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

Home , Quinnipiac, Tunxis, Uncas, Wangunk, Wappinger

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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 centuries. 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

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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. I cannot prove and fellow genealogy enthusiasts. This the relationship of Thomas MaGee of spring The Middler interviews Barbara New Jersey to three men who went to McGee Stenberg, of Surprise, Ariz., Virginia about 1789. because so many who has been our “commander” – and records burned. I have been searching now president – since the organiza- since the mid-1970s. As for SMFSD, it tion’s founding a decade ago. SMFSD President Barb Stenberg has been easier to find connections in The Middler: How did you first strikes a pose at the 2009 NERGC. Middletown. I have descent from John come to know SMFSD founder Gale while I held down the home front. The Stow, Daniel Harris, Nathaniel White, Cornwell? And how did he coax you to thing I gained from that is an ability to John Savage, and William Cornwell, on step up and be our first commander? be independent and to step out and do whom I joined SMFSD. There are collateral connections to most everyone! Barb Stenberg: I saw an article things I find others won’t do. So I can about this new organization and joined go hunting for dead relatives and travel The Middler: When you grow weary the effort right away. It cost little and alone and be just fine. I’ve been to of pounding the “brick wall,” what intrigued me. At our first meeting he Australia, Norway, England, Scotland, activities and interests keep you busy? asked for volunteers, and when it came Germany, Italy, France, and of course, Barb: I just finished three years on to Commander we all just sat and Hawaii. I’ve been in almost every state. our church council. I sing in the choir waited for someone to step forward. The Middler: Are you a member of and serve as their librarian. I play in Well, of course, no one did. Then to my other genealogy organizations? the chime choir, and I play the piano shock Gale called on me to come Barb: I was president of our geneal- for pleasure. I play bridge when I can. forward because I “had been so helpful ogy group at Placerville, Calif. I belong I am the secretary of my church in getting this meeting together.” to the NGS, NEHGS, and I just women’s organization. In May, my son The Middler: When did you first finished as 2nd vice-president of the and I are going to Germany. And lastly catch the genealogy bug? What’s your West Valley Genealogy Society. I teach a I have a man friend who takes a education and career background? novice genealogy class, and also belong certain amount of maintenance time! Barb: I was interested as a child in to the DAR and Colonial Dames. For The Middler: How has your family where everyone came from. My mother five years I worked on the Record responded to your genealogy interests? had no interest and would get annoyed Preservation Project for the DAR. Barb: I don’t have a family member at my persistent questions. I continued The Middler: What makes SMFSD with an ounce of interest. But my to ask, however, and when I got into my special for you? What challenges do you children are very good at listening to me 40s I decided to really get into it. I think see? What are your goals or wishes? prattle on. My mother always said “Oh the TV drama Roots got me started. My Barb: I have met great friends that I they’re dead now. I don’t care about degree is in health science. I was an RN, simply would never have met if it them.” I have one grandson and and retired from nursing in 1998. weren’t for SMFSD. I had focused my another on the way. They will probably Genealogy has no relationship to my research on my father’s line, but the hate to see me coming as they will be career, but is now my main endeavor. I SMFSD connection is my mother’s line, entertained with their ancestors at love the digging and following clues. I and that side and the period is so every opportunity. It has often struck get as much fun out of finding some- interesting. I think our challenge is to me that the bug catches us in spite of thing for someone else as for myself. make SMFSD a society that people feel the rejection by our families. If your goal The Middler: Tell us about your really eager to join and reluctant to is to enthrall your family, you probably travels and experiences – and how the leave. I would love to see us offer a won’t last. But if the task grips you, as lifestyle impacted genealogy pursuits. seminar that becomes as well-known as it has me, you will go on in spite of others’ disinterest. Then someday you Barb: My late husband was a U.S. some by other organizations. One thing may even leave behind something of Navy chaplain for 12 years and then I’ve learned over the years is to not be meaning to someone, somewhere. So I with the reserve for 16 years. While in afraid to try something. I am willing to say, keep going. Every nut we find may the navy he traveled all over the world leap in where angels fear to tread! hang on someone’s tree. 3 MIDDLETOWN NEWSLETTER of the SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS he Mid e CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. CONNECTICUT, USA Science & serendipity drew John Cornwell into the ‘prop wash’ of our founder’s genealogy crusade By R.W. Bacon DNA results and decided to submit my Editor, The Middler profile to the Family Tree DNA site, In August 2009, John Cornwell and which also hosts the Cornwell and his father, William Cornwell, crossed related names project. Soon thereafter, the continent from California to I discovered I had a very close match attend the SMFSD Triennial Meeting to Gale Cornwell (36/37 markers) and in Middletown. During the weekend was able to get his e-mail via the we learned that his trip was a chapter website. We connected by e-mail and a in a story highlighted by contact with follow-up phone call in April 2007, six SMFSD founder Gale Cornwell (1927- months before he passed away. 2007). In early 2010 John consented to The Middler: After your initial the e-mail interview that follows. contact with Gale, what was the The Middler: When did you first nature of your communication? become interested in your family’s J.C.: We e-mailed at first, then genealogy? Is your research an exten- several phone calls, then an in-person sion of your education or career? Above, l. to. r., are John Cornwell and his meeting. I received almost daily mail- John Cornwell: Initially, DNA was father, William Cornwell, in Middletown in 2009. Inset is SMFSD founder Gale ings after I first met him in-person. the trigger for my interest. I’ve been Cornwell (1927-2007) in 2000. The Middler: When you first con- involved with genetic engineering vis-à- was intrigued by his previously nected with Gale, what was the primary vis the biotech industry for more than unknown family connection to focus of his genealogy work? 20 years, studied medical biophysics at Connecticut. It was an interesting J.C.: He seemed most focused on the Berkeley, worked at Genentech, and moment to see the name of Middletown family connection between the Cornwell even ran a DNA sequencing lab at one founder and emigrant William Cornwell and Cornell families. He had just con- point. My scientific background proba- (the same name as my father’s) on the nected with a Cornell with a very close bly made me susceptible to the bite of founder’s monument in the old ceme- match (35/37 markers) via the Cornwell the genealogy bug; genealogy is just an tery in Hartford. In fact, most of my DNA project who had extensive family open-ended personal research project. recent ancestors have been Williams … research tracing back to Thomas About five years ago, I heard about coincidence or subconscious tribute to Cornell, the Rhode Island Cornell the National Genographic Project to the original William of Middletown? immigrant. The DNA match validates gather DNA samples from humans The Middler: How did this initial the theory of the families sharing a around the world to trace the origins interest evolve into serious research, common ancestor in 16th century and historical movement of human and then contact with Gale Cornwell? Essex, England. Gale took a marketing populations. It seemed like a noble J.C.: I became connected to Gale approach on some genealogy matters: effort and I could subsidize it by through a combination of serendipity e.g., he was intent on proving and paying for my own DNA mapping. and the Cornwell Family Tree DNA spreading the Mary Hyanno story (Ed. My Dad and I had no idea about our project. My DNA profile sat isolated in note: See The Middler, spring 2006) and Cornwell family roots beyond his the National Genographic database for the “Feud of the Four Brothers” story. grandfather, who died before he was a year or so until I read an article on (Ed. note: This supposedly involved four born. I think the easy access to histori- connecting with specific relatives via Plantagenet heirs wrestling over the cal documents on the internet, and Earldom of Cornwall in 1272.) He also software to organize and display them, spent time researching my line and has fueled the our recent interests. “We e-mailed at first, then writing hereditary societies on my My reasons for attending the SMFSD “several phone calls, then behalf for membership applications. Triennial were curiosity and my prom- “an in-person meeting. The Middler: Did you ever deter- ise to Gale Cornwell that I would mine your exact relationship to Gale? attend if able. I was still feeling guilty “I received almost daily J.C.: Gale and I are 7th cousins, once that I didn’t join SMFSD before he “mailings after I first met removed. Hart Cornwell (1764-c. 1810), died. My father decided to come “him in-person.” son of Cornelius Cornwell (1722-1811) because it would be a good chance for was the last to live in Middletown. He us to travel together – we both needed a – John Cornwell, and his family, including his young son father/son road trip – and because he – on Gale Cornwell and my ancestor Gilbert Cornwell (1796- once worked in Stamford, Conn. He continued on page 5

