreation. It was also decided that in addition to the erection of a first class hotel, provision should be made for the building of cottages by the stockholders and others. It was therefore arranged that each stockholder of 40 shares of $25 each should receive in fee the deed of half acre lot, the choice of lots to be disposed of by auction.