History

New London was originally the home of the Lenni Lenape Indian tribe.

It was visited by early farmers and explorers, but began to grow when the London Company, a group of five entrepreneurs, purchased a large tract of land in order the break the tract into smaller lots and sell them at a profit to immigrant farmers.  This tract included present-day New London Township, which was chartered in 1723.

The first immigrants were Swedish framers from New Castle Delaware. The next wave of immigration brought Scottish Irish Presbyterians.

In 1741, Rev. Dr. Francis Alison, then the minister of the New London Presbyterian Church, established the original New London Academy (the parent school of the University of Delaware) where he instructed three signers of the Declaration of Independence: Thomas McKean, George Read, and James Smith.  He also instructed four governors and many other important citizens.

New London residents were prominent patriots in the Revolutionary War.  Benjamin Franklin, who farmed property in nearby Franklin Township and was in charge of the Pennsylvania Militia, encouraged local families to rally to the cause and to provide horses, manpower, and supplies.