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Native Americans in Middletown, Part I: Who Called It ‘Home’ Before Our ‘First Settlers’? by R.W

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Native Americans in Middletown, Part I: Who Called It ‘Home’ Before Our ‘First Settlers’? by R.W N FIRST S OW ETT T LE LE R D S D I D E M S C f E o N Y D T A E N I C e T S M O S id NEWSLETTER of hethe SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. 1650-1700 Vol. 10, No. 1 www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ctsmfsd/Index.html Spring 2010 A SUMMARY OF RESEARCH Native Americans in Middletown, Part I: Who called it ‘home’ before our ‘First Settlers’? By R.W. Bacon was filtered through an impenetrable Editor, The Middler cultural bias. In the centuries since, With the passage of new SMFSD despite considerable archaeological bylaws that extend membership eligi- findings and linguistic scholarship, bility to all who can document ances- Native American history and culture tors who lived in Middletown before by nature do not fit neatly into political 1700, summary articles about Native and geographic categories. Finally, in Americans and African-Americans in the 21st century, there are two feder- Middletown are in order for The ally-recognized tribes in Connecticut – Middler.1 This issue presents Part I of and a dozen or so others angling for an overview of Native American pres- Above: An illustration of a Native American position in a politically-charged and ence in pre-1700 Middletown. family from John W. DeForest’s History of money-driven atmosphere. This is not the Indians of Connecticut (1853). In preparing this article, one truism an atmosphere conducive to scholarly became evident: Confusion abounds. Why the confusion? In the 17th inquiry and impartial fact-finding. On the subject of Native Americans century, the Dutch and English observ- Who were the Native Americans in along the Connecticut River in the 17th ers could only report the incomplete Middletown? It is agreed that the century, there have always been con- picture they saw, their knowledge of Wangunks were of the Algonquian flicting interpretations of identity, Indian ethnic organization was rudi- linguistic group. Beyond that, the tug- location, and population. mentary, and further, their reportage of-war over political and cultural categories has lasted over four centu- ries. Where were the Native Americans New SMFSD bylaws pass unanimously; in Middletown? They moved seasonally. pre-1700 ‘qualifying ancestors’ redefined The notion of firmly-fixed political The votes are in on SMFSD’s pro- means that any Native Americans and boundaries was, and is, folly. How posed bylaw changes raised at last African-Americans who were docu- many Native Americans were there on year’s Triennial Meeting – and both mented in Middletown before 1700 are both sides of the river? In the 17th proposals were approved unanimously. now “qualifying ancestors.” The burden century, everybody was guessing, but The first proposal changes the name of proof still rests with the applicant. nobody was counting. Historians of the of the head of the board to “president” Cursory investigation is inconclusive, 19th century maintained that the very from the former title of “commander.” but SMFSD is very likely among the continued on page 6 The approval of the second proposal few Colonial-era descendancy organiza- extends membership eligibility beyond tions to open membership to descen- In this issue . Native Americans in Middletown, Part I . 1 our fixed – and incomplete – list of first dants of Native Americans and African New SMFSD Bylaws Approved . 1 settlers to anyone who can prove American slaves. The vote was unani- Member Notes & SMFSD News. 2 descent from any individual docu- mous, both at the Triennial Meeting Meet Barb Stenberg, SMFSD President . 3 mented as having lived in Middletown and by mail-in ballot. Time will tell if Science & Serendipity for Two Cornwells. 4 before 1700. This readjustment of SMFSD’s new policy is part of a trend Feature Graphic: Indian Tribes of Conn. 7 NEHGS Features Hal Whitmore Article. 10 policy, simple on the surface, may toward even more inclusiveness among Membership Information. 11 attract some notice, however, as it also history/genealogy organizations. MIDDLETOWN NEWSLETTER of the SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS he Mid e CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. CONNECTICUT, USA SMFSD NEWS interest to those who do not have any the same as for descendant members family connection to the early – $20 per year. If you know of any Welcome to new settlers, but who are interested in potential “friends” of SMFSD who Middletown history and would like to would like to receive their own copy members & non- receive The Middler. Our new of The Middler, suggest that they descendant ‘friends’ brochure includes reference to this contact our Registrar, Don Brock, at membership category. The dues are [email