4 MIDDLETOWN NEWSLETTER of the SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS he Mid e CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. CONNECTICUT, USA Science & serendipity tales and proceeded to try to confirm them independently. “His methods were not in Cornwell genealogy E-mails and packets continued to “always conventional and continued from page 4 arrive, always recognizable by their “didn’t always follow the 1856) moved to Schoharie Co., N.Y., durable cigarette smoke essence. Soon “accepted protocols for about 1798. Gilbert and family moved to thereafter he relocated to a townhouse “objective research.” Morton, Tazewell Co., Ill., in 1846. with his son, Gary. The assisted living The Middler: When did you first environment apparently imposed on – John Cornwell meet Gale personally? his independence and smoking habits. I J.C.: Gale had recently moved from visited him there a month later and his walked around Main Street, grabbed his “compound” in Indio, in the health seemed to be failing. He was dinner, and checked into the California desert (he gave me pictures weaker and had a harder time breath- Middletown Inn at the old armory. The of his ranch with plaques, etc.), to an ing. He seemed to be preparing for his next morning, I jumped the fence at assisted care facility in Carmichael, a demise. He was telling me about Riverside Cemetery and spent an hour suburb of Sacramento. Coincidentally, getting rid of a lot of his documents hunting for recognizable names from this was less than a mile from my in- and that I could take anything I my own research. laws’ home. I arranged to meet him wanted. It didn’t seem right to me, When I got back to California, I tried next time I was visiting the area. He that I didn’t know him well enough to calling Gale to tell him about my explo- was not in great health due to obvious be taking the fruits of his decades-long ration of Middletown, but his number respiratory problems, but was personal genealogy crusade and it didn’t answer. This wasn’t disconcert- emphatic about all things related to seemed my taking them would sub- ing at first, because he changed num- genealogy. We spoke about aviation a stantiate his mortality. They were also, bers often due to his moves. No e-mails lot, as I’m a private pilot and he had for the most part, poorly organized, I nor smoky packets in the mail. No this incredible aviation career as an think from his recent moves – and response to e-mails or calls. I hoped he NTSB accident investigator, a WWII marinated in cigarette smoke. His was visiting family or was only tempo- veteran, flew helicopters, etc. He got computer, with much of his correspon- rarily indisposed, but feared the worst, me excited about genealogy, especially dence and other research items, had given his age and deteriorating health. as it related to Middletown, Conn. I crashed recently, and he didn’t seem I monitored the SMFSD web site for had already begun to do some basic interested in my offers to help him an announcement, but nothing. A genealogy based on some 30-year-old recover the hard drive. He decided to month later I dropped by Gale’s latest family data sheets my Dad gave me, ship in bulk a whole bunch of stuff to residence in Roseville, but nobody was but after my first visit with Gale I was the Cornell University library. They home. I looked in the window by the inspired. He started an all-out – and hold a collection of personal papers front door. Clearly there were different unauthorized – campaign to get me related to its founder, Ezra Cornell, people living there. The American flag into various hereditary societies, SAR, who DNA testing has proven to be a doormat was gone, too. I tried getting Descendants of Colonial Wars, and of cousin of the original immigrant Sgt. information from the management, but course SMFSD. I began to receive daily William Cornwell. Other items went to they told me they couldn’t tell me envelopes packed with his research on NEGHS and other researchers he had anything due to privacy laws. my family’s ancestors and applications collaborated with. I showed him some Finally, I called the County Recorder, to various societies he had solicited on of the source materials I had discov- who said she couldn’t give me informa- my behalf, and at least one e-mail per ered, and that I had either downloaded tion either, but that I could order a day with new finds. It was a month- or scanned all paper items into PDFs, copy of a death certificate for someone and-a-half later that I was able to first and offered to scan his remaining of that name … a subtle hint. That is visit him, and this time I had the binders for archival purposes and to how I confirmed he had passed away. benefit of having performed some of distribute to his family. Strangely, he The Middler: Is anyone in Gale’s my own Cornwell research. At this seemed more interested in having me family interested in Cornwell genealogy? point he was committed to indoctrinat- take the binders and wasn’t concerned continued on page 12 ing me into his various theories (some with getting them back or in the scans. of them controversial) regarding Mary A few days later he e-mailed that I “E-mails and packets Hyanno as Sgt. William’s Indian prin- needed to arrange accommodations for “continued to arrive, cess wife, the family document ceding he and I for the Triennial in August any Cornwell family claim on the 2009. He was a very willful man. “always recognizable by Estate of Cornwell/Cornwall via Queen A couple weeks later in August 2007, “their durable cigarette Victoria’s agent, and the William I was headed to New York City from “smoke essence.” Cornwell connection to the British Boston on business and had a day to – John Cornwell royal family. I was intrigued by these kill, so I decided to visit Middletown. I

