While on shipboard to America the Plantation Covenant was signed, in which the Puritans agreed to remain together, the first name to the Covenant being that of Mr. Robert Kitchell, the "Mr." designating him as a "Gentleman Commoner," or some such rank of sub-noble dignity. They soon settled at Guilford. These settlers were generally men of character, culture and substance, several of them being of University training, and Robert Kitchell held a large place among them in all trusts and dignities.
Samuel Kitchell, his son, married Grace Pierson, daughter of Rev. Abraham Pierson, pastor of the Guilford Church. Laxness of views spreading through the colony, Dr. Abraham Pierson was asked by the "Fundamentalists," as they classified themselves, to find a new home for them and their church. He first organized a church at Southampton, Long Island, and then, going to the territory now occupied by Newark, N.J., he secured this for his people and sent word to them to come down as a Colony and Church, Samuel Kitchell, his son-in-law, being with him there from the first, as one of the founders of Newark.
The Guilford Church and people became re-established at Newark, and Dr. Abraham Pierson became the first pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Newark. Robert Kitchell became known as "the benefactor of Newark." Dr. Pierson's son, Dr. Abraham Pierson, was his assistant and successor as pastor, and became founder and first President of Yale College, his statue in bronze now standing on the campus. The daughter, Grace Pierson Kitchell, wife of Samuel, is the mother of all the American Kitchells. The Kitchell family grew into a large and influential family in New Jersey.