the pequot used bluff point as a source of seafood before the arrival of european colonists. in 1649, the town of new london granted john winthrop the younger a plot of land that became the plantation called winthrop's neck. it included present day bluff point state park, haley farm state park, poquonnock bridge, mumford cove, and groton long point. the property was subsequently divided into great farm, also known as bluff point, and the fort hill farm.