|
Pequot Indian History
Pequot (contr. of
Paquatauog, 'destroyers.'- Trumbull). An Algonquian
tribe of Connecticut. Before their conquest by the English
in 1637 they were the most dreaded of the southern New
England tribes. They were originally but one people with the
Mohegan, and it is possible that the term Pequot was unknown
until applied by the eastern coast Indians to this body of
Mohegan invaders, who came down from the interior shortly
before the arrival of the English. The division into two
distinct tribes seems to have been accomplished by the
secession of
Uncas, who, in consequence of a dispute with Sassacus,
afterward known as the great chief of the Pequot, withdrew
into the interior with a small body of followers. This body
retained the name of Mohegan, and through the diplomatic
management of Uncas acquired such prominence that on the
close of the Pequot war their claim to the greater part of
the territory formerly subject to Sassacus was recognized by
the colonial government. The real territory of the Pequot
was a narrow strip of coast in New London county, extending
from Niantic river to the Rhode Island boundary, comprising
the present towns of New London, Groton, and Stonington.
They also extended a few miles into Rhode Island to Wecapaug
river until driven out by the Narraganset about 1635. This
country had been previously in possession of the Niantic,
whom the Pequot invaded from the north and forced from their
central position, splitting them into two bodies,
thenceforth known as Eastern and Western Niantic. The
Eastern Niantic put themselves under the protection of the
Narraganset, while the western branch became subject to the
Pequot and were settled on their west border. The conquerors
rapidly extended their dominion over the neighboring tribes,
so that just previous to the Pequot war Sassacus was the
head over 26 subordinate chiefs and claimed control over all
Connecticut east of Connecticut river and the coast westward
to the vicinity of Guilford or New Haven, while all of Long
Island except the extreme west part was also under his
dominion. Nearly all of this territory, excepting Long
Island, was claimed by Uncas, the Mohegan chief, after the
conquest of the Pequot. At the period of their greatest
strength the Pequot probably numbered at least 3,000 souls,
but have been estimated much higher.
By the murder of a trader who had treated them harshly,
followed by several other acts of hostility, the Pequot
became involved in a war with the colonists in 1637. Through
the influence of Roger Williams and of Uncas the English
secured the assistance, or at least the neutrality, of the
neighboring tribes, and then marched against the Pequot.
Their principal fort, near Mystic river, was surprised and
set on fire, and probably 600 Pequot men, women, and
children perished in the flames or were shot down while
trying to escape. This terrible slaughter so crippled the
Pequot that after a few desperate but unsuccessful efforts
at resistance they determined to separate into small parties
and abandon their country. Some went to Long Island, others
fled to the interior, while a large party headed by Sassacus
attempted to reach the Mohawk, but were intercepted near
Fairfield, Conn. and almost the entire party were killed or
captured. The prisoners became slaves to the colonists or
were sold into the West Indies. The few who escaped to the
Mohawk, including Sassacus, were put to death by that tribe.
The scattered fugitives were shot down wherever found by the
neighboring tribes, until the survivors at last came in and
asked for mercy at the hands of the English. A party of 70
had previously made submission to the Narraganset and become
a part of that tribe.
In 1638 the surrendered Pequot were distributed among
the Mohegan, Narraganset, and Niantic, and forbidded longer
to call themselves Pequot. Although it has been customary to
regard the Pequot as exterminated in this war, such was far
from being the case. They numbered 3,000 or more at the
beginning of the war, and only about 700 or 800 are known to
have been killed. The rest joined other tribes or finally
submitted to the English. Several years afterward a Pequot
chief was found living on Delaware river, and there can be
no question that many others had found refuge with the
Mahican and other western tribes. In June 1637, after the
dispersion of the tribe, those about New Haven and on Long
Island were reported to number 350 warriors, orabout1,250
souls. Those portioned out among the friendly tribes in
September 1638, numbered 200 warriors, with their families,
or about 700 in all. Of these, one-half went to the Mohegan,
80 warriors to the Narraganset, and 20 warriors to the
Niantic. They occupied six separate villages among these
tribes, in addition to those villages which were occupied
jointly. At the same time there were a large number on Long
Island who remained there in subjection to the English;
others were in the vicinity of New Haven and among the
Nipmuc and neighboring tribes; many were scattered as slaves
among the English settlements, and others had been sent to
the West Indies.
The Pequot who had been given to the Indian allies of
the colonists were treated so harshly by their masters that
it was finally necessary, in 1655, to gather them into two
villages near Mystic river, in their old country, and place
them under the direct control of the colonial government.
Here they numbered about 1,500 in 1674. They decreased
rapidly, as did the other tribes, and in 1762 the remnant
numbered 140 souls, living in Maushantuxet, at Ledyard,
Conn. In 1832 these were reduced to about 40 mixed-bloods,
who still occupied their reserve and cherished the old
hatred of the Mohegan, who lived a few miles distant. It
appears from an article by Prince and Speck (Am. Anthrop.,
Apr. 1903) that there are still in Connecticut about 100
persons of Pequot-Mohegan blood. A colony of about 50
individuals of this group are employed chiefly as farm and
factory workers a few miles south of Norwich; the others
live in adjacent towns. About 25, according to Speck (inf'n,
1907), are still on the old Groton tract near Ledyard and
keep themselves distinct from the Mohegan, but they retain
practically nothing of their former culture.
The following were Pequot villages:
Aukumbumsk
Cosattuck
Cuppunaugunnit
Mangunckakuck
Maushantuxet
Mystic
Nameaug
Paupattokshick
Pawcatuck
Sauquonckackock
Stonington
Tatuppequauog
Weinshauks.
Index of Tribes or Nations Source: Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, Frederick Webb Hodge, 1906
This site
includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These
items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be
interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
implied .
Free
Genealogy |
Indian
Genealogy
|
Index of Tribes or Nations
|
|