5 MIDDLETOWN NEWSLETTER of the SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS he Mid e CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. CONNECTICUT, USA Native Americans Indians of New England in 1674, most were insulting manner” was a legitimate response dome-shaped or elongated, housing one family, to previous provocations by the people of in Middletown, Part I between 20 and 40-feet long, and were built Wethersfield, and appointed a committee to 7 continued from page 1 close together. Some houses were as large as resolve the difficulties. Sowheag moved his 30x100 feet. Furniture, utensils, and imple- headquarters from Pyquag (Wethersfield) to last Wangunks faded away late in the 18th ments were found in every household.5 Mattabeseck on the west side of the century. Yet museums hold in their collections It is estimated that there were 6-7000 Connecticut River, now Middletown, and baskets and brooms made by Middletown area Indians in Connecticut in 1636, a population although he was not cooperative initially, he Wangunks a hundred years later. drastically reduced by a plague in 1616-1617 eventually tried to rebuild his relationship Nevertheless, your editor will try to make that killed thousands, and smallpox epidemics with the colonial government. During this sense of it all by digesting the most credible in 1633 and 1635. Dutch observers noted that period Sowheag conveyed the entire “town- scholarship, and, in Part II, by noting relevant Indian villages were upriver rather than at the ship” that became Middletown to Gov. town records about Native Americans in mouth. Clustered around present-day Haynes, though there are scant details of the Middletown. This summary compilation will Middletown on both sides of the river were as transaction, and the title was not formalized proceed from the general to the specifics many as a half-dozen villages, including until 1672. In this same period (c. 1640) he related to Middletown. Mattabessett, Pocowset, Cockaponset, built a fortified village at Indian Hill near the Adriaen Block meets the “River Coginchang, Cononnacock, and Machamodus. present cemetery of the same name, a mili- Indians.” By the time Dutch navigator The “River Indian” villages were comprised of tant initiative that undoubtedly dampened Adriaen Block (1567-1627) first encountered clans of 100 to 300 individuals. The village at enthusiasm about colonial settlement. It was Native Americans when he sailed up the Mattabesett was likely about 100 people.6 not until 1646 that the General Court formed Connecticut River in 1614, they had been Colonial settlements on the river. Over a committee to investigate settlement at established in the region for several hundred the next few years after Adriaen Block’s Mattabeseck. In 1649 an exploratory expedi- years. While the northeast landform became explorations, the Dutch set up trading posts on tion determined that the lands could support home to Paleo-Indian hunter-gatherers 12,000 the river near present-day Hartford. In the 15 families. In 1650 Gov. Haynes guaranteed years ago, and Archaic (8000 BCE - 1000 1620s envoys from the Podunk tribe joined the Wangunks a reservation at the riverbend, BCE) and Woodland (1000 BCE - 1000 CE) with the Dutch to encourage residents of the in three parcels (about 350 acres in total), “for civilizations evolved as the climate changed, it Plymouth colony to settle in Connecticut. The the posterity of Sowheage.” The first perma- was the eastern Algonquians that came to Podunks were among the many smaller tribes nent white settlers listed on Middletown’s inhabit the New England region in late who looked to the English to provide security Founders Rock at Riverside Cemetery arrived prehistoric times.2 Four Algonquians groups from the warlike Pequots, who were known by in 1650, and in 1653 the General Court had migrated to Connecticut from the west in neighboring tribes as “destroyers of men.” This approved the name “Middletown.”8 separate waves, the last being the Pequots to overture by the Podunks led to interest in the Who did the first settlers encounter in southeastern Connecticut about 1600. North area – Windsor (1633), Hartford (1635), and Middletown? Wangunks? Mattabesics? of present-day Hartford, Block visited a village Wethersfield (1634) were settled primarily by Quinnipiacs? Quiripi? Who was who? If one of the Podunk tribe, one of a number of families from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. reads through several dozen sources, it is the overlaying and loosely-affiliated sachem-doms Colonists rout the Pequots. In 1637 the Wangunks who are mentioned most often as with villages along the rivers of Connecticut.3 General Court in Hartford ordered a military being on both sides of the river in early Archaeological studies and historical campaign against the Pequots, who had been Middletown. Dr. Blair A. Rudes (1951-2008), accounts indicate that the 16 identified tribes terrorizing colonial settlements. The scholar of Algonquian linguistics, made a in Connecticut in the early 1600s practiced far Mohegans, led by their chief, Uncas, joined convincing argument that the Mattabesic more than just a hunting-fishing economy, but forces with the colonists, and the Pequots were (various spellings that translate to “at the also practiced formalized agriculture. The driven west in a series of bloody battles. great river”) were loose collection of related sachemdoms moved seasonally within their Note: This summary does not intend to sub-sachemdoms, mostly on the west side of lands according to weather and food sources. explain or justify the convoluted history of the the Connecticut River that included the Travel was by footpath – many of which are cultural clash of invaders vs. natives. In the Wangunks (various spellings that translate to today’s main roads – and by dugout canoe. inevitable escalation of hostilities there was “river bend”). Some recent books, including Houses were wigwams built from saplings set certainly enough brutality to spread around those by Dr. Rudes, define a wider language in the ground that were bent to the center among all involved. For more information on grouping of related tribes, the Quiripi. Others and fastened at the top, then covered with the subject, see the bibliography and commen- prefer to call this grouping the Quinnipiac. bark.4 According to Daniel Gookin (1612- tary at the Connecticut Heritage Gateway web Older books bundle the tribes into the 1687), who wrote Historical Collections of the site: http://www.ctheritage.org/biography/ “Wappinger Federation” with roots in the topical_indians/general.htm. Hudson Valley, even though nothing so formal Chief Sowheag sets the stage for ever existed. Perhaps the Dutch saw the big settlement of Middletown. In 1639, Chief picture best, and used the term “River Sowheag (“Strong Stone”) of the Wangunks Indians.” In this article, we will refer to made the ill-fated decision to aid fugitive Middletown area Native Americans as the Pequots, providing them safe refuge in retreat Wangunks. (Bear in mind that in different to Mattabeseck after their 1637 attack on the sources, you will encounter various spellings: settlers of Wethersfield that killed nine adults Wangonks, Wangum, Wangom, Wongunks, and captured two children (later ransomed by Wongum, etc.) Dutch traders). Governor John Haynes (1594- According to the prolific and insightful 1654), furious at Sowheag for breaking his Portland, Conn. local historian Doris Sherrow, promise of friendship with the government, who researched primary source records for a threatened retribution and pressed for series of fine articles on the Wangunks in concessions. The General Court, however, 1999, “the picture of the Wangunk that believed that Sowheag’s “haughty and continued on page 8 6 MIDDLETOWN NEWSLETTER of the SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS he Mid e CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. CONNECTICUT, USA

