New book by Cheshire resident tracks early history of New Haven  New book by Cheshire resident tracks early history of New Haven  Cheshire resident Peter Malia. Submitted photo. Advertisement Cover of Peter Malia's newest book, "New Haven Town Records, 1769 â 1819." Submitted photo. January 11, 2021 07:36AM By John Rook, Cheshire Herald staff CHESHIRE â Peter Malia loves history. Itâs as true now for the town resident as it was while he was in college, when, after his first year at Fordham University, he was challenged by a professor to find a unique topic to serve as a thesis project. Little did Malia know that what he began in 1977 as almost a lark would be completed approximately four decades later â a resource to help future generations better understand the âland of steady habits.â