Table of Contents

Preface	v
Acknowledgments	vi
Part I: A Place in the Wilderness	1
Chapter 1 Decision to Colonize Former Pequot Land	3
Chapter 2 Looking Backwards: The Gathering Storm	12
Chapter 3 The Pequot War: A Void is Created	24
Part II: Another Chance at Destiny	39
Chapter 4 A New Beginning at Pequot Plantation	41
Chapter 5 Veterans of the Pequot War	48
Chapter 6 The Rebel	66
Chapter 7 The Cape Ann Contingent	77
Part III: Opportunity for All	91
Chapter 8 Give Me Land	93
Chapter 9 Growing Pains	109
Chapter 10 Secession!	123
Chapter 11 Making a Living	136
Chapter 12 Looking Seaward	160
Part IV: Times of Conflict	175
Chapter 13 Wars without Bloodshed	177
Chapter 14 King Philip's War: Conflagration Sweeps New England	189
Chapter 15 Struggle for the Soul of Man	234
Chapter 16 Threats from Abroad	253
Part V: The March of Time	267
Chapter 17 Century's End	269
Chapter 18 End of the Beginning	285
Chapter 19 Epilogue: Legacy of the Seventeenth Century	292
Bibliography	308
Notes	315
Index	339

Excerpt

Preface

Broad-scope histories and textbooks rarely, or only briefly, mention Pequot Plantation in the development of New England colonies and settlements. Southeastern Connecticut had a much greater impact on the course of seventeenth century colonial history than has generally been portrayed. My goal has been to illuminate Pequot Plantation by not only showing its interaction with historic events in New England but also its part in England’s drive for world dominance.

I endeavored to write this book in a narrative format which accomplishes more than just presentation of the facts. In doing so, I followed the lives of numerous people who emigrated from England to Massachusetts Bay Colony and then to Pequot Plantation where they shaped the destiny of the new settlement. I also followed the fortunes of the three principal Indian tribes in southeastern Connecticut as well as their leaders. More than anything, it is people who breathe life into this work and can still speak to us today. While the conduct of the Pequot Plantation colonists was influenced by the times in which they lived, they often acted with fierce independence and created unexpected results.

A framework of historical events and societal conventions helps the reader better understand why events unfolded the way they did. Driving forces included emigration, spiritual and governmental practices, trade, property acquisition, making a living, maritime issues, military preparedness, war, Indian relations and family mores. The colonists made an incredible effort to carve out their niche, or place in the sun. Most succeeded. Villages became towns and the countryside was settled. During the same time, Indian fortunes declined. For better or worse, the foundation for southeastern Connecticut as we know it today was firmly established in the seventeenth century.

Certain historical words are no longer in current usage. In some cases I have chosen to utilize the historical or archaic word and in other cases I have substituted the modern word. Below is a list of these words and their meaning. Printed in bold is the wording generally used in this book.

Historical Wording	Current Wording
Trained Band	Militia
General Court	Legislature
Deputy of the General Court	Legislator
Indian	Native American
Pequot Harbor or Pequot River	Thames River (used after 1665)
Sachem	Chief or Leader
Sagamore	Important tribesman
Pressed	Conscripted or Drafted

Where geographic locations are involved, I have generally chosen to use current names.