Feature Graphic #11: Native Americans in Connecticut … And Middletown MOHICANS AGAWAMS NIPMUCKS Connecticut’s Native American Sachemdoms AGAWAMS S in 1625. At right is a S NIPMUCKS E Matianuck simplified redrawing of N R (Windsor) E the map prepared in 1930 D MASSACOES L POQUONOCKS PODUNKS for the Connecticut I W SICOAGS Society of Colonial Dames Suckiaug Pyquag of America. The map was (Hartford) (Wethersfield) drawn by Hayden L. Mattabesett MOHEGANS (Middletown) Griswold, based on TUNXIS Pocowset information compiled by (Portland) NEHANTIC

Mathias Spiess. In ANS

addition to indicating the S S WANGUNKS approximate “boundaries” MOHIC Cockaponnet (Haddam) of the sachemdoms in QUINNIPIAC UNCAS PEQUOTS HAMMONASSETS Pequot 1625, the map also Quinnipiac (New London) showed the primary PAUGUSSETTS (New Haven) TUCKS S NEHANTIC Indian trails and villages. Pashesauke Mioonktuck (Saybrook)

The original map is in the (East Haven) MENUNKA collection of the Pequannock University of Connecticut. (Bridgeport) SCALE OF MILES (Map redrawn for clarity 25 miles by R.W. Bacon, 2010.) SIWANOGS

Wangunk 30 acre strip along Indian Hill Rd. A map of Native “Hot House” extending west to Connecticut River American Lands CROMWELL in Middletown Home of INDIAN “Old Betty” after the Indian HILL SUMMER AVE. Old Portland Deed of 1672. Small Portland’s new ST Burying Ground . At left is a map parcel Meeting House est. 1713 on the c. 1750 that shows the 9 GOSPEL Little River BARTLETT STREET approximate (approximate Rev. Bartlett’s (1728) location of Native 40 acres location only!) WILLIAM American lands in 1731 L 300 acres STREET ANE extending Middletown and east from present-day Newfield between Portland, Conn. Summer & after the Indian STREET William Sts. Deed of 1672. Also STREET POR MAIN TL indicated on the MIDDLETOWN 66 AND HIGH map are several NEWFIELD COBAL landmarks that are T PORTLAND (Originally part of Middletown) ROAD mentioned in Part

STREET II of “Native Americans in Indian Hill STREETMAIN Cemetery TON Middletown,” which est. 1850 ASHING STREET will appear in the W 30 acres fall 2010 issue of at Indian Hill SCALE OF MILES & strip along The Middler. 1 mile Newfield Street (Map by R.W. Bacon, 2010.)