protected] for information. • Welcome new members. SMFSD extends an enthusiastic welcome to two new members since If imitation is the greatest form of flattery, the last issue of The Middler: then the SMFSD has been duly ‘flattered’ Deborah Hartley Forchielli, AM- 275, Oakville, Conn. (1st settler John If indeed “imitation is the greatest avoided the “P-word,” and referred to Kirby), and Ross Gamble Perry, form of flattery,” then the SMFSD his boo-boo as “a discourtesy.” He was LM-280, Arlington, Va. (primary 1st web site was flattered early this year effusive in his praise of our web site, settler George Hubbard & secondary when a noted genealogist and author and stated his intention to address 1st settler John Kirby). appropriated lengthy passages from the issue with Google Books and in • SMFSD Friends Membership our site’s local history essays for his future hard-copies. But as of May 1, Category. The SMFSD bylaws have most recent genealogical tome. the appropriated passages remain. always included a provision for non- This was more than a brief quota- Of course, this book is a genealogy descendant “friends” members, but tion of the copyrighted works. The book, not a best-seller … or not even only recently has this category wholesale “flattery” amounted to 16 a term-paper. (Any high school prompted attention and inquiries. paragraphs lifted from three essays, teacher who discovered a transgres- This category will be of special spread over eight pages. If this were sion like this would be on the war- not bold enough, only the cryptic path.) So this veteran author should URL was credited in the footnotes, know better. If this same issue N FIRST S not the organization, author, or the involved a popular history book about OW ETT T LE LE R sources footnoted in the hijacked text. a figure like Abraham Lincoln or D S D I D E M This came to light in February 2010 John Adams, the “P-word” would be S C f E o N Y D when SMFSD editor R.W. Bacon was in the headlines, the author would be T A E N I C T S O S researching Native Americans in in hiding, and the lawyers would be 1650-1700 Middletown. An Internet search led dancing in the streets over their him to a preview of a recently- share of the damages. published book that has been fully One outspoken lawyer-genealogist M e viewable at the Google Books site claims that in issues like this, public he id since 2009. As your editor was eagerly humiliation is a more effective remedy NEWSLETTER of the SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN reading through relevant passages, than the courts. “If someone steals FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS the phrasing began to seem very and publishes my stuff, I don’t go to 1650-1700 – Middletown, Connecticut, U.S.A. familiar. “Hey, I wrote this stuff!” he court,” she said, “I just make sure www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ctsmfsd/Index.html realized. And it went on for pages. everyone in the world knows about Vol. 10, No. 1 The next day the transgressor was it.” But since your editor is a patient Spring 2010 contacted by e-mail, and a tail- sort, the transgressor’s name is being Please send articles, letters, news items, between-the-legs apology was forth- withheld in this issue. But if there is and corrections to: coming almost immediately. Your no action by the fall issue, his name The Middler editor informed him that the SMFSD will be Mudd. Or something like that. c/o R.W. Bacon, Editor essays were placed on the web site in P. O. Box 489 – R.W. Bacon Newburyport, MA 01950 generous spirit, with the goal of – Editor, The Middler (E-mail: [email protected]) providing local history context to both SMFSD OFFICERS current and prospective SMFSD members. But at the very least, This was more than a brief President . Barbara Stenberg Vice President. Rita Urquhart without invoking the “P-word” or any quotation … The wholesale Secretary . Margery Piersen other legalese, your editor insisted “flattery” amounted to 16 Treasurer . Mike Campbell that SMFSD be identified and fully- Historian . Thomas Smith credited in the footnotes. The trans- paragraphs lifted from three Registrar . Donald Brock essays, spread over 8 pages. Middler Editor . R.W. Bacon gressor, author of several highly- regarded family histories, also 2 MIDDLETOWN NEWSLETTER of the SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS he Mid e CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. CONNECTICUT, USA Meet Barb Stenberg, SMFSD’s first and only ‘Commander’ – and now President – since 2000 By R.W. Bacon The Middler: Tell us about your Editor, The Middler own research. How many first-settlers? This is the second in a series of What’s your most vexing “brick wall”? profiles that give our members across Barb: My research has concentrated the U.S. a chance to get to know a bit on my McGee line. That is my most more about their SMFSD “cousins” vexing brick wall, too.
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