The title to the lands of Griswold were held by 2 rival claimants, the Colony of Connecticut and the Mohegan Indians, the original owners of the soil. Although the Colony in 1640 obtained a conveyance from Uncas of all the lands in Connecticut belonging to his tribe, except their planting grounds, the title continued in dispute so that usually whenever a farm was granted in the Mohegan country by the General Court it was considered safe and wise to also obtain a grant from the Mohegan Chief.

The actual sum received by the Indians for the land within the limits of Griswold was 35 pounds sterling, exclusive of the 5 yards of cloth and a few pair of stockings paid by the Colony to Uncas for all the land in 1640.

The first highway was built in 1691. Preston laid out a road which was 4 rods in width from one end of town to the other. Griswold was then part of the town of Preston. The road followed from Preston City to Pachaug.

By 1715 the population had so increased that there was demand of some form of self government. Preston was then divided into two sections, the South Society and the North Society. The North Society would later become the Town of Griswold. In 1815 the North Society petitioned the General Assembly to incorporate into a town.