7 MIDDLETOWN NEWSLETTER of the SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS he Mid e CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. CONNECTICUT, USA value.” But the Wangunks held firm, and on west part of the city, long after the English Native Americans January 24, 1672, 13 Indian proprietors settlements began. The Little River, where the in Middletown, Part I signed the deed that formalized the “gift” of bridge crosses it from the city to Newfield, was continued from page 6 Sowheag and the promise of Governor Haynes the head of navigation for their water craft, as years before. The town added to and formal- they returned from trips up and down the emerges from the scraps of historical sources ized its claim to undivided lands “for the use Connecticut, loaded with game, peltries and shows a strong, enterprising people, fully the of the inhabitants of the town of Midleton, fish. They held lands there until 1713.”15 intellectual equal of the invading English.”9 their heirs and assigned forever.” (This land The signers of the Indian Deed of 1672: The Wangunks were constantly occupied with extended north to Wethersfield, south to Seponnamoe, Joan alias Weekpissick, Joseph fishing, hunting, and harvesting, and using Haddam, and six miles east of the Connecticut Nash, Mamechize, George Grave, Wesumpsha, the raw materials for food, medicine, clothing, River.) The Wangunks were guaranteed land Thomas Edwards, Wamphanch, Robard tools, and implements. They adopted the “within the township of Midleton on the east Sanford, Spunnoe, Sachamas, and English calendar by the late 17th century, and side of the Connecticut River … to remain to Taccumhuit. Representing the settlers of many were known to write their names in the heirs of Sowheag and the Mattabesett Middletown were Samuel Willys, John English or by using symbols.10 Indians and their heirs forever, and also, one Talcott, James Richards, and John Allyn.16 On David Dudley Field, D.D. (1781-1867), in parcel of land on the west side of the April 8, 1673, additional parties of interest both his Statistical Account of Middlesex Connecticut River … to remain to the heirs of added their signatures: Paskanna, County, published in 1819, and in his Sawsean forever.”13 Massekump, Robins, Pewampskin, and Centennial Address, published in 1853, wrote The parcels on the east side of the river in Rachiash. Representing Middletown were a narrative of Sowheag, the Wangunks, and what is now Portland, Conn., were about 300 Nathaniel White, John Hall, and Samuel how they came to be situated at Mattabeseck. acres. The reservation extended east from Stocking. (A notable cultural difference Most later accounts reference Field. Main Street – between Summer and William evidenced by the deed is that among the “A large Indian tribe existed here, who were Streets in present-day Portland – to Center Indians, both men and women could sign more than suspected of being enemies to the Cemetery. A smaller 30-acre section extended legal documents.)17 English. Their great sachem, Sowheag, had from Portland’s Indian Hill to the Connecticut Dr. Field noted that the sale of land meant his castle on the high ground, back from the River. On the northwest side of the Indian something quite different to the Wangunks river, in the north part of the city, and was Hill parcel was the Wangunk “hot house,” a than it did to the settlers: “When Indians sold able thence to call around him many warriors, kind of sauna, heated by fired stones, which lands, they were in the habit of reserving, whose wigwams stood thick on both sides of was used for medicinal, ritual, or recreational besides the exclusive right to small definite the Connecticut, at points particularly purposes – followed by a dip in the river. tracts, the right of hunting and fishing where desirable for settlements,” wrote Field in his Portland’s Indian Hill was also a Wangunk they pleased, and of cutting saplings for their Centennial Address. “His authority spread burial ground.14 simple articles of manufacture, so that the over a large territory, over the Piquaug or The parcel on the west side, about 30 acres, lands were nearly of as much value to them Wethersfield Indians, over a clan on the was a strip that began on Newfield Street and after they were sold as before, until the north-western branch of the Little River in extended to the top of Indian Hill where the colonists made very considerable advances in Berlin, if he had not some right and sway cemetery of the same name is located today. (A clearing and cultivation. Though such reser- among the Farmington Indians.” In describ- third parcel, not part of this deed, included vation is not mentioned in the deed of the ing how the large township was obtained from land at the headwaters of the Little River.) Indians to Mr. Wyllys and others, the right the Indians, Dr. Field cited a Yale professor, According to Dr. Field: “The Indians had a was probably considered as remaining.”18 the Rev. Noah Porter, who referenced two cemetery previously to the settlement of the King Philip’s War in 1675. When war land agreements in an 1840 lecture. Rev. English among them, with rude monuments erupted across New England between the Porter observed that “in 1651 Massacope placed over their dead; on them were drawn colonists and the Wampanoags of gives a quitclaim deed of all this land, that he such devices as corresponded with their Massachusetts, the Wangunks elected not to was probably a Mattabesett Indian, and with superstitions, and such as they were able to participate in war alongside their usual allies, his son signs the agreement for valuable prepare with their rude instruments. The the Narragansetts. The General Assembly considerations and gratification at the time of Aborigines were numerous about the north- noted that “The Wongam have showed sale.” Not satisfied with the “limits as speci- willingness to dwell peacably in our towns.” fied in the deed, he went out and for himself They were watched closely, however, and examined and marked the boundaries.”11 expected to “engage in friendship and be In the years following the successful enemies to our enemies,” and “set their settlement of Middletown, there was increas- wigwams where the authority appoints, to be ing interest in the riverbank land to the under English watch and ward, and not go south. In May 1662, 11 Wangunks, nine men forth without license from the authority.” As and two women, sold a 150-square mile tract incentive to peace, the Wangunk were offered that extended six miles down each side of the two yards of cloth for every head of the enemy Connecticut River. The Wangunks reserved 30 – “four yards if alive.”19 acres of this tract for their own use, plus a The years were not without incident. In river island. This original Wangunk land September 1676, a Native American, Cohas, became part of the future towns of Haddam, was charged with the murder of John Kirby, Jr. East Haddam, and Chester, Conn.12 (1651-1676), son of first settler John Kirby The Indian Deed of 1672. By 1670, early (1623-1677) of Middletown Upper Houses Middletown settlers, by now numbering 52 (present-day Cromwell, formerly part of families, were coveting the riverbank and Above is a reduced copy of some of the Middletown). Kirby was ambushed while meadow on the east side of the Connecticut Wangunk signatures on the Indian deed traveling on the road to Wethersfield. Cohas River that was occupied by the Wangunks, of 1672. The original is held at the was also charged with setting fire to the house Connecticut State Library in Hartford. and proposed to exchange “land of equal continued on page 9 8 MIDDLETOWN NEWSLETTER of the SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS he Mid e CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. CONNECTICUT, USA Native Americans sen., Richard and Ebenezer Goodale, Thomas this town. While they were the most numerous Hale, Samuel Hall, Walter Harris, Ebenezer it does not appear that they ever used their in Middletown, Part I Hurlbut, John Miller, Job Payne. Jonathan power to the injury of the settlers. There are no continued from page 8 Sleed, Nathaniel Savage, Jonathan and bloody traditions of murdered settlers or Ebenezer Smith, James and William Stancliff, burning cabins. They constantly dwindled in of a “Mr. Coale” and a number of robberies. Joseph Warner, Joseph and Nathaniel White, number, but remained quiet and gentle, unless According to Charles Collard Adams in and Thomas Wright. Additional settlers arrived under the influence of undue ‘fire water’ or a Middletown Upper Houses, “The Colonial in the next several years, and a meeting house frenzied ‘powwow,’ amenable to the laws, and Records state that an investigation was held by was built in 1716.23 treated with kindness and consideration. Much the authorities in August, 1676. Menowniett As families settled in “East Middletown,” of this part of their history is necessarily but being examined was asked ‘who killed the man joining stone carver James Stanclift, who was the faint echo of tradition.”27 between Middletown and Wethersfield?’ He eventually granted land by Middletown In the next issue of The Middler, Part II gave the names of Munch, Cohas, Tosocum, selectmen in 1690, they became more involved gathers 18th- and 19th-century references, Cawcohchoage, and Wewawoas. At a meeting of with their Wangunk neighbors, and vice versa. records, and anecdotes about Native the Council of War, Sept. 8, 1676, Cohas, who Several generations of the Stanclift family Americans in Middletown from various had been captured by friendly Indians and became known for their gravestone carvings, sources and presents them in chronological brought in a prisoner, was accused by and in 1702 employed a Wangunk Indian, order. Part II concludes by looking into the Menowniett. The Council decreed he should die Sacient, to deliver gravestones to distant whereabouts of Wangunk descendants today. by the hand of an Indian: ‘The Marshall’s towns. In the 1720s the Wangunks donated appoynted to see execution done – which was land for for several town roads, and one of the Endnotes for Part I performed by an Indian.’”20 three surveyors, Giles Cuschoy, was a (1) The Middler, Fall 2009. (Newburyport, Mass.: Society of The Wangunks sell land to new arrivals. Wangunk. Information on deeds from Middletown First Settlers Descendants, 2009), pg. 11. In the 1690s the Wangunks on the east side of Wangunk land transactions in this period (2) Philip Kopper, Ed. The Smithsonian Book of North the Connecticut River began selling small indicate that they participated in the American Indians. (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books, 1986), pg. 123-143. parcels of meadow land. (Permission was Middletown economy, doing business with 24 (3) John W. DeForest. History of the Indians of Connecticut. required from the “guardianship” of various tradesmen. On the west side of the (Hartford, Conn.: Hamersley, 1853), pg. 69. Connecticut’s General Court, which allowed the river, the Wangunk held their lands at Indian (4) DeForest, History of the Indians of Connecticut, pg. 4-13. Wangunks freedom to sell their land if they Hill and Newfield until 1713. (5) Daniel Gookin. Historical Collections of the Indians in chose, in one-acre parcels.) According to Doris New England. (Boston, Mass.: Massachusetts Historical Wangunk unrest & town pressure. Doris Society, 1792), pg. 149-152. Sherrow, the deeds often include Native Sherrow, in her article “What Happened to the (6) Sherburne F. Cook. The Indian Population of New American genealogical information, as if to Wangunks, Part II,” cites a town clerk filing as England in the 17th Century. (Berkeley, Calif.: University of further justify claim to the land. The parcels evidence that there may have been a power California Press, 1976), pg. 60-66) were sold at market rate. The daughter of (7) David Dudley Field. Centennial Address, with Historical struggle among the dwindling numbers on the Sketches of Cromwell, Portland, Chatham, Middle Haddam, Sowheag himself, Towwehashque Sunck Squa, Wangunk reservation. In 1726 several Middletown, and its Parishes. (Middletown, Conn.: W.B. sold the first parcel to John Clark in 1691.21 Wangunk, descendants of Wesumsha and Casey, 1853), pg. 33. “There is certainly some reason to suppose Pewampskin, thought it was important to (8) Field, Centennial Address, pg. 34. that there were several settlers on the east (9) Doris Sherrow. “Who Were the Wangunk?” in Portland document their descent from the proprietors On the Move, Nov. 1999 (Portland, Conn.: Town of Portland, side before the year 1700, but there is only listed on the Indian Deed of 1672. The Cuschoy 1999). record of three,” wrote Julia Bayne on the surname appeared more frequently on the (10) Sherrow. “Who Were the Wangunk?” in Portland On Portland section of Beers’ History of Middlesex deeds of that time. The family descended from the Move. County (1884). “The first inhabitant of Robin, also known as “Doctor Robbin,” one of (11) Field, Centennial Address, pg. 32. (12) DeForest, History of the Indians of Connecticut, pg. 254. Portland mentioned is James Stanclift. On the leaders of the Wangunk. Meanwhile the (13) J.H. Beers. A General History of Middlesex County February 24, 1686-7, the town ‘approved of growing town of “East Middletown” was 1635-1885. (New York, N.Y.: J.H. Beers & Co., 1884), pg. 62. the agreement made by the selectmen with coming to regard the Indian reservation in its (14) Sherrow. “Who Were the Wangunk?” in Portland On James Stancliff (sic), concerning the building midst as a growing inconvenience.25 the Move. the chimneys, and other stone work, and that In the middle of the 18th century it appears (15) Field, Centennial Address, pg. 37. when the work is finished the town empower (16) Beers, A General History of Middlesex County 1635- that even among their declining numbers, more 1885, pg. 62. the selectmen to give the said James Stancliff Wangunks were moving north and west to join (17) Sherrow. “Who Were the Wangunk?” in Portland On (sic) legal assurance of a parcel of land upon other Native American groups, most notably the Move. the rocks, according to their agreement.’ John those that merged with Paugussett and (18) Field, Centennial Address, pg. 35. Gill also built a house upon the bank about Mattabesic Indians at the Schaghticoke reserva- (19) Beers, A General History of Middlesex County 1635- 1885, pg. 71. the same time. William Cornwell settled in tion near Kent, Conn. Other Wangunks are said 22 (20) Charles Collard Adams. Middletown Upper Houses. back of Wangunk Meadow soon afterward.” to have moved to join a group of Mattabesics, (New York, N.Y.: Grafton Press, 1908), pg. 595. The first wave of settlers on the east side of first in Farmington, Conn., then in Stockbridge, (21) Doris Sherrow. “What Happened to the Wangunk?” in the river included many other descendants of Mass. This group, comprised of Pequots, Portland On the Move, Dec. 1999 (Portland, Conn.: Town of Portland, 1999). pre-1700 settlers of Middletown. These families Narragansetts, Montauks, Mohegans, Tunxis, (22) Beers, A General History of Middlesex County 1635- lived in close proximity to the Wangunk and and Niantics, would later move for a time to 1885, (Portland section by Julia Bayne), pg. 498. very likely had regular encounters and com- Oneida, N.Y. before joining other Mattabesics in (23) Field, Centennial Address, pg. 253-254. merce with them. In May, 1714, 31 persons in northern Wisconsin.26 (24) Doris Sherrow. “Portland’s First European Resident,” “East Middletown” (very likely all heads-of- in Portland On the Move, July. 1999 (Portland, Conn.: Town A mid-point summary – but not the of Portland, 1999). families) petitioned the General Court and final word. Fortunately for today’s researcher, (25) Doris Sherrow. “What Happened to the Wangunks?, received parish privileges: Beriah Bacon, the compiler of the Portland, Conn. section for Part II,” in Portland On the Move, Jan. 2000 (Portland, Shamga Barnes, John Bevin, Samuel and the Beers & Co. history was the capable author/ Conn.: Town of Portland, 1999). Nathaniel Bidwell, Thomas Bucke, William (26) Carl Waldman. Encyclopedia of American Indian historian Julia Taft Bayne (1845-1933). The Tribes. (New York, N.Y.: Facts On File, 2006), pg. 10. and Jacob Cornwall, Richard Sill, John Gaines, following is an excerpt: “For more than 80 (27) Beers, A General History of Middlesex County 1635- Ebenezer and Joshua Gill, Richard Goodale, years the Indians lived among the whites in 1885, (Portland section by Julia Bayne), pg. 496.

