DISBROWE, Samuel, magistrate, born in Eltisley, Cambridgeshire, England, 30 November 1619; died in Elfworth, Cambridgeshire, England, 10 December 1690. He was the brother of John Disbrowe, who gained distinction by his marriage with the sister of Oliver Cromwell and by his active service during the commonwealth, becoming major general in 1648 and governor of the west in 1650. During the civil war, Samuel Disbrowe and a number of colonists sailed from England in a ship of 350 tons for Connecticut. After a long voyage they arrived in New Haven about 1 July 1639. hi August they purchased from the Indians the tract of land comprising the present town of Guilford, the contract being formally made on 26 August and the deed dated 30 September 1639. These papers and a map made by the Indians of the territory sold and of the adjoining coast are still preserved in the Massachusetts historical society in Boston. The first settlers of Guilford came to New England when the hold of the Dissenters was broken from the mother country, so that they settled as an independent republic. Their constitution is on record in the handwriting of Samuel Disbrowe.

This document is complete in all its parts, providing for executive, legislative, and judiciary departments, the order of its courts, manner of holding its meetings, etc. In 1650 he returned to England, and through the influence of his brother was sent to Scotland in the employment of the state. Soon after his arrival he was appointed to represent the town of Edinburgh in parliament, and on 4 May 1655, was chosen by Cromwell to be one of the nine counselors of Scotland. In the following year he was a member of the British parliament. Cromwell was so pleased with his services that, on 16 February 1657, he gave a patent for the office of keeper of the great seal of Scotland to him or to his deputy during his lifetime, "subject to such regulations with regard to fees or otherwise as should be made by his highness or his successors with the advice of the privy council of England." Disbrowe was continued in all his offices by the protector, Richard Cromwell, and prudently embraced the royal proclamation sent from Breda. On 21 May 1660, he signed his submission to the king, and on 12 Dec. obtained his pardon. After that he retired to his home in Elfworth, Cambridgeshire.