9 MIDDLETOWN NEWSLETTER of the SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS he Mid e CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. CONNECTICUT, USA SMFSD member & researcher Hal Whitmore clarifies the Wetmore/Whitmore puzzle in NEHGS magazine By R.W. Bacon H.W.: I don’t know that it has. My H.W.: I first proposed it to David Editor, The Middler undergrad degree was in chemical Allen Lambert on the fall 2008 TMG Featured in the fall 2009 issue of engineering, and then an MBA at genealogy cruise. David was leading a New England Ancestors, the quarterly night school. In later life I earned an seminar on DNA research. I think I magazine of the New England Historic M.A. in religious studies, and after I knew a good deal more than he or Genealogical Society (NEHGS), was an retired from du Pont, an M. Div. I do anyone else participating in the article by SMFSD member Hal remember that all those tests that one Wetmore/ Whitmore topic, and we Whitmore of Wilmington, Del., that took in high school said I should be a agreed I should “write it up.” I finally dared to take on the multiple theories librarian, or a teacher of history or got around to doing so and sent it off to about Wetmore, Whitmore, and English, but I knew they were wrong David, who passed it along. I didn’t Whittemore genealogy. Thanks to his because I was going to study chemical hear anything for two or three months, years of research and his involvement engineering. I think I took only the followed up and got the editorial in the Wetmore/Whitmore DNA most basic course in biology in high revisions pretty quickly, and bingo, it project, he was able to clarify the school, and nothing later on. was in print. (I assume they were short subject for interested researchers both I was an only child and only grand- on articles for the DNA section.) The present and future. The following is a child of my grandmother Whitmore, editors were great to work with. recent e-mail interview. and we were close, so I grew up The Middler: How did you distill The Middler: What fueled your knowing all about her grandparents centuries of conflicting and confusing interest in genealogy? How long have and great grandparents that she had interpretations into 2½ pages? you been researching the Wetmore/ known as a child. So all the family H.W.: LOL. I’m inclined to phrase Whitmore families? things that were a part of her memory this as “how did you stretch such a Hal Whitmore: I think the earliest became a part of mine as well. simple idea into 2½ pages?” Put simply, item in my files is a response received The Middler: You have made the article can be summed up as: A lot from a Whitmore great aunt in 1945, multiple trips to Middletown for “old- of Whitmore and Wetmore genealogists when I was 12-years-old. My grand- school” genealogy research. Has DNA thought the two patriarchs were mother Whitmore gave me a carbon- analysis overturned any prior findings? brothers and some Whittemore copy typescript of a genealogy of her H.W.: No, it hasn’t. I concluded genealogists claimed all three patri- paternal grandmother’s family which before DNA testing that the archs were closely related. DNA proves was sent to her in 1921 by a cousin. Whittemores were not closely related that none of the three were closely This traced the Converse family back to the other two, based on some related. I had encountered most of the to a de Coigniers who had been with research I had done in England with articles to which I referred in the William I at the Battle of Hastings. probate and parish records. The case course of routine research, so it was From this I “proved” a royal descent for making the claim was flimsy. I also simply a matter of constructing a solid and spent a lot of my free time in high thought the case for claiming Francis straw man to attack. school collecting royal genealogies. (I Whitmore and Thomas Wetmore were The Middler: What feedback have since proved to my satisfaction that brothers was pretty weak, but didn’t you received since the article appeared? the de Coigniers tale was woefully really have any “conclusion” about H.W.: I received a nice letter from poor genealogy, and that Deacon that until we completed the testing. the editor, favorable comment from Edward Converse who arrived with The Middler: When did you first several members of SMFSD, and from the Winthrop Fleet had excellent propose the Wetmore/Whitmore article a couple members of the DNA project yeoman roots in Essex.) to NEHGS? Were there “hoops” to to whom I sent copies. I first learned that my great-great- jump through before publication? The Middler: As a relatively new grandfather Whitmore was born a member of SMFSD, what are your Wetmore about 1964 when I corre- “It was simply current research interests? H.W.: I’m presently trying to do a sponded with the granddaughter of “a matter of his younger brother, and I began complete study on the descendants of building my genealogy library at “constructing Joseph/2 Wetmore, one of the sons of about that time. Really serious “a solid straw Thomas/1 Wetmore (the immigrant research began some time after 1990. “man to attack.” and first settler) up through the 1930 The Middler: Did your education census. That should cover eight or and/or career factor into your interest – Hal Whitmore nine generations. I’m the 10th from in using DNA for genealogy? Thomas and was born in 1933.

10 MIDDLETOWN NEWSLETTER of the SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS he Mid e CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. CONNECTICUT, USA SMFSD Membership Information If you descend from a pre-1700 settler, we welcome you to join us The following are individuals (and presumably spouses & families) said to have settled in Middletown, Conn. before 1700. The list is from The History of Middlesex County (Henry Whittemore, Beers Co., 1884), which itself was derived in part from the List of Householders & Proprietors, Middletown, March 22, 1670. Names in boldface are the original 1650-54 settlers. N.B.!: This list is known to be incomplete! If you descend from a pre-1700 settler not on this list, please contact our Registrar about submitting lineage and references. Not a descendant? Join us in the Friends category! Josiah Adkins . . . . . 1673 Samuel Cotton. . . . . 1697 Edward Higby . . . . . 1667 Daniel Pryor ...... 1696 Samuel Stow . . . . 1651 Obadiah Allyn . . . . . 1670 Samuel Doolittle . . . 1693 Thomas Hill...... 1678 Thomas Ranney . . . 1660 Thomas Stow...... 1669 Thomas Allen. . . . 1650 George Durant. . . . . 1663 Thomas Hopewell . . 1662 William Roberts. . . . 1680 William Sumner . . . 1687 Nathaniel Bacon . 1650 Samuel Eggleston . . 1663 George Hubbard . 1650 Joseph Rockwell . . . 1693 James Tappin . . . . . 1662 William Briggs . . . . . 1677 John Elton ...... 1677 John Hulbert ...... 1669 Alexander Rollo . . . . 1697 Matthias Treat . . 1659 John Blake...... 1677 Thomas Ferman . . . 1679 Isaac Johnson . . . . . 1670 Noadiah Russell. . . . 1696 Edward Turner . . . . 1665 William Blumfield1650 Edward Foster . . . . . 1670 Francis Jones...... 1672 David Sage ...... 1662 John Ward ...... 1664 John Boarn ...... 1677 Jonathan Gilbert. . . 1672 John Jordan...... 1678 John Savage . . . . 1650 William Ward...... 1659 Alexander Bow . . . . 1660 John Gill ...... 1676 John Kirby...... 1653 Arthur Scovill . . . . . 1671 Andrew Warner . . . . 1667 Nathaniel Brown. . . 1655 Richard Goodale . . . 1671 Isaac Lane ...... 1664 Edward Shepard . . . 1687 Robert Warner. . . . . 1655 Thomas Burk...... 1670 George Graves . . . . 1650? Thomas Lewis . . . . . 1687 Joseph Smith ...... 1675 Robert Webster . . 1650 William Cheney . . . . 1655 John Hall ...... 1650 William Lucas . . . . . 1667 William Smith . . . 1650 Benjamin West. . . . . 1698 Samuel Clark...... 1676 Richard Hall . . . . 1650 Daniel Markham . . . 1677 William Southmayd. 1674 Thomas Wetmore 1650 Jasper Clements . . . 1670 Samuel Hall . . . . . 1650 Anthony Martin. . . . 1661 Comfort Starr . . . . . 1673 Nathaniel White . 1650 Henry Cole ...... 1650? Giles Hamlin . . . . 1650 John Martin. . . . . 1650 James Stanclift . . . . 1686 Francis Whitmore . . 1674 Nathaniel Collins . . 1664 Benjamin Hands . . . 1678 Thomas Miller . . . 1650 Samuel Stocking . 1650 John Wilcox ...... 1654 Samuel Collins. . . . . 1665 Daniel Harris. . . . 1653 John Payne ...... 1676 John Stow ...... 1667 James Wright...... 1690 William Cornwell 1650 William Harris. . . 1650 George Phillips . . . . 1680 Nathaniel Stow . . . . 1676 Membership benefits . . . When you join the Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants, you will receive: • Two issues per year of The Middler, the SMFSD newsletter full of information useful for research about Middletown’s first settler families and local history. • Full member access to the SMFSD web site which includes first settler profiles, genealogy resources, local history articles, a custom-prepared annotated bibliography for Middletown research, and an archive of past Middler issues. • The annual membership roster enabling you to network with Middletown “cousins” and researchers across the country. • The opportunity to attend SMFSD meetings (every three years) in Middletown that include genealogy research, cemetery tours, library/museum visits, member networking, and social events. • The opportunity to participate in the organization, suggest/plan meeting activities, and vote on SMFSD business. Membership is a simple 1-2-3 procedure . . . If you are a descendant of any pre-1700 Middletown settler, and would like to join SMFSD, here is the easy procedure: (1) Send an outline/worksheet of your lineage to the Registrar. The applicant shall do their own genealogical research, and the resulting lineage should be accompanied by copies of reference material by generation. The Society seeks to verify submitted information, but does not research family lines. (2) Send a check payable to the Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants (1650-1700) for the non-refundable $10.00 application handling fee. (3) The Registrar will review the application for approval. Documentation is required only through the line of descent from the 1650-1700 settler. If needed, guidelines will be sent that help document descent by generation. (The Society will return an application if more documentation is needed. It is the applicant’s responsibility to complete any gaps in the records.) When approved, the new member can choose to pay annual or lifetime dues: (A) Annual dues from November 1 to October 31 are $20.00 (in addition to the initial $10.00 handling fee). (B) A new member may elect to pay lifetime dues (instead of annual dues) based on age: Age 0-50, $300; Age 51-70, $200; Age 70+, $100. Life Members receive a certificate suitable for framing. Friends of SMFSD. Are you a history enthusiast? Would you like to receive The Middler? Join us at $20 per year! Please send membership inquiries and/or lineage information to: Donald H. Brock, Registrar, Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants, 10 Windy Hill Road, Glen Arm, MD 21057.

11 MIDDLETOWN NEWSLETTER of the SOCIETY of MIDDLETOWN FIRST SETTLERS DESCENDANTS he Mid e CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. CONNECTICUT, USA Science & serendipity … as a basis to send cases of mostly unor- tive research. This is rather surprising continued from page 5 ganized materials to the Cornell library. for a career NTSB investigator. He was I have a copy of the letter of acceptance. one of the last of a generation of dyed- J.C.: I only met his son, Gary, who The Middler: Gale’s initiatives are in-the-wool patriots to whom the appeared to be living with him. I think still in progress today as evidenced by country owes a debt of gratitude. Gary spoke five words to me over the SMFSD and the Cornwell DNA The Middler: Finally, give us your several visits. I got the impression Gale project. Are there other ways that Gale impressions of Middletown and the was estranged from some of his family. made his mark in the genealogy world? SMFSD Triennial. What’s on the The Middler: When Gale asked you J.C.: I think he inspired a lot of horizon for your genealogy pursuits? to take his genealogy files, was it to be people to be passionate about family J.C.: I really liked Middletown. Main an “agenda-driven gift,” or did he just history and city, state, and national street is a great mix of old and new. want the papers in responsible hands? patriotism. His methods were not Nice restaurants and bars. Wesleyan is J.C.: Both. I think he wanted to always conventional and didn’t always a beautiful campus. I would like to visit convince me of his viewpoints and follow the accepted protocols for objec- again soon with my wife. I enjoyed the thought I’d be a responsible party with cemetery tours, and O’Rourke’s Diner. his documents. I couldn’t take them, A highlight was the Saturday dinner and they were very unorganized. He “I think he inspired a lot and getting to know other Middletown sent most of them to Cornell University, “of people to be passionate first-settler descendants. I definitely based on the DNA connection showing plan to attend the next Triennial. I’m Cornells and Cornwells are “unani- “about family history and working on a well-referenced Cornwell mous” as he would say. There was a “city, state, and national ancestry, with copies of all primary letter sent to Cornell family researchers “patriotism.” sources, and will try and get a copy by Ezra Cornell in the late1800s solicit- – John Cornwell together for Godfrey Library. ing genealogy materials. Gale used this

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